How cloud (Cloud Computing) can change the usage of desktop applications?

How cloud (Cloud Computing) can change the usage of desktop applications?

Just read one article related to the Cloud Computing in which we can see some of the recent applications available over the internet and they can replace the traditional desktop applications. On the contrary, I am not saying that no more development of desktop applications in future! However, there may be some decline in the desktop applications as everyone is moving towards the latest hot topic of Cloud Computing and their apps. We need to wait and see how the future will be….

Reference: http://web.appstorm.net/roundups/15-web-alternatives-to-popular-desktop-software/

15 Web Alternatives to Popular Desktop Software

Web applications have come a long way. They used to be amateur imitations of their desktop counterparts, with only one or two functions and not at all practical. But my, have these web apps grown. Web apps these days have become so powerful and useful that in some cases, they’ve begun to replace desktop software.
Desktop programs are great and all, but they don’t provide the same benefits as web apps that make use of cloud computing. With most web apps, you only need a browser and an internet connection to access all your data online. That beats having to install annoying programs any day. To give you a better sense of how useful web apps have become, I’ve compiled a list of web tools and apps that can very well replace some desktop programs. I hope you take the time to try them all out. You’ll be surprised how well they work.
Without further ado, here are some great web alternatives to the popular desktop programs we all love.

Sliderocket

Replaces: Microsoft PowerPoint

SlideRocket

Sliderocket is a fully functional presentation web app that allows you to create, manage, edit, and share presentations on the fly. It offers many of the same features present in PowerPoint and then some. Sliderocket is an awesome tool and if you want to read more about it, take a look at our in-depth review of Sliderocket.

Acrobat.com

Replaces: Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat

Acrobat.com is a suite of web applications by Adobe that replaces your office suite. The online suite includes services like Buzzword, Tables, and Presentation which replace Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint respectively. Acrobat.com also offers other features, allowing users to convert files into PDFs, hold online meetings, and collaborate with one another. All of its services are free (with some limitations), but users can subscribe to different plans for more features. Check out the pricing section for more details.

Aviary

Replaces: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Soundbooth

Aviary

We have already covered a list of online image editors, and of that list, my favorite would have to be Aviary. The Aviary web suite offers powerful tools that allow you to edit images, vectors, and even audio! Take a look at the huge list of the tools included in their suite:
• Phoenix: Image Editor
• Toucan: Color Editor
• Myna: Audio Editor
• Peacock: Effects Editor
• Raven: Vector Editor
• Falcon: Image Markup
• Roc: Music Creator. Check out our in-depth review of Roc.

Mint

Replaces: Quicken

Mint

If you’re still using Quicken to manage your money, it’s time to toss it out and move on to the better solution: Mint.com. Mint is a very popular personal-finance tool that allows you to keep track your credit card transactions, balance your budget, and create charts or graphs to help you visualize your spending. Mint is the free and secure way to manage your money online. In fact, Mint has been so successful that the makers of Quicken and TurboTax purchased it in 2009. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and sign up!

Kongregate

Replaces: Desktop Gaming

Kongregate

Forget about your desktop gaming – why waste space when you can play awesome games online? Kongregate is an online gaming community with a library of over 30,000 flash games. Not only do you have access to a variety of games, but you can also gain points, chat, and unlock achievements for the games you play. Developers can upload their own games and even make money off ad revenue for their games! If you’re looking for more online games to replace desktop games, take a look at our game roundups.

JayCut

Replaces: Video Editing Software

JayCut

JayCut is a very easy to use and powerful online video editor. With Jaycut, you can create videos with the same tools used in desktop programs. Add clips, transitions, audio, effects, and more with their simple UI. When you finish editing a video, you can choose to download it or export it directly to YouTube. Export up to 20 videos a month with 2GB of storage under a free plan, or pay monthly for a better plan.

WobZip

Replaces: Unzipping Software

WobZip

Have you ever tried to open a compressed file only to find out you don’t have the right unzipping software to do the job? In comes WobZip, an online tool that helps you uncompress your files. It supports a variety of compression formats, including the popular ZIP, RAR, and 7z formats. You can upload a zipped file from your computer or direct WobZip to a URL. The best part? WobZip will scan the files using BitDefender to make sure there isn’t a nasty virus lurking around.

Zamzar

Replaces: File Conversion Software

Zamzar

Instead of downloading dozens of different programs to convert a file, you can always use the Zamzar, the free online file conversion tool. Can’t open a crucial .docx or .pptx file and your boss is screaming in your ear? No problem, just upload and convert your files using Zamzar. Zamzar supports dozens of image, document, video, and music formats and is the only tool you will ever need to convert files.

Hulu

Replaces: TV Tuner Software

Hulu

I’m a cheap guy who spends all his time on the computer. How could I watch my favorite TV shows without leaving my computer? Well, I could purchase a TV tuner and install their lame software or I could head to Hulu.com and watch my favorite shows for free. Hulu is a website that offers streaming video of popular TV shows and movies in the US. It is ad supported, but allows you to watch your favorite shows from the comfort of your computer. Although Hulu is a U.S. only website, there are ways to access Hulu from outside the U.S.

Meebo

Replaces: Desktop Chat Clients

Meebo

With Meebo, you can chat with your friends from anywhere as long as you have a browser and an internet connection. Meebo is an online tool that allows you to login to any major IM network, including AIM, MSN, GTalk, and Facebook. You don’t even need to create an account, just input your IM information and you’re ready to go. If you take the 20 seconds to set up a Meebo account, you can login to multiple accounts at once. This sure beats downloading and managing three IM programs at once, doesn’t it?

TokBox

Replaces: Video Chat

TokBox

TokBox is an online video chatting app that enables you to chat with up to 20 people for free. There are no downloads required, just sign up and start a video chat! Invite your friends via social networks or IM and set up a chat in just minutes. TokBox is free to use, but if you’d like more options, you can sign up for monthly plans. TokBox may be free, but you’re going to need your own microphone and webcam.

Moof

Replaces: iTunes

Moof

You may have a huge iTunes library, but what happens when you go out and forget to bring your iPod along? Moof is the solution. Moof is another web app that streams music online, but I think of it as an iTunes alternative. You can export your entire iTunes library as an .xml file and upload that to Moof, so you can have a full backup of your music online. Where does Moof get all its music from? Youtube. Yeah, I know, it’s a little disappointing, but the quality isn’t that bad. Don’t like Moof? Check out our roundup of the top apps for music streaming.

ESET Online Virus Scanner

Replaces: Anti-Virus Software

ESET

While the ESET Online Virus scanner is a great alternative to Anti-Virus programs, you shouldn’t literally replace your Anti-Virus program. Think of this tool as a backup tool, in case your Anti-Virus software malfunctions. Made by the folks that brought you NOD32, the ESET online scanner uses the same threat signatures as NOD32 and allows you to scan your computer from your browser. It may take a while, but after the scan, suspicious files will be quarantined for you to restore or permanently delete. A great tool for your security toolbox.

Bitlet

Replaces: BitTorrent Client

BitLet

When you don’t have access to a BitTorrent client on your computer, you can use the BitLet app to download your torrents. BitLet is a Java based file sharing protocol that allows you to download torrent files from your browser. Just upload a .torrent file from your computer or direct BitLet to the torrent URL and it’ll do the rest for you.

iCloud

Replaces: Operating System

iCloud

We’ve already covered dozens of web alternatives to desktop software, but why not go a bit further and include a web app that replaces your entire operating system? Meet iCloud, the future of operating systems. iCloud is a very slick web operating system that gives you access to hundreds of built in applications, including an office suite, a media player, a chat client, nifty games, and much more. You have 3 GB of free storage and can opt to buy more if needed. You can get everything you need in this web OS. For those of you interested in Web OSes, be sure to read our article about other operating systems that utilize cloud computing.

Conclusion

As the world turns to cloud computing, we’re only going to see more and more web apps that function like their desktop counterparts. I’ve only listed a few of the web alternatives to desktop software, and I’m sure there are many more out there. As these web applications become more powerful and appeal to the masses in terms of functionality, we may soon see a decline in desktop programs as we all move towards the web and the cloud. Is this the end of desktop software? Who knows, we’ll have to wait and see.
Do you use any web apps in place of desktop programs? What do you think is going to be the future for desktop programs? Share your comments below!

 

Common-Sense Tips for Managing People

Common-Sense Tips for Managing People

"Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing." Albert Schweitzer

1.You set the standard: Work as hard, or harder, than your employees. Be a role model when managing people. Strive to know more than your best employee (or best sales rep) about your product line, industry, and their jobs. This doesn't mean you have to know everything. Still, educate yourself. I frequently hear in my seminars, "My boss has no idea what I really do in my job. The challenges, the pressures I face, and the time constraints."

2. Be an effective communicator: Communicate the good, the bad, and the ugly at least weekly. In study after study, employees and business leaders overwhelmingly want a leader who is "straightforward." I hear this over and over in my leadership seminars and workshops worldwide. Good interpersonal skills are crucial in managing people.

3. Be authentic, be real: The #1 trait people want to see, to willingly follow their leader is honesty. How can you expect them to look up to you if they don't trust you? Leadership is all about honesty and integrity.

4. The top 5 things: Ask your people point blank, "What are the top 5 things I can do to help you succeed?" For example, if they are salespeople, what can you do to motivate them to be out in the field instead of in the office?

5. MBWA: Management by walking around. Be accessible to them. Get in the trenches with your team. Nothing will gain respect for you more than that. This is another trait I consistently hear from my participants that they want to see in their leaders, and from their management team.

6. Be willing to fight for them: But before that, set the standard so they know how far they can push something before they ask for it. And when is enough...enough.

7. Get the facts first, listen: Never question their integrity without first gathering all the data. Have an open mind. Let them tell their side of the story. Just because you acknowledge what they say doesn't mean you have to agree.

This leadership article on managing people represents the opinions of a large cross section of employees, most of whom are managers themselves. In presenting approximately 100 leadership programs a year worldwide for the past ten years, these are the top 7 "common-sense" traits I hear employees most want from their managers. I refer to them as common-sense as it seems most leaders would know how important these people skills are to possess. Yet, many in management have risen in the ranks due only to their "hard skills" or technical skills. Many managers are promoted to management positions without any formal training in the area of communication and managing people. As a result, they can be too overbearing, or just the opposite, non-confrontational.

If nothing else, develop your communication and conflict-resolution skills. It'll save you money in the long run. As a manager, it's imperative to know how to manage people. The courts are filled with hotheads, people who said the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or worse, said nothing at all, and enabled the behavior of a difficult employee until it reached a crisis point.

"Sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny." G.D. Boardman

Ref: http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Common-Sense-Tips-for-Managing-People&id=243920

Top 10 Tips on Managing People

Effective Leadership, Managing People: 10 Timeless Principles

 In my management and effective leadership skills seminars, I often ask participants, based on their years of experience, to list their top do's and don'ts for effectively managing people. After conducting workshops and keynotes all over the world for over 12 years, I've come up with ten timeless principles, or tips for managing people. Here are the top ten:

1. Set goals collaboratively with your employees. You're more likely to have employees who are accepting of the solution because they were involved in the process.

2. Follow through. Always do what you say you're going to do. Otherwise, your credibility is destroyed. As the saying goes, they remember your last act.

3. In managing people, be empathetic and compassionate when the situation calls for it. For example, when a good employee is experiencing personal problems. Remember, your employees are your most important asset. And, you are managing people.

4. Be honest, trustworthy, fair and respectful. In managing people, if you employees don't perceive you as trustworthy, you're less likely to have real influence over them.

5. Lead by example. Be a good role model. If you are honest, trustworthy, respectful, and hardworking, you're training them to be the same.

"Effective leadership in managing people = getting along with others."

6. Communicate clearly with your staff on a regular basis. The importance of good communication sounds so obvious, it's as if it shouldn't need to be mentioned! But over and over, I hear about managers who don't communicate effectively.

7. Take care of important issues. Don't procrastinate working on projects you don't want to do. And promptly address performance issues with a difficult employee. Otherwise, these problems only get worse.

8. Have goals and objectives clearly defined in writing for accountability. Include dates, deadlines, and numbers so it's very clear what's expected. For example, if someone is in customer service they are to, "Respond to all customer inquiries and complaints within 12 hours of receiving them.This way, the employee clearly understands what's expected of them and is less likely to say, "Well,that's just your perception. You're just picking on me."

9. In managing people, be available. Be approachable.

10. Empower and motivate the team not just in terms of completing tasks, but also in terms of good communication and managing conflict.

Effective leadership when managing people correlates to successfully managing conflict. Learn to get along with others. It's not just what you know, or who you know, but how well you get along with others.

Top 10 Tips on Managing People

1. Set clear direction: Might seem obvious that you need to have clear goals and yet almost 40% of employees in UK companies are not sure what their employer expects of them.

2. Link individual goals to the strategy of the company: As a manager you might know what your company is trying to achieve but the likelihood is that your people don't. Only 30% of UK employees understand how their job role impacts and contributes to their organisation reaching its strategic vision. It's your job to make this link clear and you can only do that by talking about it - all the time!

3. Know what your people have natural aptitude for: Your key function as a manager is to know your people well enough to understand what they do best. Where they have natural aptitude, they can excel. Practise doesn't make perfect unless you are practising in an area of natural talent.

4. Know your people's weaknesses: Where your people have no natural talent, they will not excel. Best case scenario, they can become average with practise and training but let go of the notion that they will ever become high performers in those areas.

5. Recruit, promote and performance manage according to the strengths needed and weaknesses that are acceptable for each role.

6. Create the right attitude: You can motivate your people by providing them with clear direction and playing to their strengths - but you also need to find out what makes them tick as individuals. What motivates you rarely motivates your people. Everyone is different and you would be wise to ask as opposed to making too many assumptions.

7. Give praise when praise is due: This is the most under utilised tool for motivating your people. Don't wait for perfection! Notice and praise situations and behaviours that went well, pointing out specifically what was good and the positive impact they had. 70% of UK employees report that they don't receive praise regularly. What an easy thing to do that makes a lot of difference.

8. Manage yourself: As a manager, you are a mini celebrity and your team watch your every move - including the inconsistencies between what you say and what you do. Don't expect your people to be something you are not.

9. Handle critical conversations: Learn how to tackle giving negative feedback and handling difficult situations (like behaviours and performance issues) with your people. It's a skill, usually something we either want to avoid or end up doing badly.

10. Deal with change: Dealing with a constantly changing environment is hard for many people. Especially when they don't see the benefits themselves. Every manager needs to be a change expert, not in theory but in practise. Delivering the message and getting buy in is one thing, where the real difference is made is by executing with consistency.

Ref: http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/top-10-tips-on-managing-people-612457.html

Quote of the Day!

Great line by Abdul Kalam:

"I am not HANDSOME, but I can give my  HAND 2 SOME 1 who needs help; Beauty is in heart, not in face...!!"