A thread for generally useful tools, including applications and browser extensions. Post what tools you regularly use or make your digital quality of life better.
Applications
One Note An application for quickly jotting down notes or reminders. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] You can organize your notes into different notebooks for different topics. Pressing the [Windows Key] + [S] will capture a screen area into your [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] as an image so you may paste that image into a note or anywhere else. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] is a possible alternative. I use that on my mobile device, but I have no experience with it on desktop.
Skype A messenger program to chat with contacts in real time. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Puush Another image clipping software. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] This has the ability to use hotkeys to automatically upload the image you clipped and then store the URL to that image in your clipboard so you can easily paste it. Useful for sharing an image someone. I do not personally use this any more, but others might find it helpful.
Browser Extensions
OneTab An extension that allows you to collapse all your currently open browser tabs into one tab that has a list of what tabs were collapsed. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
The Great Suspender Suspends tabs, making them load out of memory and stop taking up computer resources after a set amount of time. Leaves them open, so their tabs remain but they do not take up resources. Includes the ability to whitelist sites so it doesn't suspend them and it works fine with OneTab. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
uBlock The lightweight version of AdBlock/AdBlock Plus. It uses less hardware resources to do the same job. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Services
LastPass A password manager, so you only have to remember one secure password. Free for desktop only. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I use this, but some may not trust it or find it unnecessary. I did my own research and the two best password management solutions are KeePass and LastPass. LastPass is the most convenient, although slightly less secure than KeePass. Chrome/in-built browser password management is less secure than either of these two solutions, I believe.
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With the exception of Puush, these are tools I regularly use and get mileage out of. As more fringe but significantly useful tools crop up, I'll add them in a new post this thread. I excluded more legally ambiguous or questionable tools.
Slaughtz
Gender : Posts : 2593 Join date : 2012-04-28 Age : 33 Location : A stone.
Distill Web Monitor Another Chrome add-on/extension I came across (that I'm using) is distill.io , or Distill Web Monitor. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
It detects when a web page has changed, either any change at all, or it searches for changes you specify (or words you specify) within the webpage. Here's a (silent) video tutorial on how it's used for searching lobby lists online for WarCraft.
YouTube Video:
This can be used for news sites without having to subscribe to RSS feeds, etc. or even just web versions of the RSS feeds themselves. With JavaScript and the fancier features disabled, there's hardly any impact on performance when it checks the sites. Adjustable intervals make it so it can have an even less intrusive effect.
Satyr Daemon
Gender : Posts : 37245 Join date : 2009-08-24 Age : 58 Location : Hyperborea
The makers of a browser can support or oppose certain political groups, or give out user information, or monitor and report browsing habits. It's important to keep track of whose platform you are using.
_________________ "I do not exhort you to work but to battle; I do not exhort you to peace but to victory. May your work be a battle; may your peace be a victory." -TSZ
The makers of a browser can support or oppose certain political groups, or give out user information, or monitor and report browsing habits. It's important to keep track of whose platform you are using.
That sounds incredibly Draconian. But in this day and age I can't say I'm suprised.
To be honest, I used to be more proactive about not being tracked but my vigilance and ability to care has been decreasing in my old age. Do you think Firefox is a good bet?
apaosha Daeva
Gender : Posts : 1851 Join date : 2009-08-24 Age : 37 Location : Ireland
I use pale moon, it's like firefox and seems to run quicker.
_________________ "I do not exhort you to work but to battle; I do not exhort you to peace but to victory. May your work be a battle; may your peace be a victory." -TSZ
I have switched my main browser from Chrome to Firefox.
I suspect that at this point Google Chrome is sending all your data, including passwords, even all keystrokes inside the browser to their data centers. I realized that all my browser activity is tied to my Google/Youtube profile, you can even select sometimes if you want your data (including your saved passwords) to be stored locally or in their cloud. I think they protocol all your internet activity, because they can and as can be seen in all other things, they don't care about how bad it looks anymore. Look at Google employees with their propeller hats, they don't care about the charade anymore.
I had issues with Firefox a couple of years ago, with site compatibility and so forth but everything I need seems to work now with it. I've heard Brave is also supposed to be good but who knows for sure. What I do think is that Firefox can't be any more intrusive than Google Chrome.
