Completely FREE Software - CFS Weekly Newsletter #436 issued June 22, 2007

Home > CFS Weekly Newsletter #436: issued June 22, 2007

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(does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid.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

Tradewinds Legends v1.1 – WinXP/Vista
Tradewinds Legends is a fast-action, swashbuckling, pirate-filled adventure RPG where you sail, trade & battle your way through the mythical Far East. It features 2 game modes (storyline & free trade), 4 characters from which to choose (or create your own), superb graphics, highly addictive gameplay, tutorial, and more. This is a sensational game that presents some of the best graphics we have seen on any game, and some of the best gameplay. You play in one of two modes. You can play as a free trader, moving around the Middle East buying and selling goods, battling pirates, buying new ships (and getting repairs done to your ship), adding more cannon, etc. You can also play using the storyline where you must go to the palace and receive instructions on what your task will be (for example, go to a specific city and purchase goods – you keep any profit you make). You move around the cities, visit the temple (a mosque), go to the ship builder, buy & sell at the bazaar, etc. Unfortunately, Tradewinds Legends is spoilt with a huge download (unspecified size) and advertising. To download this game you must first get a small 669kB helper file that, when launched, downloads both the game browser and the game. We are unsure of the size of these two programs, but the game itself claims to be 20.62MB, but we noticed about 80MB of traffic when this file was being downloaded and installed. The game browser (which you can use for other games from the same publisher) is of unknown size but we estimate that it probably between 20 and 40MB, judging on the time it took to download. This makes Tradewinds Legends a top-heavy download, even though we consider it worth even this mammoth size. The game browser installs itself in the Startup folder and loads every time Windows loads. We suggest that you delete the shortcut to this game browser so that it only loads when you want to play the game. The advertising is, at the time of writing, not very invasive and you get to view some comedic television ads (which has nothing to do this advertising – it appears to be an attention getter). At the time of doing the review, clicking on those TV ads simply tries to sell you some games (ie it is a house ad). This could change at any time. Even with all the negative aspects (download size and advertising), we loved Tradewinds Legends. It is a wonderful game that will keep you amused and playing for many hours. If you have a broadband Internet connection (or a lot of patience), we think it is well worth grabbing. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 20.6MB+ download (expect well over 50MB, and possibly even 100MB) from: WinXP General Games

NT File Recovery v1.0 – WinXP/Vista
NT File Recovery is a tool that quickly and effectively restores accidentally deleted files from NTFS formatted drives, and supports recovering all types of files like documents, applications, media files etc. It can be run from a USB flash drive (requires no installation) so the risk of overwriting your data is minimized, it is simple to use, offers file preview, has a restore button, and more. This truly is an easy way to recover accidentally deleted files (even after deletion from the Recycle Bin). Aim it as one of your NTFS drives (it does not work with FAT32 drives) and it will seek out all deleted files. Select the file(s) you wish restored, click on the Restore button, and your file is re-instated. Of course, if a file has already been overwritten by later data it is not recoverable, which is why there is no program install with NT File Recovery, just download and use. It can be stored on a USB flash (pen) drive and run from there – which is a good idea because the less traffic on your computer the more chance there is of successfully recovering a file. NT File Recovery is a great little tool, and one that we recommend to all PC users with NTFS drives. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 366kB download from: WinXP Desktop Utilities

Photo Gadget Viewer v1.2 – WinXP/Vista
Photo Gadget Viewer is a viewer for most popular digital photo formats (BMP, TIF, PNG, PCX, TGA & JPG). It features auto-rotate using EXIF information (where applicable), uses all common keyboard controls (Page Up & Down, left & right arrows, spacebar, etc), optional file associations, easy to use, and more. While Photo Gadget Viewer lacks some of the exotic bells and whistles found on other image viewers, what it offers is a clean, professional looking program that will allow you to scroll through your images with ease, auto-rotating photos with EXIF information embedded in them so they are always the right way up. It doesn't offer a slideshow, it doesn't offer editing, and you cannot save an image in another format. However, as an image viewer it is excellent. It displays photos well, in either a window or fullscreen, you can quickly (or slowly) scroll through all the photos in a folder, or just the photos you've selected. Above all, the auto-rotate actually works! Unfortunately, not all cameras include full EXIF support so, if yours doesn't, then you miss out on this handy feature. Because it does not support the popular GIF format, it is not as suitable as a general image viewer. However, we really liked Photo Gadget Viewer. It does almost everything we want from a digital photo viewer, and does it well. Worth a look! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 800kB download from: WinXP Graphic Programs

Auslogics System Information v1.0.4 – WinXP/Vista
Auslogics System Information is a program that displays detailed computer & Windows information, installed devices, running processes & services, memory, CPU usage, etc. It features 2 display modes (Simple & Advanced), supports the latest devices from the leading hardware manufacturers, includes performance graphs, generates a detailed report (HTML, XML or TXT), and more. This is one of the most detailed system information programs we have seen. It provides information about almost every nook and cranny in a computer, though it provides only limited information from S.M.A.R.T. motherboards (it mentions HDD temperature, but not CPU temperature, fan speeds, etc). However, the level of information provided is superb, specially from a Windows' aspect, and most users will probably feel like it is a brain overload when they start to look at the detailed information about their computer. Auslogics System Information is great for chasing down problems, for ensuring that system programs are loaded (specially ones like .NET Framework), and for checking on version numbers. You will never use the wimpy Microsoft system information after you have used Auslogics System Information. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.74MB download from: WinXP Windows Enhancements

BlockOut 3D v2.0 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
BlockOut 3D is a fast-paced collapse/puzzle game where bricks are constantly being added to a stack and you must remove them. It features 2 game modes (BlockOut & BrixOut), 10 progressively harder levels, 3 levels of difficulty, 3 bomb types, excellent animated graphics, and more. This is a revamp on the old falling blocks game where colored blocks are created in a panel above and, when 12 are present, they fall. Your job is to remove the blocks in groups of 3 or more (2 if you play BrixOut) to prevent the stack from reaching the top of the window. The more blocks (or brix) you remove at the one time, the higher the score. When blocks are removed, the ones above it tumble down. Lacking the skill and concentration required by Tetris (another falling block game), BlockOut 3D is still a fun game that is surprisingly addictive. Combined with great graphics, this is a game that you will play more than once. Give it a try! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 2.22MB download from: Win98 General Games

pcBaseline v1.03 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
pcBaseline is a program that consolidates the tracking of vital aspects of a computer by creating baselines (or snapshots) that can be compared. It features 18 categories (Processes, Services, Modules, Scheduled Tasks, Run, Startup, Shell Service Objects, etc), compares changes between 2 baselines, generates reports, and more. The author describes it like this: "pcBaseline is a software program created to consolidate the tracking of vital aspects of your computer into one software solution. pcBaseline allows you to create baselines (or snapshots) of vital aspects of your computer. A baseline can be defined as a set of critical observations or data used for comparison. The key to pcBaseline is that it allows you to compare baselines of vital aspects of your computer to the current state. By comparing a baseline to the current state you are able to track changes to your computer." This is a great way of keeping track of what is happening to your computer – what programs are being loaded, any suspicious activity, etc. By taking regular snapshots (called baselines) of your computer's configuration, you can quickly compare details between any two snapshots, or just view the changes in any category. Simple. While most PC users would find the depth of information daunting, pcBaseline tries to make it easier by allowing the user to just see changes between snapshots. The author requires that you register this program to use it beyond 30 days. This registration is free (though annoying). We were most impressed with pcBaseline. It helps put the power back in the hands of the user. In one word: excellent. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 9.08MB download from: Win98 General Programs

Reach-a-Mail v2.81 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Reach-a-Mail is a portable e-mail client, suitable for use on a USB flash drive. It features a simple address book, mail can be left on the server, supports multiple accounts, does not require a Windows installation, can send attachments, supports rich text (colored backgrounds, variable font size, etc), supports simple signatures, and more. This is a neat little program for anyone who is traveling and either does not want to use Webmail, or cannot use Webmail (often it is too slow on a dial-up connection). Simple to set up, mail can either be left on the server for later downloading, or deleted once it is dealt with. With its address book you can quickly send mail to your contacts, and that mail can have smiley faces, images, rich text, indentation, etc. Cool. However, by default Reach-a-Mail attaches an ad about itself to the bottom of your e-mail, though it can be deleted before mail is sent should you not wish to advertise this program. We really liked Reach-a-Mail. It is simple to set up (create e-mail accounts) and it is simple to use. It has the advantage of being 100% portable so you can copy the files to a USB drive and plug into any computer to check your mail. We loved! Access this 2.11MB download from: Win95 Internet Related

Trial Bike Ultra v2.2 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Trial Bike Ultra is a motorcycle action adventure game where you take your bike over a grueling course. It features a 3D-like display, a choice of 4 bikes (each with different attributes), fullscreen or windowed modes, and more. This is a fun game for anyone who loves motorbikes (specially trail bikes). You jump and bounce your way across an obstacle course that would be impossible in reality. Using the arrow keys, you can power up, stand up on the pegs and lean back, lean forward across the handlebars, and brake. You can also use the Ctrl key to go in reverse (something not found on too many bikes!). By quickly switching between right and left arrow keys you can rock the bike in a most realistic way. This is not an easy game to win, and there is a relatively steep learning curve before you can master the controls (not unlike a real bike). However, there is a real sense of achievement when you do master another aspect of the game. Trial Bike Ultra contains the MeMe! advertising cube which you are supposed to download and install. However, this can be prevented from loading (or can be uninstalled later) and this does not affect the game. We suggest that MeMe! is not downloaded and you use your firewall to permanently block MeMe! from ever being downloaded to your computer. Trial Bike Ultra is a great game, and one most people will enjoy playing again and again. It is somewhat spoilt by the MeMe! advertising, and because it tries to access its homepage every time you close down the game. That aside, Trial Bike Ultra is a worthwhile acquisition, and one that could become highly addictive. Don't say you haven't been warned... Access this 13.2MB download from: Win95 General Games
COMMENTS
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