MobileWhack

"MobileWhack is all about that mobile handset, palmtop, hiptop, ipod, or laptop in your pocket, purse, briefcase, or dangling from your utility belt. It's about squeezing every last ounce of mobility out of your mobile device.

MobileWhack isn't just infoporn, not that we don't like our fair share, mind you--Gizmodo, MobileBurn, and Phone Scoop spring to mind. It's not about the deep analysis and social implications you'll find at Mobitopia and Smart Mobs, although you can be sure we'll be giving some thought to things along the way. It's not about finding the future in every smidgeon of leaked info and glossy promo shots--ok, so there may be some drooling.

MobileWhack is a repository of hacks, hints, tips, tools, stories, news, ideas, and wishes for and around the mobile device you're actually using. The raisons d'etre are to be useful, to inspire, and to delight....

MobileWhack is edited by Rael Dornfest, Brian Jepson, Nat Torkington, and Emory Lundberg, and made possible by viewers like you."

Already a favorite of mine! RSS feed here. Librarians should read this site and note how infrequently libraries and library applications are mentioned (if ever).

Have you ever noticed how the gadget blogs by early adopter, bleeding edge techies never mention libraries? Telling.

First OCLC Open WorldCat Record Appears in Google

"About a month ago ago ResourceShelf offered a few comments along with a link to Barbara Quint's excellent article about OCLC's relationship with Google. Quint's article broke the news that OCLC was supplying Google with about 1 million WorldCat bibliographic records for inclusion into the Google database.

Today, the first OCLC Open WorldCat record appeared in the Google database. It's a link to the bibliographic record (the record itself is not yet online) for Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin. A major questions was where a bib record would appear on a Google list of results. For many web searchers, if it's not in the first ten results then it's as good as not being there in the first place. A sad but true comment. Here are a few sample searches for Ben Franklin (combined with other terms) to see where the records appears. I attempted to create search strings like that of an average searcher.

Links to Record URL
Links to Google Results page" [ResourceShelf]

Heeeeeeey, Kate - I think I've found our entertainment for next week's trip to Springfield!!

TRIVIAL PURSUIT® for Palm OS

"The world's most popular trivia game is now available for users of Palm Powered handheld devices. With incredible new game features, the TRIVIAL PURSUIT® Handheld Edition rewards the clever, while still highlighting everyone's trivia talents. The game features over 1600 questions in six categories- Sports and Leisure, Arts and Entertainment, History, Science and Nature, People and Places, and Wild Card.

In Classic mode, players of the board game will find comfort in its familiarity, while experiencing the benefits of automated card selection, rolls of the die and token movement. Flash mode offers a ladder-style version of the TRIVIAL PURSUIT® game in which one to six players take turns answering questions. Players move up the ladder with every correct answer and the first player to reach the top rung and answer the final questions is the winner. Play in single player mode or against two to six opponents in local hot seat mode and multiplayer" [Handango]

I'm particularly intrigued by the following two interactive options, especially since I'll be playing this on my Treo 600!

• "Multiplayer support of 2-6 players over Bluetooth and IR (Infra-red)
• Multiplayer lobby offers a meeting place for a networked game including chat among players"

"Grants.gov is a simple, unified “storefront” for all customers of Federal grants to electronically find, apply for, and manage grants.

Grants.gov encompasses over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies. It streamlines the process of awarding over $350 billion annually to state and local governments, academia, not-for-profits and other organizations.

Grants.gov is one of the 24 Federal cross-agency E-Government initiatives focused on improving access to services via the Internet. The vision for Grants.gov is to produce a simple, unified source to electronically find, apply for, and manage grant opportunities." [Suburban Library System]

This site SCREAMS out for an RSS feed - feed me, feed me, feed me! Especially filtering by keyword. Ray Matthews has jumpstarted the RSS in Government blog with a vengeance and is posting some great stuff (in addition to maintaining a fantastic blogroll!). If only the folks behind Grants.gov were reading his site....

Naturally, I love that Cingular is using Tommy Tutone's song "867-5309" to promote number portability! (Isn't it weird that Googlism is a Google search result?)

With the holidays fast approaching, it's important to note that there is an RSS feed for What's New at ThinkGeek!

I can tell that PC sales are up because I am busy dispensing computer advice in my neighborhood. One neighbor bought a new computer tonight, while another needs lessons to burn CDs. Neither has broadband access, so we're still a pretty typical neighborhood.

There's a new link on the right over there for pointers to my past Presentations and Articles.

And yes, I'm truly loving my Treo 600, thanks for asking. I promise to write up my experiences with it to date later this week!