TECH SERVICE: PicMarker watermarks

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

http://www.webware.com/8301-1_109-9842728-2.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Webware

Hands-on
PicMarker watermarks, keeps your photos safe from evildoers
By Josh Lowensohn – January 7, 2008, 5:03 AM PST

***Begin Quote***

The correct attribution for online photos is a touchy subject.

***and***

Maybe one of the simpler ways to keep your photos and videos moderately safe from incorrect attribution is watermarking. I’m sure you’ve all seen it before, but if not, it’s basically layering on a semi-transparent line of text, or image over a spot in a photo. Some folks put it in a corner, and if they’re really worried, will place it all over the photo. A new service called PicMarker has set up shop to help people accomplish such a task, although instead of having to rely on a desktop software application, anyone can watermark up to ten shots at a time right in their browser.

***End Quote***

Interesting?!?

Now what can I use this thing for that it wasn’t intended to accomplish?

Social networking?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: Add a connection on Emurse?

Monday, January 7, 2008

http://www.emurse.com/invite

EMURSE

Join XXXXX’s Network

***Begin Quote***

XXXXX would like to add you as a connection on Emurse. By connecting with trusted friends and colleagues, you will always have access to their most current resume and contact information!
Are you already an Emurse member?

***End Quote***

Wow!

A resume distribution service, which I recommended, has added a social networking component.

Why?

It’s now not enough to do your one thing well; you have to chase wildly any wisp of an idea (like little children playing soccer who follow the ball all over the field?).

Strange!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: WD Anywhere Access

Sunday, January 6, 2008

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=340

Western Digital 1TB My Book World Edition – Ethernet (10/100/1000) Network External Hard Drive – WDG1NC10000N

***Begin Quote***

Add this unique remote-access storage system to your wired or wireless network and you’ll have a surprisingly simple and secure way to access data and photos at home, in the office, and anywhere in the world–even when your local computer is off. The included RAID software makes it easy for you to take advantage of RAID mirroring for extra data protection.

Product Features
WD Anywhere Access™ – This storage system and all the files on it are always accessible when you need them, even when your local computer is turned off.*

***and***

*Due to unverifiable media license authentication, the most common audio and video file types cannot be shared with different users using WD Anywhere Access. A list of the non shareable file types can be found here.

***End Quote***

Excuse me, who made you the “license” police?

Argh!

Would have bought one on the spot, but for this minor after-though kowtow to the RIAA!

NOT RECOMMENDED!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: SPOKEO is ghostly; it tracks you?

Sunday, December 30, 2007

http://blog.spokeo.com/?page_id=128

***Begin Quote***

1. Is Spokeo another social network?

No. Spokeo is a friend tracker (or a reader for the Open Social Graph) that automatically brings you friends’ updates across the Web. You cannot send messages, create profiles, or interact with others. Learn more about how to track friends.

***End Quote***

This looks like another JIGSAW or SPOCK type engine.

Hmm?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: GReader sharing flap!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

http://slashdot.org/~Felipe+Hoffa/journal/191246

http://groups.google.com/group/google-reader-howdoi/msg/876a2302bc71b433

GReader sharing flap!

***Begin Quote***

Message from discussion New Feature: Sharing with Friends
The group you are posting to is a Usenet group. Messages posted to this group will make your email address visible to anyone on the Internet.
Your reply message has not been sent.
Your post was successful

AnnaB
View profile
More options Dec 22, 8:03 pm
From: AnnaB
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:03:45 -0800 (PST)
Local: Sat, Dec 22 2007 8:03 pm
Subject: Re: New Feature: Sharing with Friends
Reply | Forward | Print | View thread | Report this message | Find messages by this author
This is going to sound like hyperbole, but this new feature has
actually RUINED CHRISTMAS for my family! I sent a share a few days ago
that I thought would only go to a few politically-like-minded friends.
I didn’t realize that because I had chatted with him in GChat, it
would also go to my brother, who is of a different political
persuasion. When he received it, he sent a snide, angry email about it
to a large group of our family members. I sent him an email (I’ll
admit, not the nicest one I’ve ever sent) asking him not to talk about
me behind my back and recommending that he stop reading my feed if the
posts were going to make him so angry. He called me a nasty name and
told me that if I can’t take a little ribbing, maybe we shouldn’t talk
anymore at all, including at Christmas Eve dinner. My whole family has
taken sides over this divisive political issue, and several of them
are not speaking. I kid you not, this is threatening to break up my
family at Christmas.

***End Quote***

In case you missed the latest GREADER “feature”, that’s what you get with web-based software — no change control; no feature control; AND it may happen without you even being aware of it.

Sigh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SERVICE: SPOCK presents some challenges

Thursday, December 20, 2007

*** begin quote ***

From: Nadine
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 5:31 PM
To: reinkefj
Subject: Fw: Ferdinand Reinke has requested your trust on Spock

Hi fjohn,

I received the following email regarding your Spock request. I’m not a user. If you are, do you recommend it and why?

*** end quote ***

OK, SPOCK is of interest (as I’ve blogged about) that is a “sponge”. It “sucks up” publicly available info, (somewhat like JIGSAW), and makes it available. Unlike JIGSAW, you can “claim” the account and make sure what it says is accurate. Leaving it alone, just leaves a collection point that is “untended”. In these days of digital dirt, I am a fan of taking any control I can of anything that will let me. I’m afraid this is just another something that you need to “tend”?

# # # # #

1 Comment | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: KODAKGALLERY recommended but one caveat!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

***Begin Quote***

From:
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 10:08 PM
To: Reinke’s Catch All Email
Subject:

{Extraneous Deleted}

Are you happy with using the Kodak page as a way to send pics? I bought a new Kodak camera and the upload/set up a photo gallery the Kodak page looks pretty simple.

*** end quote ***

Kodak is a name brand. There is one hidden trap. It’s dead drop simple to put the pics in, print, and share. BUT to get hi rez out, you have to join their “premiere gallery” for 25$ year. (50$ if you want a discount on reprinting I don’t print that much.) Then, you can DOWNLOAD a high rez version of the pics you put in. Otherwise, you’re uploading say a 5meg version, but can only download a 5k version. And, they do promise to keep your pics archived for an annual purchase of some number of dollars (One print order of $10? I think)

So I think Kodak sums up: (1) cheap photo archive; (2) cheap prints (probably cheaper than doing it yourself); (3) a neat one button fix of pics; (4) a central place for all your pixing activities. On the theory that you should never depend upon any ONE point of failure. I suggest that one should upload photos, fix ’em, hirez download them, and then send them to a gmail account (i.e., one message per “album”) with the album name in the subject line.

Also, since scanners are so cheap, old pics should be “captured” in the same way.

I’m thinking of the NOLA flood and SanDigo fires. Bet those folks wish they had such.

Plus, Kodak handles ANY jpeg. So, any important docs can be put into a jpeg and put on the Kodak site. (Cute huh?)

# – # – #

RECOMMENDED with that one caveat!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | RECOMMENDED, SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: tips and tricks for the Gmail user by Bob Rankin

Monday, December 10, 2007

http://askbobrankin.com/gmail_beyond_the_basics.html

***Begin Quote***

Gmail: Beyond the Basics
————————–

I love my Gmail. In fact, I’ve been using Google’s web-based email service for over two years now, and there’s NOTHING about traditional desktop email software that I miss. If you’ve been hesitating about moving your email online, read my tips and tricks for the Gmail user who wants to advance beyond the basics of the inbox.

I cover advanced searching in Gmail, how to use labels and filters, keyboard shortcuts, and how to tweak your Gmail settings to win friends, influence people and become better looking. ;-)

***End Quote***

Maybe I’ll have to reconsider my current reliance on LookOut from MSFT!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: COLLANOSWORKPLACE from behind firewalls transparently?

Monday, December 3, 2007

http://www.collanos.com/en/products/workplace/how_it_works

***Begin Quote***

How it Works

Collanos Workplace is built on peer-to-peer technology, similar to Skype™ internet telephony and popular music sharing networks. The solution stores the data of shared workspaces securely on the computers of all participating team members. Members can even work from behind firewalls thanks to a special Relay service that helps routing traffic in these situations. All the communication between users is encrypted and transmitted securely.

***End Quote***

Interesting?!!

We’ll see.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH SERVICE: KODAKGALLERY recommended for “instant image fix”

Saturday, December 1, 2007

http://www.kodakgallery.com

***Begin Quote***

The Kodak Gallery provides you with free online storage for an initial period of 12 months from the date that you first upload an image to your account. To maintain free storage, you need to make at least one purchase from the Gallery every 12 months (the 12 month period will restart with each purchase). If you do not purchase any product or service from us during a 12-month period, we may delete the images stored in your account. In addition, if your account becomes inactive for a period of 60 months, we may terminate access to your account altogether (including deletion of any account information held by the Gallery).

***End Quote***

I had some snaps from a party that were pretty good. And, as usual, I put them up here to order some prints. Just before I pressed the order button, I noticed a new (new? new to me) option by the edit button. (I was there to crop one pic.) So, hey, I tried it.

Wow.

It did a fantastic job. So I tried it on all the “roll”. It was a minor miracle. Shots that I had written off as too dark were magically transformed into better than the event in real life.

So, I’m punching this one with the RECOMMENDED button. Right after I blow the cobwebs off of it.

# # # # #

9 Comments | RECOMMENDED, SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »