Crenk » business

Wipsace Ignites Online Collaboration

Luis Sandoval — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:45:12 +0000

There’s a lot of sites out there that offer collaboration tools. From the simplified office collaboration tools like Google Documents and Zoho Writer, to the more sophisticated like Basecamp. In the end each of them appeal to different markets, different segments of the industry and each of them function differently. So with those options we choose one that best fits our needs and we run with it. But what if there was a sexier option, something with real personality, but still maintaining all the same functionality?

Now there is. Introducing WIPspace, the creative collaboration tool that offers up multiple levels of engagement in a sleek, sexy, yet functional package. The image blow is a visual diagram of all the things WIPspace is capable of.

You feeling it yet? There’s real fire under this engine, and the multitude of offerings it has makes it a very robust package. Working on projects or movies, this space allows you to fully interact with off-site teams, and engage the client all at the same time.

Be sure to watch the videos and test drive it. Let us know what you think and how it compares with Basecamp or some of the other collaboration tools out there.

NEC Flat Screen Perfects Dual Monitors

Luis Sandoval — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:50:42 +0000

NEC is a company that’s been around for a while, and chances are if you’ve worked in anything related to tech from design to IT, then perhaps you’ve come across an NEC product. Known for innovation, they’ve really outdone themselves with the creation of the NEC CRV43.

Rather than struggle with a dual monitor setup, NEC went ahead and just combined the screens into a massive 43in. curved display that not only gives you the same dual monitor feel, only with out the need for two screens, but it also fully immerses you with the curved design making it easy to follow your work on the screen. Now while I love the concept, and the idea of reducing two monitors into one is ideal, it’s the price tag that worries me.

I can probably pick up two monitors for under $500. Both of them would be LCD screens, at least 20in+, so the price tag of approximately $5,000 seems just a little steep. Now not sure about you all, but I don’t come around 5k all that easily, so again, what is it that really makes this monitor stand out? Aside from being curved, HD, and having a seamless display? You be the judge.

Online Real Estate App

Luis Sandoval — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:55:23 +0000

Real estate, whether it’s hot or not, one this is true, it’s all about the location. With that in mind, for those of us that are seeking a place to hang our hat, to call our home, there’s lots of apps out there that can help us find that dwelling. Whether your single, married, roomates, there are apps out there that can help you find the right place for you. In the UK there is one specific app that we had a chance to play with, and that’s MousePrice.

MousePrice is an extremely web and mobile app that can share pricing of real estate, provide you quotes, and some basic information based on your needs. The web app is a very simple website that asks you three questions before you submit and move onto your information. In an effort to increase transparency in the industry MousePrice puts as few roadblocks between you and the results. Finding the properties available in the area you selected then makes it easy for you to find the place that best fits your budget.

Alternatively the mobile app for the iPhone works just as effectivly. After inserting some basic information on the location you want, or using your specific location at the moment, it will map out, using GPS, the entire area providing you drop pins to click on in order to get your information. Once the information is displayed, properties in green mean the value has gone up, property in pink means it’s gone down, and yellow properties simply mean that there is not enough information to accurately give you the most recent information.

Interested? Well if you’re in the UK looking for a bit of real estate, I’d be curious to hear if you’ve used this and if you like it. If you’re a real estate agent, do you find this effective for what you do? Leave a comment and let us know.

Newsy: News Aggregator But Shows The News from Multiple Sources in One Video

Steven Finch — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:58:27 +0000

Today I came across a very interesting new video news site, which aims to provide news from not just one source but as many as possible. Newsy is the video news service that introduces a topic and then goes through relevant sources to find the best opinions from around the web.

Newsy covers topics such as world news, business news, technology, environment and more. The format of each show is simple, the introduce a basic topic and then search the web for the leading views on that specific topic for the day. Thus, it is kind of a news video aggregator, as it provides the leading sources in one simple place.

Im sure Newsy will become quite a popular site, simply because of how easy it is to see the latest news from multiple sources in one place. However, most users want to see a large number of headings in one simple place and normally the easiest way to do this is text, because there is still a limitation to how much you can fit into a view.

Brandstack: Instant Branding for Your Company

Luis Sandoval — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:05:10 +0000

Entrepreneurs and start-ups alike are prime candidates for branding opportunities. Existing companies looking at changing their appearance, their direction, or product/service may also be looking for a way to change their existing branding, and what’s quicker than instant?

Nothing.

BrandStack is the quickest way to get your new logo and start building your brand. The depository has hundreds of designs, but along with the logos, you also get domain names pre-registered for you along with other additions that will get your business off the ground instantly.

Previously known as Incspring, Brandstack is literally stacking the layers of possibilities to make your endeavors as profitable and successful as possible. Founder Wes Wilson is always looking for designers who want to upload their extra logos to the site and further expand what it has to offer. A definite most for those looking to purchase and build, and designers looking to sell their extra or new designed logos.

Give BrandStack a try and take the stress of the creative process off your shoulders and start with the real details that will help build your company for your customers.

Gazhoo: Business and Financial Documents, Images and Templates

Steven Finch — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:01:04 +0000

Today I came across a very interesting marketplace, Gazhoo. Gazhoo is a marketplace to buy and sell documents, images, templates and more. Gazhoo seems to have everything from venture capital documents to a stock standard business agreement.

Gazhoo is a great marketplace for business professional who don’t have too much experience in the industry but are trying to get something started. Gazhoo allows users to view half of the document for free in a simple window very similar to Docstoc. Once you have viewed the document and made sure it is the one you want, then you are able to purchase at an affordable price from their very simple marketplace. Prices vary depending upon the document, but they start at about $5.00.

So if you are looking for affordable secure documents then head over to Gazhoo. However, make sure you still have them looked over by a lawyer if you are planning on releasing after your own moderations.

Geeks + Wine = Success

Luis Sandoval — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:08:22 +0000

It’s come often during my late night work sessions that energy drinks just don’t do it, and soda is just overdone, not to mention sludge for the body. After a long time of coding, designing, writing, or developing, I just want to take a break, relax and kick my feet up to some good tunes, or a good movie. Nothing scratches that itch better than a good glass of wine.

I’m by no means a wine expert, so I can either fumble my way through wines I will mostly not like, or I can turn to the experts of Hello Vino and adapt my tastes, my menu, or my event to the wines that will make it a success. Hello Vino has added a mobile app that has helped me select a wine on the go while I’m shopping for an evening with friends or just with my wife. The application does a great job of pairing wines, giving you reviews, and pricing it for you to find exactly what you need on so many levels.

The database consists of over 1 million unique wines, all of which will surely find their fan base on the go always on the hunt for the perfect wine.

PowerPoint Gets A Presentation Face-Lift

Luis Sandoval — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:15:32 +0000

For those of us that have had to make PowerPoint presentations time and time again, using the same templates over and over again, it becomes increasingly frustrating because you think there is only so much youc an do. Well luckily, with some savvy searching, and perhaps a little creativity on your end, Powerpoint can become something new, thanks to the bevy of templates on TemplatesWise.com.

Powerpoint presentations can get a fresh face lift with these new, unique backgrounds that can ressurect the drab into the fab. By what I can tell, this site has hundreds upon hundreds of new templates for you to use, that are easy to find based on their categories. You can preview them, and download the ones you like. They also include packs for charts and graphis, looped music, and other creative for your presentations that will keep your presentation visually attractive while you share the important information.

I’ve used this site for a few public speaking engagements already, I’ve been very impressed with it, and I recommend you give it a try. As PowerPoint has gotten on in age, it’s nice to see creative sites like this offering the facelift that it has so badly needed.

You can follow them on Twitter as well.

Paystr, Friendlier Alternative to PayPal

Luis Sandoval — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:55:40 +0000

PayPal seems to have established itself as the premier method for online payments. I have a paypal account which I use on a regular basis myself, but the process can actually complicate even the simplest of situations. In some cases PayPal seems a bit overkill when something easier could be used. This is where Paystr comes into play.

The online application allows you to set up your own web page for collections purposes. The customization far outweighs the impersonal requests that PayPal creates, with the invoices they allow you to create. Instead Paystr really want you to customize your efforts and your attempts to collect funds for a variety of things. The site declares that its services are great for parties, events, games, gifts or whatever it might be you are collecting for.The focus of Paystr is for the user to focus more on the actual project and less time on the actual collections.

The site is free, creating an account is easy, but standard “PayPal” fees apply. The online site accepts credit cards also, to make it easier for you to collect your funds ahead of time. You can set up multiple payment methods and multiple levels of products or services giving your audience options, ease of use, and safety of knowing their payments are secure.

You can also follow Paystr on Twitter, @Paystr, or connect with them via Facebook.

Nokia N97 Analysis: Compared to iPhone 3G and Google G1 Phone

Steven Finch — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:44:10 +0000

iPhones seem to be everywhere these days and even the release of the G1 phone hasn’t really had an impact on their growing marketshare. Palm have also announced that they will soon be launching their new smartphone called the Palm Pre, which is getting a huge amount of buzz at the moment. Thus bringing us to the final major player in the market who is yet to release a smartphone that can actually take marketshare and thats Nokia.

Nokia announced about three months ago that they will be releasing the N97 which is their rival to the iPhone. The N97 will be release in the 2nd quarter of 2009 and its sure to raise some eyebrows.

Here at Crenk we are still yet to get our hands on a new N97 test version, but I thought I would provide our readers with a basic overview of the phone and how it compares to iPhone and G1.

Nokia N97 – compared to the iPhone3G and G1

3.5 inches screen size

( iPhone3G : 3.5 inch ; G1 : 3.2 inch )

640 x 360 pixel resolution

(iPhone3G : 320×480 pixels ; G1 : 480×320 pixels resolution)

16:9 Aspect ratio,the same as that of TV,PC Monitors etc

(both iPhone and G1 have aspect ratio of 3:2 )

Resistive touchscreen display with tactile feedback

(both iPhone & G1 boast a capacitive touchscreen(feather touch sensitive) )

Sliding QWERTY Keyboard

( iPhone : No physical keyboard ; G1 : Sliding QWERTY Keyboard )

Inbuilt WiFi,Bluetooth,HSDPA,A-GPS,3G

( Both iPhone and G1 have it )

32GB Onboard memory (expandable through microSD card upto 48GB as total capacity)

(neither iPhone nor G1 go beyond 32 GB as total capacity )

Battery : 1500 mAh (Heavy duty ! )

(iPhone : 1400 mAh ; G1 : 1150 mAh )

5 MP Digital Camera (DVD quality video capture)

(iPhone : 2.0 MP ; G1 : 3.2 MP )

OS : S60 5th Edition

(iPhone : iPhone OS 2.2 ; G1 : Android 1.0 )

Weight : 150 g (approx.)

( iPhone : 133 g ; G1 : 158 g )

Price : $550 (before network subsidies so expect it to go way cheaper than this)

(iPhone : $199(min.) ; G1 : $179(min.) )

Conclusions:

After a direct comparison with all the feature of the n97, G1 and iPhone3G the Nokia is by far the leader from a hardware perspective. However, it terms of the software and the OS, Nokia is a long way behind Google and Apple but this is expected.

The key also is that the App Store has made a huge impact on making the iPhone such a big success, and with the Android Market just being launched I’m sure that the G1 will slowly gain more and more marketshare. Where does this leave Nokia? Nokia really need to think hard and long about how they are going to open up their software to outside developers and then allow the average user the ability to pick and choose the applications that are right for them. OS has never been a strong point for Nokia, but it is about time they actually improved this sector if they are going to continue to be a major player in the smartphone market.

Also that the ‘App Store’ is something that has played a very critical role in making iPhone a worldwide success and now the same thing is occurring in the form of ’Android Market’ for G1, Nokia(being ‘new’ to open developer support for apps) can’t afford to reach the standards set by the other two veteran smartphones(specially iPhone)

Has Gigaom Been Affect From Moving Away From Federated Media and to IDG?

Steven Finch — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:33:47 +0000

I have been reading Gigaom a lot lately, which is one of the worlds best technology news companies. Gigaom announced back in November that they will be leaving Federated Media for advertising revenues and move over to IDG. Since this time I have noticed a few key changes at Gigaom and was wondering if the site was being affected by the lack of quality advertising on the part of IDG?

Below is a screenshot of the Gigaom site as seem by a UK ip address.

As you can see from the screenshot Gigaom has been showing a huge amount of advertising from Chitika. These ads seem to just make Gigaom look a lot cheaper and more amateurish. Do you think the look of these ads has been affecting visitors to Gigaom?

I think it must have some affect. I have noticed these ads and from being on Gigaom several times in the last few days they have no put me off from visiting the site and actually just reading the full RSS feed instead.

Ronin: Affordable, Easy, Web-Based Invoicing Tool

Steven Finch — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:30:42 +0000

This morning I came across a new service called Ronin. Ronin is a flexible application designed for creative professionals looking for an easy, affordable, web-based way of managing clients and invoices. Ronin is more than just software, they are a service.

With the Ronin service there are no fees or update costs involved. All data is protected using industry standard SSL encryption and nightly back-ups.

There are a lot of different companies within this specific niche, but I do think Ronin is worth a try. I would also like to see them produce a few more services similar to this invoicing application, then they will have a nice little package that will hopefully moves users amoungst each product.

The End of Messaging Systems with Dial A Human

Luis Sandoval — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:17:54 +0000

The net’s best kept secret is not so secret anymore.

Too often when we try to contact companies to ask questions and communicate with another human on the other end of the line, we end up hitting the damned evil messaging system. You all know this system, “Please listen to the following options and select the best choice…” Afterwards you’re given a dizzying number of options and numbers to press which leaves us as consumers frustrated and defeated.

This whole process reminds me of a lose-lose choose your own adventure book. At least with a real book there is a chance to actually succeed, with the messaging system you have more of a chance of punching a hole in the wall out of frustration then you do of actually succeeding.

Businesses tend to forget that putting on a human face is what we as consumers want to connect with. Since they’ve forgotten, Dial A Human has come in and offered us a chance to actually reach a real, working, paid employee of the company of our choice, according to their list.

If you’re tired of machines, check out the site and get connected to someone who can answer your questions!

Review: Fire Eagle Pinpoints Your Location with Precision

Luis Sandoval — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:45:19 +0000

Fire Eagle, a Yahoo property, has opened up its doors from beta to public use. After spending some lengthy time in development and beta, Fire Eagle looks to answer the question…Where Are You?

For starters do not mistake Fire Eagle for another social network, it is not. Fire Eagle works in conjunction with a variety of other social networks with new additions being worked on daily. This enhancement allows users of specific networks to know where you are, provided you update. Fire Eagle takes the address, location, or name of the place you are at and creates a map that others can see.

I have attached Fire Eagle to work with BrightKite and so far it’s been amazing. I’ve set up alerts to notify me when my friends are nearby, and I can always look at maps to see where my friends are worldwide, a very nice effect. Of course this app is made even more useful by allowing you input your location from your mobile device.

It’s great to set up impromptu meetings, a quick happy hour with friends in the neighborhood, or finding directions to where your friend is waiting for you.

Fire Eagle works with the following applications:

BrightKite
Dash
Dipity
Dopplr
eKit
Fire Widget
J2ME mobile updater
Lightpole
Loki
Map My Tracks
Metosphere
Movable Type
Navizon
Outalot
Outside.in
Plazes
Pownce
Rummble
Spot
Wikinear
Zkout
Zonetag

Marketing Collateral In A Flash!

Luis Sandoval — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:31:48 +0000

Marketing material costs for freelancers and new businesses can be an expensive investment for start-ups with little money. Sure it’s said “to make money you have to spend money,” but what if you didn’t have to spend a dime?

Do I have your attention yet? If you’re looking for a “quick and dirty” way to get yourself off the ground and utilize the full capability of print work to market your talents, look no further then BrandDoozie. This web-based design application puts the creative tools in your hands. You can design postcards, business cards, letterhead, and other important documents with clicks and drag-n-drops.

The only downside is the limited flexibility of the application, but the service is free, so the concern is moot. The ease of use and quick return make it possible for you to have marketing material in a matter of hours as opposed to weeks. Sure you’re going to sacrifice some of the self creative ideas you might have, but for a freelancer such as myself, I was able to create collateral the same day as a major networking event.

The interface is easy to use, and users are walked through step by step in the creative process. You can save your work mid-project, and even store your completed files in folders. Options to establish your brand, designing a logo, and accessing stock photos are all apart of the experience working within BrandDoozie.

It’s definitely worth jump starting your company’s image with this amazing brand establishing tool. If you need something in a flash, direct yourself to BrandDoozie and get yourself noticed!

Review: Invotrak, Web-Based Invoicing

Luis Sandoval — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:37:53 +0000

Working as a freelancer or running your own business with a fired up entrepreneurial spirit can be difficult when it comes to tracking your time and income on multiple projects. One of two things will happen eventually. You will either limit yourself in terms of projects and make just enough money to keep track of or you’ll end up losing money due to inability to properly and effectively keep track of your invoicing. Neither are suitable outcomes for someone starting out on their own.

To avoid such pitfalls, we have discovered a web application that is user friendly and informative, that application is Invotrak by Draconis Software. As a freelance writer I was able to utilize the software for an experiment in keeping track of my personal invoicing and time tracking needs, and I found this application to stand heads and shoulders above the others that I have used.

The Practical
Getting paid on time is important right? Correct invoicing is vital for the integrity and success of your business, so why complicate things any more than they should. Invotrak is a web-based invoice application that was specifically made with freelancers and small businesses in mind. In their words it’s difficult enough to work with clients and do the actual work that invoicing should be as simple as possible without having to hire someone else to do it.

When you sign up for an account, you are taken through several easy steps to get you started. Once on their home interface, you will notice that the smooth and easy to follow design is intuitive. There is no confusion in the labeling system so tabs are easy to find and easy to click. Again, why should invoicing be so difficult, Invotrak wants to make sure their application is as easy to use as possible.

The application does have a FREE option, but there is also a tiered pay structure ranging from as low as $9/mo to as high as $45/mo, depending on your needs.

The Features
Invotrak is full of features which make this free web application one of the more robust around.

Invoicing – naturally the strong point of this application meant to keep track of all your clients and monies
Client Database – keep track of everyone that you work with and never forget a name
Timesheets – very important to keep track of time spent on projects to accurately invoice your client
Create/Upload Invoices – have an invoice in a different format, no worries, the ability to upload ensures that you don’t have files laying around different programs.
Reports – keep track of how your business does monthy, quarterly and yearly

These are just a few of the features that are made available to you. Here is a more comprehensive list of the features Invotrak offers.

The Analysis
Invotrak is a heavy hitter in the invoicing market. Rarely have I seen a web application so well put together. My only concern is their hierarchy. In the Free category you are only offered the ability to have up to 2 invoices a month and don’t get an unlimited number of invoices until you pay into the $45/mo plan. Seems like they’re selling the FREE aspect a little short for businesses that want to try the application for the first time. I believe the whole hierarchy is a little lopsided, but with over $3 million US dollars being tracked across Invotraks database, what do I know? Apparently freelancers and businsess worldwide are happy with it.

I highly recommend you give Invotrak a try and follow them on their blog.

300+ Portable Applications

Luis Sandoval — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:45:05 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Portable applications on a key-chain drive makes the idea of a portable office a reality. Whether you have a 1 gig, 4 gig, or even 512 mb, you can carry your files with you everywhere you go.

App-Stick gathers as many portable apps as possible and houses them under one “roof”. With various portable app sites available, some of them may lack what you are specifically looking for. With App-Stick, the site breaks down into categories to make searching easier, and downloading is a breeze. Like something specifically? You are able to comment on the apps you like or dislike most, and even rate them for future users who come to the site.

There is no special software UI to install as with the original Portable Apps program. Still the UI is not what you really want, though a nice touch, the real need is the apps themselves.

Visit App-Stick and get what you need for business on the go!

Forbes Blog/Advertising Network Is Taking Shape

Steven Finch — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:59:34 +0000

Here at Crenk we have been a part of the Forbes Business and Finance Blog Network from the very beginning. Crenk has reported about this blog network a couple of time when announcing the addition of Nick Ricci and also the initial launch of the network.

At the very beginning some journalists were discussing the possibilities of Forbes paying CPM rates of anywhere between $10 – $20. Initially I thought these CPM rates were very optimistic and now I can report that this hasnt been the case here on Crenk. CPM rates has been a bit lower, but overall I think the network is definitely moving in the right direction. The advertisers that are currently involved are of a very high standard and im sure this will only grow.

I would also like to hear confirmation about whether the network blogs will have any of their content syndicated across the Forbes network of sites. There has been a lot of rumours about this and it would be great for some smaller blogs to actually get their voices heard for a change.