Setting up a conference call between more than 3 people has previously been costly or technically difficult. 

A little bird told me about a relatively new web app Foonz.com.  Foonz allows you to quickly connect with a number of people in a group call for free. 

It works by you calling in and sending out inivitations to those you would like to chat with using either IM or text message.  Although this works well I would like to see the service actually call others instead of messaging (maybe this could be a premium feature).

As mentioned before the service is free which is great!  Im looking forward to seeing how this site matures.

Visit www.foonz.com

This is part one of a series covering my predictions for the web in 2007 and beyond.

Currently, I only see one main benefit of online office applications over traditional desktop based apps - portability.

There are currently a number of browser based office applications that attempt to mimic desktop ones (Thinkfree is a good example)

In 2007 we should see many off these apps move away from simply being clones and instead focus more heavily on portability and collaboration.  Look out for versions of these web based office suties being made available for your mobile as well.

Although browser based office apps will never replace there desktop counterparts they will become more useful and widespread in the years to come.

2006 is fast coming to an end and what a year it has been!  The internet exploded with exciting new websites and even TAP has grown “amazingly”!

The Team at TAP would like to thank all of our visitors, readers and listeners.  Without your emails, comments and feedback we would never have come this far.

So whats in store for 2007? Well over January I will be taking a break from writing this blog to concentrate on developing new sites with the rest of TAP.  So don’t expect anything much from the blog unitl February!  Look out for our new Podcast “TapWrap” being first broadcast live on February 2nd.  Our exisiting podcasts will also be continuing in February.

Were currently working extra hard on a new Technology Podcast Network that will aggregate existing tech podcasts together on the one site.  This will use some shiny new technology and we are all very excited to get it launched!

I will also use this chance to once again ask for your support.  If you have hosted a podcast you will now just how much bandwidth it chews through and this costs an awful lot.  Your support over the year has been awesome and I have now added a donation widget to the sidebar.  Every dollar counts and all donators also gian access to a special members area fullk of exclusive content including our most popular content “beta invites to new web2.0 sites”!   

Digg recently released some new changes and features.

The most obvious of all is the design.  They have taken the navigation links from the left hand side and moved them to the top and the layout is now fluid (meaning it will stretch and compress depending on your screen size).

But the most important change is Digg has broadened digging to Podcasts.  Users can now “digg” Podcasts (both audio and video) in the same way you would digg a news story.

Richard MacManus (Read/Write Web) mentioned in his coverage on this story, that it “…is likely to appeal to a younger - less techie, but more media savvy - audience that up till now probably hasn’t been aware of Digg”  I completely agree!  Digg definately appeals to to the “Geek” crowd.  Introducing the sexy concept of Podcasts could make Digg a first choice for those looking for quality Podcasts (apart from iTunes).

The scary thing is here at TAP we were developing a very similar product where we were aggregating a number of Technology podcasts on the one page and allowing you to view them right from this site and subscribe to all the podcasts in one feed. I am also aware of a number of other prominent companies working on similar products.

As Podcasts become more popular there is obviously going to be a boom in sites that aggregate this content.  We have seen a few site emerge already and Digg is just continuing the trend.

Let me know what you think of Digg’s new features and design.

Sending SMS messages online is nothing new but Joopz has come up with a simple solution for not only sending but receiving messages as well.

The best thing about Joopz has to be its price tag.  The basic account is free which includes 10 outgoing sms messages each  month and unlimited incoming messages. To receive unlimited outgoing messages it will only cost you $2.95 which is a price I would be willing to pay.

You will also get some other handy features including group chat (very handy for community groups), text reminders and scheduled messages.

The service is currently only available to US residents like just about every other mobile focused app but heres hoping they one day expand.

Take a look at www.joopz.com

Technorati Tags: SMS, Mobile, Messaging

If you love listening to new and original music like I do then you must take a look at Pandora.  Pandora is my favorite internet radio app.  And here are some Christmas music channels you can add.

Upbeat Holidaze
A Motown-y Holiday
Jazz Holiday
Country Christmas
Swingin’ Christmas
R&B/Pop Holiday
Christmas Blues
A Classical Christmas

If you havn’t yet take a look at Pandora I strongly reccomend you do.  (It is one of the only web apps that I use everyday)

Source: Pandora Blog

Technorati Tags: Pandora, Christmas, Music

Note - This is a sponsored post. Sponsors help pay for our high bandwidth costs and let us continue offering free downloads, podcasts and quality content.  By supporting our sponsors you are helping us!

What do you get for that hard to buy person this Christmas? A gift basket! Forget giving another novelty tie.  Beer Liquors range of gift baskets include a great range of quality of products from mouth watering chocolates to crunchy snacks. 

Perfect as coporate gifts for clients and vendors - show that extra touch of generosity this Christmas

 Holiday Gift Baskets

Recent months have seen a number of next generation (or web2.0) sites relating to fundraising, charity and non-profits emerge.

One of these “feel good” websites is One Billion Bulbs.  Their aim is to change the world one bulb at a time by getting users to change light bulbs from a standard to compact fluorescent bulb and therefore reducing electricity consumption and in turn Greenhouse gas emmisions. 

So far they have only changed over 7,500 and im not sure how big this will grow. But one thing is for sure, the site’s heart is in the right place.

Visit www.onebillionbulbs.com

Continuing with this weeks “simple” theme, here is a powerful yet simple online collaboration app.  Wrike is basically a smart email organizer with some added features.  I will let the video do the explaining.

Take a look at www.wrike.com 

I know this isn’t related to technology but it is a hell of a lot of fun.  Take a look at Wildsnake’s Christmas Pinball.

I came across this game last Christmas and it wasn’t until a few days ago I remembered I had this little gem of game stored away.  It’s not something you would want to play all year round but when the time comes it is a lot of fun.

The graphics are amazing and the screenshot below doesn’t do the game justice.  Although the game isn’t free ($19.95) it does have a time limited demo which should be enough to get you trough Christmas.  But if your like me and see yourself playing as a Christmas tradition each year then the $19.95 price tag is not bad at all.

Take a look at:  http://www.wildsnake.com/pinball/ct/

Technorati Tags: Christmas, Pinball, Arcade. Games