Software: Open Freely (Open Almost Anything)

Do you have a file that you can't open because its in a format that you don't have a program for? Check out a free program called Open Freely that allows you to view over 100 different file formats (e.g. Microsoft Office, media [graphics and movies], compressed files, and more). Open Freely's installation includes the free K-Lite Codec Pack, which contains dozens of CODECs for opening media files and other formats.

Web Sites: Top 10 Under-Hyped Web Apps, 2011 Edition

Excerpt from lifehacker.com: "We all discover new web apps each year but not every one of them gets the recognition it deserves. With 2011 drawing to a close, we wanted to highlight the 10 we felt deserved a bit more hype." (read the rest of the article)

IMHO: Some of these web applications are really cool and worth checking out.

Software: Windows Defender Offline (beta)

Microsoft has publicly released a beta of its Windows Defender offline tool (32-bit and 64-bit versions are available).  This tool allows for the creation of  bootable CDs, DVDs or USB drives that allows you to run Windows Defender. The application is designed to detect and remove bootkit and rootkit malware that can infect the Windows boot process. (Get more information and download the tool)

Software: Macrium Reflect FREE Edition

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition is a Windows XP/Vista/7 disk imaging/cloning backup solution that is free for personal use.  Some of the features of the software include:

• Access images in Windows Explorer
• Schedule backups
• Linux Rescue CD
• Windows PE 3 Rescue Media (RAID support)

Obviously, the paid version of the software offers more features, see the following chart for a comparison.

Web Site: Free Online File Conversion

Do you need to convert a file (e.g. picture, video, music, eBook, archive, document etc.) into a different format?  There is a site called Online-Convert that provides a fast easy way to convert several different file formats, without installing extra software.

Software: Picasa 3.9 now available

Its been awhile since Google has updated Picasa, their free photo-editing application. They added sharing directly to Google+, new photo editing effects, and more.

Below is a list of some of the updated features:

• Added ability to upload to Google+: share with circles.
• Social Tagging with Google+.
• New photo editing effects.
• Side by side editing.
• Updated RAW support for newer cameras.
• Improvements to Face Movie maker.
• Improved restoring of virtual albums.

Download Picasa 3.9

Software: Password Management Applications

Do you have several passwords, and you're having a hard time remembering all of them.  Writing them down on a piece of paper is not secure. You could created encrypted document of some type (e.g. text, Word, Excel, etc.) to store them.  There are also several password management applications available for you to download, some are free and others cost money.

Although before you pay for anything or try other programs.  Check out a program called KeePass.  This is a multiple platform, open-source password management application.  There are also 3rd party ports of the application that work on the popular mobile platforms (e.g. iPhone, Android, etc.).

KeyPass will store your passwords in an encrypted file, so even if someone steals it they can't read it unless they know your password.  Check out the web site for more information.

If you want something that offers more features then KeyPass, checkout some commercial password management applications like:

• 1Password
• LastPass

 

Easy Application Installation and Removal

If you just build a new PC, it can be a pain going around the web to re-install all your favorite applications.  If you have an existing PC, and are looking for an easier way to find, download, updated, or uninstall applications.

Below are some tools that can help you with these tasks:

• Allmyapps - An application store for Windows.
• Download the client to your computer, and find new applications and keep them up-to-date.
• Revo Uninstaller - Helps completely uninstall applications.
• A freeware and professional version are available.
• PC Decrapifier - Removes pre-installed software on many new PCs from hardware manufactures.