Kim Komando - Daily Download

Monday, April 19, 2010  

Support this free newsletter—Support our advertisers

PAID ADVERTISEMENT WHEN WILL YOUR PC EXPIRE? Unfortunately, the more you use your computer, the slower it gets. Simple preventative maintenance can make your PC last longer and run faster. PC Pitstop's Optimize is easy to use software that will automatically perform the tasks necessary to extend the life of your PC & keep your computer running like new. Run a Free PC Maintenance Scan!

You don't have to be a master to play chess

Chess has been called "The Game of Kings." The elite and noble classes played it. Today, the game is still played by elites. They're not kings. But they are strategic geniuses. Their minds work on a whole other level.
But chess doesn't have to be taken so seriously. You don't have to be a grandmaster to enjoy playing it.

Many chess video games are built to challenge the best of the best. What if you're a novice? Would these games be good for your kids?

Getting crushed by a master chess program isn't fun. That would just make you want to quit. Instead, try 100% Free Chess. This game has fun sounds and animations. And an interactive tutorial will teach you some handy tricks.

It also has several fun variations on the standard chess formula. You can play lightning-fast timed matches. Or, start a game with the pieces randomly distributed. There's even a mode where you must actually lose all your pieces. It's lots of fun.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Never forget; use reminders and to-do lists

Was that doctor's appointment scheduled for Tuesday or Thursday? What about Billy's soccer game? Why is there no milk in the fridge? Dang it! You forgot to get the milk.

You hate forgetting things. Me, too. But today, my mind is a steel trap! And I'm going to tell you the secret. You too can have a memory like a herd of elephants!

Nah! I don't know much about memory tricks. I use a reminder program. I have a bunch here. Find one you like and use it regularly. You'll never again be out of milk!

ReminderFox—It's easy to lose track of time while surfing the Web. But what if your browser kept you on track? ReminderFox is a calendar add-on for Firefox. You simply add short reminders to a calendar. Hover over the ReminderFox icon to see what's coming up soon. Or, set reminder alarms to pop up in front of you.

TeuxDeux—Don't relegate your to-do list to a Post-it note. You'll lose that thing in no time. Instead, put it online. That way you can access it from anywhere. TeuxDeux is a barebones to-do list. Make a list. Check items off as you complete them. It's simple and easy to use. What else do you need?

Evernote—What do you write your reminder notes on? Do you use Post-it notes or scraps of paper? This program is a better way. It lets you use almost anything as a reminder note. Write text notes. Save and annotate photos. Record audio reminders. You can even clip portions of Web sites you want to remember. If you like this program, check out the iPhone app.

Sunbird—Short notes and alarms are handy. But for serious scheduling, you need a calendar program. Sunbird is a great option from the organization behind Firefox. You can schedule to-dos, tasks and appointments. Set up alarms and pop-up reminders. You can get an overview of everything you need to do.

Rainlendar—A powerful calendar program can be useful. But maybe you just want something you can check at a glance. This compact calendar sits right on your desktop. It includes a to-do and upcoming events lists. You don't have to open a program or search for a document. Just look at your desktop to see what you should be doing.

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Connect Microsoft Office with Google Docs

Microsoft Office is the standard for productivity suites. But there are attractive alternatives. One is Google Docs. It has several features Office lacks. Most importantly, all documents are stored online. They can be accessed from anywhere.

You may use Google Docs. But you'll probably continue to use Office, too. What if you could get the best of both worlds? You'd get the functionality and compatibility of Office. But you'd also have the online tools of Google Docs.

That sounds pretty good. And all you need is Offisync. This program lets you access Google Docs from within Office. You can save important documents on your computer and online. Then they're easily accessible from anywhere.

You can even control Google Docs document sharing from Office. And it's all done from a simple tab in the ribbon interface. Your documents have never been this versatile.

Cost: Free System: Windows XP, Vista and 7

Download HERE

Kim's $15,000 Spring Gadget Giveaway starts tomorrow!
Beginning this weekend, you can enter every day to win in my $15,000 Spring Gadget Giveaway! There are great prize packages to be won, each worth at least $1,000! Grab a Motorola Backflip phone with a year's unlimited AT&T voice and data service worth more than $1,500! Snag a $1,800 Sony VAIO Z Series laptop or picture yourself watching a 47" LG 3D HDTV, part of the $4,000 grand prize! Wow! Tune in to my show this weekend and visit komando.com for all the details!

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Manage multiple monitors

Studies have shown that dual-monitor setups improve efficiency.  They're invaluable for working with multiple documents.

Many graphics cards support dual monitors. You'll need one to connect both monitors to your computer. Or, you can add a second graphics card.

Windows doesn't handle dual monitors well. You're limited in how your monitors work together. For example, you won't get a taskbar on both monitors.

Multimon changes that. It adds great tools for working with multiple monitors. It even allows you to manage three monitors!

With Multimon, you can add additional taskbars. Each taskbar shows only the application on a particular monitor. Plus, it makes it easy for you to move Windows between monitors. And, you'll appreciate the Clipboard Extender. It saves the last 100 copy operations.

(Multimon comes in free and pay versions. Be sure to download the free version.)

Cost: Free System: Windows XP and Vista

Download HERE

Kim Komando's Spring Gadget Giveaway begins Saturday!
There are just two days before the start of my $15,000 Spring Gadget Giveaway. Beginning this Saturday you can enter every day for your chance at winning a great prize package worth at least $1,000!  There's a home office pack that includes an Epson scanner and wide-format printer, a pack with three iRobot automated cleaning robots, a Microsoft Zune family prize pack and much more! Stay tuned for all the details! Or visit Komando.com

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Put favorite Web applications on your desktop

Not all software is installed on your computer. Many programs you use every day are online. There are hundreds of useful applications you can access through a browser.

Maybe you use Gmail, Facebook, Twitter or Google Docs. All of these are fully functional applications. But is your browser really the best way to get to them? Wouldn't a handful of desktop shortcuts be easier?

Prism puts any Web application onto your desktop. You can launch these applications outside of your browser. Use them like any other program on your computer. You don't have to enter URLs or dig through bookmarks.

You're not actually pulling the program off the Web. Instead, you're creating a browser that only visits that application. But most browser functionality is stripped away. You can focus on using the application and nothing else.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

A toy box for your desktop

Do you remember having a toy box as a kid? It was a box full of possibilities. Open it up and you could be anything. You could have wild adventures in your backyard.

Maybe your kids have one now. But they probably like playing on your computer. What if they had a toy box on your computer?

Souptoys is just the thing. You'll find things like baseballs, basketball hoops, cars, magnets and ramps. Each object behaves realistically. Balls bounce. Magnets pull on metal objects. It's a blast for you and the kids.

You can arrange objects into elaborate Rube Goldberg machines. Or just throw together a fun toy. You can save configurations to work on later. Or play with the dozens of configurations included with the program. Use your imagination and have some fun.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - *SUPER COOL* Daily Download

Free programs for astronomy buffs

Our world often feels very large. But it's just a speck in our galaxy. And that galaxy is merely a speck in the vast universe. Looking out into that universe is exhilarating. There's a lot still to be found.

Stargazing is a hobby for many people. A computer can't replace looking through a telescope. But there are some very cool tools worth checking out. They'll give you a new way to look at the stars.

Stellarium—Stargazing is relaxing, educational and fun. But you can't do it everywhere. City lights often drown out the stars. Or, maybe it's just a cloudy night. You could visit a planetarium if there's one nearby. Or, you could download this program. It's like having a planetarium on your desk.

Celestia—This program also gives you the planetarium experience. You view the stars as you would from Earth. But this program doesn't keep you there. It lets you leave the ground and travel through the galaxy. You can also add new features. These could be spacecraft, satellites and planets. You can even add fictional items for fun.

WorldWide Telescope—You may have a cool telescope in your closet. But what if you had access to the best telescopes on Earth? This program gives you that access. You'll find some of the best views of deep space. You can even take guided tours of the heavens.

Moon Arounder—Many people dream of traveling to the moon. Only 12 people have set foot on it. They saw the moon as no one else has. You've seen grainy video from those trips. But have you seen these panoramic photos? These 360-degree photos let you feel like you're standing on the moon.

Google Earth—This program is great way to explore our world. But you can also explore the moon and Mars in the same way. You'll get detailed imagery. You can take narrated tours of important sites. You can even aim Google Earth at the stars. To get to these features, simply click View>>Explore.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Make your Start menu easier to use

Your computer is only as versatile as the programs you use. You want to be able to do everything, right? So, you probably have quite a collection of programs. But getting to them isn't always easy.

You don't want your desktop covered in shortcuts. Luckily, those programs are tucked away in your Start menu. Just click Start>>All Programs. They're all there in a ridiculously long list. Trying to find what you want is still a pain.

Tidy Start Menu offers a better way. It lets you group programs into sensible categories. They are Office, Utilities, Games, Entertainment, Internet, Programming, Graphics, Security and Other. Divide your programs among them with a click.

You'll want to put all of your programs into a category. Then, click Start>>All Programs. That huge list is now just nine folders. And you immediately know where everything is located. You can get to what you want in seconds.

(Tidy Start Menu comes in free and Pro versions. You'll have to pay for the Pro version. But the free version works just fine. I'd stick with it.)

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

A better way to control open windows

Computers have turned us all into multitasking masters. OK, maybe not. But you're probably running multiple programs at once. You're browsing the Web while crafting a presentation. You're playing solitaire while talking on Skype.

All of these programs run in separate windows. With enough open windows, things get messy. You have to hunt the window you want to use. You have to grab tiny handles to resize windows. They're just a pain to manage.

SecondShell offers a better way. It lets you control window sizing with your keyboard. You can maximize and minimize windows with ease. You can also stretch windows vertically or horizontally. You can organize windows however you want.

You can also resize windows without clicking on tiny handles. Press Alt and right-click anywhere inside a window. Then just drag your mouse to resize the window. That's it. You can also put SecondShell on a thumb drive. You can use it on any PC.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Disclaimer: Kim Komando does not pay me to post anything. I just think the world of her and hope that others will look into her site and info. She is the Digital Goddess!

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Get all your favorite programs in one package

Setting up a new computer is exciting. It also takes forever. Getting Windows running is one thing. But then you have to install all your favorite software. That usually means visiting lots of Web sites.

Most of us use a fair amount of free, open-source software. This includes things like Firefox, VLC, CCleaner and IrfanView. These are great programs. And they're free. But they are scattered all over.

Jumping all over the Web is just the price of free software. But does that have to be the case? ZeuApp can make setting up a computer much easier. It pulls together links to 82 programs. Download any of them with one click.

You'll get programs for chatting, editing audio and burning CDs. There are photo-editors and security programs. You'll find desktop e-mail programs, games and office suites. And you can get to all of it from one window. No need to open a browser.

(You'll also see file-sharing programs. These have legitimate uses. But you end up wading through pirated and virus-riddled material. So, I'd just avoid them.)

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

IM in many languages

One of the frustrating computer problems has been incompatible instant messaging programs. Program developers apparently all speak different languages.

In recent years, developers have begun to build in compatibililty. But they still have a long way to go. Just ask your kids. They have to find out what everyone else is using. Or, they need multiple programs.

They might want to try Pidgin. This IM program can communicate with nearly a dozen networks. And it can run on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and BSD.

Pidgin will support most features of the various networks. It also has unique features of its own.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

A tool for repairing seriously infected PCs

Every PC user has to deal with malware at some point. Quality security programs are the first line of defense. And they can block or remove nearly any infection. But no system is perfect.

Occasionally, a really bad piece of malware comes along. It could wreak serious havoc. If it's bad enough, even starting the computer might be impossible. If you can't start your computer, how do you fix it?

Most people will never run into something like this. But it happens. Fixing it requires a different kind of tool. That's what AVG Rescue CD is for. It contains various antivirus and anti-spyware tools.

You can burn it to a CD. Or you can install it on a thumb drive. Then, instead of booting into Windows, you boot from your CD or thumb drive. The anti-malware tools can be used to recover your system. You can clean out everything, and then get back to Windows.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Free tools for finding people online

The Web has made it easy to connect with other people. You can be friends with someone halfway around the world. And you can reconnect with long lost friends.

Finding those people can be a challenge, though. You may bumble into someone on Facebook. But what if you have a specific person in mind? That's like finding a needle in a haystack. That is, unless you use the right tools.

Here are some to look at:
Yahoo! People Search—Yahoo! has always been a reliable search engine. But its People Search is made for finding people specifically. You find listed phone numbers and addresses. If you already have a phone number, you can do a reverse lookup. You can even search for e-mail addresses using a first and last name.

PeekYou—Most people connect online through social-networking sites. There are dozens, including Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter. How do you know where to start? Here you can search them all at once. You'll also get results from blogs, news stories and Wikipedia.

CVgadget—It's hard to know how to start searching for someone. Well, a name is a good place to start. CVgadget is easy to use. Enter first and last names. It'll search Google for images, video, documents, blogs and more. It will also search most popular social-networking sites. 

Pipl—This site claims to be the most comprehensive people search available. It searches the deep Web. These are public records, store profiles and membership directories. Some results may seem obscure. But they may be the most accurate.

Radaris—This finds accurate results from Google and Facebook. You only have to enter a name and state. But you'll also get possible aliases, relatives and address history. Some of this information links to background-checking services. These are not free.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista, and 7, Mac OS X

Kim Komando - Daily download

A powerful personal finance manager

Personal finance can be a confusing topic. You may have a complicated financial situation. But managing your money is more important than ever.

You may have multiple bank accounts. Many people have loans or a mortgage they're trying to pay off. And it's not uncommon to have money in the stock market. All of these things should be considered when managing your finances.

GnuCash is a powerful personal finance program. It can handle nearly any financial transaction. Then it can tie it all together into detailed reports.

This program can give you a real picture of your financial situation. But it takes some serious work. You'll be entering a lot of data, especially when getting started. So, this program is a good fit for advanced users.

Of course, you don't have to use all of the included features. If you want, you can just use GnuCash to balance your checkbook. Or, you can focus on any combination of its features.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Sticky notes for your desktop

Do you often post reminders on your computer monitor? Why not put reminders and notes on your screen? Once you start using these digital notes, you can scratch them from your shopping list.

Stickies is a powerful program. You can send notes without the aid of a separate e-mail program. You can also share notes directly through a network with others who have Stickies installed. When you do so, the notes will appear on the other computer's screen. Recipients can edit the notes and post them back to your screen.

You can opt to save logs of all sent and received notes automatically. Or, set notes as alarms, complete with sounds and visual cues.

Stickies even supports Windows or Palm mobile devices.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Another desktop search

Search engines aren't just for the Internet anymore! You can get one for your desktop that will make your life so much easier.

This may be one of the lesser-known desktop search programs, but it plays with the big boys. It will help you find documents, PDF files, spreadsheets, pictures, e-mail, music, and much more.
If you find yourself spending more time finding files than working on them, Copernic Desktop Search is for you!

Note: Desktop search programs tend to be very thorough. Be sure you look at the program's settings. For example, if you are on a shared computer, you may not want the search programs to keep copies of sites where you shop or enter in your personal data.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Save space by removing duplicate files

Hard drives are interesting devices. A new one seems downright cavernous. What couldn't you fit in it? But give it a few years, and it starts getting crowded. How does this happen?

Well, you fill it with all your stuff, of course. You've got music, videos, documents, programs and pictures. And don't forget your music, videos and documents. Wait. I already covered those, right?

Every computer has duplicate files. At some point, multiple copies are made. And they can take up a surprising amount of space. Duplicate Cleaner can fix this problem quickly.

Just point it at any folder. It will scan the folder for duplicate files. You'll see all duplicates in a list. You can then easily go through them and see what's worth keeping. You can then quickly delete superfluous copies.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Build beautiful newsletters, quickly

Want to add pizzazz to club newsletters or family updates? You don't have to be a desktop publishing expert.
You don't need software, either. All you need is your Web browser and a few photos to share.

LetterPop is a new site that lets you create graphic newsletters in a short time. Just choose from several templates. There's a mix of themes for personal or professional newsletters.

Next, add your text. You can work with different fonts and add formatting, like headings and bulleted lists. Most templates provide space for photos. Just drag and drop them into place.

You can test drive LetterPop on its Web site. The demonstration includes a few templates and stock photos. A free membership is required to add your own photos and to access all the templates.

A membership also allows you to save, print or e-mail your finished newsletters. You can e-mail a newsletter to 100 people at a time. You can also set up a page on the LetterPop site to feature your best designs.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X
Download HERE

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Don't just get a weather forecast. See it!

The weather report is a key part of every news broadcast. The forecast itself is pretty basic. But you get more than just the information. You get animated maps and flashy graphics.

There's something interesting about seeing what weather is coming. There are plenty of programs that give you a forecast. But few of them offer anything visual.

YoWindow is a little different. It gives you a standard three-day forecast. But it will also show you what it might look like outside. A sunny day looks tranquil. Wind bends tall grass. And torrential downpours look menacing.

You can see the weather without ever looking at numbers. YoWindow also comes with a screensaver. When your computer is idle, you see the weather outside. It's handy to glance at it when heading out the door.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Download HERE

Disclaimer: I am still not noticed by Kim Komando... I do not receive any compensation or acknowledgment or anything for steering you towards Komando.com. I simply love the site and think Kim is an amazing radio host who does a LOT of good helping me keep my computer up-to-date and saef with freebies and offers. She also has really sweet (and expensive) giveaways. Often.
*Hey Kim, if ever you see this, I would LOVE to host a giveaway! :-) Hint hint

Kim Komando - Daily Download

Try the ultimate media browser

How do you really use the Web? You probably check e-mail and your bank account. Maybe you get some work done. But more often than not, you're looking for your favorite media.

You watch television shows on Hulu. You read the latest news from the New York Times, CNN and more. You find funny clips on YouTube. And you listen to your favorite music.

What if you could find it all on one page? That's the idea behind Cooliris. It's a browser add-on for Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Safari (Mac only). It lets you access dozens of sites from a single page.

You'll find TV shows and videos from all over the Web. You can also surf photography sites like Flickr.

You'll find articles and videos from news sites. Search through hundreds of music videos. And you'll get it all through a slick and fun interface.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X
Download HERE

Disclaimer: I gain nothing from posting anything from Kim Komando. I love this woman and think you should to! Check out her website Komando.com