James Cridland

James Cridland's blog

A radio futurologist writing about what happens when radio and new platforms collide

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The best online applications

Posted on Friday, February 23rd, 2007 at 10:20pm. #

I’ve stopped using software to use email, because Google Mail does a perfectly adequate job: indeed, it’s better than any software-based system I’ve ever used. And recently, I’ve converted away from things like OpenOffice to other, online-only, alternatives, too. I use three computers at home (Mac, Ubuntu, Windows); and another at work (Windows), so the benefits of having my data on the web rather than on a PC is a real benefit.

I can’t find a sensible list, so I thought I’d produce (and keep updated) a list of online replacements for software. So, if you’ve any alternatives, please do comment.

Email
Google Mail
Also Live Mail, Yahoo Mail, etc
Replaces Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird. Unlike others, Google Mail can be used under your own domain-name using Google Apps*.

Word-processor
Google Docs and Spreadsheets
Zoho Writer
Replaces Microsoft Word, Apple’s iWork, Open Office

Spreadsheet
Google Docs and Spreadsheets
Zoho Sheet
Replaces Microsoft Excel, Apple’s iWork, Open Office

Presentations
Zoho Show
Replaces Microsoft Powerpoint, Apple’s iWork, Open Office

Photo editing and organisation
Editing: Picknik*
Organisation: Flickr*
Replaces iPhoto

Getting Things Done
Tadalist
Zoho Planner
Replaces Outlook

* Premium version available as well as free version

What else do you recommend? Will more applications make it to the web? I’d be interested in your comments.

5 comments

edbong said at February 24th, 2007 at 9:06pm

We are developing an FREE open source “business application platform” (think salesforce.com). Our first application is working tightly integrated with GOOGLE APPS. http://www.applicationexchange.com.
let me know if you want a beta account…

Adrian Pegg said at February 25th, 2007 at 10:57pm

Hi James,

I would recommend Backpack for the organiser section (http://backpackit.com/). It’s from the same company as Tadalist but it has more functionality and is truly useful. It’s free to start, but with a paid subscription you get the added advantage of file storage with your pages.

For backing up online you can now get 2Gb free or 20Gb for £5 per month at BT Digital Vault (http://digitalvault.bt.com/). For keeping your music library online (and streaming to anywhere) you can now get unlimited free storage at MP3Tunes (http://mp3tunes.com/).

Adrian Pegg said at February 25th, 2007 at 11:13pm

One Google-killer ap might end up being Scrybe, judging by the promotional video, principally because it has an offline mode which automatically syncs when next online. http://iscrybe.com/

Joff said at March 8th, 2007 at 11:02pm

I should probably point out that Picnik is at http://www.picnik.com (just the one ‘k’).

Phil said at May 10th, 2007 at 11:54am

..and of course the completely free to use staff holiday planner is at http://www.whosoff.com
Its fully featured and easy to use – enter your staff, their entitlement ,who cannot be off with
who and WhosOff does the rest! Managers and staff are notified by email.Managers can use the approval system to accept or decline requests.(One of Miles Mendoza’s ‘Website of the Day’)

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