Maelstrom: Martin's Musings

Kids and writing software

I am sure that this is covered in plenty of detail elsewhere but as I am with my kids and they are at the point (or close to it) where using a word processor is becoming needed. At school they use program which is an overlay for Word (and the other Office programs). MaxWrite, I believe. What to use? I have Mac, Windows and Linux (Ubuntu). While they use Win XP at school, we are pretty agnostic as far as the use of the different computers/OS. (started) Posting from my iPhone). Ironically, even though they use Windows at school -- they seem to like Ubuntu and Mac OS X more -- or at least gravitate towards those machines.

It is interesting how I can move them around from computers without too much issue. They are comfortable with all browsers -- but FireFox seems to be the favorite. I have them use KidZui most of the time for internet (gets them great content with a high level of

Image via CrunchBase

control over what what they see). Linux seems to have the greatest amount of easy to access educational software. But KidZui us good also, and I can use on all three systems.

Back to word processors. I do not know if I should use something different than what I have access to, or something even more focused towards kids. I have MS Office and or MS Works on one of the Windows machines, and on the Mac. I have OpenOffice on all t

Image via Wikipedia

hree, and I have Pages (iWork) on the Mac. I bet there are other lower-end kid-focused word processing software. I guess the most obvious choice is OpenOffice, it is on each system so would be available no matter what.  It is also somewhat similar in general function to Word. One question for me is whether it is too complicated or bloated. But that I guess would knock out Word also. I wonder if OpenOffice would be too much for a NetBook as far as taking up resources? Probably need to think on this a little more. Any comments are welcome.

Re-Emergence of Pownce as Motion

Looks like the move of Pownce to SixApart -- Has emerged has Motion -- as part of TypePad (which is the blogging service I use. It (Motion) is mainly a developer preview. I would like to get it going but I am getting a little confused on the setup. I have an API key and I am not quite sure what to do with (;-) ). However, it looks like fun. I like the idea of creating a centralized blogging platform. Recently, SixApart added PubSubHub as part of their TypePad blogs automatically. TypePad seems to be finally recognizing some of the potential it has alluded to in the past.

Technorati Tags: blogs, evolution, twitter, microblogs, social, transaction

More Appstore Apps

On the iPod for Twitter I have been mainly using the Twitterific app which is a good iPod app that follows the lead of their Adobe Air-based apps. I have been a little less on Twitter lately. Twittelator is also a little fun for seeing from where people are Twitting. I have been finding that Pageonce is kind of nice and useful (once you set it up from a computer). Using it as a quick look for certain types of financial information can be a time saver particularly if you are waiting for something to hit your accounts. I am looking at SugarSync as a way to synchronize across a few different computers (and be able to look at the files from iPod). I have been using Mobile Me with limited success, and I am hoping that SugarSync will be a little better. Datacase is one that I have downloaded but not yet played with very much. It allows you to transfer files to/from the iPod Touch or iPhone. It uses the device as a little mini file server. Quite a unique solution.

Technorati Tags: social, appstore, datacase, ipod touch, SugarSync, twitterific, twitter

iPod Apps

Well, I have to say that having the ability to add applications (apps) is good -- many of the apps including free and low cost (like $0.99) are going to take a little maturing it is aleady showing promise. After the initial euphoria of trying to download everything in sight, I am still finding that this could be really useful.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is setting up as a major theme here at Startup Camp.

Sun and Amazon

Jonathan Schwartz (Sun) has pre-announced that Amazon and Sun are going to make some big announcements at JavaOne.

Yahoo! in Play

All the talk about Microsoft or News Corp. acquiring Yahoo has to do with maybe creating a Twitter or Pownce clone (among other things). I am not sure why they would not just buy Twitter or Pownce. But with Yahoo you are getting a lot of stuff that Microsoft cannot seem to do well (Sell ads, get serious traction in search and IM, etc.).

Interesting development in yahoo ordeal.

Also News Corp is more information-based and think will play to Yahoo's strengths a little bit better. Even if it is MSFT I think strategic partnerships make more sense.

Kindle or Kindling

It is definitiely interesting how the Kindle seems to be peaking the interest of bloggers, and usually in a positive sense. See this video.

Anil Dash has written a pretty good piece on his thoughts about the Kindle and some of its potential impact. I think what has struck me is that how much it is similar to the iPhone/iPod touch/Starbucks product bundle. Obviuosly they are looking at somewhat different markets, but the distribution model is similar and it is does not take a rocket scientist to see the cross-over and possible competition.

Tags: kindle, ipod, itouch, books, reading, music

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eBay is not social?!?

I find it very odd that eBay is not more social (see Why eBay Isn't More Social - Forbes.com). It seems like they are almost doing too little too late. However, I am not sure that it is too late. There does seem to be a little bit of correcting going on there. With taking the charges for the Skype acquisition (suggests that they not integrated as much as they would like). They have added the home "pages" that buyers and sellers can create, and also the Neighborhoods (areas that people can discuss on similar subjects). I would think they would have been much farther along at this point. Maybe they can get it in gear and try getting more community focus and sharing both inside and outside the company.

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Tags: ebay, social, community, skype

The Face(book) of the future

Facebook seems to either sparking a trend or is at least on the beginning of one. It is the creation of a framework for apps. I suppose Ning and some others; the gadget frameworks (Google, Yahoo, Mac, Vista); and the start pages (Netvibes, Pageflakes) might be the beginning of this. However, Facebook has really seemed to spark some energy. Thomas Power of Ecademy made a comment (on Facebook) that it was kind of like a videogame for adults. It at least seems to be more of an adult version of MySpace. I cannot tell if Facebook is just the darling of the moment or whether it has legs. But for the moment it is definitely capitalizing on a trend.

Tags: gadgets, apps, applications, facebook, myspace, ning, yahoo, google, mac, vista, netvibes, pageflakes

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