An ill wind blew some good

Following on from the problems in last night's Hangout where my headset failed for the second time I raced out to the shops this morning and purchased a new one. I'll keep my old headset as a backup as it seems to work spasmodically.

New Gear

There was no doubt about me buying the Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 from JB HiFi (who price-matched Officeworks) when I noted the Purple sticker "Get 40% cashback". On arriving home I went to the Microsoft website to put in the claim for my cashback and found that there is a whole list of Microsoft accessories that one can buy with this offer at participating retailers prior to the 1st February.

Participating Retailers

I was waiting until I went to Rootstech in the US to buy a couple of new mouses and who knows what else but, with that cashback offer, prices should be better than in the US so I'm returning to the  local shops to add to my collection of tech toys.

If you are into Hangouts on Air you need a headset (as was demonstrated when mine failed),  this is a good opportunity to purchase a good headset and any other essentials that are on the product list.

Better than a bundle of cookbooks

One of the new techtoys I acquired on my recent trip was a new mini tripod. I have an el cheapo model with very wonky legs so am delighted with this sturdy little replacement.

When I conduct GeniAus Hangouts on Air from my kitchen (so I can have a wired connection to the internet) I perch my webcam on a pile of coookbooks. When next I hangout I will be using my new Vanguard VS-86 Table Tripod with Ball Head.

I am most grateful to Mr GeniAus who braved the freezing conditions in New York City to fetch this item from one of my favourite stores, B&H Photographics.

The new toy

If you are suffering from Tripod envy you can order one online from B&H - they even ship to Australia.

Play-passion-purpose

Stacey, one of my friends in the library world, posted this tweet this morning.

Stacey's Tweet 19/10/2014

As a lover of alliteration I hooked onto those three words used by Tony Wagner as he was talking to a group of teachers at a recent conference in the US.

Play-passion-purpose seems to sum up my motivation for exploring genealogy and technology.

I love to Play around with new software, techtoys and apps but aimless play doesn't give me great satisfaction.

I have a Passion for genealogy and family history which gives a Purpose to my Play. Without that Passion and Purpose I doubt that I would enjoy my Play so much.

Snapped

I didn't realise that Mr GeniAus snapped this picture of me at Panthip Plaza in Bangkok today where I spent several hours browsing. Whilst I managed to exercise some restraint I came away with a few tech accessories that were on my shopping list.

GeniAus on the prowl for new tech toys

Bargain Hunter

As my regular readers know I am a sucker for a bargain and I love techie toys. On my shopping expedition today I netted both a bargain and a new tech toy.

The bargain will be useful when I go out on a geneajaunt. I went into The Reject Shop looking for a cheap cover for my new tech toy but came out with something else, it was marked $6 but there was a sign showing that it had been reduced to $4 but when I took it to the checkout I was only charged $2. It's a mesh organiser bag, that has two large compartments, one zippered and one open plus eight small pockets for holding bits and bobs. I have a large laptop pouch that I use for transporting the items in the image below, this ne purchase will help me better organise them for travel.

I am posting this because I thought some of my mates in Australia with $2 to invest might wish to wander down to The Reject Shop and check them out.

The new tech toy is presently on the charger getting a fill of energy for its first encounter with me later this evening. Mr GeniAus' mobile phone has been experiencing difficulties so I generously offered to purchase a new phone and give him my old model. 

Last year I decided that I wanted a Galaxy Note 3 32g because I needed more storage. I also wanted a larger screen so that when I am travelling I can leave my Galaxy 10.1 tablet at home and travel with just a netbook and the large screen phone or phablet. I will be testing this out when I head off overseas next week. I am hoping that the 5.7" screen size will be adequate for short typing tasks and reading some ebooks. 

I had been holding off buying the device bacause of the price but I got a good deal on an unlocked model (there must be a new model around the corner) and, because I am leaving the country, I will get a 10% tax rebate from The Tourist Refund Scheme.

I am wondering if any of my genimates are phablet users?

Experimenting

Forgive me I have been playing. This is the result of a first attempt to use my latest toy

Central Coast Family History Fair

Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

I am looking forward to attending this event with Alan Phillips from Gould Genealogy where I will be demonstrating how the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner can help you tame your collections of photo and documents. I'll also be happy to share my experiences on Unlock the Past Genealogy cruises.   If you are going to the fair please drop by and say G'day.

The Fair is on 2 November at Gosford City Lion’s Hall, Building 3, rear 8 Russell Drysdale Street, East Gosford NSW 2250

Full details for the event can be found here: http://www.nswactfhs.org/whatson/index.html.

A New Toy for the Gadget Bag

Wandering through The Airport In Salt Lake City I Spied This Bluetooth Keyboard In My Favourite Colour, Pink. I Just Had To Add It To My Cache Of Gadgets.

A Peek inside my Gadget Bag

Travelling light should be part of my policy for Rootstech 2012 but I just can't help myself...

I found it interesting to read what the bloggers from Techcrunch packed for their excursions to the recent CES event in Las Vegas. I am impressed that blogger, Linda McCauley, is only travelling with her Android tablet and 'phone to Rootstech. 

As I ponder what I should take I am looking at my list for 2011 and deciding how to amend it. Here is what I planned to take with alterations and additions for 2012.

* Laptop and new battery - ordered and received last week. (I'm leaving my well travelled netbook at home)
I actually took the netbook but in 2012 will take my new laptop.  I have voice recognition software on the laptop and, with my lack of typing skills, will find this useful for blog posts. The laptop also seems to have more grunt to pick up free wifi signals.

* Small portable hard drive (to back up as I go)
Yes a new 1 terabyte model - last year's model doed not have enough storage.  

* Digital camera, SD cards, 2 batteries, charger and tiny tripod
 2 digital cameras for 2012 - I have a new 4/3 G3 Panasonic Lumix that takes great pix but the point and shoot is great to take everywhere. I will be appointing Mr Geniaus to take  photos for the blog while I attend sessions.

* 2 Thumb/Flash drives  (another backup option)

I can lighten the load here - I might just take one! 

* Mobile phone and charger

I will leave my Australian mobile at home. I'll transfer its SIM card to my Galaxy Tab.
I will also take my AT&T GoPhone for local calls while in the US. This is a cost-effective option for overseas visitors to the US.

* Power adapters so I can use US power outletsCan cut down on these as GoPhone and Laptop were purchased in the US. Will use netbook sleeve to store all of these.

* Pencil case with pencils, sharpener and pens

Yes
* Spiral bound notebook (If all else fails write it down)Yes
* Business cards Yes
* Fridge magnet (For putting on the drawers from which I remove microfilm)Yes

* Hot pink laptop bag (It will be easy to ID)Will put laptop in hot pink sleeve in cabin bag and leave laptop bag at home. Last year Rootstech gave us a computer bag and then I had two! Wish I knew what their plans are this year.

* I will be purchasing  a Flip-Pal mobile scanner at the conference.I bought the Flip-Pal but will be leaving it at home. I can use camera or Galaxy Tab with CamScanner to collect images from the FH.

* I might purchase a Galaxy Tab (if the price is right) while there. They are around half the Australian price in the US but I won't have an Australian warranty - should I take a gamble?

Purchased in Australia post Rootstech. It will be travelling with me and in my handbag at all times. It will double as an ereader. I like to purchase travel guides in ebook format.
Do I need to purchase a mobile hotspot device?

* I will buy a prepaid SIM card for my 3G Smartphone when I arrive so that I have internet access.

Not taking the phone.

In addition I will be adding taking my US GPS device - it may avoid some heated discussions as we set off on a six week US adventure post Rootstech.

I just hope my carryon baggage is under the limit!

What is inside your gadget bag for Rootstech?

Anywhere Anytime Genealogy

It's less than a month until I give my first talk at The Society of Genealogists in Sydney on February 19th and in the interim I am trotting off to Salt Lake City for Rootstech.

My talk at SAG is entitled Anywhere, Anytime Genealogy : Interviewing family members, storing genealogy data, conducting research and communicating with genealogists can be enhanced with the use of the latest tech gadgets such as smartphones, tablet computers, and digital cameras. In this session Geniaus will discuss how these tools can be applied in the field of genealogy.

As always I think I have far too much content for a two hour talk but I am putting it all in a website that the participants will be able to access after the event at their leisure. Should you be interested in joining me on the day I am pasting the introductory page of my presentation below so that you can get an idea of the  structure of the talk and topics to be covered.  (Click on the image to enlarge it)

If you could only have six.....

In our connected world we are inundated with  Hardware, Software and Social Media Tools. A recent post by Shauna Hicks asked " Can you do genealogy without technology?" I think one can do this but think genealogists who ignore technology are at risk of missing out on important news, resources and networking opportunities.

In his Blue Skunk Blog this morning Doug Johnson reports on an article by Tim Holt. Tim says "I think that the overwhelming volume of it causes a “paralysis of choice” where those that are trying to become techno-literate teachers throw up their hands in disgust and just say “too much!” The same holds true for genealogists and family historians who are trying to be techno-literate. Tim suggests pruning down the list of websites and gadgets we use to six essential websites and two gadgets.

This challenge is of the same flavour as  the one proposed by Elyse  on Elyse's Genealogy Blog



but is more restrictive. As I answered Elyse's challenge with a list of two-legged human tools I will cover my techno toys by responding to Tim's challenge"

"So, could you do it? Six websites and 2 gadgets?"  

Here's my contribution:

Websites
1. Google Browser - it will take me most places I want to go.
2. Google Reader - it keeps me up to date with genealogy and other news plus allows me access to my Twitter and Facebook RSS feeds.
3. Gmail - for keeping in touch with friends and family and having access to their details
4. Picasa - for photo sharing, cataloguing and storing
5. Sharethis - so I can post straight to multiple social networks and my blog - no need to directly access Blogger, Delicious, Twitter, Posterous, Wordpress and Facebook.
6. Geniaus Website - so I can continue to add details to my family tree.


Gadgets
1. My HTC TouchPro2 phone - for access away from home and capturing photos and images of documents..
2. My laptop with integrated webcam for home.

Taneya’s Genealogy Blog » Portable Hand Scanner

Another techie toy for my wishlist

Taneya’s Genealogy Blog » Portable Hand Scanner

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Life Recorders May Be This Century’s Wrist Watch

With this gadget we could really collect lots of stories for our descendants. Will you be wearing one?

Life Recorders May Be This Century’s Wrist Watch

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