Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a full featured email program with built-in junk mail controls, message filters, address book, news groups and more. It offers a clean and easy to use (customizable) interface. Thunderbird also offers security features such as S/MIME, digital signing, message encryption, support for certificates and security devices. Other features include IMAP/POP compatibility, support for HTML mail, labels, quick search, return receipts, LDAP address completion, import tools and more.


Thunderbird, like the Firefox web browser, supports small add-ons called Extensions. Some of my favorite extensions are:

• Auto Zip Attachments for Thunderbird - Auto Zip Attachments allows you to easily compress (zip) attachments. A new button named "AutoZip" is added to the compose toolbar. Upon pressing the button all the attachments would be compressed into a single file. Then the attachments are replaced with the zipped file. Options enables: Select the zipped file name. Prevent zipping of custom extensions (zip,rar, etc). AutoZip: When enabled, zipping will occur after pressing the send button.
• Clippings - Saves and manages frequently-entered text for pasting later. Text can be pasted from Clippings into forms and input fields without the hassle of retyping or repetitive copying and pasting. Perfect for forms, web mail, blog entries, wiki editing and forum posts.
• withAttach - This extension adds a menu option (and a toolbar button) to compose an email "with attachments". Also adds context menu options and toolbar buttons to "reply with attachment" and "reply all with attachment". If you try to send the email without attachments, you are warned about it and asked to confirm your action.
  
• Track Package - Track Packages from the right-click menu. This extension makes it easier to track a package when the web page or email does not provide you with a link to the shipping company's tracking page. Simply highlight the tracking number, right click, and click "Track Package". It will automatically determine which company's tracking page to go to. Currently supports: UPS, FedEx, DHL USPS Canada Post TNT and Purolator.
• PackageMapping.com extension - Track and Map packages from the right-click menu. The purpose of this extension is to extend the features of the www.PackageMapping.com website. This extension makes it easy to get tracking information for a package and display the tracking progress on Google Maps. Simply highlight the tracking number, right click, and select "Track and Map Package". It will try to automatically determine the shipping company for the selected tracking number. If successful, it will display the shipping company's name in the right-click menu (ex. "Track and Map UPS Package '1Z12345E1512345676' "). Once you click the menu item, you will be taken to the PackageMapping.com web site where you will have access to RSS feeds and E-mail tracking updates and delivery notification.
  Currently supports: UPS, U.S.P.S., FedEx and DHL. Please see the options/preferences dialog which allows you to choose between using Tabs or New Windows and whether or not to display the right-click menu item unless some text is actually selected.
• SmtpSelect - A toolbar button providing easy access to setting the default SMTP server in Thunderbird. The button must be added manually to the toolbar through "Customize..." (right-click on the toolbar) - and is available for the main mail window as well as for the compose mail window. Please note, in order for SmtpSelect to be any useful, you must choose "Use Default Server" as "Outgoing Server (SMTP)" for each email account that should be used with this extension.
• Identity Select - This extension allows you to choose the identity of your new email from a popup menu directly from the Write button. This feature behaves in a similar manner as the Get Mail pulldown menu. In addition, the default behavior of the Write button is now context sensitive! The new message will automatically assume the default identity of the account that owns the currently selected folder. Please note that the global Inbox is not owned by any account and the default behavior of the Write button is unaffected when any subfolder of the global Inbox is selected.
  
• ConnSets - ConnSets is a 'Connection/Configuration Settings Selector' for people who often have to use different Settings for Proxies, Mail Servers or even any other aspects. Probably most interresting for Laptop Users or others who connect to the Internet via different networks... Store your different Network Connection Settings of your Mozilla Applications under different names and restore them quickly using a Selector Menu. Per default this Extension is prepared for Connection Settings only - but you can define yourself which Settings have to be stored an restored later - Even settings of other Extensions can be changed... The User Interface has no new Dialogs (the built-in ones are used for the settings). For switching the settings you just have one Menu - and for storing them some prompt's.
• No New Window on Double Click - This extension prevents Thunderbird from opening a new main window. When you double click on a folder in the folder pane, the folder will expand or collapse if it has subfolders. Also, when a program tries to run Thunderbird while it is already running, the new window is closed and the first main window will be brought to focus. New mail windows can still be opened when right-clicking on a folder and selecting Open in New Mail Window.
• NestedQuote Remover - Remove nested quotes when replying to a mail. Some of my email contacts forward everything to everyone, with the result that some messages have many layers deep of forwarding information. It is great to be able to remove it with a click of a button when forwarding it myself.
• Options Menu - An extension that provides quick access to the options dialogs of installed extensions. Access is via an 'Extension Options' cascade menu on the Tools menu or by a Toolbar icon.
• Contacts Sidebar - This extension displays the address books in a sidebar in the 3-pane-window and can be toggled with the F4 key or a toolbar button.
• mailTagger - An image browser used to insert images inside a mail in a quick and organized way.
• Easy Get Mail Button - Makes the 'Get new messages' button context-sensitive. Select an account root folder to get messages for that account, any other folder to get messages for all accounts.
• Signature Switch - Switch the signature on/off or choose a new one from your predefined set.
  Additional features include the support of fortune-cookie-files and automatic switching based on recipients.
• MinimizeToTray - Minimizes Mozilla windows into the system tray. Also includes a right clickable tray icon menu to further load only the windows you want visible.
  MinimizeToTray's extension options allow you to configure your desired behavior. The three options are: Always minimize to the tray instead of to the taskbar, minimize to tray on close or require a double click to restore from the tray.
• Mail Redirect - Allow to redirect (a.k.a. "bounce") mail messages to other recipients
• Attachment Sizes - Ability to see attachment sizes either in the attachment box on messages or in the attachment box on composes.
• Slideshow - Displays a slideshow of picture attachments. When email has attached pictures, it displays "View as Slideshow" button next to the attachment. Button click pops a slideshow window with all the images, allowing you to zoom in/out, save. A lot nicer than viewing the images embedded in the email.
• SendTools - Add SendAt option to the compose window to allow sending a message on a particular date and time
• XNote - Persistent sticky notes for Thunderbird associated to mails. It allows you to create a note for each mail. Thus, you can add for example the phone number of that contact or when you have to contact the sender back. Features : Add notes to messages, highlight messages with notes and resizable notes
  
  

Also worth mentioning is the webmail extension for Thunderbird which allows you to use web-based email providers like Yahoo, gMail, Hotmail, Lycos, Mail.com-based accounts and the ubiquitous AOL mail to send and receive messages without logging into the provider's webpage. In practice, they behave like regular POP3 email accounts you'd get from your Internet Service Provider.


Thunderbird also supports themes, letting you completely customize the look of the program. Some of my favorite themes are:

• Tiger Mail
• Redmond Revisited - the familiar Outlook Express theme for Thunderbird
• Outlook 2003 BlueTB, Outlook 2003 SilverTB and Outlook 2003 Green TB
  
• Noia 2.0 eXtreme
• Whitehart TB
• Mostly Crystal
• CrossOver
• Phoenity Thunderbird
• Walnut
• Aquabird
• WinMailBlue
• Doodle Plastik for Thunderbird
  
• glowywine series themes - the actual different-colored themes are on the [addons] menu to the left

Skype

What is Skype?
Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to anyone else on Skype, anywhere in the world. Also, until the end of the year (2006) you can also make free calls to landlines and mobiles in the US and Canada from Skype. And even though the calls are free, they are really excellent quality. If you and your friends, family or business contacts are using webcams, you can also make free video calls. You can even call landlines and mobile phones at really cheap per minute rates (and there’s no setup or subscription fee).

Do more than just calling
Just like instant messengers, you can also use Skype to chat and not just with one other person at a time, but with up to 100 people in a group chat. If it’s a really nice group chat, you can bookmark it and find it later, which is handy for persistent chats with family or business contacts.

It just works. No worries
Skype works on most kinds of computers — Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Pocket PCs. Calls, chats and file transfers work between all kinds of computers.

Skype automatically encrypts calls, chats and file transfers before sending it through the internet so no-one can intercept your call, text or file transfer. And it’s completely free of advertising, so you won’t be disturbed by annoying pop-ups or banners.

Google Earth

Google Earth - a 3D interface to your planet

With Google Earth you can explore the earth from above!

Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in -- Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips.

Google Earth puts a planet's worth of imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop. View exotic locales like Maui and Paris as well as points of interest such as local restaurants, hospitals, schools, and more.

Here are some key features of "Google Earth":

· Fly from space to your neighborhood. Type in an address and zoom right in.
· Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions.
· Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings.
· Save and share your searches and favorites. Even add your own annotations.


NOTE: If your computer is more than 2-3 years old, you might have trouble running this program...

Pop Peeper

POP Peeper is an email notifier that runs in your Windows task bar and alerts you when you have new email on any of your POP3, Hotmail, MSN, Yahoo, Mail.com, MyWay, Excite, Lycos.com, or RediffMail accounts.

ePrompter

ePrompter automatically and simultaneously checks and retrieves your email messages from up to sixteen password protected email accounts AND lets you read, delete and respond to any of your messages with a simple click on the account of your choice - without ever having to launch your email program or go to your webmail’s site. Importantly, when ePrompter retrieves messages, it leaves the original messages on your various email accounts’ servers and/or webmail sites.

HandyBits VoiceMail

If you are tired of typing e-mail messages, this tool is for you. With HandyBits Voice Mail you can create and e-mail sound messages to your friends.

Simply click the Record button (see picture), talk, and then click the Stop and Send buttons. That's it!

• send an email in your own words - as a standard audio file attachment
• great program for laptop users who have built-in microphones
• 3 easy steps from recording to message sent

Integrated sound recorder - with this feature you can record and play your messages with one single mouse click. Even more, you can adjust the volume and microphone level inside the Voice Mail window (see screen shot).

GSM compression - with this feature you can reduce the size of the e-mail message up to 10 times. This makes you able to send your voice messages over the Net 10 times faster!!! The compression is the same as the one used by your GSM cell phone, when transmitting your conversations.

Compatible with all e-mail programs - To send your messages, Voice Mail uses standard Windows MAPI, which makes it compatible with virtually any e-mail clients.

Compatible with all sound driver configurations - Voice Mail records your message into a Wave file. Wave is a standard format that is widely supported, so that your messages can be played virtually on any computers equipped with a sound card.

Drag & Attach Window - with this feature you can easily drag your Voice Mail message and add it to an existing e-mail message (e.g. when you are replying to others).

PDF Creator

PDF Creator easily and automatically creates PDF printouts from any Windows application. It can be set to automatically stamps the printed file with the page title, date and time of printing.

Winamp

Winamp is a very fast, flexible, high-fidelity media player for Windows. Winamp supports playback of many audio (MP3, OGG, AAC, WAV, MOD, XM, S3M, IT, MIDI, etc) and video types (AVI,ASF,MPEG,NSV), custom appearances called skins (supporting both classic Winamp 1.x/2.x skins and Winamp 3 freeform skins), audio visualization and audio effect plug-ins (including two industry dominating visualization plug-ins), an advanced media library, Internet radio and TV support, CD ripping, and CD burning.

Winamp also utilizes small plug-ins to add all kinds of features to the program. Some of my favorite plug-ins are :

Toaster - A track change notifier plugin. Displays notification popups with album / CD cover art display from either a file such as folder.jpg or from ID3 tags. Support for Now Playing titles in MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. The toasts can be skinned to the classic Winamp or custom skin. They animate using various animations. Format the display to show anything you like using an enhanced Advanced Title Formatting. A must have for the Winamp power user.

Winamp Advanced Controls - Control all the playback functions of Winamp from icons in the system tray. In a very small space (2 tray icons wide), you have the playback functions (Play / Pause, Stop / Load, Previous, Next) and the volume or the seeking bar. Plus, a right-click menu with all these functions, and more! An optional customizable popup balloon appears each time a new song begins (or on demand). Very useful for controlling Winamp straight from the taskbar without having to stop what you're working on.

WinAmp Notify - This plugin notifies you about which song is playing in Winamp(TM). The info about the song will be shown in PopUp. Very simple and straightforward.

LineIn plugin - This plugin enables you to use any input device with WinAMP, just as if it was a normal file (although you can't seek of course). An example would be connecting a cassette deck to your computer's AUDIO LINE-IN port and listening/recording through your PC.

Take It Easy - This DSP plug-in was designed to allow musicians to play along theis favourite songs changing the music tempo and tone. Enjoy your pratice. Does what it claims to do without any issues. Nothing special, just works as expected. Allows speeding up and slowing down with more precise control than 'Slow Me Down' plugin.

Playlist Unpacker - With this plugin you can unpack the current playlist-files into a directory. You can choose languages, english and german are avaiable. Some options allow you to keep the playlist's sequence or to unpack the songs into subfolders. It's quite useful for burning CD's or collecting songs for a mp3-player. So just enjoy it.
This neat little extention does exactly what it says on the cover: I usually make small selections from my library to share with others or to burn on CD. This usually involved putting up a playlist and the manually grabbing the files - usually restricting me to whole albums as it takes ages otherwise. Using this plugin I simply compile my playlist and when done I simply hit the button and all files are exported. Simple as that :) Now, why only 4 stars? I'd like to see a renaming function to rename files according to their tags and perhaps even sort them in directories based on genre or album. Small detail but when it does that I'll give it 5 stars :) One detail I liked as well: one of the other playlist exports reviewers stated that it didn't provide messages when something went wrong: this plugin notifies the user if something goes wrong and also wht file errored - awesome!

gen tbar winamp 2 - This simple plugin writes Winamp title data (for example playlist position, track title, artist and play time) on the caption of the currently active window. There are a few settings to change its behaviour. To contact me or check for updates, please use my website. Have fun!
Displays current Winamp track info in Windows title bars. This is especially useful if you have lots of windows open on your desktop, and you need a quick song ID... no need to dig up Winamp, just look at any window title bar for the info. Configuration includes font face, shift, etc.

SendTo - Do you need copy files from winamp to some folder (e.g. folder for burning, portable media player, etc)? Then do it easy with SendTo plugin!

Loop Master Musicians Tool - Loop Master is a great tool for musicians learning tunes and licks. It allows you to select start and end points in a song and will loop between the two points. It is especially useful when used with a DSP plugin that can change the tempo and pitch such as Pacemaker.

Wallpaper for Playlist Editor - With this installed you can have a given bitmap as your background with options on how this is decided (such as based on the filename of the track being played). set any picture as the wallpaper. changes the wallpaper based on the song that's being played. adjustable 'transparency'.

MP3Caster - This is a browser interface for Winamp. Queue a song, adjust the volume or balance, check the current play list and other Winamp functions from a browser on a different PC. Similar to a remote control. Works with Java enable browsers.

Winamp Bluetooth Remote - Control your Winamp from a Bluetooth device such as a cell phone, PDA or even another Bluetooth-equipped computer...

out lame - Writes output to an mp3 encoded file using the LAME DLL. Features complete configuration of the LAME DLL v3.97.1b including all the presets. Now uses Winamp ExtendedFileInfo API for writing ID3 tag information.

File Writer output plugin - This plugin works a bit like the standard Disk Writer plugin, the difference is that this plugin allows you to give files a date and time stamp in their file name (or any other data you would like there) or simply expand the title itself, following the same rules as my LineIn plugin (see my site http://home.hccnet.nl/th.v.d.gronde/), optionally you can also let it use just the title as it is given to the plugin. The plugin supports MP3, Ogg Vorbis (now both commandline support), wav, raw pcm, FLAC and APE (Monkey's Audio) as output formats, MP3 and Ogg Vorbis need some dlls or commandline encoders, see my site or mail me for more information, if you want to use either one.

MP3 Output Plugin - Why use a different program to rip CDs when you can rip them with Winamp? No ACM codec required either! Be sure to grab the CD Reader plugin from http://www.url.ru/~copah/ if you want to rip CDs (and read the help file too). You can use VBR and ABR encoding and select how to name the output. New in this version: Can add ID3 tags to output. Added option to display speed statistics after encoding each file (don't use it when you want to encode a CD, since a dialog box pops up after each track). Very handy mp3 converting tool for Winamp.... even allows for you to convert streaming media to mp3. New version has better output file naming. Chun-Yu Shei's plugin is a godsend. A great must-have plugin.

TV plugin for Winamp - This plugin lets you use Winamp to control your TV tuner. You can use the playlist manager, media library or your favorite general purpose plugin to control the TV or FM Radio, or all of them together! Arrange the channels any way you like, make many playlists with specific selections of channels, make copies of a channel, possibly with different settings... Hardware de-interlacing, extensive OSD menus, video display inside the skinned Video Window. Supports a wide variety of tuner and capture cards, including all-in-one solutions, VIVO cards, USB tuners, hardware MPEG encoders. For most current information visit http://winamptv.zapto.org.

Explorer Context Menu - Gives you access to the standard Windows 'right click menus' from within Winamp for files in the playlist. Be able to access the properties of files, 'Cut' and 'Copy' files, delete files, and more - whatever your shell provides. Chuck some cool stuff in your windows 'Send To' folder and go for your life.