My list of cool tools, applications, software, services, and fixes.
Bookmarklets | Hosting | Must-have Installs | Cool Tools | Good-to-have Installs | Mobile Tools | Favorite WordPress Plugins | Chrome browser Apps & Extensions | Other Links & Notes | Old Items
Favorite Bookmarklets
DRAG these LINKS to your bookmark bar – to NOT click them directly.
- ReviewMeta When you’re ON an Amazon product you want to buy, just click this link IN YOUR BOOKMARKS BAR, to get REAL ratings and reviews of that product, where fake data has been REMOVED.
- Buy on Amazon When you’re ON an Amazon product you want to buy, just click this link in your bookmarks bar to give me credit for the sale.
Favorite Hosting
- Google Domains
My favorite domain hosting - I trust Google for many other things, so why not domains? Plus, their DNS is REALLY fast, their UI is clean and simple, AND you can easily share domain control with trusted users. 
- Google Workspace / G Suite / Google Apps for Business – email hosting
THE place to host email - $6 per user, per month; great integration with Chrome, Android, docs, sheets, and tons more! 
- SiteGround – Web Hosting
FAST setup. Free Let's Encrypt SSL, fast support, simple tools, reasonable pricing.
MUST HAVE installs…
- Backblaze
If you don't have Backblaze backing up your data... don't call me. It's a MUST have, MUST pay for tool. 
- LastPass
This is, without a doubt, THE most important application for people to have on their computer AND mobile devices! Too many people use the same passwords everywhere - they need to use this to generate secure passwords, and not have to worry about remembering them. 
- Dropbox
2Gb of free cloud storage. Having this installed (and setup properly) on your phone, it will auto-sync photos, so you get the original, full-resolution version of the images. Plus, if you lose your phone, your photos are already backed up. 
- Image Resizer Powertoy for Windows
If you do much digital photography, YOU WANT THIS. Resize your images quickly and easily to any size by just right-clicking and choosing “Resize”. 
- KeePass Password Safe
While I use LastPass *every* day, I'm anal... I also use KeePass to keep another local, encrypted password safe. Enter one password, have access to a personal database of all your other passwords and info. 
- Revo Uninstaller
Uninstalls programs and all the leftover junk like old registry entries that programs tend to install. 
- Windows Live Essentials
Microsoft's "Photo Gallery" application is STILL a fantastic tool. I wish they'd update it!
Cool Tools
- Convert anything to anything
When there's that one file you can't figure out how to convert... This site has very often helped me. 
- Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder
A MUST HAVE tool on your thumb drive if you work on people's computers. This stand-alone .exe will pull the Microsoft Windows or Office license keys (and what versions they are) into a text file so that you can reformat the machine then reinstall the software with the same licenses! 
- Notepad++ Compare Plugin
Use Notepad++ to compare two files, rather than installing Beyond Compare, or another dedicated tool. 
- Windows 10 PowerToys
Win 10 tweaks that should be built into Windows 10, but aren't. 
- Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
GREAT tool for installing Windows from a flash / thumb drive, rather than disc. (MUCH faster!)
Good to have installs…
- Audacity Audio Editor
A great audio editor for recording, mixing and editing new or existing audio files. 
- FontBase
If you create on your computer, this is a great font manager. It's still missing some obvious features, but I've tried MANY, and this is the best. 
- ISO Recorder
Create an .ISO file from any group of files. Also, burn .ISO files to CD/DVD. 
- ShortKeys
I use this DAILY... A macro tool that saves THOUSANDS of keystrokes for commonly typed phrases, websites, or even messages. 
- TeamViewer
GREAT desktop remote control support tool for helping friends out on their computer. Free for PERSONAL use. And seriously – pay for it if you use it a lot. They deserve every penny. 
- TeamViewer QuickSupport
This little app lets someone using TeamViewer remote control your mobile device (with approval). GREAT for geeks who are trying to help friends with their mobile devices! 
- Virtual Clone Drive
In my opinion, THE BEST DVD mounting software. 
- Vysor
An amazing free and paid tool for screen mirroring your mobile device on your computer.
Mobile tools…
- Glympse
GREAT tool for sharing your location with people that you’re meeting up with. Available for Android and other devices. 
- Google Lens
You can scan text, TRANSLATE text, read 2D, 3D, and QR barcodes, recognize places, animals, and plants! Quite an amazing app! - Dropbox
A must-have! This app will auto-sync files from your desktop to your phone. I use it to keep my KeePass password database sync’d everyone. - KeePass – Password Safe for mobile
A password safe that I’ve used for many years. Enter one password, have access to a personal database of all my other passwords and info.
Favorite WordPress plugins…
- ALL my favorite WordPress plugins
ALL of the Plugins that I've added to my "favorites" list on WordPress.org. The other items on this list are my MOST installed plugins. 
- Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall – WordPress plugin | WordPress.org
**MUST HAVE** This tool has saved my butt several times. I've given this guy a few hundred dollars. AMAZING software that will find and remove malware from taking over your WordPress site! 
- Rename wp-login
Don't want hackers to even TRY to get to your WordPress site? Install this and set a weird/custom/unique login URL (instead of /wp-admin). 
- Simple Custom CSS and JS
If you want to tweak your CSS or add some JavaScript - and NOT lose it when you change or update your theme, THIS is the plugin to use! 
- Child Theme Configurator
Easiest way to create Child themes, so that you can make tweaks/changes to a theme, and not lose them when the main theme auto-updates. 
- Easy Updates Manager
Most web hosts don't auto-update WordPress. THIS is a GREAT plugin that lets you control if WordPress Core, Plugins, Themes, and other gets auto-updated or not. - IEWP Simple Google Analytics
A very simple plugin that adds the Google Analytics tracking code to your site(s) - UNLIKE other GA plugins that also use/track your user traffic for their own purposes. 
- Link Library
The original WordPress software had 'favorite links' / "blogroll" - but NOTHING like this... This is POWERFUL if you use it well! *THIS list is created using Link Library!* 
- OG (Open Graph)
Open Graph is a common framework that many sites use for sharing links, to get meta data about the post. This plugin has worked well for me over the years. No configuration, it just works. 
- Shortcodes Ultimate
SO many great shortcodes... I even bought the paid version so I could create my own shortcodes. 
- The SEO Framework
A great plugin that helps you with SEO for each post, and your site. Lots of options, but simple enough to use. 
- URL Shortener by MyThemeShop
GREAT short URL / redirector tool to simplify links when sharing on social, or when you just want to easily track clicks. 
- Wordfence Security Firewall
Another *MUST HAVE* It will watch for cross-site scripting attempts, "DDOS" attacks and more. NO WordPress site should run without this!
Favorite Chrome Browser apps and extensions…
- Chrome Remote Desktop (Access AND Support)
Because Chrome runs in the background, you can remote-control your computer from any other Chrome browser, OR help (or get help) from someone else! 
- Chrome extensions by Google
Browsers extensions BY Google. (Meaning, they are probably more trustworthy than other extensions.)
Other links and notes...
- Yahoo Domains / Yahoo Small Business / MelbourneIT
This/these are one of THE WORST domain and webhosting services and control panels on the planet! PLUS, it’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find when you login to your account. NEVER use them. Get OFF of their services. And if you can't find their links, they are: https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ and https://www.melbourneit.com.au/
OLD items
- Android App Referrer
Great tool for sharing apps installed on your Android with other Android users. Just open ‘App Referrer’, select the app to share, and it generates a QR that the other user can scan with their phone. 
- Barcode Scanner by ZXing Team
The best 2D, 3D / QR barcode scanner out there. Just installed it – you’ll use it one day. 
- Droidlight LED Flashlight
A flashlight app on a mobile device should NOT require permissions to see your contact list OR have “full internet access” – that’s why THIS is THE app to use for turning on your light – only hardware access! 
- Google Music Manager
This app will upload up to 20,000 songs to your Google cloud so you can play YOUR music from your work computer (or any computer) OR stream to your phone! (Install Google Play Music) 
- Java Runtime Environment
At some point, some website will require the Java Runtime Environment 
- Personal Blocklist (by Google)
Blocks domains/hosts from appearing in your Google search results.
