"Best of Free Software" - Free replacements for Word, Excel, Project, Visio and more...

New look, new feel.\n\nJhoodsoft looks a bit different.\n\nWhy the change? I had a couple of problems that the old site couldn't resolve:\n\nFirst, I kept finding that many reviews could be entered on many different pages. I could either put the review on one page, and hope I remembered where, or I could put it on multiple pages and update each page manually. \n\nUm, no.\n\nSecond problem: Searching the site required visitors to search twice: one search in Google to find the page, and a second search to find the item on the page. Plus, if the first result wasn't what you were looking for, you had to start all over with two searches again to get to the second result and so on. Bothersome, since I didn't remember where I'd put half the entries.\n\nThird, adding or removing reviews forced me to change at least two pages: the review page and the index. A "happy problem" developed, in that I was finding so many good free programs to post that I got hopelessly behind.\n\nSuddenly this quote hobby unquote of mine wasn't so much fun anymore.\n\nEnter [[Tiddlywiki|http://www.tiddlywiki.com/]], a wiki web page that requires no server or database back end, the entire site is on one page, and it comes with an editor built in. Follow the link, look familiar?\n\nThat solved my problems. A review fits on more than one page? No problem. Make one entry, and give it three different "tags." The menu items one the left are just "show tag" links. OK, that's one problem solved.\n\nSearching twice? Tiddlywiki includes context searching, and the search terms are highlighted in the results. No need for duplicate searches. Problem two solved.\n\nGetting behind on evaluations? I'll post the software programs I'm evaluating and tag them as "<<tag Evaluating>>" People can provide feedback. Adding updating or removing a listing is easier because you only edit the listing, not the whole page.\n\nSo there you have it folks. I hope you like this better. We'll try it out for a while and see if this makes it easier. Check out [[Site Navigation]] to get a feel for how it works, then have at.\n\n[[Contact]] me if you have feedback.\n\n\n\n\n

Well the new site is up, and announced and the whole thing. I got some sight feedback from Tony at ''[[Top Freeware|http://www.topfreeware.net/]]'' and incorporated them.\n\nI'm also absolutely positive that I saw a a greenware ~ToDo program several months ago. I'm going to start looking for it.\n\nI played a really cool game over the weekend "Wings of War" a ~WW1 fighter game. Friends Ron and Scott mentioned that they had some free software they had run into that was terrific, and were going to send it along for eval and listing. \n\nSo that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

Bruce Byfield of [[Linux.com|http://www.linux.com/]] does the third installment of a head to head comparison of [[OpenOffice.org Writer vs. Microsoft Word|http://www.linux.com/feature/118986]] , and although ~OpenOffice wins, it's not the landslide it used to be.\n\nI'm also evaluating:\n[[Virtual Dimension]], which makes four desktops out of one, \n[[Mero Video Player]], a FOSS video downloader, player and Web TV format, and....\n[[Ecco Pro]] a contact manager and scheduler, which incidentally, leaves Outlook in the dust.\n\n\n----\n

Work on the site. AVG antivirus didn't show up on the list, fixed. I created a tag for the "Champions." \n\nFreeware checking: I've been playing around more with [[Tiddlywiki|http://www.tiddlywiki.com]] Jeremy Reston's genius non-linear notes-taking web page. \nI found one optimized for tagging entries, so that you don't have to go looking for info. Just follow the tag. It's called [[PirateMonkey|http://mptw.tiddlyspot.com/]].\n\nTiddlywiki is a little difficult to get used to, but most definitely worth the effort! If you use Firefox, there is a Firefox extension called ''[[TiddlySnip|http://tiddlysnip.com/#About]]'' which makes allows you to copy out of Firefox pages into Tiddlywiki in one shot.\n\n''Free Software News: '' The Wow! file - The Freeware and Openware communities are abuzz with ''[[IBM's announcement|http://entmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=9057]]'' that they are going into competition with Microsoft Office, releasing IBM Lotus Symphony as (drum roll please) open source free software (FOSS). Cool! Microsoft is would do well to check their rear-view mirrors. ~OpenOffice, Google Office and now IBM are coming up fast! \n\nAlso, someone somewhere mentioned that ''[[www.yousendit.com|http://www.yousendit.com]],'' the people that let you transfer large files without breaking you email quota, is no longer free. \n\nNOT TRUE! I just checked.\nIt only ''looks'' like to have to pay for it.\n\nWhen you fill out the form to upload and send a file, just don't check any of the boxes underneath. It will still send.\n\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/media/2sendit.JPG]] Just leave the boxes in the red circle unchecked.\n\n\n\n\n\n

In the [[13th Entry - 9/2107 - IBM turns to the Dark Side]] I reported the new version of Lotus Symphony that has been released by IBM as a free beta.\n\nAfter looking at it, I spent some time with it on a 266 test box with 256meg of memory. It ran\nOK. It's a remake of ~OpenOffice. It's sort of "~OpenOffice - the Blonde Version." Pretty, but kind of slow, "and - like - the really obscure features and been - like - totally removed, y'know?" \nadded Free Clock Screensaver to the ''<<tag Windows-Annoyances>>'' and ''<<tag Desktop>>'' tags. This is a simple but effective clock that kicks in as your screensaver.\n\n\n----

''Item First''\nGeek news. Somebody built a model rocket of an X-Wing. Not so big a deal, you can buy them at hobby shops right? \n\nBig deal, the thing is 21 feet long!, And the wing open and close in flight!\n\nCheck it out: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/star-wars/rocket+powered-21+foot-long-x+wing-model-actually-flies-305976.php\n\n----\n\n''Item Second''\n"Lady Joy" a new ~OpenOffice user, created some documents at home, then tried to edit them in word - uh, not so much. Here is an excerpt of email conversation (used with permission).\n\n> I can’t open these saved files in Word; so I have to use the [[Recipes]] configuration? <<\n\nCorrect. Microsoft chose not to support the international ISO standard format.\n\n> I ''have'' to go back and reconfigure my ~OpenOffice? <<\n\nNot “have to.” You’ll find it easier.\nIn ~OpenOffice you can always do “File” “Save As” and select “Microsoft Word 200/XP/2003” \nTada! Hey, presto! It’s a Word doc.\n\nIt’s just that people who use ~OpenOffice at home and Word at work find it easier to set ~OpenOffice to always “Save As” Word format instead of doing “Save As” manually every bloomin’ time. That’s what the [[Recipe - OpenOffice Speed and Compatibility Tweaks]] shows you how to set up.\n\n----\n''Item Third''- \nMy friend Scott, recommended another games review site: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/XPGames.html\n\nApparently the webmaster stays on top of games licensing to keep all game listed - truly free. Check it out and tell them I sent you.\n\n

I'm looking for a database to build using [[Lazybase|http://lazybase.com/]]\n\nI added [[Mero|Mero Video Player]] video player and downloader.\n\nI also saw a game review - \nFreeware FPS Alien Arena 2007 Reviewed\n''[[On Slashdot.org|http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/13/0132232]] ''\n\nPeople have been wondering why I haven't included version 2 of the popular first person shooter game Cube - ''[[Sauerbraten|http://www.sauerbraten.org/]]''. Initially it looks good, but it's still in beta: there is no way to save games, the refresh rate is a bit slow and choppy, and occasionally it freezes up.\n\nThey are a well on the way to a stellar product though, and I look forward to seeing it develop.\n\n\n----

''We've lost R2!''\nVisitor Mike M. wanted to know about that X-wing being built. Did it launch? \n\nYup, just or you Mike:\nVarious people sent in a link to the [[launch of the 21 foot X-wing rocket model|http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/boom/x%20wing-rocket-launches-disintegrates-mid%20air-307945.php?autoplay=true.]] It looks very pretty...uh for a while...\n\n\n\n''iPhone Love'' \nI don't know if you've been following the news around the iPhone. Apparently it's been slaved to work only with ATT, and right away geeks, hackers and makers everywhere have been trying to unlock the phones to other carriers. Apple promptly bricked the unlocked phones, turning it into an attractive and expensive paperweight. Litigation ensued.\n\nThere seems to be market room for a permanently unlocked phone, and so there is one: \n\nBased on the [[Openmoko|http://www.openmoko.org/]] platform, the [[Neo1973|http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo1973]] doesn't seem to care who your carrier is. Not released yet, but worth watching anyway.\n\n\n\n''Not New, But Helpful Anyway'' \nSun Micro Systems has put together a Microsoft Office add-in that [[converts ~OpenOffice ODF formats to MS Office formats and back|http://odf-converter.sourceforge.net/]].\n\n\n\n\n\n\n----

''This just in from The Security Uber ~FunkMaster - ''\nApparently boobery runs rampant through Microsoft Tech Support. A friend of a friend was on the phone with MS Tech Support, trying to figure out why the FOAF's network computers were all an hour off despite the fact that the Microsoft Daylight Savings Patch had been applied six months ago.\n\nThe MS Tech Support Boob informed her that the Microsoft Daylight Savings Patch must be re-applied every six months.\n\nSecurity Uber ~FunkMaster's response - \n"Was that guy HIGH?" If that were true, it would be ''all over'' the news in about thirty seconds! OK so they did some updates for a few time zones - that does not, repeat not, mean that everyone has to re-apply the patch every six months.\n\nStrong evidence that Microsoft hiring practices does not apparently screen out the totally clueless."\n\nYou heard it here first, folks.\n\n\n\n----

I am testing Google Desktop Search because I have been informed that using Copernic Desktop Search on my work computer was a technical violation of the copyright. So, Copernic is off, [[Google Desktop Search|http://desktop.google.com/]] is on.\n\n\n\n''Other Google Tricks - '' \n[[1-800-GOOG-411|http://www.google.com/goog411/]] - It's a voice-activated search from any cell phone. See the demo!\n\n[[Goosync|http://www.goosync.com/]] will sync your Google Calender with your \nPDA or cell phone.\n\n[[TelegramSam|http://telegramsam.googlepages.com/googlecalendarsmstricks]] explains how to use text messaging to control your calendar and add events using your cell's SMS feature.\n\n[[Grinn Blog|http://www.grinn.net/blog/dev/2007/09/add-to-google-calendar-by-talking-into.html]] will let you do the same by making a phone call.\n\n''Multiple Calendars to sync? ''[[ScheduleWorld|http://internetducttape.com/2006/08/11/the-holy-grail-of-synchronization-how-to-synchronize-microsoft-outlook-multiple-locations-google-calendar-gmail-ipod-and-mobile-phone-with-funambol-scheduleworld/]] let's you do it.\n\n\n\n''Palm Web Surfing'' The [[Chumby|http://www.chumby.com/]]\nThe chumby is a compact device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web using your wireless internet connection. Always on, it shows — nonstop — what's online that matters to you.\n\n\n''[[Which edition of Vista should I get?|http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2068721,00.asp]]''\nVista Ultimate is the only one I would buy, and at $400 retail, it's a bit pricey.\n\n\n''[[The 3rd Space Gaming Vest|http://www.tngames.com/products.php]]'' provides force feedback through multiple servos in a vest:\n"Get pounded with body slams, crushed with G-forces, and feel the shots hit you."\n\n\n----

The results are in from testing notes managers that I started last week. Keynote won by a nose over ~EverNote, for one reason only: Keynote runs on Windows 98 which is one of my platforms. ~EverNote runs on Windows 2000 and above only.\n\n\nKeynote's pluses - The "grab clipboard" button is a Godsend. No dragging and dropping nor tedious typing here. The "Find" function displays all results in one window so you can choose which note you want. There are keyboard shortcuts galore. All Notes are in a single file which can be move around at will.\n\nMinuses - Not the prettiest thing. File import only handles RTF format. Import graphics are BMP and GIF and that's it. It's better than nothing, but still. Also, when creating a new note, you need to be very careful about where you are putting it. And, printing a note takes some fiddling with the print settings to get usable output.

Apps I'm testing:\n\n[[VirtualDub|http://virtualdub.org/]] - Video Editor - Pluses - boatloads of editing features - no install.\nMinuses - doesn't convert to Mpeg format without a payware codex.\n\n[[My Lockbox|http://www.folderlockbox.com]] - Folder security: Pluses - easy and complete folder locking. Minuses - not much.\n\n[[FlashPeak SlimBrowser|http://www.flashpeak.com]] - Web Browser: Pluses - lightweight yet full featured. Minuses - disturbing lockups.\n\n[[Google Reader|http://reader.google.com]] - Online news feed reader: Pluses - Cool!\n\n[[Process Lasso|http://www.bitsum.com/prolasso.shtml]] - Automatically adjust the allocation of CPU cycles so that system responsiveness is improved in high-load situations.\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I am evaluating Jarte, the word processor. I am surprised at the completeness and thoughtfulness of this program. The interface takes a bit of getting used to, but once mastered, it makes word processing both attractive and easy. [[Jarte|Jarte]] is an elegant word processor for elegant writing.\n\nI've been looking for a replacement for CD Burner XP Pro. Most recent updates to this software have changed it for the worse. I have actually found it, which will come as no surprise at all to those who are familier with the replacement - DeepBurnerFree. Everything you need in CD and DVD burning is here: Create and burn ISO files, create and print jewel cases, create an autorun, single session, multisession, you name it. It's all laid out in a nicely done interface. The Pro version ($39.95) adds even more features).\n\n\n----

I was reading a discussion of the relative merits of Google Docs verses Microsoft Office Word. Someone in the discussion mentioned [[Buzzword.com]] as a better online word processor.\n\nWell I had to try it, so I signed up. \n\nYup, it's pretty nice, full-featured and fast. Take a look at the listing and then try it out yourself. It's free.\n\n[[Jott.Com]] continues to be useful, as does [[Goog-411]].\n\nI also wanted to mention a few other web sites\n\nHere's one that has been the subject of controversy in the past few weeks thanks to some corps and governments trying to shut it down. Wikileaks is now hosted outside the U.S.\n\nhttps://wikileaks.be/wiki/Main_Page\n\nIt's trying to be a compendium of all leaked information from, basically, everywhere.\n\nRight up there with http://www.thesmokinggun.com/ only without Mel Gibson's mug shot.\n\nIt is http://www.sunlightfoundation.com. The Sunlight Foundation\n\nThey claim their mission is to promote transparency along the money trail from donors, businesses, lobbyists, and elected officials. \n\n\n----\n

I instituted an email newsletter. You can subscribe on the [[Welcome]] page.\n\nI have created a private wiki for myself at www.tiddlyspot.com If you are familiar with wiki's at all, this is a fantastic place to host it. I chose one of the Getting Things Done wiki templates, and was up and entering data in a matter of minutes. \n\n[[Tiddlywiki|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNScBd7_h4]] has it's devotees, although there are people who needs something even easier for web publishing and collaboration.\n\nFor them there is always [[pbwiki|http://www.pbwiki.com]] ([[Watch video|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A204JcGQiY0]]).\n\nI set up a wiki for my family, who range in computer ability from Total Geek to "I click and it works and that's all I know." These people are editing their own pages in [[pbwiki|http://www.pbwiki.com]].\n\nComing up in the next [[newsletter|http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pQoW9c2Yn9k-lXqtnrIqwCw]]: \n* Google docs does forms,\n* Fun with Phun,\n* and, I go-off on software reviewers.''\n

I just built a new computer out of parts from [[TigerDirect|www.tigerdirect.com]]\n\nThe good news: it was cheap. The bad news: the motherboard didn't come with any of the drivers and I spent about three hours figuring out what hardware I actually had. \n\nCouple of tools that I stumbled on were quite helpful in my quest:\n\nThe first was ~PC-wizard \n~PC-wizard http://pc-wizard-2008.en.softonic.com/ \nIt basically tells you everything you need to know about your computer and the devices installed or attached to it, including brand name and model.\n\nFrom here, I found out that the Ethernet card was an Intel, and I had the model number. I used that to get the network card drivers, and, hey presto! I was on the internet.\n\n~PC-wizard also told me that the Motherboard was HP - this lead me to HP's site. Under the Support" link I could use the "Detect My hardware" and got the motherboard, and all drivers for the chips on it. Most major manufacturers have this function on their site.\n\nInstalled all of them. I then went to Control Panel, System, and went into Hardware manager and "Uninstalled" anything with a yellow "!" Reboot the computer, and it all installed,\n\nExcept for the sound card. HP only had Vista drivers and they didn't work on XP.\n\nRats!\n\nOK - quick search on http://groups.google.com. \nI put in the name of the computer that my Motherboard came from, and entered "Windows XP" and "sound card drivers". Sure enough, a bunch of people had this problem and posted a website I could go to for the drivers I needed. \n\nBingo! had the chip drivers, and the sound card worked.\n\nLessons learned: 1: When you buy electronics from a discount shop, read the fine print and assume the "worst case" about what comes with it. I'd have paid extra for the drivers disk.\n\n2: Setup requires a little detective work and a lot of patience. It's a fair bet that someone had the same problem that you're having, and searching on Google to research an answer is usually worth the time it takes.

After running the comparison below, I ran into another notes manager, ~SEOnote. I reviewed it and was pretty unimpressed. The search function only does works in the context of the current note, and there is NO print function. I mean, AT ALL. Skip it, stay with ~KeyNote or ~EverNote.\n\n\n I'm having fun with a Linux distribution called ~PuppyLinux . It is much like DSL in that it is less than 60 meg and contains a full environment, plus a suite of programs for productivity. It beats DSL in being much faster on my test environments. If you are interested in looking at Linux, and have an older PC or laptop, this might be a way to go.

I've been adding some content and fixing what is there. I'm starting to wash pages through ~NVU spell checker. Gadwin Printscreen had no active link. I also added Bill Curtis's recommendation: ~ZDsoft Screen Capture. You'll find it (and all other software on the site, listed alphabetically) on the "Where Do I Find" page.\n\nYahoo.com continues to be useful for the hardworking geek.

Newsgroup Reader: \nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Aug-2004'' License: ''Free''\nAverage Rating = 9.5 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nGoogle Groups give computer users a taste of the discussion going around on Usenet. Unfortunately, Google does not show binary files that may be attached to messages in these groups. Users who truly wish to participate in Usenet need a newsgroups reader.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Easy to set up and containing a host of features, 40tude Dialog makes reading Usenet a snap. Unlike [[Microplanet Gravity|http://lightning.prohosting.com/%7Etbates/gravity/]] you can preview a file before downloading it. Unlike Forte Agent, the presets don’t need to be changed much. It handles multi-part and ~Y-Enc binaries seamlessly. No need to "join" multi-parts, and no need to decode ~Y-Enc.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' ...I'm still thinking...\n\nVisit Website :http://www.40tude.com/dialog/\nDownload : http://www.40tude.com/dialog/download.htm\n\n\n----

It's been a long month. Two funerals, three cities. I've only been home for a week. In that time, I've had a chance to put organizers to the torture test. As a result, I have become quite a fan of Yahoo.com. Yahoo email, messenger and search are the Yahoo features most people know and use.\n\n \n I found ~IntelliSync for Yahoo, available free by going to my Yahoo mail account, clicking on the calendar tab, and clicking "Sync." I resurrected an old Palm Vii, and could then sync my Yahoo calendar, address book, notes and tasks straight to the Palm. It even syncs Yahoo to Outlook, Eudora, and many others. \n\n Everything went in there from flight confirmation numbers to who sent flowers. One glitch: I would occasionally get duplicate notes. Rather than mess around with finding and removing the dupes, I'd just delete ALL of the old notes before syncing. \n\nI could save web searches by signing up with Yahoo ~MyWeb (great for saving maps and directions). "My Yahoo" page is configured to show weather and flight information. All of this is available, for free, from any computer, any platform. This is just scratching the surface.\n\nThere are nicer looking organization tools on the web. I have seen few that have as many features, and none of them that are available for free. \n

I've been having fun with Flashpeak ~SlimBrowser. It's pretty, it's fast, and it has loads of features and plug ins. If you're tired of Internet Explorer and all those pop ups, glacial page loading, etc. give it a try.\n\n~ThinkFree.com has completed an office suite written entirely in Java, and they have made an on line version available for free. ~ThinkFree Office claims to be 100% compatible with Microsoft Office Word, Excel and ~PowerPoint (which remains to be seen). It comes with 30 meg of on line storage, but will save and load documents to your file system, and it will save as PDF.\n\nThere are shortcomings. The feature set is not nearly as complete as Microsoft's versions. File loading and saving can be poky-slow. I'm not sure how long this service will stay free. I don't know how long first time setup takes on a dial-up connection, nor the speed of editing and saving on dial-up. If someone would like to try it, I'll post your results.\n\n~ThinkFree office also comes as a local install for $49.

Fri, Jun/09/2006\n\n\nWhew! What a month! \n1: after hearing so much about it in the freeware forums, I decided to try Opera web browser . There is much to like here: Blazingly fast on a slow machine, tabbed browsing, an integrated email client, popup protection, and some nice bells and whistles. It's so good that I may be switching from Firefox as my primary browser: "Opera when I can, IE when I have to."\n\nMore Yahoo fun as I have started playing with Yahoo Widgets. You download the widget engine and then you are able to load any of thousands of widgets: clocks, media players, calendars and organizers, and loads of other stuff. I use the Yahoo planner and Notes widgets to update my Yahoo account and my Palm device (which syncs with my Yahoo account). Pretty nice.\n\nAnother nice part about Yahoo is the Yahoo ~MyWeb service. Sign up, and while you surf, you can save web pages to your ~MyWeb space. Think of it like a bookmarks extender. I have gotten into this heavily while doing free software research.\n\nFrom the ~ClifNotes Newsletter I found a wonderful chat setup from Gabbly.com. It's IM chat with no client to install. you need only put gabbly.com/in front of any web page URL and you are up and chatting. I have used this to IM chat with users who have no chat client.\n\nMore later, including a look at Google Sketchup!

[img[http://www.7-zip.org/7ziplogo.png]]\nReview Date: Mar-2006 License: Donationware\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Best Of The 14 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nA very small but very powerful zip and unzip util.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' You may create multiple archives spanning disks, create self-extracting archives, repair damaged zip archives, convert from one archive type to another and write comments in your archives. Also reads RAR file type.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Can't think of one.\n\n[[Visit Website|http://www.7-zip.org/]]\n\n\n\n----

Well, It's been an eventful 24 hours. Someone took one statement I made of off the web site and posted it to the ~WindowsMe newsgroup. Several people jumped on it. Well, yeah, the way I worded it, yeah, they should have jumped on it. \n\nI changed the statement on the web site. They attacked that. I changed it again. Then I got called "Stupid" "Incompetent" "a menace to users" and the best one - "little prick."\n\nMay I ask, that if you are going to post something I wrote on a web site - that you ask me about it BEFORE you do? My blood pressure cuff thanks you.\n\nNobody ever said this was going to be fun. \n

Ok so, if you follow the thread posted below, guess what. I got attacked for having a stupid idea: "Don't bother installing a firewall on dial-up" I got nailed for it and I should have. \n\nA firewall is a seatbelt the "information superhighway." Don't leave home without it, whatever your connection speed. I'd like my crow with a side of fries, please.\n\nNot much time to do free software testing folks. My wife broke her arm. Geez, what a year. I'm having t-shirts made: "I survived 2006."\n\nSome things I did test. Being a Yahoo fan and subscriber (mostly for their "Intellisync for Yahoo" product. See the full write up in the March 17th entry. I worked with Yahoo widgets for a while, and decided to uninstall it. I had to do too much messing around to get them working for me rather then me working for them.\n\nI also gave up on ~Gmail-Drive. It kept dropping connection right when I needed it. It was a nice concept, but a little too buggy for my taste.\n\nWhile I am a fan of Yahoo for personal organization, Google has recently added some nice features that keep your life in order. The personalized home page allows you to maintain a calendar, to do, Gmail, plus news feeds. \n

This month I've been playing around with a couple of apps. I found a nice powertoy called ~SlickRun. It allows you to create keywords for favorite programs, files and web sites. It supports multiple launching, and launching with input. It's different from Launchy in that it's much smaller, and does not index your files for you. It's very nice for people with slower computers.\n\nAlso in the power toys realm. I ran into the Windows XP Powertoys put out by Microsoft. These are free enhancements to Windows. My favorite is ~TweakUI. There is a check box in there that allows you to command Windows to "Prevent windows from stealing focus." Oh thank you!\n\nOther Powertoys include a wizard that allows you to create a web slide show, resize images, configure the ~ClearType settings for better reading. Take a look. \n\nOn the larger front: Linspire has announced that it is distributing closed-source hardware drivers. This flies in direct opposition to the whole Linux core value. But it means that far more drivers are available to the consumer than were available previously. Linux purists are scandalized. Linux consumers are happy that they don't have to fool with hardware drivers.\n\nSCO Corp, who famously sued, well, anyone they could find, claiming that they own Linux code, has been told by the New York Stock Exchange that ~SCO will be de-listed if they don't get their share price up. So much for using lawsuits as an income stream.\n\nGoogle announced that they will be offering a presenter in line with it's free on line office initiative. I want to see how good it is. Note that Zoho already has one and has had it for some time. This month I'm testing some web services: ~MediaMax file storage (25 gig!) and Backpack collaboration site (too much is crippled) Airset looks cool and comes free. \n\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/AVG%20anti_virus_logo.jpg]]\nReview Date: Continuous License: Free for Personal Use\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nI thought that AVG was no longer free. I was informed by several that this is not the case.\n\nWhile Avast comes out ahead, it does so just barely. AVG is also a solid performer both in detection and ease-of-use.\n\n''@@color(lime):Pluses - @@'' - Again, you get the full house, Email scanning, on demand scanning, scheduled updates and scans. Virus detection and removal is easy. Manual updates are one-button-click.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Added as of 04/07/08 - the updater no includes a nag screen to buy the professional version, Booooo!.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.free.grisoft.com/doc/1/]]''\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/abiword_logo.png]]\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Nov-2003'' License: ''Free FOSS''\nAverage Rating = ''7.5 (Of The 9 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\n''@@color(Red):Why No Longer Listed - @@'' Nothing wrong with it, it's just that Jarte does exactly the same thing, has more features and doesn't have the logo in the upper left corner.\n\n[[Website|http://www.abisource.com/]]\n[[Screenshots|http://www.abisource.com/screenshots/]]\n[[Download|http://www.abisource.com/download/]]\n\n\n----

<<option chkGenerateAnRssFeed>> GenerateAnRssFeed\n<<option chkOpenInNewWindow>> OpenLinksInNewWindow\n<<option chkSaveEmptyTemplate>> SaveEmptyTemplate\n<<option chkToggleLinks>> Clicking on links to tiddlers that are already open causes them to close\n^^(override with Control or other modifier key)^^\n<<option chkHttpReadOnly>> HideEditingFeatures when viewed over HTTP\n<<option chkForceMinorUpdate>> Treat edits as MinorChanges by preserving date and time\n^^(override with Shift key when clicking 'done' or by pressing ~Ctrl-Shift-Enter^^\n<<option chkConfirmDelete>> ConfirmBeforeDeleting\nMaximum number of lines in a tiddler edit box: <<option txtMaxEditRows>>\nFolder name for backup files: <<option txtBackupFolder>>\n<<option chkInsertTabs>> Use tab key to insert tab characters instead of jumping to next field\n<<option chkSearchTitles>> Search in tiddler titles\n<<option chkSearchText>> Search in tiddler text\n<<option chkSearchTags>> Search in tiddler tags\n<<option chkSearchFields>> Search in tiddler data fields\n<<option chkSearchShadows>> Search in shadow tiddlers\n<<option chkSearchTitlesFirst>> Search results show title matches first\n<<option chkSearchList>> Search results show list of matching tiddlers\n<<option chkSearchByDate>> Search results sorted by modification date \n<<option chkSearchIncremental>> Incremental searching

These are located at: ''http://www.caimen.us/''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/audacity.jpg]]\nFirst Listed: ''May-2005'' License: FOSS\nRating = ''8.0 (Of The 3 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\n''Recommended by Toby Dann''\n\nAudacity is free, open source and cross-platform. Editing digital sound just got easier...\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' The feature list is huge: Microphone recording of up to 16 channels, import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, and Ogg Vorbis files, Volume fade, edit unlimited number of tracks, unlimited undo, remove static. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''It's a serious tool for the serious audio editor. Not for the faint-hearted.\n\n''Website: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Agrab.gif]]\nFirst Listed: ''May-2004 '' License: ''Liteware''\nRating = 10.0 (Of The 3 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nJust as video capture is important, so too is sound capture. Here is a freeware tool that let's you do it.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Easy to use, and very configurable, this program can capture virtually anything being put out to the PC speaker system. The LAME ~MP3 DLL can add CD quality sound for your capture.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Grabbing audio accurately takes some practice.\n\n\n''Visit Website : http://www.audiograbber.com-us.net/''\n''Download (the LAME DLL is also there) : http://www.audiograbber.com-us.net/download.html''\n''Screen shots : http://www.audiograbber.com-us.net/mainwndpic.html''\n\n\n----

[img[picturename|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/AutoHotkey_logo.gif]]\n\n''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ ''Review Date: Continuous - License: Open Source\nAverage Rating = 9.75 (Of The 12 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''The Annoyance: \n "It's a computer! I should be able to program it somehow to do what I want!" You should be able to record common keystrokes and play them back with one click. This saves a lot of typing. It's a wonderful capability, that Windows doesn't have. After checking over a dozen possible offerings, ~AutoHotkey is the only one stable enough to do the job. It has some drawbacks as you will see.'' \n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@''This is the program I've been waiting six years for someone to create: A free macro script with record capabilities! The macro recorder function allows you to teach yourself the basics of the scripting language. You record a script, and watch how the recorder translates what you're doing into the scripting language. From there you can just save it out and you have a script, or you can edit the script to add functions. An extensive help section is complemented by an active user support web site. The scripts run consistently, more consistently even than Microsoft's own. There is even a script compiler that creates EXE files out of the script for distribution to others who may not have ~AutoHotkey installed. Also has - natch - hotkey capability when it runs memory resident. This program is a real winner!\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' On the minus side, there is little to complain about. The problem with an scripting program is that mouse click coordinates have to be measured against the open window. This becomes a problem if you change the window size or screen resolution. The best way to approach this is to use the key for menus and the {tab} key to move around.\n\n''Visit Website : http://www.autohotkey.com/''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Avastfree_en.gif]]\n''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date: Continuous- First Listed: Jun-2003 - License: Registerware\nAverage Rating = 9.5 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nI have been very impressed with the recent free antivirus offerings. Compare AVG below with Avast ~Anti-Virus. Avast and AVG share many strengths, and as such is a serious competition between them. Avast edges out AVG (barely) with better virus detection and slightly better email scanning.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - In head-to-head testing of antivirus software Avast! came in next to ~MacAffee Antivirus in viruses detected and cleaned. You get professional-grade virus protection, combined with a well designed interface, email scanning, quick updating, very thorough scanning, scheduled updates and scans. This is another "hard to believe it's free" software solution.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' While free, you have to register to get an activation key that will keep it going after 60 days. That's not a bad license, but it's not really "free" in the strictest sense. Also, every time Avast! updates the antivirus database, you get an audible announcement. My wife finds this a bit irritating. I can't find a way to schedule scans. Looks like they are manual only.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html]]'' - Download is on the left menu.\n\n\nContributor Bill Rucker has a white paper comparing antivirus free solutions. It is found on the Guides and Docs page.\n\n\n\n-----

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Buzzword.com online word processor.\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Jan-2008'' License: ''Free with Registration''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It has a nice layout of features. Everything is easily accessible. Buzzword saves in Word format by default. Documents can be shared, but the user must be signed up with Buzzword. Advanced features: How hard is it to insert a table? About three clicks it turns out. Images are a bit painful to get during upload, but once inserted can be resized and wrapped just like any graphic.\n \n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' A bit lumpy, spellcheck highlights but does not auto-replace. You get limited fonts. Right clickers are going to go crazy with not being able do that because all you get are flash options. \n\n''@@color(Blue):Not Bad, Just Different - @@'' There is no Cut, Copy, Paste or Find, but these are available in the browser.\n\n''[[Website|www.buzzword.com]]''\n\n\n----\n

[img[http://www.ccleaner.com/img/icon_large.gif]]\nReview Date: Jul-2004 License: Free - Average Rating = 10.0 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nIn lieu of regular PC cleaning, here is one of the best tools to keep it in shape. You would be surprised how many problems this program can solve.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It has easy install and one-button function. Can be set to run at start-up. There is a "Fix Issues" section that sweeps the registry too.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It doesn't fix enough, even if the fixes it does are very good..\n\n''[[Website|http://www.ccleaner.com/]]''\n\n\n----

[[DeepBurner]] beats it.\n\nOk so you have all that music and video just the way you want it. Now how are you going to get it onto CD?.\n\nNice feature set, and it looks easy, but new versions are not an improvement.\n\n\nVisit Website: http://www.cdburnerxp.se/\nScreenshots : http://www.cdburnerxp.se/screenshots.php\nDownload : http://www.cdburnerxp.se/download.php\n\n\n\n----\nCD-Burner DVD Other-Formats

Review Date: Continuous - License: FOSS\nAverage Rating = 9.0\n\nHave you ever tried to remove duplicate rows in Excel or any other spreadsheet? How about, merging columns, splitting columns, or adding values in front or behind all cells in a row. Go ahead, I'll wait here.\n\nHad enough? Download and install ~CSVed. End of problem.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - The features are all laid out for you. Just save the Excel file as a CSV and you can manipulate row and column data to your heart's content. Anyone who works with table data and finds Excel a bit lacking, ~CSVed is a must.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It doesn't import from Excel very well. You have to save as CSV first.\n\n\n''[[Website|http://home.hccnet.nl/s.j.francke/t2t/text2table.htm]]\n[[Download|http://home.hccnet.nl/s.j.francke/csved/csvedsetup.exe]]''\n\n\n----\n

Full Motion Screen Capture to video: \nReview Date: ''Sep-2007'' License: ''Open''\n''Average Rating = 9.5 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\nIf you work on computer tutorials or write support documents, there is nothing like showing the user exactly what to click and what to type. Capture it to video and have them watch it.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Setup and use is pretty easy. All functions are well explained and easy to find. Options include capture full screen, capture window, or predefined rectangle. It comes with an AVI converter built in. There is a rectangle that cam gets inserted with a picture or video feed of the teacher. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It takes some fiddling with the settings to get a good screen capture rate, and smaller file size at the same time. \n\nThe best way to record, I've found, is to do a 640x480 rectangle in the upper left corner, and reduce all applications to that size. The playback is then crisp. \n\nAlso, the "teacher" video square, doesn't work very well as it tends to get out of sync with the captures.\n\n''[[CamStudio Website|http://camstudio.org/]]''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Cwordpad.bmp]]\nReview Date: Apr-2003 First Listed: Jun-20043 -License: Abandonware\nAverage Rating = 6.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Blazingly fast. Dead-easy for a new person to pick up. Reads and writes RTF and Microsoft Word Version 6.0 and below.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Interface won't win any beauty contests. Also, no longer available. I am hosting it.\n\n[[Download|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/hosted/cwordpad.zip]]\n\n\n\n----\n

Review Date - Feb 2007, License ~Free-Unlimited\nAverage Rating = 8.85 (Of The 9 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nShort review: Surprisingly powerful for an application that's so small.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - You get the full kit here: Calendar, contacts, and notes. Note can by placed in a one-level hierarchy, and you can edit notes as in Wordpad.\n\nThe winning feature is Chaos Manager's speed. It's almost frighteningly fast. In a 750mhz test box it was up in less than a second, even loaded with test data. All features are easily understood, especially the calendar and reminders setup. It's very easy to turn on and off the reminders as needed. You can also sync your data across multiple computers using a built-in FTP setup. It will also sync to a copy of Chaos Manager on a ~PocketPC. The interface is also skinnable.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''There is no way to import and export data to and from other formats. This would add more coding bulk, I'm sure , but it would be so nice to be able to move my calendar and contacts in another fashion than manual copy and paste.\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.chaosmanager.net/]]''\n\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.educ.umu.se/%7Ecobian/images/software/bm.jpg]]\nFirst Listed: Jun-2004 License: Hobbyware FOSS - Recommended by: Peter Koletscke - Real-world Tested by: Various\n\nRating = 9.75 (Best Of The 4 Programs Reviewed)\n\nBackups can be a pain. The backup software that comes with Windows is very poor and unstable. \n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Cobian Backup is probably one of the best backup applications ever produced. Every feature you might need is here in a quick and easy inferface.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It will skip over files that are locked open. If you have email databases marked for backup, and you have email program open when the backup starts, guess what, the databases are locked open and you can't get to them. This is true of all backups that I know of, but it's worth noting here.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.educ.umu.se/%7Ecobian/cobianbackup.htm]]''\n\n\n----

Background: #fff\nForeground: #000\nPrimaryPale: #FFFFCC\nPrimaryLight: #18f\nPrimaryMid: #000099\nPrimaryDark: #014\nSecondaryPale: #ffc\nSecondaryLight: #fe8\nSecondaryMid: #db4\nSecondaryDark: #841\nTertiaryPale: #eee\nTertiaryLight: #ccc\nTertiaryMid: #999\nTertiaryDark: #666\nError: #f88

Click this [[link|mailto:john.hood@gmail.com?subject=Jhoodsoft Site Contact]] to contact me

<<tag Contacts>>\n<<tag Notes>>\n<<tag Tasks>>\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/copernic.gif]]\nFirst Listed: ''August 2007" - License: "Liteware''\n''Average Rating = 9.0 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\n''Annoyance: I've got a lot of files and I spend too much time looking for the right one. can't Windows search my files for me?''\n\nYes. Type in what you know about the file you are looking for, and Copernic finds it for you.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It shows you results on the fly. Unlike Google search, Copernic shows you where the file actually is. Unlike Windows Desktop Search, it can be configured for non- Microsoft email clients. It can also run on systems older than ~WindowsXP.\n\nIt has a nice preview pane to show you what it found. Right click a document and it will take you to the folder it's in, which is a great way to search for a file, by searching for file nearby. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It takes some tweaking to get the indexing setup correctly. Like all file search programs, it takes time after the install to index everything. Can be a memory hog while indexing. \n\n'Website: http://www.copernic.com/\n\n\n----

[[Jarte]] beats this hands down.\n\nFirst Listed: Jun-2004 License: Liteware\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Holy cow! The word processor with an insane amount of features: Format import and export; cryptography, multiple languages, HTML color coding, clipboard viewer, minimize to tray, plug in support, integrated email client, you name it. This is a word processor for professional.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''You have to install the software, then install the patch, then install a dictionary. You can't get right click to work on the edit screen. Everything has to go through the menu.\n\n[[Visit Website|http://cryptedit.chat.ru/overview.htm]] : [[Downloads|http://cryptedit.chat.ru/downloads.htm]]\n\n\n----

First- Person Shooter: \n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Cubeshot.jpg]]\nReview Date: ''Feb-2005'' First Listed ''Jun 2005'' License: ''FOSS''\nRating = ''7.5 (Best Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It's cross-platform (Windows and Linux). Pick up weapons, shoot bad guys, pick up the carrots to open doors to other part of the level. Game play is remarkably like Quake 2 with "mouse-look" turned on: jump, duck, swim, dodge incoming rounds and shoot back. You can swim on unlimited air too. It even lets you use a classic Quake/Doom strategy: Run into a room to activate the bad guys, then run out and watch from a safe distance as they take out each other, then wander in and mop up. The little suckers move fast and will swarm you if you aren't careful. In all, a very fun way to spend some personal time.\n\nThere is even a level editor. and server mode for LAN play so you can frag your friends.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The bad guys are kind of dopey-lookin' but don't let that fool you. They are serious about wasting your behind! Weapons don't auto-switch, (you can manually use the mouse wheel) which is something you find out the hard way. Keep a sharp eye on your ammo. Speaking of ammo, the weapons are nice, but you're almost always running low of shots. Also, there is only one "save game" slot (F8). and, like Doom II, you can accidentally save a game after you die.\n\nVisit Website : http://cube.sourceforge.net/\nDownload : http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/cube/cube_2003_12_23.zip?download\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/dabbledb.png]]\nReview Date: Continuous - License: Free for Personal Use\nAverage Rating = 7 (Of The 3 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nOnline service DabbleDB makes database development fast and easy.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Here is a piece or extraordinary design!. You can import practically any Excel spreadsheet and start off building a database. DabbleDB parses through the data, assigns the correct data type (dates, dollar amounts, map coordinates, etc.). You can run reports on the data almost instantly.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' - All free databases are publicly viewable. This is not very helpful for those wishing to keep private data private. \n\n''[[Website|http://www.DabbleDB.com]]''\n\n\n----

Review Date: Sep-2004 - License: Liteware\nAverage Rating = 7.0 (Of The 14 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nThe largest problem with finding a free software equivalent to MS Access, is finding a package that allows for multiple linked tables. Without this feature, the database tool becomes little more than a glorified spreadsheet. DbWorx is one of the few free, rapid development databases that allows you to do this.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - With just a little reading through the help screens, you are off and running. Queries and sorting are built in.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''The interface is seriously poorly designed. Why is it impossible to set the view width of table fields and have it remember it?\n\n''[[Website|http://www.plworx-software.com/]]''\n\n\n----

\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - burn data ~CDs/ ~DVDs - burn audio ~CDs - create and burn ISO images - bootable ~CD/DVD support. All of this is easy to find and execute, and not one coaster created.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' - The default setup has the file explorer window and the burn control window on top of each other. Changing it to "cascade" or "Tile vertically" helps this.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.deepburner.com/?r=products&pr=deepburner&prr=provsfree]]''\n\n\n----

[[Welcome]]\n

First Listed: Oct-2004 - License: Freeware Special Note: Greenware (No installation required)\nAverage Rating = 8.0 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''The Annoyance - You sometimes run out of screen when working. Windows should be able to make the screen wider than the monitor, but it doesn't.''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Deskwin gives you multiple desktops where you had just one. No installation required. Run the file to turn it on, exit to turn it off.You can drag icons from one desktop to another. You start with 4 desktops, but you can change it for more or less. Colors are changeable. Great for people who "multi-task."\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The default colors are ugly, but that's it.\n\n''[[Download|http://www.download.com/Deskwin-for-Windows/3000-2346_4-5382549.html]]''\n \n\n----\n\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/dialogo.jpg]]\nFirst Listed: Mar-2004 - License: Free\nAverage Rating = 7.5 (Of The 1 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nMicrosoft Visio is a flow chart and diagram tool. While most word processors will allow you to flow chart using drawing objects, many people find that having a dedicated flow charter is necessary if their work requires it.\n\n''@@color(lime):Pluses - @@'' - Visio users will feel right at home with Dia's layout, which allows you to drag and drop objects directly onto the sheet then arrange and edit them. It responds more quickly than Visio.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Dia users making the transition from Visio have noted that some of the higher features of Visio are not available in Dia. This program is for quick, low-end diagramming only.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/]]\n[[Download (at the very bottom)|http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/downld.html]]\n[[Screen shots |http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/scrshot.html]]''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/easyclea.png]]\n''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' First Listed Date: Jan-2004 - License: Hobbyware\nAverage Rating = 10.0 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nClose to the only computer maintenance tool you'll ever need: Toni Hellenius has come up with a Swiss Army Knife for your PC.\nA free "Norton Utilities" type PC control and cleanup program. Small and incredibly useful, it performs selective or full cleanup to the registry, duplicate files and unneeded files, let's you control what programs launch at startup, find and delete old shortcuts, cleans Internet Explorer history and temp files, perform full removal of programs. It does practically everything except write home to Mom.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' There is a handy "disk space" tool that shows you a pie chart of where you're data is and how much room it takes. Does a simple verification and reduction of the Windows registry, removing all keys and values that reference files no longer present. Another one of those very small, very fast, well designed and utterly reliable applications built by people who are more interested in getting it right than getting it to market.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' As with any repair tool, you can overdo it. ~EasyCleaner assumes that you know what you are doing. If you don't you can seriously damage your computer. If unsure, make a backup before making changes.\n\n''[[Website|http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm]]''\n''[[Download|http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/files/EClea2_0.exe]]''\n\n\n----

Reviewed: ''Oct 2007'' \nOverall Rating: ''9''\n\nQuote from the website:\n'EasyCapture is a powerful, flexible and easy-to-use free screen capture software. It allows you to capture anything on the screen including windows, objects, full screen, rectangle-selected regions, fix size regions, and scrolling windows/web pages. It also allow you to edit captured image and add annotate.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Nice interface. Anyone who has worked with any type of picture editor is going to be at home here. Add pointers, callouts and text boxes. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Couldn't find any. No portable version like Gadwin.\n\nWebsite: http://www.xydownload.com/easycapture/\n\n\n-----

Review Date: Aug-2007 - License: Free\nAverage Rating = 8 (Of The 9 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Ecco Pro is basically an industrial-strength and professional-grade calendar, contact manager and information organizer, where data can be cross referenced. So many features it's just plain scary, plus plug-ins and a devoted user community. I'm feeding it some test data and seeing where it goes.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It's would be nice to have drag and drop in and out on the program.\n\n''[[Website|http://supportweb.netmanage.com/ts_viewnow/downloads/patchesUnsupported/ecco.asp]]''\n\n\n\n----\n

\n<div class='toolbar' macro='toolbar +saveTiddler -cancelTiddler deleteTiddler'></div>\n<div class='title' macro='view title'></div>\n<div class='editor' macro='edit title'></div>\n<div class='editor' macro='edit text'></div>\n<div class='editor' macro='edit tags'></div><div class='editorFooter'><span macro='message views.editor.tagPrompt'></span><span macro='tagChooser'></span></div>\n

''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date Dec-2004 - License: Free Donation Supported (Donationware)\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/essentialpim.png]]\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nA recent entry into the organizer arena. Essential PIM (Personal Information Manager) is winning many converts.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - This organizer wins as the easiest for Microsoft Outlook users to use. It's basically a Microsoft Outlook clone without the email . Almost everything you need in an organizer is here - reminders, calendar, addresses, the whole bit. Boasts of being able to import Outlook and Outlook Express data easily. All features are colorfully laid out, so that you can identify your information at a glance. Printout is clean and easy to read. This is a problem solver.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''A small nitpick - it's a little too much like Outlook. The contact manager needs a history and reminders. It's also missing Tasks and Notes sections.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.essentialpim.com/]]''\n\n''[[Try it by downloading the No-Install Portable Version|http://www.essentialpim.com/?r=products&pr=dvsp]]\n\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/evernotelogo.gif]]\n\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Jan-2008'' License: ''Corporate Freeware Greenware''\n\nYou are exposed to more written information in the Sunday morning newspaper than William Shakepeare was exposed to in his entire lifetime. Yes, you read that right.\n\nHow do you keep track of all the necessary information you encounter during the course of your day and keep it all straight? Isn't there a way to use a computer to help with this?\n\nThe answer is "Yes".\n\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' The Cadillac of notes programs, and it's free.\nData collection is easy. very little retyping. If you use the "capture" widget there is none at all. \nThe notes can be searched, you can save searches, you can access your notes online, you can put the program on a thumb drive to make it portable.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It has lots of advanced features, which may be a drawback for someone looking for something quick and easy (Try [[TreePadLite|www.treepad.com/treepadfreeware/ ]] instead) Also , version 3 is in Beta test, which means some of the features may not work.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.EverNote.com/]]''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.evrsoft.com/images/stripe_1stpage2.gif]]\nReview Date: Aug-2003 - License: Free\nAverage Rating = 9.0 (Of The 6 Programs Reviewed)\n\nA web-developer friend of mine wanted me to take a look at Eversoft's 1stPage HTML Editor. I kept putting it off. After downloading and installing it, I wonder why I waited.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It has three modes: Easy, Medium and Expert, depending on how much hand-holding the user needs. Easy mode allows you to "Learn HTML", with hints, tips and best practices. It has a "Common Java Script Wizard" that let's you make scripts without writing them. "Tools" will cleanup your code for you, and even let you switch to style sheets on the fly.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Very few. This one is hard not to like, and it's got a list of awards as long as your arm.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.evrsoft.com/1stpage3.shtml]]''\n''[[Screenshots|http://www.evrsoft.com/1stpage3-screenshots.shtml]]''\n\n----

window.onClickTag_mptw_orig = window.onClickTag;\nwindow.onClickTag = function(e) {\n window.onClickTag_mptw_orig.apply(this,arguments);\n var tag = this.getAttribute("tag");\n var title = this.getAttribute("tiddler");\n // Saq, you're a genius :)\n var popup = Popup.stack[Popup.stack.length-1].popup;\n createTiddlyElement(createTiddlyElement(popup,"li",null,"listBreak"),"div");\n wikify("<<newTiddler label:'New tiddler' tag:'"+tag+"'>>",createTiddlyElement(popup,"li"));\n return false;\n}

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/fz.gif]]\nReview Date: Continuous - First Listed: Apr-2004 - License: FOSS\nAverage Rating = 8.45 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nA full featured FTP program that's easy even for a klutz like me to use.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It's about as capable as you can get. Very switch, bell and whistle for FTP the you can imagine is included, and it's all configurable.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' May be a little intimidating for a first time user who is unfamiliar with FTP.\n\n''[[Website|http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/]]''\n''[[Download|http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=21558]]''\n\n\n-----\n

[img[http://www.goodfreesoftware.netfirms.com/foxmail/img/foxmail.jpg]]\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Foxmail totally spoils you rotten; easy to use interface. remote mail preview so you can see your mail before downloading it. It imports and exports most email types. The address book can be synchronized, and supports LDAP. It's also got powerful spam filtering.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It only supports POP3 and and a Hotmail proxy. There are no add-ons. It's basic email - done very well, granted, but still basic email. \n\n\n''[[Download|http://www.goodfreesoftware.netfirms.com/foxmail/foxmail.htm]]''\n\n----\n

ABF software, Inc.\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/screen1_prev.gif]]\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Simple install with different clock faces available. No spyware and it does doesn't phone home.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Nothing really wrong with it.\n\nWebsite: ''http://www.clock-screen-saver.com/''\n\n\n----

If you would just like to play DVD's, you can always download an install a DVD codex. Problem is, most of them will cost you.\n\nNot this one, [[Free DVD Codec|http://www.freewindows.dk/fw/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=339]] . Download it, install it, and play videos to your heart's content.\n\n\n\n----

\n''I called ~OpenOffice 'freeware' and a guy almost bit my head off about it! What gives?''\n\nFree means two different things when it comes to software licensing. \nThe concepts are often confused. I use the following terms to keep them straight in my head:\n\n"Free-gratis" meaning ''no cost.''as in "Hey! free stuff!"\n"Free-libre" (Pronounced "Leeb-ray") meaning ''not confined'' as in "I am free!" \n\nGot it? Here we go.\n\nFree software or freeware?\n\nThe Open Source Software community (the people who gave us Apache, Linux, and ~OpenOffice) generally think that the term "freeware" has gotten a very bad reputation. So many people have used the term "freeware" that it has lost it's meaning and become a derogatory and even offensive term. "Freeware" has come to mean ad-supported software, demo software, 30 day trial software and all that "free" stuff that tracks your web habits and fills your computer with garbage. Open Source Software adherents will argue, sometimes passionately, that "freeware does NOT apply to open source software. They have a point. Open source software is free in ways that non-open software can never be. \n\nIt is free-libre': no one may claim ownership.\n\nThe freeware community, (yes, there is one) seeks to reclaim the term "freeware" by using a much more stringent definition of free-gratis. Their reasoning is that if a software program is ad-supported, or a demo, or a 30 day trial, or spyware- then it isn't really "free" is it? They will argue, equally passionately, that open source software IS freeware. It is one of the few software types that is truly free. Trialware, demoware, crippleware and spyware are lumped under the terms "shareware". Shareware can be anything -most of it worthless garbage. They too have a point. It drives the Open Source crowd right up a wall.\n\nMy opinion (This is, after all, my website), is that the term "freeware" only carries negative connotations within the open source community. It sounds a bit like a bunch of M.D's arguing that the term "Doctor" is insulting because it has lost it's meaning. OK, to you maybe. That doesn't change the fact that this is the term that is used and the definition is accurate.\n\nBefore you jump on me! Having said that, I'd rather spend my time ''using'' open source software than arguing about what to call it. Regardless of my personal feelings in the matter, publicly I use the term "free software" and reserve the "freeware-not-freeware" argument to it's proper place - after midnight, over beer, pretzels, and loud music. The reader is advised to do the same.

Review Date: Apr-2004 - License: Open Source\nAverage Rating = 8 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nA premier graphic editor, on par with Adobe Photoshop.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@''Graphics manipulation so detailed it’s scary. Plenty of plug-ins available. Reads and writes most graphic formats. It handles much like Adobe Photoshop: layer manipulation, transparency, blur, etc. Very cool. If you are looking to get into high-end graphics. The GIMP is a good way to go.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''It's pretty huge on the hard drive, also memory intensive.\n\n''[[Website and Screenshots|http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/]]''\n''[[Download|http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html]]''\n\n\n----

Screen Capture to File: \n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/gadwin.gif]]\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' License: ''Free for Personal Use''\nAverage Rating = ''7.5 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\nAlt+Printsreen snaps a picture of the active window. It has limitations. Here is a dedicated screen capture utility.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' For those who need to capture several screen shots. Screenshot hotkey and output are configurable. You are able to pre-crop the area you want to capture, and a host of other functions.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Not many!\n\n''Visit Website: http://www.gadwin.com/printscreen/ ''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/gantt_project.png]]\nFirst Listed: Oct-2004 - License: Open Source\nRequires the ''[[Java2 Runtimes|http://www.java.com/en/download/]]''\n\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nHere is a fully open source project planner. Looking for something to replace the enormous cost of Microsoft Project? Gantt Project will fill the bill.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - The reporting feature alone knocks this one out of the ballpark. It is built on Java 2, which means it's usable if you have people on different platforms collaborating on a project(Windows, Mac, Linux).\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Cannot inter-operate with MS Project (neither can anything else). I find the creation of tasks and resources to be a little clunkier than [[Open Project]], but this is a matter of personal taste.\n\n\n''[[Website|http://ganttproject.biz/]]'' : \n''[[Download|http://ganttproject.biz/download.php]] '' : ''[[Screenshots|http://ganttproject.biz/pictures.php]]''\n\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/gliffy.jpg]]\n\nReview Date: ''Oct 2000'' License: ''Free Webware''\nReviewer: ''Tory Dolan''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'': Easy-to-use interface, automatic drop-shadow behind shapes (as long as shape has a fill color), easy to create aligned flowchart with grid and snap-to tools, lots of shape options as well as other unique tools such as internet image search and floorplan options, and lots of color options both for shape color and text color.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'': Small work screen (had to use at 75% the majority of the time, but often used 50% and 25% so I could see the entire flowchart), non-collapsible side toolbars, confusing toolbar “collapse” for left side toolbars (you have to open a new option for the old one to collapse), no “print preview” (flow chart is large in size – 5000 px by 5000 px, which is good for converting to a .jpg; however, makes it impossible to print directly from Gliffy), no import or export options (jpg shows up with a frame around it, as well as “created by Gliffy” at the bottom), JPG does not mirror what you see in Gliffy (text shifts/does not fit inside original shapes). There doesn’t seem to be a copy and paste tool – at least, not that I found. I first tried using key commands – no luck.\n\n''Overall:'' This program for the most part is user friendly. I am new to creating flow charts, and am unfamiliar with other flowchart programs such as Visio. However, I was able to jump right in and begin creating a flowchart without the use of the help tool or any tutorials. There were a few disappointments and glitches along the way – such as a very small work screen, difficulty figuring out how the toolbars collapsed (and finding out that some didn’t), and finding out that my .jpg didn’t match what I was seeing on the screen in Gliffy. \n\n''[[Website|http://www.gliffy.com ]]''\n\n\n\n\n\n----

Call Google from your phone: \nReview Date: ''Jan-2008'' License: ''free''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Call the Google number (1-800-466-4411) and tell it the city and name you are looking for, it looks it up, tells you the results, and connects you to the one you select.\n\nYou can say "Text Message" and it will send you a text message with more info about the business. Or say "Map it" and Google will send a link to the mapped location.\n\nCheck out the demo. \n\n''[[Goog 411 Website|http://www.google.com/goog411/]]''\n\n\n----

''Replacement for Word, Excel, ~PowerPoint, \n\nReview Date: ''Continuous License: ''FOSS ''\n''Average Rating = 7.0\n\nFrom Google.com, the people who gave you more tools online than you know what to do with, bring you Google Docs and Spreadsheets.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Free for the sign-up and very quick, Google Docs supports both OpenOffice and Microsoft file types. You can share and collaborate with other users on the web, and they don't even need to be signed up with Google. The spreadsheet option allows you to publish a spreadsheet as a form, that people can fill out and thus, populate the spreadsheet for you.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Advanced tools and options aren't really available here. No mail merge in Docs, no advanced scenarios in Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet options are pretty clunky to get to as well.\n\nConclusion - worth signing up for in case you need it.\n\n[[Google Docs Home|http://docs.google.com/]]\n\n----

[img[http://mail.google.com/mail/help/images/logo1.gif]]\nReview Date: Continuous - License: Registerware\nAverage Rating = 10 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - A serious contender for dethroning Microsoft, Google web services are providing so much totally cool free stuff, it's hard not to like. Calendar is sharable, email uses a tagging system instead of folders which make email a lot easier to find. Email is sorted by conversation. Contacts are updated automatically as you receive email.\nGoogle widgets allow you to plug Google content into any web page. The calendar makes appointments for you from plain text input, for example \n\n"Lunch with Margie tomorrow aft at 2" comes out as \n"Lunch with Margie"\nDate and time: {the next day} 2:00pm\n\n Google mobile is an outstanding way to create and view appointments from your cell phone. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' I've had problems getting Gmail to recognize a date in an email, which it is supposed to do. A friend of mine is less than impressed with the fact that you can not filter contacts in the contacts list. Google also just added Tasks, and they are not integrated into Gmail at all.\n\nConclusion - not fancy, but it sure works.\n\n ''[[Gmail Mail|http://www.gmail.com]]''\n\n\n\n----\n

Web Page Saver for Browsers: \n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/GooNote.gif]]\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''May-2007'' License: ''Free''\n''Average Rating = 10.0 (Of The 2 Program Reviewed)''\n\nIf you have done research on the web, you've probably run into a page or two that had very good information. When you go back, a week, or a month or a year later, you can't find the page!. Or you may have bookmarked a page and then forgotten what the bookmark was for. Enter the class of tools known as surf-savers. These tools save a selection for a page, the URL and the date and time you saved it.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Google Notebook installs as a little browser add-on. Highlight any text on the web, and click the notebook icon, and Google notebook records date, time, page location and the text . It's all on the web any time you need.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' - Not much.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.google.com/notebook/]]''\n\n\n----

Review Date: Continuous - First Listed: Jun-2003 - License: Free \n''Average Rating: 6.25''\n\n\n\nI really debated listing this. It's very advanced. Use this ONLY IF [[Spysweeper Anti Spyware]] doesn't work, and only if you know what a BHO does.\n\n\n\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' ~HijackThis goes through every modification to your system and shows it to you. You can simply click on the modifications to remove and it does it.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The bad news: it shows you EVERYTHING, even the mods you may want to keep. Unless you have experience in spyware removal, do not attempt using ~HijackThis alone. Also, certain spyware installs will evade ~HijackThis. \n\n''[[Website|http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/]]''\n\n\n\n----\n\n\n

''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date: Continuous - License: Free\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/kater_li_oben.gif]]\nAverage Rating = 9.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nYou are welcome to install multiple viewers for graphics, sound and video or install one truly capable player. Irfanview is like Winamp, only you don't have to go running out the web to get new codexs. They're all included. There is very little that this program can’t handle in terms of graphics sound or video.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' You can bulk-convert one format to another, do a slide show, sort files with a thumbnail view of each. It also has batch rename and file move.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Does everything except Real Video and Real Audio, but then these are owned by Real.com. The icons used for graphic formats are terrible, and you can't change them.\n\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.irfanview.com/]]''\nGet the the full [[plug in pack|http://www.irfanview.com/plugins.htm]] while you're at it.\n\n\n\n----

<<imglink http://www.tiddlywiki.com/brixhamharbour.jpg http://www.OpenOffice.org "Logo" >>

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Cursorarts%20-ca_logobar_c.gif]]\nReview Date: ''Feb-2004'' License: ''Free''\nRating = 7.5 (Best Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nThe GIMP for not graphics geeks. This is a better replacement for Windows Paint.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Really sweet, especially the photo edit capabilities. Anyone who has used Windows Paint will be able to use this, without the limitations the Windows product has. There is dithering, nudging and save in multiple formats.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Sacrifices some higher-end capabilities for ease-of-use.\n\nVisit Website :http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_imffw.html\nDownload : http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_imw_d.html\nScreenshots :http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_imw_c.html\n\n\n\n----

version.extensions.imglink = {major: 0, minor: 1, revision: 2, date: new Date("Aug 15, 2005")};\nconfig.macros.imglink = {}\nconfig.macros.imglink.handler = function(place,macroName,params)\n{\nvar theLink = null;\nvar theAction = null;\nvar data = params;\nvar linkTo = data[1];\nvar box = createTiddlyElement(place,"span",null,"imgLinkBox",String.fromCharCode(160));\nbox.style.position = "relative";\nif(data[2] && data[2]!="null")\n box.title = data[2];\nvar theImage = document.createElement("img");\ntheImage.src = data[0];\ntheImage.className = "linkedImg";\ntheImage.style.position = "relative";\ntheImage.style.verticalAlign = "top";\ntheImage.border = data[3] ? data[3] : 0;\ntheImage.style.borderColor = "black";\nif(data[4] && data[4]!="auto")\n theImage.width = data[4];\nif(data[5] && data[5]!="auto")\n theImage.height = data[5];\n\nvar tiddlerText = store.getTiddlerText(linkTo);\nvar func = linkTo.substring(0,data[1].indexOf("("));\n// test for tiddler link\nif(tiddlerText)\n {\n theLink = document.createElement("a");\n theAction = function() {displayTiddler(this,linkTo,1,null,null,null,false,false);};\n theLink.onclick = theAction;\n theLink.href = "javascript:;";\n }\n// test for function call\nelse if(window[func] || typeof eval(func)=="function")\n {\n theLink = document.createElement("a");\n theAction = function() {eval(linkTo);};\n theLink.onclick = theAction;\n theLink.href = "javascript:;";\n }\n// test for link to image view\nelse if(linkTo == "self")\n {\n theLink = document.createElement("a");\n theLink.href = theImage.src;\n if(config.options.chkOpenInNewWindow)\n theLink.target = "_blank";\n }\n// test for no link\nelse if(linkTo == null || linkTo == "null")\n {\n theLink = document.createElement("span");\n }\nelse\n {\n theLink = document.createElement("a");\n theLink.href = data[1];\n if(config.options.chkOpenInNewWindow)\n theLink.target = "_blank";\n }\n\ntheLink.appendChild(theImage);\n//box.width=theImage.offsetWidth;\n//box.height=theImage.offsetHeight;\nbox.appendChild(theLink);\n}\n\n\n// //''The following function is not needed and is for demo purposes only''\nfunction sampleFunction(message)\n{\nalert(message);\n}

version.extensions.inlineJavascript= {major: 1, minor: 6, revision: 0, date: new Date(2007,2,19)};\n\nconfig.formatters.push( {\n name: "inlineJavascript",\n match: "\s\s<script",\n lookahead: "\s\s<script(?: src=\s\s\s"((?:.|\s\sn)*?)\s\s\s")?(?: label=\s\s\s"((?:.|\s\sn)*?)\s\s\s")?(?: title=\s\s\s"((?:.|\s\sn)*?)\s\s\s")?( show)?\s\s>((?:.|\s\sn)*?)\s\s</script\s\s>",\n\n handler: function(w) {\n var lookaheadRegExp = new RegExp(this.lookahead,"mg");\n lookaheadRegExp.lastIndex = w.matchStart;\n var lookaheadMatch = lookaheadRegExp.exec(w.source)\n if(lookaheadMatch && lookaheadMatch.index == w.matchStart) {\n if (lookaheadMatch[1]) { // load a script library\n // make script tag, set src, add to body to execute, then remove for cleanup\n var script = document.createElement("script"); script.src = lookaheadMatch[1];\n document.body.appendChild(script); document.body.removeChild(script);\n }\n if (lookaheadMatch[5]) { // there is script code\n if (lookaheadMatch[4]) // show inline script code in tiddler output\n wikify("{{{\sn"+lookaheadMatch[0]+"\sn}}}\sn",w.output);\n if (lookaheadMatch[2]) { // create a link to an 'onclick' script\n // add a link, define click handler, save code in link (pass 'place'), set link attributes\n var link=createTiddlyElement(w.output,"a",null,"tiddlyLinkExisting",lookaheadMatch[2]);\n link.onclick=function(){try{return(eval(this.code))}catch(e){alert(e.description?e.description:e.toString())}}\n link.code="function _out(place){"+lookaheadMatch[5]+"\sn};_out(this);"\n link.setAttribute("title",lookaheadMatch[3]?lookaheadMatch[3]:"");\n link.setAttribute("href","javascript:;");\n link.style.cursor="pointer";\n }\n else { // run inline script code\n var code="function _out(place){"+lookaheadMatch[5]+"\sn};_out(w.output);"\n code=code.replace(/document.write\s(/gi,'place.innerHTML+=(');\n try { var out = eval(code); } catch(e) { out = e.description?e.description:e.toString(); }\n if (out && out.length) wikify(out,w.output,w.highlightRegExp,w.tiddler);\n }\n }\n w.nextMatch = lookaheadMatch.index + lookaheadMatch[0].length;\n }\n }\n} )

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Jarte.png]]\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Jan-2008'' License: ''Corporate Freeware''\n\nJarte has a small but devoted following. Their devotion is well founded. As mentioned, this is an elegant word processor for elegent writing.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Fast startup - tabbed interface for multiple documents, import existing Word formats - reads RTF Doc and Docx, exports to PDF - single click bookmarking and bookmark navigation - can be run from a USB drive.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' One small nitpick that is easily corrected: The 'clickless' interface loads by default, without the standard buttons people are used to. Easily fixed, click the left-most button in the top center row, and put a check mark in Main Menu." That's it.\n \n''[[Website|http://www.jarte.com/]]''\n\n\n\n----

Many programs need the Java Runtimes library found here.\nThis is a free install \n\nWebsite: http://www.java.com/en/download/\n\n\n----

Send phone message as an email: \nReview Date: ''Jan-2008'' License: ''Free (in Beta testing)''\n''Average Rating = 9.5''\n\nHave you ever wanted to "call yourself?" How about being able to dictate yourself a note and have your dictation emailed to you? That's what Jott does.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Setup and use is pretty easy. Go to Jott.com with any computer browser and sign up - it's free. Register your phone number and an email address. You can now call the Jott number from your phone, and it will record what you say, transcribe it, and email the transcription to you. A simple idea with many applications, from calendaring on the fly, to dictating emails. Not sure how this would work? Check out the demo on the web page.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Transcription quality depends on cell phone connection. If you are in "Cell Hell" or the phone battery is low, it can't make out what you said. \n\nEven with the best transcription, it sometimes misses proper names. this has to be corrected in the resulting email before you do anything with it. Still it's a lot easier than writing notes, or texting someone while you're driving.\n\n''[[Jott Website|http://www.jott.com]]''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/nvu.jpg]]\nReview Date: Continuous - License: FOSS - First Listed: July 2005\n\nAverage Rating = 8.3 (Of The 6 Programs Reviewed)\n\nWorking with HTML can be tedious at times. It is also daunting for the beginner. Kompozer makes it easy for both. Grab an HTML template from Openwebdesign.org. Open it in Kompozer. Start typing. That's it.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Four modes Normal, "Tags Only", "Source" and "Preview", make it possible to work with HTML the way that YOU want. It makes editing a web page about as hard as editing a word processor file. FTP on command, edit from web site, even a spell checker. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Not the most stable, I've had it crash on me occasionally. Sometimes the tagging gets a little overzealous and the page doesn't render properly when uploaded and you have to go in and remove the tags from the source. "Insert Named Anchor" is a little buggy. If you are careful, these problems are easy to live with. .\n\n''[[Website|http://http://kompozer.net/]]''\n''[[Download|http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=kompozer&filename=kompozer-077-win32.exe&use_mirror=superb-west]]'' \n\n\n\n----

[img[http://blog.helmschrott.de/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/launchy_1-2-small.png]]\nFirst Reviewed: April 2007 - License Open Source\n\n''Annoyance: "I've got so many icons in my Start menu, that it runs into three columns! I tried organizing them, but now I can't remember what folder I put them in.''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Launchy indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks, press ALT+space Launchy pops up, you type in the first few letters, and all titles that match.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Indexing can take up CPU cycles and low down your system. \n\n[[Website|http://www.launchy.net/]]\n\n\n----

!Other "Best Of Free Software" Sites\nA great place to compare my reviews with. They have the same idea as me. Take a look at what they recommend. (Tell them I said "Hi"!)\n\n''[[Only the Best Freeware|http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/default.asp]] ''\n\n''[[Buzzy's Freeware Reviews|http://www.buzzys.net/previous.html]]''\n\n''[[Bob Adkin's Best Freeware|http://webpages.charter.net/bobad/best.htm]]''\n\n''[[Freeware Arena|http://freewarearena.com/html/]]'' Yet another huge site of free software\n\n''[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/tfbanner.gif]] [[Top Freeware|http://www.topfreeware.net/]]''\n\n''[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/ITMButton_150x47.gif]]''[[Ur IT Mate Group|http://www.it-mate.co.uk/?sec=Freeware]]''''\n\n!Free Software Clearinghouses\n''[[The Freeware Wiki|http://freewarewiki.com/]] ''An ongoing community centered around the ~CliffNotes newsletter. There are fresh reviews and links to try every week. I am an occasional contributor.\n\n''[[Son Of Spy Freeware|http://www.sover.net/%7Ewysiwygx/index.html]]'' Hands down the most extensive collection of free software on the web. If you can't find it there, e-mail the Son of Spy and he'll find it for you.\n\n''[[Pricelessware|http://www.pricelesswarehome.org]]'' The best free software as voted by the people who know and love free software - the 'alt.comp.freeware' discussion group. Think of this site as the Golden Globe Awards of freeware. New candidates are voted onto - or off of - the site once a year.\n\n\n\n!Links of Interest\n\nThe ''[[Langa|http://www.langa.com/]] List\sWindows Secrets'' is a website by Fred Langa who runs an on-line newsletter for free software fans and computer geeks in general.\n\n[[Dave's Computer Tips|http://www.davescomputertips.com/]] Has free software reviews, and computer tips for newbies and experts\n\nPortable USB List is a subpage of [[TheInfoBox.com|http://www.theinfobox.com/index.php/Main_Page]]. The Portable list consists of applications that function without installing to the hard drive, and therefore can be run from a USB stick or other device, that is, <<tag Greenware>>. This is very handy for people who change computers often. It's also good for those who want good software that doesn't install all over their computer. Ah, if only Microsoft did this!\n\n''http://www.PortableApps.com'' It John Haller's wonderful no-install <<tag Greenware>> list.\n\n''http://www.PortableFreeware.com'' Is another no-install <<tag Greenware>> list.

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/menu.JPG]]\n|''[[Welcome]]'' |\n|<<tag [[Office Suites]]>> |\n|<<tag Word>> <<tag Excel>> <<tag Access>> |\n|<<tag Publisher>> |\n|''<<tag Email>>'' & <<tag Calendars>> |\n|<<tag Organizers>> |\n|<<tag Project-Flowchart>> |\n|<<tag Collaboration>> |\n|[[Contacts, Notes & Tasks]] |\n|<<tag Security>> |\n|[[Utilities and Tweaks]] |\n----\n|<<tag Image-Photo>> <<tag Sound-Video>> |\n|<<tag Web-Browsing>> <<tag Web-Publishing>> <<tag Web-Server>> |\n----\n|Progs I'm <<tag Evaluating>> |\n|[[I Don't Recommend]] |\n|Computing [[Recipes]] <<tag Blog>> [[Contact]] |\n|[[Links]] |

__Just because it's free doesn't mean it's lousy.__\n\nBy free I mean that the software has no spyware, no adware, no “free trial” time limits, no cutesy fluff to clutter your PC and your life. No kidding.\n\n Some of the best software in the world will cost you nothing. The trouble is how to find it. I've been searching free software for years. This pursuit is an issue of equity and justice. We live in the Information Age, yet there is a large and growing chasm between the people who are the information "haves" and people who are the "have-nots:" People on fixed incomes, the disadvantaged, small business owners. \n What is on these pages is the best software I have found that will narrow the gap. People using these products will be able to compete technologically with those who have the latest payware offerings. \n \n On these pages you will see what each of my choices is, how much I like it, what I like and don't like about it.\n

\nReview Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Mar-2009'' License: ''Corporate crippleware''\n\nI was introduced to ~MalwareBytes Anti-Malware when several computers at work were exposed to the [[Vundo|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vundo]] virus. Several sites offered solutions to this annoying little bug. Only MalwareBytes actually worked and it's free.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' The program is very easy to install and use. Just download it and install it. It updates itself. Press the "Scan" button and let it go. It'll scan very file on your drive for spyware, adware and anythng esle sucking up computer cycles and internet bandwidth. Let it finish (it usually takes about an hour) and it'll offer to clean up your computer for you. what's not to like? \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The free version doesn't scan continuously, nor can you schedule scans. You have to manually launch, update and scan. The version that does this automatically will set you back some money. Still, this is a hell of a product for the price.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php]]''\n\n''[[Download|http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php]]''\n\n\n\n----\n

Review Date: Continuous - License: Free\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nFor your "better late than never" file, Microsoft has finally woken up to the fact that they are responsible for the security weaknesses of their own Windows environment. Microsoft Security Essentials is the successor to the Microsoft Malware Removal Tool and to some extent, Windows Defender.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - First, it cleaned off some hideous viruses and spyware from several computers of my clients. It actually kicked the viruses back far enough, that I was able to use the client's antivirus solutions to clean up the rest. \n\nSecond, it's and all-in-one solution that kicks viruses, spyware, sneakware, and hostage-ware. Add to that, it auto-updates and scans.\nIt's serious security butt-kicking with a small footprint.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' - It replaces anti-virus programs - but you have to uninstall the programs first. Otherwise, Security Essentials and the pre-installed program may try to fight it out, each declaring the other to be an intruder. Microsoft recommends uninstalling antivirus progs, but I'm not sure I'd do that in favor of a new product. \n\n''[[Website|http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/]]''\n\n\n----

Review Date: Feb-2007 License: Free for first 5 levels \n\nI've been totally addicted to this game , from www.taleworlds.com "Mount and Blade," a medieval combat sim. First five levels are free. After that you either start over or pay them $18 or unlimited upgrades. Requires ~DirectX 9 update.\n\nNo magic, no monsters, just you and your weapons (and anyone you can recruit) against four kingdoms of pretty gnarly bad guys.\n\nNo story line, just you and the landscape. Use your lance to peal some poor schmuck off his horse (which is just beautiful to watch, I must say). Then pound him until he passes out, take him prisoner and grab his loot. Go trading, be a bounty hunter, escort caravans, or just go it alone and hit the tournament circuit and build up your skills and cash. Two castles that you can (try to) siege and capture.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@''An impressive selection of weapons. Advance reviews are praising the innovative combat system, is easy to pick up. It let's you get to smacking bad guys in a real hurry. Movement is realistic, and you work up a sweat trying to chase own bad guys on your horse ("hold still so I can kill you, dammit!") The combat landscapes are pretty. Several mods, and an active user forum.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Some of the graphics need fine-tuning with various video cards. Control of your forces in battle is imprecise ("charge", "stay here," and "follow me" is about all you get - there's no way to tell your guys to "back up" or "Hey you! Go over there") No multi-player mode. Weapons go in one hand or the other, you can't switch. Available weapons you can carry with you is limited to four.\n\nOnce you get the hang of it, it's a blast to play. My guy: "Fred the Annoyer of Many" has a party of 30 guys and is making a career out of turning the tables on bandits who attack caravans.\n\n Worth a try if you're tired of paying $$$ every month for World of ~War-Crack.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.Taleworlds.com/]]''\n\n\n----\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/firefox-logo-64x64.png]]\n''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date: ''Continuous'' First Listed: ''Jan-2004'' License: ''FOSS''\nOverall Rating = 10.0 (Of The 4 Programs Reviewed)\n\nInternet Explorer 7.0 has met tepid response from users. The user interface is difficult to understand. Security settings are testing people's patience. Many people are looking for a smaller, faster, more secure way to browse the Web.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It doesn't get much better than this. ~FireFox is very small, and very fast. There are no hidden settings. It has mouseless navigation, tabbed browsing, easy navigation, plug-in install on-demand. It's far more stable and less of a security risk than Internet Explorer, and skinable to boot.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Some users have reported a problem downloading executable files from Microsoft IIS servers "The client sent an unreadable request." It should also be noted that ~FireFox has some security holes of it's own, Stay on top of the patches.\n\nVisit Website : http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/\nDownload [[Link|http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.html?product=firefox-1.5&os=win&lang=en-US]]\nGreenware Version : http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/\nExtensions page: https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/?os=nt&application=firefox\n\n\n\n-----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/thunderbird-logo-64x64.png]]\nReview Date: Continuous - First Listed: Feb-2004 - License: Open Source\nOverall Rating = 9. (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nMicrosoft has announced the Outlook Express version 6.0 will be the last of the OE line. Users are beginning to look elsewhere for an email client. If they can find one that is free, and has features that OE does not, so much the better.\n\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - The interface is the same layout as Outlook Express, making the training cycle very short. Spam filtering is built in to the program, as is spell check. Address book can be imported and exported to other mail systems easily. It is far less buggy than Outlook Express. It has dozens of extensions which do everything from alternative language to Google Maps interfacing. It can also be paired with [[Mozilla's Sunbird calendar|http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/]] , for scheduling and shared calendars.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The news reader doesn't join multi part postings at all, which would be nice if it did.\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/]]''\n\nTry it out by downloading ''[[John Haller's No-Install Version|http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/thunderbird_portable]] ''\n\n\n\n\n----

~NetDrive is a program that allows Windows XP users to create a link to an FTP site that looks just like a network drive. Files can be saved to, edited in, and copied from an FTP site just like it's any other drive.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It works very seamlessly once you get the FTP site configured. Fire it up and it maps the drive for you.\n \n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Finding it is a real struggle. Microsoft licensing agreements mean that Novell can no longer host the program. Most colleges who do host the program require secure logon.\n\nHere is one link that should work, If it doesn't ''[[Contact]]'' me and I'll send it to you.\n\n''[[Download|http://www.snc.edu/compserv/downloads/#netdrive/]]''\n\n\n----\n\n

Notekeeper\nhttp://www.tolon.co.uk/notekeeper/\nConclusion: Too Basic.\n\n~NoteCase Portable\nhttp://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=118294\nConclusion: Too Basic - graphics won't import.\n\n----\n\n\n

[img[http://openproj.org/themes/bluebreeze/images/openproj.jpg]]\n\nFirst Reviewed - In Review Now.\n\nRequires the ''[[Java2 Runtimes|http://www.java.com/en/download/]]''\n\n9/12/07 I know very little about this, except that it looks very nice. It claims to be able to import and export Microsoft Project files.\n\n9/19/07 I've done a little more looking and I'm pretty impressed. It appears to be easier that [[Gantt Project]] when creating tasks and resources. You can see your project with multiple different views down the left side and multiple reports filters and styles. \n\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://openproj.org/]]''\n

''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Replacement for Word, Excel, ~PowerPoint, Publisher, Access\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/ooo.png]]\njavascript:;\nReview Date: ''Continuous ''First Listed: ''Nov-2003'' License: ''FOSS ''\n''Average Rating = 10.0! (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\n\nNow in version 3.0 - ~OpenOffice.org contains a word-processor, spreadsheet, presentation maker publisher and database maker. ~OpenOffice comes with the features you would expect in a high-end office suite: create and apply styles on the fly, automatic word correction, mail merge, bullets and numbering, graphic support, macro record, full read and write of Microsoft formatted documents. ~OpenOffice happily coexists with MS Office on the same computer. Install it on every computer, and then install Microsoft Office only where MS Office functions are absolutely needed. \n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - The menus are practically clones of MS products, yet it beats Microsoft in several ways - ~OpenOffice has a "create PDF" option, better data source support including a pre-built bibliography database for students, better [[template|http://documentation.openoffice.org/Samples_Templates/]] and master document support than MS Office, auto-complete to save repetitive typing. The ~PowerPoint clone will publish a presentation in Micromedia Flash. Paid support is available, or join thousands of ~OpenOffice enthusiasts in the "[[forums|http://www.oooforum.org/]]." \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It can be slow to launch. Google search for "[[Speed-up OpenOffice|http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&q=Speed-up+OpenOffice&btnG=Google+Search]]" for the fix. There is no groupware, calendar and organizer equivalent like Outlook (see the Outlook page for options here). \n\nWhile it does a good job with regular Microsoft products, it can't handle password protected documents. It also can't handle documents with comments (it doesn't see them).\n\n''Links to OpenOffice Branches''\n\nThe Basic ''[[OpenOffice Website|http://www.openoffice.org/]]''\n\nThe Professional ''[[OxygenOffce Pro|http://sourceforge.net/projects/ooop]]'' Has all the nice graphics and add-ins, but it can take for-bloomin'-ever to download and unpack, even on a fast connection.\n\nThe Simplified [[Lotus Symphony|http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/home]] with boodles of templates , but no database maker.\n\nThe Best [[Go-OO|http://go-oo.org/]] Nice presentation and some of the basic bugs to OpenOffice are fixed.\n\n[[Getting Help|http://support.openoffice.org/index.html#fcs]]\n\nJohn Haller's [[No-Install Version|http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/portable_openoffice/]]''\n\nSee also: The [[Recipe - OpenOffice Speed and Compatibility Tweaks]] on the [[Recipes]] page.\n\n----

This site is deliberately kept small so that the busy professional who visits here will not need to plow through several offerings to find what they want. I have already done that. The programs listed are "the best - can't miss" offerings.\n\n'Note to visitors wishing to save themselves download time: Software on ~CD-ROM'\n\nFor $20 I will ship you a ~CD-ROM with all of the software on this site, .\nThis is my hobby. If you’d like me to look for a freeware product for you, I’d be happy to; simply Contact me with the link\n\nHow you can help:\nDo you find this site useful? You can make a donation with ~MasterCard or Visa to help keep it going at the link above. Any proceeds after expenses are donated in turn to support the wonderful community of people who provide software to you for free.\n

\n''Jhoodsoft's'' [[Rating System]]\n\n[[Why Bother with Free Software]] or "When Microsoft Owns your Soul"\n\n[[Free as in freedom, free as in beer.]]\n\n[[Making The Case for Free Software]] - The rationale behind this site.\n\n[[Other Notes]]\n\n----

''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' License: Liteware, Registerware, Webware\n\nWant to use a wiki but let someone else can have the hassle of background administration? Sign up for a wiki at http://www.PBwiki.com: Why? 200 meg of storage, file gallery, document tagging, neato editing interface and 3 skins. People can comment. you get notified of changes, it's hard to beat.\n\n\n----

''What It Does: ''Convert Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Text, or Jpg into PDF without software.\n\n[[Website|http://www.pdfonline.com/]]\n\n''Status'' Not yet Evaluated. [[Contact]] me if you have feedback on this item.\n\n\n-----\n\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/foxit_logo.gif]]\n''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date: Jul-2005 \n\nAverage Rating = 3.0 (Of The 3 Programs Reviewed)\n\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Only available as a 60 day trial.\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php]]''\n\n\n\n----

''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date: Feb-2005 - License: Open Source\nAverage Rating = 8.0 (Best Of The 2 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nAnyone can read PDF (portable document format) format files with the free reader from Abobe systems (see above). But how do you create PDF files? Pay Adobe Systems $145 for Acrobat Distiller, or just download this and do it for free.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Installs as a virtual print driver so it works with any Windows software. You just use it like any printer. A dialog box pops up where you can add keywords, metadata, Author.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''The first time I installed this, I couldn't get it to work. Also if you have active web or email links in your source doc, they become dead in the PDF.\n\n''[[Website|http://sector7g.wurzel6.de/pdfcreator/index_en.htm]]\n[[Download|http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?group_id=57796&use_mirror=superb-west&filename=PDFCreator-0_9_3_GPLGhostscript.exe&31229757]]''\n\n\n----

Review Date: Continuous - First Listed: Sep-2004 - License: Liteware, Greenware\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nIf you have a high speed connection, your internet is always on. Use an FTP server on your computer to transfer files from work to home without spam, email size limits or virus controls.\n\nPablo Van Der Meer is a rarity: a hobby software writer who does an impeccable job.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - There is no install. Unzip the files and start the EXE!. Configuration runs off of a wizard, or simply create a new account by filling out the form.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Can't think of one, except, of course, you have to keep remembering to turn it on and off.\n\n''[[Website|http://http://www.pablosoftwaresolutions.com/html/quick__n_easy_ftp_server_lite.html]]'' \n\n\n\n----

\n<div class='header' macro='gradient vert [[ColorPalette::PrimaryLight]] [[ColorPalette::PrimaryMid]]'>\n<div class='headerShadow'>\n<span class='siteTitle' refresh='content' tiddler='SiteTitle'></span> \n<span class='siteSubtitle' refresh='content' tiddler='SiteSubtitle'></span>\n</div>\n<div class='headerForeground'>\n<span class='siteTitle' refresh='content' tiddler='SiteTitle'></span> \n<span class='siteSubtitle' refresh='content' tiddler='SiteSubtitle'></span>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div id='mainMenu' refresh='content' tiddler='MainMenu'></div>\n<div id='sidebar'>\n<div id='sidebarOptions' refresh='content' tiddler='SideBarOptions'></div>\n<div id='sidebarTabs' refresh='content' force='true' tiddler='SideBarTabs'></div>\n</div>\n<div id='displayArea'>\n<div id='messageArea'></div>\n<div id='tiddlerDisplay'></div>\n</div>\n

Photo Editor: \nFirst Listed: ''Mar-2004'' License: ''Free''\n''Average Rating = 7.5 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\nIt is not as daunting as The GIMP, but still has serious features. An application newly translated from French, this application is gaining a large fan following.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Nice intuitive interface. Various frame shapes for cropping, scanner support, six different soft brushes, free rotate, nice gradient tool. (reviewed by John Corliss)\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Here is an odd thing: For some reason, launching it from the context menu, all of it's menus are suddenly in French. Zoot Allors!\n\n''Visit Website : http://photofiltre.free.fr/utilitaires/photofiltre_en.htm''\n''Screenshots: http://www.photofiltre.com/''\n''Download: http://photofiltre.free.fr/download_en.htm''\n\n\n\n\n----

<<plugins>>

[[OpenOffice.Org/OxygenOffice]]\n[[Mozilla Thunderbird and Sunbird]]\n[[AutoHotkey]]\n[[EssentialPIM]]\n[[SpamBayes]]\nDbWorx\n\n\n----

''What it Does'': Questionform is a complete solution for your web surveys or forms, no HTML or programming knowledge required. Creating and publishing complex, multi-page, multi-lingual surveys has never been so easy.\n\n''[[Website|http://questionform.com/features]]''\n\n''Status'': Not yet Evaluated. [[Contact]] me if you have feedback on this item.\n\n\n----

!Rating Criteria\n\nTo qualify for listing here, the candidate software must...\n\n... allow the user to create basic usable output within 30 minutes of completing the install (exception is made for graphics programs).\n\n... be nominated by someone other than it's author/s.\n\n... allow the user to compete in a work environment. No 'skin files', cursors, background changers. (exception is made for some games). \n\n... be full version free software or open source software: no 'free trial' versions, no demos, no spyware.\n\n... be able to do its job better than Windows does natively. There has to be a reason for the user to invest disk space and training time in it.\n\n\n!Once accepted for testing, final evaluation is rated 1-10 on:\n... Intuitiveness of Design: How hard is it to get started? How hard is it to make it useful?\n\n... Robustness: How often does it error or fail? How badly, and how easy is it to fix? Does it break any other application?\n\n... Setup and Removal: Can an average computer user put it on/take it off without problems?\n\n... Inter-operability with payware. Can it read and write most of the commercially available formats?\n\n!Rating System:\n4-5 of 10: It’s the best of a bad lot.\n6 of 10: It does the job if you don’t expect too much.\n7 of 10: Great, for a freebie.\n8 of 10: Impressive!\n9 of 10: Can't miss.\n10 of 10: As good or better than pay-software.\nChampion: An essential tool in almost any computing experience.\n\n----

config.options.chkHttpReadOnly = true;\n

First Reviewed: ''Apr 2005'' License: ''Liteware''\n[img[http://www.readplease.com/common/images/rptoplogosmall.gif]]\nAverage Rating = 8 (Of The 8 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nYour computer will read aloud any text copied to the clipboard or a text file. It's that easy.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Four voices available, and they can be adjusted for speed. It's a great way to work with your data: Have your computer read emails to you, have it read back a section of a speech or word processor document while you rest your eyes. Use it in conjunction with [[Audiograbber (Audio Capture)]] to record ebooks or emails to play on audio CD in the car or at home.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The voices are all synthesized and become hard to listen to after a while. You sometimes have to take a break and listen to a real human voice for a while.\n\n''Website: http://www.readplease.com/english/downloads/''\n\n\n----

Review Date: May-2004 License: Free\nAverage Rating = 9.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nReal Player is a format used heavily on the internet to deliver streaming audio and video. Real Player itself is a serious pain. Spyware abounds, and Real.com has been foisting the trailware Real One Player as an upgrade to the regular player. Real Alternative lets you have the functions of Real One without the hassle.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It also has a browser plug in feature or Mozilla/Netscape, which Real One does not.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Downloading the install file is hit-or-miss (low-bandwidth site).\n\n''[[Website|http://reformed-theology.org/downloads/realalternative.htm]]''\n\n\n----

\n''To set the OpenOffice defaults to launch faster.''\n\nRun ~OpenOffice Writer\n(If it's for the first time, add the user's name select "Already registered" and then "Update") \n\nWhen Writer opens\n"Tools," "Options," "Memory,\nSet "Memory per object" to 8 meg\n"Tools," "Options," "Java" "Off" (Unselected)\n~OpenOffice will now load much faster.\n\n''To set Microsoft Office as the default file format.''\n\nStill in Writer, "Tools" "Options,"\n\nExpand "Load/Save "\n"General"\nAt the bottom right under "Default File Format" select "Text" on the left and "Microsoft 200/XP file" on the right. \n\nSelect "Calc" on the left and "Microsoft 200/XP file" on the right. \nThe spreadsheet will now load and save Microsoft Excel format as the default.\n\nSelect Impress on the left and "Microsoft 200/XP file" on the right.\nThe presenter will now load and save Microsoft ~PowerPoint format as the default.\n \n\n"OK"\n\n\n----

\n[[Recipe - OpenOffice Speed and Compatibility Tweaks]]\n\n''Other Documents''\n[[Antivirus Compared|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/antivirus_compare.htm]] by Bill Rucker (one page, Text)\n\n[[Backups Made (Mostly) Painless|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/backups.pdf]] A good recent backup can save your job. (two pages, PDF)\n\n[[Customize Your Desktop Environment|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/CustDesk.PDF]]\nA white paper on customizing your desktop without collecting spyware or messing up your PC. (two pages, PDF)\n\n[[Desktop Tools in Windows|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/CustDesk.PDF]] (PDF)\nA white paper on the tools that come with Windows, what they do, and how to use them.\n.\n[[Email Management Tricks|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/Emailwiz.txt]] (one page, Text)\n\n[[Fast Freeware for Slow computers|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/Fast_Freeware.htm]] one-file-wonders (one page, HTML)\n\n[[Fast File Movement|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/fast_file.PDF]] (PDF)\nHow to manage large groups of files as if they were one.\n\n[[Folder Views - Customizing|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/folder_views.PDF]] (PDF)\nHow to make files and folders easier to see.\n\n[[Is my Internet activity really private?|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/Private.rtf]]\nThe short answer is no. Read what you can do about it. (one page, RTF)\n\n[[Keyboard Shortcuts for getting around|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/kbshortcuts.PDF]]\nSpeed up getting to where you want to go.\n\n[[Let Word type it for you|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/autocorrect.PDF]]\nType something ask Word to remember it, and spit it back on command. Instructions written for Word but can be adapted to Star Office and Open Office.\n\n[[Once a Month|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/OnceaMonth.htm]] Caring for your computer. (one and 1/2 pages, HTML)\n\n[[Setting Windows Up for the First Time|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/User_setup_of_Windows_2000_or_XP.htm]] Here is a guide to help you set up a new computer to avoid common problems.\n\n[[The Truth About Wireless|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/Wireless_0.html]] Don't say I didn't warn you, (two pages, HTML)\n\n[[What to look for in a new PC|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/docs/What_to_Look_for_in_a_New_PC.htm]] (4 pages, HTML)\n\n[[Who is Meg and What's She Doing on My Computer?|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/whos_meg.pdf]]\nFile and folder sizes explained. (PDF)\n\n[[Windows Parts and Proper Names|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/windowparts.pdf]]\nIt has another name besides "little thingy over there." (PDF)\n\n[[Windows Special Keys|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/tips/keyboard.PDF]]\nThose special keys on the keyboard and what they do for you. (PDF)\n\n\n\n----

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">\n<html>\n<head>\n<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">\n<title>SITE_TITLE: TIDDLER_TITLE</title>\n<meta name="description" content="SITE_SUBTITLE">\n<meta name="keywords" content="TIDDLER_KEYWORDS">\n<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">\nlocation.href = 'TIDDLER_URL';\n</script>\n<base href="TIDDLER_URL">\n</head>\n\n<body>\n<noscript>\n<a href="TIDDLER_URL">TIDDLER_TITLE</a>\n</noscript>\nTIDDLER_CONTENT\n</body>\n</html>

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/scribus.png]]\nReview Date: Dec-2006 License: FOSS\nAverage Rating = 8 \n\nLooking for a replacement for Adobe Pagemaker, Microsoft Publisher or Quark Express? Check out Scribus.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - I can think of three words: ~Ho-Ly-Cow! It's all here, shapes, graphics, layering, templates for any publishing project you need, from brochures to full magazine layout. Too many features to mention. It's open-source, so there is never a problem with file compatibility between clients, vendors, or other collaborators. They can simply download and install Scribus, and you're set. When was the last time you could say that with a pay-ware program.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Like any publisher program, it's not for the faint of heart. Read the tutorials.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.scribus.net/]]''\n''[[Download|http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=125235&package_id=136924&release_id=476975]]'' (Listed as "Win32 install") \n\n\n\n\n----\n

if (config.options.chkSearchTitles==undefined) config.options.chkSearchTitles=true;\nif (config.options.chkSearchText==undefined) config.options.chkSearchText=true;\nif (config.options.chkSearchTags==undefined) config.options.chkSearchTags=true;\nif (config.options.chkSearchFields==undefined) config.options.chkSearchFields=true;\nif (config.options.chkSearchTitlesFirst==undefined) config.options.chkSearchTitlesFirst=false;\nif (config.options.chkSearchList==undefined) config.options.chkSearchList=false;\nif (config.options.chkSearchByDate==undefined) config.options.chkSearchByDate=false;\nif (config.options.chkSearchIncremental==undefined) config.options.chkSearchIncremental=true;\nif (config.options.chkSearchShadows==undefined) config.options.chkSearchShadows=false;\n\nif (config.optionsDesc) {\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchTitles="Search in tiddler titles";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchText="Search in tiddler text";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchTags="Search in tiddler tags";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchFields="Search in tiddler data fields";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchShadows="Search in shadow tiddlers";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchTitlesFirst="Search results show title matches first";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchList="Search results show list of matching tiddlers";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchByDate="Search results sorted by modification date ";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSearchIncremental="Incremental searching";\n} else {\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchTitles>> Search in tiddler titles";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchText>> Search in tiddler text";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchTags>> Search in tiddler tags";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchFields>> Search in tiddler data fields";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchShadows>> Search in shadow tiddlers";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchTitlesFirst>> Search results show title matches first";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchList>> Search results show list of matching tiddlers";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchByDate>> Search results sorted by modification date ";\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\sn<<option chkSearchIncremental>> Incremental searching";\n}\n\nif (config.macros.search.reportTitle==undefined) config.macros.search.reportTitle="SearchResults";

Review Date: Dec-2003 - License: Abandoned Commercial Software (Abandonware)\nAverage Rating = 6.0 (Of The 9 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nSidekick-98 was abandoned almost four years ago, and it still has a loyal following today.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It imports and exports Microsoft Office files pretty easily, and the Wizard is great. It also has the ability to generate HTML pages of contacts and appointments for upload or sharing, which is terrific.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Like the title says "98" it's abandoned. Star Fish Software is out of business. There are no more updates available, and no company support. It also needs to be ~Y2K patched before using. The patch and update instructions are at the site below (see sub pages for more options).\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://siderealb0x.250free.com/]]''\n\n\n\n----

This site uses wiki navigation:\n\n 1: Clicking the Left menu option will give you a drop-down list of programs to choose from. You can choose one from the dropdown or choose to "Open All".\n\n 2: Entries don't close up by themselves. When you finish with an entry, there is a "Close" and "Close Others" link at the top. Feel free to use them, you can always find your way back. You may want to "Close All" periodically to clear the screen. \n\n3: If you have a list of entries that you want to hang onto - bookmarking the page won't work. Click "Permaview" and __then__ bookmark. That will work. \n\nYou could also copy the location that appears in your location bar at the top of your browser, and paste it into a document or a shortcut. \n\n 3: Try a "search" or look at the "tags." Program list by subject is ''< = '' over there. Search for a program by name or "tag" over there ''= >''\n\n\n----

Free replacements for Word, Excel, Project, Visio and more...

[img[name|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/logo3.JPG]] "Best of Free Software"\n

http://www.jhoodsoft.org

Icon editor -\n\nUsually a reject because building animated icons will cause Snico Edit to crash. Stay with static icons and it's fine. It's even greenware.\n\nhttp://www.snidesoft.eu/downloads/latest.zip\n\n\n\n----

Review Date: Dec-2003 - License: Open Source\nAverage Rating = 7.75 (Of The 3 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nSpam accounts for up to 75% of email traffic, and spammers are getting more clever at circumventing regular email blocking. How do you stay ahead? With a spam tool that's almost as smart as the spammers.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It builds a statistical model of each message coming into your inbox. From there it scores the message as spam or not spam. It actually learns what spam is, the more email it sees.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Occasionally the database will become corrupted and have to be rebuilt from scratch. Setup can be a pain for non-Outlook users.\n\n''[[Visit Website :|http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/]]''\n\n\n----\n

Review Date: Continuous First Listed: Jun-2003 License: Abandonware Greenware\n\nAverage Rating = 9.0 (Of The 2 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nMicrosoft Excel has its fans. However most people think that Excel is the only commercially available spreadsheet. For them there is an alternative.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Sphygmic is spreadsheet for serious number crunchers. Sphygmic sports 125 functions. You have up to 256 columns and over 16,000 rows, multiple sheets, CSV files and read and write Excel 4.0 files. A charting module is built in.\n\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It's getting a little old. There is no support available. What you get is what there is.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.ds.unifi.it/%7Estefanin/AGR_2001/SH/sssheet.htm]]\n[[Download|http://www.ds.unifi.it/%7Estefanin/AGR_2001/SH/SSSHEET.ZIP]]''\n\n\n----

!Warning! This is NOT FREE!\n\nIt's $40.\n\nIt's listed here because most of the free anti spyware removers are not good enough, and Spysweeper's license is very generous. \n\n''[[Website|http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/?id=H2-HHO_Links-SS&WRSID=4d066358f5ffefa5e80093eef964e60d]]''\n\nThe one exception is [[MalwareBytes Anti-Malware]]. The only problem is that the free version does not do resident scanning. you have to scan manually.\n\n----

First Listed: August 2006 - License: Hobbyware\n\n''Annoyance:'' "My computer is running slower and slower! It takes forever to start up. I took everything out of the Startup folder but it looks like there is more loading than is in Startup! Where can I find that?"\n\nYou're right, there is more loading than you can control. Microsoft hides it. Luckily, Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel reveals it.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - When installed, Startup Control Panel adds an icon to the Control Panel called Startup. Click on it, and the programs that are loaded at startup can be enabled or disabled.\n \n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Very little explanation of what these startup programs do. You have the search for them on Google if you aren't clear.\n\n''[[Website|http://http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml]]''\n\n\n\n----\n\n\n\n\n

.editor textarea { height:35em; }

Star Trek Screensaver\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Trekshot.bmp]]\nReview Date: ''Feb-2005'' First Listed ''Jun 2005'' License: ''Hobbyware''\nRating = 10.0 (Best Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Totally free and totally stunning, System47 comes in two varieties, one with sound and one without.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Very little is wrong with this.\n\n''Visit Website: http://www.mewho.com/''\n\n\n----

Fonts Manager\nFirst Listed ''Sep-2007'' License ''Hobbyware''\n\n''Annoyance'': Keeping track of Windows fonts can be a real pain. If you have enough of them, they can even slow down the computer. \n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' The Font Thing is a terrific font manager. You can see both installed and uninstalled fonts. Remove fonts that are duplicates of others. All of this in a package that needs no install. Set up font samples and switch between them. The web site even has links to free fonts, and all the font supplies you will ever need.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' ...still thinking...\n\n\n''Website/Screenshots: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/tft.html''\n''Download: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~scef/tft/tftdownloadmain.html''\n\n\n----

[img[http://theguide.sourceforge.net/images/tn_shot1.png]]\n\nA free form notes organizer. Very Nice.\n\nIf I needed one, I'd use it.\n\n[[Website|http://theguide.sourceforge.net/]]\n\n\n----

(Sign up to receive the newsletter on the ''[[Welcome]]'' page)\n\n"Easy, inexpensive, socially responsible technology"\n\n''Contents:''\n1: Declaration of Intent\n2: Cell Tech - Cell phone help for busy people\n3: Free Tech - [[Open Project]], Phun\n4: Web Tech - Google Docs and Spreadsheets adds a feature\n5: Medical Tech - Serving the needy in ... Tennessee???\n6: Future Tech -Futuristic watches, cool looking, but what time is it?\n\n''Declaration of Intent:''\nKeeping up with new technology now-a-days is rapidly becoming a requirement. But how do you separate the new offerings that are truly useful from the avalanche of technology information? Do you really need an ~iPhone, or a ~PalmPilot, or that $150 computer program? I monitor digital technology and examine it to see how helpful it would be for the average person. The results are on these pages.\n\nYou will not receive a newsletter issue that is written to meet a specific deadline.\nYou will not receive this newsletter merely because I have something to say.\nYou will only receive this newsletter if the content is worth your time to read. For more information, please see the Wikipedia article on the "information pollution" syndrome. \n \n\n\n''Cell Tech - Cell-phones help busy people;''\nHere are three free services that make using your cell phone an enjoyable experience.\n\n'Jott.com – "Talk Your Text'\nJott is a new service that is just rolling out. It allows you to use your cell phone as a dictation machine. Visit http://www.jott.com. Sign up, input your cell phone number, and email address. Now you can call ~Jott.com's central number from your cell. Speak a note into the phone (up to 30 seconds). ~Jott.com, will transcribe what you say and email the transcription to you. You can also set up other email addresses, or phone numbers for text messaging other people.\nVideo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfKcmaNp99E\n\n * Google Local Search has Speech Recognition:\n\nCell phone companies are charging $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Instead input this number into your cell phone "Contacts"\n"Goog 411"\n1-800-466-4411\nWhen you call the number, you can talk to Google search computers for any city or area. When it finds the results, it will dial the number for you, send you details or send you a map.\nAction video here: http://www.google.com/goog411/\n\n * Send a text message from computer to your cell. http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/09/google-send-to-phone-free-sms-in-us.html\n\nYou can send small lists, reminders etc, from your computer to your cell. Keeps you from losing little slips of paper.\n\n\n''Free Tech –''\nA project planner that costs you nothing – [[Open Project]].\nYou may have a massive project to deal with, lots of people, lots of steps, lots of due dates, lots of things that have to happen before other things can happen, lots of bits and pieces. A good project planner helps you keep track of it all.\n\nMicrosoft Office sells one for $150. Want to pay that much? Neither do I.\nTake a look at [[Open Project]] Note this does require Java Run times to be installed.\n\n\n\n''Fun Tech''\nTired of Solitaire, and ~Free-Cell? Are your Tetris fingers tired?\nWait until you see "Phun". Phun is a two dimensional shapes sandbox. The shapes can be changed, moved, or set to move on their own, with settings you select.\nIt was designed as an application to teach kids the basics of physics, but has turned into much more than that.\nIt's (of course) a free application, very addictive. \nIf you're looking to kill a little time and you're tired of solitaire, boy, this is the way to do it!\nWebsite: http://www.badscience.net/?p=622\n\n\n\n''Web Tech -''\nGoogle Docs and Spreadsheets add a new feature.\nGoogle has been making a dent in Microsoft's hold on the desktop applications market, with Google Docs and Spreadsheets. Google offers a word processor program and spreadsheet application, available for free, on-line, that you can access from any computer and web browser. Instead of attaching a document or spreadsheet to an email, you can create it on Google, and invite people to share the file.\n \nThe latest feature comes under the "Sharing" tab of a Google Spreadsheet. When you share a sheet, you have the option to "Share as a Form." You create a spreadsheet in Google Create Email the form to your recipients. They fill the form out and click submit, which populates rows in your shared spreadsheet. Oh cool!\n\nNice video of it in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bme4z2gFoas\nWebsite: http://docs.google.com\n\n''~Your-Fellow-Man Tech:''\nCharity sends medical technology to the uncared-for in... Tennessee??\n\nRecently, 60 Minutes heard about an American relief organization that airdrops doctors and medicine into the jungles of the Amazon - Remote Area Medical, or "RAM". They set up emergency clinics where the needs are greatest. But these days, that's not the Amazon it's places like America that need a lifeline. Remote Area Medical recently set up its massive clinic, for a weekend, in an exhibit hall in Knoxville, Tenn. - over nine hundred people served in twenty four hours - and hundreds more turned away.\n\nhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/28/60minutes/main3889496.shtml \n\nWatch the video. Consider donating.\n\n\n''Future Tech? ''\nBoy, I hope not! Wrist watches that are so cool and stylish - you can't tell the time.\nTokyoflash Watches vs. Theoretical Physicist

"Easy, inexpensive, socially responsible technology"\n\n\n''Contents:''\n1: Tech Tips - Do you really need anti-virus?\n2: Inbox Tech - EverNote\n3: Free Tech - VLC Media Player - Plays pratically any video.\n4: Play Tech - Google Sketchup\n5: ~Your-Fellow-Man Tech - The ~BoGo solar flashlight\n6: Future Tech - "Hell-o Gorgeous!" The laptop you will be using in 2015.\n\n\n\n''Tech Tips:''\nI started working on a friend's laptop the other day. She wanted to know what her children had done to her machine.\nIt would boot up, login, and promptly execute a full-on "blue screen of death." - Ouch!\n Malicious Software Removal Tool detected a loooong list of bad news software on this system. \nI asked the user if she had any antivirus or antispyware programs running on this machine.\n\n"Uh, I don't think so. I meant to install it, but never got around to it."\n\nOh boy. \nShe just bought herself a whole world of hurtin'. \nAt this point, all she can do is take it to the Geek Squad, have them fix it. When they hand her a bill with a lot of zeros at the end, she will pay the bill, say 'thank you' politely, and take the machine home and put anti-virus and antispyware on it, having learned a very important life lesson: "Not getting around to" installing antivirus on your computer, is like "not getting around" to filling your prescription for birth control pills or heart medication. It's fairly quick and easy, and could save you from a lot of *ahem* unexpected consequences.\n\nFolks, anti virus software is NOT OPTIONAL if you own a computer. This goes double if you're running Windows, but NO computer is immune. PC World magazine recently conducted an experiment where they built a new computer, ran the latest patches, then put it on the internet, without antivirus software.\nTotal time it took before the first virus infection appeared on it? 40 seconds.\nTotal time it took for the computer to become so slow it was useless? About 3 hours. \n\nAntivirus and anti spyware software is cheap (my site has two free ones). It's easy to set up. Set it up. Learn how to keep it updated, and run a scan once a month.\n\n\n\n''Inbox Tech - EverNote''\n\nhttp://evernote.com/\n\nWe are living in the Information Age. \n\nYou are exposed to more written information in the Sunday morning newspaper than William Shakepeare was exposed to in his entire lifetime. Yes, you read that right.\n\nHow do you keep track of all the necessary information you encounter during the course of your day and keep it all straight? Isn't there a way to use a computer to help with this?\n\nThe answer is "Yes". \n\nEverNote is a program that is designed to harvest information on your computer, or on the web, wherever it is, organize it, allow you to tag it, and index it so it is search-able. It's very easy to use, since it comes with a "grabber" tool that eliminates the cutting and pasting of other programs. Highlight the data you want to keep, click a button and EverNote does the rest. Text, graphics, entire web pages if you want. It even has web component that they are field testing, which makes your notes available anywhere. Email me if you would like an invitation to the web test.\n\nIt's free for 60 days. After that the advanced features disable.\nEvernote represents the "best of breed" for notes organizer programs. There are others: Total Text Container comes close, as does Freemind. I think EverNote has them all beat. Using it feels like my brain just built an addition out-back.\n\n\n''Free Tech – VLC Media Player - Plays practically any video.''\n\nhttp://www.videolan.org/vlc/\n\nYou want to play a DVD on your computer. You may have the hardware. Yu may have a player. Small problem, you might not have a DVD "codec" driver on your system, which you find out when you try to play the DVD. so you go in search of one and discover they cost money. Intervideo charges $40 to buy theirs.\n\nEasy fix: Get VLC media player - it'll play pretty much any DVD you put in. It'll will even stream your video across a home network. Slick, hey?\n \n\n''Fun Tech - Google Sketchup''\n\nhttp://sketchup.google.com/\n\nA very cool program that lets you draw three dimensional shapes. Want to see how your kitchen remodeling project is going to look? Want a three-dimensional map of your workplace? How about a full 3d model of your house?\n\nMost 3d rendering programs are VERY hard to use. Google Sketchup makes it a lot easier for the lay person to use: Make a box, make a curve, throw a texture on it (wood, brick, glass, what have you) and you're done.\n\n\n \n\n''~Your-Fellow-Man Tech - The ~BOGO Flashlight''\n \nWe don't think too much about electric lights, except when the power goes out, or when it comes time to pay the electric bill. \nBut there are places all over the world which have no artificial light when the sun goes down - whatever light there is, gets provided by oil lamps or firelight. Have you ever tried to read by the light of a fire? How about do school work? Or try to work to bring more money in?\n\nEnter Mark Bent, a Texas oil man who worked in Africa for many years, saw the need and filled it - an artificial light that requires no batteries, no bulb to burn out and only one moving part.\n\nThe BOGO flashlight - "BOGO" stands for "Buy One Give One". The price for one unit actually pays for two. You get one, and the other goes to a villager who needs it. \nEight hours of solar power gives about five hours of light. LED's provide the light and never need replacing. The case is high-impact plastic in two colors, orange and pink (male villagers took the orange lights from their women, so Bent made a second model with a pink case).\n\nWomen have been using them to start after-dinner reading and study groups. Children can now do homework after dark. Men can do additional skilled work, which brings in more money. Villages can protect themselves from tribal violence. Since fires are no longer needed for light, gathering wood doesn't take as long, and fewer trees need to be cut.\n \nHere you can see it in action: https://www.bogolight.com/Articles.asp?ID=136\nIf you want to buy one/give one :http://www.bogolight.com/\n\n\n\n''Future Tech - "Hell-o Gorgeous!" The laptop you will be using in 2015.''\nI'll take one of each - http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9070158\n\n\n''Coming in future issues:''\nWhy getting tech support sucks, and what you can do to get better support.\nMy impressions of Windows Vista - the unvarnished truth.\nThe creator of Irfanview has granted me an interview!\n\nJohn\n-- \nHood's Best of Free Software\nwww.jhoodsoft.org

[img[http://www.thinkfree.com/images/common/logo.gif]]\nFirst Reviewed: Oct 2006 - License: Liteware, Registerware, Webware\nAverage Rating = 7 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n\nYou have a Word processor. ~`Excel-ish spreadsheet, and ~PowerPoint-ish presenter. Think of it as Microsoft Office "Lite" if it actually had a light version.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - All the most essential features are there and exactly where you remember them to be. An added feature is the ability to share documents direct from the website - a poor person's ~SharePoint. \n\n ''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Drawbacks include glacial page load times, and some of the spiffier MS Office tools are missing. Sharing is only available with other Thinkfree users.\n\nYou can purchase a locally launched version, which includes all three apps, for $50. This is a serious possibility for people who MUST have compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel and ~PowerPoint , but don't want to make the inve$tment in Micro$oft $software licen$ing. \n\n''[[Website|http://www.thinkfree.com/common/main.tfo]]''\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.chaossoftware.com/images/tc6-logo.gif]]\nFirst Listed August 2007 - License Free Nagware\n\nAt long last, I found a free replacement for ACT!, Salesforce.com or Goldmine. It's a program called Time and Chaos 5. This is not to be confused with Chaos Manager listed in Outlook Replacements. \n\n ''@@color(lime):Pluses - @@'' - Time and Chaos is a full contact manager with history, reminders and attachments. The data base is even sharable. Anyone who spends a lot of time managing customers, clients and their needs, this is a must. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It's free for 30 days, then you get a nag screen on startup.\n\n Even if you decide to buy the new T&C 7, it is much cheaper than the $$$ that Act! Salesforce.com and Goldmine are demanding.\n\n''[[Website (Scroll down to "Legacy Products")|http://www.chaossoftware.com/products.asp]]\n[[Download|http://www.chaossoftware.com/programs/chaos/chaossetup.exe]]''\n\n\n----\n\n

Tooler allows you to create special type of shortcuts to easily turn off the monitor, restart your PC or eject selected ~CD-ROM tray, run screensaver or change volume.\n\n''@@color(lime):Pluses - @@'' - No install and it only runs when you need it.\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' - limited set of functions. \n\n'Website: http://www.english.aionel.net/\n\n\n----

Nice Notes program, portable. Has specialized notes for Calendar, contact and to do.\n\nNot recommended because it occasionally crashes. Confusing set of features\n\nWebsite: [[here|http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=179054]]\n\n\n\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.mytreedb.com/themes/Treedb_Blue/design/up_logo.gif]]\n\nFree form notes organizer.\n\n[[Website|http://www.mytreedb.com/treedbnotes_free.html]]\n\n\n\n-----\n

Review Date: Continuous - License: Free to Windows users\n\n''The Annoyance - Some settings aren't in Windows Control Panel, especially the ability to tell Windows to stop putting other windows on top of the one you're working on. ''\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Lordy, where to start? The problem mentioned in the annoyance above is under ~TweakUI called "Prevent Windows from stealing focus." Clicking that one checkbox is worth the time to download! Much more is adjustable: what drive letters you see, how shortcuts look, and a host of others.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' One minor "gotcha" - If you uninstall ~TweakUI, it does not reverse the changes you made. "Restore to Defaults" in ~TweakUI before you remove it.\n\nThis website contains a page for all versions of ~TweakUI:\nhttp://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/tweakui\n\n\n----

First Listed: Aug-2004 - License: Free- unlimited Special Note: Greenware (No Install Req)\nAverage Rating = 9.0 (Of The 9 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - This program has what few others do: Month view, advanced features for repetitive events and a snooze function. Day view, week view, and for those Anglo-philes out there "fortnight" view. This is software that is wonderfully thought out and free.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' You won't find many minuses with this app.\n\n[[Download|http://www.vnunet.com/computeractive/downloads/2164058/uk-kalender-calendar-software]]\n\n\n----

Capture web page to an image\n\n''Annoyance'' - Web pages often scroll past the bottom of the browser. Screen captures don't always work in this instance, and saving the page results in odd output.\n\nInput the page into URL2BMP and allow it to capture the page to an image\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Does what it says, almost everything is configurable from the main screen. Type in the URL. Let it find it, and it captures the full page for display. No install, you just run it.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' A few pages will load slowly and you will miss the capture the first few times. Still it's worth a try.\n\n''Website: http://www.pixel-technology.com/freeware/url2bmp/english/index.html''\n\n\n----

''Software to read <<tag Other-Formats>> and obscure file types.''\n\n''Free software that overcomes <<tag Windows-Annoyances>>''\n\n''<<tag Powertoys>>'' for the power user\n\n'"Thou Shalt Also Have '<<tag Fun>>''\n\n-----

Review Date - ''Feb 2007'', License ''~Free-Unlimited''\nAverage Rating = ''10 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\nVLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (~MPEG-1, ~MPEG-2, ~MPEG-4, ~DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well as ~DVDs, ~VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It can also be used as a server to stream in unicast or multicast in ~IPv4 or ~IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It plays an astounding array of video formats. It plays DVD's without requiring any special codex download. Small and highly portable, VLC Media Player is a must for anyone wishing to play video.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Not a one!\n\n''[[Website|http://www.videolan.org/vlc/]]''\n\n\n----

\n<div class='toolbar' macro='toolbar closeTiddler closeOthers +editTiddler permalink references jump'></div>\n<div class='title' macro='view title'></div>\n<div class='subtitle'><span macro='view modifier link'></span>, <span macro='view modified date [[DD MMM YYYY]]'></span> (<span macro='message views.wikified.createdPrompt'></span> <span macro='view created date [[DD MMM YYYY]]'></span>)</div>\n<div class='tagging' macro='tagging'></div>\n<div class='tagged' macro='tags'></div>\n<div class='viewer' macro='view text wikified'></div>\n<div class='tagClear'></div>\n\n

First Listed: ''Sep 2007'' License: ''FOSS''\nAverage Rating = 9.0 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nGives you multiple desktops where you had just one. Microsoft has multi-desk freeware but without the features and stability. Cool concept, well executed. Great for people who "multi-task."\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Very small application. Install file is less than 500 KB. You get a small window in the upper left with icons for your running apps. You start with one desktop, but right click "Configure" "Desktops" and you can add as many as you want. You can drag the icons to different desktops.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' I;m not crazy about the default number of desktops being set to "one". It looks like the app doesn't do anything. I also wish there was a way to save apps to a specific desktop and it could be used as a multi-app launcher. It's still nice though.\n\n[[Download:|http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=virt-dimension&filename=VirtualDimension-0.94.exe&use_mirror=superb-east]]\n\n\n\n\n

''Abandonware - ''Software that people still use but is no longer being updated by the developer.\n\n''~DIYware - ''Software written by a programmer who couldn't find needed features in the software available. They write a "do it yourself" program that meets their needs and then offer their vision of the program to the public.\n\n''Greenware'' Greenware is slang for software that does not need to be installed. It can be run from anyplace.\n\n''Liteware - ''Software publishers will often create a free, slightly disabled, version of one of one of their titles in order to get you to spend money on the software, or on technical support, or what have you. This is different from "shareware" and "trialware" "demoware" which are severely disabled.\nLiteware is sometimes called "Crippleware".\n\n''Free Open Source Software ''- Abbreviated FOSS. This is as free as it gets. Not only is the software freely available, but so is the program code it's made from. Any programmer can download the code and make whatever changes they want.\n\n''Hobbyware - ''Software written by a programmer as a hobby.\n\n''Registerware'' - Software or services that are free with your username and email. Some of these companies sell your email to spammers, some don't. Check the Privacy Notice before signing up.\n\n''Webware'' - Software or services that are delivered over the internet. Little or no software is downloaded.\n\n

\n\nLeft Menu\n\nList -\nAlphabetic\n\nBy subject\n\nLinks\n\nRecipes\n\nSearch\n\nContact \n\nDonate\n\nMain Page\n\nWords, Numbers, Other Data, Pictures, Video, Web, Security Repair and cleanup, Desktop Tweaks.\n\n-----

Welcome to the best of business and productivity free software, and the documents to help you use them. \n\n!!!!New! Sign up for the [[newsletter|http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pQoW9c2Yn9k-lXqtnrIqwCw]]. I talk about free and open software, "green tech" and bridging the information gap (with some interest in cool geek toys too).\n\n''@@color(Red): "Digg [[This page|http://digg.com/software/Freeware_everyone_should_know]]@@''\n\n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/rss_icon.gif]] [[Subscribe to RSS|http://www.jhoodsoft.org/index.xml]]\n\n\n[[Site Navigation]] - a very short guide on how to use this site's features.\n\n[[Other Pages of Note]] - background info I didn't know anywhere else to put.\n\nThe [[Rating System]]\n\n\n\n----\n\n

Why go with free software? Here is a list of all the *fun* you are missing when you decide to go with free software\n\n * Almost all pay software programs now require that you activate your copy to prove you payed for it. Activation requires you to manually type in a 25 to 35 digit activation key printed on the package. \nActivation keys are usually printed on sticker on the box, or on the CD envelope. You often have a 30-day grace period before you must activate.\n\nThe facts about pay software and activation.\n\n1: Activation does not inherit: Microsoft Windows has a different activation key from Microsoft Office. They are purchased separately.\n\n2: Some computers may be sold to you with name-brand software "included", yet you may not recieve an activated copy of the software, and no activation key. It is only then that you find out that you must pay for the software you thought had payed for already.\n\n3: If you ever need to reinstall the software, you'll need the activation key. Be VERY careful not to throw it out with the packaging and the ad flyer's. Put it in a safe place. Find the activation keys for the software you own now and put them in a safe place.\n\n4: Don't buy software from a web-based company that offers "big discounts on name-brand software." It's quite possible that the software is pirated, and the activation key does not work. You can't get your money back, because they have closed the company and opened under another name.\n\n5: Activation is tied to both the printed key number you typed in and a hardware serial number. This is why you can't "borrow" someone else's activation key and use it on your copy. The key will come back as invalid. If you replace the hard drive, or the motherboard, your software may suddenly de-activate without warning. You will need the activation key that you saved in #3 above. If you don't have it, you are in serious "number 2", if you know what I mean.\n\n6: Activation keys require that you be on-line and that the activation service is available. In August of 2007 Microsoft's activation sites went down for several days, worldwide. Millions of legitimate users who had paid for their software, could not get their software working or receive updates. \n\n...or use free software for your computing needs. You own it much more completely that you do with payware. No activation required - ever.

Review Date: May-2005 -License: Freeware - Special Note: Greenware (No installation required)\nAverage Rating = 9.75 (Of The 12 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nRecommended/Reviewed By:Eli Coten\n\n''The Annoyance:'' Windows has an irritating tendency to put windows in the way of what you're doing, or hiding a window you need. For people working on computers all day, a handy window controller is almost a must.\nHere it is.\n\n (EC) It is a kind of all in one utility that does transparency (XP/2003 only), always on top from a right click menu (right click the title bar), and process priority (even win9x versions!), as well as minimize to system tray.\n\n (JH) It took me a while to figure out where the controls were "Oh! Right-click the title bar!". Once I got that, everything was a snap.\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.abstractpath.com/powermenu/]]''\n\n\n\n----

First Listed: ''Aug 2007'' License: "Hobbyware''\nAverage Rating = 8.0\n\nIt would be fun to pass the time between projects by playing a little golf. Can't hit the links? Here is a free miniature golf game. It's harder than it looks.\n\n''@@color(lime):Pluses - @@'' Requires no install, so you don't need install rights for a work computer. You have up to 36 golf holes and some of them are insanely tough.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It could look a little prettier, but see what you think.\n\nWebsite: http://www.planetfreeplay.com/game/WiniGolf/\n\n\n----\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/wordweb3.gif]]\nReview Date: Apr-2005 First Listed: Jun-2005 License: Liteware, Webware\nAverage Rating = 10.0 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nEvery word processor has a dictionary. But what if you are a bad speller and don't have a word processor open?\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - ~WordWeb sits in the system tray waiting for you to place a word in the search window. What you get back is far more than the right spelling: thesaurus, matching words, place in the dictionary, definition and derivation are given as well. All of this is offered within one of the most compact and intuitive windows I've ever seen.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''Not many minuses to mention. You can get a little lost in the amount of information you get back on any given word however.\n\n[[Visit Website|http://wordweb.info/free/]]\n\n\n\n----\n\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/wikiserver.gif]]\n''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' \nReview Date: Continuous - License: FOSS - First Listed: July 2005\n\nAverage Rating = 8.5 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nThink of a Wiki as Microsoft Sharepoint server, only free and easier to use. The whole "wiki-web" concept is that you can update your website live, FROM THE WEBSITE itself. The plain text that you type (plus special format codes) are translated into html for you by the wiki server. You are basically creating and updating published web pages on the fly. Use it as collaboration or groupware server, a knowledgebase, a diary blog, even an information manager for notes etc. The possibilities are only limited by what you want to do.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - There are several Wiki servers, and more a few designed to run on the Windows platform. ~WXWikiServer has the most features and ease of use. There is no install. Unzip the files and start the EXE. Point your browser to http:\s\slocalhost. Click "Edit page" Start typing. Special features of this server are the capability to perform administrative tasks, from the wiki administrative page. Most others require you to stop the server, make the change, and restart manually. Having the convenience of ~WXwikiserver's console is very nice.\n\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Other wikis allow you to save attachments in the wiki "in line". Wx Wiki Server does not. You can only link to an existing file.\n\n\n''[[Website|http://www.wikiserver.org/]]''\n''[[Download|http://www.wikiserver.org/download.html]]''\n\n\n----

''@@color(purple):Champion! @@ '' Review Date: Continuous - License: Free\n[img[http://perso.orange.fr/pierre.g/xnview/images/home/xnview.gif]]\nAverage Rating = 9.5 (Of The 4 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nLike Irfanview Xnview handles multiple graphic formats, bulk-convert one format to another, do a slide show, sort files with a thumbnail view of each. It also has batch rename and file move\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.xnview.com/en/index.html]]''\n\n\n----

Xobni Inbox for Outlook - Review\nBy: ''Paul O'Mara ''\n4/7/2008\n\n(Ed. note: "Xobni" is "Inbox" spelled backward)\n\nXobni is, per its [[website|http://www.xobni.com/]]', “the Outlook plug-in that helps you organize your flooded inbox.” It’s basically what Outlook should be. It appears as a sidebar next to Outlook and shows past conversations and attachments, also automatically pulling contact information from signatures. For whatever message you have selected in your Inbox, in the sidebar will appear that person/organization’s contact info, when throughout the day they’ve email you (shown graphically), how many messages you’ve sent them and they’ve sent you, who else they’re connected to among people who email you (it’s kind of a social network in this way), a list of your recent conversations, and a list of all the files you’ve exchanged with them. The last three things are in scroll-downs, which is how Xobni’s able to cram all this information into its sidebar. All these things listed are clickable, of course: clicking on a conversation listed makes that conversation appear in the sidebar, clicking on any file listed opens up that file, and so on.\n\nObviously, those obsessive about their email usage (volume, patterns, etc.) will be able to go nuts with Xobni. It also adds a Xobni menu on your Outlook top-menu between Actions and Help. From here you can tweak its settings and also run Xobni Analytics, which gives even more stats about your email usage: today’s summary, mail traffic, response times, unique contacts, and so on. Almost everything is available in graphical format by day, week, month, year, hourly average, daily average, and monthly average. You can even graph specific date ranges, or limit to just incoming or outgoing messages. Whatever you wanna know about your Outlook usage, it can tell you.\n\nBy far the best feature of Xobni, though, is that it also indexes all your messages to give quick search results when you need to find something in your email. Like the search boxes in Mac OS X and Windows Vista (among other things), results start showing up as you type in the box. This alone makes it worth it, since searching in Outlook is normally really slow and difficult to do across many different archives. Similar to how the web-based email programs have become, searching is so fast and accurate that it makes the practice of filing in folders kind of unnecessary. Instead of knowing where a message is via the use of folders, you know you can always just find it via search.\n\nEven though it’s in beta, everything in Xobni has always worked. The only negative I’ve encountered so far is it makes startup of Outlook a little slow. But once it’s launched it’s quick as can be, so it’s only a minor annoyance.\n

Review Date: Continuous - License: Free (Requires signup)\nAverage Rating = 9.75 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Full Outlook tasks, notes, and calendar, on the web, so it goes where you go. It's skinnable, adding calendar items is easy. Calendars can be shared and published. Lots of room for email - 1 gigabyte. The java version of the interface even provides right-clicking and drag-and-drop. You can even tie in other content from Yahoo and have an all-inclusive page that let's you see everything at once.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' The search engine is unimpressive. The ad space makes some views hard to read. Calendars are sharable, but only with other Yahoo users. \n\n ''[[Yahoo Mail|http://mail.yahoo.com]]''\n\n\n\n----\n

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/Yamipod.jpg]]\n"Yet another iPod Manager"\nReviewed: ''Dec 2007'' \nOverall Rating: ''8''\n\n\n\nYour iPod came with iTunes, which is bloated and ad-filled. It also doesn't allow you to export tunes out of the iPod. You can only import into it. What happens if you switch computers, or your hard drive crashes? There are other iPod managers - but they'll cost you.\n\nExcept for this one.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It's a one-file wonder. Unzip the file, extract the EXE and run it. It'll detect the iPod automatically and read the memory. You can now add and remove iPod content. \n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' For some reason I got duplicates when I tried to write to the iPod the first time. the "Remove Duplicates" tool needs a "Select All Dups" feature - de-duping a 300 tune list is time consuming.\n\nAlso a few of the tunes had skips and corruption when playing. I just deleted the few that I had and and pulled the MP3 into ~YamiPod.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.yamipod.com]]''\n\n\n----\n\nYamiPod\n"Yet another iPod Manager"\n

Full Motion Screen Capture to video: \n[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/zdsoft.gif]]\nReview Date: ''Mar-2006'' License: ''Liteware''\nRecommended by: ''Bill Curtis''\n''Average Rating = 8.5 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)''\n\n''@@color(Red):Why No Longer Listed - @@'' Nothing wrong with it, it's just that CamStudio does exactly the same thing, has more features and doesn't have the logo in the upper left corner.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.zdsoft.com/downloads.html]]''\n\n\n----\n

[img[http://crm.zoho.com/crm/images/zohocrm-logo.gif]]\nFirst Listed: Aug-2007 - License: Free for the sign-up\nAverage Rating = 8 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nZoho has far more than just the office suite. You have the ability to do hosted CRM (that's "Customer Resource Management" for non-biz-types. Think of it as ACT! or a contact manager on steroids) You have a group collaboration suite, with shared calendar, email, shared documents etc., and an on-line planner that supports tagging (not bad!) and updating via email (very not-bad!). \n\n''[[Website|http://crm.zoho.com/crm/login.sas]]\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/zoho.gif.jpg]]\nFirst Listed: Aug-2007 - License: Liteware, Registerware, Webware\nAverage Rating = 8 (Of The 6 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Features are easy to understand and use. An impressive number of functions in the spreadsheet application. It's easy for a beginner to get started and get productive in a flash. Page load times are much faster. You can also share content.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''1 -The number of features are pretty slim, 2: You can pubish, but you can only share with other Zoho users.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.zoho.com]]''\n\n\n----

\n\n\nIt's a database rapid developer - online - \n\nNo longer free\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - Microsoft Access no more, Filemaker Pro for free. Copy one of the pre-done templates, make some changes, share it, and off you go: an on-line database that you built that is customized to your needs.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It's still in beta, which means it crashes occasionally; again, very slow page load times; and a limited number of design options.\n\n''[[Website|http://creator.zoho.com/]]''\n\n\n----

Review Date: Apr-2004 License: Free for personal use\nRating = 7.0 (Of The 5 Programs I Reviewed)\n\nNote ~WindowsXP Service Pack 2 has a firewall installed as part of it's Security Center. Several security experts regard this as insufficient. Here is one some free firewall software option: Firewalls keep the bad guys out when you are running a high speed or dial-up internet connection. \n\nThe firewall suggestions below are for Windows versions other than XP ~SP2.\n\n~ZoneAlarm seems to beat out all others. Freeware testers prefer it over Comodo Firewall.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' Testers mention ~ZoneAlarm's reliability, ease of use and speed.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' Are sure sure we're looking at the same program? Ease of use, not so much.\n\n''[[Website|http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/trial_zaFamily/trial_zaFamily.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en]]''\n\n\n----\n\n \n\n

[img[http://www.splinterware.com/images/idailydiaryicon.jpg]]\nReview Date: Dec-2006 License: Free Source\nAverage Rating = 8.75\n\nThere are a lot of programs that will help you get organized. I've used most of them. Learning to use them takes almost all of the time that you're trying to save. Here is a simple diary and datebook for those who don't need all that much.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - It's a little more than a virtual sheet of paper, one for each day. You can input text, pictures and links. You have easy navigation and search capability. The diary resides in the system tray so it's not far away, ever. The diary can be password protected, and it backs itself up. A simple idea beautifully done.\nPersonal organization for the intimidated.\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' It'd be nice if there were a reminder gadget that popped up, instead of you having to look at the diary all the time.\n\n''[[Visit Website|http://www.splinterware.com/]] : [[Download|http://www.splinterware.com/download/index.htm]]''\n\n\n\n----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/vdownloader.gif]]\nReviewed: ''Dec 2007''\nOverall Rating: ''9''\n\nQuote from the website:\n'VDownloader can download and convert videos from Youtube, Google Video, Metacafe, ~MySpace, ~DailyMotion, Yuvutu, and many other similar sites, saving them in ~AVI or ~MPG format.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' It's almost a one-file wonder! Just download the file, run it, and put the URL of the video in, Set the conversion format and go!\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@'' There isn't much you can do with it once you download. Conversion takes a while.\n\n''Website '':http://www.vdownloader.es/''\n\n\n-----

[img[http://www.jhoodsoft.org/Logos/ybookHalLogoNew.png]]\nReview Date: Jul-2005 License: Free for all\nAverage Rating = 9.0 (Of The 3 Programs I Reviewed)\n\n\nLarge text files, and ebooks can be read in Notepad, but this becomes very tiring after prolonged reading. Also, ebook fans like to have the luxury of automatic scrolling, and audio read back.\n\n''@@color(green):Pluses - @@'' - From Spacejock Software comes a truly terrific ebook reader. Pages are clear and well formatted. Font size and appearance can be changed. Bookmarks are remembered. Very nice and easy reading.\n\n\n''@@color(Red):Minuses - @@''No auto scroll. No audio (audio is available in another Spacejock application).\n\n''[[Website|http://www.spacejock.com/yBook.html]]''\n\n\n\n----