PORTABLE APPS
www.portableapps.com
PortableApps is a free and open source solution for all your software needs. The idea is simple — with PortableApps, you can keep all your software and settings with you, even if you regularly switch computers or need to work on locked computers or with guest accounts. You can download individual apps or the PortableApps platform and run it from the local hard drive, from a USB drive, memory card, iPod, any generic MP3 player and even from cloud-based storage.
The PortableApps platform is not really required if you only need one or two apps, but it helps to integrate everything, keeps apps updated and helps find new apps. There are hundreds of free apps available on the Marketplace; everything from games to educational tools, software development, accessibility tools, office & productivity apps, security and multimedia playback.
WEB APPS
Microsoft Office
The web version of Microsoft Office lets you view and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote files that are stored in your SkyDrive cloud storage. Just log in using your Windows Live ID to access the user interface. You can also share your documents directly from within the interface and collaborate with others in real time. http://office.com/web-apps
Zoho offers a large suite of free web apps. On offer is a document editor, calendar, email and a planner along with various tools for collaboration and project management. They also offer a suite of business apps that allow website creation, finance management, report generation, invoice creation and HR management. www.zoho.com
This webapp lets you upload an image from your computer, fetch it from a URL or create one from scratch. You can work with a file as large as 4000 x 4000 pixels in an interface inspired from Adobe's Photoshop. Also available is the adorable Pixlr o-matic (web app + Android/iOS app) which adds one-click retro effects to your photos. www.pixlr.com
PROGRAMS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE INSTALLED
Recuva
Recuva is an easy-to-use data recovery tool that can be run off a portable USB drive. It can scan hard drives, memory cards or even iPods to recover lost files. It can rebuild Word documents lost or corrupted due to a program crash and can even recover deleted email from most mail programs. www.piriform.com/recuva
InfraRecorder
InfraRecorder is a CD/DVD burning tool (Windows 7 only) that supports dual-layer DVDs, multi-session CD writing and also works with re-writable discs. It can be used to make video, audio or data discs, save a disc as an ISO image as well as make copies of a disc. http://infrarecorder.org
YamiPod
YamiPod is a free iPod manager (replacement for iTunes). It can be used in Windows, Mac or Linux and can be saved and run from the iPod itself. It works with multiple iPods on the same computer and it can also be used to remove duplicate tracks and find lost music. www.yamipod.com
USE THESE AS BROWSER ADD-ONS
Too many passwords to remember? This password manager works with Firefox, Chrome & Opera — it even syncs data across them. Login with one master password to access all your passwords. Your master password can also be programmed to work with frequently accessed sites; the program will automatically log you in using the stored password.
Aviary Tools
Available for Firefox and Chrome, Aviary Tools is a suite of addons that includes a multi-format image editor, audio editor and a screen capture tool. Each add-on can also be installed as a standalone product. The image editor is particularly versatile, with support for layers, masks, brushes & the ability to import images directly from places like Flickr, Picasa & FaceBook.
This Chrome extension is a complete PowerPoint replacement — you can create a presentation within your browser. There are multiple templates to choose from along with the option to upload images, audio or video from your computer. A work in progress can also be shared with others for collaboration. Once finished, it can be exported as a PowerPoint file or PDF.
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