It was exciting to discover the Inkpad app for iPad. I was looking for a drawing program for the iPad so I could "doodle." As a former student of Adobe Illustrator, I was familiar with those tools and work flow and welcomed a chance to use those skills on the iPad.
Inkpad doesn't have all the tools and options of Illustrator, but it has enough. Included are the select, pen, text, and geometric shape tools. I really like the scissor tool that allows easy cutting of an existing shape. You can create logos or icons on the fly with this amazing app.
John Patton has a great tutorial that brought me up to speed. Using an iPad mini and a stylus, I was able to draw the logo below by following the video.
The hijack of my Mozilla Firefox browser started innocuously enough. As I walked by the family computer, I noticed a window was open. The familiar steaming coffee cup logo suggested the Java program be updated.
Thinking I would help out my spouse and speed up the computer, I clicked to proceed. I deselected complimentary programs that are commonly offered with downloads. After some time, it seemed that the choices were more numerous than usual. The graphics and language seemed a bit off.
Use Caution When Updating Software
Too late I decided an update wasn't a good idea. I closed the window. Suddenly, the Firefox Browser was changed by Tuvaro. It was the same color scheme as Mozilla Firefox, but "Tuvaro" was added in the identification and replaced "Google" beside the search box. Desktop icons had been replaced with Tuvaro icons.Worse, the browser window filled up with pornographic images.
I clicked to the uninstall programs window. Tuvaro was not in the list of programs. I deleted all newly added programs that looked suspicious. This included YouTube Accelerator and Key Player Media. Then I uninstalled and reinstalled Mozilla Firefox.
Since the desktop still looked strange, I performed a system restore. This seemed to get rid of Tuvaro. Later, I found Malwaretips.com with steps for removing Tuvaro. One of those steps included running Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to clean up the system. By the way, all programs recommended to clean up your computer on that site are free.
This episode occurred 8 weeks ago. It was traumatic, and I procrastinated in writing this blog post. I have tried to describe the cyber attack as well as I can remember. I think it's human nature to want to forget unpleasant things.
The main take-away from this experience is to be very careful when downloading software or software updates. In the situation above, I should have gone to Java.com and updated directly from that website. Another suspicious Java update window has popped up since that experience, and I wasted no time in closing it.
Below is a 4-minute video that shows the browser changes after a Tuvaro attack. The video does not have vocals, but does a good job of showing the changed browsers at the beginning [of the video]. It also demonstrates another approach of redirecting your altered Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers.
Photon Browser is an app for the iPad and iPhone that allows viewing of Flash Player video. Video inserted on blogs or websites is often placed in an Adobe Flash Player platform. IOS based mobile devices do not support Flash. Photon provides a solution.
The app is available at the Apple App store for $4.99. Once installed, type in the web address. To view the Flash-based video, click the lightning bolt icon. This enables viewing.
BEFORE Video files on iPad using Safari - there are blank spaces where the video and slide show should appear:
AFTER Video files on iPad using Photon - the video and slide show are ready to play:
There are settings to optimize viewing, although the default settings have worked fine for me. I can now see my complete blog posts and videos on my web portfolio with an iPad. This allows portable viewing while in meetings.
The 7-minute video below helped me decide to purchase Photon.
I recently had a reader request to connect with me on other social media. Below is a good YouTube video on adding social media icons to Blogger. It is a 7 minute video by Blogaholic Designs. I've written instructions below the video.
1. Get icons and place them in a convenient file. I used icons from UIcon Stock. This set was free with credit by linking back to the set. Here's the link.
2. Go to the blog and start a new post. Title the post something like: Social Icons - Do not Publish- Do not Delete.
3. Important: click HTML mode > click image icon (indicate you want to add image to blog post) > select files from your icon file
4. A window will pop-up and ask to choose a layout. Choose NONE and the size icon you desire (I chose small).
5. Click COMPOSE to see how social icons look
6. Now you need to turn the icons into links to those social media pages. For each icon, click icon > click LINK. This does not give you the link set-up window. REPEAT it. click icon > click LINK. (Second time is the charm.)
Now you should get the link set-up window. Add the URL for the social media icon. Test it. Check Open in new Tab. Save.
Repeat Step 6 for each social media icon.
7. Return to HTML mode. Copy the code for your icon set. If right-click doesn't work, use CTRL A and CTRL C.
8. Open your blog dashboard in another tab.
9. Go to Layout. Click Add a Gadget > Select HTML/JavaScript
10. You will get a window. Leave Title Blank. Paste code for social icon set. Use CTRL V if right-click doesn't work.
11. Save arrangement. View blog. Social Icons should appear in the right sidebar.
Curious about making a screenshot video? Do you have a computer skill to share? I downloaded the free CamStudio, and after only 2 hours had my first instructional video posted on YouTube. That time included a 45-minute tutorial which is well worth watching. I used the onedownloader site which is linked to above.
The CamStudio site is here. When I completed the download, the webpage with the instructional video opened. There is also a FAQ page and forum if help is needed.
Below is my first screenshot video which is under 2 minutes. Thanks to CamStudio for free software, and thanks to everyone for very helpful instructional videos!
After publishing to CreateSpace, an option is offered to publish to Kindle. You enter the KDP platform and your CreateSpace book is converted to an e-book. This is a "backdoor" into Kindle publishing. Then you are allowed to preview the Kindle version. In my situation, the conversion process from my CreateSpace book was not successful. Most of the photographs were missing. I had hoped for better separation of chapters as with the print book. That didn't happen. I downloaded the HTML, and decided it was too complicated for my HTML skills. I took the final book file (the word .doc) and converted it to .pdf. This is easily done with Microsoft word by using the "Save as" command. Click "save as" and scroll down to the .pdf format to select it. Uploading this .pdf corrected the missing images. The chapter layout was not perfection, but it was usable. If I had to do it over again, I would upload a .pdf file to CreateSpace for a print and e-book process. For an e-book alone, I would try writing the HTML myself and upload that. N. J. NotJohn has a good blog about using HTML for Kindle publishing. I would try his suggestions. Here's Amazon's 2 minute promotional video on Kindle Direct Publishing.
My previous post on the CreateSpace experience is here.
I published my first book on Amazon two weeks ago. Amazon's self-publishing platform is called CreateSpace. Once you establish an account, the project homepage for the book allows you to methodically complete steps to publish.
Page Numbers
There are templates available on the CreateSpace website to enter your book content. I struggled with page numbers. Chapter one started with page 3 instead of 1. Later in the book, I had page numbers duplicated. The blank page after acknowledgements had an iv where it should have been blank. After numerous attempts to understand the template and word tutorials, I resorted to transferring the entire book to a blank template where the page numbers, thankfully, remained correct.
Photograph Quality
My book was a nonfiction gardening book. It had many photographs. Once I submitted the book interior, I received a notice about the dpi being too low on my photographs. I was comfortable with my photograph quality, and did not have access to the subject matter to redo them. I chose to click "ignore" on the warning message. Later, I obtained a printed proof that verified the photographs printed fine.
.doc or .pdf
I submitted the interior in a Microsoft Word .doc format. CreateSpace accepts many book formats. There were slight changes in running heads and page numbers from my submitted doc. In hindsight I think submitting in a pdf format might have avoided that problem.
Black and White
I originally chose a black and white interior for my book. I had read that photographs stand out better against a white background. What I did not understand was that this meant the photos would be black and white. For my book, color photographs were important so I changed to the color option. Obviously, the cost of my book increased.
Book Cover
CreateSpace has an excellent book cover creator. I was up against a publishing deadline (gardening season was about to start!) so I used the CreateSpace cover creator rather than designing my own art. It seemed that I had to duplicate and step through this part more than once to get it checked as complete. After your book submission is complete for a paperback, you are given the option to offer the book on the Kindle or e-book platform. I will write about this experience in my next post.
and titles are visible that link to my latest Garden Lady posts. If you want more of each blog to show, that can be adjusted in Settings on your blog interface. The only problem I had was when I tried to test the RSS URL using Chrome browser, I got a page full of code. I could see the actual website fine in Firefox. The RSS feed works in Chrome. It's just the test that showed code.
In October 2016 I reported in an update that Ed2Go fees had increased to $149. This represented a doubling of pricing. Since then, I've discovered some pricing tips while signing up for a class on stock analysis.
The day prior to class starting, my class went on sale through Ed2Go for $104.30. I was thrilled with the savings.
Some classes are still offered for $70. Apparently, pricing depends on subject matter.
Later, I found the stock analysis Ed2Go class listed under my local community college's continuing education portal for $70.
The same class was listed under another local community college portal for $149.
I conclude that the more expensive Ed2Go courses can still be found for $70 under some community college programs. Check around!
If you have found low-cost online courses to recommend, please leave a comment below.
ed2go ROCKS - HERE'S WHY::
Inexpensive
Good Course Content
No high pressure assignments
I recently finished my second ed2go class, Introduction to Javascript. These classes are a bargain at $70. The course content is very organized and thorough. The administrative details are handled through your local community college. For my first class, Six Sigma: Total Quality Applications, I accidentally signed up for a similarly titled course. The staff at my local community college were quick and efficient at correcting my mistake.
Once the course starts, you'll get a new lesson every Wednesday and Friday. The lesson is available in a text format which I saved to my computer and iPad for easy access. A 5-question quiz serves as a self-check at the end of the lesson. This grade does not count. I copied and pasted the corrected quizzes to a word document for later study.
Each lesson has an assignment which also is not graded, but its completion obviously enhances the lesson. Hyperlinks are provided to supplementary material. There's a class discussion area for each lesson, and I've found the instructors to be very prompt in responding to posted questions.
Each lesson includes:
reading material
very short quiz
assignment
optional discussion board
The classes run 6 weeks with an additional 2 weeks (if needed) to finish and take the final exam. An 80% minimum exam grade earns the right to print a certificate of completion. There is no college credit for the courses, but you do earn continuing education units.
Animoto is a very easy-to-use
video program. Although an app is available, the desktop version has many more style
options.
It is
not necessary to take video footage to make a video. With Animoto, a
combination of still images and text are transformed into an impressive video
presentation.
The following is a video I created from photos and video taken during the Great Backyard Bird Count. The photography isn't particularly great, but Animoto still makes a super video.
I've also made an "About Me" video for my Linkedin profile. For a recent school event, the photography wasn't good enough for prints, but it made a great video. It was a lot quicker than scrapbooking, too.
To
start creating, you choose a style.
The style
includes the background that your images or video will be superimposed upon along
with music and animation.
If you
don't like the music that goes with the style, there are additional music selections. Also, your own music can be uploaded. Be aware of copyright protection laws when
choosing music outside the Animoto selections.
Next, start
uploading photos and/or video. Compose text and rearrange components to put together your final creation.
A free account allows
you to make a 30 second web quality video with access to 300 tracks of music. For
five dollars a month or $30 a year you can make a 10 minute video. A Pro
account is $39 a month which allows 20 minute videos with access to 2000
commercially licensed music tracks. Like everything else on the internet, these
terms are subject to change. I can see a corporation using a Pro account to quickly produce videos for employee meetings or sales presentations.
Instructors
should be aware that there are 6-month Animoto for Education trials where
students can produce videos of unlimited length.
The company has a funny video on their website about their history.
Flipboard allows you to collect articles of interest from the internet in your own magazines. You can view those magazines on your phone or iPad at your convenience. You can share those magazines with others. Add a "flip it" bookmarklet to your regular computer and flip articles from there for later viewing. So 3 devices.... your own magazines....3 ways to view them. So when you're at the doctor's office with some reading time, no need to peruse the old magazines. You can read articles of your own choosing right on your phone. I am using Flipboard on my Windows 7 laptop, my iPhone, and iPad mini. It is also available on Android, Kindle, Fire and NOOK platforms.
Check
out my new Flipboard magazine called Web Tech .
The 2 minute video below describes the features of Flipboard on a Windows 8 device.
I'm experimenting with creating graphs "on the go" using the Pages application on an iPad. The above graph shows power consumption in dollars. I saved it as a pdf and uploaded to a Windows laptop. In Adobe Acrobat Pro I added and centered the title using Tools. I saved this as a jpeg, and opened it in Photoshop.
In Photoshop, I reduced the image size to a 300 pixel width and optimized for the web.
After loading on this blog post, the text was too light so I returned to Photoshop. I created a duplicate layer and used the multiply effect to darken the text.
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