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"Imagine if you took all the forums, groups and websites where you talk about all the different things you are interested in and put them in a single system. And then you upgraded them all so they made the most of new internet technology like Ajax to make the discussion real-time (fast) and rich media (pretty with pictures and videos). Then you're starting to get an idea of what Tangler is building." It\’s already possible to embed your very own chat-room right into a blog post or website using free services such as Meebo, previously tested out and reviewed here at Master New Media. While this can be a valuable way of gathering and entering all important conversation with your …

Online social networking services have been around for some time now, with MySpace, Bebo and Facebook leading the pack. One of these contenders, however, has just stepped the whole game up a level, effectively becoming a disruptive technology. Not so very long ago Facebook was one popular flavor of social networking service, differentiated by its user-base, design and specific features. Nevertheless, the differences between Facebook and MySpace or Bebo were less than monumental. All of that has since changed with the launch of the Facebook Platform. Facebook Platform has opened up this already hugely popular online destination to third-party developers, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking. What you now have, in addition to a solid core of social …

If you are looking for a way to connect to your favorite instant messaging network without having to install any kind of software on your computer you have certainly come to the right place. We all know that instant messaging represents the most popular form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. This type of communication is generally possible through the use of appropriate client software that needs to be installed on computers connected over a network such as the Internet. However, the necessity to boost cross-platform communication has recently generated a major need for instant messaging applications that could be used by anybody, independently of the operating system they were adopting and - more …

Ten ways to leverage the power of Twitter for your blog. Research, promote and monetize your online writing by learning how to best use the power of Twitter. As a blogger there are all kinds of tools that you can use to research, promote and monetize your writing - Twitter is one of them. In this bloggers\’ guide to Twitter, I take you through ten ways that this simple but high-powered networking tool can make a difference to your blog. If you haven\’t encountered Twitter yet, it won\’t be long before you do. This easy-to-use micro-blogging service continues to grow in popularity by the day. In my recent beginners guide to Twitter I talked through some of the ways that …

Twitter has created quite a buzz for itself in the first quarter of this year- managing to combine the ease of Instant Messaging and SMS with the reach and scope of social networking services. So what\’s all the buzz about? Essentially Twitter gives you the chance to publish your thoughts on the fly, or tune into the thoughts and information streams of other users from around the world. The key to the success of Twitter is brevity - each message that you write can only be a maximum of 140 characters long. This has seen the rise of what has been called \’micro-blogging\’ or \’micro-publishing\’, with some users sending out tens or hundreds of messages a day to their friends, …

Looking for how to make cheap international calls from your computer or for how to access your favourite instant messaging networks through your mobile phone? Want to know how to edit your presentations within your web browser from any computer? Here is Robin Good’s weekly collection of the best instant messaging, VoIP and communication media tools we have run into this week. Check these great new media services and tools yourself, (they are mostly free) and let us know what you think of them.

Photo credit: Andrea Rubini

1. VoIP tools allow you to make cheap international calls from your computer
2. Web presentation service lets you upload presentations and edit them within your browser
3. Mobile instant messaging service lets you access all major IM networks from your mobile phone
4. Web word processor allows you to edit documents online and share them with others
5. Video annotation service lets you add captions to videos available online
6. Instant messaging tool designed for students and instructors to help them manage their coursework
7. Web messenger allows you to chat with people visiting the same web pages in real-time
8. Voice messaging board lets you record voice messages and add them to discussion boards
9. Time management tool lets you effectively set up appointments and manage your meetings
10. Call forwarder enables people to call you from your website by redirecting calls to your phone

1. PhoneGnome
   
   PhoneGnome offers a range of products that allow you to communicate via VoIP technology. PhoneGnome Web Telephony is free and lets anyone with a web browser make free and cheap calls to landline, mobile, cable, or VoIP phones and regardless of whether the parties are connected to the Internet or not. You talk to the other party using your standard phone, so you don’t need a headset, a microphone or a special. The free PhoneGnome Software, instead, turns any PC or laptop into a fully-functioning telephone that uses your broadband internet connection to make calls to other PhoneGnome users, to traditional telephone numbers, and to SIP numbers. PhoneGnome also provides the so called Plug-and-Play Box, which brings Internet-based calling and features to your current household phone. Thus you can experience the convenience of free calls simply by dialing plain phone numbers directly on your existing phone (you can buy it for $59.99).
   http://www.phonegnome.com/
2. TonicPoint
   
   TonicPoint is a service that enables you to store and share your existing presentations online. You can upload any Microsoft PowerPoint 97-2003 presentations and edit them in your browser. A rich graphical editor is available and all presentations can be exported to PDF. You can also present your ideas using simple conferencing tools provided by TonicPoint. Registrations are currently restricted, therefore you will have to request an invitation. Free to use.
   http://beta.tonicpoint.com/
3. Talkster
   
   Talkster is a service that lets you talk from your mobile to your instant messenger buddies on MSN, Google Talk and Gizmo Project, without the need for any software on your phone or PC. International calling rates are as low as 2 cents per minute (check out rates to all destinations at http://www.talkster.com/rates.aspx). Free sign up.
   http://www.talkster.com/Default.aspx
4. Solodox
   
   Solodox is a web-based word processor for creating, editing and sharing documents and projects on the Internet. Documents can be created right in the browser and edited on any computer. You can invite members to read or edit the project and share your document with whomever you want. You can upload your existing documents to Solodox site and then download them as HTML/RTF/Word/Text file to your computer. Free to use.
   http://www.solodox.com/
5. BubblePLY
   
   BubblePLY is a video annotation service where anyone can create and/or view text captions in the shape of bubbles that are synchronized with a video on a player. You simply need to grab any video from a video community by copying and pasting the URL into BubblePLY. After completing your Bubble creation, you will see a few options such as ‘share this link with a friend’ and ‘embed video and bubbles in your site’. Free to use.
   http://www.bubbleply.com/default.aspx
6. Pronto
   
   Pronto is an instant messaging and voice chat tool specifically designed for students and instructors to help them meet online at any time to discuss their coursework. While offering many similar features as other instant messaging tools such as AIM and Yahoo! Messenger, Pronto integrates with course management systems such as Blackboard and WebCT, thereby automatically populating each student’s contact list each semester with the names of every student in their classes and social organizations. Free to use.
   http://www.horizonwimba.com/products/pronto/
7. InCircles
   
   InCircles is a web based communication platform that allows you to interact with people viewing the same web page in real-time and experience group web browsing. Furthermore, the InCircles platform increases traffic flow to your site by connecting other users on popular social networks, blogs, personal sites directly to your site from all over the Web. You simply need to register to the service and embed the code generated into your site. Free to use.
   http://www.incircles.com/
8. Chinswing
   
   Chinswing is a global message board where anyone can add voice messages to topical discussions. Chinswing basically combines features of podcasting, text forums and live voice chat to create a whole new way to talk. In order to record your voice and take part in Chinswing discussions, you will need to download and use the Chinswing Studio voice recording tool. Chinswing is Windows only and completely free to use.
   http://www.chinswing.com/pages/default.aspx
9. TimeToMeet
   
   TimeToMeet is a web-based tool that helps people finding a common meeting time. When you create a meeting with TimeToMeet, every participant receives a personal link that they use to access TimeToMeet and respond to your request. TimeToMeet will ask everyone for times when they are available, meaning: when it’s most convenient for them to meet. As everyone replies, TimeToMeet calculates the overlap and notifies you so that you can confirm a final time. TimeToMeet is free but a Pro version is available at $3 for 3 months or $5 for 6 months. All Pro features are available for the free plan subscribers during the first month
   http://www.timetomeet.info/
10. Sitòfono
    
    Sitòfono is a service that enables you to receive calls directly from your internet site on your fixed telephone, a free toll number or an automatic responder. By paying a yearly fee, you can receive unlimited calls from anywhere in the world. The available yearly fees are 399€ + VAT to get a toll free number, and 499€ for the fixed line.
    http://www.sitofono.com/index.html

Looking for how to create your own video channel online or access all major instant messaging networks from your mobile phone? Needing to communicate more effectively without having a big budget? Here is Robin Good’s weekly collection of the best new media tools our editors team has run into this week. Check these new media latest entries let us know what you think of them. Photo credit: hb19 Video publishing platform allows you to upload or collect your favorite videos and create your personal collection Mobile instant messaging application enables you to connect to the major IM networks from your mobile Site tours creator helps you show any site to your visitors and discover what it is all about Team…