Windows only: If you're eager for a simple, non-browser, quick-starting app that will let you get remote desktop access to your mom's desktop, your struggling friend's laptop, or nearly any other machine, Ammyy Admin is just about perfect for your needs. The 128KB, no-install app opens and gives you a dedicated client ID number. To connect as the administrator, you simply enter the client's ID's number, choose a connection speed optimiser (if needed), and hit "Connect," while the client only has to hit "Start." Unless you use its sister private router product, Ammyy Admin will route its screen-sharing traffic over the developer's servers, so work that requires privacy shouldn't rely on Ammyy. Still, for keeping it simple with one-time connections—or even regular hook-ups, through Ammyy's Windows service option—Ammyy is worth checking out. Ammyy Admin is a free download for Windows systems only.

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Windows only: Sticky notes applications are fairly common, but StickySorter, a new offering from Microsoft's Office Labs division, is designed to deal with a particular challenge: organising large groups of notes from multiple sources into relevant groups. Microsoft originally built it to help with the process of affinity diagramming, and it includes options for importing notes data from CSV files, tagging notes, and allowing structured data within the free-form sticky environment. Like most Labs products, there's no clear indication of what will ultimately happen to this, but it's an interesting new take on working with unstructured information. StickySort is a free download for Windows only, requires .NET Framework 2.0.

If you work in a corporate culture that's fond of meetings, or an industry that involves lots of long-distance collaboration, you've no doubt heard an increasing amount about "webinars" lately. The web-based meetings, usually involving collaborative editing, whiteboard brainstorming, slideshow presentations, and/or live desktop sharing, are helpful when teaching a computer concept or technique, providing a one-way presentation a la PowerPoint, or presenting ideas and getting feedback from clients. Lots of providers compete for the largely corporate market, but at least one site, DimDim, provides free web conference hosting for groups of 20 or less. We gave one of them a try and took a few screenshots, so read on to see what you can get for free in the webinar world.

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Collaborative music website BoomShuffle gives you and anyone you invite the ability to add and organise music into streaming playlists. The site offers a decent, if noticeably incomplete, commercial music database and lets you customise the look and embed your playlist in blogs or websites. Unlike similar applications (including Facebook's iLike widget), BoomShuffle streams entire tracks, but only after you've added 15 or more songs to a list. BoomShuffle is free, in open beta and requires a sign-up to use, along with sign-ups for any friends who collaborate.

In yet another Google Maps upgrade in recent days, the My Maps feature has been opened up for collaboration. That means that you and your friends can add markers (with custom icons and pictures if you'd like), draw out areas and collaborate to map out great food, awesome photography spots or whatever strikes you. If one of you already has something mocked up in Google Earth or their own My Map, you can start by importing a KML or GeoRSS file. Chalk up another useful addition to what was already a great tool for making personalised maps.