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Apr 27 2009

Ditch Your Browser

The web browser has long been our window to the services of the Internet. But a new crop of applications allows us to circumvent the browser.

mu Ditch Your BrowserAmazonShopper

Get tired of waiting for Amazon.com to load up its 2 million cookies just to check the going price of a new DVD? This app lets you browse Amazon’s vast catalogues complete with pictures and descriptions.

mu Ditch Your BrowserGooglification

Here’s an interesting one. This app, which requires you to get a free Google API key, tracks the number of search results for various queries. Sounds weird huh? Well in so doing you can track search terms, such as your name, and get an idea of who is linking to your site.

mu Ditch Your BrowserjBidWatcher

To tell you the truth, java apps like this bug me because they are slow and usually lacking in interface. However, I haven’t been able to find another eBay bid watcher that’s free. Actually, given the functionality (including the ability to “snipe” bids at the last minute), jBid could be very useful to eBay sharks.

mu Ditch Your BrowserXjournal

I know last time I went over desktop apps that let you post to your blog. Here’s a similar client to access you LiveJournal. If LiveJournal is your blog of choice, you’ll want to check out these features. (if you’re using OS 9 try Phoenix.

I hope you’ll find that some of this week’s picks save you a Safari trip. If not, try back next week for more great free software.

For some after-show fun, stop by my blog. It’s like Oprah minus the diet.

mu Ditch Your BrowserDownloads provided by MacUpdate

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Apr 27 2009

Moblogging–Wardriver style

“According to the Oxford-English dictionary, the word ‘snapshot’ was
first used
in 1808 by an English sportsman by the name of Sir Andrew Hocker.
He noted in his diary
that every bird he shot that day was taken by snapshot.
meaning a hurried shot,
without deliberate aim. Snapshot then… was originally
a hunting term.”
-One Hour Photo

Over a month ago I
announced that the articles formerly known as “Road Warrior Wednesday”
would take a new name to depict the “edge” that it was intended to
ooze. Since that time I have brought you such terrifying and controversial topics
as USB gadgets, messenger bags and presentation remotes. I know, I haven’t been
keeping up my end of the bargain. Well, this time around, I”m hoping to ruffle
a few more feathers…we’re going MobloggingóWardriver style.

Moblogging?
Moblogging is short for “mobile blogging” which, in tern, is short
for “mobile web logging” It is a activity practiced by a growning
number of people who form a community of web sites that document the events
and experiences of the various lives through the use of digital cameras both
standalone and those that come with some of the latest mobile phones. Mobloggers
take these snapshots and post them on their web sites. They often offer insites
into the meaning the particular image has for them and invite you, the visitor
to leave a comment of your own.

I’ve been moblogging
for a few months now as part of my
personal blog. And, of course, I invite you to get involved and interact
with me there also. But today I have another activity in mind.

Warchalking?
Warchalking is commonly
conducted in the course of wardriving. (If you don’t know what wardriving is,
why are you here? Okay, it’s when you drive around looking for open wireless
internet connections. Happy now?!) A wifi hotspot is often chalked with a symbol
to denote the type of access, the degree of protection that is in play, the
quality of that signal and sometimes the distance to the actual access point
from the chalk mark. That is warchalking.

Moblogging Wardriver style
Now this is a bit of an experiment and how well it works is entirely up to you
wardrivers. What I propose is that you go out wardriving and when you find a
nice, free, unprotected hotspot that, instead of pulling out your chalk and
marking the sidewalk, take out a camera and email
it to the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog. Here’s how:

Take a picture of the building from which the discovered signal is
emitting.

Attach that image to an email
message addressed to the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog.

In the subject line of that email, enter the name of the signals location.

Use wardriving software like MacStumbler or iStumbler to find out the
name of the access point (the SSID), the channel the access point is using,
the signal strength, whether or not it is protected by WEP and the type
of router. Also take note of your physical location; the street you’re
on and the address of the building that houses the wifi signal. If you
want to get really high tech, use a GPS unit to find your global location
or enter the street address online at Maporama.com.

Now, in the body of the email, type the information you gathered thusly
(replacing the italicized parts with your own information):

SSID = Name of access pointChannel = Channel numberSignal = Signal strengthWEP = WEP protected? Yes or No?Router = Router ManufacturerLocation = City, State/Prov, Country(GPS location)

Submit that email and watch for your submission
to appear on the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog.

Again, for this idea to work it hinges on the participation of you wardrivers
out there. Get out there and photograph your local hotspots (protected or unprotected,
public or private) and send submit them as I have detailed ablove. The most
recent submission appears below:

Keep an eye on the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog for wifi hotspots in your area.

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Apr 27 2009

More Free Web Services

We’ve covered some of my favorite free web services. Today we’ll look at a couple new ones.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn was created by a former executive from PayPal. This “social networking” system allows you to connect with potential employers, contractors and employees. We all know that networking is the most effective means of finding a job, not you can do something about it.

Currently, LinkedIn is in its beta phase, which means all services are free. In the future, signups will be free, but requesting links from strangers will cost. So, now is the time to sign up and build that network.

How does it work? Easy: You sign up, fill out a short profile and then you invite all your professional contacts to join you, building your network. Then you go out on a limb and search for people with whom you’d like to connect. For example, if you search the keyword “MacMerc” I will come up, and you will be able to send a request to me to join my network.

WebShots

If sharing photos is more your style, you’ll want to check out WebShots.com. This service is currently beta-testing a Mac desktop client (OS 8/9 and X). Their stand-alone application is truthfully pretty sad. But the service is worth looking into. They allow you to share 10 albums of 24 pictures each for free. These pictures can be large as they expect them to be used as your desktop.

WebShots also has gigabytes of others’ pictures, including some professional ones, from which you can freely download (up to 5 a day). WebShots also makes it easy to share your personal albums with others and tracks viewer statistics.

Now get out there, get yourself plugged into the network and share your pictures online!

I’ll see you in the social pipeline,

Brian

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