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If you already use it, then you know that LESS is a "time and byte-saver" when creating + serving stylesheets (if not, you should definitely check it).

You either use the .less files directly (via less.js or on the server with Node.js) or compile them into CSS from command-line and use only the CSS.

Crunch is a free Adobe AIR application that eases the compiling part without the need of command-line but via a user-friendly interface.

It is a simple CSS/LESS editor with syntax highlighting and multi-tab support.

Once a LESS file is saved, the CSS version is created automatically (which is handy for anyone willing to develop with LESS but don't want to rely on JavaScript on the client-side).

Special Downloads:
Ajaxed Add-To-Basket Scenarios With jQuery And PHP
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When creating websites, previewing them in different browsers to ensure that they are rendered correctly is a painful process. The same goes for the mobile websites. Many different browsers, models and sizes.

Mobilizer, a free Adobe AIR application, displays previews of any given URL or local files (HTML, image or Flash) inside multiple mobile devices.

It currently supports iPhone 4, Palm Pre, HTC Evo, + Blackberry Storm and more devices are to-be-added soon.

The previews doesn't have to be one-by-one and each device-preview can be opened as separate windows for an easier comparison.

Also, the previews can be exported as .PNG files which is very handy.

Special Downloads:
Ajaxed Add-To-Basket Scenarios With jQuery And PHP
Free Admin Template For Web Applications
jQuery Dynamic Drag’n Drop
ScheduledTweets

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Piwik is an open source website analytics application which provides detailed statistics about visitors, keywords, pages & more in real-time.

It can be installed on an any PHP-MySQL compatible webserver & the rest works similar to Google Analytics; inserting the tracking codes into the websites we want to track.

One installation of Piwik can track unlimited number of websites which is great for web design companies who would prefer to offer a branded/customized solution to their customers.

Also, the user interface is fully customizable: you can drag and drop the widgets you want to display and create a report especially tailored to you.

The application is built around plugins which means it is possible to add/remove features easily.

Its open API makes integrations with 3rd party software possible. And, here are 2 desktop applications that use this API to bring Piwik to your desktop:

Desktop Web Analytics

This is an Adobe AIR based software (multi-platform) which brings most of the featues of Piwik to the desktop.

It is multilingual (uses the language files of Piwik) & currently in alpha stage.

Piwik Connector

Piwik Connector is also an Adobe AIR based software which can show you short statistics from one or more installations of Piwik.

Considering Piwik works real-time, the application displays the statistics in real-time as well.

Special Downloads:
Ajaxed Add-To-Basket Scenarios With jQuery And PHP
Free Admin Template For Web Applications
jQuery Dynamic Drag’n Drop
ScheduledTweets

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Every designer & developer loves handy tools that simplify frequent tasks.

And, even if you've a complicated software that does the same thing, usually it is much more effective to run a tiny, fast-loading application that does the job.

This is a list of 27 functional Adobe AIR applications that can help a web designer to design & develop:

• Better
• Faster
• More organized

Info: If you don't have Adobe AIR installed, it can be downloaded from here.

Web Snapshot

Very nice application for taking snapshots of any webpage.

It enables you to configure the snapshot sizes & lets you choose whether the snapshot be a thumbnail, browser size or the full page.

WebKut

Using WebKut, you can take snapshots of an entire webpage, parts of them or a selection.

The tool's interface helps a lot by showing the size of the area selected, letting the user to choose the image format & quality.

Pixus

A pixel ruler that enables you to measure the size of any object..

With browser skins, overlay mode and screen size presets, you can also preview how your design will look in the real environment.

Web & interface designers will love it.

PixelPerfect

PixelPerfect has 1 job to do: measure things on your desktop.

While designing a website or looking for the size of an object in a website, you can run this ruler & that's it.

Icon Generator

A little application that lets you generate a CS3 or Web 2.0 style icon, in only 3 steps. Pick color, type characters, and save it. Icon is generated in 4 different sizes.

Flickr Flipper

Flickr Flipper allows you to search for Flickr photos and also search for photos from specific Flickr users. It uses Papervision to display the photos one at a time and even allows you to download the photo to your computer. Very nice tool for digging photos in Flickr.

RichFLV – FLV Editor

FLV editing is almost a part of the web design process as it is one of the most popular streaming video formats.

Using RichFLV you can edit FLV & MP3 files and export them to some other formats like SWF.

A great feature of the application is merging multiple files.

Shrink O'Matic

A batch image resizer that can handle JPG, GIF & PNG files.

Images can be resized to a custom size or by a ratio. The output image format, quality & name can also be set.

Em based layouts – Vertical rhythm calculator

A tool for working out the width of an element in em’s.

It calculates the em of any given px input & presents the output as a CSS property. Very handy for liquid designs.

Font Picker

Presents you all the fonts installed in your computer & makes font selection easier.

Simply write any text & it will show the text with every font. You can remove the preview of any font via the "X" button or reset the selections.

COLOURlovers Desktop Color Finder

An Adobe AIR interface for reaching the ~1 million named colours & thousands of colour palettes of the colour resource website COLOURlovers (see WRD post).

Kuler Desktop

Browse the color themes in Adobe Kuler, sign in to your account & manage your themes.

Also, import themes from Kuler Desktop directly into Adobe Creative Suite 3 (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).

Color Browser

An application for generating & saving color palettes.

It is very handy for creating your own color library & then inspiring from them when needed.

The color palettes can be edited, re-arranged & duplicated too.

Color Picker

Using Color Picker, you can find the values of a color, generate new colors & see your recent color generations.

RegExr Desktop

A tool for learning, editing, and testing regular expressions. It is simply a desktop version of the online RegExr application.

It provides a small library for special characters, character classes & more.

Snippely

A very simple yet functional & "must use" tool for developers (see WRD post).

Every developer has some favorite libraries, functions & other ready-to-use codes. Using Snippely, you can group, organize & store your code snippets easily.

SearchCoders Dashboard

An award-winning application that connects Flex developers.

Using SearchCoders Dashboard, searching the most valuable source of Flex-related information: the FlexCoders mailing list archive is possible. Besides that, the application connects to the official Flex developers chat.

It has a special code input feature that allows developers to send code to the room without filling up the output area.

Developers can also use the notes and favorites to keep track of valuable FlexCoders threads and blog posts.

Vertabase Timer

Track time on projects and track time on clients in this free, sleek desktop widget.

Export time reports to XML or CSV for use in other applications (like MS Excel).

MiniTask

Every designer / developer needs a task manager application to get organized better.

If you don't want a complicated task manager then MiniTask is for you. Just write the tasks, group them with seperators & click the ones you completed. That's all.

Klok

This application helps managing projects, keeping track of the tasks & getting reports on them.

With a drag'n drop interface, projects, sub-projects (tasks) can be defined and can be attached to a customer (see WRD post for more details).

Doomi

Again, a very simple to-do-list application that reminds you your tasks.

Besides entering, editing & clearing tasks, you can set an alarm for a task and the Doomi can warn you.

Timeloc

This desktop widget keeps track of the time you have spent working on a job or project.

Ok, we are not lawyers but there are freelancers who charge by time. If you don't, then you can again use it to see howmuch you spend on a job.

Ora Time & Expense

An application for tracking times worked on a project, that works with a timer and generates timesheets & expense reports.

FEAT (Freelancer’s Estimation Assistance Tool)

Most freelancers get lost in the expense-revenue calculations as there is not always a standard price for a project.

This application helps freelancers calculate hourly rates and project pricing estimates.

You can define your expenses like salaries, utilities, tax & mention the profit margin you expect and it gives you the hourly rate you must be charging.

Also, it has a pricing wizard that helps you define a price for a project.

Google Analytics Reporting Suite

The Google Analytics Reporting Suite enables you to use Google Analytics in your desktop.

You can track your visitors, referrals and campaigns, view your AdWords ROI metrics & more.

Note: Installer is in the right-bottom of the application website.

Snippage

A beautiful Adobe AIR application for creating desktop gadgets from any part of a website.

Choose any part of the website, select the refresh period & the gadget is created.

How will a web designer use this? For following an ajaxed stats page, following orders of an e-commerce website, etc..

ConceptShare Desktop Uploader

ConceptShare allows you to setup secure online workspaces for sharing designs, documents and video and invite others to review, comment and give contextual feedback anytime and anywhere without a meeting.

ConceptShare Desktop enables drag and drop uploading of concepts to workspaces. You can also create new workspaces, manage people and get alerted when someone replies or comments in one of your workspaces.

Books On Adobe AIR & Flex:

• Adobe AIR Bible (Bible (Wiley))
• Adobe AIR 1.5 Cookbook: Solutions and Examples for Rich Internet Application Developers – (PDF Version)
• Flex 3 Cookbook: Code-Recipes, Tips, and Tricks for RIA Developers (Adobe Developer Library)
• Professional Adobe Flex 3 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer)

Special Downloads:
Ajaxed Add-To-Basket Scenarios With jQuery And PHP
Free Admin Template For Web Applications
jQuery Dynamic Drag’n Drop
ScheduledTweets

Advertisements:
Professional XHTML Admin Template ($15 Discount With The Code: WRD.)
Psd to Xhtml
SSLmatic – Cheap SSL Certificates (from $19.99/year)