Free Apps!

[javyn]

I'd like this thread to be a place where we can discuss/list our favorite computer applications. I'd rather not people list their favorite phone/ipad apps though, maybe start another thread for that. If the app exists for phones and computers, great, if it's phone only, then I don't care. All I ask is that they be 1) free, 2) productive in some way - I don't care about free games, and 3) cross-platform if possible, but not required I'll go first and list the things that really stick out to me. 1) Dropbox - If you don't have it, get it, enough said. http://www.dropbox.com/ 2) Evernote - Great idea/link/everything management tool. (For Linux, search your repository for "Nevernote") http://www.evernote.com/ 3) KeePass - Password manager (KeePassX in Linux) http://keepass.info/ 4) Metapad - great notepad replacement for Windows. Not as powerful as say Notepad++, but most of us non-programmers don't need that. http://liquidninja.com/metapad/ 5) Excalibur32 - Free RPN calculator for Windows! http://www.freeware-guide.com/OldGoo...Excalibur.html 6) Launchy - Application Launcher. If you are still using the Start Menu or some goofy dock, get out of 1997 and get with the program. (cross platform) http://www.launchy.net/ 7) CutePDF - Easily convert any printable document to PDF (Windows only) http://www.cutepdf.com/ 8) Abiword - Down and dirty word processor. Not bloated or as crappy as what's offered in OpenOffice. http://www.abisource.com/ 9) Audacity - Free sound editor, think Soundforge but free. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ 10) mp3directcut - Cut out parts of mp3s....great for when you download an album and the whole damn thing is one giant file and you need to separate the songs. Quick and easy since no file conversion is necessary. http://mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html 11) Alwaysontopmaker - Keep the selected window "always on top" no matter where you click. Useful for transcription. http://www.fadsoft.net/AlwaysOnTopMaker.htm That's all I can think of now, but I know I'm leaving stuff out so I'll add to my list when it comes to me. Anyone else have any recs?

 

[olstudios]

looks like you pretty much covered all of them lol. Dropbox is great, everytime a friend of yours signs up you get 1/4 of a gig added to your overall cloud.

you did forget open office though:
http://www.openoffice.org/
great alternative to microsoft office and it's free. I use it every now and then.

 

[Szeph el raton]

IrfanView
www.irfanview.com
Picture editor, has all the basics.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

I'm a big fan of GIMP. I've been using it to edit photos for years.

 

[javyn]

Honestly I'm not a fan of OpenOffice. Actually I hate it. And MS Office 2010 is actually pretty sweet. If MS would ever make a Linux friendly (deb) package (fat chance) I'd actually buy it. Well, I'd buy Word and Excel. The rest of the suite is now useless to me thanks to Google Contacts and Google Calendar.

Neo....check out "GimPhoto". It's GIMP but the layout has been changed to exactly mirror Photoshop's, ie, free version of Photoshop who could ask for more?!

I hope I didn't list them all already, I was really hoping others had some gems I hadn't heard of.

edit: Oh yes, not free, but I'd like to mention Nitro PDF. Almost as good as Adobe Acrobat full, but costs around 100 bucks, a lot of the time less if you keep an eye out for rebates. It even does Bates Stamping. Also comes with a PDF converter, but I disable that. Seems like the payware PDF converters are really slow compared to CutePDF. I also hate how the payware converters integrate themselves into Office apps and usually break them.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

^ Thanks for the tip. Do you happen to know any free programs that will back-up an iPod Touch (I.E. music, photos, etc.)?

 

[javyn]

Sorry, I never have, and never will own an Apple device

Wish I could help.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

^ Lol. It's all good. I might need to ask Tokyo Slim then.

 

[ad_infinitum]

http://www.mediamonkey.com/ is a fairly nice Itunes alternative. I also find http://www.yamipod.com/ and anapod http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/ quite useful. So many apps for this, none of them are great

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by Neo_Version 7

^ Thanks for the tip. Do you happen to know any free programs that will back-up an iPod Touch (I.E. music, photos, etc.)?

DiskAid is quite nice. As is Sharepod.

 

[indesertum]

Originally Posted by Neo_Version 7

I'm a big fan of GIMP. I've been using it to edit photos for years.

gimp is so frustrating. i tried using it to draw organic chemistry reactions. couldnt even draw a stupid arrow. im sure its in there somewhere, but goddamn at least make it easy for users.