Apps. Apps. Apps. There seems to be a new application for the smart phone every time it powers up. This new apps world, however, isn’t just limited to smart phones. Free programs are popping up for the computer, too, and synchronizing (syncing) to your phone.
Dropbox, Google Documents, and Prezi are just a few of these programs.
All three of these programs have some characteristics in common. They all allow users to share with friends or family. The shared folders allow several people to collaborate on the same file. With these programs anyone who has been invited to view the file can see other changes instantly.
Dropbox
Dropbox allows 2GB of space for free, or you can pay $10 a month for 50 GB, or $20 a month for 100 GB. Dropbox will sync files of any size or type to computers and phones.
Viewing is available for any Windows, Mac or Linux computer. Dropbox saves pictures, files, videos and other material and instantly saves when new files or changes have been made.
Dropbox is a free application for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or Android that allows access and the ability to manage Dropbox on the go.
Google Documents (docs)
Keep documents, spreadsheets, powerpoints, drawings and forms for free online. This program is now also available to help with any managing or sharing.
More options are now available for phones including Google docs. Mobile spreadsheets and documents are able to be edited on the phone. Available for Andoid, iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia S60, Windows and others.
If using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari, one is now able to drag and drop images and files from your desktop and drop them directly into a document.
Prezi
Prezi differs from PowerPoint but has many of the same characteristics. Prezi allows the user to move the backgrounds and change themes. The program has the capability to place Youtube videos, pictures, Adobe PDF files or just regular documents in the project.
Users can resize, place and rotate any object in Prezi. It is as easy as clicking to create a path for the presentation to show and to place the slides and objects in the pattern wanted.
Prezi excels at placing ideas in a creative way, which in turn allows for exciting presentations.
Dropbox and Google Docs represent the concept of cloud-based file storage, syncing and sharing. Their desktop programs embed a virtual drive within the file structure of an operating system. Their premise is to work as invisibly as possible by functioning like a normal drive.
Keeping up with all the new apps is difficult, but the free price is certainly right.
