New Technology: Gadgets

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New TechnologyGadgets Trends
David Bott Manager, IT Networks St. Catharines
Public Library
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Gadgets
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Digital Content

• MP3, MP4, WMA, WMV, AAC, FLV, OGG, DivX
• What is it where do I get it?

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Web 2.0 The Interactive Web

• Blogs, Wikis RSS
• Podcasting
• Social Networks
• www.facebook.com
• www.myspace.com
• www.secondlife.com
• Cool Applications
• Picasa
• Google Earth

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Operating Systems Security
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Gadgets Memory

• Memory Storage
• Floppy disks are slow, low-capacity (1.44 MB)
  and unreliable
• USB Thumb Drives
• Faster, higher capacity more reliable
• Replacing floppy disks and CD-R / DVD-R
• New generation of USB drives
• U3 and PortableApps.com
• Applications run right from the drive
• Cameras, MP3 Players, Phones
• Require storage for content
• Compact Flash
• SD Cards
• MMC

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USB Thumb Drive with U3

• Stores data applications
• Office applications documents
• E-mail, browser bookmarks
• Passwords, anti-virus
• Free commercial applications
• U3
• Proprietary software pre-installed on certain
  models
• PortableApps.com
• Free alternative that you can install on any USB
  drive

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Digital Cameras

• Point-and-shoot
• Digital SLR
• Get that perfect shot
• Instantly preview every shot
• Edit print your own digital pictures
• Make digital movies
• Post pictures online
• Flickr.com
• MyPhotoAlbum.com
• Facebook.com
• Weblogs (aka blog)

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MP3 Players

• iPod, Zune, Zen, Yepp
• Purchase download music from online music
  stores
• iTunes, AOL Radio, Puretracks.com
• Rip from your own CDs
• Download free content
• Podcasts, vidcasts

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Digital Video Recorders Players

• Not your fathers VCR
• Pause rewind live TV
• Appliances
• TiVo, AppleTV
• ExpressVu PVR
• Cogeco DVR
• Sony, Panasonic, Phillips
• PC-Based
• MythTV,
• Windows MCE
• Portable
• iPod, Archos
• Cell phones
• Sony PSP

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GPS Devices

• Global Positioning System
• System of 24 GPS satellites
• Device uses Trilateration
• Various Implementations
• Factory-installed devices for cars
• After-market installations
• Portable Units
• Software USB GPS Receiver
• Laptops, Palm Pilots iPAQs

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PDA Personal Digital Assistant

• PocketPC, Palm Pilot even Linux E-mail
  Internet
• Address Book
• Calendar
• Task List
• Applications
• Word processing
• Spreadsheets
• Media
• Audio Video
• Digital Camera

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Fun Games

• For the serious gamers
• Sony PSP
• Nintendo DS
• Some devices have
• Built-in web-browsers
• Wireless
• Media Player for movies and music

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Cell Phones - Convergence

• One device to do it all!
• Krzr, Blackberry, iPhone
• Phone
• Audio Voice Recording
• Video Pictures
• Internet
• E-mail
• PDA
• Camera
• Games

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Wireless Technology

• 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Computers, PDAs
• WLAN - 30m up to 100m
• 11 Mbps, 54 Mbps, 108 Mbps
• Bluetooth
• Keyboards, mice, headsets, cell phones
• PAN - 10m
• CDMA GSM
• Cell phones
• PC Cards (for laptops)
• Must be in digital coveragearea for enhanced
  services

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Digital Content

• How do I get it?
• Subscribe (RSS - Push)
• Requires RSS Reader
• RSS Owl, Sage
• iTunes (Download Pull)
• Direct from website (twit.tv)
• Some content is free
• Some is paid

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Web 2.0 The Next Generation

• Interactive Websites
• Slashdot.org
• Digg.com
• Social Networking
• MySpace.com
• Facebook.com
• SecondLife.com
• User-Created Content
• YouTube.com
• Dynamic Customizable Content
• iGoogle.com
• Mash-ups

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Mash-ups?

• Many developers publish their API
• Google Maps, Amazon
• Can provide maps for real estate listings,
  restaurants, etc.
• Combining content from different sites or
  services into a new site
• maps.google.com
• MTO camera feed
• Mash em up
• Up-to-date traffic information with pictures

http//toronto.ibegin.com/traffic/
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Putting Mash-ups to Good Use
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Putting Mash-ups to Better Use
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Blogs, Wikis Podcasting

• Blogs
• Web logs, online journals
• Amateurs to professionals (Anderson Cooper, Rick
  Mercer)
• Wikis
• Websites that allow visitors to add, edit and
  delete content
• Great for collaborative authoring
• Wikipedia.org
• Podcasting
• User generated audio or video content
• Resides at a unique web feed address
• Users can subscribe to content

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Cool Applications

• Google Earth
• Hi-res sat images
• Layers of data
• Roads
• Parks
• Restaurants
• Landmarks
• Terrain
• Etc.
• Picasa
• Organize photos
• Widgets
• Floating Desktop Icons
• Weather
• News
• Stocks
• Clocks
• Photos

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Operating Systems

• Microsoft is Dominant on the Desktop
• Security has always been an issue
• Viruses, Worms Spyware
• Apple has a small niche market
• Very secure
• Linux is another alternative
• And its free!
• Free as in beer and free as in speech
• Dell has recently started offering Ubuntu on
  their systems

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Windows XP

• Dominant desktop OS at present
• Most hardware and software support
• Security is an issue
• Most users run as admin
• Can be made secure

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Mac OSX

• Innovative Graphics Features
• Aqua Quartz
• The Dock
• Widgets
• Exposé
• Better Security
• LUA
• Few viruses
• Built on BSD
• Inter-operable with Windows

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Windows Vista

• Eye Candy
• Aero Glass
• Sidebar and Gadgets
• Improved Security (LUA)
• Hardware and Software Compatibility Issues

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Linux

• Free Open-source
• Thousands of free applications
• Secure
• Few viruses
• Choice
• Many differentdistributions
• KDE, Gnome, XFCE, Fluxbox
• Inter-operable with Windows
• Live CDs

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Important Notes

• Free Theres nothing preventing anyone from
  charging money for the software. Some do, as
  they may provide support or regular
  upgrades.Free-libre open-source software
  (FLOSS) permits the end-user to modify, upgrade
  or build-upon existing software, as long as they
  return the modified code to the community

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Important Notes

• Security
• No computer is really secure
• Any time your computer is connected to a network,
  you are vulnerable
• Security vulnerabilities occur in
• Operating Systems
• Applications
• Programming Languages
• Users can be tricked into phishing scams or
  unknowingly install malware.

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Security - What You Can Do

• All Operating Systems are vulnerable
• Security requires a layered approach
• Turn on firewall / Get a router
• Least-privileged User Accounts
• Dont use root or admin accounts
• Keep OS and Applications up-to-date
• Turn off unneeded services
• Use Firefox
• Anti-virus and Anti-spyware
• Dont eat yellow snow on the internet

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Links

• Social Networks
• www.facebook.com
• www.myspace.com
• www.secondlife.com
• Audio Video
• www.youtube.com
• www.itunes.com
• www.puretracks.com
• Google Products
• GoogleEarth, Picasa, GMail, Blogger
• www.google.ca/intl/en/options/
• User-driven Content
• www.digg.com
• www.slashdot.org
• Mash-ups
• http//toronto.ibegin.com/traffic/
• http//googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/search/label/T
  oronto

• Linux
• www.distrowatch.com
• www.ubuntu.com
• Firefox Web Browser
• www.getfirefox.com
• RSS Readers
• Extensions for Firefox
• https//addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/ty
  pe1
• www.rssowl.org
• Podcasts
• www.twit.tv
• www.itunes.com
• U3 PortableApps
• http//www.u3.com/
• http//portableapps.com/

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Questions?

• This presentation can be downloaded
  fromwww.stcatharines.library.on.ca/content/pres
  ent