By the time you read this, the 2008 Presidential election will have been decided. The global-financial-crisis-mortgage-bailout-credit-squeeze-scared-consumer-recession will still be playing out, meaning we’re looking at not-so-great times in 2009. Realistically, this means most businesses won’t be looking for new ways to spend money on technology unless there’s a clear and immediate return on that investment.
So what am I supposed to write about? Since no one’s spending their money on technology, here are the best free things I can offer in this time of reduced expectations:
Browsers. There are four major browsers, and all of them are available for free. Whether you prefer the old-school standard of Internet Explorer, Apple’s lesser-known Safari, the maverick Firefox or shiny new Chrome from Google, you don’t have to worry about shelling out dough for the latest, greatest version of your favorite browser.
iPhone Apps. Although a first-time iPhone buyer will shell out more than $1,800 over the minimum two-year contract for hardware ($199) and service ($70 a month for voice and data), the good news is, there are a broad range of free software applications available from the App Store. Topping the list for coolness is Shazam, which lets you identify what song is playing on the radio simply by holding your iPhone up to the speaker for a few seconds. It’s almost magical the way it correctly IDs songs (and it’s great for parents who don’t have a clue what their children are listening to). There are also more mundane applications for Google, Facebook and others that make it easier to use these services from your iPhone.
GOOG-411. Google is best known for providing high-quality search results for free, but it also runs a free version of what old-timers remember as directory assistance. By dialing (800) 466-4411, you can get free help locating a phone number from an automated voice-recognition system. It’s a lot cheaper than what telephone and wireless companies charge for using their 411 systems:
The New York Times online. If you’re willing to read it online, you no longer have to pay for the New York Times. Amazingly, it’s available online, for free, every day at www.nytimes.com. Plus, you can search for and retrieve articles from its enormous archives (dating back to the 19th century), also gratis. This has to be the bargain of the century. Note that the Times also has a free iPhone app that makes it easy to access the day’s stories. If you don’t have an iPhone, then you can make use of the slightly less flashy, but equally useful mobile.nytimes.com.
Google Analytics. Want to know what’s going on with your website, like how many people are visiting, and what the most popular pages are? Although you can shell out big bucks for products from Omniture and Web Trends (both of which I’ve used), it’s pretty hard to beat Google Analytics for useful information presented in a way most people can understand. The software was developed by a company called Urchin, which Google purchased and turned into another terrific free offering. To sign up, visit analytics.google.com.
AVG Antivirus. Even when times are tough, you still need anti-virus protection on your computer. My preferred free antivirus solution is called AVG. It’s basic protection, but it’s easy to install and understand, and it maintains itself automatically. If you can’t afford to purchase Norton AntiVirus 2009 (my preferred solution), then AVG is available at the aptly named free.avg.com website.
WordPress.com. Since your 2009 marketing budget is probably as anemic as your new technology budget, you may want to consider blogging a less-costly marketing tool. There’s no doubt it takes commitment, thought and effort to market using a blog, but it can be done quite successfully. The good news is, you can get a free, high-quality hosted blogging platform at www.WordPress.com. Don’t forget to install Google Analytics on your WordPress blog, so you can track the results of your efforts. In fact, I recommend installing Google Analytics on every website or blog you have.
Comodo Firewall. In addition to antivirus software, you need a good firewall to protect you from external probes and attacks over your Internet connection. A good firewall makes sure that Internet traffic to and from your computer is from a legitimate source, and blocks suspicious activity. Windows comes with a firewall, but it has some real limitations. You can improve your computer’s protection for free by installing Comodo Firewall (www.personalfirewall.comodo.com).
Mozy Online Backup. The last thing you want is to lose important data from your computer. On the other hand, external hard drives, while inexpensive and getting more so, cost money. Although it may not be enough to store all your personal photos and music, Mozy’s free online backup service lets you store up to 2 gigabytes of important stuff. You can sign up at www.mozy.com.
DailyLit. Have you always intended to read the great books but never seem to find the time? DailyLit.com will serve them up via email in daily, bite-sized slices. It has more than 1,200 books to choose from, with more than half of them free (mostly older titles, like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, whose copyright has expired). Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace comes in 663 installments, which will take you more than a year to read. Of course, if you can’t wait, you can get the next installment right away (perfect when you have extra time). Check it out at www.DailyLit.com. Like everything else in this column, it’s priced right for hard times.
This December’s column is my last for 2008, my eighth year of writing TechTalk for NorthBay biz, where I’m unofficially the Oldest Living Columnist. I still enjoy writing my 1,000 words each month, but I always worry that I’m not addressing topics of interest to you. Please drop me a line letting me know what you need to know about technology to better run your business (or just something you’ve always wondered about). And best wishes for 2009, whatever it may hold.
