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Jul 23

CyberNotes: View How-to Videos and Wiki-Guides with Howcast

Posted in: CyberNotes, Today's Chili, Web Sites

This article was written on July 05, 2008 by CyberNet.

Weekend Website

In the past we’ve written about a few different “How-To” sites on the web that offer tutorials on how to do something. So far we have covered WonderHowTo and Expert Village, both sites which have excellent guides. Today we’re taking a look at another solution called Howcast. It’s got a great interface and professional videos, and we think it’s one of the best how-to sites available. You can never have too many resources on the Internet for learning how to do various things, can you?

About Howcast

Howcast was actually created by former Google and YouTube employees who wanted to create professional how-to videos for consumers. On their About page, they say, “Howcast brings together the personality of user-generated content with the quality of a professional video studio to create engaging, informative, and free how-to videos for consumers. It also offers emerging filmmakers an opportunity to gain experience, exposure, and income.”

The topics that they cover really varies, but the one thing that they all have in common is the professional nature of the how-to videos. Every video I watched while exploring Howcast was very professional and engaging which makes a difference.

howcast homepage screenshot.png

Using Wiki Guides (link)

One of the unique aspects to Howcast is their Wiki Guides Section. This is where people are able to write various how-to guides that others can contribute to. Those who want to edit content must have a Howcast account, otherwise they won’t be able to make changes. Another nice feature is the option for people to comment of various Wiki Guides.

When you are viewing a Wiki Guide, you’ll notice options up at the top of the page like “older” and “newer” or “changes” and “rollback.” Users are given access to previous versions of a Wiki which is why those navigation buttons are available. By clicking “Changes”, everything that was added or deleted from the previous version is highlighted so that a user will know what has changed.

There’s also a Print button up at the top. Clicking on it will format the page nicely for your printer, and then you’ll be able to print something you found that was helpful.

Several sort and filter options are available when you’re looking through Wiki Guides and they include options to sort by most viewed, most recently added, top rated, top favorites, most emailed and most discussed. You can also filter down the Wikis by selecting only certain categories. There’s also the option to view only those written by Howcast writers, or those written by the community.

Searching Through Categories (link)

Multiple categories of how-to guides are available at Howcast. Just look for the “Categories” tab at the top of the page. There you’ll find a list of categories ranging from Arts and Media to Travel. You know what? We’ll just go ahead and list the categories right here so that you’ll know what’s available:

howcast categories.png

Howcast Community (link)

Once you sign-up for an account, you can become part of the Howcast community. One way to do this is to upload your own how-to videos, while another way is to write your own Wiki Guide. If you decide to write-up a guide of your own, the Howcast community will be able to edit it. It can also be made into a video as well.

Each member has a profile page that they can edit and add information to. It also acts as a “dashboard” and will show you how many videos you’ve added, how many wiki guides you created, and how many comments and subscribers you have. And yes, you can subscribe to someone’s profile so that you’ll be updated when they add new content.

Wrapping it up

One of the features that we failed to mention is that you can create playlists of how-to videos that you want to watch, but you must have a Howcast account to be able to do it.

Looking through the videos, here are a few videos that might interest you:

If you’re trying to figure out how to do something, checkout Howcast. We think you’ll be impressed with the quality of the videos, the interface, and the opportunities that they provide for the community to get involved.

Thanks for the tip Pieter!

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Jul 23

Hackers scoffing at iPhone 3GS’ hardware encryption

Posted in: Apple, iPhone, Today's Chili

There were other features taking higher billing in the iPhone 3GS’ announcement than its hardware-level encryption — hell, even the magnetic compass was getting more play — but it’s there, and Apple’s actively marketing the bit-scrambling capability to enterprise clients. Problem is, hackers are apparently having a field day with it, rendering it useless in all but name. One iPhone dev (who teaches courses on pulling data off iPhones, coincidentally) goes so far to say that he doesn’t “think any of us have ever seen encryption implemented so poorly before,” noting that it’s no more difficult for him to pull data off a 3GS than it is off an encryption-free 3G. He goes on to point out that RIM — which has far more experience dealing with enterprise-class mobile fleets than Apple does — offers a far more robust remote wipe solution that doesn’t necessarily need to rely on an active wireless connection to clear a phone. The lesson? As overwhelmingly popular as the iPhone may be across every market segment, these guys are still the new kids on the enterprise block — and RIM (and heck, Microsoft, too) would be wise to stand their ground here.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Hackers scoffing at iPhone 3GS’ hardware encryption originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 23

Robots to brand the moon?

Posted in: Today's Chili

An ad by Moon Publicity selling ad space on the moon.

(Credit: Moon Publicity)

Speaking of the eclipse, an inventor named David Kent Jones wants to use robots to turn the Earth’s only natural satellite into a giant ad.

Jones’ scheme is to use lunar robots to plow moon …

Originally posted at Far-flung Tech

Jul 23

Jeff Bezos issues humble apology over pulled Kindle title

Posted in: amazon, amazon kindle, AmazonKindle, e reader, e-book, e-book reader, E-bookReader, kindle, Today's Chili

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants you to know he’s really, really sorry for pulling Nineteen Eighty-Four off of our Kindles. In fact, the guilt expressed in this public apology is comparable to a modern day Dimmesdale — he may have even seared a mark into his flesh for all we know. The short message calls the company’s “solution” to what happened “stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles,” adding that he and the company “deserve the criticism we’ve received.” Look Jeff, we’re still gonna be appalled by these beyond the pale actions even if you say it won’t happen again… but if you really need a hug, we’ll be here.

[Via New York Times]

Filed under: Handhelds

Jeff Bezos issues humble apology over pulled Kindle title originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 23

Android-powered HTC Click rumored to be crazy cheap unlocked

Posted in: Android, HTC, rumor, Today's Chili

One more note about that Android-powered HTC Click that we saw in a gloriously-framed shot yesterday morning: it’s going to be cheap. It had been said all along that the Click would mark HTC’s first Android entry into the low-end fray (joining the Touch Viva on WinMo), meaning the sticker price would be kept to a minimum — but the Vietnamese forum that first brought you this picture is saying that we’re looking at somewhere between 5 and 6 million dong, which works out to $280 to $336 unlocked. That’s cheap enough to ensure that it’s free on contract virtually anywhere in the world where it’s sold, bringing Android to a whole new demographic. Now, just call us when the Hero’s down to $280, eh?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Android-powered HTC Click rumored to be crazy cheap unlocked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 23

Stan Lee Owns an iPhone

Posted in: iPhone, Today's Chili

After more than half a century in the comics industry, Stan Lee has yet to slow down. The 86-year-old Spider-man creator speaks with the speed and enthusiasm of a man a fraction of his age, especially when discussing his latest project, “Time Jumper.” He’s also not content to let the latest technology pass him by.

“I have so little time that every day what I do is just Google the name ‘Stan Lee,’ and I Google the name ‘Pow Entertainment,’ to see what people are writing about me and the company,” explains Lee. “So I get a lot of things that way, but I don’t have time to do any more. I’d be sitting in front of the computer all day–which I’d love to do–but I haven’t got the time.”

Lee’s also the proud if somewhat baffled owner of the industry’s hottest handset. “I bought an iPhone, but it’s a total mystery to me,” he told Gearlog. “I like to scan the Internet and I like to play with my telephone. I’m the only guy who has this old-fashioned type of phone. This is still one of the first models ever made. I’m still trying to learn how to get my messages on it, but it’ll come to me, eventually.”

And while the intricacies of mobile technology may baffle him, Lee has the whole home theater thing down pat. “I don’t know if you have DirectTV, but starting with number 501, you get HBO and a million old movies. I just thumb through until I find something that catches my eye. I also belong to Netflix. I go through the list of old movies and catch the ones I’ve missed. So I’m really up to date, as long as we go back about a year ago.”

Jul 23

Google Latitude finally makes it over to iPhone, as a web app

Posted in: AppleIphone, Google, iPhone, iphone 3g, Iphone3g, ipod touch, IpodTouch, Today's Chili

The iPhone has finally caught up with its BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 5.0, and S60 competition, at least as far as Google Latitude is concerned. The stalker-centric program is now available for Apple’s smartphone, but instead of coming as an App Store-approved download, it’s actually just a web-hosted app that grabs your location through Safari — a new trick care of iPhone OS 3.0. As to why, the Official Google Blog explains Apple had some concern that people would confuse it for the native Maps app. We still don’t get why it couldn’t simply be added to Maps itself, but we’re not the multibillion dollar company, here. Go ahead, let your privacy cares away and direct your iPhone to the link below to see what all the fuss is about. Now it’s time to wait (im)patiently for Google Voice.

Read – Google Latitude
Read – Official Google Mobile Blog

Filed under: Cellphones

Google Latitude finally makes it over to iPhone, as a web app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 23

Comic-Con 2009: The Eagle Has Landed, and Hes Already Sick of Twilight

Posted in: Today's Chili

I’m out here in sunny San Diego to cover this year’s Comic-Con International for PCMag. I’ve only been here for a few hours, but stimulation overload is already beginning to set in. CES, Toy Fair, Auto Show, E3–I’ve covered them all, and I can safely say that those shows, and hectic and draining as they are, have absolutely nothing on the pop-cultural explosion that is Comic-Con.

Some 126,000 people are set to attend the show this year, and I feel pretty sure that I’ve already managed to wait in line between most of them for the bathroom. You’ve got no concept of a line, however, until you’ve seen the sheer volume of young attendees queued up for a Twilight panel. This event saw a seemingly never-ending line down the San Diego street, as the largely female fan-base braved Palmetto bugs, rats, and the mean southern California streets overnight for a chance to get in.

I watched it in part from the relative safety of the second-floor press room. Tween fans asked the male actors hard-hitting questions about what it was like to film a scene topless. “It was cold,” answered Chris Weitz.

If all goes according to plan, that’s the last you’ll hear from me about teenage emo vampires. Check back here for plenty of Comic-Con coverage throughout the weekend. Including the interview I just wrapped up with Spider-man creator, Stan Lee. ‘Nuff said!

Jul 23

Ask Engadget: Best flexible keyboard out there?

Posted in: AskEngadget, Features, keyboard, portable, Today's Chili

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Jeremy, who is desperately searching for a portable and malleable keyboard to take on the road.

“I love my little computing companion but I often find myself missing a full sized keyboard. I have been looking at several of these portable and flexible keyboards, but I can’t seem to make up my mind about which I should buy. I don’t want the keyboard to be overly expensive, but I want it to be good quality. Also, how difficult is it to type on these keyboards? Thanks!”

To anyone who has been forced to use a cramped netbook keyboard for over a few minutes, you know how dire the situation can get. If you’ve literally rolled a keyboard into your arsenal, let us know which one made the team and how it’s holding up.

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Peripherals

Ask Engadget: Best flexible keyboard out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 23

Engadget HD puts the new Samsung LED edge-lit LCD TV to the test

Posted in: samsung, Today's Chili

If you’ve been wondering how the latest LED edge-lit LED TVs from Samsung look, now’s your chance to find out. The crew over at EHD got their hands-on the 46-inch UN46B7000 and spent the time to write all about it. We’d like to warn you that If you don’t click through you’ll be missing out on all the fun, like all the internet connectivity features like DLNA and Yahoo Widgets. But even if you don’t care about all the extras, there is still come great information that’ll help try and figure out how much of a premium a 1.2 inch TV is worth.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Engadget HD puts the new Samsung LED edge-lit LCD TV to the test originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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