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Open IT Lets You Open Files Right Into Web-Based Programs
Open IT
What it does: Open IT is an add-on for Web browsers that lets you open up documents, images, videos, and other files that are sent to you via e-mail or IM directly into the Web-based app (Google Docs, Zoho Office, and the like) of your choice.
What we like about it: Previously, users of Web-based programs would have to first download, say, a spreadsheet sent via e-mail onto their desktop and then upload it to the online spreadsheet program in, say, Google Docs. Now, all you do is click on the download link in your e-mail and Open IT automatically starts up and opens the document in Google Docs into a new browser tab (or in the current tab if you change the preferences). It works with all sorts of files and Web- based apps -- we've really saved a lot of time using it to open images directly into free online editing programs such as Picnik and Snipshot, for example.
What we don't like: It only works with three browsers: Firefox. the little-used Flock, and Internet Explorer (but only in a "Lite" version that doesn't support Google Docs or image-editing programs). In other words, users of the Chrome, Safari, and Opera browsers are left out in the cold. Also, it won't open PDF files into Google Docs.
Bottom line: In case you haven't noticed, more and more computing is moving away from the pricey, space-hogging programs you need to install onto your desktop (Microsoft Office) and towards free, online-only programs that provide the same basic functionality (Zoho Office). Of course, plenty of hitches still make Web-based computing a bit more of a chore in certain respects -- Open IT is just another little solution on the road to getting everyone onto "the cloud" (as Web-based computing is often referred to). Just make sure you've got that Firefox browser working!
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