Visual Communication And Video Publishing - Selected Tools And Web Services - Sharewood Picnic Apr13 08

Today I really have some supercool visual communication tools: First there is a new web-based PowerPoint-like tool that makes finally the original Microsoft software to eternal rest. Believe me. Then find out about new tools to edit and resize images online with no software to install, or learn about a new search engine for images that works by seeking specific color schemes.

Photo credit: Eagle13

Here my list of useful visual communication tools I have selected for you this week:

1. SlideRocket: Create presentations online importing PowerPoint files, audio, video and music, and publish you creation on your site
2. ConvertTube: Convert YouTube video clips to all major video formats online with no extra software to install
3. Net Imaging: Online image editor lets your resize, crop, rotate, and apply effects to images
4. PicBite: Upload a picture, resize it, add comments to it, and get it converted in various formats
5. Flickr Color Selectr: Pick a color and get Flickr pictures that feature that particular color in them
6. Color Fields Colr Pickr: Search for Flickr images using a color wheel, just by selecting the color you're interested in
7. Compfight: Flickr API lets you search pictures from Flickr and displays results as live clickable thumbnails
8. Diigo Webslides: Create slideshows from a collection of bookmarks or RSS feeds, annotate parts, add notes, and publish your presentation online

1. SlideRocket
   
   SlideRocket is the best PowerPoint alternative I have ever seen. Wonderful interface, great features, comprehensive, easy and well organized. SlideRocket is really a revolutionary tool in the field of creating, making, editing and distributing presentations. Presentations can be imported from PowerPoint, and your online library allows you and your collaborators to have access to all of the material you need for. You can import images, apply effects, transitions, insert graphs, videos, Flash files, and audio. Slide shows can then be embedded in your website. Free private beta.
   http://sliderocket.com/






2. ConvertTube
   
   ConvertTube is an online video converter that you can use to download YouTube video clips in various formats. Without any registration, you just have to copy and paste the video URL, pick between the available formats (mpg, mov, 3gp, flv, mp4 or audio-only-mp3), click convert, and download the file. Completely web-based and free to use.
   http://converttube.com/






3. Net Imaging
   
   Net Imaging is an online image editor, that you can use to resize and apply basic effects to your pictures. You can upload any image you want, and start resizing, cropping, rotating, adjusting color, balance and brightness levels and, when done, you can save the result in JPG format. The service is completely free and web-based, and can also be downloaded and installed on your own server.
   http://www.izhuk.com/imaging/






4. PicBite
   
   PicBite is a free web based tool that you can use to comment your pictures. After you upload a picture, you can resize it and crop it, as well as adding how many comments you want to it. After you have added your comments, you can share it via a direct link, or simply download it in JPG, PNG or animated GIF format. The service is completely free to use, and doesn't require any registration.
   http://picbite.com/






5. Flickr Color Selectr
   
   Flickr Color Selectr is a free online service that automatically selects images by color and license. The interface is really simple and easy to use, made of just one color picker: basing on the color you select, it will bring up pictures featuring that color, and only Creative Commons licenses. The service is completely web-based and free to use.
   http://color.slightlyblue.com/






6. Color Fields Colr Pickr
   
   Color Fields Colr Pickr is a web application that searches Flickr for images using only a color wheel, and no other search fields. Simply click on the color you're interested in and Flickr images made up of mostly that color will surround the wheel. You can also limit your research to a specific category (such as Flowers, Graffiti, Doors and Windows, Textures...). Free to use.
   http://www.krazydad.com/colrpickr/






7. Compfight
   
   Compfight is a great tool that uses Flickr's API to search the database of photos (including the option to do full-text search on titles and descriptions, and to search Creative Commons licensed works only) and then feeds back the results as live clickable thumbnails so that you can browse the results better. Every picture's size is also displayed on mouse hover for easier searching. Free to use.
   http://compfight.com/






8. Diigo Webslides
   
   Diigo Webslides lets you create a slideshow with web pages. You can decide between a collection of bookmarks, from which you can indicate the web pages you'd like to include, or import pages from an RSS feed, deciding the entries you want to display. To arrange the order, just drag'n'drop the slides. When published, anyone can add notes or highlight parts of your slideshow. Free.
   http://slides.diigo.com/

Originally written by Nico Canali De Rossi for Master New Media and first published on April 13th 2008 as "Visual Communication And Video Publishing - Selected Tools And Web Services - Sharewood Picnic Apr13 08"