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This electronic newsletter is registered – ISSN 1441-6840
Welcome to the ‘Completely FREE Software’ E-mail Newsletter.
The programs listed here are completely free for non-commercial use, even though some may be shareware or commercial products. None are time-limited and all are fully functional. If you know any that aren't exactly as specified, please let us know and they will be removed immediately.
If the link below does not work (does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid. Please use the CFS Site Search facility (above) to locate the program.
We remind our visitors that they can obtain almost all the newly listed software from this site on the Completely FREE Software “Master Freeware Collection” CD-ROMs plus get bonus software, and often free graphics, icons, fonts, etc.
COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
ABC Video Roll v2.5 – Win9x
ABC Video Roll is an easy-to-use video editor which can edit videos of weddings, vacations, graduations, parties, etc. The publisher tells us that it can mix two images, fade in/fade out, add text, music, graphics, and Hollywood-style special effects. With ABC Video Roll you can capture video from any VCR or camcorder (including digital camcorders), record your completed movie to your VCR, e-mail your movie, and stream your movie over the Internet. If that isn't enough, it offers support for all major video capture cards and also Apple QuickTime 4.0 plug-ins, effects, filters and transitions. It also supports QuickTime, Video for Windows, MOV, AVI, DV, WAV, BMP, GIF, TIFF, JPEG, etc and also various resolution and frame rate standards, including NTSC (USA broadcast) and PAL (European broadcast). Finally, it offers over 100 special effects and transitions. Not having a video capture card to really put this program through its paces, we could only note that the interface looked fairly clean, though the multiple windows it uses could cause some initial confusion for people used to single-window programs. When we set this program up we were a little bit dismayed by the messages we were getting on the screen. We were asked to grant certificates for some things which didn't sound really nice – gathering of system information (for what purpose???), so the program could make 'critical' changes to our system (what sort of changes, and how critical, were not explained), etc. Even the slightly paranoid would have been having a heart attack long before the program was fully loaded. Without any explanation from the publishers, we are left somewhat unsure whether to say that this is a fabulous program (as it seemed), or just a very intrusive one! To use this program you will need a video capture card, DirectX and Apple's QuickTime version 4.0. Access this 2.13MB download from: Win9x Multimedia Programs
DesktopShield 2000 v2000.01 – Win9x
DesktopShield 2000 is a great tool to secure your PC while when you are not using it by locking the desktop. It features a Windows' boot option so that the program can be set to lock your screen on system start (recommended), disable the function keys on boot-up (prevents use of F5 or F8), a screensaver, program quickstart, etc. We particular liked the locked-screen screensaver which automatically locks the screen if it is the default screensaver. Walk away from your computer having forgotten to lock your desktop and it will be automatically locked when the screensaver is normally activated. It offers a "virtual desktop" which blanks out the screen except for the warning notice (which slowly moves around the screen), or you can use it in conjunction with your favorite wallpaper. DesktopShield 2000 offers a number of excellent security features which can only be over-ridden by inserting a bootable floppy into the a:\ drive and booting off that. However, that will not allow someone to view your desktop through Windows. Definitely one of the best desktop security systems we have seen! Access this 3.63MB download from: Win9x Desktop Utilities
Kondor v1 – DOS (suitable Windows)
Kondor is an action tank game in which your goal is to destroy enemy Vehicles, Airplanes, Turrets, Migs and Enemy Bases through 12 unique levels. It is slightly clunky due to its DOS heritage though there is a special program supplied, called KONDOR-FAST.EXE, to assist if the game is running too slow or is too jerky. While we did find it a little jerky, it is extremely enjoyable and quite addictive once you get the feel of the controls. As all the keys are mapped separately, you will find that you can only use one of the Enter keys, which can be a right pain in the you-know-what if you are used to using the other one. There were no sounds available to us, even though it was mentioned in the options and we do have a genuine SoundBlaster card, but computer hardware can be flaky and you might find excellent sounds on your equipment. The graphics were quite good, in a DOS sort of way, and the animation a little jerky (as we mentioned above). Who cares! The game is fun and addictive, what more could you want? Access this 400kB download from: DOS General Games
NotePads+ v3.00 – Win9x
NotePads+ is a superb ASCII text editor (Windows NotePad replacement). It features a spell checker (US English included plus medical and legal terms), e-mail capabilities, unlimited filesize, mult-document window (MDI), search & replace, special characters, auto backup, etc. It is one of the most complete text editors we have seen! There is little to criticize about the editor because it is just so good and it does everything we consider important for any text editor – plus a few. The author's Website – and the information he supplied to us – indicated that there were seven languages for the spell checker, but the version we downloaded – marked as including all languages – only had US English, medical and legal terms. The main Webpage for the program said that extra languages were available as a separate download, but the download page said that all were included. Confusing. The biggest problem with NotePads+ isn't the program but the advertising. It uses Web3000 advertising which does not place a banner on the program's window but on your Web browser's window – two ads in fact, one top and one bottom. NotePads+ itself is fabulous. The highly intrusive advertising is not. Access this 3.69MB download from: Win9x Text Programs
JanSoft Indexer v2 – Win9x
JanSoft's Indexer is a terrific little program to auto-create a two-frame index to link-anchors in selected HTML pages. It can create a HTML-based list menu, a Java-based collapsible tree menu, or a JavaScript-based tree menu with custom colors. Because the program links to "anchors", care must be taken to ensure that they are named in such a way as to make them understandable to anyone viewing the site. CFS uses anchors on its pages so you can link directly to a program on a page (the #indexer32 section of the Web address below). Indexer creates a fabulous site map which uses frames to produce a site map/index on the left hand side of the page which can target specific sections of a Webpage. Neat. We tried the JavaScript version and was most impressed. It is highly configurable and can also be hand-coded afterwards to clean up any extraneous links (to a navigation bar, for example). You are limited only by your imagination. The program has an easy-to-use interface which is more practical than pretty. You only need to highlight the files you wish added, and then parse them by pressing F2 or using the menu. Once they are listed in the right hand window you can select the type of index you want – HTML, JavaScript or Java – and the correct pages will be auto-created for you. Simple. You also will need to check with the Helpfile to find out what files and directories you need to upload to your Website (there is an image directory with some good looking icons in it which is used by the JavaScript index). If you have a Website with more than a couple of pages on it you could find Indexer invaluable. Definitely worth getting! Access this 532kB download from: Win9x Internet Related
Alphatris v2.30 – Win9x
Alphatris is a fun Tetris-style word game in which players must create words (vertically and horizontally) by moving falling letters before the screen fills with unused letters. It is playable in English, French, Italian, and Spanish and the game features different point scoring depending if the letters which make up the word are a different color, etc. Multi-level, good choice of background music, high scores, bonus words, etc. An excellent variation on an old theme. With good graphics and animation, we were most impressed with Alphatris. This version is advertiser supported so you have to put up with banner ads to get it for free. Try this highly addictive game now. Access the 4.12MB download from: Win9x General Games
PowerDesk v4.0.8.0 – Win9x
PowerDesk is three file-tools in one. The main tool is a Windows Explorer replacement which offers single or dual pane file management windows, drivebar (like the Windows 3.1 File Manager), zip and unzip capabilities, destroy files, print directory trees, etc. The other tools are a powerful file finder and a dialog-box helper. It is such a far superior file manager to Windows Explorer that there is almost no comparison, yet it incorporates add-on Explorer shell extensions from other vendors (TreeSize, SwShell, "Open with NotePad", CopyName, etc) which most Explorer replacements do not. PowerDesk also offers a Norton Commander view or an Xtree Gold view for users more comfortable with those file managers. However, in default single pane layout it successfully combines the best of the original Windows File Manager with all the features found in Windows Explorer. It adds a great deal more functionality with launchbar buttons (start any program you like from the PowerDesk window by clicking on a button) and also with the drivebar (click on a drive button to view the contents of that drive). The more we looked at this program the more we found. Archiving tools are built-in so you can zip and unzip files, plus you can open/view ARC, ARJ, ARK, CAB, GZ, LZH/LHA, TAR, TAZ, TGZ, PAK, PWC, RAR, Z, and ZOO archives. There is even an option to display archives like directories with automatic viewing of their contents in the same way as you would view a directory. PowerDesk is so good we couldn't find anything to criticize. This is an absolutely "must have" program. Get it!!! Access this 1.10MB download from: Win9x Windows Extras
Player Piano v2.03 – Win9x
Player Piano allows you to turn your computer into an old-fashioned player-piano. Follow the bouncing cursor and singalong to 10 of the best-loved songs (lyrics included). These are: Amazing Grace; Auld Lang Syne; Aura Lee; Danny Boy; Drink To Me Only With Thy Eyes; Greensleeves; Down By The Old Mill Stream; Scarborough Fair; While Strolling Through The Park; and Swing Low Sweet Chariot. There are options for melody or harmony, and you can change the key the tune is played in. You can also peck out a tune with the mouse but songs are very hard to play properly and can't be saved anyway. If you love the old player-piano music, with Dad playing, and Mum and the kids standing around singing (definitely a pre-television memory) you will embrace this program. The author even offers piano rolls for sale too! Aaahhh, the days before Pokemon and the Power Rangers... Before you get too nostalgic for those pre-PC days, get a copy of Player Piano. Access this 1.22MB download from: Win9x Multimedia Programs
Rob Blanc I: Defender of the Universe – DOS (suitable for Windows)
The full title is really "Rob Blanc I: Better Days of a Defender of the Universe" which is a sci-fi adventure game with a Sierra-style interface (not unlike Space Quest 4 or King's Quest 5). You play a man selected by the secret rulers of everything to defend the universe and this is your first mission. The author says: "In this first chapter Rob must prove his worth by working out what happened to the Reman flagship Luminous which disappeared from radar a short time ago. Guide him through the deserted vessel and discover exactly what a horrible place the universe really is." From the same guy who wrote "Friday: Death to Arthur Yahtzee", and "Saturday: Arthur's Odyssey", Defender of the Universe is a totally fun way to kill some time as you rove around a spaceship. Like the other games he has written, there is a good element of humor in this game which keeps you playing long past bedtime. The interface and the graphics are typical DOS, but better than most and quite easy to use. We can only suggest that you grab this little game, and then annoy the author like crazy until the next part is written because once you've played chapter 1 you will want more! Access this 853kB download from: DOS General Games
Batil v1 – DOS
Batil is a great little utility add power to DOS batch files. It allows you to set environment variables, move the cursor, pause the computer for a number of seconds, make the PC speaker 'beep', and clear part of the screen (like the CLS command except selective). The syntax is simple: batil []. This is a neat little collection of DOS batch file tricks which will find a ready home with anyone creating these types of files. For all the power and convenience of Windows, there are some things which are still better done with a batch file. Access this 11kB download from: DOS Desktop Utilities
UPDATE
TypeItIn – a terrific tool to quickly fill out Web-based forms by clicking on buttons – has been updated to version 2.1 with a new, smaller download of 708kB. We have been advised that changes/new features include: run feature now no longer changes command to uppercase; pop up from tray now leaves focus on active application; type string edit window now has SpecialKeys list to simplify adding special keys; Caps Lock key status no longer affects typing; and improved savings of data file in case of a windows crash. Grab this latest version from: Win9x Internet Related
Infoman 2 – a small utility which displays system info in the top right hand corner of the screen – was updated on March 13, 2000 (there are no version numbers advertised for this program) with a new download size of 20kB (up from 17kB). This version addresses many of the problems we had with the original version – this one offers an optional desktray icon and there is an auto-hide feature where the window is hidden until the mouse pointer finds a one pixel wide strip (about 1 centimeter long) in the top right hand corner of the screen. This version also allows more startup switches to be utilized. We feel that it still lacks some control – like the window continually pops up when System resources go below 20%. This feature can't be turned off and nor can the default minimum be altered. This utility is certainly improved, though it still has some way to go to be a finished product. As before, there is no Helpfile with the program, help is only available from the author's Website. Access this latest version from: Win9x Desktop Utilities
BigFix – a system alert tool using 'Fixlets' to catch potential system errors or conflicts as soon as they arise (usually before the computer fails) – has been updated to version 1.2.1.0 with a new download size of 2.12MB. We have not been offered any information about this update. Access it from: Win9x Internet Related
DigiClock – a desktop 24-hour clock which shows a different face during four periods per day – has been updated to version 2.8 with a new, slightly larger download of 293kB. The new version features atomic clock synchronization (needs an Internet connection) plus: new instant options menu for quick access to common options; new options section for setting clock fontsize and position; double-click alarm icon to edit the alarm options; file browser now remembers four different sets of last used paths; no longer uses SSINI.DLL to handle DCPs, now done internally; etc. Go grab this new version from: Win9x Desktop Utilities
PCDJ PHAT – a jukebox player with dual MP3 digital mixing capabilities – has been updated to version 3.8 with a new, much larger download size of 2.59MB. The name has been changed from PC DJ to PCDJ PHAT. The author states: "this PHAT version features dual video players, a CD ripper and audio encoder, a digital music organizer, a mini-browser for music searching and full support for Internet radio broadcasts". Access this advertiser supported program from: Win9x Multimedia Programs
COMMENTS
We would like to thank the regular visitors to the CFS site who have told us their favorite freeware. If you have a favorite program which isn't listed on the CFS pages we invite you to share that information with everyone through this site and this newsletter. If you are an author of a freeware app (or would just like to suggest a program) and would like it listed on these pages, please fill in the Submit Software form.
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