HaikuDeck
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Haiku Deck's web app drops its invite requirement, goes free to use for all
Recently Haiku Deck launched an invite-only web app version of its powerful presentation-creation app. It allows users to build presentations online and then pull them up on their iPads for updating/presenting at a later date. The initial trial period has been a success, so the company is opening up the web app to all users. Simply head over to http://www.haikudeck.com/ and get started. When you're done with your project, it can be exported to the iPad app, to a PDF or to a PowerPoint file. For frequent power users of Haiku Deck, the ability to keep working on your project -- even when your iPad has run out of juice -- will be a nice addition to your weekly productivity.
Haiku Deck updates iPad app, launches web-based cloud version
Making presentations is a harsh reality of modern business life. Eventually you'll have to use PowerPoint or Keynote to sell your ideas. But there are alternatives for people who find those presentation options heavy handed and difficult to use. For more than 800,000 iPad users, the go-to alternative is Haiku Deck, a simple app that quickly helps you build presentations using Creative Commons-licensed photos to give your work an extra layer of quality. As a TUAW reader, you can enjoy early access to the new web app! More on that later in this post. Haiku Deck has been a joy for iPad users, regularly landing at the top of the App Store's productivity charts around the world. Today Haiku Deck is expanding beyond your iPad with a powerful new cloud-based browser version. The online deck keeps the iPad version's commitment to building simple slides that focus on one idea at a time, emphasizing the interplay between your words and images. Because the new desktop app is cloud-based, a user can start building a presentation on their iPad, save their work and then pick right back up where they left off in the web app. That's very convenient for "emergencies" like an iPad that's low on power or a significant other who needs to use it. To get this functionality, you will need to update to version 2.3 of Haiku Deck for iPad, which is already in the iTunes store. When you're done building your presentation, your work can be shared via the bowser, iPad app or exported to a PDF or PowerPoint format. Currently the web app is invite only, but if you'd like to try the web version of Haiku Deck without waiting, we've got an early access link to share with you. Haiku Deck has given us its blessing to share our early access link, so click here to get started now. We've played with it over the last few days and it provides the same clean experience you've come to expect from its iPad incarnation. You can find the updated version of the iPad app in the iTunes store right now. If you're a power user of Haiku Deck, this web app is sure to be a welcome addition to the platform.
Friday Favorite: Haiku Deck for iPad concocts instant presentations
If long-suffering Dunkin' Donuts franchise owner Fred the Baker had decided to get an office job, chances are his early morning grumble would have been "Time to make the PowerPoint." Doing decks is part of every organization, from the military to not-for-profits to businesses of all sizes; even if you make the chore easier with Keynote, it's still a chore. Creating something that doesn't look like every other presentation is possible, but if you aren't gifted with design acumen it might not turn out like you hope. PowerPoint's automatic templating helps somewhat, but how about using your iPad to spice up a slide or two? Giant Thinkwell's free iPad app Haiku Deck may prove to be the spice rack for your flavorless decks. The idea is straightforward: use one of Haiku Deck's provided two-line templates for your slides and the app will search Creative Commons-licensed photos to provide a fitting visual complement to your verbiage. You can swap in your own local photos from the iPad or ones from social services; to share, upload your deck to the Haiku Deck site or export it to a PowerPoint file. The app is beautifully designed and easy to use; some of the free supplied templates are lovely, and there's a $14.99 optional pack of additional looks (or $1.99 per template, bought solo) if you're not thrilled with the built-in options. Yes, you can only use two lines of text per slide, so it's not ideal for bullet-heavy fiscal briefings. Yes, the results have a tendency to wander into Demotivators territory. But you can certainly use Haiku Deck to inspire a theme for a longer presentation built in a desktop app, or pull one or two key concept slides into a presentation that's begging for some creative zing. [hat tip AllThingsD]
