Tools 3 and 4
iPlotz
As a follow up to OmniGraffle, iPlotz is a good example of how things are migrating from installed apps to web apps. A Flash-based app, it's essentially an online version of OmniGraffle. Not as feature rich nor as fast, but if you use multiple computers, this can still be a time-saver over constantly uploading and downloading your source files. That single source can also eliminate version control issues -- a real problem when using multiple computers.
Web apps like iPlotz are not only popping up across the app spectrum, but are also getting much more robust with features. And because of its online location, sharing features like embed code are quickly accessible, requiring no additional uploading or storing. The content is already online. I also find web apps easier to learn because they aren't bloated with rarely used features. If you've used Google Docs, as opposed to the MS Office Suite, you know the deal.
As of now, iPlotz docs won't look as slick as OmniGraffle's, and at $15 per month or $99 per year, the cost is actually more expensive over a two-year period. But if you like the mobility of web apps and don't mind the slightly slower interface (think Gmail vs. Outlook or Apple Mail), then it's a great alternative. (I should also mention that there is an installed version, but I haven't used it personally.)
Adobe Browser Lab
This is a tool that, fortunately, I don't have to use very frequently. There are people between myself and the coders who are more likely to use this on client projects. But of course, if you work in marketing these days, you likely have a blog. And blogs occasionally require a little code tweaking to add the latest widgets, embedded feeds, APIs, etc. Of course, anyone who isn't a PHP ace but has gone under the hood of a blog has probably experienced a few times when, after changing the code, the site didn't look quite the way it did before you tweaked it. And while you can see it on your primary browser, you'll also want to make sure it looks good on any browser. That's when I head over to the Adobe Browser Lab.
The tool itself is extremely simple. Enter a URL, and it runs that web page through all the major browsers to see how it looks. You can display them two-up, for a side-by-side comparison. (Mac heads will be pleased to compare IE 7 on Windows XP to Safari 3.0 on OS X.)
This is a branding tool for Adobe, so it's free.
