February 2009 - Posts
Yeah! It’s fun to have co-workers just randomly mention a cool tool in a meeting and then off you go on a learning adventure. Thanks to Georgeanne, I was recently introduced to Xobni (inbox backwards).
http://www.xobni.com/
Xobni (pronounced Zob nee) is a plug-in for Microsoft Outlook. So far it’s been giving me cool email analytics about different people who email me frequently (for example, my manager is ranked #1 for emails). It can also show me recent conversations and files exchanged with that person as well as who is in their network. I really like the recent conversations section because when you select a conversation, it shows you the emails in threaded view (like Gmail). This helps save you time searching for your communication history! Also, it has an email search tool. Haven’t had a reason to search my email yet, but when I do, I’ll be interested in seeing how well it works.
Also, Xobni has integration features for Facebook and LinkedIn. I still have more to learn about what I can do with this tool but I wanted to get the word out so you could start optimizing your inbox as well (if you feel so inclined).
Facebook and Gmail sitting in a tree, how does that happen and what does Xoopit have to do with it? Well, Xoopit in a nutshell, is a Firefox plugin that integrates with Gmail. Xoopit enhances Gmail by displaying your photos, files, and videos from your emails all from within the Gmail interface. See the cool example below!
But wait...there's more!!! Xoopit just released an update to their plugin. Facebook users can now view profile photos and status updates, as well as set your own status updates in Gmail. Best yet, you can get all this for the low, low price of...FREE!
I can't wait to spend some time up that tree with Facebook and Gmail. Who knows what productivity and fun I'll be able to find up there?!
When I saw the headline I was ecstatic with a grin the size of the Joker's. Mainly because I have multiple Gmail accounts for personal, business, junk, etc., but I've always wished I could view these different inboxes without having to login and out of each of them every time. I know there are others that are in the same boat as me. However, don't get too excited, because it was all TRICKERY!!!
What they really meant was you can view one inbox in sub-divided panes to see the different filters/labels that you may have setup. I mean this is great for users of filters/labels (which there are plenty of), but for me, not so much. If you are a filters/labels user, would you use this tool and how excited are you about this new feature?
I’m excited to have a new regular guest blogger, Steve Pham. Steve joined the documentation team as a technical writer a few weeks ago – moving here from the great city of Philly. Hmmm… wonder why he did that? He must be drawn to beaches, sunshine, and friendly people 
.
I quickly discovered Steve had a talent for speaking geek and digging around the interwebs so I stealthily recruited and convinced him to write with me. After all, then I could have more time for *work*. Steve’s done some blogging here and there but I’ll still be here to keep my eyes on him.
With the new Geek Speak segment, Steve will share any cool new features or tools that might make our lives a little bit easier. But don’t let his geekiness fool you; while he’s a technical writer by day, he’s a DJ by night. DJ Phamtastik, as he’s known, hopes to keep you reading by day just like he keeps people dancing all night!
Please give a warm Chatterbox welcome to Steve!
Wow, for a geek, I'm sitting here even more geeked up (especially for a Monday). I recently found out this blog is included on the Nonprofit Technology website as a blog source.
Nonprofittech.com is a website that was started by Beth Kanter as a way to bring together bloggers and others to create a content community. This community makes it easier to find and organize good content around use of technology by nonprofits. Tony Karrer, CEO of Techempower coordinates new content and works with Beth to moderate the site.
So yeah, I'm feeling pretty great that not only do I have a forum through Blackbaud to help out nonprofits with technology *stuff* but now a wider audience can read my blogs. No pressure eh? I'm more into the idea that we can lean on each other as we learn, explore, and hopefully master how to use social media and technology to our advantage. After all, when you want to help people like those in the nonprofit community do, you can use all the help you can with or without hard economic times.
Thanks to Beth and Tony for creating such a great resource. I know I'm going to look forward to all the learning opportunities.
Sometimes when you experiment with social media and learn (like I do), you amass a ton of online profiles. For example, recently I remembered I had a yahoo profile and email address. Wow, wonder how long it’s been since I last checked that email?! I updated my profile and then my address book in yahoo with my gmail account - that seemed pretty easy. But it got me thinking, how do we keep up with all the profiles and sites we create online?
Sure, it’s pretty great we can create so many profiles and online presences especially when you need to be as creative as possible to reach and connect with your audience and peers, but still? When does it all become a little too confusing? After all, having so many profiles and presences can make updating information tedious and time-consuming if you do happen to change something about your life.
This is one post where I don’t really have an answer or suggestion for you, just a recommendation that you develop a strategy. I haven’t figured mine out yet, but I know it must be done because I’m floating all over the interwebs. I used to think it was cool to Google myself, now when I do it, I think about all the work it takes to maintain. But then again, I smile because it also means I’ve spent some good time researching and learning cool things about social media, technology, and the internet.
Okay, so now I just need to find some time to develop a strategy to tackle the online profiles. Do I sound like a Dilbert comic strip or what?