ur software guide | softessential

Essential Image Editors

2009-05-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

+ IrfanView 4.2 [1.25MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista
Limitations: No limitations

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** Publisher's description of IrfanView **

IrfanView is a fast and compact image viewer/converter. It is trying to be simple for beginners and powerful for professionals. Many supported file formats and features. Features include: multi-language support, Thumbnail option, Painting, slideshow, toolbar skins, fast directory browsing, batch conversion/editing, multipage editing, file search, change color depth, scanning, cut/crop, IPTC edit, capturing, lossless JPG operations, effects, ICC support, EXE/SCR creating, many hotkeys, command line options and plugins.

Version 4.2 adds Basic Unicode support and new options.

+ Paint.NET 3.36 [1.53MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows XP/2003 Server/Vista, Microsoft .NET Framework 2
Limitations: No limitations

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** Publisher's description of Paint.NET **

Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plug-ins. Version 3.36 includes unspecified updates.

+ GIMP 2.6.0 [15.03MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista, GTK+ Runtime Environment
Limitations: No limitations

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** Publisher's description of GIMP **

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely distributed piece of software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring. It is a powerful piece of software with capabilities not found in any other free software product. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert-quality photo-retouching program, an online batch-processing system, a mass production image renderer, or an image-format converter. GIMP is modular, expandable, and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image-manipulation procedures to be easily scripted.

In Gimp 2.6, the toolbox menubar has been removed and merged with the image window menubar; Toolbox and Docks are now Utility windows and also the ability to pan beyond the image border has been added.

Essential Webcam Software

2009-05-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

+ Camfrog Video Chat 5.1.129 [8.09MB]

License: Free to try; $49.95 to buy
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista
Limitations: Some features disabled

** Publisher's description of Camfrog Video Chat **

Camfrog Video Chat allows you to join real streaming video chat rooms where you can hear, see, and chat with many people at a time. Instant message a user to get to know them before you Webcam chat, and add them to your contact list. This videoconferencing software also works behind most firewalls and routers. Camfrog Video Chat allows multi-user videoconferencing where you can join a room with up to 1000 users and just click a user name to begin seeing someone. Press the 'talk' button to talk to the entire room with audio. The video chat rooms are hosted by broadband users who are running the Camfrog Video Chat Room Server software so any user can set up their own multi-user video conference for other users to join. No Webcam is required to see people, but some rooms might not allow users without Webcams. Camfrog Video Chat is optimized for broadband users so it has fast video.

Version 5.1.129 fixes a problem where some one-on-one video chat connections could become disconnected under certain circumstances.

Essential E-mail Client

2009-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

+ Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.17 [6.45MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of Mozilla Thunderbird **

Thunderbird makes e-mailing safer, faster, and easier with such features as intelligent spam filters, a built-in RSS reader, and quick search. Thunderbird was designed to prevent viruses and to stop junk mail so you can get back to reading your mail. Thunderbird provides effective tools for detecting junk mail. Its tools analyze your e-mail and identify those that are most likely to be junk. You can automatically have your junk mail deleted or you can put it in a folder you specify, just in case you like reading junk mail.

View your e-mail the way you want it. Access your e-mail with Thunderbird's new three-column view. Customize your toolbar, change its look with themes, and use Mail Views to quickly sort through your messages. Version 2.0.0.17 is a security- and bug-fixing release.

Essential Instant Messeging Clients

2009-05-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

+ Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018 [2.29MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows XP SP2/Vista
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of Windows Live Messenger **

Windows Live Messenger includes support for the im Initiative! Every time you start a conversation using im, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes. So any time you have an im conversation using Windows Live Messenger, you help address the issues you feel most passionate about. It's simple. All you have to do is join and start an instant messaging conversation.

Key Features: Call your friends' PC (free), mobile or landline phones. Calls require a microphone and speakers or a headset and broadband connection. Make calls for less than $.02 a minute to most places around the world with Verizon Web Calling. Start a video conversation within minutes with a webcam. Drop in photos and other stuff for friends in a Sharing Folder, as many as your computer can handle. With Windows Live Messenger you can now connect with your Yahoo! IM contacts.

+ Yahoo Messenger 9.0 [423.95K)]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of Yahoo Messenger **

Yahoo Messenger is a free service that allows you to see when friends come online and to send them instant messages. It also can alert you to new e-mail in your Yahoo Mail or Yahoo Personals accounts, or when you have upcoming events recorded in your Yahoo Calendar. Yahoo Messenger offers firewall support, a standby mode that minimizes the program until an Internet connection is made, the ability to save and print your conversations, and a tabbed interface that provides quick access to your favorite stocks, news, and sports scores.

Other features include the ability to create a chat room automatically, stock price alerts, the ability to send messages to friends (even if they're not online when you are), a Quick Compact mode that hides the Messenger tools to maximize your viewing area, Messenger Themes, and voice chat, which allows you to talk for free to anybody else on the Internet. It also includes Launchcast Radio, Yahoo Games, and Yahoo Audibles. Using a Webcam, you can see who you're chatting with or view the Webcam of any Yahoo member who has granted you access.

Version 9.0 adds a redesigned interface, the ability to view Flickr photos and videos in the chat window, and friend importing from other e-mail and chatting networks. It also adds Yahoo Pingbox, which lets you chat with Web site owners in real time.

Essential Business Softwares

2009-05-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

+ OpenOffice.org (Windows) 2.4.1 [127.06MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of OpenOffice.org (Windows) **

OpenOffice.org is both an open-source product and a project. The product is a multiplatform office productivity suite. It includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to those of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office. Localizations of OpenOffice.org are available in 27 languages, with more being constantly added by the community. OpenOffice.org runs on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), and Windows. Written in C++ and with documented APIs licensed under the LGPL and SISSL open-source protocols, OpenOffice.org allows any knowledgeable developer to benefit from the source.

Version 2.4.1 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

+ PortableApps Suite (Standard Edition) 1.0 [89.59MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/Vista and Wine
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of PortableApps Suite (Standard Edition) **

PortableApps Suite is a collection of portable apps, including the integrated PortableApps Menu and the PortableApps Backup utility along with a set of custom icons, an autoplay configuration, folders and a quick start shortcut. Just drop it on your portable device and you're ready to go.
PortableApps Suite (Standard Edition) includes ClamWin Portable (antivirus), Firefox Portable (web browser), Gaim Portable (instant messaging), OpenOffice.org Portable (office suite), Sudoku Portable (puzzle game), Sunbird Portable (calendar/task manager) and Thunderbird Portable (email client) and runs comfortably from a 512MB drive.

Essential Plugins For Firefox

2009-05-02T20:12:00.001-07:00

+ Adobe Reader 9 [33.5MB]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of Adobe Reader **

Adobe Reader allows more securely view, print, search, sign, verify, and collaborate on PDF documents, online as well as offline, from your home or office. Reader has a completely redesigned interface, new tools, and new options for viewing information more efficiently. Access to an online, real-time meeting in seconds.

Reader is integrated with Adobe Connect software, which enables users to instantly communicate and accelerate approvals with virtually anyone, anywhere, at any time. Add more security to your documents, forms, and drawings with digital signatures. Leverage Adobe LiveCycle Policy Server and the new Adobe Online Services Document Center to enforce access rights at the document level.

Version 9 includes compatibility with Acrobat.com for enhanced web-based collaboration and other features, built-in multimedia support, a streamlined interface, support for searching all PDFs on a drive, and more.

Note: The Download Now link will direct you to a form on the developer's site that you must fill out before download.

+ Flash Player 9.0.115 [723 bytes]

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 Server, Internet Explorer 6
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of Flash Player **

Flash Player 9 is a lightweight, highly expressive client runtime that delivers powerful and consistent user experiences across major operating systems, browsers, mobile phones, and devices. Flash Player 9 builds on the advances in Flash Player 8 by focusing on three main areas: creating a more robust programming model, achieving standards compliance, and improving performance. Version 9.0.115 includes unspecified updates.

+ McAfee SiteAdvisor for Firefox 26.6

License: Free
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mozilla Firefox 1.5
Limitations: No limitations

** Publisher's description of McAfee SiteAdvisor for Firefox **

McAfee SiteAdvisor helps protect you from all kinds of Web-based security threats including spyware, adware, spam, viruses, browser exploits, phishing, online fraud and identity theft. Our automated testers continually patrol the Web to browse sites, download files, and sign-up for things with e-mail addresses. As you search, browse, download or register online, SiteAdvisor's safety ratings help you stay safe and in control.

Version 26.6 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.