The Software and Services T&T Uses

Programs and websites that have increased our productivity.

The internet is increasingly more efficient and useful day by day for businesses to accomplish various transactions with beyond simple ecommerce. This is especially true for small businesses such as Tincknell & Tincknell. We maintain a geographically diverse network of wine industry professionals all utilizing the power of the internet to maintain contact, communicate, share files, and collaborate. Even more impressive is that much of this can be accomplished for free. (Please note that many of the free programs listed welcome "donations" for support.)

In fact, you can find high-quality programs that compete with Microsoft's and others' software offerings to the point where all you need is Microsoft Windows (or, if you are more daring, forego Microsoft entirely with a Linux distro). We use a netbook running Ubuntu Linux that has only free software on it!

So in the spirit of giving back to those applications and services that have allowed us to be more efficient and global, we offer our recommendations and endorsements for the following in the hopes that more people will discover and support these truly indispensable additions to our PC's programs folder.

Web

• Mozilla Firefox (free; www.mozilla.com) - The web browser that got Microsoft moving again. While IE8 may equal Firefox it does not beat it in our humble opinion; Firefox has numerous plug-ins that extend its functionality to indispensable. Highly recommended plug-ins include IE Tab, Sage RSS Reader, Xmarks,  Forecastfox, FireFTP, Yoono, and the Web Developer toolbar - all free.
• Mozilla Thunderbird (free; www.mozilla.com) - The companion email reader from the Mozilla Foundation, and completely competent as such. If you never made the plunge into Microsoft's Outlook and have been using either Outlook Express or Eudora (or another), this program bests those in functions. Install the Lightning calendar plug-in and it is almost Outlook level in functionality (plus it doesn't use Word to write emails!). Can sync with Google Calendar (via a plug-in) and webmail accounts. It is also an RSS Reader.
• Skype (free; www.skype.com) - If you have not heard about Skype you have not been on the internet. Skype allows PC-to-PC (VoIP) phone and video calls, and is easier to use than Qnext for those less tech savvy (no port configuration and user-chosen account IDs). All calls and data is encrypted. It also has a instant messaging and p2p file transfer capabilities. It also has SkypeOut and SkypeIn, which allow it to be used for calling any phone number out and visa versa (for a per-minute fee).
• Meebo (free; www.meebo.com) - A web-based universal instant messenger that has pretty much all one needs, including for Windows, a systray app that logs one in and pops-up notifications without a browser open. Includes Facebook integration.
• Comodo EasyVPN (free; www.comodo.com) - Comodo makes remarkable free programs, like their internet security suite. EasyVPN is what its name says it is - an easy way to set up a VPN (virtual private network) that provides secure access to PCs on the VPN over the internet.

Graphics, Creative, & Office

• GIMP (free; www.gimp.org) - GIMP is the acronym of the GNU Image Manipulation Program, one of the oldest open-source projects going. It is, in a nutshell, the next best thing to Adobe Photoshop -  well, one that is free. It is a graphics/photo editing program that creates and edits JPEGs, GIFs, BMPs, PNGs, and dozens more graphic files. And very nearly against any program you can buy. It does have a bit of a learning curve, and a non-Windows standard program user interface, but the online help is excellent for those with patience and persistence.
• Inkscape (free; www.inkscape.org) - Inkscape is the open-source project that compares to Adobe's Illustrator. Still working towards a version 1.0, it does have some glitches here and there, but creates standards-compliant vector graphics in the SVG file format. It also has a learning curve, but there isn't another vector graphics creation program out there for free.
• MyPaint (free; mypaint.intilinux.com) - A new program focused on digital painting, plus more. A real contender for creating original graphics and images. Windows and Linux.
• Google Picasa (free; picasa.google.com) - Picasa is owned by Google, and is a photo editor, sorter, viewer, and has sharing capabilities built in. For simple digital photo management and editing, this is the program to get, but it does not compete with advanced photo editors such as GIMP (above) or Adobe's Photoshop.
• OpenOffice - (free; www.openoffice.org) - OpenOffice is an open-source office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, presentation slideshow program, drawing program, math program, and database program. It can open and save Microsoft Office documents accurately, and has most of the features that most Office users use.
• Scribus (free; www.scribus.net) - A free, open-source, desktop publishing layout program that mirrors Microsoft's Publisher or Adobe's Pagemaker - without the proprietary file formats.
• PDF-XChange Viewer (free; www.docu-track.com) - Adobe's Acrobat Reader is just plain overkill, and a memory monster to boot. Of the free competitor PDF viewers out there, PDF-XChange Viewer is fairly lightweight but remarkably complete. They have a paid version plus PDF management tools as well (like Adobe Acrobat).

Web Authoring

• Komodo Edit (free version available; www.activestate.com/komodo_edit/) - Text editor that handles HTML, XML, JavaScript, CSS, PHP, and more.
• KompoZer (free; www.kompozer.net) - KompoZer is a WYSIWYG web authoring program like Adobe's Dreamweaver or Microsoft's Expression Web ... but not quite as sophisticated yet. It has a rudimentary site manager, does publish via FTP to remote servers, has impressive support for CSS, and will adhere to DTD document declarations. Not bad for a pre-version 1.0 release! Another open-source project, based on the Mozilla Composer/Linspire Nvu programs.
• Amaya (free; www.w3.org/Amaya/Overview.html) - An open-source web page authoring program sponsored by the W3C organization responsible for all web standards. It doesn't have a site manager, but does have FTP built in. Handles CSS and is very strict in adhering to DTD document declarations, including correcting code on saving. However, it supports several OSes, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• FileZilla (free; filezilla.sourceforge.net) - An open source FTP client that is the equal of any other program, whether or not they cost something.
• osCommerce (free; www.oscommerce.com) - osCommerce is an open-source, fully functional ecommerce shopping cart. This is for advanced website developers as it utilizes PHP and MySQL, but one can't beat free, especially for a secure, flexible, and complete shopping cart solutions.
• WordPress (free; www.wordpress.org) - WordPress is an open-source, fully functional blogging system that is relatively easy to install, though knowledge of CSS is needed to customize it. It utilizes PHP and MySQL though knowledge of such is not needed for simple installations. Pre-made themes are available from other developers as well. T&T's blog is powered by WordPress.

Cloud & Online Services

• VerticalResponse - (per email rates, based on total number purchased; www.verticalresponse.com) - There are times when we prefer to send an email campaign from our office using a dedicated email marketing program, and there are times when an application service provider such as VerticalResponse is the better method. For the novice, though, VerticalResponse is a hands-down winner; many templates to choose from, the ability to create freeform layouts, mailing list management, and reporting are all top-notch, and very reasonably priced.
• Dropbox (free for 2 GB; www.dropbox.com) - Dropbox syncs files between PCs and the web. This is the easiest way to have files on hand wherever you need them - especially if you use a desktop PC and a laptop PC - and is cross-platform as well. Once you start using it the service becomes indispensible.
• YouSendIt (free up to 1 GB file transfers; www.yousendit.com) - Need to transfer a BIG file to someone else over the internet and can't use email or one of the programs listed above (Qnext or Skype)? Log onto YouSendIt.
• Google Calendar (free; calendar.google.com) - There are a lot of online calendars, some better than Google's, but none with as many syncing options to multiple platforms, such as Thunderbird + Lightning (above), Android phones, and webOS.
• dimdim (free version available; www.dimdim.com) - An online web conferencing site that allows for document sharing, screen sharing, whiteboard, presentations, video conferencing, group chat, and more. Paid versions increase the number of concurrent users and provide more conferencing services.
• Google Earth (free; earth.google.com) - If you haven't downloaded and run Google's Earth, prepared to be blown away. This fascinating application calls up a globe you can spin, zoom in on (sometimes to incredible detail), and mark with your or others' points of interest or geological features. Useful? Somewhat. Educational? You bet.

Utilities

• InfraRecorder (free; infrarecorder.sourceforge.net) - fully functional CD and DVD burning software ... open source and free! It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of Roxio, Nero, or Ulead, and does have a little of a techy interface, but it does all of the basic burning duties flawlessly.
• µtorrent - (free; www.utorrent.com) - A BitTorrent client that allows users to create, upload, and download torrent files. A great protocol for moving large files that a community wants to share - and no, it is not illegal (just illegal to transfer copyrighted material that one does not own the rights or licenses too).
• 7-Zip (free; www.7-zip.org ) - 7-Zip is a file compression utility that creates ZIP files or other compression formats (such as their own 7z, plus GZIP, BZIP2, and TAR) and opens many others.
• KeePass (free; keepass.info) - Excellent program for storing passwords and other sensitive data on your PC. Cross-platform, open-source, secure, and easy to use.
• PNotes (free; pnotes.sourceforge.net) - If you use sticky notes around your monitor, try them on your desktop ... your OS desktop that is. Surprisingly useful to those of us stuck in front of computers most days, PNotes are simple sticky notes that you can hide, show, create on the fly, and appear when you boot up or log in.

Operating Systems

• Ubuntu (free; www.ubuntu.com) - Ready for the plunge and leave WinMac behind? Ubuntu is a distribution of the Linux operating system that has made huge strides in making Linux usable for non-Linux persons. It runs on very modest hardware - save that old PC or laptop - and has a version designed for netbooks. It installs with many of the above-noted programs that have support for Linux, creating a truly viable open-source, free competitor for your computer's desktop.

We also welcome suggestions on websites and services, free or for a cost, that make life easier for businesses. Send us suggestions through the email address below (listed in the footer).