I’m now on Facebook, yeah that’s right I’ve joined the masses with the networking gig… Oh and not to mention I’m also on Ning….

I don’t really have a good answer for why, I just decided that if I’m going to be in the business of Web2.0 I’d better have my hand in all the areas the web is offering right now. I really don’t have a huge opinion on FaceBook. I will say that of all the online apps I think FaceBook seems to have a good corner in the market. Just the fact that they allow third party apps to be added to their interface is huge. It gives the control back to the users and offers them the ability to make their network better or worse.

I am also in Ning. The only reason I’m in this online app is to have a hold on some of the existing apps out there. I don’t really know much about this one, but its your standard Networking tool and community portal. Honestly I’m only into Ning because I’ve heard that people consider it to be a blogging platform worth using for artists online presence.)

This is Web App Wednesday, for those who see this and are wondering… This is the one post I do a week that lets me talk about Web Apps that I’m into. More or less this weekly post keeps me from blabbing about Web stuff all the time.

This week I’m going to talk a little about WordPress, I’m absolutely in love with this platform. As a PHP, MySQL driven Content Management System, WordPress is one of the few platforms that allows us simpletons to publish web content with relative ease.

Yesterday was the 5th B-Day of WordPress so if you’re a user than slap a high five in the air for that. I think there is a lot to be said for a platform that offers itself for free. Not to mention the fact that you can self host, be hosted via WordPress.com, or if your extra ordinary you can do a Multi User WordPress thingy… I’m not sure how to explain that last one except that you’re able to host multiple blogs from one administration panel on a self hosted account. (i honestly don’t think that last line counts as techno babble)

The real reason I’m all in pansies over WordPress this week is that I finally developed a full fledged plugin that interacts with the database and offers editing. Simply create a page and type [list_badges] in the content area and blamo there you have your results.

Yipty dippty doo, right!!!? This is exciting for me simply because now I am one huge step closer to being able to offer something to the public… (although I probably wont any time soon)

Here’s the skinny,,,

My honest opinion is this. Platforms like WordPress, Blogger, Typepad, Habari, b2evolution, Moveable Type and the like are setting a new standard for the web. It’s amazing, cool, and I’m happy about it.

Also, I’d like to give a shout out to group over at and say a HUGE THANKS!!!! You’ve made the web gods happy… oh and me too…

This week I’d like to pay homage to an Application that has changed the way the world works. Adobe PhotoShop…

Show of hands how many of you use this App???

Back when I was in college I used to work in the Digital Art classes. I was the guy sitting in the back of class that was supposed to answer all the questions and stuff. (so much for that, I’ve seen things now that make me feel silly) Well, that was back when psd7 was the shit. I still only use psdCS, I just don’t have the money to get the top of the line.

I’ve thought about this many times, “if PhotoShop didn’t exist something else probably would have taken it’s place.” And even still I’m sure there are some Programs out there that can take PhotoShop in a cage match. Thing is, Adobe seems to have done it first, and they seem to have done it right.

What Application do you have on your desktop that you should probably take out to dinner?

here’s mine

So this is it, Im taking my comcast back from here on I’m going to have to rely on finding my internet from some one else. Kinda makes me feel like I’m being left high and dry.

Here is a little application I think a few people will enjoy. This is MarsEdit, it’s an application for posting to your blog with out using your browser. I use this every day, and have found it to be an awesome way to post. There are a ton of features with Web2.0 in mind. There are also a lot of customization options for those who are willing to take the time.

I must say though, if you are not familiar with looking at html you probably wont like this. All links and images are in html, only line breaks are hidden. (they are converted on upload)

What makes this program worth it?

Writing off line… You may be one of those people that likes to write your posts in advance or perhaps you always have a couple of posts you’re constantly trying to rewrite. I like that I don’t have to log-in to review something I’m working on. Not only that but I like bypassing the editor and typing everything myself. (course I’ve set up a bunch of quick keys for most of my styling)

Write to Multiple Blogs… Maybe you’re a freak and you write to a couple of different blogs.

Control… I’m a control freak when it comes to my styles and fonts and everything like that. Most Blog platforms will give a good amount of options but they just don’t give you everything. Also, there is bound to be a screw up here and there that will strip out all your styles, and eventually something comes up missing on your post when you publish it. Then it turns into that vicious cycle of, “what the heck!!!???”

I never have to worry about that, everything I write goes to my blog and there isn’t any amount of code missing, because some filter doesn’t like what I wrote.

Conclusion… Basically if you’re hosting your blog, and your comfortable with looking at and typing HTML this program will interest you.

So this week I’ll be talking mostly about an RSS reader I’ve been using called Sage. There is also a quick review of: Things, Xyle Scope & Snitter.

Here is what they have to say.

“Sage is a lightweight RSS and Atom feed reader extension for Mozilla Firefox. It’s got a lot of what you need and not much of what you don’t.”

I’ve tried 3 different RSS readers.

1. Google Reader (its ok standard reader)
2. Mac Mail Reader (very nice, but I don’t like to see how many feed I haven’t read.)
3. Sage (so far so good, and I’ll tell you why)

Sage is a Firefox plugin, so if you’re not a foxy browser I’m sorry about this post. I like using Sage for a couple of different reasons.

1.) I don’t have to login to it. Option+Z and a side bar pops out with all my feeds. Select your feed and it comes up in the rest of the window. And not just the title of the posts or the titles on top and the selected post below. You get about 10 or so feeds (pending rss settings) all at once. Check it out ↓

2.) I don’t have to look at that mass of numbers telling me day in and day out how many feeds that I have failed to read. (again and again and again) Kinda like how I wish books didn’t have numbers on the pages. (not sure if thats a good idea though)

3.) It’s clean to look at, easy to add feeds and there is only one window to mess with. (Tabs people, learn them and use them)

Review

• Snitter is another Twitter App - Info: Adobe Air, Clean, A lot like Twhirl, No Adds
• Things: Culture Code - Recommended by: CJ - Info: Organization, Intuitive Clean Interface. I really liked this Program, but my subscription ran out really fast. I’m thinking about buying it. (its much better than having Stickies all over the place.)
• Xyle Scope: Culture Code - Info: HTML Breakdown. Check out the Code for your sites and other sites by browsing with Xyle Scope. It has sidebar windows that show the code as you select it with your mouse. (This one is hard to explain in short terms, you have to see it in action.) Very Cool.

I’m always glad to see Firefox and Safari at the top of the list.

Why?

I like Web Application that are easy and worth using, and I find myself blabbing about them all to often. So, in order to focus my ideas and keep myself from blabbing too much, I am going to do one post a week about Programs for Web use.

~ if you like short posts, forget about What I’m Thinking…

What I’m Thinking is…

There is a crapload of Programs out there being used for every different part of the web, and there are a million different Reviews for every product. I would like to know what the day to day bloggers use, not just the review guys.

I’ve always thought that I would suck at being a sales person, that was until I bought a Mac. Now I know that I could work in a Mac store and not feel like I’m ripping people off. Why, because I actually like Mac’s. Same goes for most products. You might use a product, but would you feel good about selling it?

Review↓

I’ll keep this simple and short…

• Woopra, Stats App A+
  Still in Beta testing, but it’s amazing. If you’re a stats person you should look. Requires Standard Membership w/approval, copy & past of code.
• Twitterrific, Twitter App A+
  Requires Adobe Air, Very Stable, Looks Good, Fun sounds of Birds to let you know of new Tweets, and an easy to use interface. how could twitter be hard, right…
• Here is what they say…
  Sage is a lightweight RSS and Atom feed reader extension for Mozilla Firefox. It’s got a lot of what you need and not much of what you don’t.

  I’ll save this one for next time…

That’s it for this week… If there’s any Program you use that you really like lets here it. Even if it’s as simple as a browser. (i like firefox, but it has its issues)

Currently Listed

• 3littlebirds
• aaron ivey
• arewestillcool
• B.W.
• Blog Herald
• Booterblog
• Brian Seay
• brodyharper
• Connersvine
• daley hake
• Fatdaddye
• FeeBand
• Jeff Culmer
• Jon & Adrienne
• Kristin Danielle
• LJUrban
• MercyMe
• Newhavenworth
• PD Ross
• Phil Wickham
• redcedar
• scharenbergs
• simpleandloveable
• steven bush
• The Art of Whimsy

A couple of days ago I mentioned a Program called Woopra, which got me talking about web apps that are built for desktop use with a Web2.0 doof like myself in mind. Also, over the last few days I’ve talked about a few other apps that I’ve found to be useful. It seems like every day I find a program that I want to try out. Believe me not all of them work out, but there are a lot apps out there so I’m going to keep plucking away at until I find the ones that are really worth using.

Here is a small list of some Programs that I am currently using on trial, freeware, or $paid. Some of these are mainstream products and some are not. If you have any programs you’re testing or really like, let me know because I’m always interested in knowing what’s out there.

random order with numbers…

1. Adobe Golive 9: Web Authoring
2. MiniTwit: Twitter App
3. Woopra: Stats Machine
4. Charlotte: Web Searching
5. RAGE Domainer: Domain Tracker
6. SunFlower Public: Web Monitoring

I’ll let you know when I’ve decided on what’s going to stay↓ and what’s going to GO→

Any Suggestions???