Putting it all together ...

I actually put the finishing touches on the work today and finishing the chapters that I started here ... the work has gone well and the finished product is as I imagined ... the included jpg shows the result of taking the Open Office draw and making a diagram, then clipping it into word along with a jpg of the equipment ... then the really trick and thing that makes it all come together ... I took the clipping tool to the word doc and exported it to the jpg that you see here .... really a fast and clean way of creating a brochure or handout that is clean and not really alterable like a doc or open pdf file ... this is important in business applications.

The speed of the updating of the website makes the bubbler solution incredibly useful. The combination of these tools takes this sort of work to a new level of utility ... I have been looking for this ability for awhile ... this is a great combination ... see the older blog entries for earlier attempts ....

A Neat Solution ....

Once I created the website (which is nearing final form), I needed to upload some graphics ... the problem of melding a photo with drawn diagrams to show a model is one that I have been trying to figure out for a long time. I think I got it ... let me share the process ...

I downloaded OpenOffice as it has a very good drawing module, once there I created my 2D drawing representing an addition to an existing piece of equipment .... now you have a choice once this is done ... you can save it to a word doc and import the pic there (the elements can be further moved in the document) or you can import right into the draw page ... regardless of what you decide to do (the word would give you the ability to add notes and discussion to the photo) ... the secret is in the last step.

I have the Micosoft snipping tool for the tablet PC (that is how I got the screen captures from earlier posts) .. once there I set it for rectangular area and just highlighted the drawing along with the photo .... great results and very quick and easy ....

Quick Site Generator or Blog on Steroids ...

I have been busy for the last two days trying to finalize a product rollout for a meeting in the next week ... we decided that we wanted to have a free standing website to highlight our product and not dilute the offering on main site ... enter an app that I investigated a while ago and have gone back to for implementation of this plan ...

Five Across has generated an amazing application that can be used for as simple a use as a blog, a quick and dirty website, or a full fledged web presence with work at the html level. Generation is done through the download of a publisher which is very simple and straightfoward and the set up of an account so your can publish your site ... take a look at the Bubbler site for examples and instruction. Several quick advantages are obvious, especially the ease of which to generate complete and well formatted sites. One big thing that I have not played with but is a prominent feature is the ability to podcast and multimedia broadcast from the generated site ... will play when I have the time, maybe some of you can try this and reply on the comments later.

I have several sites that must be made over the next few days, but here is the first run at our site to publicize our new water filter ... one tip when doing this, figure your layout first knowing that like a blog, the most recent entry is on top ... so that means building your notes (page content) from the bottom up .... another good free app ... we will be signing up for the paid service so we can do more of these with our other partners ....

Mobile Notes .... Crafting the Perfect Pocket Companion

Today' s post on one of my favorite blogs .. jkOnTheRun prompted me to highlight this amazing FREE application that I use daily .... the PocketMod is a little 8 page notebook in free form that you create using one sheet of paper and a scissors. I normally carry my edition with me whenever I am out and it has become and indispensable part of my persona ... let me tell you my configuration and then go into the production setup ...

My PPM (Personal PocketMod - don't you just love to guess the letters) has got a blank cover on front and a 2006 calendar on the back ... the first 4 inner pages are a shopping list template and the last two inside pages consist of a note page and a grid page for drawings. I use the shopping lists daily an the four pages have never been exceeded on a scratched out look will reveal. The note page is for work related thoughts and the grid page is simply for ideas ... if something really important and fleeting appears ... the front cover is convenient and quick ... many a great thought was captured there .... in fact, today that is exactly what happened as I was out ... I am working on a document that started on the cover of my PPM ... I have printed another and will tranfer items not bought into the new one and discard the old one when I am done writing ...

Creating your own could not be simpler ... if you go to the link that I provided you can decide your layout of pages from many items that they have ... mix and match your layout to your hearts content or needs ... one tip on printing ... I simply select custom size and print through to create a full page (no need to trim) ... once you print out your single sheet, there is a folding instruction page that will highlight how to fold this ... pretty fun and ingenius ... cut on the dotted line as instructed and fold again .... VOILA , your PPM is ready to go .... I don't carry my tablet with me at all times, so this little one page gem becomes my repository until I can get back to the computer ... try it ... the price is great !!! especially considering that it works !!!

Collaborative IM ....

Interesting email today from the folks at 37 Signals ... "Campfire brings simple group chat to the business setting. Instant messaging is great for quick 1-on-1 chats, but it's miserable for 3 or 4 or 7 or 15+ people at once. Campfire solves that problem and plenty more. Discover why Campfire is better for group chat than conventional instant messaging. Dick Costolo of Feedburner said, “Once you start using Campfire you won't remember how you got by without it. There's no better tool for business instant messaging.”

By going to a location to do the chat, it becomes a web application like the VoIP Skype and related tools ... the lesser need for bandwidth in an IM application will allow connection to those who may not have a broadband access available ... could be a boon to international chatting and a fallback for times when the Skype conference call is not possible ... one other nice thing is the archive and easy to use retrieval of the conversation ... another extremely useful tool is the file sharing between the members of the chat ... take a look at all of their offerings as like working on an automobile, having the proper tools can make or break a job ....

Foldera ... A New Spin on Project Management

I noticed to day in Techcrunch a new posting on a soon to be released web based software that uses an old paradigm in a new and totally refreshing way .... Foldera uses folders as containers for all methods of data and interchange .. it can hold IM's, files, emails, notes, collaborative messages, and web based sharing all through a familiar folder metaphor. I went to the web site and downloaded their white paper on the use of the product and it was a fascinating 13 pager.

The testing is opening up to beta and it appears the startup is well funded and capitalized ... pretty amazing show of confidence as the product is not yet out .... I have signed up for an account, so will keep up on this, at first glance this may be an essential application for remote project management ... being entirely web based brings a whole new dimension to work ... you will not be tied to a specific machine or operating system .... just need access to the web ... take a look at this one as it may become the wave of the future ....

Using the Web ... the Road to Productivity ...

This post will be another step in the evolution of the mobile office setup whence we started ... I am going to show you how I have tied up a lot of loose ends with several apps on the web and created an efficient "dash board" for activities and information.

It all starts with the Firefox browser as the tabbed feature is the key to quickly bringing things together ... I have bookmarked my tabs into one start folder that I bring up and Firefox will then automatically load my tabbed settings. I have Netvibes, Pageflakes, Airset and Zoho Planner are my start pages .... I mentioned in previous posts the Airset to Outlook feature and use that as my master calendering and contact page (again, the airset will synch to Outlook so you don't need to load the resource hungry Outlook to have the utility, just make sure you synch to keep your backup on the Outlook copy on your machine) ....

The new additions of Netvibes and Pageflakes are two of the newly appearing desktop Ajax apps that are incredibly useful. I have singled out these to for different purposes, let me explain. I you read my earlier post on email, I use both Yahoo mail and Google mail so the content feed on Netvibes has both ... I have added both on the Netvibes page and it will refresh and monitor those boxes and take me there if I need to go to them. If there is email that I need to get down to the computer, I will then fire up Thunderbird and get the mail .. the additonal thing is that when I get all my Thunderbird work done, I have an additional spam filter going and I the get a refreshed page on Netvibes ... exit Thunderbird ... I also keep a limited todo list, web search, and weather widget open so it gives me a page of information quickly.

My second tab is Pageflakes .... this is my utility tab ... I've got my cloud map of del.icio.us bookmarks, an open notepad, flikr photos for enjoyment, a dictionary, and an sms window so I can send quick text messages. Both of these pages are highly configureable and easy to personalize with cool things to distract or add to your enjoyment ... I also have some choice RSS feeds on both for a quick scan of news ....

The last new addition is Zoho Planner this new app is a todo list on steroids ... it allows a page based todo setup (I have three pages so far and keep thinking of further organization) ... but that is just scratching the surface ... you can add notes, files and attachments .... you can create a list page and publish so others can use (groups and project teams) ... it also exports to icalender format so you can use other calenders ... and finally has reporting and a basic item on calender feature that you can use like Outlook ...

New tools like these are appearing daily in the new Web 2.0 world ... productivity gains are enormous as these new breed are all extremely fast (at times it seems like you are using an app on the computer), totally mobile as you only need internet access, and allow you to keep things saved on your computer (with apps that do not interface directly simply print the screen to OneNote or journal or PDF) for offline use but also having all your data redundantly saved on the web ...

This is an evolutionary process and I hope others can create better and more efficient use scenarios ... the road goes on ...

Winter in Hawaii ....

Just to let you know that there is a winter in Hawaii ... here is a photo taken from my front yard of Haleakala (taken 1/24) ... I guess the other shot should have been of the sunny beach area looking towards my back ... if you look real close you can see the antenna and observatory for the major telescopes on the top of the mountain ... also the end of the cycle and run to the sun races here on Maui ....

Effective Remote Meeting Strategy ....

Here is an evolving strategy for meetings that you may need to have with staff or clients or ? ... there is a new tool that really adds to the utility of using Skype conference calling (use friendly and extremely cost effective) ... if you have not used Skype for this, try it ... really quick and efficient for up to 5 parties ... here is the typical scenario ...

You need to get your group on the same page and cringe when you think of the last conference call ... if you only had an agenda and the ability to memorialize for everyone at the same time ... enter a new player on the block ... JotSpot Live serves as your agenda and note sheet for the meeting ... prepare the agenda and invite your group to get online, Skype them and give it a go .... this new online note sharing utility gives everyone on the call the ability to see the agenda (keep the meeting tight) and add written comments or see the notes as they unfold ... this appears to be the missing link on keeping productive time on an animal that typically can get out of hand extremely fast ... the guys at Jotspot are extremely receptive to ideas, so get in on the ground floor and help shape this extremely promising utility ...

Decision Support, Brainstorming, Mapping ....

Here is pricey, ink only, but totally useful tool to help in Decision Support, Brainstorming, or creating a framework for a mind map (Affinity Diagram). I did get this product and use it occasionally, but it has proven to be quite useful ... and wonder of wonders, here is an INK ONLY application ...

Mindgenius brain bloom is the product and the intriguing name conjures up visions of a mind map gingerly emerging into the light ... let me give you some ideas on how I use it ... the clean sheet of paper that you start with is a three column sheet of paper that is extendable with a nice title area .. you ink in the title and then start to fill in the boxes with key words or thoughts ... if you are trying to make a decision, you would take all the thoughts that weigh in, both pro and con, and fill them in as they flow through .... you would then switch to the highlight and color green for pro and red for con ... push the diagram button and voila ... a diagram with your pros and cons neatly in their families ... you could even have a third uncategorized color for random thoughts and then drap and drop over to the other side to change the side of the fence ...

Brainstorming is even better, there are seven colors, so go for it ... put all your thoughts down and highlight to your hearts content ... this can be the start of a mind map or just an export (I print to journal or one note to memorialize the process) ... great for stimulating the thought process .... above is a clip of a quick bstorm showing the highlighted colors ...

The second clip is of the after showing the diagram that emerges in a button push ... As I said PRICEY ($53 US currently), does export directly into Mindgenius for those users out there and will export to XML, but needs to be cleaned up to use in MindManager ... economics aside, one good idea translated into an actionable vision or clarified .... priceless ....

Could this be the future ...

In an article today in Slashdot it appears that a breakthrough in the basic engine of processing may be on the horizon .... "For the first time researchers have created a working prototype of a radical new chip design based on magnetism instead of electrical transistors. ... Because the chip has no wires, its device density and processing power may eventually be much higher than transistor-based devices. And it won't be nearly as power-hungry, which will translate to less heat emission and a cooler future for portable hardware like laptops."

Screen Clip of Tracker

Here is a screen clip of the tracker that I described earlier ....

Collaboration the easy way ....

After a major search for collaboration tools, I think I have uncovered what may be a killer app for down and dirty project collaboration and information management. A little history first, in my search I have found many useful sites, BackpackIt and Basecamp, Jotspot, tried wikis ... simple posting like Writeboards and online calendars and file sharing. All of them were OK, but the most robust solution was always never used fully as most of my colleagues were not ready to embrace the solution and use it. The simple apps were great for one shot file sharing and light idea exchange, but remained mired in disuse ...

Enter a new animal .... tracker by the folks at Jotspot (which is a great wiki application by itself) ... This solution is based on a spreadsheet metaphor with some twists. The great thing is that most people know what a spreadsheet is and how it can be used as a database and tracking system, so it does not frighten even a novice. The tracker metaphor takes a spreadsheet to anthother level as an interactive web based solution that can have many layers ... I set up a quick database as a template for a knowledge management system for our company. It was easy to set up and import into the tracker site ... once uploaded, the magic started ... setting up the look and feel was easy with formatting and color control ... BUT the neatest thing was the expanded use of each cell ... you can expand the cell to be a file repository so users can click on a cell and have files associated with the overall description right at their fingertips ... you can also put up photos and start a general note (read conversation) on the topic ...

The upshot is that the first time guys went to look at the tracker, they were instantly comfortable and not put off by the model ... This app is still in beta, but if the current status is any any indication of what's to come ... look out !!!!

Email ... can you be too redundant ...

For many years and iterations, the search for the best email solution was likened to the search for the holy grail .... In the days or yore, it was a simple Outlook or Outlook Express answer and seemingly simple and straightforward ... enter the age of Spam (not the Hormel variety) and the need for protection from the various types of nasties that inhabit that great frontier we call the internet.

Well, I have tried all sorts of spam blockers and antivirus setups and they all had their pros and cons. One of the moreinteresting setups was an internet client called OddPost (recently bought by Yahoo and the basis of the new Yahoo Mail beta service) ... it was quick and looked at lot like the Outlook (small learning curve) and when used in tandem with a spam filter, worked great ... Then came Gmail and the wonderful search capability and threaded conversations ... a whole new way to look and index your mail ... this was a great step forward as you no longer have to compartmentalize in your folders the nature of the email and conversation ... there are numerous other things I have tried, but I think you can see the evolution here ... now my present solution and the idea of redundancy ....

In my travels I have had multiple clients, and it was always a problem archiving information ... let me digress for a moment ... I found that using Mozilla Thunderbird on my Tablet was a great client to use, fast, not a resource hog, stable, and always under development ... so the solution was to have all the spam filtering and gathering (3 web addresses to gather) in the Yahoo Mail client on the net and then using the Thunderbird to get the mail down to my local computer ... the benefits are that there were two strong spam filters operating on the flow and it virtually eliminated the spam flow, I could also keep copies on the web and on my computer as I saw fit ... I have travelled to the far east and used the yahoo box extensively while in remote locations without my main machine.

Now the final solution (as final as today gets) ... I then use the gmail box by taking all outgoing from the Thunderbird client by having a bcc to my gmail account. Now, every reply will go to the gmail box where I archive the whole conversation ... the gmail search has saved me several times already as everything is searchable and fast ... This has proven to be a very effective and quick means of taming the email beast ... as I started, redundant is good as email is one of the critical means of communication that you just cannot afford to lose .....

Mobile Setup ... Finally !!!

After working hard on my hardware configuration, I have finally arrived at a workable (read allowing me to work efficiently) setup for my trusty Motion M1400 .... it has been almost a year and what has kept me going is my daily dose of blogging and trying different setups ... I have had many tries ...
1) hardtop keyboard and wireless mouse ... first try was this and I took it on a trip to Vietnam and Thailand ... both hotels had ethernet hookups and it worked well except for the setup was cramped and seemed constraining to me, it was also problematic on plane trips as the lowering of a seat presented problems ... I noticed that my amount and speed in doing things degraded - let me digress for a minute, at home I have a flexdock and I feed the video to an external 17" LCD and use a Logitech MX7000 wireless desktop ... also have a Seagate 80G drive mirroring my Motion with multiple input devices tied on USB external hubs (Logitech USB headset for voice and Ipevo handset for Skype
2) Motion bluetooth keyboard coupled with field case and wireless mouse ... this was a great combo, but it took up a bit more space than I like ... the open position was a little flimsy as the computer LCD unit was heavy and the case was rather flexible at the joint ... it always seemed a tad askew and that consistently bothered me ... took up too much space for travel ... good for trips down to Borders and quick jaunts as the unit was well protected ....
3) Minimalist attempt ... I traveled to Honolulu for a weekend and got an email that needed work on while I was there ... I had intended to just take the slate with nothing else in my travel bag ... always happens doesn't it ... I needed to do a document and spreadsheet and was not fast enough with the pen yet ... went to CompUSA and got a flexible keyboard (it actually rolled up for travel) and a good notebook mouse ... used a phonebook and small book to prop my slate and worked away ... went to Starbucks later and sent out the email on time and done well ...
4) I noticed on a blog that there was a special on the ThinkOutside bluetooth keyboard AND mouse for around $100 ... couldn't hardly pass that up, so I sent off for it and was pleasantly surprised with my final setup (subject to new gadgets, of course) well, the bluetooth hookup with the M1400 was a snap ... the keyboard is SMALL and light ... I used to use a similar one with my Palm units, so I am familiar with the typing ...
SO HERE IT IS .... foldup bluetooth keyboard and mouse, cheap plastic easel that comes with the motion units and a Seagate 5G pocket drive for backup and data transfer (used to use a key drive, but wanted to take all my work files ... about 4G, so this was cheapest solution) all nicely carried and put in a Swiss Army Messenger Bag that holds volumes more stuff ... this is my unit now for travel and remote work ... still a work in progress but more a 2.0 than a beta at this stage .....

Airset and Outlook - Great Combo !!!

I have been using Airset synched with my Outlook for about 2 months now and really like the combination ... I find that the browser based Airset application to be faster and much less resource intensive than using outlook and then going to synch with Hotmail service (which I am going on two years now) ... the airset app is fast and easy to use ... I used the contacts page to update notes on clients and conversations and rely on that to make good use of the outlook notes feature. It gives me a quick way to document conversations and actions that otherwise would require Outlook to be running ... the other good thing about this is that once I synch (at random intervals) I can then call up all the documentation by going to Outlook if I need to work while without internet service. Pretty sweet solution to a problem that has always plagued me since the days of the Palm. I would be remiss to not mention the integration with all sorts of messaging that works quickly and efficiently from a dashboard, the ability to have multiple calendars with sharing on a company and personal basis (or whatever you decide) ... web links, blog service, and skype integration (IE only with Firefox coming) ... this application totally rocks ... www.airset.com

PS ... if you are a Verizon subscriber, you can access on a mobile platform !!!