One tool that automates part of the process is AmoK Exif Sorter which was mentioned in the excellent Shell Extension City blog. You can add files and folders to the software and use part of the Exif data to rename the photo. The default output will use the data and time when the photo was taken as the filename.

This can be changed, various variables from the Exif information can be added and removed to create unique filenames. It is furthermore possible to add custom text as well. I usually rename on a folder by folder basis and add the country and town to the filename as well as the date and remove the time instead.

The Exif Sorter takes care of the folder structure as well, the default format is Year/Month/Day which can be customized as well. The filenames can be further customized in the options by selecting the separator and digit format for instance. Subfolders are processed by default which can be turned off.

The default language of the program is German which can be changed to English by clicking on Datei > Optionen. Just click on the pulldown menu named Sprache and select Englisch from the menu. All menu entries will be in English after the next restart.

AmoK Exif Sorter provides an excellent semi-automatic way of renaming image collections.

The CIMG files are created by my Casio Exilim EX-Z700 digital camera and other cameras uses other naming conventions. They all do have those cryptic names in common though. It takes a long time to rename the pictures manually and that is why programs like Nameexif will become increasingly popular.

Nameexif is a software to batch rename pictures taken with your digital camera. Several possible output names can be chosen. The new filenames always start with the date and time to preserve the chronological order of the pictures. Two optional parameters can be chosen, those are to add the original filename to the end or add a custom name to the new filenames.

I’m using Xnview to view the pictures that are already on my hard drive. I use it because it is fast and efficient. Other tools that have a similar functionality are Google Picasa and Irfanview. All three are way better than the solutions that come with Windows or using software suites like paintshop, gimp or photoshop to view images.

Every saved picture contains information which are saved at the same time the picture was taken. A tool like Exif-Viewer reveals those information. Exif means Exchangeable Image File Format and is used by most digital cameras.View-Exif is a plugin for Internet Explorer and Firefox.
You can use either Smart Recovery from PC Inspector or Digital Photo Recovery from Art Plus Software to restore images that you deleted accidentally. You might want to try the Memory Card Safe Eraser before you sell your camera or the memory card.
Use Jalbum or Photo Meister to create photo albums form webpages or CDs. Photo Meister is able to do more than that though, it is able to do some basic image manipulation on your pictures and import them directly from your camera.

If it is effects that you want you should take a look at Photo Filter Studio which has some awesome filters for creating nice effects with your pictures, the website has some samples included. Autostich is capable of creating full panoramas of your pictures.

If you are looking for big image editors you might want to consider GIMP or Paint.net.

Last but not least we have some misc utilities that might be great for a smaller number of users, it always depends what you need your pictures for. Filter Sim simulates photo filters, Hello provides instant photo sharing with chat and can be used with picasa and neat image can be used for noise reduction either as standalone or as a plugin for photoshop.