QuickJump (for Windows) is, without a doubt, one of those applications for which you didn’t realize there was a need until you actually used it.

I can’t tell you how many times a day I look for different folders on my PC or on my network shares at work. It’s just a fact of life. To find those folders, the average Windows user has to pull up Windows Explorer (perhaps starting with “My Computer” or “My Documents”) and double-click until they think they can’t double-click anymore… just to find the folder they’re looking for. I personally just hit Start+R on Windows to bring up the “Run” dialog box and then start typing in the full path of the folder I’m seeking. It’s quicker for me than the aforementioned process but it’s still annoying.

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If you have an abundant amount of freeware and/or open-source applications installed on your system – on which you depend daily, weekly or monthly – then you can ensure they’re kept up-to-date by using the FileHippo.com Update Checker. This tiny 153kb application will let you know when there’s an update to one of the applications available on their site (if you currently have it installed.) You can think of it as the Google Pack updater… but having compatibility to *a lot* more applications.

So, if you find yourself using popular applications like AVG Anti-Virus, Firefox, Ad-Aware, QuickTime/Real Alternative, DeepBurner, DVD Shrink, CCleaner, FileZilla or one of hundreds of other brilliantly-useful applications available for download on FileHippo.com, you can ensure they’re all up-to-date by using FileHippo’s automatic updater app.

Alternatively (or, in addition), if you find yourself using alot of niche applications that perhaps don’t get updated all that often, you can still ensure you’re running the latest version by using Ketarin. However, while FileHippo’s tool can ensure your applications are automatically updated, Ketarin goes about the whole process in a different way – by updating the setup packages instead of the installed application itself.

So, for instance, you can have an entire folder (think USB flash drive) with a bunch of different setup applications that are all updated whenever there’s a new release. This way, when you choose to (and/or are forced to) reformat your system, you don’t have to worry about downloading new installs once you’ve wiped your drive… you’ve already got them.

Ketarin might take a little bit more work to get up-and-running with the application titles you want but the possibilities are pretty much endless. For instance, user FranciscoR in the Ketarin forums has uploaded a template that enables you to keep any installation package from PortableFreeware.com up-to-date. All you have to do is input the title ID number from the site (i.e., the "507" in "http://portablefreeware.com/?id=507"). There are several other user-submitted templates for your favorite download sites in addition to tutorials on how to control other powerful aspects of the Ketarin software.

(As an aside, Ketarin is made possible by one of my favorite freeware and shareware burning applications: CDBurnerXP Pro.)

These two amazing and handy utilities are completely free and can save you some headaches while, at the same time, giving you some peace of mind.

Ketarin – Keep Your Setup Packages Up-to-Date…
FileHippo – Keep Your Installed Apps Up-to-Date…

Microsoft, just a short while ago, dropped a press release announcing the availability of the Windows 7 beta program. In the release, Ballmer states that the beta program will open up to the public on Friday and users can download a test version of Microsoft’s next OS at that time. MSDN and TechNet subscribers can allegedly download immediately.

And so it begins…

[Update] I just verified the availability of en_windows_7_beta_dvd_x86_x15-29073.iso on TechNet Plus and I’m downloading now. Looks as though Microsoft’s servers aren’t being hammered just quite yet. (Although, I have to admit, they did a remarkable job keeping everything up-and-running for the Vista beta program.)

Those of you who constantly find yourselves frantically searching for your frequently-used folders or files may find the freeware application “Shock Bookmark” to be of some use.

The program adds a drop-down option to your right-click menu in Windows Explorer to which you can easily add shortcuts  to folders, files, other applications and URLs.

(image courtesy of SoftPedia)

If this type of application sounds familiar, you’re 100% accurate: there’s plenty of similar programs out there. First off, there’s Moo0 RightClicker. This one enhances your right-click menu in Windows Explorer by not only allowing you to add shortcuts to your favorite directories but also by enabling certain other types of functionality like “duplicate current window.” There’s a free version of Moo0 available but the full version is going to set you back $38.

Just as a side note: I installed Moo0 a few months back and began noticing that shortcuts to Office 2007 applications from within the start menu stopped working. Turns out it’s an actual issue – caused by a 3rd-party shell extension.

Another great freeware utility for adding shortcuts to frequently-used folders is Folder Guide. I’ve been using this one for some time but the only problem is that you can only add shortcuts to folder and not URLs, applications, etc. like Shock Bookmark can.