Open Office

OpenOffice.org Writer

Open office is a free alternative to Microsoft Word, often being touted as the ‘free word’ it has most of the features and capabilities that word has. In fact, Open Office has many advantages over Word such as more understandable header and footer tools, bulleted and numbered lists, and general ease of use. When you combine these positives with the fact that it’s open source you have one very powerful tool at your disposal. Open source refers to the fact that any with the knowledge to do so can code their own changes into the program and make it better for everyone.

AbiWord

AbiWord “wording processing for everyone” as their slogan suggests is a free word processor that has been gaining popularity over the years. AbiWord features just about every special feature word does including the ability to save to all different sorts of file types. AbiWord is also designed based on earlier versions of Word making is very easy for previous Word users to switch and instantly begin typing. Although it’s similar in style, AbiWord has an extremely clean interface that may be refreshing for older word users.

Qjot

Qjot isn’t a word processor like OpenOffice.org and AbiWord in a sense, but it can be used to edit Word .Doc files. This makes it an invaluable tool for people who are receiving Word documents but don’t have Word themselves to read and edit them. It’s important to note that this is all you can really do with Qjot, it’s not meant to be a program that can convert Word documents to .txt files and other extensions. Other features of Qjot include the ability to add images and other forms of multimedia into the document. While this isn’t meant to be a total replacement, it’s definitely worth mentioning.

Microsoft may have a monopoly on businesses and schools with its word processor, but that doesn’t mean that it’s required of you to use it for everyday tasks. Check out all of the above alternatives, especially considering that they’re free.

Photo Credits: tmolini

Originally posted 2009-11-06 03:35:33.

Digsby Installation

* Pidgin- This program, which was formerly known as Gaim, flies under the name Pidgin. Pidgin is an open source instant messaging program that seeks to combine all of your other messengers. Do you have friends on both MSN and AIM? Well that’s no problem because one of Pidgins defining features is its ability to important your friends from both AIM and MSN and let you talk to them simultaneously! Being open source, Pidgin is completely free and has an army of mod developers who are constantly developing upgrades that you can optionally download. Pidgin is compatible with either a Windows of Linux OS.

* Trillian- One of the first cross-networking instant messaging networks, Trillian is still a favorite that’s slowly losing popularity, but it’s not dead yet. Trillian is expecting a huge rebirth with the release of Trillian Astra which boasts to have over 400 new features for its users. Coupled with the fact that Trillian is completely free of cost this creates for a powerful incentive to use Trillian. Trillian is currently available for Windows and will soon be starting its beta testing for Mac OSX.

* Digsby- The newest competitor the instant messaging front, Digsby is bringing something a little different to its users. Digsby has integrated Facebook, as well as Myspace into its instant messaging service while also including email capabilities. Wouldn’t it be nice to have one program for messaging, social networking and emailing? Digsby thinks so. Digsby currently has a Windows release out and is working on both a Mac and Linux release.

* Adium- What list would be complete without mentioning at least one messaging program that is native to OSX? Adium is extremely similar to Pidgin because you can develop plug-ins for it creating a very heavy mod community. Also like Pidgin, Adium strives to sync all of your favorite instant messaging programs together by offering you one networking solution. Adium is currently only available to Mac OSX users.

While these products may have not reached any highly publicized success, they’re gaining popularity by the minute because they’re so much more effective than AIM and MSN. You owe it to yourself to try these instant messaging programs because they’re completely free, and I guarantee that you will like them more than your other messenger.

Photo Credits: adria.richards

Originally posted 2009-10-27 03:39:25.

Zoning out while defragging.

This is due to everyday tasks people carry out on their computer.  Every day tasks include examples such as these--installing essential programs, receiving and sending emails, cluttered spam inboxes, saving favorite websites, adding shortcuts to desktops, uploading and downloading pictures and files, sharing music, playing games, watching movies, and so much more.

Although you want to have a fast computer again, you certainly do not want to restore it to its factory settings.  However, it is possible to make more space and optimize your computer without resorting to extreme measures.  As long as you make optimizing your computer system a regular habit by carrying out the tasks listed below, your computer should stay in excellent operating shape.

Disk Cleanup

In order to run a disk cleanup on your computer, you must click the "Start" button on the lower left-hand corner of your screen.  There you will see "All Programs" and subsequently, "Accessories."  In the "Accessories" file, choose "System Tools" and finally, "Disk Cleanup."  You will then be shown files that can be removed as well as the option to compress old files, which will save hard drive space.  Once your hard drive has been cleaned, select the tab "More Options."  This tab allows you to removed unused programs, clean the components of Windows, and remove older restore points.

Disk Defragmenting

The disk defragmenting option can also be found in "System Tools."  This program will clean file fragments that are left from installing and uninstalling various computer programs as well as moving files.  Select the drive you want to defragment and click "Analyze" followed by "Defragment."

Needed Software

Every computer owner must absolutely install antivirus software.  There are many great options to choose from, so do your research and find the best one for your needs.  Although you can probably use the software for free to scan your computer, you will have to buy the it in order to protect your computer from threats.  After you install the antivirus software of your choice, make sure you set it up to automatically update itself; this will give you the most protection.

Registry Cleaning

Whenever files and programs are removed, installed, or moved, there are errors created in the registry and these errors are many times responsible for a computer's slow performance.  Cleaning the registry is also important to the overall functioning, performance, and stability of your computer.  However, a computer's registry is a complex area that no novice should tinker with.  This is why it is vital to buy a registry cleaning program to do the work for you.  All you need to do is a little comparison shopping first.

Photo Credits: sfllaw

Originally posted 2010-05-26 03:42:44.

Computer Fax

Internet Based Fax Programs

There are a lot of such internet fax programs which are free, however the downside of using such programs is that when you use these programs, the faxes you send or receive will have advertisements on them, which looks quite unprofessional, in case you are using it for official purposes.

You need not be disheartened, the best of the internet fax programs usually offer a thirty day trial period, allowing you to send or receive faxes. This gives you the time and chance to use the program before you can purchase it. The programs are not expensive usually. For just around eight dollars a month, you can receive or send faxes from your computer.

The other advantage of signing up for such programs is that you get a free fax number for your personal or professional use. Depending on the volume of faxes you send or receive, you can select from the various plans offered by the internet fax program service providers. For individuals who own a small scale business, this is a boon in disguise, since they can have a fax number too and need not invest in a fax machine.

Fax Modem

The other option is to purchase a fax modem and configure it with your operating system. This allows you to receive or send faxes from your system. Once you configure and install the fax software, you can turn your system into a fax machine. Whenever you need to send a fax, you just have to open the fax program and follow the instructions to the send the fax from your system. Be sure that you include the right area codes and the required information, where ever required.

If you do not have a fax program installed on your system, you can even use the Microsoft word program to send a fax from your system. You just have to open the document you need to fax and open the print window and instead of selecting the print option, select the print to fax option and then click print. You will be prompted to enter the fax number and the required information of the recipient and your modem sends the fax. Tada! Done!

Photo Credits: jc.westbrook

Originally posted 2010-04-16 03:50:38.

Home DVDs

• Get the software. Your computer might have a security code that doesn’t allow ripped DVDs to run in the system because the video format is not compatible with you system. That’s why it’s better for you to get good DVD decrypted software. It will effectively crack the security setting on your computer making your life a whole lot easier and getting rid of a lot of hassle. Warning: You need to be careful to select a good software and beware of scam products, don’t forget to try a trial before deciding on the product.
• Installing your software. Double click the .exe file. This will get the software automatically installed onto your computer without any errors. The installation process should not take much time and will be done in a matter of a few minutes. Now Insert a DVD in your DVD disc drive and start your program. This should be done with the automatic option to keep things easy on you.
• Rip the DVD. After installing the program you can simply follow the on-screen instruction and insert the DVD and start ripping it to your computer hard drive. It’s important to know what exactly you want to do with your DVD. You will be able to rip an ISO file which can be done if burning software is installed in your computer. CDXP is one software that can burn ISO file easily and safely. Apart from ISO files it will burn other files too. Now you can rip the file easily.

Ripping DVDs is a good technique for creating a backup of any content and watching the content on your computer or iPod.

Photo Credits: edvvc

Originally posted 2010-04-09 10:37:45.

Active GIF Creator

Here we would discuss about top 10 animation tools:

1.      Active GIF Creator 2.23

One can use this tool to create wonderful animated images. Movies can also be created by using creative graphics and pictures or any edited image using a variety of editing programmes. This software also supports in importing various kinds of images from ICO, JPG, PSD and GIF to generate animated files. It also supports import and export of animated GIF folders.

2.      3D Flash Animator 4

This software has most of the tools that one can need to create fabulous animations and all interactive tools and has programming capacity to create complicated websites.

It also has painting sets and tools for drawing which are very advanced. This tool is quiet simple to apply.

3.      Abrosoft FantaMorph 3.5

This is a powerful and user-friendly tool for creating amazing animations by giving sophisticated effects. This is the best software available for morphing out pictures and it faster as well. One can create unique and exhilarating visuals for screens, web-based graphics, videos and many more electronic features.

4.      Animatricks 2004.4

This program can be use to create animations that are like movies from a photo or a picture. It is capable of exporting from MPEG, JPG and BMP for animation. It also supports increasing and decreasing the size of animations, their time durations, frame positions and timing.

5.      Sprite Builder 2.0

Sprite Builder can be used successfully to mix two different images to form a single sprite. This tool is specifically developed to make animated games. It is very user-friendly and supports standard frames and simple editing process. It allows addition of pictures to frames that are already open.

6.      MorphBuster 8.5

MorphBuster can be successfully used for morphing pictures of great performance. It is compatible with many picture formats such as TIFF, GIF, BMP, TGA and JPEG. It makes use of OpenGL for making frames for animation. It has every tool required for resizing, rotating, adjust images, cropping, flipping and editing images from any source.

7.      Fun Morph 2.3

This tool has user-friendly image morphing and is funny and easy to use photo morphing and image distorting software. It can be useful in converting general pictures to funny images. This software is fast enough to design and format.

8.      It'sMe 2.05

It'sMe tool allows creation of high-definition animations and can be used to create any kind of customized and totally animated characters of anyone from just one photograph. It also allows bonding of different images to create camouflages.

9.      Artoonix 1.5

This software tool is designed to develop cartoons on computers. It allows creation of drawings, to modify pictures from various files. Exporting the animated movies for website, for wallpapers and emails can also be easily done.

10.  Rotor 3D Viewer 2.0

As the name suggests, this tool helps viewing good quality animations. It is user-friendly when it comes to creating 3D staging.

Photo Credits: www.easyanimationtools.com

Originally posted 2010-04-25 09:23:48.

Remotely

There are many ways by which one can shut down their computer remotely. One of the most common ways used is by voice recognition. There is a lot of third party software that is currently available in the market. What you would have to do is install this software on your computer at first. After having done so, you will be required to go through a number of recordings so that the program becomes use to your voice and tone. The recordings that you will have to go through will be simple sentences, mostly commands.

After the software is up and running and is use to your voice, you can change the settings. Open the program and select a voice command for shutting down the computer. Some of the most common commands that are used would be saying something like “shut down” or “computer shut down”. You may be required to say this phrase a few times so that the software becomes use to your voice. After you have set this as at a command, make sure that you leave this program running continuously so that it will work when you need it to.

Whenever you want to shut down your computer, speak into the microphone the word or phrase that you have recorded. That will end up shutting down your computer remotely. It is important that you save any documents or programs that you may have running at that particular time.

Another way you can shut down a computer remotely, is through a computer remote program. This program needs to be installed on both computers. One would be the computer that you use to remotely control the main computer and the second would be the actual main computer. It is important that you install the same remote program on both computers and have them running at all times. You can simply access the other computer through a log in explorer. To shut down the computer remotely, you would simply be shutting down a computer normally by going to start – shutdown. The only difference will be is that you will be shutting down the other computer remotely and not your own.

There are many other ways through which you can shut down your computer remotely. The ones that have been mentioned above are those most common approaches that are used.

Photo Credits: goodrob13

Originally posted 2010-05-09 03:06:04.

CamStudio

Software Applications:

Software applications are user friendly and easy to install and use. There are a lot of screen recording software applications available. This can be possible through screen recording software. Isn’t it amazing!

CamStudio:

There is another good screen recording tool called CamStudio. This software can be downloaded free from the website. After installing it you can start using it to record the entire computer screen or even just a portion of it.

AVI:

The recorded file is AVI format most of the time. This file is extremely big and is not easy to attach or send through email. For e.g. if I record a 5 minute video and saved it, it shows 7mb for 5 minutes recording. I will have to save it in SWF option, but won’t be able to play it back because the file size of SWF is too big. You can use screen recording software that is compatible with your computer and also enable you to save and send any file format. You should use software that gives you a free trial offer so that you personally get to know the features and installation of it.

This screen recording software is very important and beneficial because sometimes if your screen gives you problems in displaying the data or hangs up again and again shoring an unreadable language and you are unable to explain your technician on phone about it, then you can record the screen and send it to the technician via mail. He will have a look at it and guide you about solving this problem.

Another importance of this screen recording is that it can save your time. It is efficient. Better to teach and explain things that you can do verbally with a visual for others.

Photo Credits: Rosenfeld Media

Originally posted 2010-04-19 03:36:10.

DVD Collection

Even though ripping a CD is fairly common, there are very few people who know how to rip their DVDs. In fact, even the so called technical people are not very sure about how is it done. The following are some of the ways in which a DVD can be ripped to a computer:

1. Before going on with the ripping activity, decide whether it is legal to copy the DVD or whether you are eligible or not. There may be DVDs which are not intended to be copied and in such cases, you do not want to end up in the jail for doing an illegal activity.

2. Buy a DVD ripping program. It’s not as easy as you would think because many software companies don’t make or sell such programs for fear of legal threats and risks. Therefore you would not find such ripping softwares from reputed companies as they do not want to damage their reputation by getting into legal trouble. But there is no need to worry as there are lots of relatively new or unknown companies which are willing to sell these softwares.

Before buying the ripping software, please do a lot of research and try to find out as to which the best one is or which has more features when compared to the other ripping softwares. This researching is very important as there are many unknown and small companies selling these softwares and getting the best one or the best deal is almost next to impossible without researching. If you are not able to analyze or comprehend the information on these softwares, then go and search for some user reviews.

3. Put the software CD into your computer. Follow the instructions that follow to load the software. Then use the manual and screen instructions to rip your DVD. Voila! Done.

Why Rip DVDs?

Lot of people use DVD ripping technology because they want to save the movie or songs that they want to see on the computer without actually having the need to use a disc. The people who prefer this DVD ripping process the most are those people who are constantly on the move and want to watch movies on their laptops without having the need to carry a separate pouch for their DVDs. There are also people who like to take their laptops when on vacation and watch movies and enjoy when they get the time. The other guys who do DVD ripping are just people who want to have a collection of different movies in their laptop or desktop.

Photo Credits: Andres Rueda

Originally posted 2010-05-13 03:57:08.

Rocketdock.

So you have a Windows computer and wish it was as flashy and cool as a Mac? Don’t worry, there are many ways you can spruce up your desktop quickly and easily that will give you the look you desire. This article will outline five awesome pieces of software that can give you an extremely customized experience.

* RocketDock- RocketDock is described on its website as an “application launcher” and gives a great feel of a Mac and essentially can eliminate the need for a taskbar and desktop icons. It can be used to launch any program by ‘docking’ them into your dock and can also put them into organized groups making for quick and easy use. Even windows can be minimized to the dock in any custom fashion. With a great modding community and completely free of charge, RocketDock is one of the best ways to liven up your desktop.

* Windows Sidebar- Windows Sidebar is a new addition to the Windows OS that appears in Vista and Windows 7. By default Windows Sidebar comes with a clock, calendar, and a few other ‘widgets’ that can be docked onto the side of your desktop. The power behind Windows Sidebar is that it has a huge community of widget creators that have made anything from digital clocks to widgets that can increase your computers fan speed. Windows Sidebar is free to use as long as you have a Windows Vista or 7.

* Rainy’s- Rainmeter is a customizable meter that can list many of the performance and specifications of your computer. You can set Rainmeter to display the current amount of memory left on your hard drive, or the load that is currently being put onto your CPU. The data can be posted numerically or graphically in a histogram or bar graph. Rainy’s is completely free of charge and can be further customized by the user.

* ObjectDock- A competitor of RocketDock, what could ObjectDock possibly change to make it worth your while? ObjectDock follows a similar example of using docks to organize programs and weather like widgets onto a dock. It’s praised for its high customization and great support by its company Stardock. ObjectDock is completely free, but limited unless you pay the $20 to upgrade to ObjectDock Plus. It’s well worth it, however, because ObjectDock is a very attractive program.

Keep in mind that many of these programs aren’t mutually exclusive and can be used in conjunction with each other to create a very powerful desktop. Be careful when combining too many to make sure you’re not eating up too much of your computers ram. Surely one of these programs can help you get a feel you desire

Photo Credits: worthe

Originally posted 2009-11-11 03:28:46.