Online tools and tips for the pre-Xmas procrastinator
For many of us this is the last week of work before the Christmas break. For some, this is a frantic week of tying up loose ends but for others it's a slow trudge to the finish line.
If you find
that your motivation is waning and feel the need to say "bah humbug", try some of these online tools and tips to get in the Christmas spirit:
Watch it snow on Google. Go to www.google.co.nz and search for "let it snow" then watch as digital snowflakes fall around the search results and the screen frosts over. Wait long enough and you'll also be able to write in the frost.
Get or send a personal video message from Santa. Go to www.protablenorthpole.tv, enter a few essential details (e.g. a person's name, what they're like and what you'd like to congratulate them for) and Santa will drop into their inbox to say "Ho. Ho. Ho."
Send one of these videos to a child and watch their face light up as Santa magically knows (and says) their name!
Transform your colleagues, friends and/or family into dancing elves. Go to www.eflyourself.com, upload a picture of yourself and those special to you, select a dance and watch as this great online tool turns you into an elf that really knows how to put on a song and dance!
Download an interactive, digital advent calendar. Go to www.jacquielawson.com/advent/london to download a graphically stunning advent calendar that provides a new animation and activity each day, everything from making your own snowflakes to decorating a virtual Christmas tree. While this application isn't free (US$3 to download) it is worth every cent.
Make your own Xmas presents and decorations. Just go to www.youtube.com, search for "Christmas craft ideas" and get instant access to hundreds of how-to videos, showing everything from how to make Christmas trees out of old magazines to creating easy ornaments and cards.
As our nerds close down their computers, clean out their keyboards and prepare to expose their monitor-tanned skin to the Hawke's Bay sun for the Xmas holidays, they wanted to take a moment to pass on their thanks… Thank you for your readership in 2011 - have a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Wendy Schollum is a web strategist and managing director of Xplore - your web agency (www.xplore.net). For information on digital marketing, follow Xplore on Twitter (www.twitter.com/xploreNET), join Xplore on Facebook (www.facebook.com/xploreNET), add Xplore to one of your Google+ circles (http://gplus.to/xploreNET) or call 0800 100 900.