SMS - a motivator for people to use Google Calendar

Very very cool feature, may be a motivator for people to use Google Calendar.

According to "Create an event via SMS - Google Calendar Help"...

To create an event on your primary calendar via SMS, simply send a text message containing your event's details to the shortcode "GVENT (48368)."

For example, if you send a message with something like "Shopping with Sarah at Monterey Market 5pm Saturday," Google Calendar can figure out what you mean and pop the new event into your calendar.

Social Media in Plain English

Mozilla Browser Maintenance and Repair

Here are some resources to help in the maintenance and repair of Mozilla browsers (e.g. Firefox, Flock):

• Mozilla - ask, help, support, forum
• MozillaZine - Knowledge Base (e.g. Frequently encountered issues and how to fix them.)
• Flock - at-a-glance(2.5), faq, help, support, forum(@getstatisfaction), safe-mode, Supported Services, user guide
• Firefox - support
• Repair/maintenance, for Firefox and for Flock: safe mode*, Profile Manager**
• extension: listing

* e.g. for Flock on Windows: flock.exe -safe-mode
Mac OS X: /Applications/flock.app/Contents/MacOS/flock -safe-mode

** e.g. for Firefox on Windows: firefox.exe -profilemanager
Mac OS X: /Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/MacOS/firefox -profilemanager

Tired of Ads? Got Adblock?

If you use a Mozilla browser (e.g. Firefox, Flock), you can block ads using the Adblock Plus Add-On.

What is a bookmarklet?

A bookmarklet is a browser bookmark (or favorite) that "does something" when it is clicked on.

For example, Google Translation bookmarklet, when used will translate the current web page to the language of your choice.

"Get translations with a single click by adding one of the buttons below to your browser's toolbar. Then whenever you want to translate a webpage you're viewing, just click the button. You can translate any part of the page by selecting that part before you click.

To add a button, drag it from this page to your browser's toolbar"

Want more bookmarklets?

Here are some of my favorite bookmarklets:

• Google Translation bookmarklet - "whenever you want to translate a webpage you're viewing, just click the [bookmarklet]"
• Delicious bookmarklet - "Why do I need a bookmarklet"
• Shorten URL bookmarklet - see "Bookmarklet section of is.gd/instructions.php
• more...

What is your favorite bookmarklet?

Want to create a custom short URL?

Many URL shortening services are available. Some offer the ability for the user to create a custom short URL. For example, cli.gs offers this feature (custom short URL).

To make a custom short URL using cli.gs...

1. Register with cli.gs to create a new account
2. Go to the Cligs Tools page. Look for "Shorten Link @ Cli.gs". Drag the "Shorten Link @ Cli.gs" bookmarklet link to your browser bookmarks/favorites.
   
3. Navigate to the page, where you want to send people to
4. In your bookmarks/favorites, click on the cli.gs bookmarklet ("Shorten Link @ Cli.gs")
5. In the "Create New Clig" window that opens, make sure that you were/are logged in to Cligs. If you are not, it will say "You are not logged in". If you are not logged in, login.
   
6. Click on the "Edit this clig" button, to begin the process of creating the custom short URL
7. Replace the autogenerated short URL, at the end of "Rename clig to http://cli.gs/", with the desired custom short URL
8. Click "Rename Clig"

Now, since you have a Cli.gs account, you can repeat steps 3 through 8 to create more custom short URLs.

Been searching for a ToDo solution? Me too.

For ToDo / Tasks solutions, the keys, to me, are easy accessibility and ease of use. Is it accessible from a browser button, from a browser toolbar, from a gadget/widget, from your mobile devices? Is it easy to use and maintain?

I have not settled on one solution yet, but here are some that I'm checking out:

• Some email systems have Todo / Tasks built-in. Both Gmail and Outlook have "Tasks" features.
• Remember The Milk has Tasks, that can be integrated with Gmail.
• Toodledo "has a number of widgets and gadgets that you can use to integrate your tasks into other websites or services" - Source: Tooldledo Widgets and Gadgets
• MiniTask "is a FREE, fast and easy-to-use task management application that helps you with organising your daily todos more efficiently"
• reQall let's you "Use your voice, email, instant messaging, or text messaging. No other memory tool makes it as easy to capture, retrieve, and share ideas and things you need to do—anywhere, anytime." Compare reQall (free) and reQall PRO ($2.99/month or $24.99/year). More about reQall.

What is your favorite and why?

Bored? Don't get out much? What to explore the web? Time for StumbleUpon

Image via Wikipedia

One easy way to find new stuff on the web is to use StumbleUpon...

1. Create an account
2. Select/manage your "interests" (from your Profile), and then
   
3. Use StumbleUpon to randomly go to a page based on your interests, or based on a particular interest.

To learn more, watch this demo.

Want Help?

My passion for Social Media leads me to want to help others with their exploration and use of Social Media and the web, in general. Coaching, evangelizing, mentoring, etc. Contact me via Twitter, and we can get started. No charge. Just for the joy of giving.

From Coach4SM

One Super Profile

Image via CrunchBase

Having a single place to go to see all of your profiles can help you and those with whom you connect. A "Super Profile", if you will. I have started with a Google Profile* and have set up a Retaggr** profile.

• Here's my Google Profile: www.google.com/profiles/erich13
• An here are my Retaggr Page, Card, and Click-to-add-me links.

Are there any other super profiles out there?

my retaggr card

* "Once you create your profile, Google will automatically suggest links to some of the Google products you currently use", but for non-Google products, you are required that you know your various account profiles throughout the web

** Retaggr gives you a long list of suggested social sites for which you may have an account.

Twitter is microblogging, right?

Image via CrunchBase

Twitter is microblogging, right?

But what does that mean, and is it entirely accurate? Is Twitter a fad? What sets Twitter apart?

• Per Wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter...
  • Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow anybody to access them. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. The service is free to use over the Internet, but using SMS may incur phone service provider fees.
• In my opinion...
• Twitter breaks down the hierarchy (e.g. you can tweet directly to the author of something, to give feedback)
• Twitter is a hybrid amongst chat/IM, feedback, news, marketing, and status (with public and private history).
• Twitter is not email.
• Twitter is dipping into the watercooler, to snatch a bit of thought (ideas), humor, or new things that you haven't heard of.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Twitter should be flattered that Facebook's makeover aligned its functionality and appearance to that of Twitter. And BTW, I have feed my Twitter feed into my Facebook update stream, using the Facebook | Twitter app.

If you don't already have a Twitter account, you can join for free.

For more about Twitter, see cli.gs/my-about-twitter.

Under Construction

Stay tuned.