The Tech Consumer

Google Chrome stuff

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:40:00 +0000

Here is a list of the best add-onns for Googles; Chrome Browser

Black Canvas (also for Firefox) Automatically inserts HTML signatures into Gmail messages based on which address you are sending from - can manage up to four signatures per address.

The Best Must-Have Programs for Windows

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:51:00 +0000

      Download TeamViewer




* Unless otherwise indicated everything here is free.
Defraggler
Eusing
CCleaner
Xleaner - Addictive Tips says it's stronger than CCleaner
Advanced SystemCare
WinPatrol
IOBit Uninstaller Batch Uninstall - less granular than Revo (below) but batch is the clincher
~~Revo Uninstaller~~
FileHippo Updater
Xentient Labels (see preview instead of generic file extension type tabs)
Ad-Aware
ProcessHacker
AVG
WizMouse - lets you scroll where that's not enabled
WinWarden - allows transparency and other manipulations
StartClock - changes "Start" button to a clock
~~TaskSwitchXP Pro - Alt+Tab replacement~~ - not for Windows 7
PickMeApp - reinstalls programs with all preferences and settings intact

___________________________
Nitro
Adobe - can't write in PDF's (like Nitro can) but can copy text
Launchy
Google Desktop
PDFsam - Free, open source PDF split and merge ("sam")
Dexpot - multiple desktops
ReNamer - Batch re-namer with rules - very useful
Find duplicate files - LifeHacker recommended:
Fast Duplicate File Finder - checks duplicates so they can be deleted or moved with one click

EasyDuplicateFinder - clearer interface
Also WinMerge is a good option for all kinds of files
F.lux adjusts screen brightness according to the time of day or night - I really like this (the degree of change can be altered according to taste)
TheSage is a really good desktop dictionary and thesaurus
Fences - really nice organizer for desktop shortcuts

Media
uMusic - Makes WAV files from mp3 and images
Audacity
Free YouTube to MP3 Converter
FreeRip - Free CD Ripper
uTIPu - Screencasts with audio, drawing and notes
TeamViewer - best free remote access program

~~LogMeIn~~

~~Hamachi~~ ~~- LogMeIn's VPN~~ - LogMeIn gives you a trial of "Pro" then locks you out unless you buy

Visual
PhotoWipe - takes things out of photos (From AllMyApps)
________________________________
Orzeszek - Really simple timer
~~CoolTimer~~ - looks nicer than Orzeszek (above) and has more options but also more buggy and harder to use
Yahoo Widgets

Misc.
CalendarLabs - Online free, customizable, downloadable calendars in .rtf format

Online resources
WhatTheFont - Upload images to identify fonts
_________________________________
Untested but interesting:
ProcessKO (From CNet: ProcessKO is a small utility that can quickly kill a running process or application, especially when Task Manager can't.)
Process Explorer

Android Apps

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 02:44:00 +0000

AndroidZoom - The best online App finding resource - QR codes or download link to phone (the latter is quicker)
DropSpace - Sync Android phone to DropBox

Chrome Extensions

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:35:00 +0000

Visual Tabs
(You can also press shift + esc for a list of all open tabs and esc to close the list)
Tab Organizer - can organize tabs into groups
One Window - makes pop ups etc. tabs in the same browser rather than opening another window
Lazarus - recovers info typed into forms
Block Social Media clutter

Nifty and Simple Desktop Alarm Clock – No Nonsense

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:29:00 +0000

CNet Download - Cool Timer 3.6

Other freebies which look like they’re worth trying:

Alarm Clock 1.0

Firefox Addons!

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:36:00 +0000

xpi
Profile

To download and install the latest version of Firefox click here.

If you are impatient or don't want the tutorial, scroll down to the end of the post for a list of the most useful add-ons. Otherwise keep reading.

The most important add-ons in my opinion are the following:

Toolbar Buttons add many extra button options to Firefox (too many to list). All these extras are labeled so it's clear what they all are.
They can be accessed by right-clicking just under the URL address bar. Click on "Customize" and a window will pop up. Once this window is open any icon can be dragged from here to the top left corner of the browser where the existing icons are. Also icons can be dragged INTO this window. A good example of why this is useful is the following:

I never use the "home icon" and I would rather not have valuable space taken up with an icon I never use. You can simply drag the icon into the open additional buttons window and it won't appear as a functioning icon in the browser. Because it is stored in the buttons window you can drag it (or any other icon in or out at will)

NB all additional buttons which you download will be found in this toolbar buttons window - usually at the end.
If you maximize the window you won't be able to drag and drop, so just make sure it doesn't take up the whole screen and that the browser toolbar is in view before doing any dragging and dropping.

IE tab plus - allows you to open Internet Explorer INSIDE Firefox for any sites (often those with video or foreign languages) which don't work fully in Firefox. With this add-on you never have to open IE directly even when you need it.

Quick Restart restarts the browser much faster than the re-start button available in the Toolbar Buttons add-on. It's recognizable by the darker blue and the more angular arrows.
Like the "Save and Exit" button it saves all open tab(s) when re-starting. It's useful when you download add-ons which require a restart to install.

Showcase allows you to see all open tabs and gives you the option of closing them while in the show all view. I find it really useful whenever I have enough tabs open so that I can't read their labels/when they go beyond the end of the visible part of the tabs strip in the browser.
* FOXTAB has a slicker interface and more viewing options than Showcase.

If you install Tabs Open Relative (Doesn't seem to work with 3.6.8) any new tab will always appear right next to the tab you have open now. I have found this very handy. (Obviously this is not a button but an enhanced function so you don't click on anything it just works)

This doesn't seem to work in the latest version of Firefox - try TabKit instead - it does all this and more.

Another really useful add-on is Undo Closed Tabs. This tab, as its name suggests either opens the most recently closed tab (if you simply press on the icon) or, if you press the arrow to the side of the icon - if you have closed more than one tab - you will see a list of your most recently closed icons. Click on any one listed and it will re-open.

TabMixPlus - needed for the "Duplicate tab" right-click option. This add-on also enables close by clicking the pinwheel (center button).

BarTab - so that only the last open tabs opens and all the others are waiting in the background for faster start-up time.

DoubleClick to close tab - really useful

More useful that Colorful Tabs is FabTabs which take a screenshot of the site and makes the tab the color of the predominant or most distinctive color on the site, so all tabs from the same site will be the same color. I find it more helpful than Colorful Tabs. Actually CHROMA TABS PLUS seems to do this even better.

Black Canvas - Automatically inserts HTML signatures into Gmail messages based on which address you are sending from - can manage up to four signatures per address.

Resizeable TextArea extension. It lets you re-size most text areas on pop-ups

Advanced Search - more tools to narrow search (from Addictive Tips)

Vacuum Places defragments (vacuum) the Places database

Jason

---------------

Here are some others:

Firefox "noscript"

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722

Firefox "print preview" toolbar button

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1778

Firefox "save session"

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4199

Firefox "session manager"

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2324

Firefox "cooliris preview"

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2207

Subscribe by EMAIL

Site Feed (get updates as they happen)

What is a "feed" or "RSS"??

** "Why Firefox?"

First of all it's free and open source - good reasons to support it. But Internet Explorer (IE) is also free and so that on its own doesn't explain why an ordinary user should use Firefox.

------------

** A number of websites explain why Firefox is better. Here is one and here is another.

Apart from the inherent advantages, a huge plus with Firefox - because it is open source and anyone can make add-ons and enhancements - is that thousands of developers have made add-ons for the browser. I plan in the next coupe of posts to take you though the most essential add-ons which, the cumulative effect of which is to make Firefox not just better but to put it in a class of its own.

------
Older comment about "Duplicate Tab" MixTabPlus's right click has a duplicate tab option which performs the following function as well:
Doesn't work with 3.6.x - Duplicate tab is a really useful tab which duplicates the whole history of the selected tab into a new tab. This is really useful when you want, say, to visit the last and second last site you visited and may want to go back further in the browsing history of that tab. If you simply press "Control" + "T" or hit the "new tab" icon, firstly you will have to manually enter the address. But more importantly the new tab won't have any of the browsing history you might want to access.
But with the Duplicate Tab button you just click the button and the tab you're in duplicates itself with all its history.
--
Another older comment:

Can now simply select option to start with tabs from last time so don't need this. The "Save and Exit" button saves the session and will reopen all the same window(s) next time you open the browser.
(If you use Sandboxie the browser won't remember your opened tab(s) if you terminate the programs it's running or empty the relevant sandbox)

Windows 7 tweaks

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:48:00 +0000

For some reason, the Windows 7 Start menu doesn't include "recent Items" (or "Recent Documents" in XP) by default.
To enable it:
Right click the 'Taskbar',
click 'Properties'
> select the 'Start Menu' tab
> click 'Customize' >
in the dialog displayed, check off the appropriate menu link, 'Recent Items'
Then press "OK"

Free Uninstaller – Like Revo – but with batch Uninstall

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Details here:

http://blogs.bnet.com/businesstips/?p=7278

Free Uninstaller offers one key feature Revo lacks: batch uninstall. You can select multiple programs to be removed instead of having to uninstall them one at a time. That’s a great time-saver during those “spring cleaning” sessions when you want to clear out months’ worth of unwanted apps.

I tried it and it works well.

Soluto – Tip from Lifehacker – speed up system start-up

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:07:00 +0000

http://www.soluto.com/
According to Lifehacker this is a utility to analyze and improve start-up time.
I am about to take it for a spin.

~~I just went to their website and it looks like you sign up and they then send you an invitation to join, so I can't install it yet.~~

UPDATE: I have now instaled and tried on three PC's. It world very well. IN all cases the most time-lagging apps were items Soluto recommended NOT removing from bot but I definitely saved of some time and it gives you a good picture of what happens as boot.
- A number of items don't have and info. yet, but that's to be expected from a new service.

Their own video is here (courtesy of Vimeo)

Soluto - Anti Frustration Software from Soluto on Vimeo.

Browse open tabs in Google’s Chrome browser (Like Showcase in Firefox)

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:05:00 +0000

Here’s a description & screenshots

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/12026/visually-browse-through-your-open-tabs-in-google-chrome/

and here’s the plugin link:

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/gmpnbibondcjmkmmdmdjahgoglpendge

Search for android apps online

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 01:29:00 +0000

The official Android app website - http://www.android.com/market/#app=com.epocrates – doesn’t have search (yet) for some reason, but this one does: http://apps.doubletwist.com/

Free no-sign-up service to check which credit card you should have

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:54:00 +0000

NerdWallet:

http://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards

Seems to work well

Free Fillable PDF - Nitro

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:52:00 +0000

I think it’s the only one – I intend to download

http://www.nitroreader.com/

From http://lifehacker.com/

OCR from screenshot converter

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Freeware
From:
OCR Image to Ascii Desktop Converter 1.0.0 download page:
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Programming/Misc__Programming_Tools/OCR_Image_to_Ascii_Desktop_Converter_Download.html

I found this at:
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/free-screen-ocr.html

How to Create Mail Merge with GMail

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:58:00 +0000

Talks you through step-by-step – even has a video

Looks good

http://www.labnol.org/software/mail-merge-with-gmail/13289/

My tags: GMail GDocs MailMerge Mail Merge

Integrate Google Docs into Microsoft Office

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:39:00 +0000

http://www.offisync.com/
Their site says:
OffiSync Supercharges Microsoft Office, enabling users to significantly improve the way they create, collaborate and share their documents by integrating Microsoft Office with Google Docs, and Google Apps.
I haven’t used it yet, but I saw the extra tab inside MS Word when I opened it up.
I liked the image on their site which explains it visually:

Jason
My keywords: GDocs Sync MS Office Word Excel

*Postscript:
I have had some problems with Word 2010 Beta and the error message said it had something to to with Offisync. I'm not sure if that was actually the problem, but I uninstalled it anyway. Also there are some quirks with formatting not carrying over into the GDocs version of the document and the sync - I think - only workds from the desktop doc to the web and NOT the other way around.

Keep Facebook private! (I hate having to opt OUT of info. sharing!)

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:18:00 +0000

This article shows everything you need to do to keep Facebook private – it takes 10 mins. but it’s worth it.

Jason

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/05/11/businessinsider-how-to-lock-down-your-facebook-profile-2010-5.DTL

Blogger – Add & Delete Labels

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:43:00 +0000

Self-explanatory:

http://bloggerstop.net/2009/02/add-edit-or-delete-labels-in-blogger.html

Windows7 G0d Mode

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:37:00 +0000

I need to change things in Windows7 and want to just ONE place to do it all:

G0d Mode:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10423985-56.html

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows-7/Q-What-s-GodMode-in-Windows-7-.aspx

http://lifehacker.com/5439498/create-an-all+inclusive-control-panel-shortcut-in-windows-7

This tip only works on Windows 7—other versions of Windows may produce unsavory results.

C# Resources - online

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:32:00 +0000

List of resources:
http://www.programmingtutorials.com/csharp.aspx
MS Programming Guide:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/67ef8sbd
MS C# Reference Guide
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/618ayhy6
C# Basics & Tutorials - C# Basics & Tutorials
http://www.codersource.net/microsoft-net.aspx

Needed to go:
http://www.microsoft.com/express/Web/
Powerful Set of Free Tools Microsoft® Visual Web Developer® 2010 Express provides you with
everything you need to start building standards-friendly Web applications.

http://www.microsoft.com/express/Database/
SQL Server® 2008 Express Edition is a lightweight, feature-rich, powerful database for your Web data-enabled needs.

Really Nice List of 72 Great Free Windows Utilities

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:49:00 +0000

72 Programs For A Freeware Only PC

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/12/72-programs-for-a-freeware-only-pc/

I know a number of these and they are really good, so I trust this post on the others too.

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/08/best-free-font-viewer/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/08/best-free-screen-session-recorder/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/08/best-free-font-finder/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/11/driver-max-44/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/07/freeware-mission-best-free-cddvd-burner/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/08/best-free-software-update-program/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/08/best-free-memory-optimizer/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/10/kompozer-0710/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/09/mmm-free-202/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/11/sequoia-view-13/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/11/color-cop-543/

http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/12/system-scheduler-382-free-version/

Good Windows Functionality Stuff from Elan

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:18:00 +0000

Great post from The Cheapskate:

Five free Windows utilities you should download

1. Advanced Uninstaller – I already have Revo Uninstaller which I’m happy with so I’m not looking at this one now.

2. Dual Display Mouse Manager – I have one wide screen so I’m not checking this out now – interesting to work out which is better – 2 17” screens or one 23” screen

3. Dexpot – Virtual Desktops – nice idea. ~~I saw a recommendation for~~ ~~VirtuaWin~~ ~~at LifeHacker (both Dexpot & ViruaWin have good start ratings at CNet Download) so I’m trying that for now.~~ Actually Dexpot seems easier to use so I’m going with that.

4. Universal Viewer One of those utilities that really should be built into Windows, Universal Viewer lets you view the contents of just about any file. – Looks interesting, I’m checking this out now.

http://download.cnet.com/Universal-Viewer/3000-2248_4-10606063.html?tag=mncol;txt

5. Wizmouse activates the scroll wheel in whatever window is under your cursor, plain and simple. – Also looks very interesting – I’m going to try that now too.

http://download.cnet.com/WizMouse/3000-18487_4-10907935.html?tag=mncol;txt

Jason

Save energy and your CPU (for Windows)

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:18:00 +0000

Granola Scales Your CPU for Energy Savings

They say:

“Granola is software that improves the energy efficiency of your PC or laptop.”

http://lifehacker.com/5526208/granola-scales-your-cpu-for-energy-savings

http://grano.la/

It seems like a no-brainer.

Jason

Automation all the way! -Revised - Free stuff from CNet Downloads

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:16:00 +0000

Technorati Tags: automation,scripts,autorun

Making FIREFOX better (1)

Monday, April 26, 2010

Automation all the way! - Free stuff from CNet Downloads

Of note is Sikuli which allows scripting to be done using screenshots - I want to check this out as well:
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/uid/sikuli/
http://lifehacker.com/5459673/sikuli-automates-almost-anything-using-screenshots

Auto HotKey, which I'm trying first has a lot of tutorial information online:
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Tutorial.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Hotkeys.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm#Win9x
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Hotstrings.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/FAQ.htm#Startup

Also:
http://cedeq.com/blog/automation/autohotkey-tutorial/
http://www.switchonthecode.com/tutorials/creating-your-first-autohotkey-script
http://autohotkey.free.fr/docs/TutorialLaunch.htm
Jason

Automation all the way! - Free stuff from CNet Downloads

noreply@blogger.com (...) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:42:00 +0000

I am currently checking out automation and script writing programs.
I would love to be able to create a script which would, say on a weekly basis:
1. Check my maintenance programs for updates and install any updates (e.g. Ccleaner, Eusing, Advanced System Care, Defraggler, Ad-Aware and my anti-virus program - I'm currently using Panda Cloud Anitvirus)
3. Run CHKDSK (Error checking) as well
2. Run all the above automatically on a schedule
the result of all this would be that Windows maintenance will become completely automated and I won't have to spend time and energy on it.
If you have a number of PC's the above would be a huge time saving.
Here's what I'm checking out now (free programs from CNET Downloads with good star ratings and reviews and one program from LifeHacker)
Auto Hotkey
PhraseExpress
RemoteKeys
Auto m8
Heretic
Of note is Sikuli which allows scripting to be done using screenshots - I want to check this out as well:
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/uid/sikuli/
http://lifehacker.com/5459673/sikuli-automates-almost-anything-using-screenshots

Auto HotKey, which I'm trying first has a lot of tutorial information online:
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Tutorial.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Hotkeys.htm

http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm#Win9x
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Hotstrings.htm
http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/FAQ.htm#Startup
Also:
http://cedeq.com/blog/automation/autohotkey-tutorial/
http://www.switchonthecode.com/tutorials/creating-your-first-autohotkey-script
http://autohotkey.free.fr/docs/TutorialLaunch.htm
Jason

The Tech Consumer

Google Chrome stuff

The Best Must-Have Programs for Windows

Android Apps

Chrome Extensions

Nifty and Simple Desktop Alarm Clock – No Nonsense

Firefox Addons!

Windows 7 tweaks

Free Uninstaller – Like Revo – but with batch Uninstall

Soluto – Tip from Lifehacker – speed up system start-up

Browse open tabs in Google’s Chrome browser (Like Showcase in Firefox)

Search for android apps online

Free no-sign-up service to check which credit card you should have

Free Fillable PDF - Nitro

OCR from screenshot converter

Freeware From: OCR Image to Ascii Desktop Converter 1.0.0 download page: http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Programming/Misc__Programming_Tools/OCR_Image_to_Ascii_Desktop_Converter_Download.html

I found this at: http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/free-screen-ocr.html

How to Create Mail Merge with GMail

Integrate Google Docs into Microsoft Office

Keep Facebook private! (I hate having to opt OUT of info. sharing!)

Blogger – Add & Delete Labels

Windows7 G0d Mode

C# Resources - online

Really Nice List of 72 Great Free Windows Utilities

72 Programs For A Freeware Only PC

Good Windows Functionality Stuff from Elan

Five free Windows utilities you should download

Save energy and your CPU (for Windows)

Granola Scales Your CPU for Energy Savings

“Granola is software that improves the energy efficiency of your PC or laptop.”

Automation all the way! -Revised - Free stuff from CNet Downloads

Monday, April 26, 2010

Automation all the way! - Free stuff from CNet Downloads

Automation all the way! - Free stuff from CNet Downloads

Freeware
From:
OCR Image to Ascii Desktop Converter 1.0.0 download page:
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Programming/Misc__Programming_Tools/OCR_Image_to_Ascii_Desktop_Converter_Download.html

I found this at:
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/free-screen-ocr.html