Archive for the ‘Product Comparisons’ Category
November 21st, 2008
Producers of videos and advertisers may have more in common than they might think - both want to distribute video content across the web, and both rely on services that distribute videos across multiple networks. At one time these services were expensive, used only by professionals or businesses to promote themselves, but as web 2.0 has developed, these services have become accessible for everyone. Read More »
November 14th, 2008
As we looked at the event management applications this week we were impressed by how simple it was to create an event and manage it - each of the applications could do this - yet there were some that stood above the rest. Navigation-wise, all of the applications were easy to move around, but Eventbrite, with its straightforward graphics and spacing was the most appealing. Read More »
November 7th, 2008
Frequent visitors to Listio will attest to the feeling that the whole world is going web 2.0, and office productivity is no exception. This week we took a look at several productivity applications in web 2.0, specifically the word processing applications Zoho Writer, Springnote, Buzzword, and Writer. We judged the applications on what kind of features they have, how to export and which export formats are supported, and their overall presentation. Each of these applications allowed users to take the creation and editing of word documents online, and each had features for different kinds of users. Read More »
October 31st, 2008
Companies and individuals alike have been transferring their merchandise printing online, and as they do, new options in web 2.0 have made printing easier and more accessible than ever. This week we looked at the applications Zazzle, VistaPrint, SpreadShirt and CafePress. Read More »
October 24th, 2008
Whether you've missed your show or the deadline for high definition TV coming in February is looming over your head, you may want to consider what web 2.0 has to offer. Watching online entertainment has never been as easy as it is with the applications we looked this week. With limited commercial breaks and a library of old and new titles, users with these online TV applications can see movies, TV programs, clips, and in some cases music videos, all for free. Read More »
October 17th, 2008
In a business climate where costs are rising and there is an increasing reliance on the web it is not surprising that companies are finding that web 2.0 applications such as help desks are a cost efficient way to keep satisfaction high and alert them to potential product flaws. This week we took a look at some of the help desk applications on the web. Each offered customers the opportunity to submit help tickets and businesses the chance to manage them. Email was the primary method for this interaction, though each of the applications allowed agents handling the tickets to enter in tickets manually. We evaluated the applications on the ease of use, the options available, and whether the applications were suited to heavy or light users. Read More »
October 6th, 2008
With hundreds newspapers, magazines, blogs, and sites it has become even more difficult to keep up with the latest stories. So what's the best way to handle the information overload? Web 2.0 has a tool for the job, letting users compile feeds from their favorite sites and sources into one easy to handle application. We are, of course, talking about RSS feed readers, which can be used to not only keep up with the news, but in some cases organize and archive them as well. Read More »
September 29th, 2008
As software costs rise and companies need more mobile solutions for productivity tools businesses look increasingly to web 2.0, where a new generation of tools allow companies to conduct their business anywhere, at low cost. This is true of all aspects of productivity, including time management. Businesses know that keeping a handle on time is one of the great challenges, and that companies who can rein it in are able to get more out of every project. This week we covered several of time management tools, judging them on their ability to track time, how easy they were to use, and which features they offered. Read More »
September 19th, 2008
Organizing events, either social or professional, can be complicated, but here to help you manage the guest lists and the information flow are a few invite and RSVP applications. Designed to create invites and keep a tab on who's coming, these applications offer services to help you keep it under control. All of the applications we reviewed for this comparison had the basics to manage guest lists: you could craft an invite, email it, and see who responded. Where they differed and where we judged these applications were on the how they let us do these things, and how what kind of features they added. Read More »
September 12th, 2008
Web based applications do more than capitalize on their ability to be accessed from anywhere - they also relieve their users from the pressure of maintaining hardware and updates. With online invoicing applications not only is there a tool for invoicing for companies on the go, but also there is a solution to some of the problems of invoicing. By allowing users to recreate invoices, making sure that they are paid out in a timely manner, and uncomplicating the tracking process, online invoice applications provide a tool for the modern business. As we looked at the applications that focused on invoicing, we first selected a group that reflected the simple needs of most businesses, setting aside the applications that provide additional accounting or time tracking features for a separate review. We judged the applications on the criteria we would want ourselves for a simple invoicing application; customization, ease-of-use, and tracking. Read More »
August 29th, 2008
Microblogging platforms such as Twitter are becoming more plentiful every day, but for each person won over by the simplicity of their interface and function, there is another that has wanted more. Such is the case with Twitter, which has thrilled users with a simple microblog platform yet has users (and sometimes developers) turning to new tools to enhance their Twitter experience. Read More »
August 22nd, 2008
Whether you are managing a personal or business project, the need for organization is ever-present. Fortunately there are a number of web 2.0 applications that can help with organizing and tracking your projects. Called project management applications, these online organizers come in a variety of complexities and styles. Over the week we've talked about some of these project management tools and judged them on their interface, what features they offered, and how effective they were. Read More »
August 15th, 2008
Let's face it, humans are very visual creatures. So why should we settle for text only search engines? We won't have to any longer. Visual search engines offer the results of your query visually, presenting a graphic oriented interface that, depending on the type of search, shows a large snapshot or a thumbnail-size image of websites or products. Most will offer text results as an aside or as a substitute, but the primary tool these new search engines offer is a visual interface. The benefit of visual search is that it allows for a whole separate layer of information, as well as making the search more entertaining. Read More »
August 8th, 2008
This week we talked about music applications, specifically web 2.0 applications that help us find and discover new artists. All of the applications mentioned refer to themselves as "radios," one way sources of music - but that's analog radio. Radio web 2.0 is interactive, suggestive, and able to cross music genres at the click of a mouse. We judged the "radios" by how they suggested music, how easy they were to use, and how much we discovered about new artists. Read More »
August 1st, 2008
For artists, designers, and web professionals showcasing your work has become easier than ever, thanks to a number of tools available in web 2.0. As we went over some of these new tools one thing became immediately obvious. Not all online portfolio managers are designed for the same reason. As we put the portfolio managers through their paces we kept a number of things in mind; how customizable they were, what tools they offered, and how easy it was for the portfolio to be found. Read More »
July 28th, 2008
We've written up some of the desktop file synchronization applications available, and today we'd like to share what we've discovered. We chose these applications for their versatility and integration of web 2.0 features, and though we did not choose these applications for their file sharing ability, it quickly became apparent that the developers valued that ability. As you can see from the chart, we judged the applications on usability as well as function, always with a mind to reliability. Measured for security, sync, and which applications have unique functions for photos or sharing, we'll be taking a look at the applications that connect you. Read More »
