Here is a new basket full of delicacies for our weekend Sharewood Picnic.

New media resources and tools gathered during the past 10-15 days await your testing and validation before everyone else hears about them. Here are in fact what I consider the most interesting new media tools, resources and pointers I have run into during my daily research and explorations.

Photo credit: Olga Shelego

This week too I have a great list of new media gems that can enable, augment, enhance anyone's ability to inform oneself and to communicate more effectively with others in many new and innovative ways.

Here is what I have found:

1. Send SMS messages worldwide from email, mobile phone or the web


2. Aggregate selected web content and information clips onto one web page


3. Online book publishing made easy and affordable for everyone


4. New media tracking and monitoring service for podcasts


5. Send voice-based emails


6. Radio TiVo. Listen to any radio station in the world and convert it into a recorded podcast


7. RSS to email content distribution service. Let readers subscribe to your RSS feeds via email


8. Podcast distribution technology and ad-matching service


9. RSS referrals tracking tool

Here the details:

1. Ipipi
   
   
   ipipi is a service that allows you to send SMS text messages worldwide from the web, email, or from any mobile phone. ipipi works anywhere around the world with an official global coverage of over 140 countries/networks. Not only. You can also send email from your own mobile phone to any email account. For businesses, a Corporate Account is available that includes:
   • unlimited user accounts under one admin account
   • corporate reporting to view usage patterns for your users
   • central user management - admin can add, delete or modify user privileges
   • calendar feature to create future text alerts for meetings, bill payments, etc.
   . ipipi is a pay-as-you-go service. Rates depend on how many credits are purchased at once starting from 50 credits for $.15 per SMS. There is a one-time set-up fee of $99 for a Corporate Account.
   http://www.ipipi.com/





2. Kaboodle
   
   
   Looking for a fast and simple method to consolidate your various web finds onto one single page? Kaboodle is a service that simplifies the collection of information on the web by compiling all the information clips you find onto one integrated Kaboodle page. Kaboodle differs from social bookmarking tools and services in that it allows you to bring together fragmented information from different websites into one visible page. Install the "Add to Kaboodle" and "My Kaboodle" buttons for your browser toolbar, then go to a website or to an online product page that you want to add to your Kaboodle page. Kaboodle automatically creates a summary of your selected web pages and allows you to make direct notes and comments to it; you can also make the page public and invite others to comment and annotate your aggregated content. Free.
   http://www.kaboodle.com/





3. Blurb
   
   
   Blurb is a new online service that makes it quick and easy the process of publishing a book for anyone at very low costs. In essence, Blurb allows you to create her book, while providing you with several pre-designed book templates to make the look and layout of your publication appear as professional as possible. The centerpiece of Blurb's publishing service is its BookSmart software, which turns blogs, recipes, photos, stories, e-mails, wikis, or any other content into a professional quality book in minutes. The bookmaking application allows users to drag and drop content into professionally designed pages. Each book is printed on demand and in any quantity you want. Blurb publishes hardbacks (paperbacks coming soon) and supports both Windows and Mac users. Book production is fully free and you pay only for the books you want printed. Prices start from $29.95 for 1-40 published pages.
   http://www.blurb.com/





4. SONR
   
   
   Notwithstanding SONR is yet to be released for public use, podcasters wanting to test out this brand new media tracking service can try the system out by logging in as a "guest." SONR's innovative tool delivers podcasting statistics (and later, video statistics) to content providers by tracking detailed information on how listeners interact with the provider's content (pauses, rewinds, etc), including how much of the podcast episode was listened to. Add your podcast information to the SONR system and when listeners open your file (through your site), SONR's media player will be launched and record any user interaction. Any data you create now will be available when SONR goes live. Introductory Pack $3.00 per track.
   http://sonr.net/





5. Springdoo
   
   
   Springdoo is a new free service that lets you record and send out fully voice-based emails. Anyone can easily send talking emails in their own voice, without typing. Springdoo allows you to easily record audio message onto Springdoo secure servers, so you and / or other people can replay the message over the Internet. Springdoo is a free solution that does not require any special software to record and playback a Springdoo. Springdoo uses direct, Flash-based streaming file technology, so there are no file attachments to send in emails and / or download. You can create a Springdoo (a talking email) using your computer and a microphone, or any telephone such as your land line, mobile / cell or even a pay phone. Because Springdoo is such an easy way to record, store and serve audio over the web, some people are also using Springdoo to record audio messages and content that are then placed on standard web sites and blog pages. You can Springdoo using your computer and a microphone, or using any standard telephone. Free to try.
   http://www.springdoo.com/
   





6. RadioTime
   
   
   RadioTime is a software that allows you to easily access, listen to, record and playback (iPod downloading is also supported) to over 35,000 different radio stations around the world. You can search AM and FM stations from around the world and record any radio as an .MP3 file. The service includes a free web-based personalized RadioGuide to radio programming. RadioTime is like TiVo for television allowing anyone to listen to his preferred radio programming at the time she prefers. A 7-day free try-out account is available allowing free recording. A 1 year subscription costs $39. http://www.radiotime.com/





7. Squeet


Squeet.com is an RSS to email service allowing users to subscribe to RSS feed-based content and to receive that content directly via email. Squeet requires no software installation. Squeet supports import and export of OPML files and also provides easy to implement code to which adds an easy-to-subscribe box to your web pages. In this way your readers can select to receive your new content and posts via email each time you publish something new. Whether you are a content provider or a Squeet user, Squeet is free.
http://www.squeet.com/





8. BlastPodcast
   
   
   Blast Podcast, Inc. has released their BlastPlayer for both hosted and non-hosted audio and video podcast distribution allowing advertiser matching and monetization of content distribution via ads to be inserted in your programming. Blast Podcast's proprietary technology software matches publisher content against advertising inventory looking for targeted niche markets. Blast Podcast also provides tracking mechanisms that ensure detailed and up-to-date, real time statistics. Audio ads are typically 10 to 20 seconds and may be inserted at the beginning, end or middle of the show. Ads can be created by you or Blast Podcast.
   http://www.blastpodcast.com

   
   
   

9. Reeferss
   
   
   If you want to track all referrers (people linking to or mentioning your content) to your blog posts, or RSS-based news items, Reeferss provides a free solution to this. By placing a small snippet of HTML code in your web site templates all the referrers to your pages containing that code will be tracked by Reeferss. You can then easily access that information both via a reporting web page or via a RSS feed and see all of the referrers to your specific content and how many visitors each one has provided. Here is an example http://www.reeferss.com/web?u=sabifoo.com.
   http://www.reeferss.com/





10. High Speed Conferencing
    
    
    HighSpeedConferencing allows any Skype user to manage audio conference calls with up to 500 users including people that do not have to Skype digital lines. In other words, HighSpeedConferencing allows to conference together both Skype and land-line based users. HighSpeedConferencing base service costs 3 euro cents/minute per participant on Skype while the Plus+ solution costs 5 euro cents/minute per participant on Skype and also includes web controls, recording, storage and playback. Registration is free and you get a personal Skype conference number for life.
    http://www.highspeedconferencing.com/