Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Aviary

(http://www.Aviary.com)
Aviary is a suite of powerful graphic creation applications that you can use directly in a web browser. Aviary offers an open canvas from which users can create, edit, and develop their artistic visions. From novice to artist, anyone can create using Aviary and the variety of tools they offer.

About Aviary

• Basic account is free; paid account offers full access to the entire suite of applications, enhanced file sharing and collaboration, full watermark control, and unlimited storage.
• Programs in the tool include:
• Phoenix- layer-based image editor, comparable to Photoshop
• Peacock- visual laboratory for creating amazing effects and visualizations
• Toucan- customized color palette coordinator
• Raven- vector image editor, comparable to Illustrator
• Falcon- basic image markup with shapes and text, similar to Smart Art in Office
• Myna- audio editor, comparable to Audacity
• Talon- Firefox extension that allows users to perform screen capturing

Why use Aviary?

• Photo-editing
• Create logos or original illustrations
• Create a course banner
• Create or edit images for presentations

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Share with us a creation you’ve made on Aviary in this post's comments..

Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Diigo

(http://www.Diigo.com)
Diigo is a social bookmarking and annotation site for people to discover and share web content. Users can highlight content directly on web pages and post sticky notes for additional commenting. The site allows users to “like” a site, share a site by email, categorize sites, and comment on various items posted. Content can be public or private. Educators can apply for a special free account to use with student groups.

Account Information:

• Diigo accounts are free
• Accounts can be connected to other social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter

Why use Diigo?

• Discover popular web sites
• Collaborate on research and projects
• Enhance class communication using web content
• Submit your favorite web content
• Bookmarks can be “tagged” for easier searching
• Search with terms of your choice
• Information can be accessed anywhere with internet connectivity

Ready to explore Diigo?
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Voicemail Tip of the Week: Phone Commands

TWU’s new voicemail system is integrated with email. Voicemail messages are automatically delivered to your email inbox. Messages can be accessed by phone, or by email, whichever is preferred. When accessing the system by phone, keystrokes are used to perform functions. Some of the commonly used functions are listed below.

To access the voicemail system from your office phone:

Denton: call 4646, press #, enter security code
Dallas & Houston: call 81 4646, press #, enter security code

Listen to new	press 1, 1
Listen to saved	press 1, 2
Save a message	press 1
Fwd a message	press 2
Delete a message	press 7
Reply to a message	press 5, 2
Call back the sender of a message	press 5, 1
To bypass a greeting	press #
To record a greeting	press 5, 4, 1
Listen to greeting	press 5, 4, 2
Change security code	press 5, 5, 3
Time/date message stamp	Automatically read
Log out of box	hang up

Important Note: Voicemail and e-mail are integrated on this system. Voicemail messages are automatically delivered to your email inbox. Messages can be accessed by phone, or by email, whichever is preferred.

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 is available for all permanent faculty and staff. To setup an account, e-mail voicemail@twu.edu from your TWU e-mail account and include name, campus and telephone extension.

Want more information? Call the TWU Helpdesk (940) 898-3971

iPhone Apps of the Month: Web 2.0 Tools

The iPhone offers applications (Apps) that can be downloaded for a variety of uses. Apps can range from free to varying costs, and range in topic from business, education, weather, productivity, news, and more. Many of the Web 2.0 Tools we’ve shared have a correlating iPhone app. These are just some of the many iPhone apps that can be on both computer and iPhone.

Tweetie, twitterific, twitbird, twittervision, echofon
Twitter, a micro blogging tool, allows users to post messages of up to 140 characters. Users can post via the web, IM, or a mobile phone.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/09/web-20-tool-of-week-twitter.html

Facebook
Facebook is a popular social networking site. Facebook can be used to network with friends, colleagues or classmates. People all over the world are using this application. People can “friend” each other to allow access to content.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/10/web-20-tool-of-week-facebook.html

Evernote
Evernote is an organization tool which stores notes, documents, websites and images. The information can be accessed from any computer or smart phone.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2010/02/web-20-tool-of-week-evernote.html

Flickr
Flickr is an online image management and sharing tool. Users can share images and short videos, join groups, and comment on other’s pictures.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/12/web-20-tool-of-week-flickr.html

Animoto
Animoto is an online application that instantly produces videos using pictures, video, text, and sound. Animoto 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.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2009/11/web-20-tool-of-week-animoto.html

Delicious
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.
See the Tip: http://twu-tips.blogspot.com/2010/01/web-20-tool-of-week-delicious.html

iPhone apps can be downloaded via the iPhone app store

Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Screenr

(http://www.Screenr.com)
Screenr is a web-based tool that provides creation of screencasts without installing any software. Screen activity is recorded along with narration from a microphone.

Account Information:

• A Twitter (free) ID is needed to log in to Screenr to record screen casts or comment on them

Features of Screenr:

• Screenr publishes screen casts in high-definition Flash format
• Screenr recordings can be shared on Twitter, YouTube or anywhere else on the web
• iPhone users can view a screen cast
• The number of screen cast recordings is unlimited

Considerations for using Screenr:

• All screen casts are public
• Screenr records only your primary display

Why use Screenr?

• Capture information from the internet to share with students
• Demonstrate how to use software
• Use clips as part of a presentation

Ready to explore Screenr?
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Tell us how Screenr has worked for you in this post's comments.

Microsoft Office Tip of the Week: Recent Document List

Applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Many Microsoft Office programs display the last few files opened in that program. The list of recently documents can be customized to adjust the number of files or specific files that it displays.

Change the number of files that appear in the list of recent documents

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click (Excel, PowerPoint, or Word) Options.


2. Click Advanced.


3. Under Display, in the Show this number of Recent Documents list, click the number of files that you want to display.

To keep documents on the Recent Documents List:

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button .


2. Click Pin this document to the Recent Documents list .

Note: When a document is pinned to the Recent Documents list, the pin button looks like a push pin viewed from the top: .

To undo this feature, push the again, and it will appear as .

Web 2.0 Tool of the Week: Digg

(http://www.digg.com)
Digg is a social bookmarking site place for people to discover and share web content. Digg is organized into categories based on topics. All content is submitted by Digg users. Once something is submitted, other people see it and “Digg” (rate) the sites they feel are most relevant. If your submission receives enough Diggs, it is promoted to the front page for visitors to see.

Account Information:

• Digg accounts are free
• Accounts can be connected to other social networking sites
  

Why use Digg?:

• Discover popular news
• Submit your favorite web content
• Check the homepage for popular stories
• Use Digg to promote sites you find relevant and important
• Subscribe to RSS feeds of particular topics, popular/upcoming sections, individual users
• Search with terms of your choice
• Build a network of friends or find them on Digg and add them to your friends list
• Share popular articles with friends
• Share your opinions by commenting on stories, images, and videos
  

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