Sharper Tools for your Shed - Utilities that would make even Batman Happy.
Well it's been awhile since last posted. As usual I 've been playing with some very usefull software. Forgive me but I am always so awed at some of the programs out there. This is especially true for the open source programs. I have the greatest of admiration for those individuals/groups that provide open source work. I urge everyone to support this software. Open Source doesn't mean FREE, it means contribute to the cause, do your part by offering what you can when you can. That isn't necessarily money. Well enough on that. I am itching to introduce you to some new tools.

Here are 3 that have me with a smile all day.....I am just floored by these:

BeInSync Secure File Synchronization PC to PC- www.beinsync.com

"BeInSync™ seamlessly and securely keeps your files and emails in sync between your PCs, making them available where and when you need them. The end to sending yourself emails or using complicated remote access products!" Works as they say, and fast. Just linked my offce PC and my home office PC....I am a happy man right now. The program has a free version with limitations (number of files and no web access) but hey, I was emailing and burning files and ....lots of other stuff I won't get into just to get files home to continue working on them. Problem solved. Highly recommended for the folks like me out there.


Sugar CRM (Customer Relations Manager) www.sugarcrm.com

"SugarCRM is the premier commercial open source customer relationship management application provider, breaking the rules set by conventional CRM solutions. The limitations of traditional CRM software can be summarized by the lack of flexibility, high costs, and closed-source structure which is embedded into the traditional product offerings. This has led to a failure rate of over 70% with traditional CRM implementations.

SugarCRM is a suite of business automation tools for managing your marketing, sales and customer service operations. From leads to contacts, opportunities to cases, the Sugar Suite helps you track and gain insight into your customers."

I love the demo of this too and the potential for my family business. I am trying to load it on a web hosting companies servers but it's a bit more difficult than I had hoped. Depending on your web host's configuration this will determine whether it installs without a hook. This is not for the non techie. You can load on a local server too, I loaded it on a web server so that my sales people would be able to access it from their homes or hotel rooms, and I would be able to access it from anywhere in the world that I travel to...with internet connection.

Update Wednesday 27 July 2005. I now have Sugar CRM installed, with some major help from my web host Entry Host, and I am doing some testing. The Open Source version comes with little instructions and essentially no support other than a forum which due to the relative size of the user base can be slower moving than you may want.

Everydaily Diary - www.everydaily.net

Everydaily is a tiny diary which is amazingly easy to maintain. Just sign up (free) and you're ready to share your experiences. It's a small pop up window that has a calendar, text and graphics window. You are provided with a URL for the diary allowing you to display it on the WWW. You have a login name and password to allow for adding and editing. All free no spyware no adware just FREE.