These are some, not all, of the programs I use or suggest to others. A program is only as good as it is configured though, and also assuming a system is otherwise working correctly. Over time a program might not be needed anymore, or perhaps there's a new program alternative which may replace one, so I will try to update this once every so many months. Does not include programs like photoshop, microsoft office, and flash editor, and dozens of lesser programs and plugins, nor the many hardware drivers which make a world of difference on a system.

 

 

 

    I use vonage for phone service, but I also use skype for online calls as well since it's $36 a year for unlimited phone calls in the us, although unlike vonage, skype requires installing/running a program on your computer and vonage is stand-alone. The basic features are free though, and if you want smooth video conferencing its very good for that, or it's recommended if you make lots of overseas calls.

    The install and setup/prefs both are important to set correctly else other things will be installed and system settings will change, and the program is updated alot. Beware, even if you hit the 'close' X icon the program will still continue to run, you have to rightclick on the tray icon and 'exit' to truly close it out; that's important to do because when running skype uses your internet connection 24/7 for relaying other phone calls and data, so you have to ensure its truly closed when not in use.

 

    To link two private networks (printers/computers) together from across the internet, easy to setup in minutes. You can share files and printers, as if you were in the same room as them, which is handy when on the road and need to access your home systems files/printers. It is a safe install, setup, and uninstall. It's updated once in awhile.

 

    You should already know what this program is and know how to use it, since it grows in usefulness and features every quarter. The install and prefs/setup needs to be set correctly else it can try to install other things like google updater running 24/7 on your system, and it could change system settings. It is updated often, just be careful when installing.

 

    This is microsofts virtual earth 3d like googles, but it runs in a webpage instead as a separate program, and has less options although often better quality of many cities. Don't let the install change system settings, and it is updated sometimes.

 

    Used to work with .torrent files. but why do you need to use torrent files? A clean install and setup/prefs need to be set correctly. They update it alot.

 

    It is a MUST-HAVE to keep this program updated regularly since most websites use it, so if your version of java isn't current which it probably isn't, then you're missing out on features and speed when using the internet. It's a clean install and setup although it can install other things. Updated often. Use THIS 'JAVARA' program to uninstall older versions, and remove unneeded icons, files, and the portion which runs 24/7, javara helps clean the systems java and is almost essential as well.

 

    Also a MUST-HAVE to keep this program updated regularly as most websites use it (it provides most all interactivity on webpages),  if your version of adobe's flash isn't current, you're missing out on speed and features. Install may try to install other programs. Updated often.

 

    I've used this for almost a decade to do ftponline. If you don't know ftp you probably don't need ftp, but it's been a classic internet 'interface' for decades since my old green-screen 9" monitor. Updated once in awhile. A low-cost program with a safe install, setup, and uninstall.

 

    To do live video broadcasting from your computer out to the world. Also good for remote security and streaming your video files, music or other things online. A low-cost program with a clean install and simple setup and uninstall. Updated often.

 

    If you use a webcam, and you have many programs that use the webcam, this allows your one webcam to work in more than one webcam program at once. It will take your live webcam video (or your photo/video files) and let all your webcam programs use the video all at the same time. It has other options like adding text/fx/drawing to your video as well. Careful, it will try to install a crappy toolbar, otherwise it installs, setup, and uninstalls safely.

 

    I am against internet explorer toolbars, but if i do install one, then I install the 'enterprise' edition of googles toolbar (NOT the regular one from them!), the enterprise version doesn't run hidden stuff in the background as the regular version does. This allows searches of many specfic areas beyond basic searches, and has time-saving features like showing addresses on websites in google maps, or automatically filling in forms online for you, and lots more that can be added in its options. Be very careful though; the install and the options all must be done manually correctly otherwise it will change systems settings, and install undeeded background programs. Updated regularly.

 

    A microsoft program that allows you to view space in 3d, and wherever you are amongst the millions(billions) of named and unnamed stars and objects, you can get info in detail, and also switch between any type of view from 100s of telescopes that have viewed the same area, some even live. If you are into space at all this is one of the new advancements on the internet and is a leap for cosmos knowledge. Even if you are not into space, just to keep clicking and zooming into the universe like a fractal is good for a realization or two about life. Be careful when installing, and setting up options is critical for good usage.

 

 

 

    For over a decade I've used this program for my .mp3 files and some other media types, as well as listening to online mp3 streams like shoutcast. Be careful, it has to be installed correctly (as in DOZENS of proper settings must be set on install) and its options must be setup correctly for best sound and look and usability, other than this trickery (which got introduced when aol bought the program years ago during their regime or terror) it's always done the job for me in a simple clean way. Updated often.

 

    This is a winamp plug-in that improves the sound quality of winamp because it bypasses the mediocre soundcard software driver built into windows and uses its own higher quality soundcard driver which sounds better. I definitely hear the difference. A clean install, setup, and uninstall, but rarely ever updated anymore (2 years old which is stale when it comes to update periods) but still a classic must if you have nice speakers.

 

    A simple sound program which constantly plays and 'morphs' natural ambient sounds like oceans, breezes, forests, streams, windchimes, and so on. A very clean install and simple setup, uninstall is perfect. Updated once in a long while but great to sleep, work, or just live to, because since you can't tell when the natural sounds are looping, it never grows old on you. Take an old laptop and hide it away in a room with this constantly running softly in the background just enough to clean the dead silence. Old laptops/desktops can still serve oh-so-many functions, I can't believe people throw them away.

 

    Oh how I wish there was a better product (yes I have tried alot), because they have crummy support, the software installs hidden programs, lots of them, needless icons and more, plus it needs to be configured correctly at install and within the program itself, this program adds to a systems bloat even when not running. But it does work well playing dvds and I like the quality of video and sound. One day i hope to not have to use powerdvd, as this is the worst program of my 50+ programs I use weekly, but when tweaked properly in many areas it's mostly fine. It sells for under $100 and is updated often. Personally if I wasn't me I wouldn't install it, because there's alot to remove that it shoves on a system, but until there's a better dvd player this is the one.

 

    This is apple's main media player that comes with apple computers, but if you have a windows computer and you want to play an apple media .mov file, then you have to have this. It must be installed and configured correctly because apple loves to force-install hidden programs, change system settings, and things other than just this one program. One of the more invasive corporate programs. But quicktime can be configured to be safe, it just takes some time and knowledge to stop them from invading your system just because you wanted to watch .mov files. The uninstall is sometimes as tricky as the install. it will try to keep running 24/7 even when not needed. Updated often.

 

    'codecs' are programs you have to install in order to hear certain audio or video files. the reason they are needed is this -

    Although media players (like windows media player, quicktime, or powerdvd) will play files, the media file itself (say, an .avi) has been 'coded' by the files creator (whoever made the file; a company or person) to be in a certain 'codec' (language/encoding/algorithm/compression).

    So if you play a file, and you do not have the 'codec' installed which the media file needs installed (like a language-descrambler), then you will see or hear garbage or nothing at all.

    But the 'codec', if installed and setup properly, can 'translate/decode/decompress' the sound or video file so that it will play correctly in your media player.

    'codec' programs though have their problems; many 'free' codecs online can damage a system, reducing the ability to play media files at all, or reducing their quality, and many free codecs are just ad/spy-ware themselves. Add the fact that codecs are not too easy to configure for beginners. I feel that 'codecs' are one of the most complicated parts of a propery running system, it is still for the very-technically inclined and there is no one-stop install or fix, especially if one codec ruins your system settings (windows should have in its control panel some 'codec' area but does not).

    A common thing that happens also is this - a file does not play, so a person goes online and starts blindly downloading codecs of many types, and installs them all without configuring them, and suddenly no files play because all the codecs are now competing against each other and there's way too many needless things installed which all conflict, this can be a rats nest of screw-ups and just uninstalling them won't always fix the new problems the person created. So ALWAYS INSTALL THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF CODECS NEEDED AND NO MORE, AND CONFIGURE EACH ONE WITH KNOWLEDGE. You can't just uninstall a codec and think things will go back to as they were, because some codecs don't put things back as they were before they were installed (they don't put settings back to normal).

    So although installing some 'codecs' is needed for media files to play, when done wrong they can damage a systems ability to play files, and one codec can interfere with anothers. These codecs I list are the minimum ones I install on systems, as they should play over 95%+ of videos and audio which is out in the public, although rarely there might be another codec needed to install, but not an all-inclusive one like ffdshow which is just too much to give a average computer user and expect them to understand it.

 

 

 

 

 

    This program has a bit of an edge over adobe lightroom (which also converts raws to .tifs from digital cameras) in my opinion, because they individually test lens and camera body combos physically, so they can correct for many natural errors of body/lens combos like vignette, aberrations, softness, etc. which other raw converters cannot do. The options it allows me to do to prep a photo for photoshop is always exciting for me to dig into. It is a clean install and setup, and is updated often. It is in the $100s though.

 

    This combines 3 or more varying exposures of the same exact 'shot' and merges them together in one super-range exposure photo, to then use in photoshop for further editing. It is a newer realm of digital photography and is being picked up by more people over time, because it can create photos of such wide range and if not over-done can add depth to a photo. This functionality is built into photoshop, but this program does a better job of it. It costs under $100 and creates photos that one shot alone can't capture. Updated often with a clean install and setup.

 

    Although photoshop has built-in printing, this program is considered the best printing output of photos in the windows os, since it bypasses the basic windows printer software (that all programs in windows uses, even photoshop unfortunately). It uses its own optimized printing software driver that does photo printing better. Under $100 with a clean install and setup. Anyone who does quality prints in windows should know this program, although I wish the program itself were laid out to be more intuitive for beginners. Updated often. The single programmer has a good program, but really squeezes every capitalist dollar out of you; forget your serial number? He'll charge you for telling you your serial. Have a multi-core cpu as all computer have now? He charges an extra fee to get the version which allows you to use them instead of one core. Two things I've never seen and never will see in 27 years of software.

 

    This program adds hidden text within a photos called 'metadata'  (which most all photos have and which all graphic programs use) that adds the exact location in the world of that photo, down to the actual square 'foot'. The reason to do this is because most all online photo albums, and most all graphic programs let you see in google earth and other map programs, the exact spot so that other people can see where it was taken. Once you 'tag' your photos with the gps text they'll always be saved so in decades to come it will always be known the exact spot. It is a clean install and setup. It's german software so the options must be set correctly and you have to know their meanings. It is updated often.

 

    This is a flash-creator plug-in, helping to create quick and easy photo albums using the flash environment if you don't want to mess with scripting. A great set of options as a flash component and saves hours of time programming from scratch. The templates allow alot of creative control to get the style you want without looking like everyone else who uses the program. The look is smooth and minimal. A low-cost and a clean install and setup. Updated alot. 

 

    I have a photoshop mask fetish and this plug-in is the best interface for masks as I can create masks based on thing that photoshop should have included in its own menu, but does not. A low-cost item with clean install and setup. It is updated regularly.

 

    I use it to remove noise from photos and videos. Each one is under $100, and has a clean install and setup. It is updated regularly.

 

    This corrects the aberrations that body/lens combos create. Especially important for architecture photos since it can correct 'the bends'. A low-cost program with clean install and setup. Updated regularly.

 

 

 

 

    If you make your own home videos, or record shows from a tv card, or just need to remove parts of videos you downloaded, then this simple little program quickly lets you 'cut out' the parts of your video files you do not want. It is video editing at its' simplest, and it does not affect the rest of the video's quality like most other programs, because it leaves the rest untouched. Installs and the setup is clean. Good for the $150 flip video camera to edit your videos before posting online. Updated sometimes.

 

    This is sony's video-editing program. I did once use adobes premiere, which is the world-standard in windows video editing, but vegas I just seemed to like working in better. The program was better before sony bought the company out a few years back, so perhaps one day I'll go back to premiere. If you don't do audio multitracking or video editing then there's no use for this program as it's like the photoshop for video. It is updated once in awhile and the install and programs need proper configuring. Compliments 'sound forge' for audio editing.

 

    A plug-in for vegas or whatever your video-editing app of choice is, it does a good job of removing the shake and jittery movements of recorded home videos, or if you just want to watch cloverfield without getting sick. It's over $100, is updated once in awhile, and has a clean install and setup.

 

    Another vegas (or your video-edit app of choice) plug-in, does the same as 'neatimage' in the graphic section above; removes video noise.  An easy install and setup.

 

    Converts interlaced 60i video to progressive 24p video to give common home cameras more of a film look and cadence; it tends to do a better job than its competitors at stitching the video together. I will use this on common dv footage video files before editing them in vegas, although most newer cameras and all new HD cameras will record directly as 30p or 24p. The program is in the $100s, and is not often updated, and it's a simple install and setup. 

 

    Since there's so many video formats and codecs out there for so many reasons, anyone doing video work needs a program to convert to all formats. I prefer the job this one does. It is under $100, and has a clean install and setup. It is updated once in awhile.

 

    If you copy a DVD disc over to your hard drive, that means you have a folder with a bunch of .vob files. This program very easily will take those .vob files and converts them into a single .mpg video file. A simple, quick way to convert your dvds, rarely updated but it does the job.

 

codec tweak tool

 

 

 

    Not really needed, this is more eye-candy, since i keep my windows desktop black without even icons. I use this program to view earth from space on my desktop with 10 minutes updates, so I can see the weather clouds right now in time, plus the suns and moon positions(shadows/light) on the globe. That's a more natural way then using a common clock for me, as I try to set things up according to the sun and moon than hands on a clock. A sub-$100 program with a clean install and setup. Its updated once in awhile and I still await them to make it more dual-monitor friendly, I have sent some sensible suggestions to them and await seeing the results as normally programmers listen to sensible ideas.

 

    I keep nothing on my black desktop except earthdesk sometimes, but sometimes I'll run this desktop clock configured as a minimalist clock on my desktop in one corner, plus I have the program whisper the time every hour, though most computer voices are corny, the 'whispery' voice from cepstral (below) is a great match for announcing the time softly every hour in a hush, or using for reminders. This qualifies as eye-candy as it is not needed, but if you need a more readable clock (with even the day and date showing) on your desktop, and want it to look exactly as you want, then this is really handy. The install and setup is clean.

 

    This $6 voice from cepstral allows any program which uses 'voices' to use this one instead of the free horrible ones built into windows. It is a low male whisper which sounds real and is not harsh or interfering when announcing something like time, email, or alarms. It is a clean install but needs to have some background programs disabled, and it is updated once in a long while. Good price since most professional voices can run over $100.

    A company called nextup keeps a good updated list of all the voices for sale from different voice companies, with demos to hear them all in many languages, some sound great and some are horrendous, test them all HERE

 

    If you have a screen resolution of 1920x1200 or 2560x1600, than often you do not need a single window completely taking the whole screen up, or you just want two or more programs open at once. But playing with resizing the windows and arranging them can be tricky and waste time. This handy program which runs in the tray makes it a one-click operation to perfectly sort your windows out and have them share the screen space perfectly so you can work on many programs at once. It is a  clean install and setup. Updated sometimes.

 

 

 

    Options which should've been included with xp, but instead microsoft has it as a separate download. It adjusts many very handy tweaks in windows xp. It is always installed first thing on a new system. easy install and setup. Never updated.

 

    Lets you right-click an image on the internet and choose to ZOOM IN / ZOOM OUT on it. A definite must install for all systems, should've been included in xp by default. easy install. Never updated.

 

    This adds a quick-view program for when you click on photos including .tif and .raw camera files on your computer (it is incredible to me that xp does not have a built-in .tif viewer and that's why people just give up and move to apple, such a stupid oversight). It replaces the crappier quick-view program that came with xp, this is like the next-generation of that program.

    You can view and print photos color corrected which the original 'fax and image viewer' does not have (why does microsoft not have color-correction built into windows is beyond comprehension as well). A must install for windows. It is a safe install and setup. Never updated.

 

    This installs a 'color-calibration' section to the xp control panel, a feature which should've been in windows since win95. You can assign color calibrations to monitors, printers, scanners, and cameras, including dual monitors, as well as view and work with color profile files like .icc and .icm. Apple has had these features built into their systems for perhaps over a decade, which is one of those things that gives them a major boost in sales with graphic people. But microsoft feels that windows users do not need proper color in xp, so this add on must be installed to add the feature.

    Having a monitor, printer, camera, and scanner color calibrated means that when you view photos and print items, it will fit the world standards for color, so that what you see and print is exactly what everyone else who is calibrated to the standards sees, and your prints will come much closer to what you saw on screen. Without calibrations its a crapshoot printing and photos on the monitor look nothing like what it really looks like no matter how expensive the monitor is, plus others will see your photos differently on their own systems. Everything dealing with colors digitally needs calibrating, and this program adds the ability to make sure windows assigns the right calibration to the right piece of hardware. A safe install and setup. Never updated.

 

    Used to optimize a hard drive and xp's bootup speed, because it places the critical microsoft files and drivers up front on the hard drive so it shaves time off windows bootup speed, sometimes by more than half the time to boot. A definite handy app but you have to look up online the way to use it as it's not self-explanatory. A clean install and setup. Never updated.

 

    This lets you adjust the quality of text in all programs if you are using an lcd screen, just make one setting and follow their simple questions and all your text is easier to read. An easy install and setup. A must install and never updated.

 

    A collection of dozens of small programs to adjust/tweak/fix windows xp. The programs were created by one man some years back who worked on his own, and then microsoft ended up 'buying' his works and offering them for free on their website. Not all are needed, but some serve as essential tools for getting windows to run as perfect as possible, or just when something goes wrong, or when you need certain diagnostics on any part of a computer and network. Anyone technically inclined should already know these. They install and setup as clean as could be, definitely worth knowing.

 

 

 

 

 

    Most all people have adobe reader installed on their system, and I abhor that program with the recent versions;  it's now overcumbersome, bloated, invasive , and installs other programs sneakily besides just the 'reader' to view .pdf files. Many companies work that way - they offer something for free, at first it is a small nice program, then over time they start making it bloated, load in advertising, start installing other hidden programs, and all the other things to try and gain money through low-class tactics.  

    So now, I use the 'foxit reader' to open, view, and edit .pdf files, and I use the 'foxit pdf creator' to create .pdf files from any program, because it adds a 'virtual printer' to your system, so that by sending anything to this 'virtual printer' it actually converts what you printed to a .pdf that anyone can open (with either foxit or adobe or whatever .PDF program they use). It is what adobe should've remained with - a clean install and setup, nothing running hidden in the background, and good speed and functions. I'll never work on a system with adobe reader again unless they made a turn-around. These two programs are updated regularly.