Some features from the website:

• Captures entire web pages no matter how long they may scroll for.
• Easy to use: type or paste a URL – hit Return or click the logo.
• Uses Safari’s powerful and fast WebKit rendering engine.
• Check for new versions by clicking the version displayed on the back.
• Automatically resize the image (default is 50%).
• Free!

Available form Apples Dashboard Widgets downloads page.

Design Credit

The app randomly rotates your desktop from a selection of Flickr groups or image sets of your choice. The thing I like most about it is it’s an easy way to discover new photos and inspiration, and you don’t have to do anything. I think it’s pretty cool!

It was this that brought me to notice how much my online daily activities evolve around Google and their products. I spend about 10 hours a day online and outside the daily online duties it is predominantly spent using something designed by Google through the browser or its integration into Firefox.

What are they?

• Google Apps account for my email, docs and calendar.
• Google Reader for my RSS feeds.
• Google Finance for all my market updates, and
• iGoogle for combining them all in the one window.

It does not stop there at the computer either, the iPhone’s most used browser app is Google Apps and Google for the iPhone. read more on the iPhone setup here.

So what’s it all mean? Has Google entrenched themselves that deeply into our daily routine without us noticing that they are about to take over the world and buy out Microsoft next? Hardly! But who knows… What we do know is ‘they’re all over it!’. When somebody builds up enough market share and confidence, you listen and take note when they release something new and in some little way, take warning. As we have learnt from Google in the past, there may very well be bigger and better things around the corner. As usual, I am looking forward to their next big thing. If only I had some of their shares… “Now, where’s that Google Finance page?”.

If like me, you use multiple computers, you soon realise the value in using Delicious to store and manage your bookmarks/favourites. It’s beauty can be summed up in two ways – it’s accessibility and it’s tagging power.

If you use Firefox you probably already know how easily Delicious can be incorporated into your browser and if you use a Mac, how quickly you can save a URL online and offline (is a little slower if using a PC). There are no cross browser issues a and the sites layout is effective and functional.

Since Gmail introduced us to Tagging, it has been used across many web applications, none more effectively than Delicious. If there was ever something you wanted to apply tags to other than email, your favourites is up there at #1. It makes complete sense and now after using tags for the past few years you begin to wander how you could do without it. Tagging has certainly improved the way in which we work and manage our work flow.

This being said, Delicious is much more than that! It is also an invaluable resource that can be used like a search engine. You can browse other peoples favourites and search by tag and also view a bookmarked sites popularity within the Delicious community. So if you’re like me with almost 2000 favourites, you will certainly find Delicious to be a web resource you can’t do without.

Learn more about Delicious
My Delicious

Firefox extension Xoopit turns Gmail into a robust, searchable media management tool for every piece of media that comes through your inbox. By indexing every attachment as well as every link to photos and videos from sites like Flickr, Picasa, and YouTube, Xoopit allows you to easily search for and find any picture or video and view it from directly inside Gmail.

Discovered via Lifehacker

CRM & Invoicing

Freshbooks: Can’t go pass this for simplicity and overall usability. Freshbooks encompasses everything the professional freelancer needs to manage customer information, invoicing, time tracking, estimates and even online payments. It comes with a free version but it did not take long for me to sign up for the minimum paid monthly access. In the past I had tried Blinksale but found it a bit rigid with its customisation and email formatting.
www.freshbooks.com

Blogging

Wordpress: Commonly used now for clients websites, it is the most popular Blogging and CMS app currently available for free. Movable Type comes a close second but it is Wordpress’ easy to use interface and customisation abilities that get this one over the line. A minute to install and setup and hundres of templates for inspiration. This Blog is powered by Wordpress.
www.wordpress.org

GTD

Remember The Milk: keeping the To Do list managable, this now easily integrates into Gmail with a Firefox extension. Work it!
www.rememberthemilk.com

Basecamp: A great online app for managing projects and team collaboration. Helps me stay on top of my work and tasks.
www.basecamphq.com

Google Calendar: I could not function without this! Goosync helps with those that don’t have a web compatible device and if you like you can publish your availablity via your Blog. I use it to assist with the To Do items and managing five calendars.
www.google.com/calendar

Email (and everything else)

Google Apps: Late last year I decided to move everything over to Google Apps. Mainly because I had a greater need for improved email management (including larger storage capacity) and a one stop location for all my online docs and calendar management. After trying Google Apps I don’t know how I got by before! Do yourself a favor, give it a go.
www.google.com/a/

Statistics

Google Analytics: I now use this for all my personal projects and find it incredibly powerful and dynamic. There really is not much more to say as it speaks for itself and if you need to know more than you probably not using it. I would have to as why not?
www.google.com/analytics/

StatCounter: For client statistics, emailed directly to them weekly or monthly. Data is exportable and access comes for free!
www.statcounter.com

Mint: Comes at a cost but is another highly rated stats and analytical tool. I personally use this with Do Not Bend and was initially comparing it to Google Analytics. It’s functionality and widget for the Mac is what got it over the line.
www.haveamint.com

RSS

Google Reader (RSS): There are plenty of RSS Readers out there but personally, I cannot live without Google Reader. Mainly because I spend a lot of time on three laptops at different locations. You can now store offline as well!
www.google.com/reader/

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Enter, the Project Planner.

The Project Planner is a document that contains a few questions on the specifics of the job you need done and should also get you thinking about an overall picture of the end result and how it will both enhance and integrate with your business.

Feel free to download the document and take a look. If you are going to contact me for work then I would strongly suggest taking a look at the document first. It may also get you thinking about options you never considered.

Contact me for more information or download the Project Planner.

So, Which one’s right for you?

Flickr

Straight off the bat, this is without question the best and most popular social photo sharing method on the Net today. Only takes a minute to register and is available as a free registration or for a small price you get a whole lot more. Create groups, comment on other peoples and friends photos, make notes, add photos to your favorites and even create your own public or private albums.
www.flickr.com

Picasa Web Albums

Google’s answer to Flickr, search and become part of online communities. It is a little less social then flickr but very Google.
www.picasaweb.google.com

4images

An old favourite, I used this for many years before moving to Flickr. 4Images is a terrific gallery but you need to do one thing, provide your own database. So you will need a hosting account. Once setup visitors can register, upload their own photos and comment on pictures. I love this app!
www.4homepages.de

Zenphoto

A nice PHP script with an easy to use and manage gallery setup. Easily inserted into an existing website or page. Also requires access to a database so a hosting account is also required. I love the back end to this, it is easy to use and simpe to upload and manage photos.
www.zenphoto.org

Minishowcase

Powered by AJAX, minishowcase is a small and simple php/javascript online photo gallery. Simple to setup and looks nice too. Is in my opinion, more of a image management tool than a way of showing off photos. Definitely worth a look though!
www.minishowcase.frwrd.net

Imagevuex

Now this is just damn sexy! If you want a flashy way to display galleries than this is the way to go. A great back end and a very sexy interface. Along with more customisation options than you could ever think of. I have used this many times and absolutely love it! The great thing is, no database needed.
www.imagevuex.com

PhotoStack

Another easy to use image organization system featuring nested albums, template driven layout, smart caching, automatic thumbnail creation, RSS feeds, picture level EXIF date extraction, and picture level descriptions, all without the need for a database. Plus it’s free!
http://photostack.org

Slideshow Pro

I have used this for clients websites on a few occasions. It provides a simple to use and navigate Flash image gallery that can be inserted into pretty much any page or website. A simple to use back end setup and yes, this one requires a database. View a sample of its use at Stuart Hale’s website. Small fee for a nice gallery management system!
www.slideshowpro.net

Simpleviewer

This is great! No need for a database and comes with a heap of features and it’s free! I have used this plenty of times and it is now used for most galleries for another project of mine, My Event Photos.
www.airtightinteractive.com

iPap

This is where my interest in having an online image gallery all started. You need a database and only a little bit of time to get it configured how you want. You can bulk upload images and tweak the layout to just how you want it. This is also used at My Event Photos. A terrific PHP–based application from Rebel Pixel Productions.
www.rebelpixel.com/projects