Featured Software

Prezi : inovative presentation software

2010-11-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

Prezi changes the normal paradigm of presentation software by moving away from the strictly linear mode. The start page is a large blank surface upon which one places the discrete elements of content. These elements are then tied together with an editable "path' tool enabling flexibility of the content path. The different elements can be zoomed in or out to emphasize importance.

Google Voice

2010-10-19T11:07:00.000-04:00

Google has potentially revolutionized the world of telephone communications. By downloading a small plugin to your GMail interface you can make free calls to anywhere in the US or Canada and the rest of the world for about 2 cents per minute. Unlike Skype, the receiving party need not have special software. You must have a GMail account.

Revo Uninstaller

2010-05-31T10:31:00.000-04:00

When Windows programs are uninstalled they may leave remnants behind such as DLLs and Registry entries. The free version of Revo Uninstaller first runs an application's own uninstall program and then removes "leftovers"

Windows SkyDrive

2010-04-09T10:50:00.002-04:00

This is not an application, as such, but a free Cloud storage facility. There is an amazing 25 GB of file space available, allowing individual files up to 50 MB. Hotmail users automatically have access, while others must create a simple Windows Live account.

FSL Launcher; Organize Desktop Shortcuts

2010-02-01T14:16:00.003-05:00

FSL Launcher can make sense of your desktop shortcuts both visually and conceptually. Icons can be placed in categories of your own making. The display is invoked by a simple mouse placement.

Dropbox

2010-01-07T13:25:00.004-05:00

Dropbox is a free Web 2 application that simplifies file transfer among multiple home computers. Files up to 2 GB in size can be accommodated. Features include file synchronization, file sharing, online backup and mobile device accessibility.

Google Chrome Extensions

2009-12-09T14:25:00.004-05:00

Many pundits are impressed with Google's Chrome browser. Until now it has lacked "extensions" ,the handy add-on programs that are a major attraction of Firefox. Now there are over 400 extensions that work specifically with Chrome.

Zoomquilt : Coolest Screensaver

2009-11-20T10:20:00.004-05:00

Screen savers are not as popular as they once were, but this one is special. A series of Hieronymus Bosch-like images zoom in sequentially, creating a series of surrealistic panoramas.

Fotoflexer

2009-11-10T09:55:00.006-05:00

FotoFlexer is an online digital photo editing service. It attempts to bring professional grade photo editing suites online for those without access to professionals or expensive software such as Photoshop.

Many Eyes

2009-10-29T11:42:00.006-04:00

Many Eyes is a web-based IBM project to facilitate data analysis by enabling anyone to create data visualizations.

ManicTime Free Computer Usage Monitor

2009-10-20T13:42:00.003-04:00

With ManicTime you can keep track of how much time you spend on each program or activity that you use on your workstation. Great tool to see whether Word of Warcraft has in fact taken over your life. Free download.

Convert PDF to Word

2009-09-29T15:18:00.006-04:00

Adobe PDF files can be annoying because there is no way to edit them. However there are programs that will convert them to editable Word documents. SmartSoft Free PDF to Word Converter installs on your own machine. PDF to Word on the other hand is a Web 2 program. You send your PDF file by email and it is sent back as a Word document.

Free Screen Capture Program

2009-09-18T10:21:00.003-04:00

Screen capture software tends to be either inconvenient or pricey. PrtScn is both free and quite fully featured. It can capture rectangles or freehand selection. Images can be sent to email, print or clipboard. Annotations can be place over the capture.

Free Mind Mapping and Concept Mapping Software

2009-04-17T13:08:00.006-04:00

Mind maps and concept maps are diagrams graphically showing relationships between ideas or other pieces of information. Mind maps and concept maps are related but not identical. "A Mind map reflects what you think about a single topic, which can focus group brainstorming. A Concept map can be a map, a system view, of a real (abstract) system or set of concepts. Concept maps are more free form, as multiple hubs and clusters can be created, unlike mindmaps which fix on a single conceptual center." (attribution)

Free Mind Mapping Software
Bubbl.us (Web 2.0; no client download required)
Compendium (has some attributes of Concept Mapping)
XMIND (maps can be exported to Word and PowerPoint)
FreeMind

Free Concept Mapping Software
Cmap

Zoho Writer : a Free Alternative to MS Word

2009-04-08T11:06:00.003-04:00

There are several web-based MS Word wannabes available. Some experts believe Zoho Writer comes closest to the tools and features of the Microsoft product. Plus it has all the advantages of Web 2.0 cloud computing; online storage and access from any computer and easy multi-user collaboration on a single document. Read a review of Zoho Writer and other free Zoho applications.

MagCloud : Create and Publish Your Own Magazine

2009-03-30T13:39:00.002-04:00

Hewlett-Packard has just introduced MagCloud a service that lets you create and publish your own glossy, coloured magazine that can then be printed for only 20 cents per page. First you create your magazine using an application like MS Word or Publisher. Then you upload to HP. The magazine can then be ordered by anyone online at a price of your choosing. See an overview article.

Ubit Menu

2009-03-24T14:33:00.002-04:00

If you are not keen about the arrangement of features or the look of MS Office 2007, UbitMenu adds a tab that lets you use the traditional Office 2003 layout and switch back and forth to Office 2007.

Create Flowcharts, Organizational Charts and Sitemaps

2009-03-10T09:24:00.003-04:00

Lovely Charts is Web 2 freeware that creates various types of charts with drop and drag simplicity.

PagePlus SE : Free Desktop Publishing

2009-03-02T10:53:00.002-05:00

If you need to produce a brochure, newsletter, poster or some other publishing project, PagePlus SE is an excellent free, downloadable alternative to Microsoft Publisher. There are good ready-made templates for projects and very helpful tutorials if one is new to desktop publishing. The professional version can be downloaded for US $9.99.

AVG Free Virus Protection Software

2009-02-20T13:35:00.002-05:00

You can pay a considerable amount of money for anti-virus software, most of which requires you to purchase new virus profiles annually. However if you require normal, basic virus protection, there are good free alternatives. AVG Anti-Virus is well regarded, as is Avast.

280 Slides

2009-02-06T14:21:00.005-05:00

280 Slides is a free web-based presentation creator that mimics PowerPoint. There are "themes" available and you can embed graphics and video. It can save projects as both PowerPoint and PDF files. Best of all you can upload presentations to the "cloud" application Slideshare for downloading anywhere. No more relying on computers that have PowerPoint installed, and no more problems with different versions of PowerPoint.

Backing Up Your Data Online

2009-01-14T11:31:00.002-05:00

To avoid the disaster of lost files because of a hard drive crash, theft of a laptop etc. we should all have backup protocols. Unfortunately many of us do not. A painless way to backup your data on an internet connected computer is to use an online service. These do programmable automatic backups to a remote server. Usually you can store up to 2 gb free and pay for extra if you need it.
Two recommended services are iDrive and Mozy

Scribus; Free Page Layout Software

2009-01-09T13:20:00.002-05:00

Sometimes you need to create a complicated document that MS Word can't handle well or at all; for example a newsletter or complex brochure. You can use Publisher or Pagemaker, both expensive, or download the free Scribus.

Audacity - Free Digital Audio Editor

2008-12-17T10:17:00.002-05:00

There is a huge amount of audio data on the Web nowadays. Audacity is software that lets you perform many operations on digital files. For example it can record streaming audio, edit existing files, add special effects and convert digital file types from one to another. Audacity is considered one of the best applications in the pubic domain.

Foxit Reader

2008-12-04T14:19:00.002-05:00

Foxit Reader is an excellent piece of free software that opens and reads PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files. The advantage over Adobe Reader is its smaller size (3 M vs 20 M ) and its speed opening attachments.

Remember the Milk - or Anything Else

2008-11-24T13:40:00.004-05:00

Remember the Milk is a handy Web 2 application that creates "to-do" lists that follow you faithfully around cyberspace. Multiple lists can be created using standard formats or tagging "clouds". Your lists can be accessed on any web-connected computer. You can add tasks or receive reminders by email, and instant messaging and mobile devices. Reminders can be shared with others. RMT can be closely integrated with Gmail, iGoogle, Netvibes or Twitter.

Free Graphics Software

2007-10-24T11:32:00.004-04:00

Paint.net is a freeware graphics program, much more powerful than MS Paint and much cheaper Photoshop. It includes layers capability and sophisticated design tools.