Viewtorial

Tour of OS: Jolicloud A liberation for netbooks

Shaun Holland — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:36:09 +0000

Jolicloud is a version of the Linux operating system specifically tailored for netbooks and ultra portable laptops. Much like every incarnation of Linux it is 100% free and a breeze to install.

PROS:

I have been using Jolicloud for about a week non stop and I have to say it is a real joy to have on a computer with space issues. When installing it gives you the option of literally being able to choose how much hard drive space you want it to take up. There were no drivers to install, nor do we need to “find hardware”, no endless dialogues of click yes to continue. It also was much eerier to install on a netbook with a solid state drive (Frankly Windows 7 errored out continuously).

You do not know fast until Jolicloud: My testing medium was a Dell Mini 9 with a 32 Gb RunCore solid state drive and the max amount of RAM (2Gb). Originally i was running Windows XP on it but I will never go back after experiencing Joliclouds’ speed and responsiveness. Chrome seemed to appear before I let go of the mouse button and everything in the OS seemed to flow much better than XP.

Jolicloud does Apps: In an effort to remove the Linux stigma of “you must use command line for everything” Jilocloud introduces an “App store” where programs and web applications can be downloaded. Though much of them are simple launchable links to a website, it provides a good sense of familiarity with .exe files and phone apps we have all come to know and love.

Did I mention it is Open Source and free?: Jolicloud is open source which by it’s very definition means it is constantly in development and refinement. You don’t have to wait for service packs and monthly updates to get fixes and new features. It seems almost daily I get at least one update. You also get the added bonus of paying nothing for the operating system.

CONS:

Joliclouds’ netbook desktop: when you install Jolicloud the first time you are greeted with a desktop area that tries to mimic the launcher of a phone OS. Things are sorted into categories and you click a category to find and launch an application. This was the first thing I turned off. If I wanted to use a phone OS, I would use my phone. Losing the familiarity of a desktop area made the OS seem foreign to me. I found myself trying to remember what category I left Twitter in rather than leaving it on the desktop. Fortunately Jolicloud has a setting to disable that desktop and leave you with a standard desktop look/feel.

Apps! Or are they apps?: While it is nice to have a one click launcher that will take me to something (Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, etc.) they are nothing more than a self launcher to a URL. I found myself just using my already open browser. It is a clever trick to making the UI more attractive but after a few hours of working with it you do rally see it is nothing more than a gimmick.

Like it or not you must tweak: being that this a version of Linux you have the ability to tweak anything, and you will. My first 6 hours of using Jolicloud? Spent tweaking the desktop area, 3d animation support, taskbars, installing apps. Any time I wanted to change something I could, but it came with the issue of how much do i have to do to get this the way i want it?

You shall never escape Terminal… You hear me? NEVER!!!: Along the lines of tweaking you will inevitably end up having to install, and or run some command lines to do so. While it was real neat to go back to the days of DOS it was a major turn off for me. I use a GUI for the Graphic part, not so i can run command lines from a window.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Jolicloud while it comes with its set of baggage, is a pretty nice operating system for this of us who are looking for a free alternative for a netbook. I very much recommend you try it out if you are not afraid ti roll up your sleeves and get into the guts of the operating system, but i do not if you are just looking fir something that works.

Some screenshots:

This is the “App store” where all your dreams can come true… If your dreams are about apps.

More of the Apps store

This is the launcher desktop you start off with.

And your normal desktop once you ditch the launcher

Announcing the Tour of OS Series!

Shaun Holland — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:36:53 +0000

I have decided in July, rather than make a bumch of unrelated posts, I will instead do a series of opining on some of the OS’ that are available today. I will not be covering every single OS on the market (too many Linux!), but will be spending around a week immersed and only using one at a time. I will be covering:

Mac OS X

Jolicloud (Linux netbook OS)

Windows 7

iOS 3 (for Ipad)

Android 2.1

Windows Phone 7 (if it ever is released)

This will be a simple pro/con explanation and I hope it will serve to inform everyone about the different types of OS’ that are out there for your computer and phone.

Dropbox: For those of us tired of the thumbdrive

Shaun Holland — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:27:53 +0000

You are rushing into a class with a truly amazing presentation ready to go. You arrive to the classroom to find your students abuzz with energy. You quickly move over to the classroom computer, login and reach into your bag/pocket for your thumbdrive to find… nothing. Many of us have had this situation happen, both faculty and students alike. While Google Docs has provided one solution/backup to this problem, I have started using a new service called Dropbox which in many ways is superior for storage.

First and foremost Dropbox is free. With registering your account you are given 2gb free (compared to the 1gb you get with a free Google Docs account). Once registered there is a small client you can download (this is a universally compatible client) which created a Dropbox folder on your computer. To share an item, simply drag it into the folder and that is it! To gain access to it on another computer you can install dropbox on that computer, or you can access it through the web.

Now I should note that Google Docs outshines Dropbox when it comes to collaboration. Personally I don’t use collaborations that much. I tend to prefer just keeping my documents in one place that I can get to them at any time. A few other advantages is you can upload and share any type of file, and folder with non Dropbox members (video and audio), and you can use anything to edit your items. For example while I can log into Google Docs and type, sometimes I just prefer working on something in Word or Pages. To upload that in Google Docs I have to go through about 4 steps (click upload, find the file, pick a destination (optional) and finally upload).With Dropbox you can just save it directly to the local folder on your computer and you are done. Dropbox uses short links to share files as well which is nice for when you are working with non Google account owner.

Ever since signing up with Dropbox I find I am using it more than Google Docs, and my poor thumbdrive is gathering dust in a corner. I constantly have to interact with people that simply do not use Google Docs. Being able to upload a file and create a quick short link is an invaluable asset. I very much encourage everyone to sign up and give it a try.

Rider University Media Services has the Kodak Zi8 for rental!

Shaun Holland — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:42:25 +0000

For years students have been able to borrow (rent) cameras for school use. At Westminster this is a major operation with students recording recitals, rehearsals etc. We have been using Mini DV tape camcorders up until this summer. While they served us well for a long time, OIT began a search for a better alternative. After some testing we have received a shipment of Kodak Zi8 SD card camcorders for use through the summer and into the fall.
The Kodak Zi8 is similar to a Flip pocket camcorder but offers a few advantages over the Flip:

The Kodak Zi8 can record in 1080p which is very rare among pocket camcorder

The Zi8 has a removable SD card for storage. The Flip has a finite amount of recording space. With a few SD Cards, the Zi8 can record for varying lengths of time.

The Zi8 has an external mic jack which allows you to use a better microphone when filming.

The Zi8 has image stabilization which most pocket camcorders do not.

The Zi8 records in .mov video format

OIT provides a 16Gb SD card with each camera which gives you 2 hours of recording time at 1080p, and about 4 hours in standard definition. The camera also comes with a rechargable Lithium Ion Battery built in so you can charge and take it on the road.

Personally, I have used both the Flip and the Kodak and I have to say that I have been far more impressed with the Kodak. Just being able to swap out recordable media is a huge bonus over the Flip. With the Flip you have 2 hours to record, and once you hit that you are done until you can get to a computer. The Kodak you can swap SD cards in a matter of seconds.

Another major Kodak advantage is that it records into a Quick Time .mov format. The newest version of Windows Live Movie maker supports .mov files out of the box and since the format is Quick Time, it is very Mac OSX friendly as well. Most of these types of camcorders come with loadable software for transferring, but I tend to find these software packages cheap and inflexible. The Kodaks’ recording format allows you to quickly and easily circumvent this.

Here is a very brief (and very basic) operations video I shot this morning with a Kodak and uploaded to YouTube. Please forgive the production value I was going for speed over quality.

Video recording lessons: A few ideas

Shaun Holland — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:34:03 +0000

I have spent the last few years of my life working in the media services department of OIT at the Westminster Campus. Westminster is a very unique school in that it is all music. Period. You have three principal instruments (voice, piano, and organ) and every major the college offers is based around those principles. One of the major questions I am always asked here is, “How do I video record my lessons for my students to watch and evaluate?” With digital recording becoming more and more prevalent there are a now a multitude of options for each professor to look into.Please note that before we begin: 1 These are not all of the solutions possible. These are just a few ideas that I have tested and found successful. 2 These are not at all official OIT recommendations, again these are just a few methods I have put together that I have personally found success. 3 This is not a step by step guide to setting these methods up. This is merely an overview to the components and concept of video recording.

1. The “Tried and true” method

Components: 1 Video camera with an A/V output

1 DVD recording deck

1 T.V. monitor

Method: This approach is a classic recording setup and one that is used a lot at Westminster. Simply use an A/V cable from the camera and plug it into the DVD recorder. Then take the DVD recorder and plug it into the TV (so you can see what you are recording. The student brings along a DVD per lesson. They pop it into the DVR recorder, hit record and they are on their way. When done they finalize the disc and it is theirs to keep/use

Pros:

Cheap cost to the student: A blank DVD costs around 34 cents a disc. Not too much strain for a student to buy.

Universal: Once that disc is finalized any DVD player should be able to play it.

Cons:

Bulky and space consuming: At Westminster, most studios fall into the 10 foot by 10 foot range in size. Using this method will require at least a corner of your room dedicated to this type of setup. With the addition of cables running between each component this also can be a problem when trying to move around the room

Finalizing: Most teachers at WCC have their lesson schedule back-to-back-to back throughout the day. Finalizing a disc on some DVD recorders can take upwards of 10 minutes, which is time neither the student or teacher have. Of course there are exceptions to the rule with this but then you begin to see a significant increase in the cost of the recorder.

DVDs are fragile: At least once a week I have a student come to media services asking if we can fix their DVD. Looking at the bottom of the disc I can tell it was in their backpack for at least 2 days with no case or cover on it. Once a DVD is scratched deep, it becomes very difficult to reconstruct or fix the data on the disc.

2. The “Gadget” method

Components: 1 Pocket camcorder (For this post I am going to use the Flip series as my example. There are a lot of similar pocket camcorders available)

Method: Students are asked to buy a Flip camcorder. Ranging from $100 – $200. These camcorders are very small, lightweight, and easy to use. Pocket camcorders record to a build in drive on the camera so there is no need for tapes (or finalizing during the lesson). The student brings the camera, records, then brings the camera back home to copy over to their computer.

Pros:

Quick and simple: This approach puts the student in the driver seat of their lesson reviewing. They can choose to edit the lesson on their computer, keep it on their computer, or burn it onto a DVD at their leisure (one student I worked with who uses this makes a monthly “Mix DVD” of her lessons to catalog).

No tape, no components: As I mentioned earlier, space at Westminster is a premium and the Flip camcorder takes up very little room when operating. The students do not have to worry about tapes, or any real moving parts. The batteries on the Flip are rechargeable (but not removable) and there is a USB connector built into the camcorder to connect it to your computer.

Good quality: Don’t let the small size and relatively low price (compared to older camcorders) fool you. The Flip records surprisingly well. The Flip (and its many similar competitors) have been able to cram good microphones and the ability to record in High Definition into a very small body. While HD lessons are not a necessity I consider them a luxury that you would be hard pressed to get with the “tried and true” method.

Cons:

Cost: Does every student have a few hundred dollars to spend on a camcorder? What happens if you are teaching a student who cannot? Do you buy a “classroom” Flip for them to use? Will other students get upset when they see someone using equipment they had to pay for?

The student becomes the master: While you can use the flip to record to a DVD recorder, I am not sure that students will want to buy both components. This leaves their handy laptops. For some this may prove to be quite a daunting task. It is easy for myself and for people who think of the younger generations to be “tech savvy” but some students just do not want to learn the ins and outs of video copying and editing. Sure the Flip comes with some easy to use “just plug it in” software but for some students this may be too much for them to work on their own.

With the Flip it is all about position: Some voice teachers just want a simple shot of the student during their lesson. Others like to have the camera zoom and pan to draw attention to other things. While the Flip has a good recording quality, the zoom leaves a little to be desired.The Flip, and most pocket camcorders, have a limited digital zoom that for some may just not be enough for lessons. The position of the camera can become very important with the flip since you cannot zoom in or out as much as a regular camcorder, and in some rooms it simply may not be usable.

3. The “Hybrid” method

Components: 1 SD Card Camera (For this post I am using the Canon FS200 as my example)

SD cards (student bought)

Method: Instructor purchases a SD Card camera. These cameras record to a removable SD card, and are about the same size as your typical camcorder. Students purchase the SD cards, pop in the card to the camera, record, then remove the card. The student is able to insert the SD card into their computer and able to copy, edit and burn at their leisure.

Pros:

Low cost for the student: The Canon FS200 costs from $200-400 total. The student side of the cost is about $40 for one single SD Card. That SD card can be used over and over again with no further purchases.

No tape, but better camcorder: For the person that is a traditionalist when it comes to camcorders, the FS200 has it all. You get the ease of SD card recording but a full digital and analog zoom. While it is not as small as a pocket camcorder we are here to record lessons, but take it wherever we go. The larger range of zoom will allow the teacher to place the camcorder wherever they want and still be able to zoom in quite well.

Better microphones: Since the FS200 has more size, they can fit better microphones into the unit. At Westminster this is a huge plus since we are a music school and the lesson has to have quality audio built-in.

Cons:

The computer becomes the obstacle: Much like the Flip you are going to use a computer to copy the video files and work on them. Students will also get a crash course in the ins and outs of editing digital video and for some it may prove too annoying to bother with. The Canon for example created .mod files for their videos. While in Windows 7 .mod is not much of an issue with newer Movie Maker programs. On a Mac you will have to get a converter in order to make it friendly with iMovie.

Smaller is not always better: One of the things students will inevitably is forget or lose their SD card. If you are a forgetful person like me who could forget to bring a laptop, a chip the size of a postage stamp may become your worst nightmare.

Again these are just a few examples of methods voice teachers can use to record their student lessons. My recommendation is first talk to OIT. We have both pocket and SD camcorders for faculty members to test out. Some people prefer the ease of a Flip, some the tried and true method works and if it isn’t broke don’t try to fix it. At OIT we came to the conclusion that the Kodak Zi8 which is a pocket-size SD camcorder was the solution we liked the best. Any of these options will work for your studio and if you need more help or advice we are always just a phone call away.

The iPad: Do I need one, and what does it do exactly?

Shaun Holland — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:37:48 +0000

In case you have been living under a rock for the past few months Apple has released a new tablet “computer” called the iPad. Since then we have heard a lot of hype surrounding it, (It is a revolutionary device! It is a magical technology! It can make you literally fly! It will save us all! just to list a few) and a lot of negativity (It’s an iPod touch for full figured people, no Flash support, limited ports). I have had the chance to work with one for some time now and would like to talk about what was good and bad about it.

Just for a bit of background about my stance in general towards Apple products, let me be blunt; I am a Windows person at heart. I would use Windows Vista before Mac OS. I would use ANY Linux program before Mac OS. I have actually never bought an Apple product myself and only have an iPod because my former school district bought me one. Yet here I sit typing this entire article on an iPad. Now why I have a problem with Apple will be a much later blog post, but for now I have put aside my dislike of Apple to try to understand the dynamic they have created with the iPad.

For starters let us establish one thing, Apple did not recently invent a new era of computing when they released the iPad. There have been a ton of tablet computers put out by several companies including Apple (Google search the Newton).The problem was that tablets never caught on, were too clunky, and in general too obtuse to use. What Apple has done, and why I think it will make them a ton of money is, they took the tablet idea and adapted it to their iPhone audience of general users (non power users). They realized that a tablet computer doesn’t have to include a full operating system, and furthermore the decided that the iphone OS, which has created a new paradigm in the Internet, was slick and simple enough to use that everyone will want to use one. i used the words decision and choice very deliberately since only time will tell if they are right, but enough waxing poetically, let me tell you what I liked and hated

LIKE

Contrary to what I initially thought I use the iPad like crazy. It’s simplicity is a major advantage. a few swipes of the touch screen and I am typing on WordPress. A few more and I am checking the Phillies score. You don’t have to sit and wait for a laptop to wake up, resume the OS then load the program. As a netbook user I always felt like I was waiting for something to load with no idea what is happening (solid state drives are too quiet). With the iPad it is smooth and quick to do a fast check or email.

The battery life is simply incredible. Much like most Apple products the battery life seems endless. When it was announced that the iPad would have a 10 hour battery charge I thought it was crazy. They have made a true believer out of me.

Apple still makes the best touch screens around. Rarely do you have a miss click or a gesture go unnoticed. As much as I thought I wouldn’t, I am beginning to enjoy the touch screen more than a mouse. It is just faster to point.

No 3G commitment plan. This is a huge benefit to owning an iPad. If you get one that has 3G on it you pay $30 a month. NO contract NO early termination fees. If you are a techie on a budget like myself this is huge. If you know you won’t need it, then you don’t have to pay for it. You can simply shut it off for a few months and then come back when you feel like it.

HATED

Be prepared to enter Apple’s world (and pay for it over and over again). One of the many things that drives me crazy about Apple’s approach to computing is that they seem to do things differently for the sole purpose of making me pay for it. For example nearly every PC in the world uses a VGA output to get to a monitor, or projector. Not Apple, you have to buy a $30 adapter to connect to a VGA receiver. While it is incredibly frustrating to be in the Media Services office with a student frantically crying because we don’t have a VGA adapter that fits their Macbook (because Apple tends to change the size of their adapters every few months), they have taken it to a whole different level with the iPad. You have one, ONE 32 pin (like an iPod) port. That is it; no USB, no SD Card slot, nothing. If you want any of that you have to again buy an adapter that ranges from $30-$50. While I am sure no one at Apple minds the extra money you have to spend to get some basic productivity out of the iPad, my wallet certainly does.

Apple tries to turn into your Mom (sorry mom). By that I mean they seems obsessed with what you can and cannot do. You want to watch Flash? You can’t. You want to do two things at the same time? (without jailbreaking your iPad) Tough. You want to sync your data? Only through iTunes (which sucks by the way). You’re over the age of 18 and you want an App of a girl in a bikini? Not allowed. You are out of luck You want to hook it up to a projector? Give me $30. Another serious point about the VGA adapter which, really bugs me, is Apple has the iPad set up to block any DRM material from being projected meaning if you want to watch a Netflix movie with friends and you only have an iPad you’ll be huddling around it’s screen because it is not projecting. Moreover from several website reports the iPad’s projection ability is grossly underpowered with things like the Pages and Keynote Apps not working.

I don’t know how I feel about being a part of the “new” internet dynamic. For many years internet users have enjoyed a lot of things for free. Need the weather? Free website. Need some games? Free website. Now in a lot of ways Apple is starting to change that. You want the weather on an iPad, you can get it but you need an App (short for Application). While some of the Apps are free some of them you will end up paying for. Do I need to pay for an App just to read Wired Magazine (the App, by the way, comes out as more expensive than a subscription for the paper magazine)? Several websites are going this paid route for the iPad (ABC, The Wall Street Journal etc) and I don’t know how I feel about being a part of that. Even accessing your FREE Google Docs account will require you to purchase a program (Goodle will redirect all iPads to their mobile version of Google Docs which means you cannot edit anything).Why pay for something you can get for free just not on that specific device? This is still in its infancy but I can see a lot of companies moving to this “micro-transaction” business model for information.

The bottom line. With Apples marketing and their giant iPhone fanbase, I am sure the iPad will sell well, and it should. It is a nifty little device that has a lot of upsides. However, I do not think that someone will be able to totally use it as a laptop replacement. There are just too many limitations currently in terms of production to really let the iPad become a workstation. Things like limited storage, limited access to cloud computing (unless you pay for it), and limited website support really hampers this device from becoming your go to device. Hopefully in the future with updates and changes Apple will begin to “let some of the magic out” in the iPad and open it up for more productivity.

Oh, and yes… I typed this entire article on my iPad

Greetings!

Shaun Holland — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:59:40 +0000

Hi. My name is Shaun Holland and I am a new edition to the Viewtorial blog and the Rider University Instructional Technology department. I wanted to take an opportunity to introduce myself since I will be making a lot of blog posts at Viewtorial in the coming months. While I am a new edition to the Instructional Tech. Department, I have been working for Rider U for a few years in the media department, and many moons ago I completed my undergrad Music Education degree at Riders’ sister school, Westminster Choir College.

My relationship with technology is varied and has provided me with some unique insights into how people can use and interact with technology to enhance their educational experience. From university undergrad and graduate student, high school music teacher, media services support specialist, and now instructional technologist, I have had to use technology in a variety of ways.

I hope in my future posts you will find insight and knowledge that you may not have considered and might even challenge your beliefs. I look forward to reading your comments. Feel free to reach out to me with any comments and concerns and happy reading!

Sincerely,

Shaun

lemasney — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:39:28 +0000

365 Sketches: 32 of 365 is an All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) made out of text #inkscape #starwars : http://wp.me/pKsWK-2o

lemasney — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:28:39 +0000

If you’re interested in learning about Inkscape please connect with me. It’s a great free and open source design tool that just kicks ass.

lemasney — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:59:58 +0000

There’s still time to sign up! Free design workshop series starting next Tuesday at 7pm in NJ. All skill sets welcome http://is.gd/4cB4T