Still Free?

There is a wealth of free tools available through the net.   If you don't already have the free tools listed on this page, you should go get them today!  The government now publishes most of it's documents online in what's known as "Print Definition Format," or PDF files.  Want tax forms and the instructions for filling them out?  You can get both online anytime you want.   Many organizations publish their information across the net today.  Let's hope that the NMSS joins the band wagon soon!  Wouldn't it be nice to get the pamphlet you want when you need it?

You've already heard me talk about the Real Player.  I can't say enough about this free piece of software.  It does more and more all the time.  There is even a place to watch really old movies using this software.   The makers of the Real Player have made it easy to create content.  Even you can do it. 

Wait there's more!  (sorry, Ron, I couldn't resist)    That's right, there is more.  Another useful tool you'll need is from PKWare.  This software allows you to compress multiple files into one file (ever hear of a ZIP file type?).  Compressing your files makes it easier to store and retrieve your data that you don't use often (it won't take as much space on your hard drive, too).   It can also greatly improve the time it takes to send and receive information across the net.  You may already have this software and just don't know it.

Now there is a new format for storing music that still delivers CD quality playback.  This new standard (from the Motion Picture Expert Group, or MPEG) is called MP3.  Using the MP3 format you can now place about 10 hours worth of music on a standard CD!  Don't counterfeit anybody's music!  That's still against the law (and it's bad Karma!).  You should still buy your music (online if you want)  and support your favorite artists.  That's only fair.   However, you might not want to take 10 CDs with you to the beach or picnic party.  

Look for a lot of new file formats for new (and old) types of data we're already used to using.  Here's a twist on one of the oldest forms of data, the written word.  What could be new about text documents that you read?

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