Google Docs vs. Microsoft Office

I have used Google Docs to help a friend write a book.  We have both used it at the same time as we have been working on editing it together.

Google Docs is not quite as robust as Microsoft Office Suite.  Some of the more advanced editing and composing features are not available, things such as the ways images are handled, how presentations are made and the transition options.  Google Docs however, does have the majority of what the casual user would be needing to do on an everyday basis.

Google Docs does have more sharing and revision history options.  Google docs allows others to edit and share your document, based on how you want to share it. It also records revision history automatically which is very useful when documents are being edited by numerous people.  

Cloud Storage

I have compared two cloud storage applications, Drop box and SkyDrive.

1.     I have used DropBox for some time.  It is an easy to use interface. It also is great in that it works well with other publishing solutions.  For instance, you can store your media files (such as MP3s) on dropbox and use the URL to share through your website.  I like Drop Box in that you can install it on your desktop and sync your files to it.  Thus changes will be reflected in the cloud.

2.     I haven’t used SkyDrive for very long.  It feels very similar to Google Docs, which I have used for quite some time.  SkyDrive allows you to edit files online, which is a plus, but seems to save revisions in a weird way and seems a bit harder to navigate.

Both options have positives and negatives.  If you are looking for a way to access your documents and edit them no matter where you are and no matter what software (such as Microsoft Suite) is on the computer you are using, then use SkyDrive.  If you want to be able to organize your documents, and share them in specific ways or between a few computers with the appropriate software, then use Drop Box.

Weather Forecaster

Maps on a Spreadsheet

Google Spreadsheet

Flickr and Creative Commons

I think that Flickr and many other photo sharing sites, have a long ways to come in order to really educate the majority of the public on what the creative commons licenses are and how users should apply them.  I think that the laws and legality of sharing and using photos is still somewhat confusing to the average user. 

I think people like to share their photos, it gives them more exposure as photographers/artists.  I would share some photos, but not all.  I think that some of my photos I want to keep private, however I would not mind other photos being used by others. 

Uploading Vs. using the HTML

 
 Using the code from flickr, is a bit more cumbersome, as you need to go and get it and it isn't necessarily obvious where it is.  (It has changed since the book was written)  However, by using the flickr code, the reader can click the image and go to the flickr image itself.
Another benefit of using flickr is that you can upload an image from flickr anywhere you have access to the internet, where uploading a file requires that you be on a computer or devise that stores the photo you want. 

Kirsch08's photostream

Kirsch08's photostream on Flickr.

My Flickr