Looking for Help with Windows 8?

w8If you recently purchased a new Windows computer or tablet, chances are it uses the Windows 8 operating system (OS) or Windows RT (a simplified version of Windows 8 for some tablets).  The latest OS marks a major change in the appearance of Windows, which has thrown many users for a loop.  Here is a collection of resources to help answer your questions:

Videos

Websites – Step by Step Tutorials

Books (links lead to Upper Hudson Library System catalog)

I hope this helps some of you to navigate and troubleshoot your new operating system.  What do you think of Windows 8?

So Much News, So Few Posts

busySorry for my absence, folks!  Things have been a bit crazy around here with all of the new and exciting tech projects brewing at the library.  I’ll give a quick rundown of what’s going on, and future posts will give more detail.

  • OverDrive, our service provider for downloadable e-books and audiobooks, has completely redesigned their website and checkout process.  The new site looks great on any device, and the process of borrowing titles is much more streamlined.  I have already updated our print brochures to reflect the changes, and I’m working furiously to update the website, as well.  Also, many of the e-book titles are available to read in a browser of your choice – no download required!  See our OverDrive READ brochure (PDF) for more information.  This bullet point will definitely get its own post.  Maybe two.
  • Starting in May, we are going to make laptops available for checkout within the library.  After signing an agreement, cardholders in good standing will be able to borrow a laptop from the Reference Desk for 2.5 hours.  Laptops cannot leave the building, but they will provide mobility within the library as well as the opportunity to work in groups.  Due to limitations in our printing software, they will be unable to print.  However, unlike our wired public computers, patrons will be able to temporarily save documents to the desktop for easy attachment to email.  When the laptop is shut down, any changes made by the user will be wiped out.  Head to the Reference Desk for more details.
  • In May, we will be completely revamping our public computing areas.  Our current computers are getting slow and outdated.  We will be replacing them with state-of-the art, blazing fast thin clients.  This will allow us to offer additional internet browser options,  Microsoft Office 2010, Windows 7, temporary saving of documents, and the return of many popular features, such as right-clicking!  It will also make it much easier for yours truly to keep them updated and secure.  Please be patient with us as we learn and deploy the new system.  I will keep you updated as we make progress.
  • For the last two months, library staff members have been participating in a technology training program called Connect 2 U.  The aim of this program was to help our staff become more comfortable with diving in and learning new technology tools that may be useful to both staff and patrons.  As a result, you may see more videos showing up on our YouTube channel, ranging from book reviews to tutorials on how to use library services.
  • We are exploring software options that will allow us to provide chat/text reference services to our patrons.  If all goes well, we hope to roll this out in the late summer.
  • The website we have works well on desktop computers and tablets, but the mobile site we use leaves a bit to be desired.  We’re working on an update/redesign that will be friendly to all devices, without requiring the maintenance of two separate websites.

Do you have other tech suggestions for the library? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

OverDrive Gets a New Look and Browser-Based Reading

OverDrive Logo

If you use our downloadable e-books or audiobooks, you may be glad to know that the long-promised redesign and additional features, dubbed “Next Generation”, have finally arrived!  To see the new site layout, head to http://digitalcollection.uhls.org.  The short video below will explain how to browse the collection and manage your account in the new interface.  It will also introduce a great new feature – “OverDrive Read.”  This allows patrons to check out e-books and read them in a browser (online or offline) and synchronize bookmarks, last page read, etc. across devices.  Not all titles are available in OverDrive Read, but many are.

Some information to note about the new interface:

  • The new website uses “responsive design” which allows the mobile and desktop experience to be the same—optimized for any size screen regardless of a user’s device.
  • The Next Generation digital library website makes use of web technologies such as HTML 5 and CSS 3, which are not supported by some versions of Internet Explorer. If a user has IE 7 installed,  they will be immediately prompted to complete a one-time install of the Google Chrome Frame plug-in. The plug-in is free and only takes a few seconds to install. Users of IE 8 & 9 will also be prompted to install the plug-in for use of OverDrive Read (browser-based reading). Users may switch to another browser such as Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.

Let us know what you think of the new interface in the comment section below!

When Will It Go Bad?

Food Date Myth

No, I’m not getting philosophical – just being practical. I found a great site called “EatByDate” that can tell you how long food actually lasts under different conditions.  You can browse by category or search for a specific food.  Not only will you get specific advice based on how the item is packaged and stored, this site will also tell you how to identify spoiled foods and offer tips on extending shelf life.

Do you have a practical site you’d like to share?  Let me know in the comments.

Apps to Help Identify a Tablet/Smartphone/Laptop Thief

11719567_sImage credit: seewhatmitchsee / 123RF Stock Photo

We all know tablets, smartphones, and laptops are attractive targets for thieves.  Not only is the equipment inherently valuable, but think of all the data, pictures, and account information you have saved on your phone!  The time to protect yourself is before your device is stolen.

MakeUseOf.com has written some helpful posts on how to prepare your devices for the worst case scenario.  I would recommend reading two short articles: Don’t Be a Victim: Practical Tips To Protect Your Smartphone From Theft and Identify the Guy Who Stole Your Phone, Tablet, or Laptop.

If thieves make you angry, and you would like to gloat at their humiliation and capture, try Revenge of the geek: MacBook thief made a fool of on YouTube. The end of the article contains links to more stories of foiled electronics thieves.

Do you use a recovery tool not mentioned in the articles above?  Please share it the comments section below.