Finally! Blogger has introduced After the Jump a feature which lets you create expandable post summaries in your blog posts, so longer posts appear as an intro with a link to Read More.

Creating jump breaks in your blog posts can be easily done right from the post editor, without the need for any HTML changes.

The only thing you have to do is to add this code into the post editor:


Take a look at this post that explains in detail how to implement expandable post summaries.

Today I want to suggest two fantastic free services which can help you to enrich your blog adding new interesting contents on your pages: Apture to add multimedia content on your website (photo, text, links...) and blipBack a nice widget to receive video comments from your friends.

Apture: I discovered this great service some day ago and I like it immediatly. What is Apture? Apture is a free service to add multimedia to your website with one click, integrate text, images, video, maps, music, documents, presentations and more from 20+ sources. In this way you'll keep visitors on your site, instead of sending them away.

But how does Apture work? Before to use it you have to sign-up, create for free your own account and add one o more websites. Second step is to install Apture code on your pages. Installation process supports the most popular blog platforms and doesn't require particular knowledge of HTML... so you can add Apture on your website just with one click! After installing you are ready to add all media you want on your pages. When you browse your website a little window like this (Apture Dashboard) will appear on pages. The only thing you have to do in order to add a link to a multimedia content is to select a text with your mouse and choose the source you want to link from the search window. The result? Take a look for example at the following links: usability, or at Barack Obama or Delicate.

blipBack: blipBack is a new service which allows you to add a video comment system on your website or social profiles (Facebook, MySpace...). In this way anyone with a webcam or video-enabled phone can leave a video message on your pages. The only thing you have to do is install the code or embed this widget into your pages.

Any suggestions? Add a comment!

Related content

Free online services to bring more value to your blog

Are you looking for a book about PHP, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript or other web related topics? Uncoverr.com is a new website launchd by Lachy Groom which helps you to find books, reviews and interviews with authors about web related topics like CSS, HTML, Design, Usability, Marketing and Blogging.
Every book has a detailed page with product description, what'll learn, book audience and other interest information. You can also buy it using the direct link to popular retailer such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's.
Uncoverr is also looking for people to write reviews, if you're interested send an email at lachyg (at) me.com.

In this post I want to suggest you some free online services which help you to bring more value to your blog, adding valuable content in your posts such as documents preview, live presentations (PowerPoint-like) and screencasts.

If you know other similar services please suggest them adding a comment. Thanks!

Embed your documents in your posts with Scribd

If you want to share the content of an eBook you wrote, a good idea can be provide a preview of its pages in your posts using Scribd. Scribd is a very interesting service to put your documents on-line and republish them using iPaper format, a light alternative to PDF. The only thing you have to do is creating an account (it's free) and upload your documents. Every document will be converted immediatly in a iPaper file (it's a Flash file) which you can embed in your post. This is the result on your page:


The Woork Handbook

Make and share presentations in your post with Zoho Show

Adding a live presentation in your posts can be another great idea to provide valuable additional content to your readers. Zoho.com is a suite of online web applications geared towards increasing your productivity and offering easy collaboration. Zoho Show is the online presentation tool of this suite which provides for free one of the best environment to make presentation online I experienced. If you are a PowerPoint user you'll love it. The response is excellent, fast and simple to use. When your presentation is completed you can share it on your website embedding your file on your page. This is the result:



And this is the original post. About Zoho Show I can say it's a great tool. Some features have to be improved or added (group object, multiple object selection and alignment) but the impression after some hours of work it's very good.

Record and share your screencasts with Jing

Jing it's a free application for Windows and Mac which captures images and videos (with audio) from your desktop. Recording a screencast it's very simple: you can do it just with a click.When your screencast is completed you can upload it on Screencast.com (2Gb of storage space for free) or save it on your desktop and share it in your posts.

Are you looking for an optimal on-line photo editor, free and with features similar to your desktop applications? Take a look at this list of five editors you may absolutely to try!

1. Photoshop Express

Photoshop Express is absolutely my preferred online photo editor. Probably it's the best on-line photo editor alternative to desktop products. Flash 10 based interface provides an exceptional user experience, simple to use and with a fluid workflow.


You can crop, rotate, resize, correct, modify exposure and saturation, remove red eyes and a lot of other action from your photos and any change you made on your photo is reversible and you can always go back to your original photo. Basic account also provides 2GB of free storage.

Photoshop Express

2. Pixlr

Pixlr is an "open-and-go" on-line photo editor. Open the page, open your photos and make all changes you want! No registration is required and with a familiar Photoshop interfaces, with advanced features (such as lasso, brush, clone stamp, blur, sharpen, wand tool) Pixlr is one of the best online Photo Editor actually in circulation.


You can use multiple layers, a lot of filters and use all fonts you have in your computer. Flash 10 web-interface provides a great user experience with stunning visual effects.

Pixlr

3.Slashup

Slashup it's a Flash-based on-line clone of Photoshop desktop program, with a lot of interesting features to edit your photo online. If you are a Photoshop or Gimp user you'll find very simple to use and with a "familiar" interface.


You can manage multiple file with a windowed environment, multiple layers, use filters and custom brushes, adding text and share your photo with other web services. You can also save your images in JPEG and PNG format selecting the more appropriated compression level.

Slashup

4. Picnik

Picnik... if you try it, you'll love it! This web application is simple to use, with a clear Ajax based interface, fast and responsive and doesn't require registration to use it.


When you upload a photo you can modify the exposure, contrast, saturation, apply red eyes remover and other effects, add text (there are some interesting fonts to use), save or share your photos on Flickr,Facebook, MySpace, Picasa and on other photo sharing web services.

Picnik

5. FlauntR

FlauntR is another high-quality online photo editor which uses a powerful Flash interface to manage and retouch your photos with a professional quality. With flauntR you can create widgets and slideshows as share photos to social networking sites.


Flauntr supports dozens of editing effects, nice fonts and custom shapes to enrich your photos and un unlimited storage space.

FlauntR

Do you have other links? Add a comment!