Nonprofit Expressions

When you are a web designer (like me) you are always on the lookout for websites that are cutting edge, and ones that make life easy. This week I would like to examine two websites that are both cutting edge, and have the potential to make life easier.

The first Web 2.0 site is blist.com

Blist is a database for the everyday person. When I say database don’t get scared! Database is usually a term used by very techie people to refer to a means of storing and sorting information. The truth is just about everyone uses databases all the time. We just don’t know the high tech ways of doing it, and we try to fit everything into Microsoft’s Access. Access can be great for rows of sales data, or a list of names and addresses, but it doesn’t even come close to the usefulness of Blist.

I urge you to watch the demo on the blist Blog. This website is currently in beta, but you can sign up and begin using it now.

About web 2.0 Beta websites

The new buzzword for web 2.0 is beta. Beta means there are known problems with the application that are being fixed, and people need to use the application so those problems or potential problems can be ironed out.

The funny truth about “beta” websites is that they usually function just fine. I have been using Pownce, Grand Central, and Blist with no problems and all are or were recently “beta” websites. Beta is becoming the buzzword for “cool new features” on the internet. So next time you see a beta website don’t be intimidated-it might actually be amazing.

The second website to make life easy

The second web 2.o application I have fallen in love with is the next generation of personal organizers called Scrybe.

Scrybe is like your personal organizer mixed with a web scrapbook that you can use on the web wherever you are, as well as offline when your laptop is not connected!

Scrybe is also a beta application, accept in this case iscrybe.com is not offering public sign-up. It is a private beta (that means cool new features you want but can’t have yet). I researched and pan handled to get an invitation to scrybe.

In the spirit of sharing, I would like to give away 15 free invitations! All you need to do is comment on this blog or email me at aaron@nonprofit-expressions.com, and I will send you a free scrybe invite.

If you want to see all the amazing features of scrybe and be convinced as to why you want it, you should check out the video on the website!

Best Regards,

Aaron

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pm and is filed under Best Practices, General, Improving your website, Web 2.0. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.