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What apps have changed the way you work this year?
Looking back over 2009, I can honestly say there weren't a lot of apps that made the cut. Here are the ones that did:
- Microsoft Security Essentials - This free security suite offers real-time protection and on-demand virus and spyware scans. It's much lighter weight than solution I'd previously used from AVG, Avast, and others and it's now one of the first apps I install on any computer.
- Google Chrome - OK, I know that this web browser was released in 2008, but it came out of beta this year. And more importantly, this is the year it became my default web browser. It's fast, light, does an excellent job of separating running processes, and has taught me that I don't need all the add-ons and plugins that are available for Firefox (although Chrome did add support for extensions recently).
What have you installed this year that's changed the way you do things?
Comments
22
Subscribe to commentsJeffODec 31st 2009 5:13PM
I know windows 7 is an OS, not an app, but it certainly changed the way I work. I didn't hate Vista, but I was never satisfied with it. It was no better than XP, but very different. Windows 7 finally fixed things.
- Windows XP Mode - part of Windows 7, allows me to operate an OS encapsulated within an OS. Even though XP is less secure than 7, if I do any Google-ing to websites I'm not sure about (free apps often come from unknown sources, some of which are hostile), I do it from Virtual XP. That way my Windows 7 host is safe. If XP gets infected, and I can't clean it, I'll delete it and start a fresh virtual machine.
- Microsoft Security Essentials - free. Of course, Microsoft bought the company that developed this. Now anyone can install it. I'm running AVGFree on my XP virtual machine, and MS Sec Essentials on 7. They are almost identical in function, protection, light-weight, but AVGFree times-out and nags me to buy the pro edition. Both are proactive and will warn you when you click on a link that goes to a known hostile website.
VitaminCMDec 31st 2009 5:02PM
DropBox
Evernote
Twitterific for iPhone
PixelPipe
ScooterGDec 31st 2009 5:07PM
Not exactly sure when it came out, but Dropbox has helped me out quite a bit. What do I do with all theses flash drives now?!
Google Voice - So easy to manipulate what calls go where, when and even who.
MSE - I've adopted it as my default security suite, but I'm not sure it's really changed how I work.
Brad LinderDec 31st 2009 5:10PM
Good call on Google Voice. It slipped my mind since I started using it back in the GrandCentral days, but it's greatly simplified the way I deal with giving out my phone number!
SonnyjimbaDec 31st 2009 5:07PM
Spotify definitely. :)
Chrome or FF and msn.
ScooterGDec 31st 2009 5:09PM
Out of curiosity, how has msn helped change the way you work?
SonnyjimbaDec 31st 2009 5:21PM
Quick access to contacts who can help me, can help people with things remotely, (skype also works well with this with the screen sharing.)
Whereas I would use to have to PM people on forums etc I can have quick access to them. That and the ability for VOIP/webcam chats on msn/skype so i can keep in contact
Not just msn in particular but I.M in general
Probably makes no sense but y'know :)
ScooterGDec 31st 2009 5:31PM
Lol...I hear ya!
FredDec 31st 2009 5:36PM
Mine:
Google Chrome- Finally into its own with extensions, it's my only browser. the introduction of Wave integration and its own version of IE Tab sealed the deal for me.
MS Sec. Essent- What he said ^
Dropbox+OneNote- Completely changed the way that I take notes in class and work on projects. Whatever work I do on my netbook in class is mirrored onto my desktop at home. I can pick up where I left off without email, flash drives etc...
gmail, google calendar+Outlook+ IpodTouch- My email and calendar are finally synced across all platforms and systems. No matter where I am I can access my life, and not be lost!
flasherJan 2nd 2010 6:59PM
Same here... OneNote + Dropbox is the way to go! I'm using it to take school notes, draw project sketches, make to-do lists and organize all sorts of information.
MijailDec 31st 2009 6:13PM
Launchy, Chrome, Spotify, Rainmeter and Rainlendar
JordyDec 31st 2009 6:50PM
Google Sync - Very useful being able to synchronize gmail, google contacts and google calendar on the show. Using it on my Windows Mobile phone and iPhone, it's an invaluable service.
n0rDec 31st 2009 8:04PM
MSE - Finally a good lightweight antivirus without popups or nagscreens.
Chrome - A fast browser that has everything I really need. For once I've used the same browser for more than a month.
Spotify - Listen to virtually everything for free
Xmarks - Keep you bookmarks synced across browsers and pcs.
Skype - So I could talk to my friends while gaming.
ScooterGDec 31st 2009 8:05PM
It appears the point is lost...
Perhaps a digital cleanse is needed? http://jhnmyr.tumblr.com/post/308807536/the-one-week-digital-cleanse
that_dudeDec 31st 2009 10:26PM
Xobni (www.xobni.com)
Totally changed how I work with Outlook
chgoguy7Dec 31st 2009 8:10PM
Definitely Microsoft OneNote (I know, an MS product that doesn't suck in some way and is in fact pretty amazing)!!! It's changed my life and the way I do things. No more post-it notes everywhere. And many welcome, new features in Office 2010 beta.
MthetoDec 31st 2009 8:24PM
Firefox with firebug... Can't say enough how much that combination spared me hours of work...
blogwardDec 31st 2009 10:26PM
Last day of 2009 - standalonestack2 has enough functionality to almost replace Explorer, especially the start menu. A stack of stacks, even.
techpopsJan 1st 2010 8:16AM
@Mtheto that is a fantastic combination and I haven't come across any other software that can do the same.
@blogward it's a must have I agree.
Cinema4D R11
http://www.maxon.net/products/cinema-4d.html
The biggest deal for me with my new quadcore box running along with it. A nerdy dream come true. Globally illuminated images in seconds. I'm in love with this app. I'm hoping 2010 will see more common use of graphics cards for accelerating the heck out of cpu intensive tasks too. The tech demo's I've seen this year showing in real-time what would take my computer several minutes per frame are incredibly impressive.
Textaloud & HQ TTS voices
http://www.nextup.com/
http://nextupdownloads.com/scansamples/Karen.mp3 My fave TTS voice.
Has changed the way I read on the web. With such high quality TTS voices available now you can have whole articles read to you by your computer and have them sound almost as intelligible as a real human professional reader. All this costs money, no real free alternatives that are as good as the commercial software but worth every penny IMO. Especially for those late night reading sessions when your eyes are tired. Being able to just kick back and relax while things are read to you is a big change from hunching over the screen.
And the last one, Firefox. It continues to suggest new ways that I can change how I work and play on the web. I will hug him, I will love him, I will feed him webpages and I will call him George
sebastienJan 1st 2010 8:16AM
Dropbox must be my favorite app of the year. With it i've been able to reformat my pc laptop "which I mostly use for testing sites and watchign movies on my tv" over 10 times without loosing anything