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 

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