I am about to make my first foray into smart phones. I just pre-ordered the new iPhone 4. It’ll be released on June 24.

I’ve been following the development of smart phones, app stores, and the like for years. I have a general idea of the apps I’d like to use, but I want to hear from the people who have been using them. What iPhone apps do you use? Which are your favorites? These could be apps from Apple’s App Store or they could be web apps.

Leave your suggestions in the comments. I’ll try out all the free apps you suggest and many of the premium ones, too. I’ll write a follow-up post in a few weeks.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

For the last several months I have been developing a new website for Commuter Services of North Florida, a program administered by The Marketing Institute in the FSU College of Business. This morning I flipped the switch and that site is now live!

Before and After

Check out what it used to look like:

It really needed a facelift! (And yes, it was left-justified. Yuck!)

I’m really proud of how the new-look turned out:

Under the Hood

This site uses self-hosted WordPress, the best content management software around. The look-and-feel of the site is a heavily modified version of the WP Remix theme. (Knowing what I know now, I would not recommend the purchase or use of this theme. It has some of the most convoluted coding I’ve ever seen.)

My favorite design element has to be the semi-transparent pull-down menus. (These were made prior to the inclusion of the built-in Menu feature in WordPress. I’ll switch to it at some point.)

Feedback

It’d be great to hear what you think of the design and usability of the site. Take it for a spin, then come back and leave a comment.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

I’m the head web developer for four websites (including my personal site) and a contributing developer for one other site. Facebook has been making a lot of work for me lately. They recently changed the way outside sites connect with its services. They announced the eventual shutdown of Facebook Connect, the existing protocol, in favor of a new JavaScript SDK that makes heavy use of the Like button through social plugins. Strangely, there isn’t a Share button social plugin that runs on the new SDK. You still have to use Facebook Connect for that feature.

But here’s the real kicker: a website cannot run Facebook Connect and the JavaScript SDK at the same time. Trust me, I’ve tried. So did the good people over at AllFacebook, and they came to the same conclusion. Developers must choose between the new Like button and the existing Share button.

(Yes, I know you can have both running simultaneously if you use iframes. That’s how Mashable has both running on their site. I’m assuming the use of XFBML, which offers a richer user experience. Also, the unofficial Share button by fbShare.me works fine while running alongside the new Like button. I’m assuming the use of the official Share button.)

Initially I assumed that Facebook must be phasing out Share all together in favor of Like. I started poking around the documentation for Facebook’s Open Graph protocol. (Everything with a Like button has a place on Facebook’s social graph. Developers can designate certain information on their end so it appears on Facebook the way they want.) At the very bottom of that documentation there’s a section called “Best Practices.” Bullet number two is very interesting.

Make only real-life things into objects. Users don’t want news articles and other transient content as objects on their profile.

Wait a minute. Sounds like Facebook doesn’t want developers to use the Like button for individual posts and news articles, but rather for blogs and sites as a whole. With this definition you might be able to get away with adding a Like button to a category within a blog or maybe a type of news on a news site (example: “[Facebook user] likes World News on CNN.com.”), but that’s about it.

So here’s my big question. If Facebook itself claims not to want to use the Like button as the new Share button when it comes to “transient content,” why would they leave the existing Share button out in the cold under their new JavaScript SDK?

I sent this question along to the good people at AllFacebook. Nick O’Neill, their lead writer, messaged me back saying it was a good catch and that there would be a post on their site about it soon. My site isn’t exactly a bustling thoroughfare of activity, so with any luck they can take my question and start up a good conversation.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

When I first saw it on Facebook I commented that someone ought to add a Frisbee into Joe’s hand. After all, the only reason Joe had ever had to jump like that before was to catch a disc. So, with a few clicks here and there I added one.

My friend Scott took my idea and turned it into a bona fide meme. First he added a Super Mario question block.

This next one is my favorite. Apparently Ken from Street Fighter tried to crash the wedding. Joe wouldn’t hear of it.

This last one shows Joe in considerable peril.

So, who wants to make their own? If you do, download the first picture, make your edits, upload it to Facebook and tag Joe.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

What You’ll Need

1. Firefox
2. Adblock Plus

Yes, this little hack is only good for Firefox users, though I’d bet there are ways of accomplishing what I’m doing in other browsers. And if you’re using Firefox you ought to be using Adblock Plus anyway, since it just may be the very best extension for the browser.

Normally Adblock Plus is used strictly to block advertisements. But it can actually be used to filter out all sorts of page elements.

Step 1 – Add Filter

In Firefox, click the Tools pull down menu and select Add-ons. Find Adblock Plus and click Preferences. You should see a menu similar to the one in the image above. Click on Add filter… to enter in the custom block filter we’re going to use.

Step 2 – Insert Custom Filter

A text box should appear, prompting you to add in your new filter. Here you’re going to want to enter the following text:

facebook.com#*(UISuggestionList_ItemContainer)

Click OK. You’re done! If you have the Facebook homepage open in your browser you may need to refresh the page before you see the changes.

Here’s What You Just Did

“UISuggestionList_ItemContainer” is the class name for the div that holds the reconnect code. If you don’t speak geek, think of it like a section title in a book. Whenever your browser sees that particular class on the domain you specified (in this case, facebook.com) it will block all the content found there.

Be aware of two things. Facebook could change the name of the class whenever they want, which would require you to change your filter to match. Also, Facebook could start including something you might actually want to see within the area of the page we’re blocking.

If you found this helpful, share it with someone else!

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

Furthermore, I’ll soon be making a Facebook Page for where I work. In preparation I’ve been reading up on the ins and outs of the site’s privacy settings and policies. As a rule, they’re pretty good.

However, there are two features on Facebook which each lack a privacy filter, and I would argue each needs one. I’ve sent numerous inquiries to Facebook, but since they haven’t replied or tightened things up I figured I’d point them out.

1. Imported Stories

I add/generate content on a lot of different sites, but if I don’t share that content on Facebook or Twitter no one knows about it. Facebook has a built-in feature that lets you automatically import activity from other sites. To access the area shown above click on the Options link on your profile (right under the Share button), then click on Settings. I think this feature is great, though I get the impression it’s not used by many people.

The trouble with this method of import is there’s no way to designate which of your Facebook friends can and can’t see the stories you import. (There is one exception: the Blog/RSS import is actually part of the Notes application, which does have a privacy filter.)

I think I know why there isn’t a privacy filter on the Imported Stories feature, assuming it’s not just an oversight. In order to import content this way, each of the profiles you import from must be publicly viewable. So even if there was a privacy filter on this feature nothing would prevent someone I’ve filtered out from going straight to the source. I see the logic for excluding the filter, but it’s shortsighted. This filter is necessary so a user can choose who is alerted to the existence of my content and who isn’t, even if it can’t control who can and can’t see it somewhere else on the web.

I can offer a simple alternative for those wishing to auto-import content to Facebook, but who would like the ability to add privacy controls: the FriendFeed app. The whole “import from elsewhere automatically” thing is what FriendFeed is all about. You can even join FriendFeed without signing up for a new account because they let you sign-up with your Facebook credentials.  Facebook recently purchased FriendFeed, so don’t be surprised to see these two in cahoots more often. (I don’t use this app because I import my Twitter activity into FriendFeed and don’t want to bombard my Facebook friends with all my tweets.)

2. List of Pages

Stick with me on this one, because I know some of you might be thinking, “Pages are supposed to be public.” You’re right about that, but I’m talking about the list of Pages that appears on a user’s Info tab. There is currently no way to filter which of your friends can and can’t see the list of Pages of which you’re a fan (the list you see above), even though there are a similar filters for who can see your Friends list and Groups list.

There really isn’t a workaround for this one. Once you become a Fan of something, your Facebook friends can find out about it.

You can prevent your Pages list from appearing when someone who isn’t your friend searches for you, but this is not the default setting. To change it go to the Settings drop-down menu at the top of Facebook, click on Profile Settings, then on Search. Under “Search Result Content” uncheck “Pages I am a fan of.”

General Advice: Check Your Privacy Settings

Look, I know it’s a pain, especially on Facebook because there’s just so many of them. But it really is a good idea to check through what other people can and can’t see on your web accounts. This article on AllFacebook.com might be a good starting point if you’re looking to tighten up your Facebook privacy.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

Google Voice is Google’s take on voicemail. It offers those of us without an iPhone or other fancy smart phone some pretty slick features for saving and organizing voice messages. But it does much more than archive messages. Google will give you a new phone number. You can then direct all your existing numbers to that one number. Indicate which line should ring when Person A calls. Block Person B entirely. Even listen in on Person C’s voicemail as they’re leaving it and, if it’s too important to wait, pick up the call mid-message just like back in the day when we all used our answering machines to screen our landline calls.

The feature set sounded awesome from day one, but I didn’t like the idea of needing to give out a new phone number to everyone just so I’d have a few more features on my phone. Google has hinted at allowing users to port their existing number to their service sometime in the future. They still haven’t added that ability, but today Google released the next best thing. You can now use many of the Google Voice features with your existing cell number.

Pro Tip

The way Google explains it you might think you would have to choose between using either a Google-provided number or your own number. In fact, when you first sign up for the service this is the first question you’ll be asked. But no matter which option you think you want, always select to receive a Google Voice number. Why? Because down the road you may want the additional features available with your Google-provided number. Because at some point you may find yourself changing numbers anyway. Whatever your specific reason, the point is you can setup Google Voice on your existing number whether you ask for a Google number or not. So why wouldn’t you?

If you sign up for Google Voice with your existing number, you’ll get:

• Online, searchable voicemail
• Free automated voicemail transcription
• Custom voicemail greetings for different callers
• Email and SMS notifications
• Low-priced international calling

If you decide to also get a new Google number, you’ll get all of the above PLUS:

• One number that reaches you on all your phones
• SMS via email
• Call screening
• Listen In
• Call recording
• Conference calling
• Call blocking

All the features in the second list only work when the person calling you dials the Google-provided number. The features in the first list can be made to work on any number, whether the person calling dials your Google-provided number or your original number.

Here’s How to Set it Up

Setting up Google Voice on your existing number is as easy as setting up call forwarding. Let’s say you signed up for a Google-provided number like I suggested, but like me you’re not eager to pass it out just yet. You just want to use the features on the first list for now. Once you sign up for Google Voice, just click on the settings tab in the upper right corner of the screen. You’ll see a screen that looks a bit like the one below.

Just click Activate Google voicemail for this phone and follow the instructions. You’ll need your phone to dial in some numbers to setup call forwarding. (It’d be a good idea to check out whether your carrier charges extra for call forwarding before you set this up.)

Get Started

To use Google Voice you’ll need to find an invite. Some existing Google Voice users have invites to pass out. (I have not been given any yet.) You can also request an invitation here. If you’re already using Google Voice let me know what you think of it.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

The post on my blog that attracts the most traffic (for reasons I don’t understand) is a post I wrote last December announcing that Google Street View had put my house on the web. I thought this story would make a good follow-up, since it looks like Google is intent on putting every square inch of the world on its website. Now, to get to those places for which its van is just too big, Google has outfitted a tricycle with its Street View image capture technology. That’s right, a trike! (Here’s the official announcement on the Google blog.)

When my house first hit Street View I wrote that I thought the service was overkill and a bit creepy, and I still feel that way. Now it seems as if there will soon be nowhere we can hide from the watchful eye of the world’s most popular search engine.

I watch the guy riding the trike and conclude he must have one of the most awkward jobs in America. If you’re the Street View van driver I bet you get some weird looks, and maybe you occasionally have to explain yourself to someone if you’re at a stop light or something. But the cyclist is right there for you to interact with as he pedals by your corn field. Imagine all the strange conversations this guy is going to have with the people he passes. (In fact, for fun why don’t you write an example conversation in the comments!)

What do you think of the new Street View trike? What do you think of Google Street View in general?

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

Last week I tweeted to John Saddington, the senior editor of the website ChurchCrunch.com, that I was using Posterous to create a podcast for the FSU Navigators campus ministry. ChurchCrunch looks at how web technology can be used effectively by churches and other ministries. It’s become one of my favorite sites on the web, having passed along a lot of valuable advice and knowledge to me. John messaged me back with a lot of enthusiasm and asked me to write a guest post for ChurchCrunch about how I was using Posterous to host the podcast so he could blog about it. That post and this one are almost identical, but I do recommend you visit John’s site. I also encourage you to check out the new FSU Navigators podcast (and subscribe to it in iTunes).

I thought I’d tell you exactly what I told John, since all this work I’ve done on the podcast relaunch has been done very quietly up until now.

I’ve been working with the Navigators at Florida State University in one form or fashion for about 7 years now. I’d only been involved for a month or two, back when I was a college freshman, when I was put in charge of maintaining the ministry website. As the social web has blossomed, I’ve led the charge directing our overall web presence.

Why a Podcast?

I want to first address why we even have a podcast. The FSU Navs use Facebook and email lists to communicate and organize on a week-to-week basis, while we use our website to introduce who we are and what we believe to those not involved. So the site includes a statement of faith, profiles of our staff and ways to contact them, and a very general overview of what we’re doing that semester. I’ve always tried to include photos and video clips on the site as well, but without specific context a lot of that type of media loses its value. It’s the “I guess you had to be there” problem. But it dawned on me two years ago that a podcast could be a great way to share who we are with the public. My vision is to record each message given by our staff at our weekly large-group meeting (sometimes also a student testimony or a talk given at a state-wide Navigator conference) and share those on our site. You want to know what we’re all about? This is exactly what we’re teaching!

Painless Podcasting

My goal has always been for this podcast to be as painless as possible to create and maintain. We record using an iKEY Plus, which plugs right in to our powered mixer and lets us record straight to a flash drive (no computer needed, just plug it in and hit record). I happen to have Adobe Soundbooth to edit, but if editing falls to someone else I set them up with the free open source program Audacity.

Then there’s the matter of getting the files online. Originally I uploaded the files via FTP to our server space and used Odeo to get those files into a feed to which people could subscribe. This always seemed like the clunky step in the process, and it was always the hardest to try to explain to someone else. I wanted to find a way to simplify this step.

This is where Posterous comes in. I was recently on their blog when I came across a post describing how you could podcast by email. All you have to do is attach an MP3 to an email and send it to your Posterous email address. Posterous will host the file for you and provide you with a feed. What could be easier? Everyone has and knows how to use email. Now that I’ve set up the account, all I need to do is authorize the sender’s email address and they’ll be able to add files. (And, in a stroke of good timing, Gmail recently bumped their max attachment size from 20MB to 25MB, allowing me to upload audio that’s a little higher in quality.) One other thing I really like is that Posterous lets you set up a custom domain address. Our podcast can be found at http://podcast.fsunavigators.org/.

Right now there are only five episodes up, all of them from the spring 2008 semester. But I hope to get some newer content online in the next couple weeks. Let me know what you think of the new podcast in the comments.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved

We all liked The Dark Knight. We all like clever YouTube videos. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, we all like to watch break dance battles. If you combined all these elements what you’d have is Bboy Joker, an interactive break dance competition in stop-motion pitting Batman against the Joker.

Interactive, you say? Yes! You, the viewer, aren’t just watching the action, you’re controlling it. You actually dance as either Batman or the Joker. I did mention this all done on YouTube, not some game site, right? The blog 10,000 Words explains: “The interactivity is created by overlaying annotations on top of the video. Annotations were previously used solely as captions or speech balloons leading viewers to another site for more information related to the video. Now they are transforming YouTube from a static video player to a tool for engaging the audience.”

Check it out and let me know what you think. Click here for some more interactive YouTube videos.

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© 2004-2010 John Andrew Ledwith, All Rights Reserved