Google+ for iPhone- Review

Google+ on the iPhone looks fluid and capable upon launching the app from my Social Media folder on my trusty iPhone 4. Loading takes a few seconds and you are presented with a simple user interface with 5 icons on the page. These 5 icons are your lifeline to the ever-expanding Google+ community.

Here you can view your Stream- where the people you follow share their blurbs, articles, photos, etc. (like Facebook's Recent Posts); Photos- where you can view photos from your circles, photos you have already shared and even share photos from your iPhone's Photo Library; Circles- (like your Friends List in Facebook) where you can find someone you are following, go to their page, or search for other Google+ users; Huddle- like Hangouts minus the webcam, where you can search  for one user on Google+ or multiple users and invite them to a chat  (think AOL Chatrooms); and your Profile- which allows you to edit your information and see your posts, photos and personal information. Finally, at the bottom of this home screen of Google+ is a notifications bar that glows red when someone comments or adds you to their circles.

The place where you'll most likely spend an abundance of time is the Stream. In this section there are three pages- Incoming, Circles, and Nearby. Incoming deals with posts from people who have you in their circles and are sharing publicly with you. Circles covers the people that you are following and acts as a feed for the latest information and news from them. Nearby uses your location services to find people around you who are sharing their experiences. And its in this use that I find Google+ to be most innovative. There are a lot of different social apps out there that share what people are doing- sometimes ad nauseum (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) but Google+ takes it a step further by attempting to create communities around you in 3D, by inviting you to read up on what's happening right around you, in the real world, and go participate in it- thus expanding your circles into real-life.

There are some issues with the app that are frustrating- the +1 feature, so prevalant on the web, (think "likes" in Facebook) is relatively non-existent on the app- you may "+1" an article or post, but there is no place for reading what you have "+1"ed- like there is on the web. This is a major portion of the Google+ allure and I believe that it's omission is something that will be addressed in future releases or updates. Additionally, the app freezes often. In the month that I have been using it, it has frozen or crashed at least 6 times- often when swiping down to update. These freezes are often cleared up by clicking the "Home" button and relaunching the app. While they are inconvenient, they don't happen enough to make using the app an unpleasureable experience.

Google+ is no Facebook, but Google+ is all about creating community and increasing your social networking skills by opening your world up to true networking, not just visiting with old friends. This app helps Google to accomplish those tasks with an easy to use interface that is new and at the same time familiar. While there are issues that need to be addressed for future releases, overall this app is very useable and convenient- just like Google.

iWon!- LogMeIn Ignition for iPhone

I recently won the LogMeIn Ignition app from @MacTrast and @LogMeIn on Twitter and absolutely love it. Not only was it free, but it is something I am familiar with. I had, like many others, used the free version for many years to support my family's and friend's computers. This version ups the ante by providing Pro support and access to your computers over both Wi-Fi and 3G.  I was able to cut text I had on my Phone and paste it to my Macbook, this text as a matter of fact. File transfers are easily accomplished via the separate File Transfer screen that allows you to effortlessly find the file and double-click on it to download. The file (a photo @ 1.7 MB) appeared on my iPhone almost instantly. It also allows for operating your computer via your iPhone or iPad, which is actually pretty cool using the innovative user interface which makes great use of the iPhone's pinch and zoom features to make controlling your computer no different than playing Angry Birds.  I am really enjoying the app and look forward to updating this post as I learn more. Finally, you can connect an unlimited number of computers, so you can provide all of your family's IT support from the comfort of your iPhone or iPad, wherever you have Wi-Fi or 3G access. 

I would like to thank @MacTrast for sharing this with me, and LogMeIn Ignition for providing the app.

Ed Tech on Google+

In the last two weeks that I have been on Google+, I have actually enjoyed the techie conversations and dialogues that I have had with people from all walks of life and how they use technology. Thinking that this may translate into my classroom, I created a Circle of Educational Technology professionals that I hope will provide a source of information that may translate into some great integration ideas for my students. So far I have added about 15 people to my Circle (some use it often and some have yet to post) and look to add more as they actually start using Google+. Here is a list so far...(I will add more as I find them...any suggestions send me the names and I'll add them-)

+Bonnie Sutton-

+Miguel Guhlin-

+Esther Wojcicki

+Matthew Peskay

+Jeff Liwag

+Rusty Meyners

+Danny Silva

+Katy Scott

+Susan Bastian

+Robert Chapman

Some of these people are more actively using Google+ than others, but they are all involved in some sort of Educational Technology. All of these folks appear to have a love of integrating technology into education, based on their profiles. Hopefully we can use this new and exciting forum that is Google+ as a tool to share insights about what works, what doesn't and new ideas for integrating technology into our classrooms.

Googlebrities- Google+'s Not-So-Hidden Talent

If you are moving into Google+ after some one has invited you to the party, it can be a very weird place if you are coming in from Facebook. On Google+ there is no shortage of people to add to your Circles...and some of the more interesting and enlightening ones are those of the "Googlers" themselves or as I call them- Googlebrities. These are the people whose passion is evident in every picture, post and hangout on Google+. They are designers, coders, photographers, managers, and anything else you can imagine at Google. They are a great source of information, guidance and work-arounds that make traversing the Google+ environment much easier.

Here are a few to start with-
+Marisa Mayer- VP Local, Maps & Location Services

+Natalie Villalobos- Google+ Community Manager (Replies to questions)

+Vanessa Schneider- Google Community Manager (Posts often and replies to questions)

+Brian Rose- Google+ Photography Community Manager

+Tamiz Ahmed- Google Analytics

+Toby Stein- Google+ Community Manager

+Sergey Brin- Google Co-Founder

+Larry Page- Google, CEO

These are a few of the Googlebrities that I follow on Google+. They have made my 2 weeks on Google+ enjoyable, enlightening, and entertaining. I look forward to future conversations and comments from these hard-working and talented people.

Twitter and Google+: News 2.0

Who needs the 5 'O Clock News? With social media making such headways into mainstream news its easier to find all the news you want- focusing on WHAT YOU WANT- by using social media services that break and report news- all-day, not just at 5 o' clock. Twitter and now, Google+ allow you to get the news that matters to you, without all of the extra bits that you are not interested in. And it all depends on what you want- there is something for everyone...

Here are a few of my favorites-

INSPIRATION- There is no shortage of Inspirational sites out there on the Web, and that goes double for Twitter. Perhaps my favorite is @ralphmarston- whose poetic and intelligent tweets truly inspire. Another inspirational follow is @unclerush- Russell Simmons of Def Jam- great quotes- usually out of his own books or the @DalaiLama. The Alchemist author @PauloCoelho is another inspiring author using Twitter to spread his positive energy.

NEWS!- I love the fact that I can get up-to-the-minute headlines without some idiot anchor attempting to inflect feigned urgency. Now I am the idiot and I can inflect whatever I want, with whatever intonation I choose...what's not to like? And I can follow actual anchors who sometimes scoop their own program with their tweets- Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) is a good example, as is Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann)- who uses Twitter to shamelessly promote his show...which he admits to. @cnnbrk (CNN Breaking News) is amazing in their swift updates and their ability to share news almost immediately, and @HuffingtonPost gives the news with a touch of irony, attitude and logic, as does @BloombergNews. 

CELEBRITIES- One of the first celebrities to fully embrace Twitter, Ashton Kutcher, @aplusk is a great follow- he self promotes all of his technology interests and humanitarian efforts- and he actually tweets himself. So does @TomHanks, who tweets photos from movie sets, and pictures of daily life as Tom Hanks. Another good follow is New York actor Domenick Lombardozzi @D_lombardozzi who tweets during his show Breakout Kings (@BreakoutKings) and even asked for the support of his Twitter followers to help ensure his show was renewed.

TECHNOLOGY!- There are soooooo many TechnoTweeters out there all on the search for that next "iPhone that is accidentally left in a bar by an Apple staffer" around every corner. There is no shortage of information out there about anything techno-based. @mguhlin shares educational technology ideas for all, usually taken from his blog http://www.mguhlin.org/, if you are a teacher, check it out. @TechCrunch is a great follow- they share all kinds of news about all things technology and are usually scoopers... @Applenewsjunkie (http://goo.gl/fb/LpcFQ) is obviously Apple-centric and focuses on iPad and iPhone rumors and all other things Apple- they like numbers and facts. @Mashable is Pete Cashmore's baby that shares all technology news all the time, with a bit of a focus on social media.@Mactrast is another Apple-focused Breaking News site, who have just decided to attempt to become THE premiere Apple Scoop Source. They too are becoming news makers by creating a blog of Apple op-ed pieces and reviews. I responded to a tweet for a job as a blogger from them...(I wasn't hired, obviously). Showing yet again the myriad of uses for Twitter.

And now that Google+ is finally here, I find myself using it along with Twitter. I no longer watch the news on television, and why should I? I have a custom-made, self designated selection of news that I WANT to know. For example, I heard about today's explosion in Oslo, Norway from my Twitter and Google+ feeds. I went to SPARKS in Google+ and typed in OSLO and in less than a second I was inundated with all I cared to know about the explosion and shootings- instantly. Google+ is no Facebook. Similarities, yes, but so far it seems to be more geeky than Facebook. I have interacted with people from all over the U.S. about all kinds of random things, but mainly technology and Google+. I have about 5 people that I have met face-to-face on Google+ and that's okay with me. Google+ has made celebrities out of it's staff by allowing people to add them to their circles- and these people actually respond to your questions- +Vanessa Schnieder, community manager for Google, actually responded to a question I posed to her directly.

Twitter is Facebook without all of the friends you forgot about after high school and Google+ is like a fanboy chatroom for Google-lovers.  But, they allow you to interact with the news breakers and reporters like never before, allowing you to become part of the news you are reading. They allow you to interact with celebrities, quasi-celebrities, and Googlebrities making your experience exactly what you want it to be. News 2.0.

Join Me on

@voodoobill on Twitter

March 12, 2011 -The Great Texas BBQ and March for Education Road Trip

I will be in Austin on the 12th to March my little heart out and attempt to make the voices of our students, teachers and parents heard. Hell, I am going to make a day of it. A friend and I are going to do a little Texas BBQ and March for Education Road Trip. We might even get t-shirts made.

But first, we'll have to get some energy.  Our plan is to drive to Snow's Barbecue in Lexington, Texas (ranked #1 BBQ in Texas by Texas Monthly) for breakfast. They are only open on Saturdays and only from 8:00 A.M. until they sell out...usually around noon. It's like the Everest of Texas BBQ and soooo worth the climb. 'Cause if I am gonna march on Austin, I want to do it on a full stomach. Menu- All served in the standard tradition of Texas BBQ- butcher paper, plasticware, Butterkrust bread, and a small Gerber baby food jar of barbecue sauce...

the brisket is sublime...juicy, marbled and delicate...fall apart tender- cooked to perfection. And the sausage...well... exquisite...loose packed and smoky with a slight burn. And the ribs, pork and chicken? I don't know. The last time we went we arrived too late to try them- They were completely out. And that was at 9:30. We'll be ready and early this time...Hopefully my navigator is prepared this time.



Next we'll head back to Austin to get our spot up in the front on the steps of the capitol. Hopefully, I'll still have some sauce on my shirt as I chant and scream and holler at the people who aren't even there- do they work on Saturdays?

I may make a sign, though I can't think of anything to say to the legislators in Austin that doesn't have colorful language in it. "Save Texas Schools" sounds so cliched. I need something with more "POP!" I'll let you know what I come up with.


After the March, we will be off again for more 'cue. This time we will be off to Taylor, Texas to Louie Meuller's Barbecue. A friend has said that it was the best in his opinion (though Texas Monthly ranks it in it's top 5), and since we'll be in the area we may as well hit it up too. I always get brisket...the STANDARD in Texas BBQ, and am planning on doing so here. I am also going to try the Pork Ribs and Sausage...I have heard great things and I look forward to trying it out. And then we will head back home with some 'cue in tow for our loved ones wrapped in tin foil, wrapped in a towel and tossed in an ice chest.

Hopefully it will be a memorable and worthwhile trip- both for the barbecue and the March. What it boils down to is that I am sick of waiting for the State to pull their heads out. I am reminded of a saying from a favorite film of mine "The Shawshank Redemption," "Get busy living, or get busy dying."

I love to take roadtrips and eat barbecue. I also love to teach. But with so much negative news and shock doctrine out there, I need a break. I am tired of hearing about it all. It's all speculation and it's exhausting. So I'm getting a playlist together, cleaning out the ice chests and checking the levels and tires of my truck- and getting ready to take that Great Texas BBQ and March for Education Road Trip- to make a difference...to me.

Deadline Education: Please Support Me

To support or not to support, that is the question.

Teachers and students need support. Students need to feel wanted, important, heard and safe. So do teachers. With the current budget crisis in Texas, teachers don't feel safe. And why should they? They are basically being told that they are expendable and unworthy of protection. Parents shouldn't feel safe either. Teachers can't reach every child without help. And pretty soon, students are going to lose some amazing teachers who teach creatively, compassionately, and emotionally, both in the classroom and out. And all of the support staff that are in place to make sure every student gets all of the extra help they need to be successful, are going to be gone as well. Don't think of it as funds being cut, but support for the NEEDS of the students is being cut. Districts can't afford to keep on the extra support staff, and those support teachers- reading specialists, math specialists, gifted-and-talented teachers, campus instructional technologists and others- are being sent back into the classroom.

If Texas wants to compete in a global economy, it needs to EDUCATE students using technology, differentiated instruction and adapt to the always evolving educational needs of its students. Cutting teachers doesn't support these ideas. The ramifications of this choice are going to be devastating. These students are the future of our state, our country and our world- and our "leaders" are doing them a major disservice by refusing to give them the best education possible. Every child deserves to learn, but taking away the support that every child receives in and out of the classroom is not going to help them. Students are going to have to work harder to learn, with minimal-to-no support, and many will fall through the cracks.

Texas needs to create a workforce built on technology, creativity, and ingenuity- and that begins with knowledge. By cutting education- the only thing Texas is creating is a major rift between themselves and the rest of the WORLD. The decision to not prioritze education by refusing to dip into the RAINY DAY FUND or raise taxes, is at best, ignorant. Ignorant to the needs of teachers, students, parents and the state of Texas. With this decision, Texas has made itself a frontrunner again...in what not to do.





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