Free Apps, Tools, and Software News: Productivity Apps

Manage Google Docs, photos, and other files from the Google "cloud" to your Droid device and back again. Download and edit Google doc files and view PDFs. Scan the QR code for Google Drive with your Android QR code reader.

For your iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad device), to access GDrive, point your mobile browser at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gdrive-for-google-drive/id531569865?mt=8

OpenOffice's "downfall?" No Windows Media Player. Check out this handy guide to free media players posted by GizmosFreeware - one of PCMag's top 100 sites of 2010.

Windows Media Player Alternatives

Do you ever feel like you're forgetting something when you're running errands? The two apps below will help you to keep track of what's on your To-Do list and will help to make sure you don't forget important items ever again. Both can be downloaded to your iPhone, iPod or iPad.

Free Office Productivity and Image & Video Editing Software Online

Cute PDF Writer: Create PDF files, preserve form elements, add, delete, re-order, and resize PDF pages, digital sign PDF docs, or make compact PDF booklets. Please note that the direct editing of PDF pages including adding comments is not part of the free package, but there is a free trial offered.

GIMP: The GNU image manipulation program or GIMP is a freely distributed piece of open source software for tasks to include: photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Visit the GIMP site and check out the link to the tutorial to learn how to create a Gaussian blur overlay using GIMP 0 a feature well used in some of the proprietary graphic design software such as Adobe’s Fireworks, Photoshop and Illustrator. Unlike some of the other free image editing tools, GIMP allows users to create and manage multiple layers for a more professional edge. The software can be downloaded to multiple operating systems to include: MAC OS X or higher, Windows NT4 or higher, and Unix.


Google Drive: Users must sign-up for a free Gmail account. Files are stored remotely and the suite includes word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet programs in a Web-based environment. Users can save documents to their desktop as well. Files can be stored in the cloud and remotely accessed on a mobile or standard device or computer via a web browser (Safari, Chrome, IE or Opera).

Inkscape: Inkscape allows you to create vector imagery and offers file format compatibility for ease of sharing. The software allows users to draw, manipulate text, create layers, group objects, create gradients and patterns, and more. It can download and install on both Mac and Windows and is open source.


Jing is free screen-capture software. It can be used for taking both screen shots and screencasts. The user can narrate both the screen shots and the screencasts and the product can be shared and saved via the web, IM or email. It can be used by both PCs and Macs.

LightWorks Lightworks is a full-featured non-linear video editor with over 40 pre-configured templates with the ability to import, edit and export multiple file formats. It has native support for Mac, Linux and Windows OS. The free version allows users to export to MPEG4 format.


NeoOffice: NeoOffice was designed as “OpenOffice” for native MAC users before OpenOffice 3.0 rolled out with native support for MAC. There are dozens of native MAC features so that files can be exchanged with Office and other popular programs. Word processing, spreadsheet, drawing, and presentation programs are included in the suite.


OpenOffice: OpenOffice 4.0 is fully interoperable with Microsoft Office with a suite that includes presentation software, word processing software, a graphics editor, a spreadsheet program, and a database program. It runs natively on Windows, MAC, and Linux.


Photofiltre: PhotoFiltre 7 is a complete image retouching program. It allows you to do simple or advanced
adjustments to an image and apply a vast range of filters on it.PhotoFiltre 7 also has layer manager, advanced brushes, batch module and lot of other powerful tools..


Photostory is a Web 2.0 technology used in digital storytelling. The user creates a story by uploading photos into a slideshow. The photos can be edited in a variety of ways and a soundtrack, narration, special effects, titles and captions can also be added to the story. This free technology can be used for both personal and professional use. It is available for Windows XP. Support for Windows XP ended in April 2014.


Picasa: Picasa is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7. The current version (3.9) allows users to share their edited pics directly with their Google+ circles and newer photo-editing effects. (This is a free Google service but you will need to set up a free Gmail account to get started).


Photoshop Express Editor: In 2008 Adobe, the makers of Photoshop, launched a free, Web-based version of an image editing tool. For the free service you receive: 2.0 GB of online storage for your digital image library, and a personal URL (Web address) to display and share photos online. Upload photos to your registered account and begin to create albums, tag, and edit photos. Registration is easy and quick. Features are broken into categories within the editing tool to include: Basic editing such as cropping, removing red eye, and choosing a saturation level. Adjustments such as sharpening or softening focus on a photo. Advanced editing such as changing photo to black and white mode, and changing hue or saturation. Refer to Matt Kloskowski’s article on “My Top 10 Favorite Features of Photoshop Express Beta” from March 2008 to read about other cool tricks for users of this software.

Prezi: Prezi combines the interactivity of the web with the slide-show feel of a PowerPoint presentations. Choose from dozens of templates and add images directly from your hard drive or from Google images to make it as easy to be visually appealling as possibly. Web-based access allows for easy presentation sharing and access.

 

Wi-Fi Finder lets you search based on your location for free area hotspots. Sort by price to find all the free hotspots for quick wi-fi connectivity on your budget.

Get the iOS app

Install the Android app