Another Web Word Processor

Another online word processor to consider for collaborative writing is Writely.com. Recently acquired by Google, they are not currently accepting new sign-ups. However, you can still take a "tour" of the service and register to be notified when the service has completed the move to Google & is once again available.

Category: Utilities_

Document Collaboration

Have a need for two or more people to work together on one document? Now you can create web-based documents and share them with your team - Check out this free website at http://www.rallypointhq.com

Along with professional looking editing features, you can:

• Tag your pages with labels to cleanly organize your pages in multiple locations.
• Define user and group access to your pages, including editors, viewers and subscribers.
• Speed page creation with private and public templates.
• Create collections of your favorite pages around any subject matter.
• Quickly find pages with a powerful built-in search engine.
• Attach documents, such as Word and Excel files, to your pages.
• With no software to install and administer you can be productive in minutes, not days or weeks.

Category: Utilities_

33 Wikis

Wikis are popping up everywhere and collaborative technology blog, Eastwikkers, is featuring a wiki a day for 33 days. Spotlighted so far:

• Davis Wiki
• Flu Wiki
• This Might be a Wiki
• Autistic Spectrum Wiki
• Wikilaw

New to the wiki concept? What does wiki mean? Learn more in the Wikipedia. Read about the Wikipedia vs. Britannica smackdown. Get free wiki software.

Category: Web_

Putting the "We" in Web

Newsweek's cover story this week is on the new "social" web, all about customized communities, sharing, tagging, etc. and ties in with posts by Leigh and Jane about the bookmarking services.

Featured companies:
Flickr (sharing images)
YouTube (sharing video)
MySpace (sharing everything!)
FaceBook (see above)
imeem (sharing instant messaging and media)
De.licio.us (sharing bookmarks)
Dabble (not even launched yet, sharing databases)

Not mentioned, but also commonly used for sharing bookmarks -- furl.

Category: Web_

Download Color Cop - color picker

According to Lifehacker, "Color Cop is a freeware eyedropper and color combination tool that makes grabbing a color your like, along with a few complimentary colors, quick and easy."

Category: Utilities_

Get More from Your Clicks

If you enjoy using social bookmarking systems (think del.icio.us and Digg), Ekstreme.com has made it possible to
Bookmark with multiple social sites with only one click.

Categories: utilities_

Wink, wink

A FREE screen capture video application... think SnagIt... think Camtasia.... think FREE.

Learn more and download Wink here.


Category: Web_ , Utilities_

Free Long Distance

As a lover of free things, I bring to you Skype. According to the Skype website, "Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers."

I've installed it and have used it to talk to students studying abroad. You must have a headset/microphone unit or speakers & a microphone to use it. Once the program is downloaded you enter some information to create an account. When your friends create accounts you can call them via the Internet & talk, just like using a phone but no long distance charges. Did I mention it's free? And easy to use?

Category: Utilities_ , Other Cool Stuff_

foobar2000 sounds great!

According to Lifehacker, foobar2000 is a freeware minimalist audio player that runs on just about any system.

Category: audio_

IKeepBookmarks and You Can Too!

One of my favorite tips to share is the use of web-based bookmarks. I use a service called iKeepBookmarks.com to organize sites I want to share & then they are available from any computer with Internet access. Here's the link to the site I use with my classes: http://ww2.ikeepbookmarks.com/sru

I can set up folders for my classes & have sites ready to go in a quick click instead of typing in URLs. Also, I can save all of my bookmarks as a webpage and add it to a website. It's a free service too. My students make use of it when they student teach. I hope you'll find it useful too.

Category: Web_ , Other Cool Stuff_

My Favorite Tiny Useful Trick

When typing in web addresses, simply press CTRL - ENTER to create the "www" and ".com" part automatically. Example: type google, press CTRL - ENTER, and enjoy the magic.

Category: Other Cool Stuff_

Redecorating

Need some new wallpaper? This Ask Metafilter post lists lots of links to fresh desktop imagery.

Category: Utilities_, Images_

Trillian Talking

Trillian is a very nice instant messaging application that is cross-platform -- connecting to AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, ICQ, and IRC with one pretty painless installation. (Yahoo! is a little proprietary and problematic.) Chat with everyone!

Category: Utilities_

TuCows Are Better Than One

If you like mucking about TuCows for inexpensive software, check out this European site.
Softonic - Reviews and free software downloads

Category: Other Cool Stuff_

Throw Off the Chains of Adobe

and check out these free, online pdf generators:

Primo PDF
PDF Online
Express PDF
PDF Lab (Mac OS X only)

Category: Utilities_

Invitations to Blog

If you are interested in contributing to this blog, please notify Melba Tomeo or Jane Lasarenko to receive an invitation. All participants are welcome. We would be pleased to have you join us!

Now Presenting....

Some useful resources to combat PowerPoint fatique:

• PowerPoint Principles for Educators via The Kept-Up Academic Librarian
• Where to Get Quotations for Presentations via Presentation Zen*
• Cartoon licensing via CartoonStock.com
• CartoonBank.com from the New Yorker via Lifehacker

*an excellent all-purpose presentation site

Category: Presentations_

Color Mixing

These handy tools suggest coordinating color schemes for the design-challenged.

Color Palette Tools from Mambofrog
Color Schemer Online
Color Combos

Category: Images_ , Web_

Name That Voice

Want to have your students record information even if they do not have the technology to do so? Using a simple microphone or even a telephone, you can create audio files for free at http://www.odeo.com.

Category: Audio_

Picture Pages

PXN8, edit on the fly online, flickr compatible
Create online photo albums, with Web Album Generator
Download the GIMP, GNU Image Manipulation Program
Find free images and stock photography (watch out for the sponsored ads)
Top 10 places to find images for your blog, or whatever
More free stock photography from Lifehacker
Resize images in Windows Explorer from Lifehacker

Category: Images_

Can You Hear Me Now?

Free audio and video from LearnOutLoud.com
The Free Sound Project
Audacity, free cross-platform sound editor

Category: Audio_ , Video_

Font Findings

Resources for free and inexpensive fonts, via Lifehacker:
Free Fonts;
Simply the Best;
25 Best License-Free Quality Fonts;
A blog called Fontleech, dedicated to finding high quality free font sites; Which fonts are Best for the Web?
and as a special introductory bonus--Free Quality Icons,
a monthly download.

Category: Fonts_

Downloadable Software

A comprehensive site that provides software for downloading at very low prices,
Downloadable Software is an excellent site to buy Microsoft, Adobe, and Macromedia programs.

Category: Other Cool Stuff_