This post is the fifth in a series titled “Three simple tools that may not have hit your radar.”
As usual, I provide a high-level overview of three tools or applications that I have come across that I find useful and interesting. The tools and applications included in these posts are from companies that offer free versions of their wares. Some of them offer advanced features for a fee. I have confined the list to tools that I use, or have used in the past. So, here are the three.
Paper.li
Update: After 13 years, Paper.li shut down on 20 April 2023.
Launched by SmallRivers, a company based in Lausanne, Switzerland, Paper.li has been around since 2010. If you have ever considered a career in journalism, content curation, or publishing, you must check it out.
The web-based application allows you to pick, filter, and publish content from a variety of sources including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and other RSS feeds that are relevant to your community of interest. The free version of the application comes with sufficient features that allow you to produce a professional-looking daily or weekly newspaper.
Here is a quick look at a paper that I launched last week. You will soon realize that publishing the paper is the easier part! For now, my philosophy is “If you print it, they will read.”
SoundGecko
If you are into reading, this app will come in handy for you. SoundGecko converts text in a web page, blog, or PDF document into audio, allowing you to multitask while driving, cooking, working out, or during other such activities not conducive to reading. It is available as a web tool, or an app for smartphones and tablets and is compliant with IOS and Android devices. The paid version includes a variety of input
options like PDF and email while the free version limits you to web pages or links. Clearly, the text-to-speech program has its limitations when it comes to intonations and nuances that a listener may find annoying. On the other hand, it gives you the ability to get caught up on reading that you may have been putting off. You can try out this app by clicking the “Listen to article” button at the beginning of this post.
Pic Monkey
Pic Monkey is a simple yet powerful web-based photo-editing application. Unlike some of the other crop and edit tools, Pic Monkey has an intuitive interface that lets you edit and add effects to your images. The comprehensive list of features includes the ability to create collages and add effects like exposure, frames, and watermarks. Here’s a sample of a simple collage made using PicMonkey.
Let me know if you find these tools useful or appealing. Please use the comments and share options shown below to add your preferred applications that should be included in this list.
