i-Lights

Niche Social Networks and Social Media

Trying to learn the difference between social media and social networking is a confusing exercise. Is there really a significant distinction? And if so, what difference does it make? Don't the two forms of communication work in tandem?

According to 123Media.com, "you can have social media without social networking," but you can't have "social networking without social media." Social media is a type of technology, a blanket term covering many different forms of online communication. Social networking, on the other hand, puts that technology to work for the purpose of forming online connections.

I still find the slight differentiation between the two somewhat dubious. By writing this article, I'm engaging in a form of social media. If someone comments on this article, only then am I engaging in social networking. But using that same analysis, isn't everything on the Internet a form of social media, the purpose being to communicate through a vast connection of pipes and tubes? If so, social networking merely takes what already happens on the Internet to the next level.

SlideShare and Google Maps News

Last night, I attended a community function debuting a video created by a friend's daughter. Not much more than PowerPoint with live action shorts slipped in for good measure, the different visual techniques grabbed my eye. Transition devices, music layover, and other visual devices, all deftly arranged for maximum effect. For a 14-year old, it was a masterpiece. At the conclusion, the auditorium burst into applause as my friend beamed with pride.

Now, out of Silicon Valley comes news of funding worth $3 million for SlideShare. Described as a "YouTube for PowerPoint junkies," SlideShare is a niche network community where users tag and share PowerPoints, leave comments, and even mashup presentations with background music. SlideShare encourages people to get creative, join groups, and schedule events. Each PowerPoint has a set of statistics showing total views, shares, and embeds. These statistics help propel presentations to the homepage for additional exposure.

I personally like that you don't have to be a registered member to start uploading content. Worth having a look if you enjoy watching different PowerPoints, or use this type of presentation in your daily activities. Here's a featured slideshare covering today's news.

| View | Upload your own

Two More i-Lighter Time Saving Tips to Lighten Your Day

A passing thought entered my brain as I began typing today's article. Who are the people deriving the most benefit from their free i-Lighter accounts? Tech people? People who research online? People with certain lifestyles? Hobbyists? Stay at home soccer moms? Expressive writers?

Truthfully, i-Lighter is tremendously beneficial for anyone using the Internet. It's easy to download, set up, and quite easy to navigate after login. I use my account almost daily, highlighting articles of interest and sending them to my social networks with a simple click of the mouse. It's far easier to communicate my interests in this manner than to link back to these articles with an article of my own. The same holds true for pictures. No need to pirate and upload when i-Lighter easily lets me share.

Popular and Unusual Hobbies to Fill Leisure Time

Everyone likes to engage in some amount of leisure time. Whether to simply relax or engage in creative endeavors, leisure provides a respite from every day pressures and responsibilities. Many view leisure time as a godsend, a way to pursue actual interests and explore their creativity, while others long to be more productive, leisure being thrust upon them by old age or infirmity.

Hobbies are a productive way to fill leisure time. By engaging in worthwhile activities for the pure sake of enjoyment, we expand our minds, nourish our souls, and in the process, achieve a real sense of accomplishment. The list of hobbies is endless. Many people tweak traditional ones to suit their particular interests. For example, a portfolio featuring only motor vehicles, or loving to read only one genre of books.

I thought it might be nice to explore different hobby sites, traditional as well as those slightly off the beaten path. Maybe this article will entice hobby enthusiasts to pipe in with a comment or a link to a their own favorite hobby sites. As always, i-Lighter is there to assist in all hobby pursuits. I encourage you to review the tutorials and other information about free i-Lighter accounts.

If Cruise Website Has Launched, It's Member Spotlight Day

If you weren't one of the thousands who flocked to the blockbuster, Iron Man, this past weekend, then your time away from work may have been spent like the people who use and enjoy i-Lighter. Gathering and saving sports scores, new recipe ideas, travel spots, the best summer travel deals, hobby news, redecorating advice...the list goes on.

Here it is, already Monday morning. Had to be the fastest spring weekend ever. Is it really time for the Member Spotlight, a time to review articles and mentions of i-Lighter and Twitterlights across the Internet? Well, according to other buzz, if Tom Cruise has unveiled his new website, yes, it's time to get cracking.

First up, a MyBlogLog contact. Kevin is an Internet entrepreneur and self-professed geek who writes easy to read tech reviews as well as articles about social networking, games, and gadgets. Interesting Stuff that Matters is one of two blogs he maintains. Judging by the number of blog reactions, Kevin is an emerging authority on technology. His article about i-Lighter and Twitterlights, a quick step-by-step guide for those who have no time for long tutorials, is nicely written. I especially like his assessment of never having to "download content to your computer again" once you begin using i-Lighter. The article also provides relevant useful links at the bottom.