New Macbook? As a result of realizing that I need to be more familiar with Mac OS X to support the teachers using it and also realizing that the Mac platform offers some really useful tools for teachers, I’m posting part of this Friday’s Blog on my new Macbook. On one hand I feel like I’m learning to use a computer all over again -Where’s my right click!?!? On the other hand many things are quite similar and I’m enjoying the experience very much! I’m such a techie.
My goal is to eventually become as proficient with the Mac OS as I am with Windows XP and Vista, so that I no longer really consider myself a PC user or a Mac user, but some sort of hybrid. Using both systems simultaneously to be able to take advantage of the strengths of each just makes sense to me. (Linux is next after I learn the Mac!).
So, a few things that I’ve come across in my first few days with the Mac that I think could very useful to other coordinators, teachers and therapists working with both systems in the schools they serve:
Google Browser Sync: The first thing I realized was that I could use my old friend Firefox on the new Mac! So, after installing Firefox 2.0 on the Mac I then realized that I had none of my bookmarks even though I had my familiar Firefox browser.
A GREAT tool to use if you use more than one computer, whether they are all PC’s, all Macs or a healthy mix of both, is the free Google Browser Sync tool, which works in the background to constantly synchronize your browsers’ Bookmarks on each computer you use! This sync can be customized to include Cookies, Passwords, Tabs, History!
All you need is a free Google Account (which you should have anyway for using iGoogle and Google-Docs). Then the Google Browser Sync Tool runs in the background and keeps your multiple computers’ browsers all on the same page! http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/browsersync/
Hyperwords: Yes! my other friend Hyperwords still works on the Mac because I still use the Firefox Browser of course! So, don’t forget to install it on your Mac, your PC and your Linux system! Firefox runs on them all.
Vox Machina: http://vox-machina.net/ In search of a basic text to speech program for the new Mac, I came across this tool. It is not exactly what I was looking for, but it is worth looking at. Vox Machina is not a new application, but it allows you to either type or copy/paste text into the box it provides you on this website: http://vox-machina.net/
You then have the option of listening to the text being read right there on the website OR by outputting an mp3 audio file of the spoken text! This works using the Mac OS X speech synthesizer.
There is also a desktop downloadable version available for your Mac here: http://www.sveinbjorn.org/voxmachina
This also have an option to enable ‘Lip Syncing’ which shows an animated mouth forming the words as the computer reads them. …might be useful in some situations.
TypeIt ReadIt:
This is another free text to speech program for the Mac OS X. It is similar to Vox Machina, but offers some other options that include, spell check, larger text display and one-click reading from either the start of the cursor position. It does not offer text to mp3 output however. So, these 2 programs together might be what you want to use on your Mac for basic, free text to speech and text to mp3. http://www.schoolfreeware.com/TypeIt_ReadIt.html
PATINS State Conference:
Don’t forget to submit a call for papers for the 2008 PATINS State Conference General Sessions! Click Here: http://www.patinsproject.com/htm/trainop.html
