#TechTipTuesday - Google Drive Workspaces

It's a brand new year and it is time to clean house a bit and bring back my very favorite writing topic: 
Technology Tips.



My first one of the new school year is about a newish feature to your very own Google Drive called: 


Workspaces

The idea behind workspaces is to create an area inside your drive (much like a folder) where you can quickly access a set of documents, spreadsheets, drawings, etc. Anything you can create under the "create" button can be added to a single workspace and then you can quickly access those files from your main Drive page.

The idea is to help you create a space that let's you "find what you need faster" 

To access this space simply click on the "priority" section under the "new" formerly "create" button

Then click the "create workspace" button, give it a title and begin adding files to the workspace. You can choose up to 25 total files to have in a single workspace and you can add and remove them form the work space at anytime after.

The use cases for this function are entirely dependent on your working style and needs. I find it very useful to have a single work space for a set of files I access on a regular basis but may get lost amongst the "most recent" files floating at the top.

Check it out today in your Google Drive, and send me a tweet letting me know if you'll be using this feature and if so how it helps.

Sunday Post - Short and Sweet

Thought provoking tweets, the perspective of the state education from a kindergarten teacher and other great articles are only a scroll away. Enjoy listening to Tech on the side - Season 2, ep. 55: Short and sweet while checking out all the great stories, and of course a brand new Under Caffeinated Humor Comic.

George Couros on Twitter

A couple of thoughts: 1. Traditional practice does not equal bad practice. We can't use the terms interchangeably. 2. Innovation is ONLY innovation if it leads to something better. "New" is not enough. #InnovatorsMindset https://t.co/2VcFbuFcVp

Kindergarten teacher: My job is now about tests and data - not children. I quit.

Susan Sluyter is a veteran teacher of young children in the Cambridge Public Schools who has been connected to the district for nearly 20 years and teaching for more than 25 years.

Dude autotunes his cat miaowing and the results will make you shake with laughter

Madonna and Cher are no strangers to the odd bit of autotune. But, cats - yep, cats! - are admittedly a new one on us. Joaquin Baldwin - a feature animation layout artist at Disney - tweeted that he autotuned his cat Elton because "he won't shut up in the morning."

SundayPost - Technology Tip Roundup

Listen in on some of my picks for my first ever technology Tip Round Up and scroll through the tips for more information, walk throughs and step by step guides.

#TechTipTuesday - Nuzzel

The absolute easiest and handiest way to keep track of links, news articles, medium posts, etc that your twitter friends are sharing. Nuzzel is a free app ( Apple and Android) and website that allows you to see just the links that your twitter pals are sharing.

#TechTipTuesday - Cleaning out Digital Clutter Gmail edition

Look, digital hoarding is just too easy these days, however, eventually we all run out of space in the digital void so with out further ado let's dive head first into the mess that can be (and is my) Gmail Inbox.

Tony Vincent on Twitter

🔖 Add more of the webpages you frequently access to Chrome's bookmarks bar by deleting the bookmarks' names (leaving just the icons). #GoogleEdu

#TechTipTuesday - Your Camera can do more than just take pictures

Did you know... That the camera app built right into your iPhone can also be used to scan QR codes? Give it a try today. Find a QR code, open up your camera app and point the lens at it.

Setting up Scheduled Do not Disturb function iOS 12

Quickly learn how to setup a schedule for the do not disturb function on your iPhone or iPad within iOS 12 Not sure why there is no sound. Looking into issue presently.

Sunday Post - Emoji Masterpieces

Season 2 
Episode 53
 

#TechTipTuesday - GSuite History Revision Copy

For those of you who have ever collaborated with anyone in a Google Doc, Slide Show, or Spreadsheet then I am certain you know how valuable the revision history function is. Thank's to a quick share from I have helped many a learner locate a previously edited version of their Google document in order to show what they have done or what another person has done to a document.

Create emoji masterpieces with any image using this fun web tool

The emojification of human culture is not complete until every object, verb, symbol, emotion, and image is captured using this once-obscure, now all-consuming pictorial format. That is why Emoji Mosaic is so helpful. Simply feed this free web tool any image you like, and it'll churn out an emojified version for you in real time.

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Upload an image to turn into a mosaic. Be patient, processing may take a moment.

Watch a space harpoon impale a piece of space debris

The U.S. government tracks 500,000 chunks and bits of space junk as they hurtle around Earth. Some 20,000 of these objects are larger than a softball. To clean up the growing mess, scientists at the University of Surrey have previously tested a net to catch chunks of debris.

Teleprompt | Voice-powered Teleprompter

The web's only voice-powered teleprompter. Drop in a script and it automatically scrolls as you speak.

#TechTipTuesday - GSuite History Revision Copy

For those of you who have ever collaborated with anyone in a Google Doc, Slide Show, or Spreadsheet then I am certain you know how valuable the revision history function is. 

I have helped many a learner locate a previously edited version of their Google document in order to show what they have done or what another person has done to a document.

Thank's to a quick share from Tony Vincent on Twitter, I am happy to share with you how you can make a copy of document from the revision history.

Tony Vincent on Twitter

⏪ The history of a Google document's revisions can be found in the Version History. It's reassuring to know that you can always retrieve a past version of a document. #GoogleEDU #ClassyGraphics

There are many use cases for this feature, the number one reason I could see making a copy of a past revision is so that you could do a side by side on your screen to either see the major differences between the original edits and the additions or perhaps you are no longer working on the project and want to a take a copy of the work you contributed to before it all gets changed.

As Tony's post shows to start this process go to the version history page, which you can access by clicking on File> revision History> See version History
OR
Clicking on the "All changes saved in drive" option at the top of your document, spreadsheet, or slide show.




Once you are there you can click on the 3 dots next to the revision and rename it or make a copy of it.

Renaming the version is a great way to document more accurately the changes made or input from others, or to indicate a major change in the direction you were taking the project. 

Once you have clicked on "make a copy" a window will pop up giving you the option to rename the copy you are creating, choosing where you want to save it and the option to share it with the same people who had access to the original document or not.

Special thanks to Tony Vincent who inspired this week's technology tip, be sure to follow him on twitter @TonyVincent for more great tech and learning tips.

Sunday Post - Boredom, it's actually a good thing.

In this week's Sunday post, you can get caught up on all of the latest updates that come with the most recent iOS update, and why you should update as soon as possible. An amazing article about the importance of boredom, and for the first time ever on my podcast, a guest! And of course what would a Sunday post be without another great Under Caffeinated Humor comic, keep on scrolling, you may discover something new

#TechTipTuesday - Google Classroom Makin' copies

For those of you who have not yet experienced the awesomeness that is Google Classroom, it's time. This tool has much to offer any teacher, in particular since this month I am talking about tools to help reduce paper consumption, it only seems fitting to talk about Google Classroom Assignment options.

Apple Releases iOS 12.1.4: Details About The Important Update You Should Know About

Today Apple has released iOS 12.1.4, which is a minor point update that does not contain any major features. However, iOS 12.1.4 fixes what is considered one of the worst bugs in iOS history. The bug enabled users to access the audio and video of any iPhone running iOS 12.1 or later without being detected.

Opinion | Let Children Get Bored Again

Boredom teaches us that life isn't a parade of amusements. More important, it spawns creativity and self-sufficiency. By Pamela Paul Ms. Paul is the editor of the Book Review. "I'm bored." It's a puny little phrase, yet it has the power to fill parents with a cascade of dread, annoyance and guilt.

Material Design for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites on Web

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites will be getting a new look and feel on the web. While there are no functionality changes, users will notice some visual improvements, including: Interface typography that uses Google's custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are updated and consistent Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel The four products in this update join other G Suite products like Gmail and Calendar in sharing a common design language.

#TechTipTuesday - Google Classroom Makin' copies

For those of you who have not yet experienced the awesomeness that is Google Classroom, it's time. This tool has much to offer any teacher, in particular since this month I am talking about tools to help reduce paper consumption, it only seems fitting to talk about Google Classroom Assignment options.

#TechTipTuesday - Add your Google Drawing directly into your Google Doc

For those of you who subscribe to my podcast, Tech on the Side, you have already heard me rant and rave about how excited I am with the freshly added feature to Google Docs that allows us to insert a Google Drawing right from our Google Drive. So let's dive right into how to use this feature and some screen shots.

It is as simple as going to the Insert Menu

Then choose Drawing...

 If you want to add one you've already created you can choose from Drive and window will appear showing you all of your most recent Google Drawings.

Select the drawing you'd like to add in to your Google Doc, press Select  and then you will be prompted to choose Link to Source or Insert Unlinked.

 If you choose Link to source, the drawing will be linked back to the Google Drawing. 

This means that after you have added the Google Drawing you can edit it and then simply update the drawing on your Google Doc by clicking Update after you have made changes to the drawing.

So you do not have to re upload a new drawing after you have made a change.
The difference between Linked and Unlinked is that Unlinked treats the Google Drawing the same as adding a image. If you make changes to an unlinked inserted Google Drawing you will have to re-upload the new drawing after changes have been made, vs just clicking update.
The other option is to add a "new drawing" while inside of Google Docs.

This will allow you to create a new drawing without out having to navigate out of your current Google Doc

With this option, however, you can edit it directly from the Google Doc by selecting it and then choosing "edit"

 Once you make your changes they will appear immediately on your drawing.

Both these options have their benefits and downsides, and I am so excited they have added this both these features as they both have their unique use cases. I look forward to the future where we hopefully get this same function added to Google Slides, Google Sites and other tools inside of G Suites.

Until then, happy (Google) drawing...

Sunday Post - Now with a brand new segment

Looking back and looking forward at going paperless. Loads of research on how to improve your mood, some changes coming to google, a brand new segment and of course an Under Caffeinated Humor comic.

#TechTipTuesday - Google Classroom Makin' copies

For those of you who have not yet experienced the awesomeness that is Google Classroom, it's time. This tool has much to offer any teacher, in particular since this month I am talking about tools to help reduce paper consumption, it only seems fitting to talk about Google Classroom Assignment options.

Improve a Bad Mood By Going Outside For 5 Minutes

The cure for a bad mood might be as easy as going outside. Researchers from the University of Regina recently found that spending just five minutes in nature is long enough to help turn someone's mood around. It recently published its findings in the Journal of Positive Psychology.

Revealing Photo Series Documents School Lunches Around the World

Around 32 million children in the US eat cafeteria food every weekday, and most of these students consume over half their daily calories at school. With this in mind, it's clear that school cafeterias are becoming crucial in the fight against childhood obesity.

Material Design for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites on Web

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites will be getting a new look and feel on the web. While there are no functionality changes, users will notice some visual improvements, including: Interface typography that uses Google's custom-designed and highly-legible typefaces Controls (like buttons, dialogs, and sidebars) that are updated and consistent Iconography that is legible and crisp, with a fresh feel The four products in this update join other G Suite products like Gmail and Calendar in sharing a common design language.

20 great TED Talks to celebrate Black History Month

Insightful talks that offer fresh, thoughtful perspectives on Black identity.

Sunday Post - Google Hangouts is becoming what?

Google isn't the only way to search online. Here are 7 services you should try instead

CLOSE Google isn't everything. Yes, it's the most powerful search engine ever created. Yes, it processes 40,000 searches per second. And yes, Google is the go-to search engine for the majority of us. Still, Google doesn't know everything, and there are some resources that are actually better than Google at finding certain information.

The Great Google Hangouts Shutdown begins October 2019

Google previously announced that its most popular messaging app, Google Hangouts, would be shutting down. In a post today on the GSuite Updates blog, Google detailed what the Hangouts shutdown will look like, and the company shared some of its plan to transition Hangouts users to "Hangouts Chat," a separate enterprise Slack clone.

Netflix now lets you share directly to your Instagram Story

Get ready to find out a lot more about what your friends are binge-watching on Netflix. The company announced today that the Netflix app for iOS will now let you share the movies and TV shows you're watching directly to Instagram Stories.

Sunday Post - Squad, what's Squad?

Season 2
Episode 49

Alice Keeler on Twitter

My son just taught me a trick. On a #chromebook use 3 fingers left to right on the track pad to change tabs. #googleedu

YouTube is cracking down on dangerous pranks and stunts

YouTube has published new policies for its video platform that state it won't allow content depicting dangerous pranks and stunts like the and Tide Pod challenges. Good. The company wants to prevent creators from engaging in these activities and from encouraging viewers to participate.

Squad is the new screensharing chat app everyone will copy

Squad could be the next teen sensation because it makes it easy to do nothing... together. Spending time with friends in the modern age often means just being on your phones next to each other, occasionally showing off something funny you found. Squad lets you do this even while apart, and that...

Snap's New CFO and VP of Investor Relations Both Quit; CFO Clashed With CEO Spiegel

Snap's Chief Financial Officer, Tim Stone, and Vice President of Investor Relations, Kristin Southey, have both left the company after less than a year. Both departures come as the company is still reeling from a disastrous app redesign and is under federal investigation in connection with a class action shareholder lawsuit.

Here are free alternatives to all major Adobe CC programs - DIY Photography

A few days ago, Adobe had another price increase for its Creative Cloud programs. Annoyed by this change, Twitter user Ghost Malone created an extensive list of alternatives, in case you don't feel like paying more for major Adobe CC programs. They cover different areas, from image editing to building websites, and all of them ...

Sunday Post - 2019, here we are.

It's 2019 and the first Sunday post of the new year. For those of you new to the Sunday Post, each Sunday I wrap up all of the articles mentioned in that week's podcast episode into one neat little package I sub the Sunday post. Top the package with the most recent episode of my podcast and you can follow along with the articles and posts I mention while you listen.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post, to catch this week's Under Caffeinated Humor. 
Season 2

ep. 48

 

The best tech of CES 2019

New year. New tech! Like every January, Mashable's Tech Team came to Las Vegas for CES to preview what's coming in the world of consumer tech, and boy were there a lot of shiny new gadgets to see.

Here's what you need to know from CES 2019 Day 2

The second day of CES 2019 came and went, leaving plenty of noteworthy tech news we're still talking about. Unique TVs are stealing the show. Voice assistants invade your automobiles. Google goes Disney. Here's what you need to know from CES Day 2. Day 2 of CES was Google day.

The biggest Apple HomeKit products from CES 2019

Apple made a critical change to HomeKit two years ago. It started allowing products to join its smart home ecosystem just by adding some code, instead of requiring them to build in a special-purpose chip. The effects of that change have been slow to appear, but we're finally starting to see them.

A hidden trick for turning your iPhone and AirPods into a spy microphone is going viral. Here's what the feature is really about.

A recently introduced feature for iPhones and AirPods called "Live Listen" is going viral. It enables a person to use an iPhone's microphone to listen in to conversations wirelessly through AirPods. Some people are creeped out by the feature, suggesting it could be used to spy, but it was originally intended to help people with hearing aids or hearing loss to clearly hear conversations in crowded environments.

#TechTipTuesday - Using Google Maps with Siri

I will be the first to admit it, I do not particularly care for the native iPhone Maps navigation software. I keep waiting for it to get better as they keep promising that it will, but every-time I am in a pinch and ask Siri to get directions to a location I find myself getting stuck in construction, or driving way far out of the way, and even sometimes taking me to a not specific  destination.

I know it will get better with time...but I do not have time to waste on poor directions when there are so many other services that are far more reliable and just seem to get me better.

I prefer to use Google Maps for the most part, occasionally I dabble with Waze, but my go to is Google Maps. It get's me where I want to go, it gives me timely lane navigation and prepares me for what I will need to be doing in a few miles vs suddenly being told....to turn left as I fly past the turn.

So, how can we capitalize on using Siri hands free while getting all the benefits of Google Maps.

To sum it up: Siri Shortcuts!

I found this awesome article giving you the step by step instructions on how to set up the short cut and use it:

How to Use Google Maps or Waze with Siri Instead of Apple Maps

When driving, you can get directions hands-free by asking Siri. You can also make general map searches, show a location's details, call a query's phone number, and view traffic details. However, Siri defaults to Apple Maps for all those. If you prefer Google Maps, Waze, or another third-party navigation app, the map-based Siri commands won't work.

I downloaded and setup the Shortcut following the instructions, and aside from the very nature of the shortcuts app being ever so slightly clunky, the shortcut works great.

I say "hey Siri"
wait a second for her to acknowledge me, and then I say to her to "Get Directions" which is the key phrase I used (you can change it to what ever you'd like)

And then she opens up short cuts then opens up voice dictation.

I say a location or place and then Google Maps opens and the step by step directions immediately starts reading them aloud to me. 

Happy navigating.

#TechTipTuesday - GBoard Personalized Stickers

Almost 5 years ago I was blogging all about GBoard. A new Keyboard option created by Google for your iPhone.

TheTechSpec Blog

IP I really hadn't put to much merit into all these new keyboards available for download, that is until I downloaded the Goolge keyboard for iOS! Wow, the things I didn't think I'd ever use, (like swipe typing and animated gif libraries and even being able to search for emojis) I've now been convinced of their convenience.

Fast forward to today and here I am excited to share my latest discovery. Personalized Stickers with GBoard.

While BitMoji holds a special place in my heart...and in my keyboard settings on my phone, I love the option to have more ways to express myself in texts, twitter, etc.

In order to set it up, check out my blog post above if you have never added a second keyboard to your phone, and then follow the steps below to access and create your very own personalized sticker.



Once you have added the keyboard you will need choose emoji option, pictured below:

Then choose the sticker logo

Next up you will want to choose the custom sticker icon, pictured below

 And then the create button, it will ask for access to your camera

 Let is scan your face, and then....

...3 sticker creations of you are made. Each can be customized after they were automatically made so you can change things that you'd like.

Have fun, and please tweet me your new creations @TheTechSpec