TECHNOBYTES: Introducing GeekPack 1.0

Recently, Google decided to get into software distribution by introducing the Google Pack. Google Pack is package of software that Google and its’ many partners believe you should download and install on your computer. Most of the software in Google Pack are readily available for free over the Internet, but Google has decided to bundle them together for your downloading convenience. I do not necessarily agree with all of Google’s choices on this one, so I went out and created my own – the GeekPack.

Office Productivity
OpenOffice 2.01 – is a great alternative to Microsoft Office. The office suite is fully compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. You can create type documents, presentations, and spreadsheets and open them up, formatting intact, in Microsoft Office and vice versa. The great thing about this “office suite” is that it is absolutely free.

Google Earth – is a wonderful resource to have if you need a “birds eye view” of the world. You can get a satellite view of just about any address on Earth with the exception of Military facilities, etc. Use with caution: this product can be so fun to use that you will lose all productivity!

GIMP – is an free opensource photo-editing alternative to Adobe Photoshop. For individuals looking for photoshop level image editing tools, this is a great one to get!

Communications
Mozilla FireFox 1.501 – is the best IE alternative browser on the planet. The elegance and simplicity of this browser makes it a must have on your computer. You can download additional extensions and plugins to expand the capabilities of FireFox. For those looking for a feature rich FireFox clone, you can try Flock.

Mozilla Thunderbird 1.50 – is one of the best e-mail clients. If you are an Microsoft Outlook Express user, you should replace it by downloading the freebie.

Trillian 3.01 – is an instant messenging client for users who IM users on multiple IM networks such as: MSN, AOL, and Yahoo. Instead of downloading multiple IM clients to chat with all of your friends, family members, and colleagues, download this one. Trillian Basic is free. Trillian Pro is $25.00. For our more adventurous users and techies, you can download and try opensource – Gaim.

Skype 2.0 – virtually free VOIP phone calls to anyone on earth. You can now call anyone you want on a computer; plus for a small fee, any USB phone, landline, and cellphone using Skype service. In the lastest edition, you can do teleconferences with up to five individuals (ten indivuals if you are using Intel’s Duo Core processors).

File Organization
Apple iTunes 6.0.2 – is the best software around for organizing your digital music collection on your computer and you do not have to be an iPod owner to use it. Apple iTunes is a freebie. But, if you do not want to support big technology companies such as: Apple, there is a nice open source solution out there for the more adventurous computer users – Songbird.

Picasa 2 – is a very simple to use photo editor/organizer for all your digital photos. Picasa will automatically categorize all your photos on your computer. Simple edits performed with relative ease for all your photos. Users can even share photos with family and friends through Google’s Blogger service. If Picasa is not your “cup of tea”, you can also try FastStone Image Viewer.

Google Desktop Search 3 – is a free utility that allows you search and organize all of your files, such as: word documents, e-mails, photos, etc. on your computer. You can, now, share your files across all your computers. From your desktop, without opening your browser, you can have access: new webclips, GMAIL, and Google Search.

Utilities

7 Zip – software for compressing and uncompressing documents. You can uncompress any documents such as: .zip, .rar, .tar, .cab, etc. with this one tool. Instead of Winzip, download this little freebie for all your zipping and unzipping needs!

FoxIT PDF Reader – if you read a lot PDF documents, you may appreciate using this reader instead of the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 reader. FoxIT loads up a lot quicker and utilizes less computer resources than Adobe’s reader. To create PDF documents, you can download PDF Creator.

SyncBack – is a backup tool that allows users backup/restore files and information with “one click” simplicity or automated scheduler. Ensure two or more computers you are working on have the exact same files. All backups are encrypted using military level encryption and are compressed using the latest compression formats to ensure secure and small backup files. Bonus: you can even backup live files, meaning you do not even have to close the files you are working on, just run the program and keep on working. Freebie is available for download, but you can get a newer version of the program for $25.00 USD.

VLC (Video LAN Client) – if you watch a lot video from the Internet, you will soon run into a variety of different video formats. There are a couple of formats not supported by VLC, but it supports most popular formats. You may still need other players to play certain types of video such as: Real file formats (.rm, .rmvb).

Security/PC Safety
Clam Antivirus (Clam AV) – both Norton and McAfee are good products but are costly solutions in the long run. If you are on a budget or just tired of paying those “yearly subscription fees” for new antivirus definitions, download and give this guy a shot! If you are not comfortable using open-source software on your computer such as: Clam AV, feel free to download other free commerical alternatives, such as: Grisoft’s AVG Antivirus and Avast! 4 Home Edition.

Spybot Search and Destroy & Microsoft Antispyware are really good free pickups for your computer that will, if used properly, prevent those nasty spyware from invading your computer and ruining your experience. You may also want to try: Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spyware Guard, Spyware Blaster, Hijack This!

ZoneAlarm – only free software firewall on the Internet. ZoneAlarm provides excellent protection for your computer from all those nasty trojans, spywares and viruses from the web. ZoneAlarm is a better solution than the built-in firewall protection found in XP.

If you have come across any freebies that you think I should add to my list, I welcome your comments and suggestions!

~Geekboy.

Introducing GeekPack 1.0

Recently, Google decided to get into software distribution by introducing the Google Pack. Google Pack is package of software that Google and its’ many partners believe you should download and install on your computer. Most of the software in Google Pack are readily available for free over the Internet, but Google has decided to bundle them together for your downloading convenience. I do not necessarily agree with all of Google’s choices on this one, so I went out and created my own – the GeekPack.Office Productivity
OpenOffice 2.01 – is a great alternative to Microsoft Office. The office suite is fully compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. You can create type documents, presentations, and spreadsheets and open them up, formatting intact, in Microsoft Office and vice versa. The great thing about this “office suite” is that it is absolutely free.

Google Earth – is a wonderful resource to have if you need a “birds eye view” of the world. You can get a satellite view of just about any address on Earth with the exception of Military facilities, etc. Use with caution: this product can be so fun to use that you will lose all productivity!

GIMP – is an free opensource photo-editing alternative to Adobe Photoshop. For individuals looking for photoshop level image editing tools, this is a great one to get!

Communications
Mozilla FireFox 1.501 – is the best IE alternative browser on the planet. The elegance and simplicity of this browser makes it a must have on your computer. You can download additional extensions and plugins to expand the capabilities of FireFox. For those looking for a feature rich FireFox clone, you can try Flock.

Mozilla Thunderbird 1.50 – is one of the best e-mail clients. If you are an Microsoft Outlook Express user, you should replace it by downloading the freebie.

Trillian 3.01 – is an instant messenging client for users who IM users on multiple IM networks such as: MSN, AOL, and Yahoo. Instead of downloading multiple IM clients to chat with all of your friends, family members, and colleagues, download this one. Trillian Basic is free. Trillian Pro is $25.00. For our more adventurous users and techies, you can download and try opensource – Gaim.

Skype 2.0 – virtually free VOIP phone calls to anyone on earth. You can now call anyone you want on a computer; plus for a small fee, any USB phone, landline, and cellphone using Skype service. In the lastest edition, you can do teleconferences with up to five individuals (ten indivuals if you are using Intel’s Duo Core processors).

File Organization
Apple iTunes 6.0.2 – is the best software around for organizing your digital music collection on your computer and you do not have to be an iPod owner to use it. Apple iTunes is a freebie. But, if you do not want to support big technology companies such as: Apple, there is a nice open source solution out there for the more adventurous computer users – Songbird.

Picasa 2 – is a very simple to use photo editor/organizer for all your digital photos. Picasa will automatically categorize all your photos on your computer. Simple edits performed with relative ease for all your photos. Users can even share photos with family and friends through Google’s Blogger service. If Picasa is not your “cup of tea”, you can also try FastStone Image Viewer.

Google Desktop Search 3 – is a free utility that allows you search and organize all of your files, such as: word documents, e-mails, photos, etc. on your computer. You can, now, share your files across all your computers. From your desktop, without opening your browser, you can have access: new webclips, GMAIL, and Google Search.

Utilities
7 Zip – software for compressing and uncompressing documents. You can uncompress any documents such as: .zip, .rar, .tar, .cab, etc. with this one tool. Instead of Winzip, download this little freebie for all your zipping and unzipping needs!

FoxIT PDF Reader – if you read a lot PDF documents, you may appreciate using this reader instead of the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 reader. FoxIT loads up a lot quicker and utilizes less computer resources than Adobe’s reader. To create PDF documents, you can download PDF Creator.

SyncBack – is a backup tool that allows users backup/restore files and information with “one click” simplicity or automated scheduler. Ensure two or more computers you are working on have the exact same files. All backups are encrypted using military level encryption and are compressed using the latest compression formats to ensure secure and small backup files. Bonus: you can even backup live files, meaning you do not even have to close the files you are working on, just run the program and keep on working. Freebie is available for download, but you can get a newer version of the program for $25.00 USD.VLC (Video LAN Client) – if you watch a lot video from the Internet, you will soon run into a variety of different video formats. There are a couple of formats not supported by VLC, but it supports most popular formats. You may still need other players to play certain types of video such as: Real file formats (.rm, .rmvb).

Security/PC Safety
Clam Antivirus (Clam AV) – both Norton and McAfee are good products but are costly solutions in the long run. If you are on a budget or just tired of paying those “yearly subscription fees” for new antivirus definitions, download and give this guy a shot! If you are not comfortable using open-source software on your computer such as: Clam AV, feel free to download other free commerical alternatives, such as: Grisoft’s AVG Antivirus and Avast! 4 Home Edition.Spybot Search and Destroy & Microsoft Antispyware are really good free pickups for your computer that will, if used properly, prevent those nasty spyware from invading your computer and ruining your experience. You may also want to try: Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spyware Guard, Spyware Blaster, Hijack This!ZoneAlarm – only free software firewall on the Internet. ZoneAlarm provides excellent protection for your computer from all those nasty trojans, spywares and viruses from the web. ZoneAlarm is a better solution than the built-in firewall protection found in XP.If you have come across any freebies that you think I should add to my list, I welcome your comments and suggestions!~Geekboy.