The Lazy Days of Summer

For a teacher?  Yeah, right.

While my hopes is that summer is relaxing, refreshing and rejuvenating, I understand the fundamental nature of teaching (and LMS) as a profession...summer is a time to catch up on all the things you didn't have time for during the year, training, training and more training, and career enrichment activities.

Here are a couple of "easy" tech-suggestions that you can do while actually "lazing" around the pool this summer that will make your life easier.

1.  Set up a Box account.  Box is an online file storage site that allows you to upload files, store them safely online and share them with others.  Box also has iOS and Android apps for all types of devices as well as a Google Chrome app.  The beauty of Box is that files are easily viewable on all of your devices.  You will start with 5GB of storage space (similar to Google Drive), but over the course of the year, they offer 50GB of storage frequently.  50GB is a ton of space.

• Family Photos
• Home Videos
• Important Documents

2.  Read a techie blog or website regularly.  Those of you who know me well know I read Mashable everyday, but there are lots of others:

• Mashable
• FreeTech4Teachers
• CNN Technology
• MacAppStorm
• So many others...

3.  Start blogging yourself!  Trust me it's fun (I am hoping for you), therapeutic (at least for me) and  informational.  You have so much knowledge to share...share it. 

4.  Spend 10 minutes a day looking through apps for your iPad/iPhone or Android device.  Even if you don't find any, you will at least know what you don't like.  Call it "internal" review.

AND...enjoy the summer, hot weather and all.

A Slap of Reality

Absolutely the best graduation speech I have heard...

What do you think?

Did I Just Say That?

I am going to say something controversial, apocalyptic and it might upset people.

I don't like iPhones.

(I am waiting for lightning to strike or a fissure to open beneath my desk, hang on...)

I said it.  I don't like iPhones.  I appreciate everything that Apple, iPhones and Steve Jobs has done for computational design and the tech market, but I still don't like iPhones.

My colleagues, when I tell them of this dislike, say "but you're an Apple guy."  Right.  I love the iPad and I am trying to get a MacBook by hook or by crook, but still don't like the iPhone.  I am not trying to dissuade you from purchasing one or enjoying the one you might have, because they are really nice devices.  My wife has a 4 (pre-Siri) and it works nicely.  The mockup of the iPhone 5 looks slick as well.  So what's my deal?

Meet my new best friend

The Droid Razr Maxx (enter O Fortuna from Carmina Barana or the Exorcist, I guess).  Please play while reading the next part...impressive.

Yes, the MAXX. 

The "WOW" of the Maxx:

• Reception is the best I have ever heard...specially considering my office is in the basement (read that no windows) of the Polk Library.
• Droid operating system is incredible...Google developed...Upgrade to ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system (end of June) will make this so much sweeter.
• Battery life is longer than I know.  I have used it for two whole days as a "heavy" user trial and got down to 30%.  I haven't been under that yet.
• Super AMOLed OLED screen...greater colors, faster (not choppy) playbacks and no backlight required which uses less power.  This is HD viewing...on a phone.
• Camera and video camera are awesome.
• Expandable memory through microSD card
• More, so very much more...

I am slowly approaching the point where I use my phone for computing more than my iPad. 

As a note, stay away from the Droid Razr.  Dealers will try to sell you one, but with so many high resolution graphics, 4G access, etc...the battery life of a normal user is about 4 hours.  They will also include a battery backup, but seriously, do you want to make calls with this plugged to your phone? 

I have seen it done.

If you love your iPhone...awesome.  The point with all of this Razr-love I have going on is to test out other, even non-Apple, products occasionally.  You will be surprised what you find.