Advantage of ACTIVStudio built-in web browser?

[laurencekoster]

What's the advantage of having a web browser built-in? Doesn't this just duplicate what you can already do with Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.? Or am I missing something?

Laurence

[Louise Chew]

There is abit of duplication of functionality but the studio web-browser has the added advantage of being able to save weblinks into your resources or onto the flipchart page
If you click on the links button on the web browser you get a menu. The first four Add URL will add a link to the currently viewed web page to the current flipchart page. The save web link to.. option will save the link to your resources or somewhere on your network.

If you decide you don't want to use the studio web-browser then you can stop it from being used by default. Go into studio settings & go to linked file hosting. Remove the tick from Use Web Browser. The next time you open a web link within studio it will use internet explorer..

[Daniel Bunker]

Two reasons why I really like the Activ Browser apart from the weblinks already mentioned:

1) Resize the window and have the internet open at the top and the flipchart vailable at the bottom ( or any other combination). You can then make notes, write key points etc. on the flipchart while browsing.

2) Drag and drop text and images straight from the browser onto the flipchart page - great for re-purposing internet content.

Dan

[Margaret Allen]

This is a fantastic addition to AP 2.5 too... [clap]

[Jos]

Although Mac Activstudio v2.1 does not have its own Activ Browser it is possible to drag and drop text and images from Apple’s Safari web browser onto the flipchart page. You can also drag a URL from Safari directly into the Activstudio Resource Library.

[Margaret Allen]

Jos.... we sound like : me too me too don't we? :eek: :eek: :D :D


We know our versions are just as good as theirs don't we? [clap] :cool:

[laurencekoster]

Thank you for the explanations!

For me the biggest advantage is Daniel's point 2 - dragging images from the browser to the flipchart. This will revolutionise my use of Google Images!!

Daniel's point 1 - resizing the flipchart and browser windows to have on the screen at the same time - can be done with any browser (or just about any other program for that matter - I often have a PowerPoint presentation open at the top with a small flipchart at the bottom).

Margaret, sorry but I don't know what AP is.

Laurence

[Margaret Allen]

AP = Activprimary

Activprimary is currently the only dedicated iwb software for primary and elementary schools. If you don't know it - you are missing out :eek:

+wave+

[laurencekoster]

Thanks - I didn't know the abbreviation.:)

[cogent53]

Is there any way to customise the web browser at all? Found how to alter the start page and the search site, but is that it for customisations?

[Peter Lambert]

Yes, that's it! What did you have in mind?

[cogent53]

Main thing I use to navigate the web is my favourites folder. Is there any way to have a favourites?

[Peter Lambert]

Not directly possible, but you could try this. Quite tedious to set up but brilliantly useful.
Use the browser to navigate to your favourite sites. Rather than type them in, use your IE browser and favourites folder to access the sites. Copy and paste the URL into the Activstudio browser.
Drag the link icon to create a thumbnail of each site on to one flipchart page.
Open the Resource library and go to "My Flipchart Pages". Right click on the page of thumbnails and choose add to library.
Whenever you need it simply drag the page in to your current flipchart.

I have attached an example flipchart page.

By the way, thumbnails of VERY frequently used sites may be dragged to the 3rd row of the Activstudio toolbar