Gliffy: Create diagrams in your browser

Joining programs like Writely, a word processor, and Google Spreadsheets in the Web Applications category is another Microsoft Office like product. Say hello to Gliffy. I guess the easiest way to describe it would be to say it is a Microsoft Visio clone.

What is it, exactly, and what can it do? According to the Gliffy website*:

The ability to add collaborators is a really good feature. You don’t need a central network storage location for your drawing file because everything is on the web server. Remote users wouldn’t have to connect via VPN to the network in order to work on a project since they could just hit a secure company web site. That is assuming that the developers will license the program to be installed on a local user/business server.

The free version (site) has limited functionality and is ad supported. According to the pricing page, a subscription based site for business users is planned. The subscription site will presumedly have many more features but I could not locate what those features might be. The site is still in beta so the lack of information is understandable.

I am a huge fan of web based applications. No program installation required; just open up your web browser and hit the appropriate URL. I wish every application could be converted to run inside a browser window. There was a big push a few years ago for this but it kind of fell flat. Hopefully, innovative web programmers, like the makers of the web apps mentioned above, are finding the drive to make more web based applications a reality.

*Description was taken directly from the Gliffy website.

28.Jun.06 Internet, Web Apps Comment (1)