Software
List of best products of 2009
I don’t always agree with the selections but PC World has compiled a list of what the editors consider the best products of 2009. It is described:
PC World looked at many outstanding hardware, software, sites, and services this year, evaluating each one on its design, functionality, performance, and impact. Here is the cream of the [...]
Keeping software patched
One of the biggest security problems with a PC is keeping current with all the software patches. Ordinary home PC users simply cannot keep up with the never-ending flow of updates without help. You can use Microsoft update for Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products but what about all that other software that we all [...]
Outstanding free security list
“Gizmo” Richards has long been a source for excellent advice on free security software. His TechSupportAlert site has a new list of the best security software of all types, almost all of it free. The only problem with the list is that it is so comprehensive that it may be a little overwhelming. For those [...]
Curtains for Quicken?
The desktop financial management software Quicken from Intuit has been the leader in its area for a long time. Microsoft once tried to buy Intuit but was blocked by the US Justice Department. Microsoft then tried to compete with its Money program but Microsoft Money never managed to make a serious dent in Quicken’s market [...]
Guided tour to Google Chrome browser
For anyone who might be interested in trying out the Google Chrome browser, Google has created a guide:
Did you, or someone you know, recently switch to Google Chrome and wonder, “Where’s the file menu?” “What happened to the search box?” “How do I bookmark a page?” To address these initial questions and help people settle [...]
Your 10 minutes are up, another dollar please
That may be the type of message you’ll be seeing as you use software in the future. Microsoft has applied for a patent on timed software. InternetNews reports:
Microsoft has applied for a patent on a software licensing technology that could be used to bill users for the time they spend computing, just as if they [...]
Adobe Reader updated
Adobe has released a security update for Reader and Acrobat.
Critical vulnerabilities have been identified in Adobe Reader 9.1.3 and Acrobat 9.1.3, Adobe Reader 8.1.6 and Acrobat 8.1.6 for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX, and Adobe Reader 7.1.3 and Acrobat 7.1.3 for Windows and Macintosh. These vulnerabilities could cause the application to crash and could potentially [...]
Free offer of ZoneAlarm Pro
On Tuesday ZoneAlarm Pro will be available for free for a 24-hour period. AppScout describes the software:
ZoneAlarm Pro is a subset of ZoneAlarm’s security services, a step up from its free firewall but less protection than its ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2010 suite offers. ZoneAlarm Pro includes the two-way firewall, download monitoring, anti-phishing protection, plus a [...]
Another Adobe PDF Reader security hole
Once more a security hole in Adobe Reader is being exploited. Gregg Keizer reports at Computerworld:
Until a patch is released next week, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users can protect themselves by enabling Data Execution Prevention (DEP), a security feature designed to stop some kinds of exploits — buffer overflow attacks in particular — by [...]
Microsoft Works to be replaced
The venerable Microsoft Works has long been an option for those who did not need all the many features or the big price that came with Microsoft Office. Now Microsoft is abandoning Works and will be replacing it with a stripped-down version of Office 2010. The new edition will contain advertising and will be available [...]
Speed up Firefox
If you are a Firefox user, you might take a look at a utility called SpeedyFox that is recommended by “Gizmo” Richards:
All up, a pretty useful free utility that provides a genuine benefit to most Firefox users. The degree of benefit will depend on the age and condition of your profile. I suspect some [...]