Posts Tagged Adding Value
Dear Evernote, I think I love you but please…
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Creating Efficiency, evernote on January 5, 2012
could you add a contextual auto-tagging feature? It would make my life so much easier. Also, a content recommendation engine based off my tags / clips and my social network would be awesome. Thanks.
Dan Hall
P.S. Why on earth would you create an iPhone app where I can’t add notes or clip while browsing? Sometimes, I feel like we are miles apart. That whole hacking together a JavaScript bookmark makes me feel dirty.
Make your WordPress site mobile compatible with WPtouch Plugin
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Things you should know, blogging on January 3, 2012
“WPtouch automatically transforms your WordPress blog into an iPhone application-style theme, complete with ajax loading articles and effects, when viewed from iPhone, iPod touch, Android, Palm Pre, Samsung touch and BlackBerry Storm/Torch mobile devices.”
via WordPress › WPtouch « WordPress Plugins.
‘Nuff said.
SimpleReach Slide WordPress Plugin | A ‘read more’ footer widget
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Things you should know, blogging on January 3, 2012
Since, I was reading the instructions on Mashable, I noticed their footer widget that encourages you to read the next article. Now, I’ve seen this type of widget before but I thought it might be a nice addition to the new project. After a little searching, I came across The Slide by SimpleReach.
According to their WP plugin site: “The Slide recommends related posts from within your site on a widget that “slides” in at the bottom of the page. You’ve seen a similar content recommendation widget on sites like NYTimes.com, and now SimpleReach is allowing anybody to take advantage of this awesome plugin for free.”
You can get it here: WordPress › SimpleReach Slide « WordPress Plugins.
They also have plugins for other popular platforms such as Drupal, Tumblr, and Blogger. It takes a while for them to index your site so you may notice a lag. I am waiting right now and will keep you posted.
Getting Vets Jobs | Learning To Code | Codecademy
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Startups, coding on January 2, 2012
One of the long term projects that I am working on is helping military Vets find jobs. The jobless rate for Vets is about twice as high as the national average.I am a combat vet myself and am still in the National Guard so I see the impact of this on a regular basis. I also was fortunate enough to have had a startup founder take a chance on me, giving me an opportunity to run Human Resources and Recruiting at Visible Technologies, a social media analytics company. This ultimately led to the founding of my own company which in term produced more jobs (and all my employees are vets).
The first iteration of this project will launch in the next couple of weeks. I’ve put together a great support network of experienced startup execs and founders for veterans to get advice and introductions (after being vetted, of course).
Long term, I would like to develop a curriculum for Vets to learn how to code that would combine on-the-job training with leading technologist, online learning such as Codecademy, and traditional course work at a local college or university. Software engineering and tech companies are some of the few silver linings in the economy. I truly believe entrepreneurs and small business owners are the answer to long term economic growth. Taking demographics who are otherwise limited in career path and providing training, education, advice, and resources is a win-win.
This looks like a cool idea, which I am going to try out for myself:
Still Looking For A New Year’s Resolution? How About Learning To Code … | TechCrunch.
Use the Evernote Web Clipper On Your iPhone
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Creating Efficiency, data, evernote, productivity on January 1, 2012
A number of people have recommeded that I try out Evernote for storing , sharing, tagging, retrieving information across multiple devices.
I tried using Evernote over a year ago for that purpose. Maybe I didn’t give it enough time but it didn’t do it for me.
However, I am giving it another shot and am liking what I see so far. The web clipping tool they have it quite useful. It is quite easy to clip whole web pages or highlighted text to Evernote and tag it accordingly.
I do a lot of browsing on my iPhone so I downloaded the Evernote app and assumed it would have a similiar capability. I was quite surprised to find out they don’t have this feature.
After some searching on the web (it appears this is a feature a lot of people are looking / wishing for), there are two ways to get this basic functionality on your iPhone.
The first is to simply use your personalized Evernote email address to mail the link from your iPhone Safari browser. Of course, the problem with this is that you can’t clip the whole page or tag notes requiring you to duplicate efforts in Evernote Web or your desktop version. I am not of fan of doing something twice.
Larry Keltto over at The Solopreneur Life has instructions.
The second (and better albeit not perfect due to the UI) is to create a bookmark in your iPhone Safari bookmarks with the web clipping JavaScript bookmarklet. Thanks to Chris Bray for the JavaScript (he also has the JavaScript for a number of other tools). Just copy and email it to yourself. Open the email on your iPhone and copy the code. Go safari and add a new bookmark. Go into your bookmarks and edit the recent addition. Paste the JavaScript into the URL and name it something you can remember like ‘Evernote Clipper” and there you go. All set. You will need to login to Evernote just like using the web clipper normally and the UI will only KIND OF fit holding the iPhone horizontally but on the plus side you can add tags, notes, and clip the whole page. NICE!
The Mergy Notes also has some general instructions: the mergy notes » Use the Evernote Clipper With Safari On iPad and iPhone.
Ion Audio Book Saver | Book Digitizer
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Creating Efficiency, books, data on January 1, 2012
“Ion Audio is using its digital conversion know-how to create a device that can scan a 200-page paper book and convert it into e-Reader format in 15 minutes.”
via $150 Book Saver turns a 200 page book into eReader format in 15 minutes.
This is another option to research in the quest for digitizing books.
More information is available on the Ion Audio website. It looks like it supports pdf, epub, and doc formats as well. Does not specify camera resolution. One minor downside is that it can only scan 8.5″ x 11.”
I also wonder if the included software will address difference document sizes so a novel wouldn’t the extra whitespace (filling the 8.5″ x 11″ frame).
Also, the software doesn’t appear to include OCR. Not a big deal but OCR is definitely a feature some will want, including me but this is easily worked around using Adobe Create PDF.
1DollarScan Scans And Digitizes Your Books For You “For A Dollar” | TechCrunch
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, books, data on January 1, 2012
“1DollarScan is the US equivalent of a service in Japan called Bookscan, which is the largest of its kind in that country and hit several millions of US dollars in revenue within a year.
1DollarScan works in the same way as Bookscan: after receiving physical books or other printed material from customers, the company scans the papers, and converts them into PDFs or DVDs. That’s what similar services do, too, but as 1DollarScan’s company name suggests, prices start at just $1 (for ten photos or 100 pages in a book, for example).
via 1DollarScan Scans And Digitizes Your Books For You “For A Dollar” | TechCrunch.”
Looks to be much more expensive than Book Scan US. They only charged $1 for a 300 page book. There are some interesting comments on TechCrunch, including something thinking once they digitize one book, they could use that copy for all future orders.
Hard to justify the $1/100 pages cost, if true. Will need to think more on that.
Digitizing Books
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Creating Efficiency, data, productivity on January 1, 2012
Ran across an interesting company today, Book Scan US, which will digitize your books. Options include using OCR, turning them into Word, formatting for popular eReaders, and even MP3s. Here is what they have to say:
Books are cut to sheets for the scan.
Scanned data are converted to PDF.
PDF files are sent to online storage for your retrieval.
Book remnants are sent to local recycle center.
(Book remnants can also be shipped back to you.)
via Welcome to Book Scan US – Home.
Could be a nice option to add to tools to help in personal data management and productivity.
The files could be stored in Evernote. Might have to try this out.
DocuSign – a must for digital signatures
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Creating Efficiency, Startups, iPhone on November 13, 2010
Most services I sign up for nowadays barely meet the expectations that they say they are going to deliver. Even more rare is a service provider that delivers such value that it compels me to advocate its use to others. Seattle based startup DocuSign, a provider of digital signature services, is one of the few.
I find myself on a regular basis telling my friends and colleagues to use DocuSign. Why? Well, it is simple. I detest the process of receiving a document, reviewing it, sending back proposed changes, getting the final version, printing it, signing it, scanning it, reattaching the document to an email, sending, and have the other party do the same process until they finally send the executed document back.
DocuSign streamlines this whole process. Their console is easy to use and is intuitive. I love services where I don’t have to muck around trying to figure how to use them. I have used DocuSign for dozens of contracts and agreements. It literally has saved me hours of time each month – which I appreciate as a Startup CEO. And best of all, they are mobile friendly. I have signed some very important documents on my iPhone (no app required) while on the move. DocuSign is well worth the monthly cost – go and check them out if you also detest the manual paper signing / scanning process.
Quorus – helping sites connect with their users
Posted by Dan Hall in Adding Value, Startups, social media on June 18, 2010
Had a great meeting last at Caffe Umbria with Michael Dougherty, the CEO and Co-Founder of Quorus. They are doing some very cool stuff helping sites connect with their users including a couple of tools that allow real time chat between users viewing the same page (very helpful in allowing users to discuss products in real time) and simplified member sign ups. It is a great way to add value to your site. Get in touch with them to help drive engagement and conversion especially if you are in the e-commerce space.
