Review of Two Free Web Based Products: Phixr and Google Documents

One of the best parts of this class is being able to learn about and explore different programs available on the internet...for free!  I thought for this assignment, I would review one program I had never used, and one that I use all the time.

I have a general lack of experience with photo manipulating programs.  I've never really used Photoshop, since I was never really able to justify purchasing it.  So when I looked into Phixr, I didn't really have anything to compare it to.  I took a photo of myself with famed Uncle Scrooge comic writer/artist Don Rosa taken last year at Motor City Comic Con.  I experimented with all the various features before I ended up with this final product (I added a sepia tone, meme letters, and a softening filter).



I found Phixr to be extremely easy to use, especially for someone like me who really hasn't used too many photo manipulation programs before.  The nice thing about it is, you don't have to create an account, you just upload the photo and start editing.  The editing tools were very easy to use, and produced satisfactory results.  You can manipulate the color, put filters, objects, frames and text in the picture, amongst other cool features.  You can also remove the dreaded "red eye" when some pictures are taken with a flash.  While Photoshop might have more features, Phixr is perfect for a novice photo editor, or someone who just wants basic features and doesn't want to shell out the big bucks for Photoshop

The other program I would like to review is Google Documents.  I was introduced to Google Documents in August right before the school year started.  Our district uses it for memos, and as an easy way to share items.  Basically, Google Documents can do pretty much everything that Microsoft Word can.  If you can use Microsoft Word, you can use Google Docs.  The best part, other than it free, is that is has some additional features that have come in handy for me personally.  You can share documents you create with other Google users (which you sign up for a gmail account to get a Google account, free and easy), and then those people can edit the document with you.  We use them in our ELA meetings in our district.  I have also used it in my other college course (LS 5160) to generate required memos for the class.  Instead of compiling notes we all take on the subject matter, we are able to all work on the memo at the same time.  We are also using the Google Slides application to create a presentation for a book club project for the class.

If you are looking for office software, I would highly recommend signing up for a Google account and using Google Documents instead of spending lots of money on Microsoft Office.  You get most of the functionality, plus the ability to use it to work collaboratively with others that use it.  Your work saves on Google Drive, which is easily accessible from your Google account.  Let's say you need your work in a Microsoft accessible file, either to submit it for class or to share with someone who doesn't use Google Docs.  This is extremely easy to do from the File menu to export into a Microsoft friendly file.

Both of these products further illustrate how Web 2.0 products focus on service and functionality, for little to no cost to the user!  Both come highly recommended.