Tech Tools

So maps.google.com is just the tip of the iceberg here. There are a lot of tools that make my life easier. Image editors, Text Editors, Voice Chat software and all free. So my favorites are things like AdAware and Spam blocking host files as they have saved me a lot of headaches. Anyways lets check a few out:
Team Speak 2 Ok this product rocks. Free and easily allows me to communicate with multiple people all at the same time via voice. You have all been to forums, well this is a voice forum. You can break out into your own rooms and chit chat til your hearts content. I use this tool to talk to friends in Oklahoma, CT, MA... Anywhere. Of course it does require port 8767 to be open in order to function. If you would like to try it out my server is always up and running, just AIM me for me password and IP.


Hello Lets face it, E-mail is not well suited for pictures. This chat software put out by Google allows you to transfer images quickly and effeciently. Its also not bad chat software. I also use it to update this here blog with quick updates. Simply put: Hello is simple, well designed software and I recommend it.


Picasa This image editor/organizer is quite amazing. After installing it I found pictures I had completely forgot I even had. It loads lightning fast and renders every picture on your harddrive instantaneously. No more Win XP chugging along trying to show me a thumbnail veiw of a folder I have seen a 1000 times before. I also use this program to update this blog, make collages, eliminate red eye, straighten photos (That are crooked hehe) etc.

Having a digital camera is only great if you can find the pictures later. Picasa also lets you order prints of your digital pics should your photo printer be not quite up to par.


Norton This is the de facto must have consumer grade anti virus program. It comes coupled with so many great extras and its autoprotect feature has saved me atleast 3 times last year. You need anti-virus so why not pick a proven entity?


No More Spyware Spyware is just a pain! I have been using Microsoft's antispyware and have found it most effective! It eliminated spyware AdAware and SpyBots Search and Destroy missed! I defintely recommend this for sanity's sake. If for some reason your on an anti microsoft kick AdAware is not a bad second place.


Ad blocking Host File So if you use internet explorer (Which I love esp. with the new security upgrades) You will find a lot of ads hanging about even with IE's popup blocker. Replacing your host file can save you some potential nightmares espcially if you let other people occasionally use your computer. Personally putting this on my mom's computer has saved me so many headaches its not funny. Check it out!


Crimson Editor Notepad is notepad and is great for quick edits. But sometimes you need something a little more robust. Crimson editor is notepad with a twist. It supports columns, line numbers and syntax for a veriety of scripting languages. It also has a tabbed interface which is quite handy and a neat feature called 'Find in Files' which will basically search IN every file in a folder or drive looking for a word or sentence.

So what am I missing? Post your own tools!