After an extremely busy August and September, we had time to catch our breath, take a few naps, and do some sightseeing in October! We stayed at some beautiful campgrounds in Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida. We visited the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama - something that's been on our to-do list for quite some time.
We stayed in the Hilton Head area for a week and presented 2 seminars on smartphones, one for the Sun City Hilton Head Computer Club, and again for the Hilton Head Island Computer Club.
Our last night on the road was spent at the gorgeous Anastasia Island State Park in Florida. Keep reading this newsletter and you'll see some pretty nice pictures! Oh ... and you can click on the map to see the full web page of our travel map. Then you can click on any of the little green tents to open up a dialog box that includes links to our personal blog about those places.
We are constantly learning new things, so we add new seminars. Al three of these new titles will be offered at the Good Sam rally in Daytona and, of course at our own TechnoGeek Rally on Dec 2-8.
Geeks on Tour: Using Technology to Plan, Preserve and Share Your Travels
If you can only fit one of our seminars into your rally schedule, we wanted you to have an overview. This seminar touches on all the devices, software and apps we use and how our videos can teach you more.
Trip Planning with MS Streets and Trips, Google Maps and Websites
We used to cover Trip Planning and GPS Navigation in one seminar and it was too much, they are really two separate topics.
Picasa: Organizing your Pictures - a Seminar for Intermediate Users
Picasa can do so much with your pictures, it does you no good if you don't know where your pictures are! This seminar teaches you tools and techniques for organizing, moving, locating, and generally managing your photo library using Picasa.
Forum Topics
The Q&A Forums on the Geeks on Tour website are a great place to discuss the topics we cover. This is where we answer our members' questions. Anyone can read the forums, you need to be a member to post. Here are some topics of interest:
Yes! We're doing it again. Phil and Tracey from TechnoRV and Jim and Chris from Geeks on Tour are teaming up to deliver the most learning, the best food, and the most fun of any RV rally you can imagine. Watch the video of the first TechnoGeek Learning Rally to see what I mean!
You will learn about cameras, computers, smartphones and more at this week-long event in Bushnell, Florida December 2-8. See the Rally Page for all the details.
The rally registration fee includes 9 meals! All homemade by Tracey and Phil - feast your eyes on this menu for the week. We are limiting registrations to 35 RVs - Register Today!
"Going There?" or "Being There?"
Which do you like best about traveling? The journey or the destination? Read Chuck Woodbury's thoughts on the subject and get a little insight why we think that RVing gives you the best of both!
Our Take on Windows 8
You'll be hearing a lot about Windows 8 since it was launched on October 25. We don't want to deluge you with even more, but thought you might want our take on the topic. When someone asks us "What do you think of Windows 8, should I get it?" We have 4 points we think you should know:
No Need to Upgrade: If you're happy with Windows 7 and your laptop computer, there is no need to upgrade. There's nothing in Windows 8 that is important for you to have. When you get a new computer, get Windows 8 then. To get the full experience of Windows 8, you want a touchscreen device. Of course, if you like to be challenged and to play with the latest and greatest - go for it! Windows 8 should run just fine on any computer that has been running Windows 7 well. Here are Microsoft's specs on upgrading to Windows 8. My favorite new feature is how it is integrated with the Skydrive cloud.
A Brand New World: The big deal about Windows 8 is that it combines the best of both worlds. Right now you have your iPad or other tablet or your smartphone for comfortable browsing and emailing while sitting on the couch. Then, you still need your trusty laptop for using Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and other Windows software like Quicken, Picasa, or Streets and Trips. The promise of Windows 8 is that it makes possible a touchscreen tablet that can also run your long-time trusted PC software. Microsoft is betting on Windows 8 being a game-changer - computers as we know them are gone. Windows 8 opens the door for a whole new way of working with computers - where the big screen on your desk has the exact same software/apps as the tablet and smartphone. We are excited about the possibility of a tablet that will run Microsoft Streets and Trips, so we could easily use it for navigation as well as trip planning. But that day isn't here yet - see #4.
Expect a Learning Curve: Windows 8 is different. You can't just turn it on and start using it like with past versions of windows. There is no 'Start' button, you'll need a lesson on how to get around. It is two computers in one - a touchscreen, active tiles motif computer which feels like a smartphone or tablet complete with special apps. Each tile is more like a widget than an icon, the tile for your email app, for example, will display your latest emails and actively change when new email arrives. Although you can get to a screen that looks like the classic Windows desktop, it's not apparent how to get there. Here is David Pogue's Windows 8 Cheat Sheet which will give you some basics.
Windows RT is not Windows 8: If you like the idea of a tablet being the only computer you need, you may be tempted to buy the new Surface tablet that Microsoft is selling starting Oct 26, 2012. Don't do it! The Surface that goes on sale today is not running Windows 8, it is running Windows RT which is just the touchscreen/tablet/App version meant for the current crop of tablet ARM processors. Windows RT does have the 2013 versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and One Note, but it will not run your other Windows software like Quicken, Picasa, or Streets and Trips. You need to get a tablet with an Intel processor, running the full-blown Windows 8. Microsoft is promising a Windows 8 SurfacePro tablet in January and other vendors plan Windows 8 tablets even sooner. For more details, read this CNN Money article: Windows 8 vs Windows RT.
For a complete review and everything you'd want to know and more, check out the CNET Review of Windows 8.
Pictures of Anastasia Island State Park in Florida
It's places like this that give me joy in using my good digital SLR camera, and then viewing and editing the pictures later in Picasa. The picture of the two of us is of particular interest since we were all alone on this beach, and we didn't have a tripod. How did we get that picture? The answer is at the bottom of this post. Anastasia Island is a Florida State park on the beach at St. Augustine. We only stayed there one night, but we made our way to the beach at those all-important photography times of sunset and sunrise. I can't stop looking at these pictures and just feeling love for the world of beauty that we live in. I took over 250 pictures! With help from Picasa's Side-by-Side editing feature, I chose the 49 best and then edited them so they look even better. I hope you enjoy them!
The better way to view the pictures is to follow this link to the pictures on Google+, then click on Slideshow. That will show them full-screen.
My Favorite Picasa Editing features:
Just one example of Before and After editing in Picasa. I hope you agree ... the one on the right is better!
Crop: most all of my pictures need a crop
I'm Feeling Lucky: I always click on I'm Feeling Lucky. Sometimes - especially with sunsets - I don't like what it does so I click on Undo
Straighten: my horizon always seems a bit crooked when taking ocean pictures!
Graduated Tint: to make blue skies bluer, or sunsets redder
Increase shadows: for a richer look on some photos
Sharpen: when my picture looks a little soft, clicking on Sharpen gives you more defined edges
HDRish: when sharpen doesn't do enough, HDRish will make my images pop! I usually move settings to lessen the effect, it can be very dramatic.
Saturation: to give a colorful picture even more color
Mulitiple Exposure Collage in Picasa
That's how we got the picture of the two of us. It's actually 2 pictures and I put them together using the Collage feature of Picasa and choosing Multiple Exposure. Rarely do 2 pictures work so well in a double exposure - but these two sure did! To see exactly how it was done, members can watch the Collage Short Course of tutorial videos. Multiple Exposures is the 8th video in the series.
There's a Video for That!
If you want to learn how to do all of these editing techniques - "There's a video on that!" Take a look at our Learning Library for Picasa - the first 3 videos in the list are free for anyone to watch, the rest require a Geeks on Tour Membership.
Use your computer to mark places using Google Maps, and you'll see them on your smartphone! I love this feature of Google Maps - this is the appeal of 'cloud computing.' Use whatever device is most practical and see the results on any other device.
Let's say I'm researching where to stay as we travel from Fort Lauderdale to Bowling Green, Kentucky. I will use lots of different resources to do this: Streets and Trips with the POI Megafile is my first choice, then I'll supplement that with websites for RV Park Reviews, Georgia State Parks, Passport America etc. Google Maps may or may not be part of the tools we use to find places to stay, but it's definitely a good idea to mark the places once we've made our decisions.
How to Create 'My Places' with Google Maps
First, you need to use your computer to go to the website for Google Maps - www.maps.google.com. Have you ever noticed the other button, beside 'Get Directions', for 'My places'?' That's where you need to be in order to mark your special places. For this to work, you need to be logged in with a Google Account. If you're not logged in, then clicking on 'My Places' will take you to a login screen - you can also create an account here if needed. If you are logged in, take a look in the upper right of your screen and check the account that is being used. Lots of people have more than one Google account, you need to be aware which account is being used when you create content like maps. I recommend watching the interactive tutorial the first time you visit here.
When you're ready, click the red button for 'Create Map' and give it a Title. Let's say you named it 'Summer 2012 New England Trip'. Now use the Search field to look for the point you want to mark, e.g. Elks Lodge in Poughkeepsie, NY. When it has found the correct place, click on the marker to open up the dialog box and click the link to 'Save to map.' You'll get a list of all your 'My places' maps. Choose Summer 2012 New England Trip, and click Save. You now have a saved marker for that place. You should see a link pop up at the top of your map that tells you 'Elks Lodge was saved to Summer 2012 New England Trip' View Map. Click on view map to see the results of saving this place. Repeat this process for every place you want to add to the map. When you're done, click the Done button.
Viewing your Custom Map from Your Smartphone or Tablet
Here's the real beauty ... Google Maps, and 'My Places' can be viewed from any internet-connected device. On my Droid Razr phone, I just touch the Google Maps app. Once it's open, you'll see the icon for 'Layers.' Then choose 'My Maps' and then 'Summer 2012 New England Trip.' You will then see the same map markers on your smartphone as you did on your computer. Now you can click on the marker for the Elks Lodge, and choose Navigate to start Google navigation directions to that place.
My Maps
Summer 2012 New England
With iPhone or IPad
Ever since iOS 6, Google maps does not come as an app on your iPhone or iPad. Never fear, you can still get there by using your web browser. Just open Safari and go to www.maps.google.com be sure you are logged in to the appropriate Google account, then you can use the buttons in the upper right - the drop-down arrow will show you a menu. Choose My Places and then Summer 2012 New England Trip. What you will see at first is a text listing of all the marked places, but if you tap on a place you will see it displayed on a map.
Once you get the hang of creating custom maps this way, there is a lot you can do with them. You can even share them from your computer by clicking the link icon and sending the URL to your friends. For more info, check out the videos on our Google Maps and Google Earth learning library page - you'll need a Geeks on Tour membership to view most of them.
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That's all for now. We hope you learned something. Your next issue will be next month. Any questions, please visit our forum. If you like this newsletter, please forward it on to your friends! If you received this issue forwarded by a friend you can subscribe to get your own copy delivered to your in box - it's free. To see the archives of past newsletters, go to http://geeksontour.tv/category/newsletter/.
Happy Computing!
The Geeks on Tour website is an online learning library for Travelers who want to learn to use their computers for managing digital photos, making blogs, using maps and other online resources. Anyone can watch our free videos, read articles on our Computer Tips for Travelers Blog, sign up for our free monthly newsletter, or Picasa weekly tips. A small fee makes you a 'member' and you can then view any of our 200+ video tutorials on these subjects in our Learning LIbrary..
You'll be hearing a lot about Windows 8 since it was launched on October 25. We don't want to deluge you with even more, but thought you might want our take on the topic. When someone asks us "What do you think of Windows 8, should I get it?" We have 4 points we think you should know:
Use your computer to mark places using Google Maps, and you'll see them on your smartphone! I love this feature of Google Maps - this is the appeal of 'cloud computing.' Use whatever device is most practical and see the results on any other device.
Let's say I'm researching where to stay as we travel from Fort Lauderdale to Bowling Green, Kentucky. I will use lots of different resources to do this: Streets and Trips with the POI Megafile is my first choice, then I'll supplement that with websites for RV Park Reviews, Georgia State Parks, Passport America etc. Google Maps may or may not be part of the tools we use to find places to stay, but it's definitely a good idea to mark the places once we've made our decisions.
Become a Geeks on Tour Member!
And learn from our online library of Tutorial Videos