|
Technology Utilities
Below are applications that, while not directly related to the financial markets, can make you trading life a little easier. For example, use the Task Orchestrator utility to auto-schedule all of your end-of-day commodity futures and forex data downloads.
The Windows Live Safety Center is an online checkup and PC safety protection service for your Windows PC. The latest development from the web-based Windows Live series, the Safety Center provides full scans for viruses, safety threats and hard drive clutter. Microsoft claims its free safety scans will identify and eliminate any potentially harmful files or files that slow your computer's performance. The Safety Center also has discussion forums and several articles on keeping your computer safe and free of extraneous files. Note: the service only works through Internet Explorer. Windows Live Safety Center (new window will open)
Task Orchestrator is a freeware software distributed by PC Magazine. Task Orchestrator is like an "autopilot" for your computer. The utility lets you line up and execute a series of tasks to occur while you are away from your computer - eliminating the need to endlessly wait for a file to download or a process to finish. With enormous potential, Task Orchestrator lets you design tasks so they occur at specific dates/times, including downloading, moving, copying or deleting files. You can also use Task Orchestrator to play media files, shut down/log off or open/close an application - all at the time you specify. The utility will even wait to begin a process until another has finished. Task Orchestrator (new window will open)
Using R|mail, you can subscribe to any RSS feed and it's e-mailed to you. Just copy and paste the feed link into the RSS field and enter your e-mail address. R|Mail (new window will open)
Audiolicious is a Windows program that lets you turn any RSS feed into a podcast. It uses text-to-speech to convert the feed's web pages into MP3 files. Audiolocious (new window will open)
Mobilcast allows users to download and listen to podcasts from their mobile phone. Effective only for US users, it allows individuals on their mobile phones to log onto the Mobilcast network, select a podcast and have the service play the podcast requested as soon as it is downloaded. The service has a search feature, separates podcasts into categories and even lets you see podcast notes. All downloaded podcasts are then saved so you can listen to them whenever you want. Mobilcast is only supported on select phones by Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola. Although the service itself is free, data transfer costs still apply. Mobilcast (new window will open)
Feed43 is a web-based service which allows you to create a custom RSS feed for any site who doesn't support a RSS/XML channel. Feed43 (new window will open)
|
