Here is my top 5 list of stuffs I would recommend to anyone wishing to browse the web in a fast, efficient and convenient way.
1. Opera
I think I have used most of the browsers available out there: IE, Firefox, Chrome, Flock… Right now I am using Opera and it is by far the best experience I have ever had browsing the web. This thing is fast, intuitive and straightforward. Here are just a few of the features that will make you love it:
- Speed dial, a custom homepage featuring a preview of you favorite sites, where you can define a refresh rate. From there, it takes me sec
- Custom search: set up key letters to search on specific websites. For instance, I sat up “z” for amazon, “gi” for google images, “wr” for wordreference… Now typing “z enthral” in my adress bar gives this, “gi enthral” this, and “wr enthral” this. Pretty cool huh? This thing is really magic.
- Opera link, allowing you to synchronize all your browser settings (bookmarks, speed dial, search history…) no matter the device you’re using.
2. Evernote
My wife would tell you, I don’t easily remember things. Birthdays, sites I visited etc… With evernote, things are improving. Whenever I want to remember something, this app is with me, either on my iPhone, desktop or web-based. I can take photos, save text images, urls, sounds… And then search them efficiently.
I don’t really use the full potential of Evernote yet, but it really ease up my everyday life in many ways.
One example: at a party I drink an excellent rum. I could try to rely on my memory to remember its name, taking into account that this will not be the only drink I will have in the evening. Or, I can just take a photo of the bottle with my iPhone, send it to evernote, then months later type the work “rum” and have the bottle show up in the results while I’m shopping at the supermarket.
3. Netvibes
Absolute must have. I can’t even remember how my internet life was before netvibes. Remember, when your homepage was forced onto you, with loads of content you didn’t care about? Now my homepage features all I really need, including my google mail and calendar, and direct access to my Facebook and twitter profiles, not to mention dozens of RSS feeds.
4. Iphone
The iPhone is simply the best tool to bring internet with you, wherever you are. I used the WAP back in the late 90’s, so I’ve always been interested by mobile browsing. For the first time with the iPhone, it feels natural and offers a seamless experience. With geolocalization, adding a useful information layer to your environment is now possible (where is the nearest bus stop, where is there a party/bar/restaurant in the area etc…). This is really what mobile browsing is about, and I’m glad to see it work at last.
5. Friends
Last but not least.
You know, the guys that will send you funny links, useful information, cool videos and other crazy stuffs? That’s right, you know you need them. Because in the end it is all about sharing.
