Adobe Kuler

Choosing colors for a web, logo, or creative project in general is a step of first importance. Adobe® Kuler helps. Use the iOS App alongside the website for inspiration and color combos you’re bound to be glad to explore. Read more

Springpad

Update: Springpad closed it’s doors on June 2014.

Springpad. A new word that I’ve come to like, and I think you might, too. Read more

Wistia

I can’t say enough about the guys at Wistia.

If you’re learning video, hosting video, like watching good videos, or want to see something done well, jump on the bandwagon. Read more

Jolidrive

Jolidrive

Jolidrive is a simple and elegant way to access your online data.

There is one basic question the guys have attempted to answer: “If the cloud is the online hard drive containing all my data, why don’t I have a simple access to it?”

Get to know Jolidrive. I think it’s worth taking a look!

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Dropmark

Dropmark® allows you to drop files right from your computer, or the web, to create organized collections—bringing together information like never before.

What’s cool is that it lets you see and go through that information in a way I really like. Read more

Delicious – The world’s leading social bookmarking service

Delicious helps you “keep, share and discover the best of the web.”

I use it mainly for the “keep”/”remember” feature. Delicious has been home for my bookmarks since 2009, and though it’s history has been semi-rocky, it remains a valuable option for social (or non-social) bookmarking on the web. Read more

Hojoki

Hojoki

Update: Hojoki closed as of September 2014.

The highlights of Hojoki?

  • Notifications of actvity in cloud services (i.e.Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote) via daily briefings by email or handy iOS app.
  • Workspaces that bring related things from all your apps into one space.
  • Discussions and comments on every object from my apps.

In essence, modern day web projects often require sharing larger images, files and documents that aren’t suitable any more for email. It is preferable to use a service like Dropbox. Initial dilemma, however, is being notified as to when a client drops something in there. I often miss a desktop notification that the file has been put in there. Hojoki prevents that and provides a place for comments (team messaging) and collaboration on what is to be done with that file.

Check out the video – it really sums it up. Read more

Buffer App

Timely tweets, posts, and updates; analytics, integrations, teamwork; from a web page, from your phone, from an app, from an email – they like to call it awesome.

Buffer is a smarter way to share what you want to share on Social Media.

Why use Buffer instead of regular Social Media posting?

Ah, yes. Great question.

Read more

SugarSync

SugarSync

It’s helpful to at least know your options.

In a world of ever-changing technology and science, one particularly noticeable category has been the “cloud” and “syncing” data. Maybe it’s not “ever-changing” in this case as much as “still getting going”.

SugarSync is on Version 2 (November 2012). The field is continuously changing.

As they like to say, “Sync just got sweeter”:

  • Access – desktop, web, mobile.
  • Sync – SugarSync does not just store your data but keeps everything in sync.
  • Share – file or folder sharing/collaboration.
  • Backup – can backup any file on your computer.

It’s a great and competitive game out there. DropboxGoogle Drive, iCloud (if you have a Mac), and others if you have the time.

If you’re looking for a clear backup solution, you might check out this post.

Microsoft SkyDrive

Skydrive

Microsoft has been busy.

I recommend you check out SkyDrive:

  • 7 GB free
  • Mac or PC – iPhone or Android – web login
  • Syncs across devices – folder on each
  • Pricing structure for upgrades in storage capacity (up to 100GB)

Like Dropbox, the folder exists on your Mac/PC. You can even place it where you like. Everything syncs. You can access it online.

Nice.

For so long we’ve been hearing about Mac OSX, Apple, iPhones, Dropbox, SugarSync, Google Drive, “Switch to a Mac”…it’s actually almost kind of nice to see some excitement with Windows 8 and the Windows Phone design and style.

And SkyDrive.

Microsoft has been busy.

 

AddThis Social Sharing

AddThis | Social Sharing Plugin Platform

You’ve probably seen the little orange icon. Over 14 million domains trust AddThis.

There’s a few things I like about them and some reasons why I think you could too, as you also consider other services like DiggDigg or Shareaholic: Read more

BrandYourself

BrandYourself

Winners of the 2012 Best Bootstrapped Startup at SXSW (South By Southwest Accelerator Competition), BrandYourself helps individuals control their personal online reputation, without spending thousands on an online reputation company.

This is a “Just For People (Not Businesses)”, Do-it-Yourself, Free (or Premium), Integrity-based (“White-Hat”), Open Service. You can check out their process and philosophy regarding SEO to see what I mean.

In a summary:

Manage your Online Reputation, Google Ranking, and Personal Branding. The free and easy way to control your own search results.

The concept might not apply to you right away, but “If you aren’t happy with what people see when they look you up on Google, BrandYourself is here to help” (NBC/ABC news).

DomainTools

DomainTools.com

The Domain Name System has been in existence since 1983. Though not commercially available until 1985, the domain names idea would lay the groundwork for what would grow into and become the global internet.

DomainTools helps us research and monitor the now over 200 million registered domain names.

Read more
SoundCloud | Share your Sounds

SoundCloud | Audio Plugin Platform

So…if musicians, publishers, and businesses alike incorporate audio into WordPress sites, why is there no one plugin that is the clear winner to satisfy a world of listening?

The answer? Because there are now platforms, not plugins, that are delivering audio content around the web.

Read more
Video Hosting - Vimeo and YouTube

Video Hosting: YouTube & Vimeo

And so the world went viral.

Vimeo and Youtube aren’t the only two video hosting services out there, but they are the “big two” in my mind. Update: Check out the post on Wistia.

Read more

Google Voice

Google Voice

It’s good to know about Google Voice. Their widget and Live Chat could fit nicely into your own site, not to mention simply calling from your computer at any time during the day.

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Aspect Ratio Calculator

Sometimes there’s a tool online that fits the niche. Andrew’s Aspect Ratio Calculator has been that tool for me.

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Gimme Bar

Gimme Bar

Using Pinterest? Have you heard of it? My guess would be a, “Yes.”

Heard of Gimme Bar? Thus the reason for this quick post.

Read more

Scribd

Scribd

Publishing and advanced document sharing – that’s Scribd.

And it’s not just publishing documents already in PDF format. Publish PowerPoint presentations, Excel Spreadsheets, Plain Text documents, and of course WORD documents amongst others.

It’s YouTube™ for text.

Read more

BuiltWith

BuiltWith.com

Sometimes it’s cool to know what a site is built on/with.

Giving results in a list summary format, BuiltWith has come in handy with a right-click or by entering a URL.

BuiltWith is a web technology information provider, tracking over 147 million active websites and performing over 900 billion technology lookups each year, BuiltWith is a leader in the web technology research field.

Fontsquirrel

Fontsquirrel: a @font-face time saver

Whoever thought of the @font-face CSS rule has the thanks of us all, whether we know it or not.

Read more

Namecheap + WordPress + Google Apps

Namecheap Hosting and WordPress email with Google Apps

Trying to get your WordPress to send emails via Google Apps on a Namecheap Shared Hosting account? This post might help if the SMTP plugins didn’t do the trick.

We use and love Namecheap. We also recommend and encourage WordPress. The two are great for the groundwork of a website: domain registrar, shared hosting, and open-source (free) web software on which to build it all (and it’s fun, too).

Including Google’s Services through Google Apps is something we also like to consider and offer. The Standard Edition, with up to 10 users, is free for anyone. However, a little trick may be required if a site would like to combine Namecheap Shared Hosting, WordPress software and Google Apps.

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Google Drive Illustration

Google Drive

We know Google offers much more than just a search engine.

Google Drive is one step closer to “anytime, anywhere” for our files that Google Docs and Dropbox (to name just two) has helped usher in.

This should be fun (and helpful)!

Google Drive. Keep everything. Share anything.

Read more

Google Analytics

Google Analytics

Google Analytics. It’s a great place to start (and easily stay).

Analytics is worth learning about.

Read more

Google Apps

Google Apps

If you’re building a website or even just working with your own domain, I recommend that you consider Google Apps.

The main thing I want you to know is that using Google’s services (or “apps”) with your own domain is free for individuals and small teams of less than 10.

UPDATE

As of 12/2012 Google changed their business model to a “for-fee”. Unfortunately, most of the excitement in this post is no longer pertinent.
Read more

Google Web Fonts

Google Web Fonts

The world of “fonts” (or type/typography), for whatever reason, has almost always mattered to me in my time with the computer.

Ever take an extra moment to choose a font for the “Title” of your paper back in high school (or college) that sort of embodied the feeling/meaning of your submission? When allowed, without thinking about it, I almost always did that.

Google, Inc.

Google (yup, Google)

Google is a web designer’s best* and most used tool. The sheer volume of searches is overwhelming. How many millions of searches are made in a month? The answer is actually billions. Almost anything related to web design or development (learning or earning), could be initiated from Google Search. And “Search” isn’t their only service.

Read more

CrashPlanPRO

Backup: Have a CrashPlan

Businesses need backup. Files need saving. Data needs not getting lost.

Although I valued the services of SugarSync, the initial exposure to Carbonite, the easy familiarity of Dolly Drive, and the design and approach of BackBlaze, I found myself drawn, by recommendation of another friend, to CrashPlan by Code 42.

You know I like Dropbox and I didn’t mention SOS Online Backup or Amazon S3 in the list above, so do your own research, assess your options, and back up your stuff.

Read more

San Diego, CA - Google Maps

Google MapsGL

How cool.

A website can often need or benefit from having a web mapping service such as Google MapsBing Maps, Yahoo Maps, or the first on the scene, MapQuest (it’s a fascinating history). Whether for your personal use or via an embed on a site you own or are working on, the inclusion of WebGL technology in Google Maps,

“…enables a richer maps experience with immersive 3D buildings, smoother transitions between imagery, fluid transitions into Streetview and more, directly in your browser and all without a plugin.”

Read more

w3schools logo

w3schools

Dear w3schools.com,

Thank you for teaching me and letting me learn “How it all works.” Thank you for available and organized information, and results in Google’s search. Thank you for step-by-step tutorials during my introduction and exposure to HTML and CSS. I’m where I am because of your help.

“Success brings interest.” I felt a lot of success learning what I needed to know with you guys.

Thanks.

Lynda.com logo

Lynda.com

Lynda.com introduced me to a whole new world of learning software via video tutorials, available 24-hrs online.

Once I saw it, I felt like I could learn anything because they had a video tutorial for just about every application I was hoping to learn.

And the way in which I could learn made such a difference; all my senses (learning styles) engaged. I essentially had the ideal situation for learning a new “instrument”, through professionally prepared lessons, at my own pace, at any time.

Tutorials you might consider, should you be in a situation similar as I regarding websites, Content Management Systems (CMS), etc. might include topics like WordPress, HTML5, CSS3, and Web Design Fundamentals.

Read more

Dropbox logo

Dropbox

I’ve grown to love this word.

“…a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere…any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, phones and even the Dropbox website. Dropbox also makes it super easy to share with others…” – Dropbox

I think you will, too.

MailChimp

MailChimp

There are few things I love more than ice cream. MailChimp may be one of them.

ManageWP logo

ManageWP.com

For those working with and/or supporting multiple WordPress sites, I have found ManageWP to be a helpful service.

From their site:

All your sites under one dashboard! ManageWP helps you manage all your WordPress sites from one dashboard, keeping them updated and secure.

I don’t get anything for telling you about them, I just like them and appreciate what they’ve permitted me to do and accomplish a little more easily as I support and manage multiple WordPress websites.

Namecheap Logo

Namecheap.com

I use and recommend Namecheap (I’m not affiliated), both from my past two years with them as a domain registrar and more recently with web hosting. Thanks for good prices, great service and support, and coupons.

Namecheap has been a credible alternative for some of the other more well-known registrars out there to date and I use them for everything in this field, as much as I can.

UPDATE: If you have an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, etc.), the Namecheap app offers a management system for the domains that you manage at Namecheap: search, register, renew, view transfers and even change DNS, all on the go.