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Pagination in Google Docs

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Tue, 04/12/2011 - 15:53
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It isn’t often that one becomes excited about pagination, but when it’s a feature that makes Google Docs even better, I suppose it’s time. Today, Google announced that word processing documents in Google Docs will display pagination, accurately representing printed pages in the style of Microsoft Word and other word processors. I know lots of students will be excited to finally be able to tell when their 3-page paper is done, without having to do a print preview. 



Amazon Tablet rumors

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 15:24
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While there’s no hard evidence, I’ve seen rumors around the ’net that make me think this worth betting on. Amazon has all the infrastructure in place to support a tablet, especially after the launch of its very own Android Appstore last week. Amazon is one of the very few companies that has the content deals in place to feed a tablet, and with the cost of their flagship product (the Kindle eReader) going down, it makes sense for Amazon to think about the next stage of content on portable devices.

Think about it: Amazon has its own Appstore, still has the largest eBook selection in the world, and can stream or download movies and music. They clearly know how to produce hardware. I’m going to make a wild guess, and bet that we see Amazon launch its own Android-based tablet for sale this calendar year, probably in time for the 2011 holiday season.

Someone bookmark this, and call me out if I’m wrong in nine months. :-)



3D models from a cellphone camera

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Thu, 03/24/2011 - 10:55
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Microsoft Research has demoed a technology that converts a series of 2-dimensional photos of an object into a 3-dimensional model of that object. From the article:

“We also have to calculate the actual depth of objects from the stereo effect,” says Stollnitz, “comparing how they appear in different photos.” His software uses what it learns through that process to break each image apart and spread what it captures through virtual 3-D space (see video, below). The pieces from different photos are stitched together on the fly as a person navigates around the virtual space to generate his current viewpoint, creating the same view that would be seen if he were walking around the object in physical space.

I’m most interested in this sort of technology when it’s combined with my recent obsession, 3D printing. Libraries are starting to pay attention to this new technology…I had a chance to talk with Sarah Houghton-Jan, the assistant director for the San Rafael Public Library and better known online as the Librarian in Black. San Rafael is about to purchase a MakerBot for its tech area, and will be running programs on how to use it for their patrons. I can’t wait to get more information about how the patrons take to it.

When you can use your cellphone to “scan” a 3D object and then walk over to your PC and print a model of that object, what sort of things will we be able to do? How does our idea of ownership of objects change in a world like that? What can libraries do to be a part of this new, Star Trek–esque technology?



Sprint and Google get cozy

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Mon, 03/21/2011 - 10:18
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Google and Sprint are getting cozy these days, having made two big announcements today. The first is a major phone announcement, the Nexus S 4G for Sprint. It’s a “Google Experience” phone, running the stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread experience and includes a WiMax radio for an actual 4G experience in the markets where Sprint has that service live. 

The second announcement was the integration of Sprint phones with Google Voice. This is the first time that full Google Voice abilities have been available without porting our number to Google. This is a big deal, mainly because it was never even a possibility before, and it will be interesting to see if Google extends this possibility to other carriers or even to standard telephone service.



Android-based iPod Touch equivalent?

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 09:45
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It is hard to believe that no one has produced an Android-based answer to the iPod Touch yet. There have been a few attempts (Archos comes to mind) but none thus far have had access to the standard set of Google apps. Android without gMail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and access to the Android Marketplace…well, to say that it’s crippled is an understatement. 

However, that looks like it might change with the release of the Samsung Galaxy Player 4 and Galaxy Player 5 this spring. As the first non-cellphone full Android devices at this size, I’m hoping that these are priced competitively. I for one would love to have an Android device that didn’t have to have a cell contract behind it.



DIY Usability Testing on a Shoestring Budget

Submitted by Sean Fitzpatrick on Thu, 03/17/2011 - 09:00
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Usability testing lab.

Site build projects often include many stakeholders—developers, designers, marketing staff, and managers make up the core of most teams—and they all have different objectives and different personal stakes in the project.



Motorola Xoom launch official - March 27th

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Wed, 03/16/2011 - 14:50
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It's finally official…the Motorola Xoom Android tablet wifi edition is coming to retail stores on March 27th for $599. Engadget is reporting that you'll be able to find these nearly everywhere: Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Staples and Walmart are all getting in on the Android action.

The Xoom is an impressive piece of hardware, and is certainly the best of the Android tablets yet available…but that's currently a pretty thin crowd, and it still doesn't have the sort of "why buy me" answers that the iPad 2 has. I like the Xoom a lot, and Motorola has a good track record with Android devices. But I think the next few months are going to be pretty rough for all of the upcoming Honeycomb tablets.

UPDATE: The Xoom is now available for pre-order via Amazon and other retailers.



DrupalCon 2011: The Future is Greater Than Features

Submitted by Sean Fitzpatrick on Wed, 03/09/2011 - 15:02
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Dries Buytaert at DrupalCon 2011. Photo by lcbynet.

Just a couple months after Drupal rolled out its seventh version, project lead Dries Buytaert kicked off the 2011 DrupalCon Chicago March 8 with a keynote talk on Drupal 8.



Apple iPad - Year One

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Sun, 03/06/2011 - 23:40
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You might have heard that last week, Apple announced the follow-up to its iPad, the iPad 2. There's a lot to say about the iPad 2, but I'm going to hold off until I actually get to hold one before I write about it. Below, however, is the promotional video that Apple put together for the iPad, and it's worth a watch, if only to see the extraordinary ways that they are being used around the world.



Pelican Cases

Submitted by Jason Griffey on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 22:46
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Pelican iPad case

I’ve talked a bit about the gadgets that I love, and about the new ones that I saw at CES, but I haven’t really ever talked about the accouterments for the gadgets—The cases, or bags, or other accessories that make dealing with the gadgets a little easier. So I’m going to talk about a few of them this week, starting with my favorite massively protective these-cases-could-stop-bullets manufacturer: Pelican Cases.

If you need a case for any random electronic thing, from an iPod all the way up to audio gear for a major music tour, Pelican has the case for you. Their cases are manufactured out of the toughest plastic you'll ever need, and the foam inserts are either pre-molded to the gear you specify or can be customized by you to fit what you need. The example to the left there is a demo unit they had at CES 2011 that carries the Apple Bluetooth keyboard, iPad, power adapter and cable, and earbuds and folds up with a handle to be carried like a small briefcase. They didn’t know when they would have this particular piece available for sale, but it’s on my list of “keep my eyes open for” because it was thoughtfully designed, and very useful if you travel.

I have suggested Pelican Cases to libraries that have asked me for a rugged solution to put “kits” of electronics in (maybe a video streaming kit, or a podcasting kit, etc). Pelican cases are, admittedly, expensive … but they are built like tanks and will last forever. Check them out if you’re in need of a good case for something.