Xobni
(Credit: Rick Broida)I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little spoiled by all the free software out there. Seriously, I feel for the developers working hard to make a buck when there's so much good freeware. Like these five gems, all of which I use almost daily and love dearly:
- CrossLoop - Need remote access to another PC? It's hard to find a simpler solution than CrossLoop. Just run the small client app on your system, then instruct the friend/grandma/user at the other end to do likewise. Presto: You're connected, able to see and control the other PC and even transfer files.
- Revo Uninstaller - If you routinely install and uninstall new programs, ditch Windows' crappy uninstaller and use Revo instead. It works faster and removes all traces of the selected program, leaving behind no system-clogging Registry debris, icons, etc.
- SyncToy - One of Microsoft's little-known XP/Vista PowerToys, SyncToy offers soup-to-nuts folder synchronization between networked PCs. It's not particularly well-documented, nor does it come with technical support, but I find it indispensable.
- Windows Live FolderShare - Another little-known Microsoft jewel, this free service not only keeps folders in sync between two or more non-networked computers (like, say, your home and work PCs), but also lets you share files with others and access them remotely.
- Xobni - Best. Outlook add-on. Ever. Xobni can automatically extract names and phone numbers from e-mail messages, search e-mail in a flash, thread your e-mail conversations, and analyze your e-mail to provide all kinds of useful information.
Okay, your turn: What lesser-known freebies did I leave off the list? Hit the Comments and list your favorites.
(Credit:
Rick Broida)
Anti-virus software is a necessary evil (unless you're a Mac or Linux user, am I right?), but it doesn't have to be a costly one. Witness Grisoft's AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, which offers robust virus protection without any money changing hands.
The just-released version 8.0 includes a spiffier, easier interface and a new feature called LinkScanner, which promises protection from malicious links returned by Web searches. Better still, AVG 8.0 adds anti-spyware to the mix, bringing it closer to that other free anti-virus favorite, Avast. (The latter includes rootkit protection as well, which AVG still lacks.)
Indeed, when it comes to free security software, everyone seems to have their favorite. Some users prefer Avira AntiVir, but I couldn't stand its nag screens. The question is, do any of these freebie tools offer the same level of protection as their commercial counterparts? I'm no security expert, but I've been virus- and spyware-free for as long as I can remember--and I use only the free stuff. How about you? What's your security software of choice, and why? Hit the Comments and discuss.
In the meantime, you can find out more about AVG Anti-Virus 8.0 Free Edition in CNET's First Look video.
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Launchy)
The more programs you have installed on your PC, the harder it becomes to find the one you want. That's why I've fallen in love with Launchy, a simple application launcher that saves you having to slog through your Start menu.
To use Launchy, you simply press Alt-Space on your keyboard, then type the first few letters of the program you want. For example, to launch Google Picasa, you'd type "pic" and then press Enter. (You may need another keystroke or two if other programs on your PC start with the same letters.)
Launchy also serves up Web favorites. To head straight to The Cheapskate, for instance, just type "cheap." It even indexes files and folders, so you can load, say, Word documents or iTunes music with just a few keystrokes. (If this sounds familiar, it's because Microsoft added similar functionality to Windows Vista's Start menu.)
Using Launchy may seem a bit unusual at first, but trust me when I say you'll grow to love it. And you can't beat the price: It's a freebie.
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HandBrake)
So you just bought an iPod touch or iPhone and want to stock it with movies from your DVD library. There are countless commercial utilities that promise to rip DVDs, but I recommend trying HandBrake. This open-source (read: free) utility for Windows (download), Mac (download), and Linux converts your DVDs for viewing on iPods, iPhones, Sony PSPs, and other portable media players. It's by no means new, but I just had to share my newfound appreciation for it.
I recently picked up the hilarious Flight of the Conchords on DVD. I also just acquired an iPod touch (quite simply the coolest gizmo I have ever owned). I wasn't about to pay iTunes for a show I already own, so I fired up HandBrake. A few hours later, presto: New Zealand's fourth most popular digi-folk duo appeared on my iPod.
Note that because most commercial DVDs are copy-protected, HandBrake can't work its magic without a decryption utility running in the background. Rumor has it that DVD43, also free (but Windows-only), works really, really well.
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