Category Archives: gadgets

Missing updates in Dashboard? – Its due to Google Friend Connect ! #RIP #GFC

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Bloggers see the effects of losing Google friend connect.

In November the Senior Vice President of Operations for Google Urs Holze announced Google were spring cleaning, part of this cleaning involved terminating Google Friend Connect for non-blogger sites, such as WordPress. This retirement went into effect on the 1st of March and bloggers that did nothing about it are now losing many page views or unique visits from people that were only viewing from Google friend connect.

Google tried to encourage people to transfer subscribers to Google+ and to create Google+ page but we heard that many didn’t want to have to create more work for themselves and some don’t even like Google+

However, it might be something to think about as the future is clear, with the G+ button having a big impact on SEO and it all being connected with Google profiles, pages and especially business pages, I don’t think its something you want to miss out on as a blogger.

What they didn’t suggest is Google Reader,  many use Google Reader to keep up to date with their favorite blogs or websites.

An easy way to get people to subscribe to your blog/website on their reader is to add a Google+ button to your website – or even better to add the AddToAny: Subscribe Button plug in and with one click you get added to a persons Google reader.

If you have been thinking that you haven’t received some updates in your Blogger or blog spot dashboard then you have probably lost some non-blogger blogs, if you have Google reader you should add them to it, as soon as you can, if you don’t use it, now might be the time.

What is Google Reader.

(Google reader is a Web-based aggregator that reads from Atom and RSS feeds)

Google reader allows you to subscribe to the feeds of all the blogs that you love to read, and updates everyday so that you have the latest blogs sent straight to your feed.

With Google reader you can

  • Sort your Blogs into groups for easy reading by using folders.
  • Read in two views, expanded and list – and if you want to go to the source of the story you click the headline.
  • Easily share with others.
  • Use Keyboard Shortcuts 

You can add people to your Google Reader a number of ways

  • Searching in Google reader
  • Entering the RSS or Atom Feed, which you have find click on the RSS logo on the website
  • Clicking the buttons on a website.
Have a look the buttons on the techieminx main page – I’ve added all three – right at the bottom on the right.
You can even add a plug in on WordPress that shows the latest blogs on your reader.

What is iGoogle

iGoogle is your personalised Google home page for adding your favorite blogs, news sites, weather sites, photos, usually by using iGoogle Gadgets, here you would put anything that is most important to you. You can even add your Google reader to iGoogle.  This is nice to play around with, this is just for you, no one else sees it.

So you would need to put all of you the blogs/websites that you need to keep up to date with on Google reader first.

I love Google but its really not fair that they have crushed people’s hard work by dumping Google friend connect.  I know about progress and that they gave warnings its still heartbreaking to read some of the stories out there in blogland.  Google haven’t actually confirmed if they are going to keep it forever on Blogger or blogspot by the way – so if I were you I would be prepared and get Google+ and Google reader and encourage others to do the same. Once set up, neither take any time at all, in fact they save time.

I’ve only brushed over the top of these options, if there is anything you want me to elaborate on please let me know.

Hope this helps.

 

iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner does your housework

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iRobot was founded in 1990 (then called IS Robotics) by Rodney Brooks, Colin Angel (CEO) and Helen Greiner.  The company was originally involved with space exploration by robots and worked with organizations such as NASA where they developed a robot for lunar exploration. Cool huh!

However in 1997 after they had developed at AutoCleaner for someone else, a team was gathered to build the world’s first affordable home floor cleaning robot.

Since 2002 iRobot have sold over 6 million home cleaning robots.  6 million? What sort of people have these? They must be just used in offices or hotels, places with large open spaces, I can’t see how it would work in cramped spaces with lots of furniture…

There is even a Roomote – a Roomba itunes app that is used to control your iRobot, Roomba! Although check what the description says on the app store before you download.

I would love to know if you have one of these, hoover robots!

Hoover trivia

When I was younger in Britain vacuum cleaners were called hoovers as The hoover company was the leading manufacturer of many household goods especially vacuum cleaners. We even still use it now as a verb, I am going to hoover! Even so I thought it was wearing off but I was shocked to see this entry on Google.

I love this video from 2007, believe it or not :)

7 Reasons why you need a Roomba Robotic Vacuum

  1. It’s a Robot
  2. Dirt detection
  3. It can go anywhere
  4. Stair Detection
  5. It’s Thorough
  6. It’s Fearless
  7. No Cleanup

There are many companies that have developed robotic vacuum cleaners – most others are more like a carpet sweeper with motorised brushes, but the Roomba contains a motor which creates a vacuum in addition to these brushes.

Roomba Prices range from an very inexpensive £249.99 to this years SUPER MODEL the 780 at £499 cheaper than an iPad! :)

Roomba® 780
Vacuum Cleaning Robot Specs 

It features a refined, sleeker design with a touchpad interface. Dirt Detect™ Series 2 and an AeroVac™ Series 2 Bin allow even more efficient cleaning, while HEPA filters leave the air fresher. Roomba® 780 also includes onboard scheduling.  8cm tall to fit under most furniture.

It sounds good doesn’t it …. but I can’t see it doing a good job in a busy, dirty, household full of kids and pets. It is just a carpet sweeper with a bit of suck. Isn’t it?

I’d love to test one of these robotic vacuum cleaners out – if any company such as iRobot or Samsung wishes to offer me one! :) Yes Samsung do one called the Navibot!

If you don’t ask..right?   Anyway … if you have one or know anyone that uses any versions of a robot cleaner please let us know the low down.

Hope this helps