It Probably Already Exists
March 22, 2008 || Filed under: Original
Material
I consider myself pretty tech savvy. I've been using
a computer for more than 28 years. In the beginning,
I dreamed of what I'd like my computer to do. I
thought up crazy things like recording my voice and
storing it as a file, live chatting, playing games
with people remotely and watching live TV from
faraway locales. Years later, nearly all of my ideas
have come to fruition in the marketplace.
Nowadays, particularly with the Internet, I find it hard to dream something up that isn't already available. In most cases, for free! While many feel the Internet revolution revolves around search and email, the real revolution is in online software.
So, next time you want your computer to do something new, start a Google search. You're likely to find it. Here are some examples:
And, if you find something you like, go thank an advertiser! Yes, it's the very same invasive advertisers with their voracious appetite to categorize, analyze and scrutinize their potential online customers that are funding these web applications. They continue to pour billions of dollars into R&D budgets of thousands of software companies in order to attract your attention to whatever they're peddling.
Well, they certainly have my attention. And I, for one, don't mind looking past a few banner ads to get all those cool free online programs.
Nowadays, particularly with the Internet, I find it hard to dream something up that isn't already available. In most cases, for free! While many feel the Internet revolution revolves around search and email, the real revolution is in online software.
So, next time you want your computer to do something new, start a Google search. You're likely to find it. Here are some examples:
- Don't want to buy Microsoft Office for a few hundred dollars? Try Google's online word processor, spreadsheet and PowerPoint presentation clone (all with online file storage): http://docs.google.com
- Want to edit a few photographs but can't spend a grand on Photoshop? Both http://www.picnik.com/ and http://www.phixr.com/ allow you to edit your pictures without installing any software
- Consider yourself a performer and have a webcam? Broadcast your video live: http://live.yahoo.com/
- Share your real-time GPS Location With Friends and Family (from your GPS-enabled phone): http://fireeagle.yahoo.net/
- Personal Blogging Software for your PC or Mac: http://www.movabletype.com
- Like the idea of giving out one phone number and having it find you wherever you are? Try a "Follow Me" phone service with free phone number: http://www.grandcentral.com
- Get your own free fax number and receive faxes in your email: http://www.efax.com
And, if you find something you like, go thank an advertiser! Yes, it's the very same invasive advertisers with their voracious appetite to categorize, analyze and scrutinize their potential online customers that are funding these web applications. They continue to pour billions of dollars into R&D budgets of thousands of software companies in order to attract your attention to whatever they're peddling.
Well, they certainly have my attention. And I, for one, don't mind looking past a few banner ads to get all those cool free online programs.
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