18
Mar
Web 2.0 Productivity Sites
stored in: Business Tools, Emerging Technologies, Links, Web 2.0, World Wide Web

CNET is sponsoring the Webware 100 Awards where you can vote for the best Web 2.0 apps. The winners will be announced at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco on April 21st, 2008. Here is a look at my picks from the productivity category (you can vote up to 3 times), plus a few bonus thoughts.

In reviewing the list of finalists I can categorize most of the sites into one of the following: Calendaring apps, Task/Project Management, Finance Software, Office apps and Database or List Management. I currently see webware offering the most value in the first three categories (Calendaring, Task Management, Finance Management). Office applications definitely have a future on the web, but we are still in the early stages of their development. These webware tools are still lacking in features and have not bridged the offline dilemma, as a result they do not yet offer a true substitute to their software counterparts.

I have chosen one site from each of the 3 categories where I see the most value:

webware_100_productivity_picks

  • Google Calendar – The web is the right place for your calendar and there are several sites offering great calendars. My vote goes for Google Calendar not only for its list of features and smooth interface, but also because I like to have one reference point for as much of my web activity as possible. I was disappointed in the lack of any obvious advantages to the other calendaring apps.
  • Mint – I get excited when I find well built webware that can replace the traditional software that I have to load on each computer I use. Mint, a free personal finance software, is a perfect example of this. Extremely easy to use, rich with features and has a beautiful interface. Finally a hope to free myself from Quicken.
  • I Want Sandy – This was a new site for me, but considering the site I would have picked for this category, tracks.tra.in, wasn’t a finalist I thought this was an innovative site with a lot of potential. I like the real life metaphor that this site applies of having a personal assistant to help you track tasks, reminders, appointments and to keep organized.

Reviewing the list of finalists is a great introduction to what is happening with webware. A couple sites that I was disappointed to not see as a finalist are:

  • Plaxo – Great synchronization tool for all your online and offline sources
  • tracks.tra.in – Task management site based on the GTD methodology
  • Tripit.com – Helpful trip management site that builds all your travel plans into a single itinerary

What are your Webware 100 picks and what sites do you think are missing?

Comments
  • <img src="http://www.webware.com/html/ww/100/2008/images/i_voted.png" alt="I voted in the 2008 Webware 100 Awards"></img>
  • Unfortunately Mint is limited to US financial institutions (except for your Paypal account). Silicon Valley fails to realize the scope of the web and continues to build web apps focused exclusively to the US.
    In this specific example, personal finance software is difficult to build for foreign bank accounts. Until secure communication standards for financial institutions have been established with common acceptance for the terms of service it is unlikely that Mint will be able to extend this service to non-US banks.
    As far as I have seen this is the case for all financial related activity on the web. Fortunately Paypal continues to extend its services to non-US accounts, but still has a way to go.
  • Guido
    does Mint work for italian banks as well?
    I heard it wasn't ready for old europeans...
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