- Google Reader - it's an online RSS reader. I know that there are standalone readers out there, but I really like the fact that I can have my RSS feeds collected in one universally accessible location without having to schlep around a laptop. Plus, like most of their products, the user-interface for Google Reader rocks.
- Steel Dolphin's color scheme generator - This is probably the best online color scheme generator I've seen lately, because it allows you to quickly and easily change colors and associated attributes (hue, saturation, type of color scheme, etc.). I used to use Well Styled's tool, and also the Online Color Schemer (which I still like for displaying lots of related colors), but I like Steel Dolphin's the best now.
- Someone has compiled an extensive list of which search engine to use for different types of searches. Google is still my overall favorite, by far, but this list gives you tips on which search engines are the best for things like searches by file type (.pdf, .ppt, .xls), searches for sounds, geographic searches, or for seeing a visual representation of your search results.
- Software from 37 Signals - the Chicago web design firm, 37 Signals, creates simple, but powerful software that really will improve the quality of your life. One of their flagship products is Basecamp, an online project management application that kicks ass. I'm also a big fan of Backpack, a personal organizational tool that lets you create (and share, if you want) pages that can organize almost any kind of information. You can create recipe pages, wishlists for comparison shopping, project lists for work, or tons more examples that I haven't even mentioned. Then there's Writeboard, a handy tool for collaborative writing and text editing. You can write something, share it with your friends or coworkers, and let them make edits to your work, without losing any of the intermediate versions. All the edits are tracked and maintained, so you can monitor the evolution of your text. Finally, we have Tada Lists - a simple little tool to let you create lists of things. I've made lists of restaurants, books I want to read, Internet bookmarks, and more. It's quick, easy, free and very useful.
- Google Map Pedometer - I discovered this thing several weeks ago, and by now it's garnered quite a bit of popularity on the net, but it's still worth mentioning. This tool lets you calculate the exact distance between any set of points using Google Maps and its map/hybrid/satellite views. Finally there's a super easy way to figure out how far you ran, biked, or drove.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Goodies
Ah... so much to write about, and so little time. I've been rather busy lately, what with binging on concerts, working 12-hour days, and distracting myself from Stanford's loss to Cal by hanging out with awesome people at a fantastically fun tailgater. Stories are forthcoming, but in the meantime here are a few nifty things I've discovered in recent weeks.