Useful stuff for your computer

Now I've finished studying for this year, I thought I'd post something useful here (for once). So here's a list of some useful computer stuff.

1. Ad-Aware SE
Lavasoft have just released the latest version of Ad-Aware. It's free, just like previous versions. For all your ad-bot, mal-ware and scum-ware woes. Ad-Aware SE (click here)

Check out Lavasoft's Ad-Aware 'add-ons'. There's one that switches off Windows Messenger (yes, you want to do that). Lavasoft 'add ons' (click here)

2. Google Desktop
Install this on your PC so that you can search all your files on all your drives.

Simply type a word or phrase into the Google Desktop search box and it'll instantly return all docs and ppts and emails (etc) with your chosen word/phrase in it. Where Google normally searches every word on the web, Google Desktop searches out every word on your computer. It's unbelievably good. Try it. Google Desktop (click here)

3. Furl and Spurl
Either of these two web-based apps will store all your favourites/bookmarks online. Why? So that you can access your bookmarks at home, work or anywhere else. That's why.

Actually, there's more. They also keep the webpage alive for you even if the original link goes dead. So your old favourite links won't ever go 404 on you again. I think this feature might also mean that you can access web-pages from subscription sites long after your subscription has expired. Hmm, Copyright? Oh well.

There's not much to choose between the two. Furl looks better (I think). Spurl has multi layered folders and is a bit more useable (I think). Up to you.
Furl (click here)
Spurl (click here)

4. DeadLink
On the subject of links going dead in your favourites folder... Ferret out those deadlinks (and doubles) with... Deadlink (click here)

5. A9
Amazon have used Google's technology (and some) to make a rather nice search engine interface. A9 (click here)

6. Mozilla Firefox
If you are still using Internet Explorer, you need your head examined.
Why Firefox? (click here)
More on 'why Firefox?' (click here)

Get Firefox HERE

Check out the 'extensions page' for customising the functionality of the browser. Mine has Ad-block, Image-zoom, Copy-URL & Copy-Plain-Text, and opens fullscreen (single window & autohide). It rocks.

Check out the 'themes' page for modifying the look and feel. I've got Noia 2 eXtreme, but GrayModern also looks great.

7. Skype
Free telephone calls on the internet to anywhere in the world for as long as you want to talk. Skype (click here)

There you go. Enjoy.