How-To-Geek

Hi All,

Just found an interesting computer, geeky type site called 'How-To-Geek' (hereafter HTG). 

So, just what is HTG?  Its an online tech magazine that is dedicated to providing interesting articles, how-to's, and more to the audience of tech-type and not tech-type readers.  The site was founded in 2006 whose original goal was to bring a better how-to site to the internet - with content that's understandable for regular people, but geeky enough for more technical readers....(source: HT FAQ).

Click here for a link to the HTG Discussion Forum's.  

Click here for Windows articles and information. 

Click here for Mac articles and information about Mac OS. 

Click here for iOS article and for everything related to iPhone and iPad's.

Click here for Android articles and for everything related to Google and Android.

Other useful links on the site include Gaming, Security and Photography.  Click the links to follow them to that particular subject....

Enjoy the site and the new technology!

Regards,
Stu


 

Lifewire - Tech Untangled

Hi All,

Lifewire is a new site to help you get the most out of your technology - so you can get the most out of your life. Huh?  What does that mean?

Basically Lifewire shows you and teaches you how to best use your screens and gadgets and have fun with technology.  The site helps you fix devices and tech that's not working and it helps you buy tech so it works best for your life.  Information presented in a straightforward, practical way and advice is easy to understand.

The main Lifewire page has four major links for 'How To', 'Fix', 'Buy' and 'Do More'.  
The 'How To' includes technology how-to guides and tutorials.  There are whole subcategories including information on Windows, Macs, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Android, Internet, Digital Cameras, Wearables, Game Consoles, Browsers, Car Tech and Antivirus.

Each of these subcategories has almost an 'encyclopedia' feel since articles are organized in the same fashion - with chapters on 'Basics', 'Guides and Tutorials', 'Installing and Upgrading', 'Tips/Tricks', and 'Key Concepts'.

Articles - for example - the one titled 'How to Register Your Vehicle Online' - can be anywhere up to about 1200 words or so.  Articles can be shared via Facebook, pinned via Pinterest and emailed or printed.  In addition, similar articles are listed at the bottom of the page for users who want more information on the similar topic, .

One very useful feature on the site is section on 'Tech Buying Guides'. This part of the site helps users decide which tech items are worth spending their money on - and which items are not worth spending money on.  Tech Buying Guides are broken down into categories of Computers & Tablets, Smartphones, Games & Consoles, Gadgets, TVs & Home Theater, Cameras and Audio.  Reviews are short and sweet and very tightly written.  They might be of some use to users.

Finally, Lifewire has a daily tips page - users can have a daily article sent to their email by clicking on this link (sign up at the bottom of the page!)

Enjoy the site and the reviews and the technology assistance!

Regards,
Stu 

SeniorNet - EAC Network - Computer classes

Hi All,

SeniorNet just sent the Farmingdale Public Library a very helpful pamphlet. Its filled with lots of information about the SeniorNet computer class program. 

EAC's SeniorNet Computer Learning Centers make learning easy and fund for seniors. So, what kinds of classes are offered?  Classes include computer basics, Windows 7, Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, email, searching the internet, the iPad and more.

One time classes for busy folks are available on topics like smartphones, internet security, social media and Facebook.  But wait...there's more!

Classes are held at three locations on Long Island:

Town of North Hempstead Dept of Services for the Aging
470 Old Westbury Road, Roslyn Heights

William P. Bennett Hicksville Community Park
28 W. Carl Street, Hicksville

The Bristal Assisted Living @ North Hills
99 South Service Road, North Hills

SeniorNet computer clases are offered four times a year:
Winter classes begin in January
Spring classes begin in April
Summer classes begin in June
Fall classes begin in September

Registration for each session starts about one month before classes begin.  If you are interested call SeniorNet at 516-529-0150 ext 130.  If you need to leave a message there is voicemail.  A volunteer will return your call the same day.  Future students can download class forms by clicking on this link.  Click on SeniorNet under 'Opportunities For Seniors' for forms and mailing information.

Enjoy the programs and services - and enjoy your new found knowledge of computers!

Regards,
Stu

AppSmart and Other App Sites

Hi All,

Just found an interesting link on the New York Time website.  Its called App Smart and can be found at this link. App Smart enables users to find the best mobile apps for your needs (tracking fitness, creativity or falling in love...).  Note that App Smart is video based so users get to watch on their device.  A very random sampling of videos includes: Avoiding Sunburns, Writing Poetry, Going Green and History 101.

Below I've listed a major site that reviews various apps for various Android and Apple devices. 
148Apps - includes reviews, new apps, price drops, top 148, how to, feeds and more.  Links also to All iPhone Reviews, iPhone Games, All iPad Reviews, iPad Games, Hardware and more. 

Finally, click on this link from PCMag.com for their section on Apps.  PCMag also has hands-on reviews of iPad Apps, iPhone Apps, BlackBerry Apps, Android Apps, Palm Apps, Windows Mobile Apps,  Mobile Utilities and Mobile Games...click here for a few of PCMag's 100 Best articles: 100 Best Android Apps, 100 Best iPhone Apps, and the 100 Best iPad Apps.

Enjoy the download and the apps!

Regards,
Stu

A to Z in the Library - You'll Love This

Hi All,

Just wanted to do another one of my 'shameless plug blog entries'.  Only this time the subject is the library....from A to Z.  We offer some service, material, program or resource for anybody on almost any topic you can think of!!!  And it is all free.  How cool is that?   Enjoy the links - I bet you something new about the library while you click on the links!

Regards,
Stu

A is for Annotated Bibliography of books in our Book Club in a Bag service.

B is for books...of course we have books.  Here's the link to the library card catalog.

C is for the library Calendar of Events.  C is also for 'Career Counselor'.  Appointments can be made at the reference desk to meet with our Career Counselor on Tuesday nights from 5pm-9pm.

D is for  downloading e-books (through our service called Overdrive).

E is for Encyclopedia's - which are accessible in the library and remotely via our online databases.  Click on this link for at-home access to our encyclopedias.  (Library card number needed!)

F is for Freegal - our downloadable music service (which happens to be free)

G is for 'Get a Library Card' - yes, its a stretch, but it works for the list!

H is for our 'Homework Help' for teens section. Click on this link for more information.

I is for 'iTunes' and ebooks and Audiobooks.

J is for  'Just for Fun' links from the ALA.  Neat!

K is for downloable books for your Kindle.  Here are the instructions for downloadable books to your Kindle Fire.

L is for 'Long Range Plan' for the Farmingdale Public Library. Opens in pdf format.

M is for 'Magazines and Newspapers' - here is a list of magazines and newspapers we have. 'M' is also for 'Meeting Room's' - which can be reserved. Okay, 'M' is also for 'Museum Passes' - a list of which we own can be seen by clicking here.

N is for 'Notary Service'.  Call ahead before you need a notary public!  'N' is also for 'Nassau Digital Doorway' - where you can download ebooks and audiobooks from home.

O is for 'Oscar winner's' - we have a link to the 2013 Oscar winners on this page.

P is for 'Playaways' - which are little devices that have a single book on a small, portable device.

Q is for 'Reference Questions'.Call the library and ask for the Reference Desk and we'll answer any question(s) that you might have!

R is for 'Research' - click on this link for access to our databases, our digital collection, government documents and specials collections.  We've got something for everyone.

S is for  'Special Collection's' - which includes our Tamara Greenspan Head Injury Collection, our Long Island Memories Collection and our Special Needs Collection of material.

T is for 'Teachers Center' - we have a collection of material geared toward teachers!

U is for 'You the patron'.  Click here for a link to the library newsletter so you can see what is going on at 'YOUR Farmingdale Public Library'. It might take a few seconds for the newsletter to load.

V is for 'Visit the Library' - click here for a Mapquest map of how to get to the library. 

W is for 'Welcome to the Farmingdale Public Library'.  Click this link to go to the library homepage.

X is for 'Xerox' - yes, we have photocopiers for your photocopy needs.

Y is for...I can't find anything library related that begins with 'Y'.  So....I'll use 'I' which remotely sounds like 'Y'.  'I' is for internet access.  We have 24 internet accessible computers available for patron use.

Z is for...I can't find anything library related that begins with 'Z' either. So...I'll use 'T' which remotely sounds like 'Z'. 'T' is for Teen Services. OMG - we have lots of teen services for you!  Click on any of these links for a whole passel of teen services! Shelfari, College Help, Homework Help, List of Teen Magazines.

I is For....

Hi All,

Just another blog post in the series of 'A is for...B is for...' that I started a few months ago...

I is For...

IBM - internationally known computer and computer consulting/services firm

Ipod - Apple's great music invention from mid-1990's! The gadget that spawned a revolution.

Ipad - one of the great digital devices - sexy and practical and usable!

Ikea - Swedish furniture that can be bought online or in showrooms. There is a store on Route 107 in Hicksville - and the Swedish meatballs are really, really good. Trust me.
IMDB - Internet Movie Database - great site for info on past and current movies (actors and actresses, movie plots and more)

Iphone 4s - Apple says it is the best Iphone yet - go and check it out for yourself!

I Heart Radio.com - listen to radio online for free!

IJJI - free online gaming site

Enjoy the site and the games!
Stu

The Web - Alphabetically...Well, Not the Whole Web...

Hi All,

Just a little fun overview/summary/big picture view of the web for today - the day after a wonderful, sunny, rain-free, Memorial Day.

Starting with the letter A...some great websites beginning with the letter A!

Amazon.com - online retailer for literally everything you can think of!!!

Apple.com- everything 'Apple related' com including Ipod, Ipad, Itunes and Mac computers.

Amtrak.com - railroad tickets and reservations for railroad - services much of the United States

American Airlines.com - find airplane tickets and make reservations for your next trip or vacation

AOL.com - one time dial up king has tried to reinvent itself as an internet portal - worth a look

ABCnews.com - real-time news and entertainment

Allrecipes.com - hungry? great place to find recipes and comments on already made recipes

AllAreaCodes.com - find an area anywhere in the continental US and Canada

Ask.com (used to be About.com) - got questions? they've got answers. But the Farmingdale Public Library reference desk is faster, friendlier and more efficient

Adobe.com - the homepage of the company that designs and sells software as varied as Acrobat Reader, Photoshop, Creative Suite, Fireworks, Flash Media, PageMaker, Authorware, Ovation, Dreamweaver and more. Click here for product downloads. Click here for support from Adobe on various pieces of software.

Enjoy the links and enjoy the sunny day outside!

And yes, I will be going through the alphabet in the future writing blog entries like this one - in this same format.

Stu

Facebook link to the library
Twitter link to the library

Tech, Tech, Tech....(Part 2)

Hi All,

Just changing it up a bit more today. I originally planned on doing another Thanksgiving Day related entry...but as I was driving to work today, I heard story on the news about PC World and their top 10 list of various computer resources (Iphones, downloads, computers. cellphones, smarphones, you get the idea...)

So when I realized that back on October 1st I wrote a blog entry whose topic was technology and when I realized that their was a good amount of interest in the entry, I put two and two together...bingo. Blog entry.

So here we are on the eve of Thanksgiving 2010 talking about tech...

The main PC World website can be found by clicking on this link. The site itself is phenomenally useful since it has current technology industry news, reviews of products, a large collection of How-To's for users (everything relating to pc's, laptops, smartphones and other devices is included), downloads for all these devices, apps, and a very helpful shop and compare section (if you want to compare prices on pc's for example). There is also a search box available so users can find what they want.

But the main reason I wanted to talk about the site is this: The Top Rated Tech Products page. PC World's editors review products like laptops, printers, camera's, HDTV, storage devices, phones, audio and visual theater components, camcorders, and e-Readers (a library favorite).

Many of the review articles are labeled 'Top 10..." That is pretty helpful for busy readers since it means that you don't have to sift through reviews on 25 (for example) different products. The PC World editors have taken the work out of it for you by picking the top X products.

When users click on a category a new window opens up. The top products in the category appear. Each item is separated in tab form so the whole table is easy to read. Once in the table itself though users can click on a link to a full review of the product, a test report link and the specs of the device/product. In addition, users can compare the product, check prices or buy directly at Lenovo (no - I am not endorsing them....)

Finally, on the PC World site users can have free newsletters sent to the them via email. Click here for the link.

Hope this helps feed the inner geek in all of my readers. I'm sure I'll write about tech again in the future. And if you have any comments or thoughts on this entry - or any other entry - that I've written about, you can send me an email by clicking here.

Alternatively you can leave a comment below...

Enjoy the device hunting and Thanksgiving of course.

Finally, don't forget to friend the library on Facebook and follow our Twitter stream!

Stu