Application software are computer programs created for everyday use. These vary from word processing types like Microsoft Word, multimedia software like Real Player and content access software like the Mozilla Firefox web browser, among others.
In recent years, application software extended its use to portable digital devices like mobile phones and tablets, evolving into what’s called an “app” today. Nevertheless, its purpose is still the same: make our lives easier by doing our tasks faster with greater convenience and accessibility.
Here are ten of the best application software we just can’t do without.
1. Dropbox
In the not so-distant past, file sharing was a tedious process. You attach files to an email, which your recipient receives and downloads. Dropbox has cut through all that.
This nifty program is an online repository that updates and keeps your files in sync on all devices it’s installed in. Share your folders and files with recipients in real-time, and transfer files to your heart’s desire, or at least 2 gigabytes worth of it, for free. 100 gigs of space start at $9.99/month after that.
As we aspire for everything to go faster, why should our browsers be left behind? Google Chrome has become the new favorite because of the faster web browsing experience it offers. Chrome is free to download and is available for all platforms.
3. Skype
Call people on their computers and android phones for free. Skype has made talking, sending instant messages and sharing files easy. With its excellent sound quality and a highly secure end-to-end encryption, Skype is one of the most preferred application software used for communicating.
Group video calls, screen sharing and unlimited calls to another country comes with a premium account subscription that costs $9.99 per month.
Probably one of the very first application software we were initiated to, Microsoft Office holds our go-to task apps: MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Outlook and others. Although there are other software alternatives, MS Office remains to be the standard for office productivity applications. The MS Office suite costs anywhere from $79.99 to $399.99.
5. Gmail
Gmail claims to be intuitive, efficient and useful. And it really is. With its new interface partitioning emails into Primary, Social and Promotions tab, you won’t have to sift through notifications and various junk to get to your important emails. Gmail has made sending and getting emails easier. And it’s absolutely free.
6. iTunes
Play your music, audio books and movies and stream your favorite radio station through iTunes. This versatile media player works on every PC and Apple device. Import your songs, movies and TV shows and get those that you don’t have, all in the convenience of one application. iTunes is free to download.
View, create, edit, sign, print and manage your PDF documents with the Adobe Acrobat. While the freeware Adobe Reader allows you to view, print and annotate PDF files, it doesn’t allow you to convert, digitally sign, merge, export and publish documents. Adobe Acrobat does all these and more. Acrobat XI Standard is priced at $139 while the Acrobat XI Pro costs $199.
8. uTorrent
Download and share large, excellent-quality files by using this peer-to-peer application. Here’s how it works: Click to download file from a torrent tracker website. uTorrent then hosts and manages the download, connecting you to other users (seeders). When you’ve completed your download, you “seed” the file by sharing your bandwidth with other users to make file downloading faster (like returning the favor). uTorrent is one the best application software out there as it’s lightweight, efficient and easy to use. It has a free version and a plus version that costs $19.99 per year.
9. CCleaner
One of the most indispensable disk cleanup tools ever, CCleaner doesn’t just empty your recycle bin or dust out old log files. Nope. It thoroughly digs around the nooks and crannies of your PC to scrub away at your windows registry, browser history and other places. You even get to choose the level of “wipe” that you want. CCleaner is free to download but the professional version costs $24.95.
10. VLC Player
Let’s face it: Windows Media Player doesn’t support all the file extensions that we need. Which makes VLC the go-to media player for all our video and streaming needs. VLC has top-notch video quality, user-friendly interface and extensive file compatibility. It’s open-source so there’s tons of support with an active community of users and programmers. VLC Player is free to download.
These ten apps often appear in lists of application software users couldn’t live without; and rightly so. They have become an indispensable part of our productivity as we rely on them to simplify, speed up and make our tasks easier. Download them for free, or pay for the premium version – it’s entirely up to you.
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