Say you have a two-page word document, but only want to print one page. The option for printing a two-page document on one sheet of paper is not available in Microsoft Word 2010′s print menu.

Don’t despair.

There is a way around this oversight, and it is fairly simple and quick (two things that are nice to hear when trying to do something on a computer).

Go to the File tab and click on Options toward the bottom of the menu on the left. Once the options window opens click on Quick Access Toolbar (shown in the image to the left) and in the Choose commands from window select Print Preview Tab.

In the window beneath, choose Shrink to One Page, click the Add button and click OK at the bottom. There should now be a small icon in the upper left area of your word screen (highlighted in the image to the right).

The new button will take a two-page document and shrink it to fit one page, but one note of warning. There is a limit to how many lines it can shrink to a page.

We’re excited to announce that the Skokie Public Library app is now available on the iOS and Android app stores. The app offers convenient access to many essential library services. Download it now and receive:

• Easy access to your library account
• Place holds, renew items, and check due dates
• Scan a book’s barcode and see if it’s on the shelf
• Check out eBooks and eAudiobooks
• New item feeds, event listings, and blog posts
• Bookmobile locations
• Ask a librarian via email, phone, SMS or chat.

Download it at our mobile library services page.

We’re really excited to roll it out, and we’re eager to hear your comments. If you have any suggestions for ways to make it even better, please let us know.

Basically, what this means is that you’ll soon be able to write emails in your native language (probably English.) and have it arrive at its destination in the language of the e-mail recipient (German, Spanish, French, etc.). If you do e-mail with people around the world who have trouble with English or, if you’re like so many Americans, you have no linguistic abilities in a second language, problem solved. Google mail to the rescue.

It’s been in work since 2009 in Google Apps for Business but this is the first time it’s being made widely available to all Gmail users. It has received very positive input from those who have used it. Over a short time every Gmail user will have the convenience of translation added to their email. Next time you get an email in another language just click on “Translate Message” in the header at the top of the message and it will be instantly translated into your language. How cool is that?

Is it perfect? Not yet. For a machine translator it’s said to be “darn good,” just not as good as having a fluent human translator at your side. And if you’re bilingual and don’t need the translation you can turn it off. What we don’t know yet is what languages Google email will support. As of 2009, Google Translate supported 41 languages.

You may not want to rely on Automatic Message Translation for love letters or vital business or legal correspondence, but for everyday stuff many people will find this an invaluable service.

If you have a Gmail account you may have recently received a notification that your “Drive” is ready. That means your Google Drive is now available to use.

Google Drive is a place where you can “Keep Everything. Share Anything.” There are three key components of  Drive: Google Docs, cloud-based file storage with offline access, and third-party apps integration. What sets Google Drive apart from other cloud-based storage options is the ease with which you can collaborate on everything from a spreadsheet to editing video. You could already easily collaborate on spreadsheets, documents, and presentations in Google Docs. The addition of collaborative third-party apps that can help you do everything from create flowcharts to edit photos really makes Google Drive something worth checking out.

One of the most important aspects of creating a really great video is the audio.  That means you need to have the right sounding foot steps, door slam, etc. to really involve your viewers in the action.  You can go around with one of our MP3 recorders (available to check out from the computer classroom on the 2nd floor) or find previously produced content elsewhere or both.

A great place to find tons of special sound effects for your video or audio production is Soundcli.ps. You can search over 10,000 sound effects for that perfect bird tweet or whatever you are looking for.

Another great source for audio effects is already on the Digital Media Lab computers, especially DML Computers #2 and #4.  These two computers have many Jam Packs (additional sound effects and loops of music) and will have many sound effects covered.

Cloud storage, online storage, online web storage or online space storage are all synonymous for the purpose of this subject.  Basically it is a website that you can use to store or save your digital pictures, documents, music and videos online like you would on your computer hard drive. The advantage is that you can access these files almost anywhere via an internet connection, and it frees up some of your hard drive disk space by saving your files in the cloud storage as oppose to your hard drive.  You can also use online storage to backup your existing files.

Some of the popular free online storage sites are Dropbox, Box.net, ADrive.  They have their own distinctive features.  Google Drive just came out, it features an app that you can access your files from your mobile Android phone, and desktop file sync folder.  Similarly, SkyDrive by Windows offers file retrieval from smart phones as well as from online access, compatible with both PC and Mac.  With iCloud (Apple), you can sync up your cloud storage with the new iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac.

Yes, really. With the clever incentive site, DailyFeats, you can take steps toward becoming a healthier, happier, better you. By shifting your goal focus to small, everyday “feats”,  DailyFeats can help you to achieve your larger goals.

What is a feat?

A feat is a small, positive step that you take toward your ultimate goal. DailyFeats has a collection of feats for a variety of goal topics (Health Goal, Money Goal, Community Goal, Learning Goal, etc.). Let’s say one of your goals it to improve your health. Some sample feat choices for this goal include: Eat Organic, Take the Stairs, Running, Antioxidants, and Healthy Fats. Every time you complete one of these feats (i.e. Eat Organic, Take the Stairs), you can click the “Did It” link on DailyFeats and earn points. Feats that are more difficult or meaningful generally net more points than simpler feats.

Points

Once you’ve earned some points, you can redeem them for coupons at online retailers. After you have accumulated a larger amount of points, you can use them to purchase gift cards to a variety of stores. You can also convert your points into a monetary donation to a charity.

Why is this site unique?

The thinking behind this kind of approach toward goal achievement is that small, repetitive steps can lead to lasting behavior change. And, by partitioning a goal into smaller manageable chunks, it can appear less daunting. You can read more about the DailyFeats philosophy here.

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of this approach. Am I really going to be more likely to eat a meat-free meal or do the dishes right now because I’m getting points for it? I thought no, but so far, I’ve been pretty psyched to complete feats and claim my points.

Try the site out and let me know if you feel the same.

Kickstarter is an amazing website that crowd funds creative projects. Projects come from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, publishing and more. 

The way that crowd funding works is that an interested person decides to financially support an idea and pledges a certain amount of money towards it. The project creator doesn’t get paid unless the entire deal is funded within a certain amount of time.

As of April 2009 20,000 projects have been successfully funded! To learn more about this popular website go to http://www.kickstarter.com

Toby, Erika, and Mick as always discuss cool technology they have discovered since the last podcast.  They also discuss the new Shure microphones in the Digital Media Lab along with ProTools.  The group then discusses the new display space for content creators in the Digital Media Lab and upcoming technology classes.

If the embedded player isn’t working please use this link.

Logitech has been making computer accessories since the earth cooled it seems. One such accessory they seemed to be known for in particular is the humble mouse. We take the mouse so much for granted but we’d be hard pressed to get along without one. Think about it. The mouse is an extension of our mind’s wishes. It makes things happen with one or two clicks. The most recent incarnation of Logitech’s wireless mouse, the MX, brings high praise indeed from people who know about such things. One writer in a publication from the UK describes it as “gloriously comfortable” to use. The best thing about it, he says, is the way it fits the right hand, with apologies to lefties.

The scroll wheel now has a hyper-speed mode that can zip you to the end of an overly long document or web page with a single flick. This new version doesn’t rely on Bluetooth as so many wireless mouses (mice?) presently do, as do those that now come standard with new iMacs. It has it’s own self-contained radio system which requires a tiny receiver plugged into a USB port. Another feature now is that it can be re-charged by simply plugging it in directly with its micro-USB cable. No more separate charging station or frantically searching for fresh AA batteries.

And the MX works on glass. Clever?