Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Delicious

(http://www.Delicious.com)
Delicious is a social bookmarking service that allows users to tag, save, manage and share web pages from a centralized source. Users can bookmark any site on the Internet, and access from anywhere. Bookmarks can be shared with others, whether or not they use Delicious.

Account Information:

• Users must create a free account
• Users can make bookmarks public or private

Items that can be bookmarked in Delicious include:

• Web pages
• Audio items
• Video items
• Images
• Documents
• Multimedia file type RSS Feeds

Why use Delicious?

• Find popular sites being bookmarked
• Find information about areas of interest including research topics, course topics, work topics, hobbies, etc.
• Discover useful and interesting bookmarks on the web being marked by others
• Develop relationships with others in your industry, or interested in the same topics
• Get bookmarks in return from friends or by searching
• “Tag” bookmarks with a description for easier searching.

What is tagging?

The term “tag” is the option that allows a user to use a word or words to denote an item. For example, when collecting information for the Widget project, all items collected could be “tagged” with the word “Widget.” Then when searching for items related to the project, search by the word “Widget” and all resources could be gathered.

Ready to explore Delicious? Sign up for an account here.

Already using Delicious? Tell us about using Delicious for your projects.

Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Flickr

(http://www.flickr.com)
Flickr is an online image management and sharing tool. Users can post images and short videos.

Flickr Features:

• Post pictures and short videos
• Edit pictures—crop, get rid of red eye, special effects
• Organize pictures into groups by themes or topics
  
• Content is moderated and must be flagged as safe, moderate, or restricted.
• Comment on pictures
• Two account types available: Basic (free) and Pro

Using Flickr Professionally:

• Search for Creative Commons licensed photos or video clips for presentations
• Network with others by joining groups with others who have the same interests
• Teach students about intellectual property rights by exploring the licensing types allowed on Flickr

Tell us how you’re using Flickr in this post's comments.

Ready to explore Flickr?
Sign up for an account here.

Voicemail Tip of the Week: Listening to Messages by Phone

TWU has a new voicemail system for all permanent faculty and staff. The new system integrates voicemail with e-mail, delivering all messages to both telephone and e-mail. To request an account on the new system, e-mail voicemail@twu.edu and include your name, campus, and telephone extension.

Listening to voicemail messages

• Voicemail messages are automatically delivered to your email inbox.


• Messages can be accessed by phone or by email, whichever is preferred.


• When accessing your voicemail by phone, the system will offer options to listen to voicemail messages by
• pressing (1) then
• (1) for new messages
  or
• (2) for saved messages

During message playback, there are several features available:

Save current message.......................... 1
Forward message to extension........... 2
Skip to next message............................ 3
Replay current message...................... 4
Rewind message 6 seconds............... 5
Fast forward message 6 seconds...... 6
Delete this message, play next........... 7

Features available at all times:

Return to a previous menu.................. *
Finish a key entry................................. #

Voicemail Tip of the Week: Remote phone access

TWU has a new voicemail system for all permanent faculty and staff. The new system integrates voicemail with e-mail, delivering all messages to both telephone and e-mail. To request an account on the new system, e-mail voicemail@twu.edu and include your name, campus, and telephone extension.

Remote phone access to voicemail allows you to stay connected when traveling, or to be able to change your greeting when out of the office unexpectedly.

Remote access from off campus:

1. Call the voicemail system
   
   • Denton....... (940)898-4646
   • Dallas......... (214)689-6677
   • Houston..... (713)794-2044


2. Press # (system prompt)


3. Enter your six digit mailbox number (system prompt)
   Note: Six digit mailbox numbers are a campus code (Denton: 81, Dallas-Parkland: 82, Dallas-Presbyterian: 83, Houston: 84) + the four digit extension.


4. Enter your security code

Microsoft Office Tip: Set Out of Office using Outlook Web Access

1. Click Options
   


2. On the left-hand navigation, select Out of Office Assistant
   


3. Select  Send Out of Office auto-replies
   


4. To limit the dates of auto-replies, select the option Send Out of Office auto-replies only during this time period and set the appropriate dates
• NOTE:  If this option is not selected, auto-replies will be sent until Do not send Out of Office auto-replies is manually selected


5. In the topmost text box, labeled  Send an auto-reply once to each sender inside my organization with the following message, enter the response you would like sent to emails from within the TWU system
   


6. Just below that text box, make sure the Send Out of Office auto-relies to External Senders box is checked
   


7. Select whether you want auto-replies sent only to senders in my Contacts list or to anyone outside my organization
   


8. In the final text box, labeled Send an auto-reply once to each sender outside my organization with the following message, enter the response you would like sent to emails that are not within the TWU system
   


9. Click on the Save button located near the top of the page

Microsoft Office Tip of the Week: Out of Office Assistant

Application: Outlook 2007

Microsoft Office Outlook’s Out of Office Assistant can be used to automatically respond to email messages in the event of an absence.  The Out of Office Assistant can respond to emails both within and outside of TWU. Out of Office replies can be used to give dates of an absence, an alternative point of contact, and a means of communication to those emailing.

Here’s how to do it:

1. In Outlook, go to the Tools menu and select Out of Office Assistant


2. Select Send Out of Office auto-replies


3. To limit the dates of auto-replies, select the option Only send during this time range and set the appropriate dates
• NOTE:  If this option is not selected, auto-replies will be sent until Do not send Out of Office auto-replies is manually selected


4. Compose a response for Inside My Organization (within TWU) and enter the information


5. Click on the Outside My Organization tab and make sure the Auto-reply to people outside my organization box is checked


6. Select whether you want auto-replies sent only to My Contacts only or Anyone outside my organization


7. Compose a response for Outside My Organization (those outside TWU) and enter the information


8. Click on OK

Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Animoto

(http://www.animoto.com)

Animoto is an online application that instantly produces videos using pictures, video, text, and sound. Animoto’s technology allows you to drag and drop pictures in the order you want to view them, select a song and the program integrates the two for a professional-looking video production. Animoto takes presentations to a new dimension!

Animoto allows you to:
• Create a picture slide show
• Upload pictures from your computer or from your account on Flickr, Facebook, Picasa, SmugMug, or Photobucket
• Incorporate music
• You are given a choice of licensed soundtracks or you can upload your own music
• Include text for captions
• Share the video
• Send to an email, blog, or website
• Export directly to YouTube
• Download to a CD or flash drive

Things to know:
• Users must create an account
• Free accounts allow users to create 30 second videos. Longer videos require a subscription at the cost of $25/year.
• Videos will be branded with Animoto’s logo at the end.
• Images must be in jpeg or gif formats.
• Apps available for the iPhone and Facebook; providing easy sharing and allowing you to create videos on the go.

Ready to explore Animoto?
View a sample video and sign up for an account.