OverRoll.com

Adobe has now entered the list of companies providing web-based applications, joining the growing list of such companies as Google and Microsoft who are offering online solutions to applications that in the past have only been accessible on your local hard drive.

I see this as a major indication as to where the Internet is going…

To date, the Internet has evolved faster than anyone could have ever imagined. In the relatively short amount of time that the Internet has been accessible to the general public, it has grown by monumental leaps and bounds; it’s a juggernaut with seemingly indefinite potential. And I see “fully Internet based PCs” as the next step in its evolution.

When I say, “fully Internet based PCs,” I mean the creation of PCs that are just, in essence, portals to your “Internet PCs” or virtual machines. We no longer will have a need for fully featured operating systems or applications to exist on your local hard drive, because one day Internet speeds, along with its accessibility and availability, will be so high-speed it will be able to handle any type of hardware emulation.

Although this idea is nothing new and is happening all around us (Gmail, Meebo, Zoho). I feel that only now is technology becoming available to actually implement these ideas. And though we are not quit there yet, we are moving ever so closer to its full-scale adaptation.

That time is once again among us. The time when parents rejoice and children cringe: Back to School!

I’ve compiled a list of Web 2.0 websites sure to help you with any school related matters! So whether you’re going to college for your first year or returning yet again, this list is sure to help you out!

Facebook.com – If you have not yet created a Facebook account, there is no better time than now. Use Facebook to meet new people, learn about new activities (whatever they may be), and stay in contact with other students and friends.

RateMyProfessors.com – This one can help you GREATLY! With RMP you can find information about teachers or even add your own. Use this before you start to make your schedule to learn more about particular teachers.

Ebay.com & Craigslist.org – Use both websites to get good deals on text books and school supplies! But why these two when there are many others dedicated to solely school matters? Well with Ebay and Craiglist you can buy almost ANYTHING else too!

Yelp.com – If you’re going to school in a new location, you will need to know all the not-so-hot and HOT spots. Yelp is a review site where all reviews are user submitted, so you can learn about places before you check them out- right from other students.

Stu.dicio.us – There is nothing worse than losing notes or just leaving them somewhere. With Stu.dicio.us you can take/save/share notes, todos lists, documents, and even connect with Facebook friends, and have everything available from any computer with Internet access.

Citationmachine.net – MLA, APA- WHAT? Still having trouble writing citations? Use this website to correctly structure your citations for your papers by simply filling out a form.

Books.Google.com – Need to check out a book, but have no time to get to a real library (who still goes to those places anyway?), just try doing a search in this Google tool. You will find hundreds of books completely digitized by Google. Though, they do not have as big a selection as some libraries, it is still a good start.

All of the mentioned sites have helped me in school, but I am sure there are many other great ones out there. So if you have any not on the list, just add them to the comments section.

Good luck!

But not just Gmail! Picasa Web Albums and all of Google’s services are getting get a lot better!

Why? Well today Google announced on its blog that it will begin offering fee-based “additional storage plans” for all of its services- first starting with Gmail and Picasa Web Albums and later adding the plans to other services, such as Google Docs & Spreadsheets, in the near future.

Truthfully this is a wish come true for me. Like many, I use Gmail as not only my e-mail, but as my online storage solution (Thanks GMail Drive). And even though I have yet to reach the current maximum storage of 2.82 GB provided by Google. I knew the sad day would someday come when I would reach the end and be forced to start using something else.

So, what’s more storage costing us?

The plans may be somewhat more expensive than some online storage solution services, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay to add more storage to what IS the best e-mail service around.