Mischa Greenwood

Links

Community Education

UPDATED FEBRUARY, 2013

Community Education & Development

International Resources

British Columbia Resources

Burnaby & Lower Mainland Resources

South Burnaby Resources

Family Support & Social Services

Grants & Exchange Programs

After School, Summer & School-based Community Programs

Parenting, Family Literacy & Intergenerational Learning

Career Planning & Working in Canada

eBooks & Digital Reading Tools

UPDATED JUNE, 2011

Public Library Resources

eBook Reader Software

Library Management & eBook Conversion

  • Alfa Ebooks Manager – eBook Library management software (trialware; earlier version is free)
  • bookTome – Book management system
  • Calibre – eBook library management application (with conversion tools)
  • eLibrary – eBook organizer with tagging and search capabilities
  • LibraryThing, Goodreads, aNobii and Shelfari – Create personalized library-quality catalogues online
  • Stanza Desktop – Converts your books from various formats into ePub (and can transfer your books to Stanza iPhone/iPod Touch)

Free eBooks

Free Book Guides, Notes & Summaries Online

  • CliffNotes – Literature study guides
  • JiffyNotes.com – Study guides that focus on literary analysis
  • PinkMonkey – Over 460 study guides, book notes and chapter summaries
  • Shmoop – Study guides and teacher resources
  • Spark Notes – Literature study guides

Online Book Databases & Search Engines

  • Google Books – Search the full text of books online (based on the Partner Program and the Library Project)
  • PDFGeni – Dedicated search engine for PDF eBooks, manual, catalogues, sheets, forms and documents
  • PDF Search Engine – PDF eBooks and documents
  • Scribd – The world’s largest social reading and publishing company (requires an account to download books)

Miscellaneous

eBook Reader Reviews & Tutorials

Free & Open-source Software

UPDATED JUNE, 2011

Operating Systems & OS Configuration Tools

  • Flow – Chrome OS that fits in only 2GB of space! (Use Image Writer for Windows to write the image to a USB drive).
  • nLite – Pre-installation Windows XP configuration tool
  • vLite – Pre-installation Windows Vista configuration tool
  • RT Se7en Lite – Pre-installation Windows 7 configuration tool
  • Ubuntu – Community developed Linux operating system with a ton of integrated apps

Web Browsers

E-mail, IM & RSS Applications

  • Digsby – Manage all your existing IM, email, and social network accounts from one application
  • Meebo – Online instant messaging integrator
  • Thunderbird – Flexible, powerful, and lightweight email application
  • Pidgin – Universal instant messaging client
  • Snackr – Desktop RSS ticker
  • Zimbra Desktop – Full email, contact, calendar, document management and offline access features

Image Creation, Editing & Manipulation

Audio & Video Software

  • abcAVI Tag Editor – Add, browse and change AVI tags
  • AtomicParsley – Edit MPEG-4 tags (iTunes-style metadata)
  • Audacity – Cross-platform sound editor
  • foobar2000 – Advanced customizable audio player (add-ons: Columns UI, iPod manager and Skins)
  • iTunes – Digital music and video player (uses Gracenote for CD identification)
  • iTunes Export – Exports iTunes playlists to standard types
  • Media Jukebox – Collect, organize and play your digital music collection
  • Media Player Classic Home Cinema – Audio/video player with minimal footprint
  • MediaMonkey – Digital media and media library application
  • Miro – Internet TV viewer, video player and podcast/torrent client
  • MP3Gain – Analyzes and adjusts mp3 files so that they have the same volume
  • Mp3tag – Universal tag editor (easy-to-use tool to edit metadata of common audio formats)
  • MusicBrainz Picard – Audio file tagger
  • Muziic – Stream virtually any song or music video on-demand
  • Pod to PC – iPod and iPhone transfer software (requires iTunes to be installed)
  • SharePod – Add and remove music, videos, playlists and artwork on your iPod
  • Songbird – Customizable music player (from Mozilla)
  • Songr – Download free music directly from you desktop
  • The Levelator – Adjust the audio levels within audio files
  • VLC Media Player – Cross-platform multimedia framework, player and server
  • YamiPod – iPod management application (no installation needed)

Ripping, Transcoding & Burning

Media Servers & Centres

  • Boxee – Media centre with social networking and internet TV
  • Boxee Integration 1.0 – Integrates Boxee with Windows Media Centre
  • MCEBuddy – Convert, shrink and remove ads from your media centre recordings
  • MediaPortal – Media centre and PVR
  • Orb – Streams digital media to multiple devices
  • PS3 Media Server – DLNA compliant UPnP Media Server for the PS3
  • TVersity – Media server (access media from your TV, STB, game consoles and mobile devices)
  • XBMC – Media centre with easy-to-use interface
  • XBMC Integration 1.0 – Integrates XBMC with Windows Media Centre

Screen Capture & Recording

  • CamStudio – Screen recording
  • Greenshot – Screenshot tool optimized for productivity
  • MWSnap – Screen capture utility
  • Jing Project – Capture, record & share online
  • WebKut – Capture web pages (or parts of them)

Video & Internet Voice Conferencing

Office/Productivity Applications

Antivirus & Spyware Removal Software

File Security

System Backup Utilities

File & Disc Management

System Tools

  • Advanced SystemCare Free – One-click approach to help protect, repair, clean, and optimize your PC
  • Bandwidth Monitor Pro – Utility that displays and logs your network adapters bandwidth usage
  • Belarc Advisor – Builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, etc.
  • CCleaner – System optimization, privacy and cleaning tool
  • Connectify – Easy-to-use software router for Windows 7 computers
  • FileHippo.com Update Checker – Checks installed software versions to see if there are any newer releases
  • Glary Utilities – Numerous powerful and easy-to-use system tools and utilities to fix, speed up, maintain and protect your PC
  • Keyfinder – Retrieves product keys used to install Windows, Office and other applications
  • Ninite – Customizable multiple application installer
  • PC Decrapifier – Remove programs from new computers
  • PowerToys – Additional functionality for Windows XP
  • Process Explorer – Displays information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded
  • Process Hacker – Feature-packed tool for manipulating processes and services
  • Revo Uninstaller – Comprehensive uninstall utility
  • Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) – Secure your computer against vulnerabilities in programs
  • SUMo – Software update monitor (download the “No RK” Sumo Lite version)
  • Synergy – Share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems
  • WinKeyFinder – Retrieves product keys used to install Windows and Office

System Optimizers

  • Cache My Work – Automatically reopen apps after rebooting
  • Copernic Desktop Search – Search files, e-mails and attachments stored on your PC’s hard drive
  • DeskPins – Make any application topmost
  • Desktop Media – Automatically add drive icons to your desktop
  • Desktops – Organize your applications on up to four virtual desktops
  • Executor – Multi-purpose launcher and advanced/customizable version of Windows run
  • Fences – Create icon groups and organize your desktop
  • Lacuna Launcher – Set a group of files to be opened with a single shortcut
  • Launchy – Keystroke launcher
  • MenuApp – Create menus to launch your favourite programs, files, websites, etc.
  • PortableApps – Carry programs around with you on a portable device and use on any Windows computer
  • QTTabBar – Adds tabbed browsing to Explorer
  • Rocketdock – Application launcher
  • StandaloneStack 2 – Create program “stacks” off of a single icon
  • Stick – Access commonly used utilities quickly and easily using ScreenTabs
  • Taskbar Shuffle – Drag and drop your Windows taskbar buttons
  • VirtuaWin – Virtual desktop manager
  • VistaSwitcher – Elegant and powerful task management utility
  • WinShake – Add some Windows 7 tweaks to XP and Vista
  • WinSplit Revolution – Tile, resize and position open windows to make the best use of your desktop
  • WizMouse – Make your mouse wheel work on the window under the mouse
  • xNeat Clipboard Manager – Clipboard extender (keeps track of all copied items)

Hardware Testing, Optimization & Benchmarking

  • AS SSD Benchmark – Benchmark utility for solid state drives (official site in German)
  • CPU-Z – Lightweight utility that gathers information about your CPU, motherboard and memory
  • CrystalDiskInfo – HDD/SSD utility software
  • Darik’s Boot and Nuke – Hard drive disk wipe and data clearing utility
  • DriverMax – Downloads the latest driver updates for your hardware
  • EASEUS Partition Manager – Disk partition management tool
  • Firmware HQ – Firmware updates for your optical drive
  • GPU-Z – Lightweight utility that gathers information about your video card and GPU
  • HD Tach – Low level hardware benchmark for random access read/write storage devices
  • HD Tune – Hard disk benchmark and health utility
  • HWMonitor – Hardware monitoring program that reads voltages, temperatures and fan speeds
  • KillDisk – Hard drive and partition eraser utility
  • Memtest86+ – Detect memory failures
  • Partition Wizard – Partition manager that supports XP, Vista and 7 (in both 32/64 bit versions)
  • Prime95 – Loads your CPU to 100% by calculating prime numbers (the standard for stress testing your CPU)
  • Real Temp – CPU temperature monitoring program
  • Roadkil’s Disk Wipe – Securely erases the contents of a disk (run from within Windows)
  • SpeedFan – Monitor voltages, fan speeds and temperatures
  • Speedtest – Test the speed of your internet connection
  • Support Details – System information provided online (e.g. OS, IP address, screen resolution)

Desktop Personalization

Web Site Development & Downloaders

  • bit.ly and goo.gl – URL shorteners
  • CSE HTML Validator Lite – HTML editor and basic HTML syntax checker
  • Drupal – Content management platform
  • FileZilla – File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program
  • HTTrack – Easy-to-use offline browser utility
  • JAlbum – Web photo album publishing software
  • KompoZer – Web authoring system (file management and WYSIWYG page editing)
  • Notepad++ – Source code editor
  • SharePoint Designer 2007 – WYSIWYG HTML editor and web design program from Microsoft
  • SpringWidgets – Create widgets and other cool gadgets for your website
  • Sprout – Build, publish and manage widgets and other forms of rich media content
  • Widgetbox – Self-service web widget platform
  • WinWSD – Website downloader for Windows
  • WordPress – Self-hosted blogging tool (free publishing platform)

Windows Home Server Add-Ins & Apps

Cloud Computing (Online Apps)

  • Aviary – Online media creation tools
  • BibMe – Automatic bibliography generator
  • Bloglines – Subscribe, create and share news feeds, blogs and rich web content
  • Dabbleboard – Collaborative whiteboard
  • FillAnyPDF – Upload a PDF form, obtain a link to it, fill it out and sign it online
  • flickr – Image storage
  • Floorplanner – Create and share interactive floor plans online
  • FotoFlexer – Photo editing
  • Google Docs – Office applications
  • Google Wave – Web application for real-time communication and collaboration
  • Netvibes – Personalized dashboard publishing platform (website and RSS aggregator)
  • PDF Filler – Fill in PDF forms online
  • Picasa – Image storage
  • Prezi – Create presentations online
  • splashup – Photo editing
  • SurveyMonkey – Free online survey software and questionnaire tool
  • Vuvox – Mix, create and blend personal media into an online media product
  • Zoho – Suite of online office applications

File Sharing & Online Storage

  • Dropbox – Store, sync and share your files online
  • Drop.io – Privately share your files by web, email, phone, fax, and more
  • DynDNS Free – Create a hostname that points to your home IP address (static or dynamic)
  • eSnips – Publish and share any media type
  • Gladinet – Share files and services amongst computers
  • GoAruna – Free file storage, sent file history, and extended file sharing
  • Leaf – Folder sharing across the internet
  • LogMeIn Hamachi – A hosted VPN service that securely connects devices and networks
  • SugarSync – File access/sync/share and online backup from any device
  • syncplicity – Share, back up, and synchronize files
  • YouSendIt – Send files up to 2GB securely over the internet

Miscellaneous Software

  • BitPim – View and manipulate data on CDMA phones
  • Celestia – Real-time 3D space simulation
  • Evernote – Save ideas and things you see (using your computer, phone and the web)
  • Google Earth
  • IOGraph – App that turns mouse movements into modern art
  • Stellarium – Rendered skies in real-time