I started using https://bard.google.com/ for my searches on particular topics. It gives personalized answers (not ones already given to somebody else's similar question, not suggesting links, and highly respecting the nouns and verbs you use in your search). You can start a "chat" about the search topic. You can also ask for a more detailed answer (even several times in a row). For instance, it described me in great detail the piano playing style of Count Basie.

 

I prefer it when it comes from an independent dev.

 

If you want a modern looking interface for VT Everything in your taskbar take a look at https://github.com/srwi/EverythingToolbar

(only win10 and 11 compatible btw)

 

For moving files easily, quickly, and securely from Windows to Sharepoint online, we use a sync/copy tool called Gs RichCopy 360.

For remote access and support to allow us to access and control a remote computer from our computer, we use a tool called TeamViewer.

 

Please no tw anymore for me.
Ten years ago it was fantastic, now a marketing hassle, remote sessions are bloated and easily disconnected, speaking of the "free" version.

There are better free alternatives.

 

RustDesk > TeamViewer

it's open-source, free and can be self-hosted, what more to ask for

 

Life's not complete without:

Sumatra PDF reader
Listary - amazing search/explorer fast as....
Everything - Search utility. Fast and light
Simplewall - firewall
Faststone image viewer
Bitwarden - password manager
Clipboard Fusion - superior and does many more things than windows clipboard manager
Macro Recorder - No scripting involved. good for thickos like me
XYplorer - Explorer replacement
Soulseek - Music sharing

 

Although WIndows have Magnifier coupled with the color change ability (inverting and filtering) these apps are more versatile, lightweight, simple and free.

easyinvert 1.2.2.23
https://softexe.net/windows/easy-invert
Glassbrick 2.1
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/glassbrick.html
NegativeScreen 2.6.1 (has really useful toggles)
https://github.com/mlaily/NegativeScreen/releases/tag/Release_2.6.1

 

Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2023

Paint.net
I keep it as my default editor in Faststone Image Viewer.

Paint.net

It does a few things quicker than Fastsone and a few things Fastone can't.
Anything else and I have to resort to Paintshop Pro, etc.

 

I use Fastone at least from 2005, powerful and quick pic browser tool.

But I have to ask you if Paint.net does perspective transform as Gimp or Paintshop, because I installed Gimp, but it takes 1GB+ and I need just that feature.

Edit: I just had a glimpse to the documentation and I didn't find it, plus is just win10 and I need it in an old win7 pc

 

Not sure if these were already mentioned but here are some tools I use daily:

TinyWall
Best Firewall for Windows there is, in my opinion. Blocks everything by default, meaning you have to MANUALLY whitelist any application that wants to connect to the internet. Might be annoying for some, but this is the way I prefer it.

XMouseButtonControl
Remap any mouse button to keyboard keys or media functions. I use this to control my volume with the forward/back buttons.

GiMeSpace Power Control
Automatically switches Windows power plan depending on CPU load. Great little tool if you want to save energy and electricity costs. I usually turn it off when I work in my DAW, but while doing regular web browsing and even while watching Youtube videos, you don't even notice that it's on. Just make sure to set your maximum CPU percentage in your "power saver" profile to something lower than 100 percent, I use 60 percent on my 5900x. I also turn off auto sleep and hibernate. I have set it to go into performance mode when the cpu consumption goes above 10%. These are the settings I use: https://imgur.com/a/9kz7Bzf

EarTrumpet
An alternative to the Windows volume tray icon. I mainly use this because it's a quicker way to get into to the playback/recording devices options on Windows 10.

 

Capture a part of the screen to text (OCR). Very useful in capturing text from graphics in browsers.



Description:
https://capture2text.sourceforge.net/#download
Download
https://sourceforge.net/projects/capture2text/files/Capture2Text/

Supports over 90 languages.
Supported operating systems:
Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10

 

Last edited by a moderator: Oct 3, 2023

Not sure what aspect of perspective you want, but under "LAYER" you will find tools

 

that website is super cheeky, I'd rather go at Github directly: https://github.com/paintdotnet/release/releases

I think Paint in new Windows 11 build can do that too now (so technically free too)

 

Bulk Crap Uninstaller - https://www.bcuninstaller.com/

https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil#chris-titus-techs-windows-utility - Best Windows Debloating tool (Safely Remove Windows components)

 

Last edited by a moderator: Oct 3, 2023

Optimizer 15.8 > Deep tweek in your system, telemetry of many app, atc. By far , the best support I had in this kind of app. Thanx to Hellzerg

https://github.com/hellzerg/optimizer/releases

 

I prefer to use PowerToys.

 

Rename Master - a freeware utility designed to rename multiple files with a just few clicks


Features
- Intelligent number sorting
- Full Unicode filename support
- File and folder renaming
- Custom filelist columns
- Auto-Preview
- Subfolder Scanning to rename files in multiple folder
- Renaming Variables for JPEG/MP3/Video tags, file properties, counters, and more
- Scripts to save commonly used renaming options
- [*] and [?] command prompt style wildcards, or full Regular Expression support
- Optional Explorer integration for right-clicking on files/folders or using "Send To"
- Case Changing and Textfile importing
- Command line options for batch renaming
Supported on Windows XP through Windows 10.

http://www.joejoesoft.com/vcms/108/

 

Win10 TweakUI and Windows 10 Privacy - Two indispensable free tools to finalize your optimized win10 build. TweakUI does in one app what it takes many subordinate apps to accomplish - same for Win10priv...

Classic Shell - completely rid yourself of the extremely NASTY metro UI and return proper functionality and look (win7) back to win10 explorer. Make certain to get v4.3.1.

Ultrasearch (free) - lightning fast GREP-like tool for win that can search inside text files and look for strings in filenames and data files. A must have companion to REVO for clean uninstalls.

HASHCheck - generate SFV's of anything - generate, read and check many different hash formats. Incorporates to context menu

Crud Cleaner (free) - Latest, safest, most unobtrusive version to run for win10 == v5.48. Do not run anything later than prescribed version. Later versions are too "Commersh" and have raggedy popups and what not.. 5.48 can be config'ed to be silent and just do what is needed.

 

Last edited: Oct 3, 2023

LocalSend. Absolutely hassle-free app for sharing files on different devices with any OS via WLAN.

 

Last edited: Oct 4, 2023