Google Drive Vs. SkyDrive & OpenOffice Vs. Libre

  Google Drive    

               
                                              

               
With Google drive you can work with others on a document and all changes will be synced back to Drive. You can also receive notifications when changes are made on documents which you have permissions. Google+ is also used with Google Drive.  You can post photos from  Google Drive to the social network and attach them to your Gmails you send.

                   
                   

                                 

After you have uploaded a file to SkyDrive you can send a web link to any recipient through email, IM or even by posting on social networks like Facebook or Twitter.  Your friends won't even have to sign up for a SkyDrive account to access this stuff.  Also SkyDrive offers more free storage and cheaper prices for those wanting to purchase more space.

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Both Google and Microsoft have desktop folders which allow you to drag and drop files.  Once you start using SkyDrive, all photos added to the folder will immediately be synced and available on other devices running SkyDrive.  SkyDrive's Fetch function also allows SkyDrive users to access any files on their PC hard drive and bring them to whatever computer or device there on.  But the computer has to be on and SkyDrive must be installed on it.  

Also SkyDrive even has an Xbox app

                                                                                               

Two more competitors are OpenOffice and Libre Office. This article below from http://www.itworld.com/software/368184/apache-openoffice-4-vs-libreoffice-41 explains the differences really good. It explains it way better then I could.

Put OpenOffice 4.0 and LibreOffice 4.1 next to each other on the same system, and differences emerge even apart from their respective feature sets. For one, OpenOffice launches noticeably faster than LibreOffice, even without the OpenOffice Quickstarter function turned on. The Quickstarter isn't even included in LibreOffice anymore, a hint as to how the two projects are on somewhat divergent development paths.

Despite the extensive work put into both suites, they still have trouble converting large, complexly formatted Word documents. I fed an 800-page project to both programs, and it opened in both but exhibited different conversion issues in each. Neither app converted the document's custom section numbering correctly. In LibreOffice, the page numbers in footers didn't convert properly; in OpenOffice, they didn't covert at all. Also, the "Web layout" view in both programs, which presents documents in something akin to draft mode in Word, fails to present the user with an accurate page count. Of course, these shortcomings are more nitpicks than showstoppers, especially if you've already adopted either suite and made ODF central to your workflow.

The biggest differences involve an issue that most desktop users aren't typically concerned with: licensing of the source code. OpenOffice is now an Apache Foundation project, so it uses the Apache license, whereas LibreOffice is licensed under the LGPLv3. Consequently, code from OpenOffice can be migrated to LibreOffice but not vice versa. Extensions created for one suite can be migrated more or less as-is to the other, though they need to be tested.

Both projects also have different development cycles. OpenOffice has historically released new versions whenever the development team has been ready. The Document Foundation promises new revisions of LibreOffice every six months, partly for predictability and partly as a way to sync up with the releases of other products (such as Ubuntu Linux).

Do we have a winner?Comparing OpenOffice and LibreOffice isn't like comparing, say, Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. Because both programs are open source and share a code base, they're more similar than different. Today, LibreOffice has a slightly better range of new and improved word processing features, while OpenOffice is slightly ahead in performance. This could change in six months or sooner.

The choice boils down to how they're implemented and how well their features and development cycles match user needs. LibreOffice has the edge in terms of regular updates, but OpenOffice releases feel meticulously polished. If you want cutting-edge feature sets, go with LibreOffice. If you want the most refined versions of the features available, go with OpenOffice. Both are free, so at least you don't have to choose based on price.

Springpad Vs. Evernote

                                   

                                                                   

Vs.

                         

Springpad and Evernote are almost alike. But everything has its likes and differences.  They both let you clip anything you want from the web with there web clipper extensions and store your clips in the cloud, and you can access your information across multiple devices and mobile apps.  Evernote has a email client look to it but Springpad has a look like a magazine or like Pinterest it's full of pictures and Springpad gives you different ways to view it all.  Springpad's notebooks look way different then Evernote's.

       

  Springpad's notebooks look like actual books     

 You can even personalize the way your note books look 

With Springpad you can search for stuff like I want to watch or I want to cook and more.  Also you can search for springs, notebooks and other Springpad users.

 Springpad shows pictures and stuff.  It has that kind of look like Pintrest does.

 Evernote has a desktop client 

Springpad does not have a desktop client yet

Evernote has unlimited storage but you have only 60 MB of upload allowance a month with a free account

Unless you pay for a premium account on Evernote which is up to $5.00 per month or $45.00 per year.  With a premium account you have 1 GB.

Why pay that when you can use Springpad for free.  Springpad is free and has unlimited storage.

Both Evernote and Springpad have web clippers

Springpad lets you

Evernote lets you 

I think Springpad is way better.

Now you decide which you think is better.

         

Vote on the right at the top of the page. Then comment here on this post why you choose that answer.  In case you haven't used one of them or maybe you haven't tried either one yet go check them out and then come back here and comment on this post and vote for which is better. 
Here are the links:
 Evernote-www.evernote.com 
Springpad- springpad.com

  You have until October 25 to vote.

      

                             

How to Install Extensions on Google Chrome

Four Amazing Google Chrome Extensions By James N. Hill

There are a lot of Google chrome extensions.  There are so many extensions that you cant even count them all.  

Evernote Web Clipper is one of the best ones. Use the Evernote web clipper extension to save things you see on the web into your Evernote account. It even lets you search through your notes. 

 A lot of people use Facebook.  There is Photo Zoom for Facebook extension that integrates directly into Facebook so you can see the larger images of photo albums, profile photos and more whenever you hover over a zoomable image! You do not even have to click on the pictures.  It is the best way to view facebook pictures. 

 Do you like to watch Youtube videos.  Staring at the computer screen all the time can really mess up your eyes.  Google lights off extension can fix that. It makes the entire page  dark, so you can watch the video as if you were in the cinema.  With one click on the lamp button, the page will be fading to dark. And automatic focus to the video. Click again, the page will return back as normal.  

The fourth extension is cool. Website destroyer lets you pick a weapon and shoot at what ever page your on. 

For amazing extensions By Tyler Jimison

Now google chrome has some amazing extensions, themes, and much more to it. Some of my personal favorites are grooveshark attack. Its an extension to for the popular radio website Grooveshark.com. Then you have Facebook disconnect. Normally I wouldn't recommend this, but it has become a big hit with me since the skype fiasco. Another that I started falling in love with is Evernote clipper. I absolutely adore this, but I'll continue about that here in a bit. And last, but most certianly not least, I present Lyrics For Google Chrome. I love songs, but tend to not know the words. So this little app saves me the trouble of searching around for em.

I have been running Grooveshark Attack for well over two years now. Now you may ask "What is Grooveshark Attack?" well I'm here to tell you Billy. Grooveshark attack is a slightly upgraded  version of the standard grooveshark that the basic user gets. So how is it better? Better organization of songs, playlists, and it just looks a lot sleeker. Instead of the using the bottom right hand corner of the screen to open up playlists, Grooveshark attack shows your entire playlists on the right side of the screen. This allows for quicker access and helps the user organize it better. Now it does nothing to the sound quality, Its pretty much the same, but its still a good little thing to have. I use it almost on a daily basis.

Now Facebook Disconnect is... okay... I use it mostly to keep it off of my skype account. Which only works half the time. But, ever since I installed it messages stopped popping up 24/7 on my skype. That's why I like it. But hey, its not for everyone and its somewhat useful I guess.

Mother duckin' Evernote clipper has become one of my best friends. Ever since I started playing Warmachine I've found it hard to save the model pieces that I need or like. So this year we were introduced to Evernote clipper. By jove has it been amazing! I have been able to save large columns of information and pictures that its absolutely mind boggling.  With it I have been able to organize each piece to a certain section and have been able to plan several strategies. It also helps me learn about other factions. Trust me, it comes in handy.

Lyrics for Google Chrome isn't essential. I just find it useful for when I'm watching a video and a song I don't know pops up. If I like it, then I just click the Lyrics symbol and, of course, gives me the lyrics to said song. It saves me a few minutes for searching for the song. That and I don't have to pause the video while it runs. When it pops up, it pops up in the right hand side of the screen and will give you the full song, along with its name.

Are they useful? Somewhat. Are they needed? No. Unless you want to use everclip, that thing is AMAZING.  Still, there pretty cool and I highly recommend to try them. 

By Tyler Jimison  
click the link and check out his blog  http://jimison0tyler.blogspot.com/

Evernote

Evernote is cool. I had never used it before but heard about it and wasn't sure what it was until this class. It is really useful.  I have even been using it for things outside of the class room like looking up stuff for my car and more stuff.  I will keep using it the future after this class.

Google's Gmail

                     

I really like using Gmail.  It is a lot easier to use then other email services. I like how Gmail has more features on it like the chat and Google plus and Google hangout video chatting and how you can all work on something at the same time and watch if any one makes a change and more.