PicLens is Enhancing My Photo Viewing Experience
Social media evangelist and friend Bryan Person (formerly known as Bryper) recently turned me on to the Web browser add-on PicLens. I’m generally a fan of toolbars, buttons and widgets that make things flashier and/or easier to use, so I checked it out. As someone who takes a lot of pictures and finds herself turning up in a lot of pictures on the Web, I was curious to see what this app could do. And I agree with earlier reviews–it’s pretty special.
PicLens puts a little “play” button on images you find within certain Web sites, like Google Images, Facebook, Flickr, MySpace, etc. When you click the little button, it transports your browser to this alternate universe where photos are much more amazing than they are with the average, everyday browser. Note: if a photo is small (think thumbnail size), the button will take up most of the picture. If you don’t want to PicLens it, make sure you click on the corner or edge of the photo so it doesn’t enable the PicLens app.
So, say you clicked on a friend’s profile photo within Facebook. PicLens now takes you to what they call a “3D Wall” of photos related to the one you clicked–in this case, your friend’s other photos in the album. From there, you can zip around, look at things up close, play a slideshow, search for keywords and generally have a very rich photo viewing experience.
Now excuse me while I go PicLens it up with the 1,336 photos currently filling the BS08 Flickr group.
Apps, Honey, Tech | Comments (3)Today’s Honey: March 29, 2008
Love and technology.
4×4 Pseudo-Secrets for Social
As I told John Wall, a little kidney infection isn’t stopping me from showing up at Blogger Social, which is only a week away now. I plan on being out in full force, wearing my obnoxiously sequined dress and painful strappy Enzos, ready to see and meet some super socialites. Tim Brunelle recently tagged me with the 4×4 meme in preparation for next weekend. So I’ve been sitting here, wondering if there are even 16 interesting things about me that I can share… Here goes:
4 Things I’m Proud Of
1. When I was 12, I heard about a junior high in Oklahoma whose school was trashed by a tornado, and they were trying to raise money so they could still have some big school dance. Since I knew I would be totally devastated if my big middle school dance was canceled, I saved my all babysitting money for a month and sent a check to the school.
2. I pulled off a big surprise dance number at The Dance Place, Inc.’s Susan G. Komen Benefit in November 2007 and also raised $1,150 on behalf of the studio for the cause.
3. I was able to graduate a semester early (with a job waiting for me!) from college with a strong GPA in a notoriously tough school.
4. I returned to dancing en pointe only four months after I broke my ankle/leg in three places. I’m TOUGH.
4 Countries I’d Like to Visit
1. Greece
2. India
3. Spain
4. Brazil
4 Albums That Defined My Adolescence
1. Brand New- Deja Entendu
2. Fiona Apple- When the Pawn…
3. Britney Spears- …Baby One More Time
4. Alanis Morissette- Jagged Little Pill
4 Things That Scare Me
1. Heights
2. This Under Armour commercial
3. Walking alone in the dark
4. Thriller movies, i.e. this.
I don’t tag people with memes, so that’s all, folks. Did you learn anything new about me? See you next Saturday!
Amanda, Buzzing Bees, Events, Honey | Comments (2)What’s in Your Social Media Handbag (… or Man Purse)?
Not sure if you’ve noticed yet, but I’m a girl. A girl who is into “girly” things. Things like glitter, makeup, shoes and shimmer. Yet, here I am, hanging out in this dude-filled social media world and working in the tech PR industry. Spaces not exactly known for their sparkle and lip glossiness. And that’s more than fine with me, but in my opinion–and I know at least a few ladies who would agree–there might not be enough metaphors that capture how we chicks think (read: shop and accessorize).
So, here it is. Not a social media tool kit, not a social media tackle box, not a pair of social media Wrangler jeans. Me? I have a social media handbag, thanks.
In my social media handbag, the essentials are my Twitter, Facebook, ooVoo, Skype, del.icio.us and Google Reader. These are like my phone, T pass, credit card, lip balm, license and keys. Every girl has her essential items she needs to survive away from home–the things you use all the time and can’t live without. But then you’ve got the extra stuff that you just like having with you. You don’t always take these things everywhere, but you usually have them around just in case. For me, that’s Flickr, Utterz and Seesmic. My mini mirror, tissues and umbrella. Guys, I know you sometimes wonder what the hell we need these handbags for, but trust me, girls get what I’m talking about. And I mean, this could be taken in a variety of ways depending on your accessory personality–you could have a social media man purse, social media evening clutch, social media fannypack…
Girls, this is how I conceptualize my social media “stuff.” I’m a visual thinker. And I like pretty things.
What’s in your social media handbag?
Handbags, Really, Honey, Social Media | Comments (25)Today’s Honey: February 6, 2008
Roisin Murphy’s stage presence is confident and subtly sexy. She performs her song “Sinking Feeling” with a jazzed up energy that is cool and infectious. Thoughts?
Today’s Honey: January 14, 2008
As I said before, I like art to tell a story. And as you probably noticed from my fundraiser in November, I love dancing. I recently stumbled upon this video, which was written, directed and edited by Allison Leigh Schultz and danced by Kaitlyn Conley and Teddy Forance. Through dance, it tells the story of a relationship beginning and ending, and I think it’s very honey.
Fire, Beer and Tigers, Oh My!
Last night I had the pleasure of attending Chris Penn‘s 2008 New Year’s Goal Setting party. It was such a great way to take a step back and really think about what I want to achieve this year and how I can actually make it happen. It was refreshing and different to sit quietly in a room with some of Twitter‘s chattiest people and reflect on our hopes and objectives for the year. I’ll remember the image of everyone watching the fire burn and think of my friends and their secret goals often. 2008 is going to rule.
Also, I just want to put it out there that Pistachio gives great advice about avoiding DUI charges and that C. C. Chapman–who I finally got to meet and with whom I will someday eat quesadillas–is a cool guy for not publicly repeating what I said out loud when I thought I only whispered to Maria under my breath. And sorry to everyone who wanted me to do “the tiger” last night. You’ll have to accept that you got the llama instead.
I adore spending quality time with awesome people. Thanks to everyone for making it fun and meaningful.
Buzzing Bees, Events, Honey | Comments (4)Spreading the Utterz at Christmas
It’s one thing to have to explain social media to someone at my school or in my peer group; it’s a whole different story when you’re trying to explain it to someone who claims they don’t even know how to turn on a computer or call someone on a cell phone.
And I’m not kidding. My dad’s sister Linda is very open about her lack of computer and “gadget” knowledge. At the same time, though, she has this fun, bubbly personality and is always hugging, kissing and teasing everyone during the holidays. She’s awesome. Linda definitely gets the “social” part of social media already. I was going to attempt an explanation of what I do on the Internet, but decided that I had had too many glasses of wine and not enough hours to come up with an appropriate definition. Plus, too much talking and not enough doing is no fun.
I invited Auntie Linda to make an Utterz post with me. I wasn’t sure if she’d go for it, since she had no idea what I was talking about, but she just threw her hands up and said she’d love to participate. With all the skepticism that exists about social media, it was refreshing to see someone who is admittedly so far outside this space jumping at the chance to join in. She had no idea what I was asking her to do or why I wanted her to do it, but she wasn’t afraid to try something totally new. Maybe she should talk to Millie Garfield and start her own blog! ;D
Below is the Utterz post I made with Auntie Linda where she talks about her famous “red cake” that she made for Christmas this year. It really is bright red cake with white frosting in the middle, and it is a sweet, delicious holiday treat.
Happy Holidays from Me
I hope this Christmas is good to you.
I hope you get many chances to smile and laugh with the ones you love.
I hope you take time to recall the memorable moments you’ve had since last Christmas.
I hope the people around you remind you that you’re amazing.
I hope that your house smells delicious.
I hope you tell someone an inspiring story.
I hope that your children, if you have them, tell you how much they love you, and not just because you bought them gifts.
I hope you tell the people you love most in this world that they ARE a gift in your life.
I hope that despite any setbacks, cramped car rides, weird relatives, burned food, crying children or unwanted gifts that your Christmas is beautiful, and that the good parts, whether they’re big or small, balance out the bad.
These are my hopes this Christmas season, for you and I guess for myself as well. This is a weird holiday for me. I’m not used to spending it alone, and I’m not used to having a broken laptop that I can’t use. (Oh, the pain!)
Last night I was really sad, because I couldn’t find anything good in this holiday, but today I woke up and thought about all the good things and people in my life. I’ve met some truly amazing people this year, and I’ve accomplished so much since last Christmas. I have a lot to be happy and grateful for today. I’m celebrating that.
So, enjoy your holiday, whatever shape it takes. Merry Christmas!
Buzzing Bees, Events, Holidays, Honey | Comments (5)Have a Merry Elfin’ Christmas
Going home for holidays usually means I have a lot of “boredom time” to myself. Shrewsbury, Mass isn’t exactly the most exciting place on earth. (Aside from Sesame Street characters hanging out on random residential street corners, right @jeffglasson and @fittorrent?)
Since I already wrapped my gifts and no one is really around to amuse me, I amused myself by visiting Elf Yourself, the silly holiday app from OfficeMax. Now that this is done, though, I know I’m going to be bored again, so maybe I’ll have to memorize all these sweet dance moves…
You can watch me dancing HERE. Have you “elfed yourself” yet?
