Supergeekblog

Over at ProBlogger, they have a well written article discussing 16 different applications that bloggers should use. Some I have used, some I have not, and some I prefer and alternative.  I wouldn’t say this needs to be limited to bloggers, but anyone who likes to customize their web experience.

The first one on the list being Firefox – I couldn’t agree more.  I have tested Chrome, use IE (as required) for work, but live in Firefox.  I would recommend following through and checking out the list of “25 must have Firefox Addons.”

My personal recommendations: Twitterfox, ColorfulTabs, StumbleToolbar, Greasemonkey, Locationbar2, Scribefire, Search Status, SpeedDial, and TinyURL Creater.

Skipping down to SnagIT – I actually would recommend ScreenHunter 5.0 Free.  Smaller, lightweight, free version that does basic cross-hairs screenshots that I prefer.  A lot less options, but that is what I need/use.

The next item on his list that catches my eye is Digsby.  I have tested it and it works, but I am a big trillian fan.  I have used the software since it’s really buggy early days and it has come along nicely.  I do agree with the importance of having an “all in one” IM application though.  With Friends, Family, Clients, Coworkers, etc all on different networks, logins, groups, etc it is very helpful to only have to run a single app.

RSS Bandit is another one that I am not sure about.  It apparently downloads directly from Google Reader for offline reading.  Perhaps it is a better experience than mixing Google Reader/Gears for offline.  I vote no on that because I use Reader both at work and home.  So I prefer the pure web based version.  That being said, if I was still traveling full time as a software consultant, my opinion might be different.

Of course there are more recommendations.  I encourage you to go to ProBlogger and check out the full list.  Comment there or here if there is an app of choice that you like/prefer.  The key thing to remember is that it *is* possible to custimize your web experience.  Once you do, you will wonder why you didn’t before!

(Cross post from Jake’s Corner)

One of the questions I get from time to time goes a bit like this: “Jake, where do you find this stuff?” That typically is a reference to a blog I linked to, news article, etc.

The short answer is – I read. A lot. I use Google Reader to subscribe to many different blogs/websites/newspapers/etc. Last count I have 109 subscriptions. So the follow up question to that would be – “Dude, how can you read that many sites in a day? Don’t you have to work sometimes?” Well of course I actually have to work. If I didn’t get my work done, I wouldn’t have a job, and if I didn’t have a job, I wouldn’t have money to pay for the internet to read stuff. Many of the sites aren’t quite that frequent in their updates… though I would say an average daily level for me is hovering around 250 items per day.

There are a few useful techniques that I use to get through higher volumes (some Mondays it gets more towards 500 unread) posts. The main one I use is (again with reader) sharing and starring items. I scroll through and note the ones that sound interesting, mark them, and review them later when I have the time.

I also know there are some sources (like a couple of the newspapers) that flood me with items that I quickly scroll past. So 10,437 items sounds like a lot, and it is, however the time spent on the bulk of those really isn’t. That shared number really just says that there are (using an average) a little over 20 posts a day that make me pause. That being said, I think anyone who really makes use of RSS feeds and reader can attest… some days you get buried and it takes a bit to catch back up.

So that is how it works. Other side of the coin is making posts myself. I am doing a similar process on that end. (Batch processing.) I write up 2-3 posts at a time and set the date/time I want them to show up on the web.

I have just finished updating the “About” page here on SGB.  It was a little short before and really didn’t give much information.

There are a few other reasons, which I covered on my personal blog, that basically boils down to restructuring how I blog.  In doing so I should have more frequent posting of a higher quality.

I hope you enjoy

This post is a follow-up to the initial post I did right after installing the Firefox plugin called ScribeFire.

I must say – I love this firefox plugin. ScribeFire has really helped me breath new life into my blogs. I have been working on posting more in general, but I find myself really making use of it. I read a good post, I link to it in a post of my own via the in browser interface. I find this to be a sharp contrast to when I had tested MS Live Writer a while ago. I just never used it. Maybe the key difference is this is in Firefox, my personal browser of choice.

Anywho – I do recommend it to other bloggers. My intial impressions were spot on. It is easy to use and so handy I find myself blogging more than I used to.

I love blogging… I am sometimes random and lazy at it, but I really do love it. (If I spent less time reading other blogs and more working on the various blogs I run I might get more done.)

Anywho – this particular post I am trying from the Firefox plugin: ScribeFire. First impression, where is the catch? Is there a hidden charge or donation button somewhere? This addon so far is working exactly, even better than, promised. Linking all of my blogs and being able to select between them inside of the addon, writing this post, etc… all simple.

It took me less than a minute to install, configure it for 5 blogs, and start working on this post. I will have a followup post on this later after I work with it some more – however if you are a blogger and are currently logging in to post your work (ie wordpress create new post screen) I would encourage you to try this – it rocks.

ScribeFire