Archive for June, 2007

My Netvibes Addiction

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netvibes,
originally uploaded by Tommy Vallier.

So it was suggested recently that I talk about my Netvibes page and how I use it.
The screenshot posted along with this is a sample of my front [...]

netvibes,
originally uploaded by Tommy Vallier.

So it was suggested recently that I talk about my Netvibes page and how I use it.

The screenshot posted along with this is a sample of my front page. I’ve tweaked settings a little so as to not look too far behind, and have hidden my Remember The Milk calendar.

Getting Started

The page you’re looking at in the screenshot is my “Start” page. Along the left I have my twitter feed. Because I do try to stay in the loop. Down the middle you can see my Gmail inbox. ALL of my email is managed through gmail (Not even the for-your-domain version) and I see it from this panel. Below that is my Google and Wikipedia search box and the latest dig posts. On the right: Local date and time, weather and my calendar.

From this page I can quickly and easily see all of the things that are most important to me. Specifically the time, my email, calendar and the twitter feed. You can also see a large amount of tabs at the top. I’ll get to those. Note that I’ve set all of the modules on the page to be the same red-ish colour. It’s tab also has a unique icon. This is to visually identify the home page from others. I make a point of not using this red-like colour only on pages of personal interest - Home and bookmarks.

Branching Out

Along the top I have a wide variety of tabs. Each one is home to a large number of feeds and modules pulling in content from around the web. I do a few things to keep this organized too.

First, I identify tabs by the icons associated with them. All “real world” news feeds, such as newspaper feeds and feeds from TV stations, both local and not, share an icon. Same with blog feeds, podcasts and TalkShoe-related tabs. If I’m looking for a tab, I can then visually hunt out the icon then the tab name. You’ll notice they’re also grouped by icon. And personal tabs (Start, bookmarks and Meebo for communication) come before feeds. That’s because I use them more.

Module are all colour coded on a per-page basis too. If I’m looking at a page full of orange modules, I’m reading blogs (Regardless of topic). If it’s green - it’s a podcast. This works exceptionally well when you look at the TalkCasts tab. These are all shows created on TalkShoe (They earned a tab based on number of shows I track) and they share the TalkShoe icon, but within that page, all modules are green to match podcasts. The icon identifies the subject, the colour then identifies the medium.

The separate tabs/colour combination is part of the reason that, despite trying others, I don’t think I’ll be leaving Netvibes any time soon.

Mark All as Read

As tempting as this can sometimes be, I have never hit this button in Netvibes. Well, safe for adding a new feed I’m currently caught up on. One thing I do, admittedly, do though is NOT completely check out the content. I sometimes just don’t have time. I like knowing that there’s new posts, or a new episode, and will sometimes mark them as read if I look at a subject or topic and am not interested. I know that’s expected (How many of you read every post on every blog… or every article in the paper)… But I still feel guilty.

What About You?

I’m, clearly, a Netvibes Junkie. What about you? What reader do you use and why? Maybe you use Netvibes and can recommend a new module for me to check out? Maybe you’ve got a question? Looking forward to the feedback.

Coming to Kingston? What PABers need to know.

Podcasters Across Borders is a three-day podcasting and new media conference happening right here in Kingston on June 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2007. I’ll be there, with 159+ other people, talking tech and new media and having a blast.
The guys over there made a post on the blog with an advance welcome to Kingston, and [...]

Podcasters Across Borders is a three-day podcasting and new media conference happening right here in Kingston on June 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2007. I’ll be there, with 159+ other people, talking tech and new media and having a blast.

The guys over there made a post on the blog with an advance welcome to Kingston, and I thought I’d throw a few things on to it. Here a few things you need to know when coming into Kingston for the weekend:

1. You’ll be in the downtown waterfront during our First Capital Days celebration. Known to very few, Kingston was, very briefly, the first capital of this awesome country and we celebrate it for two weeks every year. Find out more at http://www.firstcapitaldays.ca
2. History buffs take note! Being that the conference is happening downtown,in the heart of the city, there are lots of things to see and do. Within a 5 minute walk of the hotel is city all and the tourist information centre (Originally our train station). City hall gives guided tours all day and a 1hr tour trolley (Think Mr Roger’s Trolley) leaves from the information centre every hour.
3. There is GREAT food in the downtown area. If you’re confused and want somethign to eat - ask! There are restaurants specializing in pizza, fajitas and Italian near by, and countless restaurants whose menus span the food groups. All in a 10 minute walk.
4. ALL FIVE banks are within a few blocks, though some are farther then others. The Holiday Inn has a generic bank machine in the lobby. Being a happy little PAB attendee though, I only give directions to the TD Canada Trust.
5. Want proof you were here? The information centre has a bunch, and S&R (One of Canada’s oldest department stores, on the opposite corner of the Merchant) has some too.
6. Kingston is the ‘Limestone City’ and as soon as you look around, you’ll see why. If you get a break and wander the downtown, be sure to note the number of buildings that use limestone as part of the building. Count them I dare you.
7. Leaving the downtown area? Cab it. Kingston’s awesome city… But the transit sucks. At best. It’s less of a headache … and WAY faster.

Any other Kingstonians reading this and want to add? How about PABers? Any specific questions you want addressed before your arrival? Anyone need a map?

Recently Interviewed

For those of you who missed it, I was recently featured on Mitch Joel’s Six Pixels of Separation podcast following an interview I gave while Mitch dropped by the downtown Kingston area for a night.
The story behind it can be heard in the show, but I’ll sum it up briefly here. While checking my Twitter [...]

For those of you who missed it, I was recently featured on Mitch Joel’s Six Pixels of Separation podcast following an interview I gave while Mitch dropped by the downtown Kingston area for a night.

The story behind it can be heard in the show, but I’ll sum it up briefly here. While checking my Twitter feed, I spotted a post from Mitch mentioning he was coming into town and wondering if anyone wanted to meet up. Never one to turn down a chance to geek out and talk new media, I instantly replied to him by email and promptly arranged to meet him at his hotel. We spoke at Tim Horton’s and had a very Canadian chat. We also spoke about Podcasters Across Borders (Which you’ll hear more about from me) and had a great time.

Have a listen, and let me know what you think! I’m always looking for feedback.