Software That Does It All - bordeauxhaptand1963
A computer is lone as useful as the software you run on it, so you should keep your PC's software current–and not necessarily with the latest version of a program that's getting long in the tooth. Sometimes, switching to a new applications programme stool help you speed up your work OR pee-pee your arrangement more efficient.
PCWorld examined software system tools for handling 11 categories of public (and primary) Microcomputer tasks: presentations, financial planning, note taking, file management, exposure editing, email, word processing, music organizing, remote access, cleanup/optimization, and backup. In each instance, we known the dominant political platform, a promising challenger, and (where applicable) an online alternative. Our category reporting invites you to consider the pros and cons of each type of competition: incumbents, up-and-comers, and Web apps.
Presentations
• Incumbent: Microsoft PowerPoint. The 600-pound gorilla in the world of presentations is Microsoft's PowerPoint (purchasable equally a component of various Microsoft Berth bundles or severally for $140). The application is so supreme that the give voice "send me the PowerPoint" has become ubiquitous in business circles.
• Up-and-comer: Prezi. Easily the almost interesting alternative to PowerPoint, Prezi has both local and online components. The free, public (and Web-alone) version lets you create arguably better presentations than PowerPoint can deliver. Instead of being slide-settled, Prezi uses a individualist-pane approach. The process May seem singular at the start, but Prezi's tutorials and inline aid leave get you adequate focal ratio in a rush. Prezi is cooperative, sol multiple users stern work on the same presentment at the same time via Prezi Encounter. When it's time to fall in the introduction, you can play the show online (it's Tacky-based) or download a .zip file, distil it, and play IT locally using the enclosed prezi.exe file. Signing up for the pro version of Prezi ($59 a year) entitles you to download Prezi Desktop, and you work at presentations locally.
• Web app: TransMedia Glide by Presenter. Section of the browser-supported Glide desktop operating system (free with 30GB of storage, or $50 a year with 250GB), Glide Presenter plant in a slide-past-slide format. It's easy to use, and you can exportation creations as PowerPoint files Oregon PDF files. You can current audio and video in presentations, and create presentations collaboratively.
Financial Planning
• Incumbents: Intuit Repair and Intuit Mint candy. Though Quicken (starts at $30) is desktop software and Stack is a free Web-supported table service, both offerings are go-to resources for budgeting, and both number from the Saame company: Intuit.
• Up-and-comer: You Take A Budget. Part budgeting tutorial and depart money management guide, this intuitive platform walks you through apparatus and fund allocation, helping you add u accounts and project spending in dozens of categories. YNAB past maintains a running game tab of your spending, with graphs that exemplify how a good deal you've spent all over the months and how your net Worth has progressed. Security-conscious users will appreciate that YNAB can't automatically download activity from your coin bank account. You commode import OFX, QFX, and QIF files into the ledger, but YNAB encourages soul-reporting because that feeler forces you to think to a greater extent concretely about your outlay habits. You can try out You Need A Budget gratis, but it costs $60 to keep. The price of admission also buys you entry into YNAB forums and fiscal-planning classes, where you fanny glean advice from experts.
• Web app: HelloWallet. If you need to balance your books but you have trouble finding time to record everything you make and expend, try HelloWallet. This app syncs with online accounts and lets you signal flag spending as 'wish I hadn't', 'thankful I did', 'had to', then forth, thusly that you tin can identify expenditures to eliminate in the future. For a unit of time $9, the site walks you direct budget setup and notes how much, on average, other populate in your city with your income expend in each expense category. Correction: this article primitively stated that HelloWallet is a free app. It in fact costs $9 per month for individual users.
Note Winning
• Incumbent: Evernote. A useful creature for note pickings, promissory note syncing, offline bookmark creation, and information organizing, Evernote (released) keeps coming up with ways to stool the data you need easier to hold bac tag along of. Its latest iOS apps, EvernoteHello and EvernoteFood, are configured to keep records on every last of the the great unwashe you meet and altogether of the food you eat.
• Up-and-arriver: Microsoft OneNote. Microsoft's note-taking plan comes bundled with the most radical variation of Microsoft Office staff (it costs $80 when purchased by itself), and it's easily the about unmarked platform in the 2022 Office Suite. That's too bad, because this little notepad makes capturing your thoughts incredibly easy. Press Windows-S to capture any portion of your computer display and automatically drop the project into your notebook. IT's a great way to generate Vane clippings if you'rhenium shopping around for something. Also, you can click anywhere in the notebook computer and lead off typing, so your notes have more optic appeal than a simple list might have.
• Web app: Springpad. Some people conceive that bank note taking works better online, because syncing is quicker, notes preceptor't take up local storehouse space, and sharing is easier. To exploit these advantages, Springpad's free Web service and mobile apps let you add not just notes simply also links, photos, videos, and files to your box of "stuff"–in much the same way as Dropbox, but with a exonerated notebook and to-do list use. You can also check out files that your Springpad-victimisation friends unlock, devising it an easy way to apportion videos and create cooperative lists.
Next: File direction, photo editing, e-mail, and word-processing software system.
File in Management
• Incumbent: Microsoft Windows Passeplorer. The file management utility that comes preloaded on all Windows PCs does an adequate job, and most the great unwashe lean to overlook IT. Generally it loads quickly if you're trenchant for local files (network searches are a polar story, though); and in Windows 7, right-clicking any file allows you to perform a multitude of actions, depending on what other programs you've downloaded to your computer. Overall, Windows Explorer is elementary to use and intuitive–but information technology International Relations and Security Network't always for everyone.
• Up-and-comer: CodePlex Improve Unstylishplorer. Maintained by CodePlex, an open-source software development community, Better Explorer (aka BExplorer) looks and behaves the way Windows Explorer will in Windows 8–except that it runs in Windows 7. At the elevation of the charge-spotter window, Better Adventurer adds options that behave a good deal as the Ribbon at the top of Microsoft Word's newest layout does, rental you more easily arrange, copy, travel, and delete files. The free tool besides has a button for Accessing a file's properties when you're using a device (such as a tablet) that doesn't support reactionary-clicking. Best of totally, you can scene folders in tabs at the top of the window, so you can see multiple folders at once without getting uncomprehensible. (For more, figure "How to Get Windows 8 Features Now.")
Photo Editing
• Incumbent: Adobe Photoshop. The de facto standard for photo editing, Photoshop (starts at $700) remains in a class by itself, with a vast array of tools and jade-INS, plus an alone ability to automatise repetitive tasks. The free, almost-as-powerful alternative (if you can live with a slightly clunky interface) is Hitch–the Wildebeest Image Manipulation Program.
• Up-and-comer: CyberLink PhotoDirector. CyberLink May Be record-breaking known for its video-redaction and disc-burning software program, but it has put a lot of its technical school prowess into an independent photo-redaction program titled PhotoDirector. The program is a compounding librarian, editor, and slideshow creator, with good import capabilities. PhotoDirector's powerful editing and tweaking controls are easy to use, and they'atomic number 75 readily available on a scrolling pane to the left-hand of the main window. Compared to programs where you must endlessly open dialog boxes, windows, or panes to apply settings, IT's a joy to practice. PhotoDirector provides numerous presets for users who want to get fictive, and the company's online DirectorZone lets you apportion those presets and research presets made by others. You can post photos on Flickr and slideshows on YouTube from inside the program. At $65, PhotoDirector is a tur pricier than some of the low-last competition, but the time that you'll save by functioning with its interface makes it well worth the price.
• Web app: Pixlr Editor. The free Pixlr is like a superclean online version of Photoshop; and considering that it operates within a web browser window, the software system is amazingly robust. Pixlr's various tools have a distinctly artistic bent. For instance, the pencil tool simulates exploitation the tip or edge of a pencil, dependant on how you move the cursor. The software also comes with excellent filters galore. Your first impression is likely to be, "Is this really free?"
• Incumbent: Microsoft Prospect. Seamless support for Microsoft Exchange and interracial calendaring functions explain the dominance of Mind-set (forthcoming in mixed Microsoft Office bundles, or separately for $140) in the business email market. Mozilla Thunderbird is a venerable free downloadable choice that handles multiple accounts, though information technology doesn't declare oneself Exchange support. get hold.pcworld.com/72613 (Thunderbird)
• Up-and-comer: eM Client. Though IT supports only IMAP and POP accounts, mutton guest is in other respects a essential clon of Expectation. Besides being fit to handle multiple accounts with ease (in several shipway it manages this task better than Outlook does), mut offers debris-mail control, task management, calendaring functions, and contact management. It regular imports data from Outlook and syncs seamlessly with Gmail. In addition, eM Guest works with versatile flavors of instant messaging, including Facebook and Skype. In lieu of Exchange, eM Client relies along its personal Sync2eM service, which works just suchlike Exchange. At $50 a year, it costs overmuch to a lesser degree hosted Exchange does, with clients for Android, iOS, and Windows Telephone 7 devices. For nonbusiness use, eM Customer is free, but you're minor to ii accounts unless you buy the $50 Pro version. Still, even that alternative is a bargain compared to Outlook.
• Web app: Google Gmail. The free Gmail lets you compose, translate, and Beaver Stateganize email from some Cyberspace-resourceful device in existence. A Google account comes with Calendar and Chat functions, as well every bit access to Google Docs, where you can share and collaborate on documents.
Book Processing
• Incumbent: Microsoft Word. The all but widely used Holy Scripture processing software around, Word (available in different Microsoft Office bundles or separately for $140) is huge and can take everlastingly to start up. It costs an arm and a peg, whether you get wise in an Office suite OR pip out on an individual basi, simply information technology's the articulate CPU that people are most familiar with, so you'll probably never puzzle over lost when using it.
• Up-and-comer: Pomarancha WriteMonkey. Though IT can save what you write only as .txt files, this free word processor clears away distractions thus you arse focus on writing your speech down–and headache about presentation later. Start out of the "zenware" software movement, WriteMonkey is designed to occupy your whole screen, without toolbars or spelling-check lines. The program is compact, and there's no more installation process. Just download the zip file from the WriteMonkey website (surgery from PCWorld.com's Downloads Library), unzip the file, and run the application. Because it consumes little space, you can pack the software with you on a USB drive and use it on distinct computers. Contempt the petit mal epilepsy of a toolbar, you give notice change your preferences, ravel a spelling verification, and seem up words in your textbook, with the help of reference websites such as Reference.com and UrbanDictionary.com. You can sucker up font styles (bold, italic, and underlined) in the text that will get along very formatting when you export or publish the file. WriteMonkey manages to glucinium full featured without being bloated or distracting.
• Web app: Zoho Writer. Google Docs International Relations and Security Network't always intuitive; and if your office happens to use it, your personal documents ass get buried in an roll down of mutual-document Spam. (Besides, storing your email, your calendar, and your documents on a widowed company's servers is the very definition of putting all of your eggs in ace hoop.) In direct contrast, Zoho Writer is a "what you see is what you mystify" text editor that closely resembles an older version of Microsoft Word. You can store and share documents happeningargumentation, and toggle between multiple open documents away using the tabs at the lead. Zoho Writer remains in beta despite having been around since 2005, so the service is unlikely to see an update anytime presently. Zoho Writer is a good haze over-based option to Google Docs–and to costly and weighty word-processing software.
Next: Music organizing, remote access code, cleansing/optimisation, and patronage software.
Music Organizing
• Incumbent: Apple iTunes. The whale medicine organizer is free and capable, and it makes syncing tunes to iOS and Windows Phone 7 devices a breeze. But its interface can drive non-Apple users crazy, and it has no available way to sync to Android devices.
• Up-and-comer: Songbird. If you don't use an iOS device, consider moving to Songbird. This attractive organizer's seafaring largely mimics that of iTunes. The free program can sync with Android and other devices without proprietary operating systems. Songbird lets you edit track information and function various add-ons written aside independent developers for such things as social media communication, lyrics and guitar tab music for your songs, and access to Last.fm and the 7digital music store.
• WWW app: Google Music. You can transplant up to 20,000 of your songs to Google Euphony (free), from which you can Access and pelt them over any Internet connection, anywhere in the world. The online interface permits you to categorize tracks away deed, artist, record album, and genre, and make over your own playlists. Google Music even lets you divide your music 'tween tunes that you've uploaded and tunes that you've purchased from the Android Market.
Remote Access
• Incumbent: Citrix GoToMyPC. Set u this program and then allow it sit quietly in the setting, waiting for you to log on from another system via the company's online portal. GoToMyPC works advisable and is available for subscription prices as low as $10 per calendar month, or $99 per yr.
• Astir-and-comer: TeamViewer. Very fast, and free for noncommercial use, TeamViewer can be configured to sit ready in the background for an always-available connecter to your desktop; or you can simply run information technology pro re nata. The program uses a simple connector ID and password for certificate. You tail end provide those credentials to a colleague if you wishing to allow that someone to view or take off over your screen. TeamViewer also has a feature article for moving files onto and off the host machine, and it supports multiple connections and users. For high-volume professional use, life licenses start at $750. Considering the select of the religious service, that's a steal.
• Web app: Join.me. For occasional use within a browser, Join.me is an even simpler option than TeamViewer, since victimization it doesn't even involve downloading software. Simply browse to the URL join.me, click divvy up, send the generated code to the person that you want to plowshare your screen with, and have that person go in IT at join.ME after clicking join. You can also invite nine-fold users to see advertizement hoc Web presentations. Join.Pine Tree State is section of LogMeIn's family of services.
Cleanup/Optimisation
• Incumbent: Piriform CCleaner. A longtime standard for optimizing PCs, the unimportant CCleaner helps you remove unneeded programs, clear cookies from your browsers, tidy your system's Windows Registry, and perform similar tasks. This public utility is spare, solid, and tested.
• Up-and-comer: SlimWare SlimCleaner. SlimWare Utilities just released version 2.0 of SlimCleaner (free) parting fall, and the app is looking fitter than ever. It provides color-coded and explicit Diamond Statescriptions of what's on your computer, clear down to CPU and Read/write memor dials that tell you how much of each you're victimization. Tabs on the left side toggle between disparate SlimCleaner functions–the desktop cleaner, the optimization tool, the uninstaller, and so onward. SlimCleaner also assigns ratings (ranging from Supererogatory to Good) to most of the programs, apps, and files along your estimator. It draws these ratings from rayviews that early users have posted, and from SlimCleaner's own proprietary antivirus scanner. In our tests, the ratings were fairly veracious, and they certainly simplified decisions nigh which files to stay fresh and which ones to blue-pencil–no Google searches requisite. If you want to delete files permanently, SlimCleaner offers the same levels of overwriting–or "shredding"–that CCleaner does, though in slimly snazzier mode.
Fill-in
• Incumbent: Acronis True Image. Although this $40 mainstay among consumer PC backup programs has many worthy competitors, it combines drive imaging, file and folder backup, and disaster recovery in a identical professional parcel.
• Up-and-comer: Easeus Todo Backup Free. Aboveboard, you preceptor't need to pay a dime to get a capable backup program. Easeus Todo Backup Free is a sterling backup suite that provides 90 percent of what you'd amaze with pay up software–drive imaging, file and folder backup, climb of backup images as realistic drives, scheduling, and a great deal more. Todo Backup's interface is a tad obtuse at multiplication, but even the least technical drug user should be competent to ordered up a backup without much fuss. The software provides full disaster-recovery features, including a Windows PE-based recovery bang magnetic disk. And unlike many for-pay competitors, it too supports Windows Dynamic disks and RAID.
• Web app: CrashPlan. Graced with an dandyish port, this program backs up to a local goal as well as online, and it carries an passing competitory terms–$50 a year for inexhaustible backup. You can even let friends back adequate your account. Combine that flexibleness with clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, and even iOS and Humanoid mobile devices, and you have a winning help. You'll like its trend.
Five Reasons Wherefore Background Software Is Still Live
Working with online applications makes a slew of sense for a lot of computer users these days–particularly when travel may take populate Former Armed Forces from their main turn PC. Nevertheless, in some situations the ability to work with software that's installed locally on a desktop system rear be indispensable. Hera are five advantages that come with having apps loaded and ready to run connected your have PC.
- Protection: Company's germinate, and though storing your information on a company's servers is usually safe, even a seemingly stable company May fold or change its privateness standards. When treatment authoritative documents, family photos, and business presentations, you might deprivation to use screen background software just to ensure that the preservation and confidentiality of that information don't depend on the bully behavior of some potentially capricious company.
- Guaranteed connection: Web apps are great when you can access the Web. But if your Internet connection goes down, or if you can't pick up a wireless indicate piece you're active, you need on-board software to stay productive. Handily, many an tools have a 'sync' button to enable your online database to hitch up with your offline database when you regain your connection.
- Speed: Even when you cause have an Internet connector, Web services toilet glucinium agonizingly uninteresting at times–Beaver State their servers tin can go down. Though offline programs bathroom feel sluggish, too, you commode clean unnecessary files from your Winchester drive to make the software run faster, or you bum upgrade your Drive. The point is that you aren't at the mercy of external conditions.
- In-boxwood utilities: Cleanup and file management utilities aren't the most exciting applications in the world, just that doesn't mean they're not important. And Web services just can't keep your computer up and running the path topical anaestheti tools can.
- Raw power: Web-based photo editors are acquiring better and better, but information technology's still incoming to impossible to edit video from a web browser. To do that chore, you must draw off along the resources of your own machine.
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Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/473825/software_that_does_it_all.html
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