Completely FREE Software - CFS Weekly Newsletter #517 issued August 21, 2009

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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(does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid.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

Babylon 5: I've Found Her v1.15 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Babylon 5: I've Found Her is a 3D space combat simulator based off the Sci Fi TV series, Babylon 5. It features multi-player (LAN) & 1-player modes, training campaign, 3 additional missions to download, HUD, multiple camera views, superb 3D graphics, and more. This is an excellent space shooter/simulator with an incredible depth of detail. It includes many cut scenes, briefings, general information about the Babylon 5 world, etc plus is able to maintain its prime function as an action combat game. The keyboard is well used, with most keys being mapped into one of the six main categories – Navigation, Weapons, Targeting, HUD, Comms and Camera. It is essential to complete the training campaign if you wish to master this game as there are many functions which need to be mastered. Clearly, this is not a quick, 5-minute time waster but a game that requires a degree of commitment if you wish to play it successfully. Babylon 5: I've Found Her is one of the best games of its type we have seen. It does not require you to be a fan of the TV series, but clearly that is an advantage. If you enjoy huge games that are not played out in a short time but which will keep you playing for a long, long time, then Babylon 5: I've Found Her is worth its size. We loved! Access this 257MB download from: Win95 General Games

Clean N' Optimize v1.0.0.1 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Clean N' Optimize is a System cleaner & optimizer. It features a privacy cleaner, an Internet optimizer, it removes broken Registry keys, it has a file & folder shredder (it also shreds empty space & the Recycle Bin) using secure shredding algorithms, it has a Startup Manager & Uninstall Manager, it minimizes to tray, and more. This is a neat looking tool that seems to carry out the functions it claims with little effort and great speed. You are encouraged to check the Clean Settings before using the Cleaner but most of the default settings seemed to be adequate. We had two issues with Clean N' Optimize. The first is that it changed our Windows Explorer settings without asking and without telling us that this might happen. We did not appreciate all our folder views changed back to the Windows default as we had spent some considerable time setting them up. We also had to agree to Relevant Knowledge advertising being added before the program would install, though since it has been installed we cannot find it on our computer. We assume that Norton 360 simply trashed it before it was installed but, as we weren't asked if we wanted it kept or trashed, we are just as unimpressed with Norton 360 as we are with Clean N' Optimize. Oh for a program that actually asks first... That said, it seemed to do exactly what it purports to do, but we cannot categorically state this because our System is automatically optimized by other programs so we did not notice any improvement after Clean N' Optimize did its best (except for trashing our Explorer folder view settings!). Access this 4.05MB download from: Win95 Windows Enhancements

Leawo DVD to AVI Converter v1.6.1.1 – WinXP/Vista
Leawo DVD to AVI Converter is a converter to rip DVD movies to AVI video. It features batch conversions, optional conversion of DVD to MP3/WAV/M4A audio formats, you can merge several DVD files into one, grab pictures from DVD, set one or all DVD angles, built-in video player, and more. This is an awesome tool. Leawo DVD to AVI Converter rips non-protected video DVDs and can save them in a variety of AVI formats, including XviD Movie, H.264/MPEG-4AVC Video Format, AVI-Audio-Video Interleaved, Lossless Uncompressed AVI, and AVI With DV Codec. It can save to a number of H.263 AVI video formats suitable for mobile phones, and also PMP formats (Archos AV500/Gmini402, Archos AV700, iRiver PMP-100, etc). It does lack trimming, subtitles, etc which are available on the Pro version, but the package offered for free is still excellent. Our only gripe with Leawo DVD to AVI Converter is the time it takes to rip a DVD – generally twice as long as the original movietrack. If you have a one hour movie it seems to take about two hours to rip – an enormous amount of time! This might vary depending on the AVI format you selected (we used XviD Movie). Output quality is quite good and the whole experience is excellent (apart from the time it took to rip!). This is one of the few programs we would consider paying out good money and updating to the Pro version! If you have a need to rip your home DVDs to AVI then Leawo DVD to AVI Converter should be high on your list to try. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 10.5B download from: WinXP Multimedia Programs

FileREX Update Checker v1.0 – WinXP/Vista
FileREX Update Checker is a program that checks installed software for updates. It automatically searches for installed software, automatically displays download links to newest software versions, runs in the background, downloads directly from the author's Website, requires no installation, and more. This is a handy way of ensuring that you have the latest versions of the software installed on your computer. It does not check every single program but it does have 346 programs currently in its database which covers most of the more popular programs. Using FileREX Update Checker is simple, just double click on the program's executionable file (the one you download) and it will add an icon to your tray (next to the clock). At the same time it will check what programs you have on your computer against its on-line database and let you know if there are any updates required. You can then select what programs you want to update, click on the download link. This takes you to the FileREX Update Checker Website which links to the author's site so you are getting a legitimate version. As the program's database grows, FileREX Update Checker will become an even more powerful tool for ensuring that you have the latest version of all the major programs. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.60MB download from: WinXP Desktop Utilities

Adminsoft Accounts v3.174 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Adminsoft Accounts is an accounting package suitable for most small to medium sized businesses. It features maintenance of customer & supplier details, produces sales invoices & statements, controls inventory, data can be exported to Microsoft Word & Excel, inventory control, and more. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, CFS was unable to review this program. The author says: "Now you can put your accounts on computer, quickly and easily. Our comprehensive yet easy to use accounts software runs on almost any PC running Windows, from Windows 95 onwards, including Vista and Windows 7. Suitable for most small to medium sized businesses. Maintain your customer and supplier details. Produce sales invoices and statements. Enter supplier invoices and raise remittance advices. Data can be exported to Microsoft Word and Excel. Reports, invoices, statements, and purchase orders can be emailed. Control your inventory, raise purchase orders, etc. Layouts of invoices, statements, remittance advices, and purchase orders can be changed and/or new ones created. The software is multi-currency, multi-user, and multi-company." Access this 16.5MB download from: Win95 General Programs

Image Editor v3.32 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Image Editor is an image processor and editor that supports JPG, PNG, TIF, BMP & GIF image formats (saves to JPG & BMP). It features extensive filter options (in 33 categories), manipulates images (resize, transform, rotate & crop), optional histogram & statistics, tabbed interface, and more. This is an excellent little image tool with lots to offer a more experienced digital photographer. The filter list is excellent and allows the user to modify the original image in a huge number of ways. Unfortunately Image Editor suffers from a lack of "undo" so, if you make a mistake, you must reload the image and start again. This could be a case for saving the image (under a new name) after every modification so you can always go back to a previous version. The lack of undo (and also redo) lessens the value of what would otherwise be considered a terrific imaging tool (with a horribly bland name). Like us, we think you will like Image Editor. Definitely worth grabbing! Access this 1.54MB download from: Win95 Graphic Programs

Ultimate Sonic v1.0 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Ultimate Sonic is a Flash clone of the famous "Sonic the Hedgehog" run 'n jump game from Sega. It features 2 game modes (standard & time trial), a choice of 4 characters (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles or Cream), optional password save, excellent animated graphics, and more. This is a fabulous, fast-paced game which will be instantly recognizable by anyone who has ever played any of the Sonic the Hedgehog games. The object is to collect the rings as you run to the end of the level. If you hit an enemy you lose your rings but, if you have no rings, you lose a life. With a choice of four characters to play, and a choice of game modes, Ultimate Sonic is one of the best Sonic games we have seen. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Get this 1.16MB download from: Win98 General Games
UPDATES
Fix My Registry – a one-click Windows Registry tool that fixes problems in the Registry – has been updated to version 2.9 with a new, smaller download size of 968kB. The author advises that changes in this version includes support for Windows 7. Get this latest version from: Win98 Windows Enhancements
Ashampoo ClipFinder HD – a Web video search & download tool that searches up to 15 sites for clips – has been updated to version 2.05 with smaller download size of 9.89MB. The author advises that changes in this version include a YouTube video portal bugfix. Access this update from: WinXP Internet Related
Tolon NoteKeeper – a multi-functional hierarchical information manager where text is grouped into flexible virtual folders enabling easy access – has been updated to version 0.9.9 with a download size of 1.59MB. The author says that a few usability bugs have been fixed in this version and the look-and-feel has been updated to use Windows XP/Vista styles. It also fixes a Vista bug. This latest version can be found at: Win95 Text 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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