tech tips, tricks, tools, and recommendations

OK, you're a nerd. Maybe you haven't come out of the closet yet. But you can't wait to experiment with the latest gadgets, and your friends are always asking you for help with their computers. It's ok. We nerd you. (I mean NEED you! Whoops.)

In either case, here's some stuff you'll probably be interested in.

• http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/freesoftware.html
• http://www.auditmypc.com/web-security-resources.asp
• http://directory.fsf.org/
• http://downloads.zdnet.com/download.aspx?&compid=45929&docid=293538&tag=nl.e530
• http://www.fixya.com/
• http://www.auditmypc.com/broadband-speed-test.asp
• Recover Files Ever accidentally delete something you wish you could get back? This simple program makes it a snap!
• tiny url Ever want to shorten an impossibly long URL? Do it quickly and simply here.
• Test your internet connection upload and download speed, and how it varies depending on what city the server you are intacting with is located.
  
• velocimetro Internet connection speedometer. Tests upload and download speed. Make sure you pick your country from the drop-down list before you run the test. Also, enable pop-ups on the site in order to get graphs of your historical results.
• free mcafee stuff Free online tools from mcafee. Includes virus scan, a site advisor, and internet connection speedometer, etc.
• Team Viewer The best program I've found so far to view someone else's computer and take control of it from a distance (with their permission, of course).
• PDF creator Ever wish you could turn one of your Word (or other) documents into a slick pdf file? This program makes it easy to do that. Free.
• Kiss Youtube Like a video on Youtube? This site lets you download it to your computer.
• whatismyipaddress.com An easy way to discover
• your ip address.
• trendmicro Scan your PC for viruses for free.
• Kim Komando America's Digital Goddess. Enough said.
• ZDNet Where technology meets business.
• c/net tips and tricks
• yousendit.com Send large files over the internet for free. (File size imit is 100 MB. Larger sizes permissible with pay service.)
• esnips Upload and share anything -files, music, videos, documents, etc. Anything.
• zamzar convert files online without downloading anything
• audiograbber convert audio files to mp3. Also, capture music from tapes and LP's to computer. (Cool!)
  


• any video converter convert video files to mpeg format
  


• imageconvert Resize photos and images, and convert from any format to any other format.
• Windows Startup Ever get sick of all the programs that start automatically when you turn your computer on? Or maybe wonder about all the ones that are running in the background hogging up your computer resources? Download this free software and take control of what starts and what doesn't.
• best of the web: home electronics Good web sites dealing with home electronics
• best of the web: computers and internet Good web sites dealing with computer and internet
  
  
  
  
  Please let me know if any of these links don't work, or go to the wrong place. Also, please add your recommendations by posting a comment. I need your help to make this a great site. Thanks!