In the Hits and Bytes section, we will start recommending some of our favorite applications for smart phones and the iPad, in addition to websites we like.
One of our favorite apps is Evernote. It allows any user to create notebooks and save clips from e-mail, websites, documents, etc. to those notebooks. For example, the Behavior Grid was something we clipped a few weeks back. One of our favorite uses of Evernote is to take pictures of flip charts or whiteboards from brainstorming sessions. Evernote also allows users to tag clips, search the text, and send notes to other people. The best part is that Evernote syncs all your clips and allows you to view them online or through apps on your phone or iPad.
We’ve said it before – we love information presented in unique ways. Nathan Yau collects compelling charts, tables, and other ways of visualizing data from across the web at FlowingData. The infographics range from the serious (a pie chart of Iraq rebuilding funds that are accounted for vs. unaccounted) to the entertaining (a recently popular entry is how to win at Rock Paper Scissors).
This flow chart is critical for anyone who has seen Inception and is still trying to figure it out.
Beyond the entertainment value, Yau’s blog does a good job of showing how some complex topics can be understood much more quickly by glancing at a chart than reading a page of copy.
Movie Clips is a database of more than 12,000 movie clips sorted by movie, actor, dialogue, etc. It even sorts them by theme (e.g. communication) and mood (e.g. inspiring). Best of all, the website allows you to embed clips in PowerPoint presentations (you have to be connected to the Internet to access them) or create your own mashup to share with friends.
It’s hard to find good clip art for presentations and other uses. Icon Finder solves part of that problem with some unique art. Admittedly, the graphics are small because they are designed as icons for Web sites, but we definitely see applications in PowerPoint presentations or other media.
File this under fun. Wordle allows you to create a word cloud from words you input, a blog feed, or a Delicious user account. The sizes of words vary based on the number of times they are mentioned in the source material. For example, here is the Wordle word cloud from the new Atkinson PR blog. Unfortunately, Wordle doesn’t allow you to save word clouds as JPG or GIF graphics, but you can always take a screenshot.
Talking Points Memo (TPM) is a must-read publication for professionals and media involved in politics. Time magazine named TPM the top blog in 2009. TPM specializes in original reporting on government and politics and offers breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and high profile guest bloggers.
