Three Free Useful Productivity Programs

Here are 3 free programs I use that might be useful for the Geek on the Go.

PrintAnywhere can be used to send documents to anyone’s printer. I wouldn’t send anything that is confidential though. Use a VPN for the confidential stuff. It is useful for laptop users and printing directly to another printer.

Here is the article at Lifehacker: Lifehacker PrintAnywhere

This is the link to PrintAnywhere: http://www.printeranywhere.com/

I use foldershare to pass around files from my laptop to my home pc or vice versa. I use it to synchronize one specific folder on my home pc with my laptop. That way whatever I do at home and store in a folder it will also put that same file on my laptop in the folder I specify. I do most of my work on the home pc but sometimes I need a certain file when I only have access to my laptop. This fixes that problem plus it is free and its owned by Microsoft. It works great for backing up all your important files, photos and music to another pc.

All you have to do is install and create a account then install the software on your other computer and use the same account info to start using Foldershare.

https://www.foldershare.com/

You could also try this one by Microsoft but its still in beta(testing) so it could be buggy: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-A7C5-98D0592D8C52

I use MWsnap for screen capturing. Its spyware free and works as good as any paid for screen capturing program. if you have vista you will not need this. Vista has a snipping tool.

Here is the MWsnap webpage: http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html

Great tools for the Geek on the Go.

The PrintAnywhere program is fairly new to me but Foldershare and MWsnap I have been using for quite awhile now and I have yet to see any bugs or spyware.

I discovered the PrintAnywhere and Foldershare program here: http://lifehacker.com/

The MWsnap program was found thru Google Search

Hack N Mod

Want to learn how to get 200 miles per gallon?

“200 Miles Per Gallon? Yep - DIY Electric Bicycle

Learn step by step exactly how to make your own electric bike. Although it isn’t that stylish, it will will save you thousands in gas money.”

To find out how visit: http://hacknmod.com/index.php

Google Launches 411

Google enters the 411(Information) market. Its free! but still experimental. I tried it out for a local business (Pizza Hut) and the first choice was correct.

Welcome to Google Voice Local Search

Google Voice Local Search is Google’s experimental service to make local-business search accessible over the phone.

To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone.

Using this service, you can:

* search for a local business by name or category.
You can say “Giovanni’s Pizzeria” or just “pizza”.

* get connected to the business, free of charge.

* get the details by SMS if you’re using a mobile phone.
Just say “text message”.

And it’s free. Google doesn’t charge you a thing for the call or for connecting you to the business. Regular phone charges may apply, based on your telephone service provider.

Note: Google Voice Local Search is still in its experimental stage. It may not be available at all times and may not work for all users. We’re fine-tuning the service to get better at recognizing your requests. It’s currently only available in English, in the US, for US business listings.

http://labs.google.com/goog411/index.html

Format your hard drive and install Windows XP from scratch

From: Lifehacker

by Gina Trapani

Hey, Windows XP users: The blue screen of death got you down? Missing dll errors making you frown? Frequent software crashes leave you yearning for that fresh, new PC you unpacked with glee three years ago? If you’ve scrubbed for spyware and viruses, defragged, chkdsked and done the requisite rain dance but things are STILL wonky on your computer, it may be time for extreme action.

Read the whole article here:
http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live–how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php

Pando Pandomania

I found this neat free program today called Pando. It uses P2P(peer to peer)technology.
You could transfer a large file via email to your home pc if you’re out of town.
You can use it to send your entire music collection and pictures to your friends and family. It does have a 1gb(gigabyte)limit on file size, which is pretty good for a free program.
You don’t even have to be on line for people to download.

Copied from the HELP section of the Pando Blog:

The recipients get your email with a polite note explaining that the file was sent using Pando, and in order to receive the file, they must get Pando, too.
“Aha!” you think. “That’s the rub — you’re forcing me to get others to download your software!” You caught us. As that old song goes: “If spreading good software’s a crime, we guess we’re guilty every time…”
And if you want to invite friends to install Pando before springing a Package on them, here’s how:

1. Click the help menu in the upper right of the Pando window.
2. Select Invite Friends The Web page you’ll be taken to includes a form where you can send a message politely suggesting that they get with this Pando thing.

Here is the website to learn more about Pando:

http://www.pando.com/

WinSnap - makes screenshots better

This is a cool free Utility that you can use to take screenshots. Very useful.

Here is a screenshot of my Google homepage. Click on it.

WinSnap is a small enhancement utility for taking and editing screenshots. It can easily capture windows of non-rectangular form with the background of your choice, automatically perform simple canvas transformations and coloring effects, add professional smoothing shadows in Photoshop style and more. Also, WinSnap supports variety of image formats and provides advanced auto-save features.

http://www.ntwind.com/software/winsnap.html