MCLC Library Tech Talk

Resources for Video Conferencing

Vinny Alascia — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:51:01 +0000

At our last meeting we discussed the ins and outs of using Google Hangouts for video conferencing. This week Google just announced some updates and changes to the service, making it even easier to use. http://mashable.com/2013/05/16/google-hangouts-app-analysis/

Here is the resource list on video conferencing that Robin put together. Communicating Through Video Conferencing

Is the End of Google Reader the End of RSS

Vinny Alascia — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:17:36 +0000

Last week Google announced that Google Reader would reach end of life status as of July 1. The internet responded with it’s usual bombast, hand wringing and general spectacle. Tech sites were quick to point out that usage of Reader has largely fallen away and new social media such as Twitter do a better job anyway and have quickly posted lists of viable alternatives to Google Reader, (Life Hacker, C|net, PCWorld, ExtremeTech to name a few). Myself, I have moved on to Feedly. I like the interface and the mobile apps look good on both my phone and tablet. The biggest plus had to be the transition was as simple as simple could be. I have used Pulse and currently Flipboard (two other often mentioned alternatives). These apps are very attractive and cover most of the news feeds you would be looking for. Still, I find them a little distracting to use on a day to day basis.

All this talk about alternatives does bring up one question. Does anyone still use RSS? Obviously the writers for many of the websites mentioned above do, but what about everyone else? Twitter has been named as the most logical replacement for what RSS provided. Certainly the community of Twitterers, (is that a real world), come very close to this application of the technology. Rather than going away has RSS simply grown up and moved onto a more social version of itself? If the goal is to have news and interesting websites pushed to you Twitter certainly can do that, but what about the articles? I liked the summary feature in RSS that let me read the first few lines or in some cases all of the article. You are not going to do that in 140 characters. You sometimes cannot even get the URL to fit in 140 characters. So to reiterate I will not be using Twitter as my Reader / RSS alternative. So where does that leave RSS technology, on the back page of our web history book or still in a very viable table of contents? At this point I really do not know. What do you think?

Meeting Reminder

Vinny Alascia — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:09:07 +0000

Our meeting this month will be on Thursday February 28, at the Burton Bar Library. The topic will be Reference services from the cloud. See you all there.

2012 MCLC TechTalk Blog In Review

Vinny Alascia — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:02:46 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. The number of viewers is impressive, but lets work for more discussion for 2013.

Here’s an excerpt:

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner can carry about 250 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,400 times in 2012. If it were a Dreamliner, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Holiday Gadget Party

cathyc — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 04:31:49 +0000

There are three ways to learn about the new gadgets that have come out that patrons (or you) may want for the holidays.

The first is our Holiday Gadget Party at Burton Barr Library this Thursday at 10:30 am. Come get hands on with new gadgets.

Second, Overdrive also has an online presentation this Wednesday and Thursdays that will talk about the new gadgets. Go to http://www.overdrive.com/learningcenter/registration.aspx to find out more and to register.

Third, Overdrive’s blog at http://www.overdriveblogs.com/library has some good reviews of the latest gadgets.

Introducing the Nintendo Wii U

Vinny Alascia — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:51:17 +0000

The past week Nintendo, makers of the DS and Wii, has released a new console. Their name for it is the Wii U and you may have seen some of the commercials already. In terms of video games we are now entering a transition period from the current generation to the next. Nintendo headed off the competition by being the first out with new hardware.

The Wii U represents a lot of firsts for Nintendo and a few for video games in general. It is the first Nintendo console to use HD graphics, the first to feature non-gaming applications and the first with social networking built in. Then there is the tablet controller. Imagine a video game system where the TV is optional. The controller brings a whole host of new options to video game developers. While still in it’s infancy the potential is immense.

You can read more about it in thus review from IGN.com.

Posted from WordPress for Android

Generation Gap Among E-reader Users

Vinny Alascia — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:29:28 +0000

A survey on e-reader preferences released by Pew Research Center showed a distinct difference between the ages of those surveyed and the devices they choose to read on. As reported by KVOA.com younger readers prefer to read e-books on their cellphones while older readers prefer dedicated devices. This is interesting but I think just follows the trend for smartphone adoption. Still as smartphone screen sizes increase and dedicated reader screens decrease the two appear to be converging. Also obvious is the convenience of having that once device that is phone, email, Facebook, audio video player and e-reader all in one. The trade off there, however, is the complexity that such a device brings when compared to a single minded device like a Kindle or Nook. As suggested by, Paidcontent.org the data used in the survey is a year old and may have changed. I would like to see newer data, but I suspect, if anything, the gap may have widened. The survey also shows that teen readers make up the lowest percentage of e-book readers. This may be do to the lack of access to e-books, (that teens want to read), from their school or public libraries. What do you think? The comments section is open.

Looking for 7 Inches of Tablet Bliss?

Vinny Alascia — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:18:32 +0000

This holiday season provides a plethora (how often do you get to use that word) of low cost tablet devices. All the big names are in this party, Amazon, Google, Nook. Were still waiting in the wings for Apple to show it’s mini-me iPad but even then it would be a stretch to hope that they match the $200 price point of these tablets. It looks like a three way fight between the Kindle Fire HD, Nexus 7 and the Barnes and Noble Nook HD. Here are some links to check out.

Huffington Post – How the Best Tablets Compare

PC World – Nook HD vs Fire HD

Business Insider.com – Amazon’s Kindle Fire Just Became a Dud

The best news is now consumers have real choices and can pick the best device for their needs. Still, this is TechTalk so I would be remiss without offering some suggestions to look for when choosing a tablet.

Screen: For a sharper picture higher resolutions are usually better as is a higher number of pixels per inch (ppi) .
Storage: Always look for external storage. Any tablet that doesn’t offer some type of SD card storage should be considered only for email or web browsing.
CPU Ram: A multicore CPU 1.2 to 1.5 Ghz is the norm as is 1 GB of ram. 512 MB will get you by but may be a little pokey.
Operating System: Until Apple shows their hand all these tablets run a variation of Android. The current version is 4.1 (Jelly Bean) but it is only a small upgrade from 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Avoid any tablets still running 3.0 (Honeycomb) unless they are dirt cheap.
Content: Choose your ecosystem. Do you send most of your digital dollars to Google, Amazon or Barnes and Noble? The Nexus 7 will allow you to sample all three, however.
Battery Life: A tablet isn’t very mobile plugged into the wall. These measurements are at best guide so don’t be too critical.

Behind the front desk you would be well advised to familiarize yourself with all three as you can bet your patrons will be coming to you with their new tablets before the smell of Santa’s workshop wears off. Let’s here what you think in the comments section below. What features do you consider before making a choice? What would you recommend to your patrons if asked? What would you buy for your library? What would you want with you on a 6 hour flight to New Jersey?

Apple Emerges Victorious From Court

Vinny Alascia — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:36:08 +0000

You didn’t have to delve too far into the Internet last weekend to come across the big news in gadgetdom. The jury in the Apple v. Samsung trial handed down a verdict in Apple’s favor. I for one had little doubt in this eventual outcome. Nor would I argue that Samsung is completely innocent. I think what is at root here is the nature of innovation and evolution. If you think about it, had Homo Erectus patented walking on two legs, you and I would be forced to crawl around.

What remains to be seen is what Apple does with this judgement. Obviously collecting a fat check is at the top of that list as it should be. That is the “just rewards” of being an innovator. You should profit from your innovations. The dark side of this victory comes when and if Apple decides to use this judgement to limit consumers’ choices by banning Samsung products. (Oops spoke to soon on that one.)

The fallout is where we get to debate the future. Innovation is dead. Apple owns all Smartphones. The Microsoft Windows Phone is looking pretty sweet now. Here is what the editors over at Engadget thought about the verdict. Now the rest of you. Add your comments below.

Business Meeting

Vinny Alascia — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:46:17 +0000

It is time once again to set the plan for the future of Tech Talk. We will hold our annual business meeting Thursday June 28, at 10:30 in the lecture room on the 4th floor of the Burton Barr Library. All are encouraged to attend and bring ideas for what you would like to see covered in the coming year’s meetings.