geeky tools you will want to use
FYI: If you’re living in the Netherlands, this post might be of some interest to you, if not, the following information has little value to you:
This is just a short post about some “tools” I’ve been using for quite some time now: MSN Chatbots that don’t care about mining social data from their users but rather provide them with a service.
Bot #1 is buddy@mrmovie.nl - a chatbot that provides Dutchies with information about movies that are currently running in theaters around the country.
The first step is to tell the bot where you are, then you select the number of the movie you’re planning to watch and you’ll get all the information you need:
Bot #2 is msn@nl.abnamro.com - this chatbot is powered by ABN AMRO and provides users with an update on their bank account’s balance.
This one is really simple, there’s only one step actually: say “Saldo 1234″, whereby you exchange 1234 for the last four digits of the account you’d like to check and you’ll get an update.
Hint: If you’re using a custom IM Client, like Trillian, you can turn off logging for this account to ensure your privacy.
Bot #3 is encarta@botmetro.net - this chatbot is actually available to everyone. Like the name says, this is the Encarta bot. Encarta is a digital encyclopedia, that rose to fame before Wikipedia was conceived but has lost quite some users in recent years. Nonetheless, this bot is very useful, even more so if you have Encarta installed locally:
This bot is the smartest one of all, it is able to do maths and answer simple questions and follow up with stuff. It also remembers if it spoke to you before and tries to emulate feelings, so be kind:
I’m quite certain that other countries have similar services available, good luck with finding them!
Missile Impact!
Normally, I don’t blog this late (or early, depends on how you look at it) but I had to get some work done for a client of mine and as such, I kept checking my email every now and then for new stuff. I was just about to close down when the one email I’ve been waiting for for quite some time finally arrived.
Cerulean Studios just opened up the Trillian Astra Alpha to a bigger group of testers, me included. Now, if you know me, you know that if there’s one thing I try to evangelize, it’s most definitely the software that, more or less, controls my online life. While this piece of software might be a simple replacement for MSN Messenger, AIM, Y! Messenger or Google Talk, Trillian, to me, is truly the hub of everything online.
Back in May 2006, the lead developer of Trillian offered people a chance to be included in the beta testing, I signed up and now, more than half a year later, I’m looking at the goodness that is Astra. I can’t write much about it, yet, since I haven’t anything, but rest assured, over the following days I will certainly blog about my favorite software some more.
For now, you’ll have to make do with this here.
Note: the title refers to a weapon system of the same name as the fourth version of Trillian is called. See here for more information.
tools of the trade
As a student, I find that I have little time and loads of work to do, so I like to streamline my workflow. Part of that streamlining process is my hub to the digital world - my Tablet PC, a pimped out Toshiba Tecra M4 running the latest Windows Vista build.
I strongly believe in the formfactor of Tablet PCs and I expect them to be the standard amongst students in about 5 years - well, I hope so anyway and if prices go down, that might just happen.
Financial issues aside, I know that I’ve had a better learning experience last year because of my Tablet PC. Thanks to applications like Microsoft OneNote 2007 (currently in beta testing), I’m able to take notes during classes. I don’t have to worry about bringing the right set of pens or markers with me, OneNote 2007 (and 2003 too, naturally) has it all. Other great features include the ability to transform ink into text (which tends to work even with my chicken scribble) or enhance an image to make the text inside that image (!) searchable. And if you’re too lazy to write yourself, just take audio notes and listen to the session at your earliest convenience. Feel like sharing your notes? Just export to a PDF and share it with any Windows or Mac user.
Apart from OneNote 2007, I also strongly depend on Outlook 2007, which basically handles my day. Once it’s sync’ed with my Smartphone, I can always see which class is coming up next and where I ought to be. Doesn’t get much easier than that.
No matter what you study nowadays, chances are that you’re gonna use the internet. A good browsing experience is key and as such, I prefer to use Firefox. I don’t dislike Internet Explorer or anything, I’m just a lot more satisfied with the features Firefox offers me.
Studying is no fun if you can’t socialize and since everyone prefers to use a different network (be it MSN, ICQ, Y!, AOL or Skype), I went with Trillian a few years ago and haven’t looked back once. Trillian is truly the hub of my online life, showing me the information I need (Wikipedia integration, information about Timezones for people from abroad) and enabling me to chat without being annoyed by ads about dating sites or car insurance policies.
Apart from those four, there’s also Adode Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Flash, as well as Photoshop and Illustrator. Couldn’t live without any of those really, but the first four, I believe should be installed on any student PC - that is, if you’re serious about getting good grades.