Ideas from Mark Stout

I added a small update to my post on the best size for a tablet. And if you enjoy the same topics I write about here, then be sure to check out my Public Bookmarks .  I often bookmark interesting things without writing about them here.

Earlier this week, Google rolled out telephone calls within Gmail. Basically what they did was to allow phone calls to be made from within Google Chat.  If you already have a Google Voice (GV) account, then the call is made with your Google Voice number as the Caller ID. When I first tried it, it required I download and install the   voice and video chat plug-in .  No problem. Unlike Google Voice, it dos not make a call to one of your phones before connecting you to the caller, but rather connects you directly to the microphone and speakers (or headset) on your PC. To make a call, just click "Call Phone" that appears on the left hand column, underneath Chat. A dialpad appears.  You can either type the number using the keypad, type in a number in the search box, or search your contacts by typing into the search box. Without Google Voice, you cannot receive calls from the phone system.  If you do have GV, you can click Settings,  Voice Settings, p...

A journalism professor of mine threatened once to randomly stop you on campus, and if you did not have a pen or pencil on you, to flunk you for the semester.  His contention was you never knew when you'd encounter a story, and should be prepared always to write.  To this day, most of the time, I have a pen in my pocket. October of 1989, I was without power in my apartment for two days after Loma Prieta earthquake struck San Francisco.  Only a few days before I'd spent almost $20 for then new Maglite AAA flashlight; the smallest, most powerful flashlight I'd ever seen.  It was my sole light for two nights.  Since then I have spent a small fortune on powerful pocket flashlights.  The most recent is the brightest yet, and only $3 at my auto parts store.   And what self respecting geek like me does not have a USB drive on them at all times with common software tools? Its easy to get carried away.  Small tools don...

Evernote announced on their blog they have reached over four million users.  At the rate they are growing, they should be safely over five million by years end. Glad to see so many people are deriving the many benefits and uses of Evernote.  I hope I've driven a few users there way, and with my " Your First Day with Evernote " post made it easier for some to start off productively.

The NeatReceipts mobile scanner I like is on sale until 8/29/2010 for $149.00. Strongly recommended. I don't make any money if you buy one, but I wanted to pass along this deal.

Phil Libin, Evernote 's CEO just mentioned in their Podcast #21 that they will soon be adding "Due Dates" as a field in Evernote notes. That will lead to many new abilities to do calendar/event management within Evernote.

It was 1983, and I was in gadget lust like I've never known. No matter it cost about 1/20th of my annual salary then, and I had no real need, I had to have it. It was the lightest computer around.  It weighed about 1/8th of the other hot, portable computer at the time did.  That's a better ratio than an iPad to a laptop! It had a state of the art non-CRT display, like the iPad. It had connectivity. It ran for a long time on batteries.  Unlike the iPad, the batteries were easily replaceable AA batteries.  And it could get 20 hours to a set of batteries, not the iPad's paltry-by-comparison 10 hours. It had a real keyboard, not an on-screen one. It could print.  Try that on your iPad. It had arrow keys.  You won't find those on your iPad. It had the iPad's cool factor.  I'd use it on BART and draw a crowd. Reporters loved it.  It was the first PC they could carry with them on stories.  Globe trott...

It is no secret I'm enamored with the iPad.  My love affair isn't really with the iPad so much as it is with the tablet/touchscreen form factor.  It is clear to me that it is going to a major impact on technology going forward. That we will take to the tablet shouldn't be a surprise.  As the photo with this post shows, we've been anticipating the touch tablet for some time and fully expected it to be in our future. And what is the iPhone, the iPod touch and Android Smartphones but tablets albeit small tablets? The iPad is simply the first touch screen tablet for the masses.  It is the vanguard of a wave to come.  Already Apple is rumored to have a 7 inch model ready to hit stores before Christmas.  A host of manufacturers are set to release Android versions and some are already out. One concern I'd had was that while Apple re-engineered the iPhone operating system (now named iOS) for larger displays, I'd not seen any rumors of Google dong ...

Don't wash reds with whites,.  Don't answer roommate ads saying "liberal roommates wanted" (no one is that liberal).  How to change a tire. These are all things we need to know in the modern world. This week's Family Tech is about the things technology demands we all know about as well. Good thoughts for your kids, and for yourself.

In the last back to school column for this year, I discuss free or inexpensive software and services students should have.

This week's Family Tech column talked about what hardware a college student needs.  We got into the laptop/netbook debate and talked about some other hardware useful to a college student.

Could you send a college student off to school with just an iPad?  That burning question is the topic of this week's Family Tech .