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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(does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid.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
Peach's Dream – DOS
Peach's Dream is a Mario-type side scroller but, instead of just going through one level after another, you have to get items from one level to pass another one. It features 5 levels with 2 stages per level, lots of powerups, good animated graphics, and more. The author says: "The main idea is to make your way through DreamLand, collecting four keys along the way. With these keys you can gain entrance to the castle and rescue your love from the evil Nightmares." This is an excellent side scrolling adventure game. The gameplay is challenging, the concept good, and it is highly addictive. Unlike most similar games, in Peach's Dream you will probably have to go back to completed levels to find things which you need to advance. This means that you get a more gameplay for your download dollar than most similar games. Even if you use Windows XP you will still be able to play this game without worrying about changing program compatibility or making any other adjustments. If you like jump 'n run side scroller games then this is one you will have to get. We liked Peach's Dream. Try it, we think that you will like it too. Access this 293kB download from: DOS General Games
AliveColors Standalone Freeware v1.0.30 – Win9x/ME/XP
AliveColors Standalone Freeware is a digital photo editor which corrects colors in images. It features a good selection of filters, impressive photo effects (colored glow & amusing effects like changing color gamma by pressing just one button), supports BMP, JPG, PNG & TIF formats, easy-to-use, and more. Most computer users need to work with photo images at different times but not all images are exactly the way you want them. AliveColors Standalone Freeware can take your photo image and correct any color problems you might have, or simply shift the colors so that the image has a different look. We particularly liked the casino (random spin) effect where you click on a single button and there will be a random color shift. Sometimes the resultant color really enhances the image, even though you might not think to try that combination yourself. Other controls are easily manipulated with sliders, and it offers an instant preview so you can see the effect as it is being applied. Some might consider it a shame that it doesn't support the GIF format, but few digital photos use GIF as it is more suitable to clipart than digital photos. We found AliveColors Standalone Freeware a great program and one which most computer users will find of value. Get it! Access this 2.50MB download from: Win9x Graphic Programs
NT Jukebox Audio Player v1 – Win9x/ME/XP
NT Jukebox Audio Player is a skinnable audio player for MP3, MID & WAV file formats. It features 8 built-in skins (more can be downloaded), minimizes to desktray for background music, easy-to-use, and more. This is a nice little audio player which can handle all the main audio formats (except audio CD). While it is not stylish like some players, the various "skins" (color changes) can help it integrate into your desktop. NT Jukebox Audio Player can only play one track at a time and does not support playlists. This makes it much less valuable as a background music player (its best feature) as you have to load new tracks every few minutes. Even if it could play all of the supported files within a folder it would be an advantage as you could create a "playlist" by copying the tracks you wanted into the one folder. NT Jukebox Audio Player offers a convenient way of playing audio tracks, one at a time. Worth a look. Access this 1.91MB download from: Win9x Multimedia Programs
YourSpy v0.6.73 – Win98/ME/XP
YourSpy is an all-purpose tool which is similar but more powerful than MS-Spy. It can capture windows, get information about windows, get window modules, extract & save icons, get a password from a string of asterisks (supports XP/HTML), has a color picker, inspect processes (including kill them), inspect HTML, inspect messages, inspect PE file, and more. Like a Swiss Army Knife, YourSpy offers a tremendous amount of information and features. You can examine open processes, see their dependent DLLs, even kill them. You can grab a color from the screen with the color picker, or take a snapshot of the full screen and save it as a BMP image file, or copy it to the Clipboard for pasting into another program. You can examine Webpages opened with Internet Explorer (it does not work with pages opened with other browsers) and get a lot of information about that page. YourSpy can display icons embedded in EXE files and then save them as ICO files for you. If you are wanting information about the various windows, or boxes which make up a window, then this is the program for you. It offers very detailed information and you feel almost overloaded with data. While the average user would not use 10% of the information supplied in YourSpy, it is handy to have available and the other tools are so valuable that the package is worth grabbing. Note: it is not suitable for Windows 95, and Windows 98 users may require the OLEACC.DLL from Microsoft. Access this 784kB download from: Win98 Windows Enhancements
Math-A-Maze v1.1 – Win9x/ME/XP
Math-A-Maze is a fun math puzzle where you find your way through a maze of numbers & mathematical operators by carving out equations whose sums equal the required values. It features random puzzles, 5 grid sizes from 4x4 to 8x8 (effectively giving 5 levels), 2 modes (Standard & Marathon), move undo, optional start hint, a choice of 3 backgrounds, you can define the maximum sum (from 10 to 50), and more. This is one of the better mathematics-based puzzles. Using the arrow keys you move around the grid, not overlapping where you have been before and ensuring that the desired value (the sum) is achieved. Time-based, you can either play in Standard mode (one game at a time), or in Marathon mode where it is the aggregate time taken to complete 5 puzzles. In Marathon mode you can get yourself into the Hall of Fame. The top two levels (the 7x7 and 8x8 grids) are locked and required free on-line registration to get the information to unlock them. While this information is not overly invasive, most of it can be gleaned from the server logs (where you live, what operating system you are using, etc) and is an annoyance. That aside, Math-A-Maze really is an excellent puzzle and you will find the larger grid sizes reasonably hard. Suitable for all ages, this game is worth grabbing for anyone who wishes to exercise the gray matter. Access this 143kB download from: Win9x General Games
BlazeFtp v2.1 – Win9x/ME/XP
BlazeFtp is a multiple-session, cache-enabled FTP file transfer client with a built-in offline search engine. It features multiple transfer threads, intelligent file-type recognition based on both extension matching & content examination, a site manager, a comprehensive settings menu, and more. This is one of the best FTP file managers we have seen. It allows for you to quickly log on to a site, either with a username and password or as an anonymous guest, and then transfers the selected files quickly and without hassle. Unlike some of the other FTP file transfer managers, it requires little effort to master. BlazeFtp uses the familiar Explorer style interface, with the window on the left displaying the user's computer and the window on the right displaying the remove server. Files are transferred by drag 'n drop and can either be queued for later action or transferred immediately. It will keep a session open indefinitely and will cache the remote server directory on the user's computer. This information can then be searched off-line. Neat. Overall, it is hard to fault BlazeFtp. It does everything it is supposed to do, and does it well. Easy-to-use, BlazeFtp is suitable for both novice and advanced users. Get it! Access this 750kB download from: Win9x Internet Related
BAC Batch Image Resizer v1.0 – Win98/ME/XP
BAC Batch Image Resizer is a tool which resizes batches of images with a wildcard selection and image review. It features reduction by percentage or arbitrary size, hi/lo res JPG resampling filter, rename, prefix or overwrite original image, supports JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP & PCX, plus most TIF/TGA formats, and more. If you need to resize a batch of images within a folder then BAC Batch Image Resizer is the tool you need. You can resize by specifying a percentage or by nominating a size in pixels (which will become the size of the longest side of the image – proportions are maintained in these thumbnails). It will also rename all of the images using a numbering system so that the originals are not overwritten, or simply create new images from the old ones. Images are saved in their original format – GIF remains GIF, JPG remains JPG, etc. We were most impressed with the quality of the reduced images – in most cases virtually as good as the original unless low res JPG was selected. It was a shame that the format PNG was not included as this has become very popular in recent years but the list of file formats supported is very good. Overall, BAC Batch Image Resizer is a handy tool to have around. Small, fast, high quality results, and easy-to-use. Could you want more? Note: this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 1.66MB download from: Win98 Graphic Programs
FileCheckMD5 v0.1.1.3 – WinXP
FileCheckMD5 is a handy tool which creates checksum files based on the MD5 hash routine to ensure the integrity of the files in a folder (and any sub-folders) to determine if the files have changed. This is useful for ensuring that a CD has been burnt accurately and without any errors. The program, and the checksum file, can be included with a CD as a check that the CD is accurately burnt. The program works from the folder it is placed in (no installation is necessary) and it will check that folder and all sub-folders. If a folder is to be burnt on a CD the FileCheckMD5 program and the MD5 file it creates, are burnt into the CD too. Once the CD is finished it is just a matter of checking the MD5 file with the program. Checking a folder is as simple as clicking on the "Go" button in the "Make checkfile" tab, and checking the integrity of the files is as simple as clicking on the "Open checkfile..." button in the "Check files" tab and selecting the MD5 displayed file. Hopefully the program will report that the list of files matches the MD5 checksum file. The benefits of this type of utility are obvious to anyone who regularly burns CDs (specially multiple copies of the same data from a hard drive) but should be used by anyone who has a CD burner and who burns files from their hard drive. It cannot be used for CD to CD copying unless the original was copied from a hard drive and includes the FileCheckMD5 program and the MD5 checksum file. The extra space required on a CD should be no more than 400kB (less if the program itself is not included, just the checksum MD5 file). Fast and efficient, FileCheckMD5 is a "must have" for everyone regularly burning CDs. Note: this program requires at least Windows XP. Access this 277kB download from: WinXP Desktop Utilities
Humbug v5.0 – DOS
Humbug is a fun DOS text adventure where you are Sidney Widdershins and you have been sent to your Grandad's spooky manor house for the school holidays. It features over 200 objects, challenging puzzles, amusing storylines, hints, a large vocabulary, save game, and more. If you have never played an old style text adventure then this is one of the best to try. It features a fabulous, and quite involved, storyline which must be unraveled to expose the outcome. The author asks: "Why is Jasper the dentist so desperate that Grandad should sell the manor? Why has Grandad hidden a time machine in the cellar? Why does the octopus insist on performing the ancient ritual of Wubble-A-Gloop with you? What doesn't Kevin the clockwork shark like about your haircut? What would you do with a trombone, a terrapin and half a pound of lard?" The answers to all of these questions can be found within the confines of this excellent game. Humbug is able to recognize a wide vocabulary and you can make commands like GO NORTH, ASK GRANDAD ABOUT THE WUMPUS, and GET EVERYTHING IN THE DUSTBIN APART FROM THE DWEEZIL. It also recognizes standard abbreviations, like N for "north", U for "up" and L for "look". Lacking any sort of graphical interface, some Windows users might find the game a little strange at first but it really is worthwhile persevering because you can have more fun with a simple text adventure than with a complex, highly graphical game. The secret to a good text adventure is imagination. Humbug will stretch your imagination like a pretzel and leave you laughing right through to the end. While this is a DOS game it is suitable for all versions of Windows. Get it! Access this 165kB download from: DOS General Games
UPDATE
Mail Box Dispatcher – an anti-spam tool which previews incoming e-mail messages before they are downloaded - has been updated to version 1.1 with a new download size of 549kB. The author advises that changes in this version include: change port of Pop3 server; new format of e-mail account string; customize E-mail Clients List & add command lines; added 'Charset'-decoding for Recipient, Sender, Subject; some fixes in client part; rewritten 'Disconnect' algorithm; some 'design' changes; refreshed Tab-moving; fixed minor bug in e-mail accounts display; and a 'Hint' windows will appear now in Mail Accounts Lists (useful if account has big name-string). Grab this latest version from: Win9x Internet Related
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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Win 9x/ME/XP
