(This is the Online column written for The Southland Times)
It’s time for another look at the seemingly never-ending range of free goodies available online.
Plaxo is a clever little address book system. Your contacts, calendar, tasks and notes can all be accessed not just on your computer but also online, meaning you can synchronise them on more than one computer.
Linux fans will appreciate BSOD screensaver, which pretends to cause a crash, reboots, then installs Linux. It’s the perfect way to have a little fun with the Microsoft aficionados.
Imagine crash-landing on the planet Notrium. Then imagine your day going from bad to worse with low food supplies, a pack of predatory aliens on your trail, no bullets for your pistol, having a handful of rocks as your only defence, night falling and needing to look for wood to make a fire. If you like the sound of that, you can download the single-player survival game of Notrium.
Parental Filter is a simple porn blocker. If you’re worried about what your children might be looking at online, it’s worth a look.
If you have a movie collection, get it under control with the OXD Movie Organizer. It’s easy to use and is integrated with the online movie information site Internet Movie Database.
Keeping with the getting organised theme, Sticky Note Organizer is a get-your-life-sorted program that lets you place virtual sticky notes on your screen, while Desk Buddy Lite from Jalco Software is designed to replace the old desktop blotter pad and comes with a diary, notepad, calendar, calculator and more.
If you’re looking for an eye-catching interface that lets you manage yearly, monthly, weekly and daily tasks and also features a contacts manager that links with your e-mail client, then Unforgiven Organizer might be the one for you. This one isn’t freeware — the author calls it sisterware, which means if you download it you must introduce him to your sister.
Spongebob Squarepants fans (and there are many of us) can download the Spongebob screen toy. It’s a three-for-one deal, with Patrick and Squidward included.