New Media Tools Of The Week: Sharewood Picnic 74

Sharewood Picnic is the weekly collection of the most interesting new media tools and resources selected and reviewed by Robin Good and Livia Iacolare.

Here our favorite new tools and services for this week:

Photo credit: Dave Le

1. Web-based editor that allows you to create text documents and spreadsheets
2. Make calls from your mobile at the prices you are used to paying for from your desktop
3. Create and publish your podcasts and get paid for that
4. VoIP provider which allows you to make free PC to PC calls and supports all IM
5. Web-based text messaging service that enables communications from the Web to any mobile phone
6. Service that provides private and secure online environment for membership groups, organizations
7. Web-based tool that allows you to manage projects, track time and monitor your activities
8. Video search engine that uses a RSS feeds-based technology to find relevant videos across the Web
9. Web-based software designed to facilitate site administration for non-profit organizations
10. Web service that enables you to create your personalized start page

1. Google Docs & Spreadsheets
   
   
   
   Google Docs & Spreadsheets is a web-based editor that allows you to create text documents and spreadsheets. You can easily do all the basics, including making bulleted lists, sorting by columns, adding tables, images, comments, formulas, changing fonts and more. Google Docs & Spreadsheets allows you to upload your files and make changes to them online. It accepts most popular file formats, including .doc, .xls, .odf, .pdf, .rtf, .csv, etc. It is possible to invite people and work on files collaboratively; additionally, you can publish your documents and spreadsheets online with one click, as normal-looking web pages, without having to learn anything new. Free to use.
   
   http://docs.google.com/





2. ConnectMeAnywhere
   
   ConnectMeAnywhere is a service that allows you to make worldwide calls from your mobile phone at the prices you are used to paying for from your desktop. Any phone can use it, there is nothing to download, nothing to install and no hardware to buy. Additionally, ConnectMeAnywhere allows you to send voice messages from your phone, which are delivered to your contacts email addresses as mp3 files. Check out the rates. Free to use.
   http://www.connectmeanywhere.com/





3. Divvycast
   
   Divvycast is a service that provides professional tools to create and publish your podcasts and get paid for that. Divvycast allows you to publish your podcasts and build your audience in places like iTunes and Yahoo! Podcasts. You can post links to your videos throughout the Internet, including sites like MySpace and TagWorld, to generate instant downloads of your podcasts. Banners, press tips, advertisers links, are also provided to you. A Level I subscription comes at $9.95 per month or $99.95 per year, offering 1 GB data storage and 50 GB per month bandwidth, (approximately 2,000 downloads per month, based on one 15 minutes podcast). Free sign up.
   http://www.divvycast.com/





4. Wengo
   
   Wengo is a VoIP provider which allows you to make free PC to PC calls with all your friends, whatever instant messenger they have among Yahoo!, AOL and Jabber. Wengo also supports conference calls between three persons and also video conferencing. You can also make PC to phone calls (see the price list). Wengo is available for Windows, Mac and Linux and is completely free to use.
   http://www.wengo.com/





5. Joopz
   
   Joopz is a web-based text messaging service that enables two-way communications from the Web to any mobile phone. This service allows users to send and receive messages to individuals and groups, while enabling recipients to respond directly to the originating PC, Mac, PDA or mobile phone and to group member mobile phones. Joopz messages can be sent from any web-enabled device worldwide to any U.S. or Canadian mobile phone (more countries will be added gradually). Joopz also features text reminders, scheduled message delivery, message forwarding and additional value-added services. Free to use.
   http://www.joopz.com/





6. GroupMembersOnly
   
   GroupMembersOnly is a service that provides private and secure online environment for membership groups, organizations and associations. GroupMembersOnly provides a platform that integrates blogs, instant messsaging, chat, discussion forums, event calendar, group libraries, video libraries, and a job database. Groups can be for-profit, non-profit, governmental or non-governmental organizations or any other membership entity. You can also try out a paid advertising module available to advertise your business or organization. Free to use.
   http://www.groupmembersonly.com/





7. MyTicklerFile
   
   MyTicklerFile is a web-based tool that allows you to manage projects, track time and monitor your activities. You can create and receive reminders on your mobile phone via text message and sync projects and time tracking with iCal. Export project data to csv file. Take a look at the subscription plans available. MyTicklerFile officially supports IE 6 or later on the PC, as well as Firefox and Safari on a Mac. Free to use.
   http://myticklerfile.com/





8. PureVideo
   
   PureVideo is a search engine for videos that uses a RSS feeds-based technology to return the most relevant results from sites across the Web. PureVideo collects data from MySpace, Rolling Stone, AOL Music, ESPN, Fox Sports, Comedy Central, YouTube, Break.com, CNN, BusinessWeek, and others. PureVideo also provides charts on the home page, showing you the hottest videos and timely information. Free to use.
   http://www.purevideo.com/





9. Wild Apricot
   
   Wild Apricot is a web-based software designed to facilitate site administration for non-profit organizations (associations, charities, clubs etc.). Wild Apricot helps organizations manage their website, the member database, donations, event registrations. You can access it from any computer to update your web pages, organize meetings, have control over registrations and donations, and manage your membership database. Free accounts are available, allowing you to manage up to 50 members and donors. Premium accounts start from $50/month and include free 30-day trial (check out the prices list). Free sign up.
   http://www.wildapricot.com/





10. Favoor
    
    Favoor is a web service that enables you to create your personalized start page. In this page, which you can access from any computer, you can collect your favorite internet addresses, add notes, salve and manage your links and access your stored data at anytime. You can also allow your start page to display RSS feeds, create notices and change the style of the page. Favoor is completely free to use.
    http://www.favoor.com/