This week, we continue our look at must-have software for home and work. Proving you don’t have to spend a lot — or anything at all — to get extremely useful software, our list favors free or low-cost solutions. The smaller and more portable, the better.
Siber Systems makes some cool software, but none is helpful than RoboForm, a browser plug-in that serves as a secure password manager and automatic form filler. It’s a huge time saver for anyone who works online, and it is secure enough to store personal data such as Social Security, driver’s license, and credit card numbers.
Now, you can take this technology anywhere with RoboForm2Go, Siber Systems’ portable version of its award-winning software. Designed to be run directly from a USB flash drive, the program plugs itself into any Internet Explorer browser, allowing you to log in to your favorite sites with a single mouse click.
When finished, simply remove the USB drive and with it, all traces of your sensitive data. Just like the desktop version, RoboForm2Go protects data stored on your flash drive with advanced AES encryption.
Siber Systems is nice enough to offer a free version of RoboForm2Go, which works perfectly but is limited to only 10 login sets. For $39.95, you can download the registered version, which has no such limitation, plus additional features. Personally, I think the free version works just fine. Check it out at www.siber.com.
Near the top of the must-have software list, Piriform’s CCleaner should be standard issue on all computers. Truly a world-class security tool, the program is available in 35 different languages, as well as a portable version that runs from a flash drive — no need to install.
CCleaner is designed to clean up after your computer activities, wiping out cookies, passwords, temporary files, browser history, recent document list and recycle bin, clean the registry and much more. You’ll regain hard drive space, keep your computer secure and boost performance with a single click. Get your free copy at www.ccleaner.com.
One of my favorite new additions to the must-have list is Astonsoft’s EssentialPIM, an appointment, task and information manager with a built-in scheduler. Those familiar with Microsoft Outlook will feel right at home with the program’s user-friendly interface. Available for desktop PCs, the version that has me excited is U3-compliant, which means it was designed to be run entirely from a flash drive, from any computer.
The company provides free versions of the desktop and portable editions of EssentialPIM, letting you perform the basic functions, but to access advanced features — and there’s a load of them — you’ll need to purchase the registered product for $39.95. If you don’t now use a PIM, get to know the free version, and you might want to register.
The full version includes password-protected data encryption, built-in backup utility, desktop sticky notes, single and recurring reminder alarms, address book with contact photos, data exchange with Microsoft Outlook and more. Learn more and download the free version at www.essentialpim.com.
Another must-have piece of software is VLC Player from VideoLAN, a community of open-source video software developers, located at www.videolan.org. VLC Player is the flagship product, an entirely free multimedia player compatible with dozens of audio and video formats, in addition to DVDs, VCDs and various streaming protocols.
Though not much to look at, VLC Player is beautiful because of the quality of its output. Featuring an extremely small footprint, the program is very portable and an ideal addition to any flash drive.
Best of all, unlike most multimedia players, VLC doesn’t require any external codecs to work. Codec files can be flaky, so if you have issues playing audio or video files, give VLC Player a try — you might be surprised.
Everyone should have access to a good screen-capture program. It’s like surfing the Internet with a digital camera around your neck, ready to take a snapshot at a moment’s notice.
If you’ve always wanted to try a screen-capture program, one of the best freeware offerings I’ve seen isScreenhunter 5.1, free from Wisdom Software Inc., online at www.
wisdom-soft.com. Though it comes in two more robust retail versions, the free edition does everything the average user could want.
wisdom-soft.com. Though it comes in two more robust retail versions, the free edition does everything the average user could want.
Once installed, set the program’s activation hotkey. Next, set the output options. With the program memory resident, once the hotkey is pressed, the capture begins. An on-screen three-step wizard makes the process about as foolproof as it gets.
Scott A. May is a local computer consultant and has been writing PC Info since 1989. Reach him at sam@csc-pc.com.
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