11 Must-Have Apps on Ubuntu Right After a Fresh Install | Dramel Notes

Here’s the situation: it’s your first time using Ubuntu, you’ve gone through as many newbie Linux tricks as you could find, but you’re still wondering what kind of software is out there for you to install. Maybe you’re even starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.

Don’t worry. Relax. Compared to Windows, Linux is a vast new world full of exciting possibilities — but there’s a lot of familiarity as well. Using free software, you can replicate many of the everyday tasks that you just can’t go without.

So if you’re looking at a fresh installation of Ubuntu and feeling a bit lost, here are the first few applications you should install. These will cover most of your needs, guaranteed.

1. Tweak Tools

By default, Ubuntu doesn’t provide a lot of flexibility when it comes to customizing your desktop experience. You can do things like change your wallpaper, use different fonts for your system, and install different window themes, but not much more than that.

If you want nitty-gritty access to some of the more advanced settings hidden beneath the hood of your system, you’ll want to install a tweak tool. The one you choose will depend on your desktop environment.

For Unity desktops: You should install Unity Tweak Tool, which is available in the Software Center. This will let you change the behavior of windows and settings beyond what Unity normally allows.

For Gnome desktops: You should install Gnome Tweak Tool, which can also be found in the Software Center. Advanced tweaks include custom keyboard shortcuts, altered window behaviors, and fine-grain theme controls.

For Compiz desktops: Compiz isn’t a desktop environment per se, but rather a window manager that allows for 3D effects and animations. If you decide to use Compiz for window management, you should install Compiz Config Settings Manager from the Software Center.

Compiz is far more advanced than the other tweak tools above, which means it might be overwhelming at first. Be careful not to change things unless you know what they are, otherwise you may break something.

2. Synaptic Package Manager

Except for the tweak tools above, I’m convinced that there’s no tool more important for Ubuntu users than Synaptic Package Manager. Sure, the built-in Ubuntu Software Center is good enough to get the job done, but it has a few quirks and missing features.

On the other hand, Synaptic is objectively better. For starters, it isn’t as laggy when browsing through packages, and it’s way faster at returning search results. It can repair broken package dependencies, perform smart system upgrades, and has a friendlier interface.

Plus, it has a setting for automatically deleting packages after installation, which helps alleviate unnecessary disk space usage. Ubuntu Software Center doesn’t have this feature.

How to install: Synaptic Package Manager can be found in the Software Center.

3. Google Chrome

I don’t want to get into a war over which browser is best on Linux. Chrome has its strong points, but there are also a lot of reasons to hate Chrome. And if I’m being honest, if I absolutely had a choice, I would break up with Chrome in an instant.

But on Linux, you need to have Chrome installed. Not that you have to use it as your primary browser — Opera is my browser of choice at the moment — but there are things Chrome can do that no other browser can (without a lot of tinkering and tweaking, at least).

For example, if you want to watch Netflix on Linux, you pretty much have to use Chrome now. There are potential workarounds for other browsers like Firefox and Opera, but they’re a real headache to get working. Up-to-date Flash support is also only available in Chrome.

How to install: Chrome isn’t available in the Software Center, but installation is easy. Just go to the Chrome homepage, click Download, make sure you select the relevant .deb file, and double-click it after it’s downloaded to install. Once installed, it will auto-update when new versions are available.

4. Geary

There are several Linux desktop email clients to choose from, and the best one for you is the one you find most comfortable to use, but Geary gets my vote. It’s clean, fast, easy to use, and aesthetically pleasing.

The basic-but-functional interface makes it a “lowest common denominator” email client. You’ll understand how to use it as soon as you open it. As such, it’s the one I most recommend for Linux newbies and casual users.

The only downside to Geary is that it lacks a lot of customization options. If you want to change the hotkeys, you can’t. If you want to disable “Mark as Read after X seconds”, you can’t. Little things that are completely subjective but might be frustrating all the same, so I don’t recommend Geary for power users.

How to install: Geary is not available in the Software Center. To install, open the Terminal and type in the following three commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yorba/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install geary

5. VLC Media Player

Surprisingly enough, there are a lot of great media players on Linux: Bomi, SMPlayer, Miro, and the list goes on. But while it’s nice to have such a wide variety of options, there’s one player that consistently outranks its competition, and that player is VLC.

The biggest selling point of VLC is its commitment to the open source philosophy. Obviously it isn’t the only open source media player out there, but when you also consider just how feature-complete, polished, and downright useful it is, you’ll see that few others can compare.

There are so many hidden VLC features that you probably don’t know about. (Seriously, so many features.) At the very least, you should install it as a backup player because it always works.

How to install: VLC can be found in the Software Center.

6. Tomahawk

Fewer and fewer people are buying music these days. With the prevalence of services like Spotify and YouTube, we’re entering an age where streaming is preferable to ownership — and that’s most true for music. However, for those of us who still have MP3s, a proper music player is crucial.

Linux music players aren’t hard to come by, which means picking one is harder than you might think. Having given many of them a try over the years, I’m convinced that Tomahawk is the best. It’s clean, modern, and packed with features.

But the most killer feature comes by way of plugins: the ability to connect to streaming services like Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, Deezer, LastFM, and more. Tomahawk makes it so you can manage all of your music — owned or streamed — in one place.

How to install: Tomahawk is not available in the Software Center. To install, open the Terminal and type in the following three commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomahawk/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install tomahawk

7. Tixati

Here at MakeUseOf, we don’t condone the pirating of software or media. However, we do recognize that there are legitimate uses for torrenting, and when you find yourself needing to download one of those legal torrents, it’s best if you do so with a proper client.

Fortunately, the selection of modern torrent clients for Linux is wide and ever-improving. You’ve probably heard of Transmission, Deluge, and qBittorrent, but I really want to stress that Tixati is the absolute best client available right now.

Reasons to prefer Tixati over other torrenting clients include: tiny resource comsumption, fast downloads, simple and straightforward interface, and dozens of features like priorities, bandwidth sizing, and real-time bandwidth graphs. It even has a portable version.

How to install: Tixati isn’t available in the Software Center, but installation is easy. Just go to the Tixati homepage, click Download, navigate to the Linux section, and make sure you select the relevant .deb file. Double-click the downloaded file to install.

8. Sublime Text

One of the worst Linux myths is that only programmers should care about Linux. This myth does a disservice to the operating system because there’s a lot to like about Linux even if you’ve never seen or written a line of code in your life.

That being said, it’s undeniable that Linux is great for programmers, and if you’re going to be doing any kind of programming or scripting at all, then you should really consider installing Sublime Text. It’s the best text editor out there and almost as good as an IDE.

How to install: Sublime Text is not available in the Software Center. To install, open the Terminal and type in the following three commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/sublime-text-3

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install sublime-text-installer

9. GIMP

A lot of programs have tried to replicate the power and flexibility of Photoshop, and while a lot of these programs can pass as viable alternatives to Photoshop on Linux, they all fall short in one way or another. The closest thing you’ll find is GIMP.

But here’s the thing: GIMP may not be at the same level as Photoshop, it can still do a lot of the same things. If GIMP is missing a feature you need, you might even be able to extend its functionality with plugins. And best of all, GIMP is 100% free. Would you rather pay a subscription for Adobe Creative Cloud? Likely not.

If you think GIMP is overkill or too hard to learn, don’t worry. Just check out these websites with GIMP tutorials and these video tutorials for GIMP beginners to get started. It’s easier than you think.

How to install: GIMP can be found in the Software Center.

10. Dropbox

Of the cloud storage services available today, Dropbox is the easiest to set up on Linux. If you’ve never used Dropbox before, then you really should — it’s excellent for backing up files, not to mention the creative uses for Dropbox that you haven’t considered.

Dropbox integrates well into Linux, and once it’s set up, you never have to fiddle with it again if you don’t want to. Everything just works, and that kind of comfort is great for Linux newbies.

If you’re going to use Dropbox, take advantage of these ways to unlock more space as well as these time-saving Dropbox shortcuts. If security bothers you, take these steps towards safer cloud storage and avoid these bad security habits. Then you’ll have nothing to worry about.

How to install: Dropbox is available in the Software Center, but I’ve run into installation issues before, so I recommend going to the Dropbox download page instead and grabbing the .deb file relevant to your system. Double-click it to install once downloaded.

11. Steam

Linux is becoming a serious platform for gaming. It hasn’t gotten there yet, but it’s well on its way, and there’s a lot of evidence to show that Linux may catch up to Windows in just a few more years. One of the biggest milestones? The release of Steam for Linux.

Steam is one of the best ways to download games on Linux. The library of games is expansive, the community is massive, and the games themselves are pretty darn good. Not all of the games on Steam can be played just yet, but the number that can be played is growing day by day, and Steam itself is always improving too.

For now, you’ll have to deal with the fact that many games — such as these free MMORPGs that are native to Linux — will have to be played outside of Steam.

How to install: Steam can be found in the Software Center. However, you may run into problems after installation, in which case you should consult this troubleshooting page.

What Are Your Must-Have Apps?

I know we’ve only just touched the surface of what’s available on Linux, but if I had to pick 11 absolute essentials, these would be my pick. Linux newbies should instantly feel more comfortable with these apps installed on their systems.

Now it’s your turn. If you could only live with 11 applications on your system, which would they be? Share them with us in the comments below!

Image Credit: Dropbox by tanuha2001 via Shutterstock

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Are RAM Drives Faster Than SSDs? 5 Things You Must Know | Dramel Notes

Looking for a way to speed up your PC? Of course you are. And while there are plenty of hardware upgrades that give you more power, a simple software tweak has the ability to get your computer reading and writing files tens of times faster.

This tweak is known as a RAM drive — also called a RAM disk — and it uses nothing more than your existing system resources. But what exactly does it do, and can it replace a solid state drive? You might be surprised.

What Is a RAM Drive?

A RAM drive is a drive that delivers considerably faster performance than either a traditional hard drive or even a solid state drive, but it’s not a device you can buy from the store and install in your computer — it’s a virtual drive that uses your system’s RAM like a disk drive.

The idea is that RAM has much faster read and write speeds than normal physical storage, so if you store certain files or applications on it, you could see a significant performance boost. It isn’t ideal for everything, though, and you’re limited to a relatively low capacity. But if you have spare RAM on your computer it can offer some benefits.

How to Set Up a RAM Drive

Setting up a RAM drive is essentially as simple as installing a piece of software — such as SoftPerfect RAMDisk on Windows or RAMDisk Manager on Mac — and then choosing how large you want the drive to be.

A RAM drive makes use of system RAM. When the drive is mounted — which it will be every time you boot your computer — any memory that is allocated to the drive will not be able to function as traditional RAM.

As such, you should only use excess RAM for the disk. So, if you have 8 GB of total RAM and create a 4 GB RAM drive, your system will be left with just 4 GB of usable RAM (which will impact general system performance). Conversely, if you have 12 GB of RAM and find that only 8 to 10 GB is routinely in use, you could spare a couple of those gigabytes for a RAM drive.

Once set up, you just need to decide what you will be using your new drive for.

The Benefits of a RAM Drive

There are several benefits to setting up and using a RAM drive, which should influence when you choose to use one.

Faster Read and Write Speeds

The main benefit to a RAM drive is its increased read and write speeds compared to an SSD or hard drive. It will be multiple times faster than even the fastest solid state drive.

Running our own quick benchmark test using XBench on a Macbook Air showed that write speeds for a RAM drive were an average of 4.5 times faster than the built-in SSD and read speeds were 6.3 times faster.

You get the best results, therefore, when working with very big files such as videos and layered Photoshop images, or even when uncompressing large zip or rar files. These can all be slow and unwieldy to work with, especially on a hard drive, so the added speed of a RAM drive will be instantly noticeable.

RAM also generates less heat and it isn’t susceptible to wear over time, nor does it have the finite limit on read/write cycles that physical drives have.

Improved Security

There are also potential security advantages because RAM is erased when a computer’s power supply is cut off.

This can be a significant negative when the shutdown is unexpected, but if you choose to save your app caches (such as a browser cache) or other sensitive data to a RAM drive, you can easily set the software to ensure it will be wiped when you power down your PC.

Which is not to say that using a RAM drive for caches is a good thing. Modern operating systems store cache data in RAM automatically so that it can be retrieved quickly. If the operating system needs that RAM for another function, then it discards the cached data. When using a RAM drive, the operating system cannot reclaim the RAM for anything else.

The Downsides of a RAM Drive

By now, RAM drives probably sound pretty compelling. But there are two big factors that hold it back.

Limited Total Capacity

As far as how big a RAM drive can be, we’re talking about relatively small capacities. Consumer PCs rarely have more than 16 GB of RAM, and most household computers have way less than that. Assuming you want to keep at least 4 GB to use as RAM, you’ll be looking at only a few gigabytes to assign to your RAM drive.

Don’t think of it as an alternative to an SSD, which is one of the best PC upgrades you can make if you really need the storage space. Rather, think of RAM drives as a companion to SSDs and hard drives.

RAM Is Volatile

Second, and more importantly, RAM is volatile. This means that it needs power to retain its memory contents. As such, a RAM drive isn’t a good choice for storing important files since it loses its data each time it is powered down.

RAM disk tools offer some protection against this by writing the drive’s contents to the main hard drive when you shut the PC down, and then reloading it into RAM when the PC boots. Inevitably, this does have the effect of significantly lengthening startup and shutdown times, as several gigabytes of data will have to be written to or retrieved from the hard drive each time.

Some RAM drive utilities, such as Primo Ramdisk or the Pro versions of RAMDisk, are more efficient and make continuous or incremental backups in order to reduce the shutdown time. But sudden power failure will always leave you vulnerable to a certain level of data loss.

RAM Drives vs. Solid State Drives

The above negatives cannot be overlooked. Seriously, the limited capacity and danger of data loss must not be underestimated — and neither should the fact that you can potentially undermine the efficiency of your system if you permanently allocate resources to a job that the operating system would normally manage dynamically.

So while a RAM disk beats an SSD for speed, it is not right for everyone.

If you’re stuck with a slow hard drive, a RAM drive can be an effective short-term solution in lieu of a proper upgrade to an SSD (or better still, a hybrid drive). Just remember that the hardware upgrade is the better option in the long run.

Or if you frequently work with very large files you may see a real improvement. You could even install slow-loading video games into a RAM drive, if you have enough memory to make one large enough.

Either way, they’re easy enough to set up (and remove), so if you’re looking for a little boost for free, there’s no harm in giving RAM drives a try and seeing how they work for you.

Have you used a RAM drive? Would you consider setting one up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Image Credits: RAM via Eric Hamiter, RAMDisk Manager via macmagna.com, Hybrid drive via Yutaka Tsutano

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How to Hide “CRC SHA” from the Windows Right-Click Menu | Dramel Notes

If you have installed or updated to version 15.12 of the file compression software 7-Zip on your Windows machine, you’ll see a new entry called CRC SHA in the context menu for files and folders. Let’s see why this entry appears and how you can get rid of it.

CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) and SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) are a couple of standard methods used to test the integrity of data transferred over digital networks. Calculating these hash values can help you figure out if the data was corrupted after download.

Ohhhh! 7-Zip has an update that adds a context menu for CRC/SHA calculations. pic.twitter.com/e3elHtm49E

— Kevin Jones (@vcsjones) February 2, 2015

If you have no use for the CRC SHA feature, or just prefer to use another dedicated tool to calculate CRC SHA values, you can get rid of this context menu entry. To do so, first open 7-Zip File Manager and head to Tools > Options. Under the 7-Zip tab, uncheck the box next to CRC SHA and click on the Apply button.

You can safely ignore any error dialogs that pop up. Now bring up the context menu to verify that the CRC SHA entry is gone.

Do unused context menu entries bother you? Or are you happy to let them be? Tell us your preference in the comments.

Image Credit: Hand pushing touch screen button by akarapong via Shutterstock

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12 Best Free and Open Source Android Apps | Dramel Notes

Android is an open source operating system, but most of the apps and services aren’t available. What’s a free and open source software-loving person to do?

Well, it turns out there are a wide range of apps out there available to you. You won’t be able to do all the things you could with the Play Store, but you can still get a good amount of use out of your phone and use software that embraces material design.

Here are a dozen of the best open source Android apps to choose from, in no particular order. All are available in F-Droid, and most are also in the Play Store if you’re not concerned about using your device Google-free.

1) DuckDuckGo

Want to look for something online without handing over your interests to advertisers? Meet your Google replacement. DuckDuckGo is a search engine that cares about your privacy. The Android app doesn’t just look pretty, it lets you read articles inside its own internal browser, and the home page provides you with a look at current events happening across the web.

I enjoy this app so much more than I did the default Google Search app.

Download: DuckDuckGo for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

2) AntennaPod

Listening to podcasts is a solid chunk of what I do with my phone, and fortunately, there’s a great open source option out there. AntennaPod isn’t quite as feature-rich as BeyondPod (my favorite Play Store option), but it has a modern look and gives me enough control to make sure feeds don’t auto-update over mobile data. That’s good enough for me.

Download: AntennaPod for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

3) OsmAnd~

Part of buying a smartphone means you don’t have to lug around a dedicated GPS unit anymore. The thing is, most of the well-known options are all proprietary. Going open source means giving up access to Google Maps, Nokia Here, Sygic, and just about any other alternative you can think of.

Well, except for one. OsmAnd~ lets you download maps from OpenStreetMaps.org and save them to your device. You can save any number you want… from the entire world… for free. Searching for addresses can be a challenge, but if you pair the app with Address to GPS, then you should be good to go.

Download: OsmAnd~ for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

4) Muzei

Muzei is one of the best live wallpapers around. The app blurs the background, only bringing the image into focus when you hold down on the screen. The settings let you adjust the amount of blur, and there is something satisfying about how the end result really highlights your app icons.

By default Muzei chooses a different painting for your wallpaper every day or so, but there are many other sources available, and you’re welcome to use your own photos.

Download: Muzei for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

5) DashClock

DashClock is the solution to a dull home or lock screen. Use it to read email, check the weather, and keep track of alarms out of the box. When that is no longer enough, install any number of plug-ins to view content from third-party apps like Hangouts on the front of your locked phone.

Check your WiFi network, monitor battery life, and knock yourself out.

Download: DashClock for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

6) Clip Stack

Copy. Paste. Cut. Paste. Copy. No, cut. Then paste. Paste again. Wait, no, I wanted something before that. Ugh, why did I cut? Where did I get that from?

Forget it. Open Clip Stack, browse through the history of clipboard items, and copy from there. Done.

Download: Clip Stack for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

7) QKSMS

QKSMS is one of the many alternative SMS apps for folks who consider their default text messaging app too basic. Thing is, this one happens to be open source. The app was one of the early adopters of material design, and it’s highly theme-able.

There’s a night mode, plenty of customization options, and features to speed up your texting like QK reply — letting you respond without leaving the app you’re in.

Download: QKSMS for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

8) Swiftnotes

Swiftnotes is a simplistic note-taking app like Google Keep without the online component. You give notes a name, body text, and a color, as if you were creating sticky notes. That’s it.

There are no tags or notifications or other forms of added complexity. If you just want to jot things down for later, this app is one to take note of.

Download: Swiftnotes for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

9) Mirakel

Android has a ton of to-do list apps, but most aren’t open source. Fortunately, Mirakel is a capable and beautiful option. The app is feature-rich enough to provide filters and tags, set reminders, and rank each job’s priority.

There’s also a DashClock extension to put your to-dos on your lockscreen.

Download: Mirakel for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

Download: Mirakel DashClock for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

10) KISS Launcher

KISS Launcher takes all the distractions away from your home screen and replaces them with a single search bar that does everything. It launches apps. It dials numbers. It accesses settings. The memory requirements are low, and it does a good job of keeping it simple.

Download: KISS Launcher for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

11) Material Audiobook Player

Material Audiobook Player provides a particularly pretty way to look at audiobooks on a modern Android device. It isn’t the most complete experience, but considering how visually unappealing many audiobook players are, this one feels like a breath of fresh air. Just make sure your collection of eBooks is DRM-free.

Download: Material Audiobook Player for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

12) Amaze File Manager

Looking for a file manager? Amaze might just amaze you. It has the basics covered, and it comes with a few advanced features like samba support and root browsing. Also, it’s quite the looker.

Download: Amaze File Manager for Android (F-Droid | Google Play)

What Are Your Favorites?

Under the surface, Android remains an open source operating system. Proprietary software may clutter the ecosystem, but there are many good options out there for people looking for good free and open source apps.

Does proprietary code make you uncomfortable? What about being dependent on cloud services? Have you spent years waiting for a viable free and open source phone or tablet? Share your thoughts with us, and if one of your favorite apps is open source, give it a shout out!

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How to Print to PDF on Any Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet | Dramel Notes

All modern computers, smartphones, and tablets can now easily print web pages and other documents to PDF files without any extra software. Microsoft added this to Windows 10, and Apple added it to iOS 9.

PDF is a standard, portable document format that works across all devices. It’s ideal for archiving and sharing web pages and other documents. It’s just more compatible than other types of documents, like Microsoft’s XPS document format.

Windows 10

Windows 10 finally adds a built-in PDF printer to Windows. In any application — from Windows desktop apps to those new Windows Store apps — just select the “Print” option in the menu. You’ll see “Microsoft Print to PDF” appear in the list of installed printers. Select that printer and click the “Print” button. You’ll then be asked to provide a name and location for your new PDF file.

Windows 7, 8, and 8.1

On previous versions of Windows, this can be a bit more of a headache. It’s not integrated into the operating system, so you may have to install a third-party PDF printer application. Unfortunately, many of these are packed with installer crapware.

Some applications do have integrated PDF-printing support, however. For example, in Chrome you can select the “Print” option and select “Save to PDF” to print to PDF. LibreOffice can also export documents to PDF. Check the application you’re using to see if it can do this without any additional software.

Mac OS X

This is integrated into Mac OS X, too. But, if you’re familiar with the way it works on Windows and other operating systems, you might miss it.

To print to PDF, select the “Print” option in any application. Ignore the list of printers at the top of the print dialog that appears. Instead, click the “PDF” menu at the bottom of the dialog and select “Save as PDF”. Mac OS X will allow you to save the document to a PDF file instead of printing it to an actual printer, and will prompt you for a file name and location.

iPhone and iPad (iOS)

With iOS 9, Apple built this feature into every iPhone and iPad. To print a web page or other document to a PDF file, first open it in an application. Tap the “Share” button — it looks like a square with an up arrow coming out of it. Scroll through the list of icons in the top row and tap the “Save PDF to iBooks” option.

You can now open iBooks to access that PDF file. From iBooks, you can email the PDF file or share it to somewhere else. These PDF files can also be synced with iTunes so you can get them on your computer in the unlikely event that you regularly sync your iPhone or iPad with iTunes. They’ll be in your iTunes Book Library after they sync.

Android

This is part of Android too. It’s integrated as part of Android’s built-in support for printers — both physical printers and PDF printers.

In an Android app that supports printing — Chrome, for example — open the menu and tap the “Print” option. Tap the “Save to” menu and select “Save as PDF” to save a PDF file to your Android phone or tablet’s local storage, or tap “Save to Google Drive” to save a PDF file directly to your Google Drive account.

If you’re using an app that doesn’t have built-in printing support, you can always use Android’s Share menu. Install an app that can convert documents to PDF and you can then tap Share anywhere in Android and select that app to make a PDF.

Chrome OS

Chrome can always print files directly to PDF, and it works just the same on a Chromebook. Just click the menu button in Chrome and select Print. You’ll see a preview of the current web page. Click the “Change” button under “Destination” and select “Print to PDF” under “Local Destinations”. Select any options you want to change here and then click “Save” to save the file to PDF. You’ll be asked for a file name and location.

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Other operating systems may offer this, too. It should be included by default on most desktop Linux systems, but different desktops will have different interfaces. Look in the “print” dialog and see if you can find an option for printing to PDF.

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6 Best Free Tax Software to File Your Next Return | Dramel Notes

Is there anything more hated than taxes? And possibly even more than taxes, paying just to file your taxes.

There are plenty of options to file your federal return, but finding services that will file state taxes without paying extra can be tough.

If you’re tired of paying to file your taxes, you’ll love these six free options for filing your state and federal forms.

A Few Things to Remember

First, and most important of all, remember that you get what you pay for. Free tax software just isn’t going to be as good as paid software; there will be fewer features, you’ll get less support, and in most cases you won’t be able to file anything other than the simplest of returns. That’s just how it is.

Second, this list is current as of November 2015. Some companies change their offerings on a yearly basis, and if this list becomes outdated, we’ll try to make changes so that it’s current. But if you see a site that’s no longer offering free state returns, or has different requirements, that’s why.

Finally, remember that big-name companies like TurboTax and H&R Block have been doing this for decades, and that their years of experience means they’re really great at finding potential deductions and filing quickly. While using a lesser-known website doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out on things, if you want to make sure that everything about your return is perfect, you may want to go with a big name (which often means you’ll need to pay).

With that out of the way, let’s get onto the free tax software!

DIY Tax

A newcomer to the field, DIY Tax offers totally free federal and state tax returns with no catch. There are a number forms that can be used (including the important part of 1099-MISC for contractors and freelancers), making this a more versatile option than many others out there.

A Premium option is available, though there’s no indication anywhere on the website of what’s included in Premium that’s not in the free account, making it difficult to say whether or not that might be useful. Even so, this is definitely one of the simplest, most straightforward, and totally free tax-filing options.

TurboTax Federal Free Edition

With one of the biggest names in tax preparation, you can be confident that TurboTax will give you the information and tools you need to get your returns filed quickly. And with the Federal Free Edition, you can file both your federal and state taxes electronically without paying a dime.

You’ll need to be doing a fairly simple return, using forms 1040EZ or 1040A. If you’re doing anything more complicated than that, like taxes for the self-employed, a paid service will be required.

Also, the TurboTax website does state that “Fees may apply” for the state return, but doesn’t say when these fees might apply or what they would be. On the other hand, you do get free email tax support, which could be very helpful if you’re a first-time filer or you have questions about your return.

H&R Block Basic

While the “Free” edition of H&R Block’s online tax filing system requires you to pay $30 for a state return, the Basic edition, which is also free, offers free state returns. Why the confusing naming conventions? I have no idea. But it’s not easy to find a site that will let you file both federal and state for free, and H&R Block has a great reputation for being a good company to file your taxes with, both from a usability and reliability standpoint.

Plus, you get free email and phone support, so you can get an answer to your question right away with a single call.

TaxAct Free Edition

The free edition of TaxAct will work for you if you have a “simple return;” a quick look at the available forms shows the 1040A, 1040EZ, and a few other basics, though it is missing the 1099-MISC that many freelancers will need.

Despite this stipulation, TaxAct does offer free filing of both federal and state returns, though it does say “Pay when you file,” inviting speculation that there could be some hidden fees in certain cases.

Also included with the free edition is tax support via email, so you can get answers to any questions you have from the TaxAct support team. And TaxAct’s price lock guarantee means that once you register, the price won’t change.

OnLine Taxes

With a rather uninspiring name and a website that looks like it was created in the 90s, you might pass over OnLine Taxes, but don’t discount it immediately: if your adjusted gross income is between $13,000 and $60,000, you’re eligible to file both your federal and state returns for free.

And if you don’t qualify, you only pay $7.95 for each, which is a pretty great deal. OLT also provides free email support every day of the week during tax season, and they let you file amended returns for free if you filed the first return with them. You can use a wide range of tax forms, including 1099-MISC and just about anything else you might need.

MyFreeTaxes

A program run by the United Way in conjunction with H&R Block, MyFreeTaxes will let you file both federal and state taxes for free if you make less than $62,000.

The site also helps you get organized by providing a tax preparation checklist as well as information on tax extensions, ITIN for immigrants, and credits/deductions. Because it’s a newcomer to the business, it doesn’t have as many reviews as other sites, but the fact that it’s powered by H&R Block should inspire confidence in the convenience and security of the service.

If You Don’t Quality for the Free Options

While a significant portion of people will be able to use one of the free websites above, there will certainly be some who can’t for one reason or another. For those people, here are a few other sites that you can check out. FreeTaxUSA offers free federal filing and $12.95 per state return, which is one of the lowest prices that you’ll find anywhere. eSmartTax  lets you file federal returns for free, and charges $22.95 per state, which is still pretty reasonable.

Don’t Pay for What You Can Get for Free

If you have a relatively simple tax return, you should be able to get both federal and state filing for free, and these six websites will help you do it. As long as you’ve kept up with your accounting throughout the year, it should be no problem at all. So don’t pay for what you can get free!

Which sites do you use to file your taxes? Did we miss any free or affordable sites in this list? Share your favorites below and help other taxpayers save some money next year!

Image Credit: Arina P Habich via Shutterstock.com

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4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Learn to Code from Codecademy | Dramel Notes

From the title, you probably think I’ve got some major beef with Codecademy. I don’t.

In many ways, I admire them. Since 2011, they’ve introduced countless millions to the noble craft of software development, and have launched the careers of thousands of developers. That number looks set to soar with the release of their first Java course. But at the same time, their product – and to be more precise, their teaching methods – leave a lot to be desired, and are leaving thousands frustrated, and unsure of where to progress with their formative development skills.

So, what’s so terribly wrong with Codecademy?

And how can you, as a journeyman coder, circumvent these flaws to reach your programming potential?

Problem One: It Doesn’t Teach the Mindset

Being a programmer is more than simply being able to regurgitate syntax. It’s about having a particular mindset, where you are able to systematically breakdown a problem into individual and logical steps, and then recreate that in a language that the computer understands.

You need to be able to look at a problem at a grand scale, and understand how each step you take affects the rest of the program. Moreover, you need to be able to tolerate a high level of frustration, and be able to persevere when you hit a mental brick wall. You need to be able to be able to research bugs and error messages, and communicate your problem to others. Simply put, you need to be able to think like a coder.

 Codecademy does not teach you to think like a coder.

Rather, it teaches you the basics of a number of programming languages, without any real instruction on how you’d apply them to real-life problems.

So, how can you get that invaluable experience?

Personally, I’m a big fan of Project Euler and Reddit’s Daily Programmer SubReddit, which features enough mind-bending programming puzzles to sink anyone’s teeth into. I’m a big fan of the latter, because you’re encouraged to share your code in order to receive feedback from other members of the community.

The Daily Programmer subreddit, as the name suggests, comes with daily puzzles for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to hardened code jockeys.

Problem Two: Blink and You’ll Miss It

One of my biggest frustrations with Codecademy’s approach to teaching is that it feels so incredibly transient. You learn something, then you complete a challenge, and you scarcely revisit that topic again. Blink, and you’ll miss it.

It’s unlike the approach taken by Duolingo, for example, where you have to regularly revise and reinforce what you’ve learned in order to progress.

So, if you want to cement your progress, you’re going to have to do some deliberate practice outside of Codecademy. One of the best ways to do that is to simply write code. Many programmers – and I include myself in that cadre – also swear by deliberate notetaking and regular revision with flashcards.

Paper flash cards are cheap and effective. In fact, you can buy 1,000 on Amazon for less than thirteen dollars.

For those digitally inclined, there’s also a number of apps you can use. I’m a huge fan of Anki, simply because of how customizable it is. It boasts thousands of community-built flashcards, and is extensible through its powerful and well-documented application programming interface (API).

For mobile users, there are also lots of flashcard applications for Android, and for the iPhone. You can also use Google Sheets to make them!

I’m currently using CodeCode.Ninja – which, full disclosure, was built by my friend and former MakeUseOf writer Erez Zukerman. This subscription service is built with programmers in mind, and you can build a living, flash-card based knowledge base of everything you need to know.

What I like about the approach taken by CodeCode.Ninja is that to progress through your deck, you’re forced to deliberately type out the answer to each card. This, I’ve found, helps build up your muscle memory.

Problem Three: Syntax is Not Programming

Again, Codecademy will teach you the syntax of a programming language, but for the most part it won’t tell you how to apply it. Which is why you often see questions like this, which was posted on the aforementioned LearnProgramming subredddit.

The introductory JavaScript course doesn’t teach you how to embed a script in a webpage to add interactivity to otherwise flat, static HTML. The Java course doesn’t teach you how to compile your code in order to run it. Hey, it doesn’t even tell you that Java is a compiled language, or the difference between a compiled language and an interpreted language.

There’s other stuff that’s skimmed over. Codecademy doesn’t teach you how to write code that’s clean, and stylized in order to be readable and easy to understand. It doesn’t teach you how to write code that’s self-documenting. It doesn’t teach you about package management, and how to use other people’s code in your own code.

This is something you can only overcome by leaving the safe harbors of Codecademy at the first possible opportunity. By writing code, and learning on your own steam.

Problem Four: Too Much Cake, Not Enough Vegetables

The reason why Codecademy is successful is because it takes coding, and transforms it into addictive bite-sized pieces that are easy to accomplish, and offer instantaneous feedback. It’s the candy of coding.

The problem is, learning to be a developer often means that you have to learn about things that are important, but from the offset aren’t terribly exciting, or for that matter, easy. You don’t learn about the theory of programming. The stuff that Donald Knuth spent thousands of pages – and the best part of two decades – writing about in The Art of Computer Programming.

Codecademy essentially shields you from the sticky, complicated part of programming. There’s no way around this, other than by being disciplined, and doing your own research. If you don’t know what you should be looking at, consider asking more established developers for guidance.

 Codecademy Isn’t That Bad

There’s a lot to like about Codecademy. They’ve introduced thousands to the fundamentals of computer science. But there’s a lot of room for improvement, too.

Have you used Codecademy? Did it hurt or hinder you? Tell me about it in the comments below.

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5 Best Free Internet Security Suites for Windows | Dramel Notes

As a Windows user, you have three possible paths when it comes to system security: use the built-in Windows Defender, install third-party security software, or ignore security altogether (the last option isn’t possible on Home versions of Windows 10). The path you take is crucial.

In our piece on important facts about Windows Defender, we noted that Windows Defender is good enough for most users — but do you really want to settle for “good enough” when your security is at stake? Seems like an unnecessary risk to take…

So here are five of the best free security suites for Windows, all of which offer anti-virus, anti-malware, and real-time protection features. Some of these lack firewall functionality, but you can always supplement with a free third-party Windows firewall.

1. 360 Total Security

360 Total Security is a free security suite provided by the leading Chinese security company, Qihoo. I know that some folks are hesitant to use China-based software, but if you’re willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, you’ll find that 360 Total Security exceeds your expectations.

Qihoo’s software is available in two forms: the full package (360 Total Security) and a pared-down, lighter-weight version (360 Total Security Essential).

The Essential version includes anti-virus, anti-malware, sandboxing, secure online shopping, and real-time protection against privacy invasions, downloaded files, infected external drives, registry hijacks, and more. In addition, the full version includes system optimizers and junk cleaners.

What’s particularly nice about 360 Total Security is its sleek interface. Easy to navigate, nice on the eyes, and modern enough that it has a professional feel to it. That’s more than can be said about most security suites, even premium ones.

360 Total Security is also available for Android and is one of the best tools for guarding against and removing mobile malware infections.

Features at a glance:

• Anti-virus and anti-malware protection with multiple engines.
• Run programs and files in a protected sandbox environment.
• Real-time protection against keyloggers, external drives, malicious websites, registry hijacks, and webcam spies.

2. Avira Free Antivirus

Avira Free Antivirus (not to be confused with AVG or Avast) is one of the best free options currently available. In consistently outperforms the big-name kings of security — including Kaspersky, Norton, and McAfee — in controlled comparisons of real-world effectiveness from sites like AV-Comparatives.

You get what you’d expect and more. The anti-virus/anti-malware scanner provides manual and real-time protection against all kinds of hazards, and the real-time scans use a cloud database to stay up-to-date and guard you against new and emerging threats.

What’s nice about Avira is that it also detects and blocks potentially unwanted applications — those bundled programs that hitch rides within installers and end up on your system without your knowledge.

If you install the free Avira browser extension (available on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and IE) then you can also take advantage of features like harmful website detection and the ad-tracker blocker.

Features at a glance:

• Anti-virus blocks malware, Trojans, worms, and spyware.
• Real-time protection based on up-to-date cloud database.
• Blocks unwanted applications bundled inside installers.
• Browser extension offers even more protective features.

3. Outpost Security Suite

What impresses me about Outpost Security Suite is how comprehensive it is in terms of features offered. And while there is a Pro version of the software, it isn’t that much better (it has identity theft protection). The Free version isn’t otherwise crippled or limited. It’s the real deal.

The anti-virus feature ranks better than most free alternatives, both in terms of detection rates and performance speed. The real-time protection keeps you safe from files, photos, videos, and emails (which is aided by the mail scanning feature). It even comes with its own configurable firewall.

Outpost Security Suite also has something called Auto-Learn Mode, which isn’t as useful as it sounds. Best to keep it off, but beware that you may be inundated with notifications whenever you want to install or run programs. Learn more in our review of Outpost Security Suite.

Features at a glance:

• Anti-virus protection with top-rate detection and speed.
• Built-in firewall that guards against unauthorized access.
• Proactive protection against viruses and installers.
• Mail Scanner checks inbox and attachments for viruses.

Note: As of this writing, Outpost Security Suite is only available up to Windows 8.1. They are working on Windows 10 compatibility, but it’s not yet known when a compatible release will arrive.

4. Comodo Internet Security

As a company, Comodo is deeply invested in the security world. Internet security software makes up a good chunk of their offerings, but they also have their hands in PC maintenance, DNS hosting, SSL certificates, data backups, and even secured versions of both Firefox and Chrome.

These guys are security experts who have been around for more than just a few years, so you can rest assured that their products are worthwhile and that they won’t disappear overnight without you knowing.

Comodo Internet Security is pretty darn good for free software. It can eliminate existing malware infections (including spyware, rootkits, and even zombies that make you complicit in botnet attacks), has sandboxing capabilities, and a memory firewall that guards against buffer overflow attacks.

It’s not the fastest or most resource-friendly security suite, but it gets the job done and does it well. The interface could use some improvements, but compared to what it looked like years ago, it has certainly come a long way.

Features at a glance:

• Anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-rootkit protection.
• Memory firewall for buffer overflow attack protection.
• Run programs and files in a protected sandbox environment.
• Filters dangerous websites and untrusted software publishers.
• Game Mode suppresses operations while gaming.

5. Panda Free Antivirus

Panda Free Antivirus is an up-and-coming solution (relatively speaking) that’s gaining a lot of attention and traction. Silly name aside, it nails the trifecta of security software: light on resources, easy to learn and use, and effective at keeping your system secure.

Panda Free Antivirus is as simple as they come. It was designed with the phrase “install and forget” in mind, with few settings to fiddle with. It stays out of the way, making it great for those who aren’t tech-savvy. If you want a simple solution that’s better than Windows Defender, this is it.

Compared to their premium products, Panda Free Antivirus might seem a bit limited — no online shopping protection, no data backups, no file encryption, no system optimizations — but what it does do, it does well, and that’s real-time protection against malware and spyware.

Features at a glance:

• Anti-malware, anti-spyware, and external device protection.
• Up-to-date malware definitions using a cloud database.
• Internet protection through URL/Web filtering and analysis.
• Advertisement popups asking to upgrade every once in a while.

Which Security Suite Do You Use?

My personal choice is 360 Total Security, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the ones listed above. It all depends on what you need, what you can live without, and how much you trust the companies behind said products.

Now you tell us: which security suite do you trust the most? Share your reasons and experiences with us down in the comments below! We’d love to hear what you have to say.

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How to Block Users from Installing Software on Your Windows Computer | Dramel Notes

Whether you have a company network, or simply a computer used by various household members, it can be really annoying — or a huge security risk — if anyone is allowed to install software on the computer. All it takes is for one virus-ridden program to get onto a network-linked computer, and suddenly you will have multiple botnets chanting “Resistance is futile….prepare to be assimilated!” at anyone who tries to destroy it.

Another scenario where blocking software from being installed is essential is personal security. Imagine if somebody tried to install key-logging software on your computer to see what you have been typing, or to capture your login details for various sites? Pre-blocking new software from being installed will stop those attempts in their tracks.

Since the best treatment is prevention, we are going to take a look at some ways in which you can stop people from installing onlinesexystrippoker.exe. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Native Windows Solutions

The following methods look intimidating to anyone who dislikes fiddling around under the hood with their Windows setup. But quite honestly, it is really easy. Just follow along with me here. I won’t lead you astray.

Local Group Policy Editor

Go to your Start Menu and type in:

gpedit.msc

This brings up something called the Local Group Policy Editor. Now go to Computer Configurations > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Installer.

In the list in the right-hand window, scroll down until you find Turn off Windows Installer. The information window next to it will inform you that enabling this will “prevent users from installing software on their systems”. That’s the one we’re looking for.

When you double-click that option, another box will pop up, and you just have to choose Enabled, then press OK. All done. To reverse the process, just double-click the option again and choose “Disabled”.

Don’t Run Specified Windows Applications

Another way to block the Windows Installer from being used can be found in another area of the Local Group Policy Editor.

Go back to the main menu in the Policy Editor window, and now go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System. In the right-hand window which now appears with options, scroll down until you find Don’t Run Specified Windows Applications. As the title implies, this is used for blocking certain programs from being run, but we can also use it to block the Windows Installer.

Double-click that and another window appears. When you click Enabled, a new option appears called List of Disallowed Applications. Click Show and a third window appears where you type in the path of the program to be blocked.

Now note I said “path”. That means it is not sufficient to just say “Windows Installer”. You have to lay out the route to the location of the Windows Installer, so the Policy Editor can find it. The Windows Installer Program is called msiexec.exe and is located at:

C:WindowsSystem32msiexec.exe

Copy/paste that into the space provided in the box and click OK. The Windows Installer should now be blocked.

Restrict via the Registry Editor

Aaggh! The Registry! The one Windows word which is guaranteed to send shivers down peoples spines. Nobody likes going in here, as it’s got things going on that I can’t rightly explain. Things that go bump in the night, and all that.

But we need to embrace our fears, so hang on. We’ll get through this together.

The first step (after arming ourselves with crucifixes and garlic cloves) is to do the key combination Windows key + R. In the Run box, type:

regedit

This will bring up the Registry Editor. Calm down and stop screaming. It won’t bite you.

Now use your mouse to navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesMsi.PackageDefaultIcon

In the right-hand window which now appears, you’ll see the path to the Windows Installer, with a zero on the end. That zero implies that the Installer is allowed. To disable the Installer, just click on that line, and in the box that now pops up, change that 0 to a 1. Save and close. Installer blocked.

Well done. You survived the Registry!

Software Options

I know there are other Windows options, such as elevated privileges or using the Local Security Policy. But I decided I would focus on the 3 easiest options instead, and not overload you. But if you still don’t feel comfortable messing around with your Windows settings, then another option would be to install software that gets the job done for you. Maybe it’s just me, but I find it ironic that you need to install software to block software!

Here are three options which I tried – one free and two paid (with free trial periods) – and which lock your system down tighter than a baby’s bottom.

WinGuard Pro

Plan: Paid, 30 Days Free Trial

From what I can see, WinGuard Pro is more geared towards locking down areas of the computer to other users. So for example, if you are the system administrator at work, you may want to block access to the Registry Editor by other users in the network. Or blocking “Programs & Features” would stop people from getting into the list of installed apps and uninstalling anything.

To block something, you would bring it up on the screen, then click Lock Program. A list of open apps will then appear in a box and you would choose the one you want locked. Obviously “Unlock Program” reverses that.

Install-Block

Plan: Paid, Free Trial Period

This stops anything from being installed by looking out for certain keywords in apps running on your system. So if someone tries to install something, and a keyword is noticed, Install-Block automatically blocks it from going any further.

So as you can see in the screenshot, keywords can include “install”, “setup” or “license agreement”. What other words could we add? “Terms & Conditions”, maybe? “Freeware”?

InstallGuard

Plan: Free

InstallGuard does its job really well — to the point where I couldn’t figure out how to shut it down and uninstall it afterwards! I finally figured out that you have to sign into the app with the administrator password, then click File >Exit. That shuts it down and you can then uninstall it if you want.

If you are looking for somethingreally effective that works right out of the box, this is the one. For me, it blocked EVERYTHING from being installed — and I was logged in as the administrator! You can’t argue with the price, either.

Deep Freeze

One final intriguing option is one proposed by Joe back in January, i.e. “deep freezing” your computer, which resets your system back to a previous state every time you reboot it. This way, any changes made to your computer will be wiped out when rebooted. So if someone dares to install something, it will be deleted when you switch the computer off.

The only downside to this of course is that it will also wipe out your changes. So it is not perfect.

Which Option Do You Prefer?

Let’s not forget that a Standard User account cannot install software without providing an administrator password. Hence the above options are best used to restrict your administrator account from accidents.

Which option would you prefer to use? Have you ever had to deal with someone installing something on your system without your permission?

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