Archive for May, 2011
Helpful Computer Applications, Services and Websites
In my group and private computer classes, I share with my students options for different software applications and websites; most are free of charge. Many of the applications are open source software (indicated by “FOSS” notation after application name). In this article, I am providing links to each resource, along with a brief description of what the program does or what the website offers to the visitor. Enjoy!
A Few Words About Open Source Software
Free and open source software, also known as FOSS, grants users the opportunity to use, evaluate, change, study and even improve on an application by having access to the source code for the application. Some people think that the term “free” means that there are no costs involved with the software. In this case, “free” actually refers to the “freedom” to use, copy, re-use, change, improve and develop the software. It is said that in this instance “think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer.” (For more on the topic of Free Software Definition, visit http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html.)
There are many options for software for your computer. Rather than spending a lot of money for the highly advertised software products, consider open source software to get the job done. From web browsing to photo editing to word processing, the open source alternatives are just as robust as the “name brands” that we are so accustomed to hearing about and using. These applications are legitimate software products; many times, they work better than their commercial counter parts. Read on!
INTERNET AND EMAIL
WEB BROWSING: Web browsers are software applications used to view and read web pages.
Application Name: Mozilla Firefox (FOSS)
Homepage: http://getfirefox.com
Firefox is easily the most popular piece of open source software out there. It’s job is to replace Internet Explorer, if you are on Windows, or Safari, if you are on OSX (Apple). Firefox is a wonderful upgrade because in addition to running faster than most other browsers it is also secure.
Application Name: Google Chrome
Homepage: http://www.google.com/chrome
Chrome is a browser offered by Google. It is designed for efficiency, speed and safety. One thing I like about Chrome is that if one of my tabs freezes, the others remain untouched – which means I do not lose the information on my browsing session just because one page crashed.
Application Name: Gmail
Homepage: http://www.gmail.com
Gmail is a free email program that allows the user to access email online, on a mobile phone or within an email client (such as Thunderbird). This service is powered by Google and gives the user over 7 gigabytes of free storage. Once you set up a Gmail account, you can also use the account to access other Google services such as Calendar, Documents, Photos, Reader, YouTube and Blogger.
Application Name: Thunderbird (FOSS)
Homepage: http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Thunderbird is an email program from Mozilla, the same folks that brought us the Firefox internet browser. Download the program to your computer, input your email settings and you’re good to go. Thunderbird can also be used for instant messaging and social network messages.
OFFICE PRODUCTS: Word processors, Spreadsheets, Databases, Presentations, PDF Creators
OFFICE SUITES
Application Name: OpenOffice (FOSS)
Homepage: http://www.openoffice.org
To pick up the latest copy of Microsoft office odds are you are looking at spending a couple hundred dollars. OpenOffice is a full featured office suit, it contains a Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Drawing, and many more programs. It opens and saves files in all the standard .doc, .ppt, .xls, formats so it is full compatible with all MS Office files.
Application Name: LibreOffice (FOSS)
Homepage: http://www.libreoffice.org
LibreOffice is another open source office suite. Like OpenOffice, it is available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers. It offers a Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation and Database program. It allows for saving files in formats compatible with all MS Office files.
PDF CREATORS
If you can print a document, then you can create a PDF (portable document format). When a PDF is created, the formatting of the document is saved. Formatting refers to the font style, font size, graphics and color. When a document is saved as a PDF, all of the formatting is preserved. Below are two different PDF programs which are free for home users. Once installed on your system, they will show up as one of your printers.
Application Name: PrimoPDF
Homepage: http://www.primopdf.com
PrimoPDF offers a one-click, drag-and-drop interface that is very easy to use. Download the home user version for free, or upgrade to the NitroPDF Professional version for a fee.
Application Name: CutePDF
Homepage: http://www.cutepdf.com/
The freeware version of CutePDF allows the user to create PDF files from any printable document. There is a professional version available for a fee.
UTILITIES: Anti-virus, Anti-malware, Cleaners, Compression (Zip Files)
ANTI-VIRUS
Application Name: Avast
Homepage: http://avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
Many of us are aware that the quickest way to a non-functioning Windows system is to catch a virus or two. Avast is one of the best anti-virus programs out there. It provides real time protection with minimal resource usage. It is free for home use so long as you are willing to register each year for a new key (which is a short and easy process).
ANTI-MALWARE
Application Name: Spy Bot Search & Destroy
Homepage: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
The Windows system is riddled with holes and exploits just waiting to make your life in front of the computer that much harder. In addition to having an awesome name, Spy Bot Search & Destroy is the best program out there for hunting down malware that has found its way into your unsuspecting system. The only slight draw back to this one is that it is NOT real time protection, meaning you need to remember to run the update for it and scan your system each week.
Application Name: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Homepage: http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free clears out malware infections. You must run the program manually at least once week. There is a paid version which you can buy and it can be scheduled to run at certain times. My tech recommends that if you use Microsoft Security Essentials then you also run the paid version of Malwarebytes.
ANTI-VIRUS/ANTI-MALWARE PACKAGE
Application Name: Microsoft Security Essentials
Homepage: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
Microsoft’s new anti-virus and anti-malware bundle is free and protects your computer from viruses, spyware and other malicious programs.
OPTIMIZATION AND CLEANING
Application Name: CCleaner
Homepage: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
CCleaner removes temporary files from your Windows system. It helps clean up the “crap” on your computer. This program was originally called “Crap Cleaner.” 
The program is free for home users.
COMPRESSION (ZIP FILES)
Application Name: 7zip (FOSS)
Homepage: http://7-zip.com
Compressing files is useful when you are trying to to send a large amount of files to someone or simply for storing files that are not often used. 7-zip contains a custom archiving format, .7z, that is much more efficient than the standard .zip. In addition to having this custom format it also can compress into the more universally standard .zip in a more timely manner than the built in Windows compression software or commercial software such as WinZip.
MESSAGING
Application Name: Pidgin (FOSS)
Homepage: http://www.pidgin.im/
Pidgin is a full featured instant messaging client similar to Trillian. It can connect to a wide range of networks, from AIM to Facebook, to Yahoo and MSN. It contains a logging feature that can be easily toggled on and off, along with a pile of other useful and fun plugins.
PHOTO EDITING
Application Name: Gimp (FOSS)
Homepage: http://gimp.org/
Gimp is a tool for manipulating images on the computer. In contains essentially all of the features used in Adobe Photoshop. If you are already familiar with the Photoshop interface (or GUI) there is also a plugin for Gimp called “Gimpshop” that makes the Gimps GUI mirror that of Photoshop.
Application Name: Picasa
Homepage: http://picasa.google.com/
Picasa is one of my favorite photo applications. It can be used to view, edit and share your photographs. You can also create online photo albums quite easily. You will need a Google/Gmail account to use the online features.
ART PROGRAMS
Application Name: Tux Paint (FOSS)
Homepage: http://www.tuxpaint.org/
If you have children in your life who like to draw, or maybe the child in you would like to draw, check out Tux Paint. It is a very easy-to-use program that allows for creating images. I have found that kids young and old like playing with this program.
Application Name: MyPaint (FOSS)
Homepage: http://mypaint.intilinux.com/
MyPaint is a more robust drawing program. It is simple to install and use. It can make more detailed drawings than Tux Paint.
Application Name: InkScape (FOSS)
Homepage: http://www.inkscape.org/
InkScape is a vector based drawing program. It is comparable to Adobe’s Illustrator program.
Product Name: Picassohead
Homepage: http://www.picassohead.com
PicassoHead is a fun art site that uses a combination of predesigned shapes, along with your imagination, to create Picasso-inspired images. Once your picture is finished, you can email yourself a link to the completed project and the project goes into the online gallery. This is a fun site for kids of all ages!
Read more about this site in my article here: http://karenzhoogland.org/2010/07/12/picasso-this/
WEB DESIGN
Application Name: KompoZer
Homepage: http://kompozer.net/
KompoZer is a webdesign program that rivals Dreamweaver. This is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. If you can use a word processor (such as OpenOffice Writer), you can use KompoZer to create a website.
Application Name: Aptana Studio 3
Homepage: http://www.aptana.com/products/studio3
Aptana Studio 3 is a suite that can be used to create and test your website. The program is an open source tool.
BLOGGING
Application Name: Blogger
Homepage: https://www.blogger.com/start
Another popular offering from Google is Blogger. Anyone can easily set up and maintain a blog using this free online application. The only thing you need to get started is a Gmail address. If you use Picasa, you can also upload your photos right from Picasa into your Blog.
Application Name: WordPress (FOSS)
Homepage: http://wordpress.com/
WordPress offers another option for blogging. If offers a few more choices than Blogger, along with a different variety of templates for your site. This software also allows you to set up your site without the blog function; it is a quick way to get a good-looking website online quickly, with little expense. As with Blogger, this is advertiser supporter. If you have your own hosting service, you can download the WordPress software from http://wordpress.org, install it on your server and then run it without advertising. WordPress is my preferred blogging software; this blog is a WordPress blog.
FILE STORAGE AND SHARING
Application Name: DropBox
Homepage: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTE0MTMwMTA1OQ?src=global9
DropBox is a free online storage service that allows you to store up to 2 gigabytes of data. You can download their software to your computer and it installs a “virtual folder” to your drive. You can save files here and then access them anywhere you have an internet connection. If you are on a public computer, you can to to the website, log in and download or upload files. If you send invitations to the friends to sign up for the service, you will get more free space. You can also do a paid account for larger storage space.
Read my article about DropBox here: http://karenzhoogland.org/2011/02/10/who-needs-a-flash-drive-when-you-have-dropbox/
ONLINE MUSIC
Application Name: Pandora
Homepage: http://www.pandora.com
Pandora is a music service that creates music stations based on your tastes. The service offers two different accounts. You can choose the free service, which includes 30 hours of music per month; this is advertiser supported. The fee-based service currently costs $36 for a full year; it is ad-free and also allows you to download the Pandora One application on your computer or mobile device, rather than running the program in your web browser.
Read my article about Pandora here: http://karenzhoogland.org/2011/02/26/pandora-my-musical-friend/
ONLINE TUTORIALS AND OTHER HELPFUL SITES
TUTORIALS
Product Name: InPictures – Online computer tutorials in pictures
Homepage: http://inpics.net/
This site offers tutorials in several programs, including the OpenOffice suite and Microsoft Office suite. The lessons are offered in slide format, with explicit pictures.
Product Name: GCF Learn Free
Homepage: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/
Site offers tutorials in basic computers, internet, Microsoft Office, Excel, Facebook, Math, Reading and more.
Product Name: Geekgirls Plain English Computing
Homepage: http://www.geekgirls.com/
Site offers several tutorials for different operating systems: Windows XP (which is what we use in the BAC Lab), Windows Vista and Windows 7. These tutorials provide nice refreshers to some of the topics we covered in class, such as copying files, moving files, saving, creating folders, etc.
DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL HELP
Product: Ninite
Homepage: http://ninite.com
Ninite is a website where you can select, download and install most of the applications listed in this article. As the site says, it is the “easiest and fastest way to update or install software.”
OPEN SOURCE ALTERNATIVES
If you are interested in more open source programs, visit http://osalt.com.
NOTES AND CREDITS
Some of information in this article was adapted from an article written by my son, Jeff Hoogland, on his blog, Thoughts on Technology. You may read the original article here: http://jeffhoogland.blogspot.com/2009/10/computer-Application Names-everyone-should.html. If you would like to read more at Jeff’s blog, visit http://jeffhoogland.blogspot.com/.
I did write about some of the programs mentioned here last year in my blog post titled “Open Source Computer Applications.” You may read that post here: http://karenzhoogland.org/2010/05/26/open-source-computer-applications/.
Thanks for reading. If you have other computer programs or websites that you think I should add to this article, please share!
Until next time,
~Karen