Get Productive

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Get Productive!
Open Source, Google Applications, and Other Free
or Low-Cost Internet Resources Presentation
by Boise Public Library at Hillcrest
Slides created with Google Docs and Open Office
Impress
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Get Productive - Overview

• The World of Google Applicationsa. Google Docs -
  Productivity Softwareb. Picasa - Photo
  Managerc. Many, Many More
• Open Source Softwarea. Open Officeb. Mozilla
  Applicationsc. Fine More Open Source
• Free Anti-Virus Software
• Download.com from CNET

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1. World of Google Applications

• What's a Google?
• "Googol" is the mathematical term for a 1
  followed by 100 zeros. Google's play on the term
  reflects the company's mission to organize the
  immense amount of information available on the
  web and make it universally accessible and
  useful.
•  
• What Google has to offer?
• Apart from being the Internet's most-used search
  engine, the company also offers a number of free
  organizational and informational applications
  that can be used and accessed by anyone connected
  to the the Intranet.
• Above paragraph taken from the Google Corporate
  web page http//www.google.com/corporate/

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1. World of Google Applications (cont.)

• How to Use Google
• Most Google services can be accessed by a using a
  single account. The first step is to create
  yourself an account by going to the Google
  Account page
• https//www.google.com/accounts

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1a. Google Docs

• http//docs.google.com
• A free service that allows users to safely
  create, store, and organize documents,
  spreadsheets, and presentations online. Google
  Docs uses a concept called "Cloud Computing"
  where applications such as a word processor is a
  part of the website, not loaded on a computer.
  The site allows you to upload popular formats
  such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to
  Google Docs and edit them online. Google Docs
  also allows its users to save file in different
  formats used for online applications such as
  .txt, .doc, and .PDF.

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1a. Google Docs

• "Google Docs in Plain English"
• View this YouTube video for an explanation on
  Google Docs.

Click Above Box to Play
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1a. Google Docs

• Advantages of Google Docs
• Free online storage of documents
• Access anywhere you have the Internet
• Upload different file types
• Save files in different formats (.txt, .doc,
  .PDF, more)
• Disadvantages of Google Docs
• Don't physically possess storage of materials
• Applications aren't robust
• Requires Internet to access files
• Dependent on provider

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1b. Picasa

• http//picasa.google.com 
•  
• Picasa is a software download from Google that
  helps you organize, edit, and share your photos.
  It's free, and easy to use.
•  
• Picasa allows you to manage all aspects your
  digital photos including exporting them from your
  camera, organize them on your computer, easy
  edits and fixes for your photos, exporting for
  printing, and online sharing via Picasa Web
  Albums.
• Software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux
  operating systems.

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1c. Many, Many More

• Gmail
• Free e-mail accounts.
• Google Calendar
• Create unlimited number of calendars to organize
  your schedule and share events with others.
•  
• Google Maps
• Get customized maps and directions.
• Google Sites
• Create your own web site and/or wikis.
• Google Earth
• Explore the world from your computer using
  detailed satellite imagery.

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1c. Many, Many More

• Blogger
• Share your world view with this free blogging
  application. 
• Book Search 
• Search the full text of books.
• Google Health Organize your medical records
  online.
•  
• Scholar Search scholarly papers.
• Labs Explore Google's technology playground
• More from Google

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2. Open Source Software

• What is open source software?
• The following definition is taken from the Open
  Source Initiative's web site http//www.opensourc
  e.org
• "Open source is a development method for software
  that harnesses the power of distributed peer
  review and transparency of process. The promise
  of open source is better quality, higher
  reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an
  end to predatory vendor lock-in."
• In other words, open source programs are created
  by software developers, often volunteers, who
  support the open source concept and are
  interested in using the software they create
  themselves. Open source developers believe that
  by allowing anyone who's interested in modifying
  the source code, the application will be more
  useful and error-free over the long term.

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2. Open Source Software (cont.)

• Advantages of Using Open Source Software
• low or no cost - though some may suggest making a
  small donation
• secure - because so many dedicate people can
  freely access code, they also can close any
  security holes faster than most corporate
  entities
• available for many different operating systems
• large web help community
• adaptable to different users and purposes

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2. Open Source Software (cont.)

• Disadvantages of Using Open Source Software
• no support phone or e-mail service
• often requires more computer knowledge by the
  user
• may not be as reliable given no financial
  motivation
• no guarantees of maintenance or updates

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2a. Open  Office

• http//OpenOffice.org
• One of the best known open source software
  products. Open Office is a complete productivity
  suite offering products for word processing,
  spreadsheets, publications, presentations,
  graphics, and database management.
• Open Office documents are compatible with
  Microsoft Office documents as well as most other
  home/office productivity software programs.
• Open Office is completely free and can be
  downloaded for any purpose.

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2a. Open  Office (cont.)

• The following text is taken from OpenOffice.org's
  website
• OpenOffice.org 3 is the result of over twenty
  years' software engineering. Designed from the
  start as a single piece of software, it has a
  consistency other products cannot match. A
  completely open development process means that
  anyone can report bugs, request new features, or
  enhance the software. The result OpenOffice.org
  3 does everything you want your office software
  to do, the way you want it to.

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2b. Mozilla

• What Is Mozilla?
• Mozilla is a global community of people who have
  been working together since 1998 to create
  world-class open source software.
• Mozilla believes that openness, innovation and
  participation are key to the continued health of
  the Internet.
• According to Mozilla's website, The common
  thread that runs throughout Mozilla is our belief
  that, as the most significant social and
  technological development of our time, the
  Internet is a public resource that must remain
  open and accessible to all. With this in mind,
  our efforts are ultimately driven by our mission
  of encouraging choice, innovation and opportunity
  online.
• Find out more about the Mozilla Project at
• http//www.mozilla.org

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2b. Mozilla (cont.)

• Mozilla Products
• https//www.mozilla.com
• Firefox
• Firefox is Mozilla's most popular product. It's
  an open source web browser that many computer
  professionals consider the fastest and most
  secure means to explore the Internet.
• The source code is freely available and Firefox
  has a dedicated worldwide community continually
  improving the product itself but also creating
  helpful additions, know as Add-ons the provide
  limitless expansions.
• Check out Firefox Add-ons here
  https//addons.mozilla.org

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2b. Mozilla (cont.)

• Other Mozilla Products
• Lightning and Sunbird
• Lightning is a popular calendaring, scheduling
  and task management extension. Sunbird is a
  cross-platform application that brings
  Mozilla-style ease-of-use to your calendar.
• SeaMonkey
• SeaMonkey is the all-in-one application formerly
  known as the "Mozilla Application Suite",
  containing a web browser, a mail and newsgroups
  client, an HTML editor, web development tools,
  and an IRC chat client.
• Thunderbird
• Thunderbird is Mozilla's next generation e-mail
  client. Thunderbird makes emailing safer, faster
  and easier than ever before and can also scale to
  meet the most sophisticated organizational needs.

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2c. Find More Open Source Software

• Where to find more open source solutions.
• SourceForge.net
• http//www.sourceforge.net
• SourceForge.net is the world's largest open
  source software development web site. We provide
  free services that help people build cool stuff
  and share it with a global audience.
• As of February, 2009, more than 230,000 software
  projects have been registered to use our services
  by more than 2 million registered users, making
  SourceForge.net the largest collection of open
  source tools and applications on the net.

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3. Free Anti-Virus Software

• Here are two options for free, reliable
  anti-virus protection for computers running
  Microsoft Windows (most versions).
•  
• For PCs (Windows-based computers)
•  
• AVG Anti-Virus Free Editionhttp//free.avg.com 
• Avira's AntiVir Personalhttp//www.free-av.com
•  
• For Macintosh (Apple) computers
•  
• ClamXavhttp//www.clamxav.com

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4. Download.com

• http//www.download.com
• This site is operated by CNET, one of the largest
  technology-related sites. Download.com provides a
  quick means to search and download software
  applications for a seemingly endless array of
  needs. The site allows users to search for either
  Windows or Macintosh operating systems.
• Not all software programs are free to own. Be
  sure to check the pricing before deciding to
  install. Many applications offer a free trial
  period before requiring payment. You can filter
  your search for only free software.
• All programs are free to download and
  Download.com verifies that all applications are
  virus free.