August 7, 2007, Vol 1, Issue 19

I am.

Everyone is I.M.-ing. But who is on which network? And do you have to be on the same network to chat? We like GoogleTalk, some like AIM, some Yahoo…. All free. All reliable.

If you want to step it up, there are several good alternatives that not only provide high quality IM, but allow you to communicate with friends on multiple networks.

* Pidgin allows you to sign on to multiple IM accounts at once across different IM networks, so you can be on AIM, MSN, and Yahoo all at once.
* Jabber provides access to the major IM networks and its own.
* Another popular IM client, Trillian also supports the ability to sign on to multiple networks and accounts at the same time.

Intermission.

Let’s all go to the lobby, let’s all go to the lobby….

Thinking of changing cell phone service? (Mine doesn’t even work in my house! Yikes…) How can you find out if the service you want works where you are and where you go? What if you got an iPhone, just to find out that AT&T’s signal strength is undetectable at your office?

Signal Map will tell you.

Users add the information – so pitch in to make this more useful for everyone!

Can you hear me now? Good.
Jott it down.
Do you leave yourself voicemails? Is your desk plastered with sticky notes? Do you send yourself emails? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, keep reading!

We found an easier and better way. Jott. Sign up in a jiffy. Then, you call the toll-free number and leave a message for you or anyone else you put into the system. They will transcribe the message and email it to the person you specify.

We can think of lots of uses for this great technology. Bet you can too.

Stump the Researcher.

A loyal reader asks: I keep hearing that there are neat mapping tools online. I want to see some! I want to customize, collaborate, plan! Whatcha got for me?

Oh reader, we love maps. Read on.

And submit your own question – send an email!
Click here for the answer. It’ll just take a minute.

As a reminder, Andrew and Wendy are out of the office this week with limited phone and email access. Linda, our remarkable assistant, has been checking voicemail and email daily. (Isn’t technology amazing? You’d never know we weren’t here!)

See you in three weeks!