Howstuffworks "How BitTorrent Works"
An excellent article that explains just how BitTorrent works, along with some of the more esoteric terms, like "seeders" and "leechers". Highly recommended reading for those who desire a deeper understanding of BitTorrent. The article also has an excellent primer on peer-to-peer networking in general.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Zoho - An Impressive Suite of Web 2.0 Apps
Zoho - Affordable software for individuals, small & medium business
I just came across Zoho today, and they have assembled an impressive list of Web 2.0 apps, most of which appear to be free or low-cost. The first application that I have used is Zoho Projects, which is a free project management tool that seems pretty decent (you sure can't beat the price). I was able to create a project plan for a demo platform that I'm working on in less than five minutes--try *that* in MS Project! Curiously, Zoho Projects does not appear in the list of Zoho apps--perhaps it's in beta and they're limiting access to people who come across it (like me).
Upon further investigation, I discovered that Zoho is actually a product of AdventNet, whom I worked with quite a bit as an industry analyst. AdventNet has quite a collection of enterprise management, security, database, software testing, and now collaboration/CRM (Zoho suite) products--they have been very busy! AdventNet got their start years ago by creating an SNMP toolkit that is embedded in many systems management products today.
I plan to try out the other online Zoho tools, which include an office suite (replete with a word processor, spreadsheet, collaboration software (email client, calendar, etc), chat client, presenter, planner, and even a CRM tool--quite an impressive list. Virtually all of them are 100% free with the exception of Zoho Virtual Office (the Outlook-like app), which is free for up to 10 users, and Zoho CRM, which is free for up to 3 users. I have not been able to find pricing for Zoho Project, but my guess is that it is free for up to a certain number of users.
In addition to the office tools, Zoho also includes a set of management tools, including a Website monitoring service (100% free!), a survey tool, and a tool for evaluating candidates--the latter is free for up to 25 candidates. Incredible.
This is by far the most complete set of apps that I've found in one place--rivaling what Google is trying to assemble with Writely, et al. Kudos to the AdventNet team for creating all of these apps, and for making most of them completely free!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
WikiMapia - Cool Web 2.0 Mashup
Today I discovered a very cool Web 2.0 mashup that combines Google Maps with Wiki functionality, allowing people to tag places all over the world, adding their own comments and information. I heard about them as they recently announced that the millionth place had been tagged, indicating (to me, anyway) that they are "for real".
To try them out, I tagged the two fishing camps that I visit every year: Davin Lake Lodge and Wathaman Outpost (their commercial website is at http://www.davinlake.com) . To view the tags I created, click on the boxes, and if you've visited their camps, feel free to add to my entries (anyone can edit any of the listings--the beauty of Wiki!).
I also recently added a WikiMapia entry for my company, Proxima Technology, which is about to relocate its UK headquarters to an awesome office, called the New Lodge, near Windsor.
Cool stuff!
To try them out, I tagged the two fishing camps that I visit every year: Davin Lake Lodge and Wathaman Outpost (their commercial website is at http://www.davinlake.com) . To view the tags I created, click on the boxes, and if you've visited their camps, feel free to add to my entries (anyone can edit any of the listings--the beauty of Wiki!).
I also recently added a WikiMapia entry for my company, Proxima Technology, which is about to relocate its UK headquarters to an awesome office, called the New Lodge, near Windsor.
Cool stuff!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Google Cheat Sheets (Version 1.02)
Google Cheat Sheets (Version 1.02): "This two page Google Cheat Sheet lists all Google services and tools as well as background information. The Cheat Sheet offers a great reference to grasp of basic to advance Google query building concepts and ideas."
Cool!
Cool!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Web 2.0 Technologies: Rails, Geocoding, and Google Maps
Web 2.0 Technologies: Rails, Geocoding, and Google Maps
Cool article on how to use Google maps with Rails. I've decided to embark upon a spare time project to learn Rails, and this is probably as good of a place to start as any!
While I'm on the subject, I came across a very entertaining intro to Ruby at http://poignantguide.net/ruby/ ; I don't know how good it is at actually teaching you how to program in Ruby, but it's a fun read nonetheless.
Cool article on how to use Google maps with Rails. I've decided to embark upon a spare time project to learn Rails, and this is probably as good of a place to start as any!
While I'm on the subject, I came across a very entertaining intro to Ruby at http://poignantguide.net/ruby/ ; I don't know how good it is at actually teaching you how to program in Ruby, but it's a fun read nonetheless.
Fifty Ways to Take Notes » Solution Watch
Fifty Ways to Take Notes » Solution Watch
Sung to "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover", this site shows 50 ways to take online notes, including Writely (which was recently acquired by Google). Nice compendium.
Sung to "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover", this site shows 50 ways to take online notes, including Writely (which was recently acquired by Google). Nice compendium.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Instiki-Instant Wiki
Instiki
This is a Ruby-based instant Wiki application that allows you to run a Wiki server on your PC with very little installation and minor overhead on your PC.
All that is required is Ruby (which is free), and Instiki (which is also free).
That said, I tried to install it last night, and while the install went without a hitch, when I tried to access the Wiki page, it would only come up with a blank page. I even tried changing the port and shutting down my firewall-no dice. When I have time I'll spend more time playing with it, as I think the idea is a really great one for keeping track of personal notes, and such--think of Wikipedia, only it has just your stuff in it!
This is a Ruby-based instant Wiki application that allows you to run a Wiki server on your PC with very little installation and minor overhead on your PC.
All that is required is Ruby (which is free), and Instiki (which is also free).
That said, I tried to install it last night, and while the install went without a hitch, when I tried to access the Wiki page, it would only come up with a blank page. I even tried changing the port and shutting down my firewall-no dice. When I have time I'll spend more time playing with it, as I think the idea is a really great one for keeping track of personal notes, and such--think of Wikipedia, only it has just your stuff in it!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Free "secure" anonymous e-mail
FREE secure anonymous E-mail to a friend, client or colleague: WillSelfDestruct
This is an interesting service--you type in a message, specify who to send it to and a time limit (e.g. 30 seconds), and if they leave the page, refresh, or if time runs out, the message is automatically destroyed.
There is only one problem that I can see--the web page isn't encrypted (e.g. the supposed "secure" message is being sent over the Internet in clear text! Perhaps that's in version 2...."Now featuring REALLY, TRULY SECURE messages!"
Hmmm.....OK, so again--where is the business model?
This is an interesting service--you type in a message, specify who to send it to and a time limit (e.g. 30 seconds), and if they leave the page, refresh, or if time runs out, the message is automatically destroyed.
There is only one problem that I can see--the web page isn't encrypted (e.g. the supposed "secure" message is being sent over the Internet in clear text! Perhaps that's in version 2...."Now featuring REALLY, TRULY SECURE messages!"
Hmmm.....OK, so again--where is the business model?
Monday, March 06, 2006
Podbop-great new mashup
This is a web mashup that won first place at Mashup Camp a couple of weeks ago. It is a service that generates a Podcast that contains the bands that are playing in a given city (as an RSS feed), along with an MP3 file of the band playing, if available.
Podbop uses Eventful as its base source for local event data, and they use a variety of other sources to provide the mp3 files. The URL is www.podbop.org, and I just subscribed to the service--it seems to be working as advertised. Hopefully I'll find new cool new bands that we'll want to go see this weekend!
Podbop uses Eventful as its base source for local event data, and they use a variety of other sources to provide the mp3 files. The URL is www.podbop.org, and I just subscribed to the service--it seems to be working as advertised. Hopefully I'll find new cool new bands that we'll want to go see this weekend!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
The Next Net 25: 25 startups that are reinventing the web - Mar. 1, 2006
The Next Net 25: 25 startups that are reinventing the web - Mar. 1, 2006
Could one of these be the next Google?
Could one of these be the next Google?
Windows Live Local - Virtual Earth Technology Preview
Windows Live Local - Virtual Earth Technology Preview
Now THIS is cool--a Microsoft technology preview that lets you drive through a city (virtually, of course), including all of the views you would get in a normal car (front, back, left/right, etc). It will be really interesting to see where they take this technology.
Now THIS is cool--a Microsoft technology preview that lets you drive through a city (virtually, of course), including all of the views you would get in a normal car (front, back, left/right, etc). It will be really interesting to see where they take this technology.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Live Thumbnails: Watch 'em Grow
Live Thumbnails: Watch 'em Grow
A really cool bit of Javascript wizardry that allows you to create image thumbnails that magically grow to full size when you click on them.
A really cool bit of Javascript wizardry that allows you to create image thumbnails that magically grow to full size when you click on them.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Google releases Desktop 3.0 Beta
Google Desktop 3.0 Beta
Google has released the beta of Desktop 3.0, which includes the following new features;
- Search for files across all your computers
- Google can upload search information for multiple computers to their servers; this allows them to consolidate the information so that you can search the contents of multiple computers. Note: search information is tranferred securely using SSL.
- Share information with your friends right from the Sidebar
- New feature
I've just installed it on my machine; I'll post an update after I've had a chance to use it for a few days.
Google has released the beta of Desktop 3.0, which includes the following new features;
- Search for files across all your computers
- Google can upload search information for multiple computers to their servers; this allows them to consolidate the information so that you can search the contents of multiple computers. Note: search information is tranferred securely using SSL.
- Share information with your friends right from the Sidebar
- New feature
I've just installed it on my machine; I'll post an update after I've had a chance to use it for a few days.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Mega Mashup: integrating Gmail, Gtalk with Flickr, YouTube
Google and Flickr integration with Gtalkr:
"Gtalkr is a Flash-based web app designed to bring your Google apps (Gmail and Google Talk) together with Flickr, YouTube, and newsfeeds for an all-in-one media and communications mega-package."
A very cool mega-mashup!
"Gtalkr is a Flash-based web app designed to bring your Google apps (Gmail and Google Talk) together with Flickr, YouTube, and newsfeeds for an all-in-one media and communications mega-package."
A very cool mega-mashup!
Monday, February 06, 2006
30 Boxes | it's your life
30 Boxes | free shared online calendar
This must be the day for free Web 2.0 apps! 30 boxes is a free shared calendar app (Ajax based, of course)--looks pretty decent although it's very lean on the synchronization options at present (seems to have some export functionality but very little import options, much less sync). I'm sure that will come--and if they're smart, at a price!
This must be the day for free Web 2.0 apps! 30 boxes is a free shared calendar app (Ajax based, of course)--looks pretty decent although it's very lean on the synchronization options at present (seems to have some export functionality but very little import options, much less sync). I'm sure that will come--and if they're smart, at a price!
LoanBack: Online Promissory Notes
LoanBack: Web 2.0 app with a real business model
I read about LoanBack on Tim O'Reilly's blog; these guys found a business need first, and then used Web 2.0 technology (Ruby on Rails, I believe) to "instantiate" it.
Their service creates custom, legal, promissory notes designed for loans between people that know each other. Great idea--hopefully they'll be able to turn it into a business success.
Speaking of mashups--how about LoanBack mashedup with PayPal? After the agreement has been made, LoanBack could integrate with PayPal to make the payment. You could also mash LoanBack with Blinksale (a Web 2.0 invoicing app) to make sure that the person who is borrowing the money doesn't forget to make regular payments!
I read about LoanBack on Tim O'Reilly's blog; these guys found a business need first, and then used Web 2.0 technology (Ruby on Rails, I believe) to "instantiate" it.
Their service creates custom, legal, promissory notes designed for loans between people that know each other. Great idea--hopefully they'll be able to turn it into a business success.
Speaking of mashups--how about LoanBack mashedup with PayPal? After the agreement has been made, LoanBack could integrate with PayPal to make the payment. You could also mash LoanBack with Blinksale (a Web 2.0 invoicing app) to make sure that the person who is borrowing the money doesn't forget to make regular payments!
Num Sum - web spreadsheet
Num Sum - web spreadsheet
This is the perfect companion to Writely--a Web-based spreadsheet. I found out about this during a conversation with a journalist that is covering Writely for Inc Magazine. Like Writely, NumSum is free. Seems like numsum and Writely ought to combine forces...add web-based database and presentation software, interface them (can you say "mashup?"), and you've got a very interesting alternative to Office--particularly so when paired with OpenOffice or StarOffice, which gives you the "offline" side of the equation, also at low cost.
At first glance, I thought this was another app by the 37signals guys (the same group that brought us Basecamp, Backpack, Writeboard and Ta-da List), but upon further inspection it appears to be a totally new group called TrimPath. It seems that the perceived similarities between all of these new SAAS (software-as-a-service) offerings is that they're all based on Ajax, which tends to give them a similar look-and-feel.
Regardless of who is behind it, Num Sum seems to work well, especially for Beta software (although to be fair, I haven't done anything really difficult with it yet). The biggest ding so far is that NumSum doesn't currently support a direct import from Excel, but you can copy directly from an Excel spreadsheet and paste it into Trimpath's 'import' function (which, as you might guess, copies the contents of the cells but not the underlying formulae). That's OK for simple sheets, but let's hope they add a direct Excel import function soon!
I'm still wondering about the business model here...but perhaps that's it--build a product on the cheap, get some free publicity, and sell the company to Microsoft for a few million. Not a bad idea.....
This is the perfect companion to Writely--a Web-based spreadsheet. I found out about this during a conversation with a journalist that is covering Writely for Inc Magazine. Like Writely, NumSum is free. Seems like numsum and Writely ought to combine forces...add web-based database and presentation software, interface them (can you say "mashup?"), and you've got a very interesting alternative to Office--particularly so when paired with OpenOffice or StarOffice, which gives you the "offline" side of the equation, also at low cost.
At first glance, I thought this was another app by the 37signals guys (the same group that brought us Basecamp, Backpack, Writeboard and Ta-da List), but upon further inspection it appears to be a totally new group called TrimPath. It seems that the perceived similarities between all of these new SAAS (software-as-a-service) offerings is that they're all based on Ajax, which tends to give them a similar look-and-feel.
Regardless of who is behind it, Num Sum seems to work well, especially for Beta software (although to be fair, I haven't done anything really difficult with it yet). The biggest ding so far is that NumSum doesn't currently support a direct import from Excel, but you can copy directly from an Excel spreadsheet and paste it into Trimpath's 'import' function (which, as you might guess, copies the contents of the cells but not the underlying formulae). That's OK for simple sheets, but let's hope they add a direct Excel import function soon!
I'm still wondering about the business model here...but perhaps that's it--build a product on the cheap, get some free publicity, and sell the company to Microsoft for a few million. Not a bad idea.....
Friday, February 03, 2006
Mashups
I'm seeing an increasing number of "mashups," aka web application hybrids, hit the Web 2.0 scene, and it's really exciting stuff IMHO.
Before I go into some of them, I should probably define mashups, as I've found that many people don't know what they are (you can also find the Wikipedia definition in the hotlink above this paragraph). In a nutshell, if you think about web services as being advertised bits of code that deliver useful functionality (a perfect example is Google maps), then a mashup is taking a web service and combining it with one or more ("mashing them up") in order to create new functionality.
A good example of a mashup would be to combine Google maps with mobile telephone "dead zones" (either provided directly by the cell providers but most likely generated by public contributions--e.g. if you get dropped every day on your way to work, you go to a web site and enter the coordinates of the dead zone). You could then combine this database with Google maps and plot out exactly where you could expect to get poor coverage, even if you've never driven the road.
Other intriguing mashups (which may or may not actually be technically possible) would be combining Yahoo's new Web email client with 37 signal's BaseCamp project management software--a project manager could input tasks and then export them to Yahoo -- a poor man's version of Exchange, with no Microsoft software required.
Another mashup might be to interface various sources of public data, like weather, with a securities trading system to enable investors to make even faster buy/sell decisions based on many different variables.
I read about another intriguing mashup, along the lines of the first example: combining WiFi hotspot information in airports with AC outlet locations--and make it accessible from a wireless phone, so you could determine very quickly the best place to "park" yourself while waiting for a flight.
There is a Mashup Camp taking place February 20-21 in Mountain View, CA, for those hard-core mashup types that would like to cross-pollinate their mashup ideas, and for the record, a couple of the ideas above came from their web site.
Before I go into some of them, I should probably define mashups, as I've found that many people don't know what they are (you can also find the Wikipedia definition in the hotlink above this paragraph). In a nutshell, if you think about web services as being advertised bits of code that deliver useful functionality (a perfect example is Google maps), then a mashup is taking a web service and combining it with one or more ("mashing them up") in order to create new functionality.
A good example of a mashup would be to combine Google maps with mobile telephone "dead zones" (either provided directly by the cell providers but most likely generated by public contributions--e.g. if you get dropped every day on your way to work, you go to a web site and enter the coordinates of the dead zone). You could then combine this database with Google maps and plot out exactly where you could expect to get poor coverage, even if you've never driven the road.
Other intriguing mashups (which may or may not actually be technically possible) would be combining Yahoo's new Web email client with 37 signal's BaseCamp project management software--a project manager could input tasks and then export them to Yahoo -- a poor man's version of Exchange, with no Microsoft software required.
Another mashup might be to interface various sources of public data, like weather, with a securities trading system to enable investors to make even faster buy/sell decisions based on many different variables.
I read about another intriguing mashup, along the lines of the first example: combining WiFi hotspot information in airports with AC outlet locations--and make it accessible from a wireless phone, so you could determine very quickly the best place to "park" yourself while waiting for a flight.
There is a Mashup Camp taking place February 20-21 in Mountain View, CA, for those hard-core mashup types that would like to cross-pollinate their mashup ideas, and for the record, a couple of the ideas above came from their web site.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
SimpleTicket - Open Source Trouble Ticket System for Small & Medium Sized Businesses
SimpleTicket - Open Source Trouble Ticket System for Small & Medium Sized Businesses
Awesome. This is the type of solution that Web 2.0 embodies--I haven't tried it, but for SMBs, this could be the perfect alternative to commercial service desk systems--particularly so for those that couldn't afford one any other way.
Awesome. This is the type of solution that Web 2.0 embodies--I haven't tried it, but for SMBs, this could be the perfect alternative to commercial service desk systems--particularly so for those that couldn't afford one any other way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)