Lessons for Old People

Technology Lesson: Pinning

2012-01-31T08:08:00.000-05:00

My apologies for turning these lessons into Pinterest month! It's just been slow going here, since I am generally disinclined to log in. We'll be quick with today's lesson: How to Pin a link on Pinterest.

You'll need an account before you begin. You may need to put in a request to joint the waiting list.)

1. Go about your business surfing the web. Find something you want to Pin.

2. Click "PIN IT" in your bookmark toolbar. (This is something Pinterest made you do when you signed up!) OR click the Pin icon on the site you want to Pin. I'm Pinning something from Etsy, so the icon is available:

3. A pop up will appear:

You'll see your Pin's image on the left, and the category and description on the right. Click the category to change which board your pin will appear on.

4. Click PIN IN when you're ready.

5. You're done! This is your confirmation:

You can click any of those options to see your Pin. Or you can continue surfing the web.

This took less than a minute. Now I'm seeing the appeal.

Technology Lesson: Setting Up Pinterest

2012-01-24T08:08:00.049-05:00

So! You requested an invite for Pinterest, and they let you in? Congratulations!

First things first, this bit from the welcome e-mail left an impression, so I think it's important we heed this advice:

- Pin carefully! As one of the first members of Pinterest, your pins will help set the tone for the whole community. Use big images, write thoughtful descriptions, and pin things you really love. Also, no nudity :)

(I appreciate the no nudity stance. Let us all Pin from our cubicles in secret!)

To get started, click the link in your e-mail. Agree to linking your Twitter or Facebook accounts to your new Pinterest account (this is mandatory):

Now create your account. The image on the left is my profile picture on Facebook. Thanks for your consideration, Pinterest!

Now tell Pinterest what you're interested in, so it can send you more good stuff.

Pinterest will add people based on your choices. (I unfollowed everyone, because I am picky and private. You can too.)

Now create your Pinboards. Remember, "Pinboards are visual collections of things you love." (I like this idea because I can get pretty negative at the end of a long day.) You can rename your boards, and choose other boards from the column on the right.

This is the most important step. You'll need to install PIN IT to your Bookmarks Bar. (That's the line of small icons and links above your webpages.) This is how you'll add to your Pinboard:

To install the “Pin It” button in Firefox:

Display your Bookmarks Bar by clicking View > Toolbars > Bookmarks Toolbar

Drag the “Pin It” button to your Bookmarks Toolbar

When you are browsing the web, push the “Pin It” button to pin an image

Once installed in your browser, the “Pin It” button lets you grab an image from any website and add it to one of your pinboards. When you pin from a website, we automatically grab the source link so we can credit the original creator.

Don't worry, Pinterest also has a video to help you along your way.

Here's Pin It! in my toolbar:

Pinterest will take you to your page next.

I set about adding my friends, because I was overwhelmed. I was surprised to find that Pinterest had taken the liberty of adding people while I set up my page. (What if it followed someone I didn't want to follow?) Pinterest will list people from your social network for you to follow. You can choose people to follow and unfollow, and connect to Twitter to find more people.

I'll be honest, I'm pretty overwhelmed. I'll have to get back to you with more posts in the future. Happy pinning (as they say), Old People!

Additional Resources:
Pinterest

Technology Lesson: Facebook Timeline (by Bryan Dennis)

2012-01-17T08:08:00.017-05:00

Today's lesson is by Bryan Dennis, who heeded my desperate plea to explain Facebook Timeline, a recent and divisive change. I am stubbornly refusing to make the change, but Bryan and nicer and braver, and smarter, and therefore able to help Old People everywhere.

The screenshot below is used with permission. Thanks, Marty!

There has been significant buzz about the new Facebook Timeline feature since it
was announced in September 2011, when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called
it as “a way to tell all the important stories from your life on a single page.” It is a
significantly different way of looking at your Wall and it provides opportunities to
remember your life in new ways and learn more about your friends and family. As
with anything that Facebook does, there is much hand-wringing about privacy and
stories about how your Timeline will keep you from getting a job. Plus it does get
tiring trying to keep up with interfaces that change all the time. These concerns
may or may not apply to you. Think about your life situation and do what you
think is best. Apply the same level of thought and care online as you do in person,
and things should be fine.

How do you get Facebook Timeline?

For now you have to opt into Timeline. To do this just log into your Facebook
account, open a new browser window, and go to this link:

https://www.facebook.com/about/timeline

This page shows you what Timeline will look like, how to customize the
information that shows up, and which friends have made the switch. Go look at
some of your friend’s Timeline pages (just click on the profile picture). This is the
best way to get a feel for Timeline. I find the new format rather elegant. At the
top you will see a profile picture sharing a “banner space” with an image that
you pick – landscapes, art, or nothing at all. Access to friend lists, photo albums,
likes, etc. are across the top in this “banner” area. The timeline starts below. The
key thing to spot is the rather unobtrusive timeline on the right side of the page
below the ads. It defaults to “Now” and by clicking on the years you can move
back in time to explore earlier posts (or you can just scroll down). Navigation is
confusing and jumpy and you don’t always end up where you want to be. I am
sure navigation will be smoothed out soon.

Want to Switch?

Timeline will be the default soon – so you will end up dealing with this now
or later. Go back to the Timeline page. If you want to make the switch now
click the “Get Timeline” button at the bottom right of the page and follow the
prompts. There really isn’t much more to do. Facebook will automatically decide
what to show on your timeline. Pick out a banner picture following the prompts.
You will be done in about five minutes. You do have the option of having your
timeline in an “unpublished” state for 7 days so you can customize what is shown
and what is isn’t. I accepted the defaults, which I think will be fine for most
people. If you want to customize your timeline go to the Timeline Help Center for
directions:

https://www.facebook.com/help/?page=240939812618946

Note that once you switch to Timeline you can’t switch back.

What Does It All Mean?

Before Timeline I spent almost no time on my friend’s Walls. I just posted
and viewed everything in the “Newsfeed.” With Timeline I find it much more
interesting to explore my friends’ Walls. Some have said that Facebook Timeline is
a resume of your life. Depending on how you use Facebook, this may or may not
be true. It certainly does document the present and provides historical depth. Old
posts have always been there but they were hard to access, so most people never
bothered. Now it is easy to look back, which can be practical, nostalgic, painful,
or embarrassing – just like life. The power of Timeline is described well by Don
Draper (the lead character in the AMC series Mad Men) in a clever video:

http://youtu.be/wAcyJhsamcQ

As always with Facebook, share what you want to share and make sure your
privacy settings are the way you want them. On my account I have almost
everything set as either “Friends” or “Friends of Friends.” Do what feels
comfortable and enjoy this new way of remembering.

Technology Lesson: Pinterest

2012-01-10T08:08:00.020-05:00

Pinterest is an invite-only, social networking/bookmarking website. I'm not a member, and I'm at a loss to explain exactly what the appeal and benefits of Pinterest are (to quote Slate's Farhad Manjoo, "Because while Pinterest is many things, easy to explain isn’t one of them..."), say, compared to Tumblr or Delicious, websites that have significant similarities.

I the site's usefulness hinges on participation, and what works so well for its members, is the content. Home decor, "inspirational" quotes, and, uh, stereotypical interests of women (pink stuff, chalkboard paint, pretty cocktails, interior design, fashion), is what draws interests and seems to make for pins. Personally, the amount of fitness "advice" when I took today's screenshot bugged me so much that getting through this paragraph without profanity was a serious burden. (Profanity is probably looked down upon; nudity is banned. Manjoo calls Pinterest, "The least cynical place on the Web.")

That's sort of a relief, actually, to have a haven without mean commenters. I applied for an account for the purpose of this site. Here's what Pinterest advised in its welcome e-mail:

Pinterest Etiquette: Try to...

Be Nice!

Be Creative. The best pinboards mix products, art, recipes and images from all across the web. Try not to pin everything from a single source.

Give Credit. If you blog about an item you found on Pinterest, it's nice to credit your fellow pinners by linking back to the original pin.

Yep, I'd say that's what makes the site so rabidly popular.

Here's a pin of cinnamon butter. The source (and instructions!) are at the top right. The link will bring you to another site. If you scroll down, you can read comments and find people who have pinned the post. From here, you can pin the post or share it through other forms of social media.

Since I've received an invite, I'll try to see what I can teach you, the Old People, about using this service.

Additional Resources:
Pinterest
Cupcakes, Boots, and Shirtless Jake Gyllenhaal, Slate
How Very Pinteresting, Nothing But Bonfires

Technology Lesson: Yelp

2012-01-03T08:08:00.002-05:00

Yelp is a website, search engine, and community designed to help users find goods and services and provide ratings for those goods and services. Or: Yelp is a popular website where people review businesses. (It has its pros and cons.)

Yelp launched in 2004. (The site was based in San Francisco, which explains why the city is the default location when you search for ramen four blocks from your office.) Today, you can use it to find food, doctors, or services where you live or are traveling. I used it once to help my sister find Italian food in California. I used it last week to find soup in Manhattan.

...But I did not find exactly what I was looking for. Yelp searches through reviews and data to find what you need. In my case, searching for French onion soup within four blocks of my office suggested Centre Melts, based on a (fairly negative) review about the Centre Street kiosk. (The benefit in the end was finding beignets, and a different soup.*)

So it's important that you have an open mind and objectivity when you read reviews. Yelpers can be harsh in their reviews, and to each other. As with each review you read online, it's always important to read carefully, to as to suss out biased reviews.

...Which is why I think Yelp is great for Old People. Old People know good food. (I think it's a good sign when a diner is full of old people.) Old People rarely have an agenda, and they have experience--so go forth, and Yelp! (I also really want my parents to join. It would be helpful and hilarious.)

Here are some search tips.

First, when you type what you desire (I tried pork buns, because I am always interested), Yelp will provide suggestions. If you see what you want, click it in the list.

Yelp remembered me and provided NEW YORK, NY on its own. You can type an address here if you'd like.

After you click SEARCH, you'll get this:

Filters, a list, and a map. I tend to use the filters first. (When I'm out with my roommate, he jumps to the list. It's usually sorted by relevancy and prestige. When we're out in the cold though, I wish he'd filter by proximity, as I am lazy and hate the cold.)

The filters are incredibly handy. I usually click the dollar signs and "walking distance" before I move on. Experiment, and be mindful of your flexibility. When you interact with the map, you can examine other other neighborhoods (and Yelp will expand its search while you do that). The list can be re-ordered based on price, rating, proximity, and most reviewed.

It's a pretty simple system, but it can really save you time when you must have French onion soup.

*I vowed up for Yelp and wrote a review when I finished this post.

Additional Information:
Yelp
Pizzeria Employees Wear T-Shirts With Quotes From Nasty Yelp Reviews, Consumerist

Announcement

2011-12-05T22:16:00.000-05:00

Oh, hello, it's Monday night, and tomorrow is Tuesday, the first Tuesday of December.

It pains me to inform you that there will be no lessons for December. Due to personal issues (the itchy, exterminating kind), and obligations, I will be unable to fulfill my duties here. Or: Christmas is coming, and I have this awesome quilt to finish for my cousin, who is expecting what will obviously be an adorable baby:

See? Obligations!

Have a safe and happy holiday season! I'll see you in January.

Your New Gmail Icons

2011-11-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

Gmail changed its appearance earlier this month. Some users were offered this option right away, and everyone else was promised the switch would become mandatory. (This post was written in advance, maybe it already happened!

It was the updated icons that required the most adjustment, so I thought I would cover that. My current system is to separate my messages by "unread" and "everything else" so that may look different to you in the screen shot below.

You'll notice that the icons that usually sit at the top are gone. They appear, as seen below, when you click on a message.

Like this:

Here are the icons on their own. Maybe you're an Old Person who does well with symbols. Or maybe you're like me. (My overall tip is to hover your mouse over an icon you don't know and wait for a description to appear.)

The icon on the far left is the SELECT icon. You might use this to SELECT ALL messages.
The next icon is a folder with an arrow on it. This ARCHIVES your messages (to ALL MAIL; it will keep any labels you have applied). The third from left icon is a STOP SIGN. This reports a selected message as spam. The TRASH CAN sends messages to the trash.

I hope "mark as read" is explanatory.

Here's the MOVE TO in action. This is what you see when you click the arrow. You then move the message to the option provided.

And here are the LABELS.

And this is MORE:

Remember, when in doubt, hover!

Technology Lesson: Kickstarter

2011-11-22T08:08:00.067-05:00

Kickstarter is a website where people can submit a fundraising proposal and collect money, via the Internet, to fund their projects. (This is called "crowdfunding.") The subject and goals of these projects vary. One might require only a small sum, whereas another may attempt to fund a film.

I'm feeling mildly lazy. I'll let Kickstarter explain itself:

Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. Every week, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields.
A new form of commerce and patronage. This is not about investment or lending. Project creators keep 100% ownership and control over their work. Instead, they offer products and experiences that are unique to each project.
All or nothing funding. On Kickstarter, a project must reach its funding goal before time runs out or no money changes hands. Why? It protects everyone involved. Creators aren’t expected to develop their project without necessary funds, and it allows anyone to test concepts without risk.
Each and every project is the independent creation of someone like you. Projects are big and small, serious and whimsical, traditional and experimental. They’re inspiring, entertaining and unbelievably diverse. We hope you agree... Welcome to Kickstarter!

That's a quick crash course, no?

Here's artist Amanda Palmer on her experience. Palmer, and her husband Neil Gaiman used Kickstarter to fund a tour across the West Coast:

One thing that I've been noticing about Kickstarter, and that was confirmed when I went in and had a meeting with the folks who work there, was that many people WANT TO SUPPORT and will simply SUPPORT AT THEIR DESIRED LEVEL, regardless of what's being offered. Often people will decline to even give their T-shirt size when Kickstarter sends the follow-up email — they didnt' want the shirt, they simply wanted to donate $100 and that level came with a shirt... and they already own 200 black T-shirts, they don't need another one. This is fascinating.

Here is what a page might look like. I've used an expired project by the Graduate. The band wants to release a DVD of its farewell shows.

I forgot to donate. Lest this happen to you, there's a button on the right (where that star is) that will remind you to donate.

You can see the left column features a video. (This is common.) The video explains why this project needs donations, what it helps to accomplish, and what you can receive in exchange for your donation. The right column features a countdown (zero, since the project has ended), the number of backers needed for completion, and the fundraising goal.

Donors are often given a tiered level of donating. From the Graduate's page, again:

In this example, the tiers continue up to $100.

Some other projects, as examples, are Coffee Joulies, stainless steel beans that regulate coffee temperature, Matt Porterfield's film I Used To Be Darker, and Moveable Type, a cross-country print lab.

Additional Resources:
Kickstarter
Kickstarter's Twitter
Kickstarter: Does It Even Matter What You Sell? Insight Community
Coffee Joulies
Moveable Type
Arts-donation website helps Matt Porterfield turn his new film into a cliffhanger, The Baltimore Sun

This is not an advertisement for Kickstarter. I ran out of ideas, and Movable Type, which was funded by a campaign, gave me the idea.

Culture Lesson: Human Microphone

2011-11-15T08:08:00.029-05:00

The Occupy Wall Street protests, which originated in New York City in September, and may or may not have ended by now (I write these posts in advance), have used a variety of tactics in communicating a variety of messages.

One of these techniques has been the Human Microphone. It's a technology free way to disperse a speech to a large crowd.

What is the Human Microphone? Allow me to explain! This is what happens: A man or woman stands in front of an attentive crowd. He or she shouts, "Mic check!" This signals that the man or woman has something to say. When the crowd responds, "Mic check!" the man or woman knows that he or she has the crowd's attention.

He or she says a short portion of a speech. The section in front of the man or woman, the first group within hearing distance, repeats the speech. A section behind those people repeat it. That bit is repeated, echoed, to the back of the crowd. It's like a round: the speaker does not wait for the stragglers in the back to receive the opening of the speech to continue. (That may take forever.) The speaker waits for the section of people in the front to finish and then continues. This process will go on until the speaker is finished.

This is a speech using the Human Microphone, as posted by New York Magazine:

For measure, here's NYM on the process:

Rather than using an agreed-upon Twitter hashtag, bullhorn, or sound system (the latter two require permits from the city) the group is using a "human microphone" technique: simply shouting back the words of the speaker so the rest of the group can hear. As you might expect, the message can get a bit garbled, and basic sentences (AND BASIC SENTENCES!) can take three times as long (CAN TAKE THREE TIMES AS LONG!) to complete (TO COMPLETE!).

So, why is a group largely organized via technology relying on lungpower to make a speech? Because one requires a permit for a bullhorn. (And a permit was supposedly issued! But the noise level was too loud. I'm still trying to verify that.) From The Nation, which also explains the fine details of camping in Zuccotti Park:

The thing is—there's no microphone. New York City requires a permit for “amplified sound” in public, something that the pointedly unpermitted Occupy Wall Street lacks. This means that microphones and speakers are banned from Liberty Plaza, and the NYPD has also been interpreting the law to include battery-powered bullhorns. Violators can be sentenced for up to thirty days in prison. Further complicating the matter is the fact that Liberty Plaza is not actually a public park. It’s privately owned by Brookfield Office Properties, landlords to Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, and in addition to amplified sound, they’ve also sought to ban sleeping bags, tents and other equipment from what they call “Zuccotti Park.”

Additional Resources:
Video: A Brief Lesson on Using the Occupy Wall Street Human Microphone, New York Magazine
Man Uses Occupy Wall Street’s Human Microphone to Propose to Girlfriend [Video], Observer
Human Microphone, Urban Dictionary
We Are All Human Microphones Now, The Nation
When the Multitude Shouts With One Voice, The Wall Street Journal

Technology Lesson: Facebook Notification (Update)

2011-11-08T08:08:00.028-05:00

Facebook has been making a lot of changes, and hopefully the next few lessons will shed light on these adjustments—which you have surely adapted to—and provide an update to the outdated archives.

Before Facebook enraged its users in September with privacy changes (AGAIN), it e-mailed its users regarding Facebook notifications. I preferred my old settings. If you want to reset your notifications, or modify them in any way, read on.

LOG IN TO FACEBOOK.

Click the arrow at the top of your screen (next to HOME).

Click ACCOUNT SETTINGS.

Click NOTIFICATION SETTINGS.

To undo the changes Facebook made, click the checkbox at the top of the page.

YOU'RE DONE!

If you'd like to tweak your settings while you're there—maybe you want MORE e-mail, less e-mail, or just need to tweak your notification for unrelated reasons—begin your customization.

The first rows will disable e-mails for the notifications related to your recent activity. My first note is from (previous contributor) Bryan, who liked my Facebook photo. (Thanks, Bryan!) If I click the envelope, I'll disable the notification settings I already have in place. (No e-mail, but a note when I sign in.)

Scrolling down to ALL NOTIFICATIONS will allow you to tweak settings individually. (This is probably what you want.) Click EDIT to see your preferences and make changes.

There are my preferences! We're on personal terms, now.

Click SAVE CHANGES when you're done.

Previously:
Technology Lesson: How to Get Facebook Notifications

Technology Lesson: Blue Screen of Death

2011-11-01T08:08:00.029-04:00

Windows 8, the newest operating system from Microsoft, has a new Blue Screen of Death (BSoD; above).

The Blue Screen of Death is formally known as a Stop Error or Bug Check. The screen usually pops up unexpectedly, and strikes fear and/or irritation in the user. I'll let Wikipedia explain what's happening when the blue screen appears:

Stop errors are usually hardware or driver related, causing the computer to stop responding in order to prevent damage to the hardware, whereupon, in the latest versions of Windows, the screen presents information for diagnostic purposes that was collected as the operating system performed a bug check.

The old screen, below, was blue with white text. It provided a length bit of code for developers pre-reboot, to "explain" the error. The new screen provides significantly less information for developers. It's still blue, but includes a sad face emoticon. This is laughable in the technology community, but at least Windows acknowledges the stress and frustration accompanied with a Blue Screen of Death?

Additional Resources:
Windows 8 Upgrades the Blue Screen of Death, Mashable
Windows' Blue Screen of Death, PC Mag
Blue Screen of Death, Wikipedia

Previously:Technology Lesson: Emoticons

Vocabulary Lesson: Murk

2011-09-27T08:08:00.004-04:00

Today's lesson is provided because I read it in a headline, and I hate to be bested by slang. I love slang! With that established, I want you to know that Old People are not likely to encounter today's word.

And that word is: murk. Webster's New Orld College Dictionary (Fourth Edition) defines murk as "darkness or grim," and notes that the word's usage is ARCHAIC.

Slangily, the word is a verb and means to beat someone so viciously that the victims dies, succumbing to his or her injuries. It is sometimes spelled merk.

Here's the headline that forced me to Google the word: "Protect Ya Neck: FBI Steps In As Crazed 'Fan' Threatens To Murk Ne-Yo And Record Exec Clive Davis!!"

The link below will take you to Bossip, so understand this isn't going to turn up in the New York Times any time soon. (Though it could end up on an episode of SVU hoping to gain a little street cred, yawn.)

Additional Resources:
Murk, Urban Dictionary
Protect Ya Neck: FBI Steps In As Crazed 'Fan' Threatens To Murk Ne-Yo And Record Exec Clive Davis!!, Bossip

Vocabulary Lesson: Follow Back

2011-09-20T08:08:00.036-04:00

Today's lesson is brief, and perhaps speaks for itself, but may be worth covering just in case.

"Follow back" is a social media term used to discuss reciprocity. It might be used as a request ("Follow back?") when one person follows and/or friends another, to ask if that person will follow or friend the first user. (For example, I might add you to Twitter and ask or expect you to follow me in response.)

Or, a person might add to their bio online, "I do follow backs." That person is saying, "When you add me, I add you, too!"

Accumulating friends and followers is important in social networking (unless you are cranky, like me), and particularly important to Young People. A high number of followers may indicate popularity. (As an Old Person, you have every right to scoff, "Right! But do you know those people?!" See, I'm crabby.)

Some accounts—for most sites—exist for this purpose! Personally, I think these accounts as just as bad as spam robots. Some spammers create links, or fake websites, luring users to follow their accounts in return for an exponential increase in followers.

There is also a level of guilt associated with this action, though I doubt it is served in large doses. I found an abbreviation for this phenomenon, ISFBG (I Should Follow Back Guilt). I can't confirm that it's a popular string of letters, but it's worth knowing, I suppose, if you come across it (or suffer from it). Having too many strangers friend you, and pressure from those strangers, can occasionally needle the nerves (and patience) of the user. So, you know, beware?

The request/phrase is also sometimes shortened to "follback." If someone asks you, "Follback?" you have my permission to laugh uproariously at this stupidity. Seriously.

Additional Information:
ISFBG, Urban Dictionary
Follback, Urban Dictionary

Technology Lesson: Listen to Music on Spotify (by Bryan Dennis)

2011-09-13T08:08:00.048-04:00

Today's lesson is by Bryan Dennis, who kindly offered to explain Spotify, a music streaming service that is new to the U.S. (But not Europe!)

Technology Lesson: Listen to Music on Spotify

Spotify is a Swedish music service that became available in the United States in July 2011. It is legal (artists get paid when you play their music) and has millions of songs and thousands of albums and most of the artists that you will want to listen to. It is a magic jukebox but it isn’t. You need a computer with a relatively recent operating system: Microsoft Windows (2000 and newer) or Mac OS X (10.4 or newer) and a high-speed connection to the internet

If you love music and want to expand your horizons without breaking the bank this is the service for you.

Getting Started

There are three ways to get Spotify: Free, Unlimited ($4.99 per month) and Premium ($9.99 per month). Free is the way to start. The only downsides of Free are some ads and a limit on how many hours of music you can listen to in a month (20 hours). Upgrade if and when you become dissatisfied.

To get Free Spotify you must be invited. There are different ways to get an invitation but I just go to the following link where Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) will get you an invite right away. Just enter your e-mail address: http://www.spotify.com/us/trent-reznor/ema

Spotify will send you an e-mail. Follow the instructions to set up your account and download and install the software you need. This may take 10–15 minutes. Then launch, log-on, and you are ready to listen.

Using Spotify

Basics

If you have used iTunes or listened to any music on the Internet you will recognize the Spotify layout: search box, forward/backward arrows (upper right), play,pause, next track, previous track, volume (lower left).

The default view is “What’s New.” Click on an album to select it and see the track list. Use the lower left Play, Pause to control playback. Click on the back arrow in the upper left to get back to What’s New. When in doubt, click and see what happens. Nothing to mess up, and you will figure things out the old fashioned way—trial and error.

Searching

Type the name of an artist, album, or song in the search box and click on the green arrow to the right of the search box. Search results are displayed below. You can select by Artist, Album, or Song. Navigation is always done by clicking on either an image or text. Give it a try. If you get lost just use the back arrow to return to the search results.

Artist

If you click on an artist name in the search results view you are taken to a new view that has sections called Top Hits, Albums (in reverse chronological order), Compilations, Appears On. Select what you want to listen to by double clicking the track you want to hear and use the Play/Pause buttons. Note that the album of the track you are listening to will be shown in the bottom left of the Spotify window.

Album

If you click on album title in the search results view you are taken to a new view that lists the album tracks and may give a review. Double click to select a track and listen in the usual way.

Tracks

In the search view is a list of all tracks by that artist. Just double click a track to start listening. Hours of your selected artist without further intervention.

Beyond the Basics

I am satisfied with the basics, but Spotify has a bunch of additional functionality. You can put together your own playlists, share the music you are listening to with friends, and even listen to the music you have on your computer from other sources, like iTunes. Explore these features as you wish.

Downsides

You are tethered to your computer and a high speed connection unless you upgrade to the paid options. Sound quality is good, but not great, so audiophiles may be dissatisfied. You won’t find everything you want to listen to on Spotify (e.g., The Beatles) and it can be very hard to find the exact performance you want to listen to if you are a classical music fan.

For additional tips on how to get more out of Spotify, click here: http://huff.to/oEdLCr.

Listen and love Spotify. Questions?

Technology Lesson: Uploading To Your Facebook Wall Via E-Mail

2011-09-06T08:08:00.001-04:00

This blog previously instructed you how to reply to Facebook posts via e-mail. I think this is a handy time-saver, but did you know you can post more to your Facebook wall than replies? Because you can! (Thanks to my housemate for pointing this out!)

Facebook provides its users with an individual e-mail address for this purpose. (Using it for other purpose will provide you with zero results.) You can send your status or media to the e-mail address, and the content will post to your Facebook wall. Pretty cool, right?

I'll let Facebook explain:

Your personalized uploads email address can be used to upload photos or videos to your account from a computer or mobile phone. To see what your personalized upload email is, be sure you are logged into your account, then go to the Facebook Mobile page. Alternatively, you can take the following steps:

On the computer, go to the Publisher located at the top of your Wall and click the Photos button next to "Attach."

Select "Upload a Photo."

Click the "upload via email" link.

The email subject will be used as the caption of your photo or video, or your updated status if your email contains no photo or video. Note that photos and videos uploaded via email are visible to everyone by default, but you can change the privacy setting of any photo album by going to your Photos page and clicking "Album Privacy."

To review, you obtain your personalized e-mail by logging into your Facebook account, and going to https://www.facebook.com/mobile.

That page will provide you with your personalized e-mail address. I would provide a screenshot, but this seems fairly simple. Besides, as Facebook says (emphasis mine):

This is a secret email just for your Page - don't share it with anyone except other admins of this Page.
The email subject will be used as the caption of your photo or video if your email contains photo or video.
The email subject will be used as your updated status if your email contains no photo or video.

Some ideas for how you might enjoy using this trick:

Posting photos you've taken from your [e-mail capable] mobile phone, iPod, iPhone, or iPad
Posting a status from work without having to log in (which I would never do*)
Sharing videos shot from your Internet capable devise
Posting just about everything without logging in, ever again (I envy you already)

*But totally did at my old job, to Blogger. Probably to this blog!

Previously:
Technology Lesson: Replying To Facebook Posts Via Your Inbox

Additional Resources:
Expand All
What is my personalized upload email address?, Facebook

Vocabulary Lesson: Glamping

2011-08-30T08:08:00.001-04:00

GLAMPING is GLAMOROUS CAMPING. The word GLAMPING is a portmanteau. This is, according to the evening news, a Thing. It is sometimes called BOUTIQUE CAMPING.

And I can hardly believe that I am telling Old People this. (This is either a new low for me, or a new low for society. Probably me.)

Glamping usually includes the conveniences of home and often focuses on deluxe accomodations and the benefits of a posh lifestyle. This is weird to me, because camping usually involves bug bites, some form of hiking, mud, campfires, and various forms of discomfort. (I am not someone who camps. Or hikes. Or does anything outdoors.)

I think I should let wiseGEEK explain, because I can't stop rolling my eyes:

During a typical glamping trip, for example, the tents are often designed with bright designer colors and materials, not the olive drab canvas tents of yesteryear. These tents can be rigged for electrical power, which means occupants can operate appliances, reading lamps and climate controls. Forget about smelly sleeping bags placed on rocky or insect-infested ground, as well. Those who have gone glamping may sleep on full-size air mattresses, or even regular spring mattresses provided by the outfitters.

Here is Tom Haverford (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), of Parks and Recreation, glamping:

Additional Resources:
Glamping, Urban Dictionary
GoGlamping.net
GlampingHub.com
What is Glamping?, wiseGEEK
Glamping: Its Time Is Coming, The Wall Street Journal

Technology Lesson: Twitter Security

2011-08-23T08:08:00.032-04:00

Q: How can I prevent spammers from following me on Twitter?

A: You have options!

First, you should know that you can unfollow anyone you want, at anytime. (It's Twitter policy!) Twitter explains how to that here. And Twitter is very proactive in zapping spam accounts. (You can report spam here.) Of course, if your account is public, this will not prevent anyone from following you or reading your tweets.

The most effective way to prevent someone from reading your tweets, and following you, while keeping your account public, is to block the user. Twitter explains:

We provide all Twitter users with the ability to block other users. Blocking prevents a user from following you, sending you an @reply or @mention, or putting your account on any of their lists.

Twitter explains how to block users here.

Finally, you can lock down your account and simply NOT allow any unapproved user to read your tweets. (But if you ever go public, any user WILL be able to read your tweets.) This is what I do! I approve each user. I can follow someone without allowing the user to follow me. (Usually I allow someone to read and do not follow. Also an option!) You can adjust this in your settings.

I think this covers all the bases. Questions?

Additional Resources:
Following Rules and Best Practices, Twitter.com
Unfollowing from your following page, Twitter.com
How To Block Users on Twitter, Twitter.com
How To Report Spam on Twitter, Twitter.com
Twitter Settings

*This question has been abridged.

Technology Lesson: Shortening Links on Twitter

2011-08-16T08:08:00.039-04:00

Q: How can I shorten links on Twitter?

A: Hoo boy!

Twitter restricts updates to 140 characters. (20 less than a text message!) So if you have a website to share, or a long hyper link, your message will be severely restricted. This is a big pain.

Fortunately, software and programs exist to shorten your URL. The URL will redirected the user to the full link. Most of the time, this shorter URL will last a long time and track page visits for you.

Many tweeters use other programs to Tweet. I used TweetDeck, which shortens the link for me. You can see TweetDeck in action below.

In the first image I've typed the link and TweetDeck is automatically shortening the link for me. In the second image the work is done. If I click the link, TweetDeck will display the full text of the hyperlink.:

In these images TweetDeck shortens the link to tinyurl. There are many options. (I like bacn.me because I think it's hilarious.) Ow.ly is popular because it shortens urls and tracks page views. All of these sites will shorten links--some will require that you go directly to the site to breven your URL, but some will not. Some will include benefits, but others may not.

Most Twitter clients will provide a number of options. Here's TweetDeck's list. Note that I can add bacn.me to the list if I want to:

Feel free to "shop around" before you commit.

Additional Resources:
bit.ly
TinyURL
bacn.me
Ow.ly

Vocabulary Lesson: Yacht Rock

2011-08-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

Yacht Rock is a soft rock genre. Inspired by, or named for, the 2005 Channel 101 series of the same name, the "genre" is mostly 1970s smooth jazz and soft rock singers (almost always male).

Some examples include Kenny Loggins*, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Toto, and the Doobie Brothers. These artist, and this subgenre of soft rock really peaked in the mid-70s to '80s, and therefore a "restrospective" title. In theory, the "yacht" in yacht rock refers to white, WASP-y yacht owners who would enjoy this music. (Or, for fans of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, big box store managers.) Some songs included references to sailing, some performers dressed as ship captains, and some music videos were set at sea.

Some music journalist have long-accepted this as a Thing, and hipsters (as they are wont to do), quickly latched on. The term is often used to lampoon the genre, but Jimmy Fallon's running gag was a gentle mockery based in reverence. So be prepared either way, and feel free to let those whippersnappers know you remember when that music was NEW.

(Make sure you check out Fallon's videos and peruse the resources I've provided below!)

*Who I sometimes accidentally call Kenny Rogers in my verbal explanations. My apologies!

Additional Resources:
Yacht Rock, IMDB
Yacht Rock Docks in New York, The New York Observer
Top 10 Yacht Rock Songs Of All Time, IGN
Monday We're Having A Yacht Rock Party Late Night With Jimmy Fallon The Blog
Yacht Rock 2K11! Late Night With Jimmy Fallon The Blog
Yacht Rock, UrbanDictionary.com

Technology Lesson: iChat Basics

2011-08-02T08:08:00.047-04:00

I use iChat at work (these screenshots are from home!), and one of my co-workers mentioned that she knows Facebook chat, but is less familiar with instant messaging systems. She's technologically able, but it had never occurred to me that a seemingly newer technology would be better known! (I suppose a Facebook chat lesson is in order, too!)

So without further adieu, here are some basic tips for using iChat.

iChat is an instant messaging service, much like AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) or ICQ. iChat is pre-loaded on all Mac machines and was developed for Mas OS X. Click here for more information.

This is me, logged offline. I've clicked the small triangle next to OFFLINE. If I click AVAILABLE, I'll be asked to sign in to the service. (The program is currently set to use Jabber, which is connected to iChat.)

And here I am, having logged in through AIM, which you can also use. I recently linked my GChat and Facebook chat accounts to AIM, so you can see those groups listed here.

I can add a buddy to my list by clicking the plus sign at the bottom of the Buddy List.

I can chat with a new person by double-clicking my buddy's name in my buddy list OR by clicking FILE and NEW CHAT... at the top of the screen.

From there, I enter my buddy's name and click CHAT.

I can log off by quitting the program OR clicking the arrow on my buddy list and choosing OFFLINE.

Additional Information:
iChat

Technology Lesson: Dragging and Dropping A Playlist to an Apple Device

2011-07-26T08:08:00.034-04:00

Now that you know how to import music to iTunes from a CD, and you know how to create a playlist, it's time to take your iPod dexterity to the next level by dragging and dropping a playlist on to your iPod.

If you know how to add music to your ipod, then you probably have a firm grip on this lesson already.

Let's get started!

Turn on your computer, log in if necessary, and start iTunes.

Remember, your iPod is going to be found in the LEFT column under the heading DEVICES. Your playlist will ALSO be in the LEFT column under the heading PLAYLISTS.

Connect your iPod to your computer. Let the device sync, if necessary.

Find the playlist you want to drag and drop. For this lesson, I'll choose LessonsforOldPeople. (You'll note that it has only one song it, per the previous lesson.)

I have a lot of playlists on my iPod and my computer. So many that I can't see the name of my iPod when I choose my playlist! That's OK.

Click the playlist ONCE. Holding the button on your mouse without letting go, drag the playlist by its name to the iPod. If you can't see your iPod, drag it upward until you can.

Drop the playlist on your iPod. I prefer to drop it on the name so that I don't accidentally drop my playlist into another playlist.

You'll see a little circle with arrows spinning. This is the sync symbol. When the action is complete, you'll see the playlist listed under your device:

Eject your iPod when you've finished dragging, dropping, and miscellaneous organizing.

By the way, you can skip this and make a playlist on your iPod instead of iTunes. You will need to use either music already on your iPod or drag new music to your iPod from your library.

Previously:
All iTunes Lessons

Technology Lesson: Sending A Reply Without Attachments

2011-07-19T08:08:00.001-04:00

My sister sends us three adorable photos of my niece every day. (I'm incredibly spoiled.) These photos arrive by e-mail as an attachment. Some e-mail clients attach those files to the replies by default. Here's how to avoid doing that.

Because Comcast is popular e-mail tool among adults, we'll look at Comcast first. I snuck into my parents' account and opened an e-mail I sent the night before I wrote this lesson. (As it contained photos!)

You'll notice in the screenshot above that I've highlighted the three attachments. I've done that so you can see that they are above the message you would write to send as a reply.

If the boxes next to the file names are CHECKED then the attachments will send with the mail.

If the boxes are UNCHECKED, they will not.

For bonus material, we'll review Gmail. (Because it's popular, and you ought to be using it anyway.)

It is my understanding that Gmail does NOT include original attachments as a default setting. (If it is, you can probably change this in the SETTINGS or LABS for your account.)

This is the reply area in Gmail. I've highlighted INCLUDED ORIGINAL ATTACHMENTS so you can find its location.

If you WANT to include all or some of the original attachments, click INCLUDE ORIGINAL ATTACHMENTS.

Gmail will list all of the attachments from the previous e-mail. Uncheck any attachments you do NOT want to include.

Now go forth and reply!

Technology Lesson: How to Make a Playlist In iTunes

2011-07-12T08:08:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite "features" on iTunes, and my iPod, is the playlist.

Some of the steps in this lesson were covered in a previous lesson, when I showed you how to Technology Lesson: How to Burn a CD (Using iTunes)burn a CD using iTunes. This lesson will go into a little more detail.

Start your computer. Turn it on, and log-in (if necessary.)

Start iTunes. (There's a lesson on that here.)

Click FILE (at the top LEFT corner of your screen; this should apply to Windows users as well).

Click NEW PLAYLIST. (If you have highlighted the songs you want on your playlist, click NEW PLAYLIST FROM SELECTION.)

Apple will drop that playlist into the LEFT-HAND COLUMN. It will be an UNTITLED PLAYLIST. It will be ready to rename.

I've renamed this playlist LessonsforOldPeople.

Now find the music want on this playlist. You can grab the track list of a CD you've just imported, or you can drag individual songs. You can do this by scrolling through your LIBRARY. I prefer to use the SEARCH BAR at the top RIGHT corner of the program. (I type the song or artist so it's the only song available.)

Here I've typed in DIRT. I'm looking for DIRTY PROJECTORS. There's only two songs with DIRTY associated with it, so I stopped short of the Y.

Since I've found what I want, I'll click the song ONCE to highlight it.

I have a LOT of playlists here, so I should scroll through the left column before continuing. If you can't see your playlist "above the fold" you should do the same thing.

Click the song again to highlight it, if necessary, and, while continuing to hold your mouse, drag the song toward your playlist.

Only let go of the mouse when you have highlighted the title of your playlist. This will deposit the song in your playlist. You should see a small green circle with a + sign in it.

Click your playlist in the left column to confirm that the deposit was successful.

Ta da! Repeat as necessary. Keep in mind that CDs do not have limitless storage. Playlists in iTunes and on your iPod should be limitless, however.

Previously:
Lesson: Starting iTunes
Technology Lesson: How to Burn a CD (Using iTunes)

Additional Information:
Playlists, Apple.com video

Technology Lesson: Importing CDs Using iTunes

2011-07-05T08:08:00.022-04:00

You know how to purchase music in iTunes, but do you know how to import the music you own? Let me help. (If you've been purchasing music you already own—STOP RIGHT NOW.)

Turn on your computer.

Locate the CD you'd like to upload.

Open the CD drive of your computer. (If you have a laptop, you might just slide the CD into the drive.)

Put the CD in the drive of your computer or slide it into the drive.

Start iTunes. (This may happen automatically.)

A dialogue box might pop up and ask if you'd like the import the CD. If this is a CD you purchased somewhere, feel free to say yes. If this is a mix CD, you might want to say NO and rename the songs before you upload the CD. (Or you can rename the songs later!)

If that doesn't happen, or you don't agree, click on the CD in the LEFT COLUMN of the program.

Click IMPORT CD at the bottom right of the program.

You can watch the window at the top of the screen to monitor the progress.

A green checkmark will appear next to each song as the song is successfully copied. A song with an orange circle next to it indicates which song is worked on.

Note the black and grey checkmarks next to each song above. That indicates that each song is copied. If you only want one song copied, you would uncheck each song before beginning the import.

This is what it looks like when it's all imported:

You can confirm success by checking RECENTLY ADDED:

OR clicking LIBRARY and typing the album or artist in the search bar:

Now you can drag and drop the music to your iPod, or make a mix CD!

Any questions?

Additional Information:
Import CDs, Apple.com video tutorial

Previously:
Technology Lesson: How to Burn a CD (Using iTunes)
Technology Lesson: Unchecked Boxes on iTunes

Technology Lesson: Replying To Facebook Posts Via Your Inbox

2011-06-28T08:08:00.024-04:00

When I usually receive a Facebook notification in my inbox, I skim only the comment someone has left on my wall, or in response to my comment elsewhere in the Facebook universe.

Facebook provides a link under the comment that allows you to read the comment on Facebook. That's usually where I go to provide a comment. But Facebook also lets you comment by replying to the Facebook notification! (This may or may not be new. I've only noticed now, and so far, it's new to my friends. Maybe we are all haphazard readers.)

Here's an example of a notification e-mail:

Note that this is through Gmail.

As seen under View This Post: "Reply to this email to comment on this status."

Here is my reply to that comment, as an e-mail:

After I clicked send, I was able to confirm my success for the purposes of this blog (Having done this before, without logging into Facebook, and receiving follow-up replies was my previous confirmation.):

Ta da!