Google Reader

Using google reader for the first time was an interesting experience. It was a very handy tool because it brought the most recent news right infront of you without you needing to do anything. Another nice thing was it was fairly easy to learn how to use. Right when I opened the google reader link for the first time there was an intro video teaching me the basics of using it. The main thing to do with this application is to subscribe to websites feeds, and there are a number of ways to do that. One way is to use there search bar to find the website you would like to subscribe to or just the type ie. "nhl.com" or "news" respectively. Once the search engine finds the appropriate website it is as easy as clicking on the subscribe button under each of the websites url's on the list. Another way to do it is to go right to your favortie websites and click directly onto the orange feed button (if the website has one). And the third way to subscribe to a websites feed is to simply copy the web address into the subscription field in your reader account.
This technology can be useful in the right circumstances. If I am just going to news sites and things like that then it is great because the newest stuff is always right infront of you and there is no need to go searching. But in my case I love to play old games and look at scores from sporting events, it is not the greatest tool. They don't normally post scores of games on reader so I have to go to the website anyway, and if I want to play a game that isn't brand new then the reader doesn't help with that either. All in all, it kind of depends on what kind of internet user you are for using reader. For me personally I don't like it much becasue it doesn't help with what I do. I like to go all over sites and look at many things, and google reader does not help with that. It was however fun to get to know how to use the new technology, and it was very easy to learn the ropes. I would recommend people try it because it could make surfing the net a lot easier for certain people.

Smitty

First Blogging Experience

Hello, and welcome to the experience of a life time...ok not quite, but it is my first blog so cut me some slack. I have been reading a couple of blogs lately that include one for the Detroit Red Wings, the Mac blog, and a blog written by Gilbert Arenas (a NBA player) and they are definitely very different. The Red Wings blog talks of news, but only news to do with that particular team. For example the most recent post was about them signing one of their players to a 12 year contract. This can be very exciting for some people that follow the team or the NHL quite a bit, but for someone who doesn't care for the team or the sport, they probably won't care one bit about how much some hockey player is making to play a game. The blog for Macintosh is quite different in genre, but has a similar structure. It strictly (from what I saw) reported on what is going on in the world of Mac's, and for someone who doesn't have a Mac or doesn't care what kind of computer they have, it is pointless to read this particular blog. Why read something when it doesn't affect you directly is quite often the mind set of people, but for some, it is an amazing site and they want to read it thoroughly. The Gilbert Arenas blog is a little different from the previous two because he doesn't exactly report news of any importance to many. He talks about anything he wants to, including him doing a dunk off of a trampoline, because he thought the guys who were doing it couldn't do it right. His blog entries are much more orientated to telling everyone what he did that day or what rumours are swirling about him.
What do I think about the future of blogging? I haven't had much experience with blogging but, I think blogging has its place in the world. I think it can be very beneficial in many ways, and I think it is a great thing to do just to relax sometimes. For many people I'm sure it is a waste of time, but I know for me personally I love reading the news of the Red Wings. It all depends on what interests you. Do I think it will replace news casts or something that drastic? No way! They seem to be becoming more and more popular but many of them are not reliable in any way for reporting on world news. I personally have had a lot of fun making this first blog and creating it to fit my personality, and blogger.com has made it extremely easy to do as well. I didn't have the slightest problem adding a gadget or puting in a picture, or anything. It has been a pleasant experience so far, and who knows how far I will take it...
From what I have learned, Twitter just seems to be a different form of msn messenger. People go onto twitter to have a real time conversation with someone else. Which is exactly what msn messenger is. Now I don't know if I missed something, which is a strong possibility but in my opinion blogging and twitter can't exactly be compared like I have been asked to do. I have been asked to say which one I think is better, but how do you compare the two? One is a real time conversation and one is essentially an article in which anyone can read and the author can write his or her thoughts and feelings without necessarily telling one certain someone. They appear to be to different to determine which is better then the other. It all depends on the person, and what they want out of it. If you want to find out whats going on in someones life but your not able to get a hold of them, read their blog (like Gilbert's). But if you just want to know what your friend is doing for supper, use twitter.
So anyway, I hope you have enjoyed the journey into my head, please come back for more.

Smitty