YUDU is a free online library stocked with all kinds of digital content—things like books, magazines, music and photos. The great thing about YUDUis that the target audience isn’t only made up of people looking to publish. The archive is a great place for anyone wishing to browse and connect with people who have similar hobbies and interests.

Of course, YUDU is primarily a great place for people who are, in fact, looking to publish their work online. One of the nice things about YUDU is that it isn’t just a written word library. The publishing system offers searchable video, audio, and images. This means that multimedia artists will feel at home using YUDU—and it also means that the library is a lot of fun to browse.

If you’re looking to promote your work, YUDU has several features set up to help you (most of them are available with the plus package). Make sure to check out their forums and create either a public or moderated group to keep in touch with other passionate, like-minded people.

Practical Uses:

• Read travel magazines online
• Add your favorite band’s music to your library
• Promote your how-to manual
• Publish your creative writing for all to see

Insider Tips:

• Upgrade to YUDU plus and consider selling your work online
• Create a private group to share with friends and family only
• Cut and post the URL to your social networking sites for even more exposure
• Make your work searchable by publishing in the YUDU library

What we liked:

• Wonderful resource for students and professionals
• Great archive of free digital content
• Allows users to connect and share interests
• Publishing is fast and easy

What we didn’t like:

• Users can’t edit text in a published document
• Certain fonts don’t show up correctly

Alternatives:

• Calameo – www.calameo.com
• Docstoc – www.docstoc.com
• Issuu – www.issuu.com
• Scribd – www.scribd.com

Company Info:

• Launched: April 2007
• Owned by Yudu Media Ltd
• Founder: Richard Stephenson
• Headquarters: Clitheroe, Lancs
• Web site: www.yudu.com

Costs:

• Free for basic package; paid plans available via email from YUDU

Rating:

• 5 out of 5 (wow)

Solve’360 is a project management/CRM tool from the company Norada. There’s no doubt other similar web apps already exist, but there are still a couple of good reasons to consider Solve’360 for your business needs. For one thing, Solve’360 is more customizable than a lot of the other similar web applications out there. You can drag and drop items in the form fields so your data is organized whichever way you and your company like. In addition, the look of Solve’360 is pretty appealing (they compare it to the look and feel of iTunes and Facebook).

Of course, these aren’t the only features you’ll find using Solve’360. One of our favorite features is the Activities page, which allows you to view all information on one easily-readable page. There’s also the private project blog, which allows you to track files, events, websites, maps, photos (and a lot more). There’s no doubt all of these things are what lead to a much more organized, well-run business—which is why we certainly don’t hesitate to recommend Solve’360.

Practical Uses:

• Supervise remote employees by tracking their activities
• Plan meetings with your freelance clients week by week
• Organize deadlines for your team project
• Work independently on new projects and share your results through Solve’360

Insider Tips:

• Import your contacts from other existing address books
• Utilize the permission control feature to determine who views your information
• Check the Activites page to see a high-level snapshot of the workflow

What we liked:

• The integration of all features into one, easy to use service
• Easily customizable interface and data
• Activites page allows you to track everything at once

What we didn’t like:

• Task list font size is small and difficult to read

Alternatives:

• 37signals – www.37signals.com
• Basecamp – www.basecamphq.com
• DeskAway – www.deskaway.com
• Highrise – www.highrisehq.com
• SugarCRM – www.sugarcrm.com

Company Info:

• Launched: 2008
• Owned by Norada
• Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta Canada
• Founded by: Steve Ireland
• Web site: www.norada.com

Costs:

• Free 30 day trial
• Plans for $24, $49, $69, or $149 per month

Rating:

• 5 out of 5 (wow)

Similar to the popular webapp, Yammer, Obayoo is the latest effort in file sharing and microblogging. The first thing you’ll likely notice is that the interface is strikingly similar to that of Yammer—but we still think there are plenty of good reasons to consider using Obayoo. For one thing, all of your feeds are right next to all other communication in the timeline view, meaning it’s extraordinarily easy to share and access items. We also like that Obayoo puts such emphasis on your privacy and security since it’s such a major concern for companies considering online communication.

To begin working in Obayoo, enter in your company email address (you can also add personal email addresses later on) and then invite your colleagues to join you (if you’re the first person signing up, you’ll automatically have admin access). It won’t take long to figure out the rest—you can share files and images and communicate with your colleagues quickly. Overall, Obayoo gets our thumbs up as a collaboration tool because it’s so easy to use and has the potential to streamline communication between colleagues.

Practical Uses:

• Notify contractors of upcoming deadlines
• Exchange information with potential clients
• Brainstorm with your colleagues about key project decisions

Insider Tips:

• Archive messages by moving them to your favorites list
• Search for a colleague in your network by typing @ followed by the colleague’s name
• Stay organized by tagging your messages

What we liked:

• Integrated RSS support
• Users can create unlimited groups
• Heavy emphasis on security & privacy
• The entire service is currently free

What we didn’t like:

• No mobile app
• The interface design and layout is unorginal

Alternatives:

• CubeTree – cubetree.com
• Rypple – rypple.com
• Socialcast – socialcast.com
• Yammer – yammer.com

Company Info:

• Launched: June 2009
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Palo Alto, CA
• Web site: obayoo.com

Costs:

• Free

Rating:

• 4 out of 5 (great)

Nirvana is all about getting things done, in fact it employs the same organizational principles from author David Allen’s wildly successful book, “Getting Things Done”. It comes packed with features that will allow you to clear your head and focus on what really matters. You can, for instance, file your to-do list and organize your tasks by project. The search allows you to find projects and related tasks, and you can also tag your tasks so that they’re easier to find later on. When your tasks are checked off your list, you have the option of putting them in the archive or dragging it to the trash can.

Those are some of the more basic features, but we also like that Nirvana offers the option of delegating tasks to someone else (for those of us already overwhelmed with too much work). And we really like the way Nirvana inserts items into your to-do list as the due date approaches. This means that you have even more time to focus on the tasks at hand, since you don’t have to be thinking about what you need to get done next week. All in all, Nirvana is a great way to stay organized and we’d definitely recommend it.

Practical Uses:

• Do a complete brain dump of all your current and future actions
• Plan and organize your summer vacation
• Delegate work-related tasks to your employees
• File away your weekly household chore list

Insider Tips:

• Use the search to find projects and related tasks
• Tag your tasks for maximum organization
• Export your tasks with a single click
• Keep a logbook of completed tasks for future reference

What we liked:

• Great organization tool
• Automatically inserts items as due dates approach
• Excellent resource for both amateurs and professionals

What we didn’t like:

• Very similar to Cultured Code’s “Things” app

Alternatives:

• Remember the Milk – www.rememberthemilk.com
• Toodledo – www.toodledo.com
• Vitalist – www.vitalist.com

Company Info:

• Launched: June 2009
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
• Founded by: Elbert McLaughlin
• Web site: www.nirvanahq.com

Costs:

• Free

Rating:

• 4 out of 5 (great)

The premise of Itumz is that you’re probably, like most people, in need of some organization. So if you’re running around everyday stressed out to the max, it could be that you merely need to make a list (or twelve) to help manage your life. And Itumz might be just the thing to help you. It works like a personal organizer, offering you the opportunity to create a list, check off items as you go, and even share those items with others online.

Though we’re not entirely convinced that the list creation is enough of a selling point, the app is incredibly easy to use and could be extremely beneficial to people looking to organize. Most of all, we really like the focus on sharing your lists online. Itumz might be a great tool for working in groups and social networking.

We recommend signing up for the service because otherwise your list is deleted after a day. However, you can try it first without signing up, so give it a go and see for yourself how you like it. Plus, if you’re on the go, make sure to check out the mobile version of Itumz.

Practical Uses:

• Create a chore list for your family to view
• Keep track of your favorite sport’s websites
• Share lists of favorite books and movies with friends

Insider Tips:

• Use the mobile version of Itumz while traveling
• Drag and drop to rearrange your list
• Check off items that have been completed

What we liked:

• It’s extremely simple and easy to use
• The ability to add descriptions about each item
• Easy methods to share lists online

What we didn’t like:

• Lists are removed in one day unless you create an account
• Not enough appealing features

Alternatives:

• FlexLists – www.flexlists.com
• Mind Deposit – www.minddeposit.com
• Tada List – www.tadalist.com
• Toodledo – www.toodledo.com

Company Info:

• Launched: June 2009
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada
• Web site: www.itumz.com

Costs:

• Free

Rating:

• 3 out of 5 (good)

TheFind boasts of searching over 500,000 stores and over 320 million products to offer its users the very best in quality and efficiency. And most of the time, they’re right on the mark. Occasionally searches will be a bit off, bringing up related items instead of the exact item you’re looking for, but other than this TheFind does seem to locate the most affordable and quality items on the market.

Using TheFind is simple—just like a regular search engine. If you’re nosy about what others are buying, you can also view the hottest searches. And of course, if there’s a merchant you love that isn’t already listed (rare since they already include so many) you can click “Add a Merchant” to add your favorite to their growing list.

Practical Uses:

• Find the best deals on organic household products
• Discover the best prices for electronics gadgets
• Compare prices on trendy summer dresses

Insider Tips:

• Check “Hot Searches” to see what’s popular
• Add your favorite merchant with the “Add a Merchant” tab
• Find the best deals by checking both sales and coupons

What we liked:

• Searches over 320 million products
• Automatic location detection
• Almost always finds the best deals on products

What we didn’t like:

• Searches are 100% perfect
• The layout could be a bit more user friendly

Alternatives:

• BottomDollar –

  ” title=”http://www.nextag.com

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• Price Runner –

  ” title=”http://www.shopwiki.com

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• Shopzilla –

  ” title=”http://www.thefind.com

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Costs:

• Free

Rating:

• 3 out of 5 (good)

If your search is taking too long, Collecta offers other options while you wait, including the ability to search for a second term while waiting for the first to load. As an alternative search method, they also offer a link to Google. As headlines do come up, you have the option of pausing the search (found on the top middle portion of the screen) or filtering the search by stories, comments, updates or images. Clicking on a headline enlarges it and the search automatically updates as new headlines come in.

The site is straightforward and quick to load, making it an excellent option for real time searching. All in all, while there is a lot of solid competition out there, there’s also no doubt that Collecta offers its users exactly what they want, making it a great option for real-time searching.

Practical Uses:

• Search for the most recent updates on the overseas elections
• Follow the World Cup as it happens
• Find opinions about the latest in celebrity news and gossip

Insider Tips:

• Pause the search if you need to catch up as information can stream in quickly
• Use the filter to refine your search based on stories, comments, updates, or images
• Conduct multiple searches at once

What we liked:

• The interface is straightforward and easy-to-use
• It’s surprisingly quick to load
• The convenience of conducting multiple searches

What we didn’t like:

• Some headlines aren’t the most relevant based on the search terms

Alternatives:

• CrowdEye –

  ” title=”http://www.oneriot.com

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• Topsy –

  ” title=”http://www.tweetmeme.com

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• Yauba –

  ” title=”http://www.collecta.com

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Costs:

• Free

Rating:

• 4 out of 5 (great)

We like that they support independent used bookstores while continually offering the best in both value and selection. Clicking “Get Involved” takes you to a page stocked with ideas on how to support independent used bookstores, including options like donating and even suggestions as simple as blogging about them.

There’s no doubt Biblio appeals to nearly everyone, as its not just a good site for rare books but also a great place to find deals on textbooks and other cheap, used books. All in all, as far as online bookstores go, Biblio is hard to resist.

Practical Uses:

• Find cheap textbooks for your math class
• Buy a rare, out of print book for your grandmother’s birthday
• Buy a signed copy “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Insider Tips:

• Click “Get Involved” and support independent used bookstores
• Look under Bargain books for deals under $2
• Include more information or use the filters on the left if you get too many results

What we liked:

• Strong support for independent and used bookstores
• Great deals on college textbooks
• Excellent selection of rare and out of print books

What we didn’t like:

• We liked everything

Alternatives:

• Abe Books –

  ” title=”http://www.alibris.com

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• BookFinder –

  ” title=”http://www.powells.com

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Company Info:

• Launched: 2003
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Asheville, North Carolina
• Founded by: Brendan Sherar
• Web site: http://centurytel.appvita.com/?p=2102 BabelWith.Me is the latest service from Lifechurch.tv as well as the very latest in chat translation. There are other chat translation products on the market but we’ve yet to find anything as simple and convenient (or as free!) as BabelWith.Me. This is a great service for people looking to make friends or business connections worldwide.

  Best of all, it’s ridiculously easy to use. After clicking “Start a conversation,” you’ll be taken to the chat room where you can invite your friends through Twitter, Facebook or email—and then begin chatting. And really, that’s about it. The chat link is located in the upper right hand corner of the web page if you’d like to send it to someone manually. In addition, you can select a different language if you want and view the chat in both your own language and in another.

  In short, BabelWith.Me is not only a great idea but an incredibly easy-to-use and straightforward service. We have no doubt it will offer users a simple and convenient way to chat without those pesky language barriers.

  Practical Uses:

  • Make new friends across the globe
  • Contact overseas clients without embarrassing communications barriers
  • Keep in touch with your foreign exchange student after he/she moves back home
  • Practice learning another language through casual conversation

  Insider Tips:

  • Invite friends via Twitter or Facebook from within the application
  • Change the language to see what others are viewing

  What we liked:

  • There’s nothing quite like it
  • No downloads
  • The site is quick and translation is instantaneous

  What we didn’t like:

  • There aren’t currently any user profiles
  • Translation functions still have a few bugs

  Alternatives:

  • Chat Translator –

    ” title=”http://www.whoson.com

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  Company Info:

  • Launched: June 2009
  • Owned by Lifechurch.tv
  • Headquarters: Edmond, OK
  • Web site: http://centurytel.appvita.com/?p=2098

    If you’re fed up with having to run to the store every time you use the last roll of toilet paper (and who isn’t) then Alice.com might be for you. Alice is a new online service for people looking to simplify their household to-do list. They offer great deals and 100% free shipping on a number of household essentials like toilet paper, makeup, laundry detergent, personal care, and pet food.

    One of the great things about Alice is that it works not only as a shopping site but also as an organization tool. The advanced planning feature allows you to anticipate when you’ll run out of an item and, if you wish, to set that item up to ship automatically. There’s also a budgeting tool, so you can see where your money is going every month.

    Of course, the best thing about Alice is that it offers real savings. While there are some local and store brands you might miss, the site offers up a ton of quality products for truly great deals. In addition, because of Alice’s direct relationship with product manufacturers, many items include sizable coupons that are applied automatically, meaning you save even more time and money without searching or clipping. In short, Alice is a great way to carve out more time and money for what matters in your life—and it’s a service we’ll most definitely be using.

    Practical Uses:

    • Keep all of your household cleaning products in good supply without lifting a finger (after you setup your shipment schedule)
    • Get a regular supply of cat and dog food without having to lug bags home from the store
    • Send a monthly supply of diapers to your your daughter as a gift

    Insider Tips:

    • Click “Other Ways to Shop” and search for natural and organic products
    • Use advanced planning to pre-plan your order
    • Interact with the Alice community under the Neighborhood tab
    • See where your money goes using the budgeting function

    What we liked:

    • Shipping is fast and always free (rather generous considering the size and weight of many items sold by Alice)
    • Automatic coupons save you even more money
    • The service is both convenient and practical

    What we didn’t like:

    • There aren’t enough local and organic brands and we’d love to see Alice-branded items that offer greater value much like store brands do

    Alternatives:

    • Amazon Fresh –

      ” title=”http://www.cvs.com

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    • Diapers.com –

      ” title=”http://www.drugstore.com

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    Company Info:

    • Launched: June 2009
    • Privately Held
    • Headquarters: Middleton, WI
    • Founded by: Brian Wiegand and Mark McGuire
    • Web site: