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This electronic newsletter is registered – ISSN 1441-6840
Welcome to the CFS Weekly 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(does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid.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.
COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
INTERSHIP v1.00 – Win9x/ME
INTERSHIP is a real-time ship battle simulation which blends a combination of strategy, deductive logic, quick reactions, and luck into a unique implementation of an old favorite. The author says: "It's you against sophisticated computer AI in real time, no more waiting for the other side to make a move. You launch your arsenal of ship-to-ship rockets [as] quickly as possible. Attack your enemy swiftly and without mercy, or be defeated." Both you and the enemy receive 15 ships and 100 Dreadlock ship-to-ship rockets as you battle it out in real time. There are 3 levels of AI (artificial intelligence) which are combined with good graphics and excellent sound effects. The game has that addictive quality which brings you back time after time. The instructions are well written and fun to read, though a summary of controls and functions would be of help (specially if it was printable). Overall INTERSHIP is a highly impressive game which many people will enjoy. Grab it! Access this 2.61MB download from: Win9x General Games
Tiny Personal Firewall v2.0.15 – Win9x/ME
Tiny Personal Firewall protects any computer connected to a network (including the Internet) against hackers, trojans, etc. It features full stealth-protection (your PC is invisible to the network), extremely small size, uses less than 1% of system resources, and more. This is a must have tool for everyone connected to the Internet. In the past it was only necessary for computers with static IP addresses (ie, they were permanently connected to the Internet) but today a computer's ports can be probed many times within an hour and trojans can be introduced unless a computer os properly protected. We checked this firewall with GRC's Shields Up on-line testing tools and it passed all tests 100% (not all firewalls can do this!) which is amazing because it is not only, as its name suggests, tiny, but it uses less than 1% of valuable system resources (so low we could not measure its resource usage!). When loaded it integrates into the registry and automatically loads with Windows, a feature which we do not like (we prefer to be given the option) but this little baby works so well we were extremely impressed. After testing Tiny Personal Firewall we could not imagine why any non-commercial user would bother with any other firewall! What are you waiting for? Grab yourself a copy now while this free version is still available. Please note that later versions are not free. Access this 1.35MB download from: Win9x Internet Related
SKMP3 v2.0 – Win9x/ME
SKMP3 is a skinnable, compact MP3 player (with playlist) which includes a CD to MP3 or WAV ripper and an MP3 Internet search tool. It features variable speed play (slow, normal & fast), and more. Offering an excellent selection of controls, SKMP3 is one of the few low resource-using MP3 players (it uses about 4% compared with 15% or more for most others) though we were a little disappointed because the program has a beta feel. For example, the CD ripper worked once only and then required a system reboot to rip a second CD. Most strange! We were also not as impressed with some of the basic functions – instead of the Windows standard Ctrl-A to highlight all of the files in a list this program uses Ctrl-T, and then you must "Open" your selection (which can be done with Ctrl-O) though once you have made your selection it doesn't close the file browsing window. These sorts of niggling problems spoilt what is basically an excellent MP3 player. While we might seem to be overly critical of SKMP3, unlike many other players this one is worthwhile having those rough edges fixed to make it into a really useful tool and not just a pretty toy. While a little quirky, SKMP3 is definitely worth a look. Access this 664kB download from: Win9x Multimedia Programs
Print DeskTop v1.05 – Win9x/ME
Print DeskTop automatically sends a copy of the monitor screen (the Windows desktop) to the default printer without having to copy the screen to the Clipboard first. This is an easy utility to use. It integrates itself into the Start button menu and, to send a copy of the screen to the printer, simply click on that Start button link and the process is carried out immediately. Print DeskTop can also be setup to run from a hotkey. The quality printed is excellent (well, as good as your printer settings) and the process is simplicity itself. Handy to grab a hard copy of a Web page, a directory listing, nice graphics, etc Print DeskTop is worth having around. Access this 772kB download from: Win9x Desktop Utilities
Brain Twister v5.0 – Win9x/ME
Brain Twister is a maths-based puzzle where you select from 36 randomly created numbers, to find the sum of two of them equaling a third, to remove all 3 numbers from the list. It features 3 levels of difficulty, choice of background image, etc. While it sounds a little complicated, this is really an easy puzzle to play, but a hard one to solve. Pick a number (we suggest you start with the highest numbers) and then match two other numbers which equal that first number (ie selecting 256, you might match 199 and 57, assuming those were numbers available). The game offers a wide variety of options and, while it is not presented in a standard Windows format, it is still quite easy to use. Brain Twister requires a screen resolution of 800 x 600, though you can play it in larger resolutions. There is quite good help in the game but once you have started to play Brain Twister you shouldn't need it. If your mental arithmetic is not brilliant you might feel having a calculator handy is worthwhile, specially when you first start to play. Hopefully, after a while your mental arithmetic will improve and you won't need the calculator. We enjoyed playing Brain Twister. Give it a try, we think that you'll enjoy it too! Access this 624kB download from: Win9x General Games
Storematic v1.1 Beta – Win9x/ME
Storematic is a stores-based accounting package which includes a text editor. It features up to 10,000 entries, password protection, suitable for different currencies, and more. This is a handy tool if you with to control a stores' inventory, with ordering control and more. While this program is not hard to use, it lacks the basic Windows look 'n feel which might make it more awkward for users. However, it really is quite simple to use once the clunky interface is penetrated. We would have liked to have seen a nicer looking front end (not hard to do with Windows) and possibly one that more closely followed Windows conventions. The more a program follows a standard layout is the easier it is to a novice user to switch from one program to another without having to learn a new interface for each program. If you are running a small business you could find Storematic handy to have around. Access this 445kB download from: Win9x General Programs
Pawbrowse v1.0 beta – Win9x/ME
Pawbrowse is an advanced image viewer, browser & manager which reads over 12 file formats (GIF, JPG, BMP, EMF, TIF, PNG, PIC, PGM, PCX, WMF, TGA, ICO & CUR) and writes to either BMP or JPG. It features excellent image manipulation, file management, screen capture, you can set an image as desktop wallpaper, scroll through images, it has favorites, and more. This is a good image viewer which, unfortunately, cannot display the animation in GIF files. Though it lacks a slideshow (of dubious value as far as we are concerned anyway), it offers an excellent selection of image manipulation filters so you can add quite a few effects to your images – as long as you are prepared to save them as either BMP or JPG files. It includes a detachable (and removable) file browsing window or you can open up the program so that it runs full screen. Image viewers are handy tools and it is worthwhile checking out Pawbrowse to see if it is exactly what you want. We liked the program overall but were disappointed in the lack of support for animated GIFs. Access this 1.18MB download from: Win9x Graphic Programs
MultiError Pro v1.05 – Win9x/ME
MultiError Pro is a message manager utility for making and managing every kind of message, like reminders, fake errors, etc. It can even launch programs. It features 5 message styles, 6 combinations of buttons, message preview, button action tool, set time/date for message to appear, and more. While it is easy to label this utility merely a toy for producing humorous error messages – which it does very well – it is also a functional tool which can be used as a reminder for events & appointments, and also for launching programs or scripts (BAT files, etc). In fact, it could even be used quite maliciously by linking the button(s) to a BAT file or similar which deleted data or even re-formatted a drive! More commonly, buttons can be linked to sound files or even an image file. There is almost nothing which cannot be launched through MultiError Pro! Cool. Whether or not it is used seriously, most people will enjoy the humorous messages which can be delivered by this program to unsuspecting family and friends. We created a joke button, the heading of which said "Your System Will Self-Destruct in 30 Seconds". The body had the words "Your system will self-destruct in 30 seconds unless you agree to deposit $1,000 in Bill Gate's personal bank account." Underneath that we included two buttons – Yes and No. We could have linked the Yes button to a full screen image of an ATM, and the No button to a full screen image of an explosion. We enjoyed using MultiError Pro, and not just because it is a lot of fun to create joke messages. Grab a copy and try it yourself. Access this 2.97MB download from: Win9x Desktop Utilities
Santa Pies v1.2 – Win9x/ME
Santa Pies is a fun, seasonal game where you (Santa) must collect as many mince pies as you can in 60 seconds. It features on-line high scores, full screen or windowed modes, good sound effects, and more. This is one of those great little time wasters which are stupid to play but which bring you back time after time (no, we don't know why either!). You move Santa around the screen (larger than the viewed area) while he munches his way to obesity and a heart attack from eating too many pies (you really are heartless to inflict this on him). While in the title screen you can switch between windowed mode (320 x 200) and full screen by using the F9 and F10 keys. Santa Pies has no redeeming features except that it is highly addictive and a fun time waster. Grab it now. Access this 548kB download from: Win9x General Games
COMMENTS
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Win 9x/ME/XP
