Completely FREE Software - CFS Weekly Newsletter #339 issued February 4, 2005

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(does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid.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

Frontier Guard v1.0 – Win9x/ME/XP
Frontier Guard is a fun, strategy-based shooter where you must defend Bubble City from the alien battleships (that look like bubbles) and the bombs they are dropping (that are also bubbles!). It features good graphics, suitable for all ages, and more. This is a fun little game to play that is surprisingly addictive. The alien battleships are dropping bubble bombs on Bubble City and you must click the bubbles in your city to fire (bubbles!) up at the bombs that are falling. You can only fire vertically, and you must wait between rounds for your bubble gun to be recharged, but the bombs are often falling on an angle so you must use strategy to destroy them. Apart from the overuse of bubbles (basically every element in the game is a bubble), Frontier Guard is a game that will keep on bringing you back for more, and more. Unfortunately it doesn't keep high scores so you will have to remember of write down your best scores if you want to challenge yourself or your friends. Frontier Guard is a Macromedia Flash game that requires no installation – just download and play – but you must have the Macromedia Flash 7 Player installed on your computer (most already have this). Worth a look! Access this 375kB download from: Win95 General Games

HotKicks v1.2 – Win9x/ME/XP
HotKicks is a tool that allows you to take control of the computer by using hotkeys (key combinations) to carry out a variety of tasks, including sending text or keystrokes to other applications (which is an ideal alternative to repetitive typing). It allows the immediate or scheduled shutdown/restart/logoff of your computer, you can launch the default browser (or any other program), open Explorer, open/close the CD drive, empty the recycle bin and/or delete files or folders at startup, and more. This is a powerful scripting tool that requires the HOTKICKS.CFG file (automatically created when the program is first used) to be manually edited in any ASCII text editor (like Notepad). The program includes full instructions that includes a list of the special keys you can use to program this tool though there are many handy hotkeys already entered into the program for you to use without modification. If you have Microsoft Office installed on your computer you can press Alt+W to launch Word, or Alt+X to launch Excel. While modifying this program may sound daunting to a novice PC user, in fact it is very easy and the instructions are so basic all you need do is to follow them like A, B & C to turn this little utility into a powerful tool that allows you to control your PC in many ways. HotKicks loads as a desktray icon (next to the clock) and to see a list of existing hotkeys all you need do is to press F11. By pressing Win+F11 you can open the CFG (configuration) file in Notepad so you can edit the existing hotkeys, or add your own. The CFG file is presented in a number of different sections and you just need to identify the section that you wish to modify. We found HotKicks to be a superb add-on for our computer. We have always preferred to use hotkeys wherever we can because they are usually faster than using the mouse, and this is an excellent way of utilizing the power of hotkeys to run your computer. The problem with hotkeys is that you have to remember the ones you commonly use (which you quickly learn if you try), and bringing up a help screen takes so much time it is usually faster to simply use the conventional Windows menus and the mouse. However, once you have mastered a few hotkeys it is easy to keep adding to that list. If we had to sum up HotKicks in a single word it would be "impressive". If you wish to speed up your work on the computer, and put the power back into your hands, then grab a copy of this great tool. Note: we have been advised that some of the predefined functions are available only in Windows ME, Windows XP or higher. Access this 105kB download from: Win95 Desktop Utilities

CDBurnerXP Pro v3.0.116 – Win98/ME/XP
CDBurnerXP Pro is a CD/DVD burner for CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R/RW & DVD-R/RW disks. It allows you to burn audio-CDs with & without gaps between tracks, supports most IDE, USB, Firewire & SCSI drives, rips audio-CDs, burns & creates ISO-files, converts WAV to/from MP3, has optional data verification after burn, creates bootable disks, audio editor, bin/nrg-ISO converter, simple cover printing, and more. This is a full suite of burning tools that even works with XP Service Pack 2. It has all the most important features and even allows you to create and/or burn ISO files (great if you are downloading Linux distros from the Net). Most importantly, it is compatible with a huge range of hardware – even the cheap burners. While it lacks some of the eye candy of the commercial offerings, it makes up for it by being very easy to use while still offering all the necessary functions. Because it works with Service Pack 2, people with older software, like Nero v5.x, who now find their burner is not working properly can use this program and not have to replace their hardware. We burnt a number of data DVDs and were extremely impressed with CDBurnerXP Pro. The only issue we had with this version is that it cannot burn ISO files larger than 4.2GB. However, that is due to be rectified in the next version. Whether you have a simple CD burner, a combo CD burner/DVD player, or a DVD & CD burner, you will find that CDBurnerXP Pro provides an excellent alternative to the Lite versions of the commercial programs supplied with many burners – and it has the added advantage that it is constantly being upgraded so you are not left with out-of-date software (like Nero 5 users have experienced). If you have a CD and/or DVD burner you should grab a copy now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 10.7MB download from: Win98 General Programs

HandySnap v0.5 – Win9x/ME/XP
HandySnap is a screen capture & annotation tool that can capture fullscreen, active window or rectangular area. It features: optional run from desktray; save captures to disk and/or Clipboard; draws lines, ellipses & rectangles; expandable sprite library (17 included); optional always-on-top mode; and more. This is one of the most feature-laden, and best, screen capture tools we have seen. It allows you to add text (annotation) though you cannot specify size, font or color, you can draw on the screenshot (you can specify color, thickness, etc), and even add your own sprites to the sprite library. This is a beta version and there are a couple of aspects of HandySnap that we thought a little flaky – like display of the screenshot (you have to click on the screenshot display icon a few times to get it to do what you want it to do). However, it does work eventually, and it works well, so don't let these undocumented "features" turn you off from what is, without doubt, one of the best screen capture tools we have seen. HandySnap truly is a handy way to snap some screenshots – but it is the extra features that makes this program exceptional. Get it! Note: only beta versions of this program are free. Access this 1.62MB download from: Win95 Graphic Programs

Ant Pro Run Jr v1.00 – Win9x/ME/XP
Ant Pro Run Jr is a Web based arcade game where your goal is to keep the ant running through the ant tunnels by choosing one of the many shaped passageways, connect it, and keep one step ahead of the ant so that he never reaches a dead end. This is a Macromedia Shockwave game that requires an active Internet connection to "pull" the game down from the author's Website (the download is simply a link to the game). The game itself is excellent. You must quickly rotate the pathways so that the ant never meets a dead end – and that isn't as easy as it sounds. Alas, like many modern games, Ant Pro Run Jr is infested with some very intrusive ads that add BHOs to Internet Explorer (browser helper objects – a common way of placing spyware on your computer), and also some other advertising software. If you use a BHO blocker (like SpywareGuard), combined with Ad-Aware to remove the advertising programs (which are set to launch with Windows) you should not have any trouble. We are very much against advertising supported programs (like this one) that load and run outside of the host program, and that are not removed when the host program is uninstalled. These we mark as being "intrusive" and we recommend that programs marked like this are not downloaded by novice computer users. However, if you are prepared to remove the ads, and you don't mind that the game is not physically installed on your computer, then Ant Pro Run Jr is a worthwhile download. The game itself is very good and a lot of fun to play. Just a shame about the ads... Access this 561kB download from: Win95 General Games

Web-Email-Cloaker v101 – Win9x/ME/XP
Web-Email-Cloaker is a tool that creates code to cloak HTML e-mail addresses to prevent harvesting by spam spiders. It does this by using multiple methods of cloaking together to create e-mail contact code that displays correctly but is utterly unreadable by e-mail-hunting spam robots. Simply add your e-mail address and two variants of the code are automatically created, one using normal HTML and the other JavaScript. Either variant prevents spam spiders from thieving your address. Copy the code out of the program and paste it into your Webpage. Simple. We loved Web-Email-Cloaker. It truly is simple to use, and provides a way to help prevent your address from being harvested by the spam merchants. It requires no installation though it does place a key in your Registry. Right-click on the program and it will not only close it down but remove that key as well. Closing the program normally leaves the key in place for next time. If you have a Website posted on-line then you need Web-Email-Cloaker. It is fabulous! Access this 189kB download from: Win95 Internet Related

All That Chords! v2.0 – Win98/ME/XP
All That Chords! is a tool for pianists that allows the user to visualize piano chords, by selecting the root (eg C#) & the "color" (eg Maj7) it displays the keys to press. It also recognizes the chords played, either through the bult-in virtual keyboard or through an external MIDI keyboard. This is a "must have" for anyone learning the piano. You can either find the right keys to press by selecting the chord you want to play, or you can "press" the keys using the built-in virtual keyboard and it will not only tell you what chord that is (if it is a chord!) it will also play it for you through your computer's sound system. If you have a MIDI keyboard connected to your computer you can play notes and it will advise you of the chord. It has no setup, just grab a copy of the program and start to use it immediately. Primarily designed for a jazz pianist, nerver-the-less All That Chords! is essential for anyone learning a piano-style keyboard because it has a huge range of chord information built-in. Get it now! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 0.98MB download from: Win98 Multimedia Programs

Kirby Alarm v2.11 – Win9x/ME/XP
Kirby Alarm is an alarm and task scheduler that will pop up a note (or run a program, or play a sound, or send an e-mail) at user defined intervals. It features extensive customization, you can skip and/or be advised of missed alarms, have it watch for changes in a file before activating, send e-mail notifications via its built-in SMTP client (or send them via your default e-mail client, like Outlook Express), and more. This is an amazing task scheduler (it is so much more than just a simple desktop alarm!). Think of a scenario of when, or how, you want to be notified and Kirby Alarm will most likely be able to do it for you. Even the most complex schedule can be accommodated and, best of all, it is easy to set up and use. It can be used to remember birthdays, dental appointments, luncheon dates – it will even remind you to get off your seat and move around every half hour to give you a break from the computer, if that is what you want it to do. Kirby Alarm is nagware until it is registered (free) and that is the one aspect of the program we do not like. That aside, this is definitively one of the best desktop alarms and task schedulers we have seen. Grab a copy now and see for yourself! Access this 2.46MB download from: Win95 Desktop Utilities

Wordo v1.5 – Win98/ME/XP
Wordo is a Tetris-style word game where you must create words from the letter-blocks falling down before they touch the top of the screen. This is a very addictive game for anyone who likes word puzzles. You have to select a word from the pile of blocks, clicking on each block in turn until you have spelt out a word. Once a legitimate word is spelt out the blocks turn green, but do not disappear until the last block is double-clicked (this allows you to create longer words and therefore get a better score). When the word is finalized, the blocks explode with a gratifying bang and the blocks above them tumble down. You don't have to select blocks next to each other, you can roam the entire screen looking for letters. When Wordo first loads it attempts to "phone home" and, while we do not know what it is trying to do (we don't think it is spying on you), it is easily blocked with a firewall and the game does not appear to suffer from it not having phoned home. Likewise, when you finish it attempts to log on to the publisher's Website through your browser and this, we assume, is so you can post your high scores on-line. Again, this can be easily blocked with a firewall. Also when the program closes it displays an annoying nag screen that must be separately closed. This is a great Tetris variation and one that is worth playing. It has a Boss key, and you can turn off the music, but the "Power Player Trix" section (to help you get a better score) requires the payment of a fee to get an unlock code. We really did enjoy playing Wordo and were a little disappointed that we felt it necessary to block its Internet access but with spyware so prevalent these days we felt we should not take a chance. If you like word puzzles, if you like Tetris, grab a copy of Wordo. It is a lot of fun to play. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 3.95MB download from: Win98 General Games
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