Been a while

Hi everyone I know it has been a while since my last post as my blog was in submission for marking! Good news is I got a High Distinction for my efforts! Yay!!

Getting right back to it I have been busy with developing material for work and writing assignments for uni, but I haven't forgotten about The Professional Student and new content is in the works!

Here are some of the articles you can expect to see soon:

BlackBoard Mobile Learn - I take a look at the iPhone and iPad versions of this app

Computer Security
Computer Backups
Beware of Scams - What to look for

(I teach IT subjects so thought I would share some pointers to keep your computer safe and ensure you don't loose all your hard work!)

I am sure I will come across other subjects in the coming weeks.

If there is a subject you would like covered please leave a comment below and I will see what I can do!

Bye for now!

Prepare for study! (for FREE)

If you are completely new to study or are returning to study after a long absence and you're not sure where to start I have some information that will make your life easier! A Tertiary Enabling Program is great for getting you prepared for your future endeavours into Academia. What is even better is that you can do a Tertiary Enabling Program for FREE. Yes that's right it is free. So now you can see if you are ready for university without spending hundreds of dollars on a course you aren't sure of.

Charles Darwin University provide a Tertiary Enabling Program free of charge that can be completed either full-time or part-time to suit your needs. It also can be completed in as little as one semester and provides the minimum entry requirements to most courses offered by CDU. To make the offer even better, you can complete you studies from anywhere in Australia externally, no need to be in the Northern Territory to take advantage. The majority of CDU's higher education courses are also available externally so you can continue your studies with CDU if you choose to (however there is no obligation to do so).

So if you never completed year 12 (or haven't studied in a while), over 18, and are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Humanitarian Visa holder then you could start preparing for your future career now!

To find out more information please click here to be taken to CDU's information and sign up page.

The Open Source Resource

You can actually get something for nothing in the online technology world. Welcome to Open Source software! Basically Open Source allows a user to use download and use the application at no cost. Developers produce applications and make them freely available to the community (with some guidelines in place, see The Open Source Definition for more details). What this means for you is that you don't have to pay big dollars for software! Below I will mention some of my favourite Open Source software initiatives but there are thousands of open source applications out there (see SourceForge.net for ideas and downloads) and I encourage you to search and see what is available!

Operating System:

You do not have to deal with Microsoft if you really don't want to - or Apple for that matter.
Linux is one of the most widely known Open Source Operating Systems available to users. In saying that there are many many different versions and spinoffs of Linux as the Development code is made freely available for other developers to use and edit and redistribute freely. Popular versions include Debian and Ubuntu. If you are new to Linux I would recommend checking out Ubuntu it is easy for new users to set up and use and you don't have to have any programming knowledge to get it going.

Productivity:

Again no need to deal with Microsoft or hand over hard earned cash just to get software to write your assignments!
Check out Open Office for a great, free to use productivity suite. Open Office is the leading Open Source office suite software. It provides functionality for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. It is easy to use and is now compatible with other major Office suites meaning you don't have to worry if the person you are sending your work to can open the file!

7-Zip is an Open Source file compression program. It allows you to compress large files or combine multiple files to make them easy to store or send via email.

Looking for a program to create PDF files try PDF Creator (which I have mentioned before). Another PDF alternative is Cute PDF.

If you are looking for an alternative to Adobe for viewing PDF files try Foxit Reader.

Need some software for image manipulation? (better known as photo editing!) There is no need to hand over hundreds of dollars for PhotoShop or Corel Draw. GIMP is a powerful Open Source image manipulation program that has plenty of tools for image alteration. There are plenty of online help forums and how to procedures to help you learn how to use GIMP.

So there are some of my favourites - I hope you find that list useful to start you off in the Open Source world! There are plenty of other applications available so look around, more projects are being developed all the time so it is always wise to keep and eye out. If you use any other Open Source software you would like to share with everyone post a comment!  :)

eBooks - A distance student's best friend

Ok so one of the disadvantages of being a distance education student is not having local access to the University library. Before I go on I have to mention that you CAN borrow books from a Uni library and they post them out to you. You also have full access to their online database of journals and electronic resources and I highly recommend you take advantage of these tools available to you (see your University's Library website for more details). That being said I still find myself wanting to browse or read through more books without having to go via the library - or maybe you want to have books to keep for your own reference or for future studies. That is where eBooks come in.

eBooks are electronic books - they are an alternative to hardcopy books. They are gradually becoming more popular than hardcopy books with electronic book sales exceeding hardcopy sales in February this year. Now you don't NEED an eBook reader to access the millions of eBooks available (while they are useful and I will mention them later). All you need to get an eBook today is a computer and some software which is available free. I will only be mentioning apps I have used before but there are lots out there don't be afraid to look around - most are free to download and install and the only cost involved comes when you purchase a book.

Why use eBooks?

There are many reasons you may want to use eBooks here are my reasons:

• Quick Access - You can download and read a book generally within a minute


• Cost - eBooks are generally a fraction of the cost of their hardcopy counterparts


• Easy Access - I don't have access to a bookstore or a large library in my town


• Searchable - easily search the entire book within seconds for key words


• Easy Notations - you can easily bookmark and highlight pages and passages

Some of the cons of eBooks - I don't have many perhaps because I am such a fan :)

• No resale value - unlike hardcopy textbooks you can't resell eBooks


• Brightness - unless you have a dedicated eBook reader long stints of reading from a screen can be hard on your eyes


• Technology - requires minimum a computer with an internet connection (although most students have these nowadays)

eBooks are an excellent resource and quick to access. As mentioned above all you need is a computer with an internet connection to get started. Here are the applications I have used to download and access eBooks:

• - by Amazon


• - backed by a number of large retailers


• - by eReader.com

There are more applications out there these are the ones I have used before. I find the best one to be Kindle as it has the largest selection of books to download and is used by other writers to publish their works. Generally it has been one of the cheapest ones too - it is all in US dollars but the AU dollar is going strong at the moment so it works out even better value. The three companies above also are available on multiple platforms; PC, smartphones, tablets and eBook readers.

The ability to search and bookmark eBooks is a fantastic feature for students making it easy to mark key passages and make notes allowing you quick and easy access. Further more if you do happen to have ereader apps installed on other devices then you will be able to sync them all together - meaning you can read a book on your smartphone or eBook reader away from the computer and mark anything you find useful then go back to your computer and your book can sync to the furthest page you have read and all your notes will be there.

I have eBook reader apps installed on my PC, iPhone and iPad plus I have a dedicated eBook reader (Kindle). Each have their advantages:

• PC - easy to read, search and highlight passages.


• iPhone (smartphone) - portable, able to read anywhere.


• iPad - large screen but still portable and easy to search and hignlight.


• Kindle - easy to read screen (no backlight - like reading paper) can hold hundreds of books.

If you are interested in reading more about the Kindle you can read my reviews on my other blog. It is definitely worthwhile looking into eBooks if you haven't already. You can download the apps for free and there are a lot of free books available at the big eBook retailers (Amazon, Kobo and eReader) to test out.

If you use another eBook reader device or App and want to recommend it please feel free to comment and let others know.

SugarSync - Online Storage Solution

So last week I reviewed Dropbox as a quick and easy way to store and sync your valuable files to protect yourself from losing your data. I have since found out about another online storage website call SugarSync, so I thought I would check it out.

I thought Dropbox was good - turns out SugarSync is even better :)

It is just as easy to use as Dropbox AND has more functionality. The online set up guides are really easy to follow so even those who have never used a service like this before should have no issues setting one up! SugarSync has some distinct advantages over DropBox:

• Sugarsync offers 5GB of free storage vs. DropBox's 2GB


• SugarSync allows you to select which folders on your computer you want to sync vs. DropBox providing a specific "DropBox" folder


• SugarSync offers the ability to email a file to your SugarSync account (not offered on DropBox)


• SugarSync offers the ability to edit your files online using a service called websync - handy if you are away from your normal computer


• In addition to iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, and Android mobile versions SugarSync also works on Windows Mobile and Symbian devices


• With referral bonuses you can earn up to 10GB of free online storage with Sugarsync vs DropBox's 5GB

And there you have it - definitely a worthwhile service for any student! If you are interested check it out for free! By clicking this link you will be taken to a referral page where you can sign up and receive a bonus 500MB of data - then use the "Get Free Storage" option to recommend to your friends and family to get more bonuses (they get bonuses too so it is win-win!)

I haven't written up any how to guides here for this service as there is lots of information available on the SugarSync website including videos!

Dropbox - Online Storage Solution

Ok say I have written a couple reviews about online tools and have hinted Dropbox. So far Dropbox is one of my favourite online tools. It is really easy to use and backs up your files for access in multiple locations. For example I have Dropbox installed on:

• my Home PC,


• Work PC,


• iPhone,


• iPad


• and I can access files from any computer with an internet connection.

The Dropbox application is a simple little file that once installed looks like any other folder on your computer. The difference is that when you drop files into this folder it is synced with all other locations where you have Dropbox installed - Nifty!

Why would you want Dropbox? Have you ever suffered from losing your USB drive, having it damaged, or stolen? Have you ever had your computer crash and not be recoverable? Have you ever had your computer stolen? Have you ever wished you had just brought your USB drive from home so you could access those files you were working on?
If you answered YES to any of the questions above then an online storage is for you. You can also share folders with other people making it a great resource to share files that are too large for email!

What do you need to set up Dropbox? All you need is access to the internet and an email address! The Basic account is FREE! Go to Dropbox to sign up today. You can opt to have just the online version which does not require you to install anything or you can download the small application that sets up Dropbox on your computer giving the facility to just drop files in!

How much can you store on Dropbox? By default a basic account 2GB of storage, you can get more storage for free by recommending to others (up to a total of 8GB), or you can opt to pay for more space.

Where can you access Dropbox? Dropbox can be accessed from any Windows, Mac or Linux PC with an internet connection, There are also free apps available for you to access your files on iPhone, iPad, Blackberry or Android devices.

Dropbox is the solution to that problem which all students dread: losing all their hours of work due to a technical malfunction or data loss. Try it out today it is FREE you have nothing to lose! Once you have installed the application it is as simple as saving your work to the Dropbox folder! If you want to try Dropbox for yourself please visit the site via this referral link. By clicking on the link you are supporting my review and I will get bonus data on my Dropbox account but as a FREE BONUS you will also receive 250MB additional data on your account! Win - Win situation!

Creating PDF files for FREE!

So what is a PDF? PDF stands for Portable File Format and is an open standard for document exchange, it was first created by Adobe but you will now find a number of software providers capable of turning your existing documents into PDF files.

Why would we want to convert a file into PDF? There may be a number of reasons to convert a file to PDF. Perhaps you want to reduce the document size (generally a document converted to PDF is a smaller size than the original). Perhaps you want to make your document more compatible with other devices (e.g. Kindle allows for PDF reading). Or perhaps you just want to send your document to someone in a form that can't easily be edited (i.e. resumes, menus etc.).

What files can be converted to PDF? Pretty much most things that can be printed can be converted to PDF, there are a few exceptions but generally it will do the job for most if not all the documents a general user may need. In our case for students perhaps you want to convert lecture notes or readings to PDF (if they aren't already) so that you can read them on a portable device (like a Kindle).

OK - getting to the FREE part! You don't need to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of software to create PDF's - while yes the paid software can do a lot generally the average user just wants to covert Word docs, Powerpoint presentations and such. There are Open Source solutions for creating PDF files (Open Source basically means Free - these applications are created by developers around the globe that believe in the right to have applications available free and there are lots of applications out there available).

The application I am reviewing today is called PDFCreator. It is a fantastic little tool which is incredibly easy to use (it's literally just like printing!). Start by downloading your own copy of PDFCreator from Sourceforge (a site dedicated to providing Open Source applications). Once you have downloaded run the program and follow the prompts to install - it is a pretty simple process: the only thing I change in the set up is deselecting the option to change my homepage!

Once it is installed it really is as easy as printing your document.

• When you select the option to Print your document in your printers list you will now see a listing for PDFCreator.


• Select it and press the Print button.

• You will then be given a screen that gives you some options for your PDF (if you like you can experiment with these but generally I just leave them as default)


• Type the title of your document in the Document title field and press Save.


• You will then be given a prompt on where you would like to save your file.


• Select the location and press Save.


• And that's it you have created a PDF!

A great tool that is super easy to use and is FREE! Can't argue with that!