aclJohn's Software Finds

Normally note taking applications focus on absolute simplicity; consequently they leave out formatting and customization options.

Wrttn is a free note taking web application that provides a number of formatting and customization options without cluttering the interface with excessive buttons.

If users want a word to appear in bold, they type it between asterisks like *aclJohn*.

Another notab...

Do you or other learning provider stakeholders need to do audio to text transcriptions? Those who do know only too well that even with the help of...

• a digital player;
• a digital word processor; and

Catching what others say is not as easy for starters, and most typing speeds can never catch up with speaking speed. All that...

• stopping-rewinding-replaying of the audio/video files; ...

AutoSaver is a free portable tool that saves the file that users are working on after an interval of time that they can set.

It works on all applications that support the hotkey CTRL + s.

To use...

• Run the tool.

• Select the Save Interval from the list; I use 5 min.
  
• If you want the tool to run everytime Windows starts up then select Run When Windows Starts...
  
• Click Hide to hide the tool.
  
  AutoSaver will now press...

SlideshowBox is a collection of 24 photo slideshow templates; they obviously don't need to be photographs they could be images and/or PowerPoint Slides.

SlideshowBox allows users to create a photo gallery showcase with limited coding needed. Even if potential users are HTML or Javascript illiterate, they are still able to publish a photo gallery on the web.

Visit http://www.slideshowbox.com/ to find out more and/or to download the FREE version and/or to buy one of the other options avail...

Pixologic has provided a little appetizer/'goodie' of things to come, an Alpha version of Sculptris for Windows - a unique, 3D artistic modelling application still in alpha stage.

The current version, formerly known as Sculptris 1.02, renamed as Sculptris Alpha 5.

Sculptris is the brainchild of Tomas Pettersson. Sculptris is fun, intuitive and has user-friendly interface.

Visit http://www.sculptris.com/index.html for more information and to download.

Do you know about the Sticky Notes application in Windows 7?

Well you will do now and read on to find out how they can be used to their fullest potential.

You’ll find the Sticky Notes application under Accessories in the start menu, or just type Sticky Notes in the Start Menu search.

Sticky Notes are ideal for jotting down some quick text users need to remember, like messages while on the phone or To-do lists. The image at the top of this text shows how a default note looks: ye...

AmMap is a tool that lets users have functional maps in any HTML page (web page), or inside another Flash movie; they can also be used in PowerPoint presentations.

Using amMap learners, administrators and practitioners can add interactive Flash maps to any application or presentation that they have to put together. Practitioners, in particular, can employ these maps as part of any e-learning tool that they are creating.

With amMap, users can...

• customize every detail of your map - size...

Simple Diagrams could be a great tool for creating flow charts and sketches. Learners could use Simple Diagrams in many ways e.g. to create images depicting a problem and potential solutions.

Simple Diagrams offers a free tool that anyone can use to create diagrams using a combination of...

• clip art;
• text; and
  
• free hand drawings.
  

If you have learners creating slide shows that are going to end up in a wiki or on a blog or in a (e)Portfolio you may consider having them add audio narration to their presentations before embedding them. A number of Learning Providers use PhotoStory3, which is an excellent application.

Slide Six...

• is another application worth a closer look;
• is a hosting service that offers users the ability to add audio narrations without having to...
  • create,
    
  • upload, and
    
  • sync a separate audio fil...

Microsoft released Microsoft Web Apps, a set of free applications which emulate the functions of Google Documents. I've only just got round to trying them out.

Microsoft's new Web Apps platform is accessed through Windows Live. If you have a Windows Live account you just need to log into it and you're good to go. If you don't have a Windows Live account you will need to create one before you gain access.

Once you log in, you will be greeted by what Microsoft calls Skydrive.

The...