The Big Book of Free Stuff by Max Diamond - HTML preview

Software Freebies

All-Time Greats

•         Ad-Aware Free: Stops spyware

•         Audacity: Records and edits sound

•         BitTorrent: Easy online file sharing

•         Dropbox: Online file syncing

•         Evite: Fast party planning

•         FreeConference.com: Unlimited conference calls

•         IMDb: Movie facts and trivia

•         OpenOffice.org: Microsoft Office alternative

•         The GIMP: Tool-rich image editor

•         Trillian Basic: Chat with friends on many instant messaging services

Antivirus Utilities

•         Free Avast Anti-Virus: Capable and thorough malware detection

•         AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5: Excellent detection and disinfection

•         Avira AntiVir Personal: Good PC disinfection

•         Microsoft Security Essentials: Nearly perfect in disabling infections.

Audio Apps and Services

•         AudioTag: Easily ID songs you can't name

•         Buddha Machine Wall: Calming music source

•         Grooveshark: Great place to listen to music

•         Mp3Tag: Universal tag editor for audio

•         Myna: Advanced audio editing

•         Speakershare: Share your best PC speakers with your other computers

•         TunesBag: Access songs from any browser

Backup Utilities

•         Backupify: 1GB of storage, weekly backups; download backups to your PC

•         Comodo Time Machine: Backup utility protects files, folders, and programs

•         Macrium Reflect Free Edition: Images your hard drive for PC restoration

•         SDExplorer: Access 25GB of online storage from Windows Explorer

•         SyncToy: Easy home-network syncing

•         Todo Backup: Images your drive or a partition

Browser Add-Ons, Apps, and Utilities

•         CeeVee: Online résumés with custom sharing

•         MailBrowser: Manage Gmail contacts, attachments, and more

•         MyBrainshark: Add narration to a presentation by speaking over the phone

•         PDF to Word: Turns PDFs into edit-ready docs

Collaboration Services

•         MiNeeds: Connect with and receive bids online from local contractors

•         Tinychat: Disposable chatrooms

•         Yammer: Facebook-like communications features for businesses

•         Zoho Discussions: Add a feature-rich discussion forum to any online destination

Desktop Customization

•         BumpTop: 3D desktop that allows you to pin up notes and photos

•         DeskHedron: Create up to nine 3D desktops that you can flip through

•         InterfaceLift: PC wallpaper library

•         Krento: Rotating 3D circle for app launching

•         Rainmeter: Attractive, seamlessly embedded desktop overhaul

•         StandaloneStack 2: Animated shortcuts for easy access to folder contents

•         T3Desk: Minimizes programs to the PC desktop

Mobile Apps and Services

•         BlueRetriever: Helps recover lost gadgets

•         Connectify: Turn your laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot

•         Instapaper: Bookmark Web pages; strip them to text-only for easy mobile reading

•         OverMyMinutes: Helps you stay within your cell-phone plan allotment

•         Xpenser: Track expenses via the Web

Photo Utilities

•         Easy Poster Printer: Print small to giant posters from your digital images

•         The Golden Hour Calculator: Find the best light to shoot photos

•         Paint.Net: Lightweight Photoshop alternative

•         Phoenix: Web-based image editor

•         Shrink Pic: Autoresizing of digital images

Productivity Tools

•         DoPDF Free PDF Converter: Fast and simple PDF conversion

•         Ecofont: Special design allows this font to consume less ink

•         Everything: Thorough indexing and fast search of your desktop

•         FlockDraw: A Web-based "cocktail napkin" for shared ideas

•         Fonolo: Gives you access to phone menus for customer service numbers

•         iCurrent: Free news site with personalization

•         MakeSomeTime: Keeps tabs on invoices, projects, and billable hours

•         ScreenToaster: Create and e-mail or upload a video of a screen that explains something

•         Tom's Planner: Easy Gantt charts

Security Utilities

•         KeePass: Organizes and protects all of your important passwords with just one password

•         OpenDNS: Protects kids from online violence, pornography, and other unsavory Web material

•         SuperAntiSpyware: A robust malware fighter

•         Web of Trust: Vets the links you click in your browsers for security issues

Self-Improvement Assistants

•         BudgetSketch: Track where your money will go before you spend it

•         DailyBurn: Presents charts and graphs to track your fitness program

•         Habitforge: Train yourself in new habits with the help of daily reminders

•         Learn10: Ten new foreign-language words daily

•         RunKeeper Free: Use your iPhone to keep track of your jogging sessions

•         YouTube EDU: Videos of Ivy League lecturers

Social Networking Tools

•         Brizzly: Performs a makeover of the Facebook and Twitter interfaces

•         FacePAD: Download photo albums from Facebook, via Firefox

•         FriendShopper: Shop online with friends

•         PhotoGrabber