Software : There could soon be far fewer apps in the App Store |
- There could soon be far fewer apps in the App Store
- Facebook Messenger takes on Snapchat with Instant Video
- Round up: The best free accounting software 2016
- Round up: The best free firewall 2016
- Round up: The best free email client 2016
- Round up: The best free audio editor 2016
- Round up: The best free anti-spyware and anti-malware software 2016
- Round up: The best free media player 2016
- Round up: The best free file recovery software 2016
- Round up: The best free VPN service 2016
- Round up: The best free website builder 2016
- Round up: The best free parental control software 2016
- Round up: The best free system utilities 2016
There could soon be far fewer apps in the App Store Posted: There's a huge number of high quality apps available for iOS devices, but there's also a huge number of rubbish, broken or outdated ones, and Apple is set to address this by performing a cull of those that don't meet the company's exacting standards. In an FAQ page Apple has revealed that it will begin reviewing and removing apps on September 7. Quality, up to date content will be safe, but any apps that crash on launch will be removed from the store immediately, while for other issues developers will be given 30 days to make any necessary changes. Problem apps include those which no longer function as intended or which haven't been updated in a long time. Another potential issue is with naming, as long app names full of descriptions and search terms have been used for some apps in an attempt to push them to the top of search lists. These are spammy names, usually attached to spammy apps, and they simply clutter up the search, so Apple is requiring new and updated apps to have names of 50 characters or less. These changes should be good for users. Apple's App Store is already generally known for quality over quantity (at least in comparison to Google Play, which often feels like a free-for-all), but with over 2 million apps available on iOS it's no surprise that there's still a quality issue with many of them. There's not an app for thatWhile the change will probably mostly remove worthless apps and spur developers of higher quality abandoned apps into finally updating them, it does raise a couple of interesting questions. Firstly, will the number of available apps significantly drop? The figure is largely irrelevant to most users, but has been a point of pride for Apple and makes for an easy way to compare app stores, so Apple may not want to see it drop below the 2 million mark. Secondly, will any popular or useful apps get swept away? By the sounds of things, the changes shouldn't affect quality apps that function on iOS 9, but a quick trip to the store shows that many apps haven't been updated in years, and these may be targeted. The good news is that if your favorite app is removed you'll still be able to use it, it just won't be available on the App Store any more, but hopefully that will push the developers to submit a new and improved version.
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Facebook Messenger takes on Snapchat with Instant Video Posted: Facebook Messenger is getting yet another feature today, now allowing you to share live video instantly with a friend. The new feature is called Instant Video and works, unsurprisingly, much like Snapchat's own video messaging offering. Facebook Messenger does already have a video chat feature, but Instant Video aims to get users to share tidbits of their lives instead of having a full conversation. "Instant Video is a reflection of the ubiquity of video — we simply expect to have that ability in real-time, all the time," writes Facebook in a blog post. "With Instant Video, you can bring your conversations to life in the most authentic way — seamlessly and instantly." Facebook imagines Instant Video will be used in situations where you want to quickly get your friend's opinion on a pair of shoes or need to ask a friend what ice cream flavor he or she would like. Short and sweet, and possibly actually helpful. How it worksTo use Instant Video, you and a friend need to have your chat open in the Facebook Messenger app. Only then will the video button pulse, letting you know you can start an Instant Video. By default, videos show up in a window without sound, but can be enabled with a tap. Users can choose to enable their camera to show their reaction. Both Snapchat and Facebook Messenger support sending video notes as well if you don't need an immediate response. Both services also support traditional video calling for longer conversations. Instant Video is just one of the many features Facebook hopes will keep its users from going to another chat app besides WhatsApp (Facebook owns WhatsApp). Collectively, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp have about 2 billion active users, showing Facebook's dominance in the segment. For comparison, Snapchat has 150 million active users. Although Instant Video may not end up being a popular feature, it doesn't have to be. Facebook just has to match its competitors and leverage the massive popularity of its social network to get users talking to one another. |
Round up: The best free accounting software 2016 Posted: The best free accounting softwareFree accounting for home businessesWhether you're a freelancer or a flautist, a graphic designer or a greengrocer, if you're running any kind of business you really need some kind of accounting software to stay on top of things - as we discovered, the age-old system of chucking everything into a drawer and panicking at tax return time isn't the best. But that doesn't mean you need to invest huge sums or learn something hopelessly complicated. The best free accounting software is easy to use and enables you to see how well you're doing and who owes you money. 1. GnuCashA simple approach to bookkeeping - the best free accounting software around
It's available for Linux, GNU, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, Android, OS X and Windows, and it's been kicking around since the late 1990s - but the most recent update was just last month.
2. Money Manager ExStraightforward enough for home use, as well as small businesses Another superb open source tool, Money Manager Ex is well designed and packed with enough features to rival premium software. It's easy to understand, and you'll have your accounts and transactions set up in no time. Money Manager Ex's simplicity makes it a particularly good choice for sole traders or your own home finances.
3. TurboCASHA heftier accounting tool that will suit owners of SMBs TurboCASH is free accounting software that's been in continuous development since April 1985, and it's hugely popular in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia. It's available in 23 languages and boasts an online community of more than 100,000 users.
4. WaveSlick, cloud-based free accounting that works well for freelancers With more than two million users, Wave is one of the most successful online accounting services - and it's completely free for accounting, invoicing and receipts, although if you want personal technical support you'll need to pay for it. Payroll isn't included in the free service either, and you do get the odd advert - just as you do with pretty much any free online service.
5. NCH Express InvoiceGenerate forms, invoices, quotes and orders in moments With versions for PC, Mac, iPad and Android, NCH Express Invoice caters for most kinds of businesses - and if you have fewer than five members of staff, you can have it for free without time limits or other restrictions.
6. VT Cash BookMinimalist bookkeeping that uses Excel for the grunt work It's not going to win any awards for aesthetics, but VT Cash Book isn't there to look good: its priority is to record day to day cash transactions with the least amount of fuss. It uses Autocomplete to speed up data entry, supports multiple bank accounts and bank reconciliation, can be used to prepare VAT returns and enables you to create profit and loss, balance sheets and ledgers.
7. Invoice ExpertA good option for anyone selling physical products The free version of Invoice Expert is limited to 100 customers/products, but it retains the features of its US$69.95 (about £50, AU$90) sibling including inventory and customer management, invoicing and quoting, purchase orders and inventory management.
8. Adminsoft AccountsA complete money-management toolkit for small business owners These days genuine freeware - that is, software that's given away for free without adverts, bundled software or ulterior motives - is a rare thing, but it describes AdminSoft Accounts: more than 300,000 people have taken advantage of what is a surprisingly thorough free accounting system (and an unusually honest set of terms and conditions).
9. QuickFileFree small business accounting in the cloud - no software needed Designed specifically for non-accountants, QuickFile offers free tiers for small businesses while still delivering automatic invoicing, purchase receipt management, quotations and multi-currency support.
10. Apache OpenOfficeMake your own accounting sheets using the free office suite You don't necessarily need a dedicated free accounting program, especially if your requirements are pretty straightforward. For many businesses and sole traders, all you really need is a simple spreadsheet - and with a price tag of zero, OpenOffice fits the bill nicely.
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Round up: The best free firewall 2016 Posted: The best free firewall 2016The best free firewallIn the 1990s, Microsoft had a problem: Windows seemed to suffer from endless security problems that hackers and other online villains were quick to exploit. One way to fight back was to install a firewall - an app that blocked malicious and/or unwanted network traffic and that could ensure that dodgy software couldn't sneak onto your PC. Microsoft began building its own firewall into Windows and that's still the case today, but attacks still happen and additional software can make your system even more secure. These are the firewall apps we think you should consider using no matter which version of Windows you're running. If we've missed your favorite free firewall - whether it's a standalone program or built into a full online security suite - let us know in the comments below. ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 2016A free firewall with real-time protection and special features for wireless connections
The current version hides open ports, identifies potentially dodgy traffic, disables malicious programs and connects to DefenseNet, which provides real-time security updates as new threats are detected. It also protects your computer on public Wi-Fi networks.
Comodo FirewallBlocks over two million known threats, with more added every day If you don't like firewalls with lots of pop-up notifications then Comodo Firewall probably isn't for you: it's one of the more vocal free firewall apps we tested, but that's because it's also one of the most comprehensive. It runs on Windows 7 or later, monitors your network, system and apps, and it has a blocklist of more than two million bad apps that it won't let anywhere near your PC.
PeerBlockProtection designed specifically for regular filesharers Many free firewalls use multiple forms of protection, but PeerBlock is designed to protect just one kind of problem: traffic from IP addresses that you don't trust. That narrow focus means it does its one job very well without requiring much in the way of system resources or intervention from you.
TinyWallPrefer to use Windows' own firewall? TinyWall will give you full control TinyWall is better known for what it doesn't do than what it does: unlike some free firewalls it doesn't interrupt you with pop-up warnings about what seems to be every second bit of data. It's designed to improve Windows' own firewall features without requiring any expert knowledge, and while it offers the same whitelisting features as other packages - to ensure that the apps you use can get online without any difficulty - it does it through hotkeys or lists rather than pop-ups.
OpenDNSCustomizable filters to protect your most personal data at router level OpenDNS isn't a downloadable free firewall; it's a change you can make to your router's settings so it connects to the internet via OpenDNS's servers. That means the protection applies to any device on your network, which is useful in today's hyper-connected homes and businesses.
Anti NetCut3A firewall designed to secure your connection on risky public networks If you've ever wondered "who spoof my connection", Anti NetCut3 has the answer. Ropey interface translations aside, this free firewall is designed to block attempts to cut or manipulate your internet connection when you're using potentially compromised networks such as public Wi-Fi hotspots, which are relatively easy to mess with.
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Round up: The best free email client 2016 Posted: Download the best free email clientsThe best free email clientWith webmail services like Gmail and Outlook offering easy email access and mobile apps for all your devices, does the humble email client still warrant a place on you desktop? If you use more than one email account, we say yes - particularly if they're with different providers, which would otherwise require you to have several browser tabs open at once. As well as aggregating all your messages in one convenient place, a good email client can add features like encryption and integration with calendars, RSS feeds and VoIP apps. Desktop clients can also store your mail locally, giving you access to archived messages when you're offline and providing a valuable backup. Here's our nomination for the best email client of 2016. Have we missed your favorite? What makes it stand out? Let us know in the comments below. 1. eM ClientThe best email client with support for a wide range of email providers and integrated chat eM Client has been kicking around for nearly 10 years now, and its long development has enabled it to develop into the best email client for Windows. The free version is limited to non-commercial use and two email accounts, but otherwise it's identical to the paid-for edition.
2. Mailbird LiteA great-looking email client packed with features to supplement your messages Mailbird Lite isn't just an email app - it's a whole communication platform to which you can add apps for scheduling, chatting, file syncing and teamworking. After downloading Mailbird you'll be treated to a 30-day trial of the Pro version, which is downgraded to the more limited Lite edition if you choose not to upgrade at the end of the month. There are no time restrictions on the free client. Free users miss out on features such as speed reading, email snoozing and quick previews of attachments, but Mailbird Lite is still an excellent choice. It supports up to three email accounts, is optimized for speed, and looks great to boot.
3. Claws MailA basic interface belies a powerful email tool for confident users Claws isn't hard to use, but is best suited to more experienced users who want to get stuck into its custom mail filtering and support for an unlimited number of email accounts. Unlike the other clients here, Claws requires users to set up their POP3/IMAP settings manually. If you use Gmail, you may also need to adjust your Google account settings and grant access for potentially less safe applications - something you might well prefer to avoid. Unusually for a modern email client there's no option to send HTML messages - Claws is plaintext-only - but by omitting potentially unnecessary features, Claws can run at lightning speeds. Its search function is particularly good, and it's expandable via plugins too.
4. InkyA free email client with one-time setup for all your devices Inky's free edition is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Android, and its one-time setup makes it the perfect email client for use across all three platforms. After downloading and installing the email client, you'll be asked to create an Inky account. This links all your email addresses together, enabling you to access them from any device with Inky installed without the hassle of setting up POP and IMAP settings. Once you've registered, setup is simple; enter the username and password for each account, and Inky takes care of the rest.
If you're running Windows 7 or later and spend lots of time trying to find particular messages or threads, Inky could save you an enormous amount of time. 5. Opera MailA flexible open source email client from the makers of the Opera browser The developers of Opera have always considered email to be a key feature of any good browser, and have poured a great deal of effort into developing free email client Opera Mail. Its features include message templates - particularly handy for business use - message filtering and sorting, message sorting by type and a wide range of customisation options.
6. ThunderbirdPlenty of features, and even more available with free extensions Like Firefox, free email client Thunderbird was created by the Mozilla Foundation (though development of the two has since been uncoupled). Like the web browser, its features can be extended and enhanced with a huge range of third-party add-ons. Some of its excellent built-in features include the ability to link files that are too big to email and the ability to read RSS news feeds alongside your email.
7. Windows Live MailA venerable email client that's stood the test of time Windows Live Mail was last updated in 2012, having been superseded by the Mail app in Windows 8 and 10. However, despite Live Mail's comparatively old-fashioned appearance, the two programs are largely the same. Windows Live Mail delivers the three-pane layout that many email users, including us, prefer to more modern but more minimal designs. It supports RSS and cloud-based email as well as POP3, and makes it easy to send attachments and work with multiple accounts.
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Round up: The best free audio editor 2016 Posted: The best free audio editorThe best free audio editorWhen you want to edit a sound file – whether it's to create a custom ringtone for your phone, make your own podcasts or record music – the prospect of choosing the right audio editor for the job can be a daunting one. The complexity of some audio-editing tools might be enough to scare you away, but it's more likely to be the price tag attached to such software that sends you running. Never fear, though – there are free options packed with professional-quality features. Whether you're looking for a tool to help create a soundtrack for your home movies, or you need something to help you convert your old record and cassette collection into MP3 format while removing background static, there's a free software download out there for you. Before you begin, it's worth noting that most audio editors use the LAME codec. It's probably already installed on your system, but if you receive a warning that you need to install it, you can download a free codec pack containing it. 1. AudacityThe very best free audio editor, Audacity has all the tools you could possibly need Audacity is equipped with an extensive suite of built-in tools, enabling you to edit pre-recorded files, capture sound through an attached microphone, or even stream music and podcasts. There's support for a wide range of audio formats for both importing and exporting, and the range of built-in effect is impressive.
2. Free Audio EditorIdeal for recording and editing your own songs and podcasts Free Audio Editor's name tells you everything you need to know here. You have to deselect a few checkboxes to avoid installing unwanted software, but the tool itself is worth the effort. It can be used to record audio via line-in, work with existing audio files, or to rip CDs. One thing that makes Free Audio Editor stand out from the competition is the way the interface has been designed. Rather than hiding option deep in confusing menus, everything you need to right at your fingertips. A neat effects sidebar makes it simple to get to the tools you need, and you can even bookmark those you use most to make your life even easier.
3. Free MP3 Cutter and EditorIf you don't want advanced functions, this little audio editor is just what you need Free MP3 Cutter and Editor is a simple program designed with a very specific type of audio editing in mind. Audacity would be a better choice if you want fine control of your tracks, but if you're looking for nothing more than a quick and dirty program for trimming the fat from your MP3s, this is perfect.
It might sound limited, but it's extremely good at what it does (for example, if you have saved a live recording as one large MP3 and then want to divide it up into a number of individual tracks). It's not the sort of task you would need a professional audio editor for, and Free MP3 Cutter and Editor fits the bill nicely. 4. WavePad Audio Editor FreeEasy sound editing for Windows, Android and Apple devices The iPad has, over the years, become recognised as a value tool for music creation, but not so much for editing tracks. WavePad Audio Editor Free is an interesting app for a couple of reasons: not only is it a free audio editing app, but it's also available for iOS and Android as well as Windows. The mobile apps are surprisingly powerful - helped, perhaps, by the fact that the iOS and Android versions are designed like the desktop software.
5. ocenaudioA good choice for small tasks, like creating ringtones Like Audacity, ocenaudio is available for multiple platforms (Windows, Linux and Mac). While not bursting with features, it's a great tool for everyday audio editing. Real-time effect previewing should help to speed up your work as there's no need to apply a change just to try it out, and a highly precise selection tool makes it easy to apply the same effect to multiple section of a files.
There's a decent range of effects to choose from, and there's even the option of exporting your creations as a ringtone for your iPhone. 6. mp3DirectCutTrim and normalize recorded audio files Despite its name, mp3DirectCut does more than just slicing up MP3s (although it does that very well). You can record directly into the program or work with existing audio files, and although there are no fancy options, all of the basics are covered. As well as simple track splitting, this compact audio editor also contains tools for normalising audio, increasing volume, and fading.
mp3DirectCut also features a batching processing option that can be used to quickly apply the same settings and effects to entire folders full of files, which is handy for normalising a series of tracks, or increasing the volume of a set that were recorded at the same time. 7. Acoustica Basic EditionA more advanced mastering audio editor, with effect layering Acoustica Basic Edition is a superb audio editor, and is particularly good at cleaning up old audio recordings from vinyl or cassettes by removing unwanted noise.
There's support for DirectX and VST plug-ins, so you can easily expand the program's repertoire. If you want to get a taste for audio editing with the freedom to move beyond the basics when you feel ready, Acoustica Basic Edition is an excellent starting point. 8. WavosaurA portable app for simple editing on any PC Wavosaur differs from the rest of the audio editors we're looking at because it's a portable app. You can therefore save it to a USB stick, ready for use on any PC without installation. Despite its tiny size, Wavosaur packs a punch. It's designed with MP3 editing in mind, but supports other key formats as well. It also boasts features like pitch shifting and vocal removal (ideal for making DIY karaoke tracks, and as with Audacity, its feature set can be expanded with VST plug-ins.
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Round up: The best free anti-spyware and anti-malware software 2016 Posted: The best anti-spyware and anti-malware softwareThe best free protection for your PCUsing an internet-connected PC without anti-spyware and anti-malware protection is rather like walking through the bad bit of town covered in bling, waving big wads of notes around and shouting "I am very bad at fighting!" Luckily you don't need to have big wads of notes to ensure that you don't get ripped off through your router or mugged via modem: as we'll discover in our feature, there are plenty of seriously good PC protection apps that you can get for absolutely nothing. As with any free software, pay close attention to the installers: some apps really want you to install bundled software, and they often do so by making installer screens really misleading in the hope that you'll just merrily click okay to everything. Given that the whole point of these apps is to remove unwanted software from your system, trying to stuff unwanted apps into your PC is a bit off. For more information, see our guide to avoiding potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). Have we missed an anti-spyware program that's saved your system? Let us know in the comments below. 1. BitDefender Antivirus Free EditionDiscreet protection from malware, spyware and online security threats
Ad-free, nag-free and hassle-free, it's a great product that runs quickly and silently while you get on with something more interesting.
2. Panda Free Anti-Virus 2016Cloud-based security that takes the pressure off your PC We're big fans of Panda's security products, and Panda Free Anti-Virus 2016 is smarter than ever before. It's cloud-based, with all the heavy lifting happening on Panda's servers - so the load on your PC is lessened considerably.
3. AVG Anti-Virus Free 2016A simple interface and effective scanning with remote activation If you prefer software that keeps quiet, AVG Anti-Virus Free 2016 might not be the app for you: it's quite vocal with its notifications, and irks us from time to time with irrelevant pop-ups telling us we've done something fantastic.
The paid-for Pro model has more security options - it has more robust download protection, offers data encryption includes a firewall - but the free version offers decent protection for most PC users. 4. Ad-Aware Free Anti-Virus+All the anti-malware essentials, but lacks phishing protection Like many security software firms, Lavasoft offers its Ad-Aware Free Anti-Virus+ software in a free version in the hope you'll upgrade to its paid-for products - so it doesn't have some of the more advanced features you'd pay money for, such as phishing protection, parental controls and a digital file shredder.
5. MalwareBytes Anti-MalwareAn excellent tool, but the free edition lacks real-time protection You can use MalwareBytes Anti-Malware free for as long as you like, but there's an important caveat: real-time protection, the fast 'hyper scan' mode and malicious website blocking features all expire after 14 days - and that means you're missing out on some of the program's best features.
6. SpyBot Search and DestroyA security stalwart that's ideal for diagnosing existing infections SpyBot Search and Destroy is a veteran of the malware wars, dating back to the first adware in 2000, and while it doesn't scan for viruses - that's in the Home version, which is $13.99 (about £9.58, AU$18.39) - the free version does a decent job of finding and fixing adware, malware and spyware.
7. Avast Free Anti-Virus 2016A comprehensive package with built-in password management Avast is another old-timer, and has been protecting Windows since PCs were made of wood. Avast Free Anti-Virus 2016 is the lightest, fastest version the company has ever shipped (the bad old days of security software slowing your PC to a crawl are thankfully long gone) and it supplements the anti-malware protection with a nifty password manager and home network monitoring, which can identify weak points in your Wi-Fi.
8. Emsisoft Emergency KitA lifesaver if your PC is already infected, but not a preventative tool Most security software tries to stop malware and spyware getting onto your system. Emsisoft Emergency Kit doesn't: it's the 911 call of security software, the app you use when your PC's been poked by something unpleasant.
9. HijackThisFor experts only - get detailed reports on a misbehaving PC Originally developed by Trend Micro and now available via SourceForge, HijackThis isn't an app for the faint of heart or tech-phobic: it generates an exceptionally detailed report on your system, enabling you to spot potential problems and malicious software.
10. SUPERAntiSpyware Free EditionAn outdated interface belies a solid manual malware scanner Not just anti-spyware - SUPER anti-spyware. Does it live up to the name? Yes and no. SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition lacks real-time protection and scheduled scanning, so it's a tool you need to remember to run manually, and the interface appears to have been designed in the dark by maniacs.
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Round up: The best free media player 2016 Posted: Download the best free media playerThe best free media playerAfter 25 years of development, you might think Windows Media Player should have the power to handle all your video and audio needs. And yet, as you've probably noticed, it's still extremely limited, and won't even play some common file types without downloading extra components. Downloading an alternative media player can put an end to file compatibility woes; the best packages support just about every format, and some can even convert them to something more widely used. Problems with the video or audio file itself? Good media players can help there too, offering equalizers, compressors, color adjustments, video sharpening and a host of other tricks to improve playback. If you like to customise every element of your media player then you'll love a tool like VLC - our top pick - which supports multiple interfaces and allows you to configure all of them, right down to the finest detail, without becoming cumbersome to use. 1. VLC Media PlayerFlexible, customizable and entirely free - the best media player around
It's all very easy to use. Double-click just about any file and it'll play immediately, with all the core controls where you'd expect them to be. Browsing the menus reveals all kinds of additional goodies that you won't find in Microsoft's player: special effects that enhance your audio and video files, custom bookmarks to save and recall your favorite playback moments, and even a module to batch convert media files into a more convenient format.
VLC Media Player is also a available as a portable app to run from a USB stick. There really is something here for everyone, which makes VLC our favorite free alternative to Windows Media Player. Read on to discover four more of the best media players, and why they're worth your consideration. What's your player of choice? Let us know in the comments below. 2. AIMPA dedicated audio player for managing and controlling your music All the top media players have a capable set of audio features, but opt for a specialist music player like AIMP and you'll get much, much more. With support for over 30 audio formats and a host of internet radio streams, you'll be able to play just about anything, and the 32-bit audio processing and output support delivers the best possible quality for your system. AIMP's configurable sound engine gives you great audio control. There's an 18-band equalizer, an array of effects (including reverb, flanger, chorus, pitch, tempo, echo, speed, bass, enhancer and voice remover), normalization, and support for DSP plug-ins (a format originally designed for Winamp). With so many features, it's closer to an audio editor than a simple media player. AIMP's powerful media management tools also make it easy to keep your songs in order, with smart playlist tools and a tag editor that's better than some stand-alone equivalents.
3. foobar2000An intuitive audio player with plug-in support for extra features Free and feature-packed, foobar2000 is a likeable media player designed specifically for audio. It's simpler and more straightforward than AIMP, but still with plenty of music-playing power. The configurable interface is a major plus. Launch the program and it presents you with a range of layouts, colors and playlist formats. Click an option and the interface updates immediately to show you the results. Basic operations are straightforward, with just about everything working as you would expect. Point the program at your music folder and it'll build your library automatically. Then you can drag and drop files to play them, open individual files or folders, view tags and audio information, manage playlists and more.
4. GOM PlayerA very capable media player, but watch out for the adware GOM Player might not be the prettiest media player, but once you start using it, it soon begins to get interesting. As well as the usual playback buttons, there are quick controls to apply video and audio effects, change playback speed, tweak subtitles, take screenshots, create and manage playlists, make the player window transparent, keep it always on top, and more. More unusual (but very welcome) features include the ability to open YouTube URLs and play 360-degree VR videos. A well-designed interface walks you through most of this. Click buttons, explore, and you'll be familiar with this free media player's basics in a few minutes.
5. PotPlayerA great player that sadly hides some of its impressive features After a quick, easy and adware-free installation, PotPlayer opens with a simple, stripped-back interface. Drag and drop a file in just almost any format (there's even 3D video support) and playback starts immediately. It's just as easy to play entire folders, DVDs or Blu-rays (discs or files), FTP, WebDAV and HTTP links, and input from webcams and other devices. You can save whatever you're viewing as a Favorite and bookmark the best scenes, making it simple to recall them later. Potplayer gives you remarkably granular control over your media. The Video menu alone has options to sharpen, de-noise, rotate or tweak picture levels, resize, rotate or crop, adjust brightness, contrast, hue and saturation, configure 3D playback, capture and record video, and much, much more.
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Round up: The best free file recovery software 2016 Posted: Download the best free recovery softwareRestore lost or deleted filesFile recovery can be an expensive business, which is why it's no substitute for backing up your key documents, photos and other data on a regular basis. But that's of little comfort to anyone – even those with good backup regimens – who suddenly find themselves confronted by the stomach-churning feeling of data loss. As soon as you've become aware of data loss, it's critical you stop using the drive affected immediately. Whether the drive itself is failing or you've simply deleted a file accidentally, this is the golden moment when you may be able to get your data back without an expensive purchase or trip to a data recovery specialist. We've cherry-picked five of the best free data recovery tools in the business. Just pick the one closest to your requirements and with a bit of luck (and no small measure of help from the app involved), you could yet save your files. 1. DMDE Free EditionThe most effective way to recover files from a dead hard drive
DMDE may not be the simplest tool to use, but it's one of the most effective, and our step-by-step file recovery guide will help you with the basics. DMDE works by letting you select a drive and then identifies all mountable partitions, with the most obvious choices highlighted. If successful, you're then shown a File Explorer-like view to browse the drive and recover what data you need from it.
Read on to discover four more of our favourite tools for recovering lost data in an emergency. Have we missed a program that's saved your skin in a near-disaster? Let us know in the comments below! 2. RecuvaRecover files accidentally deleted from your Recycle Bin, quickly and easily Recuva is purely concerned with helping you get accidentally deleted files back, but to this end it makes things as easy and stress-free as possible. It opens by default to a file recovery wizard, which advanced users can subsequently skip: from here, choose the type of file you're trying to recover (picture, documents, compressed, emails and all files are among those on offer) and it'll focus its search accordingly. You can target your search to a specific location or search all your drives, and you can opt to choose a quick or deep scan. The latter takes much longer, but flushes out more results. Then click 'Start' and wait for the scan to complete.
Recuva is also available as a portable app - essential for any emergency toolkit. 3. PhotoRecRecover lost files from any media, with support for hundreds of file formats Don't be fooled by the name, PhotoRec recovers far more than just photos. It works with a wide range of file systems and media, from hard drives to CD/DVD, USB flash drives and memory cards, and there are builds for Mac and Linux, giving you flexibility to recover data from a different computer if necessary. It also has deep knowledge of over 200 file formats, which helps with reconstructing lost files, and comes packaged with TestDisk, which can be used to recover partitions.
4. MiniTool Partition Recovery FreeLost a whole partition? MiniTool's excellent recovery software can help One of the most frightening data loss experiences is when an entire drive or partition goes missing. Often this can be traced to an accidentally deleted partition or one where the partition header has corrupted. If the issue is this simple, getting the partition back can be done quickly and easily without leaving Windows using MiniTool Partition Recovery Free. Just fire it up, select the drive containing your lost partition, then choose whether to scan the entire disk or just a portion of it (say the part where your missing partition should be). Choose between full and quick scans, then sit back and let the program do its work.
You can also double-click a partition to view its file contents – perfect for verifying it's the one you're after. 5. Paragon Rescue Kit 14 Free EditionCan't boot into Windows? All is not lost with Paragon Rescue Kit All of the recovery tools we've covered so far assume you're able to boot into Windows to use them. But what happens if Windows won't boot at all? This is where Paragon Rescue Kit comes into play. The best time to install it is now while your PC is running, otherwise you'll need to do so on a working Windows PC. Once done, you'll need a blank CD/DVD or flash drive (512MB or larger – if you're planning to recover data to this drive, go for the biggest drive you can) – the setup wizard does the hard work.
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Round up: The best free VPN service 2016 Posted: Protect your privacy onlineThe best free VPN toolsWith the eyes of ISPs growing ever more suspicious and government monitoring fast becoming something tangible and terrifying, the 'private' part of Virtual Private Network has never been more important. But hiding your internet traffic inside an encrypted tunnel isn't the only reason you might want to run a VPN on your machine. Perhaps you want your network traffic to appear to emanate from elsewhere in the world in order to use region-locked services (presuming, of course, you can do so legally). Maybe you're looking to seamlessly access your home network while on the road, or don't trust the security of public Wi-Fi access points. The VPN tag covers a lot of potential uses.
Bear in mind that using a VPN does come with certain disadvantages, primarily that you'll experience slower internet speed as your traffic is encrypted and routed through the servers of your chosen provider. Free options usually end up throttled compared to their paid-for siblings and might also serve up ads or, in some cases, track your browsing habits to sell on to third parties. 1. CyberGhost 5The best VPN tool to keep your browsing activity private CyberGhost is a VPN that truly has its users' ideals in mind: the company proudly declares that it doesn't track your activity, and publishes a transparency report to back up its claims.
It's also supremely easy to use, with a simple interface which allows you to select the location of your new IP address, and good visual indication of what's going on. That said, CyberGhost does run a reasonably limited number of servers, with selections mainly focused in Europe – at the time of writing, the free version offers no location option for Canada or any servers located in Asia.
2. TunnelbearTunneling made simple - but watch out for the data limit Tunnelbear is, as its dev crows, 'really really simple' to use. It's probably the most friendly VPN you'll find, with straightforward apps available for for Windows, MacOS and mobile devices. It's also one of the most well-travelled, with a truly worldwide network of tunnels to connect to, routing your data everywhere from Hong Kong to Norway – only its Australia and India nodes are restricted in the free edition. Much like CyberGhost, Tunnelbear promises high-end encryption and a complete absence of traffic logging. There's a pretty big kicker: the free version only offers 500MB of data transfer per month, so it's going to be reasonably useless if you're using it as a location-spoofing tool to watch geo-restricted video.
3. VPNBookVNPBook is a simple, convenient way to protect your privacy If you're a confident computer user or want to protect more than just a Windows device, VPNBook is a great option. It doesn't even require any specific software – you just plug the appropriate info into your machine's system settings and you're connected. It uses your choice of point-to-point-tunneling (PPTP) or OpenVPN to encrypt your traffic and fire it out of one of six servers, three in Europe and three in North America. Being rough-and-ready, though, VPNBook does have its issues. We can't vouch for the specific encryption used, for a start, and its open nature (and potential for abuse) means it uses a password which changes frequently.
4. OpenVPN ServerSetting up your own VPN server is an enterprise-level option While the OpenVPN team produces a more user-friendly VPN option in the form of PrivateTunnel – which offers only limited data transfer in its free form – and many of the other options here use OpenVPN tech to get the job done, it's worth putting in the (considerable) effort to install an OpenVPN server on a home machine. You'll need to stump up some cash if you want to make use of more than the two client connections included with the server installation, but this is a proper VPN. Set up its server properly, connect to it with the OpenVPN client software, and you'll not only encrypt your network traffic but gain access to your home network as if you were connected locally -- all your shares, files and machines at your fingertips.
5. Hotspot Shield FreeA promising VPN tool, but the ads and toolbars are overbearing It's been around for a while and has something of a mixed reputation: Hotspot Shield is a cracking VPN, but suffers some pretty heavy drawbacks that are required to contribute to its upkeep. However, Hotspot Shield dev Anchorfree has recently made steps to improve its service to free users. While you'll have to put up with a decent number of ads and frequent pleading to upgrade to its Elite version, some of the more insidious aspects – browser toolbars, page-injected advertising – are on the outs.
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Round up: The best free website builder 2016 Posted: Download the best free website buildersBuild your own websiteWeb design software transformed web building: if you were a keen coder, software could speed up your coding with auto-completion and macros; if you preferred to design visually, your software would turn your designs into code and stick them online. Although more and more web building platforms are online and based around fairly inflexible templates, web design software still has a key role to play - especially if you like to get things done when you're far from a data connection. So which web design apps are the best? Let's find out. 1. CoffeeCup Free HTML EditorMake your own professional-standard website in minutes
It lacks some of the features of its paid-for siblings - features such as the useful Color Schemer and built-in FTP uploading are reserved for the paid products - but unlike some rivals it's in continual development to keep it current.
2. PSPadA powerful text-based editor packed with extra tools for web developers PSPad might not be pretty, but it's pretty good. Inside the defiantly old-school Windows interface is a powerful programmer's editor that includes an FTP client for on-server editing, templates for common languages such as HTML, PHP, VBScript and many others, multiple document editing and macros that you can use to create and trigger commonly used code.
3. Google Web DesignerCreate stunning HTML5 animations for your own site Google Web Designer's name is a little misleading, because it's really an advert and animation designer: it's best suited to people who need to create animated, cross-platform elements that they'll then use in another program (or add to their otherwise hand-coded sites). But if you're one of those people there's lots to like including Google Drive integration, 3D objects, layers and events.
4. KompoZerAn older website builder, but still a favorite We have a soft spot for KompoZer, which is a spin-off from the same Mozilla that created Firefox - but where Firefox has been in constant development from day one, KompoZer hasn't been updated since 2010.
5. SynWriteA text-based editor for more experienced web developers It's overkill for beginners, but if you're a keen coder then SynWrite is well worth a look, and not just because it's small enough to carry around on a modest USB flash drive.
6. Mobirise Website BuilderCreate responsive websites that look great on desktop and mobile devices You've got to love an app whose sales blurb says "creating well-designed websites is a real fun" (sic), especially when it actually is. Mobirise can create good looking, responsive websites with the minimum of fuss.
7. TOWebAnother responsive design tool, but keep its limitations in mind The free version of TOWeb is there to promote the more powerful paid-for versions, so as you'd expect, its features are limited: you can only create one website, the size is limited to 10MB and TOWeb will put ads in the website. It's simple, based on customisable and generally good looking templates, supports multiple languages and enables you to publish automatically to a wide range of web hosts.
8. Weebly FreeA simple drag-and-drop editor that's ideal for making your first site We've steered clear of online-only services in our round-up as they tend to be template-based web builders rather than web designers, but Weebly is a little bit different as it enables you to design the content of your pages by dragging and dropping. You get free hosting and unlimited pages, and while you can't remove Weebly's branding - that's £5 per month for the Starter package, which enables you to use your own domain name - it's a great starting point if you want to make something that looks good without taking forever to build. 9. openElementA web-based site builder that's very capable, but intimidating for beginners The dark, dense interface might be a little off-putting for absolute beginners and it isn't as easy to use as some rivals, but there's no doubt that openElement offers a lot of power for more confident designers. It does much more than most other WYSIWYG apps, and in the right hands it's capable of great things, but we think the interface is a little confusing compared to similarly useful apps like CoffeeCup Free. 10. WebflowA stylish online web builder if you don't mind the ads and limited page views Like Weebly, Webflow is an online app that's part of a suite of paid-for services - and like Weebly, that means there are limits on what you can do with it. The free edition won't let you export HTML/CSS code for use outside Webflow's own hosting (although you can prototype your site for free with a webflow.io subdomain), your free site is limited to two pages and tech support is online-only via a busy discussion forum. If those limitations are okay, however, Webflow is a really great app for designing pages that pop. Have we missed your preferred web design software? Share your recommendations in the comments below. |
Round up: The best free parental control software 2016 Posted: The best free parental control softwareThe best free parental control softwareIt's hard to imagine anything less child-friendly than an uncensored internet. A rabid wolf, maybe, or a playground floored with broken glass and razor wire. The more connected we become the more we need everybody online - and that means trying to ensure that our children aren't exposed to the very worst content, ideas and behaviour that exist online. Software can't do everything, of course, but it can help to make parents' lives much easier. These are our picks of the best parental control tools. If you're looking for a tool that will just monitor your kids' activity without blocking them from specific content, consider installing a free keylogger instead. 1. QustodioA full suite of parental control tools to protect your children from threats Most parental control software is aimed at Windows, but Qustodio (think 'custodian') is also available for OS X, Android, iOS, Kindle and Nook.
The free version covers the basics, enabling you to set rules and time schedules, block pornography and other unsuitable content; if you go for the paid-for version that adds SMS monitoring, social media features and per-app controls. But even the free version is one of the most comprehensive parental control apps around.
2. FamilyShieldBlocks dangerous domains, and can be used on your whole network FamilyShield is a free service from OpenDNS. Its parental control tools automatically block domains that OpenDNS has flagged under the headings "tasteless, proxy/anonymizer, sexuality, or pornography".
3. Norton FamilyProtection for your kids when they're using social media Its creators would really like you to subscribe to the paid-for Premier version, but the free edition of Norton Family is an excellent tool to support you in protecting your kids online. You can block inappropriate web content and monitor the kids' online activities, see what they've been searching for and how often they've been on Facebook (and whether they're using a fake name or age), ensure they don't accidentally give out personal information, and lock down your internet connection at specific times.
4. KidloggerA sensible parental control measure or invasion of privacy? It's your decision We're in two minds about using logging software for children and teenagers: tracking every single keystroke, SMS, photo, instant message, Skype call and location feels like an invasion of privacy, but we can see the benefit for parents who suspect their child may be keeping something important private, such as online bullying or grooming.
The service is available for Windows, Mac and Android, and there's a separate app for non-jailbroken iPhones and iPads. 5. Spyrix Free KeyloggerTake a virtual peek over your kid's shoulder as they surf Keyloggers have something of a bad reputation online, as they're often used by villains, but they can be a force for good too, and Spyrix's features enable you to see what your children have been up to.
6. WebFilter ProA good browser add-on, but quite easy to disable if they know how WebFilter Pro is a cloud-based parental control add-on for Chrome and Firefox that adds filters to web browsing. It can block malware, adult content including drug, guns and other inappropriate content, proxy servers, known spam sources, social networks and media streaming sites.
7. Windows Live Family SafetyAn older program, but handy if you still use Windows 7 or earlier Family Safety is a parental control suite bundled into Windows 8 and 10, but if you're running an older version of Windows you can download it separately. The app offers a range of parental controls including restricting web browsers to specific sites or specific kinds of content; tracking your kids' activities and enabling you to see what websites they've visited
8. Zoodles Kid ModeA whole browser designed for younger kids The problem with many parental control apps is that they're most effective for older children: while filtering adult content and other unpleasantness is obviously a good thing, there's plenty of stuff that isn't adult that can still scare younger children silly. Zoodles Kid Mode addresses that by combining filtered browsing and a dedicated web browser to create a walled garden: everything in it is safe for kids and there's no risk of anything awful popping up.
9. K9 Web ProtectionMulti-platform protection, but a little outdated Available for PC, Mac, iOS and Android (but not updated in some time: the most recent release notes date from 2014), K9 Web Protection's features include blocking of 70 different website categories (including illegal drugs, dating and racism), time restrictions, mandatory SafeSearch in Google, detection of new and malicious adult websites and custom block/allow lists.
10. FoxFilterAvailable for Firefox and Chrome, but no good if your child installs IE There are plenty of browser add-ons that offer parental control, but there's a big flaw in each and every one of them: if your child downloads or sideloads a different browser, they're useless. That means parental control filters such as FoxFilter are useful only for children who won't do that, or for environments where the filtering is just extra insurance for children who are usually within sight and sound of the grown-ups.
Also see our guide to Family Safety parental controls in Windows 10. |
Round up: The best free system utilities 2016 Posted: Speed up your PCThe best free system utilitiesA PC or Mac is rather like a car. That showroom-fresh saloon doesn't seem so sleek and shiny once road film, suicidal insects and evil supermarket car park users start ruining it, and that speedy new computer soon begins to sag under the stress of unnecessary apps, unwanted add-ons and other irritations. Thank crikey, then, for system utilities and tools: the right ones make your PC or Mac feel brand new, or at least an awful lot faster and a lot less crashy. There are thousands of system utilities out there, but these are our favourites - although as with any freeware, be very careful when you're installing any of them. Many free apps' installers are awfully keen on giving you extra software, toolbars or changes to your search engine that you might not want - see our guide to avoiding potentially unwanted programs. 1. CCleanerRemove unneeded files for a quick and easy speed boost
There are paid-for versions that add real time protection and cleanup scheduling, but the free edition covers the important stuff such as removing temporary files, getting rid of browser caches, removing unwanted cookies while keeping the useful ones and so on. If your PC feels slow or sluggish then this is the system utility to try first, and thanks to its huge array of features and deep scans, it's our favorite free system speed-up tool.
2. PC DecrapifierUninstall the junkware that comes with a new PC Like CCleaner, PC Decrapifier's job is to remove unnecessary files and programs for your PC. It's particularly useful on brand new PCs, which are often either full of exciting opportunities to discover new apps or stuffed to the gills with a load of preinstalled junk, depending on your point of view.
3. AutorunsStop unnecessary startup processes to speed up boot times We don't normally quote former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, but when he said "There are known knowns. These are things that we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know," he could have been describing the apps you know you're running - the known knowns - and the ones you don't.
4. RecuvaAn essential system utility for recovering lost or accidentally deleted data There are lots of data recovery tools out there, but Recuva is our favorite. Not only can it recover files that have been deleted but not overwritten, this free system utility can recover files from removable media such as USB drives and memory cards. It can even get data off damaged discs, although naturally the success rate depends on the kind and extent of the damage.
5. 3DP ChipA convenient tool to keep your hardware drivers up to date The near-infinite variety of possible Windows PC configurations is a great thing, but it can also lead to a great big pain in the backside: ensuring that the device drivers, the bits of software that Windows uses to communicate with your various bits of hardware, remain up to date. It's worth doing because driver updates banish bugs, vanquish vulnerabilities and fix flaws, but it's not remotely quick or fun.
6. SpaceSnifferFind out what's taking up so much space on your hard drive or SSD You're running out of space but you've no idea why. Does that sound familiar? Then you need free system utility SpaceSniffer, which enables you to see what's taking up space via a format known as a Treemap.
7. Auslogics Duplicate File FinderDelete redundant files to free up space on your hard drive or SSD One of the downsides of digital media is that it's very easy to end up with multiple copies of the same thing taking up valuable storage space. That's bad enough on a hard disk, but on the more limited space of an SSD it's even more of a problem - or at least, it is if you don't have Auslogics Duplicate File Finder.
8. Revo Uninstaller FreeRemove all traces of uninstalled programs to avoid junk buildup If you like trying new apps you'll be horribly familiar with the joys of built-in software uninstallers, which all too often leave bits and pieces everywhere. It's a particular pain when a program comes with additional tools like browser toolbars and unwanted 'helper' apps, which then have to be removed separately.
9. Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI)Keep your software up to date with the latest bug fixes and security patches Secunia PSI solves one of the biggest headaches for Windows users: keeping software up to date in order to keep your system secure. The free system utility knows about thousands of different programs and can scan your system to identify whether you have the most up to date versions.
10. OnyXA system cleanup tool to keep Macs running quickly and smoothly The majority of system tune-up and cleaning apps are for Windows, but Macs get messy too - and on OS X, the evergreen OnyX is often the solution. It can get shot of bulging system logs and clean up files that are no longer needed, it can turn on hidden features in OS X itself and you can use it to schedule dull but useful maintenance tasks.
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