Similar to last week’s short-and-sweet article, this week’s featured service is Zamzar, a simple and easy-to-use service that lets you convert files to different formats. Simply upload your files on the Web site and tell Zamzar what format you want to want, and you get a link in your e-mail to download the converted file. Zamzar works with document, image, sound, and video files, and it supports almost every format you can think of.
Podcasts
Zamzar
October 25, 2006 — PeterFree 411
October 17, 2006 — Peter
This week’s article is short and sweet, just like the service we review. The services if Free 411, and although it has a Web page, it’s most useful when you roam away from Internet access.
Normal 411 services act like the yellow or white pages that you can call on your phone. This is really handy when you are away from home, because you can get numbers and addresses through your cell phone. However, traditional 411 services charge a fee for the call.
As you may have surmised, Free 411 is, well, free. You call 1-800-Free-411 (1-800-373-3411) and listen to a brief advertisement, and then you use the automated voice system to find the person or business you are looking for. If the automated system doesn’t work, you can talk to a real person too.
Free 411 is extremely easy to use, and since it is funded by advertising, you don’t have to worry about a trial period. Put this one in your cell phone, because you’ll be surprised how soon it will come in handy.
Google Docs & Spreadsheets
October 12, 2006 — Peter
Google made some recent changes to some of its products that necessitate a quick update and evaluation of two services I have already reviewed. We have already talked about Google Spreadsheets and Writely, but as of yesterday, the two services have combined to form one Web application called Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
VideoEgg
October 6, 2006 — Peter
As blogging becomes more popular, bloggers have looked for new and different ways of expressing themselves. Many corporate and personal blogs now regularly include photo shows, audio posts, and video content. This week’s featured service, VideoEgg, allows users to upload videos and post them on their blogs or Web pages.
