The 19 Free Utilities You Can’t Live Without

So in setting up a new system the other day I realized there’s a core group of utilities and applications that I load on a new system. I use these frequently and think they are worth sharing with others. I’ve included a brief description for each along with some screen shots or product logos. Anything that’s shareware, trialware or in any way isn’t completely free I’ll included in a separate post covering paid items, all truly free utilities were included here. So here’s the list in no particular order:

1) IZArc – IZArc is an excellent compression utility that’s easy to use and supports all the major formats. I used to pay for my compression tools back in the day but then exceptional tools like IZArc and 7Zip came out. The pattern for compression utilities that I’ve noticed over the years is that a great utility will come out for free, it will gather a significant following and then convert to a pay model. This has yet to occur to IZArc and I hope it doesn’t, because IZArc just works and supports all the major compression standards. I encourage people that use it to donate to keep it free, I donate to the applications that I use.

2) Digsby – Digsby is a hybrid communications program that ties IM, Email and Social Media all together in a convenient package. I started using Digsby as a replacement to ___ to support multiple IM protocols in one client, but once I started using it I found that the email and Twitter integration was really convenient as well. I use Tweetdeck as my main client for Twitter but I also use Digsby for the occasional tweet on my personal twitter account.

3) DVD Shrink - Now here’s a program that takes your standard video DVD, decrypt is and compress it to fit on a starndard 4GB computer DVD or keep it on a hard drive. It’s very easy to use and makes compressing your DVD’s a snap. One great use is for when you are traveling or letting the kids watch the DVDs you can use a copy of the DVD rather than the original. I guess some people use it to copy DVDs from Netflix but that would be wrong. For more information on DVD backups and video tools check out Doom9.

4) TrueCrypt – Super easy disk encryption software for Windows. It allows you to encrypt a partition, a directory or an entire disk. I use it to encrypt entire disks, including my USB flash drives. It’s just a simple and effective encryption tool that I’ve used for a while now and really like and recommend. I used to use PGP applications but have now moved to using this. Give it a try I think you’ll really like it for your encryption needs.

5) VLC – The Video Lan media play seems to be able to play all the formats that are not normally supported. I don’t use it as my main media player but have it on my systems as a backup player for those videos that I just don’t seem to have the right codec for. Give it a try, it’s a great application.

6) KLMCodec – There are so many audio and video codecs used out on the internet these days, how do you keep up? Well the answer is to use the KLMCodec pack! I use it along with the Classic Windows Media Player (because I like simple bloat free viewing) as my primary media player on all my systems. It has supported 98% of all my viewing needs on the net, and for those few times that it isn’t able to support the format I’ve found that VLC does. By using these two applications together I have not found a video on the next that I haven’t been able to view.

7) Notepad++ – Notepad++ is a great text editor that has add-ons that allow it to enhance it’s functionality for your specific needs. It’s coded very well which results in a fast executing application that is small in size as well. Now it’s not a Windows Assembly masterpiece like that of Steve Gibson (of Shields Up! and SpinRite fame) but it’s fast. I guess calling it a text editor is like calling Google a small company; it is so much more. It truly is a development environment in it’s own right. Give it a try and let me know if you like it as much as I do.

PeerGuardian – Is an exceptional IP blocker for Windows, OS X and Linux. Now what exactly is an IP blocker? Well it simply sits between you and your network connection and monitors the IP addresses that are trying to make a connection with your computer. It is NOT a firewall but rather as it says, an IP blocker. It knows what IP address to block based on lists that you can select from Phoenix Labs or you can make your own. It has predefined lists like: P2P, Ads, Government, Spyware, Education. So if you find it useful or it’s saved your butt, consider donating.

9) Skype – Most of my family and many associates are on Skype, so I find it’s very easy to IM, Talk or Video conference with them. Although I think the main use for Skype has been video conferencing. My son does video chats with his grandparents in Canada, my mom in Colorado, Family in Seattle, etc. In fact we hooked up my son’s laptop with HDMI output to our big screen TV in the living room this past Christmas to allow the stay sister on my wifes side to join in the celebration with the rest of the family. It was a special experience that was made possible via the technology of Skype. Now I have to admit the last three times we tried to use Skype it has crapped out on us to the point that calls were dropped, voice wasn’t coming through and the overall quality was too poor to use. Last time my son talked to his grandparents in Canada the voice was completely garbled but the video came though great, so we kept the video going through Skype and used our Vonage phone to handle the voice part of the call. Have you been having similar problems with Skype lately as well?

10) TOR - Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against a form of network surveillance that threatens your personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships. I like to use TOR randomly, not just when I desire anonymity, in a similar way to the use of message encryption (PGP). If you only sent the private messages encrypted then it would be easy for anyone that’s intercepting your transmissions to only focus on the encrypted messages, but it you encrypt everything or randomly encrypt those ‘How was the weekend’ messages as well, where does one focus the attention? Same thing applies to TOR, I like to turn it one randomnly. I support the EFF with their BLOGGERs Rights and applications like the original PGP or Zfone from Phil Zimmerman and TOR that help ensure our ability as citizens of a country that was based on personal rights and privacy to maintain these rights.

11) TweetDeck – Tweetdeck is an Adobe AIR based Twitter application. It is my favorite Twitter client for many reasons. The main one being it’s ability to filter, which becomes oh so much more important the more people you follow. I had some problems with links not working in Tweetdeck but figured that out and posted a BLOG entry addressing this. If you use Twitter (isn’t there like 7 people left alive that don’t) and you have more than 10 people you’re following give TweetDeck a try, you’ll thank me for it. Then go check out some of the very useful suggestions for how to use TweetDeck from @JesseNewhart or check out his site. Do you have recommendations for someone I should link to for TweetDeck suggestions?

12) FileZilla – The free FTP / SFTP utility is perfect for my file transfer needs. I have several servers that I access all using differnt protocols and with muliple logins. FileZilla is perfect for this because it has a nice profile manager which allows me to access my servers quickly and transfer my files. It reminds me of the file transfer applications of the past where they where great at one thing – transferring files – and not trying to be everything. I highly recommend FileZilla and recommend donating!

13) FireFox – I love firefox and have been using it for a very long time now. The base configuration is great, but what really makes Firefox extra special is the community of add-ons available. Although it has become a bit bloated (my own doing), espcially when I comparing it to the base version of chrome. Now I also use Roboform to maintain my logins / passwords, and it doesn’t work with Chrome yet so I find myself using both Chrome and Firefox depending on what site I’m visiting and the reason for my visit. I also like that TOR integration with Firefox… Firefox and it’s awesome add-ons is a post unto itself.

14) Chrome – The web browser brought to you by Google. I’m certainly not going to try to review it here as there are more articles on it than I care to think about. I will however say that I really appriciate it’s simple design and super crisp response. It is the fastest browser I have on my systems, now I’ve heard that the new Safari is even faster but I really have little motivation to take the time to find out as Chrome is already so very fast. I use it in conjunction with Firefox on a regular basis. The ONLY time I use IE is when a site is so very poorly designer that it only works in IE – which is also a good indicator for me to find ways to stop using that companies product or service.

15) Putty – Is a simple Telnet / SSH client. If you need to get console access to a system via Telnet or SSH this is a great utility that does it well. I use this utility often and find that it does what it’s supposed to do extreemly well. Now I’ve used pay products in the past but I find that I actually prefer Putty for it’s clean / simple utilization. It also comes with a nice SSH key gen for when you’re setting up SSH on your router or other device.

16) RoboCopy – Thank you Microsoft for providing RoboCopy as part of the Server 2003 Resource Kit. It is a simple command line utility that allows you to sync directories and copy new / updated files only. I find that I use it often when I’m trying to consolidate files and update my server. Give it a try and let me know what you think – do you have a better solution?

17) SpybotSearch&Destroy – Hello! It’s like the standard for free SpyWare checking, it’s well maintained with frequent updates and helps my system run smoother by cleaning up the garbage often left by web surfing. Most probably find this utility after having some spyware or similar problem, so don’t be that guy and get it now before it becomes a problem.

18) TightVNC – Another variant of the VNC protocol, which allows you to remotely control a computer. TightVNC just happens to be the version that I like and use, which allowed me to get rid of my KVM at home. It also allows me to get console level acccess (unlike terminal server) to my remote servers and I also have it installed on friends and family computers that I support, allowing me to access their computers just like I was there. I use this program almost every day, and if you do too please donate to help keep great programs like this free.

19) QuickPAR – Is a unique utility that creates / verifies parity volumes, effectively eliminating corrupted files / groups of files. By creating a PAR file your files you are able to recreate the original file in case of corruption in trasfer, media errors, etc. I use this program often when sending / storing critical files. Take a look and let us know what you think and how you use it.