A few interesting features:

One box for everything
Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages. i.e. type in ‘neonrain’ and it will suggest neonrain.com or a search for ‘neonrain’

Thumbnails of your top sites
Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab.  No more lists, you can actually “see” a visualization of the web site.

Shortcuts for your apps
Get desktop shortcuts to launch your favorite web applications.  Integrating the web as if it were an application installed on your machine.  With Google Gears, you can even run apps while being offline.

Dynamic Tabs
Drag tabs to change the order or pull a tab into it’s own window.

Crash Control
Run an application in it’s own “sandbox”, so that each application has it’s own safe area.  If one application crashes, it does not affect another tab.  Includes a Tab Task Manager to view resource usage by tab.

Incognito Mode
Stops the storage of cookies and sessions after the window is closed.

Simpler Downloads
Downloads appear in the status bar and you can drag them from there to your desktop.  Hmmm. Just like Firefox, what’s new here?

Instant Bookmarks
Click a star to create a bookmark, again…what’s new here?

For more details on Google Chrome, here is a video from their developers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGmO7Oximw8

So, I went to Barack Obama’s web site today around 1:00pm MST (8/18/2008) to check out their web site layout – what can I say…we are truly web geeks!  Anyway, here’s what we found:

Fatal PHP Errors on Barack Obama's web site.

http://www.barackobama.com

Warning: main(header_items.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /usr/www/users/obamech0/bo/includes/top.php on line 75

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required ‘header_items.php’ (include_path=’.:/usr/local/lib/php’) in /usr/www/users/obamech0/bo/includes/top.php on line 75

Someone messed up!

BrandDoozie – Do it yourself marketing , why not?  Actually, this could be kind of interesting.  Not everyone can afford to create great collateral when they are first getting started.  If you are a tech company, you should budget for it…if you are mowing lawns, you may not care.

This is kind of interesting….

• Create a Logo
• Use Stock art and templates to create a brand
• Create documents and publish them as PDFs

I had to create an account to test things out…they used Flash for interactivity, makes sense and it looks like a lot of work…unfortunately, the site would stall when making complex changes.  I finally closed it out and gave up.  It could still be a good idea…even though it’s all template based.  It would be nice to have some elements that are modified to suit your colors and then be able to upload your logo and create some simple sales sheets, etc.  Maybe soon, it’s still in beta.

If you are like me, your to do lists range from using your email inbox to using sticky notes.

I don’t have to tell you that none of those work very well.  In search of a better option to help organize, we started using Basecamp by 37 signals.  There are other GTD (Get things done) applications, but we use this for our business communication so it was natural to use it for daily organization and personal organization.

I started with creating a personal project…these are personal items I need to do, i.e. get the oil changed, take my daughter out on a date, you get the point.  From here, I can create To-do lists daily…and anything left from the previous days list I can move to the new list for today and then prioritize the to-do items.

This gives me rolling to-do lists and I can see what’s been carried over from last week and what’s new.  I can organize them by priority or when something is due by setting a milestone.  Each morning, I create a to-do list for the day and fill it based on appointments, emails, previous to-do lists, project tasks, or obstacles any of our programming teams are facing.  This let’s me see everything that needs done and let’s me choose what’s most important and get it done first.

In addition, I can also use Basecamp to track time for each item…I haven’t found a really good use for that yet with my personal lists, but I’m sure I will.

Remember to stay organized > stay efficient > make progress in business and your personal life.

del.icio.us – Social Bookmarking has a new name and a new look…Okay, the name’s the same but the url is now www.delicious.com – a bit easier to remember.

With that change they have finally revamped the backend, check out the video here:

http://blog.delicious.com/blog/2008/07/oh-happy-day.html

“Knol – A unit of knowledge” is the latest (still in Beta) web app by Google (http://knol.google.com).  What’s the purpose?  To build off what Wikipedia started but fix the inherent problems of Wikipedia – namely inaccurate information.

Unlike Wikipedia, Knol doesn’t post purely user-generated content. Submissions or “knols” are written by  experts in the various fields.  By doing this, the level of credibility goes through the roof.  Schools stopped allowing Wikipedia as a major source due to bad information, will Knol cure this dilemma?

Knol has one major advantage as well…Google.  They know usability.  With more accurate information and better usability, is Google continuing on their rampage of world domination?  Seems like it…

vs.

Okay, so what is Justin.tv and what is twitter?

http://www.Justin.tv is…

The place to broadcast and watch live video online while chatting with friends.

http://www.twitter.com is…

a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Both sides are geared towards lifecasting.  Although most people think of lifecasting using video, minute events that make up your day to day life can be broadcasted however you’d like.

Truthfully, I prefer twitter over Justin.tv (and I know people are going to say that these two applications are meant for completely different purposes) because of timing.  With Justin.tv you see it as it happens, so you are wasting your time, watching someone else…sometimes doing nothing.  Plus, you get a lot of unsavory people on Justin.tv where on twitter, you can keep up with people you choose, when you choose, and only see what they want you to see.

I guess I don’t get the point of Justin.tv, some people just point their cameras at a TV and re-broadcast TV.  I’ll stick with my sling box.  Are there any Justin.tv users out there?  If so, I’d love to hear what benefit you get out of it.

This is a reprint of an article we wrote in April 2006:

Webmasters claiming they have bigger, better solutions to your existing web presence may be false prophets looking to make “false profits.”

Self-proclaimed “web gurus” often prey on ignorance to promise “do more, cost less” solutions. Opportunistic web charlatans attempt to instill fear about present web conditions (e.g., security vulnerabilities and shoddy programming) to spur change.

Before accepting advice from an unknown web company, do some factfinding to determine if their suggestions benefit you—or are just a ploy to line their pockets. Review qualifications and skills versus the present web company; ethics and business practices of the company seeking your business; and what you actually need. Salient recommendations include:

1. Determine needed skill level—web developer, web designer, web application developer. For graphics or a simple site, any of the three may work. For database content and/or interactive content, look for a web developer or application developer. For a web-based application to run your business and create a reliable platform, hire an application developer.

Don’t pay for initial consultation. A reputable firm should share ideas in the spirit of winning your business. Walk away from anyone demanding payment because you “might take these ideas elsewhere.” A good designer-developer will develop proprietary ideas better than anyone else.

2. Demand proof. Make a company verify positive endorsements. Watch out when someone takes potshots at an existing web vendor. (Accomplished, above-board firms don’t need to proselytize business.) And, beware the web “guru” that claims to know, and can improve, your source code. It’s a guess at best (and not found in the “view source” browser command). It’s usually hidden too deep in backend processing for anyone except the creator to figure out without extensive research and access to your actual source code (on the servers).

3. Look for sophistication. FrontPage and a HTML book don’t make someone a web developer anymore than a wrench and repair manual make an auto mechanic. Web development and design is a trade, a craft. It requires experience, creativity, and skill. (And, demand proof of previous work beyond a portfolio. Verify claims with the firm whose site is represented.)

4. Hide from most SEO salespeople. Companies offering fee-based search engine optimization are often looking to take your money and leave you with excuses. SEO as part of an overall development process is important, but don’t jump at the latest promise of immediate rank improvement without justification and, again, verification of past successes. Also, carefully consider cost/benefit ratio of improved ranking, and the ongoing cost to stay improved.

5. Stay with Open Source software if it works. Don’t convert from an open source software platform such as Linux to a proprietary software platform such as Windows on a whim. Who cares what operating system your designer or hosting provider runs? If the software is working, leave it alone. If there’s a problem, then address it. Both Linux and Windows are proven platforms for running small business to enterprise level web applications.

6. Don’t redesign to be “trendy.” Beware of development agencies that only promote full redesign. Look at historical data. When you last “redesigned” your site, did it pay for itself? Did it live up to its purpose? It may need updating, but not necessarily a full re-design.

When seeking a web vendor, search for a company that can make your website run smoothly, diagnose and fix problems quickly and affordably, exercise good common sense, and stand behind its work. Then, stay loyal as long as the firm continues to earn that loyalty and can handle expanding needs—because a good web development firm is hard to find.

Okay, so this blog will be extremely varied in the type of information presented.  We willd discuss new technologies, the business of technologies, as well as just cool use of new or old technology.

Why is this blog any different than the hundreds of thousands of technology blogs?  I guess we’ll find out.  Truthfully, as we discuss the various facets of technology the goal and focus of this blog will become very apparent.

Neon Rain is a Denver, CO based web development, web design, application development, and Internet Marketing company (SEO, SMO).  That obviously creates a bias on the topics we will be discussing.

Please join us as we converse and please share your opinions, we’d love you have you take part.