Free stuff rocks!

Just thought I'd share some of my favorite (and completely FREE) programs.

1. Paint.NET
   
   This is an awesome program for those of us who cant afford (or refuse to pay so much for) Adobe Photoshop. It offers almost all the features, without the $$. Only downside is it only runs on Windows (but who really uses the other garbage anyway?)
   




2. Glary Utilities
   
   This program will keep your computer running quickly and helps you get rid of the garbage that accumulates over time. Well worth installing and running every few weeks.
   




3. JkDefrag
   
   This is a replacement for the built-in windows disc defragmenter. It runs pretty quick, but the best feature is that it can be set up as a screen saver. Whenever your computer goes to screen saver, this will optimize your disc storage location to help your computer run faster.
   
   
   Just for everyone's information, screen savers are actually just for show now-a-day, since LCD and CRT monitors do not get damaged if they have the same thing showing for days. The best option is to set your computer to turn off your monitor after like an hour or so.




4. The Host File
   
   Ok, so this isn't technically a program, but it is still awesome. There are instructions on the site how to install this. All it does, is trick your computer into redirection any ads/spyware/trackers to think that your computer is the computer they are trying to talk to over the internet. That way, they cant load any advertisements on websites, cant spy on you, and web sites will load faster since they dont have to travel across the internet to find the page with the real ads.
   




5. Free Download Manager
   
   Ever had an internet connection that should be 500 Kb, but downloads at like 40 Kb? This fixes that problem. It takes a little getting used to, but it really does increase the speeds of downloads. It also allows download resuming, in case you get disconnected or something




6. 7 Zip
   
   A program that will increase the extraction of zip files. It also simplifies the compression of your files into a zip (just right click and say add to zip file).




7. Peer Guardian 2
   
   Ever afraid the government is watching you, or that you are being targeted by a media company for downloading? Maybe you just don't want spyware and hostile sites to be able find your computer online. This program keeps a massive list of such ip addresses and prevents them from seeing you. The only downside is that it is very tricky to get working on vista sometimes.




8. Synergy
   
   This is a program specifically for those of us that have two computers next to each other, but hate having to use two keyboards and mouses (or mice, dunno in this case). It allows you to share your keyboard and mouse across multiple computers (and multiple O.S., like from windows to mac to linux)




9. Poddox
   This is the best program (that I've found for free anyway) to get the music and video FROM your iPod TO your computer. No more lost music for me :)




10. AVG anti-virus
    This is a nice free anti-virus program. Most of you probably already use this, but I figured I'd include it anyway.




11. Daemon Tools
    This is a tricky one. If you get it, make sure to de-check the adware that is included with it. If you do, then it is a good program for emulating cds and dvds. You just use a program like Alcohol 120% to get the cd to your computer or dvd decryptor for dvds. It makes a fake drive on your computer (so you take the image your burned and 'mount' it to the fake cd drive, then your programs think you always have the cd in, so no more cd swaping)

That's All I can think of right now. I'll post any others if I remember them

Gordon Tucker
Lead Developer
Avante Web Design