Daily Cup of Tech

What could possibly be better than a tech writer with a blog? How about many tech writers with a blog? This is exactly what this week’s Tech Blog of the Week is! Friends in Tech is a unique concept in that it reaches out to bloggers and podcasters to bring them together to produce something that is greater than the sum of its parts!

Who exactly are the Friends in Tech? This is how they describe themselves:

Friends in Tech is an oxymoronic group of podcasters and bloggers — that is, we are a loose, but tight-knit alliance — individual, but still a group. Each of the members focus on the technology and technology issues that interest them most, including IT, computers, networking and more. We are also friends — as much as the geographic distances allow, hence the name. Each member produces his or her own show or blog, yet we each attempt to help fellow members however we can.

Collectively, we each bring with us certain special talents and contributions that we volunteer to the group. There are no “assigned” roles or positions — the only requirement being the desire to actively participate within the group in some fashion.

Their present membership includes:

• Gmail Podcast
• Valid Syntax
• TechnologyIQ
• Out of the Frying Pan, and into the Cube
• Absoblogginlutely
• Casting from the Server Room
• In the Trenches (A previous Tech Blog of the Week)
  
• Typical PC User
• PaulDotCom Security Weekly
• Career Opportunities
• Typical Mac User
• Chuck Chat Technorama
• Tech News Radio

The really beautiful thing about Friends in Tech is that even though each member has interests in common, they come from a diverse background which really helps to flesh out the content of the blog. There is a lot of variety in the writing and each member adds their own personal flair or style to the writings. Here are some examples of their latest posts:

• Microsoft Silverlight
• Another Free Antivirus Option
• Knowledgebase in Outlook
• My Home Network - Yup I am a GEEK.
• PDF Preview Handler for Outlook 2007

And all of this is just on the front page! With some digging, there is a lot to learn from this site!

Vital Links

• Website: http://www.friendsintech.com/
• Post Feed (RSS): http://www.friendsintech.com/?feed=rss2
• PDF Flier: http://www.friendsintech.com/images/FiT-Flier.pdf
• Forums: http://forums.friendsintech.com/
• Forums Feed (RSS): http://forums.friendsintech.com/rss.php
• Podcast Feed (RSS): http://www.friendsintech.com/wp-rss2.php?cat=1

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/05/06/tech-blog-of-the-week-friends-in-tech/trackback/

One thing that I often struggle with is making sure that the information that I put out each day on DCoT is good and relevant content. Sometimes I find myself falling onto the “posting just to post” trap and the results are generally less than stellar. I am sometimes so afraid of losing my audience that my quality suffers because of it.

This is not a problem that Brian Desmond deals with on his blog, which I am naming the Tech Blog of the Week! He practically refuses to update his blog unless he has something valuable to contribute. This means that, for example, over the past year he has posted about 50 times (whereas DCoT pumps that out in about a month). But the stuff that he is giving up is pure IT gold. Granted, the average home user is not going to get a whole lot out of many of his posts, but if you are a Windows network admin or work with Exchange, you definitely need to spend some quality time on his site. Here is a bit of a teaser of what he is putting out:

• Script to Collect Basic Inventory Data From Machines
• Enabling the Telnet Client on Windows Vista
• Subnet Definitions in Active Directory
• How to get the Windows 2003 Admin Tools Working on Vista
• How to Authenticate against Active Directory from a Cisco PIX

Just working through his website, I have already learned a pile about some topics that I would never have considered. And, he has given me a few ideas for some posts and applications as well.

Vital Links

• Website: http://briandesmond.com
• Post Feed (RSS): http://briandesmond.com/blog/rss.aspx
• Post Feed (ATOM): http://briandesmond.com/blog/atom.aspx

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/04/29/tech-blog-of-the-week-brian-desmonds-blog/trackback/

I love technology. The only thing that I love more than great technology is great technology that goes with you. Apparently, Jenn K. Lee feels the same and she shares her passion for all things portable in Pocketables. With a heavy emphasis on reviews and new technology, Pocketables will help you keep up with the tech Jones. Take a look at some of Jenn’s recent posts:

• Unboxing the iriver clix 2
• Intel unveils Ultra Mobile Platform 2007
• Palm UMPC more likely than ever
• Benchmark battle: Sony Vaio UX180P vs. Samsung Q1P
• T-Mobile announces Sidekick iD

If you are looking for a new cell phone or the latest gadget for surfing the Internet while you are riding your bicycle, definitely spend some time over at Pocketables.

I have also learned that Jenn has decided to make Pocketables her full time job in the near future (brave lady!).  We really need to get behind these types of people and support them!

Vital Links

• Website: http://www.pocketables.net/
• Post Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/pocketables/PpUx

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find yourself highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/04/22/tech-blog-of-the-week-pocketables/trackback/

Even though ShanKri-la is a relative newcomer to the blogging scene, they are starting to show their stuff.  With a very strong technology leaning, ShanKri-la has the potential to be a great blog.  Take a look at some of their recent posts:

• Fastest Virus Web Scanner - NanoScan
• Home Buyers: The Hunt is on
• Top Firefox Extensions
• Read books on your phone - Wattpad.com
• Free software for your computer

While the volume at the site may leave you a bit wanting, it looks like they are starting to pick up the pace.  I am hoping that with a bit of encouragement from us, they will start to blossom into the amazing blog that I know they can be!

Vital Links

• Website: http://www.shankrila.com/
• Post Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Shankrila

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find your self highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/04/15/tech-blog-of-the-week-shankri-la/trackback/

I’ve actually got a major beef with this week’s Tech Blog of the Week, Thoughts from the Sidelines! They have so much cool stuff that if I were to buy everything that I wanted from their site, I’d have no money left for other, less important necessities in life like food and shelter.

Thoughts from the Sidelines focuses strongly on gadgets and emerging technologies. This is where you will see things like the Instant Mini Plastic Snap Apart Toolkit, Truly Massive MasterPlex 30D LCD Display, Motorised Pool Lounger, Trio Alpha and Duo Beta Personal Submersibles, and Personal Rocket Belt.

It is really easy to get caught in this blog and wile away a few hours dreaming of all the amazing things that you can do with these gadgets. There is so much cool stuff.

Another really great feature of this blog that I have never seen before (although I’m sure someone has done it) is the browse by image option. Between each post are a series of random images representing other posts in the blog. This is a great way of getting people to spend more time on your website and an awesome idea, especially for someone like me who is more visually oriented (Oooh! Look! Something shiny!)

Vital Links

• Website: http://nexus404.com/Blog/
• Post Feed: http://nexus404.com/Blog/feed/
• Comment Feed: http://nexus404.com/Blog/comments/feed/
• Browse By Image Page: http://nexus404.com/Blog/image-browse/

If you would like to have your blog considered for the Tech Blog of the Week, feel free to submit it and you may also find your self highlighted.

Trackback link - http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/04/08/tech-blog-of-the-week-thoughts-from-the-sidelines/trackback/