Google Office<\/a><\/strong> – Despite Gmail\u2019s erratic performance, the flexibility of web-based mail can\u2019t be beat. I can access and search my entire mail archive from any computer or from my Android phone. Google continually innovates on this platform. One of my favorite new features is the ability to create a Google document directly from an e-mail. The keyboard shortcuts save a load of time. I just wish they\u2019d create one that\u2019s analogous to Word\u2019s <Ctrl-K>.<\/p>\n For collaboration, Google Docs<\/a> is a godsend. My last two books have been written with co-authors, and Docs enabled us to share and edit each other\u2019s work without the nightmare of version control. Feature-wise, the apps don\u2019t hold a candle to Microsoft Office, but the collaborative convenience is often worth the trade-off. Microsoft\u2019s Office Web Apps<\/a> are supposed to integrate better with Office, but I haven\u2019t put them through their paces yet.<\/p>\n Notepad++<\/a><\/strong> – I wrote about this little open source beauty back in August<\/a>. Notepad++ is a text editor for programmers, and it is blisteringly fast at crunching through large volumes of text. Our WYSIWYG world plays havoc with Web content management systems, which choke on each other\u2019s formatting commands. I can dump HTML code into Notepad ++ and clean it up with a few quick search-and-replace operations. When I was slammed by a WordPress virus earlier this year, I used Notepad++ to purge hundreds of files of rogue code in a few seconds<\/a>.<\/p>\n AVG Free<\/a><\/strong> – I\u2019ve tried a lot of antimalware utilities, but I keep coming back to this unobtrusive yet effective security suite. I haven\u2019t had a problem with computer security in three years (other than on my websites, which are a completely different story), and that\u2019s what counts.<\/p>\n 7-Zip<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 When PKWare began charging for WinZip a few years ago, I switched to this open source file compression utility. It supports most of the popular formats as well as its own hi density algorithm. The 256-bit encryption is a plus when you want to keep your work from prying eyes.<\/p>\n <\/a> PDF-XChange Lite<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019m forgetful, so I like to highlight and annotate documents when they\u2019re in front of me. \u00a0Adobe\u2019s $200 Acrobat X is overkill for my needs. PDF-XChange Lite makes it easy to mark up PDFs so I can remember later why I kept them.<\/p>\n FileZilla<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 When you run a lot of websites (I tend five actively) you need to be This is an open source FTP program that is fast and easy to use. I transfer a lot of large audio and video files, and FileZilla handles the task smoothly in the background.<\/p>\n Next issue, I’ll look at some essential multimedia tools as well as Web-based utilities. Let me also put in a plug for my podcast partner David Strom<\/a>, who is a much savvier technologist than I, and whose reviews and recommendations are a goldmine of wisdom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I look back at my own output over the last four years \u2013 four books, 190 articles, nearly 1,000 blog entries, 300 podcasts, more than 50 webcasts and a busy speaking\/training schedule \u2013 I marvel at the role that … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/apture.s3.amazonaws.com\/0000012bceddee33544baddb007f000000000001.Dragon-Naturally-Speaking.jpg\" "\\"Dragon-Naturally-Speaking\\"")
<\/a>Dragon NaturallySpeaking<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019ve praised this speech recognition program so frequently that it deserves a place in the Gillin Hall of Fame by now. Simply stated, I write at least twice as much with Dragon as without it. I also believe Dragon has made me a better writer by enabling my work to have a more conversational tone. The retail price is $200, but you can find perfectly good older versions for as little as $30 online. Even at the higher price, it\u2019s a good value.<\/p>\n<\/a>Tungle<\/a><\/strong> – \u00a0This scheduling application, which debuted at South by Southwest early this year, makes it easy for people to suggest meeting times and book appointments without an endless game of e-mail volleyball. You can click a link in my signature line and book a meeting at your convenience. Integrates well with popular calendars.<\/p>\n<\/a>Roboform<\/strong> \u2013 I paid the $30 for this password manager several years ago, so I haven\u2019t experimented with the crop of new entrants. These tools store your passwords, personal contact information and bank\/credit card data in one place, making it easy to log into websites and to fill out online registration forms. Here\u2019s a link to some alternatives<\/a>, including open source tools.<\/p>\n