by Mike on December 4, 2009
This blog is focused around technology. One of the technologies that I’ve begun exploring lately is using voice recognition software for common tasks like typing documents and blogging. Since I’m such a horrible typist this should help me get a lot more work done in a shorter amount of time.
One of the obstacles to using voice recognition software successfully is being able to speak in a clear almost newscaster tone of voice for extended periods of time. This entire post will be created using Dragon naturally speaking version 10.1.
The whole reason behind me using a voice dictation software packages due to the amount of content writing we’ve been asked to do recently through our connections with digital point forums. When it comes to typing I am horrible if I take my time to proceed slowly, I can probably type 25 words per minute.
Dictation promises speeds of 120 words per minute. While I think that is a rather lofty goal speeds in excess of 60 minutes per word, this will make me extremely happy. If the software is able to handle voice recognition accurately.
At this point in this document I have corrected approximately 6 mistakes, I have stopped to gather my thoughts on four or five different occasions. Even with the corrections and the amount of time spent thinking about what to need to say this is certainly much faster than using the keyboard to type my thoughts into a blog or document.
I encountered some initial obstacles while trying to install Dragon naturally speaking, most of these obstacles were related to the 64-bit operating system I run under Windows 7. With a complicated product such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit operating systems and this geek’s point of view would be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
What used to be a chore has now turned into something I look forward to doing.I can now say that I’ve officially blogged without typing a single word. Everything in this post was dictated using Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 10.1. If you have the chance, I recommend that you give Dragon a shot it just may be what you are looking for, especially if you are like me, one who does not type well. You will be able to appreciate the relative simplicity with which you will be able to create blog posts, documents, tweets, IMs or to browse the web using just simple voice commands.
With Dragon open and running as a floating window there are many options available to you in which ever application you happen to be using. For example speaking command mode option allows you to enter a special mode where you may speak phrases such as search Google for a particular keyword. This will cause Dragon to launch your default browser, execute a Google search for your spoken keyword.
I tried using the search google for jobshouts. It worked flawlessly. I would love to hear from other bloggers that are using Dragon to put their thoughts into words. Leave me a comment if you fit this bill and let’s discuss this in greater detail.
by Mike on December 3, 2009
Ever notice how often you glance at your wrist to see what time it is? Have you ever purchased a really nice watch? A truly beautiful timepiece, one that you cannot stop checking the time, for like 6 months straight?
Yeah a watch can do that. A watch is personal. Your choice in wrist wear says a lot about who you are and what you do. Sleek and elegant for business, rugged and functional for the outdoorsman.
One company I have looked at is blue dial. Their esq watch selection is top notch. I particularly like the venture model. It is classy, stylish and elegant. A watch that would work well in the boardroom or the black tie soiree at the country club.
Since we have a young man in the house, one that will be graduating high school soon. A watch would make a great graduation present. One that will be remembered for a long time to come.
You see when a young man sets out on his own to challenge the world, he must be prepared to arrive at his destinations on time. What better way to ensure that he stays out of your hair and becomes a successful person. Help him make all of his appointments on time by supplying him with the gift of time.
by Mike on November 30, 2009
With the announcement that mininova.org has switched to content only distribution, this leaves one less fish in the peer share barrel. Another victim of the Digital Milenia. Content only distribution is that which you own can be distributed. Bye, Bye open sharing of anything else on mininova.
Some of you may be looking for another alternative for a torrent site. I was contacted by the guys over at www.kickasstorrents.com and asked to do a review. Here is what this geek found.
First off let me say nice design, fast load times, and remarkably devoid of advertisements within the search results. Search was amazingly quick, pulling in over 1000 seeds for the recent Up movie release.
I have to hand it to the team at kickasstorrents.com they really know how to build a quality site. The usual search feature is prominent, there are also quick links which will navigate you to the latest torrents, browse torrents by category, as well as search options for popular torrent categories to help filter out the noise.
A quick click on the latest link revealed an assortment of popular and current episodes from Californication to Extreme Makeover. I have added this site to my regular group of where to grope files from. Give Kick Ass Torrents a shot, they are just as good as piratebay and I like the name Kick Ass better!
by Mike on November 29, 2009
This is a sponsored guest post written by Teevan Joseph on behalf of ReputationManagers.com. Post powered by Sponzai.
ReputationManagers.com offers Search engine reputation management which is a new method of public relations that individuals and businesses can use in the online space. Basically, this method consists of tracking what is being said about a person or a brand on the Internet, and making such negative commentaries less prominent in the search engines. With search engine reputation management, you can manage the image that people have of you as a result of search engine queries on your name or the name of your company. Since so many people go online to search for information about people and businesses before working with them, the need to control what pops up in search engine queries is greater than ever.
The idea behind search engine reputation management is to safeguard one’s name and reputation from unwanted public information. This negative information might be in the form of blogs, articles, personal web page entries, reviews, reports or commentaries. Whether it’s true or not, it can quickly get a foothold on the search engines and become the first thing people see when they type in the name of a person, a company or a brand. There are many people and organizations that can benefit from search engine reputation management, including non-profit organizations, music and movie personalities, large corporations, executives in prominent roles within businesses and more.
There are many ways to execute online reputation management, but the key is to work with a firm with experience in the online marketing realm that can devise a plan that is ideal for the unique situation at hand. Every person and business is different, but everyone’s reputation might need a little management from time to time.
by Mike on November 25, 2009
There are few things more rewarding than earning money without having to actually work for it. You know what I mean right? Take for example a website. You don’t really have to work in the traditional sense.
Sure you have to design an appealing site, wrangle for traffic, create interesting and sharable content. Is that really work? Most webmasters will tell you that it is indeed a LOT of work.
Most people that build a website will fail. That’s just the nature of the beast. You could design the slickest eye appealing site in the world, but if no one comes to pay you a visit, how will your site prosper? The answer to that? It won’t.
That is why I am writing this piece, to help you stay the course. To be able to build something of value without breaking you or your bank account.
If you are about to dive into web site development for the first time, or you have no idea what you are doing, following a few simple rules may just be enough to keep your head above water until the site gains some traction.
If you are looking to break into affiliate marketing please leave now. I don’t know squat about that niche. Yeah yeah it’s huge and you can make $5000 a day. That’s great! Awesome! have fun with that.
What this guide is for is to help you determine what to build of value, in my mind affiliate marketing has no real ‘value’ in the traditional sense. I compare affiliate marketing with tipping a bartender or waitress for serving you your drinks or meal. They don’t acutally make the meal(product) they just help you find something you might like. Once you have your meal or product you pay then go on your merry way.
Unfortunately there is no set guidelines on how to build a great site. So if you are looking for a step by step guide sorry to disappoint.
However there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Start small – build a following or user base, listen to what they have to say, improve upon their recommendations
- Find a programmer that will work for a piece of the action. They do exist and can help you immensely.
- Build you network of people in your niche that can help you. Sometimes this is hard to do especially for a newcomer.
- If it is not working, get out while you can still save face. Don’t be the captain that goes down with the sinking ship
That’s about all I have. What say you? Do you have anything to add?
