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Bill Husted, Special to The Star 1:02 p.m. PT Feb. 11, 2017

Bill Husted(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

My grandfather was a long-legged man with no more than a high school education. He raised a family based on what he could earn as a gunsmith. Money was usually tight, soinstead of buying fancy gunsmithing tools, he often made his own. They werent pretty like the ones youd see in a catalog, but they worked just fine.

I remember he often said: If you cant get pork chops, chili would do. His family ate a lot of chili. But they did eat.

I am lucky. I can afford just about any computer program I want. ButId be fine if I couldnt do that. Like my grandfather, I know where to find some decent chili when pork chops are scarce. So today well talk about some of the programs I use almost every day, and then well mention free programs that would serve me just fine if the for-pay programs were out of my reach.

If you have a chili budget but are hankering for pork chops, I may be able to help. And if you are a pork chop sort of person, you can see what I prefer if you have the cash.

As youd figure, based on the fact that I do a lot of writing, a word processor is a big deal for me. I spend more time with mine than I do with Lucy the Beagle. I use Microsoft Word. Like a lot of the programs Ill talk about today, it can either be obtained as part of Microsoft Officeor you can buy it separately for about $110 directly from Microsoft at https://www.microsoftstore.com.You also may find it at retailers for a bit less or more. I really like the program.

But there are some excellent free word processors. Most are basically imitations of Office, sonot only do that contain a word processor; they throw in a bunch of other programs, too. Ive used most of these programs, and they work just fine. Most can read and write in the same format used by Word. So youll still be able to use files that others created in Word. Rather than rate each one, let me refer you to this excellent web page that reviews each at length and also furnishes links so that you can download the programs. It can be found athttp://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-microsoft-office-alternatives.

Email is essential for me both for work and keeping up with friends. I use another Microsoft product for that the professional version of Microsoft Outlook. Like Word, you can get it as part of some not all versions of Office. Or you can buy from the Microsoft store (same address as I mentioned for Word)for $110. You can also find it for less money at other online sites or in some retail stores. Its a great program.

But I also regularly use another free email program called Thunderbird. You can learn about it or download it here: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird.Id be just fine with this program if I didnt have Outlook. It has many of the same features. I use it every day, since I have Outlook set up for my personal email and use Thunderbird for reader email. Ive yet to have a problem with it.

At one time, I was fairly serious about photography, right down to having a pretty good home studio complete with studio lighting. I even did some professional work at times. I am not as passionate about photography now, but still use some expensive equipment and software. I do my editing with Adobe Photoshop. I have an old version, but it still works fine. Nowadays, a lot of people basically rent Photoshop from Adobe for $9.95 a month. Id recommend, however, getting Photoshops little sister, Adobe Elements 15 for $70. You can get it from adobe.com or find it in stores. Elements is just right for most people, and Photoshop may be overly expensive and complicated.

There are plenty of free replacements for a photo editing program. Here is a time when I have to do something I hate; I need to be honest with you. Unlike my other examples, Im not crazy about any of the free replacements. You can read about some of the best of them athttp://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/the-10-best-photoshop-alternatives-you-need-know.html.

But heres the deal: Ive used Photoshop so often and so long that maybe Im being stubborn. My guess is that if you experiment with some of the free versions mentioned in the article above it is easy to try several, since you dont have to pay that youll prove me wrong and find one you love.

So pick the way that fits your budget. If you can easily afford the commercial versions, then you cant go wrong. But if your appetite for pork chops doesnt fit your chili budget, youll do fine with the free versions Ive mentioned.

Bill Husted writes abouttechnology. Contact him attecbud@bellsouth.net.

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Technobuddy: Free software may fit job, budget - Ventura County Star - Ventura County Star

Guess theyll have to re-think the name Tap. Amazon today rolled out an over-the-air software update for its portable Amazon Tap that makes the voice-assistant Alexa work without having to tap a button. The new hands-free mode is enabled through the Alexa mobile app and requires the Bluetooth-equipped Tap to be connected to WiFi.

Amazon first introduced the Tap speaker last fall, on the same day it announced the Echo Dot, a smaller version of its popular Echo speaker. But the Tap speaker doesnt have the same omnidirectional microphone array as the Echo, and was built with a physical button that would wake up Alexa, leading some users to conclude that the Tap just wasnt as useful as the Echo. The Tap was also designed to be portable meaning it would eventually run out of battery life while the Echo products are plugged in and could support an always-ready virtual assistant.

Even with a new hands-free function, the Tap should get about eight hours of continuous battery life, Amazon says, and can be put into sleep mode by pressing the power button. The speaker will also support what Amazon calls echo spatial perception, which means you could have two or more Alexa-equipped devices in the same area and the speaker closest to you will respond.

A spokesperson for Amazon declined to answer whether this update could eventually impact other Alexa-equipped products that require physical interaction, which would be a significant move, given that the voice-controlled assistant loses some of its magic when it involves pushing buttons.

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Amazon Tap's new hands-free Alexa update means it's actually useful - The Verge

Photo by VidorHsu / iStock / Getty Images Plus, St. George News

PHOENIX The Internal Revenue Service hasannounced that taxpayers may now use their smart phones or tablets to electronically prepare and file their federal and state tax returns through IRS Free File.

The IRS and its private-sector partners who offer their brand-name software products for free now support a new design that allows for the use of desktops, laptops, mobile phones and tablets.

Access the products using mobile devices in two ways: (1) Use the IRS app, IRS2Go, which has a link to the Free File Software Lookup Tool or (2) Use the devices browser to go to http://www.IRS.gov/freefile and select the Free File Software Lookup Tool or Start Free File Now to find a software product. The IRS2Go app is available for Android and iOS devices.

Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $64,000 or less will find one or more free software options. Each of the 12 software providers set the eligibility requirements for their product, generally based on age, income or state residency. The Free File Software Lookup Tool leads the user through a few questions to determine eligibility.

Some partners offer free federal and free state tax return preparation; some charge a fee for state return preparation. Active duty military personnel whose income was $64,000 or less are exempt from any eligibility requirements and may use any Free File product they choose to file their federal return for free.

The Free File software allows for free electronic tax preparation and filing and direct deposit of refunds. Some taxpayers may need their 2015 adjusted gross income, if they filed a return, to validate their identities and complete the electronic filing process.

Also, taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit are reminded that, by law, the IRS must hold refunds that contain those credits until Feb. 15. The refunds likely wont arrive into taxpayers financial accounts until the week of Feb. 27.

Email: news@stgnews.com

Twitter: @STGnews

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IRS offers free software to file taxes by smartphone or tablet - St George News

In commemoration of 30 years of user commitment, Trihedral is reaffirming their desire that everyone experience great software by making HMI SCADA software available to everyone. Passion drives us to create the best SCADA platform, says Trihedral President Glenn Wadden. For three decades we have been developing software that is powerful enough to run systems comprised of millions of I/O but instantly intuitive enough to learn quickly and manage easily. VTScada is our only product and our singular focus. This year, Control Engineering magazine readers once again recognized VTScada in the HMI software category.

VTScadaLIGHT - Your first 10 copies of are free!

Previously, VTScada was only accessible by institutions that could afford industrial control systems. On this special anniversary, Trihedral is making their unique time-tested approach to SCADA software available to anyone who wants it.

VTScadaLIGHT is a 50 I/O development/runtime license with a mobile connection that is perfect for small industrial and personal applications. We provide up to ten VTScadaLIGHT Licenses to individuals or businesses. This license is nearly full featured making it perfect for no-risk trials, students and hobbyists. Since it does not expire or limit running time, it is also great for small industrial applications. When your needs outgrow 50 I/O, we make that easy too.

Creating a Culture of Innovation

Operators, integrators, inventors, students, creators, farmers, instructors, developers, and even mad scientists will love its ease of installation and simple learning curve. Using an all-in-one event-driven architecture results in low PC performance requirements making VTScada perfect for USB computers or Panel PCs connected to small systems like microbreweries or for home automation.

Resources for Success

In addition to instantly intuitive development tools, Trihedral offers materials to help get you started in no time. A 5-minute video shows you how to create applications, connect to devices, and display values to your screen. Context-sensitive help files are always just an F1 key away. Simple demo applications (like the Weather JSON Demo pictured above) give you working examples to build on. The new VTScada Users Forum provides a place to share your challenges and triumphs with VTScadas international community of developers and users.

One Simple Install Includes the Following:

Opening the Door for the Next 30 Years of VTScada Users

We are proud of our software, says Wadden. We are confident that once you try it you will want to keep using it on your future monitoring and control projects. On this anniversary, our gift to you is our passion for great SCADA software.

For more information, visit http://www.trihedral.com/light

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Introducing VTScadaLIGHT - A Free Version Of Trihedral's Award Winning SCADA Software - Water Online (press release)

Audio editing and recording software doesn't need to cost a lot PC Advisor With the rise of podcasts and online music sharing, more people than ever are in need of music and audio software, but not everyone can afford an Adobe subscription. We've scoured the web for the best free audio software for musicians on a budget, and thrown in a couple of paid options just in case too.

Whether its for making music or recording a podcast, more people than ever are finding themselves in need of audio editing software. While you can spend hundreds of pounds on professional-grade tools, there are also plenty of budget-friendly options, including some great free audio editing software so you neednt pay a penny.

Read next: Best free video editing software

Its worth noting that this list will include a mix of audio editors and digital audio workstations (DAWs), but well try and flag what sort of features you can expect from each program. Weve also thrown in a couple of cheap paid audio editors at the end of the list for anyone whos happy to spend a little bit but doesnt have the budget for full-featured pro software.

Get Audacity for free

Any search for the best free audio editor is likely to turn up Audacity first, and for good reason. The open-source software is entirely free, runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux, and boasts a feature list to rival most of the paid options out there.

Read next: Best free and cheap photo editing software

You can use Audacity for both recording new audio and editing existing files, and the software supports multiple tracks and a variety of effects. Audacity also supports a wide range of formats and audio quality levels, for both importing and exporting, and is compatible with loads of third-party plugins to extend its functionality even further.

Despite all that power, Audacitys interface is still pretty friendly, making it both accessible to audio amateurs and powerful enough for the pros, which is why its our pick for the best free audio editing software.

Get Free Audio Editorfor free

Truly the Ronseal of audio software, Free Audio Editor does what it says on the tin, and offers plenty of options along the way. You can use it to record audio through a microphone or simply to edit files using a variety of ready-made tools and filters.

How well you get on with the UI will depend on your preferences. Rather than burying options inside menus, Free Audio Editor puts most of its tools upfront. That means it can be initially daunting, but once you get to grips with it youll be able to access the features and effects you want much more quickly.

Its worth noting one slight downside: the installer will do its best to make you install a few bits of third-party bloatware, so read every page closely and use the custom installation options to remove all the extras you dont want.

You can find out more in our Free Audio Editor review.

Sign up to Soundtrapfor free

Soundtrap is most notable not for what it is, but for what it isnt: a desktop app. Thats because Soundtrap is actually entirely cloud-based, running within a computer browser, or in the Android and iOS apps.

Designed primarily for musicians, it allows multiple users to collaborate online on projects, using Soundtraps tools to record and edit audio. It has a variety of loops and samples included, along with some virtual instruments to help you write new music wherever you are.

Of course, you dont have to use Soundtrap for music, but if youre hoping to use it to record podcasts or lectures, its worth bearing in mind that it will be limited by the memory capacity of your browser. That means youre unlikely to be able to record continuous audio for longer than half an hour or so - any longer and you risk losing it all.

Soundtrap has two tiers of paid subscription options, but the free plan still gives you access to 720 loops, 151 instruments, and the ability to work on up to five projects at a time.

Get WavePad for free for Windows, iOS, and Android

WavePad is a pretty solid free audio editor for Windows and iOS, let down mostly by the fact that a few features are locked and exclusive to the paid versions. There are a decent number of tools and effects in the free version, and an attractive UI, but it cant quite match Audacity.

Read next: How to record system audio on your Windows PC

Still, where WavePad earns its edge is that it isnt just available on your computer: it also comes with apps for iOS and Android. These are more powerful than you might expect for mobile audio editors, and have clearly been modelled closely on the main desktop application.

That in itself might be a good reason to pick WavePad as your desktop tool too - it means you can have a consistent experience across your devices, getting used to similar layouts, tools, and effects no matter where youre working.

Get Acoustica Basic Editionfor free

Acoustica is a powerful, fully-featured audio editing platform that looks and feels more professional than most of the other free options available. It comes with a variety of tools, and is particularly good at noise reduction, which makes it great for cleaning up old recordings.

Its worth bearing in mind that there are paid versions of Acoustica available, and some features are held back for these. Some, like 7.1 surround sound, feel like understandable luxuries, but the omission of multi-track editing from the Basic Edition will no doubt rule Acoustica out for a fair few people. Still, if youre only planning to work on simple, single-track projects, or think you might want to make the leap into a paid tool down the line, then this is a great choice.

Get Wavosaur for free

Wavosaurs major selling point over the other free audio editors in this round-up is its sheer portability. Theres no need to install it, so you can just stick the .exe file on a USB stick, ready to use on any PC you like without an installation.

Despite being so lightweight, it still packs in plenty of features. You have your standard-issue editing tools, along more advanced stuff like pitch shifts, vocal removal, and batch processing, all across a variety of input and output formats. Oh, and it supports VST plugins so you can expand the feature set pretty easily if you want.

Updates to the software are sporadic. The last was in August 2016, and before that December 2013, so dont expect regular patches. Still, the base software is already solid enough that you shouldnt let that put you off.

OK, so technically speaking, Ardour isnt free. But since it uses a pay-what-you-want system with a minimum donation of $1, we feel like its really close enough to count.

Ardour is a full-featured DAW that runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux. You can import audio or record your own, and cut, copy, move, fade, trim, mix, and sync to your hearts content across unlimited multichannel tracks.

This is an expansive, professional-level piece of software, created by musicians and for musicians, so its not for the faint of heart. If youre totally new to audio editing then Ardour will likely be daunting (you could even say using it would be arduous), and because its open-source software developed by a small team, you cant expect much technical support. But if you already know what youre doing and want to get a full DAW at a fraction of the price, then give Ardour a look.

Formerly owned by Sonic Foundry, then Sony, and now Magix, Sound Forge is an audio editing staple. The Pro version will set you back a meaty 299, but the cheaper Audio Studio will suit most peoples needs just fine at 44.99.

Its currently Windows-only, but as youd expect from the price you get an impressive array of features for your money, including plenty of built-in effects and support for VST plugins. Bear in mind that a few big features, like multichannel audio and customisable keyboard mapping, are held back for the Pro version, so think about whether youll need those or not.

So why would you consider paying 44.99 for Sound Forge rather than opting for a free editor? Polish. You get a slick, user-friendly UI, making it quicker, easier, and more pleasant to work in the program. There are also built-in interactive tutorials, so if youre relatively new to complex audio software then Sound Forge would be a great way to get a grounding in the basics.

Adobes applications tend to be a good place to start when youre looking for any advanced creative software, and Audition is no exception. Now a part of the Creative Cloud subscription service, its available at a relatively friendly price given its advanced feature-set - especially if you only want it for a one-off project, rather than an ongoing subscription.

It has all the features youd expect from pro-level software, including multi-track mixing and non-destructive editing, along with a user-friendly UI. As with Sound Forge, theres an extensive array of tutorials available, so you dont need to throw yourself in at the deep end if youre relatively new to high-end audio work.

Best of all, theres a free trial, so you can get to grips with the basics, work through a few of Adobes tutorials, and then decide if youd like to stick with Audition or try out one of the free alternatives.

Best apps for iPad & iPhone: 17 brilliant photography, work, weather and travel apps for your iOS

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Best free audio software: Free Audio Editor - PC Advisor