Gmail signature file & vacation responder

Two Short-n-Quik Gmail tips – Updating your signature file and Out of Office message:

I am right in the midst of working with the tech team in moving an entire school district of teachers, administrators and students over to using Gmail as our shared email system.  It is so fascinating to watch the ways that people embrace change.  We have been using an older email system called Groupwise, made by Novell for 12+ plus years.  Some people are not happy with the change.  They like the current system and want to keep using it.  Others are clamoring to get on the new email system and start using it as soon as possible.

Some common questions have come up recently when using Gmail and I thought it might be helpful to you to share a few tips we are learning as we go along.  If you have a Gmail account and have ever wondered how to do the following, here are some short-n-quik instructions.

How to change your Gmail signature:
Log into Gmail
Click the gear symbol
Settings
General Tab
Scroll down to the signature box and enter your info
scroll to the bottom of the screen and click "save changes"

How to send out of office reply in Gmail:
In Gmail
Click the gear symbol
Settings
General Tab
Scroll down to the Vacation Responder: and fill in your info
scroll to the bottom of the screen and click "save changes"

If you need some techie help online or in person, please get in touch!
 

Google Chromebook - What is it like?

I got my hands on a new Google Chromebook today and thought I would share a few details~It is bigger than a net-book or an iPad in size but smaller than a standard size laptop.It is light and feels like it has about medium sturdiness. By this I mean I am not sure your dog could take a nap on it and it would come out unscathed. It could take a bump or 2 no problem but not really hard abuse.The Chromebook runs the Google Operating system which is a version of their web browser on steroids.To use a Chromebook on regular basis, you need to shift you world out to the cloud. What is the cloud you ask?It is a bunch of servers that Google owns and operates all over the country and even out in the ocean where you store your stuff. That's some redundancy if I ever saw it! Anyway, you save all your documents using GoogleDocs and Gmail for your email system. There are a ton of apps to download from the Chrome App Store many are free. A few we tried out today were File Cabinet and apps for email and docs. There is no school based server that we would use with a Chromebook. Instead, we move all our documents onto Docs and work from the internet. This begs the question of, "What happens when the internet goes down?" and the answer is you are pretty much out of luck and have to wait for it to return.I'll tell you more about this tomorrow, I've got to dash.Peace,Jean

10 Things I LOVE about my iPad!!

There are so many things to like about using an iPad but I have narrowed down a list of my top 10 things that I like about my Ipad here:

1. Fast on, Fast off – no long waits to get logged in.

2. Small and portable – we keep ours in the living room and it is always getting passes around to look up info.

3. Words With Friends!!!  My name is Jeanvt if you want to play!  If you like scrabble, you will like WWF!

4. Dual cameras make for easy picture taking.  I am currently trying to take a picture a day to collect a year in photos and it is so easy to just grab the iPad and snap a shot when the inspiration hits me!

5.  Love listening to podcasts or Hayhouse Radio – they have an app to listen in to some great shows.

6. Great for looking up recipes and using in the kitchen.  Hint,  if you are going to be cooking messy stuff, stick your IPad in a large ziplock bag to prevent it from getting all gunked up.

7. Flipboard is a really beautiful app that gives you news and articles of interest.  It is fun to ready and there are many great ideas to be found !    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard/id358801284?mt=8

8.  Ted talks – the app is free and gives you access to some amazing thoughtful discussions about  “Ideas worth spreading”  All the talks are 20 minutes or less.  A few of my favorite talks are given by:

 Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerability,
Shawn Achor,  The Happy Secret to Better Work
Elizabeth Gilbert, Nurturing Creativity

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ted/id376183339?mt=8

9.  ABC app –  this app for the TV station lets me snuggle in bed occasionally and catch up with Grey’s Anatomy~  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-player/id364191819?mt=8

10.  Documents 2 is a basic notepad/spreadsheet app  that you can take notes on and keep track of things.  I find myself using Documents 2  more and little pieces of paper here and there less!  It allows you to save your notes up up to the Cloud using  GoogleDocs .  In doing this way, you can get access to your notes on any computer!  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/documents-2-free-spreadsheet/id314894105?mt=8

Hope you pick  up a good idea or 2 here. If you need help with your iPad or other gizmo, I would  love to show you the benefits of using one!  If you would like to have 1 on 1 iPad or other gizmo tutoring with me via Skype, Facetime or in person(in Chittenden County, Vermont)  please feel free to contact me here:  http://www.jeanthecomputertutor.com/contact