App Inventor For Android

Now you to can become an App developer for Android! Googlelabs has released App Inventor for Android to make it easy for anyone to drag graphical blocks of code around to create an application. The graphical blocks represent the different functions and capabilities of a smartphone.

For instance, one tester of the App Inventor used the GPS locator, timer, and database querying blocks to produce an app that told his friends where he was every 15 minutes.

A Gmail account is required for anyone wanting to use the tools and users must apply via a web form. Tutorials are provided to help people get started with the tools.The tool may well prompt a spike in the number of apps for Android phones which, statistics suggest, are already enjoying a healthy growth.Figures gathered by Android app site AndroLib predict that the number of applications will pass the 100,000 mark by the end of July 2010, a ten fold increase compared to this time last year. However, it still has less than half the number of apps available for Apple’s iPhone.

After recently adding the Incredible to our families lineup of devices, I am eager to test this tool out for myself.  I see great potential for creating study questions for students using audio and images. The potential for using Android devices in education will more than likely increase after “devolopers” get their hands on this tool.

Please see Google Labs website for more info.

Save Money by Using a TechNet Subscription

Why pay full price for Microsoft software license when you simply want to do pre-production testing and evaluation? Consider a TechNet Standard subscription for $200 and you will receive many of Microsofts applications and Operating Systems.

I came across a blog by Paul Thurrott and he points out that a $ 200 TechNet Standard subscription can offer significant savings over buying boexed copies. With TechNet Standard, you get real, unlimited, lifetime activations of Windows and Office products, and as Paul Thurrott expalains, it covers a whole lot of computing!

It’s for multiple installs. Each product key can be used to install up to 10 versions of the OS or application, for the most part. But that’s actually 100 (yes, 100) installs for each Windows 7 product edition, because you can activate each key 10 times. So you get 100 installs of Windows 7 Ultimate, 100 installs of Windows 7 Professional, 100 installs of Windows 7 Home Premium, and so on. That’s an incredible value, though it should be noted that this program is designed for a single person. You can’t share the product keys with others. What you’re getting, essentially, as an individual is multiple, unlimited installs of the products that are included with the subscription … for yourself.
There is also a TechNet Professional option and it comes in at $349 for all Microsoft software and Operating Systems. A little pricey but nothing in comparison to buying the full products.  So,  If you are an IT professional or anyone else interested in evaluating the Microsoft product line, check it out.

Paul Thurrott’s – SuperSite for Windows

TechNet Subscription Page

Anti-Frustration Software

Soluto Beta — available right now for free download — allows PC users to understand their boot and discover which applications are slowing them down. Soluto Beta not only cuts down your boot, it also improves your on-going PC performance for you. If one user, anywhere in the world, fixes a problem, Soluto can share that solution with others who have the same problem

PCGenome was also released, it is a a global knowledge base of “PC frustration data.” That database can help users track down tricky hardware/software conflicts. All submissions are anonymous and only the correction data is collected for the database.

Soluto – Anti Frustration Software from Soluto on Vimeo.

Working in an environment with over 1300 PCs this could be very beneficial to some of the unknown issues that come up. If I have to spend more than 10 minutes on a problem, the PC is getting re-imaged. There are many other projects and issues to be worked on. If Soluto can be a first step multi faceted solution database, it may help me look good when troubleshooting a PC and save time.

It will be interesting to see how Soluto evolves out of Beta.

Remove People from a Scenery Shot

Here is a quick step you can do to remove people from a that great scenery picture you just snapped. Get yourself a copy of Photoshop CS3 Extended and follow a few steps.

When at a photo location, take multiple shots in a short period of time using a tripod for stabilization. When you get home open the series of photos using Photoshop.

From the top menu, select File >Scripts > Statistics. In “Choose Stacks Mode” dialogue, select “Median.” Insert the series of photos and see the results.

Check out the Shutterstock Newsletter Tip!

Google Wave Opens Doors to All

Google has just opened the doors to anyone with a GMail account. A wave is a live, shared space on the web where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more. No more invitations to be sought after.

I have found this to be a great tool for real time collaboration for use  in a school district.

Jump over to https://wave.google.com/wave now.

Google Voice Now Available For Students

Google announced Friday that it will give priority Google Voice invites to students.

If you do not already have a Google Voice number and you are a student, Google is offering Google Voice to you. Go to the Google Voice Student sign up page and get your number now!

I have been using this service since it was GrandCentral.com. There is a mobile app available for free text messaging amongst many other features.

Students drop your .edu email address and request your invite.

Ubuntu Light Will Be Added To Canonical Lineup

Recently Ubuntu 10.04 LTS has been released in multiple versions, including the UNR version. Coming soon to the lineup is Ubuntu “Light”, which is even a lighter OS used for fast boot access. Mark Shuttlesworth, the founder of the Ubuntu project, has presented the new OS and UI on his blog today. Ubuntu Light is completely different from Ubuntu Netbook Remix—it’s even more condensed, the goal being to get you up and running in your browser as fast as possible. Furthermore, instead of being one’s primary OS, like Netbook Remix would be, Ubuntu Light aims to be the second partition on your hard drive, for those situations in which you need to be up and running as fast as possible.

Ubuntu “Light” will feature the Unity UI. Unity is clearly optimized for netbooks, featuring a dock on the left side of the screen from which you can launch applications and browse your computer’s file system. In addition, the title bars of windows will be on the menu bar instead of on the window itself.

See more here.

LG and Ncomputing Join Forces

If you are into maximizing your existing hardware, then Ncomputing may be the right product for you.  If you are into maximizing your hardware and integrating an additional workstations into the LCD monitors, then the LG Smartvine lineup may be for you.

Ncomputing has recently been deployed in several areas of Cedarburg School District. A full 32 seat computer lab has been setup using only 8 PCs and the X350 model Ncomputing product. 6 workstations can be added to a classroom environment by using only 1 Host machine. If you are not famaliar with Ncomputing, “NComputing is the fastest growing provider of virtual desktops in the world and its technology is based on a simple fact: today’s computers are so powerful that the vast majority of applications use only a small fraction of the computer’s capacity. NComputing technology enables a single PC or server to be virtualized so that many users can tap the unused capacity and share it as if each person had their own computer.”

This technology has now been integrated into the LG SmartVine N-Series Monitors. LG Electronics is embedding NComputing virtualization circuitry inside the new SmartVine N-series monitors. Users connect their keyboards and mice directly to the monitor, which then connects to the host PC via a standard cable. An NComputing X550 PCI Card Kit with vSpace software enables the host PC to connect to five additional monitors. With two kits, a total of 11 users can share one PC.

In the United States, the LG SmartVine N-series line will include 17 and 19-inch* class monitors (models N1742L-BF and N1941W-PF) covering both standard and widescreen resolutions. A 16-inch* class model will also be available in other countries. All LG SmartVine N-series monitors can also be used as traditional monitors that connect through VGA for ultimate flexibility. These monitors will be marketed worldwide by LG beginning this month.

Features

• Cost Effective Multi-User Computing Solution
• Integrated Virtual Desktop Access Technology
• Remarkable 8,000:1 (DFC) Contrast Ratio
• 5ms Response Time
• f-ENGINE™ (picture-quality enhancing chip)
• Built-In Speakers
• Energy Star® Compliant
• Tilt Adjustable Stand
• Dual Input (VGA + X-port)

Check it out for yourself….. This solution can be used in all types of computing environments.

Moodle Themes

Edu Moodle Theme

Moodle Themes database is a great starting point to look for visual enhancements for your Moodle website. Any decent creations posted on the web usually end up in the database list.

There are many other sites out there that have available themes to use such as Themza, Edugeek, and ThemeGurus.

If you are a designer, you can create your own theme or simply alter existing themes to your liking. I have found the edumoodle theme a good fit for our purpose. I have added and edited several aspects of the webpage to blend with our environment.

If any other great sources for new and improved themes are out there, please post the info.

HP DDR2-800 PC2-6400 2GB Memory. Free after $20 mail in rebate

TechOnWeb has 2GB (2x1GB) HP PC2-6400 DDR2-800 Desktop Memory for $14.79 – $14.79 Rebate = Free. Shipping is $3.95. Thanks VNlilMAN
Note: Rebate is for the product cost up to $20. In this case the product cost is $14.79.
Up to 5 rebates per end user individual or company

Must purchase by April 30, 2009 and claim rebate within 30 days.

Product Specifications
——————————————————————————–

Product Description HP memory – 2 GB ( 2 x 1 GB ) – DIMM 240-pin – DDR2
Storage Capacity 2 GB ( 2 x 1 GB )
Upgrade Type System specific
Technology DDR2 SDRAM
Form Factor DIMM 240-pin
Memory Speed 800 MHz ( PC2-6400 )
Data Integrity Check Non-ECC
Manufacturer Warranty 1 year warranty