Google reader is probably the best RSS reader available today. Here are some tips and practices for power users (hopefully, you) to help you better manage your RSS reading time and leverage it, tweak Google Reader to use first and second level categorization, and optimize you RSS subscription list.

Use folders to prioritize your reading

At a certain point you've probably realize that it is just not possible to read all of the new items you get. One possible solution is to use folders to categorize your feeds. Once you categorized all your feeds, you can read prioritize your reading by urgency level. For example, I use a folder called 'Immediate' where I put feeds that I want to read the moment they publish something new because it is important for me to know about them as soon as possible. These could be work related or new trends, usually things that if no read within day or two (sometimes less), they became irrelevant. Other folders I use are 'friends', 'Podcasts', 'Premier Blogs', and some more. I also use a 'must read' folder for things that I want to read sometime, but it doesn't really matter when (such as family blogs or new WordPress plugins).

Continue reading “Google Reader Tips and Practices for Power Users”»

Every day we read, hear, and see tens of web pages if not more. How do you process the useful and interesting information you find online? Do you send it to yourself via email? Do you star it in Google Reader or add tags? Or maybe you just rely on the good old brain to retrieve the right information at the right time?

To participate, write in the comments what are your online information processing methods.

Next month I’ll post a summary of all the answers.

image by kevindooley

Upon undertaking a new project it is a good practice to search for related work done in your organization. Asking co-workers if they are aware of such a work is one (good) way to do it. Another way is to search for documents in your file system. The latter can be done using the built-in search feature in windows.

To search for documents related to you project, do the following:

1. Go to the root folder (found it under ‘My Computer’, you can use the keyboard shortcut Winkey + E).
2. Click the “Search” button on the upper toolbar (see image below).
3. A new window will open inside the current one.  Write a keyword related to the new project in the search box and hit search. You can search all or part of file names or a word or a phrase inside files.

The built-in search feature in windows folders

The results of the search you performed are a good base for the new project. It will allow you to continue previous work undertaken in your organization and save you time reinventing the wheel.
Continue reading “Use Windows Built-In Search to Look For Project Related Information”»

Numerous Collaboration tools and online storage applications offer a variety of collaboration abilities. Online collaborated editing, synchronization across computers, multiple file sharing , and on-the-spot windows and document sharing are just some of them. The following review will help you know and choose the right collaboration tools for your needs.

This is an excerpt of a guest post I wrote on ReadWriteWeb (by now it got more the 210 tweets). To read the full post visit the online collaboration tools guide.

A great video about learning, innovation,  and the combination of the two to create innovation teams. The video, created by Roger H. Shealy, is based on a paper by Sara L. Beckman and Michael Barry. Read the full paper here: Innovation as a Learning Process: Embedding Design Thinking

Innovation as a Learning Process from Roger H. Shealy on Vimeo.

Via The Content Economy

If you’re thinking of setting up your own personal Website or blog, or considering using one as a collaboration tool for you team, using WordPress or Google sites must have crossed your mind. These two platforms has some overlapping abilities but they actually suit for totally different uses. Here is a review of WordPress and Google sites that will help you choose the right platform for your needs.

WordPress

WordPress is an open source blog tool and publishing platform. It is the largest self-hosted blogging tool in the world.

Google sites

Google Sites is an online application for easy creation and sharing of webpages. It allows you to gather information (such as videos, calendars, presentations, attachments, and text) in one place and share it for viewing or editing with others.

Continue reading “Two Free Website Building Platforms Compared – WordPress VS. Google Sites”»