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There are many web applications out there. Some are great, and some… well, not so much. It can be hard fishing through them all to find the best web apps. This list should help you find quality web apps that won’t let you down.

The first web application I will discuss is Gmail. Yeah, it’s an “Email service” but I’m talking about the web interface that you can use to check you Email account. It is very clean and simple, and you can use labels in it, just like Google Reader, which I will point out later. A major plus about Gmail is that you can customize almost any aspect of it with Greasemonkey. I use the Super Clean Skin to make my Gmail look white, clean, and more professional than the default skin. There are also many other tweaks you can do to Gmail through Greasemonkey, just look at this page.

The next web app on the list is Google Reader. One of the coolest features of Google Reader as compared to other feed readers is that you can view you reading trends and subscription trends. You can also star items. I use that feature to tell me which posts of the blogs I have commented on. There are also a couple options of views you can have. Overall, it is a solid reader, which I like because the interface is very similar to Gmail. I work better in more comfortable interfaces, but that is just my personal preference.

 

 

 

Next on the list is Zoho Writer. Yet again, you can see that I have chosen a web app with a clean, professional look to it. This is also has most of the basic features that Microsoft Word has. There are a few differences, though. First off, Zoho Writer is free. Second, you can export into seven formats including .doc and .odt. You can also “go offline” with it, using Google Gears. Lastly, you care share and publish the creations you make with Zoho Writer online and they can be viewed anywhere with the new Utility, Zoho Viewer.

 

Number four is Meebo. Meebo is like Pidgin inside a browser. You can connect to all the major chat protocols, including AIM, MSN, Jabber, and ICQ. It works great, and removes the need to download and install an IM client on to your computer.

 

 

Plaxo’s HipCal is simply the best Calendar/To Do web app available. The scheduling interface sort of reminds me of Outlook, so it has a very familiar interface. You can import and export CSV contacts, join and schedule group events, and for you Mac users, you can even integrate with iCal.

While HipCal is well suited for professionals, Notely works perfect for students. Being a high school student, I find that Notely, with its simple interface, is much better than using an old fashioned student planner and still better than other calendar and to do apps, because of its ability to handle school specific things. Using Notely, I keep track of all my courses, organize my notes, manage my homework, collaborate on projects with my friends through the Facebook app, and manage my school schedule. Notely really is the dream web application for students who love to use the computer.

 

If your favorite web app isn’t included here, by all means tell me about it in a comment and I might include it here. I will be extending this list in time, as I find more, and your suggestions are welcome and encouraged.