Audacity
Take this, Garage Band! Audacity has a simple, straight-forward interface with clear recording and stop buttons. options for track editing and balance are placed to the left of the track in plain view.
Audacity also has several effects built in and the ability to generate white noise or a click track. Perhaps its best feature, however, is the ability to export songs in .mp3 format. Overall, this program is great for home recording and makes me want to go start a podcast.
Pros: Interface puts important commands at your fingertips
Cons: Doesn't have sound samples. Is this really a con?
User level: Beginner to Advanced
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Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Instead of Illustrator, try...
Inkscape
Bundled in with the expensive Adobe Software Suite containing Photoshop is also Illustrator. The program is a valuable tool for graphic designers, animators, and many other professionals.
Now for the non-professional at home, powerful graphics design is available for hundreds less. Inkscape offers the same basic tools as Illustrator, such as pen and shape editing, but in an easier interface to master. It easily handles layers along with visibility and locking.The program is perfect for making professional looking outlines.
Pros: Makes outlining sketches easy
Cons: Some of the tools are over-simplified
User level: Beginner to Advanced
DOWNLOAD NOW
Bundled in with the expensive Adobe Software Suite containing Photoshop is also Illustrator. The program is a valuable tool for graphic designers, animators, and many other professionals.
Now for the non-professional at home, powerful graphics design is available for hundreds less. Inkscape offers the same basic tools as Illustrator, such as pen and shape editing, but in an easier interface to master. It easily handles layers along with visibility and locking.The program is perfect for making professional looking outlines.
Pros: Makes outlining sketches easy
Cons: Some of the tools are over-simplified
User level: Beginner to Advanced
DOWNLOAD NOW
Monday, July 20, 2009
Instead of Internet Explorer try...
With the recent bout of Windows Updates, Internet Explorer 8 has been integrated into Vista and users can no uninstall it. I'm here once more to remind you that there are other- and safer- alternatives only a click away. And it's perfectly fine to have more than one browser installed.
Firefox
Firefox is the most popular alternative to Internet Explorer, and is compatible with almost everything. I have to say almost because class sign-up for my college only works with IE. If an application or website won't work with Firefox, there will be a warning. In fact, some websites work better in Firefox than in Internet Explorer.
Pros: Many customizable Add-ons and skins
Cons: Too many Add-ons slow down browsing
DOWNLOAD NOW
Because Firefox is so popular and you've most likely heard of it already (if you haven't don't feel bad), I've included a lesser known browser as a further alternative.
Google Chrome
When Google first released Chrome, negative reviews flocked the internet and overshadowed the positive aspects. With the release of the 2009 version, Chrome is a fast, powerful browser that will quickly get you what you want. It utilizes the universal keyboard shortcuts for new window, new tab, open downloads, etc. Upon opening a new tab, you're given thumbnails of the last pages you closed or visited, so re-opening an accidentally closed page is hassle-free. The address bar doubles as a search bar for- what else- the Google search.
Chrome's streamlined look incorporates the Back/Forward/Refresh buttons next to the Address bar while placing tools and setting buttons to the right. There is no Home button, but a home page can be opened in a new tab instead of the previously mentioned thumbnails. Bookmarks are also accessed by opening a new tab, and while slightly frustrating at first this system eliminates accidentally navigating away from a page you were using. Downloads are listed at the bottom of the tab in which they were accessed, or if that tab is closed, they can be shown in a new tab instead of another pop-up window. I can't currently vouch for the download speed versus other browsers, because my internet is currently sluggish with every download.
Overall, it looks beautiful on my 17" monitor, and I'd recommend this browser for viewing pictures over the internet- you'll get the largest view available at faster speeds than the traditional browsers.
Overall, Chrome isn't the security-beefed powerhorse Internet Explorer and Firefox aspire to be, but it is perfect for fast web browsing with minimal distractions.
Pros: Faster browsing and streamlined look
Cons: May not have enough features for some users
DOWNLOAD NOW
Firefox
Firefox is the most popular alternative to Internet Explorer, and is compatible with almost everything. I have to say almost because class sign-up for my college only works with IE. If an application or website won't work with Firefox, there will be a warning. In fact, some websites work better in Firefox than in Internet Explorer.
Pros: Many customizable Add-ons and skins
Cons: Too many Add-ons slow down browsing
DOWNLOAD NOW
Because Firefox is so popular and you've most likely heard of it already (if you haven't don't feel bad), I've included a lesser known browser as a further alternative.
Google Chrome
When Google first released Chrome, negative reviews flocked the internet and overshadowed the positive aspects. With the release of the 2009 version, Chrome is a fast, powerful browser that will quickly get you what you want. It utilizes the universal keyboard shortcuts for new window, new tab, open downloads, etc. Upon opening a new tab, you're given thumbnails of the last pages you closed or visited, so re-opening an accidentally closed page is hassle-free. The address bar doubles as a search bar for- what else- the Google search.
Chrome's streamlined look incorporates the Back/Forward/Refresh buttons next to the Address bar while placing tools and setting buttons to the right. There is no Home button, but a home page can be opened in a new tab instead of the previously mentioned thumbnails. Bookmarks are also accessed by opening a new tab, and while slightly frustrating at first this system eliminates accidentally navigating away from a page you were using. Downloads are listed at the bottom of the tab in which they were accessed, or if that tab is closed, they can be shown in a new tab instead of another pop-up window. I can't currently vouch for the download speed versus other browsers, because my internet is currently sluggish with every download.
Overall, it looks beautiful on my 17" monitor, and I'd recommend this browser for viewing pictures over the internet- you'll get the largest view available at faster speeds than the traditional browsers.
Overall, Chrome isn't the security-beefed powerhorse Internet Explorer and Firefox aspire to be, but it is perfect for fast web browsing with minimal distractions.
Pros: Faster browsing and streamlined look
Cons: May not have enough features for some users
DOWNLOAD NOW
Monday, July 13, 2009
Instead of AdAware try...
Alright I know AdAware is already a free program from Lavasoft. However, with the introduction of Anniversary Edition, I've been having too many problems to deal with the software any longer. These problems aren't limited to my laptop, either, but extend to my Windows XP desktop as well. So here goes (don't forget it's alright to have more than one anti-spyware program):
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spybot is here to protect you from the spyware and malware lurking in the dark corners of the internet. Scanning your computer for malicious programs and files is quick (Read: under half an hour) and thorough. After completing the scan, a list of tracking cookies and malicious files is displayed for you to remove. The latest version also incorporated an active background check and browser monitor so you're covered from all angles.
Pros: Multiple levels of protection
Cons: Have to update manually
User level: Beginner to Advanced
DOWNLOAD NOW
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spybot is here to protect you from the spyware and malware lurking in the dark corners of the internet. Scanning your computer for malicious programs and files is quick (Read: under half an hour) and thorough. After completing the scan, a list of tracking cookies and malicious files is displayed for you to remove. The latest version also incorporated an active background check and browser monitor so you're covered from all angles.
Pros: Multiple levels of protection
Cons: Have to update manually
User level: Beginner to Advanced
DOWNLOAD NOW
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Instead of AIM try...
Trillian
Living in the digital age, staying connected to friends, family, and coworkers has become more important. It has also become harder to accomplish, because some of these contacts use Yahoo!, America OnLine, MSN, and various other messaging programs to communicate and you may be forced to install individual programs to talk to just a few people on each.
Trillian is an all-in-one communication program that eliminates the need for multiple messaging programs cluttering your desktop and bandwidth. Incorporating AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and ICQ, Trillian follows the same basic format of the programs it seeks to incorporate. Many different skins are also available so the colors match your desktop.
Pros: There is an option to log conversations
Cons: must have accounts with the services you wish to use
User level: Beginner to Expert
DOWNLOAD NOW
Living in the digital age, staying connected to friends, family, and coworkers has become more important. It has also become harder to accomplish, because some of these contacts use Yahoo!, America OnLine, MSN, and various other messaging programs to communicate and you may be forced to install individual programs to talk to just a few people on each.
Trillian is an all-in-one communication program that eliminates the need for multiple messaging programs cluttering your desktop and bandwidth. Incorporating AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and ICQ, Trillian follows the same basic format of the programs it seeks to incorporate. Many different skins are also available so the colors match your desktop.
Pros: There is an option to log conversations
Cons: must have accounts with the services you wish to use
User level: Beginner to Expert
DOWNLOAD NOW
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Instead of WinRAR try...
RarMonkey
Some files you download from the internet or get through e-mail may be in .rar format, and you can't open it the same way you would .zip files with Windows. Enter RarMonkey, a compact program with some powerful time-saving features.
Unlike it's popular and expensive counterpart, RarMonkey has the option to extract multiple .rar archives at once, eliminating most of the clicking and time-consumption of other programs. The extraction process itself is quick- I was able to extract over 50 .rar archives in less than five minutes.
If you're looking for a quick way to extract .rar archives without extra features you'll never use, this lightweight program will fit your needs.
Pros: Can extract many files in the same session
Cons: Open takes you to the folder containing the software, not the last location used
User level: Beginner to Advanced
DOWNLOAD NOW
Some files you download from the internet or get through e-mail may be in .rar format, and you can't open it the same way you would .zip files with Windows. Enter RarMonkey, a compact program with some powerful time-saving features.
Unlike it's popular and expensive counterpart, RarMonkey has the option to extract multiple .rar archives at once, eliminating most of the clicking and time-consumption of other programs. The extraction process itself is quick- I was able to extract over 50 .rar archives in less than five minutes.
If you're looking for a quick way to extract .rar archives without extra features you'll never use, this lightweight program will fit your needs.
Pros: Can extract many files in the same session
Cons: Open takes you to the folder containing the software, not the last location used
User level: Beginner to Advanced
DOWNLOAD NOW
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Fun Freebie of the Month
With July in full swing it's that season when you make playlists for the car, your friends, anything and everything- the music is everywhere. Friends sharing music with friends means lots of files everywhere, and your music library is riddled with duplicates.
Many programs, both free and paid, boast the superpower of setting your music right and sorting through those thousands of files. And with my own growing library of over 40,000 songs, acquiring music can turn into a headache instead of the fun experience it's meant to be.
This is where I'm proud to introduce Duplicate Cleaner. It only took an hour to scan 46,000 files (yes this is a different number...) whereas other free programs I tried took between six to thirty-two hours to complete the same scan.
After Duplicate Cleaner found all 6,000 sets of duplicates (totaling over 9,000 files- who DOESN'T need five copies of Enter Sandman?), it offered various and useful ways for selecting which duplicates to delete. Some of the options included keeping the files with the longest time, or simply selecting all but one file to get rid of. And for the icing on the cake, once you know which files to delete, Duplicate Cleaner will automatically delete the files for you. It's that easy.
With the short scan time, automatic selection of duplicates and automatic deletion, Duplicate Cleaner can save you time and sanity. It works for Word documents and photos too.
DOWNLOAD NOW
Many programs, both free and paid, boast the superpower of setting your music right and sorting through those thousands of files. And with my own growing library of over 40,000 songs, acquiring music can turn into a headache instead of the fun experience it's meant to be.
This is where I'm proud to introduce Duplicate Cleaner. It only took an hour to scan 46,000 files (yes this is a different number...) whereas other free programs I tried took between six to thirty-two hours to complete the same scan.
After Duplicate Cleaner found all 6,000 sets of duplicates (totaling over 9,000 files- who DOESN'T need five copies of Enter Sandman?), it offered various and useful ways for selecting which duplicates to delete. Some of the options included keeping the files with the longest time, or simply selecting all but one file to get rid of. And for the icing on the cake, once you know which files to delete, Duplicate Cleaner will automatically delete the files for you. It's that easy.
With the short scan time, automatic selection of duplicates and automatic deletion, Duplicate Cleaner can save you time and sanity. It works for Word documents and photos too.
DOWNLOAD NOW
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Instead of Microsoft Office try...
OpenOffice.org
With the price of Microsoft Office 2007 running in the hundreds, and the ribbon format not user-friendly, it's good to know you have other options. Open Office mimics the format of older versions of Microsoft Office so it is extremely familiar and functions in the same fashion.
The Open Office package includes a word processor (titled Writer), PowerPoint alternative (Impress), spreadsheet (Calc), and a program similar to Paint titled Draw.
Pros: No ribbons, compatibility with Microsoft Office 2000- 2007
Cons: Users have to remember to save in Microsoft Office compatible formats
User Level: Beginner to Expert
DOWNLOAD NOW
With the price of Microsoft Office 2007 running in the hundreds, and the ribbon format not user-friendly, it's good to know you have other options. Open Office mimics the format of older versions of Microsoft Office so it is extremely familiar and functions in the same fashion.
The Open Office package includes a word processor (titled Writer), PowerPoint alternative (Impress), spreadsheet (Calc), and a program similar to Paint titled Draw.
Pros: No ribbons, compatibility with Microsoft Office 2000- 2007
Cons: Users have to remember to save in Microsoft Office compatible formats
User Level: Beginner to Expert
DOWNLOAD NOW
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