Twitter desktop client, Tweetdeck, has carried through in a big way on its promises to bring us desirable new features.

I use Tweetdeck regularly on my laptop, having found some of its basic features such as the ability to create groups and view them in columns, a big jump up from Twitter.com.  There are other desktop clients, but I hooked onto Tweetdeck and I’m sticking with it (for now anyway).  I use Twidroid on my Android-based T-Mobile MyTouch phone.

The new features let you integrate Twitter’s list function, view lists in columns and edit them easily.  You also have a choice of how to Retweet (RT) — stay with the previous Tweetdeck version which is editable, or go with the new Twitter version which emphasizes the original tweet.  The new version is not editable but shows the icon of both the original tweeter and the that of the retweeter (see image for example of both).

Those were the features I was mainly interested in, but there are more that may be important to you.  Take a look at the brief video to see what is new and how it works.

Then download Tweetdeck here and try it for yourself.

As soon as I started following more than a dozen people on Twitter I realized that I needed more help than the Twitter.com site could offer (at the time).  I saw recommendations for several Twitter desktop clients and after some experimentation, settled on Tweetdeck.  Thank goodness, since my “follow” list just keeps growing.  Tweetdeck helps me manage my Twitter stream (and my own updates from several accounts) with ease.

When Twitter_Tips mentioned this site with 10 very useful videos on how to get more out of Tweetdeck, I learned just how little of the power of Tweetdeck I was using.  These brief, well done tutorials are definitely worth your time if you are a Tweetdeck user.  If you aren’t, and feel that Twitter is overwhelming you, you might want to give Tweetdeck a try.

I was very excited to see Mashable’s post about Google Maps Navigation being available on nearly every Android-based phone.

When the Verizon Droid was released recently with the Android 2.0 OS and a new Google Maps Navigation system, I was jealous.  Google’s Navigation app spells trouble for stand-alone GPS systems since it has nearly every desirable feature of them and is free on Android phones.

I bought the T-Mobile MyTouch phone with Android 1.6 OS when it was launched in late July.  I really like Google Maps and used it and the “my location” satellite extensively on a recent trip in unknown territory.  But it didn’t speak to me and give me turn-by-turn directions.  Now it does!

I hadn’t received any indication that there was an update (usually I am notified when there is an update for software I have downloaded), but I went to the Android Market and looked at Google Maps.  It looked like there were new features, including “Navigation, so I downloaded it and I now have Google Maps Navigation.

The upgrade includes most of the basic GPS navigation features of the new system: voice guidance, automatic route recalculation, business information, and traffic data, among other features. That’s along with Google Maps and Wikipedia information and, of course, Street View.  However, the “navigate to” voice commands are missing.  Hopefully, that and more will be coming in the future.  Now if only I had one of those dashboard “car docks” that Droid has…

Despite problems, eBook checkouts in libraries increased to more than one million in 2009, up from 600,000 in 2007, according to OverDrive, a company offering both eaudio and ebooks to libraries.

“eBooks are quickly proving an unstoppable force, and opening the floodgates have given libraries the chance to increase readership and cater to a new age of information seekers.  Downloading a book in the comfort of home is no longer just a concept for most.  It’s a daily reality.  For libraries, it is still a relatively new venture, riddled with many obstacles, but even more opportunities,” says Project Gutenberg News.

It behooves libraries to attract the digitally savvy new generation.  The transition to digital downloadable books has been gradual for the library.  The New York Public library currently offers over 17,000 eBook titles, just a fraction of their 800,000 circulating print titles, a small percentage of their acquisitions budget.

Why the seeming reticence to stock up on eBooks?  “One obstacle libraries face is the inability to keep up with new devices now dominating the industry.  Although most libraries offer eBooks that are compatible with computers, Sony Reader and a handful of other digital devices, many of their downloadable offerings cannot be read on Amazon’s Kindle or the Apple’s iphone, both very popular e-readers.” 

The fault here lies not with the libraries, but with many of the makers of ebook readers thinking of their devices as a means to SELL books, not as another way to accommodate the reading public.

Another issue slowing down eBook acquisitions for libraries is publishers’ fear that eBook versions of their print copies in libraries will decrease sales of their print editions.  “This decision comes despite the fact that checking out a downloadable eBook greatly mirrors a checkout of a print copy.  Instead of physically walking out of a library with book copy in hand, all is done at home, or anywhere else, with a digital device. The differences, in the instance of library patronage, seem more academic than financial.”  In other words, it’s a non-issue.  Libraries buy a certain number of licenses for ebooks, just as they would buy a certain number of print books.  I wait for my turn to check out ebooks, just as I do for those in print.

We have seen “fear of format” over and over again whether it was a move from tape to CD, videotape to DVD, eaudio, or ebook, downloading or streaming.  I’d like to see businesses understand that new ways of doing the old things are going to happen with technological development.  Figure out what’s going to work for the consumer if you want to thrive, don’t just get in the way.  [via ResourceShelf]

The Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR) has published its 2009 study on the use of information technology by undergraduate students.  This is part of a longitudinal study begun in 2004 aiming to “shed light on how technology effects the college experience.”

Students are asked about their skill level with technology, their preferences, and how technology affects their learning.  The ultimate goal is to help colleges identify information technology environments that are a factor in student learning and overall satisfaction.

Briefly, the study found that college students want a balance between “real books and people” and the use of technology in the classroom.  They see a disparity in teacher expertise with technology. They are comfortable with many technologies, but are more likely to identify themselves as not early adopters and prefer only a moderate amount of IT in their courses.

They are also heavy users of mobile technology.  You can see in the image that 33% of students say they own and use an Internet-capable handheld device and another 11.8% plan to purchase one in the next 12 months.  18% own such a device but do not access the Internet with it.  However, half of the students, particularly older ones, agreed that instructors should have the authority to ban cell phone and handheld device use during class because it is distracting.

Take a look at the key findings (PDF).  Or find more information about the ECAR study and links to various reports here.

This Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported.

People’s use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks.  And internet use in general, and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular, are associated with more diverse social networks.

Key findings challenge previous research and commonplace fears about the harmful social impact of new technology.  For instance:

• The extent of social isolation has hardly changed since 1985, contrary to concerns that the prevalence of severe isolation has tripled since then. Only 6% of the adult population has no one with whom they can discuss important matters.
• Although discussion networks have become less diverse, containing fewer non-family members, the survey shows that ownership of a mobile phone and participation in a variety of internet activities are associated with larger and more diverse core discussion networks.
• Social media activities are associated with several beneficial social activities, including having discussion networks that are more likely to contain people from different backgrounds.
• Internet use in general, and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular, are associated with having a more diverse social network. This is contrary to the notion that technology pulls people away from social engagement.
• Most internet activities have little, or a positive relationship, to local activity.
• Internet use does not pull people away from public places. Rather, it is associated with engagement in places such as parks, cafes, and restaurants, the kinds of locales where research shows that people are likely to encounter a wider array of people and diverse points of view.
• People’s mobile phone use outpaces their use of landline phones as a primary method of staying in touch with their closest family and friends, but face-to-face contact still trumps all other methods.
• Challenging the assumption that internet use encourages social contact across vast distances, the survey finds that many internet technologies are used as much for local contact as they are for distant communication.

You can view the full report, either online or in PDF format, here .

My eye was caught by this PC World article reviewing ebook readers currently on the market (excludes new B&N Nook).

Once again, Amazon’s Kindle readers’ proprietary system makes them less desirable than those that are open to multiple file formats.  If you don’t care that you can only get books from Amazon itself, the two Kindle models rate highly, especially with the included wireless access.

But more and more publishers are releasing ebooks in the ePub or Adobe PDF formats, and devices that can easily handle them, as well as other formats, are looking good.  If, like me, you prefer to borrow library books and are very selective in what you buy, you must choose carefully.  Some devices claim they are compatible with the ePub format, but check out whether that includes DRM protected files that libraries offer.

Even then, you may experience difficulties.  I bought the Sony Reader Touch Edition basically because my library said that Sony was producing ebook readers, including that one, that could manage the files.  The Sony Touch is rated number one in PC World’s review.  Check out the top five here.

I have discovered, however, that the Sony Touch has problems with these protected files.  I can usually load one library book and read it without a problem (and I do like the reader’s feel, options, and portability).  But when I load more than one, I often find that the previously loaded book is no longer readable, but is noted as “protected.”  Or sometimes it’s the book I’ve just loaded that can’t be read.  Or sometimes both.  I have tried loading only books in the ePub format and not include any in the Adobe PDF format (both easily available at my library).  Still have the same problems.  When I transfer a library book to the reader, I never know what to expect.

I had a long discussion with a Sony support person who said the company was aware of the problem and working on a solution which they hope to have within a few weeks.  In the meantime, it was suggested to me that I only have one library book at a time on the reader.  Wow.  Sure hope they DO find a solution or I will have expended a lot of money just to carry around one library book in electronic form instead of print (many of the library books are available in both formats, usually with longer waits for print.)