SLQ's Licence 2 Test Drive #4 - Web Browsers

Initially I was a little surprised by this week's test drive, as I thought for a moment that it was almost like taking a step backwards considering all of the fantastic and interesting applications that we have looked at previously, but I found it as interesting as the past test drives as it gave me the opportunity to look at the different look and features of browsers other than Explorer - which is the only browser I have ever seen and used.

According to the Brian Tong comparison video it would appear that Firefox comes out on top of the browers. Some of the features I like alot are the session restore which opens you up where you left off if an unexpected shutdown occurs, the awesome bar which allows you to type in part words to get to sites, and the fact that it can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it - what with the 5000+ add-ons you can use to make it your personal playground.

I like the clean simple look of Chrome and some of the features like the tab drag and drop and the wrench menu. Similar to Firefox's private browsing feature which allows you to surf without leaving a trace, Chrome has the incognito mode - perhaps a feature you won't want to tell your teeangers about!

Unfortunately at this time I am reluctant to download another browser as I continue to experience problems with my PC at home and until I get it fixed, do not like doing anything other than basic tasks (and that is when it allows me to!) and due to administration and firewall restrictions at work I would not be able to do it there. But, I would certainly say that when all is good, I would choose Firefox as my browser!

SLQ's Licence 2 Test Drive #3 - Podcasts & Audio

Today I looked at podcasts - although I have had minimal exposure to podcasting previously in the Joneses exercises - test drive #3 expanded upon it further by including creating your own posdcasts.

I work in a public library and organise a monthly event called the 'Coffee Corner' where a guest speaker visits and offers an information session to members of the local community. These sessions cover a wide range of issues and topics from health to gardening and storm chasing to cultural information with everything in between. I often hear feedback from disappointed people who are unable to attend the event on the day which has made me think more than once of how useful it would be to record the event and offer it as a podcast on the libraries' website for people to listen to at their leisure. This is something to be seriously considered and followed up...

I listened to a few of the SLQ 'Walking West End' files and think that our Local History collection could follow suit and also make use of podcasting but I know that the Local History Librarian has plans to tackle this in the future!