Web Applications: How To Use The Best In The Cloud!

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are a combination of web technologies and native mobile application features. They are designed to offer a user experience similar to that of a native application, but with the ease of access and updating of a website.

PWAs work in any browser that supports web technologies, and can be installed on the user's device directly from the browser, without the need to go through app stores. They offer advantages such as fast loading, offline operation and push notifications, all while keeping the same URL accessible on the web.

The aim of PWAs is to provide a uniform, high-quality user experience, regardless of the device or the quality of the internet connection. In essence, they combine the best of both worlds: the convenience and speed of web applications with the robustness and integration of mobile applications.

Advantages of Cloud Applications

1. Fast Performance: PWAs load quickly, even in slow internet conditions, providing a fluid user experience.

2. Offline operation: With the use of several programming techniques, PWAs can operate offline or on unstable networks, storing data in cache, on your local machine.

3. Simple installation: They can be installed directly from the browser, without the need to go through application stores.

4. Automatic Updates: PWAs update automatically as web content changes, ensuring that users always have the latest version.

5. Multi-platform Compatibility: They work on any device with a modern browser, regardless of operating system.

6. Security: They use HTTPS to guarantee a secure connection, protecting user data.

7. Space-saving: They take up less space on the device compared to native applications.

Disadvantages of Cloud Applications

1. System Resource Limitations: PWAs do not have full access to all system resources, such as native applications, which can limit specific functionalities, such as Bluetooth and contacts.

2. Variable Performance: Although they are fast, the performance of PWAs can vary depending on the browser and device capabilities.

3. Limited OS integration: PWAs are not as well integrated with the operating system as native apps, which can affect notifications and other functionalities.

4. Distribution and Discovery: The absence of app stores can make PWA discovery and distribution difficult, although this situation is improving with more support from the stores.

5. Inconsistent User Experience: The experience can be inconsistent across different devices and browsers, especially in browsers that don't support all PWA functionality.

6. Offline Limitations: Offline operation depends on data caching, which may not be as robust as in native apps.

7. Less iOS support: iOS devices have limited support for some PWA features compared to Android.

Despite these disadvantages, PWAs remain a powerful and flexible option for many applications.

Now, here are 10 web applications that you can use in the cloud, and that can help you a lot. These applications cover a wide range of areas, from personal productivity to multimedia.

Google Docs

One of the oldest web applications, Google Docs is a web-based word processing application that is part of the Google Workspace productivity suite. Google Docs was officially launched on March 9, 2006. Before that, it was known as Writely, a web-based word processor created by the company Upstartle, which was acquired by Google in March 2006. Google Docs allows users to create, edit and collaborate on documents in real time with other people. One of its main features is the ability to automatically save changes made, eliminating the risk of losing work due to technical failures.

In addition, Google Docs supports a wide variety of file formats, such as .docx, .pdf and .odt, making it easy to import and export documents. Integration with other Google applications, such as Google Drive, Gmail and Google Calendar, makes the user experience more cohesive and efficient. Users can also add comments, suggest edits and use the version history feature to keep track of changes made to documents over time.

As it is a cloud-based tool, Google Docs can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, enabling remote collaborative work. The collaborative feature is one of its greatest advantages, as it allows several people to work on the same document simultaneously, making it ideal for team projects, education, and dynamic work environments.

Office 365

Office 365 Online, now known as Microsoft 365, is a cloud-based service that offers a complete set of productivity tools from Microsoft.

Office 365 was officially launched on June 28, 2011. Initially, it was introduced as a cloud-based subscription service for businesses, combining applications such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and Lync Online.

Among the applications included are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive, all accessible directly via a web browser.

One of the main advantages of Microsoft 365 Online is the ability to access and edit documents from anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection. This facilitates real-time collaboration, as several people can work simultaneously on the same document, spreadsheet, or presentation.

In addition, Microsoft 365 Online offers cloud storage via OneDrive, allowing users to easily store, share and access files. The tools are integrated with other Microsoft services, such as Teams and SharePoint, creating a cohesive ecosystem that improves productivity and communication in the workplace.

The service is regularly updated by Microsoft, ensuring that users always have access to the latest features and security improvements. With a variety of plans, Microsoft 365 can cater for both individual users and companies of all sizes, offering a flexible and scalable solution for productivity needs.

A free Outlook account provides 5 GB of storage for documents, photos and various files.

Canva

Canva is a free and easy-to-use online graphic design tool that lets you create a wide variety of designs, from social media posts to presentations, logos, videos and much more. Launched in 2012, Canva was created to make design accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of graphic design skill.

With Canva, you can choose from thousands of free templates and customize them to your needs. The platform offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, making it easy to create professional designs without the need for advanced technical knowledge. In addition, Canva enables real-time collaboration, allowing several people to work together on the same project, leaving comments and making changes simultaneously.

Canva also integrates with other popular tools and platforms, such as Google Drive and Microsoft Office 365, making workflow more efficient. For users who require additional features, Canva offers paid plans, such as Canva Pro and Canva Enterprise, which include advanced functionalities and AI tools to create even more personalized and impactful designs.

Presentations.AI

If you hate making slides (and who doesn't?), Presentations.AI is for you. Presentations.AI is an online tool that uses artificial intelligence to create visually appealing presentations in minutes. With this platform, you can turn your ideas into professional slides simply by typing in the content you want. Presentations.AI offers a variety of features, such as creating PPTs, infographics, graphs, timelines, project plans, reports and much more.

One of the main advantages of Presentations.AI is its ease of use. It allows you to customize the design templates to align with your brand's visual identity, ensuring consistent representation in all your presentations. In addition, the tool offers compatibility with PowerPoint, allowing you to export your presentations with ease.

Another interesting feature is the ability to share your presentations in real time, with comprehensive access control. This facilitates team collaboration, allowing several people to work together on the same project, providing feedback and making changes simultaneously. Presentations.AI also offers multilingual support, allowing you to reach a global audience.

In summary, Presentations.AI is a powerful and efficient tool for creating high-quality presentations quickly, making the design process more accessible and collaborative.

Graphite

Graphite is a free, open source vector and raster graphics editing tool. Graphite combines a non-destructive workflow with layer-based composition and node-based procedural design, offering a unique experience for creating 2D content.

Here are some of Graphite's main features:

- Vector and raster editing: Allows you to create and edit vector and raster graphics with a variety of tools.

- Non-destructive workflow: All changes are made non-destructively, allowing for adjustments and reversals without losing the original work.

- Node-based composition: Uses a node graph to describe manipulations, offering a powerful and flexible approach to editing graphics.

- Cross-platform compatibility: Currently available as a lightweight web application, with plans to release native applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux in 2025.

- Free and open source: Graphite is completely free and open source, released under the GNU GPL v2 license.

Graphite is ideal for graphic designers, animators, and anyone who needs to create high-quality visual content.

Photopea

Photopea is a free online image editor that works directly in the browser. Developed by Ivan Kuckir, Photopea was launched in 2013 and has since been regularly updated to offer a professional and affordable photo editing experience.

Photopea offers a wide range of functionalities, including basic editing such as cropping and resizing, as well as advanced features such as layers, masks, color adjustments, filters and much more. It supports a variety of file formats, including PSD (Photopea's main format), JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, SVG, DDS, among others. This makes the tool an excellent alternative to Adobe Photoshop, especially for those looking for a free solution with no installation required.

In addition, Photopea is known for its user-friendly and intuitive interface, which makes it easy to use for both beginners and more experienced users. It also offers multilingual support, including Portuguese, and can be used on mobile devices, making it a practical option for editing photos on the go.

If you're looking for a complete, free image editing tool, Photopea is an excellent choice.

Clipchamp

Clipchamp is a free and easy-to-use online video editor that lets you create stunning videos directly in your browser, with no downloads required. Launched by Clipchamp, the tool offers a variety of professional features, including drag-and-drop video editing, customizable video templates, transition effects, animated titles, video filters and much more.

One of Clipchamp's main advantages is its simplicity and accessibility. Users of all skill levels can start creating professional videos quickly, using an intuitive and user-friendly interface. In addition, Clipchamp supports multiple file formats, allowing you to import videos, photos, audio and other types of media from different sources, such as OneDrive, Google Drive and Dropbox.

Another interesting feature is the ability to add AI-generated narrations, automatic subtitles and accurate transcriptions, making videos more accessible and engaging. Clipchamp also offers a video branding kit, allowing users to add custom logos, watermarks, fonts and colors to their videos, ensuring a professional and consistent look.

In short, Clipchamp is a powerful and efficient tool for creating high-quality videos quickly, making the video editing process more accessible and collaborative.

On September 7, 2021, Clipchamp was acquired by Microsoft. The acquisition was made to integrate Clipchamp's video creation and editing capabilities into the Microsoft 365 productivity ecosystem, allowing more people to create high-quality videos quickly and easily.

Animatron

Animatron is an online video and animation creation platform that allows you to create impressive visual content quickly and efficiently. Launched in 2011, Animatron Studio is especially popular with small businesses and marketing agencies, offering a complete solution for creating explainer videos, HTML5 banners and much more.

One of Animatron's main advantages is its ease of use. The intuitive and user-friendly interface allows users of all skill levels to start creating professional animations in minutes. The platform offers a variety of features, including the creation of HTML5 animations, video editing, transition effects, animated titles and video filters.

In addition, Animatron enables real-time collaboration, making it easy to create videos as a team. The platform also offers multilingual support and is compatible with mobile devices, allowing users to work on their projects anytime, anywhere.

In short, Animatron is a powerful and accessible tool for creating high-quality videos and animations, making the process of creating visual content more efficient and collaborative.

AudioTool

I've already written about Audiotool here in The PClinuxOS Magazine, and at the time it was based on Adobe Flash. As a reminder, Audiotool is a free online digital audio workstation, known as a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), which allows users to produce music directly in the browser. Developed by Audiotool GmbH, the platform was launched in 2011 and has since been regularly updated to offer a professional and affordable music production experience. Currently, Audiotool works based on HTML5 and JavaScript.

One of the main advantages of Audiotool is its ease of use. The intuitive and user-friendly interface allows users of all skill levels to start creating professional music quickly, without the need to install additional software. The platform offers a wide range of features, including audio editing, mixing, effects, and the creation of loops and samples. In addition, Audiotool supports a variety of file formats, allowing you to import and export projects easily and efficiently.

Audiotool also promotes collaboration between music creators, allowing users to share their projects and receive feedback from other members of the community. The platform offers a library of loops and samples, as well as interactive music creation tools such as the “Music Board”, where users can remix and collaborate on songs published by others.

In short, Audiotool is a powerful and accessible tool for creating high-quality music quickly, making the music production process more inclusive and collaborative.

Wavacity

Wavacity is a free, open-source online audio editor inspired by Audacity. Launched in 2021, Wavacity allows users to edit audio directly in the browser without the need to install software. This makes the tool accessible and practical for anyone who needs to make quick edits or collaborate on audio projects from anywhere.

Wavacity's interface is very similar to Audacity's, which makes the transition easier for users who are already familiar with the original software. Wavacity's features include cutting, copying, pasting, applying audio effects, reducing noise, editing multiple tracks and export options for various formats, such as MP3 and WAV.

In addition, Wavacity is a collaborative tool, allowing several users to work together on the same project, making it ideal for teams using different operating systems. The platform is free and open source, released under the GNU GPL v2 license, ensuring that anyone can use, modify and distribute the software at no additional cost.

In short, Wavacity offers a practical and efficient alternative to traditional audio editing software, allowing users to make high-quality audio edits directly in the browser, without the need for complex installations.

Summary

So, here you have 10 online web applications, in the cloud, that can save the day, whether you are in a hurry, or don’t have a powerful computer, or lack disk space, or you need to have a collaborative work with your work team. These solutions can really help you out.