Programas Gratuitos

Efficient Diary 1.0 Build 8-Práctico diario personal protegido por contraseña

2009-01-22T09:00:00.021-08:00

Efficient Diary es un diario personal que utiliza una interfaz similar a la de Outlook. Cada nueva entrada puede editarse en texto enriquecido, con una amplia gama de emoticonos y la posibilidad de cambiar la fecha.

Nada más instalarse, Efficient Diary solicita la creación de una contraseña, que sirve para proteger los contenidos. Conviene que no la olvides si no quieres perder todos los datos del diario. Por otro lado, cada entrada puede exportarse, y puedes hacer copias de seguridad de todo el diario.

Si con el sistema de carpetas no consigues encontrar una entrada, el botón Search te proporciona un rápido buscador con múltiples criterios. Y si borras algún ítem, este no se perderá de inmediato, sino que Efficient Diary lo moverá a la papelera integrada.

Fácil de usar, con un aspecto agradable y bastante seguro, Efficient Diary es una excelente opción. La única pega, tal vez, es que no tenga un corrector ortográfico, algo útil en este tipo de programas.

Descargar Efficient Diary 1.0 Build 8 en Softonic

Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor 4.7-Paso a paso, aprende mecanografía a tu ritmo

2009-01-22T09:00:00.020-08:00

¿Sabías que era posible teclear con más de dos dedos a la vez? Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor nos lo demostrará, mejorando nuestro nivel de mecanografía de forma divertida y a nuestro propio ritmo, mediante las instrucciones de un simpático vikingo, los sabios consejos de un mago y un par de juegos que mejorarán nuestra destreza.

Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor, diseñado tanto para alumnos como para profesores, es un completo tutorial que nos enseñará el arte de la mecanografía. Primero, querrá saber algunas cosas sobre ti y tu forma de teclear, así como el nivel que quiera alcanzar. Te mostrará a continuación la postura adecuada para sentarse a trabajar y no lastimarte la espalda.

Pero la parte principal del programa está en su motor de aprendizaje, primero de la posición de las manos y asignación de teclas a cada uno de los dedos (mediante animaciones muy logradas), segundo en la velocidad y precisión del tecleo, con informes muy completos y consejos respecto a lo que puedes mejorar. Esta parte se la lleva el mago, que nos enseñará el uso del dedo adecuado. Para completar el curso, podrás usar tus propios textos o jugar aprendiendo con sus dos juegos.

Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor es también una herramienta pedagógica para profesores, ya que ofrece la posibilidad de una instalación en red, ideal para escuelas, universidades e incluso para empresas y demás organizaciones que quieran inculcar a sus empleados el arte de la mecanografía, y accesoriamente mejorar su rendimiento.

Descargar Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor 4.7 en Softonic

SMath Studio 0.75-Realiza cualquier tipo de cálculo en una libreta virtual

2009-01-22T09:00:00.019-08:00

La comodidad de una libreta de papel consiste en la posibilidad de posicionar cálculos y gráficos donde más se prefiera. En muchos programas de cálculo, esto no es así.

SMath Studio es un programa de cálculo que rescata el símil con la libreta, proporcionando un área de trabajo cuadriculada que recuerda el papel. Para escribir una fórmula en SMath Studio sólo hay que posicionar el puntero en una zona cualquiera y teclear.

Puedes insertar la mayoría de fórmulas y símbolos de SMath Studio desde los paneles situados a la derecha. La edición de cada elemento es muy sencilla y similar a la de otros editores. Para reorganizar los elementos, basta con arrastrarlos por su borde.

La segunda faceta de SMath Studio, la del cálculo, tampoco se queda corta. Escribiendo el símbolo = la expresión será resuelta en un lapso de tiempo que puedes consultar en la barra de estado. En el menú Calcular, además, tienes otras opciones, como invertir, simplificar o diferenciar.

Utilizar SMath Studio es placentero y divertido. Su mayor punto débil es la falta de opciones de impresión y exportación, que se limitan al guardado en formato HTML. Con todo, su potencia no te dejará indiferente.

Descargar SMath Studio 0.75 en Softonic

Walkie Tonky 2.0.0.29 prototype-Kick and stomp your way through a cityscape

2009-01-22T09:00:00.018-08:00

Walkie Tonky is a physics based scrolling 'walk 'em up', where you take control of a giant alien robot, intent on destroying human civilization.

Physics based games are ten a penny these days, but Walkie Tonky manages to to stand out of the crowd enough to check out. The simple and home-made feel of the graphics make it visually pleasing, and the gameplay is quite unusual. The scrolling never stops, so you have to make sure your rampaging robot doesn't get stuck. As Godzilla discovered, humans defend themselves with tanks, helicopters and jets, which can be picked up and thrown at them.

Control is with the mouse and keyboard, and takes a bit of getting used to. Once you have, it's pretty fun managing to keeping out of danger, dodging missiles, kicking tanks and buildings. If you have the impression this is an aggressive, violent game, it really isn't. The giant robot's gentle plodding, and ambient electronic music make it quite relaxing, in a chaotic way. This version has only one level, but completing it and beating the boss opens up a 'challenge mode', which adds some longevity to this free indie game.

There are some quirks in the Walkie Talkie engine - sometimes your projectiles get stuck on enemy craft, and amusingly you can catch some one the rebound and use them again.

Walkie Tonky is a fun and attractive game, though it's not long enough to seriously eat into your time.

Download Walkie Tonky 2.0.0.29 prototype in Softonic

Monkey's Audio 4.03-Compress audio files without no quality loss

2009-01-22T09:00:00.017-08:00

Monkey’s Audio is a lossless audio compressor which aims to reduce the size of audio files as much as possible without losing any sound quality. The program uses its own file format, .ape, which is known to have a better compression rate than the lossless FLAC format, but files tend to be larger than lossy compression formats like MP3 or AAC.

We recommend using Monkey’s Audio to compress audio CDs to your PC. Your songs will not lose their quality but will take up less space than if they were uncompressed. What’s more, Monkey’s Audio handles tag support, keeping all your file information, like artist name, track numbers and playing time.

Monkey’s Audio can decompress files back to their original type without losing any quality and the program features an option to verify the MD5 checksum of compressed files. Compressed .ape files can play in any of the major media players and the program can also install a plug-in to compress audio files directly from Winamp.

Monkey’s Audio is a great solution if you’re worried about losing any quality when compressing audio files. However, because it only compresses to .ape, you’re pretty much stuck with playing your converted files on your PC. To enjoy them on your mobile music player you’ll have to use another program, like dbpowerAMP Music Converter or Switch Free, to convert your audio files to MP3 or AAC, which remain the most widely supported audio formats.

Download Monkey's Audio 4.03 in Softonic

wReplace 1.2-Replace multiple text strings at the same time

2009-01-22T09:00:00.016-08:00

'Find and replace' is a function I use a lot on both my word processor and plain text editor. This is why I was glad to find wReplace, a special editor that improves this useful function.

wReplace is a basic text editor – like Notepad – but with a distinctively enhanced 'Find and replace' tool that enables you to search and replace different letters, words or texts strings, all of them at the same time.

All you have to do is load the text file on the program's interface and click the 'Replace Many' button (or just hit F6). wReplace will then open a secondary window where you can start creating a list of all the elements in the text file that need to be replaced by others. When you finish the list, click Replace All and you're done.

wReplace comes in especially handy when you have a text file garbled with characters from a different language encoding systems (Unicode, Cyrillic, etc).

The only thing that annoys me is that you have to enter each element in the replacement list manually, as you can't copy and paste from the document opened in the program's main window.

If you use 'Find and replace' a lot in your text editor, you're going to find wReplace very useful.

Download wReplace 1.2 in Softonic

Internet Download Manager 5.15-A quick download manager compatible with many browsers

2009-01-22T09:00:00.015-08:00

High speed Internet connections are quite common now but that doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes need some help when it comes to downloading game demos, videos, MP3 collections and other big files. So, even if you’re enjoying the fastest router in the neighborhood, take a look at Internet Download Manager, because it really has a lot to offer.

This excellent app will take care of all your downloads from the moment you install it on your PC. You can add new download tasks from the program’s interface but the usual thing is to let it capture the links. This means that every time you click on a certain file type (which can be specified through configuration options), IDM will handle the download for itself rather than letting the browser do the job. It’s a really handy option because everything is automatic: no changing from one app to another, no copying and pasting links, just no hassle at all. Also, it works with all major web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera.

Once IDM captures the link, you can either start to download the file right away or add it to a download list for later, which can be a good alternative if you need all of your bandwidth for the moment and plan to leave the computer on during the night. Downloads can be classified into custom categories right before starting them and can also be resumed if the connection is lost or broken for some reason.

As regards download speeds, Internet Download Manager does meet expectations, although it all depends on your Internet access. That is, don’t expect to download at the speed of light if you’re still using one of those old-fashioned 56K modems. Anyhow, IDM achieves quite satisfying download rates as a result of establishing multiple thread connections to servers. Also, it displays a small window with some interesting information about the download process: transfer rate, data downloaded so far, time left and a neat progress bar for each thread.

The program’s configuration menu displays a wide range of functions and tools devoted to handling your downloads, such as checking files for viruses directly from IDM with your own antivirus system or limiting the amount of bandwidth used by the program. There’s also support for server authentication and proxy, FTP and HTTPS servers.

The fact of the matter is, we couldn’t really find anything wrong with Internet Download Manager. It does its job and does it pretty well, so even if your Internet connection speed is far beyond the usual limits, you should definitely give it a try.

Download Internet Download Manager 5.15 in Softonic

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 3.0.684.0-Surprisingly quick, easy and secure antivirus

2009-01-22T09:00:00.014-08:00

Some people prefer to have easier apps, even if that means that they have access to a limited range of tools.

This is the case of NOD32, an anti-virus tool that you may find simpler than other similar applications, but this simplicity is precisely the key to its success. In fact, NOD32 is one of the most popular anti-virus apps among computer users.

NOD32 is easy to install and launches without even restarting the system (something most anti-virus tools require after installation). The program has a simple, straightforward design, though you'll soon discover that this is actually the Standard mode display and that you can choose the Advanced mode if you prefer to have more options and tools at your fingertips.

The program includes basic anti-virus tools such as system analysis, antispyware filters, filters to exclude certain applications, a scheduling tool for automatic analysis and seamless integration within Windows Explorer. Being used to more complex anti-virus solutions though, I missed having an email and web browsing filter. Also, I found the Settings menu a bit too hidden and difficult to use. Apart from these small flaws, NOD32 is definitely worth a try, especially if you want to have a simple, hassle-free anti-virus that takes care of your system and doesn't bother you all the time.

NOD32 may be simpler than other anti-virus tools, but it's perfect for those users who prefer an easy, unobtrusive app even if they have to give up on certain advanced functions.

Download ESET NOD32 Antivirus 3.0.684.0 in Softonic

Xfire 1.102-Slick messenger client for gamers

2009-01-22T09:00:00.013-08:00

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ASAP Utilities 4.2.9-Add more than 300 functions to Excel

2009-01-22T09:00:00.012-08:00

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iWebAlbum 2.0.2-Free web photo album generator

2009-01-22T09:00:00.011-08:00

Download iWebAlbum 2.0.2 in Softonic

MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab 14 (US)-Burn refreshed LPs, Cassettes and MP3s onto CD & DVD

2009-01-22T09:00:00.010-08:00

Magix Audio Cleaning is a full featured sound app with which you can digitize your old vinyl and CD collection.

The program features a nicely designed interface with three top tabs referring to the three main steps you must follow: importing your music from any of the sources supported by the program, cleaning it from noises and cracks and finally exporting it to a digital format of your choice.

The first impression you get when launching Magix Audio Cleaning is one of confusion, especially in the Cleaning section. There are just so many sliders to adjust, buttons to press and options to be taken into account that you feel completely lost. Luckily there's a one-click cleaning wizard that does almost all the hard work for itself, as well as some cleaning presets that you can use to fix typical noise and cracking issues in old vinyl records and cassette tapes.

The program works very fast during the whole process and also includes an embedded burning tool with which you can create an audio CD or DVD once your music has been properly cleaned.

Rescue your old vinyl records and cassette tapes and give them a new digital life with Magi Audio Cleaning. It takes time to learn how to use all of its features but it's definitely worth it.

Download MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab 14 (US) in Softonic

InstantStorm 1.5.3-Create personalized Flash screensavers

2009-01-22T09:00:00.009-08:00

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Deskspace 1.5.5.4-Virtual desktop manager with cool 3D effect

2009-01-22T09:00:00.008-08:00

Desktop real estate can become a problem if you use windows a lot. Deskspace is a slick, flashy tool that gives you six desktops you can flick between with a beautiful 3D cube interface.

This 14 day trial version doesn't have all the features - you can't set particular programs to specific desktops in this demo - but it gives you a good idea of the benefits of multiple desktops. The 3D cube, activated with a hot key, and rotated with the mouse gives Deskspace its 'wow factor'. It's fast, smooth, great to look at and is sure to impress people!

With Deskspace you can open programs and files on different desktops (or deskspaces), meaning you'll feel less cluttered. The developers suggest assigning different desktops different tasks, and you could also set different wallpapers up on your desktops and change depending on your mood.

When inactive, Deskspace is surprisingly light on resources, but if you are using a lot of applications, activating the cube could push your processor a bit. Having six deskspaces will not solve performance issues - if your machine struggles with multitasking hungry applications, this won't help!

It is the desk clutter that's the clincher with Deskspace. Once you're used to having more than one desktop it really is hard to go back, and coupled with the sexy 3D interface this makes Deskspace a really attractive package.

Deskspace combines functionality and almost hypnotic beauty rarely seen in Windows. Check it out!

Download Deskspace 1.5.5.4 in Softonic

CintaNotes Beta M5-Organize your thoughts and notes with ease.

2009-01-22T09:00:00.007-08:00

If you work a lot on your PC, you'll know how quickly your desktop can get cluttered. Collecting useful information and ideas can become a mess of browser tags, bookmarks and documents.

CintaNotes is a surprisingly neat note manager, a place where you can easily and quickly collect information while keeping your desktop workable. There are other options like sticky notes, but they can get messy and disorganized. CintaNotes works by highlighting text and using a hot key. If you're on a web page, just highlight a part of the text, tap Ctrl + F12 (this can be configured as you like) and a note will appear in CintaNotes. This note will include the text, plus the source, date and time. You can also automatically import anything from your clipboard, with Ctrl and V. Searching for a note is simple and in real time as you type in your search term, which makes finding information a cinch.

The interface is very clean and modern, and while it's not skinnable, you can choose the color scheme. You can to minimize CintaNotes to the system tray, saving more space. If you come to use it a lot you can close it to the system tray too so it's always to hand. This is a Beta version, so there may be more features to come. While it's not a huge problem, there is no image support - it currently only keeps text based notes.

CintaNotes is a really well realized note manager, and is a fantastic way to quickly store and retrieve ideas and information.

Download CintaNotes Beta M5 in Softonic

Save Images 0.5.1-Download all images from a web page in a snap

2009-01-22T09:00:00.006-08:00

If you've ever tried to download all the images on a website, you'll have probably realized how boring and time-consuming this task can be.

Luckily you can now use Save Images, a Firefox extension that has been especially designed to download all the photos on in the website you're currently viewing. If the website doesn't have the photos, but links to them instead, you can also use Save Images to generate a list with links to them, and then download them all straight away. The extension can be reached both from the Tools menu or the context menu.

Save Images features a complete configuration menu that enables you to set filters, so that you only download images between certain size or dimensions, or even only selected formats. The extension can also rename images as they're being downloaded and manage duplicate files to avoid having several copies of the same image. If only you could save these settings as profiles to use them again later, then Save Images would be the perfect photo download manager!

With the Save Images extension you can have a complete image downloader within Firefox.

Download Save Images 0.5.1 in Softonic

Cobian Backup 9.5.1.212-Free, practical and efficient backup application

2009-01-22T09:00:00.005-08:00

It's always a pain trying to remember to backup things so why not let an application take care of it automatically?

Cobian Backup works as both an application and service. The program is very light on resources for a backup program of its size and runs in the background very discreetly. it makes periodic backups but unlike some programs, doesn't seem to slow down your PC in the process. It acts too quickly to really slow down whatever you are doing although if it has to backup a very big file, you will notice some lag (more than 1 GB). The program only copies your files and folders in their original or compressed mode to another destination and does not perform any compression itself. This is to ensure that nothing is corrupted during the backup process but if you are backing up particularly large files, you might find this something of a problem unless you've got lots of backup space. However, there are limited compression and strong encryption methods available if you need to reduce the size of your files and protect them at the same time.

A very convenient program that backups quickly, quietly and without any further prompting from it's user.

Download Cobian Backup 9.5.1.212 in Softonic

DriverMax 4.8-Export and reinstall your PC drivers easily

2009-01-22T09:00:00.004-08:00

Backing up your drivers is one of the best things you can do to your PC - if the worst happens, you know that you can always restore damaged and corrupt drivers in seconds.

In most cases when Windows is running slower, faulty driver installations are to blame. The problem is that Windows automatically stores versions of older drivers just in case you want to roll back but sometimes it these conflict with the new ones. Drivermax basically backs-up and restores driver in a very attractive and well presented interface. It has a powerful export wizard to help you export the drivers you need to backup by copying the required files to a folder or compressed ZIP file. After reinstalling Windows, the program can ensure that all drivers are reinstalled within 5 minutes according to the developers. While the process is nowhere near this quick - or straightforward because many drivers may not work properly first time round due to the special way they need to be installed - it is on the whole very easy to use and efficient. It certainly saves you the hours of searching and installing that you'd usually have to go through. The Import Drivers wizard is similarly straightforward and will take up to 10 minutes depending on how much you've got installed on your PC.

A powerful driver installation and restore tool that is easy enough for beginners and does the job in decent time.

Download DriverMax 4.8 in Softonic

Maxthon 2.5.1.4751-Powerful tabbed browser alternative to IE

2009-01-22T09:00:00.003-08:00

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RapidTyping 2.6-Learn touch typing with the help of this fun tutor

2009-01-22T09:00:00.002-08:00

Rapid Typing is a fast and useful application that allows you to improve your typing skills, both in accuracy and speed. The interface is fairly clear, although maybe you will have to disable the aquarium animation set as default in the background as it can disturb you when concentrating on your exercises. You can do that, in the option menu, ticking the animation option and if you wish, choosing a background colour, although the white one, is probably the clearer.

When you start the session, simply type the letters you see on the screen, without looking at your keyboard. Exercises are increasingly difficult and test you on specific letters each time, until you are able to remember better what’s where.

If you don’t know which is the correct finger to use to press a letter, press the Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard button, on the far bottom of the main frame. You’ll get a representation of your hands, telling you with which finger you should use to press the key.
At the end of each session the program tells you how many mistakes you made and how fast you have been, showing you a graph of your improvements.

With Rapid Typing you can improve your typing speed and accuracy when using your keyboard with increasingly more difficult exercises. Although it’s very easy to use, it lacks of an initial explanation on how to position and move your fingers, so two-finger typers might have to look for an alternative training method.

Download RapidTyping 2.6 in Softonic

Lightscreen 0.5-Small and simple screenshot tool

2009-01-22T09:00:00.001-08:00

Lightscreen is a free, simple and practical utility to capture images for those that don't want to mess about with post processing or resizing tools.

Lightscreen offers three ways to capture screenshots - full screen, active window, and an area that you can select yourself. All three offer you enough scope to capture just about any type of screenshot. You can configure the format, prefix and suffix of the file (numeric or date format) and specify the folder to save it to. You can also configure a hotkey to make screenshots instantaneous. There are also some other additional little additions such as control over image quality or you can also configure a delay on the screen capture if you're using the hotkey. Once configured Lightscreen becomes especially useful to make multiple catches because every time you press capture, it automatically saves a file with the filename, format and parameters that you specified. The slight downside is that you can only configure a limited number of formats to save screenshots in namely PNG, JPG; BMP, PPM, XBM and TIFF.

A free and easy screen capture tool that will appeal to fans of The GIMP or those that just need a simple screenshot solution.

Download Lightscreen 0.5 in Softonic

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin-Brace yourself for an enslaught of terror

2009-01-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

What can you expect from a game named F.E.A.R.? Well it's not going to be fluffy kittens and bouncing bunnies, I assure you.

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is the sequel to the original first-person shooter that proved that action and terror can sometimes make a great combination. The second part retains this exciting mixture, which results in a both thrilling and frightening experience – especially if you play with headphones in a darkened room.

The story begins right after a huge explosion in the Auburn District in Fairport. Your team is scattered all over the city and your first mission consists on finding them. The game's environment is absolutely terrifying: darkness, tons of debris and an anguishing silence only broken by your own footsteps - and the voices of your enemies approaching.

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin features incredibly realistic graphics, especially in the recreation of scenarios. This feeling of realism is supported by the fact that you can actually interact with objects, for instance, using broken tables to cover from enemy fire. Speaking of enemies, their AI is quite good and they will constantly hide and run from you. The act of killing them is realistic too, in the sense that a shot in the leg doesn't cause as much damage as one in the head.

Enemy soldiers are not your only opponent though. You'll also come across some scary ghosts that will suddenly appear out of nowhere and send shivers down your spine – not to mention the ghostly laughs and voices you'll hear from time time.

However, the most outstanding feature in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a kind of movie style that makes the whole game totally immersive. You'll watch short cut-scenes and images (like some sort of flashbacks) along the game, together with special movie-like effects, such as being able to trigger a slow-motion effect in the middle of an action-packed battle.

Though a bit short for such a heavy file, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is definitely an impressive first-person shooter where action and terror make the perfect combination.

Download F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin in Softonic

EMDB (Eric's Movie Database) 0.74-Organiza a la perfección tu colección de películas

2009-01-21T09:00:00.021-08:00

EMDB son las siglas de Eric’s Movie Database, una completa aplicación con la que puedes gestionar cómodamente tu colección de películas.

No importa si son muchas o pocas, si están en DVD, VCD o DivX, si tienes todos los datos sobre ellas o no. El programa tiene soporte para múltiples formatos, y se conecta además con la IMDB, la mayor base de datos cinematográfica de Internet, para rellenar automáticamente la ficha de cada una de tus películas y que así no tengas que matarte rellenando datos.

Permite añadir una carátula a cada ficha, asignar puntuación a las películas y controlar el préstamo de las mismas, para evitar de esta forma que algún amigo de lo ajeno se quede con tu título favorito.

Descargar EMDB (Eric's Movie Database) 0.74 en Softonic

Fora 1.2.6-Un navegador ideal para traducir y estudiar idiomas

2009-01-21T09:00:00.020-08:00

Cuando se navega por una página y no se conocen la mayoría de palabras que aparecen, recurrir cada vez a un diccionario es una tarea pesada y lenta.

Fora es un navegador con soporte para múltiples diccionarios. Al seleccionar una palabra o hacer doble clic en ella mientras navegas, Fora mostrará un recuadro con los resultados de los diccionarios activos. Estos resultados pueden moverse a un panel lateral o inferior, o abrirse en una pestaña aparte.

Los diccionarios son los auténticos complementos de Fora. Desde el gestor integrado, accesible mediante el atajo Control + Mayúsculas + M, puedes añadir nuevos, examinar sus estadísticas o asignarles un color, así como cambiar el orden con el que mostrarán los resultados. Ya que no siempre te interesará usarlos todos, con Fora puedes crear perfiles que se adapten a tus necesidades.

Fora es un navegador que puede satisfacer usuarios concretos, como traductores profesionales o estudiantes de idiomas. Su excelente soporte para varios formatos de diccionario le convierten en un navegador secundario recomendable.

Descargar Fora 1.2.6 en Softonic

Speed Dial 0.7.2.9-Direct access to your most visited websites

2009-01-21T09:00:00.019-08:00

Like most people, I visit many web sites over the course of a day but there are always a select few that I go to every day, sometimes even on several occasions throughout a 24-hour period. This handy extension for Firefox caught my eye as it allows you to access your nine most visited sites from one place, much as you do with the speed dial feature on a phone, hence the application's name.

Once you've installed the add-on, Speed Dial takes you to a web site where you need to enter your nine most visited sites. You're then able to access each of these with the click of a button on a pad. What's more, you can preview a thumbnail of each site via a tab in your browser. The speed dial function certainly helped me get to my favorite sites more easily, but I would have liked to see a function in the program that automatically recognizes the sites you're visiting the most and adds these to the speed dial.

Download Speed Dial 0.7.2.9 in Softonic

Wise Registry Cleaner 3.93-Get deep down into your registry

2009-01-21T09:00:00.018-08:00

Download Wise Registry Cleaner 3.93 in Softonic

RSSOwl 2.0M9-Free RSS / RDF / Atom Newsreader in Java with SWT for a fast GUI

2009-01-21T09:00:00.017-08:00

Download RSSOwl 2.0M9 in Softonic

HTMLPad 2008 Pro 9.40-Sophisticated all-in-one HTML, CSS, JavaScript and XHTML editor

2009-01-21T09:00:00.016-08:00

Download HTMLPad 2008 Pro 9.40 in Softonic

Video DVD Maker Free 3.16.0.34-Create DVDs for free in just three clicks

2009-01-21T09:00:00.015-08:00

Download Video DVD Maker Free 3.16.0.34 in Softonic

OfficeFIX 6.40-Recover corrupt Access, Word and Excel files

2009-01-21T09:00:00.014-08:00

Download OfficeFIX 6.40 in Softonic

HTTrack WebSite Copier 3.43 B2-Easy-to-use offline browser utility

2009-01-21T09:00:00.013-08:00

Download HTTrack WebSite Copier 3.43 B2 in Softonic

FinalBurner 2.7.0.144-Powerful CD and DVD burning kit

2009-01-21T09:00:00.012-08:00

Good solid free CD and DVD burning software is often hard to find. Just when you've got a problem with your default software or need something in a hurry, you'll find that most only burn a few minutes for free or you'll have to upgrade.

FinalBurner Free is the free version of the developer's range of burning software. FinalBurner Free allows you to create data, audio, DVD disks and burn them onto CD R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD DL. However, it does not burn to BluRay or HD-DVD for which you'll have to upgrade to the pro version.

Alternatively, FinalBurner Free can also create an ISO image of a disk if you want to copy a DVD in it's entirety. There are very few advanced features or complications with FinalBurner which makes it easy for beginners although if you need to customise the burning speed and burning method of FinalBurner Free according to the capabilities of your burner, you may find it limited. However, that is not to say that there aren't any options to customise a little in FinalBurner Free as there are. Of particular note, is a new option that makes the burning of CD abd DVD labels much easier via a setup wizard within FinalBurner Free if your printer supports it.

It's not a solution for new generation BluRay burning but for standard DVD and CD burning, FinalBurner Free does a basic but efficient job.

Download FinalBurner 2.7.0.144 in Softonic

WikiTaxi 1.0.6-Check Wikipedia without even connecting to the net

2009-01-21T09:00:00.011-08:00

Wikipedia has to be one of the most widely checked resources on the internet but what happens if you don't have a connection to the net?

WikiTaxi is a useful little tool that allows you to do exactly that - download Wikipedia to your hard drive and consult it without even having to access the Internet. However there is a catch - you need a hell of a lot of spare drive space. Because Wikipedia is constantly growing, WikiTaxi uses compression to make sure that the database fits on an 8 GB memory stick - still pretty impressive.

On the plus side, Wikitaxi requires no installation. Just extract the WikiTaxi archive to any folder, and it's ready to go. The folder can be on a fixed hard drive, or a portable device like memory stick or flash card. WikiTaxi does also modify a small options *.ini file which it places right next to its own executable so it does modify your PC a little.

WikiTaxi is a brilliant innovation that makes reading Wikipedia without an internet connection a reality but it does require a lot of free disk space.

Download WikiTaxi 1.0.6 in Softonic

LyricsGetter 1.0-Find the lyrics for your favorite songs

2009-01-21T09:00:00.010-08:00

When you like a song so much that all you want to do is sing it all day long, you need to know the lyrics by heart so that you don't make up the song's original message.

With LyricsGetter now you have no excuse. This easy-to-use tool helps you find the lyrics for any song. Simply enter the name of the song for which you want to find the lyrics and click on "Search lyrics". You can also enter the name of the artist but if you don't, LyricsGetter will show up a list with all available artists that have a song by that name.

You can then read the lyrics on the program's interface, save them to a TXT file or have them printed on paper, though the latter may not be the most environmental-friendly option.

LyricsGetter doesn't really feature any more option or configuration settings at all, but at least it's a cleaner and faster way to find lyrics than having to browse ad-ridden websites.

LyricsGetter provides you with a clean, quick way to find the lyrics for your favorite songs.

Download LyricsGetter 1.0 in Softonic

NetSetMan 2.5.2-Efficient networks setting manager

2009-01-21T09:00:00.009-08:00

If you constantly use your laptop or PC between several different internet connections, then you’re probably tired of having to constantly configure them. Entering proxies, static IP addresses and other LAN configuration data can be really annoying if you have to switch quickly or regularly. NetSetMan takes the pain out of this by allowing you to rapidly change between pre-configured network settings.

The free version of this program (for non-commercial use only) allows you to create 6 profiles – more than enough for most users - including IP address settings, Subnet Masks, Default Gateways and DNS servers. These settings are then saved as tabs which you can flick between and activate according to the connection you are using. Other settings you can configure are the Computer Name, WINS Server, Default Printer and Run Scripts.

The good thing about this program is that it’s very easy to set up a connection. As long as you have the details to hand, you can set-up 6 different connections in just a few minutes. The entry fields are also easier to input data into than Windows ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties’ dialogue, which for some strange reason, tends to add extra zeros. You can also backup all of your connections settings in a separate file which you can then send via e-mail to another person who has NetSetMan installed.

The downside is that the interface is not very clearly designed. For example, if you want to do the simple task of renaming a configuration, you might end up spending more time looking for an ‘edit’ option than configuring the connection itself! In the end, all you have to do is right-click on the name and choose ‘re-name’ but it would have been easier if the developer had added such an option to the interface itself. In addition, you can’t configure SMTP or Firewall settings so in reality, it only saves you half the job of configuring a connection.

Nevertheless, NetSetMan is an essential tool if you do have to change connections from office to home or on the road regularly. It today’s increasingly mobile world, this sort of tool should come as standard with Windows.

Download NetSetMan 2.5.2 in Softonic

QuickTime 7.6 (Standalone player)-Media player for MOV files

2009-01-21T09:00:00.008-08:00

Download QuickTime 7.6 (Standalone player) in Softonic

Reallusion iClone Standard 3.03-Animate your digital identity

2009-01-21T09:00:00.007-08:00

Download Reallusion iClone Standard 3.03 in Softonic

Pictomio 1.2.27-Spectacular 3D photo viewer

2009-01-21T09:00:00.006-08:00

Pictomio is a photo viewer that enables you to search your hard drive for photos and create presentations with them.

The main outstanding feature is that Pictomio turns all your photos into 3D images giving your collection a really cool and unique look. It's great for impressing friends or just breathing life into old images. Previously, from the visualizer in Pictomio you, could only see the photos, their EXIF information and histograms. Up until early 2008 you could only score them and rotate them but now the program has reached Beta stage and it has to be said, it's an impressive package. The program is now a much more serious photo manager contender with completed features such as 3D models for albums and categories, improved models for drives, album/category sidebar to quickly drop your images, automatic upgrade checker and a filter drop down menu amongst many others. This is only a tiny selection of the program's new functionality as other completed features include the saving of user settings (positions and sizes of UI elements, view mode, filter settings, etc.), direct renaming of thumbnails and a new option to show and hide hidden files. Of course, the program is still in beta stage which means that it may be vulnerable to some bugs and errors although none were noted. Of course, Pictomio still also allows you to categorize photos by topics, sort and view your photos by date, rating, or category and view every pixel of your photos using smooth liquid zooming. You can of course still also view your photos in a slideshow presentation.

This is a very easy to use but powerful program and deserves to do well in the 3D imaging market.

Download Pictomio 1.2.27 in Softonic

LockCrypt 2.20-Protect and manage sensitive data effectively

2009-01-21T09:00:00.005-08:00

We're not always as careful as we should be with out secret data. Some people even have the bad habit of jotting down usernames, passwords, PIN numbers and other sensitive data on a post-it note that they just leave lying around.

If this sounds like you, you'd better take a look at LockCrypt right away. This app can handle all your private data and keep it safe and sound in an encrypted database, either based on a TXT file or a MySQL document (which makes it suitable for both the beginner and the advanced user).

LockCrypt features a bunch of different categories for your information: credit card numbers, login data for websites, email accounts, doctor's prescriptions, etc. What's more, you can easily create your own categories and thus tailor the program to suit your needs. It also lets you export information to several different formats, as well as sync the database with and Windows Mobile and Java-enabled handheld devices.

As you can see, LockCrypt is not just a password manager; in fact its password management feature seems quite basic when compared to other similar tools. But the program makes up for it by offering you an additional Firefox add-on that enables LockCrypt to work better with the browser.

LockCrypt is a safe vault for any kind of confidential data. Plus you can manage your passwords in Firefox, and sync data with your mobile device.

Download LockCrypt 2.20 in Softonic

DestroyTwitter 1.1.0 Beta-Sleek Adobe AIR desktop client for Twitter

2009-01-21T09:00:00.004-08:00

Since I created my Twitter account more than a year ago I've been trying different desktop clients that allow me to post new tweets and follow those of my contacts without having to load the Twitter website all the time. DestroyTwitter is one of them.

Despite its funny name, DestroyTwitter is actually an eye-catching AIR-based application that helps you keep track of your Twitter contacts, as well as publish your own updates, all from a sleek, dark interface.

This interface is divided into several categories – tabs – to separate the main timeline from other types of messages: replies, favorites (known as "Saved" in DestroyTwitter) and direct messages (referred to as just "Messages" here). I especially liked the animation effects between the different tabs.

As for functionality, DestroyTwitter provides you with a friendly and comfortable environment from which you can easily manage your Twitter account. The program's configuration options enable you to minimize it to the System Tray – so that it stays out of sight when not needed – though this tray icon could have been made more useful with a proper context menu. The only thing I missed in DestroyTwitter was having a way to update tweets on demand – or have the program do it according to a user-defined period of time.

DestroyTwitter is a visually appealing AIR-based desktop app that helps you send tweets and keep track of your Twitter contacts in an easy way.

Download DestroyTwitter 1.1.0 Beta in Softonic

Pod to PC 2.3-An efficient tool to transfer music from iPod to PC

2009-01-21T09:00:00.003-08:00

I'm very happy with my iPod Touch, as I guess most iPod owners are. What I don't like that much is having iTunes as the only possible choice of iPod manager.

With Pod to PC you can easily transfer songs from your iPod to the computer, which makes it the perfect tool to recover the music library stored on your Apple device after a computer crash, or transfer to the PC only those songs that are not already in your iTunes library.

Pod to PC is very easy to use. Simply connect your iPod to the computer once you launch the program and it will immediately read and display the device's contents on its interface. You can now select whatever you want to transfer to the PC, with the help of the program's handy code of symbols to identify songs that are already on the iTunes library, the ones that are protected and so on. Pod to PC also includes a built-in player to preview songs, though it's a bit slow.

Just one warning: if you're looking for a program to transfer songs on the iPod to your PC as MP3 files, this is not what you're looking for. Pod to PC transfers songs as iTunes playlist files, which you can then import into iTunes.

With Pod to PC you can easily transfer songs from the iPod to your computer, and import them into your iTunes library.

Download Pod to PC 2.3 in Softonic

The Guide 2.0-Complete text editor for structuring your notes

2009-01-21T09:00:00.002-08:00

Some people prefer working with a basic text editor rather than using a complicated word processor, in which case The Guide could be the perfect choice.

With The Guide you can create extensive documents, organized in a clear hierarchical structure and easily manageable thanks to the tree-like organization on the left side of the interface.

The Guide works in a way similar to WordPad (in fact, it also works with RTF documents) but features extended functionality beyond the aforementioned tree-like structure. You can customize its appearance with selected text fonts and colors, apply different icons to structure nodes for quicker identification, add hyperlinks (to websites or e-mail addresses and a lot more).

What's more, The Guide supports the use of keyboard shortcuts for almost any task in the program, and can be set to run in Portable Mode. This means the program saves all configuration settings into an INI file rather than the Windows Registry, thus becoming the perfect text editor to carry in your USB device.

The Guide is a complete RTF-compatible text editor that organizes documents in structures and can be run from a USB device.

Download The Guide 2.0 in Softonic

MPlayer 2009-01-18-A must have free video player

2009-01-21T09:00:00.001-08:00

It's considered to be a must have free video player. It can play any type of video including 192 video codec and 85 audio coded - like VLC player, but with a nicer interface. It is also supposed to optimize CPU usage and use as few resources as possible. The package contains optimized builds for Pentiums, Athalons and Dual Core processors. You just select the one suitable for you during the installation process.

The package installs both MPlayer and the front-end SMPlayer, which is the same program but with a nicer looking interface. A number of useful features are included: the subtitles option for example, allows you to load subtitle files and link them to a video. You also have many options to deinterlace, denoise and apply filters to improve the video rendering.

I've noticed minor usability issues: when you stop the video for example, the pointer in the status bar should restart from the beginning, whereas with this player it just stays at the point of the film you stopped it, making no difference with the pause function. Also the program doesn't remember the volume of the sound when you close and re-open the application.

MPlayer supports 192 video codec and also video streaming, QuickTime and RealAudio files making it the perfect choice if you don't want to mess around with a different player for each video format.

Download MPlayer 2009-01-18 in Softonic

Password Memory 2009 2.1-An easier way to remember lots of passwords

2009-01-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Remembering passwords is never easy, especially with so many different sites requiring some kind of registration.

Password Memory 2009 encrypts and manages your passwords and helps you to log in to websites much more easily and quickly than having to enter them every time you visit them. Firefox already offers this option although Password memory 2009 is surely a much safer way of storing particularly sensitive passwords (such as for banking sites). In fact, Password Memory 2009 uses several different algorithms to guarantee a very high level of security.

The interface follows the same format as that of Microsoft Office and simply requires you to add passwords into a clipboard where they will then be automatically transferred into the right fields when you surf to that particular site. If you want a hard copy of your passwords, you can also export them to XML, HTML, text files and Excel in a few clicks.

Password Memory is a very powerful password manager that offers maximum protection and makes life a lot easier than having to remember passwords for each separate site.

Download Password Memory 2009 2.1 in Softonic

ATnotes 9.5-Divertidas notas en tu Escritorio para recordarlo todo

2009-01-20T09:00:00.005-08:00

ATnotes te permitirá dejar notas en tu Escritorio de las que seguro no te olvidarás en ningún momento.

Podrás arrastrar y redimensionar cada una de las notas que coloques en el Escritorio, aunque por defecto la nota se redimensionará al tamaño del texto que insertes.

Tienes varias fuentes para poder cambiar el aspecto de las notas a tu gusto, al igual que el color de fondo, del texto, de los bordes de cada una de las notas. Podrás definir alarmas sonoras o visuales para cada una de las notas; y además, podrás hacer que estas alarmas se vayan repitiendo hasta que les hagas caso o simplemente que te avisen una única vez.

Además, incluye una completa personalización de teclas rápidas para la selección de funciones específicas del programa. El programa residirá en la bandeja del sistema.

Tradúcelo al español con el parche oficial

Descargar ATnotes 9.5 en Softonic

ContactKeeper 1.4.2-Agenda de contactos práctica y eficaz

2009-01-20T09:00:00.004-08:00

ContactKeeper es una práctica agenda personal que mantiene perfectamente organizados y siempre a mano todos los datos de tus amigos, compañeros de trabajo, clientes, familiares...

Crear entradas es fácil y rápido. Además, en cada entrada podrás añadir varias direcciones de correo electrónico y múltiples números de teléfono, muy útil para incluir los datos personales y del trabajo.

Como extra, cada entrada incluye un apartado para notas de cualquier índole (con soporte para enlaces a páginas web) y un campo de fecha de nacimiento. Si rellenas esta fecha, ContactKeeper generará automáticamente un calendario de cumpleaños y te avisará varios días antes del evento, así te dará tiempo a comprar el regalo.

Descargar ContactKeeper 1.4.2 en Softonic

Efficient Diary 1.0-A complete, free personal diary

2009-01-20T09:00:00.003-08:00

Some people use their blog as a personal diary, and don’t mind other people reading what they're up to. For others, personal diaries are still something private that should be kept secret.

If you're among the latter of these groups, you're going to like Efficient Diary. With this app you can have your personal diary right on your computer, but at the same time keep it away from prying eyes thanks to its password protection.

Efficient Diary features a traditional interface design, with a folder structure on the left side to browse entries, and the right side reserved to display selected entries. It also has a rich-text editor to write your diary, which means you can apply text effects (bold, italics, colors) and insert images. However the editor fails to recognize web and email addresses like other similar tools do, and only accepts multimedia files as attachments.

With Efficient Diary you can organize your entries according to their data and also in customizable groups. The program features also a backup/restore utility with which you can easily create backup copies of your diary.

If you'd like to have a personal diary on your computer, this is the program you need.

Download Efficient Diary 1.0 in Softonic

O&O DiskRecovery 4.1.1334-Professional data recovery application

2009-01-20T09:00:00.002-08:00

After a computer disaster, the worst thing that can happen is losing all your data.

But before losing all hope, you can try to recover your files with O&O DiskRecovery. This professional recovery application scans your whole hard drive – or any other device – and generates a list with all the recoverable files. It works not only with documents (Word, Excel or Access files, for example) but also with photos, music and movies.

Depending on the size of the drive you're working with, the whole recovery process may take from just a few minutes to several hours. But the waiting time is worth it if it enables you to recover files you thought you had lost.

As with similar recovery tools, you have to bear in mind that you may not be able to recover all the files that were stored on the drive you've analyzed. But O&O DiskRecovery makes for a good last resort before you give up!

With O&O DiskRecovery you may be able to recover lost files from a hard drive or a memory device after a computer crash, virus attack or accidental deletion.

Download O&O DiskRecovery 4.1.1334 in Softonic

O&O DiskRecovery 4.1.1334-Professional data recovery application

2009-01-20T09:00:00.001-08:00

After a computer disaster, the worst thing that can happen is losing all your data.

With O&O DiskRecovery you may be able to recover lost files from a hard drive or a memory device after a computer crash, virus attack or accidental deletion.

Download O&O DiskRecovery 4.1.1334 in Softonic

ThetaWall 1.0.19-Use a custom photo collage as wallpaper or screensaver

2009-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

I like collecting wallpapers and changing the background image of my Windows desktop quite frequently.

However, sometimes I have a slight problem: I have so many beautiful images that I don't know which one to choose. Fortunately this problem can be solved with ThetaWall, a simple tool that can create immediate collages, with the photos saved in a selected folder, and use them as desktop background.

ThetaWall doesn't require installation: simply extract the contents of the ZIP archive into the folder with your wallpaper collection and launch the executable file. The program will place an icon on the System Tray, from where you can access its main functions. Also, a double click will change the wallpaper automatically.

Configuration options in ThetaWall include the possibility to use just one image or create a collage with several of them. Every time you generate a new collage, ThetaWall grabs a bunch of different images and uses a different layout. It's great to have such a wide variety of designs, but I'd also like to have the chance to select the photos and layout myself.

ThetaWall supports dual-screen installations and can add a calendar to one of them. You can also create a screensaver with the same images you use as wallpaper.

If you have a large collection of wallpapers, you can show them all off with ThetaWall, a simple tool that creates desktop collages automatically.

Download ThetaWall 1.0.19 in Softonic

AMP Calendar 2.42-Un calendario siempre a mano en tu PC

2009-01-19T09:00:00.020-08:00

Esta sencilla herramienta te permite generar, con un simple clic, un calendario anual que podrás tener siempre a mano cada vez que necesites consultarlo.

El programa instala un icono en la bandeja de sistema, desde el que puedes acceder a todas sus funciones. Cuenta además con varias posibilidades de personalización, como modificación de colores, disposición de columnas, selección de día de la semana y mes, etc.

Descargar AMP Calendar 2.42 en Softonic

Visual CD 4.0-Crea catálogos con el contenido de tus CD

2009-01-19T09:00:00.019-08:00

Visual CD es la herramienta perfecta para ordenar, clasificar y catalogar tus CD grabados con fotos, ficheros MP3, aplicaciones, juegos y demás.

Gracias a este programa podrás crear un índice con el contenido de todos esos CD, y así poder revisarlos sin necesidad de ir introduciendo uno a uno los discos en la unidad. Encontrar un fichero determinado guardado en alguno de tus CD será ahora cuestión de segundos!

Podrás navegar por el contenido de los mismos y realizar búsquedas, todo ello a través de un potente e intuitivo administrador de ficheros. El programa incorpora una atractiva interfaz y además se integra en el menú contextual del Explorador de Windows.

Visual CD incluye una serie de opciones adicionales, como la posibilidad de exportar los catálogos de CD a formato HTML o TXT, una utilidad para renombrar ficheros, otra para dividir ficheros grandes en fragmentos de menor tamaño y una última herramienta con la que puedes extraer el contenido de ficheros ZIP, RAR y CAB.

Descargar Visual CD 4.0 en Softonic

Simfit 6.0.21-Más de cuarenta programas para cálculo numérico, estadística, gráficos y simulaciones matemáticas

2009-01-19T09:00:00.018-08:00

Simfit es un completo paquete matemático con más de cuarenta módulos que van desde la estadística descriptiva y multivariada hasta el cálculo numérico, pasando por funciones de ajuste de curvas y una cantidad notable de gráficos en dos y tres dimensiones.

En lugar de usar ficheros de sintaxis, como otros programas similares, Simfit utiliza un peculiar sistema de asistentes gráficos que estructuran el flujo de trabajo para toda maniobra. En cada cuadro de Simfit hay disponibles opciones para editar y cargar datos en texto puro, iniciar el cálculo y ver los resultados, así como cancelar o volver atrás.

Una vez elegidos los parámetros pertinentes y ejecutadas las pruebas, los resultados o los gráficos producidos por Simfit pueden exportarse cortando y pegando el texto del visor o, en el caso de gráficos, guardarse mediante Ghostscript, que debe ser instalado aparte. Los gráficos pueden modificarse por completo en el aspecto.

Simfit es uno de los pocos paquetes de cálculo que utiliza una interfaz gráfica para analizar y editar datos. Si a eso se una la gran variedad de funciones y la calidad de los gráficos, resulta fácil pasar por alto el diseño algo rudimentario de su interfaz.

Descargar Simfit 6.0.21 en Softonic

MIT Scratch 1.3.1-Crea juegos, animaciones y arte interactivo

2009-01-19T09:00:00.017-08:00

Aprender a programar en la escuela no tiene porque ser una tarea imposible. Si en lugar de mostrar código en un editor de textos se opta por metáforas visuales, la motivación aumenta notablemente.

MIT Scratch es un ambicioso editor multimedia con el que se pueden crear desde historias animadas hasta juegos como el Tetris, pasando por presentaciones interactivas y simulaciones sencillas. Los límites los pone únicamente la imaginación.

Para lograr que incluso un niño aprenda a usar MIT Scratch, el entorno de desarrollo utiliza un lenguaje de programación totalmente visual, compuesto por bloques coloreados que se encajan formando estructuras básicas como bucles o secuencias. Este pseudocódigo visual permite editar fácilmente los parámetros de cada función.

Los comandos de MIT Scratch se dividen en ocho categorías con las que se pueden insertar y controlar sonidos, imágenes, variables y otros elementos. Para crear un programa en MIT Scratch sólo hay que arrastrar los elementos multimedia el escenario y añadir comandos en la pestaña Programas.

Las amplias posibilidades de MIT Scratch y la genialidad de su lenguaje visual chocan con una interfaz no del todo intuitiva, sobre todo por lo que se refiere al editor de escenas. Aún así, constituye una formidable herramienta educativa.

Descargar MIT Scratch 1.3.1 en Softonic

WhiteCap 5.2-Morphing wire-frame visualizer for media players

2009-01-19T09:00:00.016-08:00

The WhiteCap visualizer is a highly configurable add on for your media player with a wide range of impressive effects.

WhiteCap works with most media players out there, including the more popular iTunes, Windows Media Player or Winamp. The free version has a few limitations but you can still choose from a number of wave shapes and backgrounds. You'll only have one color scheme to work with though. From the settings menu you can adjust frame rate width and height and sound response scale.

If you pay for the Gold or Platinum versions of the program, you'll be able to save up to five presets.

Apart from the setup menu, which is really easy to use, I was well impressed by the effects themselves. The morphing wire frame effects really flow and manage to capture the essence and rhythm of different tracks really well.

Although the free version has its limitations, WhiteCap is an impressive visualizer for iTunes. Kick back and enjoy!

Download WhiteCap 5.2 in Softonic

K-Lite Codec Pack Basic 4.5.3-A collection of codecs and related tools

2009-01-19T09:00:00.015-08:00

Download K-Lite Codec Pack Basic 4.5.3 in Softonic

K-Lite Codec Pack Standard 4.5.3-A collection of codecs and related tools

2009-01-19T09:00:00.014-08:00

Download K-Lite Codec Pack Standard 4.5.3 in Softonic

VueScan 8.5.01-User friendly scanning interface

2009-01-19T09:00:00.013-08:00

If you haven't got a default scanning software loaded onto your machine, then take a look at Vuescan, which simply and easily allows you to connect to your scanner in minutes.

The developers of VueScan claim that it's the world's most widely-used scanning software among photographers, home users and corporations. Although this would seem far fetched, it's certainly true that it must be popular simply by virtue of it's simplicity and ease of use for anyone not familiar with scanning software.

VueScan is highly flexible which is another great aspect of it - it doesn't matter if you change scanner as it still continues to support it whatever model it is. According to the developers, VueScan supports more than 400 scanners and 185 digital camera raw files so you won't find any incompatibility issues. Installation is lightning quick as it's such a light package and there's little waiting around - just open VueScan and you're ready to scan.

There's not much to it but in a way, that's the great thing about Vuescan - it doesn't bloat your system with unnecessary features or scanning options.

Download VueScan 8.5.01 in Softonic

FrostWire 4.17.2-Open source alternative to LimeWire

2009-01-19T09:00:00.012-08:00

Frostwire is a hidden gem among Peer to Peer (P2P) applications. Built on the Limewire code but free of any advertising, Frostwire is one of the most accessible and reliable P2P applications you will find, and it doesn’t annoy you with pop ups or ads asking you to buy stuff.

The simple search bar, divided by category, makes it a breeze to browse for a file, whether it is a video, image, audio, or program. Frostwire has a “what’s new” button to check out what popular files users have recently exchanged. We also enjoyed the direct connect option. If you know the IP address of one of your friends, type it in the box and Frostwire will browse that user’s files. This is a quick way of sharing files with someone else. It can come in handy when working on a project and exchanging documents. The only little snag we have with direct connect is that it doesn’t let you enter the username, much simpler than looking for your friend’s IP address.

Downloading with Frostwire is very intuitive. After you’ve searched and found the file you are looking for, double-click on it to start the downloading process. The speed of your download depends firstly on the quality of your connection (broadband is a minimum), if you’ve correctly opened your router’s ports and whether you’re downloading a popular file or not. When you’re configuring the application, you can set content filters, to avoid downloading copyright protected material, adult content or Windows Media files.

The best way to check the quality of the audio or video you’re downloading is via Frostwire’s media player. Well integrated into the client it gives you an immediate preview or your file.

Frostwire is a pure version of Limewire, built as a not-for-profit project, and its developers claim it will never support DRM or any type of advertising. With the threatening cloud of lawsuits gobbling up P2P clients one at a time and forcing them to go legit, Frostwire’s future is in the balance. But the ad-free P2P client is still on its feet, and that very fact added to its reliability make it one of the most attractive of the remaining P2P clients.

Download FrostWire 4.17.2 in Softonic

TeamViewer 4.0.5503-Simple, fast and secure desktop sharing

2009-01-19T09:00:00.011-08:00

Desktop sharing is not just the expert field of tech professionals anymore. Whether you want to show how an application works or simply to explain things on someone else's PC, you'll need to find a way to share desktops easily.

TeamViewer offers a simple way of creating desktop sharing sessions with other users whether on a distant PC, local connection or over the internet. Both users will each have an ID and password with which to connect to their session.

Taking control of another PC is a great way to solve issues from a distance and demonstrate things on a desktop without actually being there physically. TeamViewer also allows file transfer and includes a chat function to communicate with your contact.

You can also record sessions and play them back afterward. These can then be used as tutorials or to go back on what you've done in previous sessions.

If you dig in the details you'll be able to choose not only whether to optimize quality or speed, but also configure the amount of access you want to give to your desktop.

The free version of TeamViewer has a number of limitations, and lacks a number of modules like the TeamViewer manager or customer module. If you want more features you'll have to be ready to pay at least €159 for higher end versions.

TeamViewer is a good program to quickly share desktops with another user. The free version will let you create secure sessions and control what you show to your contact over the internet.

Download TeamViewer 4.0.5503 in Softonic

Revo Uninstaller 1.80-Manage and get information about your installed and running applications

2009-01-19T09:00:00.010-08:00

Download Revo Uninstaller 1.80 in Softonic

Scrapboy 2.1.23 Beta-Manage Facebook, MySpace and Orkut from your desktop

2009-01-19T09:00:00.009-08:00

If you have an account on Facebook, Orkut or MySpace, you'll have noticed that these services can be quite time consuming. That's why it's probably a good idea to use a tool like Scrapboy.

With Scrapboy you can manage your user accounts in those three social networks – Facebook, Orkut and MySpace – from one single interface, without having to log into the three separate websites from your web browser. You can check your contacts' status, review personal messages, browse photos, update your profile… pretty much everything you can do online.

With Scrapboy you can also subscribe to individual feeds (wall posts, scraps, photos, comments, etc.) so that you stay on top of everything that's going on with your friends).

While the idea behind Scrapboy is great – being able to manage all your social profiles from one place – I think the program could still be enhanced a lot, especially in interface design and usability. It looks like they didn't devote too much development resources to those areas.

Scrapboy also features a desktop notification system that displays a small pop-up window on the bottom right corner every time you get a new message or one of your contacts goes online. However, if you have too many contacts this can get too distracting and annoying.

Scrapboy lets you manage your user accounts in Facebook, Orkut and MySpace from a single interface, but still needs some enhancement in terrms of usability and interface design.

Download Scrapboy 2.1.23 Beta in Softonic

BitComet 1.09-Share and download files from BitTorrent and chat with your friends

2009-01-19T09:00:00.008-08:00

From slow beginnings, BitComet has risen to become one of the most popular torrent client downloads on Softonic. For users accustomed to the often sparse interfaces of torrent apps, BitComet surprises with its flashy icons and multitude of options that give you more control over your downloads. For those that want a no-fuss client, the extra features may simply get in the way.

Once a torrent is selected for download with BitComet, a dialog pops up allowing you to determine the location to save to and select exactly which files in the torrent you want. Once downloading, the regular stop, pause, cancel, update etc options are all available plus a handy “remove torrent & all files” option which removes all trace of an unwanted torrent from your PC. Many users report the download rates are good although note no particular difference with other client speeds. The best feature however is a ‘preview media’ option, which forces the torrent to download sequentially instead of randomly thus allowing you to preview any multimedia downloads. It’s a great way to avoid broken links, but, on the downside, it will slow down your download considerably.

Another interesting feature is the ‘intelligent disk cache’ which really comes into its own on high speed connections. If you are lucky enough to get download transfer rates of 500 kb/s or higher, activating it allows BitComet to cache the data to access the disk less frequently. The result of this is that it doesn’t slow down your PC as receiving large amounts of data can sometimes do.

Forum reports from foreign users suggest that the program has not been translated properly from English, yet this doesn’t affect the capacities of BitComet. The other downside is that the uninstall procedure is not particularly clean. The application directory remains as does the registry entry although you can remove the former manually and the latter with any good registry cleaner.

There are simpler clients out there, such as uTorrent uTorrent and Azureus that offer the same download rates but with less fuss. If you have a particularly fast connection, can’t wait for your files to download before watching them and enjoy a torrent client with lots of whistles and bells, BitComet might be for you.

Download BitComet 1.09 in Softonic

K-Lite Codec Pack Full 4.5.3-A complete collection of codecs and related tools

2009-01-19T09:00:00.007-08:00

Sometimes when you try to play music or a movie in your computer, you may find that either the image or the sound are not being properly played. These issues are probably a question of codecs, and you can solve them all with K-Lite Codec Pack.

This comprehensive kit includes all the codecs you need to have on your system if you want to play all audio and video formats without any problems. The full package includes quite a bunch of codecs, but the good thing is that you can choose which ones to install and which ones to leave out during the installation process.

Besides codecs, the K-Lite Codec Pack also includes several utilities that can come in very handy when dealing with audio and video files. Among others, you'll find tools to tweak and fix codecs, work with subtitles and obtain detailed information about any selected media file.

The only drawback I could point out about K-Lite Codec Pack is that it all may seem confusing for the novice user who doesn't really know what a codec is, and therefore can't really choose which ones to install. My advice here is to simply install all of them: it's the only way to make sure you'll be able to play pretty much any audio or video file on your PC.

K-Lite Codec Pack is a full featured collection of codecs that enables you to play just about any audio and video format on your PC without any problems.

Download K-Lite Codec Pack Full 4.5.3 in Softonic

K-Lite Codec Pack Mega 4.5.3 Full-A complete collection of codecs and related tools

2009-01-19T09:00:00.006-08:00

The K-Lite Mega Codec Pack is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enjoy video and audio on their Windows PC. Frequently updated, it includes all the codecs available in three of the most popular codec packs available on Softonic.

As video and audio encoding develops, it can be really hard to keep abreast of the latest compression techniques and codecs. K-Lite Mega Codec Pack does this for you by putting pretty much every codec in use, on your computer.

The K-Lite Mega Codec Pack combines the contents of three codec packs:

Essential for anyone using audio or video apps on their PC.

Download K-Lite Codec Pack Mega 4.5.3 Full in Softonic

Revo Uninstaller Portable 1.80-Remove any unwanted application installed on your PC

2009-01-19T09:00:00.005-08:00

Revo Uninstaller has been made portable. Well, maybe not exactly. The developers of the original app have created a new portable version, which means that it can be saved to your USB memory device and run directly run from there, as it doesn't require installation.

Don’t this new Revo is a lesser version just because of this portability feature. On the contrary, it includes the same array of tools to keep your system perfectly clean and healthy. With Revo Uninstaller you'll be able to remove any software from your PC, erasing all possible traces left behind it. What's more, the program includes some handy tools to clean web browsing traces, erase junk files, check what programs are set to launch with Windows and more.

The original Revo Uninstaller is already one of those must-have apps that help you perform the necessary cleaning tasks in no time. This Portable version is even better, because you can take it with you and use it any time you need it. In fact, I could only find one small bug: I missed having a progress bar when scanning the system for junk files.

Uninstall software, clean junk files and optimize your system's performance the easy way.

Download Revo Uninstaller Portable 1.80 in Softonic

Google Chrome 1.0.154.43-Google enters the Browser Wars

2009-01-19T09:00:00.004-08:00

After having successfully launched their own webmail service, RSS reader, online suite and many other apps, having a Google web browser was only a question of time.

Google Chrome has joined the so called web browser battle with a neatly designed web browser which, in spite of being still at a development stage, already shows a lot of potential.

The first thing that caught my attention when launching Google Chrome for the first time was its minimalist design. Besides a couple of bars and a couple of buttons, there's nothing else on the interface to steal screen space from the websites you visit – not even a status bar, as it automatically shows and hides whenever it's necessary.

Another feature I loved is the fact that Google Chrome uses the same keyboard shortcuts and mousewheel combinations as Firefox. With a zero learning curve, you immediately feel at your element and there's no need to start testing new shortcuts or reading the documentation. Other similarities to Firefox in Google Chrome include a complete download manager (which reminded me a lot of the Download Statusbar extension) and a handy password manager.

If you don't want Google Chrome to track down your browsing movements, try the incognito window. This special window won't save anything about your session (no browsing history, no cookies, etc.), so no breadcrumbs will be left after you close it.

But if there's a feature that makes Google Chrome really stand out, that's having separate processes for each one of the tabs you open. That means that you can check the amount of system resources used up by each tab, and close any of them in case of trouble without having to shut down the whole browser.

That said, I don't think Google Chrome is perfect yet. Like I said before, it's still in development so there's still plenty of room for it to grow and improve. I must say I had some stability issues when trying to install the Flash plug-in, and that I was totally unable to make the Java Virtual Machine work – which eventually prevented me from using certain web services. Despite these flaws, I really liked Google Chrome and I think it may become a serious option when choosing your web browser. Only time will tell.

Google Chrome, Google's web browser, mixes a clean, minimalist interface with a variety of powerful tools that can easily turn it into a great web browser.

Download Google Chrome 1.0.154.43 in Softonic

Picasa 3.1 (70.73)-The latest Picasa version packed with new features

2009-01-19T09:00:00.003-08:00

When it comes to photo viewers there are many alternatives to choose from. I've always had something of a crush on Picasa and this new version has made it my absolute favorite.

The brand new Picasa 3.0 is just out beta stage and you can already get a full glimpse of all the eyecandy it brings to your desktop. The interface remains pretty similar to the previous one, but has been enriched with new options to manage and edit your photos, as well as some new ways to show them off.

Among other features, Picasa now includes a folder manager to handle your folders right on the hard drive, a screen capturing tool, an improved and extended photo editing menu (with new filters and effects) and new exciting options for your creativity, such as creating a movie with your photos.

Picasa now lets you manage your pictures in more comfortable way, both online – by automatically syncing your photo library with Picasa web albums – and offline, with an awesome photo viewer you can use instead of the default Windows image viewer.

The all-new Picasa has successfully completed what it seemed a difficult task: improving a software app that was already very good.

Download Picasa 3.1 (70.73) in Softonic

FCleaner 1.1.3.115-An efficient alternative to CCleaner

2009-01-19T09:00:00.002-08:00

CCleaner is probably one of the most popular cleaning software tools, but that doesn't mean it's the only one. Today, for example, we found FCleaner.

With FCleaner you can clean your hard drive from all sorts of junk files and free up a bunch of megabytes. The program looks for temporary files, recent document lists, autocomplete lists, files in the Recycle Bin and other types of disposable data, and lets you select what to delete. The cleaning tools include a startup manager and app uninstaller as well, and the program's statistics show how much drive space you've recovered so far.

FCleaner also features a special section for browsers that lets you clean all the elements related to them, such as cookies, browsing history, saved information, typed URLs, cache memory and others. The program works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari.

Though FCleaner is similar to CCleaner in its efficiency and ease of use, it's not as complete as the Piriform tool, especially regarding configuration options like the possibility of creating filters, marking certain cookies so that they're not deleted or the ability to clean Windows Registry.

FCleaner lets you clean your hard drive from all sorts of junk files, thus improving the system's stability and performance, and freeing up precious drive space.

Download FCleaner 1.1.3.115 in Softonic

FCleaner Portable 1.1.3.115-A complete system cleaner that fits in your pocket

2009-01-19T09:00:00.001-08:00

FCleaner is an efficient cleaning software tool in portable form, ready to be used directly from your USB memory device.

With FCleaner Portable you can clear your hard drive of all sorts of junk files and free up a bunch of megabytes. The program looks for temporary files, recent document lists, auto-complete lists, files in the Recycle Bin and other types of disposable data, and lets you select what to delete. The cleaning tools include a startup manager and app uninstaller, and the program's statistics show how much drive space you've recovered so far.

FCleaner Portable also features a section for browsers that lets you clean all the elements related to them, such as cookies, browsing history, saved information, typed URLs, cache memory and others. The program works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari.

FCleaner Portable is just as effective as the desktop version. But if when compared with similar tools such as CCleaner, the program still lacks some advanced functions, especially regarding configuration options or the ability to clean Windows Registry.

FCleaner Portable lets you clean your hard drive from all sorts of junk files and improve system performance right from your USB memory stick.

Download FCleaner Portable 1.1.3.115 in Softonic

Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition 8.0.0 Free-Advanced protection from all sorts of malware

2009-01-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Now that spyware, malware and other online threats are more frequent and more dangerous than viruses, you need to count on a reliable tool to protect your system against them.

Ad-Aware is one of the most popular anti-spyware tools, with millions of downloads worldwide and the well-earned trust of countless users. This new Anniversary Edition has been launched to celebrate the app's tenth birthday, but it's also quite an improvement on previous versions and other similar tools.

The first new feature we noticed in Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition is a completely redesigned interface. After a few versions with only some slight changes, it was about time Ad-Aware's developers decided to give the interface a total overhaul. The result is a clearer, easier-to-use app, with large Web 2.0 style buttons.

Beyond graphical appearance, Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition also offers some interesting new tools, such as real-time protection against malware (only for active processes in this free version, though), external drive scanning, full integration with Windows Security Center and Windows Explorer, automatic updates and, above all, a highly-improved resource management which makes the program much lighter on the system and radically enhances memory usage.

Another remarkable feature is the so-called TrackSweep, a tool that erases all the traces left behind you after an Internet browsing session. TrackSweep is compatible with Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera (sorry Chrome fans) and automatically deletes elements like cache memory, cookies, history and last typed URLs.

That said, bear in mind that Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition keeps some functions reserved exclusively for the Pro and Plus versions. However, it's still a reliable, effective anti-malware tool that will keep your system safe and sound without disturbing your daily workflow.

Ad-Aware 2008 features an excellent package of security tools with which you can efficiently protect your PC from spyware, malware and other undesirable elements.

Download Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition 8.0.0 Free in Softonic

CookTimer 0.9.1-Temporizador sencillo para gestionar mejor tu tiempo

2009-01-18T09:00:00.016-08:00

Para organizar mejor el propio tiempo se recomienda el uso de cronómetros y temporizadores que ayuden a repartir la jornada con precisión.

CookTimer es un sencillo temporizador con una cuenta atrás digital y una barra de progreso. Puedes definir un tiempo en horas, minutos y segundos. Dándole a Start, comenzará la cuenta atrás.

Cuando ese tiempo haya transcurrido, CookTimer presentará un sonido de alarma que deberás interrumpir pulsando Reset o Stop (que equivale también a una pausa).

Si has marcado la opcion Continuous, CookTimer emitirá un solo pitido y volverá a iniciar la cuenta atrás hasta que lo pares.

Descargar CookTimer 0.9.1 en Softonic

Dynamic Templates 2.03-Asistente para crear calendarios personalizados en papel

2009-01-18T09:00:00.015-08:00

Dynamic Templates te ayuda a hacer tu propio calendario en papel, escogiendo el tamaño y elementos que aparecerán en él.

El asistente te permite elegir entre varios formatos, desde tarjeta de visita A8 a un folio DIN-A4, por si quieres llevarlo siempre encima, colocarlo en tu mesa de trabajo o colgarlo en la pared.

Además, Dynamic Templates ofrece varios tipos de calendario, mostrando un día dividido en horas, o un mes o año por página. Y una vez terminado, el programa lo exporta a PDF para que puedas imprimirlo.

Descargar Dynamic Templates 2.03 en Softonic

Fried Babelfish 1.0.7-Utiliza el traductor de Google desde el Escritorio de Windows

2009-01-18T09:00:00.014-08:00

Fried Babelfish es un programa que te permitirá utilizar la herramienta de traducción en línea de Google directamente desde tu Escritorio.

Con Fried Babelfish te ahorrarás parte del proceso necesario para traducir un texto con la herramienta en línea de Google. Basta con pegar el texto, para que el programa se encargue de enviar la consulta y presentar el resultado en pantalla.

Al igual que el traductor en línea, Fried Babelfish permite traducir textos en 34 idiomas diferentes. Además, es capaz de detectar el idioma automáticamente, recuerda el último idioma seleccionado y es posible mantener la ventana siempre visible.

Descargar Fried Babelfish 1.0.7 en Softonic

Mx 1.7.03-Potente editor de álgebra matricial y ecuaciones estructurales

2009-01-18T09:00:00.013-08:00

El álgebra es una de las ramas de la matemática con más aplicaciones científicas. Los modelos que se pueden describir con ella ayudan a describir fenómenos naturales y sociales de gran complejidad.

Mx es un completo programa de álgebra lineal con el que puedes definir un sistema de ecuaciones gracias a un lenguaje sencillo y una interfaz gráfica especial. Uno de sus puntos fuertes es el editor de diagramas, ideal para ecuaciones estructurales.

Una vez cargados los datos a partir de un fichero de texto, Mx puede aplicar un modelo a partir del diagrama generado o de scripts escritos en lenguaje de comandos Mx, pensado para el álgebra matricial. Los resultados se muestran en el Project Manager.

Mx cuenta con un poderoso motor de cálculo y un editor de diagramas bastante accesible, aunque su interfaz es netamente inferior a sus rivales comerciales, como LISREL o EQS.

Descargar Mx 1.7.03 en Softonic

Fried Babelfish 1.0.7-Free, standalone translator powered by Google

2009-01-18T09:00:00.012-08:00

Despite its funny name, Fried Babelfish doesn't have anything to do with fried food – or with the Babelfish software for that matter.

Fried Babelfish is a simple free translating tool that makes use of the Google translator services and provides you with instant feedback on multi-language translations. As the program takes advantage of Google's services, it supports a wide variety of languages and can do reverse translations as well. The translations are quite good, bearing in mind the limitations of automatic translation systems.

Fried Babelfish doesn't require installation. Simply launch it and you'll immediately have a dictionary on your desktop. You can make it stay on top and also have it detect the source language automatically to speed up your workflow. On the downside, texts are limited to 150 words.

With Fried Babelfish you can have a free personal translator powered by Google right on your desktop.

Download Fried Babelfish 1.0.7 in Softonic

KidRocket 1.5-Safe web browser for children

2009-01-18T09:00:00.011-08:00

Download KidRocket 1.5 in Softonic

VisiPics 1.3-Detect and remove identical files on your hard drive

2009-01-18T09:00:00.010-08:00

Download VisiPics 1.3 in Softonic

Kidzui Firefox Add-on 0.4-Keep your kids safe on the Web

2009-01-18T09:00:00.009-08:00

Do your young children use the internet? Kidzui Firefox Add-on lets you instantly transform Firefox into a bold, kid-friendly browser with good parental controls.

The add-on adds a bright 'K' button to Firefox, that when clicked opens Kidzui, a full-screen web browser that can only be closed by a parent. The idea behind this is that parents can leave their kids to play on the internet safe in the knowledge they won't be viewing any unsuitable material.

On the home page there are lots of child-orientated pages to visit, with games and videos to look at and lots of community features. Your child can create a cool avatar and friends that also use Kidzui can be added. There is also a Facebook-style "status" feature, so they can tell their friends how they're feeling.

Any site that is not known by Kidzui will be blocked, although parents can add whatever sites they want to the list of allowed destinations. The content on offer from the home page will be pretty attractive to young children especially in the US (it's mostly aimed at American kids), and there's nothing to worry parents unless you are not comfortable with advertizing, of which there is some (for movies and DVDs especially).

Kidzui a fairly heavy add-on. When running it's much slower than Firefox, and if you have a slow computer this could be frustrating. The other problem relates to the target audience. The idea of a browser that locks kids into a safe Internet is great, but it only works if your kids haven't learned to 'Ctrl+Alt+Delete', which still allows you to close whatever you want and open another browser to search the dangerous, unrestricted Internet!

Kidzui is a fun, bright add-on that kids will like, but is not a fail safe against child curiosity. Don't forget to supervise!

Download Kidzui Firefox Add-on 0.4 in Softonic

Keepass Password Safe 2.06 Beta-Store all your passwords in a protected database

2009-01-18T09:00:00.008-08:00

Download Keepass Password Safe 2.06 Beta in Softonic

Duplicate File Finder 3.4-Analyze your hard disk and remove any duplicated files

2009-01-18T09:00:00.007-08:00

Download Duplicate File Finder 3.4 in Softonic

Eudora (Penelope) 8.0.0 b5-Send e-mail to and receive it from friends and coworkers

2009-01-18T09:00:00.006-08:00

Nostalgic users of the classic Eudora will be glad to get their hands on the latest outing, Penelope. This updated version manages to mix in iconic Eudora features with many things from Mozilla's Thunderbird. You'll immediately recognize the Eudora icons and the typical Thunderbird interface. The mail client is easy to install and to set up your own account. You can create filters to manage incoming mail and use Mozilla's search as you type feature to skip through your emails.

Penelope also includes an RSS reader, once again based on the one from Thunderbird. It worked smoothly importing new feeds. The preview window lets you read feeds directly from Penelope instead of opening them up in your browser. Another neat feature of the mail client is that you can now install all Thunderbird add-ons to it. The address book has also been improved and you can easily import or export it to various formats.

Despite still being a bit unstable (Penelope is still in development after all), the Eudora mail client provides a good alternative to send and receive mail. Qualcomm Penelope developers seem to have succeeded in blending the strengths of both Eudora and Thunderbird into one.

Download Eudora (Penelope) 8.0.0 b5 in Softonic

Quick Media Converter 3.65-Convert videos into multiple formats

2009-01-18T09:00:00.005-08:00

Quick Media Converter is a flexible and comprehensive solution for converting video and audio with an eye on simplicity, usability and speed.

In fact, it is the speed of this particularly converter that impresses above everything else. It's incredibly fast at processing and converting files although it dies seem to be hit and miss in the final result. For example, some files you may find have not converted quite like they should have or are totally unreadable. It seems that sometimes, the speed is down to the fact that it's not quite processing files in the right way. The interface is very easy to read with all the logos of the possible conversion formats across the top - including FLV, Quicktime and RealMedia. This is sufficient for most users although if you need control over the specifics of the output file there are more options in the Expert Mode tab. From here, you can specify everything from resolution ratios to audio compression and codecs. The problems here arise however if you don't have the right codecs installed. If you try to convert to Xvid or vice versa without the right codecs, then the conversion will either refuse to run. Everything is easy enough to configure via drop down menus and tabs.

A powerful and speedy converter that works across multiple formats although don't be surprised if some of your conversions result in blank videos or unplayable files.

Download Quick Media Converter 3.65 in Softonic

Ubiquity 0.1.5-Control many web commands with a single line

2009-01-18T09:00:00.004-08:00

Have you ever seen those movie computers that could be controlled with single command
lines? Now you can make those fictional images come true with Ubiquity.

Ubiquity is an awesome Firefox add-on that opens a semi-transparent bar on top of your
screen every time you press its associated keyboard shortcut. From there you can run a
wide array of commands, from searching a selected text fragment in Wikipedia to checking
the weather on any city in the world.

The good thing about Ubiquity is that besides supporting quite a good amount of built-in
commands perfectly integrated with the browser, it also allows you to create new ones.
The command creation process though may be a little too difficult for non-techie users, as
it involves coding.

Ubiquity surprised us for its quick response, smart suggestions and nice interface. Taking
into account that this is only a prototype version, things can only get better.

Ubiquity lets you control a wide selection of commands and web tools with just a
single text of line.

Download Ubiquity 0.1.5 in Softonic

VirtualDub 1.8.8-Capture and process video before exporting to tape

2009-01-18T09:00:00.003-08:00

Download VirtualDub 1.8.8 in Softonic

AbiWord 2.6.6-Free and simple word processing program

2009-01-18T09:00:00.002-08:00

I've always used MS Word for my word processing needs but if you don't have Office installed, then it's not exactly a cheap option.

AbiWord can read and write all standard industry docs ranging from open source efforts such as those created in OpenOffice to those created in professional apps such as Microsoft Word. It also features support for WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages etc. Although the editing options can't compare with Word, I do like the fact that this is a very light word processor that doesn't take up much more processing power than even MS Text. This makes it especially suitable for those working on slower machines who haven't got a decent word processor installed. What's also nice is that AbiWord is fully customisable with several different plugins to extend its capabilities. These can vary from format converters, document importers and thesauruses to image importers and a text format managers.

This may be basic but it's generally a very impressive word processing app that has everything you need to edit simple documents.

Download AbiWord 2.6.6 in Softonic

SnagIt 9.1.0-The leader in screen capture

2009-01-18T09:00:00.001-08:00

There are a few utilities out there which can make your life so much easier, you wouldn't contemplate living without them. As someone who works on the web, I'm taking screenshots all the time and SnagIt is the only tool I'd use for this vital element of my job.

In its latest incarnation, SnagIt has added a lot of new features and a jazzed-up interface. While the old familiar 'big red button' remains, much of the UI (particularly in the Editor window) has been completely overhauled. Gone is the XP blue of previous versions, replaced with a Vista-friendly charcoal look which works pretty well.

The program's key features (taking and editing screenshots) remain pretty much unchanged. You still have a huge amount of power of just what type of screenshot you can take, with timers, cursor settings and profiles all still playing a major role. I was pleased to see that my profiles from the last version of SnagIt were kept as it would have been a real nuisance to have to re-program them.

The biggest improvements to this new version are certainly connected to the Editor window. For example: whereas previously, you had to take a capture, work on it, save it and then take your next one; now you can take as many screenshots as you like, using whichever profiles, and work on them all as you wish. This is a huge time-saver and a very welcome addition to the program.

Another feature that has been added is of less obvious use. SnagIt now supports meta-tagging and labeling of captured images. The idea behind this feature is that you start to use SnagIt to categorize your images as well as capture them. I can understand the thinking behind this addition but I'm not sure if it's really much more than feature-creep. I can't see myself changing my workflow to fit with SnagIt, nor do I want to lose the capability of moving image files around at will (if you use Windows Explorer to move tagged images, the tags and labels are lost).

SnagIt 9 represents a big step forward for a great utility. While some of the new functionality may not appeal, the most significant changes are major improvements to what was already a very good piece of software. Strongly recommended.

Download SnagIt 9.1.0 in Softonic

AbiWord Portable 2.6.6-All the power of AbiWord in your pocket

2009-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

I've always used MS Word for my word processing needs but if you don't have Office installed, then it's not exactly a cheap option.

AbiWord can read and write all standard industry docs ranging from open source efforts such as those created in OpenOffice to those created in professional apps such as Microsoft Word. This is the portable version which means you can put it on a USB stick and take it pretty much anywhere. It also features support for WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages etc. Although the editing options can't compare with Word, I do like the fact that this is a very light word processor that doesn't take up much more processing power than even MS Text. This makes it especially suitable for those working on slower machines who haven't got a decent word processor installed. What's also nice is that AbiWord is fully customisable with several different plugins to extend its capabilities. These can vary from format converters, document importers and thesauruses to image importers and a text format managers.

This may be basic but it's generally a very impressive word processing app that has everything you need to edit simple documents.

Download AbiWord Portable 2.6.6 in Softonic

BioniX Wallpaper 5.14.0 Lite-Automatic wallpaper rotation

2009-01-15T09:00:00.021-08:00

If you spend all day staring at your monitor, why not liven things up by changing your desktop sometimes? BioniX Wallpaper is an application that does this automatically, rotating through a playlist of your chosen images.

After installation, you might get a bit scared by the horrible interface. If you can live with that, BioniX Wallpaper is actually quite a functional application. Making a playlist of your images is simple - choose 'new playlist', then just drag in the images you'd like as your wallpaper. You can set the time for rotation, in seconds minutes or hours, and pressing play starts the program.

BioniX Wallpaper has the usual fit options like stretch or tile, although some more advanced features are locked in this version, and require you to purchase an upgrade. It unfortunately doesn't support multi-screen wallpapering, but for most people this is not a problem!

Despite the ugly design, BioniX Wallpaper is functional and easy to use. As wallpaper is such a popular download it has become a source of malware, so it's good to see BioniX Wallpaper is an honest and clean application.

BioniX Wallpaper is a simple and effective way to keep your desktop looking fresh.

Download BioniX Wallpaper 5.14.0 Lite in Softonic

SysTuner 3.1-Handy tweaker to configure and customize your system

2009-01-15T09:00:00.020-08:00

Windows has a hundred options you can configure to tailor it around your needs and taste. The only problem is knowing where to find them.

SysTuner makes things a bit easier for you by providing you with all those configuration and customization settings, organized classified under different categories, all under the same interface.

All tweaks are displayed on the left side of SysTuner's interface, in a tree-like structure. All you have to do is browse this structure and select the one you want to apply.

SysTuner includes a separate section with modules for specific tasks, though many of them are only available for Windows 95, 98 and Me, so I'm not sure if they're that useful anymore. Also, you'll find a Wizards section that's intended to make the program easier to use for the computer-challenged. However, the wizard's design should definitely be redesigned and made more usable.

With SysTuner you can easily find all those hidden configuration tweaks in Windows and customize your system in just a few clicks.

Download SysTuner 3.1 in Softonic

Witty 2.0.0.39082-A handy, fast desktop Twitter client

2009-01-15T09:00:00.019-08:00

I must admit I've become quite addicted to Twitter, so I'm constantly testing new apps for the service to see which one suits my needs.

Witty is one of those apps. This easy desktop client lets you follow all the updates from your Twitter contacts and send your own from a nicely-designed interface, which can be customized with skins. Updates are listed in a handy list with different color structures that make them easier to read. The program also has tabs to distinguish between replies, direct messages, your updates and the general Twitter timeline.

You can have Witty minimized to the System Tray and receive optional notifications on your desktop every time it updates the Twitter list. You can set the updating interval between one and thirty minutes. You can also use most of the program's functions with keyboard shortcuts, though there's no possibility to customize them.

I like Witty's appearance, but I think it misses some features. Besides not being able to customize shortcuts, the System Tray icon doesn't feature any functions either – except showing the interface or closing the program. It would be great to have the abilty to refresh the Twitter timeline or send a message from this icon's context menu. It also took me a few minutes to find the way to send messages: you have to click on "Update", at the bottom of the main window.

Despite some minor flaws, Witty is a visually-appealing desktop client for Twitter that makes twittering easier and even more addictive.

Download Witty 2.0.0.39082 in Softonic

ReminderFox 1.9.0-Displays and manages lists of date-based reminders and ToDos

2009-01-15T09:00:00.018-08:00

If you're not already using an organizer on your PC to help keep you abreast of your appointments then how do you do it?

For me, an organizer is essential to keep track of what's coming up and what I've got to do and the less time I have to spend away from my browser, the better. ReminderFox is a Firefox extension that displays and manages lists of date-based reminders and ToDo's and can help you improve productivity and of course, not miss important appointments!

However, ReminderFox is not a fully-fledged calendar system so don't expect to use it as a replacement for Google Calendar or Outlook. ReminderFox is mainly aimed at those that don't need so much organization help as reminding of when important dates are approaching.

ReminderFox is not a hugely complicated application and there's not a great deal to configure but it's a handy way of keeping on top of things without resorting to a bloated organizer or leaving Firefox.

Download ReminderFox 1.9.0 in Softonic

MediaWiki 1.13.3-Create your own Wiki community

2009-01-15T09:00:00.017-08:00

Wikipedia must surely be on of the greatest innovations on the internet since the advent of Google and YouTube in my opinion.

The secret of it's success was to harness the power of user general knowledge via an extremely easy to use and read interface - a wiki. MediaWiki is a small package which contains everything you need to create your own wiki on any subject you choose. MediaWiki is already being used by several other projects of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation including the MediaWiki developer site.

MediaWiki is basically a free server-based software which is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). If you're intent on creating a big or popular wiki don't worry - it's designed to be run on a large server farm for a website that gets millions of hits per day. MediaWiki uses PHP to process and display data stored in its MySQL database. However, it requires no SQL database knowledge on your part and pages use MediaWiki's wikitext format, so that users without knowledge of XHTML or CSS can edit them easily.

MediaWiki contains everything you need to get up and running with your own no matter how big or small your project.

Download MediaWiki 1.13.3 in Softonic

Synkron 1.5.0-Program and configure synchronizations in detail

2009-01-15T09:00:00.016-08:00

Synkron is a simple Qt application that allows you to sync folders, for example a flash disk, with a folder on your hard disk.

There are several key features of "Synkron" that make it a very useful synchronisation tool. Tabs allow you to have more than one synchronisation running at once and you can schedule
periodic synchronisations automatically which sync your folders at selected intervals. You can also restore files which were overwritten during the synchronisation process which is great if you make an area - a get out of jail free card. You can also add files and folders to a black list to make sure they won't be synchronised in the future which is useful if you keep making the same errors. I also like the fact that this is a completely Open Source application meaning it's available to everyone for free and customisable if you've got programming knowledge. The only problem you might have is synchronizing it if you have other transfers or huge programs running that can lag the process.

A great synchronisation tool that makes your portable life easier and best of all, it's totally free.

Download Synkron 1.5.0 in Softonic

Twhirl 0.8.6-An excellent Twitter client

2009-01-15T09:00:00.015-08:00

I recently opened a Twitter account and that has encouraged me to look for the best Twitter clients on the Web. Twhirl is probably one of them.

Before using Twhirl, you need to install Adobe AIR. Although this may seem an inconvenient requisite, it takes only a few minutes and also enables you to run other AIR-based applications. Just make sure it's the Beta 3 version.

Twhirl supports several Twitter accounts and is really comfortable to use. It sits on your system tray and can be set to periodically check new messages from your friends: as soon as they publish an update, you'll see a small notification window. The program displays a slick interface with customizable skins and text fonts. Twitters messages are easily identified by your friend's avatar and can be color-coded according to their type. Also, try hovering your mouse over each message's user avatar and you'll see an array of options: reply the message, send a direct message to its author, favor the tweet, etc.

Of course, Twitter is not only about reading, so you can also publish your own updates from Twhirl. A small button on the bottom bar toggles the input panel for you to write, which includes an automatic URL shortener. Simply write your message, press Enter and your Twitter account will be updated.

Twhirl is truly a must-have for all Twitter users. It's a fast, convenient and simple to use client which can be easily customized.

Download Twhirl 0.8.6 in Softonic

360desktop 0.7.0-Enjoy an endless panoramic desktop

2009-01-15T09:00:00.014-08:00

If you often run out of space on your desktop due to the amount of apps opened at the same time, maybe you should consider moving on to a panoramic desktop.

This is precisely what you can have with 360desktop: a full panoramic, 360º desktop where you can freely move around and which increases the available space by twice or three times.

Simply launch the program and you'll automatically see it action. To move along the panorama, simply drag the slider on the top right corner of your desktop and when you reach the end, you'll start on the other side again. This top menu also shows a thumbnailed view of the whole panoramic desktop, which comes in very handy to locate windows and apps. In any case, it would be much more comfortable if you could just grab the desktop with your mouse and drag it to the left or the right side.

I personally think 360desktop is a good idea to enlarge desktop space. On the downside, I didn't like the fact that you can't use your own wallpapers: you must stick to 360desktop compatible background images, which are quite scarce now, and there's no way to create your own wallpapers though apparently they're working on an authoring platform.

With 360desktop you can increase your desktop space a lot, but you have to give up on customization options like having your own wallpapers.

Download 360desktop 0.7.0 in Softonic

Comodo System Cleaner 1.0.60093.19-A complete cleaning and maintenance suite

2009-01-15T09:00:00.013-08:00

Comodo System Cleaner is the perfect cleaning and maintenance toolkit for those who like to have all the necessary system tools under a single, perfectly organized interface.

All the utilities included in Comodo System Cleaner are grouped into different tabs, according to their purpose: clean-up, tune-up, diagnostics, utilities and miscellaneous. This tabbed interface makes the program easier to use, though sometimes it forces you to browse through different levels until you find the exact tool you're looking for.

In Comodo System Cleaner you'll find a bit of everything from cleaning tools to junk erasing. You can wipe out computer usage traces or remove broken entries in the Windows Registry. The program has utilities that have been especially designed to hide folders, find duplicate files, encrypt documents, rename files, create a complete system report, do some benchmark testing to your computer, and analyze the way your hard drive space is distributed and much more.

Most of the tools included in Comodo System Cleaner have their own configuration options and work really well, but you'll also find that there are better third-party alternatives to some others.

Comodo System Cleaner is a complete maintenance suite that includes pretty much all the tools you need to keep your system in perfect shape, even if they're not as complete as standalone specific apps.

Download Comodo System Cleaner 1.0.60093.19 in Softonic

Tag Clinic 4.3.8.5-Tag editor/file renamer for MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MPC, & VQF files

2009-01-15T09:00:00.012-08:00

The idea behind Tag Clinic is simple; a program that will make editing or reformatting your MP3 tags a quick and painless experience. In truth though, what you get is an excellent solution that has been so packed with features that at times it is unnecessarily complex to use.

Although it’s far from bloated in terms of the strain it puts on your processor Tag Clinic loses points for the sheer quantity of options that are presented to the user on the main interface. The design of the interface does you no favors either and the glut of buttons littering the three-windowed menu only serves to confuse you.

Once you finally manage to find the directory containing your music you can begin to experience the powerful features of Tag Clinic. There is a huge number of options for interacting with tags, the most advanced of which must be the auto-extract feature, which will look at the file name and use any details from it to fill in the ID3 tag information for titles, artists, albums and tracks. Formatting the text is also a breeze with options to capitalize the first letters or eliminate any spaces from between words.

Although this is a program for editing tags, it seems to be incomplete because of the lack of an internal player and if you want to preview files you must open your default player. We would also like very much to see some kind of CDDB integration that would pull relevant information about albums from the internet repository.

With its direct editing of tag entries, Tag Clinic does offer a very efficient way to edit your music library’s details; However it could do with a major interface re-design and a few more MP3-relevant features to make the experience that bit more user- friendly.

Download Tag Clinic 4.3.8.5 in Softonic

Blubster 3.0.7-A fast and simple P2P music file sharing network

2009-01-15T09:00:00.011-08:00

Blubster claims to not only offer you the ability to find just about any Mp3 song out there, but it also offers you the possibility to find professional quality streaming files. Once your client program connects to a gateway, you can search and download Mp3 music files from the MANOLITO protocol community. The secret behind the huge amount of Mp3's is that it allows an unlimited number of peers to connect. You've also got the option of “voice chat” to get in touch with other music lovers with the same tastes which you can keep track of in a "Hot List".

The interface is clean and simple with clear buttons and a navigation toolbar on top which makes it very simple to access your shared folder, searches and file transfers. The media player is located at the bottom and you have full control of how your music sounds without much complexity. The download speeds are quite impressive too which again, is partly due to the large number of users connected at one time. Probably the coolest feature is the ability to post web links of your music files which can be sent by email to be shared via Blubster. A fresh new way to share Mp3's.

Download Blubster 3.0.7 in Softonic

Teeworlds 0.5.0-Excellent free Worms style game in 2D

2009-01-15T09:00:00.010-08:00

In terms of originality, Teeworlds scores top marks. if you combined Hello Kitty with Kirby's Dreamland and Quake III, then you'd get somewhere close to the concept.

You can choose from 17 character designs and fight against one or more persons in the different scenarios available through LAN or the Internet. The latest release also incorporates "fair" player spawning, the ability to kick players, and a very cute welcome screen to encourage players to set their names and favorite settings before playing their first game. The game has quite a few similarities to the Worms series of games, with the big exception that Teeworlds is played in real-time, while Worms is turn based.

The game is played using both mouse and keyboard - A/D moves your "Tee" left and right, W/spacebar makes it jump, and the mouse is used to aim and fire. Right-clicking launches a grappling hook, which can be used to move around the map quickly, and also grab other players. The game is so far free-for-all only, but a Capture the flag mode seems to be in the works. The problem comes if you try to set up your own server to play against a friend though - it's immensely complicated but there is an FAQ to help you through.

Fun, action packed and easy to play - if only Teeworlds was easier to play against others over the net, it would be even better.

Download Teeworlds 0.5.0 in Softonic