How to Backup Your Twitter Stream

Our twitter stream provides a unique insight into what’s happening in life. For some, their twitter stream is filled with minute details like the fact that you are having your first cup of coffee for the day (Breakfast Blend) and that the temperature outside is 22 degrees. For others, it proves to be a log of your reading trends and interesting facts that come across your information stream.

I fall into the last category.

This morning the idea hit me that I should find a way to archive my twitter stream and post it on my website. Not that it will be of any great significance in years to come, but it may prove interesting.

After some quick searches, I landed on TweetBackup.com. It couldn’t be easier to begin. Simply enter your twitter account credentials and in a few minutes you have a complete backup of every tweet you have sent. In my case, my first tweet was on May 29, 2008. Interesting. Like all similar services, TweetBackup is limited to 3200 tweets, which is the maximum number allowed by Twitter’s API.

Here are a couple of things I wish I could do with my twitter stream that I haven’t found a way to accomplish (yet):

1. I wish I could automatically update my archive page with the latest tweets using an RSS feed or something similar.
2. I wish TweetBackup had an easy way to archive hashtags. It may be possible, but I haven’t found a way, yet.

How about you? Do you archive your twitter stream? Is it available on your website? 

Good-bye SugarSync, Hello Dropbox

I am a long-time SugarSync user. Prior to my complete switch to Mac OS at home and work in late 2011, I relied exclusively on SugarSync for a couple of reasons:

1. Dollar-for-dollar, SugarSync provides more storage than Dropbox. I subscribed to the $9.99 / month plan and received 60 GB of space. Dropbox only provides 50 GB of space for the same money.
2. Prior to my complete switch to Apple products, I used a Mac at home, a Windows PC at work, an iPad and an Android phone. Early in the game, SugarSync simply played better in a multi platform environment.

In early April, we made the switch to iPhones at work, and this completed my transformation to an Apple environment. Now I use Macs at home and at work, an iPad, and an iPhone. At the risk of gushing, it is wonderful. :)

As I’ve learned more about the iPhone and about some of the cool apps that really make iOS the awesome operating system that it is (e.g. Instacast, TextExpander, 1Password, and Byword) I’ve also learned that iOS apps strongly favor Dropbox as the preferred method of syncing between devices. Yes, SugarSync provides an iOS app, but many of the in-app sync preferences only support Dropbox. Even support for Apple’s own iCloud falls far short of support for Dropbox.

So, I am in the process of transferring my files out of SugarSync and into Dropbox. Uploading over 40 GBs of data will take some time, so it will likely be a multi-day transition.

The question that begs to be asked is why not iCloud? Simple: even though iCloud has been released, it is still very early in its development, and there has not been a broad embrace of iCloud yet within the developer community. I believe iCloud will be a true contender in the cloud/sync arena by early- to mid-2013. Right now, however, iCloud is not ready for prime time.

How about you? Have you made the transitioned away from Dropbox to iCloud?

How to Determine if Technology Provides the Best Solution

I love technology. There is nothing that thrills me more than to find a really cool app for my iPad, or discover a new way to accomplish an old task. I love tracking my To Do list with technology (I use ToodleDo), reading about new technology (using my Kindle Fire or iPad), and talking with others about technology. Sometimes, however, I've discovered that using technology is NOT the best solution.

Consider note taking, for example -- there are clearly advantages to using technology when taking notes. I use a Livescribe [video] pen and notebook for longer meetings or an app for my iPad called SoundNote [video] for shorter meetings. Both allow me to take notes and record synchronized audio at the same time. Then, when I am reviewing my notes later, I can simply click on a word within my notes and listen to the audio conversation that accompanies that note. I can bounce around within my notes and only review the areas that need further clarification. Pretty awesome.

Sometimes, however, trying to scribble a note using an iPad or smart phone is simply not convenient. I've tried several apps on both my Android smart phone and my iPad that are designed for scribbling a quick note. Unfortunately, they simply do not work fast enough. If I am caught in a conversation with someone in passing, by the time I pull out my phone, fire it up, launch the app, and try to enter the piece of information I need to remember, too much time has passed. Invariably, I find myself asking for forgiveness as the person waits on my technology.

A much better method of capturing information on the fly is the old-school method of using a 3x5 card. I can whip out my 3x5 card (with pen attached) and scribble down a phone number or email address much quicker than I can accomplish a similar task using technology.

How do I decide if technology is the best solution?

1. Evaluate whether or not I am really saving time or being more productive. Techno-geeks like myself tend to favor technology simply for the sake of using some cool gadget or tool. In order to be truly productive, we must be honest about the tools we are using. Recently, someone described a colleague by saying, "he loves to use productivity tools, but he's really not that dependable. He forgets things a lot." That is an indictment we all need to avoid.
2. Examine the return on investment before making a decision. There are two factors to consider when evaluating return on investment: how much will this technology cost me in terms of money, and how much will this technology cost me in terms of time to learn. Technology that has a steep price and/or steep learning curve is usually not a good investment. A good example is the Mac OS application OmniFocus. Do a quick Google search on OmniFocus and you will read rave reviews. It's is the Cadillac of task management tools. Unfortunately, you will also read a lot of comments and reviews noting how difficult OmniFocus is to learn and master, and the fact that you will spend close to $140 to purchase the Mac OS app ($80), the iPad app ($40), and the iPhone app ($20). That is a steep commitment both in time and money to use OmniFocus.
3. Expect technology to function when and where I need it to function. We live in a connected world. In my technology toolbox I have Windows computers, Mac computers, an iPad, an Android phone, and a Kindle Fire (Android tablet). I want all of these devices to play nice with each other. With services like Dropbox and SugarSync, having access to my data from anywhere or anyplace is not a problem. What throws a kink into my workflow, however, is when I have one piece that doesn't want to play with the other pieces in my technology toolbox. A good example is WordSearch Bible Software. WordSearch offers access to a good library of Bible study resources that are not available via Logos Bible Software, my Bible study software of choice. I use the Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible to help with preparation when I am teaching, and this resource is not available via Logos, but is via WordSearch. Unfortunately, WordSearch is Windows only. In fact, WordSearch is one of the few applications I still use that is Windows only. What a pain! Logos Bible Software, on the other hand, allows me to start researching a topic at work, go home and read some more about a topic using my iPad or Android Kindle, pickup where I left off using my Windows computer, and even read my resources on my Android phone. Unbelievable. I use WordSearch only when I need to access the POSB and a few other resources that are not available via Logos, but in an apples-to-apples comparison, I would steer any new Bible student towards Logos rather than WordSearch.

How about you? What helps you decide whether or not technology offers the best solution over old-school methods?

Presentation Tools: PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi?

I am beginning the process of planning some presentations for various conferences in 2012. Historically, I have used PowerPoint as my presentation app of choice. (See What’s In Your Presentation Toolbox?) Given I have some time to explore, and some new tools are now available, I am re-evaluating my options.

Presenting With an iPad

Ideally, I would like to walk into a presentation with nothing more than my iPad. I know Apple has a Keynote app for the iPad, and based on some quick scanning of the reviews, it performs well. Still, many of the presentation tips I see relate to a presentation in front of a small group with the iPad serving as the only visual source (i.e. no projector).

How would the iPad perform in front of a live audience?

One of the newer (2-3 years old) apps I am looking at is Prezi, a web-based presentation tool. Prezi is a completely different paradigm than either PowerPoint or Keynote. First, and foremost, it is non-linear. The presenter can easily move from one area of a Prezi presentation to another with a simple click.

Perhaps the best way to appreciate Prezi is to see it in action. Here’ is their official intro video from YouTube:

Prezi has an iPad app, and I like the way Prezi automatically prevents a presentation from quickly becoming a series of (boring) bullet points. Still, old habits die hard, and PowerPoint and Keynote have a lot of stability and familiarity built into the apps.

My first presentation is in mid-January, so I will need to make a decision in the next few days.

Do you have any advice? Powerpoint? Keynote? or Prezi?

Finding Alternatives to Delicious

Delicious, an excellent bookmarking service currently owned by Yahoo!, is an important part of my research process. While in the collecting phase, I use Delicious to tag interesting websites and documents that I need to go back and review at a later date. This allows me to use either Google or Google Scholar to rapidly search and tag documents without getting to engrossed in the details of individual articles.

To illustrate how powerful Delicious tags can be, here are a few lists I have created over the last couple of years as I researched various topics:

• Faculty Barriers to the Adoption of Distance Learning
• Church Ministries and Distance Learning
• Emerging Instructional Technologies
• Joomla Tips, Sites, Resources
• Switching from Windows to Mac Tips & Resources
• Model Churches
• Moodle Tips, Sites, Resources
• Review of “The Shack”

Adding sites to Delicious is a simple keystroke in Firefox [Ctrl-D]. The user interface allows you to quickly tag the page, make a note about its significance (or copy a paragraph from the page to jog your memory), even share your bookmark via Twitter.

Unfortunately, Yahoo announced earlier this month their intention to sell Delicious. [The original buzz on the blogosphere was that Delicious was simply going to go away. Fortunately, this proved to be a false rumor.]

Alternatives to Delicious

Still, this realization that a critical part of my workflow is facing an uncertain future led me on a quest for a potential replacement. Here are the prospects as of today:

1. Diigo. Diigo is a mature social bookmarking, highlighting, note-taking, collaboration site that performs many of the same functions as Delicious. Seizing on the opportunity to capture new users looking for a replacement for Delicious, Diigo wisely provides a “Transition from Delicious to Diigo – Instruction & FAQ” page. Diigo is free.
2. Evernote. I am a big fan of Evernote and use this application on Windows, Mac OS, iPad, and Android platforms. Evernote is a great archive for all of your digital documents. It is the critical part of my paperless workflow. As much as I like Evernote, I don’t see it as a viable replacement for Delicious. One of the best features of Delicious is its simplicity, and in my opinion, Evernote would add levels of complexity that would defeat the purpose of rapid collection of online resources. Like Diigo, Evernote provides a simple process on their blog to make the transition from Delicious to Evernote. Evernote has both a paid and free version, and the free version is more than adequate for my needs.
3. Google Bookmarks. With Google sitting as king of the hill when it comes to search engines, it only makes sense that Google Bookmarks would be a viable alternative to Delicious. Tagging sites with Google Bookmarks can be as simple as clicking on the little star next to your search results. Google Bookmarks allows users to create and share lists, and plays well with other Google services like Google Maps, Gmail, Docs, etc.. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t provide instructions on making the transition from Delicious, although there are several recent articles on the web. Google Bookmarks is free.
4. Historious. I’m not familiar with Historious, but it appears to offer many of the features available through Delicious. Unfortunately (for me) this service is not free, and that knocks it out of contention. (You can get a free account that allows up to 300 bookmarks. The paid account is $19.95 per year and gives unlimited access to the service.)
5. Pinboard. The final contender in today’s roundup of Delicious replacements is Pinboard. As with Historious, I am not personally familiar with Pinboard, although it does receive some decent reviews. Pinboard provides a side-by-side comparison with Delicious if you need some help making a decision. Like Historious, there is a charge to use this service, so that knocks it out of contention for me.

I will update you on the final results of my search to find a good alternative to Delicious. Do you have recommendations as alternatives to Delicious?