Completely FREE Software - CFS Weekly Newsletter #461 issued January 25, 2008

Home > CFS Weekly Newsletter #461: issued January 25, 2008

Any Word All Words Exact Phrase

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(does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid.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

La Mulana v1.01 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
La Mulana is an Indiana Jones style adventure platform game where you, as Professor Lemeza Kosugi, investigates the ancient ruins of La-Mulana in an attempt to find its treasure. It features many different areas to explore, and dozens of items and weapons to find. This is a massive game with some diabolical puzzles to solve. It includes a 24-page instruction manual (in English) and has been created to look 'n feel like an old MSX cartridge game (specifically "The Maze of Galious"). The game even includes sections relating to the ROM (read-only-memory) cartridge used by MSX computers and this flows through into the game where you purchase ROMs to gain extra advantages. La Mulana is not for the person who is looking for a 5-minute game – even an experienced gamer could take a number of days to solve it spuzzles. Graphics are definitely "retro", but that does not detract from the charm of this game, in fact it enhances it. If you were enthralled by the adventures of Indiana Jones at the movies, then this PC game, featuring the archaeologist Professor Lemeza complete with whip and in competition with his father, will give you many, many hours of fun. Expect to crash and burn a few times along the way because La Mulana is very challenging (though winnable). We loved! Note: we have posted an English version of this game on the CFS server for members. Access this 6.27MB download from: Win95 General Games

MagicPDF v2.0.667 – WinXP/Vista
MagicPDF is a tool that creates high quality PDF files from any printable document (it installs itself as a virtual printer in the printer list). It features support for all the most frequently used PDF functionalities of Adobe Acrobat, creates professional quality PDF documents with just a click of the Print button, and more. This is an excellent way to convert any printable document into a PDF file. It adds a new "printer" to your printer list and, when you select that print driver, you are prompted to save the PDF file to your computer and it offers many options for paper size, etc. Resultant files can be viewed (and printed) through Adobe's Acrobat reader. We found the image quality of PDF files created through MagicPDF to be excellent, and they can be distributed amongst your friends. MagicPDF does lack some of the high-end features of Adobe Acrobat (available in the Pro version) but few home users should need these high-end features (like the ability to password protect the file). We liked MagicPDF. It is a simple, yet highly effective, way of creating PDF documents without having to have expensive programs. Worth grabbing! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 923kB download from: WinXP General Programs

PicJet Studio v2.5 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
PicJet Studio is a digital photo enhancer that can create collages, add a date stamp, convert images to a nominated format, & resize images. It features simple drag 'n drop usage, either creates a new image in same folder or overwrites the old one, offers variable JPG quality, and more. This is a handy tool for anyone who owns a digital camera and needs to make some changes to the photographs taken. It will create a collage of your images, using one of them for the background, by simply dragging and dropping images onto the icon on the main menu screen. It can also add a date stamp to your images, adding the date the photograph was taken and offering a choice of adding it to one of the four corners of the image. It allows you to change the font, color and size of the text added to the image. Unfortunately you cannot add extra text, you simply get the date added to the image. The image converter can change the format of your image, which is specially handy if you wish to post it on the Internet and you want to use an Internet-supported format. Finally it offers an image resizer so you can quickly resize your images. PicJet Studio insists that images are dragged 'n dropped onto the respective icons – there is no option to nominate images through an Explorer-style interface. We found that, at times, this was cumbersome and would have preferred more options for selecting images. We also found that the whole program seemed a little awkward to use, though there is no doubt that the results were very good. Others might find the interface less awkward, and might actually prefer it to a more conventional program. PicJet Studio does not remove red-eye, rotate images, or do many of those tasks we find handy in a photo editor/enhancer. However, if these are the functions you need, then you may find it a great little program. In our opinion, the best function was the date stamp so we could create a timeline of an individual or location with the dates of each photo in the timeline clearly visible. Overall, a worthwhile, though not spectacular, image enhancing tool. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 1.35MB download from: Win98 Graphic Programs

Open Ports Scanner v1.1 – WinXP/Vista
Open Ports Scanner is an enhanced Netstat utility that monitors open TCP & UDP ports, and the applications that open them. It features optional auto refresh, you can export results to a CSV file, it allows the user to terminate unwanted connections, has TCP & UDP view filters, and more. The Netstat (Network Statistics) program within Windows is a simple command-line application, but Open Ports Scanner adds a GUI and other enhancements. Mainly used to detect Trojan and spyware activities, Open Ports Scanner offers lots of valuable information about TCP and UDP ports, and allows the user to terminate any connection deemed to be suspicious. The displayed data includes: protocol type, process ID, process name, local address, local port, remote address, remote port, and connection status. Open Ports Scanner is a handy tool for anyone wishing to check for open ports and who wishes to detect unauthorized network activity. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Get this 456kB download from: WinXP Desktop Utilities

StarCage v1.0 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
StarCage is a retro, top-down space shooter in the style of "Seek & Destroy". It features 2 game modes (Story mode has 5 stages), 1- or 2-players, 12 enemy ship models, ship upgrades after each stage, circular playfield, on-screen radar, end game cinematic, and more. This is a somewhat strange shooter where the screen rotates around the main player's ship which remains fixed (like a camera was fixed above the ship and moves with it). The game is quite challenging, specially during the first three waves of enemy ships. If you survive that, and your shields aren't too depleted, you can upgrade your ship to make it more maneuverable and therefore easier to keep out of trouble. Each of the four main stages finishes after three waves of enemy ships have been destroyed (and you must get them all) when you can upgrade your ship. The final stage is where you face the Boss. Along the way you must collect as many energy bars as possible (many are "dropped" when an enemy ship is destroyed). Controls are not easy to master, specially using the Enter key for firing rather than the Spacebar (the ship is manoeuvred using the arrow keys). In the two player mode you play using a split screen. StarCage has a steep learning curve and requires some patience to master. However, once mastered it is a surprisingly good space shooter which is enhanced with its retro graphics. If you want a genuine challenge, and you like space shooters, then grab a copy of StarCage. We think that, like us, you'll be very impressed. Access this 2.63MB download from: Win95 General Games

Kryptonite v1.0 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Kryptonite is an HTML source code editor with built-in previewer (IE-based). It allows for the creation of a single HTML page or an entire project, includes many built-in tags (adding links, bullets & numbering, layers, marquees, etc), has hex color & font test tools, optional syntax coloring, undo (up to 100 characters), and more. This is potentially an excellent HTML source code editor. It includes quick access to most of the basic tags, and ticks most boxes experienced HTML coders would want. Unfortunately, in practice it does not perform to expectations. The syntax coloring is 2-color only (tags are red, displayed text is blue) and must be manually applied. This can be very slow on a larger page. The main program window opens to a fixed size (780x520) that cannot be changed (it can be minimized but not maximized). The built-in tag tool for images does not add the image size (or even give you an option for adding them), and most other tags are similarly crippled. However, what really amazed us the most was that when you went to open an existing page, no HTML documents would display in the Explorer-style window, it displays only documents with an HTM extension! As most people use the HTML extension and not the HTM extension, we found this most strange. Kryptonite was not the success as an HTML editor that we would have expected. While it is better than creating Web pages in Notepad (not by much, at least Notepad can go fullscreen!), its deficiencies limit its use as a serious HTML authoring tool (whoops, sorry, HTM authoring tool). Its lack of Helpfile means that only experienced HTMLers would find it useful. Access this 1.63MB download from: Win95 Internet Related

BurnAware v1.2b – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
BurnAware is a program for burning CDs & DVDs. It features support for all major formats (all CD/DVD media types, including Blue-Ray, audio CDs & DVD-Videos), writes & creates disc images, supports multi-session disks, auto-verification of written files, supports all modern hardware, offers disk erasing, and more. This is one of the best free disk burning programs we have seen. It has an easy-to-use interface, supports buffering, and much more. BurnAware supports all popular formats, including Blue-Ray (BD-R/BD-RE), and works with most disk media. A real alternative to the programs provided free with most hardware, BurnAware will just keep on getting better and better as the author adds more features. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 4.41MB download from: Win98 General Programs

XP Multi-Tool v1.0 – WinXP
XP Multi-Tool is a Windows XP tweaking tool. Changes include some Windows' settings, nominating a new background for Explorer, removing some system restrictions (disabled Registry editor, Task Manager, etc), removing the drive autorun virus, and more. This is a very basic tweaking tool with a cumbersome interface and very little instruction. It is not a tool we recommend for novices, and even advanced users would get little value from using it. However, it may just offer the tweak that you have been looking for and, for that reason alone, it is worth having on your hard drive. We suggest you use XP Multi-Tool cautiously. Note: we have been advised that this program is only suitable for Windows XP. Access this 394kB download from: WinXP Windows Enhancements

Greedy Spooks v2.0 – WinXP/Vista
Greedy Spooks is a pirate-based puzzle. It features sensational high resolution animated graphics, excellent storyline, time-based addictive gameplay, fullscreen or windowed modes, mouse & keyboard driven, non-violent, fun for all ages, and more. This is an excellent puzzle with a strong storyline and addictive gameplay. Loosely based on a falling blocks puzzle where you match up three or more tokens of the same type and color to make them disappear, Greedy Spooks adds many layers and enhancements to create a unique version of this classic game. Most players will enjoy getting involved in the storyline, though this isn't strictly necessary to play the game. There seems to be some question about what operating systems it will operate on – the author's Website says Windows XP, but the README file (and the information submitted to CFS by the author) indicates that it could be suitable for Windows 95 and later. CFS has erred on the side of safety and listed it as a Windows XP (and later) program. It should also be noted that the README file says that it requires an 800x600 screen, but, in fact, it requires a 1024x768 screen. So much for accurate information... Greedy Spooks displays an annoying nag screen for 5 seconds when the program closes, and there is an optional search bar you can add to your Web browser. That aside, Greedy Spooks is one of the best presented puzzles we have seen and it is one we are happy to recommend. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME (see above). Access this 36.3MB download from: WinXP General Games
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.
If you enjoy the Completely FREE Software site please don't feel shy about letting others know.