Today we look at the last part of the apps I recommend for a new or existing computer. Take your time, read through them, check their sites for more information, and use them if you feel like they would help you.
11. OneNote (office.com or onenote.com)
OneNote is a digital note-taking app that provides a single place for keeping all of your notes, research, plans, lesson plans if you are an educator, article ideas if you are a writer, etc. It was and is part of the Microsoft operating system and Office. Up until Windows 11, it vanished. You may still use it for free, but you must download and install it, either online or as part of the Microsoft 365 free, or paid, version. You can do a lot of note-taking and entry of organizational data with it, including typed information, handwritten notes, drawings, sketches, recording or inserting audio, adding video, sharing, and collaborating with it as you wish. It is set up like separate notebooks, sections, and pages. You can search for anything in it and then print whatever you need from it.
12. Pocket (getpocket.com)
Pocket is a free service from Mozilla that allows you to save articles, videos, and other web content to read or watch later on any device. Pocket has a paid or premium version, but I have never looked at the paid version, as the free version is great. It is similar to Flipboard (mentioned before), but you choose exactly what to add to your collections. It is a great way to keep track of interesting content that you do not have time to read or watch right away, or to save content that you want to revisit later. You simply create an account and install the Pocket app on your devices. Once you have the app installed, you can save content to Pocket by clicking or tapping the Pocket button in your browser or from within the Pocket app itself. You can later view them from the Pocket site once you sign in. Pocket is a great way to save and manage the content that is important to you.
13. ShareX (getsharex.com)
ShareX is a free and open-source screenshot and screencast software for Windows. ShareX can be used to capture full-screen or partial screenshots. Once captured, the graphic may be exported into various image formats. It can also record animated GIF files and videos. An included image editor lets users annotate captured screenshots or modify them with borders, image effects, watermarks, etc. Just copy and paste them in an email. Easy. I use it extensively for graphics at GrayHaired.Tech, and it works flawlessly.
14. VLC (videolan.org)
This is easy. VLC is free, easy to use, and the best video and audio player on the market, in my opinion. I feel that it is much better than the video player that is included with Windows. Download it, try it you will like it.
15. Zoom (zoom.com)
Since C***D hit a couple of years ago, Zoom has become a household word. Zoom is the free, or paid, video meeting software that works very well for home and business. There are differences between the free and paid Zoom accounts. But the main ones are that the free one allows up to 40 minutes per meeting with a maximum of 100 participants. The paid version has no time limits on meetings and up to 300 participants. There is an option to purchase add-ons for larger meetings. Free Zoom accounts can only record meetings locally to your device. Paid Zoom accounts can record meetings to the cloud, which makes it easier to share recordings with others. There are a few other differences, but these seem to be the most vital, in my opinion.
Enjoy the apps, and let me know if there are any others you like to “need” with your new computer.
