SugarSynch – File sync and online backup provider SugarSynch is making Dropbox look a bit weak. SugarSynch offers sweet file storage and sharing (including large-sized files) using the cloud. Dropbox has been, up to this point, the leading provider of file backup that’s automatically synced on multiple devices, but their free track only allows for 2 GB. SugarSynch, on the other hand, offers more than twice as much – 5 GB of space for free plan users. What other features make SugarSynch stand out? You can backup and sync any folder on your computer, upload files via email, share folders with permissions and passwords, publish photos to facebook and many other perks you won’t find elsewhere. In addition, SugarSynch works with Android, Blackberry, Symbian and of course iPhone and iPad. For the complete list of comparison, click here. I’ve already signed up for the free 5 GB file storage plan. What about you? To learn more watch the video below.

Defringe – This minimalistic-looking site is actually bursting with rich creativity, and it offers a wealth of inspiring posts showing today’s innovation in a variety of fields, including advertising, illustration, music, product design, typography and many other fields. Defringe is an elegant, sophisticated design and talent hub that is packed with cool ideas and products. It wasn’t a Weekly Blog winner for nothing.
Here’s an interesting post I found in Defringe’s Product Design section: Miniot, innovative and organic solution to protecting the iPad.

Photosynth – This cool photography tool by Microsoft invites you to create amazing panoramic, 3D photos using the digital camera you’re already using to take pics (mobile phone cameras work just as well). Although a program download is required, as is creating a Photosynth account, this powerful set of tools is so rewarding you won’t believe it’s free. In addition, your created 3D pics can be added to Bing maps, shared on facebook and even added to your website or blog.

The idea of creating 3D pictures with your mobile phone is phenomenal, although one can’t avoid the evident similarity between Photosynth and Google’s street view technology. Either way, I’m curious to know what effect will this concept have on the way we all take pictures in the future. Either way, here’s the full explanation on how to create mobile panoramas.

Now that we’re done with all the (justified) geeky raves, here’s an actual example.

Join.me – In the golden age of online sharing, now computer screens are added into the mix, and for free. Join.me lets you share your screen with others, and see other people’s screens. No registration is required, which is a huge plus in my book. Instant online meetings are a breeze, as the Join.me team explains: “just click share to download and run the app and share your screen, instantly. No need for a plane, train, or sandwich platter. Just gather at join.me.”

Want more goodies? Join.me offers free mobile viewers for iPhone, iPad and Android, and the screen sharing system comes with free chat and file sharing as a default. This is a most valuable service to use, whether for professional or personal reasons – it’s simply a must!

Crazy Things Parents Text – Being embarrassed by our parents is an inevitable shame we all must come to terms with, and what a better way to deal with it than by making fun of their texting creativity? Crazy Things Parents Text is here to make fun of moms and dads’ self expression in the digital era, particularly when texting. The result is a hilarious blog of funny and surprising things parents text, and you can vote for your fave ones. Here are a couple of the most popular posts:

This Thursday the Top 10 focus is on cool technology sites that provide up-to-the-minute updates on the latest in tech, but without all the complicated jargon that comes along with it. In other words, these are the top mobile, computer and gadget sites (plus one oddball you’ll thank me for sharing) in plain English anyone can understand and enjoy.

1. Mashable – This comprehensive tech source offers the latest news on social media, technology and what is known as ‘Web culture.’ Mashable is the top A-list site for many tech professionals, but the beautiful part about it is you don’t necessarily have to be one to understand and enjoy the content here. Read about the latest Web & tech news, trends and website reviews in addition to tons of other related topics, all covered by Mashable.

2. Wired.com – The Website of the biggest tech magazine in the US (and other countries) is by far one of the best resources on technology in virtually every industry you can think of. From gadgets and mobile to cars, entertainment and even politics, Wired.com has a top-notch team of writers that offers well-written engaging content for both professionals and laypersons.

3. CNET Blogs – CNET.com is the technology mecca of millions of users worldwide, mostly thanks to the site’s reputation of being a reliable consumer electronics reviewer. But many users who frequent this site are oblivious to the blogs collection CNET offers. Written by the CNET staff, the tech blogs (over 40 of them!) offer a great resource on an almost exhaustive array of fields, including new and upcoming products, Apple, Android, robotics, gaming, digital media. health and many other issues. If you’re looking to explore more fields of interesting technology, the CNET Blogs are for you.

4.  NY Times’ Bits Blog – This plain-English tech blog by the NY Times covers “start-ups, tech leaders like Google and Apple, enterprise technology,government policies and the way the Internet is changing how we live and work.” Although the New York Times will soon adopt a paywall (meaning paid subscriptions), The Bits blog is a rare find because it discusses sophisticated tech ideas and concepts in the form of engaging, easily understandable content form.

To listen to the Tech Talk Podcast shown above click here.

5. Motherboard – Although the Motherboard’s Video Room is what makes it special in my view, this beautifully designed tech resource is a top site in and of itself, and it’s the oddball I talked about in the beginning of the post. Motherboard focuses on technology, but from a different perspective; it’s a “celebration of the diversity and eclecticism of the culture that surrounds technology.” You will find here unique, well-written tech stories and posts you wouldn’t have expected to come across on a conventional tech site.

6. Techi – The fun site of the bunch, Techi is all about the groovy side of technology in addition to the standard tech news coverage it offers. This serious-but-laid-back website is a cool resource to visit regularly, and if you’d like to dive right in, I suggest starting with the Offbeat section. See the video below, Lego Ship in a Bottle. You see? Technology is FUNtastic!

7. All Facebook – Although it might seem a bit pretentious to list a Facebook-specific blog here on the Top 10 Tech sites list, All Facebook most certainly delivers. Get all the latest news on the world’s most famous social network ever -both good and bad- from this unofficial Facebook resource. Learn what new apps are available, what people are Liking the most and where this social giant is heading.

8. CNN.com Tech – CNN is great at delivering breaking news and covering current affairs, but their Tech section online is just as admirable and informative. Excluding too geeky tech terms, CNN Technology delivers the hottest news in computers, Internet and technological innovation for everyone to consume and understand.

9.  Digital Trends – Delivering large doses of Tech news with a hint of entertainment and design, Digital Trends is an aesthetic Tech news provider that aims to help readers make the most out of their “hi-tech lifestyles” by offering updates, reviews and editorial concerning “trendsetting consumer technology products and services.” This site is a sort of a trend chaser, bringing you the hottest tech news of the day.

10. All My Faves Tech – To explore additional top technology sites and blogs, why not visit All My Faves’ Tech MiniFaves page and have it all in one place?

What’s App – This cash saving mobile application lets you send and receive messages for free as long as there is an Internet or Wi-Fi connection available. The What’s App Messenger service works on and between various mobile devices including the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Nokia. This means you and your friends don’t need to have the same device to use this service as is the case with many other free SMS apps; it’s a cross-platform tool that gives you lots of freedom and productivity. Another cool option What’s App offers is sending images and videos as part of the chat/SMS platform (available only to iPhone, Android and Blackberry users). In short, if you haven’t downloaded this super cool app, you should. Right now.

EcoSquid – If you have an old gadget no longer in use, you already know that throwing it to the garbage is not an option. So, what are some of the options out there? Selling and recycling, mainly. If you are looking for either or both, EcoSquid is your solution.

Claiming to be an impartial source of information, EcoSquid shows you which places would give you the highest value, and which have the highest service rating in case you’re looking to sell. In case your old gadget is beyond recovery, EcoSquid will direct you to reliable donation/recycling entities for you to consider. Either way, EcoSquid’s mission is to help you “prolong the life of your electronics or responsibly dispose of them.” Here’s why you should use EcoSquid:

Great job, EcoSquid team! We like!

RunKeeper – Since the iPhone and Android came out, workouts have never been so easy to track, measure and plan ahead. Although RunKeeper is not the first fitness app to facilitate fitness activities and reaching workout goals, this software is an amazing tool all runners and gym fans will surely appreciate, particularly since RunKeeper’s mobile app is free.

You can upload past workouts and provide all the relevant details from memory or, from your Polar device (duration, calories, distance, heart rate and more), or track your activities in real-time using your mobile device (app features GPS tracking, audio interval cues, iPod integration, social network sharing). Click the image below to get to the mobile app download page – it’s free! In addition to the mobile app, make use of RunKeeper’s Fitness Classes, which will put you on your path to several running goals (5K, 10K runs, half a marathon, a whole marathon, or a weight-loss track).

GroupMe – This service is essentially a group chat room that’s been modified to text messaging mode. It works with every cell phone that supports texting, so you don’t need a fancy iPhone or any other smart phone to use GroupMe (although iPhone and Android users have the GroupMe app available). You can create multiple groups while each network receives a designated number you will use for texting its members (sending and receiving). Some classic group categories I can think of are friends, colleagues, family, carpool group, etc.The possibilities are endless.

For quick GroupMe actions (i.e. key shortcuts), read this help section. Although there’s no limit to the number of groups you can create and be part of, GroupMe recommends keeping an ideal number of 4-10 members in each group. Apparently a higher number leads to clutter and noise, which makes sense. So what other functions are available on GroupMe? Aside from sending text, you can share photos with your group and make conference calls. Oh, and using GroupMe is free by the way. The only downside to this service is that it’s available only in the US for now. The GroupMe team says it’s working on making it available in other countries as well. Let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later.

When Parents Text – This Weekly Blog winner is self-explanatory, and you can imagine just how far this Tumblr takes the laughs that lies in generational gaps. I found myself identifying with a commendable number of texts listed in this blog’s archive, and I bet you will, too. Enjoy this one.

I Can’t Find My Phone – This one action only website treats a most common problem most mobile device owners face at some point in their life. Lost your phone? No prob. Go to this site (it’s a one page website), type in your cell phone number and hit “HELLO?” Yes, the system will call your mobile phone, and hopefully you’ll hear it ringing under the pillow of your sofa. If you hear nothing, try to remember what you did in the past 24 hours. For your sake I hope you were not flying in from another country or state…