If you are a company owner or maintain a network irrespective of it size and want to get control over USB ports, then USB Blocker is just the application for you.

As the name implies; USB Blocker is a nifty, light-weight app that blocks USB Ports on a computer or in large networks. Using this tool you have full control over who connects the USB to which port; you can either block all the ports in the network or customize it to allow access to different computers in the network.

The interface of USB Blocker is very simple and easy to use, in just a few clicks you can either block or unblock any port that you want to give access. USB blocker is a free product of NetWrix (Microsoft Gold Certified Partner) corporation and can’t get any simpler than this. So if you are cautious about the unauthorized access of USB devices to your computer then that’s just the app you need! (Image Credit: IntoWindows)

Download USB Blocker

However, Lexar’s USB format is an excellent portable tool which was initially designed for Lexar USB’s only, but because of increase in demand now works side by side with other USB drives.

The main window of the application provides you an easy interface, which not only helps you in Flipping the removable bit, but you can also use this tool to format your USB drive, make it bootable or set a volume label when ever needed. In order to create a partition all you have to do it to click on the Flip Removable Bit button, as seen in the screenshot below.

However, you will need to set up a multiple USB stick partions discussed at Ghacks to resolve this issue. [via]

Download Lexar USB Format (.Zip File)

But have you ever thought of adding tabs to your Windows Explorer? Perhaps not. Now with QTTabBar – an easy to use tool that allow users to add tabs to Windows Explorer; meaning that you can open folders in the same way you open web pages in Firefox or IE7.

(Image Courtesy: LifeHacker)

This tool will help you save space on your taskbar. It also lets you add a drop-down preview as seen in the screen-shot above and a few toolbar buttons that add entries like “Recently Closed” or favorites. There is another additional feature which lets users to set password to any folder they want, giving them more security. In order to set a password all you have to do is Right-click on the tab and choose ‘Set Password‘.  Next time you click on that folder you’ll have to provide a password in order to pass through.

Installation is also very easy and simple; download the zip file, unzip it and execute RegisterQTTabBar.exe file. Restart the computer and log back in to use the utility. For those who are using Windows XP, make sure Microsoft .NET framework 2.0 or 3.0 is installed on your computer or download from here.

I wonder why Microsoft didn’t implemented this feature in Windows Vista? Lets see if it makes it way to Windows 7 or not. What do you think?

Download QT TabBar (Free)

The best option that I would suggest users is to set a password on Windows. This will not only prevent your family members from accessing your private files, but it will also prevent your friends from sneaking into your computer/laptop while you are away. However, if you are among those users who are hesitant of creating a password just because you’ll forget it in the near future here’s a how you can recover lost passwords in Windows.

Regardless to that, if you still want to block your friends from accessing some application, Applocker is just the right tool that will do wonders! Basically, Applocker is a free, lightweight utility that prevents unauthorized access to certain applications that comes by default in Windows. For instance, you have the leverage to block apps including, Notepad, Calculator, MS Office programs, Internet Explorer, etc.

All of these and other similar options are available on the main window of Applocker. All you have to do it to check those applications that you want to block/lock and then hit the ‘Save’ button when finished. In addition to that, you can add as many application that you want to block/lock. For this click on the Configure button from the main window. Add any application by typing its caption and .exe file name. For example, if you want to block FireFox, simply name the caption ‘Mozilla Firefox‘ and then type the firefox.exe file name. Click the add button when finished.

So when ever any one would click on the application, a message will be displayed prompting the user to contact the admin. AppLocker works with Windows 2K, XP, Server 2003 and Server 2008.

The only downside to this application is that Applocker does not provide any security mechanism to prevent users from accessing the application itself. Any one can easily open Applocker and simply uncheck the applications from the list to use it. Not so clever after all!  [Via]

Download Applocker for Windows

Keeping this fact in mind. I have compiled a list that deals with those applications that are most common is use and will definitely help you out while performing different tasks. You can choose any application that best suites your need, install it on your USB Drive and then carry it anywhere you go.

1. Spybot Portable Anti Spyware

Spybot Search and Destroy was created to find and remove all kind of spyware from your PC. Some signs can suggest you the computer is infected or is a risk.

2. Convert

Convert is an easy to use unit conversion program that will convert the most popular units of distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others, including the ability to create custom conversions!

3. Angry IP Scanner

Scan a range of IP addresses to see which ones are in use. Also tells you hostname, MAC address, open ports, computer name, workgroup, and logged in Windows users.

4. CPU-Z

Very detailed information about your processor and other components.

5. CDex

CDex is a CD-Ripper, extracting digital audio data from an Audio CD. The application supports many Audio encoders, like MPEG (MP2,MP3), VQF, AAC encoders

6. Bitcomet

BitComet is a fast and easy-to-use BitTorrent/HTTP/FTP download client. It is P2P file-sharing freeware and one of the most popular P2P protocols designed for high-speed distribution.

7. Mega Mario

Clone of Super Mario Brothers, which expands or improves upon just about every feature of the original.

8. WinAudit

Another analysis tool that is useful for finding out information about a computer.

9. Trillian

Trillian is a fully featured, stand-alone chat client that supports AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, and IRC.

10. Treesize Free

TreeSize Free tells you where precious space has gone to. TreeSize Free can be started from the context menu of a folder or drive and shows you the size of this folder, including its subfolders.

11. Skype

Skype is software that enables you to make free calls anywhere in the world. Skype uses innovative P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you with other users.

12. Follow-Me IP

Utility for finding your external IP address quickly.

13. Baby FTP

This Baby FTP server has only the most necessary features and is yet powerful enough to be a basis for a more complex server.

14. IE Privacy keeper

IE Privacy Keeper automatically cleans up the browser history once you are done surfing the net. The program will correctly clean up all index.dat files without the need for a Windows restart.

15. AcroPAD

AcroPAD is a simple Notepad-like program with PDF production capability. Handy for quick generation of simple PDF documents.

16. Dekart Light

Dekart Private Disk Light is free disk encryption software for Windows. This free disk encryption software creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.

17. PStart

A Start Menu like program that allows you to organize and quickly run your portable programs.

18. Teamviewer

TeamViewer is a simple and fast solution for remote control, desktop sharing and file transfer that works behind any firewall and NAT proxy.

19. Winamp

Winamp Lite enables you to listen to music, watch videos, rip and burn CD’s and much more.

20. Faststone

FastStone Capture is a powerful, flexible and intuitive screen-capture utility. It allows you to capture anything on the screen including windows, objects, full screen, rectangle regions, freehand-selected regions and scrolling windows/web pages.

21. Restoration

Allows you to undelete files that have been accidentally deleted from the computer.

22. Infra Recorder Portable

Portable CD/DVD burning software.

23. CDBurner XP

Writes all kind of mediums apart from double-layer DVD. Burning video-DVD’s is limited though.

24. Defrag GUI

Power Defragmenter is based on Sysinternals defragmentation “engine”. Basically its just a very advanced GUI for the Sysinternals core application which takes defragmentation process to a whole new level.

25. HijackFree

A-squared HiJackFree is a detailed system analysis tool which helps advanced users to detect and remove all types of HiJackers, Spyware, Adware, Trojans and Worms.

26. Resource Hacker

Resource HackerTM is a freeware utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executable and resource files (*.res).

27. Wiki on a Stick

Useful for storing product keys, configurations notes and more.

28. Screamer

Screamer Radio is an Internet radio player ready with hundreds of easily recordable radio stations at your fingertips.

29. JkDefrag

Disk optimizer and defragmenter.

30. ClamWin Portable

ClamWin Portable is the popular ClamWin antivirus packaged as a portable application, so you can take your antivirus with you to scan files on the go

31. Stress Prime 2004

A stress test for CPUs and Memory.

32. Faststone Capture

FastStone Capture is a powerful, lightweight, yet full-featured screen capture tool that allows you to easily capture and annotate anything on the screen including windows, objects, menus, full screen, rectangular/freehand regions and even scrolling windows/Web pages.

33. HiJackThis

A hijacker detector and remover. Outputs information to a log file so you can share the results with others when needing help.

34. Avast! Virus Cleaner

Scans the computer for a specific set of viruses and worms.

35. LockNote

A simple text file that allows you to store usernames, passwords, phone numbers, and more with 256bit password encryption.

36. SIW

A system analysis tool that tells you almost everything you need to know about a computer. Useful for finding information about your hardware, Windows configuration, and settings.

37. VDownloader

Search for videos in sites like YouTube, DailyMotion, Yahoo, Megaupload, or Google at the same time. You can watch, download, or save videos with just one click.

38. RockXP

View and change product keys for installed Microsoft products including Windows very quickly.

39. PuTTY Portable

PuTTY Portable is the popular PuTTY telnet and SSH client packaged as a portable app, so you can connect in to your systems on the go.

40. Irfanview

IrfanView is a fast and compact image viewer/converter. It is trying to be simple for beginners and powerful for professionals. Many supported file formats and features.

41. Portable Opera

If you would rather use Opera it is also available in portable format.

42. Notepad++

Notepad++ Portable is the handy Notepad++ text editor packaged as a portable app so you can do your development on the go.

43. McAfee Stinger

A stand-alone utility that scans for and removes specific viruses.

44. Opera USB

Opera is a fast and secure web browser that features pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, built-in email and RSS client etc.

45. Server2Go

Allows you to install an apache webserver right on to your flash drive with no configuration.

46. NetSetMan

NetSetMan is a network settings manager which can easily switch between 6 different profiles, each with its IP address, DNS server, default printer, etc.

47. Abiword

AbiWord Portable is the lightweight AbiWord word processor packaged as a portable app, so you can edit your documents on the go.

48. CurrPorts

Allows you to see detailed information about all of the TCP/IP and UDP ports being used on the computer including which program is using them.

49. PStart

Start is a simple tray tool to start user defined applications. Designed to run portable applications.

50. PC Decrapifier

Uninstalls trialware and annoyances from new computers. Makes cleaning up a new computer much easier and saves a lot of time.

51. HFS

An http file server that allows you to easily share files right from your USB drive.

52. Total Commander

Total Commander is a file manager for Windows, a program like Windows Explorer to copy, move or delete files. However, Total Commander can do much more than Explorer.

53. Unstoppable Copier

Copies files from disks that have physical damage.

What?! Your favorite application is not in the list! Drop a comment and we’ll add this to our list.

However the services it offers comes at a high price. It will cost you $29.95 bucks to get a tune up for your PC. Luckily, you can get this PC suite for free. Want to know how you can get your hands on a free genuine license key of TuneUp Utilities? Read on…

Grab Free TuneUp Utilities 2008 License key

Step #1. Simply hover to this page,

Step #2. Scroll down and click the Zum Download button. You will be redirected to a download page,

Step #3. Click Download Server Online CHIP. After a few moments download will start automatically,

Step #4. Once the download is complete, extract the file and click the text file inside it. This will contain a unique Serial key. Use it to get a free license key.

Note: There is slight problem with this, the Zip file contains a setup which is in German. If you are using TuneUp Utilities for the first time, download an English version from here.

Our special Thanks to Chip Magazine for sharing it with our reader!

This app was previously expected to be released in the second quarter this year. However, Yahoo! decided to unveil their latest app for iPhone early this morning. The app is equipped with all the necessary features that you find in the regular Yahoo! messenger and the best part is that you can take your Yahoo! messenger any where you go with your iPhone.

Some of the main features are:

1. Instant message
2. Stealth settings
3. Photo sharing
4. Custom Status message
5. Photo sharing
6. Recent conversations archive
7. Photo sharing
8. Special idle state
9. Photo sharing
10. Additional settings

In addition to that you can send free email messages to your friends and family right from your iPhone. If you want to change your status from active to idle or busy, just tap and it changes!

Yahoo! Messenger for the iPhone also offers a special idle state, if you leave the app to attend a call or start using another application on your iPhone,Yahoo! messenger will keep you signed in, however it will automatically change your current status from active to idle.

Here’s a video demonstration of Yahoo! Messenger app for iPhone.

Did I mention that its absolutely free? So why not grab it for your iPhone as well, from here.

Ubuntu Customization Pack contains the visual styles for Ubuntu, Cursors, Boot Screen, LogonUI, Screensaver, custom sounds and much more.

The file size is rougly 20 MB. After download, extract the file and make sure to read “How To Use” text file enclosed inside it.

Grab Ubuntu Customization Pack

This can have a drastic effect on the overall performance of the system, making it slower and increasing systems boost time. (More about boost time and how to improve it, here).

Although its quite easy for experienced users to play with Windows and perform certain tweaks or hacks that stabilizes the system performance to an optimum level; however, its not that easy for novice users and the chances are that they might mess up with the system making it obsolete.

If you are one of those people who either don’t know about Windows Vista (Windows in general) or are afraid to perform tweaks, then Vista Service Optimizer is an excellent alternative for you.

This is a must have tool that enables users to safely turn off those services which are not performing any useful task, thus allowing it to fine tune and speedup systems performance. In addition to this, it also provides services like, Automatic and Manual Tune Ups, System Diagnostics, Services Test, System Restore feature, to name a few.

Once you click on the Services Diagnostics button inside the application, it will display a list of active programs and will suggest services/programs that can safely be turned off, without effecting system’s stability.

One of the most admiring feature is that it allows users to either perform a manual tune-up that lets them select from a more detailed list of features that they want to disable or choose automatic tune-up that automatically tunes up the system based on what is suitable for it.

Users can undo any changes that have been made by the Vista System Optimizer by simply going to Windows Vista Optimizer’s Rescue Center, this will bring the system to the default, unoptimized state that previously it was on. Above all, this application is free of charge but works for Windows Vista only. However, you’ll need to download .NET Framework in order to run it.

Download Vista Service Optimizer

I was more interested in finding a simple registry hack that would eventually solve this problem. Instead I stumbled upon to a great application named Vista Shortcuts Overlay Manager.

Actually the name is quite misleading, this application doesn’t do much expect for changing the default icon behavior of your shortcuts in Windows Vista.

As can be seen from the screen shot above, this application only provides you with four options;

1. Arrow
2. Light Arrow
3. Custom Arrow
4. No Arrow

There is one last option right at the bottom of the program, which says;

Select here to remove “-shortcut” extension when new shortcuts are created

You need to log-out of your account and log-in for the changes to take effect. Don’t forget to install .NET Framework for this to work.

Download Vista Shortcut Manager

Although MySpace toolbar was underdevelopment for the past few months, they had only made available to a small group of users, who could test and debug any problems before the final official release comes out.

Several fascinating features have been added to the toolbar, some of which includes;

• Stay connected without having to retype user name and password ever again,
• Ability to keep track and update current status,
• Receive friends status updates including moods,
• Stay updated and post comments on other users profile,
• Send and receive alerts,
• Search the web using GOOGLE,
• One click access to MySpace Music and MySpace Video, etc right from the toolbar.

That’s about it. The toolbar is compatible for Windows only. Currently, it is only available for Firefox and Internet Explorer users (no support for Safari users available yet). For more details on the toolbar, visit.

Download MySpace Toolbar for Firefox and IE

Vuze not only allows you to download files from the internet, but you can also watch, publish and share high quality videos. Key features include, option to browse through channels and categories containing thousands of music videos, movies, video games, TV shows, and much much more.

A new version was recently released by Vuze, the Vuze 4.2, with a totally redesigned and smooth interface, taking user interaction to the next level. However, one of the most noticeable feature that have been added to the latest release is the ability to convert videos to formats required for the Apple TV, iPods, iPhone, PS3 and Xbox 360.

The best part about this feature is that devices like PS3, Xbox and iTunes are now auto-detected by the program and displays the connected devices on to the left side of the redesigned sidebar. And if the user is interested in any type of video that he or she would like to transfer it to their connected devices, all they have to do is to drag and drop that specific song or video file onto the appropriate device. Vuze will take care the rest of the job, itself.

Vuze will automatically convert and transfer all the files to the iTune itself. However, for PS3 and Xbox 360 users they will need to connect their devices to allow conversion and streaming of the files between the two devices.

Despite all the convenience of automatic detection and conversion, the conversion and transferring process itself is very painstaking and time consuming. In the end it will depend on the user himself, whether he would compromise convenience over speed.

Vuze is available for Windows and Mac. For more details visit their blog. If you are having trouble using this program, take a look at these two resources, here and here which will definitely help you out.

Let us know, what you think and feel about the latest release.

Download Vuze 4.2

QuieTube is a new utility that lets you watch YouTube, without having any other distraction on the screen. Basically, the idea behind this useful browser bookmarklet was to watch YouTube videos, without none of the other YouTube elements surrounding the video, such as ‘Ads’, ‘Rate & Share‘ Section, Comments and ‘more from... ‘ etc.

How do I use QuieTube?

Using QuieTube is very simple and easy. Here is what you have to do;

1. Hover to this page and drag the button towards your browser’s bookmarks bar (one time only),

2. Choose any video that you’d like to watch,

3. From your browser’s bookmark bar, select  QuieTube button (that you have just bookmarked) and start enjoying distraction free videos.

The best part about this tool is that it creates a short URL that you can share it with your friends who can also watch this video in QuieTube mode. No installation is required, simply drag and share!

For more details on how to use it. Check out this demo video below;

[via]

Obviously, you will think of some kind of a way to reduce the size of the video, so that it can fit inside CD or a USB in this particular case. One solution is to compress it, but that can seriously effect the quality of the video. Another good alternative to this problem is that you slice the video into two or more sections, so that it can easily be transferred or burned on a CD.

There are tons of application free and paid that lets you divide/split videos, but no free app does better than VidSplitter. VidSplitter is a complete Video splitting tool that lets you to split large AVI, MPEG, WMV, ASF files into smaller video clips in various formats. It is very easy and quick.

VidSplitter does not requires any technical experience and is very easy to use that’s why any even newbie to video splitter can manage it.

Some of the key features that include are as follows;

• Split video files to several video files
• High splitting speed
• Good quality
• Freeware license

So if you are looking for quick and easy way to split videos VidSplitter is the solution for you.

Download VidSplitter

Its noticeable if you have a small group of friends, but what if you have a large circle of friends, lets say around 100-200 or even greater? I know its get hard to keep track of the number of friends you have on any particular time.

If you are interested in knowing who removed you from his or her friends list, you should give Unfriender a shot!

If you click on the link highlighted above you will be asked to allow access to your Facebook profile. Click ‘Allow’. You will then be asked whether you want to allow access when you are offline; click ‘Allow Offline Access’. Once you are done, a message will appear, saying;

From today forward, we’ll start tracking your friend list for people that drop off of it, and we’ll notify your when we find someone that has unfriended you.

From now onwards all your friends and those who will remove you will be tracked by Unfriender.

Note: The only draw back with this app is that you’ll only be notified about those friends that you have added after installing the Facebook application.

PS: Here is another useful app from Facebook named X-Friends that I found on AboutOnlineTips. Follow the same procedure as mentioned above. Give it a try and let us know which one is better and why?