Live chat for your web site

Ever seen those sites that offer you to chat with a live operator? Well, now you can have that too with Google Talk.

Google Talk is Google's messaging service (think MSN Messenger). It allows for typical messaging controls between users as well as voice (Windows only). Google Talk messaging service is available as a stand alone app (Windows only), a widget (which can be posted on any site) and is built into GMail. Now, you can get a Google Talk Badge (http://www.google.com/talk/service/badge/New) which allows visitors to contact you from your site without the need for them to login to Google (or even have an account).

Use online forms to add information to your Google Spreadsheet

I love Google docs (http://www.google.com/docs) and now I have another reason: online forms that automatically add information submitted by a user to your spreadsheet.

There's two ways to create your form: you can first create a spreadsheet and then select the Sharing tab. Select "Invite people to fill out a form" and it will then take you through the steps to create your form.

The second method is to go to http://spreadsheets.google.com/newform. Once you login you'll be prompted to create your form.

You can monitor your form's submissions by adding this widget to your iGoogle page. Keep in mind that you can share your spreadsheet so visitors can see what data has been collected. For an example, check out this posting from the unofficial Google Operating System blog.

Online Inventory System

When I was a kid, my family lost all our belongings in a fire that destroyed our house. Trying to make a list of everything you owned and it's value can be a bit of a process, but well worth it if you every find youself in this position. For many of us, we would create a list of everything on our computer - but what if your computer gets stolen?

StuffSafe (http://www.stuffsafe.com) is a free online tool that provides you with a way to store your home/work inventory of your possessions with photos and value information. You can share your list so a group of you can work on keeping the list up to date. In addition to having a secure copy available online, you can also download a copy of the information for your own backup.

Tip: if nothing else, every six months go through and shoot all the items in your house and then upload the photos to an online service like Flikr or Picassa. That way, you'll at least have the photos to help jog your memory when you create your list of items lost.