Jon's Invaluable Software

This article is a "stub" or placeholder. It was likely created because someone was interested in reading more about the subject but either didn't have the time or knowledge to create or complete the article. If you can contribute, please do so.

Using all manner of computers and operating systems -- be it for work, business, hobby or pleasure -- Jon has amassed a library of select software gadgets & gizmos which are must-haves. Some are mainstream that you've probably heard of, and others are open source projects that won't even ring a bell. But all of them are ones that make every-day computing a more enjoyable prospect.

Local Software

• Synergy - Synergy lets you easily share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems, each with its own display, without special hardware. It's intended for users with multiple computers on their desk since each system uses its own monitor(s). Synergy Site

• AHK

• VLC

• Notepad++ - A replacement and all-around improvement over the Windows-standard Notepad. This is highly extensible with plugins including assistance for language markup and general usability. Notepad++ Site
  • Notepad Replacer - Once you have the above, you're going to want to do away with the old Notepad. Notepad Replacer will supplant every instance of Notepad in your system and ensure that when anything tries to open Notepad, it will instead open a file with the program of your choosing (in this case, Notepad++). Of course, you could do this with standard file associations, but since NP++ works with so many filetypes, it's nice to fix this in one fell swoop. Notepad Replacer from Binary Fortress

Remote Software (Sites)

• LastPass - LastPass in an amazing password/bookmark aggregator that puts all of your valuable sites, logins, and notes in a super-secure bubble in the internet cloud, available from anywhere in the world by either using the browser plugin, or simply logging into the site with your credentials. Most important of all, be sure you have a super-complex password for LastPass, and then you will never have to remember another password again. Oh, it's also free. LastPass

• Password Meter - There is a lot of buzz about How Secure Is My Password, and while it's fun to see how long it would take for a PC to crack your password, it doesn't provide any assistance in how to make your password better. That's why I prefer Ask The Geek's Password Meter. It's the one I used to help create my master LastPass password, and it's still never been broken. Password Meter

• Wunderlist - It's not that as I get older I forget more stuff, it's that I'm mature enough now to realize how many things I've forgotten... Anyhow, I've learned that if I don't write it down I'll forget it. Enter Wunderlist. Wunderlist is really nothing more than a list of to-do lists that you can share with other people or keep to yourself. I have lists for things I need to do today, things to pick up at the store, movies I want to see, long-term goals, etc. Plus all of the data is instantly cross-platform accessible from the web or from your smartphone app. Wunderlist

Hybrid

• Pushbullet - It's hard to know where to start when describing Pushbullet. It is software, and it is a site, and it's also a service -- so I created the new category of "Hybrid" to contain it. Pushbullet is an instant version of what I previously did manually with a bunch of workarounds: moving snippets of data, links, files, pictures & data between devices. It's not cloud storage, but rather a conduit to essentially instantly pipe (aka, "push") media from any of your devices to any of your other devices. Send a photo from your phone to your desktop. Send an address from your PC to your phone. Send a link from your laptop to your desktop. Or blast any one of those things (and more) out to all of your devices at once. There's so much more, though, because then you add not only your own devices, but also link to friends, and you get a sort of throwback to ICQ/AIM crossed with current texting/SMS, but from any/all of your devices. There are ton more things it can do if you care to dig (remote file access, true SMS with Android, etc.) but even if you just use it for the basics, you'll wonder where it was all your life. Pushbullet