WinMerge
Scratch
Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web. Scratch is designed to help young people (ages 8 and up) develop 21st century learning skills.
As they create Scratch projects, young people learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the process of design.
NotePad+++++
As suggested by its name, Notepad++ can also be regarded as a more complex text editor that comes with additional functions compared to the standard Notepad.
When installing, attention is required since it has numerous components that can be unchecked to reduce the disk space it occupies. Thus, the localization files and the themes can easily be skipped, but it is recommended to install all the plugins and auto-completion files to ensure a complete programming experience.
Notepad++ comes with a clean and simple interface without looking crowded despite its large array of functions, since they are grouped into appropriate menus with some of them being accessible from the context menu within the main window.
As mentioned, Notepad++ supports multiple programming languages and includes syntax highlighting for most of them. Plus, it can work with multiple documents at the same time, while remaining incredibly friendly with hardware resources.
When it comes to development, each menu is hefty enough to satisfy the needs of all programmers, whether they deal with editing, searching, encoding or running macros.
Through the use of plugins, the functionality of Notepad++ can be greatly enhanced, and one of the integrated ones brings FTP support while others are a spell checker or an ASCII to HEX and vice-versa converter. Extra functions can be added with third-party plugins so it's up to the user to choose the ones they prefer.
To wrap it up, developers or not, all Windows users are advised to give Notepad++ a try, even if it is only to get a taste of what a complex text editor looks and feels like.
Microsoft Silverlight
This particular technology, apart from being cross-platform, is applicable to both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. Silverlight brings more fluid interfaces and provides many features for developers, as it strives to help them as well in creating unique media experiences.
The plugin greatly improves video quality and the playback performance is also turned up a notch. Animations are smoother than those presented in similar technologies and interaction plays a more important role in both developing and watching Silverlight content.
Among the most visible transformations can be noted 'Deep Zoom'. This feature is used with high-resolution imagery and it provides notably smooth and fast zoom to minimize loading times and stress on system apps and resources.
Another innovation present in Silverlight is called 'Perspective 3D Graphics'. It is meant to allow developers add content to three-dimensional plane. The users who view that content can, in turn, scale or rotate it as they wish.
For developers, this technology comes with many visual improvements that can be used in their applications. Among those, 'Pixel Shader' and 'Skinning and Styling' bring effects for animations and graphical content, as well as the ability to use those graphics to create personalized controls.
All in all, Microsoft Silverlight is definitely a step forward, as it provides innovations for both content creators and beholders. The content build using this tool is interactive and engaging as well and, as the support for Silverlight expands, it's a good idea to have it installed on your system.
Python
This programming language is the backbone of many applications developed for academic or commercial purposes. It includes a large library that includes predefined tools that can be used by the developers.
The interpreter is the tool that allows you to write code, to define variables and to execute code. The main advantage of the program is the simplicity of the syntax that aims to help you write code in a more natural way. This greatly improves the code readability and significantly reduces the debugging time.
The code written in Python can be edited and tested multiple times by running it in the interpreter. Unlike other languages, it does not compel you to edit the code outside the execution environment. You can simply make the changes using the interpreter.
As an object-oriented programming language, Python uses data structures by storing data outside the main program. This location is not accessible by the program and the data can be retrieved by using a function written especially for this purpose.
Due to its clear syntax, Python can be learned easily by any computer user. If you are just beginning to learn about programming, the developer's website provides you with multiple tutorials and resources.
Overall, the Python programming language represents a good solution for the users that want to create applications by using an object-oriented approach.
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Adobe AIR
With regard to the business benefits, Adobe AIR offers an exciting new way to engage customers with innovative, branded desktop applications, without requiring changes to existing technology, people, or processes.
This cross-operating system runtime renders the applications more fun, powerful and easy to use.
Virtual Box Creator
3D Virtual Box Creator is a small tool that helps you create virtual boxes.
Here are some key features of "3D Virtual Box Creator":
· Realtime 3D Box shot generator.
· Create goodlooking 3D virtual covers fast and easy!
· Easy-to-use interface.
· 6 different virtual covers to select.
· Save screenshot as JPG or BMP file.
XNA FrameWork
The libraries provided in the XNA Framework are designed for game development and are based on .NET Framework. They include classes, interfaces and value types that constitute the basis of every application or component developed with XNA Game Studio.
The goal of the library is to make the tasks of a game developer easier by providing a set of predefined tools and classes. This allows the user to learn faster and to spend less time for creating a window or enumerating graphic adapters. It can enable the developer to focus on writing the code for the game.
The framework intends to help developers create games for multiple platforms such as Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox 360. It includes a set of APIs that makes it easier to create an Xbox 360 version of a game developed for Windows.
The APIs are normalized across the platforms and allow you to avoid many of the compiling bugs encountered when porting a game. For instance, the Storage API allows you to save and access data in the same way on both platforms.
Overall, the XNA Framework Redistributable is a useful tool both for professional game designers and especially for beginners. Using this set of APIs allows them to invest more time in the content of the game instead of dealing with compatibility issues.
PuTTY
One thing you must make sure of is that you can enjoy PuTTY within the legal boundaries of your country as it may interfere with both domestic and international cryptography laws such as China, Singapore, Vietnam, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tunisia or Belarus.
PuTTY starts up revealing its comprehensive configuration panel to aid you customize and manage sessions and connections alongside the terminal and the window that wraps it in. You can easily opt for the connection type (Raw, Telnet, Rlogin, SSH and Serial) and set logging options for the currently selected session.
The Terminal section refers to various general settings as well as line discipline and remote-controlled printing. You may also set keyboard actions, alarms and advanced terminal features, while tweaking the appearance, behavior, translation or colors of the window. The Connection area allows customization of Low-level TCP connections, Internet protocol version, Login and Terminal details, Environment variables, Proxy type and other protocol-specific adjustments.
Once the connection is set up, you can control and use the resources of the computer that you linked to in a matter of seconds. PuTTY stores the hosts and their corresponding settings in order to facilitate fast yet accurate switches between machines and even supports most of the encryption algorithms such as AES, DES, Blowfish, 3DES or Arcfour.
PuTTY grants you control using the SSH encryption key and the protocol version, while providing SCP and SFTP clients accessible through command-line. It also supports X11 forwarding in addition to local, remote or dynamic port forwarding, the IPv6 protocol and authentication using public-keys.
The bottom line presents PuTTY as a vital application for experienced users in need of a sturdy yet fully-customizable environment for their PC-to-PC secure connections. Its wide-ranging array of supported protocols together with its execution speed make it worthy of its top spot within Softpedia’s Telnet/SSH Clients category.
RealPlayer
RealPlayer is the ultimate media player for users how love downloading and watching videos. The new RealPlayer is the best way to find all the hottest and most user-relevant video content on the web, and the ideal tool for the consumer who wants web video entertainment, but doesn't want to sift through thousands of videos to find it. You won't be discovering the latest video craze from a morning news show three days after it goes viral. You'll be the ones in the know, the ones sharing the video that's just about to go viral.
Users can browse videos based on channels like sports, entertainment and news, or just keep their eyes glued to the "New and Popular" section if they want to see the most popular trending videos and stay a step ahead of their friends. Best of all, once users find the videos they love, they can use the great tools and utilities already within RealPlayer to download, convert, bookmark for later or share them with friends.
WinZip
WinZip goes beyond basic archive handling capabilities and bundles features for encryption, backup and sharing. In addition, the ribbon-based interface is extremely user-friendly and offers quick access to the program’s functions.
WinZip’s installation process requires user intervention a few times to configure options for the explorer context menu or to choose where the shortcuts should be placed. You are also offered a desktop gadget, but you can uncheck its deployment.
The purpose of the application is a two-way street. On one hand, it can compress large files into small archives and on the other hand, it is able to extract files from compressed packages. Both operations are performed at impressive speed, to say the least.
Files can be added the old, traditional way, but drag and drop is also supported. WinZip gets your archives ready for file sharing, allowing you to quickly attach them in emails, upload to FTPs or share on Facebook.
Although it gained popularity for compression features, the application also provides the possibility to backup your documents and prevents data loss. What’s more, you can also schedule backups to be performed at a later time.
Other capabilities include archive encryption (via the AES algorithm), diagnostics (checks whether archives are corrupt) and a computer performance scan utility.
All in all, WinZip carries out a very important task: that of getting content ready for operations that require a certain file size. It provides a user-friendly environment and is bundled with a rich pack of features that recommend it. Also, the compression/decompression speed is a huge plus.
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TuneUp Utilities 2013
Installing TuneUp Utilities can take a while especially if Custom mode is selected, as it guides users through the whole process thus allowing them to choose the elements that need to be installed. Within a few minutes, one can get a correctly configured utility ready to keep the computer fully functional.
The interface is both well organized and user-friendly, which enables users to explore all the tabs with ease, especially since TuneUp Utilities is a complex application with tons of features and numerous tools for optimizing the computer. Each function is presented in a very pleasant and intuitive way.
All major tools are grouped into tabs, while the Settings menu can be easily accessed from the top of the interface. Along with the optimization features, developers have also included a Windows Customization option so, besides cleaning the registry, removing broken shortcuts or accelerating the system shutdown, the user can also change the logon screen, the visual style or modify animations and effects.
For beginner users, the 1-Click Maintenance function comes in handy, yet care is still recommended. Not only can they can do something wrong, but also TuneUp must be correctly configured to generate the best results, therefore it is the experts who can appreciate the true value of the software.
To sum it up, TuneUp Utilities is, without any doubt, one of the best apps in this category, so paying a reasonable fee for keeping one's computer in shape and run it at maximum speed might turn out to be a good trade.
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is an intuitive utility that enables users to remotely connect to a computer, view its desktop and operate it as if it was their own. Furthermore, these functions are not limited to professionals alone, as the user-friendly interface also allows beginners to use it, even if they have not tested a remote utility before.
Basically, in order to use TeamViewer, the app needs to be installed on both of the computers involved in the connection, and each of them get a unique ID and password. Whenever a user wants to gain control of the other computer, they need to input the corresponding ID and password, and they are connected.
In other words, one can set up a remote controller, start a file transfer, or access a VPN, with anyone in the world.
Another use for TeamViewer is setting up a presentation, that can be accessed be multiple users simultaneously, while granting them "read-only" privileges, so they cannot control anything on the host desktop.
Moreover, TeamViewer enables users to create a list of computers to automatically control remotely , manage them, and even exchange instant messages.
It should be noted that the speed and performance of the connection depend on the characteristics of the host computer, i.e. the faster the PC, the more stable the remote connection. Also, it is best to stop all the unnecessary applications in order to allow TeamViewer to use as much RAM as it requires.
To sum it up, TeamViewer comes in very handy when a remote connection is needed, especially considering that it comes without any charge.
7-Zip
Installing it is a simple procedure and it all takes only a few seconds since you have to deal with such a light package. The interface is the same as the ones we’ve seen in other compression tools, but 7-Zip also includes a powerful file manager, so browsing the files stored in archives is really simple.
The tool supports most archive formats out there, including RAR, ZIP, TAR, GZ, LZH, LZA, ARJ and ISO, but it also comes with its very own extension, namely 7z.
You will be amazed by how fast 7-Zip compressed and decompresses files and the fact that it automatically places a bunch of options in the Windows context menu makes the whole thing a lot easier, while also saving a lot of time when it comes to managing archives. Those who do not like to have a cluttered Windows context menu can easily remove the 7-zip related items whenever they please.
As expected, compression is a smooth operation and in case you really want to save some space on your hard drives, 7-Zip might come in very handy. Just right click the files you want to compress, select the function you need and you’re ready to go.
A feature not typically encountered in file compressors is the checkum calculator, meant to help you verify the integrity of any downloaded package. The Benchmark function also comes in handy when you want to test the performance of your computer.
All in all, 7-Zip is the compression tool that you need to install if you are not willing to pay for a license for one the other similar apps on the market. It is freeware and works with so many formats that it you are bound to be satisfied with it.
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DAEMON Tools Lite
DAEMON Tools works with the most popular formats, including ccd (CloneCD), bwt (Blindwrite), mds (Media Descriptor File), cdi (Discjuggler), nrg (Nero), pdi (Instant CD/DVD), b5t (BlindWrite 5), cue/bin, iso and isz. On the other hand, those of you who wish to mount image files created by Ultra ISO, Magic ISO and Power ISO won't be able to use DAEMON Tools Lite.
The application sits quietly in the System Tray, allowing you to quickly change settings and load disc image files without launching the main window.
In case you need to create disc images, DAEMON Tools Lite allows you to generate iso, mds, mdf as well as mdx files and thus keep the contents of Blu-ray discs, DVDs or simple CDs.
This utility can create up to 4 virtual drives and this should be enough for the average user. In addition, the program works with most CD and DVD Rom drives and has the ability to load almost any image, no matter its protection, be it Securom, Safedisc or Laselock.
DAEMON Tools Lite is a software solution that will impress you, especially thanks to its advanced features that can deal with virtually all image formats on the market.
As a conclusion, DAEMON Tools Lite is a great alternative to paid software. Its ease of use and accessibility make it a decent CD/DVD drive emulation program.
iLivid Download Manager
Only with iLivid Download Manager you can instantly watch video files from One-Click file sharing hosts like FileServe.com, Megaupload.com, Hotfile.com & many more, without waiting until the download completes. ilivid not only supports users with a premium account but also users who don't pay.
WinRAR
The complex compression algorithm it uses creates small archives, saving disk space and enabling faster file sharing. Audio and graphics files benefit from a special archiving algorithm, one that doesn’t make a compromise on quality. It includes Windows Explorer shortcuts for easy access and supports drag and drop as well.
WinRAR also provides possibilities to split archives into several volumes; this way, a large archive is divided into other smaller ones, which makes the perfect way to share huge files.
In case you wish to secure your files, you can always protect your data with a password, while the 'Repair' function comes in handy whenever you try to fix a broken archive.
Besides the fact that it does a great job when it comes to compressing files, WinRAR also integrates dedicated features that allow you to manipulate archives with a single click. You can backup the files you're about to compress, you can test the archived files and you can even perform virus scans before decompressing, without putting the data stored on your computer at risk.
During our tests, the compression and decompression process worked amazingly fast, and that should happen in your case too, at least if your computer is able to handle the task. The only problems you could experience are strictly related to hardware resources, as working with 3 or 4 archives at the same time could be a bit overwhelming for slower computers.
All in all, WinRAR remains the industry-standard in the compression category. It allows you to handle the most popular compression formats using a single interface and at very high speeds provided by the complex engine hidden under the hood.
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Internet Download Manager ( Registered )
Internet Download Manager's interface is clean and well-organized, with large, stylish buttons that facilitate the management of the files in process. It is a great organizer too, as every single download can be moved into a different folder, depending on its type. Plus, it has a rich settings menu where you can change the way the program handles certain file formats or the default download locations.
We tried the quick update function too, which worked like a breeze and basically updated the application with just a single click. It all came down to choosing whether to update or not, and the whole job was done by the integrated updater that automatically downloaded the new files and installed them on the computer.
The application encases all the features specific to a decent download manager, including drag and drop support, a task scheduler, virus protection, queue processor, HTTPS support, progressive downloading with quotas, command line parameters, sounds, ZIP preview and proxy servers.
The tests revealed that the CPU and memory footprint is minimal, but this also depends on the download speed and the overall size of the file.
Internet Download Manager is a must have application for many users out there. It will prove itself essential for users who download large files on a regular basis.
CCleaner
CCleaner features a clean, professional-looking interface split into four areas: Cleaner, Registry, Tools and Options. Aside from the last one, which deals with application settings, each of the other three perform different jobs in various areas of your machine.
The Cleaner section is also divided into two panels: the first one, named Windows, serves for cleaning unnecessary system files (from Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, Recycle Bin, Cache, Memory, etc), while the second one focuses on removing leftovers from third-party software that was or still is installed on your computer.
The Registry module concentrates on repairing issues found in the Windows Registry. After a quick scan, it displays obsolete entries and allows you to fix them, offering to perform backups each time you do it. Usually, it takes more than a scan to identify all of the orphaned items, so you must repeat the operation a few times to make sure that all the issues are detected and eliminated.
Extra functionality is offered by the Tools section. It includes an uninstall manager (lists and allows you to remove installed software), a startup utility (deals with the items that load at startup - boot times can be significantly improved from this panel), a system restore feature (allows you to manage all system restore points) and a drive wiper (securely erases the contents of drives).
Other tweaks can be performed by accessing the Options panel. Here you can build a list of cookies you wish to keep, as well as set various inclusions / exclusions for the scanning process.
To sum up, CCleaner is able to clean your computer of junk files, unused entries from browsers, system files and third-party software. It keeps your computer fit and saves you the time you would spend uncluttering it manually.
Nokia Pc Suite
The tool is supposed to provide some new functions to those who purchased a Nokia phone, including editing, backing up and synchronizing the files. Nokia PC Suite pretty much does that, as it is an easy to use application with a very pleasant and intuitive interface you should become accustomed with in a matter of minutes.
All functions can be accessed from the main interface, as soon as the phone is successfully connected to the computer. There are four connectivity options available: Bluetooth, infrared, serial cable (CA-42) and USB cable, with the last one being the fastest.
At times, some connection problems may occur while trying to pair the mobile phone and the computer. Also file transfer or other functions of the application could become unavailable. If this occurs, your should disconnect the devices and try to establish a new connection.
The messaging function of Nokia PC Suite comes in quite handy since it allows you to write an SMS message on you computer and send it to someone in the address book. However, note that the message is not automatically transferred to the phone's “Sent” menu.
The synchronization and backup features enable you to keep the important content stored on your Nokia phone safe and ready for a quick restore. You can sync notes, contacts and calendar and thus keep them up to date on both computer and mobile device.
Another very useful function you will find in Nokia PC Suite is the video viewing and conversion. You can use it to turn any movie into the video format supported by your Nokia phone.
Bundling a lot of powerful functions that allow you to effortlessly control and manage the content on your mobile phone, Nokia PC Suite offers a pleasant experience overall.
Mozilla ThunderBird
The installation process is easy-to-follow, it only requires you to press a few ‘Next’ buttons, after which you can get started on managing your email identities.
Thunderbird sports a modern, yet user-friendly interface that concentrates all of the software’s functions in a few menus. Popular features such as writing a new email, chatting or search are made available from a quick access toolbar.
Managing email accounts with Thunderbird is really easy. You can open emails in new tabs, you can use labels to mark important messages and you can read news without ever leaving its interface.
In terms of security, Thunderbird is no less disappointing. The Junk email filters blocks dangerous content, while the anti-phishing feature prevents your passwords and data from being stolen. Thunderbird’s security engine also includes digital signatures, certificates and encryption.
The chat feature allows you to communicate with your friends in an easy and comfortable manner (it supports XMPP, IRC and Twitter). You can add new contacts, join a chat room and customize your status.
The last, but not the least of Thunderbird’s many advantages is that it’s highly customizable. New features can be added via extensions, just like in Firefox’s case. The overall look and feel can also be changed by using themes or skins.
In conclusion, Thunderbird gets a thumbs-up from us. It allows you to manage multiple email identities, it can be used to chat and to read news and it can be adjusted to your needs with the help of addons.
Nokia Suite
Nokia Suite attempts to connect to your mobile phone using the USB cable, but for out tests, we chose the other option, via Bluetooth. If you want to try this method as well, note that it implies reduced transfer speeds. It is, nonetheless, great for mobility since it involves no cables or similar peripherals.
This is definitely a good looking product that comes with a modern and very user friendly interface that allows you to browse its features in a very easy way. However, this fancy looking GUI is one of the reasons for which the application is not at all light on hardware requirements, as it really tends to eat up system resources.
The Nokia Suite includes most features you need to manage files on your mobile phone, including messaging functions to send and receive messages while the device is connected to the computer. Plus, you can sync music, photos and contacts in the same manner iTunes does with iOS devices.
Overall, the feature pack is solid and the list of supported phones quite comprehensive so if your system meets the requirements to comfortably accommodate the software and allow it to run smoothly, Nokia Suite is surely worth a try.
NimBuzz
To aggregate all those accounts and use a single interface for all the services you can try a tool like Nimbuzz. This application it is not only able to handle multiple messenger accounts at the same time, but it can also provide calls to mobile phones straight from your computer.
When it comes to the GUI, Nimbuzz is pretty user friendly, with all the features easily accessible. Also, setting up an account takes only a couple of moments, while getting used to its look is just a matter of minutes.
The contact list is similar to the ones seen in so many other instant messengers out there, so you can add new friends, open a conversation tab or set a status message. Nimbuzz also enables you to quickly send files to your chat buddies or start a video call directly from the main window of the application.
Just as expected, the settings menu is very rich, but this is a plus because Nimbuzz enables users to configure audio and video settings in detail. If you want to keep track of all conversations, simply activate the chat history.
Overall, Nimbuzz is one of the best multi-protocol software solutions out there as it provides a single interface for all instant messengers you have installed onto your computer. Also, the phone calling ability is a definitely an asset that can make this application a keeper.
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