I always jump at the chance to chat with other web designers or small business owners. For starters, it’s a great way to network and meet other like-minded individuals. Also, you are guaranteed to pick up new tips or techniques by watching those around you.

I also collaborate site designs, embedded YouTube style video, and community based software with companies all around the world. Web designers enjoy the luxury of working from anywhere. I chat via VoIP for next to nothing and email to correspond. It easy to spot the more reputable companies by performing a little research beforehand. Plus, with PayPal getting paid and paying others is a breeze!

That’s it my friends. If you’re a web designer feel free to contact me so we can meet for coffee. Cheers!

By now most of you should be able to gather that I like my tools. Offline, I enjoy collecting pocket knives. Each one of these knives serves a unique purpose in my collection. I’ve got business casual, hobby related, and my personal favorite: my black one-handed blade movement. 9 times out of 10 that’s the one knife I’ll have in my pocket. And over in my other pocket? My favorite electronic tool; my iPhone. Just like my knife collection, I have a staggering library of apps that I use and test daily, and one of the gems is Vlingo.

Here’s what their website has to say:

At Vlingo we unlock access to wireless data services. As the inventor of the mobile phone “voice user interface,” Vlingo delivers a voice interface and technology that allows users to instantly access services and content on their device. These services include the ability send text and email messages, call contacts, search the Web, update your Facebook or Twitter status and much more by just speaking into their phone.

Vlingo is available for most current BlackBerry smartphones, Apple’s iPhone, Nokia S60 phones and select Windows Mobile phones.

I’ve used this app daily for the last 60 days. It comes in two flavors: free and paid version. Here’s the commands you say and the things you can do with each version:

Free Version
Maps (ex: “Find coffee shops in Cambridge”)
Social Update (ex: “Facebook update needs coffee right now”)
Web Search (ex: “Search Bonobo apes”)
Voice Dial (ex: “Call Charlie mobile”)

Paid Version
Email (ex: “Email Han, subject Tonight, message Running a bit late!”)
SMS Paste (ex: “Text Kaite, message are you free tonight for dinner?”)

So far I’ve only explored the free feautres of this app. It’s solid, works very well, and understands 90% of my commands the first time through! It has adaptive voice technology, so the more you use it, the better it understands your vocal commands. If you’re connected, on the go, and want a great ally as a communications tool, look no further than Vlingo.

OpenOffice.org – The Free and Open Productivity Suite is a special kind of tool.

OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose. [source: Why OpenOffice.org (http://why.openoffice.org/)]

What You Get

• Writer (think Microsoft Word)
• Calc (think Excel)
• Impress (presentations)
• Draw (Paint but better)
• Base (Access database style)

Here’s what I can tell you from my perspective. I use at least one of these tools everday. I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. This cost is $0. The software is world-class. You would be making a wise investment, grasshopper. Want to know my favorite part? I can initiate most essential tasks from one, tidy icon in the system tray. Job well done guys!

Links of Interest

• learn more – http://why.openoffice.org/
• download – http://download.openoffice.org/index.html
• need help – http://support.openoffice.org/
• extensions – http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/

The mobile app train

Mobile applications are not a new thing. The technology has existed in some form or another ever since PCs planted themselves into our daily life back in the early 80’s. Then laptop computers were introduced. They quickly found a waiting home on the laps of movers and shakers who needed to get things done while on the go. This served the tech community well for many years. Lately, the advent of more sophisticated cell phones has given rise to mobile apps, which by my definition are ‘watered-down on the surface yet powerful under the hood’ applications you can take with you on the go.

Today’s smart phones (i.e. phones with an OS capable of email and more) supplant the need to lug your laptop with you during your travels. If you simply need to read and respond to emails, surf the web, or stay in touch via Twitter, Facebook, or other social networks you’d do well to consider a smart phone. There are literally thousands of apps out there designed to help you do the things that interest you while you’re on the go. You’ve got mobile banking, blogging, and GPS apps that happily connect you in more ways than ever. Simply put mobile apps allow you to get things done sans laptop.

Anyway, like many others I made do with my existing phone despite its limited capabilities. We’ll call them cute quirks. Like your significant other’s little habits that you once found so adorable! That was me and my previous phone. She was happy to road trip with me and be there when I needed to make a call or even take a quick photo or two. Then, when I arrived at my destination, she didn’t mind as I’d hop onto the closest available Wi-Fi. Life was simple and good.

This setup had served me well for quite some time. That is until a recent 10 hour road trip. I discovered that the downfall to my previous method was the time spent in the car while you got from point A to point B. In terms of productivity it was nil. Mind you I enjoyed the ride and the company, but, nevertheless I was out of touch for all intents and purposes. I wasn’t like a junkie looking for a fix by the time I got to the hotel, but I’m guessing my needs were close to that, if not worse.

I’m happy to say that those days are far behind me now. Me and my shiny new iPhone scoff our noses at the thought of searching for hotspots. Sure, we can connect to them with ease, but we’re happy to ride on the coattails of our 3G data plan as we hop about. And before you mention it, yes, I do incur a monthly charge for said data plan. But would you go back to using an antenna on your TV to save a few bucks?

Let’s just say I consider my data plan a luxury tax that allows me to enjoy my newfound freedom and productive pleasures!