A.nnotate.com

For those of you who have made the shift to web-based writing, editing, and responding, you can now annotate pdf files at A.nnotate.com. You can share your file notes with others, invite them to annotate the files, reply to existing notes, and create a searchable index of all notes.

Now, *That's* Smart Printing!

If web-based information retrieval has been lacking in a specific area, it's got to be in printing. Often, I really want a print version of information I'm gathering--usually information that spans several web pages. While the old cut-n-paste into Word has its rainy-day pleasures (who am I kidding?), I've always thought there's got to be a better way. HP has answered my prayers with a free app that allows you to grab info from multiple pages and sites, concatenate them to a single page, and then print it out. Check it out at the link below:


HP Smart Web Printing enables simple, predictable web page printing.

Chatmaker

I've been thinking a lot on Web 2.0 tools lately & here's one I've come across that looks like a winner to me. It's a free service called Chatmaker and it allows you to create instant free chat rooms. Just copy the url or code and send it to someone you want to chat with. You are initially logged in as a guest but can change your name. You can also timestamp the conversation, embed links, and use html coding.

Using a service like Chatmaker eliminates the need to sign on/off from a chat program.It looks like a nice alternative for those who don't want to be signed on in another chat program or need a quick tool for conversation. When my advisees are studying abroad this tool would be handy as we work out schedules. I'm sure there are other possibilities I haven't even considered!

Zoho Heaven

While the days of open ID are still far off, Zoho has taken a giant step in that direction with Google and Yahoo!: you can now log into your Zoho account with your Google or Yahoo ID.

On Your Not-To-Do List

Things Not to Install: WinZip and Codec Pack Files top the list. (Funny graphic from the article) Lifehacker adds any software by AOL, Adobe Reader, and camera-specific programs. Recommended instead: 7-Zip, Pidgin, Foxit Reader, and Picasa.

Crappy Apps to Avoid and Their Alternatives: Browser Toolbars, Internet Explorer 6 and 7, iTunes, Java Runtime Environment (no alternative), Limewire, MSN Messenger, Nero Suite, McAfee/Norton/Symantec, QuickTime, Real Player, Windows Media Player, and the forementioned AOL Messaging, Adobe Reader and WinZip.

p class=”MsoNormal”

Speaking of Microsoft, if you have ever foolishly tried to paste a Microsoft Word document into an html file or even save a document as a web page, you have probably encountered those sticky, extraneous tags that Word generates. The odd spacing and weird formatting that results is no fun.

I've seen various html scrubbers, but here are some new tricks:
1) Send the document as an attachment in Gmail and then view as html
2) Upload your document to Textism, a free site
3) Save as Microsoft Web Page, Filtered

Monkey See, Monkey Do

I just read about a new screencasting tool (free) from Microsoft, called Community Clips. The Lifehacker post mentions recording PowerPoint presentations. Sounds like it is brand-specific, but still... cool.