OpenWith.org is a great site that has a list of free programs that will open any type of file.

Need to open an .flv file? Just put that in the search (flv) and it will take you directly to information about flv files: It is flash video, and you can open a flv file with VLC Media Player. There will be a handy link for getting a copy of VLC Media Player. Just like that.

Acutally, there is an application you can load that will do much of this for you. Called the Desktop Tool, you can find it on the OpenWith.org home page. The app isn’t really needed, anyway - just use the search, or the quick search at the top of the home page, and you can do everything you need to.

This site, and the application, is not at all 100% complete. But it can be a very quick way to an answer when needed.

So when Mom calls and says she can’t open some particular file, send her here.

Well, maybe your mom. My mom probably knows that an flv is a Flash video file…she’s like that. So maybe we should just say “when a friend calls”…

A tip of the hat to lifehacker.com …