December 2009
Monthly Archive
Tue 22 Dec 2009
Need an easy way to get feedback on a document from remote colleagues or clients? Apollo is an easy-to-use tool that allows you to upload documents and then invite others to view and add notes to them.
With Apollo you can:
- Invite as many people as you want to proof your document.
- Choose who is allowed to accept or reject the proof.
- Upload documents as PDF files or as GIF, JPEG, or PNG images.
- Easily keep a record what changes were requested and by who.
One point to note is that those you invite to view your document will only be able to view it from within Apollo there is no way for them to download the file from the site.
To try out Apollo for yourself click here.
Hat tip to MakeUseOf for the idea for this post
Mon 21 Dec 2009
Want to flip through online news in the same way you flip through a newspaper or magazine? Well Google Labs recently released an online tool called Google Fast Flip which allows you to do just that.
With Google Fast Flip you simply select the type of articles you want to view and then flip through them using the side arrows until you find an article you want to read. You can choose to see popular articles, article from a particular source, articles on a particular topic, or articles from a particular section e.g. business.
What’s great about Google Fast Flip is that it allows you to scan through news really quickly. What you see in Fast Flip is actually just an image of the article not the page itself, so it appears pretty much instantly (you don’t have to wait for a page to load). If you would like to go to the actual webpage you can simply click on the image in Fast Flip and the webpage will open in a new window.
Google Fast Flip also has Email, Like, and Share buttons so you can share articles with others and let Google know which articles are the best.
To try out Google Fast Flip click here
Thu 17 Dec 2009
TeuxDeux is a free online tool which allows you to mange your to-lists really easily. The best thing about TeuxDeux is it simplicity, it may not have many features but you can learn to use it in seconds.
With TeuxDeux you can:
- Enter to-do items on a particular day, or add them to the SomeDay box
- Add a cross through items as you complete them or delete them completely
- Drag and drop items between days or between the SomeDay box and specific days.
If you’re looking for a trouble-free, uncomplicated to-do list tool that you can access from any computer then you should definitely take a look at TeuxDeux. Click here to visit the TeuxDeux site.
If you’re looking for a to-do list tool that’s less simple and has lot more features click here to read about Remember the Milk
Hat tip to Seth’s Blog for the idea for this post
Tue 15 Dec 2009
Microsoft Office 2010, which is due to be released in the first half of next year, has some great new features. Here’s a quick look at some of the best ones.
Free online versions
Perhaps the most talked about aspect of Office 2010 is the free online Web Apps versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. While these free versions will have limited functionality you will still be able to create and edit files from any computer connected to the internet, which could make working with these files much more convenient. Although a lot of people will still buy a desktop or paid subscription version for the additional features, having the option to edit files anytime and anywhere is definitely a bonus.
Microsoft Office Backstage
In Office 2010 Microsoft Office Backstage view replaces the file menu and acts as a centralised space for all your file management tasks and commands you commonly use when opening and closing a document. It is from the Backstage view that you do things like saving, printing, sharing, and changing permissions. Microsoft Office Backstage view is designed to make it easier to work on your files by bringing together related tasks, e.g. printing and page layout options, that were previously located in different places.
Collaboration
Office 2010 has a number of features that make working with others easier. One such feature, Co-authoring, allows you to publish a document for collaboration. This means multiple people can work on different sections of the same document at once. Another new feature is the ability to broadcast your PowerPoint presentations without having to set up a web meeting. This can be done through SharePoint or your free Windows Live Account.
What’s new in Word?
The new Paste Preview feature allows you to hover you mouse over different paste options and preview how they will look before making your decision. If you copy and paste a lot this could potentially save you a lot of time.
What’s new in Excel?
The new Sparlines feature in Excel allows you to create small charts in a single cell, which you can use to quickly identify patterns within your data.
What’s new in PowerPoint?
Want to add video to your PowerPoint Presentation? In Office 2010 you can embed and edit videos from within PowerPoint with features such as trimming, fades and reflections.
What’s new in Outlook?
The new Conversation management tools in Outlook 2010 allow you to cut down on the amount of clutter in your inbox. With the new Clean Up feature you can instantly delete all unnecessary emails in long email threads, so that only unduplicated information is left. You can also use the ignore feature to send an entire conversation to the Deleted Items folder.
This post covers just a few of the great new features available in Office 2010. If you would like to learn more about Office 2010 click here.
Fri 11 Dec 2009
Mon 7 Dec 2009
Last week Google released its 9th annual Zeitgeist, a collection of lists of the most frequent search queries. According to this the most searched for term by kiwis was facebook, followed by youtube and trademe.
As well as the most popular searches you can also find out the fastest rising, hottest tickets, fastest rising song lyrics, most popular ‘what is?’ queries, and most searched for Mountains.
To check out New Zealand results click here
To view global results click here
Thu 3 Dec 2009
You may have noticed when searching on Google that sometimes it will display a list of local businesses next to a map of your area. By listing your business with the Google local business centre your business becomes eligible to appear in these results.
If your business is not showing up in these results it’s really easy to get it added. Just go to www.google.com/local/add, login with a free Google Account, click Add new business, and enter in all you company’s details.
To activate your Google local business listing you will need to get a pin number sent to you either via mail or a phone call. If you select phone call Google will call the number you have listed for your business straight away and a recorded message will tell you the pin you need to enter. If you select mail Google will post your pin out to the address you have your business listed at.
It’s best to use the phone call option if you can, because then you can get your business listed straight away where as the post option takes about 2 weeks.
Tue 1 Dec 2009
Just upgraded to Windows 7? Here are some links you might want to check out.
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Windows 7 training videos –Microsoft has some great, easy to understand training videos available on their site which can help you get the most out of all the new features. As well as being able to watch these videos online you can also download them, or download a PDF of the information.
To watch the first video ‘Getting around the desktop’
click here, to see all available how-to videos
click here.
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The Master List of New Windows 7 Shortcuts – If you like using keyboard shortcuts to speed up working on your computer then here is a great list of new Windows 7 shortcuts from Lifehacker.
Click here to checkout this article.
- 15 Best Windows 7 Tips and Hacks - Looking for the best tips and tricks? MakeUseOf has some great suggestions on their site. Click here to read this article.
