Windows Add-on Archive

  • The blog from Microsoft on the latest invents for Windows 8 is actually refreshing. Showing what they’re working on in Windows 8 and what’s going to be changing. But I’m not able to help but think about the latest release of Apple‘s operating system where they took parts of what other developers were doing and simply developed a copy cat version of their applications, and put those in to their new operating system. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Microsoft is making some MUCH NEEDED changes…but I believe it’s obvious that they’re blantantly copying what’s already there, and in high demand. Take for instance, one of the latest posts from Microsoft about ‘improving our file management basics: copy, move, rename, and delete’. This post goes on to speak about how important it is to have a sleek and comprehensive interface for when you’re dealing with files. I think pretty much every IT shop will agree that Microsoft hasn’t been the best at calculating transfer times or providing enough information about copying/moving files from point A to point B. TeraCopy; savvy users have known about TeraCopy for a while. It replaces Windows‘s standard interface for copying files from one place to another....

    TeraCopy: Who is Windows 8 copying today?

    Posted on August 29, 2011 | 4 Comments
    The blog from Microsoft on the latest invents for Windows 8 is actually refreshing. Showing what they’re working on in Windows 8 and what’s going to be changing. But I’m not able to help but think about the latest release of Apple‘s operating system where they took parts of what other developers were doing and simply developed a copy cat version of their applications, and put those in to their new operating system. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Microsoft is making some MUCH NEEDED changes…but I believe it’s obvious that they’re blantantly copying what’s already there, and in high demand. Take for instance, one of the latest posts from Microsoft about ‘improving our file management basics: copy, move, rename, and delete’. This post goes on to speak about how important it is to have a sleek and comprehensive interface for when you’re dealing with files. I think pretty much every IT shop will agree that Microsoft hasn’t been the best at calculating transfer times or providing enough information about copying/moving files from point A to point B. TeraCopy; savvy users have known about TeraCopy for a while. It replaces Windows‘s standard interface for copying files from one place to another....

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  • Somehow in the process, I was not included with the beta testing process, so I wasn’t able to get an advance copy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11, but seeing as how much I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking it’s really a given that I would be upgrading to a newer version; especially since Nuance has decided to update the GUI a bit. The latest version has some very nice amenities that all previous versions lacked; help. If you’re a novice to voice recognition you’ll immediately be skittish about using it and the results you’re going to get, but with this latest version I believe you’ll find a pleasant surprise. Nuance seems to have listened to their customer base and stepped outside the box and refined the GUI to be much more friendly, useful and all around smarter. From here, I start my techie review of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 [Home]. My version of a techie review is an overall evaluation of the application, how it works and if the application is something you’d be willing to buy for your home or office.

    Techie Review: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11

    Posted on May 18, 2011 | 3 Comments
    Somehow in the process, I was not included with the beta testing process, so I wasn’t able to get an advance copy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11, but seeing as how much I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking it’s really a given that I would be upgrading to a newer version; especially since Nuance has decided to update the GUI a bit. The latest version has some very nice amenities that all previous versions lacked; help. If you’re a novice to voice recognition you’ll immediately be skittish about using it and the results you’re going to get, but with this latest version I believe you’ll find a pleasant surprise. Nuance seems to have listened to their customer base and stepped outside the box and refined the GUI to be much more friendly, useful and all around smarter. From here, I start my techie review of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 [Home]. My version of a techie review is an overall evaluation of the application, how it works and if the application is something you’d be willing to buy for your home or office.

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  • The Windows operating system comes with a default text editor. Some users may not know it’s there, but it’s been virtually unchanged since Windows 95 came out. The average point and click user would basically never see it, but when you start dealing with higher echelon users a text editor is a powerful tool. And if you are a power user, and you need a ‘power tool’ you don’t want to be stuck with the default Windows notepad. The Windows notepad by default handles text files with the worst level of resource management. A perfect example of this, find a TXT file with 2-3Mb in it [like a log file], notepad for Windows will show you just how robust it really is; at the same time wondering why your system isn’t responding anymore. Yeah, you’re going to need a notepad replacement; like Notepad++

    Default Action: Replace Windows Notepad with Notepad++

    Posted on May 7, 2011 | 2 Comments
    The Windows operating system comes with a default text editor. Some users may not know it’s there, but it’s been virtually unchanged since Windows 95 came out. The average point and click user would basically never see it, but when you start dealing with higher echelon users a text editor is a powerful tool. And if you are a power user, and you need a ‘power tool’ you don’t want to be stuck with the default Windows notepad. The Windows notepad by default handles text files with the worst level of resource management. A perfect example of this, find a TXT file with 2-3Mb in it [like a log file], notepad for Windows will show you just how robust it really is; at the same time wondering why your system isn’t responding anymore. Yeah, you’re going to need a notepad replacement; like Notepad++

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  • Windows Explorer lacks a lot to be talked about; even with the latest version of Windows. In everyday use of Windows Explorer I find situations where the base model just doesn’t cut it, and honestly I don’t understand why the version of Windows Explorer has been the way it has… there’s so much room for improvement. One of the things that I believe should have been incorporated in to the file manager is the right-click options that every IT Administrator/Consultant or PC guru works with everyday— there should have been at least an option for ‘advanced options’. But thanks for developers like LopeSoft who have realized this and really done some great things for people that are above the curve on working with the file manager in Windows…

    Useful tools: FileMenu Tools

    Posted on April 21, 2011 | No Comments
    Windows Explorer lacks a lot to be talked about; even with the latest version of Windows. In everyday use of Windows Explorer I find situations where the base model just doesn’t cut it, and honestly I don’t understand why the version of Windows Explorer has been the way it has… there’s so much room for improvement. One of the things that I believe should have been incorporated in to the file manager is the right-click options that every IT Administrator/Consultant or PC guru works with everyday— there should have been at least an option for ‘advanced options’. But thanks for developers like LopeSoft who have realized this and really done some great things for people that are above the curve on working with the file manager in Windows…

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  • Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a tech freak and that AutoHotKey is my passion for getting stuff done. There’s nothing that AutoHotKey hasn’t been able to do at this point. I have found more ways to get stuff done, better and faster than anyone could imagine. I like to sit back and smile at the fact others are doing things on a manual level while things that can be automated are completely scripted out. You can refer to them as scripts or macros; or what ever you want to call them, but they’re smart and they’re very productive. And using these type of tools isn’t so much about being lazy, but recognizing that what you’re doing, the repetitive parts; the parts that make you want to pull your hair out on how monotonous it can be, can be scripted to run almost automatically.

    Text Replacement/Expanders are Awesome

    Posted on February 17, 2011 | 6 Comments
    Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a tech freak and that AutoHotKey is my passion for getting stuff done. There’s nothing that AutoHotKey hasn’t been able to do at this point. I have found more ways to get stuff done, better and faster than anyone could imagine. I like to sit back and smile at the fact others are doing things on a manual level while things that can be automated are completely scripted out. You can refer to them as scripts or macros; or what ever you want to call them, but they’re smart and they’re very productive. And using these type of tools isn’t so much about being lazy, but recognizing that what you’re doing, the repetitive parts; the parts that make you want to pull your hair out on how monotonous it can be, can be scripted to run almost automatically.

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  • I really like finding applications that should be, or could have been, a standard function of the Windows operating system. A lot of people would agree that there are some utilities and some functions have been added by independent programmers for the Windows operating system that make it so much easier to use in comparison to the plain-vanilla functions that are provided straight out of the box. It wasn’t until recently that I found a fantastic context menu extension from Windows Explorer. As a person that deals with computers or regular basis and would be considered an IT professional, adding access to certain pieces of information when you right-click on a file in Windows Explorer can be extremely valuable. This would include copying the path to the file, or mounting virtual directories; just to name a few…

    Download: Lammer Context Menu

    Posted on March 10, 2010 | No Comments
    I really like finding applications that should be, or could have been, a standard function of the Windows operating system. A lot of people would agree that there are some utilities and some functions have been added by independent programmers for the Windows operating system that make it so much easier to use in comparison to the plain-vanilla functions that are provided straight out of the box. It wasn’t until recently that I found a fantastic context menu extension from Windows Explorer. As a person that deals with computers or regular basis and would be considered an IT professional, adding access to certain pieces of information when you right-click on a file in Windows Explorer can be extremely valuable. This would include copying the path to the file, or mounting virtual directories; just to name a few…

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  • Can everyone agree that ZIP is a standard now? I think it’s a standard now. It’s basic functionality was built in to the Windows XP Operating System; you could open ZIP [compressed] files without doing anything. I’ve an associate that absolutely swears by WinZIP. It’s the end all be all of file compression and all he really uses it for is opening ZIP files. If that’s all, then there’s better options.

    Making the comparison: Replacing WinZIP with 7ZIP

    Posted on October 30, 2009 | 1 Comment
    Can everyone agree that ZIP is a standard now? I think it’s a standard now. It’s basic functionality was built in to the Windows XP Operating System; you could open ZIP [compressed] files without doing anything. I’ve an associate that absolutely swears by WinZIP. It’s the end all be all of file compression and all he really uses it for is opening ZIP files. If that’s all, then there’s better options.

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