Download These Handy Tools NOW! Essential USB Tools

Summary

This video script introduces a variety of useful tools and utilities for tech enthusiasts. It covers software updates with Chocolaty, audio enhancement with Equalizer APO and VoiceMeeter, disk space analyzers like Wiztree, and system utility collections with WinToys. Additionally, it highlights Ventoy for managing multiple bootable tools on a single USB, and MediCat USB for a comprehensive tech toolkit. The script also mentions a simple HTTP server for easy file sharing and Vessi footwear for tech-savvy fashion. The presentation is punctuated with a segue to a sponsor, Samsung, offering a sneak peek at their upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event.

Takeaways

• 📱 USB sticks are commonly used to carry favorite utilities, but it's important to keep them updated with newer, better tools.
• 🚀 Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event is upcoming, where you can reserve the next generation of Galaxy devices with no deposit needed.
• 🎧 Equalizer APO enhances audio quality on Windows PCs with system-wide equalization and device-specific settings.
• 🔊 VoiceMeeter is a virtual audio mixer that allows for complex audio routing, useful for streamers and gamers.
• 📦 Chocolaty is a command-line package manager for Windows with over 10,000 packages, offering more options than Ninite.
• 🛠️ Wiztree is a fast and accurate alternative to WinDirStat for identifying large files and folders on your hard drive.
• 🧰 WinToys gathers various Windows tools and settings in one place for easier access and management.
• 💽 Ventoy simplifies the process of creating a bootable USB drive with multiple utilities by automatically detecting and adding ISOs to a boot menu.
• 🌐 Netboot.xyz offers a collection of bootable operating systems and utilities over PXE booting, accessible via a simple HTTP server.
• 💾 MediCat USB is a comprehensive collection of bootable tools and portable apps, similar to Hiren's boot CD, wrapped in a customized Ventoy menu system.
• 🔗 TheWaWar's simple HTTP server utility allows for easy file sharing over a network by hosting files via an IP address.
• 👟 Vessi's boardwalk slip-on sneakers are promoted for their breathability, waterproof features, and stylish design.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video transcript?

The main theme of the video transcript is about introducing various useful software tools and utilities that can enhance productivity and solve common tech problems.

What does the speaker suggest about keeping up with the latest tech tools?

The speaker suggests that keeping up with the latest tech tools can be challenging and time-consuming, but the video will cover some improvements to known tools, introduce lesser-known utilities, and provide solutions to common problems.

How does Equalizer APO enhance audio quality on a Windows PC?

Equalizer APO enhances audio quality by adding powerful graphic and parametric equalization features, allowing users to tweak the EQ curve system-wide or per device for a more personalized listening experience or to boost key frequencies.

What is the purpose of VoiceMeeter in audio management?

VoiceMeeter is a virtual audio mixer that allows users to control where input audio goes, enabling the routing of audio to different outputs such as hardware or virtual devices, which is useful for streaming and gaming scenarios.

How does Chocolaty differ from Ninite in terms of software management?

Chocolaty is a command-line package manager for Windows with over 10,000 unique packages available, offering a more extensive selection of applications compared to Ninite. It also allows users to install, update, and even lock specific versions of software.

What is the advantage of Wiztree over WinDirStat for hard drive space analysis?

Wiztree is faster than WinDirStat, providing results in seconds rather than minutes, and it handles hard link files more accurately. Additionally, Wiztree is still in active development, receiving regular updates and new features.

What does WinToys offer that is not available in Windows Powertoys?

WinToys gathers various program and service management tools, Windows settings, tweaks, and fixes, and puts them all in one place for easy access, unlike Windows Powertoys which focuses on specific utility tools.

How does Ventoy simplify the process of having multiple bootable utilities on a single thumb stick?

Ventoy allows users to simply copy any ISO or disc image file to the drive after installation, and Ventoy will automatically detect and add it to a boot menu, eliminating the need for manual menu updates or using installer software for each tool.

What is the main benefit of using a simple HTTP server like the one provided by TheWaWar?

The main benefit is that it allows users to quickly share files over a network by launching a simple HTTP server in a folder, making the contents accessible to any device with a web browser on the same network.

What precaution should be taken when using TheWaWar's simple HTTP server?

Users should remember to turn off the server when they are done using it to avoid potential security issues, and should not run the utility on corporate networks due to possible security policy violations.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Tech Tools and Software Updates

This paragraph discusses the evolution of technology and the need to update older tools with newer, more effective ones. It introduces a range of utilities and software improvements, including a sneaky solution to common problems and a segue to the sponsor, Samsung. It highlights the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event and offers a $50 credit for reserving the next generation of Galaxy devices. The paragraph also covers the importance of audio quality for PC users and introduces Equalizer APO, a software that enhances audio with system-wide equalization and device-specific settings. It mentions additional features like audio device routing and virtualization, and suggests autoeq.app for more EQ curves. The potential need to revisit the video for updates is acknowledged.

05:01

🎧 Audio Tools and File Management

The focus of this paragraph is on audio tools and file management utilities. It starts by discussing the limitations of manual audio frequency tweaking and introduces VoiceMeeter, a virtual audio mixer that allows for complex audio routing. The paragraph then shifts to discuss file management, highlighting the benefits of Ninite and introducing Chocolaty, a command-line package manager with over 10,000 packages. It explains how Chocolaty simplifies software installation and updates, and how it can be used with or without command-line experience through Chocolaty GUI. The paragraph concludes by mentioning another tool, hinted to be showcased through Chocolaty.

10:02

🛠️ System Utilities and Bootable Solutions

This paragraph delves into system utilities and bootable solutions. It starts by comparing Winderstat and Wiztree for hard drive space analysis, emphasizing Wiztree's speed and accuracy. It then introduces WinToys, a collection of Windows tools and tweaks, and Ventoy, a utility for creating multi-boot USB drives with automatic menu updates. The paragraph also mentions netboot.xyz for launching various operating systems and utilities over PXE booting. It discusses MediCat USB, a large collection of tools wrapped in a customized Ventoy menu, and touches on the legal grey area of such collections. The paragraph ends with a mention of a simple HTTP server utility for easy file transfer between devices.

📢 Sharing Tools and Closing Remarks

The final paragraph invites viewers to share suggestions for must-have tools not previously mentioned and humorously suggests looking for better segues to sponsorship content. It then transitions into a discussion about Vessi footwear, emphasizing their breathability and waterproof features, perfect for outdoor activities. The paragraph concludes by encouraging viewers to check out another video on physical gadgets and ends with a promotional note for Vessi products, including a discount code.

Keywords

💡USB stick

A USB stick, also known as a flash drive, is a portable storage device that can hold digital data. In the context of the video, it is used to carry favorite utilities for various purposes, emphasizing the convenience of having essential tools readily available on a portable device.

💡Technology changes

Technology changes refer to the constant evolution and development of technological tools and software. The video highlights that as technology advances, older tools may become less effective or cease to function, necessitating the adoption of newer, better tools.

💡Equalizer APO

Equalizer APO is a software application for Windows that provides advanced audio equalization features, allowing users to customize their audio experience with graphic and parametric equalization. It can enhance the listening experience system-wide or per device, and is even customizable with add-ons for additional functionality.

💡VoiceMeeter

VoiceMeeter is a virtual audio mixer that allows users to route and control audio inputs and outputs across various hardware and software. It comes in different versions, offering increasing numbers of virtual channels and hardware control, which is particularly useful for streaming and gaming setups where audio management is crucial.

💡Chocolaty

Chocolaty is a command-line package manager for Windows, offering a vast repository of over 10,000 unique packages for software installation and management. It is similar to package managers used on Linux systems like apt or yum, providing a streamlined way to install, update, and maintain software without the need for graphical user interfaces.

💡Wiztree

Wiztree is a software utility that quickly identifies and displays the largest files and folders on a hard drive, aiding users in managing their storage space effectively. Unlike older tools like WinDirStat, Wiztree is faster and more accurate, even handling complex file systems like hard link files with precision.

💡WinToys

WinToys is a utility that compiles various program and service management tools, Windows settings, tweaks, and fixes into a single interface. It simplifies the process of accessing and adjusting system features by consolidating them in one place, making it easier for users to find and use these tools without navigating through multiple settings apps and control panels.

💡Ventoy

Ventoy is a bootable utility that enables users to create a multi-boot USB drive with ease. After installing Ventoy on a drive, users can simply copy ISO or disc image files to the drive, and Ventoy will automatically detect and add them to a boot menu, eliminating the need for manual menu updates or special installer software.

💡MediCat USB

MediCat USB is a comprehensive collection of tools and utilities wrapped in a customized Ventoy menu system. It contains a large selection of bootable tools and a Windows PE environment with an extensive collection of portable apps, making it a one-stop solution for various repair and diagnostic needs.

💡Simple HTTP server

A simple HTTP server is a software utility that allows users to host and share files over a network by creating a basic web server on their computer. The server makes the files accessible to any device with a web browser on the same network, facilitating easy file transfer and collaboration.

💡Vessi

Vessi is a brand that offers footwear designed with patented Dymatex technology, which promotes breathability and moisture control. The shoes are marketed as being 100% waterproof, making them suitable for various outdoor activities while ensuring comfort and dryness for the feet.

Highlights

USB sticks filled with utilities are useful but can become outdated. Newer, better tools are constantly emerging.

Technology changes rapidly, and keeping up with the latest tools can be challenging.

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event is upcoming, with the opportunity to reserve the next generation of Galaxy devices without deposit.

Equalizer APO can enhance audio quality on Windows PCs by adding graphic and parametric equalization.

Equalizer APO allows for system-wide EQ tweaking or per-device adjustments for a personalized listening experience.

VoiceMeeter is a virtual audio mixer that provides control over audio routing for various applications and devices.

VoiceMeeter can route audio to Discord and OBS for streaming, ensuring stream viewers only hear the intended audio.

Chocolaty is a command-line package manager for Windows with over 10,000 unique packages available.

Chocolaty can install and update software, and even lock specific versions of programs if desired.

Wiztree is a fast and accurate alternative to Windirstat for identifying large files and disk space usage.

Wiztree remains in active development, receiving regular updates and new features.

WinToys is a utility that compiles various Windows tools and settings in one place for easy access.

Ventoy allows for the creation of a single thumb drive with multiple bootable utilities and ISOs.

Ventoy simplifies the process of managing and updating bootable tools by automatically detecting and adding ISOs to a boot menu.

Netboot.xyz offers a collection of over 80 operating system installers and utility images for PXE booting.

MediCat USB is a comprehensive collection of bootable tools and portable apps wrapped in a customized Ventoy menu system.

MediCat USB's antivirus classification as hacking tools is seen as unfair due to its legitimate repair and diagnostic utilities.

TheWaWar's simple HTTP server is a quick way to transfer files between devices on a network without manual copying.

Running TheWaWar's HTTP server in a folder creates a network accessible point for file sharing, but it should be turned off after use for security.

Transcripts

Like me, many of you probably carry around a USB stick

that's filled to the brim with your favorite utilities.

You know, just in case.

But technology changes, newer, better tools come along

and sometimes the older ones aren't as effective

or even stop working altogether.

And realistically, who's got the time to keep up with

all the latest cool side projects

from development with kids who haven't discovered girls yet?

Have no fear, because we've got you covered

with some improvements to tools

you might already know about,

some awesome utilities that you might not know about,

and a sneaky solution to a problem

that pops up at the worst of times.

We've also got this completely unexpected segue

to our sponsor, Samsung.

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event is not very far, far away

and you can reserve the next generation of Galaxy devices

all with no deposit or space credits required.

Thank goodness.

Check it out at the link below and get a $50 credit.

You probably spend a ton of time

at your PC wearing headphones.

So what if there was something you could do

to improve your audio quality

regardless of how much you spent on them?

Equalizer APO does exactly that,

adding powerful graphic and parametric equalization

to your Windows PC.

You can tweak the EQ curve system-wide

for a more personalized listening experience

or per device to boost key frequencies

so you catch those footsteps sneaking up behind you

before it's too late.

It's even customizable with add-ons

that can enhance it with power functionality

like audio device routing, surround virtualization,

and even recommended EQ curves

for some of the most popular headphones.

By the way, if yours were overlooked,

you can check out autoeq.app,

a database of even more downloadable EQ curves.

We're gonna have links to every tool we talk about today

in the description below.

The only downside,

you might have to come back to this video

and click that link again

if a Windows update messes with the sound subsystem

and borks your custom setup.

Now, if tweaking frequencies isn't your thing

and you just want a way to route your audio

so that your stream viewers

don't hear your Discord buddies inventing new cuss words,

then VoiceMeeter is the tool for you.

I can't believe we've never talked about this thing

because VoiceMeeter is amazing.

It's a virtual audio mixer that comes in three sizes,

each giving you more virtual channels

and control over more hardware than the last.

We installed the middle of the road banana version

for our demo of what VoiceMeeter might look like

configured for a two player streaming session.

We've got audio coming in from our capture card

and our two headset mics.

Then using these various A and B buttons

on each input channel,

we can control where that input audio goes.

The A outputs are hardware

and we've set those up to be each of our headphones

and the system speakers

and the B outputs are virtual.

So we've got those routing to Discord

and to OBS for streaming.

Once it's all set up,

both players can hear themselves,

the game and the Discord audio

and the stream viewers hear only the player mics

and the game audio.

Oh, side note by the way,

VoiceMeeter also happens to be just about the best

and fastest way to clone your audio output

to multiple devices.

I had a bug a while back

where my VR audio mirroring wasn't working

which made it impossible to play one of my kids'

favorite party games

and VoiceMeeter took care of this for me

in about three minutes.

Let's get away from audio for a bit though.

I'd wager that most of you are familiar with Ninite

which lets you install and update popular software

without all the next, next, next finish.

Well, if you've ever been disappointed

with the selection of applications

that are available in Ninite,

then Chocolaty might be for you.

Chocolaty is a command line package manager for Windows

that has more than 10,000 unique packages available.

If you've ever used apt or yum

to manage software on Linux,

you're gonna know exactly what I'm talking about.

And if you haven't,

let me demonstrate why you do care about this.

On our system here, we've already got Chocolaty installed.

So we just go to a prompt

and type in choco install paint.net and hit enter.

Chocolaty downloads and installs paint.net for us

and all we have to do is say yes

when it asks it for sure.

And we don't even have to do that

if we just add a dash y to the end of our command.

We can even string together dozens of packages

and have our new machine just set itself up

while we go out and wash the car.

And like Ninite, Chocolaty can also be used

to keep your installed programs up to date

or specifically to not.

If there's something you don't wanna upgrade,

you can lock in a particular version.

There are paid plans available

that offer some extra features for business use,

but even in its free community supported form,

this is a must have tool.

And if the command line is a little too daunting for you,

you don't need it.

Just make sure the first thing you install

is Chocolaty GUI

and you can manage everything graphically after that.

Here, how about I use Chocolaty

to show you guys another cool tool.

Winderstat has been a staple of technicians USB keys

since its first release back in 2003,

allowing us to easily identify

what is eating up all of that precious hard drive space.

But these days you might prefer Wiztree

from antibody software.

The interface is immediately familiar,

but unlike Winderstat, it's fast.

Like I'm talking seconds instead of minutes

and it even handles gotchas like hard link files

significantly more accurately.

Furthermore, unlike Winderstat,

Wiztree is still in active development

and gets bug fixes, updates,

and new features periodically,

which by the way,

you can get automatically by creating a scheduled task

to run the update command in Chocolaty.

Changing gears, our next tool

is only in the Microsoft store.

Sorry, Chocolaty users,

but it might be worth checking out anyway.

You've probably heard of Windows Powertoys,

but have you heard of WinToys?

This utility gathers program and service management tools

along with frequently used windows settings,

tweaks and fixes,

and puts them all in one place

so you don't have to go digging

through the various settings apps and control panels

trying to figure out where the devil Microsoft

has moved things this week.

Speaking of losing track of things,

I'm sure we've all been there looking for

that bootable thumb drive that you know you have.

You know, the one with that ISO on it.

Well, no more.

While it's long been possible

to have multiple bootable utilities on a single thumb stick,

our favorite method these days is Ventoy.

So cool.

After a quick installation to your drive,

all you've got to do is just copy any ISO

or any disc image file you want

and Ventoy will automatically detect it

and add it to a menu at boot.

No more manually updating menus

or requiring the installer software

to add or update your tools.

This has already been a time-saver for me

on multiple occasions.

Oh, and while you're adding images to your new Ventoy drive,

be sure to include one of the tiny images

from netboot.xyz which uses PXE booting

to let you launch your choice

of more than 80 operating system installers,

live operating systems and utility images

all downloaded on demand over the internet.

It can even boot Windows installers

though you will need to do a bit of fancy work

to host the installer files in a Windows PE environment

somewhere on your network.

If you'd rather someone else do all the heavy lifting

and gather your utilities for you,

kind of like Hiren's boot CD back in the day,

you can check out MediCat USB.

This massive 20 plus gigabyte collection of tools

is wrapped up in a customized Ventoy menu system

and includes a wide selection of bootable tools

along with a Windows PE environment

with an enormous collection of portable apps.

Now, obviously collections like these exist

in the legally dubious, excuse me, zone,

but the reality is that if you've ever worked

at a tech shop, you've probably touched one at some point.

So we would be naive to imagine

that everyone is just going to pretend they don't exist.

So we installed MediCat to a 32 gigabyte thumb drive

and actually ended up with only a couple of gigs free.

So if you're gonna wanna add any additional ISOs or tools,

you're gonna probably wanna start with a bigger device.

We should also note by the way,

that our antivirus lost its flip in mind

when we first tried to install this collection

and classified many of the utilities as hacking tools,

which feels a little unfair because it is chock full

of legitimately useful repair and diagnostic tools.

And I think we need to look at them

through the lens of the good that they can do

rather than the harm, like a screwdriver from LTT store.

It could be used as a shiv,

but it's a lot more useful for screwing

and unscrewing things.

Oh yeah, while I'm annoyed by the way,

why is it so hard sometimes to move files

between devices?

We run into this all the time

when we're away from the studio

and trying to copy scripts from our windows laptops

to the iPhones that we use as teleprompters.

It wastes a lot of time and never needs to happen again,

thanks to simple HTTP server from GitHub user, TheWaWar.

Running this program in a folder will launch as advertised,

a simple HTTP server that offers up the contents

of that folder to the network.

That means any machine on the network

that has a web browser can then navigate

to that IP address and download the file they need.

Easy peasy, only one thing,

just remember to turn off the server when you're done

because otherwise pretty obvious security issues.

Oh, and on that note, don't try to run this utility

on your company's corporate network

because I'm sure it's gonna send IT running.

Hopefully we've introduced you

to at least a couple of cool new tools

that you're already downloading to your thumb drives.

And if you've got a suggestion for a must have

that we haven't brought up before,

let us know in the comments down below.

Ideally, you could maybe give us one

that generates marginally wittier segues to our sponsor.

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If you liked this video,

why not check out the return of Handytech under a hundred

where we discovered some must have physical gadgets

rather than software tools.