Tag: YouTube

Hands-on with the Dell Streak.

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Doug Belshaw

So yes, I bought it, took it back and bought it again. But I’m keeping my Dell Streak now. It’s great. And this is my last post on mobile phones – well, this month anyway… 😀

Usually new mobile phones are known about well in advance of their launch. Everything from specs to early reviews are made available in order to create a buzz around the product. For example, a couple of years ago I was sent an LG Shine and encouraged (although not instructed) to take photos of it and blog about it. With the Dell Streak, however, apart from a great video at jkkmobile I stumbled across on the night before it was released in the UK, I’d heard nothing about it!

Full specs of the device can be found here, but the highlights are that it’s an Android tablet/smartphone hybrid with a 5″ screen. Yes, five inch! :-p

Let’s just get past the two (related) questions I’ve been asked most frequently over the last couple of weeks:

Is it too big?
Don’t you feel a bit stupid putting it to your ear to, you know, make phone calls?

My responses:

It’s certainly on the upper limit of what counts as a phone size wise. Some, undoubtedly, will find it too big. But given that I tended to use my iPhone more for Twitter and other internet based activities than for phone calls, I don’t!
It’s not Dom Joly size and I don’t really suffer from self esteem issues anyway. As for people who think that phones should only be able to make phone calls, get back in your cave please… 😉

Things I really like:

The whole experience and speed of the device makes it über-slick
Spotify, Dropbox and other official apps are better (to my mind) than their iPhone counterparts
The size of the screen makes everything… just better
It’s really quite thin
Several virtual desktops means you can organize your stuff
I don’t have to jail break it to set it up the way I want it
Widgets provide real-time updates
The camera is legendary and the in-phone editing functions are actually useful
It’s got a ‘gorilla glass’ screen – check out this video showing it being torture-tested!

Things I’m not so keen on:

The placement of headphone socket
Volume buttons alter up or down depending on orientation (confusing!)
You can’t delete things (e.g. emails) by swiping
It’s not running the latest version of Android (v1.6)
Proprietary power/ sync cable
Current lack of third party support (eg cases, speakers, other add ons)
The quality of sound recording when shooting video isn’t gerat

Stuff other reviews might not tell you:

As with the iPhone, music stops playing when you remove the headphones
Sometimes tasks don’t shut by themselves and drain your battery (a force close app is pretty much essential)
It’s not really possible to use the Streak with one hand whilst walking for texting, etc.
With Android apps you’ve got 24 hours to get a refund if you don’t like it or it didn’t perform as you expected
The power cable is similar to the iPhone’s in that the USB end plugs into the power cable

10 apps that are awesome on the Streak:

Dropbox

Fring (for Skype & instant messaging apps)

Google Listen (podcasts through Google Reader)

Handcent SMS (iPhone-like text messages)

Opera Mini (web browser)

Profiles (change between ‘Normal’, ‘Night’, ‘Outdoor’, etc.)

Quick Addroid (add stuff to your Google Calendar quickly)

Realplayer

SlideScreen (really classy home screen replacement)

Spotify

I’m happy to answer any questions you’ve got – including making another video, so ask away! 🙂

Apply for Google Teacher Academy UK!

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Doug Belshaw

Introduction

The first ever Google Teacher Academy UK is coming to London on Thursday 29th July 2010! The only reason I’m accepting for YOU not applying is if you’ve already booked your summer holiday for that date. And even then, it had better be somewhere nice… :-p

If you’re an educator (especially if you’re in the UK) this is a great opportunity to be part of something that we’ve called (and especially Tom Barrett) has called for over the last few years. In addition, you could get to become a Google Certified Teacher!

Application Process

There’s two parts to the application process: an online form and a 1-minute video.

You can apply for Google Teacher Academy UK here:

http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html

(closing date: 17 June 2010)

Advice

Here’s 10 bits of advice from me if you’re thinking of applying:

Read what’s required of you. Seriously. For example, don’t submit a video that’s longer than 1 minute in length!
It’s not how much you know about Google and use their tools already. You are allowed to show proficiency in other tools and processes.
The video needs to address one (or both) of the these themes: a) Motivation and Learning, b) Classroom Innovation. You don’t have to feature physically in the video, but these themes do.
Don’t whinge. Show yourself in a positive light.
There’s no point in ticking every box for a question. It’s as if you didn’t tick any of them if you do that.
In the ‘technology skills’ section, don’t do yourself down. If you’re not a newbie, there’s no reason to tick the newbie box!
Read up on what Google Certified Teachers do and who they are. It will make your answers more informed.
Post your video on YouTube. Not elsewhere. And make it publicly viewable (double-check!)
Fill in your answers in a word processor (Google Docs!) and then copy-and-paste the answers in to the form. This will give you chance to reflect on them and run a word count.
Some people have added the one-minute application video to their Google Certified Teacher page (e.g. Chris Craft). Check these out for inspiration – as well a YouTube search for ‘Google Teacher Academy’.

Conclusion

I’m firmly of the opinion that it’s worth giving up not only some of your summer holiday for Google Teacher Academy but also the time it takes to apply. You don’t need to be a current teacher to apply (I’m not!) but you do need to work with educators in some way. Cite your online as well as offline work.

This isn’t a time to be shy, it’s a time to step up and apply for something potentially life-changing. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the end of July! 😀

Image based on originals CC BY dannysullivan

Using a Sony Reader PRS-600 to make notes on academic articles.

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Doug Belshaw

I’ve been very impressed with my Sony Reader PRS-600 since I got it last week. It’s a great device for reading, highlighting and taking notes on academic articles. Since before I couldn’t find much useful video on how the highlighting and note-taking functionality works, I’ve quickly put together the above two minutes by way of demonstration.

Hope it helps. 🙂

Note: those reading via RSS/email may need to click through to see the video – or view it on YouTube!