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What we collect!
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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

 

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BobbyBarnhart
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin

12 May 2015
10:54:08am
A suggestion from a new member (xstitchalanna)inspired me to start this thread. My brain is clicking on empty at the moment, but I am sure I'll find plenty to contribute later. For now, I'll just invite some of the other self-styles geeks among us to get the ball rolling!

Bobby
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"

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rrraphy
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Retired Consultant APS#186030

12 May 2015
12:03:42pm

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I am passing along something developed by a fellow Club Member in our SF Stamp Club.
I hope Ilya Ronin (who is also a member of SOR) will discuss this application of technology to stamp collecting, as questions arise.
This is a hi-tech startup, so I will just use their press release to communicate what is being done. I have no interest in the company, so I am not running afoul of the self promotion rule. But I do think this can be of interest to many. (and you can try it for free...not that the on-going usage is expensive at all...more like dirt cheap).
Ilya has also put together a presentation on how he used his software to build a gorgeous topical collection. I hope he will share this unique topical collection here on SOR as well.

Now for the press release, featuring the latest search tools available for serious stamp collectors from WYDLY (not just limited to stamps, but designed for stamps in mind). I will add that it is fully compatible with ebay sites worldwide for example.

Cross-lingual online search by Wydly

San Francisco, CA

Wydly, an internet startup headquartered in San Francisco, CA, has launched a new web application that helps users find more items from sellers around the world, even if a buyer and a seller do not speak the same language.

Wydly's cross-lingual product search works by taking the user's search phrase and translating it into many different languages. The application then searches product listings from sellers around the world in all those languages, including the user's language. It returns all the matching results, translating results in foreign languages back into the user's language.

Search results can be sorted and filtered by location, language, price, listing type (auction or store item) and auction ending time. Placing the cursor over a foreign-language item shows its translated title. Clicking on an item displays a pop-up with the item's description, location, ending time and listing link; all translated, as needed.

Searching, examining search results and seeing translated listing titles inside the application is free. In order to translate foreign-language item descriptions back into a user's language, a system of credits is used. One credit equals one translated character. For example, translating German "welt" to English "world" uses 4 credits for the 4 characters in the German word. Users can purchase credits in packages:

50,000 credits for $4.99 (10,000 credits per dollar)
150,000 credits for $9.99 (15,000 credits per dollar)
500,000 credits for $24.99 (20,000 credits per dollar)

New users can sign up for a free account and receive 150,000 free credits just for signing up. Visit www.wydly.com and click the "join" link at the top or the bottom menu.


About Wydly

Wydly was started by Ilya Ronin - a stamp collector, a software engineer and an entrepreneur. One day, unable to find a stamp he really wanted, he translated his search into other languages and found it. He founded Wydly convinced that searching for things in just your own language is limiting. What if someone is selling what you want, but in a different language? What if you can find better deals or discover new treasures by expanding your search to other languages? If something you want is being sold by someone -- anyone, anywhere in the world, you should be able to find it and buy it. That's why Wydly's patent-pending wyde searchâ„¢ looks at millions of items from sellers around the world, in many languages, to help users find more of the things you love.

Ilya Ronin
President
wydly.com

rrr...

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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
meostamps
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12 May 2015
01:02:36pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Thanks to a post by another member, I recently explored a worldwide stamp site. As I do not know if mentioning the name or url would run against SOR rules, I will not mention it here but you can PM me if interested. I will give a brief description of it as follows:

The site was started about 13 years ago. It has an image database of appox. 500M stamp images. While not all of the stamps issued, this is a good percentage, probably over 65% of them. A member (free for basic) can create a listing of the stamps with images in their collection, items that they wish and also what they have to swap. The lists are sortable by country, year issued and topic. Inserting an image into a list is a simple click process. Since all images are from the database, there is no need to submit your own scans. Also, each stamp has various catalog numbers along with its own unique database number so, for an example, a US member using Scott can show someone in Germany using Michel exactly which stamp they are looking for or have. There is a PM system which lets you insert scans and other files if you wish within the PM.

New images are being added to the database on a daily basis and per the site it looks like about an average of 200 a day. It also has a feedback system for swaps between members so you can look how reliable a member is. A great opinion lets you click on an image of a stamp in the database and it will show you which members have it in their collection, swap or wish lists. It also has an auto translate button which seems to work very well.

Using the basic member profile for the past 2 weeks, I have managed to create swaps with members of my more common material for recent issues from their countries. The site also has collectors who swap other items, such as coins, phonecards, etc.

While not complete, it seems to be a good marriage of computer tech in creating an unique image database and lists. By the way, a member can also use the system to computer match their swap list with another member's want list, which is a great feature.

Mike in NC / meostamps

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parkinlot
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org

12 May 2015
05:19:07pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

While not exactly perfect, I am finding that subscribing to the Scott Catalogues are a god send. I can access them from my lap top or cell phone and I don't have to carry around 40 pounds of books. I have only subscribed to 2016 US (Vol I) and Australia for now but plan to add more when the rest of the 2016s come out. Even though they are less expensive than the actual catalogues, they aren't all that cheap. The other disadvantage is you have to have internet access or else you can't use them. I use my cell phone as a hot spot for my laptop when that happens.

Bob

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Bobstamp
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12 May 2015
06:10:50pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Meostamps said,

"I do not know if mentioning the name or url would run against SOR rules..."



Stamporama's posting rules prohibit advertising, but publishing a link is not advertising unless the link is used to promote a service or product in which the poster has a stake. Not only is it OK to point members to sources of philatelic information, stamps, covers, and collateral items, but it is highly desired!

As we stamp collectors all know, it's sometimes a challenge to find sources of supplies and the collectables themselves, so any help we can get will be more than welcome. I have often posted URL's for web sites that I think will interest other members, and no one has pilloried me yet! At least not for that!

Bob




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www.ephemeraltreasures.net
meostamps
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12 May 2015
06:33:02pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

For those interested in the site I mentioned, the url is www.colnect.com

Feel free to look around.

Mike in NC / meostamps


(Modified by Moderator on 2015-05-12 19:46:34)

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meostamps
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12 May 2015
07:16:32pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

For some reason, whenever I click on the link my post above, it goes to the home page for stamporama. You may have to do a 'copy and paste' to make it work.

Mike in NC / meostamps

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BobbyBarnhart
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin

12 May 2015
07:48:01pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Mike

When using the link function, you have to have the "http://" prefix with the URL. I fixed it.

Bobby

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"

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nl1947

12 May 2015
07:55:34pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/countries
Site has some good features & along with http://www.stampworld.com/en/ is one of the more complete listings
However don't trust the images as being correct 100%
I have noted forgeries.
On Stampworld their pricing & pictures have issues.
They do however separate the categories (regular, semi, official etc) better


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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

12 May 2015
10:01:23pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I have used http://www.stamps2go.com quite a bit. It's all in Scott numbers, so that may be an issue, but you select the country and you can either put in a specific catalog number or browse the listing starting with a specific number.

Lars

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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

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ironin

12 May 2015
11:46:10pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Thank you, rrraphy! Stamp collecting is a global hobby, so if you search online using only English, you may be missing out. I've put together a tutorial on how to take advantage of the translation technology developed by Google and Microsoft, and given to us for free, to help find more stamps/covers/etc. online. More than happy to answer any questions.

Document link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Gt_Ma-d3g-QzMzTGJVZ0kyblU/view?pli=1

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Guthrum
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13 May 2015
03:41:04am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Another useful tip, when searching foreign webpages (particularly the various Wikipedia sites), is to scroll down to the foot of the page. The sections marked 'references' and 'external links' might well provide links to searchable texts which take you further on in your subject. I found this especially valuable when using Google Translate to understand Russian websites.

Note also that Google Translate has a non-roman alphabet feature for you to type in key words which reappear on stamps. It takes time initially, but you soon get used to it.

Some languages go more easily via automatic translation than others: I found Russian translated fairly well, certainly more smoothly than German, with its different word order.

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Jansimon
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collector, seller, MT member

13 May 2015
03:59:29am

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Every time I use Google Translate to understand Spanish texts, it turns them into surrealistic, dadaistic poetry...
All in all, I find the progress in translation software quite disappointing. One would have expected Google Translate to have become much better than Babelfish was back in the days there was little else, but it still leaves much to be desired. Perhaps translating texts automatically is more difficult than optimistic people expected.
For simple sentences and single words, it is perfect.

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Guthrum
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13 May 2015
05:13:06am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

"Surreal, dadaistic poetry" - the quintessence of Spanish, the land of Federico Garcia Lorca, Salvador Dali... I tried putting the former into Google Translate and the results were better than the translation in my Penguin edition!

I wouldn't expect philatelic texts to resemble the imagist poetry of Lorca, but (see my note on German above) automatic translation inevitably reflects the syntax of a language. Until something better turns up I'd still recommend it for articles in foreign publications.

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xstitchalanna
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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations

13 May 2015
05:48:54am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Wow this is amazing! I bookmarked a lot of sites on here for reference. I have an account on catawiki, which is cool but I noticed tons of errors when adding stamps to my collection. The information is user edited so you can "fix" some things. The problem I have noticed is with variations of old stamps (specifically US) If you are collecting those I wouldn't use that site as definitive information, more as a general "this is what I have" It is interesting because you can view your collection via topics. Like all FDCs or Horses. Any stamp in your collection that was linked to horses will pop up. I wish the iPhone app would have your collection housed on it. It seems to be only for the auctions.


Side note. I'm trying to figure out a good app for that on iPad or iPhone. It would be cool to have a searchable DB on your phone when going to shows or events. I haven't really seen a truly convenient app that will work for what I want it to do. Still exploring though.

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GeoStamper
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Steve

13 May 2015
04:12:42pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Alanna, your last comment about an app for a tablet is a good one. I have semi-solved that problem in a crude way by taking a picture of each page of my album. Then when I'm at a show or in a shop, I just open my tablet and launch the picture viewer. The pages come in order and I can zoom in pretty well. Navigation is a simple swipe from page to page, or going back to the directory in which thumbnails of the pages let me quickly go to a different year or country.

Here's an example. I wish all my pages were so complete!

Image Not Found

-Steve

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

13 May 2015
05:11:49pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

That's actually a very good idea Steve! It simply does the job!

I do a similar thing with my model car collection. I take a few photos of each model and put them on my Fotki photo site. I have most of the collection packed away, so if I'm at a show or even looking at eBay on my computer (anywhere!) I'll pull up the photo page and instantly know if I have that specific model, and in what condition. If I find a photo of a box, I know I have one mint in the box. If I have an old rebuildable car, I take a few photos so I know the condition, what's missing and if the one I'm looking to buy would be an upgrade.

Ha! Just remembered that I took a photo of my deodorant container with my phone so when I got to the store I could get the same one again! Good thing I did, once at the store they all looked the same to me! Technology we now take for granted!

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rrraphy
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Retired Consultant APS#186030

13 May 2015
05:31:45pm

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Great Idea Steve.

Now for the techies entrepreneurs here.
How about creating an App to make such "photo folder" data base searchable?

I would suggest a number of fields to define each photo, such as:
Country
Year (or year range)
Type (stamp, B4, B6, PB4, PB6, sheet, S/S, fdc, cover, card..etc..)
Catalog type? (SC, MI, YT etc...identified by 2 letters)
Cat # range
Condition (MNH, M, u, NG, etc...)
Key word (for topical)
a few more fields....... (suggestions?)

Now you could find anything you have missing in your collection by just searching on one or more of the fields. As an App, it would be simple and do pretty much what most of us would need. Bye bye want lists that always seem to be out of date!

Heck..I would even pay money for such an App.

rrr

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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
CapeStampMan
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Mike

13 May 2015
07:08:49pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

OK, OK, enough about the smart phone, etc, etc. How about those of us that use a Dumb Phone? My phone has to be one of the dumbest phones ever inevented, since every time I answer it the photo app is on screen. What is with that?????? I certainly know it can not be operator error each and every time, because my IQ is through the roof, currently at about 12.5, so there has to be another reason for all of the errors I get on my DUMB PHONE, or is it DUM FONE?
Mike

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xstitchalanna
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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations

13 May 2015
08:16:58pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Steve that is a great idea. The simplest solution is sometimes the best.

Ben Franklin, Thank you for using deodorant. Too many people feel using it is optional.

Rrraphy, that's kind of what I was thinking. Maybe they have apps like that already that can be tailored to stamp collecting.

Mike I have no idea. If my mom or myself have a question on how to do something with the phone, we hand it to my 7 year old and ask him! lol (Actually he did teach my mom some things on the phone.)

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

13 May 2015
08:46:05pm
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

"Ben Franklin, Thank you for using deodorant. Too many people feel using it is optional."



You might just have been to a model car show. There's a good reason why we don't schedule those during the summer! Happy

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meostamps
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14 May 2015
12:21:23am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I see a couple of familiar names as recent new members over on the Colnect site I mentioned near the top of this topic. One thing I have found it that the site is a little short on help topics as to how to use it so feel free to PM me either there or here if you need any helping and I will try my best to help you out. I have unlimited calling for the US & Canada so a phone call works for me if it does for you. Daylight Eastern US hours. PM me here with your number and a good time to call or ask for mine via PM if you wish. Always willing to help someone fill that space they been looking for.

It is not perfect but it has help me find 4 people within the past week that I have started trades with and am working to bring another possible trader into my group.

Mike in NC / meostamps

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malcolm197

31 May 2015
06:43:46am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I use colnect a lot. However there is no substitute for a hard copy catalogue.Unless you have some idea of the date of issue Colnect is hard work. Also for long running sets all the stamps are not in the same place but in strict chronological order.However once you have found the stamp on Colnect you can use Google to sort out other information on the same or similar issues.Also do not ignore the Google picture feature which will take you to websites including the stamp you are looking for -although the criteria for inclusion in the picture feature appears to be somewhat random.Also websites for specialist societies are a good bet. Some of them have articles available to non-members. Many philatelic bureaux have lists of recent stamp issues ( say over the last 10 years some- much longer).Archived chat boards with searchable feature like an inhouse Google are good too.

I tend to use a number of diverse resources when researching a stamp.The biggest difficulty is often finding where exactly within the chronology a particular issue fits. If Colnect was more comprehensive this would be the best. However while it gives the order that the included stamps appear you cannot know from this source alone what is missing.

I think that there must be a whole art to the use of search engines for philatelic purposes - unfortunately I don't have it. The other drawback is that websites and blogs are prone to disappear. There was an excellent French blog called "blog-philatelie" which had an amazingly esoteric collection of articles including "pret a porter" pre-stamped stationery, official postal stationery impressions as well as the normal stamp stuff.It just disappeared one day and all that resource was instantly lost - all that research(which must have 100s of hours) wasted. Very sad.

I think that as well as the techie stuff,some tips on how to get the best out of the internet could be included on here. Please !! Pretty please !!

Malcolm

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jimjung

31 May 2015
09:20:07am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Here's a bit of tech that I ran into that may help. I have tried it successfully in the past. Google has a search engine by image. Go to this link, click on the camera icon to upload an image and you can find websites matching the image.

I think it is still a work in progress.

https://images.google.com/

I thought it was neat and it seems to have something to do with this thread.

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BobbyBarnhart
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin

31 May 2015
09:30:55am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Jimjung

I am particularly enamored of this google feature and use it frequently. I have even used it to find a friend's facebook page by using a photo of my friend! Works wonderfully for identifying stamps.

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d1stamper
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31 May 2015
03:08:33pm

Auctions
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Jimjung

Thank you for that information.

"Here's a bit of tech that I ran into that may help. I have tried it successfully in the past. Google has a search engine by image. Go to this link, click on the camera icon to upload an image and you can find websites matching the image."



I tried it and it worked. I will be using it in the future.

Doug
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malcolm197

01 Jun 2015
07:53:08am
re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I've not tried that, but the feature I was looking at involves googling the subject and then clicking on "images for (whatever the head-line subject is )". I think the erratic results must relate to the way that Google looks at the illustrated items words and then translates them to criteria of the images feature. There are thousands of images of the search word(s) and only a fraction appear ( or there may even be a time limitation). However a few quick clicks come in handy. Auction web sites are also a source of information,although unless you are looking for something very specific this can be tedious.

Malcolm

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Author/Postings

They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
12 May 2015
10:54:08am

A suggestion from a new member (xstitchalanna)inspired me to start this thread. My brain is clicking on empty at the moment, but I am sure I'll find plenty to contribute later. For now, I'll just invite some of the other self-styles geeks among us to get the ball rolling!

Bobby

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"

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rrraphy

Retired Consultant APS#186030
12 May 2015
12:03:42pm

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I am passing along something developed by a fellow Club Member in our SF Stamp Club.
I hope Ilya Ronin (who is also a member of SOR) will discuss this application of technology to stamp collecting, as questions arise.
This is a hi-tech startup, so I will just use their press release to communicate what is being done. I have no interest in the company, so I am not running afoul of the self promotion rule. But I do think this can be of interest to many. (and you can try it for free...not that the on-going usage is expensive at all...more like dirt cheap).
Ilya has also put together a presentation on how he used his software to build a gorgeous topical collection. I hope he will share this unique topical collection here on SOR as well.

Now for the press release, featuring the latest search tools available for serious stamp collectors from WYDLY (not just limited to stamps, but designed for stamps in mind). I will add that it is fully compatible with ebay sites worldwide for example.

Cross-lingual online search by Wydly

San Francisco, CA

Wydly, an internet startup headquartered in San Francisco, CA, has launched a new web application that helps users find more items from sellers around the world, even if a buyer and a seller do not speak the same language.

Wydly's cross-lingual product search works by taking the user's search phrase and translating it into many different languages. The application then searches product listings from sellers around the world in all those languages, including the user's language. It returns all the matching results, translating results in foreign languages back into the user's language.

Search results can be sorted and filtered by location, language, price, listing type (auction or store item) and auction ending time. Placing the cursor over a foreign-language item shows its translated title. Clicking on an item displays a pop-up with the item's description, location, ending time and listing link; all translated, as needed.

Searching, examining search results and seeing translated listing titles inside the application is free. In order to translate foreign-language item descriptions back into a user's language, a system of credits is used. One credit equals one translated character. For example, translating German "welt" to English "world" uses 4 credits for the 4 characters in the German word. Users can purchase credits in packages:

50,000 credits for $4.99 (10,000 credits per dollar)
150,000 credits for $9.99 (15,000 credits per dollar)
500,000 credits for $24.99 (20,000 credits per dollar)

New users can sign up for a free account and receive 150,000 free credits just for signing up. Visit www.wydly.com and click the "join" link at the top or the bottom menu.


About Wydly

Wydly was started by Ilya Ronin - a stamp collector, a software engineer and an entrepreneur. One day, unable to find a stamp he really wanted, he translated his search into other languages and found it. He founded Wydly convinced that searching for things in just your own language is limiting. What if someone is selling what you want, but in a different language? What if you can find better deals or discover new treasures by expanding your search to other languages? If something you want is being sold by someone -- anyone, anywhere in the world, you should be able to find it and buy it. That's why Wydly's patent-pending wyde searchâ„¢ looks at millions of items from sellers around the world, in many languages, to help users find more of the things you love.

Ilya Ronin
President
wydly.com

rrr...

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meostamps

12 May 2015
01:02:36pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Thanks to a post by another member, I recently explored a worldwide stamp site. As I do not know if mentioning the name or url would run against SOR rules, I will not mention it here but you can PM me if interested. I will give a brief description of it as follows:

The site was started about 13 years ago. It has an image database of appox. 500M stamp images. While not all of the stamps issued, this is a good percentage, probably over 65% of them. A member (free for basic) can create a listing of the stamps with images in their collection, items that they wish and also what they have to swap. The lists are sortable by country, year issued and topic. Inserting an image into a list is a simple click process. Since all images are from the database, there is no need to submit your own scans. Also, each stamp has various catalog numbers along with its own unique database number so, for an example, a US member using Scott can show someone in Germany using Michel exactly which stamp they are looking for or have. There is a PM system which lets you insert scans and other files if you wish within the PM.

New images are being added to the database on a daily basis and per the site it looks like about an average of 200 a day. It also has a feedback system for swaps between members so you can look how reliable a member is. A great opinion lets you click on an image of a stamp in the database and it will show you which members have it in their collection, swap or wish lists. It also has an auto translate button which seems to work very well.

Using the basic member profile for the past 2 weeks, I have managed to create swaps with members of my more common material for recent issues from their countries. The site also has collectors who swap other items, such as coins, phonecards, etc.

While not complete, it seems to be a good marriage of computer tech in creating an unique image database and lists. By the way, a member can also use the system to computer match their swap list with another member's want list, which is a great feature.

Mike in NC / meostamps

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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
12 May 2015
05:19:07pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

While not exactly perfect, I am finding that subscribing to the Scott Catalogues are a god send. I can access them from my lap top or cell phone and I don't have to carry around 40 pounds of books. I have only subscribed to 2016 US (Vol I) and Australia for now but plan to add more when the rest of the 2016s come out. Even though they are less expensive than the actual catalogues, they aren't all that cheap. The other disadvantage is you have to have internet access or else you can't use them. I use my cell phone as a hot spot for my laptop when that happens.

Bob

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Bobstamp

12 May 2015
06:10:50pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Meostamps said,

"I do not know if mentioning the name or url would run against SOR rules..."



Stamporama's posting rules prohibit advertising, but publishing a link is not advertising unless the link is used to promote a service or product in which the poster has a stake. Not only is it OK to point members to sources of philatelic information, stamps, covers, and collateral items, but it is highly desired!

As we stamp collectors all know, it's sometimes a challenge to find sources of supplies and the collectables themselves, so any help we can get will be more than welcome. I have often posted URL's for web sites that I think will interest other members, and no one has pilloried me yet! At least not for that!

Bob




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meostamps

12 May 2015
06:33:02pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

For those interested in the site I mentioned, the url is www.colnect.com

Feel free to look around.

Mike in NC / meostamps


(Modified by Moderator on 2015-05-12 19:46:34)

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meostamps

12 May 2015
07:16:32pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

For some reason, whenever I click on the link my post above, it goes to the home page for stamporama. You may have to do a 'copy and paste' to make it work.

Mike in NC / meostamps

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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
12 May 2015
07:48:01pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Mike

When using the link function, you have to have the "http://" prefix with the URL. I fixed it.

Bobby

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nl1947

12 May 2015
07:55:34pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/countries
Site has some good features & along with http://www.stampworld.com/en/ is one of the more complete listings
However don't trust the images as being correct 100%
I have noted forgeries.
On Stampworld their pricing & pictures have issues.
They do however separate the categories (regular, semi, official etc) better


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larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
12 May 2015
10:01:23pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I have used http://www.stamps2go.com quite a bit. It's all in Scott numbers, so that may be an issue, but you select the country and you can either put in a specific catalog number or browse the listing starting with a specific number.

Lars

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ironin

12 May 2015
11:46:10pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Thank you, rrraphy! Stamp collecting is a global hobby, so if you search online using only English, you may be missing out. I've put together a tutorial on how to take advantage of the translation technology developed by Google and Microsoft, and given to us for free, to help find more stamps/covers/etc. online. More than happy to answer any questions.

Document link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Gt_Ma-d3g-QzMzTGJVZ0kyblU/view?pli=1

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Guthrum

13 May 2015
03:41:04am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Another useful tip, when searching foreign webpages (particularly the various Wikipedia sites), is to scroll down to the foot of the page. The sections marked 'references' and 'external links' might well provide links to searchable texts which take you further on in your subject. I found this especially valuable when using Google Translate to understand Russian websites.

Note also that Google Translate has a non-roman alphabet feature for you to type in key words which reappear on stamps. It takes time initially, but you soon get used to it.

Some languages go more easily via automatic translation than others: I found Russian translated fairly well, certainly more smoothly than German, with its different word order.

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Jansimon

collector, seller, MT member
13 May 2015
03:59:29am

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Every time I use Google Translate to understand Spanish texts, it turns them into surrealistic, dadaistic poetry...
All in all, I find the progress in translation software quite disappointing. One would have expected Google Translate to have become much better than Babelfish was back in the days there was little else, but it still leaves much to be desired. Perhaps translating texts automatically is more difficult than optimistic people expected.
For simple sentences and single words, it is perfect.

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Guthrum

13 May 2015
05:13:06am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

"Surreal, dadaistic poetry" - the quintessence of Spanish, the land of Federico Garcia Lorca, Salvador Dali... I tried putting the former into Google Translate and the results were better than the translation in my Penguin edition!

I wouldn't expect philatelic texts to resemble the imagist poetry of Lorca, but (see my note on German above) automatic translation inevitably reflects the syntax of a language. Until something better turns up I'd still recommend it for articles in foreign publications.

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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations
13 May 2015
05:48:54am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Wow this is amazing! I bookmarked a lot of sites on here for reference. I have an account on catawiki, which is cool but I noticed tons of errors when adding stamps to my collection. The information is user edited so you can "fix" some things. The problem I have noticed is with variations of old stamps (specifically US) If you are collecting those I wouldn't use that site as definitive information, more as a general "this is what I have" It is interesting because you can view your collection via topics. Like all FDCs or Horses. Any stamp in your collection that was linked to horses will pop up. I wish the iPhone app would have your collection housed on it. It seems to be only for the auctions.


Side note. I'm trying to figure out a good app for that on iPad or iPhone. It would be cool to have a searchable DB on your phone when going to shows or events. I haven't really seen a truly convenient app that will work for what I want it to do. Still exploring though.

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GeoStamper

Steve
13 May 2015
04:12:42pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Alanna, your last comment about an app for a tablet is a good one. I have semi-solved that problem in a crude way by taking a picture of each page of my album. Then when I'm at a show or in a shop, I just open my tablet and launch the picture viewer. The pages come in order and I can zoom in pretty well. Navigation is a simple swipe from page to page, or going back to the directory in which thumbnails of the pages let me quickly go to a different year or country.

Here's an example. I wish all my pages were so complete!

Image Not Found

-Steve

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BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
13 May 2015
05:11:49pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

That's actually a very good idea Steve! It simply does the job!

I do a similar thing with my model car collection. I take a few photos of each model and put them on my Fotki photo site. I have most of the collection packed away, so if I'm at a show or even looking at eBay on my computer (anywhere!) I'll pull up the photo page and instantly know if I have that specific model, and in what condition. If I find a photo of a box, I know I have one mint in the box. If I have an old rebuildable car, I take a few photos so I know the condition, what's missing and if the one I'm looking to buy would be an upgrade.

Ha! Just remembered that I took a photo of my deodorant container with my phone so when I got to the store I could get the same one again! Good thing I did, once at the store they all looked the same to me! Technology we now take for granted!

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rrraphy

Retired Consultant APS#186030
13 May 2015
05:31:45pm

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Great Idea Steve.

Now for the techies entrepreneurs here.
How about creating an App to make such "photo folder" data base searchable?

I would suggest a number of fields to define each photo, such as:
Country
Year (or year range)
Type (stamp, B4, B6, PB4, PB6, sheet, S/S, fdc, cover, card..etc..)
Catalog type? (SC, MI, YT etc...identified by 2 letters)
Cat # range
Condition (MNH, M, u, NG, etc...)
Key word (for topical)
a few more fields....... (suggestions?)

Now you could find anything you have missing in your collection by just searching on one or more of the fields. As an App, it would be simple and do pretty much what most of us would need. Bye bye want lists that always seem to be out of date!

Heck..I would even pay money for such an App.

rrr

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CapeStampMan

Mike
13 May 2015
07:08:49pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

OK, OK, enough about the smart phone, etc, etc. How about those of us that use a Dumb Phone? My phone has to be one of the dumbest phones ever inevented, since every time I answer it the photo app is on screen. What is with that?????? I certainly know it can not be operator error each and every time, because my IQ is through the roof, currently at about 12.5, so there has to be another reason for all of the errors I get on my DUMB PHONE, or is it DUM FONE?
Mike

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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations
13 May 2015
08:16:58pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Steve that is a great idea. The simplest solution is sometimes the best.

Ben Franklin, Thank you for using deodorant. Too many people feel using it is optional.

Rrraphy, that's kind of what I was thinking. Maybe they have apps like that already that can be tailored to stamp collecting.

Mike I have no idea. If my mom or myself have a question on how to do something with the phone, we hand it to my 7 year old and ask him! lol (Actually he did teach my mom some things on the phone.)

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Tom in Exton, PA
13 May 2015
08:46:05pm

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

"Ben Franklin, Thank you for using deodorant. Too many people feel using it is optional."



You might just have been to a model car show. There's a good reason why we don't schedule those during the summer! Happy

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meostamps

14 May 2015
12:21:23am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I see a couple of familiar names as recent new members over on the Colnect site I mentioned near the top of this topic. One thing I have found it that the site is a little short on help topics as to how to use it so feel free to PM me either there or here if you need any helping and I will try my best to help you out. I have unlimited calling for the US & Canada so a phone call works for me if it does for you. Daylight Eastern US hours. PM me here with your number and a good time to call or ask for mine via PM if you wish. Always willing to help someone fill that space they been looking for.

It is not perfect but it has help me find 4 people within the past week that I have started trades with and am working to bring another possible trader into my group.

Mike in NC / meostamps

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malcolm197

31 May 2015
06:43:46am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I use colnect a lot. However there is no substitute for a hard copy catalogue.Unless you have some idea of the date of issue Colnect is hard work. Also for long running sets all the stamps are not in the same place but in strict chronological order.However once you have found the stamp on Colnect you can use Google to sort out other information on the same or similar issues.Also do not ignore the Google picture feature which will take you to websites including the stamp you are looking for -although the criteria for inclusion in the picture feature appears to be somewhat random.Also websites for specialist societies are a good bet. Some of them have articles available to non-members. Many philatelic bureaux have lists of recent stamp issues ( say over the last 10 years some- much longer).Archived chat boards with searchable feature like an inhouse Google are good too.

I tend to use a number of diverse resources when researching a stamp.The biggest difficulty is often finding where exactly within the chronology a particular issue fits. If Colnect was more comprehensive this would be the best. However while it gives the order that the included stamps appear you cannot know from this source alone what is missing.

I think that there must be a whole art to the use of search engines for philatelic purposes - unfortunately I don't have it. The other drawback is that websites and blogs are prone to disappear. There was an excellent French blog called "blog-philatelie" which had an amazingly esoteric collection of articles including "pret a porter" pre-stamped stationery, official postal stationery impressions as well as the normal stamp stuff.It just disappeared one day and all that resource was instantly lost - all that research(which must have 100s of hours) wasted. Very sad.

I think that as well as the techie stuff,some tips on how to get the best out of the internet could be included on here. Please !! Pretty please !!

Malcolm

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jimjung

31 May 2015
09:20:07am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Here's a bit of tech that I ran into that may help. I have tried it successfully in the past. Google has a search engine by image. Go to this link, click on the camera icon to upload an image and you can find websites matching the image.

I think it is still a work in progress.

https://images.google.com/

I thought it was neat and it seems to have something to do with this thread.

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31 May 2015
09:30:55am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Jimjung

I am particularly enamored of this google feature and use it frequently. I have even used it to find a friend's facebook page by using a photo of my friend! Works wonderfully for identifying stamps.

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d1stamper

31 May 2015
03:08:33pm

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re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

Jimjung

Thank you for that information.

"Here's a bit of tech that I ran into that may help. I have tried it successfully in the past. Google has a search engine by image. Go to this link, click on the camera icon to upload an image and you can find websites matching the image."



I tried it and it worked. I will be using it in the future.

Doug
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malcolm197

01 Jun 2015
07:53:08am

re: Using technology/computer efficiently in the hobby of stamp collecting

I've not tried that, but the feature I was looking at involves googling the subject and then clicking on "images for (whatever the head-line subject is )". I think the erratic results must relate to the way that Google looks at the illustrated items words and then translates them to criteria of the images feature. There are thousands of images of the search word(s) and only a fraction appear ( or there may even be a time limitation). However a few quick clicks come in handy. Auction web sites are also a source of information,although unless you are looking for something very specific this can be tedious.

Malcolm

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