TWITTER TIPS FROM NEW YORK TIMES

On May 6, the global online edition of the New York Times carried an article providing new users of Twitter with insight into some of the more advanced capabilities of the applications and some of its various spinoffs.  Even I learned a few new tricks, even after using Twitter for several months now.  As Twitter’s reach expands, this facility will become increasingly useful to writers, whether you are only in the research phase for a new book or or the pomotional stages of winning readers to your work.

USB KEYS

Have you ever lost a USB flash drive?  I have — and it’s made me very conscious how easy it is to do.  LaCie, a hardware storage company, has come up with an ingenious solution.  It offers a 4-gig and 8-git USB drive in the shape of a door key, perfect for lincluding right on your key chain.  Well, I’ve lost keys too — but only once in my lifetime, so I’d feel more secure with this USB key.  Someday I’ll get around to writing a series about setting up a special USB key for writers — and then you will truly understand why a design like LaCie’s can be so valuable.

NYTIMES FEATURE ON PIRACY OF BOOKS

The New York Times [and IHT for international readers ] today carried an interesting piece about the increasing problem of current printed books being digitized and uploaded to various document sharing sites.  Now with the Kindle and Sony Reader stoking interest in digital books, such piracy is growing.  This will, I think, lead to anguish among writers similar to that experienced by musicians and film-makers, who got very steamed up about piracy before finally discovering that people are willing to pay for online product, if it is reasonably priced.  The article concluded with a reference to writer Cory Doctorow, who normally releases free digital versions of his books on the same day that his prnt books come out.  Doctorow observes:  “I really feel like my problem isn’t piracy.  It’s obscurity.”  Sage advice, in my view.

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His IHT article on digital pens, Pogue reviews three different digital pens:  the Pulse, the Iogear Mobile Digital Scribe and the Z-Pen from Dane-Elec.  Each costs in the neighborhood of $100; all promise to record your handwriting and to facilitate transfer of your notes into a PC.  Pogue gives a good explanation of what each pen can do and their pro’s and con’s.  He gives the Z-Pen the nod.

His video is particularly quirky and amusing to watch, as he creates a funny dramatized scenario of the pens at work.  You get to see the pens in action.  Unfortunately, I was unable to capture the video for our VIDEO FOR WRITERS sidebar — but you can find via this link.

QUESTION:  Would you ever use one of these devices?  Would they perhaps be useful to you?

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I’ve also grabbed a second WorkFast.TV interview from some months back, which covers the 18 applications offered at Zoho.  Much of the discussion focuses on Zoho Writer and comparisons to Microsoft Word.  Writers should find this interesting.  Since the video, Zoho has added an invoicing application, which we discussed in a post recently.  This video should show up in the sidebar momentarily.

You can find all of my VIDEO FOR WRITERS collection at Vodpod.

Thanks to readers who have commented on the recent blog post about Netbooks.  They’ve contributed some valuable insight and information.  I enjoy everyone to go back and read the comments for this post.

Stayed tuned for breaking news about the new Kindle 2.0, due to be unveiled on Monday by Amazon.  I try to get the details of this new Kindle as soon as possible.

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Certainly you’ve heard about Netbooks, those small computers with 7- to 10-inch screens selling for $300-$500.  The media is full of stories about them.  The Economist carried a particularly clear and comprehensive overview in its 6 December 2008 issue.  Currently, tech guru Robert Scoble is preparing an article for Fast Company, soliciting input through his FeedFriend account.

Many users seem to be ditching their laptops in favor of the small netbooks, which fit comfortably in a purse or bookbag.  Finally, frequent fliers in economy seats can actually use a computer while travelling, with enough battery life to last through a cross-continent flight.  They are so convenient and inexpensive that writers might flock to them.  As one respondent to Scoble wrote:

I own the Aspire One. I’d say I’ve gone from taking a laptop with me every once in awhile to pretty much keeping the A1 with me about 90% of the time. The portability factor is awesome.

Before purchasing one, there are several factors to keep in mind.  Writers probably should opt for the larger 10-inch screen.  Not only is it easier on the eyes, but it also offers a bigger keyboard, ideal for those keeping more than just short notes.

Onboard memory and storage differ widely.   Some netbooks offer miniscule 4- to 8-gig flash memory, assuming their users will use wi-fi internet connections to do most of their work online [hence the name "net" books].  Others carry 160-gig hard disks.

One of the most important issues regarding memory and disk space relates to the operating system.  Originally, netbooks came out with small memory and the Linux operating system, with OpenOffice and other free open-source software pre-installed.  These work just fine even for Linux neophytes, as long as you don’t start installing a bunch of additional programs.  Manufacturers have learned however that the Windows environment has such a powerful pull that they started producing the larger memory and disk versions.   Early reports suggest that the new Windows 7, now in public beta and with smaller disk requirements and an internet orientation, may be ideal for these models, perhaps suggesting that it’s best to wait just a little longer to get a model with the new Windows pre-installed.

While researching this post, I discovered a great website covering all kinds of mobility issues.  GottaBeMobile covers the mobility waterfront, from netbooks to pocket PCs, tablet computers and multi-use cellphones.

Are any of you out there already using a NetBook?  If so, please share your experiences in the comment section below.

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Image by Getty Images via Daylife

My recommendations for Christmas gifts for writers from last year are, I’m intrigued to discover, still quite valid this year.  Amazing, given the technological rush to make everything a year old obsolete.

However, I’ll have some new recommendations soon that are on the cutting edge of development.  Stay tuned.  BUT first go back to last year’s recommendations and catch up on some gifts that will increase your wtiting productivity.  The digital recorders, by the way, are available at our Productivity Store — just click on the Hardware for Writers category.  If you buy from our store, as some of you have over the past year, the orders will be taken and fulfilled by Amazon, our reliable affiate.  And guess what?  You won’t have to find a parking space and fight the crowds.

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• Olympus TP-7 telephone recording device

As a writer with practical concerns, I take a somewhat different tack. I travel a lot internationally. I don’t worry that much about some official looking into my data — hey, maybe he’ll be intrigued enough to buy my future book. On the other hand, I worry a lot about losing access to my data, even for a month or two, and access to my writing tools.

In fact, this is a subject that has been much on my mind over the past six months, during which I took two major international trips. For one thing, I was absolutely paranoid about loss of my laptop as I travelled on a research trip in Europe. I never let it out of my sight, despite the inconvenience of toting it to conference dinners and cocktails with friends. I’ve developed two concerns about hardware: loss of the device itself and the inconvenience of protecting it from thieves, either professional or governmental.

On the data side, I was careful to backup all my new notes — and I had lots of them — to a portable hard disk and onto a USB memory stick. Back up to my online facilities — I use Mozy and Carbonite — was more problematic, as they require online access for my laptop, something that turned out to be difficult.

So, even though I backed up my data, I still ran the risk of losing it as I travelled back home, assuming I travelled through the US. You may be surprised at my decision: I simply skipped my usual, convenient route through the US, and instead took a bus from my coastal residence in Mexico over to Mexico City, which offers a direct flight to Europe. I wasn’t worried about the contents of my data. However, I was very concerned about access to my own data, if all of my digital devices were seized, without any reason, at the US border. I’m writing a book. I have deadlines. I’m not about to let some bureaucrat to derail my schedule.

Paranoid? Yes. Realistic. Also yes.

I write this as an introduction and background to a series of upcoming posts that have been long in preparation. They will deal with hardware issues. They will also deal with data issues.

Stay at home writers, happy with their desktop computer setup, can skip these posts, I guess. But if you ever step out of your front door with device and data in hand, perhaps you will benefit from reading these posts.

Tom,
How does Dragon Naturally Speaking work when you tape record an assortment of different people? Can the software turn that into copy pretty well, or is it really set up just to work with your own voice. I’m a news reporter; I tape a lot of interviews; and I’d love to be able to download them and have them turned into copy. — Rick Smith

Rick has a good question. I know that our loyal reader Michael Downend uses Dragon Naturally Speaking, but he has spoken about the necessity of “training” the software.

The topic has come up before when I wrote about the Olympus Digital Voice Recorder, a post that prompted a number of comments. Michael, can you provide more insight into trasncription software? Anyone else? Just click on the comments link below to join the discussion.

I’ve just added a new category — New Recommendations — and two new selections. Check ‘em out. And while visiting the store, take a look at the other 14 categories I’ve set up — just click on one of the categories listed on the right to see the items I’ve found most interesting.

The store, by the way, is always open, 24 hours day, 365 days a year. You can always visit by clicking on the store’s tab along the top of this blog.

While I’m talking about such things, you may wish to take a look at the blog’s YOUR ONLINE WRITER’S OFFICE, our affiliated site that brings together in one place a horde of writing-related content and entry points into a variety of writing tools and even an online word processor. Once there, you’ll find several tabs along the top, each containing useful material. The OFFICE is also open all the time — you can find its link in the right sidebar, though you have to scroll down a bit.

I’d love to get some feedback about these often-overlooked resources. Please leave a comment by clicking on the COMMENT link below.

Do you need to record an internet call? A conference or radio show? Want to capture every sound on your computer while skipping silence and saving disk space? MP3 Recorder Studio may be just what you are looking for. It records sound directly into MP3 without creating temporary WAV files, it is able to detect and skip silence, to split output files according to your settings. Due to these functions it can monitor sound activities automatically even for very long periods of time. 

I cannot vouch for the program itself yet, as I haven’t tried it myself — but it answers a need of mine, and I will certainly give it a try.

This giveaway appears to have attracted a lot of attention.  Within hours, the site has gotten over 50 comments, which are worth reading.  As I write this, the download website has been”timing out,” a sign of user overload.  Keep trying, if you are interested.  I eventually got through and have downloaded the program.  You can also read more about the program at the developer’s home page.  If you do visit the Giveaway page, be sure to read the comments at the bottom.  They point to installation problems and solutions, as well as to other similar programs.  Here’s one such comment:

Ok so it’s free and worth a look – beyond that I’ll stick to audacity; and then there’s wavepad,audioblast, wavosaur or mp3 my mp3….. 

I can, by the way, vouch for the alternative and free program Audacity, which you can download at Snapfiles.  I didn’t relaize though that it would record Skyppe calls.

Perhaps other readers will have some thoughts and experience to share about recording Skyppe phone interviews.

Technorati Tags: software

It’s true: this bag goes absolutely everywhere with me.

Why? Because it serves as my portable writer’s office. First, and most important to me, is the inconspicuous side pocket, cleverly designed to the exact size to hold a stenographer’s pad. Since writer’s are notorious note-writers, this feature makes the bag indispensible.

Secondly, it’s just the right size for my Alphasmart NEO. [You've ordered your own by now, haven't you?]

Third, there’s a handy little strap inside, with a clasp at the end, designed I gather for one keyring, but for me serving better to put my Olympus digital recorder immediately at hand.

The bag then gathers all of my writing tools in one place, available to me wherever I am. I simply cannot do without it.

Oh, and it carries books and newspapers too — while advertising to the world that one is indeed a serious writer.

The bag is available online at the SBWC’s website Marketplace  for $18,00, plus shipping.