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Miscellaneous materials: computer related, file formats, widgets, gadgets, wishlists. Web 2.0 applications to help.

• Miscellaneous resources
  • Computer related
    • Automatically back up your hard drive - Lifehacker. Excellent set of descriptions on how to back up your hard drive automatically.
    • DriverGuide.com (printer drivers, cdrom drivers, modem drivers, sound drivers, mouse drivers, monitor drivers, etc.) - DriverGuide.com.
    • Fontifier - Your own handwriting on your computer!. Download a template, write on it, scan it, send it back, create your own handwriting font. Commercial; costs $9.
    • instaSaver: Create Screensavers Online. Use instaSaver.com to instantly create your own Screensaver online.
    • Free Fonts - 6500 Free TTF Fonts (A). Lots of fonts to add to Windows.
    • Portable Firefox Put Firefox onto an ipod or USB device
    • JR Screen Ruler. This Screen Ruler is a great tool that allows you to accurately measure anything on your screen. This is especially useful when measuring graphics, web page browser sizes or whatever.
    • WhatTheFont : MyFonts. Upload an image of the font you're interested in, and it will tell you what it is.
  • File formats
    • Free PDF to Word Doc Converter! Just plain and simple pdf conversion software.. Just upload your PDF and download your word file. No registering, nothing. Nifty idea.
    • Media Convert This converts one file type into another file type. Nothing to download, and it can work off local files as well.
    • Online TrID. A utility that helps you identify a file type and what you can do with it.
    • PDFescape. Edit pdf files using just your browser and their software.
    • PDF Online : Create and convert PDF files.
    • You convert it Free online media file conversion (Document, Images, Audio, Video & Archives). This is a nice looking resource - you can use it to convert files from one format to another, convert online files, send files and convert units.
  • Miscellaneous
    • Blurb Home. Create your own book with their free software.
    • Bookmarks for real books. This one is all the rage at the moment, and I've seen it in lots of places. It's a .pdf file you can just print out, cut out the bookmark, fold it and use it whatever book you're using. I've tried it and it works perfectly.
    • ClipX. is a tiny clipboard history manager. "It is sweet, it is free, use it."
    • Collection Database Software for CDs, DVDs, books, games, etc... Commercial products, at £24.95 each. Not tried them, but they look good.
    • DOPPLR. This brands itself as "an online tool for frequent business travellers." It lets you share your future travel plans with a group of trusted fellow travellers that you have chosen.
    • instaSaver: Create Screensavers Online. Use instaSaver.com to instantly create your own Screensaver online. It is as easy as 1-2-3. Just specify the name, upload your favorite pictures and the screensaver with over 150 transition effects is ready!
    • iubo allows you to easily organize your life. By creating your own powerful personal search engine.
    • KallOut is (according to the website) "the first application to bring "selection-based search" to any web page, email, presentation, document, spreadsheet or PDF.
    • Old money to new. Find out how much yesterday's money (1270 - 1970) is worth today. (UK Currency)
    • Online Conversion - Convert just about anything to anything else. Weights, measures, lengths, cooking, dates, times, energy... it's all here!
    • Tagsahoy TagsAhoy: All your tags in one place. This works across the main services, such as del.icio.us, flickr, gmail etc.
    • This to That (Glue Advice). How to glue one thing to another thing.
    • Whatsonwhen Global resource, telling you er... what's on when, really!
    • XE.com - The Universal Currency Converter ?. I use this all the time.
  • Widgets
    • Snapper Take webpage screen shots easily.
    • Snippy. This is a brilliant free tool for taking a screen capture. Download and install, it sits in your tray and just click it when you want a screen capture. It loads it to memory, then open your graphics package and paste. Absolutely brilliant and works like a charm.
    • World66 - visited countries. Tell it what countries you've visited, and it comes back with your own map of the world. Fun.
  • Wishlists
    • GreedyMe. Create wishlists, share with friends, wait for them to get you stuff!
    • MetaWishlist Gather all your wishlists in one place, hope Santa calls early.
    • OnMyList.isn't exactly a wishlist, but it's a list of things that you want to list - favourites, hates, best this, worst that etc. Then share and discuss.
    • Wantz.it Wish lists 2.0h so easy. Use in conjunction with del.icio.us and add in a specific tag and it'll take care of the rest.
    • Wish: Anonymous online wish sharing.. Fascinating to read, and some of them are almost heartbreakingly sad as well.

Please note:

• I haven't tried out all of these myself, and people who I don't know have kindly made many recommendations as well.
• Consequently you should exercise sensible caution when trying these things out for yourself, and while I haven't included any programs/utilities/resources that have any spyware or malware included in them that I am aware of, I cannot take any responsibility for the utilities themselves.
• Your choice, your responsibility.
• I can't answer questions on any of the products themselves, as I am not associated with them in any way; if you have queries you should direct them to the owner of that particular product.
• I'm not including anything that isn't safe for work, so don't ask for adult material to be included.

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This page last updated November 2008