Spy Review

What does this tool do: Provides cross platform, up to the second updates on news from various social media.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Do you monitor the news?

Info Page: http://spy.appspot.com/find/%23iran?latest=25

Comments:

This is the second time I have referred readers to Spy, the first being during the Mumbai massacre. Does it have anything to do with ranking your site? Not really. Does it have something to do with life on the “outside”?  Yes.  Use the pound sign to follow a specific subject and be continually updated. (#Iran).

WinPatrol Review 

What does this tool do: Keeps a lookout for spyware on your computer. 

Cost: Free

Who Needs It:  Got a computer?

Download Page:   http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

Comments:  

Just take my advice and download for free. Works in the background to alert you when someone or something tries to step in with some free spyware.

Time Saving Tutorials Review 

What does this tool do: Offers video tutorials as well as excellent recommendations for valuable utility sites. 

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Virtually everyone can benefit from something here. 

Info Page:   http://timesavingtutorials.com/wordpress/

Comments:  

This is a site you should bookmark for revisiting frequently when you have a few moments to learn new applications. This site doesn’t leave you to learn the sites on your own. Rather it introduces you via short and concise video explanations. Talk about time being “The Currency of the Workplace” (its motto), this is a site that puts its money where its mouth is. 

Vista Start Menu Review 

What does this tool do:  Resolves two common problems: 1) dumps Vista’s clunky Menu for the more practical old-style XP display, and 2) for either XP or Vista users, it expands the Program menu screen to encompass more applications.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It:  Disgruntled Vista users and high-power XP users.

Info Page: http://www.vistastartmenu.com/index.html 

Comments:  

This program has value for either Vista or XP owners. Vista users who long for a return to XP’s menu simplicity will appreciate the benefits of the Vista Start Menu. Yes, it’s a return to the familiar XP style menu, but it also auto–expands with your growing list of applications (note the horizontal scroll bar at the base of the menu). This is something XP does not easily accommodate.  A no-brainer choice for power users.   

Dexpot Review 

What does this tool do:  Gives you fully configurable virtual desktops at a keystroke.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Would you like to have 20 extra monitors for free? 

Info Page:   http://www.dexpot.de/index.php?lang=en

Comments:  

I’ve been using the German authored Dexpot 1.4 for several weeks now and much prefer it to other available options. How would you use this free software?  Let me count the ways. If you often use multiple applications simultaneously, you know that your one (or two, or three) monitors can quickly become cluttered. Time is wasted as you move from one app to another, clicking task bar tabs and resetting screen positions. With Dexpot you can have all your programs running (if you have enough installed memory) and access them by switching “desktops”.

Example:  Let’s say you are already using one monitor. You have your Firefox browser on one screen and Outlook is minimized.  With the click of a monitor icon (see below)

you can switch to reveal another desktop where you have a Word document ready to reference if you receive an expected phone call. A Photoshop layout is on desktop number 3, and it remains in position as you left it. Click a fourth icon and you can switch to a desktop with an Excel spreadsheet. If you receive the expected phone call while working in Excel, there will be no need to fumble as you try to access your Word documents. Simply switch to your number two virtual desktop. Bingo, you’re there.  

You can easily move or copy applications from one virtual desktop to another. You also have great flexibility for configuring the setup as you wish. 

Sehr gut Dexpot.

VSO Image Resizer Review 

What does this tool do: Allows quick resizing, file conversion, importing and organizing for your digital images. 

Cost: Free Download

Who Needs It:  Those with large stores of digital images who need a handy batch-conversion tool.

Info Page:   http://www.vso-software.fr/products/image_resizer/

Comments:  

Using Photoshop (or similar image editor) to one-click flip, rotate, or resize 100+ photos is possible, but beyond the experience of most people.  So this is the tool you should have at your side when you need to run that task.  Watch a helpful tutorial before downloading. 

SUMo Review 

What does this tool do: Identifies outdated software on your computer and provides links to upgrade.  

Cost: Free

Who Needs It:  Do you use many different software applications?

Info Page:   http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?sumo

Comments:  

An unassuming program (doesn’t even have a logo) for identifying outdated software. While some software vendors (like iTunes and QuickTime) will incessantly tap on your Windows, reminding you to update, many do not.  SUMo will scan your installed programs and let you know which if any versions are outdated. Then, with a single click you can upgrade.

Dropbox Review

What does this tool do: Auto syncs files and docs on all your computers via your internet connection.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Oh my. If you have more than one computer, you need this.

Info Page: http://www.getdropbox.com/

Comments:

If you use several computers, then you understand the desire to keep your important files synchronized. You may have started a document at work and want to continue the editing at home. Or you may need to keep your address book synced among all your computers. Or you may want to collaborate and share a document with a colleague. This is an amazingly simple and valuable tool. The days of transferring files by hand carrying them to your other computers or manually moving them over a network are finally gone. No more emailing attachments. No more complicated sync programs.  Dropbox is a real winner.  Watch the video and you’ll seen why.

Windows Live Writer Review 

What does this tool do:  Allows you to create your blog-posts offline, thus saving time and avoiding up and download delays.  

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: If you want to be able to create your blog swiftly, on one page, with a WYSIWYG interface, positioning photos, changing fonts, previewing immediately and then upload in a single click… then you should consider this highly praised application. 

Info Page:   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d2baeda0-aa9a-4080-9202-1f23902d1169&displaylang=en

Comments: 

Windows Live Writer is not well publicized by Microsoft, but it is a fine free alternative to the commercial application BlogJet and other weblog content creators. With this application, there is no need to hang on your site while you input data, then click to review it online, then go back to your edit window, then repeat the process endlessly. A real time saver.  

Gooogle Alerts Review

What does this tool do: Google Alerts will find every instance of your name being mentioned on the internet and send you the link to that mention by email. But it does sooo much more.

Cost: Free

Who Needs It: Those who want to market a product or a service. Those who need to research a topic or competitors.

Info Page: http://www.google.com/alerts?hl=en

Comments:

An incredible time saver for so many tasks that would otherwise take you weeks to research. Want to know where your product/service/name is being mentioned anywhere on the internet?  Want to research your competitors by name or be alerted when they change prices or introduce new products? Want to search Forum topics or questions so you can respond with a link back to your site. Want to see who is talking about you or your business? Want to be in a constant state of alert as regards your trade name, blog name, personal name, product name? You need Google Alerts.