Task 23: Reflection

I dont consider myself to have a problem with self-directed learning. I was quite happy to work through this program at my own pace, although i did have problems with the previous verson, and lost interest quite quickly as i found some of the content out of date.
However, i really think the updated version of the program is so much better and more relevant. i was interested in pretty much all the new content, and i was able to work through it quite quickly. There were a number of things i hadnt previously known about, and a lot of things that i hadnt bothered to try out before. So i am most happy with the outcome of discovering new things.
The thing i dont really like is having to blog. it feels weird and i wouldnt be doing it if there was another option.


Thanks Jacob! :D

Task 19: Wi-fi and security

well, that was rather confusing. From what i read, a lot of the serious problems with Wi-fi from the early 2000s has now been overcome with more strict standards and certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance, http://www.wi-fi.org/organization.php, although this doesnt necessarily mean all wi-fi devices are certified. But the general majority are? So probably a good way to protect your security is to find out what devices are certified. Only products that complete Wi-Fi Alliance interoperability certification testing successfully may use the "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED" designation and trademark:

Another thing is to make sure you have a truly random passphrase of 13 characters (selected from the set of 95 permitted characters) - there is a list of the top 1000 SSIDs to avoid as well.
Despite all that though, from looking at the history of Wi-fi, what security works now, may well not work in a year or so, as people seem to be constantly finding new weaknesses.

Task 18: Podcasts

I havent ever really looked into podcasts before. Looking at the suggested Podcastalley.com i didnt really find anything interesting there, there was a lot of junk really, and i couldnt access iTunes for the moment to look for podcasts there, but i did some searching and i eventually found some stuff that is of interest to me so i have subscribed using Google Reader and i have downloaded the Android app Listen so i can listen to some podcasts on my phone. Should be good.
I looked into how to make a podcast, i know there is a open source program - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ that you can use to record and edit your session. I do not think ill give that a go though, as i feel i have not much of worth to say and i doubt my voice is a joy to listen to.

Task 8: Dashboards with Netvibes

This was interesting, i am still undecided about how useful this may be.
I created an account and made a dashboard and did a little customisation. I added widgets for Facebook, bookmarks, to-do lists, Evernote, Gmail, Delicious.
It could be ok, i do think it is more intuitive than a Newsreader. It is still a little confusing to use for some reason. May just be me. I will keep looking into it a bit more.
I couldnt find out if this had an app. I know it has a mobile site, but i think it would be a lot more convenient as an app. I searched the Android market place but there was nothing listed :(
I think my impression of the whole thing would be a lot better if i could use it as an app on my phone.
Oh yea, and it is EXTREMELY expensive to purchase the premium account :S who and why would you pay that much. I would hope their 'Intelligence - Smarter Social Analytics' is pretty freaking amazing...

Task 21: Twitter

Initially i was really apprehensive about joining Twitter, i had tried it for about 30 minutes a few years ago and really disliked it, but i tried it again anyhow, and it wasnt so bad.
Probably the only reason being that i chose to follow a number of accounts that were from organisations that i am interested in, as apposed to people who just carry on... and are boring.
So this was ok for me, easy to use too.
The trend thing was pretty interesting as well actually, and the way that it works.

Task 20: Mobile apps

I have a HTC - awesome because Android has so many free apps.
I am currently in the process of trying to download Skype, but it is taking way too long :P
I have a lot of games: Words, Angry Birds, cards, connect 4, sudoku, paper toss, battleflood, unblock me.
I probably couldnt survive without Google Maps app
Whatsapp, Evernote, Facebook...
I just wish my phone had more memory. Annoying thing about HTC is a lot of the apps wont save to the SD card :(



I also have an Ipad, although this is just a recent thing, I am getting it pimped out today with lots of cool things. I like the iBooks(?) app. Especially the free books you can get with it.

Task 17: Youtube

Yea - Youtube is pretty great :) lots of stuff there.