BL7_Comment_Link_Brandi

PLease see my comments on Brandi Leblanc's page here -

http://leblancspace.blogspot.com/2010/10/bp2igooglescreenshots.html#comments

She is also one of my "Critical Friends" and her site is a work of art!

BL6_Comment_Link_Tim

Hello Friends - please check out my comments on my good friend Tim (John) Krusko's blog page -

http://jtkusko.blogspot.com/2010/10/bpscribd.html#comments


Tim has a great blog that I'm sure you will find as fascinating as I did!

BP5_Web_2.0_Review_Shwup!

Web 2.0 review:

muveeMix - Mix Photo and Music into Video

This is a social community app that allows the user to create photo albums with other users. 

Users will also have the option to create "Muvee's", or a short video using images and live footage merged together within the app.

The premise is simple - and quite appealing:

Let's say you have a large group of students at an event or field trip. Many people are taking images and video with different cameras and different angles. Shwup gives you a place to have all your friends upload their images and videos, add music & create movies (muvees) of the files.

I am in charge of a 125 piece marching band, and with that comes over 200 parents. I am always having parents hand me cd's dvd's and files of images - and then I'm adding them all to my library on my laptop, which is now topping out at over 38,000 images! 

Shwup would give us all the ability to load images and video files into one central location to share etc...

Some features of "Shwup" - 

• Share Hi-Res albums on Facebook using shwup. Using shwup, you can now upload your photos to shwup, and then hit the 'Publish to Facebook' link to publish the album on Facebook. Friends will be able to access a Hi-Res version by following the links placed below each photo automatically on Facebook to link to the shwup album. Facebook friends will finally have the chance to see and download the Hi-Res version of your images.
• Users can also buy a Video-DVD iso image of muvees uploaded from muvee Reveal, shwup's companion desktop product.
• Wonder what camera was used to take the photo? Camera models are now indicated next to each photo, complete with the price from Amazon. 
• Shwup users can also share an album with friends and family by sending them a link or publishing to Facebook or Twitter. Anyone who clicks on that link will be an authorized viewer of the album. 
• In addition - Photos and video can now be viewed in HD resolution! If you click on the "Full screen" button, you will display a large version of your photos and video.
• Videos and muvees can now be posted to YouTube.
• Users can use tagged photo as avatars, and you can now select a photo where you are tagged to be your avatar.

These are just a few features that shwup has to offer.

The steps to upload photos are simple:

Create a unique webpage name

Decide where to import from.

Upload your photos or files

One up - you have many options to share your photos!
Best of all - others can add to the album!

Check out this "muvee" I made in under 5 minutes!


http://www.shwup.com/album/meadowlands_2010/4325603

The interface is simple - the resolution is superb, and the concept of having large numbers of students and parents keeping all these events organized is very appealing...

This is free, and the only cost is if you want prints, or DVD's etc...

I would highly recommend this app to everyone interested in simplifying their large group photo efforts!

How I Fixed my Blog Post - Missing Images

To my surprise - my images were missing when my blog post was graded! In a nutshell - I screen captured and pasted the screen shots into the blog entry window (where I'm typing right now). I then adjusted the alignment and size so it would appear correctly in the post. I then saved the post. I went back and edited it a few times - the final save still had the images. I was stunned when I saw my grade - and then subsequently stunned when I went to the post and saw the "place holders" for the images - but no images!

I then went to blogger in the edit mode - Re captured all the screen shots - but this time, instead of pasting the graphic - I opened the graphic in preview (Apple's Image/PDF software), saved it with a name to my desktop, then uploaded it in the blog window - using the "Insert Image" command in the menu in this window. This has solved the problem.

Insert Image: 

You can check to see if it's working in this simple manner - once you upload the image, save the post (you can always go back and edit). Visit the post on your blog - then click on an image. IF the image OPENS larger and fills the browser - you are all set - if  NOT - then back to the drawing board!

In essence - you can't "paste" directly into the blog post - the image needs to be uploaded, then inserted! More work - but a much better result.

BP4_Review_Web_2.0_uTutti

Web 2.0 Tool:

uTutti - a management system for the music teacher. https://www.ututti.com/app

Tutti - the Italian word for "all or everyone" in music...

uTutti gives the user a variety of tool within one application that can organize almost every aspect of the physical "plant" of a high school (or middle school) instrumental (or vocal) music program. From instrument inventory to fund raising, from calendars to accounting software, from student lists to music library - the uTutti is a comprehensive - all in one - app for the high school music teacher.

As a music teacher - the duties of the job go way beyond teaching fingerings and phrasings. The day (and most of the night) is consumed with a plethora of tasks - most of which are menial and mundane, to say the least. You are constantly required to bring together many bits of information regarding students, instruments, inventory and finances. The uTutti app is a great way, especially for the emergent band director to "clean up his act"!

The app is organized with a Home Page that has tabs -

Each tab controls a different area of the department. The user also has the option to print reports regarding any aspect of the program. The user is also given the option of customizing the home page as well. 

The Student Page - directors can list all of their students information. A grade book option is included, as well as options to import information from external files. Directors can also assign groups, seating charts and include assignments.

My favorite feature is the Inventory Tab - I'm always creating database files etc... for the instrument inventory, uniforms and the music library. The music library includes barcode, date purchased and dates performed. Instrument inventory includes to whom the instrument is assigned.

Another fantastic feature is the ability to track finances. The Finances Tab. Here the director or band parent can track deposits, outlays, student fees, fund raising and every aspect of the finances of the program. Since most high school band programs are not financed from within their respective Board of Educations - this becomes an essential need for all active band programs.

This is a great app for all directors who are techno-challenged and techno-proficient. It organizes all of the daily drudge of the program into one localized place, that's instantly accessible from any internet connection. The drawback - well if you're techno proficient, you can create a lot of this on your own and save the (I think) very pricey $175/year subscription. Although, having all of this in one organized place does seem very appealing. For the director without the time or skills - this is a great addition to streamline the work day!

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots

iGoogle Pages -

1. Home Screen

2. FSO Page

3. AR/CBL Page

4. ETC Page

BP_Diigo Group