From the category archives:

Technology

Tuesday Tech Tips

by Michael Krupa on August 22, 2011

I don’t want anyone to accuse me of providing just iPhone or Google tips so I am continuing my random tips theme.  In other words, don’t try to find the thread that binds these tips together.

Boxee Box, HTPC, Xbox, Apple TV, Roku, OH MY! Trying to figure out which Set-Top On-Demand box might be best for you to get your entertainment on your terms? Head over to Lifehacker where they put together a quick review of what they believe is the 5 best Set-Top boxes for On-Demand video.

Now that you read that Lifehacker Set-Top review you might be saying: Hey Mike, didn’t Roku just announce new devices?  Good catch but don’t worry I didn’t forget.  Our friends over at Zats Not Funny have all the information in their Roku 2 Review.

Wondering what the next version of Windows might look like?  Have you been paying attention to Windows Phone 7?  Hello? Check out this first look at Windows 8 new user interface.  Looks like Microsoft may finally have a tablet appropriate OS.

Speaking of Windows Phone 7, Nokia let it slip that their upcoming N9 MeeGo phone will soon be running Windows Phone 7.  The N9 is a stunning looking single piece designed phone. Paul Thurrot has all the technical details at his site and I tracked down the “secret” video presentation of the N9 running Windows Phone 7.

Copy and paste images from the clipboard into Gmail is finally here. I repeat copy and paste images from the clipboard is finally here.  There is of course one teeny tiny little requirement to make this work. You need to be running the Google Chrome browser.  The Gmail blog has all the information regarding this new feature.

Thinking about getting a new flat screen television (or maybe 2)? Did you head over to your local electronics superstore and have a meltdown trying to figure out which type might be best?  PCMag.com has a great article for you called Plasma vs. LCD vs. LED: Which HDTV Type is Best?  Go read it now but if you end up buying a rear-projection TV, please don’t tell anybody.

s-UFO-SO-AFRICA-2A-largeI leave you with this out of the world tech tip. UFOs exist and you can see them clearly using Google Earth.  Nuff said.

{ 2 comments }

Ding Ding Ding: Google+ Roundup Time

by Michael Krupa on July 29, 2011

I’m too busy trying to keep up on Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter/MySpace/BeKnown/BranchOut to find time to write up my thoughts on Google+. Fortunately many of my Blogger buddies did find time to write about Google+ so I thought I would share some of these posts with you.

Rather than saving the best for last, I’m going to put it right up front with the fantabulous post from Kelly Dingee on how she is TOTALLY geeking out over Google+:

But Google+…it makes me smile. I’m like a moth to the flame with this one, I just can’t stay away. I’ve seen a lot of blogs on how great it is for recruiting because of the core features like hangouts and sparks and circles. Sure, there’s huge potential there, but I think that’s just looking at Google+ in a very surface sort of manner.

Pay attention to Kelly’s post and read EVERY word.  This is one of the best examples of thinking outside of the box for using Google+. She also provides some tips on searching profiles and a link to pimping out your Google+ profile design.  Seriously, you don’t want to miss this post.

On the other end of the spectrum our intrepid HR Technology blogger, Steve Boese, is not sure what to do with Google+.

I kind of like Google Plus, but I also really don’t know what if anything I’ll ever do with it, and that any time I spend there is time I’m not doing something else.

And yet Steve does write near the beginning of his post some of the reasons people will use Google+.

Plus seems to fit nicely into a gap that many users of more established social networks feel exists, making it easier and simpler to share status updates, contents, images, etc. with discrete ‘circles’ of friends and contacts, positioning Plus less of a broadcast medium like Twitter, while offering better (at least ostensibly), control over data privacy, and possessing more potential for meaningful engagement than on Facebook.

It will be interesting to see how long Steve will be able to hold out on Google+. It’s a shiny new object and I know deep down inside that Google+ is calling to him.

Not surprisingly Laurie Ruettimann has chimed in with her take on Google+ and verdict is…wait for it…wait for it…”It’s okay”.  Umm, okay thanks.  Actually Laurie continues on to talk about social media and technology in our lives.  I love her final thoughts.

So what do I really think of Google+? I don’t care. The platform doesn’t matter because I’m pretty sure Google+ can do anything we want it to do.

We should dream bigger.

Rounding out the reviews is Chris Ferdinandi with his I want to love Google Plus (but I don’t) post.

Why not? It’s my least favorite things about Twitter and Facebook rolled into one site. It’s a beautifully designed network that I hate to use.

Ouch. Chris goes on the say the Google+ is too much like Twitter and Facebook and doesn’t solve a problem he has with Twitter and Facebook.  However Chris does give major props to Google on Privacy and data:

I will hand it to Google on this one – it’s a LOT easier to control your privacy and download your data on Google+ than on Facebook, and with more nuance than on Twitter.

Make sure you read all the comments on his post to catch the debate on the post contents.

So what have learned?  As usual if you ask for the opinion of four bloggers you will get four different answers.  What do YOU think about Google+? Leave a comment and let me know.

{ 8 comments }

Is HR Technology Conference Co-Chair Bill Kutik The Dos Equis Man?

by Michael Krupa on July 17, 2011

 

Is the HR Technology Conference co-chair Bill Kutik the Most Interesting Man in the World?  Here are some quotes that describe the Dos Equis man:

  • He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels.
  • He co-chairs the HR Technology Conference just because he can.
  • You can see his charisma from space.
  • His charisma compels people to write blog posts about the HR Technology Conference.
  • His business card just says, “I’ll call you.”
  • His tacos refuse to fall from the shell.
  • His personality is so magnetic, he is unable to carry credit cards.
  • Even his enemies list him as their emergency contact number.
  • He is so generous that by using Promotion Code INFOBOX11 you get $500 off the conference rack rate.
  • He once engaged in a staring contest with a fish and won:

 

This sure sounds like Bill Kutik to me but let’s talk about more pressing matters.

This year is the 14th annual conference and Bill tells me it’s going to be the largest and most exciting yet with an incredible, educational and entertaining speaker line-up. Speaking of speaker line-up, I will be participating again on the Second Annual Social Media Panel where my cohorts will be tackling all your sticky social media deployment questions (in an incredible, educational and entertaining way of course). So for goodness sakes don’t miss our session. But wait, there’s more. Don’t miss the Great Technology Debate between Naomi Bloom and Jason Averbook, the Expert Discussions, the public debut of the 14th annual CedarCrestone HR Systems Survey by Lexy Martin and the always popular Awesome New Technologies for HR. Oh and don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes to walk the expo floor where you can get hands-on demonstrations and one-on-one Q&A from tons and tons of vendors. All this can be yours for $500 off the conference rack rate by using promo code INFOBOX11 (all caps).

Got an HR Technology question or a problem? Everyone you need to know to answer your question or solve your problem will be there. Did I mention that all your favorite HR Technology Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, BeKnown,  BranchOut and Google+ peeps will be at the conference? Frankly you can’t afford not to be there.  As I said in my post-conference blog post from last year:

“I met CEOs, HR Bloggers, Industry Titans, Consultants, HR Professionals and Techies. I can’t think of any other conference where you have such easy access to such a diverse group of people.”

If you still need more information, you can download the PDF of the full conference brochure, read the post-conference blog posts from last year’s conference or forget all that and just take my word. I’m trustworthy. Right? Don’t forget my promo code of INFOBOX11 (all caps) to get $500 off the rack rate of $1,795. But don’t wait as this promo code expires on September 19th. If I still have not convinced you that you must register this very instant, here are 10 more reasons to attend the conference presented by Bill Kutik:

Go register now while I open a nice cold bottle of Dos Equis and ponder The Most Interesting Man In The World …  Bill Kutik … the HR Technology Conference.

{ 1 comment }

Tuesday Tech Tips

by Michael Krupa on May 23, 2011

Are you a big fan of Google Maps and feel like the Maps application on your iPhone is falling behind in functionality?  Maybe you would like to access your starred locations and My Maps data stored in your Google Account. Whatever your reason, Google has enhanced Google Maps for mobile browsers on Android and iOS.  Just visit maps.google.com on your phone or tablet browser and stare in awe of what Google has accomplished in HTML instead of a dedicated app.

So my dear iPhone owners and frequent flyers…would you like a highly interactive app where “you can track your flight, recalculate your remaining flight time and flight position, and learn more about key landmarks and geographic areas you’re flying over”?  (I love it when a vendor provides tech tips copy for me).  If so, you might want to check out all the details on the iPhone WindowsSeat app and see if this one is for you. Looks like they have a paid app for $2.99 and free app that covers a limited number of cities.

Are you one of those people who have a need to print from your mobile device but don’t want to have to install software for printing?  I’m a little late notifying you about this but Google has a service called Google Cloud Print that will do just that.  Head over to the Google Mobile Blog to read all the details.

As our social network continues expanding, the ability to keep up with all the noise can become overwhelming.  Twitter already has the ability to create lists but surprisingly many people are not aware that Facebook has a similar list capability.  Lifehacker has a quick write up on creating and using Facebook lists.  It’s only a couple of paragraphs so go read it now. Scoot.

I have had terrible luck this last year with hard drives failing on me.  I wish I had come across this website on hard drive sounds earlier.  Most hard drives start to make specific sounds when they are failing and Data Cert has created a database of sounds for each brand of drive to help you understand what might be happening with your drive when you think you hear sounds that just don’t quite sound right to you.

zaa29443And finally, I leave you with one of the most interesting toilets I have seen in a long time. It’s called the Kohler Numi and this illuminated, electrified, spritzing, heated and wireless remote control device will only set you back a cool $6300. I’ll take 2.

{ 2 comments }

Firesheep: You Need To Read This

January 23, 2011

Pay attention my fellow readers.  I know many of you travel or spend time in coffee shops and access free Wi-Fi hotspots but there is a danger lurking out there.   Developer Eric Butler has created a Firefox extension called Firesheep. This free Firefox extension collects cookies that have been broadcast over an unprotected Wi-Fi network [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Frustrated with iPhone 4? Don’t jump ship too quickly.

July 26, 2010

I have noticed a high number of tweets, blog posts and news stories about people returning their iPhone’s and jumping ship to Verizon or Sprint.  People are unhappy with the AT&T cell phone network and with the new iPhone 4. I have been on the AT&T cell phone network forever. My association with AT&T started [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Tuesday Tech Tips

July 13, 2010

It’s been a busy week in the technology tips world.  In fact I might have to hold a few back for next weeks blog post.  So let’s get on with it, shall we? I know that the majority of the people who read this blog travel to conferences on a pretty regular basis and many [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Tuesday Tech Tips

June 29, 2010

Hey!  It’s that day of the week again.  I’m sure you all checked your email or RSS feed this morning for your Tuesday Tech Tips, saw a big blank hole of information and wondered how you would make it through the day.  Don’t worry my little pets, I am a bit distracted this week due [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Tuesday Tech Tips

June 22, 2010

Holy cow, it’s Tuesday again!  Last week I decided to share some general technology tips with you and with any luck I hope to do this every Tuesday. So without further adieu here are today’s tech tips: Thinking about using Google Apps for your business email?  Those lovely people at the Googleplex have put together [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Tuesday Tech Tips

June 14, 2010

While talking to a few people recently and comparing our Google Reader subscriptions and trends, I discovered that I read a lot more technology sites than the average reader of my blog.  So I figured I should put all that reading time to good use and share some of my technology goodies with you all. [...]

5 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries