The Freeware Sharing Thread

GGiant · February 18, 2008, 12:52:10 AM

Is there anything got to recommend on fast downloaders?
I want to download UFO:AI but its 384.9mb according to Mozilla Firefox. <_<

zuludelta · February 21, 2008, 01:05:37 AM

To be honest, I don't trust any of the freeware "download accelerators" (high spyware/malware risk, embedded ads, non-compliance with other protocols) out there, and even the paid ones come off as a bit shady.

If I had to recommend one, though, it would probably be Orbit... I haven't heard much negative feedback on this one, certainly no reports of it insidiously installing additional software or generating pop-up ads like other download accelerators, but there are also reports of it not improving download speeds all that much.

randyripoff · February 21, 2008, 10:56:18 AM

You might look into the Down Them All extension for Firefox.

Sevenforce · March 01, 2008, 03:30:39 AM

MojoPac

A nifty little application I found a few days ago. It's basically a way to install a pseudo operating system on a USB stick. Currently installed on both a 4 gig and 8 gig USB stick, and am able to run a few of the Adobe apps, with a few games and all the programs for file formats that are a bit obscure on the 8 gig (4 gig is too small, really. Planning to install it on an external 80gig harddrive, but its too new to me to do that yet).

The free version is nice enough, and I'm wary of installing the Enterprise Suite, as I wonder how they'd get around such issues as copy protection of licenced software, and, especially in regards to software developers, software protection.

wingzero2525 · March 05, 2008, 11:12:46 AM

do you know if it can run 3D software like 3ds Max and Maya??? I'm sure it can run Blender since thats a small program.

zuludelta · May 10, 2008, 02:06:55 PM

Mp3DirectCut: As much as I love Audacity, there are a couple things that it can't do very well (without going through a couple of workarounds), chief among them the ability to work with music files encoded in mp3 format. Audacity needs to uncompress the sound data for editing, and then re-compresses the data for packaging into an mp3, which leads to all sorts of fidelity loss. Mp3DirectCut is a very small (the whole installation takes up 296 Kb, smaller than many Audacity plug-ins!) application that allows very basic, non-destructive editing of mp3 files.

Download Mp3DirectCut here

Kommando · May 26, 2008, 11:47:35 PM

FreeRAM XP Pro

Freeware application to free and optimize your computer's RAM (Random Access Memory), resulting in an increase in system performance and productivity. Automatically configures itself for ease of use and also features advanced options and customizability. FreeRAM XP Pro has been designed to be easy to use yet highly customizable by computer novices and experts alike.

Features and options include:
* Automatic, real-time memory monitoring and optimization
* Fast, threaded memory freeing with stop option
* AutoFree option intelligently optimizes RAM without sacrificing performance
* system metric and performance monitors
* Advanced tray support
* Memory reporting and diagnostic logging
* Simple, attractive interface
* RAM-cuts (RAM-freeing Windows shortcuts)
* Customizable Windows hotkey support
* Access to Windows memory-related tweaks that could enhance system performance (new in 1.50)
* Process memory usage reporting (new in 1.50)
* Unique memory compression technology directly reduces applications' "working set" memory requirements instantly and without swap file usage (new in 1.50)
* More options and customizability

zuludelta · May 28, 2008, 10:38:56 AM

VCDEasy: Most Windows computers already come with a bundled-in program that can author video CDs (VCDs) in a pinch, usually the promotional version of Nero Express or a similar application. However, these programs don't really offer much in the way of authoring options (unlike the full-featured versions that you can buy)... menu controls are limited, and there's no way to create chapters. VCDEasy has the ability to do those tasks and create commercial DVD-like menu interactivity. The program went from being freeware to a pay program back in 2004, but the last freeware version is still available for download.

Get the final freeware version of VCDEasy here.

zuludelta · May 30, 2008, 02:44:05 PM

Microsoft Calculator "browser": This is an old trick I picked up in university. You can actually use the "Help" function in Windows XP's free calculator (go to Start--> All Programs--> Accessories--> Calculator) as a browser. Pretty handy if you're at work or in school and the assigned user profile prevents you from using Firefox, Opera, or Internet Explorer from accessing the internet.

You're SOL if the PC is blocked in its entirety from accessing the internet, though, or if Internet Explorer is not installed on the machine or is inaccessible (the "Help" function uses the Internet Explorer renderer to access the web). You can also use this trick with any Windows application that has a "Help topics" function such as Wordpad, Notepad, or Windows Media Player, but it looks a lot cooler with the Calculator.

Here are screenshots on how to do it (I'm actually typing this post using the calculator's "Help" function):

1. Open Calculator (or Wordpad or Notepad):

2. Click on help and select "Help topics"

3. Right-click on the yellow question mark icon that appears on the top-left of the "Help Topics" window and select "Jump to URL"

4. Enter the URL you want to go to (remember to type "http://" before the address)

5. Surf when and where you're not supposed to

Podmark · August 14, 2008, 02:07:41 AM

Any one know any good free FTP uploading programs? Didn't see any above and the one I'm using has expired.

zuludelta · August 14, 2008, 02:57:03 AM

I've been using WS_FTP for almost half a decade now. The current version is for sale for $39.95 at the publisher's website but the older, freeware version of the application is still available at this site and it's perfectly useful for normal, everyday, personal FTP tasks.

Podmark · August 14, 2008, 11:39:46 AM

Quote from: zuludelta on August 14, 2008, 02:57:03 AM
I've been using WS_FTP for almost half a decade now. The current version is for sale for $39.95 at the publisher's website but the older, freeware version of the application is still available at this site and it's perfectly useful for normal, everyday, personal FTP tasks.

Thanks I'll try that out. Do you have a link for it?

Previsionary · August 14, 2008, 12:00:51 PM

I think the link was embedded in the post, Pod. Not sure. Also, as an alternative for a program you can use via firefox browser, I suggest fireftp. It's worked pretty good for the few times I've used it this year.

Kommando · August 14, 2008, 12:03:23 PM

Quote from: Podmark on August 14, 2008, 02:07:41 AM
Any one know any good free FTP uploading programs? Didn't see any above and the one I'm using has expired.

Try Core FTP. Its free and pretty much drag and drop.

Podmark · August 14, 2008, 12:05:09 PM

Quote from: Previsionary on August 14, 2008, 12:00:51 PM
I think the link was embedded in the post, Pod. Not sure. Also, as an alternative for a program you can use via firefox browser, I suggest fireftp. It's worked pretty good for the few times I've used it this year.

lol I totally missed it. Sorry Zulu.

Hmm might have to try a few, see which one I like.

randyripoff · August 14, 2008, 07:01:42 PM

I am shocked that no one has mentioned FileZilla yet.

ChazzDaMighty · October 26, 2008, 03:24:03 PM

Quote from: randyripoff on August 14, 2008, 07:01:42 PM
I am shocked that no one has mentioned FileZilla yet.

I was just about to mention Filezilla but I skimmed through the thread all the way to the end and wouldn't ya know...?

ChazzDaMighty · October 26, 2008, 03:33:55 PM

Get free writing application here: http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter4.html Beta version 5 is also available.

Just for fun get a free copy of Hal SpaceJock http://www.spacejock.com.au/Hal1Download.html
(Presumably used yWriter to write it)

And not a download but get directions for "The world's deadliest paper plane" on the same site here: http://www.spacejock.com.au/PaperPlane.html

thalaw2 · October 29, 2008, 05:51:22 AM

I will keep my silence no longer!

Avast is the best free virus scan out there. I've tried others and found myself going back to this one. It's the best of the best of the best, Sir! I used it for years but switched after buying a new laptop to another free program...after a couple of months I reinstalled it. Don't know why I ever bothered with anything else.

detourne_me · December 13, 2008, 05:05:35 AM

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned www.ccleaner.com yet.
It's an incredible little application that really cleans your computer. It will clear out your temp files, erase all of your cookies, and start menu shortcuts (recent docs etc.) Every computer or friends comp that i've installed it on has worked faster after the first clean.
Also included with it is a registry cleaner that goes through irregularities in your registry, like unused file extensions.
And especially helpful is an Uninstall programs function (replicates Windows Add/Remove) and a startup utility (replicates msconfig)
I find these really useful since i only use korean operating systems now (my pc, notebook, and computers at work)

Another good find is Gom Player The best video player ever. Think of VLC - that doesn't look like garbage. it's got a great looking and easy to use GUI and using the K-Lite Codec pack, i think its actually more versatile than VLC (it does dvds and .3gp files too). It also functions as a streaming TV too I think... i'm not too sure aboiut that feature
I've been using this program for a while now, it's originally Korean but there are English versions now, and just like winamp in the past, there is an active community making skins and themes for the player too.
http://www.gomlab.com/