Tag Archives: free

Google’s Image Chart Editor

google_image_chart_editor.pngToday I came across a cool and easy way to create charts inside my browser. The tool I found was Google’s Image Chart Editor. What’s nice about this tool is that I can choose different chart styles (maps, pie charts, graph charts, just to name a few), enter in the data and edit the graphics and appearance of the chart. You also have the ability to email the link, embed the chart into a website, or embed with Visualization API. It also edits the chart fast when you change the data.

To try out the Image Chart Editor, click on the link below:

http://imagecharteditor.appspot.com/

iSquint

iSquint is a free iPod video conversion app for Mac OS X. Drag your file(s) into the iSquint window and click Start. You can choose “TV” or “iPod” size, set the quality, crop, set the audio/video bitrate and framerate.  For students creating large video files in FinalCut Pro and needing those to transfer to Youtube, iSquint is a quick and easy way to make the file small enough for upload.

On a 1GHz G4, iSquint can convert most video files to iPod-screen-sized videos in realtime. Intel Macs are up to twice as fast, and can convert videos upwards of 5x realtime – the NMC has Intel Macs!

iSquint supports MP4 and H.264 encoding (better quality).  DivX and XviD AVIs, all forms of MPEG video, and many other formats QuickTime chokes on are supported.

http://isquint.en.softonic.com/mac

OS: Mac only

Tech Spotlights: Finding and using free images on the Web

English: Species: (Helophilus intentus ) Curra...

English: Species: (Helophilus intentus ) Curran & Fluke, 1922 Finding place: Restoule Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada -- 2008 September Français : Helophilus intentus ) Photo prise dans le parc provinçal Restoule en Ontario au Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is the slideshow from out tech Spotlight Session on 10/21/2010.

Here’s a link to the handout (PDF): Finding and Using Free Images on the Web.pdf

Brief Review of Language Learning Apps for iPod Touch and iPhone

ipod_touch.jpgI recently combed through the Apple App store to look for free versions of language learning apps that were good to use with language studies. Here’s a list of apps I downloaded and tried out on the iPod touch (with reactions listed under comments- images by Sir Stig-CC licensed):

 

Name of App Paid Version Available Comments
24/7 Tutor Lite Yes,  $7.99 I liked the content, but the organization is a little boring to somebody that has used language learning software. Audio, quiz, flashcard, puzzle components.
Arabic pod 101 (pocket Arabic Yes, $4.99 I liked the content but the layout was boring. If iPod has recording abilities, can record
audio in some of the exercises, has audio. Can add words to word bank (words that are already in lessons).
Hiragana Lite No, only free version in App Store Very basic flashcards. Drag flashcards across screen, drag them up to see the answer.
Touchcards Yes, $.99, and $1.99 Good for creating new lists of vocab. Can import from Quizlet, Studystack, and Google Docs. Interface is not appealing
7 Jours Yes, $4.99 This app is suppose to allow you to learn French through News on TV5Monde, but it never loaded after it asked for my location. It looks promising though (video, audio).
CherokeeLite Yes, pay to upgrade to get more words I liked the simple basic layout of this app. Has audio.
Michel Thomas Method Yes, $4.99 (Hour1, Hour 2, Hour 3-$14.99 (4-8 hours) I liked this app. It has the audio from his series and I like the
flashcards that go over the audio lessons. If you are a fan of his other products, you will like this app. Easy to use and nice layout.
ChineseBiz No, Only free version in App Store All text. The layout is slightly confusing, and it has a dictionary. Mainly flashcard review. No audio.
ChinesePod No, only Free Verso in App Store, but you can purchase package lessons I don’t like that it prompts you to log in to an account you can create to save (but you can use without an account). Content is good, but the delivery of content in the podcast may feel like it’s dragging on.
iPronunciation and Translation No, only free version in App Store This app is a simple look up word dictionary for 53 languages and it pronounces the words you look up. Audio for pronunciation did not work.
German FlashCards Lite(Declan Software) Yes, $14.95 Other languages available. Good for word review (audio, phrases, and spelling). Did not like the layout. Has audio. Paid version you can add more word lists.app is a little pricey for what it can do compared to other apps.
MemWords- Memorize Words- In Spanish Yes, $6.99 I liked the content and layout of this app. Has a dictionary ,flashcards, audio, and games. Set to only learn 20 words a day.
Gengo Lite Flashcard No, only free version in App Store You have to guess what the word means in each flashcard, no formal text word is shown to you. Has audio and images. I would not recommend for beginners.
AccellaStudy Essentials by AccelaStudy Yes, $4.99 I like the layout of the lessons. It has audio, flash cards, spaced repetition, quiz, audio quiz,and you have access to the dictionary app inside this app to look up words. Very nicely laid out and good content.
Kana Lite No, only free version in App Store Has audio and flashcards. Also has a quiz that records your score. Not bad layout and decent for review.Has ads at the top.
Prometoys Limited-Word of the Day No, only free version in App Store Just text, random words. No audio for pronunciation. Has a  game where you spell the words you learned by dragging and dropping the letters to spell words. Not good if you are looking for  pronunciation and phrases. Basic layout.
LangLearner LLC Yes, $4.99 Flashcards and audio. The layout is not appealing, and the images are poor. Good for audio basics for getting around town and on travel.
Kana Tap No, only free version in App Store Only a multiple choice review, no audio, no images.
iReview Flashcards No, only free version in App Store Just type in text, no audio. Review using flashcard method. Layout is awkward. 
Babbel Mobile Yes, €5.99 (Lifetime Advanced and Basic package Needed to register, so I was not able to view the app.
Word Power Lite Yes, $.99 Basic info, did not like the layout or content. Had audio, and was in a flashcard format. I could not record audio and play it back. Ended up deleting from iPod Touch.
Japanese Phrases FREE (TheJapanesePage.com) Yes, $9.99 Has audio, quizzes, study bank, and flashcards. Did not like the overall layout of the app. Ended up deleting it from iPod Touch.
Study Arcade Yes, $4.99 Good for collecting information on different phrases for languages (even though language learning is not this apps focus). Since these are so many options, it’s very hard to navigate for basic use. Ended up deleting it from iPod Touch.

 

Free Language Learning Resources

unilang_logo.pngA website called UniLang offers free language resources for a large number of languages. You can also view resources by the type (video, flashcards, audio, courses, games, etc.). Some of the videos are hosted on public places like YouTube, but what’s great about UniLang is that you don’t have to search through a ton of videos on YouTube for a certain educational language video. To view the resources, click on the link below:

http://www.unilang.org/resources.php