Student Review on One True Media

One True Media is a type of webware that uses images, downloaded by the user, and creates a video. One True Media is free, but they unfortunately could not resist adding some "premium" features. Other then that minor downfall One True Media is a very good, and useful tool. There is little lag time when viewing features, and very easy to understand. They allow you to choose from a variety of tools and settings. Some of which can change the basic stuff like order and speed, but you also have the ability to customize it. Some of the ways that you can customize are: changing the theme of the sideshow, adding music from their library, and applying minor adjustments to each slide (transitions, animations, etc...) This is a very good/reliable piece of webware, and personally I think One True Media is better then Animoto.com.

Please check out a video that I created using One True Media.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Student Review on Webspiration.com

Webspiration is a type of webware that allows you to organize your thoughts and ideas visually. Webspiration can be very helpful to a variety of people: from a business man to a student. A business man can use Webspiration to organize his points on a business proposal or write a well thought-out and persuasive paper to his boss stating why he should be promoted. He can not only use Webspiration to outline proposals and other important papers, but he can also use Webspiration for common things: like banking, calenders, or goals he wants to achieve. Webspiration is useful to students, because it organizes their thought's and idea's. Many times in English class, the teacher assigns an essay. Webspiration can help a student create an outline or diagram to plan who, what, when, where and why's of the essay.Webspiration is extremely useful and helps people be organized and plan things out.

One main thing that makes Webspiration so great is its visual mapping. Visual mapping organizes your thoughts and ideas, then categorizes them. For example let’s say you have to write a ten page essay. Sounds scary right? Well, with Webspiration you can highlight each paragraph with different colors, and arrange them according to each paragraph/page. You are not even limited to organizing using colors; users also have the ability to use shapes. These are just a few examples of visual mapping, but even these little adjustments are helpful in a variety of situations.

Webspiration has another big feature:the ability to collaborate your visual maps with others. This can be helpful for a number of reasons. This helps both the business man and especially the student. In a workplace, you may get assigned a project with a coworker. This can be increasingly difficult to arrange meeting times that are favorable by both parties. Instead, after work you can simply go home then log onto your computer. You and your coworker can work on you presentation/project. Collaboration is not only helpful to the business man, but also the student. In school, teachers assign many group projects. Usually all of the work for the project gets put onto one person. Now, the group can create a shared document and work on the project together. This allows everyone to contribute their fair share to the project. Not only can you share document, but you also have to ability to chat with you coworker or project partner(s). This can help you bounce ideas back and forth and communicate easier.

Personally I believe that this webware is extremely helpful and beneficial for the user. In elementary school my teachers stressed the importance of creating a plan, and organizing my ideas. Back then, I thought they were crazy and wasting my time. But now, I completely understand what they were saying. Webspiration makes creating a plan easy. During elementary school we used the software Inspiration to create our concept maps. Because of this, I feel very comfortable using Webspiration. The similarities between the two are astounding, and anyone who has used Inspiration can use Webspiration. Even without using Inspiration you will still find Webspiration to be easy to use, and will quickly get the hang of it. I am not even slightly fazed that Webspiration is currently Public Beta and will continue to use it. I am very pleased with Webspiration and highly advise you try it out.

Please check out a concept map that I have created using Webspiration.Click the image to zoom in and out.

Picnik.com or FotoFlexer

The next type of webware I tried was FotoFlexer.com. At first, I was very excited to use this webware expecting a variety of tools and manipulations. Unfortunately, FotoFlexer did not live up to my expectations. Compared to Picnik, FotoFlexer is very slow and unreliable.You can do most of the same manipulations on FotoFlexer that you could do on Picnik, it just takes a bit longer. Unlike on Picnik you are slightly limited on your feature selection. They have some of the same tools like: tint, crop, rotate, etc... but, FotoFlexer just lacked in some of the "cooler" tools that can be found of Picnik.

 

 

The images above were created using FotoFlexer.com. Once my photo was uploaded, I was given some basic tools. This is very similar to Picnik.com. I scanned through some of my options, then chose auto correct. Once done with auto correct, I went onto more interesting tools. After scrolling through a few more options, I applied a tool called sketch. Sketch does exactly as the name implies, it makes an image look hand drawn. Next, I scrolled through some of the tools and came across another tool that makes your photo look old. Curious I tried it out and decided I liked the way it looked, so I applied it to my image. After satisfied that my image was done, I went up to the topmost bar and pressed save.

Out of the two photo editors, I believe that Picnik.com is by far the better choice. Picnik.com makes editing your photos fun and easy. Another important thing, is unlike FotoFlexer, Picnik does not freeze up your computer. Another deciding factor between the two, is the amount of time it takes to apply or load a tool onto a photo. On Picnik.com the lag time is minuscule, to nonexistent, whereas on FotoFlexer.com each setting takes a while to load, then even longer to apply. Another down side to FotoFlexer.com is that it took multiple attempts, and some frustration, for the photo to be saved correctly. Without a doubt I give Picnik.com a thumbs up and FotoFlexer.com a thumbs down.

A Student Review of Picnik.com

    Picnik.com is a type of webware which can create, edit, and manipulate images. It allows people to personalize their website or blog. Photos can help express author's ideas. Picnik.com is similar to some professional (and very expensive) software, like Photo-shop. When I compared this website to Photo-shop, I noticed many similarities and only minimal differences.

    The image above is an example of some manipulations possible on Picnik.com. To begin with, I uploaded my image onto the site. Once uploaded, you have the option of cropping an image, rotating it, auto correcting it, etc.. With the photo above I chose not to crop, and continued onto the Create button. Under the Create button, the user can access many different tools. The first thing I did, was scrolled down to the tint button, picked a pretty blue color, then applied it to my image. Once I was satisfied with the new color, I went to the HDRish tool which gives the image a unrealistic appearance and feel. With just these two tools I was able to drastically change my photo from bland and boring, to colorful and interesting. Once done, you go to Save and Share.


    The thing that impressed me the most was how easy it was to use and navigate. I have tried Gimp (which is essentially a knock-off of Photo-shop) but quickly learned it was confusing and difficult to use. One of the best qualities about Picnik.com is how it is clearly labeled and fun. The only part that was slightly annoying or a nuisance, were the Premier Features. Premier Features are pay-for features. Luckily, there are more free features, than pay-for features so this does not limit your creative vision too much. Once done, all you have to do is press Save and Share. You now have two options: saving it to your computer, or sharing it directly onto a website of your choice. For instance, you can work on a picture of you and your friend and decide to upload it onto Facebook. At the top bar are some options of how and where to save the photo. You simply move the mouse over to the More button, then slide down to Facebook.

    In a review from Jake Dahn, he says, "So by simplicity, and ease of uploading, they have the big boys beat." Mr. Dahn seems amazed at how quickly and easily you can upload a photo onto another website. I have to agree with Mr. Dahn because this is a very useful application that, sadly, Photo-shop and other big softwares don't offer to users. This tool can help the "Average Joe" edit and create masterpieces for little to no cost. All in all, I agree with Mr. Dahn and give Picnik.com a thumbs up.