TIPS & TRICKS: Direct Download Locations of Full Versions of Software

I often come across situations where I need to download a full installer of some piece of software without having to jump through hoops. Skype is a prime example. Often times, I want to download the latest installer without having to sign into any particular Skype account, except that Skype wants me to sign-in to my Skype account before they allow me to download. Usually, I'm trying to reinstall the software without having to provide any credentials, or I'm trying to update an OS image.

Fortunately, I found the link to download Skype for Windows version:

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-windows/

Here's Skype for Mac:

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-mac/

Note: It seems that the links above will base the download on what platform you are downloading from. For example, if you are downloading from a Windows machine, both the Windows link & the Mac link above will download an .exe file.


Another piece of software I frequently need is Adobe Flash. In this case, I generally need a full version rather than the stub you get when you go through the visible links on the main Adobe site. Here's the Adobe Flash download link:

http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html


Will add more as I find them.

2014_02_18 Update: Here's the Google Chrome Full Offline Installer that will install Chrome for all users on Windows:

http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?system=true&standalone=1

Didn't see one for Mac.

2014_10_04 Update: Here's the free Mac Sophos Anti-Virus installer:

http://downloads.sophos.com/home-edition/savosx_90_he.zip

TIPS & TRICKS: Software Recommendations

My list of software to try to make my own life more efficient. Reminder: Automate repetitive tasks. Don't get too caught up in the automation itself.


OS X:

• CheatSheet - Free app that summarizes the keyboard shortcuts available for the current application. http://www.cheatsheetapp.com/CheatSheet/

iOS:

• Drafts - Paid note taking app heard about on Mac Power Users podcast. Useful for starting email messages, text messages, reminders, etc. http://agiletortoise.com/drafts/

TIPS & TRICKS: Imaging Bootcamp Partition on a Mac

I haven't used this tool yet. But, it definitely came from a good recommendation source. OS X is already easy to clone and restore using various tools. The Bootcamp partition has not been quite as easy. Hopefully, this tool makes cloning as easy as the OS X side.

http://twocanoes.com/winclone.php

Happy Computing.

RANTS & RAVES: Design - The Difference Between Adoption and Failure

With all the Apple hype out there, I have come to realize what really makes Apple the company it is today. For a long time, I thought it was purely because Apple controlled both the hardware and software side of things. But, it's more than just controlling the different aspects of hardware and software. It's design. Steve Jobs was all about design. His singularly focused fanaticism on design results in Apple products that everyone either really wants or can't stop talking about.

The point of this post is a case describing the other end of the spectrum where design and usability is nothing more than an marketing topic. This example is quite simple really. I installed a piece of software call Kurzweil 3000 on a few machines. The department had not yet purchased new licenses for these machines so I had to install the trial version while we waited for the licenses to arrive. When they did arrive, I checked out some documentation online that said I had to merely call up the registration process under the existing installations Help menu and enter in the code to activate the software. The link to the registration process was not available. I called Kurzweil Support and they told me that I had to uninstall the old version first and then install the new version. Instead of taking a couple minutes to complete the process, I'm now over an hour into this update process.

Simple thing like design and usability can go such a long way.