Google announced last week that developers now have the choice to offer free trials within the Chrome Web Store.

This focus on monetisation – coupled with the offline mode that many offer – points to a slew of shiny and useful new apps.

A favourite among journalists, students and anyone with the painful job of transcibing large chunks of audio from interviews or lectures to the page, is the Transcribe web app.

Upload an MP3 or Wav file and use keyboard shortcuts to play as you transcribe within the same window.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/transcribe-transcribe-aud/ogokenmicnjdfhmhocanoemnddmpcjjm


Coursera for the iPad
The Coursera platform offers free online courses (otherwise known as MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses) from prestigious universities including Stanford and Princeton.

Following on from the introduction of an iPhone app in December 2013, the new iPad app is designed to complement the existing desktop version. Users can browse courses, enrol and access their personal dashboard view from their iPad as well as stream and download video lectures and take course quizzes. Bad news for Android users: last year Coursera said an app was in the works but so far Play Store visitors have had to make do with unofficial offerings.

https://itunes.apple.com/app/coursera/id736535961


Thirty years of TED
In a way, TED (Technology, Education, Design) Talks represent the spirit of entrepreneurship, risk-taking, independent thinking and technological familiarity that are the hallmarks of the 21st century.

Surprisingly, these inspirational talks are 30 years old this month.

Way back in 1984 at the first ever TED event, Nicholas Negroponte made some predictions about the technologies of the future, including his thoughts on how touch interface would be big.

"Thirty years of Ted" is a curated playlist that includes this and 16 other talks showcasing some of the finest orators of the past three decades.

http://www.ted.com/playlists/147/30_years_of_ted