BBC Radio Widget

It's all about perspective...

I really thought most news came to us through the "unbiased and unfiltered words" of the good folks at CNN and the other networks.

That is, until I happened to tune in to BBC Radio after a recent event related to the Iraq War. I was, well, stunned.

The coverage BBC offered was factual and non-judgemental, more complete, and seemed less slanted than our own coverage. (OK, you're probably saying, is he the LAST to figure this out?)

That's when I began to compare BBC vs CNN. You will be surprised. It's a great activity for students or teachers to choose a world event and cover it from both continents. The truth, I'm sure, is somewhere in the middle?

To access BBC you can visit the BBC radio website or grab the terrific Mac OS X Dashboard Widget (my favorite).

Cheers,
Bard

Connecticut Education Takes a(nother) Step Forward

The setting.... the most amazing Thomas Edison Magnet School in Meriden, CT at the Connecticut Educators Computer Association (CECA) annual conference.
On 10/24/05 at approximately 10:30ET, Governor M. Jodi Rell of CT cut a virtual ribbon unveiling the Connecticut Educaton Network - a consortium of schools, libraries and higher education institutions.

The purpose of the ribbon cutting was to announce the interconnection of all the entities with Internet2. Their site CEN (CT Education Network came online with the announcement. The CEN is America's first statewide K12 and higher education network built exclusively using state-of-the-art fiber optic connections.

This (welcomed) event corresponded with my keynote at the 2005 CECA conference.
I can't wait to see what happens as a result of this truly amazing initiative.

Virtually every educator I met during my short time at the CECA conference was energized, focused and impressively innovative. The CECA conference was well run and a great example of how to do a state tech event.

Classroom of My Dreams...

It's been YEARS since my friend Ted Roth and I stumbled through the inaugural "Scrapbook USA" activity on America Online. It was, I believe, one of the first widely supported collaborative writing exchanges using the "new medium" of AOL culminating in a live chat.

It's been YEARS since my buddy George Bagwell (Gwinnett County Schools, GA) and I trotted from school to school evangelizing PrintShop, HyperCard and MECC software on the districts first new Macintosh computers.

It's been YEARS since I wrote the first CNN NEWSROOM activity for Turner Educational Services - a set of activities to accompany a broadcast produced for classroom use.

It's been YEARS since I used DISK MUNCHER to copy 5.25" diskettes at swap meets in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, GA. (Shortly thereafter I woke up and smelled the copyright.)

It's been YEARS since I first plugged my trusty Apple II into a Pioneer videodisc player and spun through a stunning set of images and movies in a Voyage of the Mimi adventure with my middle school Science class students.

It's been TOO MANY YEARS since I stumbled down the steps of the GRAD STUDIES building at the University of Georgia and dropped a set of punch cards. The very same set of cards (about 300 as I recall) that fed a program to the mainframe that crunched survey numbers for a survey I did on "Cassette-based storage systems in Education". (The Commodore PET was back in my dorm room.)

What hasn't changed though, are the wonderful feelings all those experiences brought me in working with technology and kids in the classroom. This year, I was invited back to keynote the most-wonderful CECA conference in Connecticut and in pulling together the latest and greatest, I realized that the classroom of MY dreams is back again - it's the benefit of hanging out with all the amazing educators I've had the pleasure to meet and talk with over all those years and listening to the NEW ideas that jump out of their ever-thinking heads each and every day. Without the visionary folks attending this CECA conference (and state conferences everywhere), our dreams, and those of our students, might be much further away.

Life is good. ;)

Bard

Palm Offers Windows Mobile

Who'd have thought this would happen? In a move akin to the recent Apple -> MacTel announcement, Palm, Inc. has made a deal with MSFT to offer Treo smartphones early next year running Windows Mobile. The partnership is just for Treos for now, but it offers an interesting choice for education administrators using Exchange and other networks.

Here's the release:


Palm and Microsoft Join to Bring the Palm Experience to Windows Mobile
SAN FRANCISCO, Sep 26, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Verizon Wireless First to Market with New Treo Smartphone
Mobile-computing pioneer Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) and software pioneer Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) today announced a strategic alliance to accelerate the smartphone market segment with a new device for mobile professionals and businesses. Palm has licensed the Microsoft(R) Windows Mobile(R) operating system for an expanded line of Treo(TM) smartphones, the first of which will be available on Verizon Wireless' national wireless broadband network. The news was revealed in a press conference with Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm, Inc.; Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp.; and Denny Strigl, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless.
The collaboration gives customers more choices and marks a dedicated effort to deliver one of the world's most innovative smartphone solutions on the software platform favored by many businesses. Treo smartphones combine the hallmark Palm experience of a full-featured mobile phone with email, messaging, web access(1) and organizational software -- in an attractive, compact design. The new Treo smartphone takes advantage of the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform in multiple ways, offering Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile and Internet Explorer Mobile built into the smartphone, as well as direct access to Exchange Server 2003 for mobile access to information.(2) In addition, the new Treo will operate with Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service, the largest high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. Verizon Wireless expects the new Treo smartphone to be available to its customers in early 2006.
"We've long believed that the future of personal computing is mobile computing, and our collaboration with Microsoft is a historic step in delivering that vision to a larger market," said Colligan. "We're confident customers will see a differentiated smartphone that delivers our world-class usability on Microsoft's flexible and robust Windows Mobile operating system. We collaborated with Verizon Wireless first because of its high-speed wireless network and growing footprint of BroadbandAccess cities."
"This is a landmark alliance that will help businesses remain on the cutting edge of competitiveness," Gates said. "Demand for accessing information on mobile devices is soaring, and businesses want a low-cost, scalable solution. We're excited to team with Palm and Verizon Wireless to deliver a winning Windows Mobile solution that connects professionals to their critical information while on the go."
The Treo smartphone on Windows Mobile is a CDMA-based phone targeted for the U.S. market and takes advantage of Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service on its EV-DO network with download speeds averaging 400-700 kilobits per second. Today, about half the U.S. population, in more than 84 metropolitan areas and in hundreds of airports across the nation, can access download speeds comparable to DSL or cable-modem connections. Verizon Wireless has been expanding its BroadbandAccess service area steadily since its debut in the fall of 2003.
"The new Treo smartphone running Windows Mobile will highlight the speed and power of our BroadbandAccess service," said Strigl. "The Treo will deliver fast downloading of email and attachments as well as quick access to critical-business information, providing businesses with a great return on investment. Our strong relationships with Microsoft and Palm continue to provide real value for our customers."
The new Treo smartphone is powered by an Intel processor and joins Palm's award-winning family of Treo smartphones, which includes the Treo 600 and Treo 650, both offered today to Verizon Wireless customers.
The Palm Experience on Windows Mobile
During the press conference, the companies demonstrated the Palm experience now brought to life on Windows Mobile. The audience saw a sampling of Palm's award-winning hardware design integrated thoughtfully with a rich Palm software suite, including the ability to:
-- Contact someone quickly from the Today Screen and choose between home, office or mobile numbers, or select email or SMS. With only two letters entered, a customer can find a record from among thousands of contacts;
-- Reach people most often called via photo speed dials visible as a band of images on the Today Screen;
-- Decline a call with a friendly SMS, signaling "In a meeting" or "Talking with the boss" instead of simply ignoring the call; and
-- Rewind, delete or fast-forward through work or cell phone voicemail with familiar and consistent on-screen icons.
Full product details will be disclosed when the product is available for purchase in early calendar 2006. No plans were revealed for additional mobile operators. Palm indicated that a Treo smartphone using Windows Mobile based on other wireless technologies was not anticipated to be released earlier than the second half of 2006.
About Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) handheld computers, Palm Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm LifeDrive(TM) mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.
Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).
More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their potential.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
NOTE: A replay and podcast of the press conference will be available starting at approximately 12 p.m. Pacific from the following links:
-- Webcast: www.microsoft.com/presspass
-- Podcast: www.microsoft.com/winme/0509/25267/SFO_Press_Conference.xml
Broadcast Video and Other Materials
Video and photographs will be available from several sources, including the following:
-- Palm's Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary). Preregistration is required to access broadcast-quality video and stills.
-- Microsoft's press room (www.microsoft.com/presspass).
-- Verizon Wireless' Multimedia Library (www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia). Preregistration is required to access broadcast-quality video and stills.
-- Cameras are permitted on-site -- an audio mult-box will be provided.
-- For broadcast coordinates and inquiries, contact mediarelations@wctv.com or 212.445.8220.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FROM PALM: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements regarding the smartphone market and the timeframe in which new products will be available. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially, including, without limitation, the following: Palm's ability to forecast demand for its products; Palm's ability to introduce new products and services successfully and in a cost effective and timely manner; Palm's ability to timely and cost-effectively obtain components and elements of its technology from suppliers; Palm's dependence on wireless carriers and ability to meet wireless carrier certification requirements. A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in Palm's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2005. Palm undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
(1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Email, messaging and web access requires data services at an additional cost. ISP may also be required.
(2) Requires Exchange Server 2003 and access enabled by IT administrator.
Palm, Treo and LifeDrive are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. Microsoft and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
SOURCE: Palm
Palm
Sandy O'Halloran, 408-617-7639 (Investor Relations)
sandy.ohalloran@palm.com
Marlene Somsak, 408-617-7451 (Media Relations)
marlene.somsak@palm.com
Jimmy Johnson, 408-617-7456(Media Relations)
jimmy.johnson@palm.com
or
Weber Shandwick for Microsoft
Chris Elliott, 425-452-5389
celliott@webershandwick.com
or
Verizon Wireless Corporate Communications
Jeffrey Nelson, 917-968-9175
jeffrey.nelson@verizonwireless.com
Brenda Boyd Raney, 908-872-7152
brenda.raney@verizonwireless.com

New Book in the works...

I'm just finishing my newest book.. this one is a follow up to ISTE's bestselling “Palm Handheld Computers: A Complete Resource for Classroom Teachers”.

It's called "Handheld Computers and Smartphones in Secondary Schools: A Hands-On Guide". It features lots of tips and tricks, and some lessson plans, for using handhelds in the high school curriculum.

Besides that, it was great fun to write!

It'll be available this Winter from ISTE.

More info coming soon here...

Podcast or bust...

At first, I thought Podcasting would be just hype. Like lots of other technologies, this seems a flash-in-the-pan fad.

I was wrong.

I've now become addicted to this "audio equivalent" of a blog. I regularly listen to "digested" NPR news, corporate news from MSFT, Apple, Palm and others, education reports - you name it.

Here's the best site I've found about how to create a PODCAST of your own...

Enjoy!

Smartphone AOL

I'm not sure, but I think something's wacky when your smartphone is logged into AOL 24/7.

AOL's new AOL 3.3 for Treo 650 allows you to do just that. Eating data minutes like PacMan, the software is designed to give you AIM and email access all the time - wherever you are.

I've tried it and the IMs seem to arrive while I'm on the phone. The phone calls arrive while I'm answering email. The email arrives when I'm sending IMs.

Sometimes too much communication is not so good. :)

AOL Software is available at: http://mymobile.aol.com/portal/pda/index.html
(if you MUST!)

Internet2 - for you?

Recently, I got a sneak preview of Internet 2.

The initiative is "a consortium by 207 universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 is recreating the partnership among academia, industry and government that fostered today´s Internet in its infancy." ((more info).

It's more than just really fast networking - it's focusing on building new applications for research and learning and enabling the spread of those applications to other quickly.

To maintain the speed- the network will never be available for the public. Instead, public groups may subscribe or tap information spawned by the network. The 10GB transfer speed is lighting fast, but we'll probably only see it through special partnerships with Higher Ed. institutions.

Well... we can dream?!

Sniffing for Wi-Fi

When I'm careening from one place to another across Silicon Valley, my Powerbook is often hard at work. Using an application called iStumbler (free and Open Source), the Powerbook 'senses' Wi-Fi networks (and Bluetooth, and more) and reports findings such as signal strength and whether the network is secure or open.

Recently, I stopped at a traffic light in front of one of the area's largest high schools and iStumbler stumbled across a HUGE number of open networks. I didn't have the time, nor the inclination, to snoop and find what was on those networks or how much bandwidth could be stolen, but it certainly raised a lot of questions about what students and teachers know about securing wireless networks.

I contacted the school's tech coordinator and we talked about bunches of ways to lessen the security risk. She's working now to let every staff member know how to log into their encrypted network and not inadvertantly broadcast free bandwidth - unless they mean to, of course.

Lesson for the day... grab a Powerbook and sniff your campus. You might be surprised what you find.

Can I Really Use a Treo?

A month ago I snagged a Treo 600. I was a nay-sayer who believed that the Treo was too large to be a good phone and too small to be a good handheld.

I know when to admit I'm wrong.

The Treo has become as comfortable as my old handheld (all the program from my Tungsten C transferred effortlessly) and even more useful than my GSM Ericsson cell phone. The 320x320 pixel screen is incredible, as are the photos I can shoot with the tweaked on-board camera. It synchronizes just like my old handheld, but with a new twist. Now I synchronize via Bluetooth®! I just walk in, put my handheld down on the desk and then tap HotSync. BAM! DONE!

If it's time to get a new phone (isn't it always time to get a new phone?) and you've got Cingular/ATT, Verizon or T-Mobile - GET a smartphone.

You won't regret it.

SPIT and SPIM: Spam grows more heads

Move over SPAM, here comes SPIM and SPIT.

Like we need more acronyms? SPIM - spam by instant messenger, and SPIT - spam over internet telephony, are not only new acronyms - these two new spaminals are growing.

In the last week, I logged three different VoIP SPIT messages and one SPIM (on my Treo).

As you probably know, Internet telephony (voice-over IP (VoIP)) involves making phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines. VoIP uses internet protocols to send information, meaning one message can easily be sent to thousands of recipients.

What do you do? Where there's SPAM, SPIM and SPIT, there's a software solution. GOOGLE these acronyms to find them.

Discover RSS

OK. I finally discovered RSS. It's patently obvious that it's obviously useful to educator, student and random consumer.

My top 5 discoveries:
* it's built into Firefox (display RSS feeds)
* the acronym means "Really Simple Syndication" or one of a bunch of other similar things
* the feed is driven by XML
* it works with blogger.com
* it's the BEST way to get your news

I discovered that not only does Firefox on my Mac read RSS feeds, but so does a WIDGET for an amazing desktop tool called Konfabulator, or a dandy reader called NewsFire.

Right now, I've got a feed from:
* BBC
* MacNN
* Apple HotNews
* CNN
* Wired magazine
* and this blog!

Adding the feed to my WIDGET was as easy as copying and pasting a URL.

For more info.. Check out this site.

Crystal Ball

What's next in tech trends? Will wireless access mean no need for wires in homes and schools? What happens to training and staff development?

Check out "We're Getting Wired, We're Going Mobile. What's Next? Fresh Ideas for Educational Technology Planning
ISBN: 1-56484-182.0
"Technology planning is tough," states author Bard Williams, Ed.D. "Building a good tech plan can have a huge positive impact on how technology is used in the educational environment. But we must make informed choices.” ISTE's new book We're Getting Wired, We're Going Mobile, What's Next? provides K–12 and higher ed decision makers with a measured and inspiring guide for exploring and evaluating new directions in educational technology.

More info here.

It's not a brick, it's a Mac?

At Macworld SF, Apple announced the Mac
mini. The 6.5in wide and 2" tall square is truly amazing. When
you'll see it in person, you'll really get a sense of just how small,
and feature-packed, this thing really is.

Top 10 cool things about the Mac mini
1. it's SMALL (almost non-existant footprint for crowded desks, student
work areas, or server farms)
2. it's powerful (1.42GHz PPC G4
3. it's SMALL
4. built in Firewire, USB2, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K modem
5. iLive '05 comes with it for free
6. it's SMALL
7. expandable to 1GB of RAM
8. Slot-loading DVD/CD-RW drive
9. It's SMALL
10. it's CHEAP (<$499 starting price)

Nicely done, Apple.

palmOne hydra

What has more heads than a flock of seagulls and plugs into a palmOne handheld?

It's a multi-unit charging station from TriBeam Technologies. If you're an educator and go crazy with charging and sync issues, this is a WINNER.

It really works!