How to build a free desk statistics tracker in less than an hour using forms in Google docs

Are you still collecting daily usage statistics on a paper tally sheet, and then transferring them to a spreadsheet? The information is hard to analyse and you are using reams of paper.

Forms in Google Docs allows data to be entered into a spreadsheet from a form. The form can be accessed via the web or directly emailed to users.

The steps to creating a desk statistics tracking tool are simple:

1. Create a Google account (if needed)

2. Log into Google and open Google Docs

3. Open a new spreadsheet

4. Create a form

5. Add/format questions and customize form

6. Create an access point

7. Start recording

Read the full article on how the University of Minnesota Library did it.

Our Pad Brings Multiple Account Management to the iPad

iPad: You use your iPad, your spouse uses your iPad, so who gets the privilege of having the iPad remember their Facebook and Gmail info? With Our Pad, you both do.

It’s one of the more glaring oversights in the iPad design. Unlike an iPhone that is usually only used by one person, multiple people often use the same iPad. A simple mechanism for switching user profiles would be enormously helpful but is conspicuously absent from the device.

Our Pad steps in to help fill the gap. It’s not a perfect solution but it does make it dead simple to switch between Facebook, GMail, MSN/Hotmail, Yahoo!, and Twitter accounts for multiple users.

Our Pad is free, iPad only.

Google Now Shows Your IP Address via Query

Thousands upon thousands of people would go to Google and type in “what is my IP” only to immediately click the first link to find out. Now Google offers the answer right along with your query results. Visit Google and enter a search query like “what is my ip”, “my ip”, or “ip address”, and Google displays your public IP address right below your search query–as seen in the screenshot above. It’s a handy way to find your IP address that saves you that extra click through to a third-party site.

How to Customize and Decorate Your QR Codes with Pictures

The colour of the QR code doesn’t matter, as long as it is readable by a QR code reader.. You can create a customized QR code online, but the level of customization will be limited. The second option is to generate a simple QR code, and then play with it in Photoshop, GIMP or your favourite image editing program to create a customized version. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that the integrity of the QR code remains intact, and it doesn’t lose the encoded information.

The simple method - If you just need a simple QR code with a bit of colour based style, go to Unitag [http://en.unitag.fr/qrcode].

The expert method – see the How-to-Geek blog for details http://www.howtogeek.com/96226/how-to-customize-and-decorate-your-qr-codes-with-pictures/

The Daring Librarian has created a great poster - How to Create a QR Code In 3 Easy Steps.

How to Change Your Browser's Default Search Engine

Sometimes addons, toolbars, etc. may be installed on your computer as part of or in addition to software you install on your computer. It can be an annoyance if it changes your browser's search engine to one you don’t like or you just don't want to use. With a few quick changes, you can restore it back to your normal search preferences.

Follow the instructions according to the internet browser you are using.

Firefox

Find the search query URL for your desired search engine (see below). The easiest way to find this is to visit your favourite search engine and make a search. Copy the URL address, remove the unnecessary bits (that aren't related to your search), so that the query will be the last thing added to the address (don't include the search terms, these are appended by Firefox). Copy this address.
1. For Google, http://www.google.com/search?q=
2. For Yahoo!, http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=
3. For Bing, http://www.bing.com/search?q=
4. For Ask.com, http://www.ask.com/web?q=
Navigate to Firefox's preferences editor. To do this, type "about:config" into the address bar and hit Enter. You will be warned about the cautions of editing Firefox settings manually. Continue by pressing "I'll be careful, I promise".
Search for "keyword.URL" in the search area. A single result should appear with this name.
Right click on the result. Then, click Modify. Paste your new address in the dialog that is shown, so that it replaces the previous one. Then, click OK. Your default search engine has changed; you can test it by typing something in the address bar and pressing Enter.
If you want to change the default search in the search engine textbox on the right, search for "browser.search.defaultenginename" in the search area. Change this to the search engine you want exactly as shown in the search menu (click the icon next to the search box to see the menu).

Google Chrome

Navigate to Google Chrome's Settings. You can access this by clicking the Wrench icon in the top right of the browser, then clicking "Options" in the menu.
Locate the Search section. From this area, you can quickly choose from a list of common search engines. To use any of these, you can just select it from the drop down box. To add a different search engine, continue with the steps.
Click "Manage Search Engines". You'll be presented with more search engines, those standard default search options and also more detected ones by Google Chrome. You should be able to find any you would like to use here, but if not, scroll down until you see the textbox for adding another search engine.
Fill in the form data. This includes the name of the search engine, the search URL, and a keyword. The search engine will then be added. Just click "Make default" while hovering over it to make it your default search engine.

Internet Explorer

Click the arrow right next to the search icon in the address bar. It will show a drop-down with icons in it. Click "Add". Internet Explorer will take you to its search engine gallery.
Choose a search engine from the gallery. To see more, just move your mouse to the right of the screen. Click on one you like.
Install the search engine addon. There is a "click to install" link on the page. After clicking it, you'll be presented with a dialog box prompting for confirmation to add the search engine. If you want this to be your default search engine, tick the "Make this my default search provider" box. Click Add. The search engine should now be changed.

Subtext for iPad

Reading is a personal experience. But that doesn't mean it has to be lonely. People join book clubs! People go to author readings! People want to share. Subtext for iPad makes it easier to do all those things with your e-books. Subtext is a social community for e-book readers. You can link up your Subtext account with Facebook and Google and Subtext will hook you up with your friends and their community. Subtext offers a lot of extra information about the book too, like commentary from your friends or from the author of the book or from experts, and they're all within the pages of the book. So whenever you come across something interesting, there'll be more things to learn about in the margins. It's like interactive footnotes—comments, notes, questions, polls, links—that let you learn more than just what's on the page

JustBeamIt Makes Direct P2P File Transfers a Snap

You want to send a file but it’s too big for email, your recipient doesn’t know how to FTP, and they’re behind a restrictive firewall. JustBeamIt [http://justbeamit.com/] can help.Drag and drop the file and then send them the download link for a simple direct transfer. It’s that easy. Visit JustBeamIt, drag the file you want to transfer into the drop zone, and then email or IM the URL to the person who needs the file. The file will automatically transfer from your computer to theirs. There is no limit on the file size since JustBeamIt doesn’t host the file–the site simply negotiates the connection between you and the recipient. JustBeamIt is a free service and requires no registration.

Create interactive e-books