What it does

In a nutshell, this is a new service that will enable you to share and edit both estimates and invoices over the web. There are many apps out there that let you create an invoice, and that is certainly useful. The only thing is that creating the invoice is just the start of the process. From that point onwards, it is not uncommon to have to send and receive a wealth of mails to clients and collaborators alike. This new app gets around this problem by creating a centralized platform that lets anybody connect with each other on the spot.

This is done by compressing the disparate e-mail threads into one conversation that will let anybody keep track of everything, and see where the project is headed and recall how it all started.

At the end of the day, this tool will be of use to freelancers and established agencies alike. If you want to figure out the ways it can best help you out, simply pay the site a visit and sign up for the 30-day free trial that is available.

In their own words

“Let’s face it, there’s a glut of invoicing apps out there. While there are some that come close to hitting the mark, they all manage to ignore the most important part of doing business: communication. Creating the invoice itself is only the first step – it’s invariably followed by days of back and forth email, corralling payments, haggling, and worst of all, a constant stream of CC’d emails updating your team. Ballpark is made for the real world: it centralizes communication with your team and clients into an easy use system that simplifies the process for everyone.”

Why it might be a killer

Such a tool caters both for small startups and those that already have more mileage, and it will let them maximize efficiency in a cost-friendly way.

Some questions

Are there different plans available? How can I find out which one will be the right one for me?

Link: http://www.getballpark.com
Our Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web-App-Tools/getballpark-com-send-estimates-invoices

 

Some questions

Why not simply use PayPal?

In their own words

‘The Invoice Machine takes a new clever approach to online invoicing. It’s beautiful and simple-to-use interface makes producing professional looking invoices a very pleasant experience.’

Why it might be a killer

The end result really looks pretty, and it has some powerful tools that you can use.

What it does

The Invoice Machine is a web application tailor-made for producing nice looking invoices, and keeping track of them at the same time. The whole focus of the site is on making things easier that before when it comes to generating invoices, but also to make them look a bit prettier and making the whole process a bit more efficient.

When one starts thinking why one should use this application it becomes notoriously apparent that the app itself allows a new clever approach to online invoicing. Everyone knows what a big pain it is to produce and chase all of those invoices to your clients, and see if you really got paid what you had to. With The Invoice Machine this has become a lot easier, because you can begin registering your clients and products and services, and then making new invoices can be done super simply. Every time you generate a new invoice you just need to chose the options from the pull-down menus and input the amounts and then you can send the invoice straight away. Another powerful feature is the possibility of detailing and rapidly calculating tax discounts and other variables regarding the invoice itself so you don’t need to pull out your calculator every time you have to produce an invoice. The service is also available in several languages, thus making it very versatile.

The service in its most basic form is free, however if you would like to send more than 3 invoices a month, then you will need to start paying a fee in order to use it.

Link: http://www.invoicemachine.com
Our Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web-App-Tools/invoicemachine-com-making-invoices-pretty-simple

 

In their own words

“Easy accounting for start-ups, small businesses and contractors.”

Why it might be a killer

Launching a startup and keeping it afloat is not necessarily an easy task. This site provides anybody with a very well-focused service.

What it does

Someone once said that the right structure does not necessarily mean that a project will succeed, but the wrong structure spells failure. In capital letters. The same applies when it comes to startups, and I can tell you that the launch of any new site is so hectic that every resource and building block you can get counts.

When it comes to accounting software for your startup, Bionic Books puts up a very competent service. While it is not a substitute for a real accountant doing the job, this solution will provide you with a clear profit and loss statement and a very comprehensive date balance sheet. Tax considerations are likewise dealt with.

The software has been written specifically for small business and young enterprises, and the emphasis is on providing a solution that is easy to understand, and which can be really used by laymen and those who wish to avoid getting mired in technicalities.

This software has the advantage of being browser-based, too, so that it is accessible from any location where an Internet connection is available, and the data is constantly backed up.

If you want to see if this solution is your potential key to success or at the very least a tool that will give you some breathing space, you can follow the link provided below, sign up for a free account and draw your own conclusions.

Some questions

Are there different plans available?

Link: https://www.bionicbooks.com
Our Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web-App-Tools/bionicbooks-com-easy-accounting-for-startups

 

What it does

When the Internet was becoming widespread (and some time beyond that too) I recall that having a site of your own was a completely different prospect from the reality we are accustomed with now. That was to happen, really, but the tools and applications we have nowadays can but leave us old-timers a bit awed.

The Tank site is a case in point. In principle, it is a tool that will let anybody come up with a site of his own without having any kind of programming knowledge at all. This application also has the advantage of being entirely browser-based, and you can make adjustments from anywhere an Internet connection is available.

The creation process involves using a dashboard for putting the different elements together. Photos can be merged with posts, and support for pods is to be implemented sometime soon.

By way of conclusion, this solution will let you express yourself on the web as long as you have your basic building blocks at hand. If you would like to know more about this tool, and also inform yourself about pricing considerations, station your browser at www.withtank.com and proceed from there.

In their own words

“Tank is aimed at those who want to create simple, great-looking sites that work. No broken links, no cruft, no clutter. Solid sites composed of urls as clean and succinct as the xhtml it’s built upon.”

Why it might be a killer

It is an apt way to get a site together in no time at all.

Some questions

How much does this solution retail for?

Link: http://www.withtank.com
Our Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web-App-Tools/withttank-com-build-your-own-website

 

What it does

BGPatterns is a fairly small, but quite handy design tool for creating patterns, textures and designs. When you first enter the site, you’ll notice four main tabs—these are your main creating tools: colors, canvas, image and rotate. Under the image section is a selection of patterns and photos which can be tiled and scaled to your liking. From there, you can change location and opacity. Next, you can redo the back ground color using a sliding palette tool. There are five different canvasses to choose from and each can be resized; you can also fine tune the texture opacity. Finally, there’s the rotate tab which is for rotating your image, of course. Your designs can be previewed in the image window on the right hand side. Each design can be downloaded and saved to your very own ‘my patterns’ folder. BgPatterns is free for anyone to use. Check out the pattern gallery and vote for your favorites.

In their own words

“Just small usefull tool to create patterns.

Experiment with pictures, colors, textures and transparency to get best result.”

Why it might be a killer

BgPattern is a very simple, yet extremely practical tool. No real skills are needed to use it. In fact, you can have a brand new pattern for your website or blog in a matter of minutes; it’s also free to use.

Some questions

How many new designs are added each week? What’s the business model?

Updates

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What it does

Startups are nothing new, nor or they confined to the insulated walls of Silicon Valley. Today, they have a global reach from Bulgaria to Australia to Baltimore. If you’ve ever wondered what the global startup spread looked like exactly, you might want to have look at StartupWarrior. Startup Warrior is a mashup of Google Maps and Crunchbase, the TechCrunch made database of technology companies. You’d be surprised how many startup hubs there actually are. There might be one in your neighborhood. It’s a good way to scope for jobs or decide whether to start your own tech company. If you want you’re startup on the map, simply update it on Crunchbase. The Startup Warrior index is refreshed weekly.

In their own words

“StartupWarrior shows the locations of computer technology companies across the globe.

Use the map to find a startup job, explore your neighborhood, or decide where you should start your own company.”

Why it might be a killer

Startup Warrior is a simple, yet informative little mashup that lets you see the global startup spread. It can be helpful for finding startups in your neighborhood or for finding a job.

Some questions

Does it really cover all the Crunchbase startups? Is it accurate?

Updates

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What it does

Balsamiq Studios has just rolled out their Mockups for Desktop plug in. This tool, the first plug released in a planned series, is designed to help users create a better UI to manage their projects more easily and efficiently. Like other Balsamiq plug ins, Mockups is designed to work in Mac, Windows, and Linux systems. To support this tool, the Balsamiq site has devoted links to support, tutorials, and samples, fully explaining the uses and benefits of the product. In one quick click, users can either download the demo, or buy the complete system and instantly install it right onto their own computer.

In their own words

“Mockups For Desktop allows you to work on your UI wherever you are, regardless of your Internet connection. It works on planes, at coffee shops, and wherever you like to do uninterrupted work. Import and Export features ensure seamless integration with all the other versions of Mockups, for when you get back online. Plus you can load and save multiple mockups files, use all keyboard shortcuts and lots more.”

Why it might be a killer

Balsamiq’s Mockups is a well-developed UI testing and creation platform that all users are bound to love. The site offers basic support to users who may be in need. An explanation of forthcoming plug ins may be useful so that users know what to expect from future developments.

Some questions

What additional benefits may other plug ins offer? What support can be introduced for them?

Updates

 » original news

What it does

TinyURL made long and cumbersome URLs manageable by providing them with a short, or tiny, if you will, alias. So if you wanted to link to news articles, or forum postings, you could do so a lot easier with TinyURL’s help. It made things that much easier. So now we have a new development in the TinyURL world called Tinydb. Tinydb takes the same concept or making burly things more manageable, but instead of applying it to URLS, Tinydb applies it to data. The idea is to provide an API for reading and writing bits of data. This, in turn, serves as a platform for Twitter apps and javascript widgets to be written. The site includes detailed instructions and a web form to create your Tinydb. All data are stored as TinyURLs of course.

In their own words

“Jason labs.laan.com) and Kortina (kortina.net) built tinydb at appengine hackathon nyc after CC (also of labs.laan.com) wanted to send structured data along with a tinyurl.

tinydb.org’s goals are:

1. Provide a simple API for writing and reading small chunks of data from anywhere.

2. Serve as a platform upon which twitter applications and javascript widgets can be written.

3. Circumvent crossdomain.xml in interesting and creative ways.”

Why it might be a killer

Tinydb is an innovative use of TinyURLs. It provides a way to write and distribute chunks of data that can be accessible from anywhere.

Some questions

Will Tinydb be as successful as TinyURL? What about hacking and bugs? Is it not susceptible to these?

Updates

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What it does

RSS feeds are a great way of receiving real-time updates and ensuring that you never forget to check your favorite websites amongst other things. Mytvrss offers to extend the convenience of RSS to your TV life by allowing you to receive a notification the day a new episode of your favorite show is aired. No sign up is required, just go to mytvrss.com and search through the extensive alphabetized list of TV shows until you find your favorites, check the boxes next to them and then click “create feed”. Nothing else is required, just sit back and relax with the knowledge that you will never have to miss an episode of your favorite programs again.

In their own words

“Select your favorite shows below, and then click “Create feed” to generate your own personalized RSS feed. We’ll then alert you through the RSS feed the day an episode is aired. You don’t have to register! If you don’t see your favorite show, just tell us and we will add it to our list.”

Why it might be a killer

This is quite possibly the easiest way to be reminded about when the next episode of your favorite show is going to air. People will love the simplicity, the extensive selection and the ability to request shows that aren’t currently listed.

Some questions

Have they thought about expanding to allow people to get alerts which include the exact time? That would require adding an option for entering your time zone but that would make this service even better.

Updates

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What it does

ProjectLocker is an on demand project development solution. It allows developers to create smarter code faster in a collaborative friendly environment. It tracks defects allowing users to share pertinent information on the fly. It’s got automated integration and streamlined management tools. It’s also secure—users can safely share their documents and projects on the web without worry. ProjectLocker provides users with instant Subversion hosting and Track hosting. They offer both Lite an enterprise plans to fit projects to scale. The features can be summed up thusly: Trac, a tracking tool, Build Locker, integration for Java, Wiki for team work, Document Management, Analytics, a personal storage locker and an archival system. Pricing starts at $2.50 a month for startups, and goes up to $12 a month for the Venture plan. Enterprise service offers can be solicited from the company.

In their own words

“ProjectLocker was founded in 2003 to provide on-demand tools for software developers. Guided by the simple mission of helping companies build better software, ProjectLocker’s services have expanded to include services for the complete lifecycle of software projects, from requirements documentation to build and test automation. ProjectLocker serves companies from startups to Fortune 1000 multinationals.”

Why it might be a killer

ProjectLocker gives developers an affordable and powerful subversion host and project management tool. It’s got the features users want without the price tag. It’s quite flexible and well designed.

Some questions

How well does this handle? Is it user friendly? How does it perform overall in comparison to the competition?

Updates

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