Bits and Bytes Computer Club

 

USEFUL WEBSITES

A list of websites that some of our members have found useful.

 

ELECTRONIC DEVICES RECYCLING

Computer Recycling (Working Centre)
66 Queen St. S., Kitchener
(Entrance off Charles Street)
519-743-1151 ext. 225
Find it on Google Maps

Eco-Tech Recycling - Will take almost any electronic devices, wires, etc.
505 Dotzert Ct. Unit 2, Waterloo
519-886-6801.
Find it on Google Maps

 

COMPUTER SOFTWARE - APPS

OFFICE

LibreOffice - Complete open source (free) office suite comparable to Microsoft Office, but better.

LibreOffice Portable Download

 

DIGITAL PHOTO EDITING

IrfanView – A very fast, small, compact and innovative free graphic viewer and editor.

IrfanView Video

IrfanView Tutorial

Paint.net - A free image and photo editing software for Windows computers.

Paint.net Instructional video

GIMP - High quality open source (free) photo editing software. Works with Windows, Linux and macOS.

PicPick - Screen capture tool

 

E-MAIL

Thunderbird - Designed for desktop / laptop computers. Much more flexible than Outlook Express. Designed to prevent viruses and stop junk mail. Many add-ons if you want them.

Thunderbird Video

Gmail - Free, advertising-supported web mail service provided by Google. Fast, safe with lots of online storage. Gives you access to many other Google services.

Gmail Video 1 There are three additional videos at this location extending the information in part 1.

 

BROWSERS

Google Chrome - A browser combining minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. Chrome also offers syncing of bookmarks and browser history among Chrome users on Android, iOS, and desktop. Does not support Flash designed websites.

Google Chrome Video

Adblock Plus for Google - prevents page elements, such as advertisements, from being downloaded and displayed.

Firefox - Clean and fast substitute for Internet Explorer / MS Edge. Well-tested browser used by experienced computer types. Many add-ons available.

Firefox Video

Adblock Plus for Firefox - Prevents page elements, such as advertisements, from being downloaded and displayed.

Opera – An innovative free internet browser. Friendly, fast, clean, and safer than other browsers.

Opera Browser Tutorials

 

PDF

FoxIt Reader - Replace Adobe Reader with this smaller, faster, more flexible PDF viewer program.

FoxIt Reader Video

PDF-XChange Viewer – A smaller, faster and more feature rich, free PDF Reader/Viewer for Windows Editor available.

PDF-XChange Viewer Video

PDF-XChange 'Lite' – A free printer driver used to create Adobe compatible PDF files from most Windows applications. The Free Home/Academic version is located at Offer 2.

 

 

SPECIAL INTEREST FOR SENIORS

Seniors Fraud Prevention Information How to protect yourself from scams

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Knowing whom to contact if you think you've been scammed

Online Safety Tips for Seniors Some great tips to help keep you safe online.

enTECH Computer Club - UofW student run computer club giving free online computer help for seniors. Additional info here.

What's Happening at the Downtown Community Centre

Active Kitchener: The new City of Kitchener listing of activities and courses

Everything Zoomer

Senior Net

Electric Vehicle Society of Canada Good information if you're considering an EV

Electric Vehicles on YouTube

 

MONEY SAVERS

Gas Buddy - Current Kitchener Gas Prices

Save.ca select and get money saving coupons

Red Flag Deals - lots of coupons and money saving deals

 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Government of Canada latest COVID information for entering Canada

Currency Converter Converts amounts from one currency to another

Google Translate - another translation Website

Canada 411 find phone numbers and postal codes

Pearson International Flight Arrivals and Departures

Current KW Weather (University of Waterloo)

The Weather Network - Weather for Kitchener

 

GENEALOGY

Government of Canada Genealogy Centre

The Ontario Genealogical Society

Waterloo Region Generations - A developing, comprehensive website about people and places in Waterloo Region.