Tales of Seven

EasyReviews

One of my great passions is for tools that make common but painful tasks easy.

Recently, it was a great pleasure to work with a team on the release of a new, free performance review tool at SuccessFactors called EasyReviews. EasyReviews a simple, web based review tool that should allow an individual manager to write a professional review in about half the time. It has been tested to ensure users can get up and running immediately and was built with a 'less is more' approach.

I hope people give it a try!

The 'Two Step' - How to Convert m4p to mp3

My world of music is on IPod, but from time to time, I'd like to use that music in my own slideshows or videos or on devices that don't accept the IPod file format -- blast those proprietary file formats.

The Protected Music Converter is a handy tool that quickly converts IPod files to the more standard and commonly accepted mp3 format. The cost is a one-time $19.95 and it's drop dead simple to use, unlike some of the other converters that make a simple process beyond-reason complex.

Select the file. Hit the 'convert' button. Done!

Minty Fresh....... Finances?

Having worked over 15 years in Product Management, I love to see new tools that are simple, clean, easy-to-use and infinitely useful. Bonus points are given for giving more than what I expected and creating a little 'wow' factor.

I'd like to introduce Mint.com, my new favorite website, and the 'breath mint' of personal finances. I input minimal information (5 minutes) on my bank accounts and it immediately became my finance 'buddy'. It warns me, in a friendly way by phone or email if my account balance gets low. It tells me when payments are due just so I don't forget. And it put together some insightful graphs on my spending in just moments, recommending 'tweaks' that might help me save money.

Trident, anyone?

 

Like a Cat Holds Onto a Thready Blanket While Suspended Over a Large Pool of Water

• Some general concern when the computer manufacturer says that only the very new and not-entirely road tested Vista is available for your new computer...
• A bit of worry when it turns out none of your newly purchased hardware works with Vista. But that's okay. There must be workarounds or new drivers...
• Some real concern when finding out new drivers aren't available and won't be 'for an undetermined while' (3 hours and 4 manufacturers)--- and that getting back to XP will require a jump through a Dell fire hoop

Then it's into the Dell phone labyrinth... only to emerge into a murky light of connection with those who seem 'unsure'....

Finally, there is (possible) redemption when a final and third Support Representative points out the 'Properties, Compatibility = Windows XP' option on the .exe files upon install. Thank you to the representative at extension 5674*** for handing out a bit of Vista salvation.

I'm going to hold onto your phone extension like a cat hangs onto a thready blanket while suspended over a large pool of water.

My First Day With My New Dell Computer

Rude Computer

I got this error while submitting a survey online. In addition to being singularly unhelpful (not a unique trait for error messages), and grammatically incorrect ('all your bases are belonged to us?'), it's rudely possessive in tone. Who says my 'bases' belong to them? Maybe I might just want them....whatever they are.

Would anyone venture a guess .....?

Digg Labs

With so much information submitted to Digg every day, Digg Labs is investigating new and meaningful ways to display the great stories and information they have to offer. I'm fascinated by any project like this that attempts to make information more 'visual'. My favorite approach was one they call Swarm, in which they show users 'flocking' around stories.

It looks like an image out of a chemistry class with stories (atoms) linking (creating bonds) with other related stories (more atoms) as they move around into eachother. To get the full effect, watch for a minute and move your mouse over the stories to see the links.

I have to think that information will be organized more like this in the future. In place of a static lists, we'll have a more organic, living and interactive experience with information.

Mini Me!

A fun thing to try out....

I just created this little 'mini me' widget of my blog.  You can also have a 'Get My Blog as a Widget' button added to your site (mine's in orange on the left for now). Nice little toy!