It’s time again for my annual favorite software list. I have a mix of both websites that function as software-as-a-service and apps. Here’s my 2010 list and my 2009 list.
Productivity
CrashPlan, Documents to Go, Evernote, Concur, HP ePrint, Blogsy, Siri, Wunderlist, Scrivener, Fantastical
CrashPlan (OS X, iOS) – Unlimited, off-site backups. You always need local and off-site backups. I migrated away from Mozy when they decided to raise my prices by 2000% and haven’t regretted it since.
Documents to Go (iOS) – Edit and create MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint from mobile devices. This software has been around since the Palm Pilot days and is a great piece of software for doing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the go. This year my wife and I got involved with donating to a local charity and I use this to inventory our donations by keeping a spreadsheet on Dropbox.
Evernote (Web, OS X, iOS) – I used to use 37signals’ Backpack to do what I use Evernote for now … keeping track of all sorts of things I want to remember later. I am determined to become a premium user in 2012.
Concur (iOS) – My company uses Concur for expense reporting and travel and it’s fantastic to have an app on my personal device that allows me to enter expense reports … that causes me to be more timely in getting that done.
HP ePrint (Web) – Internet-based printing-by-email service provided by HP for certain HP Internet-enabled printers. While not overly impressive by itself, the ability to print documents remotely without intervention is very useful to me. Earlier this year, I wrote a quick document on how to upgrade to iOS 5.01 for my parents and sent it to their printer and within an hour, they were able to use it to upgrade.
Blogsy (iOS) – Multi-service blogging platform app for the iPad. It’s nice to have a blogging tool on the iPad that’s more full-featured than either the Posterous or WordPress app.
Siri (iOS) – Voice recognition for search. I loved Siri when it was an independent app before Apple bought it. I like it more now that it’s baked into iOS
Wunderlist (OS X, iOS) – Multi-platform task management. It’s a great task management system that’s free and available for iOS and OS X and it syncs between all devices by itself.
Scrivener (OS X) – Extremely feature-rich word processor geared toward writers. I keep vowing to write more every year. Scrivener is the most feature-rich word processor I’ve ever seen. Let’s see if it helps me in 2012.
Fantastical (OS X) – Extremely simple calendar application. The calendar in OS X isn’t that impressive. Fantasical gets down to business and is cleaner. I use this and Calvetica on iOS.
Connectivity
LogMeIn Ignition, TotalConnect
LogMeIn Ignition (Web, iOS) – Remote desktop management software. I sang the praises of Screens, iTap RDP, and iSSH last year but now I’m firmly in the LogMeIn camp. I install this on every computer of every relative for whom I provide remote tech support. I can let myself in when I’m needed from anywhere with no router or OS configuration necessary. It’s made helping others very easy.
TotalConnect (Web, iOS) – Remote control software for home alarm systems. It’s kind of clunky but I love being able to arm and disarm my home alarm system remotely.
Audio / Video
HBO GO, iCatcher, iMovie, Crackle, 8Tracks
HBO GO (Web, iOS) – HBO’s streaming service for mobile and destkops. I use this quite a bit to watch all of HBO’s content on my iPad or desktop. Every broadcaster should follow HBO’s lead with this. It’s easily the best idea to come out of HBO in a long time and is very user friendly … if it supported AirPlay to Apple TV, it’d be even better.
iCatcher (iOS) – Podcast app for iPhone and iPad. Since I ditched satellite radio earlier this year, I’ve replaced my talk radio fix with this app. I listen to a large number of podcasts every week and this app is quite nice. I may try Instacast for fun but right now this is my go-to app on my iPhone.
Crackle (Web, iOS) – Sony’s online video service. You have to admire Sony putting a lot of content into this website and iOS apps. Great for the occassional movie or TV show and it supports AirPlay.
8tracks (Web, iOS) – A curated music playlist app. Think Pandora if the music were handpicked.
Content Creation
SketchBook Pro, Skitch
SketchBook Pro (OS X, iOS) – Art creation app for the iPad and iPhone. A great example of how you can draw on the iPad. It’s from AutoDesk, makers of AutoCAD.
Skitch (OS X, iOS) - Great little tool for making quick edits to photos. Evernote bought them and made the $20 desktop app free and gave us a free iPad app. Very cool.
Fun
Shazam, iTunes Movie Trailers
Shazam – Music recognition app. It’s not a new app but it went from a paid service to an ad-supported one in 2011. I use it all the time now.
iTunes Movie Trailers – This is one of those “Why’d it take so long to get this?” type of apps. Apple has had a movie trailers site forever … bringing it to iOS was a no brainer.
Useful Websites
My most used websites are Instapaper, Pinboard, and If This, Then That.
There’s a great list of 101 useful websites at Digital Inspiration. Among my favorites …
- screenr.com – record your desktop and upload to youtube
- lovelycharts.com – create flowcharts, network diagrams, sitemaps
- dabbleboard.com – virtual whiteboard
- followupthen.com – set up quick reminders via email
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mhumphrey
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Brian