Archive for July, 2011
So I’ve had the chance to kick the tires over at Google+ for a few days. If your tin hat is melting and believe The Big G is an evil faceless corporate entity out to destroy all that is special on this blue rock, avert your eyes.
You know what?
Google+ rocks.
Me, the internet and social media go way back. I used Friendster, then Myspace, then Facebook, then Twitter, and so forth and so on. I guarantee I liked every service the first week I signed up. In general, I like things that are new and not so crowded. I enjoy that in physical spaces as well as virtual.
So I’ll reserve judgement after a longer evaluation period. In the meantime, if you have any interest in checking it out I encourage all to do so. The design is well thought out and easy to use. Privacy controls are a good step above those of Facebook and it’s a blast to find other like-minds (mostly tech early-adopters right now) and partake in the deluge of content everyone is sharing. Most of all, it’s just plain fun.
As a side note – I see no problem belonging to multiple social networks. Just because you are on Facebook doesn’t mean you should not use Twitter. Same goes for Google+. Think of it as another resource for information that might interest you. I do recommend you pay mind to the amount of time you spend online though. And this will be a reoccurring theme at this site.
Remember.
The best social network is the one outside. Get out there!
~ Notice that little Google +1 button down there? I bet you did.
I’m not really sure why in some computer efficiency circles email gets frowned upon.
Used properly it can save you time.
I have multiple accounts but the one I check most often is Gmail. Every aspect of my online life gets filtered through this silo. I used to be a big believer in Inbox Zero, but you know what sucks? Going all OCD trying to make your inbox an empty waste basket. No thanks, I’d rather be surfing.
These days I let Gmail do the heavy lifting with Labels organized by project. Email lists and social-media notifications also have their own section.
This way actual personal correspondence always gets my attention. And that’s all we want to do. Read and respond. Quickly. Efficiently.
My messages and responses are usually a sentence or two — maybe three. If there is more to be said, that warrants a phone call. However, if you decide to heed this advice be careful, some will misconstrue your “briefness” as being impolite. I try to avoid this. Firstly, I’ll explain during a casual face to face conversation (remember those?) my email methodology. It usually goes something like this.
“I’m a horrible typist. What would take a minute for you takes me twice the time to type. Imagine if I had hundreds of emails to respond to. So I try to keep things short. I hope you understand.”
Most people get it.
It seems to me email is the perfect tool for “getting things done” and creating an effective “all in one inbox”. How do you organize email? Have any special tips or tricks to share? Leave them in the comments.
↩ This post inspired by Ben Brooks » Elliot Jay Stocks
~ I don’t receive hundreds of emails daily but it is true that I am a horrible typist. White-lies can be an ally.
Hello,
This is my first post!
And whoever you are wherever you are from I am happy you are here reading these humble words. Welcome.
So what is this site all about?
Simple. I want to un-complicate the complicated — specifically related to technology. New hardware and software tools are increasingly being created at a feverish pace and if you are anything like me it can and has become overwhelming.
These technologies are supposed to make life easier, yes? In fact, for a large segment of the population (the non-nerds, former luddites, etc.) this is not the case.
So this site is my attempt to minimize the clutter in your digital life as well as my own. I’ll be discussing, reviewing, and sharing experiences for a more efficient, happier, “Wow, that just works!” kind of feeling.
~ I’m no expert but I do know a thing or two and maybe even a bit about a few. Also, I have no formal training as a writer and was repeatedly guilty of not paying attention in school. If you see something wrong, feel free to let me know via any messaging platform you prefer. I’m not above criticism and your opinion matters.