The best free USB flash drive applications

Click here for a complete side-by-side comparison of USB Flash Drive

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By Cristopher Fowers

EssentialPIM Portable Edition

Essential PIM is an easy-to-use personal organizer that is completely stored on your USB. The application includes a calendar, to-do list and a contact manager. This is a compact alternative to a bulky day planner or expensive PDA.

Standout features include:

· Security—all data can be password protected

· Import from and sync with Outlook or Outlook Express

· Multilingual interface

· Printable to-do list and schedules

· User-friendly interface

· PIM allows for detailed information on contacts, notes and schedules.

Overall, this is an excellent application and the price can’t be beat—free. You can carry your personal organizer on your keychain wherever you go and access it on any computer.

EssentialPIM is also available in a Pro version for $39.95, a version that runs on your computer and a U3 certified version.

Click here to get EssentialPIM Portable Edition

GreatNews

GreatNews is an RSS reader that can operate on your desktop as well as on your USB flash drive. You can take your favorite RSS feeds with you whereever you go. As long as you have a computer and an Internet connection. This is an easy-to-use application that allows you to customize the layout to fit your reading style. GreatNews also supports custom labels, email and blog integration and custom keyword alets that allow you to automatically find articles on topics that interest you. Some standout features include:

You can mark items as read, so you don’t waste time going through the same content
Customize your viewing interface
Import/Export feeds from/to OPML and XML

This is an excellent application for those who want to stay up-to-date on almost any topic. And it doesn’t require installation, just unzip and you’re ready to enjoy the advantages of a portable, stand alone RSS feed reader.

Click here to get GreatNews

Convert

Convert is a simple unit conversion program that includes conversions for distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and more. You can also add your custom conversions.

Never get caught needing a conversion again or trying to figure a number with pencil, paper and a complex equation. This application can operate from your USB flash drive and is completely portable.

One user stated, “To call this program ‘helpful’ is like describing the speed of light as ‘pretty fast’.”

Some standout features include:

User-friendly interface
Doesn’t need to be installed; simply unzip and begin converting
Many, many unit conversions

Click here to get Convert

The Mozilla Portable Editions

Firefox, Portable Edition

You can enjoy all of the convenient features of Firefox and your bookmarks and browser extensions on any computer. Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition resides on your USB flash drive and it will leave no personal information behind on the computer you use.

Click here to get Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition

Thunderbird, Portable Edition

Another superb product from Firefox. Mozilla Thunderbird Portable Edition allows you to take this practical email application with you wherever you go. Your email, address book and account setting can fit securely in your pocket on a USB flash drive.

Click here to get Mozilla Thunderbird, Portable Edition

Sunbird, Portable Edition

Mozilla Sunbird is a standalone calendar and to-do list application. Or, it can be used as an extension of Thunderbird and it integrates nicely with this portable email application. This version of Sunbird is called Lightening.

Sunbird has a self-explanatory interface with well-labeled buttons and intuitive navigation. This is a practical way to carry your personal organizer on your keychain, in your pocket or on a lanyard.

Click here to get Mozilla Sunbird, Portable Edition

PortableApps Suite

The PortableApps Suite centralizes all of your portable USB applications in one location—a tool similar to the windows start menu. You can customize the menu with the applications you want. In addition, it conveniently organizes your files and has various other practical functions.

Click here to get PortableApps Suite