Three Helpful and Free Applications

Hello!

Today I'm going to review three free applications that could prove useful to you. This blog is intended for anyone that is searching for free, legit software to use on a day-to-day or weekly basis.

=== Thunderbird ===

Do you email a lot? Do you hate going to a website to check your emails? Don't you wish there was an easier way? Well, there is. Thunderbird is a wonderful mail application that is compatible with most mail services. I use Gmail and Thunderbird quickly pulls my mail from the Gmail website so that I don't have to log in every time I want to check my mail. Also, it delivers notifications when a new message comes in. It's possible to never have to check your emails again and simply wait for a notification to pop up. Thunderbird is very easy to use and the organizational features inside the application help with sorting out any email volume you have. Your emails are stored onto your hard drive safely and securely. In the settings options, you can change Thunderbird to update constantly, every fifteen minutes, once an hour, or another range of time. It's very customizable, allows for multiple email addresses (I have four), and I can respond to emails with or without small or large file attachments with ease. Thunderbird can be downloaded at: http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/

=== Google Earth ===

Though this application may prove very useful to some depending on your profession or hobby, it is an all around cool application that deserves its name on the wall. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't. Either way, prepare to be blown away. Google Earth is literally a software replica of our planet (all 197,000,000 square miles of it!). You can browse your neighborhood, look at the nearest large city in a 3-D fashion, or dive underwater and explore the ocean like never before. At the time of this writing, they're out with version 5 (beta) and have some incredible new features in the works. At major historical sites, you can view documentaries and videos that discuss the location you're viewing. There are guided tours available as well. Google Earth doesn't stop there. Are you bored of Earth? We've all been there, and Google Earth has a solution. You can now explore the sky in high definition, or explore our neighbor planet Mars. Both the sky and Mars also have guided tours, endless information about constellations or terrain, and allow you to record your own guided tours. The features on this application are much more extensive, but I'd end up filling out pages of information on it. If you haven't already, go check it out at: earth.google.com (and earth.google.com/mars)

=== OpenOffice.org ===

Would you like to pay $250.00 for some software? How about $550.00? No? Well, here's your answer. OpenOffice.org is a wonderful application that can replace Microsoft Office, which is often viewed as 'way to expensive' to buy. The OpenOffice.org bundle comes with a word processor (Word), spreadsheet (excel), presentation (PowerPoint), database utility (Access), draw utility (Visio), and math equation creator (Equation Editor). If you're use to Microsoft Office, this application may take some getting use to. However, every attempt by the creators has been made to make this an incredible application compared to Microsoft Office. There are features OpenOffice.org has that MS Office does not, and visa-versa. Overall, unless you need something very MS Office specific, OpenOffice.org can save you a few hundred dollars and give you the same results. OpenOffice.org can be downloaded at: www.openoffice.org . At the time of this writing, their website is running a tad slow due to server issues. It'll be fixed soon!

=== Conclusion ===

There's a free alternative for every bit of software out there. As I discover more free useful applications, I'll continue to update you on them. I hope you've found something useful here! If you have, subscribe or add me to your RSS reader.

Thanks for reading,
-Nick