Beta Watch: Zoho DB, Stixy, and Mint

Zoho DB & Reports: Online Data Analysis

Zoho already has one database app: Creator, which provides lots of options for making a database. Its new app, called DB & Reports, has fewer creation options but gives you lots of ways to graph and analyze the data you have (you can build a database from scratch or import data from a spreadsheet). Creating pivot tables, pie charts, and custom queries is relatively simple, though this free beta still has some annoying bugs.

Stixy: The Fridge Door of the Net

In lots of homes, the refrigerator door is where photos, to-do lists, notes, and interesting stories from the paper end up being displayed. The free Stixy is a Web version of that kind of free-form repository. You drag a widget for notes, photos, documents, and to-do lists anywhere onto your Stixy board, and then add content. Upload files (including music files), paste something from another Web site, or just start typing. You can share your board with friends and easily rearrange the widgets, too.

Mint: Put Your Finances on Autopilot

You know you should keep track of your finances, but who has the patience for all that data-entry work? Mint.com can help. Give it the log-in info for your bank and credit card accounts, and it'll download your transactions daily and do its best to categorize your purchases automatically. The free service even sends you e-mail or SMS alerts if your balance drops dangerously low or if it notices lots of unusual spending. Mint works best with fairly large financial institutions; it may not be able to connect with your local credit union. It doesn't monitor investment or loan accounts.