Comments on: Top Five Tools of 2009

By: Will Allen

Will Allen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:49:39 +0000

Can’t beat an end of year list! ;-)

#1. Agreed, iPhone. Absolutely. It surprised me over and over again. Tactile, engaging and oh so usable!

#2. Tweetdeck. Made Twitter manageable.

#3. iGoogle. Still my browser go-to homepage/lauchpad.

#4. Diigo. I can’t remember the last time I added a bookmark to a browser… 1997?

#5. Facebook. Yes, still up there! Why? ‘Cos it’s now where 90% of social stuff happens. No more emails from mates or (not so) funny attachments!

By: andystew

andystew — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:37:11 +0000

Just started using TeuxDeux and it’s actually quite good. The simplicity of it makes it more productive than others I’ve tried. It’s keeping me really focussed on what I need to get done, pretty cool.

By: andystew

andystew — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:23:54 +0000

I must admit dropbox has passed me by, I’ll have to take a look! I think my next big purchase will be either a MacBook or iMac but I can’t decide. I do like a desktop but the portability is obviously a big plus. Will have to keep an eye out on the new iSlate (or whatever they’re gonna call it) too.

By: Zak Mensah

Zak Mensah — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:45:53 +0000

1. Dropbox A no brainer really, syncs all my files very quickly across any number of computers I choose AND iphone. So now i dont have to worry about having left files at home/office/usb stick. If my house got robbed, all my latest work is on dropbox, id just get it straight back. Sharing chosen file/folders couldnt be easier too. If you dont use this, you should!

2. Google Docs – Been using this for personal work and day job. Does all the essentials and has transformed my workshops as i can get feedback very quickly and see live updates. Again sharing facility make it a must for me.. just back it up to your work computer or you may get in trouble for daring to be in the cloud.

3. iphone – Would of been higher, but 1 and 2 are too perfect AND i lost my iphone for 2 months and got by BUT did miss the connectivity.

4. Macbook – I never had a laptop before, useful and has replaced my desktop machine. My only concern was it being stolen but dropbox removes this concern.

5. usb stick – A solid and trustworthy way of sharing large files and peace of mind backup..even if its not always the latest version.

If i could add more than 5, id say the firebug and web developer extensions for saving hours of coding de-bugging.

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:13:43 +0000

Yes, I was a Firefox aficionado but the number of (genuinely helpful) add-ons caused it to be very slow, even on my Macbook Pro.

I’ve installed the developer version of Chrome to get at the extensions. Even with a few installed (Delicious, Instapaper, Feedly, Picnik, etc.) it still seems to be blisteringly fast!

Regarding to-do lists, I’ve used several systems none of which have been wholly satisfactory. I used Remember The Milk for a year or so, then switched to Google Tasks, then more recently to TeuxDeux. Since my wife finally got around to buying me some Moleskine notebooks for Christmas, however, I’ve been revisiting the joys of pen and paper… :-)

By: andystew

andystew — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:07:30 +0000

Cheers Doug, I must spend some time trying out Chrome but can’t quite bring myself to give up Firefox, the history and excitement of the browser battle :)

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on to-do lists generally. I’ve tried a few things but always end up going back to a paper based system using hints and tips from Randy Pausch.

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:04:32 +0000

Not so sure about ‘tools’ but things I used most in 2009:

1. Spotify – gone pro, got rid of CDs and MP3s.
2. Google Chrome – lightning fast, love it!
3. TeuxDeux – new to-do web app. Simple and sensational.
4. TweetDeck – have it on pretty much 24/7 to interact with my PLN.
5. iWork 09 – I have *unlimited* love for Keynote.

I’ve used WordPress and Google Docs for years. I can’t imagine life without them! :-D