Found this great CSS + XHTML Table Generator from Corey Campbell. It’s a very simple application but often the best tools are … helpful tool.
Archive - March, 2011
Print From Your iPad Using Google Cloud Print
Maybe I’m the last to pick up on this, but I inadvertently discovered Google Cloud Print today. I’m most excited about having the ability to print from my iPad and iPhone.
By connecting your printer with the Google Cloud you will be able to print to your printer from any computer or smart phone, regardless of where you are. Just activate the Google Cloud Print connector in Google Chrome and your printer will automatically be available to you from Google Cloud Print enabled web and mobile apps.
Join Me Next Week in Arkansas
Arkansas, here I come!
Next week I will be traveling to Little Rock, Arkansas to participate in a number of web ministry training events. If you live in the area, I encourage you to join me. I’ll be presenting three different times:
M2LIVE: Arkansas // Wednesday, March 30th
The Communications Team of the Arkansas Annual Conference will sponsor a Web and Social Media Ministry Workshop on Wednesday, March 30, 2011. The event, which begins at 8 am with a networking opportunity, and will be held at CanvasCommunity (1111 W 7th Street, Little Rock). This event is being provided at no cost for Arkansas clergy and laity. Event includes networking opportunities, lunch and materials. Space is limited, registration is required. The event will also include presentations from Erin Sean McAtee (Dave Ramsey/The Lampo Group, Inc.), and Justin Wise (Lutheran Church of Hope). Register Now.
Religion Communicators Council // Thursday, March 31 – Friday, April 1st
- On Thursday, March 31st, I will be presenting 10 Things I’ve Learned About Producing Webinars. Webinars can be a highly effective way of engaging your constituency, boosting brand relevancy, and gaining trust. This workshop will provide you an introduction to producing a webinar and help steer you clear of the pitfalls.
- On Friday, April 1st, I will be part of a Social Media Panel. This panel will debunk assumptions, help you clarify your goals, and provide advice about how to apply social media in a faith context.
Learn how you can register for RCC 2011.
If you are seeking a featured speaker, or would like to catch me at an upcoming event, I invite you to learn more.
Drop Some Knowledge with a Screencast
I’m not an avid video blogger. It’s a lot of work to set up lighting, audio, plus you have to worry about what you’re wearing, etc. There are times when I have an idea or new tool that I’d like to share “in the moment.” I just want to drop some knowledge and an elegant presentation isn’t necessary. That’s where screencasting is ideal. You are basically recording audio of your voice while recording what’s happening on your computer screen.
Screencasting is ideal for tutorials. I recently created a screencast on how to create a custom image gallery using Flickr and WordPress, check it out.
I use Screencast-O-Matic (SOM) to record my screencasts. SOM is web-based, meaning it doesn’t require that you download any software. Even better, it’s free to use! I opted to pay the nominal fee of $9/year for the pro account. The pro account will remove the SOM watermark and allows you to edit your screencast online. I especially love that it will allow you to easily encode and upload your screencast directly to YouTube. I’m not a fan of SOM’s hosting service, doesn’t allow me the customization that YouTube does. I encourage you to give it a try.
Creating a Custom Flickr Photo Gallery for WordPress (Video Tutorial)
Tubby Picking a Bouquet - Acrylic on Masonite, 11" X 14"
In recent weeks, I’ve been working with Craig Carlisle to develop a custom gallery to display more than a decade of the artist’s paintings. Not only is Craig an amazing artist, he is also my brother. Due to the sheer number of images and file size, I needed a simple way to store images so they could be called dynamically into the site, but also be shared easily through numerous social applications.
We ultimately resolved that storing the paintings within a Flickr pro account would be the best alternative. Since we were going to organize Craig’s gallery of paintings based on year, Flickr’s “Sets” function was an ideal resolution. While Flickr has its own built in image share/embed application, it just didn’t meet our design requirements. This simple tutorial will share how create a custom Flickr photo gallery for WordPress.
Plugins Needed:
- Flickr Tag (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/flickr-tag/) – This plugin allows you to dynamically pull Flickr images without storing them on your server and keeps the conversation in Flickr.
- Shadowbox JS (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/shadowbox-js/) – This plugin is written entirely in JavaScript and CSS; it allows you to display media (images, video, galleries, etc.) in a lightbox. Lightbox permits users to view larger versions of images without having to leave the current page. The use of the dark background, which dims the page over which the image has been overlaid, also serves to disable the remainder of the interface.
Thank you for watching this tutorial. If you are in need of custom web design/development services, please consider Big Heart Design.
Best described as a tech-toting evangelist for web and social media, Matt Carlisle consults with non-profits and faith groups to make the necessary changes to fully embrace new media.
