Freeware Series - Office Utilities

This is the 6th installment of the Freeware Series that I'd started earlier this week. The previous four were collections of Internet Utilities, Multimedia Softwares, Windows Drivers, Games & Security Softwares.

Office Utilities

1. Abiword - A real alternative to MS Word.
2. ASAP Utilities - A very useful MS Excel Plug-in.
3. BullZip PDF Printer 3.0.0.211 - The BullZip PDF Printer works as a Microsoft Windows printer and allows you to write PDF documents from virtually any Microsoft Windows application.
4. FloatingNotes - FloatingNotes allows you to place notes on the screen. The notes are fully customizable.
5. Stickies 6.0c - Stickies is a PC utility to cut down on the number of Post-It notes. It stores all information in a single text-based ini file. They are yellow rectangular windows onto which you can put some text notes. Once created, they will stay on screen until you take them away. Just like a real sticky piece of paper.
6. Commercial Invoice - Commercial Invoice is an easy to use program that allows you to enter items to be sold or services to be rendered and generate custom invoices. These invoices are printable, and the program stores all invoices to be easily recalled or edited.
7. Keynote - A text editor that can create nested documents.
8. Invocator - Instant Invoice creator for small businesses. Customise with your own logo, name address etc. Fully automatic numbering. Add Items or services. No limit to number of lines on an invoice. Editable sales tax.
9. Rainlender Lite - Rainlendar is a customizable calendar that displays the current month, events, and reminders. It is a very lightweight application that doesn´t use much system resources or take much space on your desktop.
10. Rename Master - Rename multiple files at the same time.

Next Category - System Tools

Freeware Series - Internet Utilities

This is the 5th installment of the Freeware Series that I'd started earlier this week. The previous four were collections of Multimedia Softwares, Windows Drivers, Games & Security Softwares.

Internet Utilities

1. Ares Galaxy Turbo Accelerator - Ares Galaxy Turbo Accelerator (AGTA) is a powerful acceleration plug-in for Ares file-sharing program. State-of-the- art software technology used by AGTA generates dramatic decrease in downloading time. The add-on consumes very low resources from your computer and the nice and easy-to-use interface offers a great experience. AGTA is an essential accessory for any Ares user and is free
2. BitMeter - It allows you to visually monitor your internet connection by displaying a scrolling graph that shows your upload and download speed over time. BitMeter is freeware and there is no trial period, no time-limited features, no spyware, and no adware. Using the Alerts feature, BitMeter can notify you when you have uploaded/downloaded a certain amount, or if your speed goes above or below any limit that you specify.
3. BitTorrent 6.0 Beta - BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer (P2P) client designed to efficiently manage the downloading of large, high-quality, digital files such as video, music, and games. The client is used to search the Internet for legal torrent files, which can then be quickly downloaded to a user´s machine. As files become more popular, the speed in which they can be downloaded increases through the use of a central tracker and peers. This technology saves time over traditional methods, while maintaining the integrity of the file.
4. Bluto XT - Bluto is a free and fast browser that comes with unique features. The Bookmark Panels at the top of each browser are equivalent to the Favorites list in common browsers. The sidebar has tons of information. The idea behind Bluto is to maximize speed, visibility, and efficiency, while minimizing tools that take up valuable space and memory.
5. Yahoo Mail Notifier - This Firefox extension notifies you when new messages arrive in your Yahoo mailbox. Notification options include: customizable sound, notification alert, status bar and toolbar icon. Also allows the user to map different mouse buttons to open Yahoo Mail in different tabs, windows, etc.
6. FireTune - FireTune for Mozilla Firefox was developed for an easy and fast optimization of your browsing experience with Firefox. Usually you have to optimize Firefox manually, which can be time consuming and difficult for the novice user. FireTune helps you here - it includes all the performance optimizations. The only thing you must do is: make your selection. It does the work for you.
7. GoogleGrab - GoogleGrab is a tool to download images from the Google image search service. It makes image research very easy because they are downloaded directly to your hard drive. So there is no need to click and wait for the entire picture to load before you can save it. This version of GoogleGrab has an image source log file so you can back track any image that you may have missed out on.
8. MSN/Yahoo Message Archive Decoder/Viewer - MSN/Yahoo Message Archive Decoder enables you to view MSN/Yahoo chat logs. No, this is not a run-of-the-mill archive tool that archives your online activities; it empowers you to keep a check on other's online activities.Isn't it something!!! How amazing will it be to be able to keep a check on your spouse, kids, your nagging boss, or that over ambitious colleague? Yeah! With MSN/Yahoo Message Archive Decoder/Viewer you sure can do that. You can have the access to anybody and everybody's chat logs. It doesn't require a password to view the chat logs. You can secretly turn on archiving option and spy on his/her conversations. You can even view the chat logs from a different computer or print copies of the chat logs.
9. TeamTalk - TeamTalk allows you to chat with your friends or colleagues using the internet or a local area network. All you need is a microphone and a sound card. Unlike many other internet voice applications, TeamTalk allows any number of people to participate in a conversation. This, of course, requires more bandwidth but TeamTalk features a variety of configuration options, which allows you to select the quality settings that best fit your connection speed.
   
   The primary goal of TeamTalk is to provide a conversation with minimum lag (delay) so that it becomes as close to real-time conversation as possible.
10. CrunzhMail - Sometimes you just need to send a quick e-mail, and it would be nice if you could send it without having to open up the big, bloated, and slow-to-load e-mail clients that you normally use. That is where CrunzhMail comes in.
    
    CrunzhMail is a very small and simple e-mail client application. It doesn't have any of the numerous special features like a calendar or a spell-check found in some of the larger e-mail clients. Instead it's just a small program specifically designed for the purpose of sending out quick e-mails. It's a simple program that does one job, and it does it very well.

Next Category - Office Utilities

Freeware Series - Multimedia

Here's the 4th installment of the Freeware Series that I'd started earlier this week. The previous three were collections of Windows Drivers, Games & Security Softwares.

Multimedia Softwares

1. Any Video Converter - Any Video Converter is an All-in-One video converting tool with easy-to-use graphical interface, fast converting speed and excellent video quality. It allows you to effortlessly convert video files between every format, for FREE!
   
   It can convert almost all video formats including DivX, XviD, MOV, rm, rmvb, MPEG, VOB, DVD, WMV, AVI to MPEG-4 movie format for iPod/PSP or other portable video device, MP4 player or smart phone.
   
   It also supports any user defined video file formats as the output. Any Video Converter makes it easy for anyone to enjoy the any format video with your iPod, PSP, mobile phone or MP4 player.
   
2. AVI Screen Classic - AviScreen is an application for capturing screen activity (ScreenCast) in the form of AVI video or images. Beside the usual options defining the capture area, AviScreen has a unique feature called “follow the cursor”. Using this mode you can produce a video or image of relatively small dimensions while covering all mouse activity over the whole screen area.
3. Burn4Free CD & DVD - Burn4Free is a freeware utility to burn CDs or DVDs. It is compatible with most of the popular CD/DVD burners available. The drives supported include dual-layer DVD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM (SCSI, IDE, EIDE, and USB 1.0 and 2.0). Burn/Backup data and audio with just a few clicks. Audio formats supported are WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, FLAC, WavPack, and CDA. You can also open, burn, and save ISO's as well.
4. Cole2k Media Advanced Codec Pack - Cole2k Media Codec Pack is an application that features a large number of codecs and also some additional programs. This Advanced Codec Pack is mainly for use by encoders, it features a large number of codecs/filters and also some additional tools. The package will enable you to playback and encode almost all major formats currently available.
5. FLV Extract - Extracts video and audio from FLV files without decompressing or recompressing. The video is saved to AVI (H.263/FLV1 and VP6/FLV4 are supported) and the audio is saved to MP3.
6. GX Transcoder - The GX::Transcoder is freeware audio converter software, which is able to convert a lots of audio formats in a batch mode. Additionally, the Transcoder uses plug-ins to add more functions for transforming and playing audio files. The GX::Transcoder in its standard version is able to encode and decode MP1, MP3, MP2, MPC, OGG Vorbis, PCM up to 7.1 Channel and RAW files as well. It can encode and decode QuickTime files like MOV and QT. There are also Add-ins available, which extends/shortens the Transcoder to handle the formats AAC, M4A, M4P4, LA, LPAC, WMA, TTA, OptimFrog, WavPack, FLAC, rkAudio, Real Audio, Speex, Bonk Audio, ALAC, etc. There are plans to support even more audio formats. The transcoder also contains a video converter. This converter can transcode between all installed avi codecs, mpeg with dvd, vcd, and svcd extensions and wma video files.
7. K-Lite Codec Tweak Tool - K-Lite Codec Tweak Tool will scan for broken filters and remove them. If the tool detects something that is broken, it will then prompt you with the details and you will be given the option to remove the broken item. This is a stand-alone version of the tool that is included in the K-Lite Codec Pack.
8. StreamRipper For WinAmp - Streamripper is an open source application that lets you record streaming mp3 to your hard drive.
   
9. Wavosaur - Wavosaur is a powerful free audio editor for Windows XP, ideal for editing audio clips, sound designing, mastering, audio mangling and recording of your digital audio sounds.
   
   Wavosaur lets you edit all your samples and audio recording. You can cut, copy, paste parts of your digital recording. Wavosaur provides many tools and shortcuts to make the editing very fast and efficient. The program was designed to give a powerful audio editor but very easy and fast to use.
   
   Wavosaur is also a VST host, it means you can use VST effects on your audio recording, listen in real time to the audio processed by effects, and apply the effects of course. You can make a chain of effects, this means endless possibilities with all the VST plugins effects available nowadays.
   
   Wavosaur can record from your soundcard inputs, and lets you monitor your audio ports. Inserting loop points and markers to your audio files is very easy. Wavosaur is also MIDI controlable, you can use a MIDI control surface to command the main functions of Wavosaur.
   
10. TV v2.0 - Now you can watch hundreds (300+) of LIVE worldwide channels on your PC, free of charge. TV is an extremely easy to use application and anyone can find their own favorite stations on TV. Music, news, educational, sports & shopping channels are sorted in a very easy to find way, together with TV in English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese & Arabic sections.
    
    You may also browse world TV by regions or by country name. No configurations or settings are needed. The intuitive & user friendly interface will give you a pure Plug n´ Play! Experience. All you have to do is easily find your desired station, click on the station´s name, then sit back & relax…
    
    TV emulates the regular Television set on your PC, by using the high-speed Internet connection (xDSL, Cable or LAN, WiFi) for online global Television reception.
    

Next Category - Internet Utilities

Freeware Series - Drivers For Windows

This is the 3rd installment of the Freeware Series. The previous two were lists of Games & Security Softwares. Today, I'm listing out all the links to various driver installation pages. I didn't think that it'd be necessary to write descriptive paragraphs for the drivers since there an be a lot mane versions of drivers for a single company itself. Kindly refer the websites referred here for the ones that'll suit your hardware.

Audio & Multimedia Drivers

1. Altec Lansing
2. Creative Labs
3. Crystal SemiConductor
4. Hauppage
5. I/O Magic
6. Logitech
7. Realtek
8. Sony
9. Sound Blaster
10. Yamaha

Printer Drivers

1. Brother
2. Canon
3. Fujitsu
4. Hewlitt Packard (HP)
5. Lexmark
6. Panasonic
7. Xerox

BIOS Drivers

1. AMD Support
2. AMI BIOS
3. ASUS BIOS
4. Award
5. Compaq Computers
6. DELL Computers
7. IBM BIOS
8. Intel
9. NEC Support
10. Toshiba
    

Next Category ; Multimedia

Freeware Series - Security Softwares

Here comes the 2nd installment of the FreeWare Series. As I'd already mentioned, I'd started this series as a help guide for all those who aren't rich enough to buy original software but are conscientious enough not to use the pirated ones.

Security Softwares

1. CyberHawk - Cyberhawk is a next-gen security software. Simply put, it is "threat protection made easy" for everyone, even novices! It provides protection against viruses, spyware, trojans, intruders and other threats to PC security. Cyberhawk does the work of antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall programs. It is designed to work alongside any current security programs you may already have installed, so you don't need to uninstall your previous antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall or other security program before installing Cyberhawk.
2. Security Process Explorer - Security Process Explorer is an enhanced task manager, that provides advanced information about programs and processes running on the computer. It displays all the standard information, including file name, directory path, description, CPU usage etc. as well as a unique security risk rating. This rating is conclusive and relies on the expertise of the user to determine whether the process should be terminated or removed.
   
   Security Process Explorer allows you to monitor CPU and memory usage graphs per process, view detailed processes information (with descriptions), stop and start new processes, set priorities and much more. You can easily find and remove unnecessary background processes as well as assigning more resources to demanding processes like games, realtime multimedia applications and cd writing softwares.
   
   Features:
   
   • Give you detailed information about each and every process
   • Indicate whether a process is safe or not
   • Allow you to terminate process with a single click.
   • Let you block any unwanted processes or malware
   • Simple and User friendly interface
3. Stinger - Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations.
   
   This version of Stinger includes specific detection and repair for W32/Polip only. At this time, because of the nature of the infection algorithm, repair of files infected with W32/Polip may not return the files to their pristine, pre-infected state, and can cause problems with self-checking applications.
4. Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool - Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool checks your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps to remove the infection if it is found.
   
   This tool will help to remove specific, prevalent malicious software from infected systems. Because computers can appear to function normally when infected, Microsoft advises you to run this tool even if your computer seems to be fine. In addition to using this tool, you should use an up-to-date antivirus product to help protect your computer from other malicious software.

Next Category - Drivers

Freeware Series - Games

I have been scourging the internet for a while, searching for free softwares that I could install on my machine. I'm not too rich to be able to buy professional softwares. I know, there are a lot many websites that allow you to download premium versions of softwares for free but being a software developer myself, I know how it feels to have people use your paid software for free. Hence the choice of freewares. Well, I've categorized all the softwares to the best of my ability and I plan to post the links as a series of posts. Don't worry, I shall publish the links to all categories so that you jump from one category to another, any time. Hope you find these links useful.

Games

1. Mini Golf Maniacs 1.0 - Mini Golf Maniacs is a free mini-golf game with fun graphics, good game play and several playing modes: one hole, coin gathering, tournament or multi player game online. Simply select the mode you like best and begin practicing your swing!
2. Noodan.com - This is a website that is full of free games. However, some of them are adwares. All you need to do is confirm the same before downloading.
3. QTracker - A nifty little program that lets you know what games are currently being played on the network

Next Category : Security Softwares