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Tool I Love: Mocku.ps

Mocku.ps is a tool that I cam across on Forrst.  It allows you to easily upload and share a static image mockup quickly and easily.  Just upload your main image, a background image or color and you can see how your mockup will look in a browser.  Additionally, you can annotate parts of the mockup, allowing you to point out different features - areas of interactivity or other notes to the viewer.  It’s a quick tool and what sets it apart from other image sharing apps is the ability to upload/change the background to more closely mimic the in-browser experience.

Tool I Love: cc:to me

I’m a huge fan of bookmarklets.  They can add a lot of quick & useful functionality to a browser and aren’t browser dependent.  One of my recent favs is cc:to me.

Since getting my iPhone, I’ve started emailing myself a ton of links to check out later, using my Gmail as almost an Instapaper type system (I use Instapaper solely for longform articles).  Most content on the iPhone can be emailed, so when I’m in TweetBot (my Twitter client of choice), I’ll email myself links, Tweets, etc. to check out when I’m on my computer.  I needed that functionality on my desktop web browser.

Enter cc:to me.  I believe I first heard about on Twitter.  In its own words:

cc:to me powers up self e-mails

With cc:to me it’s super simple to email yourself notes from anywhere.

I’ve installed it at work and at home, so I either click the button (Firefox) or use my chosen keyboard shortcut (cc on Chrome) and I get an email containing the link.

Tool I Love: Trello

In just a week of use, Trello has become an incredibly useful tool in managing to-dos for various clients.  I’m a huge fan of simple to-do lists/apps; first Wunderlist, and now Reminders, but neither work for me for desktop use.  Wunderlist has a decent enough desktop app, but it’s far outshone by its iPhone counterpoint.  Reminders is great, but has no real desktop equivalent that I could easily work into my workflow, as I don’t like switching between devices as I’m in work mode.  Enter Trello.  It’s an in-browser app with an iPhone counterpart.

Trello lets me create different boards for each client / project, then different lists within.  By default, it creates 3 lists - To Do, Doing and Done.  I’ve taken to deleting the Doing list, but it would definitely be helpful if you’re collaborating so you can see what tasks others are handling.  Of course, you can always create more lists.

For me, what makes it so easy and fit so seamlessly into my workflow is that it’s at heart a list.  You can drag and drop between lists, create quick items at a top-level and then add more details if needed.

The iPhone app is less robust, though admittedly, I’ve not yet delved into it, but like I said before, I don’t switch between devices when I’m in work-mode so a full-fledged iPhone/iOS app isn’t necessary for me.  The app gives me a good overview of what needs to get done and works perfectly for me.

This app gets 2 thumbs up from me.

(I originally read about Trello in Paul Stamatiou’s post The Coding Zone)