June 14, 2008
Discovered Google Trends yet?
Google Trends just introduced enhancements this week, providing numbers for comparisons of various search terms across different regions and time periods. And I’ve been having fun with it.
I found the search trend for David Cook and David Archuleta over the last 12 months particularly interesting; because it confirmed my own observations (hehe! it’s always nice to be right), and decided to write a page (hub) about it:
Interesting Google Trends for American Idol’s Davids (Links to FAQ and article on Google Trends also on the page)
June 5, 2008
Been trying out Hubpages this week
Last week, I wrote about how I was kinda obsessed with creating Squidoo pages in my blog post here. This week, I found out that there’s a site very similar to Squidoo called Hubpages, so I decided to try it out as well.
In the interest of experimentation, I created two ‘Hubs’ there:
1) Must-Have Appliances for the Chinese Kitchen; and
2) Money Diet for the Shopping Lover
… and I’m definitely finding that I enjoy the process of creating pages at Squidoo more. Probably because Squidoo actually has more formatting set for headers and sub-heads, so the pages look more lively. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that when I was trying out Squidoo, I was creating pages on Clay (Aiken) 😉
One noticeable difference: I find that the hubs on Hubpages tend to be more like articles or blogs; whereas the types of modules available on Squidoo (and formatting options) encourage you to structure your pieces more like a website or page.
One feature I do really like at Hubpages is that it has a section for ‘Requests’ from other users, essentially questions that you can answer by creating a new ‘Hub’. Very useful if you love writing, and want to write, but are at a loss as to what topic to start with.
I will probably continue writing both at Squidoo and Hubpages now that I’ve discovered them. They let you write what are essentially short articles on specific topics, and I’m enjoying doing that.
June 1, 2008
Tried-and-Liked: I’m loving Squidoo
I discovered Squidoo earlier this week, and since then I’ve been focused (a kinder than ‘obsessed’, don’t you think?) on creating Squidoo pages or ‘lenses’ as they call them.
It’s great fun to play around with (well, at least someone as geeky as me would think so).
Never heard of Squidoo? Basically, it’s a site/community where you can create single webpages on any topic that you’re interested in.
The site makes it all very simple, with “modules” to help you add text, web links, pictures, videos, polls, etc. etc.
I was sooooo single-minded (notice I’m trying valiantly to describe myself as ‘obsessed’) that I started FIVE lenses in the last few days:
2) NEW RELEASE: Clay Aiken’s On My Way Here
3) Clay Aiken, Concert Livewire
4) Clay Aiken’s Learning To Sing
and, because I was bemused at how unreliable the media has become:
5) Anatomy of how GOSSIP makes it to the top of the NEWS
And now? All I can is, I’m TIRED!!!
May 26, 2008
Tried-and-Liked: iGoogle is surprisingly useful
Just want to share something I find most useful these days — iGoogle, a page that you can personalise with ‘Gadgets’ and feeds.
GOOGLE GADGETS
Some of the Gadgets I use:
NEWS I especially like the gadget which allows me to see the day’s Business Times Singapore headlines. You can’t actually read the articles until later in the evening, but at least it gives me an idea of whether I’d find the day’s Business Times of interest.
STICKY NOTE ***** Now, this is the one I use a lot. It’s like a post-it pad. It allows me to type in stuff I want to remember the next time I log onto my computer. There’s also a ‘TO DO LIST’ gadget, but I still find notebook-and-pen much easier for to-do-lists ( you can just stick your notebook into your bag).
DAILY QUOTES Another gadget that I really like is the Daily Literary Quote. Today’s quote? “It takes a genius to whine appealingly.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald. There are other interesting ‘daily’ gadgets as well for those who like other things: different types of quotes, pictures, etc.
DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS: I’ve added these, but haven’t really used them much.
FEEDS
iGoogle also allows you to add feeds from your favourite blogs and sites, so you can see what’s new at a glance.
HOW TO GET iGOOGLE
Go to the main Google page, and follow the instructions. Once you’ve signed on, you can click on ‘Add Stuff’ to find all the available Google Gadgets, or to add your favourite feeds.
Crooked Turret 