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Reminder: Voicemail transition to Modular Messaging this Friday

Posted on by msmall

This Friday, Jan. 8, Computing and Telecommunications Services will switch voicemail systems from Audix to Modular Messaging. The transition should be complete by 8 a.m.

The Modular Messaging system will make it unnecessary to use the Message Manager application. Message Manager users will begin accessing messages via the Web or with an IMAP-configured e-mail client after the transition. (To learn how, see the Voicemail website.) Billing for Message Manager will be cancelled automatically, starting Jan. 1. Continue reading “Reminder: Voicemail transition to Modular Messaging this Friday” →

Spotlight: Consumer Electronics Show 2010

Posted on by Ryan Hagar

It’s that time of year again! The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is being held Jan. 7-10. CES is known for giving the Tech World a preview of the newest and most cutting-edge electronics being prepared for consumers by hundreds of different companies. CES attracts more than 140,000 attendees. Many companies choose this venue to make big announcements, such as the unveiling of the Palm Pre, and Bill Gates announcing his retirement.

Continue reading “Spotlight: Consumer Electronics Show 2010” →

IT equipment checkout closed; reopens Jan. 4, 2010

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Checkout of IT equipment via the IT Help Desk closed Monday, Dec. 21, and will remain closed during the holiday break. The service will resume its 8 a.m.-5 p.m. schedule starting Monday, Jan. 4, 2010.

Relatedly, the Media Development Center (213 Hale Library) has an altered schedule during the December-January winter break. The center is closed Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2010, and will re-open Monday, Jan. 11, on its regular schedule. See the Dec. 1 article for details.

Spotlight: Ultra-portable Dell pocket projector M109S

Posted on by Kevin Shippy

Are you on the lookout for a cool techie gift to please that someone special who has almost everything? How about a pocket projector for small group presentations or, better yet, for watching movies or playing games in a large format?

Dell’s ultra-portable M109S projector can do all this and, at a mere 3.64” x 4.12”x 1.46” and 0.80 pounds, will fit in the palm of your hand. The projector comes with an external power adapter, protective case, and a multi-input video cable to connect to your laptop, desktop, DVD player, or video game console. List price is $399.

photo of Dell's small M109S projector in a person's hand
Dell small M109S projector fits in the palm of your hand

Continue reading “Spotlight: Ultra-portable Dell pocket projector M109S” →

Spotlight: Smartphone pro/cons for holiday purchases

Posted on by Eric Dover

iphone20091208During this holiday season you may be considering purchasing a smartphone. Here is a rundown of some pros and cons of popular smartphones on the market in Manhattan — the iPhone, Droid, Palm Pre, Hero, and BlackBerry smartphones. NOTE: The purchase of a smartphone usually requires the purchase of a data plan.

iPhone pros/cons

Pros

  • Over 100,000 applications available through iTunes Store
  • Plays iTunes content, music, movies, TV shows, pod casts
  • Can purchase apps, music, TV shows and movies from iPhone
  • Integrates well with Zimbra (e-mail, calendar, contacts)
  • Integrates well with Gmail (e-mail, calendar, contacts)
  • Integrates well with MobileMe (e-mail, calendar, contacts)

Smart.fm, a cool learning tool

Posted on by Eric Dover

Smart.fm is a neat, free learning website from Tokyo. It was created as a learning platform that adapts to each learner’s style. One of the cool features about Smart.fm is the ability for individuals to create their own learning modules to share with folks.

Smart.fm currently hosts modules ranging from language learning to animal identification. For those who prefer to do their learning on the go, a free iPhone and iPod Touch application is available. All you need is a network connection, cellular or WiFi, and you should be good to go. Visit www.smart.fm and learn something new today.

Roger McHaney: Virtual collaboration in academic courses

Posted on by Shalin Hai-Jew

RogerMcHaney Note:  Roger McHaney will be co-presenting “Virtual Collaboration:  Applied Projects and Tools” 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Union 212, as part of the Instructional Design Technology Roundtables. All are welcome to attend.

What is “virtual collaboration”?

Those of you who attended preschool years ago probably learned the importance of sharing. Today, in the Web’s early youth, the same lessons are being reinforced as we learn to share without regard to geography or time constraints.

“Virtual collaboration” or “VC” is the term we use to describe the technology and processes needed for people to exchange ideas, content, and work processes both synchronously and asynchronously over the Web. An emerging set of powerful VC tools enables people to collaborate on projects in amazing ways. This surge of sharing has been extended into higher education where students and teachers have incredible opportunities to enhance learning.

Continue reading “Roger McHaney: Virtual collaboration in academic courses” →

Q/A: Windows 7 purchasing options, cost, security, etc.

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Q. I heard Microsoft released the Windows 7 operating system Oct. 22. When will it be available for individual purchase?

Microsoft is expected to make the Windows 7 software available mid-November at the earliest for academic/educational purchasing, said Chris Loehr, manager of the K-State Student Union Computer Store. He said there are a few points that K-Staters should note:

  1. Academic versions of Windows 7, unlike previous Microsoft products, will only be available to people at schools that have a student-licensing agreement, which K-State has.  Any K-State student or employee with a valid K-State eID can get the educational discount. (Those at other educational institutions without the licensing agreement cannot purchase the software through K-State.)
  2. K-Staters who wish to purchase Windows 7 at the academic/education price must present a current, valid K-State ID.
  3. Departmental purchases of Windows 7 should be done through the university contract with SHI (see the “Software, Large Acc Reseller” contract #07359 link on the K-State Purchasing Contracts webpage) .

Q. What Windows 7 versions are available?

There are three for individuals — Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. See Microsoft’s Windows 7 comparison chart for details.

The SHI contract for departments has Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.

Q. How much will Windows 7 cost?

Continue reading “Q/A: Windows 7 purchasing options, cost, security, etc.” →

TechBytes Nov. 5: Flipcams in the Classroom

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Chris LaVergne will present “Flipcams in the Classroom” at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, in 501 Hale Library. Join this session to  see how these small, handy video cameras are being used in a learning environment at K-State.

TechBytes seminars are free and open to the K-State community. The series is also video-streamed live for off-campus viewers and others who wish to view it from their desktop. Use the “View live video” link on the TechBytes homepage to watch the next live video as it’s being recorded.

Nov. 10 demos of Mediasite, a classroom capture-and-streaming tool

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, a vendor will be on the K-State-Manhattan campus to demo Mediasite, a webcasting platform by Sonic Foundry that provides “automated classroom capture and streaming”.

  • Overview session — 10:30-11:30 a.m., 114 Hale Library
  • Technical session — 1-3 p.m., Union 207
  • Overview session — 3-4 p.m., Union 207

According to Mike Wilson, a Sonic Foundry representative, more than 500 educational institutions use Mediasite to quickly build their e-learning programs, increase enrollment without new classrooms, generate new revenue, and bolster recruitment and outreach.

“Mediasite is the leading lecture capture and knowledge management platform to measurably improve student learning,” Wilson said. Continue reading “Nov. 10 demos of Mediasite, a classroom capture-and-streaming tool” →