Xmarks: Keep those bookmarks organized everywhere

Do you use two different browsers at work? Do you also have a computer at home? A laptop? An iphone? If you do and you bookmark sites everyday there is no easier way to keep all your bookmarks synched than installing Xmarks for your browser. There are plugins for firefox and chrome (these are the ones I use, though IE and Safari support exist) and it will make sure to keep your bookmarks synched between all your browsers. You just need to create an account and you’re good to go. It can also save your passwords and your open tabs if you want it to. They even have an iphone and ipad app, however it costs 99 cents. Or you can simply go to http://mobile.xmarks.com/, create a bookmark on your homepage and you’re set.

LINK: http://www.xmarks.com/

Rename Master: No more spaces!

Ever receive a folder full of PDFs or Images from a client and find no identifiable naming convention at all. Not to mention everything is in varying degrees of capitalization, punctuation and spaces everywhere. Don’t want to sit there and rename each file one by one. Not to worry, this free app to the rescue. Point to your folder of choice, select the files you wish to rename, set your rules or choose a template you’ve created previously and run the app. Boom! All your files renamed nice and neat. The apps a definite life-saver and pain in the ass remover. However, there might be too many options and its a bit complex, however it does what it needs so one can’t complain. I’ll admit usabilty-wise it’s tough to get a handle on it. Just remember in the bottom right corner the icon with the arrows on it is what you click to run your rename process….intuitive no, but hey it’s free.

LINK: http://www.joejoesoft.com/cms/showpage.php?cid=108

TeraCopy : Copy your files faster and easier

This is a great and very useful utility if you find yourself copying large amounts of files or massive files on a windows computer. We’ve all had windows crap out or fail on large transfers and had to wait hours for folders to be copied or moved. Using TeraCopy is an intelligent file copy tool that speeds up file transfers quite significantly especially if your copying from one drive to another. It will also provide details on failed transfers (rather than just stopping the complete transfer), so that you can go back and fix the ones that didn’t make it. It also add’s to your right-click menu so using it is as simple as selecting TeraCopy or TeraMove rather than Copy or Move when you drag and drop your folders and files. Definitely a must have utility just for the piece of mind it provides.

LINK: http://www.codesector.com/teracopy.php

Support Details, Tech Support Anger Management

We get a lot of client emails saying “so and so doesn’t seem to work for me” and other random bugs. If we can’t seem to replicate it locally, the next question we send is “what browser, OS are you viewing it on?”. Depending on a clients technical skills they may or may not be able to provide you with details you want. Problem solved! Send them to http://supportdetails.com/ and have them send you an email and you’ll receive all the necessary information so that you can replicate the environment they are using. Nice and simple and a great idea. It’ll make it easier for both parties. You can even send a url prefilled with your email and their name and email, so your client just needs to follow your link and hit send (ie http://supportdetails.com/?sender_name=Jessica&sender=email@sender.com&recipient=email@recipient.com).

LINK: http://supportdetails.com/

Xenocode Browser Sandbox – Run any browser from the web

A handy site, that lets you run a variety of the most popular browsers and versions directly from their website. All you need to do is install a plugin, then click on the browser you want to test and it will load the browser for you to use. Very useful for IE6 testing. Of course if you need to test it across platforms you’ll need to use browsershots or similar service. Only for the PC though.

LINK: http://www.xenocode.com/browsers/

15 Essential Checks Before Launching Your Website

A very concise checklist of items that should be mandatory for any website QA process. Definitely best practices. Please follow them!!

Evernote. Remember Everything.

A very late adopter on this one, as i never really thought i’d get any use out of it. But once you start using it, it becomes a part of your everyday routine. If you find yourself working on multiple computer’s (work and home) or on your iphone, you’ll find this tool indispensible in keeping you synched up. So rather than having to email yourself links, notes or files, simply add them to evernote and grab them from anywhere. I find it most useful for keeping track of links I want to read on a later date or for making sure i’m able to access items at home that i find at work. Just a lot more manageable than sticky notes and email. And with the iphone app you’ll never be disconnected again.

ScribeFire Firefox blogging extension

If you’re on firefox all day long and you have a blog or two, ScribeFire is a must have firefox extension. Rather than a separate desktop app or actually having to log-in to your blog manually, simply call up the ScribeFire window from your firefox toolbar and fire away. Works with a bunch of the more popular blogging platforms Wordpress, Tumblr, Movable Type etc. You can manage multiple accounts. And even upload images to your blog. Very handy if you’re on a page you want to talk about and it’s one less tab you need open. Two thumbs up!

Download: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1730

Windows Taskbar Shuffle

Call me a neat freak or just pretending to be organized, but i’ve always wanted to be able to move items in my taskbar around. If you are like me and have 15-20 windows open at a time this can be a great way of putting the windows you need most where you want them in the task bar or for grouping windows together. As Dane at work says, “It’s just frivolous!”, but i like to say i’m now in control!

As a bonus, clicking your scroll wheel over an item in your taskbar will close it. No more having to right click….okay maybe it’s frivolous.

Download: http://nerdcave.webs.com/

Firefox Site Launcher

Handy little app that lets you quickly launch sites with keyboard shortcuts. Hit CTRL + SPACE to call up the window, and hit the corresponding letter on your keyboard to launch your sites. Great if you find yourself accessing the same pages over and over and would rather not go through your bookmarks each and every time.

Download: http://www.donesmart.com/sitelauncher/