Toolbox

There are all sorts of tools available for creative individuals. Most of the following are open-source or freeware.

Audio/Video Editing

Avidmux is an open source project, an all-in-one video converting freeware application with a lot of powerful capabilities… but not for beginners! It does provide fast converting speed and excellent video quality. It can convert almost all video formats including DivX, XviD, MOV, RM, RMVB, MPEG, VOB, DVD, WMV, and AVI to MPEG-4 movie format . It also permits the user to cut and save segments which is vital if you are dealing with very large and cumbersome  files. Thankfully, there is the Avidemux wiki documentation.

Audacity® is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

Browser Options, Link shorteners and QR Codes

Bit.ly has the capability of creating and tracking QR Codes from within their platform and create mobile barcodes and share them online and wherever you use printed advertising. When someone scans the code with their mobile phone they will be linked directly to the content that you place within the code. Mobile codes can be created to link directly to Websites or provide the text you include on business cards.

You can also make your own custom codes at qrcode.kaywa.com or use the Google Chrome browser extension below.

Install or update Google Chrome a free web browser available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers in order to use the following useful Google Chrome extension: goo.gl URL Shortener by giakomino (117,446 users) Shorten a URL with goo.gl, the Google URL shortener. Not only will it make the current URL into a shortlink, it also provides an option to generate a QR code that points to the same URL as well as Google click-tracking of that specific short link (Wow!).

Check any short or affiliate URL (bit.ly, goo.gl, etc.) to see where it goes…

This is a great tool when you need to shorten a link, but as a user, be cautious opening these links because I’m not sure where it goes and if the site is safe. I found a tool that helped me out a few times and makes me more confident clicking on these links: Redirect tracker.” 

File Management

Dropbox combines software that you install on your computers and handheld devices with a cloud storage system that backs up the contents of your local dropbox folder, synscronizes it and shares the files between all of your devices online.

Image Manipulation

GIMP stands for the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for Windows that rivals Adobe’s Photoshop.

Splashup, formerly Fauxto, is a powerful Web-based editing tool and photo manager. Tools and palettes are modeled after Photoshop and it even has layers.

Picnik is another free Web based image editor that works on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Upgrade to Picnik Premium for only $24.95 a year.

flauntR was named by PC Magazine as one of the best free software applications of 2009 in the Graphics category.

PR Distribution

Free Press Release distribution service helps you target global audiences by country and industry, since 2001.

Timesavers

Ditto is an open-source extension of the standard Windows clipboard. By default, the standard clipboard that comes with Windows allows you to copy and paste, but it can only hold one item at a time, and it loses that content when you copy again or reboot. Ditto saves each item placed on the clipboard allowing you organize and access any of them again. You can save any type of information that can be put in the clipboard, text, images, html, custom formats etc… and it’s especially useful for pasting in those items that you find yourself typing again and again.

Web Page Authoring

AceHTML Freeware HTML Editor from VisicomMedia.com beats most paid-for HTML editor hands down. It is provided for free, with a Pro upgrade option.

The KompoZer Project is creating an open-source Web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG web page editing. KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or Web coding.

Wikipedia Wizard will help you through the process of submitting a new article to Wikipedia. There are 6 sections to step through, and then you’ll be taken to the editing page.

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