* To use these bots, simply add them to the Wave, like you would with any other participant. Add them to your contact list to make things uber-easy.
Wikify (wikifier@appspot.com)
The Wikify bot adds links to and definitions from Wikipedia to your waves for a given topic. When you add Wikify to a wave, it provides instructions on how to add a link to Wikipedia for a topic, or a definition of that topic.
CleanTXT (cleantxt@appspot.com)
The CleanTXT bot is an automated janitor for a wave, especially helpful on active waves with lots of participants, like public waves. When CleanTXT is participating in a Wave, it automatically deletes empty blips, reduces repetitive blank lines in a blip, automatically corrects common typos (such as a mistyped “teh” for “the”), and inserts missing spaces after commas and semi-colons.
Polly the Pollster (polly-wave@appspot.com)
One of the most promising Wave bots available in the preview, Polly the Pollster lets you create multiple choice polls with custom questions and answers, and distribute them among any number of Wave contacts.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll often have great ideas when you’re nowhere near a computer: in the shower, out for a walk, laying in bed, etc.
These moments can really suck, because no matter how hard you try, you’ll likely forget whatever great idea you had.
The solution? Start recording your ideas as they happen, and stop forgetting them!
Great Ideas: Gotta collect em’ all!
The practice of collecting thoughts as they occur is a fundamental part of Getting Things Done (David Allen, 2002), a system I was introduced to back in September. The primary purpose of the GTD® system is to increase productivity and reduce stress, but a huge side benefit is simply having a common area to dump all your ideas into.
A post on DailyBlogTips (How Do Your Come Up, Store and Organize Ideas for Blog Posts?) also has some good feedback in the comments from folks who have their own methods of keeping track of ideas as they occur, be it through emails, drafted posts or good ole fashioned pen & paper.
It’s all common sense, but one of the biggest problems is finding the tool that fits your personal requirements.
My suggestion? Use Google Tasks.
I use Google Tasks for all of my side projects and day-to-day task management. If you have yet to find a system that works, give this a try.
Why do I use Google Tasks? Multiple lists, calendar integration and mobile support are the primary reasons.
No matter where I am, I can whip out my phone and quickly type in a reminder. The newly-created “task” will automatically sync with Gmail, any due dates will appear on Google Calendar and everything will be reflected on iGoogle.
And since I use 5 different devices (my office workstation, my home PC, my laptop, my netbook and my iPhone), this centralized system is a huge help.
If you’re in a similar situation, this could be an ideal solution for you.
Here’s a quick introduction to Google Tasks, directly from the folks at GOOG:
Search Engine Roundtable posted a demo of a new Google News feature called “Fast Flip“. In a nutshell, Fast Flip allows users to scroll through screengrabs of news headlines from various websites.
Aside from being visually grabbing, I really don’t see a huge benefit to Fast Flip vs. traditional RSS feeds or aggregated content (Google News). As a reader, my interest is in the content itself, not the aesthetics – however pleasant they may be – of the website on which the story has been posted.
Where I do see some use coming through, however, is in Fast Flip folding into a Google offering for traditional print publications.
Flipping through pages of a magazine or newspaper is status quo, and until now, that experience really hasn’t been successfully mimicked online (in my opinion, anyway). Fast Flip could be a step forward for transitioning newspapers – and other print publications – into the digital medium.
Update: Time for me to declare ignorance! The obvious tie-in between publishers and the web was the entire purpose of Fast Flip, as pointed out in the official Google blog post. This is what happens when you don’t catch up on your RSS feeds – you read a single blog post and start thinking you’ve thought of something original. Oh well.
Known for eliminating labor costs, it is one of a family of four work processes characterized as an on-going endeavor undertaken to create a repetitive product or result which planned, executed and controlled. (Artisan Process, Project Process, Operations Process, Automated Process)
While the term may generally refer to manufacturing and production, it also works with content development and the web-related industry.
Make it faster. Make it efficient. Make it automated.
I’m a big fan of automated processes for two reasons. Firstly, automated processes make things happen faster – especially when you transform manual routines into efficient day-to-day habits. Secondly, automated processes are easier to follow through for repetitive tasks.
Word on the cyberstreet is that Google may be looking to add Twitter to it’s line of online-based services.
If it holds true, I certainly wouldn’t oppose it. I’m a huge fan of Google software and absolutely love their monetization methods. Further integration between Twitter and other services would also make me a happy camper.
It’s hard to believe that Gmail is already five years old; I remember when the service was first announced, prior to registration being open, back when invitations were the only way to get on board.
