Kate Gilby
Here are all the Zath articles written by Kate Gilby...
Here are all the Zath articles written by Kate Gilby...
How To Use Twitter’s New Retweet Button…& What’s Wrong With It!
November 12, 2009
Those Twitter guys have been busy recently, hot on the heels of the recent Twitter Lists feature, we’ve now got a Twitter Retweet Button being rolled out. Ever since the user-led inception of retweeting (reposting other people’s tweets) on Twitter, there has been a call for a designated button to avoid the hassle of copy and pasting every time you wanted to share something interesting. Finally, that call has been answered, well, kind of.
A couple of days ago, Twitter started to roll out an automated retweet (RT) button across some accounts. It’s still in beta so you might not be able to see it yet, but tweeters who can have mixed feelings. One one hand, it does make the retweeting process a lot easier, on the other there are some disadvantages to it which I’ll discuss later. First here’s an overview.
Continue reading »Google Wave: How To Add Extensions (Gadgets & Robots)
November 7, 2009
Google Wave works well as standalone system for chat, file sharing and so on. However, it also gives you the option to add extensions which enhance your experience and the range of functions it can perform. Extensions can be thought of as similar to Facebook applications; just as you can install apps to customise the way you use Facebook, you can add extensions to personalise the way you use Google Wave.
Extensions come in two varieties: gadgets and robots. Gadgets are the most similar to Facebook apps, you install them and they run as part of a wave (thread). To give an example: you can install the Sudoku gadget, and use it to play against a group of friends. Robots are more similar to the bots you see on Twitter, but far more sophisticated because they behave as kind of artificially intelligent participant in a wave. The best example is the Twitter robot, Tweety, which can be used to update your Twitter status and also to follow tweets from other users.
Continue reading »Google Wave: How To Create, Send, Reply & Add Video
November 1, 2009
You’ve signed up with Google Wave, logged in and suddenly you’re faced with an interface that isn’t particularly intuitive. The features are quite simple to use, but do require a bit of a learning curve. So, if you’re scratching your head trying to figure out how to send your first wave (message), here’s how, and to make it even more useful, I’ll also tell you how to embed a YouTube video into it.
How To Create A New Wave
At the top of the centre panel you’ll see a button marked ‘New Wave’. (There’s is also a link in the panel on the right but that will only be visible if you don’t have any waves open.) Click the button and an input box will open up on the right.
Continue reading »Google Wave Review (Early Beta)
October 29, 2009
I was lucky enough to get chance to join in the beta-testing of Google’s new much awaited product Google Wave. If you’ve heard about it – it’s hard to miss, the technology blogs have long anticipated it – and are wondering what all the fuss is about, read on.
What is it?
A real time communication platform; think Facebook’s live feed, but with far more bells and whistles. Google Wave can be used as a messaging system, as a collaboration tool for work projects, as a way to share and comment on photos and videos, or as a wiki with shared data being editable by anyone who wants to contribute. A range of apps and gadgets offer more options, such as: collaborative maps and a Twitter tool.
Continue reading »How To Use Twitter Lists
October 26, 2009
One of the biggest complaints about Twitter has been the absence of groups which would allow tweeters to sort their followers into categories, making it easier to manage a large number. That’s about to change with the introduction of Lists. At the moment, Twitter Lists are only available to a small number of users, but they will become universal once the testing period is over. If you aren’t lucky enough to be getting a sneak preview, read on …
8 Halloween Gadgets and Gizmos
October 26, 2009
Halloween is nearly upon us again, that time of year for “ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night”. This year, instead of just throwing a sheet over your head and calling yourself Casper, why not make an effort with some nifty Halloween gadgets, gizmos and trinkets.
Skelly Bones
Based on the traditional Jenga stacking game, the idea of Skelly Bones is to build a tower of bones, then remove them one at a time without making the whole thing collapse. It’s a simple but enduring game, and this version should prove a lot of fun after a few Bloody Marys or pints of Hobgoblin.
Continue reading »COOLER eBook Reader (Kindle Alternative)
October 21, 2009
I spotted the COOL-ER eBook Reader over at Firebox, and I’ve got to say I’m pretty smitten. Described as the “iPod of eReaders”, the COOL-ER comes in a range of gorgeous colours and weighs in at just 176 grammes, so very, very light. With 1GB of memory it’s capable of holding up to 800 titles, and also doubles up as an MP3 player. The glare-free screen is designed to replicate the appearance of real paper, making it easy on the eye and more attractive to traditionalists who don’t enjoy reading from a screen. The battery lasts for 8000 page turns, which is the equivalent of reading War and Peace five times, apparently – but without the accompanying wrist pain.
USB Turntable: Bring Vinyl Records Into The MP3 Age!
October 15, 2009
Why would you want a USB Turntable you might asking? Well one surprising development in recent years has been the revival of vinyl records – for any younger readers: this was a forerunner of CDs, ask your dad. Although it remained popular with DJs, most music fans had long since consigned their collections to the back of a cupboard, where they remained unheard and gathering dust because there wasn’t a simple, cost effective way of transferring the material into a digital format. Fortunately, that is no longer the case; there are devices you can use to upload your record collection to your computer, or even your iPod, with ease.
Magic Wand Remote Control – Harry Potter’s Wizard Fans Rejoice!
October 9, 2009
A magic wand remote control? Well have you ever thought it would be really cool to be able to wave a magic wand and make David Dickinson disappear? Or wished you could mute a long-winded politician with a simple flick of your wrist? Well, now you can with The Wand Remote Control from Firebox!
How To Import A Blogspot Blog Into WordPress
October 8, 2009
One of the most common reasons Blogspot users give for not switching to WordPress, is the hassle of transferring a large number of posts from an already established blog. In the past they did have a point, but not anymore. For some time WordPress (both Wordpress.org and Wordpress.com) has come with a built in importer which works with all well known blogging platforms, as well as plain RSS. It’s very easy to use – just a few clicks – and will call in both posts and comments. If you’re thinking of making the switch, but are unsure about the importing process, read on …
