Charles is the founder and co-owner of CHCS.com Web Development in Seattle, where, since 1994, he has developed award-winning web sites that use technology to tell the stories of businesses, nonprofit organizations and political candidates. He has been an activist for improving rail transportation, and has led local business organizations. Before the web, he was a university instructor, technical consultant, trainer, public broadcasting manager, and museum docent. Follow Charlie on Twitter at @chcs.
The Incase Origami Workstation is designed to be a case for an Apple Wireless Keyboard, which opens up into a simple stand for an iPad. It’s made of a thin material and is scored to fold into a prop-up stand, and be a keyboard cover. Read more »
The TimeCommand will turn your iPod, iPhone or iPad into a Chumby-like device, and charge it at the same time. By itself, it’s an alarm clock. Plug in an iDevice, and it can wake you to music or Internet radio, or turn on a lamp. Read more »
Kerio Workspace 1.1, described as “an online file and content sharing platform,” has some features in common with collaboration solutions such as Basecamp, but it omits project management features. It has more in common with file sharing solutions such as ShareFile.and with enterprise microblogging solutions like Flowr. Read more »
Logitech’s new Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac looks a lot like the Apple keyboard at first glance, but adds a strip of solar panels above the function keys. It also has a numeric keypad, slightly indented keys, and a 2.4 GHz wireless connection. Read more »
ting, a web conferencing solution that we’ve written about previously, has unveiled the ability to create high-definition video conferences. The new service, dubbed HDFaces, allows users to create video conferences with up to six attendees at no additional cost. Read more »
LogMeIn Ignition, which we’ve written about previously, gives users the ability to access their office or home computer from their smartphone or tablet. Now, the product has added features that allow IT managers to set security policies governing how employees’ iOS devices can access corporate assets. Read more »
The idea behind Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite is cool: a 500GB drive and a Wi-Fi transmitter in a small case, which can stream your media collection. So when Seagate sent me a Satellite to test, I looked forward to it. Unfortunately, I ran into significant problems. Read more »
For sending, sharing and collaborating on files, there are a huge number of file sharing apps available, including Dropbox, Box.net, Minus, FileShareHQ and Accellion. Another option in this very crowded market that is billed as being “exclusively focused on small business/enterprise features” is ShareFile Read more »
It will probably come as no surprise to WebWorkerDaily readers that a recent survey found that 70 percent of information workers don’t believe status meetings help them accomplish work tasks. Additionally, almost 40 percent of respondents feel that such meetings are a waste of time. Read more »
Harmon.ie 3.0, is an Outlook add-on that’s adding new social and collaboration features. The new “people” tab in the Harmon.ie sidebar lets users see colleagues’ profiles and availability, displays an activity stream, and lets workers call, chat or videoconference directly. Read more »
Egnyte, the file management, sharing and backup system that I wrote about last fall, has been updated, and has added several ways to simplify accessing and sharing files in the cloud, directly from Windows Explorer, the Mac OS X Finder and Outlook. Read more »
Clearvale is a cloud-based, Software-as-a-Service, enterprise solution for Social Customer Relationship Management (Social CRM) that includes interconnected internal and external social networks, which allow customers and employees to collaborate and communicate directly, for customer support, idea management, and other customer engagement needs. Read more »
SocialBase “is a team collaboration, tools integration and task management system [for] your social media workflow” from oneforty, the company that started as a Twitter app store in 2009 and expanded into a buyer’s guide to social media consultants and software earlier this year. Read more »
When Jana and Keith Harper returned to Seattle a few months ago, after spending a couple of years in New York City, they decided that they wanted to create a coworking space. The Mill, their new business, was up and running in less than two weeks. Read more »
While you’re outdoors this summer, you may want to share your music with those around you. There are lots of portable boom boxes, but here are a few unusual ways to turn your iPod or iPod touch into a music machine to share with friends. Read more »
Convos, the group communication tool, has notified its customers by email that it will be shutting down as of June 30, 2011. Organizations that have been using Convos have several alternatives. If you don’t need a full project management solution, here are some options to consider. Read more »
Now that Apple has announced its new iCloud service, which will be available at no charge, MobileMe users who have been spending $99 a year will be entitled to a refund. Anyone having an active MobileMe account will have their service extended through June 30, 2012. Read more »
The upcoming OS X Lion will include a new way of sharing documents with friends and family who are on the same Wi-Fi network in a similar manner as other P2P wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi Direct or Qualcomm’s FlashLinq. The service is called AirDrop. Read more »
CrunchConnect, a web-based sales presentation and web conferencing platform that’s currently in private beta, has added some new features that provide managers with systems for sharing presentations among workgroups for evaluation and training purposes, and with new tools for tracking the effectiveness of presentations. Read more »
Flowr, the enterprise-oriented social communication web application that I wrote about, and Simon demonstrated, a few months ago, has simplified its interface and added some new features, including a beta of an HTML5-based mobile version. Flowr has also changed its pricing structure. Read more »
The sort of “Let’s Get Away From It All” vacation immortalized in the popular song may be a thing of the past. A new study confirms that web workers are increasingly accepting of being contacted for work while on vacation. Read more »
KnowledgeTree, a service that lets businesses collaborate on and manage documents in the cloud, is now offering an app for Android phones and tablets, and automatic synchronization between mobile and desktop devices. KnowledgeTree lets organizations manage documents, and it specializes in collaboration within Microsoft Office. Read more »
j2 Global, the company behind eFax, is extending its telecommunication offerings. For clients who do not need fax, email and web conferencing, j2 offers eVoice, which competes with the likes of 8×8 Virtual Office Solo and Google Voice in offering a business telecoms for smaller organizations. Read more »
Moxie Software’s Employee Spaces is a hosted application, developed in cooperation with design consultancy IDEO, that provides integrated social and collaboration tools for the enterprise. The company has announced several major enhancements to the product, including new search, mobile and video features. Read more »
As much as I like apps like Evernote, I still take a lot of hand-written notes, which is why I was interested in the new interactive “pencasts” available for the Livescribe Echo Smartpen, a digital pen that can record notes on paper and audio. Read more »
HomePipe is a service that allows you to securely access and share files remotely to Windows, Mac, and Linux machines, through a web app, and through free mobile apps. The service has announced several features that will make it more attractive for business collaboration. Read more »
I’ve dropped enough phones over the years that I’m a big fan of “extreme cases” like the ones that Dave wrote about recently. But if you don’t need quite as much protection, and want extra power, you might want to look into the PowerSkin case. Read more »
If you have a one-person office and are looking for an affordable telecommunications package, provider 8×8′s new Virtual Office Solo may be worth a look. Calls may be sent and received through most web browsers. When you’re away, calls can be forwarded. Read more »
Xobni, a popular productivity add-on for Outlook that automatically displays additional information about email contacts, has announced that it is making available “gadgets,” third-party additions to Xobni that will let well-known collaboration tools like Yammer, Chatter and Dropbox become an integral part of the Outlook interface. Read more »
VoxOx, the all-in-one phone, fax, instant-messaging, text-messaging, and file-sending application, is now offering an app for iOS. While the mobile app doesn’t have all of the features of the desktop application, it may be useful for those who juggle lots of communication channels. Read more »
Google has released the Google Docs app for Android to complement the web version. I’ve taken a quick look at it on an HTC Evo 4G, and it looks like it will be a useful tool for collaborating on documents and spreadsheets. Read more »
Note-taking service Evernote has released a major update to its Android app. It includes document sharing features that make it possible for web workers to use Evernote as a collaboration tool. Meanwhile, its competitor Catch has added a premium version that also includes sharing features. Read more »
During my recent conversation with licensed massage therapist Wimsey Cherrington about ways of avoiding repetitive strain injuries at work, she also suggested several tips for luggage handling, neck and back support, and exercises that will help avoid strains while traveling. Read more »
I need the extra security of RAID while on the road, so I checked out OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Dual mini, a portable RAID storage solution that’s compatible with Mac or PC systems, with eSATA, Firewire 400 and 800, and USB 1.1 and 2.0 connections Read more »
If you need to securely share data like a password, bank account or credit card number, Lockify is an easy way to do so. Once your message has been encrypted, you are given a link that can be sent via email, SMS or Facebook private message. Read more »
SugarSync has updated its iOS client to version 2.2, and it’s a big improvement. The new version adds some unique features, including the ability to copy, move and delete files on a remote computer, and to copy files from one computer to another. Read more »
netTALK has introduced the Duo, a hardware-plus-service option that’s about as simple to set up as anything I’ve seen. Plug it into an Ethernet connection, power and a phone, activate it, and you’ve got unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada, and cheap rates elsewhere. Read more »
Shapes, a simple diagramming app for Snow Leopard, may be just what the average business user ordered. With a simple interface and a limited, but well-chosen assortment of tools, it avoids the overkill of more powerful apps and does it all on the cheap. Read more »
CrunchConnect, a new service from SalesCrunch, is entering private beta today, and it’s worth a look. CrunchConnect’s web conferencing and screen sharing system has some useful features, including the option for participants to sign in via LinkedIn, so others can see their profiles. Read more »
In the past few days, the final versions of Internet Explorer 9 and Firefox 4 have both arrived. We haven’t seen any major issues yet, but here is a short list of tests you’ll want to make when a new browser becomes available. Read more »
