Useful Non-Applications
Useful Non-Applications
Introduction
Here's a list of some non-applications I have found helpful to utilize often or sometimes in some circumstances. Software mentioned here is freeware, shareware, public domain, commercial software, and so on. I'm not mentioning any version numbers, so it will take less time to maintain and update this list. See also: Useful Applications, Operating Systems, Website Settings, Interesting Programs, UNIX, Software.
Disc Image Verification/Check
Disc Image Verification/Check Tools
Domain Information and Web Site Analyzing
AY Spy shows domain information for a website. LiveHTTPHeaders shows the HTTP headers a web server sends to your web browser. With WebMon you can monitor changes made to various web pages.
Hardware
HWiNFO32 shows hardware information. Motherboard Monitor shows information for example about temperature and fan speeds. Nokia Monitor Test helps you to adjust your monitor.
Linux
APT is for updating at least some Linux distributions. Sensors (Fedora 16) shows fan speeds, sensor temperatures and voltages.
(1) sudo apt-get update // check for package updates before installing new programs (Debian, Ubuntu)
(2) sudo apt-cache search <program> // search for install files
(3) sudo apt-get install <program> // install software
sensors (install: yum install lm_sensors, on Wings computer add cpu core info: sensors-detect)
Mobile Phones
Sony Bridge for Mac is for connecting your Sony Ericsson (XPERIA Mini) mobile phone to your Mac computer. Sony Ericsson PC Suite is the Windows version where you connect your Sony Ericsson (XPERIA Mini) mobile phone to your PC.
Operating Systems and Environments
Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows. Fedora, Mandriva Linux and Ubuntu are Linux distributions.
Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
MacTF (by Nathan Oates) is Mac software for Topfield TF5000PVRt (and some other Topfield 5xxx models). You can use ProjectX (see Media) to export from .rec to .mpg (M2P). Then you can use VLC media player (see Media) to watch it. With QuickTime (see Media) you can take screencaptures or convert videos to iPod Nano/Touch.
Platforms, Runtime Systems
Adobe Air is basically a Flash runtime system for multiple platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Kindle. Used for example by eBay and AOL to create apps [f] and by games like Triple Town [g].
Programming
Boost contains C++ libraries. DJGPP is a C/C++ development tool for DOS, but it works with Linux also if I recall correctly. Doxygen is a source code documentation generator tool, so that you can for example publish the source on the web for your project team. Graphviz is for graph drawing. Java EE (Enterprise Edition) is a platform for server-oriented architecture (SOA) and includes for example Sun GlassFish Enterprise Server and NetBeans IDE. Java SE (Standard Edition) is for developing and using Java applications. Some programs have been made with Visual Basic and you probably need run-time files to execute them.
Security: Miscellaneous
Big Crocodile is for generating random passwords. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is used to analyze your Windows operating system to give hints about possible security related settings you might want to change. SpywareBlaster increases security by preventing the installation of some of the known ActiveX-based malware. Windows Update website offers security updates for many Windows operating versions including additional software.
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
Servers
You can use your computer as a web server, FTP server, etc. (not all Internet connections allow you to do that and remember to install any new security updates). GuildFTPD is a FTP server. OpenSSH on Windows is a SSH server. Savant Web Server is a web server.
Spelling and Grammar
Voikko is a spelling and hyphenation software for Finnish language and you can use it for example in LibreOffice.
Voikko (OpenOffice.org/LibreOffice: you also need to install and run OXT file) (previous website voikko.sourceforge.net) (OS X 10.8: use VoikkoSpellService 1.0.3 Beta [source]) (location in OS X: /Library/Services/VoikkoSpellService.app) (LibreOffice page)
System Information and System Tools: OS X
A buch of commands to find out information about running processes.
System Information and System Tools: Windows
With dxdiag you can show and print (from file) your DirectX version and other system information (e.g. processor and memory). You can install the Microsoft Management and Monitoring Tools from the Windows installation disc at least if you have Windows 2000 Professional. With Process Monitor (has replaced FileMon and RegMon) you can see real-time process activity. RegClean is for cleaning the Windows Registry (Windows 95). The sfc command (i.e. System File Checker) replaces incorrect protected files and may help your Windows work better if there are problems. You can get Supplemental Language Support (support for right-to-left languages and East Asian languages) at least with Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP from Control Panel if you have the Windows installation disc at hand. With Microsoft PowerToys, TweakUI and Windows Registry Guide you can tweak different versions of Windows (95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, Vista).
Microsoft Management and Monitoring Tools
Time and Date
AnalogX Atomic TimeSync and the net time command are for synchronizing your computer's clock with a time server. ClockRack is a world clock. The w32tm command is for configuring the Windows Time service.
Last modified: January 8th, 2014
Author: Tomi Häsä (tomi.hasa@gmail.com)
URL: http://sites.google.com/site/tomihasa/useful-non-applications