Digit FastTrack FREE PC SOFTWARE PDF

VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 12
TECHNOLOGY
YOUR HANDY GUIDE TO EVERYDAY
To
FREE
PC SOFTWARE
PRODUCTIVITY SYSTEM TUNING
FILE SHARING AND DESKTOP CUSTOMISATION
CLOUD STORAGE TOOLS
BROWSERS ENTERTAINMENT
SECURITY MISCELLANEOUS
DEVELOPER TOOLS DISCOVERY
A 9.9 Media Publication

FAST
TRACK
to
FREE
PC SOFTWARE
powered by
CHAPTERS
FREE PC SOFTWARE
DECEMBER 2015
06 The quest for productivity

We go on an exploratory trail to discover the smartest productivity
tools available out there that will spruce up your daily work life
PAGE
19PAGE
File sharing and cloud storage
The data you proudly own is no longer limited to the space you have
on your computer. With the advent of the cloud, data sharing has
never been easier.
31 Browsers
Its time to think beyond Chrome. In this chapter, we introduce you
to several web browsers youve probably never come across.
PAGE
38 Desktop customisation
The default applications have failed to live up to our expectations.
We head out in search of their alternatives to exercise more power
PAGE
and control over the desktop.
EDITORIAL Ashish Panigrahi Associate

CREDITS
The people behind this book
Dhinoj Dings Art Director

Executive Editor Nikhil Punjabi Anil T
Robert Sovereign-Smith
Copy Editors Sr. Visualisers
Managing Editor Infancia Cardozo Shigil Narayanan
Siddharth Parwatay Mrunmayi Ainapure Sristi Maurya
Technical Editor DESIGN Visualiser

Jayesh Shinde Creative Director Baiju NV
Tharakaram G
Writers Sr. Designer
Abhijit Dey Sr. Art Director Pradeep G Nair
Anand Nayaranswamy Anil VK
CONTENTS 3
45 Tools to protect your computer

Security is the bedrock of computer usage. Without it, your PC is
vulnerable to a number of perils, including viruses, trojans, spyware
PAGE
and phishing attacks. Prevention is the best cure. Lets find out how
to secure your PC with free software.
54 Developer tools
In this chapter, well look at a range of tools used for software and
web development.
PAGE
62 Tune-up your PC
A Cheat Sheet For Fine-Tuning Your Computer
PAGE
70 The one-stop guide to entertainment

software
Heres a quick snapshot of the multitude of media software you can
PAGE
use to nurse your need for entertainment
81 Miscellaneous tools
For those odds and ends that just dont fit anywhere else.
PAGE
92 Discovery
Downloading software by referring to a list is easy. Discovering
them across the interwebs is fascinating. We teach you the
PAGE
methods.
VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 12
TECHNOLOGY
YOUR HANDY GUIDE TO EVERYDAY
9.9 Mediaworx Pvt. Ltd. To

DECEMBER 2015
Published by 9.9 Mediaworx FREE

COVER DESIGN: SHIGIL NARAYANAN
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form

or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.
PC SOFTWARE
PRODUCTIVITY SYSTEM TUNING
FILE SHARING AND DESKTOP CUSTOMISATION
CLOUD STORAGE TOOLS
FREE PC SOFTWARE
December 2015 BROWSERS

SECURITY
ENTERTAINMENT
MISCELLANEOUS
Free with Digit. If you have paid to buy this Fast Track from any DEVELOPER TOOLS DISCOVERY
source other than 9.9 Mediaworx Pvt. Ltd., please write to

editor@digit.in with details
Free With Digit December 2015
Custom publishing
If you want us to create a customised Fast Track for you in order to
demystify technology for your community, employees or students contact
editor@digit.in
12 A 9.9 Media Publication
4 INTRODUCTION
Easy
pickings
I
ts often said: there aint no such thing as a free lunch. Our guess is,
those who subscribe to this particular axiom have never really heard
of free software. Freeware (and before that the open source software
movement) has shaped the software industry since its very inception,
debunking the belief that commercial or premium software cant have fully
functional free alternatives. We wont bore you with a history lesson about
how the movement started and what the rationale is behind the existence of
free software weve done that several times before in Digit its sufficient
to say that it exists and were pretty happy that it does.
In that spirit, this Fast Track is dedicated towards celebrating free soft-
ware and all that it encompasses. It might not be very apparent but free
software was seminal in forming a legion of enthusiasts such as yourself
who are never too afraid to install a cool new tool, a life saving utility, or
even just a piece of software that will change the look and feel of your
regular desktop. This very spirit of trying out stuff, going beyond standard
operating procedure is what has fostered the spirit of tinkering within
each and every one of us.
In this FastTrack, we attempt to touch every aspect of computing that
free software has to offer. The booklet has been neatly divided into subcat-
egories (or chapters, if you will) such as File Sharing, Productivity, Cloud
Storage and a dozen others. But more than just telling you that a particular
software exists we aim to go a step beyond and give you our verdict on which
is the best software in a particular category or for a specific use-case. Lets
INTRODUCTION 5
take for example a tool that can secure wipe, or if you dont want to think of
something so esoteric how about something more common like a BitTorrent
client? Which is the best BitTorrent client out there? Is it still uTorrent? Since
theyve started bloating that one time elegant piece of software, one would
think it doesnt hold that title any more. This FT will tell you the answer.
Beyond evaluating the best software in a particular category, this
FastTrack also serves to be a tool for discovering great software that you
didnt really know about. After browsing through the buffet of software in
each chapter, youll come across the modus operandi we employ at our labs
to stumble upon software and tools in the wild. At the end of reading the
entire booklet, youll realise how you can totally depend on free software
for personal use and even professional use (to an extent).
To make the deal even sweeter, well save you some precious bandwidth
and the trouble of downloading these killer tools. Our DVDs have you
covered with more than 120 tools mentioned in the chapters.
Happy Reading.
6
CHAPTER #01
THE QUEST FOR

PRODUCTIVITY
We go on an exploratory trail to
discover the smartest productivity
tools available out there that will
spruce up your daily work life
I
n order to work efficiently, you require tools that enable you to perform
the task at hand with minimum stress and effort and save valuable time.
This chapter delves into the various options you can avail of.
Office Applications
Apache OpenOffice
OpenOffice includes tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations,
databases and graphics. It provides support for Windows, Linux and Mac
OS X. On installation, a screen is displayed which prompts you to select a
tool. On clicking on Text document, the word processor dashboard pops
up, on which you can perform various operations. It is also possible to
open any new office application from within this processor by selecting
the relevant option from the File menu.
For instance, with the help of draw, you can create illustrations using
boxes, arrows, rectangles, ovals, symbols and other visual aids. Selecting
THE QUEST FOR PRODUCTIVITY 7
Database will lead

you to a wizard where
you can either create
a new file or open an
existing one. If you
go for the former, a
new dashboard lets
you create tables,
forms and reports,
including query Create any office document from a single interface
builder. The presen-
tation tool consists of several templates and provides support for draw,
outline, slides, notes, slideshow animations and effects. In addition to
standard office tools, OpenOffice also enables you to create HTML, XML,
Formulas, Labels and Business Cards.
Prime Feature: The Impress presentation provides support for
multiple monitors.
http://www.openoffice.org
LibreOffice
LibreOffice features the same set of tools as OpenOffice. You will be required
to select a tool from the navigation panel to the left, instead of a dialog.
The naming system is the same as OpenOffice. However, it includes a
database application called Base. If you select Writer, you will be able to
view a dashboard on which you can provide content and perform various
operations using toolbar icons and menus. You can create new documents
for application by selecting File followed by New as also scan them by
clicking on the Media option in the Insert menu, which includes audio-
video embedding. The user interface of LibreOffice is more or less the same
as OpenOffice, and thereby easy to work with.
Prime Feature: LibreOffice enables you to save documents in Microsofts
latest format, Docx.
http://www.libreoffice.org
SSuite Office
SSuite is a lightweight office tool comprising of word processor, spreadsheet,
browser, image editor and tools for email, and multimedia network in addi-
tion to general utility features such as address book and PDF memo creator.
8 THE QUEST FOR PRODUCTIVITY
The word processor dashboard includes text editor with icons on all sides
of the screen. Other tasks can be performed by selecting relevant options
on the menu. It also features templates for several purposes. The Accel
spreadsheet program lets you insert emoticons, charts, random numbers,
objects and even calculations. You can also connect to the database directly
via the dashboard.
Prime Feature: SSuite Office includes a client which you can use to send
and receive emails.
http://www.ssuitesoft.com
Softmaker FreeOffice WPS Office Suite

FreeOffice includes a word processor, spread- (http://www.wps.
sheet and presentation application. You will be com/wps-office-
provided with a serial number which you need to personal) is available
type in during the launch of the application. The for Windows, Android,
dashboard resembles a typical Windows applica- iOS and Linux plat-
tion from which you can perform all the required forms. You can make
activities using toolbar icons and menus. With use of NeoOffice suite
the help of presentation, you will be able to create (www.neooffice.org)
slides using the various objects on the toolbar, if you have access to
and also arrange those slides by selecting Slide Mac OS X.
Sorter from the View menu. In order to return
to the slide editing dashboard, you need to double click on a slide. The
PlanMaker tool is the same as a spreadsheet application and comprises
features such as conditional formatting. You can protect a spreadsheet by
going for Sheet Protection in the Tools menu.
Prime Feature: FreeOffice enables you to open DOCX files created using
Microsoft Word.
http://www.freeoffice.com
Which one should you go for?

We recommend OpenOffice because of the features it offers. Its user interface
is similar to that of Microsoft Office in terms of appearance. You can easily
create a PDF file from within the Writer tool by selecting the Export as PDF
option. We noticed that LibreOffice is bit slower compared to OpenOffice.
Moreover, the latter includes Math utility which will be useful for school
students. This feature is also available in LibreOffice but OpenOffice wins
us over with its sheer simplicity.
PDF Readers
Foxit Reader
With the help of Foxit PDF
Reader, you will be able to
read, create, annotate and
print PDF documents. It
provides Office-style ribbon
toolbar, shared reviews, and Highlight content inside a PDF file easily
commenting tools in addi-
tion to advanced features like Microsoft RMS, Group Policy and an XML
editor. As soon as you open a PDF file, you will be able to view its table of
contents on the left side and the main content on the right. The reader can
zoom upto 6400%. It also enables you to create PDF documents using
various options.
Prime Feature: Foxit PDF Reader enables you to perform formatting
functions such as highlighting, strikeout and underline by selecting the
required option from the toolbar and dragging the content.
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/pdf-reader/
Sumatra PDF reader

With Sumatra, you can read not just PDFs but also ePubs, Mobis and
various other formats. Language modification of the user interface can be
easily done by selecting the Change Language
option from the Settings menu. The Page option
Adobe Reader
in Toolbar also enables you to jump to another
(https://get.adobe.
desired page.
com/reader) is a
Prime Feature: Sumatra provides support for
popular tool used for
preview of LaTeX documents
viewing PDF files with
http://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/
simple navigation and
search functionality.
Nitro PDF Reader
Nitro PDF Reader enables you to view and create
PDF files with advanced features such as intelligent display panes and
90 degree rotation. It also lets you preview PDF files on your email using
Microsoft Outlook, to which you can add virtual sticky notes. While it
provides support for as many as 300 file formats, you can also use it to
convert a PDF document into a text file by selecting the Convert to Text
option. Moreover, you can extract images from a PDF file. The Create option
from File on the toolbar enables you to create PDF files from any document
in three different formats.
Prime Feature: With the help of Nitro PDF Reader, you can print from
any application using the virtual print driver.
https://www.gonitro.com/pdf-reader
MuPDF
MuPDF provides support for transparency, encryption, hyperlinks, annota-
tions and searching, including XPS and OpenXPS documents, besides forms,
JavaScript and transitions. The reader doesnt have a user interface and it
prompts you to choose a PDF file upon opening the software. However, you
will be able to perform all the operations using shortcut keys which you
can find using the About option by selecting the icon on the top left side.
For example, if you apply the Shift and > combination, you will be able to
navigate 10 pages at a time.
Prime Feature: MuPDF make use of anti-aliased graphics which renders
the text with metrics. The tool reproduces the fonts with precision, as you
can see in the printed text.
http://mupdf.com
You can easily
merge and split PDF
Expert PDF Reader
files using PDFill PDF
Expert PDF Reader enables you to revise existing
Tools (www.pdfill.
PDF documents and offers features like insertion
com). For instance,
of rubber stamps and annotation modification.
if you have five dif-
If you select the Review tab on the toolbar, you
ferent PDF files, you
will be able to add sticky notes and highlight,
can easily merge all
underline and cross-out content. You can also
of them into a single
insert custom stamp and signatures, for which
PDF file.
you need to browse for a signature file.
Prime Feature: Expert PDF Reader lets you
view two pages at a time with the Facing option from the View toolbar.
http://www.visagesoft.com/products/pdfreader/

Our preference goes for the Foxit Reader over Nitro because of its intuitive
ribbon style user interface and flexibility. You can easily perform various
tasks by simply selecting the relevant option from the toolbar, whereas in
the Nitro Reader, you need to pull the arrow to highlight content. Addition
of callouts with content from the Comments section is also easier with Foxit
Reader. Moreover, the options in Nitro are fewer than Foxit.
Sticky Notes
7 Sticky Notes
With 7 Sticky Notes, you can
separate notes by categories with
multiple desktops. It includes 7
color themes with support for
drop shadows, snap notes, align
to grid and fade effects. The tool
includes a wide range of fonts and
formatting options (including a
powerful search capability) which
you can view if you double-click 7 sticky enable you to create notes in several
on a note. It is also possible to colors and fonts
insert hyperlinks to notes and
adjust their transparency by moving the slider to the desired level.
Prime Feature: 7 Sticky Notes enables you to synchronize and share
notes, as also attach files to them.
http://www.7stickynotes.com
Hott Notes
Hott Notes enable you to create short notes and place them on your desktop.
The tool also enables you to modify fonts, opacity and themes by selecting
the Edit option or by double clicking the content. In addition, you can also
create a checklist and scribble notes, as well as add points with checkboxes
and draw something on the notes.
Prime Feature: Hott Notes enables you to configure alarm at the
appropriate time.
http://www.hottnotes.com/
Simple Sticky Notes

Simple Sticky Notes is a simple note tool. You need to write the note and then
right click on it to view the various formatting options. For instance, you
can insert date and time by selecting the relevant option. Moreover, you can
add list type content and insert alignment features including line spacing. It
includes an explorer where you can view all the existing notes. You can open
it by selecting Explorer option from the popup menu by selecting the icon
from the taskbar. It is also possible to backup the database so that you will
be able to retrieve content at a later point of time from the Settings dialog.
Prime Feature: Simple Sticky Notes provides support for hotkeys.
http://www.simplestickynotes.com/
GloboNote
With the help of GloboNote, you will be able to roll up notes by selecting
Properties from the pop-up menu a useful feature if you have multiple
notes and would like to save desktop space. The title displays clear descrip-
tions like Today instead of the date, which will help you remember when
the task should be completed. It is also possible to insert images and files
by selecting the Insert option.
Prime Feature: GloboNote enables you to assign notes to groups by
selecting the Assign to Group option from the menu. You can create groups
as per your preference and tag them on the relevant parent category.
http://globonote.info
Evernote
Evernote is a simple sticky notes tool which automatically syncs your notes
to the cloud. You can provide content and modify the background color
by right clicking on the note. It is also possible to assign a different color,
although not a different font, to each note. The tool provides support for mul-
tiple displays along with the ability to configure synchronization settings.
Prime Feature: You can save a copy of your notes in Evernote, Dropbox
or Google Drive.
http://hosting.edo-soft.com/stickynotes/

Wed recommend 7 Sticky Notes because with it, you can modify the font
name, size and other formatting options for each note. In Evernote, you can
modify the overall font name and size, not for specific notes.
Task Reminder Tools

MiniReminder
MiniReminder is a tiny program that enables you to create important tasks
or events and is compatible with both Windows and Linux. You can create
a new event by selecting Events > Add New, and modify the font styles and
colors from the Preferences menu. The dashboard displays a list of all events
created. This tool is useful for setting up renewals for instance, you can
configure the date on which you need to pay your phone bill.
Prime Feature: You can set a reminder for either a few days before or
after the event.
http://www.minireminder.com
Desktop Reminder
Desktop Reminder enables you to manage all your tasks and reminders. You
can create new tasks by selecting the New Task option. It is also possible to
copy a previously created task. Detailed descriptions along with date, time
and the recurring interval with an option to mark a task as urgent can also
be provided. The tool enables you to divide the tasks into various categories
and also lets you mark the task as completed. It includes 30 skins to choose
from, to set which you need to select Options from the File menu.
Prime Feature: Desktop Reminder helps you configure alarms based
on the time of day.
http://www.desktop-reminder.com
Efficient Reminder Free

Efficient Reminder Free
includes 10 different inter-
face styles and provides
support for day and month
calendar views. The tool
enables you to create unlim-
ited events with recycle Create reminders with all possible parameters
bin, search, import, export,
backup and restore functionalities. You can easily modify user interface
colors by selecting Interface Style option. In order to work with the tool,
you need to create a file and event on top of it, to which you could also
add attachments.
Prime Feature: Efficient Reminder Free lets you search for tasks and
events based on several parameters such as today, and next 7 and 30 days.
http://www.efficientreminder.com/freeedition.htm
Wunderlist
Wunderlist enables you to create reminders and events and automatically
syncs them on the cloud. It

provides support for all plat-
forms including mobile. You
will be able to add tasks and
notes including hashtags,
which makes the search
functionalities easier. In
order to work with the tool,
Schedule your tasks with Wunderlist
you need to register on the
website and login by down-
loading it. It is important to note here that your tasks are automatically
synced to your account. Moreover, you will be able to get alerts if you had
installed the relevant app on your mobile, even after you shut down the
computer. The tool provides several background themes which you can
use to modify its appearance.
Prime Feature: Wunderlist enables you to print your tasks and lists.
https://www.wunderlist.com

We prefer Wunderlist because with it, you can directly sync your daily
tasks to the cloud and access them on the go (via smartphones). You can
also generate a unique link for each task and share it across your team. It is
also possible to create a task list. We tested MiniReminder and the interface
didnt attract us. If you want to stay productive and dont want to forget
reminders, Wunderlist is the tool you should explore.
Break Reminder
Tools
Big Stretch Reminder
Big Stretch prompts you to
take regular breaks between
your strenuous work sched-
ules. You can set the time
and also select the sound
you prefer. It alerts you as
soon as the specified time is
reached, with a friendly tip. Relax your body in between work with
For instance, if you set the Big Stretch Reminder
timer to 00.05, you will be prompted by a message after every 5 minutes.

The tool displays the amount of time left on the taskbar.
Prime Feature: The tool provides tips to improve your work life via
quotes or custom messages.
http://www.monkeymatt.com/bigstretch/
Workrave
Workrave helps you configure break intervals. It is a small program
which can be easily configured by selecting the Preferences option
from the taskbar. You can configure micro and rest breaks with an
option to modify the language of user interface. The tool also pro-
vides a list of tips with pictures which you can access by selecting the
Exercises option.
Prime Feature: Workrave enables you to establish connection with
your network.
http://www.workrave.org
EyeLeo
EyeLeo reinforces the importance of your eyes as an as crucial a body part
as your muscles. With the help of EyeLeo, you will be able to give your eyes
frequent breaks. The tool will be useful for bloggers who spend several
hours in front of the screen. Select the Settings option by right clicking on
the icon from the taskbar. The dialog provides options to configure short
and long breaks with an ability to preview them. However, the tool lacks
the feature for providing a custom message.
Prime Feature: The long break option dims the display with a
friendly message.
http://eyeleo.com/
MaToMaTo
MaToMaTo is a timer based on the famous Pomodoro technique. The tool
can be installed easily and requires .NET Framework 3.5 to run it. It is so
hassle-free that you will not find any unnecessary options for this timer
other than start and stop. The tool doesnt produce any noises or sounds is
therefore ideal for office environment.
Prime Feature: It stays on the top of all programs and swings for the
first 20 minutes, zooming in and out during the last 5 minute interval.
http://www.vivasoftware.it/PomodoroTimer/MaToMaTo/
Keep Focused
Keep Focused enables you to manage time effectively using the Pomodoro
technique. You just need to double click on the executable file to run the
tool. Once you provide the details of the session, the tool will start to run
in a session of 25 minutes. The tool can be dragged and placed anywhere
on the screen.
Prime Feature: You will be able to review your daily activities by
selecting the View Session Data File button.
http://keepfocused.codeplex.com/
Tomighty
Tomighty is a simple desktop timer
based on the Pomodoro technique. In
order to run it, you need to select the
icon and click on Start. The user inter-
face can be modified using four themes.
Prime Feature: Tomighty enables
you to specify a custom timer interval.
http://www.tomighty.org/

We recommend the Big Stretch Tomighty enables you to specify custom
Reminder which enables you to con- Pomodoro time
figure tips either to appear as a balloon

or inside a message box from the Display panel which you can set by selecting
the Settings option from the taskbar. EyeLeo is simply a tool which reminds
you to take a chill pill. It is not possible to provide any custom messages on it.
Screen Capture Tools

PC Screen Capture
PC Screen Capture enables you to capture screenshots and save them in
popular formats including PNG. In order to work with the tool, you need
to select an option from the toolbar and a picture will be taken of the active
window which can be saved by selecting the Save As option. The tool is
compatible with all editions of Windows and will be useful for students.
Prime Feature: With the help of PC Screen Capture, you can capture
screenshots in four different ways.
http://www.pcscreencapture.com
TechSmith Jing
Jing enables you to capture screenshots based on selection that involves
dragging. You can store these on your computer or on the cloud. In order
to work with the tool, you need to create an account with Jing after which
a yellow circle will be displayed on the top center of your screen. Select
the Capture icon and drag the area which needs to be captured. The tool
displays options with which you can save the image on your computer. You
can also upload the image to your cloud account if you select the Share via
Screencast.com icon.
Prime Feature: Jing lets you create five-minute videos based on the work
you do on the selected area. Moreover, the free 2GB cloud account enables
you to sync and store all screenshots.
https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

Wed recommend Jing over PC Screen Capture because with it, you can not
only capture images but also produce short videos. Moreover, you can store
all your media into your screencast account.
Website Blockers
FocalFilter
FocalFilter enables you to block the websites you If you are on a
find distracting during work using a simple block lookout for a tool to
timer. Once the decided time lapses, you will be create lengthy videos,
able to navigate those websites again. In order to you can make use of
work with the tool, select the Edit MySite List CamStudio (www.
button and provide relevant website links which camstudio.org) or BB
you want to block. You can also select the timer FlashBack Express
duration for the period of which the websites (www.bbsoftware.
will be blocked. co.uk/BBFlashBack_
Prime Feature: FocalFilter provides support FreePlayer.aspx).
for all major browsers including Safari.
http://www.focalfilter.com
Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey enables you to block a staggeringly high number of websites
and will affect all users on the computer. It also provides the ability to import
domains from text files. This tool will be useful for students who want to
do away with the distraction

caused by web traffic and
concentrate on their studies.
The next step is to schedule
the timing by selecting the
Schedule tab. If you have
added domains to group A,
Block websites under each group separately you need to select the group,
set the timing, select the
Start tab and click on the go ColdTurkey button.
Prime Feature: Cold Turkey lets you specify
If you are a Mac user,
the required domains which need to be blocked
you can make use of
in three groups.
SelfControl (www.
http://getcoldturkey.com
selfcontrolapp.com)
to block distracting
websites
We recommend Cold Turkey because you can
block websites in three different groups with sep-
arate timers. Moreover, if you attempt to visit a website which is blocked by
Cold Turkey, a message will be displayed to you saying that the website has
been blocked by the tool. These features are not available with FocalFilter.
ON CLOUD NINE 19
CHAPTER #02
FILE SHARING
AND CLOUD
STORAGE
The data you proudly own is no longer
limited to the space you have on your
computer. With the advent of the cloud,
data sharing has never been easier.
I
n this fickle day and age, it isnt too far-fetched to imagine losing all
the important documents you have stored on your computer if your
hard drive decided to crash all of a sudden which, as we all know, it
is quite wont to do. In most such cases, unless you have been prudent
enough to store backup files in an external hard drive, you cannot recover
the lost data. This is where the importance of cloud storage comes into the
picture. With the help of the various services this wonderful technological
innovation offers, you can store your data on a virtual hard drive and access
it whenever required.
This chapter examines the variety of tools at your disposal which facili-
tate transferring data from your computer to your cloud account, in addition
to torrents and FTPs, along with security-related aspects for each.
20 ON CLOUD NINE
Cloud Storage Tools

Dropbox
Dropbox provides 2GB
of space with support for
Android, iPhone, iPad,
BlackBerry and Kindle Fire
powered devices. It includes
features such as forward
secrecy, authentication
cookies, HSTS and camera
upload functionality. You
will be able to manage files
by selecting the Dropbox
Share files easily with Dropbox icon from the system tray fol-
lowed by the Open Dropbox
folder option, where you can drag and drop files. You could also share
the document using a link if you hover over each item and click on Share
Link. Dropbox make use of 256 bit AES encryption, fragmented discrete
file blocks and a 128 bit SSL/TLS tunnel.
Prime Feature: DropBox enables you to retrieve deleted files within
30 days.
http://dgit.in/DropboxDwn
Degoo
The USP of Degoo is having the privilege to select your own backup folder
during the initial configuration. For this, you need to double click on the
folder name on the tool, and copy the files and folders you need to transfer.
Degoo provides 100GB storage and makes use of 128 bit AES with CBC,
PKCS5 padding encryption including TLS 1.2. Moreover, all encrypted data
blocks are signed using an advanced cryptographic library called Keyczar.
The passwords are protected using PBKDF2 and HMAC512 with a secret key.
Prime Feature: Degoo stores several copies of each file and provides
support for multiple custom folder selection.
https://degoo.com/
MEGA
MEGA provides a whopping 50GB of cloud space which is amply suf-
ficient for storing plenty of documents, images and videos. Mega Sync
ON CLOUD NINE 21
Client enables you to upload files

from your computer and store them
on your account. All you need to do
is select the Upload to Mega option
by clicking on the star symbol on the
top right side of the tool. You will see
a dialog from where you can pick the
required folders or files which need
to be synced.
Alternatively, you can drop the
folders into your system the tool
automatically detects them. You
will be able to view the transfer pro-
gress by selecting the red icon on
the taskbar. Control your files with MEGA
Prime Feature: MEGA offers
a secure environment for storage If you are unable to access MEGA
management with support for user- from your computer, modify the
controlled encryption, AES-128, RSA- DNS of your Internet account to
2048, HTML5 WebCrypto API and that of Googles server which is
RC4 entropy pool. 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
http://www.mega.co.nz
OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive provides support for a wide range of devices including
Xbox. A new folder named OneDrive will be created inside your system into
which you can drop the folders which you wish to sync. You can modify
parameters such as automatic saving of screenshots by right clicking on
the OneDrive icon from the taskbar and selecting the Settings option in
addition to disabling auto-start.
Prime Feature: With the help of OneDrive, you will be able to get up to
15GB of additional, bonus storage space, along with a facility to upgrade
using local currency.
http://dgit.in/OneDriveDwn
Box
Box offers 10GB of storage space and enables you to sync the required folders
using the drag and drop mechanism. A new folder named Box Sync is cre-
22 ON CLOUD NINE
ated where you can store more than one

lakh files with support for special char-
acters in file names and paths with 256
characters. However, they dont have
the option for choosing a custom folder
for sync. You can upload any number
of files but a single file cannot be of a
size more than 250MB.
Prime Feature: Box provides the
option of turning off the sync process
using a slider.
http://dgit.in/BoxDwn
Turn off syncing easily with Box CloudApp

CloudApp enables you to not just share
files but also directly capture screen-
shots by selecting the Take Screenshot icon. The captured image gets saved
automatically to your account without as much as the click of a button. You
can also generate a short link in a secure 128-bit HTTP format, among other
facilities such as password protecting each stored file, adding annotations,
webcam video recordings and sharing files via email, HipChat and Slack.
Prime Feature: CloudApp includes a feature using which you can
destroy the files within a specified time interval.
https://www.getcloudapp.com/
Google Drive
Google Drive provides 15GB of storage
space and is available for Windows,
Android and IoS platforms. In order to
store files, you need to drop them into
separate folders which are created after
installation. You will be able to con-
figure proxies via Preferences. Google
Drive makes use of 128-bit AES tech-
nology while transferring files. How-
ever, its lack of support to Windows
CloudApp enables you to capture Phone is disappointing and gives it a
screenshots instantly bit of a disadvantage.
ON CLOUD NINE 23
Prime Feature: You can make

use of third party encryption tools
such as Boxcryptor to integrate
advanced security features which
include AES-256 and RSA-4096
encryption standards.
https://www.google.com/drive/

Dropbox will not display any pro-
gress bar after your drop files/
folders into the sync folder, although Configure advanced parameters with
it does have a green icon in each Google Drive
folder inside the drive to indicate that
the items have been successfully transferred. MEGA, on the other hand,
shows transfer progress along with percentage status, detecting addition of
files instantly and performing the sync operation. With MEGA, you could
either drop the contents into the folder or manually upload them, which
Dropbox doesnt provide support for, from your desktop. The sync folder
of MEGA can be recognized by the red mark. However, individual files/
folders inside the drive are not marked.
MEGA doesnt consume heavy system resources and is hence com-
patible with old computers as well. For instance, we noticed that our test
computer slowed down during the
booting process after the installation
of Dropbox. Also, while Dropbox
provides only 2GB of storage space,
MEGA provides 50GB of space,
which is sufficient for normal usage.
So as you can see, MEGA offers
more features than Dropbox along
with additional security which
makes your work infinitely easier.
All-in-One Cloud
Storage Tools
odrive odrive helps you add various
odrive allows you to manage all your services easily
24 ON CLOUD NINE
existing accounts on various cloud services including Dropbox, OneDrive,

Facebook, Instagram and FTP directly from your desktop, by creating a
new folder in your hard drive. You have to link your accounts by author-
izing access to start the sync process. For instance, if you double click on
Dropbox, the tool prompts you to authorize access. You will be able to view
the content inside your account only if you grant this permission.
Prime Feature: With odrive, you can configure the automatic download
limit with an option to move your default folder.
http://www.odrive.com
Cloud Explorer enables you to modify UI languages easily
Cloud Explorer
Cloud Explorer enables you to connect to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive,
Box and Facebook. You can also view the files on each account after you
establish connection by granting permission. It provides support for several
languages which you can modify using the Option dialog.
Prime Feature: Cloud Explorer provides support for a portable
environment and you can therefore run it directly via a USB drive
without installation.
http://www.getcloudexplorer.com
Security is impor-
tant in cloud storage
CloudBuckit
since you never know
CloudBuckit provides support for several cloud
whether anyone
storage services including Google Drive, Twitter
can access your
and Picasa. It make use of SSL 256-bit encryption,
files without your
OAuth2 and HTTPS over SSL and cloud drive
knowledge.
mapping for transferring data from your desktop
ON CLOUD NINE 25
to the respective
cloud providers. You
will be able to modify
the download folder
by selecting Settings
from the Toolbox
option. You will be
able to configure and Drop and share in a single place with CloudBuckit
schedule tasks from
the dashboard which enable you to simplify file transfer process.
Prime Feature: With the help of CloudCommander, you will be able to
split the screen into two which facilitates easy transfer of files.
https://www.cloudbuckit.com/

We recommend CloudBuckit because it provides support for several cloud
storage providers and is equipped with its own dashboard (from where
you will be able to perform all actions) instead of relying on the traditional
folder. We even tried connecting it to Google Drive and could upload several
files easily with a simple drag-and-drop job. Moreover, it has the option of
splitting the screen using Cloud Commander which enables you to add files
from your computer easily by selecting the required items from the left
side and dropping them to the cloud account on the right. The built-in task
manager and scheduler is a big bonus for geeks. Apropos odrive, theres a
folder where you can drop files you need to right click on its icon in the
toolbar to add new service.
BitTorrent Clients
uTorrent
Torrent provides support for bandwidth and remote management in
addition to the scripting and creation of torrent files. The tool doesnt con-
sume too many system resources and works fast if you ignore the scammy
ads. It provides support for the modification of several settings such as
connections, bandwidth, transfer cap, queuing, scheduler, player, device
pairing, custom search engine configuration and disk cache including an
RSS downloader. You can also configure it in such a way that it performs
actions like shutdown and restart after downloading files from the server.
You will be able to set a random port number, configure windows firewall
26 ON CLOUD NINE
exception and enable protocol

encryption .
Prime Feature: On uTor-
rent, you can provide a fake
hostname to prevent other
users from viewing your
IP address.
http://www.utorrent.com/
BitComet uTorrent helps you to modify various parameters

easily
BitComet provides support
for not only torrents but also
HTTP and FTP protocols. It includes an advanced accelerator which ena-
bles you to download files faster. The tool lets you configure the default
directory and also features disk cache and allocation. It includes support
for DHT network, internet connection firewall and sharing in addition
to UPNP port mapping. You will be able to configure proxies, long term
seeding, eMule settings, protocol encryption, scheduler, remote download,
window integration in addition to enabling automatic virus scan of the file
after its download. You also have the option to set a custom time for auto
shutdown of the tool.
Shut down easily after torrenting at a specified time
Prime Feature: The powerful eMule plug-in lets you download and
upload files to eDonkey and Kad networks resulting in cross protocol file
sharing capabilities.
http://www.bitcomet.com
ON CLOUD NINE 27
Deluge
Deluge provides support for protocol encryption, private torrents, band-
width scheduler and plug-ins. You will be able to configure proxies, web
seed and tracker by selecting Preferences option from the Edit menu. You
can also provide values for cache size and expiry time. It also supports
an array of regular features such as BitTorrent encryption, DHT, magnet
URLs, web interface etc. With Deluge, you can provide values for bandwidth
management globally and per torrent.
Prime Feature: Deluge can run on a remote machine while you would
be able to control the downloads through Deluge on your desktop.
http://deluge-torrent.org
qBittorrent
qBittorrent is a lightweight tool with a simple user interface which provides
support for Magnet/BitComet, Peer
Exchange, DHT, UPnP and NAT-
PMP port forwarding. You can
modify the default download loca-
tion, bandwidth values and secu-
rity related settings which includes
proxy configuration by selecting
Options from the Tools menu.
Prime Feature: You will be able to
lock the tool by selecting Lock qBit-
torrent option from the View menu
to prevent unauthorized access.
http://www.qbittorrent.org
Manage Upload and Download Speeds with
Tixati qBittorrent
Tixati includes support for DHT,
PEX and Magnet Link, RC4 connection encryption, IP filtering and event
scheduler including four different themes. You can configure incoming
ports, connections, proxies by selecting the settings icon on the toolbar. It
displays a progress bar during the torrent download process. The tool doesnt
consist of any menus but the task can be completed using toolbar buttons.
Prime Feature: The event logging and shell integration features are a
real plus for advanced users.
http://www.tixati.com/
28 ON CLOUD NINE
Work with the menu less dashboard of Tixati

While BitComet only displays percentage during the downloading process
and doesnt include a progress bar, uTorrent shows both. It also includes a
built-in media player with which you can play downloaded media files, the
lack of which in BitComet is disappointing. BitComet, however, provides a
list of links to torrent sites on the left navigation panel.
However, we stopped using uTorrent since it started throwing unneces-
sary and annoying advertisements. It was also reported to come bundled
with a kind of junkware that used your system resources to mine Bitcoins.
The best option in BitTorrent clients would be Deluge which essentially
looks like uTorrent during its glorius days. The decision of shipping the
client with a few essential features makes it a lightweight effective client.
The option to install additional features through plugins definitely makes
Deluge our favourite BitTorrent client.
FTP Tools
FileZilla
With the help of FileZilla, you can upload and download files to and from
your own web hosting space. You need to create separate entries by selecting
Site Manager from File menu. You can then select the drop down arrow
located on the top left side and start uploading files. The tool displays the
status of each action on the top window and the progress of the files being
uploaded in the bottom section.
Prime Feature: The tool provides support for FTP, SFTP, TLS and SSL
protocols in addition to process queue, ASCII and binary transfer type. You
will be able to upload files in active and passive modes.
https://filezilla-project.org
ON CLOUD NINE 29
Configure advanced settings with FileZilla
Core FTP
CoreFTP provides support for FTP, SFTP, SSL and TLS. You can configure
FTP accounts using the site manager in addition to sessions, templates,
SSL certificates, custom commands, file associations and filters from the
Manage menu. You can view a log of events on the top of the tool but the
font size, we found, was too small to be universally legible.
Prime Feature: CoreFTP enables you to configure sounds and includes
support for SSH Ciphers and Mac Algorithms with an ability to configure
proxies in four different formats.
http://www.coreftp.com
WS_FTP LE
WS_FTP LE includes a connection wizard and site manager using which
you can configure FTP accounts. It provides support for automatic restart,
auto-delete files, email notifications, SFTP, FTPS, AES and FIPS 140-2 in
addition to the ability to encrypt files upon transfer.
Prime Feature: WS_FTP LE enables you to create SSL certificate using
wizard including import of certificate. You can also configure firewall and
browser integration from the Tools menu.
http://www.wsftple.com
FTP Voyager
FTP Voyager includes features such as synchronization, scheduled trans-
fers, FIPS 140-2 validation, bandwidth throttling and MLST/MLSD. You
can view folders inside your computer from within the tool just like on My
30 ON CLOUD NINE
Computer. A new
FTP connection
can be established
either by using
the wizard or
directly. You can
configure sounds,
font colors for dis-
play of logs and
trusted certifi-
cates by selecting
Options from the
Tools section.
Prime Fea-
ture: FTP Voy-
ager provides FTP Voyager enables you to add sounds for various events
support for FTP,
SFTP and FTPS, IPv4 and IPv6. The user interface is developed using ribbon
format which looks similar to Microsoft Office.
http://dgit.in/FTPVoygr

We recommend FileZilla because of its simplicity and regular updates. You
can easily configure FTP accounts to upload files, and view a detailed status
of various activities on the top panel and the transfer progress in both, the
progress bar and the percentage in the bottom panel. In CoreFTP, the log
details are displayed in small fonts which are difficult to read. In order to
download WS_FTP LE and FTP Voyager, you need to provide your personal
details as part of registration process. We prefer a FTP tool which can be
downloaded directly in this regard, FileZilla emerges as the clear winner.
BROWSERS 31
CHAPTER #03
BROWSERS
Its time to think beyond Chrome.
In this chapter, we introduce you to
several web browsers youve probably
never come across.
I
ts said that the Internet is the gateway to just about everything.
And, as we have all come to learn in the course of the past two
decades or so, its largely true. But then, theres a gateway to the
internet as well the web browser. And when it comes to the
browser, you are spoilt for choice with old and new players vying for
your attention. Here, we round up some of the most exciting browsers
of the year detailing their pros and cons.
Vivaldi
From Operas creators, something to please the power-users
To call Vivaldi as just an offshoot of Opera is neither here nor there. Yes,
the browser is created by Operas founder, Jon Von Tetzchner and there are
nods to Opera that are evident in Vivaldi. But thats not the whole story,
not by a long shot.
Lets start by looking at what does bear semblance to Opera in this one.
The grid of your favourite websites that automatically appears in every
new tab is practically a replica of how its with Opera. The integrated mail
client concept not unique by any means to Opera was still a feature that
32 BROWSERS
The Vivaldi Browser
appeared in that browser, and which faithfully replicated in Vivaldi as well.

As for deviations from the norm, the browser allows you to dock tabs
on any side of the screen on the top or bottom as well as right or left. One
feature that helps make the interface less cluttered is the option to form
groups of tabs. The groups can be formed based on the nature of the websites
that fall under one entertainment related tabs can fall inside one bracket.
This is certainly a welcome feature given how we have to contend with a
plethora of tabs with many current browsers.
The creators of the browser seem to have an inclination to please power-
users, for the number of keyboard shortcuts available on the product is
quite impressive. And its also heard that they are coming out with spatial
navigation so that you wont have to lift your fingers off the keyboard to
navigate the web. Yet, another feature of interest is the one to create notes on
web pages (one which, now that we think about it should have been there in
many earlier browsers). That can certainly be useful; however, in the current
version of the browser, we didnt get a smooth experience with the feature.
Whats special about it: Vivaldi certainly is one of the better browsers
doing the rounds. With features such as group tabs and their experimenta-
tion with the interface (including, even filters that allow you to view pages in
sepia or black and white) its a fun browser to use which aims at a clutter-free
browsing experience. However, the current version of the browser comes
across as more of a teaser for its greater potential.
The Tor Browser

For the whistleblowers of all sizes and shapes
On the face of it, the Tor browser may look like one designed to aid shady
characters for Tors USP is that it prevents other people from tracing your
online activities. The browser effectively scatters your traffic route across
relays spread across the world which makes tracing your IP address almost
as tough as hitting a bullseye while blind-folded.
BROWSERS 33
However, all this technical bravado is not to aid less-than-honourable

activities (at least, it neednt be). Say, for instance if you have to report a mis-
demeanour of your employer, this is your go-to browser if youre shooting
a mail to the higher-ups from within the organization. You can even run
the browser from a pen drive, making it unnecessary to install it in your
Want to be a spy? Use Tor. We kid of course.
computer. Yes, the browsers creators seem extremely serious about you
going incognito.
On the flipside, we did encounter hassles the most significant of which
is that the browser functions at a lower speed than its peers. And, its logical
to assume that since your location is rarely static while using it, services
that provide you information based on your current location may fall short
of your expectations.
Whats special about it: The quintessential browser for whistleblowers is
not meant for day-to-day browsing. Its slower than most popular browsers
and the list of features is also limited in comparison. We cant help but
wonder how itll be if they could improve on those counts and have the
incognito mode embedded in it as an option at the same time.
3. Qupzilla
Theres more than meets the eye
Qupzilla looks pretty much similar to most mainstream browsers. But going
beyond appearances, you do find certain subtle distinctions which are of
value theres the feature which allows you to consolidate bookmarks,
history and the RSS reader in one window. That, as you can imagine will
make things clutter-free for you.
Other features found in the browser include integrated Adblock and the
option to send the Do-Not-Track header. With Qupzilla, you also have the
option to browse in private mode a standard with most browsers these
days, the Speed Dial option to quickly access your favourite websites is also
present. You can stylise Qupzilla with the multiple themes that come with the
browser package. Though the Internet has quite a few articles praising the
34 BROWSERS
Discover a multitude of features with Qupzilla
speed with which the browser functions, in our review we found that while
the speed is comparable with browsers including Chrome, its not exuberant.
Why you should try it: A quality browser thats user-friendly. Where
Qupzilla falls short is in the number of extensions available, especially when
you compare it with the likes of Firefox. However, if you dont require as
many extensions and could find satisfaction with a minimal set of add-ons,
by all means go ahead with this one.
4. Chrome
The worlds favourite browser is here to stay
Everyones Been there, done that browser, Chrome still remains the most
popular browser in the world and for good reasons too (not least of which is
its incredible compatibility across platforms). Also, the minimalistic design
which Chrome pioneered, works extremely well on multiple devices be
it a panoramic desktop monitor or a smartphone screen, the experience
you get is seamless. One other factor that makes Chrome such a favourite
is that your Chrome data will be made available across devices, thanks to
the fact that you have a Gmail account and its hard to find someone who
doesnt have one.
Ohhh extensions! Do we really need to tell you anything about Chrome?
Google has always displayed a knack for understanding their users

wish to simplify matters and respond accordingly the box which clubs
the URL field and the search bar into one is a case in point something that
was introduced by Chrome and was picked up by everyone else.
Why youd want to stick to it: Chrome is a great browser for two rea-
sons: its cross-platform compatibility and its ability to handle intense
browsing sessions involving a large number of tabs rather well. Yes, you
feed the monster more RAM and itll will treat you well but once you open
BROWSERS 35
up too many tabs it starts breaking apart. For those who are concerned
about sharing sensitive data with the giant, its another matter altogether.
5. Firefox
Fox-trotting towards better features
For some reason, Mozilla calls its extensions as add-ons. Whatever be the
name by which they are called, there are quite a few of them, most of which
are meant to give you more customisation power. However, Firefox takes
a beating on the appearance front, especially when compared to its main
competitor, Chrome. For instance, in the latest version they have retained
the additional Google Search field on the top of the window something
they could easily have avoided given how the address bar couples as the
search bar too.
Coming back to add-ons, the latest version even though it boasts of
many extensions doesnt offer much in the way of unique varieties. But there
is one feature of the browser which we particularly liked Firefox Hello.
Its essentially a video chat service like FaceTime and Skype. So, we know
what youre thinking why do you need it? Well, what makes Firefox Hello
Firefox - a one time favourite. For loyalists even so today.
useful is that with the interface, you can call anyone with a Chrome, Opera
or Firefox browser, which when you think about it makes sense given how
not everyone will have services like Skype on their system unlike a browser
which is sure to be present.
Our verdict: Even though its customisation tools are welcome, they fail
to add significant value to the browsing experience. Having said that, its
still one of the better browsers around, and with introduction of features
such as Firefox Hello, its steadily improving.
6. Opera
Looks aside, some unique features
If youre looking for a browser with a distinct visual interface, Opera is
not that one. Adopting Chromium, the browser shares in terms of visual
aesthetics with Chrome. But there are a couple of features here which make
36 BROWSERS
Ahh the good old days of Opera
Opera a worthy contender in the browser race. The Discover feature, for
instance, is a useful tool for the news-hungry. It offers a selection of new
stories that can be consumed without taking too much time just the kind
of thing that the pressed-for-time modern consumer requires. Then theres
the Speed Dial which enables you to open tabs alongside a grid of thumbnails
of your favourite sites not a unique feature but one thats designed better
than the ones in Chrome and Firefox. The Turbo mode is essentially what
makes Opera stand out from the crowd though. Using this mode, you can
improve the speed by saving bandwidth and compressing data-something
thats extremely useful in low-bandwidth conditions where many places
still have less than great internet connectivity, particularly when it comes
to Wi-Fi. Another feature worthy of mention is the one that enables you to
restore browsing session as you boot it up you can even set this feature
as default.
Our verdict: Though many of its features are identical to those of other
mainstream browsers like Chrome and Firefox, Opera does offer distinct
services that make it a serious option. In other words, you can do worse
than choosing Opera to getting into the net.
7. Internet Explorer
Still shows mettle
The fact that Internet Explorer is soon poised to go obsolete with Microsoft
focusing more on the Edge browser for Windows 10 as its mainstay, is not
necessarily a good piece of news for Internet enthusiasts. For, as we found
out when reviewing the browser holds up pretty well when compared to
its peers, and it does have some of the best intui-
tive designs incorporated in a browser. However, Microsoft Edge
theres no favourites tab to be found here but browser hasnt been
its possible to pin web pages to the Windows included due its una-
Taskbar. The browser also has a unique feature vailability as a stan-
Tracking Protection facility. This feature sends dalone downloadable
Do Not Track requests to the sites that try to get web browser.
in touch with your browser.
BROWSERS 37
For the review, we tried it out on Windows 8, which is supposedly the

best platform for the browser.
Our verdict: IE may be on its way out but its still a cool browser, if you
can overlook minor design glitches like the strip that appears just above the
web content, making the portions above and below it look like they are in
two different windows. Also, keep in mind that Microsoft has discontinued
support for IE for Mac users.
UC Browser - the new kid on the block
8. UC Browser
Built for low speed browsing, nothing more
The UC Browser is getting a lot of traction in both China and India meaning
its supposed to work well in lower Internet speeds. And as we found, that
assumption turns out to be true but theres a catch. While you are able
to browse faster with a slower connection, we had to keep closing other
programs running in the background to facilitate the same. In terms of
design, theres nothing to gloat over here the browser decisively adopts a
non-minimal look, maybe to make itself look different from other browsers,
but it doesnt really help in any way.
The browser supports all the Chrome extensions and the great news is
that it syncs perfectly across platforms. But where UC scores the most is
with downloads. As mentioned before, it works well even with low internet
speed, which means that your downloads wont get interrupted as it hap-
pens with other browsers. Our attempt was with the PC browser though.
Our verdict: A clunky interface takes the charm out of this browser
which is still a good choice for those with slow Internet connections. Its
recommended for PC but if you use your machine for offline CPU intensive
functions, the browser may not function as well as it should.
38
CHAPTER #04
DESKTOP
CUSTOMISATION
The default applications have failed to
live up to our expectations. We head
out in search of their alternatives to
exercise more power and control over
the desktop.
N
o one really admires a cluttered desktop. Eventually, a desktop
overflowing with icons starts to hinder with your productivity.
You could either choose to continue working on a bland desktop
with sudden intervals of infuriating fits or you could turn
your head to desktop customisation tools. These set of tools clean up your
desktop and make you productive with the advent of shortcuts, effectively
reducing the number of steps required to access important applications
and software. The following tools are directed towards individuals who
care about working on a good-looking desktop as well as a productive one.
Start Menu Reviver 2.0

The release of Windows 8 received a lot of flack from Windows users,
pertaining to the onset of new alienating features. Microsoft had to eventu-
ally release an update (Windows 8.1) later, to bring back the good ol Start
DESKTOP CUSTOMISATION 39
button. If youre running a

Windows 7 or 8.1 system,
you might start envying the
design of the new Start Menu
which also includes Cortana
on Windows 10. Start Menu
Reviver 2.0 does a good job
in replicating the Start Menu
from Windows 10 but sadly
doesnt include a Cortana-
like assistant. Instead, you
will only be able to search
everything on your com-
puter. The design is defi- Start Menu Reviver replicates the Start Menu from
nitely a complete revamp of Windows 10, adding more customisation
the Start Menu from Win-
dows 7. You can add apps and arrange the layout of the tiles on the fly. It
also includes a column of useful shortcuts such as My Computer, Control
Panel, Network, etc on the left, reducing the number of steps required to
access them. The tiles arent only restricted to software and applications,
you will be able to assign dedicated tiles to your favourite websites also.
This tool is unnecessary if youre already on Windows 10, but certainly will
turn out to be quite useful on Windows 8.1 and lower operating systems.
http://dgit.in/StartMenuRev
AquaSnap
Windows snap to a pre-defined size on the desktop area to variable sizes of
windows, a feature first seen on Windows 7 which eventually improved in
Windows 10. AquaSnap further enhances the snapping feature by giving
you freedom to snap a maximum of four windows to the entire desktop
which is one quarter of the screen. Inside this tool, an interesting option
called AquaMagnet makes the windows act as magnets towards each other
and the edges of the screen (which can be enabled individually) and here,
you can also change the distance at which the windows are attracted. After
enabling this feature, AquaGlue lets you group certain windows, appearing
as if they have been glued together. You can resize the entire group of win-
dows while they are snapped to the edges according to your needs. Once
grouped, you can move the snapped windows together as a group anywhere
40 DESKTOP CUSTOMISATION
AquaSnap makes it easier to manage too many open windows on your desktop
on the screen. While working on multiple windows, you could be accessing

data on more than two windows. AquaGlass will let you turn any window
transparent, making the content visible even when the window overlaps
the other and it also has a changeable transparency level. If you want a
window to always stay on top of the rest, you can enable AquaShake. This
feature can be activated by holding the window and giving it a sudden shake.
AquaStretch makes it easier to maximise a window horizontally, vertically
or diagonally to the edge of the display.
http://dgit.in/AquaSnapWin
Dexpot
Virtual desktops emulate
the sense of working on
multiple desktops where
you can switch between vir-
tual screens and manage files
and folders individually on
each of these virtual screens.
Already present on Windows
10, the Dexpot tool extends
the virtual desktop feature to
your older Windows 7/8/8.1
Dexpot makes it possible to have virtual desktops system, so that you can also
work on a clutter-free desktop. Using Dexpot is childs play and after instal-
lation, an icon will appear in the taskbar by which you can switch between
four different virtual desktops. The maximum number of virtual desktop
can be pushed to 20 but incrementally it takes a toll on your system per-
formance. You can also tinker around with the advanced features to select
different type of views for the virtual desktops. A helpful add-on called
Windows Catalog displays all the virtual windows in a single instance and
lets you drag applications across any virtual desktop. It gives more granular
control over assigning shortcuts to tasks such as switching between vir-
tual desktops, moving a certain window to a particular desktop, changing
transparency level etc. Dexpot supports official plugins to further expand
the capabilities of the tool.
http://dgit.in/DexpotWin
Switcher 2.0
Switcher 2.0 ensures you dont find it frustrating to locate a particular window
After opening a number of windows on your desktop, it becomes quite

frustrating to search for a specific window. Switcher 2.0 makes switching
between applications and windows easier by displaying all the windows
in a numbered grid, so that you can select the desired one. The tool will
let you select the pattern in which you want your apps to be displayed. Of
course, you can change the pattern to random sized tiles, dock or proper
grids. You can assign your own shortcut to activate the task view as long as
it doesnt conflict with the existing shortcuts of the operating system. Youll
get complete control over the appearance right from the font to the colour
scheme. Youre also offered certain advanced features to edit the delay of the
animations, size of the grids, etc. Tweaking them might mess up the existing
values but you dont need to worry about them if you are comfortable with
the default setting. Albeit, if you end up entering erroneous values, youll
be able to revert back to the original settings in one single click.
http://insentient.net/
ConEmu
Its about time that certain long-awaited changes were incorporated into the
command prompt on Windows. Before the updated command prompt on
Windows 10, you couldnt resize the window since you were restricted to the
screen buffer of 80, nor you could select the text with your cursor, leaving
no room for copy and paste commands. This made it difficult while entering
complicated commands. ConEmu is the default Windows command prompt
functioning on steroids, featuring tabbed sessions, multiple consoles and a
very high level of customisation compared to the improved one on Windows
10. This tool includes a number of extra features, enabling you to run many
GUI apps in tabs for debugging, code checking and other services. You can
even split tabs into different screens and you can navigate across them. The
freedom of customisation on ConEmu is endless, serving you with control
in minuscule tasks. If youre a frequent user of Notepad++, you can launch
the software inside a tab and further split the screen if you wish.
http://dgit.in/ConEmuWin
AutoHotkey
Shortcuts prove quite useful to get things done quickly. The number and
variations of shortcuts present on the desktop screen is limited. To ramp up
your productivity, AutoHotkey will bring in a lot of scripts, macro, short-
cuts and more. This will enable its users to go all out crazy on assigning
shortcuts according to their own preferences which will eventually reduce
the time spent in opening up apps. Not just apps, but through scripting
youll be able to set shortcuts to open your favourite folders with simple
combinations of keystrokes. For example, if you access the Downloads
folder of your system too frequently, you can assign the shortcut Windows
Key + 1 to open the folder. Writing scripts might sound intriguing but its
as simple as writing a note. The tool itself has an in-built help menu which
gives you a short tutorial on how to create scripts and also explains the
various syntaxes. Your keystroke scripts will be stored in files with a .ahk
extension. AutoHotkey is our favourite tool which will essentially speed
up your time and make things easier.
https://www.autohotkey.com/
Winstep Nexus
Windows operating systems never sported a handy dock at the bottom as
seen on the Mac operating system. Docks are useful if you prefer keeping
your desktop clean from ugly looking icons. Winstep Nexus is a worthy
option to check out if you plan on emulating the same on your Windows
desktop. Apart from the default icons and shortcuts, the tool lets you insert
links to any installed software on your system. It can be positioned any-
where on the edges of the screen and it also supports multiple monitors.
You can change almost every aspect of the dock, right from its size to the
theme and also the mouseover effects. It lets you pick different sounds for
all the actions from a library and place several modules such as Clock, CPU
Meter, RAM Meter etc. to display real-time data. Nexus comes on top over
the other options solely because of the degree of customisation offered.
http://dgit.in/WinStepNexus
Ditto
Its frustrating to lose out the last piece of text or image you had copied onto
the clipboard. By default, Windows doesnt retain your clipboard history but
it can be achieved with third-party Clipboard tools. Ditto turns out to be the
best one to offer features suited to maintain a list of all the items copied right
since you switched on your system. Saved items can include text, images, html,
custom formats etc. It has a simple and straightforward interface where you
can search the required item across the history of previously copied items. One
interesting feature about Ditto is that it can sync clipboards across multiple PCs.
http://dgit.in/DittoClip
XYplorer
In our quest of getting rid of the mundane default software shipped with
Windows, we come across XYplorer, an alternative to the dull Windows
Explorer. This tool has much more necessary features such as tabbed
browsing and a file search engine powered by several parameters helping
you to narrow down your search. Certain file formats or folders can be
filtered using different colours, a feature which drives away the confusion
while scrolling down a big number of files. When you open up the Settings,
youll be presented with more options to tweak around. Again, a high level
of customisation is offered which is expected in this tool. Once, you start
using XYplorer, you can never go back to the default Explorer ever.
http://dgit.in/XYplorer
Hard drive space visualisers help you to determine the amount of space occupied by folders
TreeSize
Windows doesnt include a hard drive space visualiser hence, you cant
precisely and easily determine which folder is taking up extra space. Tree-
Size is a simple visualiser which lists out the drives and all the folders,
specifying the amount of space occupied by each of them. In the presence
of too many folders, this tool comes in handy when you plan on clearing
out space in your hard drive but arent sure about which folder to remove.
This tool wont just let you view your files but also let you cut, copy, delete,
and move files, doubling as a simple file explorer as well.
http://dgit.in/TreeSizeVis
SECURITY SOFTWARE 45
CHAPTER #05
TOOLS TO
PROTECT YOUR
COMPUTER
Security is the bedrock of computer
usage. Without it, your PC is
vulnerable to a number of perils,
including viruses, trojans, spyware
and phishing attacks. Prevention is the
best cure. Lets find out how to secure
your PC with free software.
I
f you use PC extensively, you should take steps to establish the secu-
rity of not only your system, files and folders but also web browsing.
Nearly 80% of unwanted programs enter your system via the web.
So make sure to avail of various tools to engage in safe computing.
ls
AVG Antivirus
AVG Antivirus enables you to block virus, trojans, spywares and malwares
from entering your computer. It includes AVG Zen which protects all devices
from a single dashboard. Moreover, you can scan and remove viruses in
your computer using your mobile phone. You will be prompted to register
46 SECURITY SOFTWARE
for an optional AVG Zen

account. The dashboard
helps you view protection,
performance, privacy and
identity and also includes
a separate module called
Web Tuneup, besides one
to verify the performance
of your computer. To avail
Protect more devices with AVG Antivirus of it, you need to select the
Fix Performance option
by right clicking on AVG Antivirus on the taskbar. If you select Click to
protect more devices on the dashboard, you will be able to add additional
devices such as Android and Mac phones and tabs, for which you have to
make use of the credentials of your AVG Zen account.
Prime Feature: With AVG Antivirus, you can scan social media links.
http://dgit.in/FreeAVGav
Avast Antivirus
Avast Antivirus detects and removes all kind of viruses, trojans and mal-
wares. It also protects your home network from the claws of attackers, besides
removing unwanted extensions, toolbars and including features to protect
your system from phishing. It also includes VPN and has the ability to run on
a silent mode. Moreover, the smart scan utility helps you perform all kinds
of scanning with a single click. Avast Antivirus automatically removes out-
dated software which
pose a major threat to
your computer. The
dashboard enables
you to perform either
smart or quick scan-
ning. You will also be
able to add Sandbox,
SafeZone and Fire-
wall from the Tools
section. Moreover, the
virus definitions are
Perform smart scan easily with Avast updated regularly.
Prime Feature: Avast Antivirus features a password manager, which

enables you to store all your credentials securely.
https://www.avast.com
Avira Antivirus
Avira Antivirus automatically detects and removes not only viruses but
also malwares, worms, trojans, spywares and adwares. More importantly,
it also protects your privacy and includes a powerful browser tracking
blocker, which automatically bars harmful websites and hidden applica-
tions which are commonly found in third party software programs. The
Avira Launcher enables you to access system scanner, real time protection
tool, firewall and quarantine. You can also configure Android security and
manage scheduler, reports and events. The right side of the launcher lets
you configure settings related to PC and firewall protection, which will be
useful for web browsing. You can also enable/disable services by dragging
the green tab, and select the specific type of files that need to be scanned by
selecting the Open configuration option from the real-time protection row.
Prime Feature: Avira Antivirus is equipped with cloud protection which
protects your computer against the latest threats.
http://dgit.in/FreeAviraAV

Wed recommend Avira Antivirus because it has a clean user interface
and is easy to navigate. Avast Antivirus unfortunately lacks custom scan
selection. We could not perform a full scan using Avast because it showed
an endpoint mapper dialog box.
Bitdefender Antivirus
Malware & Spyware Tools (http://dgit.in/
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware BitDefAV) provides
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is equipped with HTTP scanning
an advanced malware removal technology which mechanism which
detects and removes worms, trojans, rootkits, gives protection from
rogues and spyware. The tool updates database phishing attacks a
definitions from the web soon after installation. useful feature if you
You can perform the scan process either completely shop online or access
or by custom configuration, where you need to internet banking
select the relevant drive and options from the dis- frequently.
played page. The Settings page includes various
options such as notifications

and language and you can also
schedule scan processes at a
time convenient for you.
Prime Feature: The tool
automatically repairs the
damaged files and is avail-
able for all major operating
systems including Mac OS X.
Scan for Malwares easily
https://www.malwarebytes.
org
AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner removes adware, PUP, LPI, and unwanted toolbars including
hijacker and is compatible with all editions of Windows. The tool is easy
to install. You can start with the cleaning process by selecting the Scan
option. However, our testers were unable to stop the scan once it started.
You can view the results by selecting various tabs from the bottom part of
the dashboard. The tool places the infected files on quarantine which you
can access from the Tools
menu.
Prime Feature: You can
easily reset Winsock, TCP/
IP, Firewall and other related
settings from the Options
menu. These options will be
useful in case the settings
get messed up by unwanted
advertisement toolbars.
Scan all areas of your computer for malwares http://dgit.in/AdwClnr
Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Ad-Aware free edition provides support for antivirus, antispyware, mal-
ware and adware. It features real-time protection in addition to tools for
safe browsing and gaming mode. With it, you can also block illegal and
dangerous websites by configuring the optional Ad-Aware web companion
during the setup process. The dashboard provides several options to
manage the tool. You will be able to perform a virus scan by selecting
the Scan Computer option. It is also possible to enable web, email and
network security.
Prime Feature: The tool protects your computer from unwanted down-
loads. For instance, it scans the downloaded file and if found to be infected,
the tool will prompt you to stop the download. This feature will be useful
in case you download software from external download sites.
http://dgit.in/LavaSoft

We prefer Malwarebytes Anti-Malware over Lavasoft Ad-Aware because
of the sheer simplicity with which you can perform a scan using various
options. Moreover, the tool doesnt use huge memory resources.
Firewall Tools
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall
With the help of ZoneAlarm Free Firewall, you will be able to protect
your computer against web-based attacks. It has the ability to block pop-
ups, leak tests and harmful cookies. The main advantage, however, is that
the traffic to and from
your computer is con-
stantly monitored
for any suspicious
activity. You can also
block invasions and
monitor hacker activity,
as also modify options
by selecting the View
Details button from
the dashboard. You can
Protect your computer against Intruders
add news zones to the
firewall by selecting the View Zones option. If you click on the Settings
link in the Application Control section, you will also be able to adjust the
settings of your network.
Prime Feature: ZoneAlarm Free Firewall secures your system from
the eyes of malicious websites which attempt to steal your personal data
and identity. It also provides 5GB of free cloud storage space which you can
activate by selecting Activate from the Identity & Data section.
http://dgit.in/ZAFirewall
TinyWall
TinyWall protects your computer without any unnecessary pop-ups. It
includes built-in tamper protection, blacklists and temporary firewall rules.
You need not have to know the details of various ports, protocols and other
technical specifications thanks to which the tool will be ideal for beginners.
It also provides support for protecting host files
and blocks trojans, viruses and worms as well. Comodo (www.
Prime Feature: TinyWall provides support comodo.com) is an
for IPv6. advanced Firewall
http://tinywall.pados.hu which includes cloud
based behavior analy-
Which one should you go for? sis and whitelisting.
We recommend ZoneAlarm Free Firewall since It also enables you to
it is easy to get a hang of. Besides, TinyWall has generate personal-
fewer features. ized alerts for various
activities.
Password Managers
LastPass
LastPass enables you to store not only passwords but also attach docu-
ments and images such as, for instance, your Aadhaar card. It is also
possible to share logins with your colleagues. You will be able to access
the tool by selecting the red star icon on the top to the right. In order to
add a new site, you should select the Add Site option. A new dialog box
will be displayed where youd need to provide the required information.
Moreover, when you try and login to your Gmail account after the installa-
tion of LastPass, you will be
prompted to save the site.
A new dialog will show up
where you can add the site
to a folder. If you try and
visit Gmail, you will be able
to view the username and
password auto-populated.
Moreover, your account
will be synced to the cloud
which enables you to access
saved sites on the go.
Remember passwords easily Prime Feature: You will
be able to create secured notes for credit cards, memberships, WiFi logins
and passports.
https://lastpass.com
DashLane
DashLane enables you to keep track of your passwords by importing them
from browsers and storing them into your secure vault. The dashboard
displays a list of recently visited websites. You can directly navigate to a
site by selecting Go To from the popup menu. If you select Add New, you
will view a dialog box where you can choose the relevant site and provide
credentials. It displays a list of popular websites in a drop-down box. You can
add notes by selecting the Secure Notes option from the navigation panel.
Prime Feature: DashLane generates alerts when your website
is compromised.
https://www.dashlane.com
Manage Passwords with DashLane

We prefer LastPass over DashLane because it is credible and used by many
people all over the world. It can be installed easily and doesnt cover the
entire browser window.
Hard Disk Tools

Gilisoft File Lock
Gilisoft File Lock enables you to lock and hide documents and media files
with passwords. In order to work with the tool, you need to provide a
master password and email ID. The dashboard displays three options
using which you can lock files,

folder and hard drives. You can
add a new folder by selecting the
Add Folders option. For this,
you need to select the checkbox
and click on the Lock Folders
button.
Prime Feature: Gilisoft File
Lock generates an alarm when
a user attempts to provide the Lock file, folder or drive easily. But remember
wrong password more than what you have done
five times.
http://dgit.in/Gilisoft
DiskCryptor
DiskCryptor enables you to encrypt all your hard disk and system parti-
tions. It provides support for AES, Twofish, Serpent and dynamic disks,
along with larger disks.
Prime Feature: DiskCryptor provides support for PadLock extensions
on VIA processors and SSD TRIM extensions which will be useful for
advanced users.
https://diskcryptor.net
SafeHouse Explorer Encryption

With the help of this tool, you will be able to hide secret files and protect
them from unauthorized access which is especially useful if you share
your computer with others. In order to work with the tool, you need to create
a private storage area by selecting the New Volume button. You can then
drag and drop the files and folders you need to protect. If someone opens the
folder, they will not view the files unless they input the correct password.
Prime Feature: The tool can protect files from any sources including
network servers and iPods.
http://dgit.in/SafeHouseExp

Wed recommend SafeHouse Explorer over Gilisoft File Lock because it is
easy to use and free. The options are clearly marked and you can protect
files and folders without putting in much effort.
Drag and drop files and live privately
Windows Login Security Tools

Blink
Blink enables you make use of the webcam to login to your computer instead
of a password. It employs advanced face recognition techniques for reliable
and secured login for multiple users.
Prime Feature: Blink recognizes your face not just during both day and
night, but also if you have modified your hair style.
https://www.luxand.com/blink
KeyLock
KeyLock locks your computer using a USB flash drive. To do this, you
have to select the drive and provide the required unlock keys from the user
interface, which you need to make sure to write down somewhere.
Prime Feature: KeyLock disables the task manager and locks the mouse.
http://dgit.in/KeyLock

We recommend Blink because it uses the web camera that is built into your
laptop. KeyLock relies on your USB drive and if you lose it, then you will
not be able to access your computer.
54
CHAPTER #06
DEVELOPER
TOOLS
In this chapter, well look at a range
of tools used for software and web
development.
D
evelopers require a wide range of tools to quickly complete
all programming related tasks. These tasks include not only
creation of source codes and their editing, but also manage-
ment and deployment of applications. This chapter will reveal
a wide range of tools used for software and web development. These tools
daemand minimum system requirements and dont consume massive
system resources. With the help of the free tools discussed in this chapter,
youll be able to minimise coding time and build responsive user interface
windows and web-based applications.
Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

Visual Studio Community
Visual Studio Community enables you to design and develop apps using
languages such as Visual Basic, C#, C++, F#, WPF and ASP.NET on platforms
like MVC, Azure, Orubase, Android, iOS and Windows Phone. It includes a
powerful code editor, debugger, version control, testing and reporting tools
in addition to support for Apache Cordova, Xamarin and Unity. However,
it doesnt provide support for C and PHP. The code editor will be displayed
upon double-clicking Design view and the resulting code can be executed
by pressing F5. The Project menu enables you to add references and exten-
sions. Visual Studio Community has one of the best features among all
DEVELOPER TOOLS 55
other IDEs IntelliSense which shows you all

the possible options an IDE can have. Microsoft has
Prime Feature: As a developer, you can design launched Visual
user interfaces simply by dragging and dropping Studio Dev Essentials
controls from the toolbox to the design editor. (http://dgit.in/VS-
http://dgit.in/VisualStudioCom DevEssen) program
which provides free
Eclipse developer tools,
Eclipse is a general purpose framework inte- visual studio source
grating JUnit test case and Gradle and is used to code, cloud services
build Java applications. It includes a Git client, including training and
XML editor and WindowBuilder, and supports support.
team management, shell scripting and Maven
integration. However, the installation and usage of Eclipse is difficult com-
pared to Visual Studio Community. The IDE will be useful for Java pro-
grammers, wholl be able to leverage the plug-ins and add-ons available
for Eclipse. Besides Java apps, you can also develop .NET applications, but
it could get tricky considering you need to configure compilers manually.
Prime Feature: With the help of automated refactoring, you will be able
to create modern and compact code bases.
https://eclipse.org
Code Blocks
Code Blocks can be used to develop C, C++, DirectX, GTK+ and OpenGL
applications with the help of templates. It supports parallel builds, break-
points and disassembly. The installer automatically detects compilers, and
Develop hardcore gaming applications with Code Blocks

56 DEVELOPER TOOLS
youll be able to run and debug code by selecting the relevant menu options.
The tool includes support for wxSmith and installation of new plug-ins.
However, the lack of support for .NET is disappointing. The IDE includes
separate tools for share config and code snippets and will be useful for the
development of gaming apps.
Prime Feature: With the help of DoxyBlocks, youll be able to create
documentation from within the IDE.
http://www.codeblocks.org/
CodeLite
With the help of CodeLite, youll be able to develop C, C++, PHP, JavaScript
and Node.js applications. As soon as the tool is opened after installation,
it prompts you with a wizard with the help of which you can configure
workspaces, plug-ins and compilers. We found it difficult to work with
the tool because of its confusing user interface. However, the tool includes
several themes which you can access in the Settings menu and an extensive
collection of plug-ins.
CodeLite extends its functionality with plug-ins
Prime Feature: The Xdebug feature helps you perform advanced debug-
ging and profiling, besides script execution analysis.
http://codelite.org

We recommend Visual Studio Community because youll be able to develop,
debug and deploy Windows and web applications using a single develop-
ment dashboard. The advanced Intellisense feature adds to the process of
DEVELOPER TOOLS 57
coding. The user interface is simple to understand and has been organised
into several dockable containers. With the help of Visual Studio, youll be
able to perform advanced tasks such as establishing a connection with the
SQL Server database without any code. Its also possible to add third-party
controls from the Project menu. Moreover, you can build and deploy Light-
Switch, LINQ, cloud and mobile applications with the help of emulators.
We also tested Code Blocks, but it doesnt provide support for .NET based
Windows and web applications. Hence, it lost the race. We also compared
Eclipse, but it will be useful only for Java developers. Moreover, the user
interface is not as user friendly as Visual Studio. From our point of view,
Eclipse is inclined towards enterprise developers and not beginners.
Editors Software Development

NotePad++
NotePad++ enables you to write code for various languages such as ASP,
C, C++, C#, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSP (including Unix script file) and
Fortran. It includes syntax highlighter and style configurator in addition
30+ file types and counting with NotePad++
to support for encoding and plug-ins. The tool enables you to execute the
code, but you need to configure the compiler location from Run menu. The
plug-in manager enables you to add and manage extensions. Youll be able
to open several tabs and work with multiple file formats simultaneously.
Prime Feature: Macros will help you automate repeated tasks. Style
configurator will enable you to set formatting rules for various languages.
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
58 DEVELOPER TOOLS
Programmers Notepad
With the help of Programmers
Notepad, youll be able to write code
in C,C++, C#, HTML, Java, Lisp, PHP
and Make. With this editor, you can
utilise syntax highlighting, book-
marking, line numbering and code
folding as well as access to Power-
The various possibilities of a simple text Shell. The auto-complete feature
editor worked very well during our tests,
and can be turned off when not
required. Its possible to customise various options from the Tools menu.
Prime Feature: Regular Expressions, a search/replace function, allows
you to perform pattern matching with various combinations.
http://www.pnotepad.org/

We recommend NotePad++ because of its simple user interface and support
for macros, debugger and plug-ins. We created several tabs and the tool
worked without any issues. The syntax colouring works well and youll
be able to run the code directly from the editor (although it requires a little
work). We liked the fact that the tool is being updated regularly by the
developer. We also tested Programmers Notepad, but wont recommend it,
because it doesnt include a code execu-
tion and debugging engine.
Editors Web Development

Microsoft WebMatrix
Microsofts WebMatrix includes
tools for the design and deployment of
HTML5, PHP, ASP.NET, PHP and Node.
js applications in addition to Windows
apps with emulators. Youll be able
to create websites either from scratch
using templates and wizards or via cus-
tomisable apps from the Application
gallery. Websites can then be published Code Smart on the cloud with Microsoft
either to Azure or via FTP by selecting WebMatrix
DEVELOPER TOOLS 59
the Publish option. It integrates with GitHub, CodePlex and Team Foun-
dation Service, enabling you to manage projects effectively.
Prime Feature: WebMatrix automatically creates a companion website
in Microsoft Azure as soon as a new project is created.
http://dgit.in/MSWebmtrx
Brackets
Brackets enables you to design HTML pages easily with support for inline
editors, pre-processor and line numbering. It gives you syntax coloring
and themes to work with, which you can access from View menu. Brackets
includes a separate set of developer tools accessible from Debug menu, which
helps you perform advanced tasks such as profiling and audits.
Prime Feature: With the help of Code Hints, youll be able to extract
colors, fonts and other parameters from a PSD file and turn them into a
perfect CSS file.
http://brackets.io

We recommend Microsoft WebMatrix, because it enables you to create a
wide range of applications based on several technologies using templates
and user-friendly wizards. You can also develop advanced websites with
latest frameworks such as AngularJS. We managed to install the tool very
quickly and liked the freedom to choose from the options of either creating
websites from scratch or from customisable apps already provided in the
galleries. Similarly, WebMatrix gives you easy ways to deploy websites,
either via cloud or FTP. It also features IntelliSense, that not only eases the
task of completing coding, but also launches Visual Studio directly from
WebMatrix. We also tested Brackets, but were disappointed that it didnt
provide support for ASP.NET and cloud deployment.
Database Management Tools

HeidiSQL
HeidiSQL enables you to manage MySQL, SQL Server and PostgreSQL
databases. It features an advanced SQL syntax editor, database optimisa-
tion and repair functions, and supports SSL connectivity. The ability to
export tables from one server to another will allow you to edit data in bulk.
Tables, views, procedures, triggers and scheduled tasks can be managed
from within the dashboard.
60 DEVELOPER TOOLS
Prime Features:
Youll be able to create
log files based on the
specified number of
lines and launch the
command line interface
for MySQL.
http://www.heidisql.com/
Configure settings easily with HeidiSQL
EMS SQL Manager for SQL Server

EMS SQL Manager helps manage SQL Server databases. It features a
visual query builder and supports sequences, column store and spatial
indexes, along with custom server roles including Azure SQL database.
From within the Services menu, you can perform various database opera-
tions. The tool also provides various options to control the functioning of
user interface and SQL editor.
Prime Features: The powerful debugger helps you trace procedures,
functions and SQL scripts. It also facilitates import and export of data
using wizards.
http://dgit.in/EMSDMS

We recommend HeidiSQL because you can manage multiple databases
from a single dashboard without any need to download separate tools. The
tool enables you to run SQL commands and also import and export data
as soon as you establish connectivity. Besides that youll be able to import
and export databases a useful feature if you migrate hosting providers.
Virtualisation Tools
VirtualBox
VirtualBox runs multiple operating systems simultaneously on the top of
your existing environment. It provides support for USB, remote desktop
protocol, PXE booting, open virtualisation format and disk image encryp-
tion using AES. Adding a new virtual machine (VM) is as simple as selecting
the New option from Machine menu, while installing an operating system
on the virtual machine only requires selecting Start after allocating
DEVELOPER TOOLS 61
memory and disk space

using wizards.
Prime Feature:
VirtualBox includes
support for guest addi-
tions, shared folders,
hardware accelerated
graphics, memory bal-
looning, page fusion
and teleporting.
https://www.virtualbox.org/
Hyper-V Resource allocation made easy with VirtualBox

With the help of Hyper-
V, youll be able to run more than one operating system from within Win-
dows 8, 8.1 and 10 after enabling Client Hyper-V from the control panel. You
dont need to know the server version of Windows the virtual machine
will be located in an isolated virtualised environment. It replaces Microsoft
Virtual PC in Windows 7 and doesnt include Windows XP Mode. As a
developer, you can use Hyper-V for testing purposes; for example, testing
the installation of software in Linux from within Windows 10. Though
the tool doesnt provide support for Windows 7, it does give you access to
graphics, virtual fibre channel and 32-bit SR-IOV networking.
Prime Features: The diagnostics option which works by exporting vir-
tual machines from a production system. The virtual networking feature
that helps you create a stable environment for testing purposes.
http://dgit.in/WSHyperV

We recommend VirtualBox, because it provides support for snapshots,
seamless mode, 3D and port forwarding and can clone virtual machines. It
enables you to create and configure as many virtual machines as required
and is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac. The easy-to-use wizards
allocate resources based on your system configuration. Also Scale mode that
enables you to resize the screen of a virtual machine window is a helpful
addition. Besides this, security encryption is another area where it shone.
We noted that Hyper-V doesnt include several advanced features, so Vir-
tualBox wins the battle.
62
CHAPTER #07
TUNE-UP
YOUR PC
A Cheat Sheet For Fine-Tuning
Your Computer
I
n this chapter of Fast Track, we walk you through some of the best
system tuning tools that will help you identify the needs of your com-
puter and make it more efficient. To get you started we have enlisted
a range of software that can be used on the go to get more informa-
tion about your rig and cleanse it of excess clutter, to give your system the
boost it deserves.
If you are feeling adventurous, fret not; for we also bring you a selection
of the choicest software you can use to put your system under duress to find
out how it behaves when the going gets tough.
System Information:
The first step towards tuning a system is to know it inside out. Presently,
there are plenty of software options that give you information about your
system. The right software for you depends upon the detail or aggressive-
ness you seek. Do you just want to know the make and model number of
your component or are you looking for a detailed report that includes the
serial ID of the components as well? Answering these questions will help
you zero down on the correct choice of software for you.
SYSTEM TUNING SOFTWARE 63
Speccy, CPU-Z and GPU-Z: These are the most commonly sought after
software for gathering information. CPU-Z and GPU-Z mainly provide
specifications and a few statistics about the CPU and GPU respectively.
On other hand, Speccy is simple to use, light on your system, portable and
compatible with 32-bit as well as 64-bit systems. Use this software if you
want a simple, clean interface that gives you all the necessary details you
may require. What we would love to see as an add-on to this software is
real-time monitoring and an inclusion of benchmarking tools.
If real-time monitoring and in-depth details of your system is what you
are looking for then, AIDA64 and HWinfo are your best bets.
HWinfo:
Unlike its com-
petitors, HWinfo
provides real-
time monitoring
and displays tem-
peratures directly
from the sensors
and your CPU. It
not only summa-
rizes your systems
information pro- Explore advance options with SlimCleaner
viding you com-
plete details, but also delivers graphically arranged data that can be further
customized by the user. Along with continuous reporting this software also
alerts you if anything goes wrong in your system or if the temperatures
rise beyond the maximum point set. Another feather in HWinfos cap is its
neat, labelled and categorized two-window layout. Most other information
providing software fail to run without errors or crashing and tend to stop
responding in the midst of a monitoring session. With, HWinfo however,
you can be sure to never run into these troubled waters.
In the future wed like to see HWinfo include a few benchmarking tools
and more resource usage by applications.
AIDA64: This software fills the gaps that its competitor HWinfo fails
to address. Referred as ASMDEMO earlier, AIDA64 was essentially a 16
DOS hardware analyzer, a freeware that could perform basic functions.
After going through a number of nomenclature changes, today it can be
accessed in four different versions. The extreme version is intended for
64 SYSTEM TUNING SOFTWARE
personal usage, the AIDA64 Engineer version, AIDA64 Business version

and finally the AIDA64 Network Audit target professionals. You could
head on to their product page to compare features: http://www.aida64.com/
compare-aida64-features. Apart from a stable software, the product also
proves to be a treasure of information about the hardware installed, You
can expect support for overclocking, benchmarking and analyze how your
PC performs when it is stressed. AIDA64 comes with basic diagnostic sup-
port too! This software is a beast that is available on various platforms and
is an all-in-one suite, albeit with a free trial that expires in merely 30 days.
SiSofts Sandra (System Analyser, Diagnostic and Reporting Assis-
tant): Sandra is a great and free alternative for AIDA64 but it comes with
limited services and shortcomings. You could look at two more software
that may not be the best in the business but are definitely powerful and
deserve a mention Belarc Advisor. Belarc Advisor has the ability to gather
information as detailed as the type, revision, software keys as well as the
serial number of hardware components.

If getting in-depth information with real-time monitoring is what you desire
then HWinfo should be your definite pick. Although, if you benchmark your
PC often and dont mind shelling out a few bucks (after its free trial period)
then we highly recommend the AIDA64. In case you do not fit into either
categories wed suggest you start with Speccy and then upgrade.
PC Cleaning:
Keeping your system clean by clearing up your cache, registries and cookies
is a great way to ensure the security, pace and overall efficiency of your
system. Websites too have now become rather open about their cookie
policies. If you have never cleared the temporary folder on your computer
then chances are that those huge temp files are engulfing your storage space,
slowing your system down...To clear unwanted temporary files, registries,
cache, cookies and history saved by various applications or browsers during
long browsing sessions take a peek into our listing of software that help
you keep your PC Clean.
Internet Windows Washer: A basic software at its core, this will take
care of your Internet cache and windows cache by deleting cookies, applica-
tion as well as browser history. Functioning much like your personal, virtual
recycle bin from the yesteryears this software requires the user to choose
what needs to be erased manually. While the software is light and simple,
its user interface is reminiscent of the Windows XP. We believe, that just
like Windows XP, this software too is past its prime.
CCleaner: CCleaner is an advanced software that doesnt require you to
manually select files that need to be deleted or retained. Most people have
either used or heard of this software. CCleaner can be summed up as the
windows disk cleanup on steroids with an advanced user interface. Used
widely for its primary function i.e. cleaning temporary files, it also offers
a set of other utilities like registry cleaning which looks after unwanted
registries, the uninstall manager that can be used as an alternative to
the traditional program uninstaller in the windows control panel, the
startup manager where you can choose what apps to start automatically
on startup and a drive wiper that wipes the free space on your hard drive
so that the deleted files cannot be recovered. The built-in disk analyzer in
the software provides you with details of all file types in your storage. It
also comes bundled with a duplicate file remover that has been added in
recent updates where you can let it analyze and then take control to delete
the duplicate files it finds based on similar attributes. The professional
plus version also provides a hard disk defragmentation tool, a hardware
analyzer and file recovery options. It also gives the user complete freedom
to customize your right click menu i.e. the context menu. Another smart
feature that CCleaner offers is to whitelist important cookies so you can
tell it to skip those social media cookies or steam cookies so that your
website and games load quicker. Armed with a user-friendly interface this
software is a lethal combination of cleaning and other essential utilities,
available for the price of one.
SlimCleaner: This
cleaner provides you with
all the above features
packed with its add-ons
and completely different
design approach. You get
a HiJack Log tab that pro-
vides you access to logs
of programs and plug-ins
that are vulnerable to third
party attacks and can affect
the system. To make it sim- Explore advance options with SlimCleaner
pler for basic users, it has a novice mode too. It also has a file and folder
shredder that leaves files irrecoverable. It also has shortcuts to various
windows utilities like the Device manager, system information, system
restore etc. This software packs in various features slotted in categories
that make navigating through features and tabs a breeze. You can also
choose to schedule tune-ups to run periodically if you are just too lazy to
do it manually every time.

Both CCleaner and SlimCleaner offer almost the same package. Look out for
their additional utility features while choosing the right software for your
system. If you are a user that wants a simplistic software interface, quick
working and are looking to go with a tried and trusted brand, CCleaner
is ahead of SlimCleaner in these aspects. Where SlimCleaner gets a lead
is its functionalities and additional features that it offers advanced users.
These software are just basic ones and probably of little use if you are
looking for some advanced cleaning. Disk drives stores sensitive informa-
tion even after its fully formatted and that information might prove to
be very risky if it falls in the hands of a miscreant . To ensure this does
not happen, you should securely delete all such files so they are just not
recoverable using software, come what may. You should definitely check
out these software - HDD LLF, Eraser, Hardwipe, SDelete and Dariks Boot
and Nuke CD.
For your information, these extraordinary disk wipers use aggressive
wiping methods like GOST R 50739-95, DOD 5220.00-M, Schneier & Gut-
mann etc. For example, DOD 5220.00-M is a US Department of Defense
approved drive sanitization method that commands to overwrite all address-
able locations with a character, its complement, then a random character
and verify for clearing and sanitizing information and these software can
do this process until 7 passes. Wiping disk drives using this methods and
standards might take from hours or even up to days depending on the
number of passes you choose, for example, in the case of DOD, its 7 passes
and with Schneier & Gutmann is 35 passes.
Eraser: Eraser can be set to securely delete any file or a folder and it can
be even scheduled to destroy the specific folder following the schedule. You
have all the access to select the number of passes and the method to be used
to delete the file. This is one of the most solid performers with an equally
well user interface and a task scheduler. It allows you to completely remove
sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with
carefully selected from a variety of patterns. It comes with a very detailed
built-in help menu. It works with any drive (including IDE, SCSI, and RAID),
and with FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS partitions but its only negative is that
it uses a whole lot of memory.
Hardwipe: This is yet another software utility that can be useful to deep
clean files from your system permanently to prevent information from ever
being recovered. One of the intelligent features of this software is that it
uses the RAM and cache available intelligently so your computer remains
responsive even during lengthy operations just where a lot of these tools
might be working in the background but seem to be unresponsive.
DBAN: DBAN stands for Dariks Boot and Nuke is a really powerful
program that requires burning it on to a CD and then booting your system
from it to load the DBAN utilities. You can further choose what method or
standard you want and then let it workits charm (for very long! probably
hours or even a day!). Its great for bulk disk cleaning of PCs and is also
useful as an emergency tool for quickly removing sensitive information .
However, one must not forget to disconnect all other drives that you do not
want to wipe. he power of this app makes it a dangerous tool in the hands
of beginners.

If permanent destruction of data is not a regular act for you yet you are using
these data wiping softwares, you should go with Hardwipe. Its got a much
better and simple to use interface. Incase you want something portable, and
dont want to pay for it, Eraser is a good choice. Eraser also has the feature
to schedule wiping your folder without you having to do it manually. DBAN
is for advanced users who can work well with this heavy on functionality
software and need to wipe data on a number of PCs. For an average user,
Eraser or HardWipe should be good to go with.
Sweat your PC!

Theres nothing worse than an overclocked system not performing up to
the mark. Do you know what the actual potential of your rig is? Go ahead,
run these PC stressing tests to know how stable your system is at any
modified setting!
Memtest86 and Prime95: They are one of the oldest options to check
how your CPU performs by pushing it for several hours. MemTest86
boots from a flash drive or

a DVD to check how much
load your memory can take,
while having no OS running
in the background to deliver
accurate results. Prime95,
on the other hand gives you
the flexibility to choose from
small FFT tests to complex
Blend tests checking overall
PC levels.
OCCT: If you want to take
this testing to a higher level
and test how stable your PC
is even when it goes through
serious exertion check out - OCCT can test CPU, PSU as well as GPU
OverClock Checking Tool,
popularly known as OCCT. OCCT comes free for personal use and has
capabilities to check your CPU, PSU, as well as GPU. For testing the CPU,
it includes an OCCT test, a LinPack benchmark test, a GPU test and the
aforementioned power supply test. There is also a useful temperature and
voltage-monitoring window where you can keep an eye on the values during
any of the tests with the help of real-time graphs.
HeavyLoad: It is a utility that aims to stress the main components,
similar to OCCT. The advantage of HeavyLoad is that its disk space and
free memory tests do not put undue stress on those components, but rather
continually write a large file to the drive and pressurize the system simu-
lating heavy load when all major components are utilised. A number of
additional plugins can be added to add more stress to the hard drive by
using Jam software or the Treesize tool to simulate more heavy disc access
to check your PC more rigorously.
StressMyPC: If you are looking for a compact and ultra-portable soft-
ware to run a stability test on your PC look no further than StressMyPC.
It provides you with all the necessary tools on the go!
PassMark BurninTest: Just in case you want to check only one compo-
nent, say for example the 2D graphics or the RAM or even any of the ports
for that matter, PassMark BurninTest is what you are looking for! It is not
a free software but it comes with a 30-day free trial. All these tests try to
push your hardware to levels ranging from 60% to 100%. Another test for
hammering the GPU specifically is Furmark which is known for its lethal
capacity of killing GPUs if not used correctly.
EVGA Precision X: EVGA Precision X is a robust software that proves
to be a great utility for gamers. It has one of the best user interfaces, that
resembles a speedometer of a sports car which is precise for displaying and
monitoring scores. You can adjust the GPU clock speed, temperature as
well as voltage settings in real time. It comes with a special K-boost profile
that disables all power saving features and sets the GPU to run at highest
set frequencies. A built-in fan speed controller, extensive GPU setting
capabilities as well as a test button that tests your setting on the go for any
application are too included. The OS Scanner X is an additional plug-in
which offers multiple stress test and benchmarking functions. The Pixel
clock feature and the integrated Nvidias monitor overclocking concept are
always a positive while tuning your computer. EVGA Precision X offers
you a wide range of system functionalities and Noobs are therefore said to
research before you get your hands on this software. Additionally, AMD
users can head on and check out Radeon Profile Tool as well!

StressMyPC is portable, can be used on the go t which is its unique selling
proposition in this category. But if you are looking to put your PC under
rigorous stress tests, you should opt for OCCT or give HeavyLoad a try.
HeavyLoad also offers a portable version, but requires additional plug-ins
depending upon the tests. However, if you are looking forward to test specific
components of your rig, you should definitely go for PassMark BurninTest.
EVGA Precision X specifically excels in configuring your graphic card just
right for your use and if that is what you want to look out for, then your
search ends here.
However, be very careful when running this as well as other tests in
Xtreme modes as they are known to kill your graphic cards or even your
systems in the whole! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
70 ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE
CHAPTER #08
THE ONE-STOP
GUIDE TO
ENTERTAINMENT
SOFTWARE
Heres a quick snapshot of the multitude
of media software you can use to nurse
your need for entertainment
Music Players
Foobar
Foobar provides support for all
major audio formats with sup-
port for gapless playback, rip-
ping including transcoding. You
can easily add new files from
your computer or CD from File
Menu. The Preferences option Modify Advanced Parameters with Foobar
enables you to modify various
advanced parameters.
Prime Feature: Foobar lets you configure your own custom proxy address.
Download link: https://www.foobar2000.org
VUPlayer
VUPlayer provides support for a wide range of formats such as ProTracker,
MultiTracker, MO3 Packer, MPEG and Musepack including multiple vis-
ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE 71
uals, Audioscrobbler, remote freedb and CD-Text. You can add new music
tracks by selecting the Add File or Add Folder options, as well as modify
the skin color by right clicking on
it and selecting Base Color option.
It is also possible to get a media
file from the web using the Add
URL option.
Prime Feature: VU Player pro-
vides a nine band graphic equalizer.
http://www.vuplayer.com VUPlayer helps you add advanced
crossfader settings
Spider Player
Spider Player offers either full or portable installation. The user interface
is simple and the player starts to play the tracks as soon as you add files. It
displays the scrolling title, movement graph and an equalizer which you
can close by selecting the EQ button. It provides support for ID3 tag editor,
CD ripper, skins, recording and a media converter. You can associate several
file types including configuration of title formatting rules.
Prime Feature: Spider Player enables you to select oscilloscope drawing
style from the Options dialog.
http://spider-player.en.softonic.
com
AIMP The small face of Spider Player

AIMP provides support for 30
playback formats and includes support for 32-bit audio processing and
DirectSound, ASIO, WASAPI output formats. We had difficulty finding
an option to add music track files to the player, however. You have to hover
over each icon to know its function.
The player displays the details of
each music track with the title and
size information. The package also
includes a music converter and
audio library.
Prime Feature: The player pro-
vides support for CUE sheets and
smart playlist.
http://www.aimp.ru/ Convert your music tracks easily with AIMP
DI Radio
DI Radio enables you to listen to instant digital radio music streamed directly
via the Internet. You can modify the themes by selecting Visualization from
the Options page, as also the look and feel of the player with both built-in
and downloadable themes.
Prime Feature: DI Radio lets you modify buffer length to prevent fre-
quent pausing of tracks.
http://difm.eu/home

On VUPlayer, you can modify the font size of the progress counter. Its
toolbar is bigger than that of Foobar and you can easily change the base
and peak colors by right clicking on the meter graph. Youre able to view
the elapsed or remaining time on VUPlayer but this feature is not available
with Foobar. Hence, we recommend VUPlayer.
Music Organizers
iTunes
iTunes will be the per-
fect music companion if
you have Apple-branded
devices such as the iPod,
iPhone or iPad. It includes
Sync your tracks with iTunes features such as playlists,
family sharing, iCloud inte-
gration, mini player, podcasts, audiobooks and on-demand radio stations.
You can rate a music track or video by selecting your preferred rating from
the popup menu. With the help of the Up Next feature, you will be able to
enqueue a music track while another song is being played without having
to create a playlist.
Prime Feature: You can integrate Apple Music into iTunes and stream
music right from your desktop.
http://www.apple.com/in/itunes/music/
Songbird
Songbird is an advanced music player with support for playlists and equal-
izer which can be modified as per requirements. You will be able to create
playlists and add the relevant music tracks to those lists. You can also
easily modify the skin of the

player by selecting the Feathers
option from the View menu. It
includes a mini player which will
only have a small toolbar. You
can change back to the default
player by right clicking on it.
Prime Feature: Songbird
enables you to import and export
music tracks for iTunes in addi-
tion to supporting add-ons. Extend Songbird with Add-ons
http://getsongbird.net
Winyl
Winyl is a simple music organizer with support for Gapless playback,
WASAPI and ASIO audio outputs. It also includes a tag editor with which
you can add lyrics, album art and multiple values. In order to add a track to
a playlist, you need to right click on the title and select the desired playlist
name. You can also create it by selecting the To New Playlist option from
the popup menu.
Prime Feature: Winyl includes built-in radio stations.
http://vinylsoft.com/
Jaangle
As soon as you open it after installation, Jaangle automatically prompts you to
pick the folder of your music tracks. The player includes an advanced search
dialog and provides you with the
ability to drag and drop tracks into
the playlist section. However, we
couldnt find an option to create
playlist folders. The user interface
displays all relevant parameters
such as bit-rate and year. You will
also be able to view the progress
bar on the bottom of the player
with equalizer bars.
Prime Feature: With the help Configure hotkeys for easy navigation
of Jaangle, you will be able to allo- with Jaangle
cate hotkeys for various operations such as play, navigation and search
functionality by selecting the Options button.
http://www.jaangle.com
MusicBee
MusicBee enables you to add music, podcasts, audio books and radio.
You can easily create a new playlist by selecting New Playlist from the
popup menu, then drag and drop the tracks to it. Otherwise right click on
a track and select the Send
To option from the popup
menu. The player includes
a music explorer and the
facility to search for songs
on SoundCloud.
Prime Fe a t u r e :
MusicBee enables you to
add songs from your CD/
DVD with the help of rip-
ping technology from
Tools menu.
Rip easily with MusicBee http://getmusicbee.com

Songbird enables you to add music tracks easily by creating playlists. You
can create several lists by selecting the plus symbol. With the help of
MusicBee, you can perform a search via SoundCloud and navigate the whole
system directly from the dashboard. It also provides support for podcasts,
audiobooks, radio including ripping of CDs. Songbird lacks these features.
Hence, we recommend MusicBee.
Video Players
Total Video Player
Total Video Player enables you to playback videos in several formats
including Flash, Real, WMV and MPEG. In order to do so, select the
Open option from the File menu. You can also directly play clips
from DVDs by selecting the DVD menu. It is possible to add videos
in bulk with the help of the Playlist editor option in addition to four
visualization options.
Prime Feature: Total

Video Player lets you change
the aspect ratio.
http://total-video-player.
en.softonic.com
VLC media player

VLC media player provides
Modify aspect ratio easily with total video player
support for various formats
including MPEG, FLV,
RMBV, V10 bit codes, H.264
multi-threaded decoding,
hotkeys, MPEG-4/Xvid
and WebM. It enables you
to convert media files, sub-
scribe to podcasts including
ASCII playback and is
equipped with the facility to Stream your video content over Internet with
record desktop. The Media VLC media player
menu includes options to
open file/folder. You can add videos to the playlist by selecting the Playlist
option from the View menu. A small preview of the video will be displayed
on the page where your Playlists are stored.
Prime Feature: VLC media player enables you to stream media content
over the web from your desktop.
http://vlc-media-player.en.softonic.com
MPC-HC
MPC-HC is a light-weight media player with support for all video formats.
The player enables you to perform a tearing test by selecting Renderer Set-
tings from the View menu. It also provides filters which can be accessed
from the Play menu. The video player can also be used as a DVB player
with support for DVB, HEVC and DTS Music Disc. You can specify what
to do post the video playback by selecting the After Playback option from
the Play menu.
Prime Feature: With the help of MPC-HC, you will be able to add several
filters in addition to decoder by selecting External Filters from the Options
menu. The player makes optimum use of integrated graphics. It is also
possible to configure audio

and graphics options from
the Output section.
https://mpc-hc.org
SMPlayer
SMPlayer provides support
Thousands of filters at your disposal for various formats, filters,
playback speed modifica-
tion, video equalizer, codecs
such as avi, mp4, mkv,
mpeg, mov and divx, and
of course, YouTube videos.
It is possible to search for
the latter from within the
player using a plug-in from
Configure processor threads for enhanced smtube.org. The player
performance also lets you search for and
download subtitles.
Prime Feature: SMPlayer enables you to control the performance of the
player by configuring the required number of processor threads all you
have to do is select Preferences in the Options menu.
http://smplayer.sourceforge.net

VLC media player enables you to add effects and filters from the Tools
menu. It is also possible to synchronize tasks with the additional option of
streaming video content. MPC-HC helps you play videos but you have to
open each file separately. It is not possible to create a playlist on it like VLC.
Based on these factors, we recommend the VLC media player.
Video Organizers
Potplayer
Potplayer is a modern video player with support for enhanced hardware
acceleration, text subtitles, DVD, Blu-ray, ASS/SSA animation, SMI Ruby
tags, Direct3D9 Ex Flip Mode, unlimited custom playlists and Overlay. You
can view various options if you select the Potplayer down arrow on the top
left hand side. It is possible to modify aspect ratio and window size using
various options by selecting

the relevant links.
Prime Feature: Pot-
player provides sup-
port for 3D glasses and
touch display.
https://potplayer.daum.net
Kodi
Kodi enables you to play
and organize not just videos
but also music, pictures and Entertain yourself using touch enabled display
options with Potplayer
games. It is available for sev-
eral platforms including
iOS and Android and pro-
vides support for all major
formats. You can easily add
the required media files by
selecting the required but-
tons. You will be able to view
real effects when you hear a
music track. Moreover, you Find options without strain using Kodi
can extend the functionality
of Kodi with community-created skins and plug-ins.
Prime Feature: With the help of Kodi, you will be able to integrate audio
books, radio stations, OneDrive, Shoutcast and Podcasts by selecting Add-
ons from the dashboard. For example, you can play a video directly from
your OneDrive storage account.
http://kodi.tv
My Movie Manager
My Movie Manager automatically scans the folder in which you have stored
videos and displays them in an orderly fashion, after which you can select
a video to play. You can also add new folders by selecting the File menu.
The best part, however, is that the manager displays the movie parameters
such as director, actors, plot and IMDB rating.
Prime Feature: My Movie Manager enables you to search for movies
based on their director, cast, year, language and country. You can also
filter movies by selecting the

options on the toolbar.
https://mymoviemanager.
codeplex.com
MediaMonkey
With the help of Media-
Monkey, you can easily add
music tracks and videos by Search deeper with various options
selecting the Open URL or
File options. It shows the details of the track, progress meter and an equal-
izer. Moreover, you will be able to extend the functionality of the player
with skins, plug-ins and scripts as also share tracks with any UPnP and
DLNA player.
Prime Feature: MediaMonkey enables you to sync music tracks to your
iPod, iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
http://www.mediamonkey.com
Comprehensive music and video management with MediaMonkey

Potplayer enables you to create playlist and add videos to it. If you select a
video, the tool enlarges itself with the option to change the aspect ratio. With
the help of Kodi, you can play not just music but also videos and pictures.
The dialog boxes and buttons look bigger. It also displays powerful effects
while playing the music tracks. Videos are also played in full screen with
several options. Wed recommend Kodi since it fulfils your modern era
entertainment needs.
Media Streaming Tools

Subsonic
Subsonic provides support for a wide range of audio and video formats
including MP3, OGG and AAC. It includes features like tag parsing and
editing, SHOUTcast, HLS and Audioscrobbling. With the help of the player,
Manage Locally and Stream Anywhere with Subsonic
you will be able to stream music directly to your phone. The settings for the
player should be configured from the web-based control panel and you need to
make use of the relevant mobile apps to access media files on your smartphone.
Prime Feature: Subsonic includes a transcoding engine which lets you
stream several lossless formats by converting them to MP3.
http://www.subsonic.org/pages/index.jsp
Plex
Plex enables you to manage and stream all media files. With the help of
a camera upload feature, you will be able to sync photos and videos from
your portable devices. Plex also includes cloud sync which automatically
syncs files to cloud storage providers. In order to work with Plex, you need
to register on the website, download Plex Media Server and install the
relevant app for your smartphone.
If you select the Settings option from the Plex web-based interface,
you will be able to see two sections Web and Server. You should select
the General option and provide the credentials you used while signing
up. Finally, you should login to your Plex account using the app. Thats
it. You will now be able to view all your music tracks on the smartphone.
Easily control your media files with Plex
Prime Feature: Plex enables you to integrate SSL certificates which, in

turn, lets you experience secured streaming.
https://plex.tv

We recommend Plex because of its simplicity and the amount of features
it provides. Speaking from our own experience, we could establish con-
nectivity with Plex from an Android phone easily. Moreover, the interface
looks modern and smooth. We found it difficult to manage playlists using
Subsonic. For instance, after creating a new playlist, we were unable to
find any option to add tracks to it. Not to mention, some of the features like
sharing are available only for premium users.
MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS 81
CHAPTER #09
MISCELLANEOUS
TOOLS
For those odds and ends that just dont
fit anywhere else.
S
o far this FastTrack booklet has weighed in on almost every category
of software out there from entertainment to security and everything
in between. However there are certain tools that just dont fit into a
category. In that sense theyre pretty unique. Take for instance the
numerous tools that aid you in accomplishing regular computing tasks such
as tracking your network or finding owner information of domain names,
better. Here, we list tools that add a deft touch to your daily computing needs.
Networking Tools
Network Monitors
Wireshark
Wireshark lets you examine your network at a microscopic level, and is a
widely-used protocol analyser. It includes features like Live Capture, Offline
and VoIP analysis, and supports Windows, OS X, and Open Source. One of
Wiresharks highlights is the ability to decompress gzip files, which are cap-
tured over the network.
https://www.wireshark.org
NetBalancer
NetBalancer helps you control and monitor Internet traffic for Windows. With
82 MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS
this, you can configure download and upload priority of applications. Moreover,
you will also be able to define network traffic rules, and manage limits for each
network adapter, separately. NetBalancer can also synchronise locally connected
networks, including global traffic limits configuration.
https://seriousbit.com/netbalancer
Glasswire
Glasswire is a graphical firewall tool which monitors your network activity
by traffic type, application and geographic location. It can figure out rea-
sons for sudden spikes in network activity. The tool also includes a threat
monitoring module.
https://www.glasswire.com
Angry IP Scanner
Angry IP Scanner lets you scan IP addresses and ports within any range. The
tool pings the provided IP address to check its status, and then resolves its
hostname, MAC address and scan ports. You can also extend the functionality
of Glasswire by using plugins.
http://angryip.org
HTTPNetworkSniffer
HTTP NetworkSniffer cap-
tures requests and responses
exchanged between your
browser and servers, and dis-
plays them in a table. You will
be able to view hostnames,
methods, user agents and Manage your settings easily with Angry IP Scanner
response codes, including
referer, content type and encoding information.
http://dgit.in/HttpNetSniff
Wireless Network Tools

WirelessNetView
WirelessNetView automatically monitors wireless network activity around
your location. The tool displays SSID, signal quality, detection counter, MAC
address and channel data, including authentication and cipher algorithm.
http://dgit.in/WlNetView
BluetoothView
BluetoothView displays information about various Bluetooth devices around
you. You will be able to view device names, addresses, device types and detec-
tion times. The tool also notifies you when a new Bluetooth device is detected
either via audio alert, or on the taskbar.
http://dgit.in/BTView
Internet Tools
NetSpeedMonitor
NetSpeedMonitor lets you monitor your network speed, and the amount of data
transferred between your computer and the Internet. You can view detailed
data traffic statistics, including information about all TCP/UDP endpoints,
categorised by day and month.
http://dgit.in/SetSpdMonitr
Download Accelerator Plus

This tool enables you to boost download speed of files with an ability to pause,
resume and schedule downloads.
http://www.speedbit.com
FreeMeter Bandwidth
Monitor
FreeMeter measures the
incoming Internet traffic on your
computer, and displays it in a
graph. You will be able to view
various options, if you right-click
on the tool.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/
freemeter Review your Internet traffic easily
DownTester
DownTester enables you to test your internet speed, by adding relevant
URLs. You can add a list of websites by clicking on the Add URLs List
option from the File menu, and select the green arrow to begin the test.
You will be able to view the speed and download size, in addition to start
and end times.
http://dgit.in/DownTestr
Test the download speed of websites
DNS Tools
DNSDataView
DNSDataView enables you to view MX, NS, A, SOA records by providing
relevant domain name. The tool can also save analysed data in various formats,
including HTML and CSV.
http://dgit.in/DNSLookupT
QuickSetDNS
QuickSetDNS lets you modify the DNS servers used for your Internet connec-
tion. The tool displays predefined DNS addresses, which you can activate by
selecting Set Active DNS from the popup menu. This tool is useful for users
apprehensive about changing settings manually.
http://bit.ly/QuickSDNS
DomainHostingView
DomainHostingView shows you information about active domain names. The
tool displays general data, DNS record details and IP address records, including
raw domain data and registrant details.
http://dgit.in/DmnHstView
NameBench
With NameBench, you can test your current DNS servers, and test any server
based on the provided IP address. The tool is available for all platforms,
including Mac OS X.
http://dgit.in/GNamebench
Hotspots Tools
mHotspot
mHotspot can create a WiFi hotspot using your laptop, and can connect upto
10 devices at one time. You can set your own name for the hotspot, view details
of connected devices, and check network usage. With this, you will be able to
access Internet using smartphones, iPads, PDAs, tablets and other portable
devices, through the hotspot. This tool is also available for Android.
http://www.mhotspot.com
MyPublicWiFi
MyPublicWiFi lets you turn your computer into a WiFi access point, and
includes Firewall and URL Tracking. This tool helps you restrict user access
to specific servers, and prevent usage of certain services like messaging and file
sharing. You can also keep track of the pages visited from your hotspot, with
the help of a generated log sheet.
http://dgit.in/MyPublicWiFi
Windows Maintenance Tools

Fbackup
With the help of Fbackup, you can backup your valuable data, with automatic
scheduling support. The tool uses ZIP64 compression, hence creating backup
files of over 2GB. You can also restore data by following the instructions on
the wizard.
http://www.fbackup.com
Pandora Recovery
If you delete a crucial work document from your computer, and happen to
need it a week later, Pandora Recovery is the tool for you. It can restore deleted
files from NTFS and FAT volumes. You can also select a custom folder where
you want to store the recovered file(s), by choosing it in the Recover To option
from the File menu.
http://www.pandorarecovery.com
Recuva
Recuva helps you recover deleted files not only from your computer, but also
from SD cards, USB drives and mp3 players. The tool can also recover files
from damaged hard drives, by deep scanning areas that are hard to reach,
even for advanced users. To recover the files, you need to select the relevant
option under Scan. Once done, you will see a list of files that can be recovered.
Choose the ones that are required, and select Recover Highlighted from the
popup menu.
https://www.piriform.com/recuva
Burning Tools
Free ISO Burner
Free ISO Burner helps you create a bootable DVD from an ISO file. Select the
relevant ISO file, choose the DVD drive where the blank DVD is inserted, and
select Burn to begin the process. The DVD drive will be automatically ejected
after completion.
http://www.freeisoburner.com
Rufus
Rufus lets you create a bootable disk using
USB drives. You need to locate the required
ISO file by selecting Click to select an image.
https://rufus.akeo.ie
WinCDEmu
WinCDEmu lets you extract the contents of
ISO files and other popular file formats like
CUE and CCD, without burning to a disc. You
will be able to mount the image files directly to
your computer, and store them inside portable Create bootable USB disk with Rufus
hard drives for future usage. You can also use
Daemon Tools Lite, but have to pay for the full package.
http://wincdemu.sysprogs.org
Audio & Video Tools

Freemake Audio Converter
Freemake Audio Converter lets you convert audio files to a wide range of other
formats. You can also extract audio from video files. It supports lossless and
batch audio conversion, including audio track merging. You can convert files
easily by selecting Audio, and choosing a file format, following which you can
select the desired quality and the location of storage.
http://dgit.in/FreeAudioConv
Moo0 Video Converter

Moo0 Video Converter helps you convert videos from one format to another.
You can simply drop files into the box, and select the preferred file format.
Alternatively, you can configure settings from Advanced Options.
http://dgit.in/MoVideoConv
Convert audio from one format to another easily
Moo0 Video Cutter

With Moo0 Video Cutter, you will be able to save a single movie into separate
video files, without loss of quality. In order to work with this, drag and drop the
movie file into the black area, and adjust the slider to required points, before
starting the cutting process.
http://dgit.in/MoVideoCuttr
Moo0 YouTube Downloader

Moo0 YouTube Downloader lets you download video content from YouTube,
and 180 sources across the web. The URL of the video will automatically appear
inside the tool as soon as you copy it from the address bar. We have tested several
similar tools including browser add-ons, but this one provided the best results.
http://dgit.in/MoYTDwnldr
Compression Tool
7-Zip
7-Zip lets you compress and extract folders easily. The tool supports AES-256
and Windows Shell encryption, including a powerful file manager and com-
mand line utility. It also includes a plugin for FAR manager, with support for
80 languages. To compress a folder, you simply need to right-click on it and
select Add To. You can also compress a folder, and email it directly.
http://www.7-zip.org
CD Ripping
FreeRIP MP3 Converter
FreeRIP MP3 Converter lets you create and save music files from CDs, in a
wide range of formats. This tool can be useful for users who want to save
music files from old CDs, to prevent loss and damage.
http://www.freerip.com
Voice Changeover
Voxal Voice Changer
Voxal Voice Changer lets you modify your voice while recording podcasts
or screencasts. This can be useful if you do not want your real voice to be
broadcasted over the web. You can create unlimited custom voice effects,
and preview the changes before saving.
http://dgit.in/NCHVceChngr
Webcam Enhancer Webcam Toy (https://

ManyCam webcamtoy.com) ena-
ManyCam enables you to add webcam effects bles you to capture
and graphics to your videos and images. You will photos online using
get to add crazy masks and facial expressions 80 effects and filters
by using a wide range of effects included within with support for
ManyCam. It also includes a voice changer tool, social media sharing.
which modifies your voice with several effects.
https://manycam.com
Blogging Tool
BlogDesk
BlogDesk lets you publish blog posts directly from your desktop. The tool
Publish blog posts easily from your desktop

provides support for WordPress, MovableType, Drupal, Serendipity and

ExpressionEngine. You can select Manage Blogs from File, and follow the
on-screen wizard to configure your blog(s).
http://www.blogdesk.org
Calculator
Calc98 Web 2.0 (http://
Calc98 is a simple calculator program with sup- web2.0calc.com) is a
port for scientific and trigonometric operations. web based calcula-
To install, you simply extract the file contents tor with support for
and place the shortcut on your desktop. Right- standard and scien-
clicking on the empty area within the tool views tific operations.
the Options dialogue.
http://www.calculator.org/download.aspx
Windows Login Screen Customization

Logon Changer
Logon Changer from Tweaks.com allows you to customize the default logon
screen image in Windows 7, and also the default lock screen images and colours
in Windows 8.
http://dgit.in/TwkLogonChngr
Color Picker
ColorPic
ColorPic enables you to generate Hex values,
by selecting a colour of your choice. A tooltip
helps you pick a colour, and the relevant
code is copied to the clipboard. This tool
can be useful for web designers, who create
websites manually.
http://www.iconico.com/colorpic
Periodic Table
Freshney Periodic Table Classic
Periodic Table Classic provides detailed infor-
mation about chemical elements, along with
images and a glossary. It also includes graphs
and properties of all important elements, with Generate Hex color codes easily
biographies of the scientists credited for their discoveries. This tool can be
useful for school and college students.
http://dgit.in/DwnPeriodicTbl
Typing Tutor
Typing Master
Typing Master 10 helps you learn the art of typing with the help of three courses,
divided into several lessons. A useful tool for kids and beginners.
http://www.typingmaster.com
Voice Chat
TeamSpeak 3
TeamSpeak 3 lets you create your own server to communicate with your team,
or use OverWolf to add multi-client integrations like Facebook and Steam.
TeamSpeak also broadcasts available groups in the client, and has password
protection for preventing unauthorised access. OverWolf supports desktop
sharing and recording gameplay to group members. Also, the in-game overlay
of OverWolf is always accessible through the game, without creating any hin-
drance. Once TeamSpeak 3s voice activation is calibrated, it can pick up your
voice upon speaking just three words. It also has apps for iOS and Android.
http://www.teamspeak.com/downloads (TeamSpeak 3)
http://www.overwolf.com (OverWolf)
Video Chat
Skype
Skype is a standalone audio-video communicator client from Microsoft. Sign
in with your Microsoft account, and connect to your contacts via Microsoft
IDs or Skype usernames. Known for quality communication service, Skype
can also share desktop screenshots and files via the chat screen. Additionally,
the Skype Translator is capable of simultaneously translating voice calls to
about 25 different languages.
http://dgit.in/VCSkype
Team Productivity
Slack
Slack allows you to communicate with your work team with its Channel feature,
or friends with Direct Messages. You have your own Slack domain that others
can locate you with, and mobile registration is not required. While notifications
have different badges for groups, direct messages and favourites, the problem
begins once you access groups everything is cluttered, and getting hold of
solitary comments is very difficult. One thing that we liked, however, is the
slackbot notification for comments that you are mentioned in (@yourname).
https://slack.com/downloads
Remote Desktop Access

TeamViewer
TeamViewer (v10.0.47484) is a free desktop sharing client, which also has
a mobile client (with the same name) unlike Hamachi. You can send files to
multiple users/clients unlike Tight VNC, which has a limit of only three users
with the free version.
http://dgit.in/TmViewr
Email Clients
Mailbird
Going past Outlooks days, Mailbird (v2.0.1) has integrations like Evernote,
Facebook, Asana, Wunderlist, WhatsApp and moo.do, and gives you options
like changing the colour and layout of the client, and retaining Facebook/
WhatsApp login sessions.
https://www.getmailbird.com/
Multimedia
FT to Open Source Creative Suite
If you couldnt find multimedia editing tools in this, or previous chapters, dont
worry. Covering the vast range of creative suites needs an entire FT in itself.
And, we have already done just that. Back in July 2015, we had written a FT
to Open Source Creative Suites, covering topics such as Raster image editing,
Open Source video editing, audio editing, web design and development, etc. All
of the past issues of Digit and FTs have been included in this months DVD, and
it also includes FT (July 2015) for you to refer to. Read on, and be fascinated by
the number of free alternatives available to the commercial creative suites.
92
CHAPTER #10
DISCOVERY
Downloading software by referring to
a list is easy. Discovering them across
the interwebs is fascinating. We teach
you the methods.
T
hey say,Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a
man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. At this point, you
might have already queued up several software mentioned in
the previous chapters and called it a day. But wait, theres more
to this FT. Now, since you are well aware of our recommendations across
various software categories, we will try to teach you how to discover soft-
ware scattered around on the Internet. One important point to consider
with this chapter is that we are giving away our highly finessed technique
of discovering software which has been incorporated in our labs. You can
either spend hours looking for that right software or you could simply read
on to do it all by yourself.
Software indexes
When you intend to search software for a particular task, you waste no
time to enter a search query on Google or Bing (if youre of the adventurous
kind). The search results will obviously lead you to websites listing down
software and tools divided into categories. Well be looking at such websites
who aggregate and bump up software based on user ratings and reviews.
At Softpedia, youll be greeted with trending software distributed across all
the platforms on its homepage. This serves as a great section to discover new
DISCOVERY 93
kinds of tools to tinker around,

with an added benefit of reading
recent news and announce-
ments related to software. The
best part of Softpedia is the
Download Hubs section a
collection of software compiled
under dumbed down categories
such as Typing Tutors, Text
Editors, Download Manager
etc. Software can be sorted by
latest updated software, number
of downloads and user ratings.
Filters let you separate free and Download Hubs on Softpedia
paid software. Overall, it offers
the right features you would expect while browsing for software.
Filehorse
If youre already aware about the software youre searching for or simply
want to check out recently updated software along with popular ones, File-
horse should be considered. The software pages display detailed information
about them along with screenshots. You can also download older versions
from a dropdown list and select 32-bit or 64-bit versions if available. There
isnt much complexity to Filehorse, its a simple index of software.
Steam
You might wonder why Steam is listed under software discovery. It is since
the popular digital distribution platform doesnt only operate as a platform
to download games. Steam has a list of tools, mostly directed towards crea-
tive suites, covering categories of Animation, Audio, Game Development,
Video editing etc. Steams advantage lies in its medium of distribution which
ensures that patches and updates arrive early. A trustworthy review module
which is easy to navigate, thanks to the tabs that filter out positive and
negative reviews, serves legitimate opinions about them. Currently, Steam
lists tools made available by the creators and hence, the variety is limited.
The best option

The above options broadly index software under preset categories and
94 DISCOVERY
also list out the most popular ones in a different section. Considering
the options mentioned above, Softpedia comes out as your best bet to stay
updated on upcoming software and discovering new ones using the New
Downloads section.
Note: You probably might be wondering why CNETs Download.com or
SourceForge hasnt been covered. Although you can safely procure software
from Download.com using direct links provided on their website, using
their downloader isnt advised since third-party software are bundled in
certain tools. A couple of years back, we used to be highly dependent on
SourceForge for open source and free software but since they started dis-
tributing applications that automatically install third-party tools unless
declined, we stopped using their platform.
Alternativeto.net
Software indexes list out both free and
commercial software. Sometimes, or
maybe every time, you would prefer
to use free software over the expensive
alternatives. Alternativeto serves as a
great place to narrow down your search
for alternatives to any category of soft-
ware under desktop tools, mobile apps
or web applications. Its not restricted
in suggesting only free alternatives to a
AlternativeTo lists alternative particular software but even commercial
tools across all platforms ones. This acts as a really helpful discovery
tool for alternatives when youre sick of
using the same old tool and want a fresh new tool offering the same
functionalities.
An added advantage of landing on the front page of the website is the
exposure to tools which are alternatives to existing popular tools. Its an effi-
cient method of keeping track on upcoming software which can be potentially
better alternatives to replace the installed aging software on your system.
Wikipedia search
Wikipedia has certainly helped us through our homework and assignments,
but it can also meet your software discovery requirements. Google Search
can be made more efficient with the inclusion of operators and the same
DISCOVERY 95
applies to Wiki-
pedias search.
After reading
about alternatives
for a category you
might want to
further investi-
gate the features
offered in them.
You can prefix the
desired category Prefixing comparison of in Wikipedia Search
with comparison
of in the search box and youll be presented with a lot of information. Say,
youre searching for web browsers and want to verify OS support in them.
Entering comparison of web browsers in Wikipedias search field will dis-
play a comprehensive table of general information, features, OS support etc.
The extent to which users have gone to compartmentalise the various
degrees of distinction in categories is overwhelming. This feature isnt bound
only to software but also extends to hardware components.
Bulk software installers

This isnt exactly a software discovery tool but its a lifesaver during system
rebuilding. When youve got a new system built or youve formatted your OS,
the first thing youll dive into is installing essential software. Its pure pain
to download each and every software individually which can be avoided by
using bulk software installer services. There are several services available
out there including Ninite, Allmyapps, Chocolatey, Npackd etc. Well not
go into the details of each service and as for our recommendation goes, we
suggest Ninite owing to its sheer simplicity of picking the desired software
and downloading them instantly. If the choice of tools available in Ninite
doesnt impress you, we would recommend you to check out Allmyapps.
Ninite lets you bulk download and install software

96 DISCOVERY
Subreddits
Reddit is the best place to discover almost anything and not just software.
If you have visited Reddit once, you must have come across several subred-
dits or groups where like-minded people share knowledge. The are several
such subreddits to discover software popular ones being /r/software
and /r/opensource. The advantage here is people recommending software
they have used personally. Generally, there are healthy discussions about
pros and cons, helping you choose the right one. Rarely, you will also come
across obscure tools someone discovers out of nowhere. There are dedicated
subreddits to particular software and users post relevant content on them.
Lifehacker Hive five

When we find ourselves in a fix of finding out new alternatives or the best
options in a particular category, we turn our attention to Lifehackers Hive
five. Covering physical products as well, these listers of five products are
quite helpful for a quick discovery of software. The tools listed in them
are nominated by real users, and at the end are put to vote, deciding the
final winners.
Digit DVD
When theres a chapter dedicated to elaborate on healthy techniques of dis-
covering software, how can we withhold ourselves from pulling a shameless
plug for the venerable Digit DVD? Right from its inception, it has been the
source of all sort of software for many, ranging
from development tools to productivity suites.
We havent been blatantly packaging software for
our readers as the curation process goes beyond
fulfilling ones knack for trying out new software.
One stop shop for your
Every month, we plunge into the vast corners
software requirements of the Internet in search of new and interesting
tools either whacky or useful. If procrastination
is your favourite sport and laziness gets the best of you every time, all the
methods mentioned above can be completely ignored. You can put your
unparalleled faith to the DVDs to satisfy the constant urge of staying on
par with the latest software there is to offer.

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VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 12

A 9.9 Media Publication

06 The quest for productivity

EDITORIAL Ashish Panigrahi Associate

Dhinoj Dings Art Director

Technical Editor DESIGN Visualiser

45 Tools to protect your computer

70 The one-stop guide to entertainment

9.9 Mediaworx Pvt. Ltd. To

Published by 9.9 Mediaworx FREE

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form

December 2015 BROWSERS

source other than 9.9 Mediaworx Pvt. Ltd., please write to

THE QUEST FOR

Database will lead

Softmaker FreeOffice WPS Office Suite

Which one should you go for?

Sumatra PDF reader

Which one should you go for?

Simple Sticky Notes

Which one should you go for?

Task Reminder Tools

Efficient Reminder Free

syncs them on the cloud. It

Which one should you go for?

timer to 00.05, you will be prompted by a message after every 5 minutes.

Which one should you go for?

figure tips either to appear as a balloon

Screen Capture Tools

Which one should you go for?

do away with the distraction

Cloud Storage Tools

Client enables you to upload files

ated where you can store more than one

Turn off syncing easily with Box CloudApp

Prime Feature: You can make

Which one should you go for?

existing accounts on various cloud services including Dropbox, OneDrive,

Cloud Explorer enables you to modify UI languages easily

Which one should you go for?

exception and enable protocol

BitComet uTorrent helps you to modify various parameters

Shut down easily after torrenting at a specified time

Work with the menu less dashboard of Tixati

Which one should you go for?

Configure advanced settings with FileZilla

Which one should you go for?

The Vivaldi Browser

appeared in that browser, and which faithfully replicated in Vivaldi as well.

The Tor Browser

However, all this technical bravado is not to aid less-than-honourable

Want to be a spy? Use Tor. We kid of course.

Discover a multitude of features with Qupzilla

Ohhh extensions! Do we really need to tell you anything about Chrome?

Google has always displayed a knack for understanding their users

Firefox - a one time favourite. For loyalists even so today.

Ahh the good old days of Opera

For the review, we tried it out on Windows 8, which is supposedly the

UC Browser - the new kid on the block

Start Menu Reviver 2.0

button. If youre running a

on the screen. While working on multiple windows, you could be accessing

After opening a number of windows on your desktop, it becomes quite