MSN Hotmail was created to serve as a free email service that allowed its users to own an email account free from their internet service provider, or ISPs. This was critical because many computers were receiving viruses through email from their account from their ISPs. Hotmail now offers 1GB of storage space and as in the middle of adding more features as the free Hotmail Beta version has developed. Hotmail has a simple format and includes an inbox, junk mail folder, drafts, messages sent, and messages deleted.
Yahoo! Mail is yet another web-based email service. There are not much visual differences between Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. Yahoo! Mail does offer 2GB of storage space, which is a definite plus. The Beta version is noticeably faster and responsive to actions. Message previews are displayed in a box underneath the messages. Other than this, there are not much significant differences between the latest version of Yahoo! Mail and MSN Hotmail, even considering both Beta versions and plain display versions.
The most feature packed of free email accounts is Google owned Gmail, or Google Mail. Gmail offers over 2000 megabytes of storage space and is now open to everyone who wishes to sign up for an account. Messages are displayed with the names of the sender, message titles, and a message sample. Individual messages may be starred for organizational purposes, or simply as a marker of importance. The user may choose to archive and arrange messages so that the inbox is kept clean and only displays the most relevant or recent email. Starred messages, sent mail, and drafts may be displayed at once.
Though all email accounts are working towards additional options and features such as the ability to send instant messages to other users, Gmail is definitely ahead of the game. With a Gmail account, the user has instant access to any of the tools included in "my services" such as the Blogger, Docs and Spreadsheets, Page Creator, and many more. Storage capacity is the largest and organization is most efficient. Now that Gmail is offered to the public, there is no turning back from taking advantage of this service.
Out of all the accounts, Gmail is the most useful as a tool to be incorporated into the lesson plan. Applications such as Google Docs and Spreadsheets may be used for group projects and group papers. Message display is convenient and efficient and members may chat while sending messages and utilizing tools.
And verdict is...
(From a scale of 1-10)
Hotmail receives a 6.0
Yahoo! Mail receives a 6.5
Gmail receives a 9.8
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Tripod Reviewed
For online site building, Tripod may be the answer. The Tripod Free account is Tripod's "entry-level plan...lets you discover the fun of site-building for free." Tripod includes 20 MB of disk space so that you may be able to store images, audio, and video files. Tools are included to get the user started. There are set background templates that are of great assistance with color schemes and layout themes. Tools act as task wizards to guide you through the process of site building and functions are relatively easy to figure our for yourself.
Tables help in the arrangement and functional layout of the site - the key element in why one should choose tripod over alternative hosts. The editor can construct table size and number of spaces. Color, spacing, and content may be customized. Video, pictures, and word content may be put into sections and laid out.
The user is allowed such flexibility to start from scratch, utilizing the html editor. This may be a great feature for the professional to customize the site content and layout. Also, this can serve as a way for the beginner or novice to practice their html editing skills. A quick reference html guide is provided by Lycos. Additional features worth mentioning include the file manager and image tools such as GIFWorks, an online image editor
The only difficulty in Tripod is that it is difficult to access your account. There is no easy way of explaining this other than to say that this is one bug that Tripod needs to figure out. Otherwise this is a robust, user friendly, feature packed tool.
Tripod may be used to create classroom portfolios, display projects, or serve as an alternative to Powerpoint presentations within the classroom setting.
Tripod (should receive a near perfect rating, but how can one be able to utilize something that is so hard to access...sigh*) receives an 8.5 out of a scale of 1-10.
Tables help in the arrangement and functional layout of the site - the key element in why one should choose tripod over alternative hosts. The editor can construct table size and number of spaces. Color, spacing, and content may be customized. Video, pictures, and word content may be put into sections and laid out.
The user is allowed such flexibility to start from scratch, utilizing the html editor. This may be a great feature for the professional to customize the site content and layout. Also, this can serve as a way for the beginner or novice to practice their html editing skills. A quick reference html guide is provided by Lycos. Additional features worth mentioning include the file manager and image tools such as GIFWorks, an online image editor
The only difficulty in Tripod is that it is difficult to access your account. There is no easy way of explaining this other than to say that this is one bug that Tripod needs to figure out. Otherwise this is a robust, user friendly, feature packed tool.
Tripod may be used to create classroom portfolios, display projects, or serve as an alternative to Powerpoint presentations within the classroom setting.
Tripod (should receive a near perfect rating, but how can one be able to utilize something that is so hard to access...sigh*) receives an 8.5 out of a scale of 1-10.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Yahoo Briefcase Reviewed
With a Yahoo account, users are granted access to what is known as Yahoo Briefcase. Yahoo Briefcase is an free net resource that allows you to store any type of file online, which is of great use for someone who is on the go. For example, the user may complete a slide presentation at home upload it to Yahoo Briefcase. Then, the user will be able to obtain the slide document at school off of the account he/she uploaded it to. Because the document is stored online, the document is accessible from any computer at any location with internet access.
There are some limitations such as storage space of up to 30MB. Up to six documents may be uploaded at once, but the total may not exceed 5MB altogether during a single file transaction.
Overall, Yahoo Briefcase serves its purpose as a way to store documents such as homework assignments such as papers, slide presentations, and even some pictures.
Yahoo Briefcase receives a 6.8 out of a scale of 1-10.
There are some limitations such as storage space of up to 30MB. Up to six documents may be uploaded at once, but the total may not exceed 5MB altogether during a single file transaction.
Overall, Yahoo Briefcase serves its purpose as a way to store documents such as homework assignments such as papers, slide presentations, and even some pictures.
Yahoo Briefcase receives a 6.8 out of a scale of 1-10.
Moodle Reviewed
Moodle is a free software package designed for educators who would like a way to manage large classroom sizes or develop new strategies for education and communication between students. The key feature of Moodle is that, as an educator, you are able to observe are communicate in an online controlled environment, where the educator may build an educational domain suited to the lesson plan.
Features allow the educator to be the facilitator in online discussion forums as well as a way to promote continuous learning in and out of the classroom setting. The program leans toward being teacher-centered with features such as discussion forums, where the teacher is the main facilitator who introduces a topic to be discussed. Students reply to the original post before they may respond one another. The program does include many student-centered features as well, such as profile editing and the ability to message and address topics themselves.
The lesson plan can be displayed beforehand so that students may be able to keep track of what is to come. The teacher may also choose to make modifications to the lesson as well as the display, as all lesson and date modifications will be updated, published to the internet, and viewable by all students who continue on with the updated course curriculum. Lesser features include icons and smilies, which punctuate lessons as well as mark points to be made.
Moodle receives a 8.8 out of a scale of 1-10.
Features allow the educator to be the facilitator in online discussion forums as well as a way to promote continuous learning in and out of the classroom setting. The program leans toward being teacher-centered with features such as discussion forums, where the teacher is the main facilitator who introduces a topic to be discussed. Students reply to the original post before they may respond one another. The program does include many student-centered features as well, such as profile editing and the ability to message and address topics themselves.
The lesson plan can be displayed beforehand so that students may be able to keep track of what is to come. The teacher may also choose to make modifications to the lesson as well as the display, as all lesson and date modifications will be updated, published to the internet, and viewable by all students who continue on with the updated course curriculum. Lesser features include icons and smilies, which punctuate lessons as well as mark points to be made.
Moodle receives a 8.8 out of a scale of 1-10.
Firefox Reviewed
Mozilla has put out the latest version of their award-winning Firefox browser, Firefox 2, which is a free downloadable web browser that may be utilized by users of Mac, Microsoft, and Linux (!). Firefox users can enjoy features such as tabbed navigation that allows pages to be instantly accessed using a single window with titles of pages displayed on individual tabs. Around 5 tabs can be displayed with full titles of pages in one window until they start to get cut off. Other useful features include spell checking, search suggestions (which does exactly this as soon as you begin typing), and session restore.
Any user who has experienced a program crash or a connection act up in the middle of navigation will appreciate the session restore feature. If a session quits unexpectedly or the computer crashes, the user may take off where he/she once was while the page closed.
Lesser features include web feeds, live titles, integrated searching, and live bookmarks - flexible features that are responsive to the user. Security becomes less of an issue with spyware protection and popup blocking. Overall, Firefox is a solid browser that has become a model for other developers to follow as features developed by Mozilla have been incorporated into newer web browsers.
Firefox is one of the most useful browsers within the classroom and is especially great because of its compatibly and efficient setup. Browsers should never get in the way of the lesson plan, and Firefox gives the teacher the flexibility needed to conduct an uninterrupted session online.
Firefox 2 receives a 9 out of 10 for ease of use, flexibility, and functionality.
Any user who has experienced a program crash or a connection act up in the middle of navigation will appreciate the session restore feature. If a session quits unexpectedly or the computer crashes, the user may take off where he/she once was while the page closed.
Lesser features include web feeds, live titles, integrated searching, and live bookmarks - flexible features that are responsive to the user. Security becomes less of an issue with spyware protection and popup blocking. Overall, Firefox is a solid browser that has become a model for other developers to follow as features developed by Mozilla have been incorporated into newer web browsers.
Firefox is one of the most useful browsers within the classroom and is especially great because of its compatibly and efficient setup. Browsers should never get in the way of the lesson plan, and Firefox gives the teacher the flexibility needed to conduct an uninterrupted session online.
Firefox 2 receives a 9 out of 10 for ease of use, flexibility, and functionality.
iKeepBookmarks Reviewed
The first technology tool to be reviewed is at ikeepbookmarks.com, where you will be able to access an online directory of pages that have been "bookmarked". This tool is especially useful for net users who may be using different browsers or computers at home or at their work site. After providing a name and a password, a user has obtains instant access to a bookmarking resource that allows the individual to keep track of useful pages visited by inputting the name of the page and the web address of the specific page visited.
There are different templates and examples provided that serve as a quick and easy guide for the arrangement of a particular type of bookmarking page. This feature may be useful to some, but overall, the tool is so completely user friendly that instant templates are not necessarily needed for any type of user to figure out what he/she wants to do with their page. The bookmarks may be published for others to view and explore for themselves. Users may access all pages and bookmarks that have been published without having to re-enter a password for directory access. Passwords serve the purpose of a way for the user to be the one to edit his or her page, otherwise any other user may be allowed to access pages published.
On a scale on 1 to 10, ikeepbookmarks.com receives a 7.0 for ease of use and functionality.
There are different templates and examples provided that serve as a quick and easy guide for the arrangement of a particular type of bookmarking page. This feature may be useful to some, but overall, the tool is so completely user friendly that instant templates are not necessarily needed for any type of user to figure out what he/she wants to do with their page. The bookmarks may be published for others to view and explore for themselves. Users may access all pages and bookmarks that have been published without having to re-enter a password for directory access. Passwords serve the purpose of a way for the user to be the one to edit his or her page, otherwise any other user may be allowed to access pages published.
On a scale on 1 to 10, ikeepbookmarks.com receives a 7.0 for ease of use and functionality.
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