Backbone Collection: First Layer of Productivity Hardware Software

Regardless how you get the backbone collection, and what will be your selected tools, know the ingredients

Backbone Collection, Hardware Software 

The backbone collection of tools should come as ‘hardware software’. Checklist

The backbone collection is the first layer of software and utilities that are necessary for actually doing things in the digital space using your devices.
It called ‘hardware software’ because it is common to see the backbone tools as part of the hardware and connectivity setup.

Some of the tools listed here are built-in the OS or come installed on the device, some are not. The defaults on PCs and smartphones are not identical – For the same functionality, you get different apps.
Most of, if not all, the free pre-installed backbone collection tools have better and more advanced alternatives (which we review on our site).

Regardless of the way you get the backbone collection, and what will be your selected solutions, learn the ingredients:

  • Clock and Alarm – You need it on all devices, you have it on all devices.
  • Writing tool \ word processor – Windows OS comes with two primitive tools: Notepad and WordPad. The first is for technical uses and the second is suitable for basic structured documents.
    On smartphones things are a bit more complicated. Usually you only have a basic note app.
  • Email client – Receiving and sending email messages without connecting directly to the mail server. The Mail app in MS Windows is quite a good solution.
    All smartphones come with an email client.
  • Calendar – Part of the mail app in MS Windows. All smartphones come with a calendar app.
  • Contacts (People) – Part of the mail app in MS Windows. All smartphones come with a contacts app.
  • Calculator – You have one in Windows and on every smartphone.
  • Browser – The software that takes you to the World Wide Web. MS Windows includes MS Edge and the old MS Explorer. Not the perfect browsers, to say the least.
    On every smartphone there is at least one browser installed. Many apps, like Facebook, have their own browser.
  • Compress files (ZIP) – Windows 10 includes the free version of WinRar. Smartphones usually do not include compressing app, which is seldom used on phones.
  • PDF reader – When using the desktop\laptop it is possible to view PDF files with the browser. The smartphone includes a default PDF viewer.
  • PDF printer – This important utility, for creating PDF files from various document formats, is not included in any hardware software pack. One of the first things to look for, download and install.
  • Photo viewer \ organizer – included on both, your PC and your smartphone.
  • Image editor – Included in Windows, might be included on a smartphone.
  • Camera – Built-in on the laptop and on the smartphone.
  • Media viewer – Watch videos on your PC or smartphone. It’s there.
  • Maps \ directions – If you don’t have it on your devices, you can always use the browser to get there.
  • Remote access – Included in Windows 10 for your desktop\laptop. Also available for Android.

These tools are essential for any activity in the digital space, starting from the most fundamental ones. That’s why they are called ‘backbone collection’.

Amazingly, a spreadsheet is not included as hardware software in the OS or on the device, while no doubt it is a backbone tool.

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