Best software

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This aims to be a non-authoritative list of what I consider the most useful software to have installed on your computer if you are running Microsoft Windows. I use or have used all the programs mentioned here, and will not suggest anything I've no previous experience of. I still use most of the applications on this list, and unless otherwise specified all are free to download and use.

Contents

[edit] Internet Software

[edit] Browsers

As nothing says Internet more than web browser I will soon do an article on Mozilla Firefox as it is by and far the coolest, foxiest browser to walk the earth.

  • Firefox - An alternative to Microsoft Internet Explorer. Highly extensible through the addition of extensions which can do anything from tell you the weather, to controlling how any given page is displayed to you. In upcoming releases you can expect protection from phishing with the next major release, spelling correction as you type and the ability to resume the previous session that you were running last time you had Firefox open.
  • Opera - The other other browser. If you don't want to use Internet Explorer, or Firefox then this is a good bet. Wonderfully small and fast, Opera9 released recently features many improvements including the ability to run widgets.
  • Maxthon - I know there are some of you out there who really don't want to leave Internet Explorer, well guess what, you don't have to! Maxthon is Internet Explorer, but it's a whole lot more. It's got tabbed browsing, RSS feeds, Ad blocking and skinning and version 2 beta is available to download now. It might not have much on the new IE7 but it's always good to have more choice.

[edit] Email

[edit] Email Clients

  • Thunderbird - The only email client I would ever consider running on any platform. Thunderbird allows you to use extensions in the same way as it's brother, Firefox the web browser. This allows useful functionality such as PGP signing emails, zooming in and out of those very large digital photos your Mum has sent you that go off the screen and connecting to and downloading messages from services like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail and Gmail.

[edit] Email Monitors/Notifiers

  • mmm3 - Magic Mail Monitor sits in your system tray and monitors your email accounts to notify you when you get new mail. I've just installed this program because I found having Thunderbird open all the time cumbersome and a bit of a drain on my Computers resources. If you want to monitor your gmail account it takes a bit more setting up and you need to install another program called stunnel.

Here is a little mm3 Tutorial explaining how to set up mm3 to connect to gmail. It works for me, but if you have any problems you are best off asking in the mm3 forums

[edit] Podcasts

  • Juice - Come across podcasting lately and not sure where to get started, well Juice would be a good place. Free and multiplatform Juice has a built in podcast directory so you can browse and find new stuff to chuck on your mp3 player and listen to on the way to work. I suggest in particular you tune into Keith and the Girl which has to be the funniest podcast ever!

[edit] IP Telephony

  • Skype - This extremely useful program will allow you to call anyone else in the world who has skype, and even people who don't! It's free to call other skypers over the web, and you can buy credit to call normal telephone lines on the skype website. It's much cheaper than normal phone calls and they make no distinction between phoning your mum down the road or your Aunty in Australia. You will need a microphone for your computer. Some electronics stores now sell phones that you can attach to your computer, specifically for Skyping.

[edit] Instant Messenging

Instant messenging (IM) programs are a place where you can really customize to your need, there are a great deal of free attractive programs around, so there is need to settle for the ugly default MSN or Aim. There are generally two types of messenging programs, single protocol ones (Like the official MSN Messenger) and multi protocol ones (Like Trillian, Miranda or Gaim). If you have friends who use a different network to you then you might be interested in a multi protocol messenger, and thankfully there are lots of great free ones out there!

  • Miranda IM - This is without a douby my favourite IM client, however it is probably the hardest Windows messenging client to set up, hands down. Ultra-configurable you can pretty much get Miranda IM to do everything you could ever want of an IM client with the use of plugins built by it's community. Be warned the Miranda IM community is a bunch of developers and they are not very helpful or very friendly in my experience.
    • Multi Protocol (MSN, Aim, ICQ, IRC, Yahoo Jabber & More protocols via plugins, experimental VOIP support even possible.
    • Massively extensible through plugins.
    • Skinnable to a high degree. It's possible to make Miranda look however you want, or check out the website for a great number of skins and smilies.
    • Support from an active forum of users. Don't be surprised if they aren't very helpful.
  • Trillian - Before I swapped over to Miranda IM I used Trillian for at least 3 years, and have to say it's one of he nicest multi-protocol IM clients around. There is a Pro version you have to pay for but there is also a free version which quite suffices.
    • Multi Protocol with support for more.
    • Plugin extensibility allowing for added functionality.
    • Can be skinned.
  • MSN Plus - If you absolutely must use the official MSN Messenger Live client then I suggest getting Messenger Plus! Live. This add-on adds a great deal of features to MSN Messenger including the now almost obligatory tabbed chat windows.


[edit] Internet Utilities

  • freedownload manager If you've found your downloads interrupted half way through by Internet Explorer or Firefox then I suggest you check out this chap. It will look out for now downloads and automatically take over from the browser. It will automatically organize your downloads depending on what they are, and even restart paused or failed downloads from where it left off if possible.
  • Zonealarm Firewall - One of the best free firewalls around Zonealarm is an important part of securing your computer against malicious Internet activity. It blocks hackers from scanning your computer for weak spots, and also stops malware that may be on your computer from connecting to the Internet to divulge personal information.

firewall notes

Currently I am testing Outpost Firewall as I am extremely dissatisfied with Zone Alarm. Anyone who runs Zone Alarm might have noticed that since v6.5.x msn avatars do not work. Further to that my recent experience of upgrading was of Zone Alarm bringing my system to its knees. The only solution I found was to entirely uninstall ZA. I have been on the look out for a decent firewall replacement for ZA anyhow, as it's always been a bit of a monster.

[edit] P2P

[edit] Bittorrent

  • utorrent - The nippiest bittorrent client in town. Has almost all the functionality of Azureus with only a fraction of the memory footprint. Doesn't rely on Java unlike Azureus.
  • Azureus - Written in Java this Godzilla like client has been around for a while and is still many peoples favourite. In its favour is its support for plugins which offer a great deal of utility that utorrent can't offer. However most bittorrent users are unlikely to need these plugins as they are on the whole not necessary.

[edit] Music

  • Soulseek - The only place for the dedicated music geek is Soulseek. I discovered it a long time ago and have never been disappointed. Most importantly the soulseek network contains people who care about the quality of their music, so do not rip it at terrible bit rates in dreadful formats. I've generally found that any obscure artist I happen to mention are available on there.

[edit] System Software

[edit] System Update & Management

  • Autopatcher - Don't use Internet explorer so can't access the Windows Live Update? Have another reason you don't want to use windows auto update? Autopatcher is the solution. The clever chaps from the neowin.net forum have put together a program that collates all the given patches and updates from a period, to allow you to install them without having to go to Microsoft's website at all.
  • My Uninstaller - I love this simple alternative to the Windows add/uninstall programs applet. It's much faster to populate when you first boot it, and it's much more flexible allowing you to organize the list by a variety of options you can see in the original Windows applet. If you're like me then you've installed an awful lot of software out of mild interest, only to forget that as your eye catches something else shiny. This is a great program for spring cleaning your installed software, pruning it down to size. Free of course!
  • Autoruns - The most comprehensive program I've come across which allows you to set programs to run at startup. Choose exactly what you want booting, so your system tray doesn't suffer icon bloat.

[edit] Network

  • UltraVNC - Ultra VNC is a great free program that allows you to remotely control other computers as if you were sitting in front of them. There are several such free projects available, but I happen to have been using this one for a few years and have found it both dependable and stable. I've even managed to tunnel over SSH from uni to home, you can find out how to do that here.

[edit] Utilities

  • ccleaner - This program will delete temporary files, cookies and other personal information stored by browsers such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. It also can deal with cleaning up temporary files taking up space on your computer including third party applications which create large temp files, and has a registry cleaner.

[edit] Antivirus

  • Avast antivirus - Having used this anti-virus program for years I can recommend it heartily my swabs, arrrr! Free for home use Avast Antivirus Home edition affords excellent protection against viruses. It automatically checks any incoming mail (one of the easiest ways to catch viruses) and removes any offending critters it finds. As most other software on this list is it is free, all you need to do is register for a free serial number and then you are set!

I would recommend other antivirus software but my experience has been so good with Avast I've never felt the need to try out others.

[edit] Spyware Removal

  • Spybot search & destroy - This handy program will identify and remove any Malware on your Computer. If you are wondering what Malware is then take a look at the wikipedia entry. Free.
  • Lavasoft AdAware - Another handy malware identification and passification program. It's handy to have more than one Malware fixing program on your Computer, because sometimes one program might miss a nasty critter, but the next will catch it.
  • Hijack this - This program should be used more discriminatingly than the previous two as it is possible if not used properly you can cause more problems for yourself. However having said that Hijack This is a powerful tool in knowledgeable hands. Do not use this if inexperienced or unsure.

[edit] File Utilities

[edit] File Browsing

  • Xplorer2 - If like me you like to have control over your computer and all your files then you might want to think about an alternative to the Windows Explorer shell. Xplorer2 is commercial software but worth the money. One of the most useful features I use daily is the dual pane view. Read more about what it can do here.

[edit] File Compression

File compression is a contentious issue as everyone has their favourite app which they support. Speaking from personal experience my favourite type of compression is rar, it has proven itself to me again and again as a strong and stable compression method that leads to very few corruptions. If you have ever downloaded a film over bittorrent to find it is a multi-part rar file (i.e. the name is FilmXYZ.rar-Film.r50) then you'll see that others think the same. Rar files are the standard for 'scene' releases; That means if a pirate decides to share his hard earned booty then he will most likely compress it as a multi-part rar file, making winrar a useful program to have.

  • Winrar - As I have already said this is my favourite, it will handle pretty much any kind of compression you chuck at it. Although this is a commercial product you can download a free version and keep on using that for ever, you will just get a nag screen when you boot it.
  • 7zip - This is a relatively new app on the block, but has proven itself excellent, and even better is completely free. Will extract rar files, but won't compress them. Can extract and compress zip files too.

[edit] File Verification

If you ever download files from the Internet and find they don't work then it might be worth verifying the file isn't corrupted. If the place you have downloaded if from provides an MD5 Hash then you can quickly check to see if everything is intact.

  • MD5summer - This little app is a favourite of mine. With no need to install you just stick it in a sensible folder. If you happen to need to check the integrity of a file or even create an MD5 hash for a large file you want to transfer then use md5summer.

[edit] Media

[edit] Sound

  • VoluMouse - Nirsoft have a tradition of releasing extremely useful little apps that perform one function extremely well. I have recently been having problems with Volumetouch as occasionally (perhaps once every 2-3 days) it will reset my Computer when I use it. I decided to look for a different program that performed the same function, and thus found 'VoluMouse'. Altogether VoluMouse is a better program than Volumetouch, taking up 3mb of memory to VT's 16mb; VM is extremely configurable, allowing you complete control over your volume. The only downside is that the system tray icon is no where as attractive as VT's, but it can be hidden. Unfortunately VM was last updated in 2004, but honestly there is not really a need I can see to update this excellent piece of software.

I have experienced instabilities when adjusting the volume through Volumetouch, use at your own risk

  • Volumetouch - This has to be one of the most useful utilities I have on my system. With volumetouch you never have to mess around with your volume again, just hold down SHIFT+CTRL and use your mouses scroll-wheel to control your Computers volume. If you find yourself flipping between different apps with volume variations this program is invaluable as you can flick up the volume with a twitch of your mouse finger.
  • KX Drivers - If you have ever had problems with your Creative sound card crackling (as I have) these independently developed drivers might be the godsend you've been looking for. Importantly you should read the Getting Started guide before deciding whether you can actually use the KX drivers, they might be incompatible with your soundcard. Here is a list of cards which will work with the KX Drivers. Be warned also, the KX Drivers and their software is more complex than the normal creative drives and might be confusing. Read the getting started guide and pay a trip to the forums for help.

[edit] Multimedia Software

[edit] Video

[edit] Watching
  • Videolan - This program has to get a special mention. VLC as it's known is the one stop needed for video watching Nirvana. Free, opensource and multiplatform (Windows, Mac, Linux) this is the little video player that could. It will play all the common formats (without the need for you to install extra codecs), and some of the less common ones too. Check out the features to see everything it can do. If there is anything criticism that can be leveled against VLC it would be against its seeking being less than adequate.
  • Zoom player - Before becoming a VLC convert I used Zoomplayer and would still recommend the free edition. It has a nice interface and helps you with any of those missing codecs if you don't have them installed.
  • BS player - Another excellent Video player I have had cause to use. There are both free and pro versions available.
[edit] Converting

If you've ever wanted to rip all your DVDs to your computer, or convert that movie you downloaded to watch on your TV then this is the place to start.

  • Auto Gordion Knot - I've found this to be the best solution for ripping DVDs and producing excellent quality xvid/divx files. Depending on the speed of your computer it could take a long time though!
  • Mediacoder - MediaCoder is also a great way to rip, convert and transcode Video & Audio. It has an excellent interface and is a great for converting media to play on portable devices like mobile phones, mp3 players etc.
  • Avi2Dvd - If you've ever had a Movie on your computer you wanted to watch as a DVD or VCD on your TV then this great program can help you convert it. I've personally converted quite a few movies using it.
  • VirtualDubMod - If you've ever wanted to rip a certain scene out of a movie then VirtualDubMod might be useful for you. Not a very self explanatory program, it is however powerful. There are also a great number of guides available on the web for it. Great for fixing desynced video.

A great place to find information about converting or creating different types of videos is afterdawn.

[edit] Decrypting
  • DVD Shrink - If you want to rip those DVDs on your shelf then you might need to decrypt them before using any of the tools in the previous section. DVD Shrink does just this. You can also check out the DVD Shrink website for more information. They do not host any downloads because it's technically illegal to break the decryption of the DVDs you own, depending on the country you live in. Yep that's right, although you bought that DVD you're holding you don't have the right to do what you want with it.

[edit] Sound

[edit] Listening

Digital music players are an interesting bunch, there are a great many around, most free and all of them pretty good. In the end you have to think about what you primarily want your music program to do. Do you want a simple, small mp3 player? Should it also be able to have a media library so you can quickly access that tune you want? Does it need to support your mp3 player so you can upload that new album? Are you an Audiophile who has to have real ultimate control over what his music sounds like?

I've used a variety of mp3 players and these are my favourite.

  • Xmplay - This mp3 player has a tiny footprint so it doesn't hog memory. I found it when looking for an mp3 player that had good support for playing Internet radio streams. Supports skinning and can be compacted into a very small space so it doesn't clutter your workspace. Has limited support for music libraries.
  • Foobar2000 - FB2K is the music geeks tool of choice. If you like ultra-configurable then this is your Mecca. On the other hand don't approach this player if you want something easy to set up. FB2K is critically acclaimed for it's extensibility (there is an active forum of developers who create extremely useful plugins for it) and the fantastic sound it produces. Can't be beat for sound. So, hard to set up (nightmarish at times) but for all the hard slog the final result is musical Nirvana. Through plugin support will do pretty much anything you expect of a music player. However, skin support is minimal compared to other players.
  • iTunes - New kid on the block iTunes has been wooing people the last couple of years, partner to the infamous iPod now branded onto our souls. With Apples design ethic we find an mp3 player that is easy to use, extremely functional and aesthetically pleasing. iTunes also integrates the iTunes Music Store, which allows you to purchase content for that iPod of yours.
[edit] Converting
  • Exact Audio Copy (EAC) - A long standing favourite of mine and extremely well thought of in general, if you want to rip your audio CDs to mp3 and care about the quality of the rip, I suggest you use this. Oh yeah, and every time you rip an mp3 a kitten gets his wings.

[edit] Images

[edit] Editing
  • Adobe Photoshop - One of the few commercial packages on this page. Photoshop is the industry standard for photo and image manipulation, with good reason. Nothing tops it.
  • The Gimp - I thought it appropriate to add a free alternative to Photoshop for those whose pockets can't stretch that far. Gimp is an excellent free opensource image manipulation package that will do many of the things photoshop can. It isn't as intuitive as Photoshop, but that might be because I've been working with Photoshop for years.
  • Irfanview - A free, fast and nifty little program that you can use for quickly coloring & cropping work. Great for when you want to do some basic image edits like crops/colour/format conversion.

[edit] Panoramic Editing

This is a special section for anyone wanting to stitch together panoramic photographs using software. Firstly I would recommend you check out the extremely informative panotools.info website. Then check out these two programs I prefer to use.

  • Hugin - This is the freeware option, and works as a frontend to the poweful PanoTools (a set of libraries written by a nutty profesor). However I've found that while Hugin works it can be quite buggy and crash at the most inopportune moment.
  • ptgui - Sometimes you get what you pay for, which is why I am recommending ptgui, a shareware alternative to Hugin. It is also a front end to the PanoTools libraries however you don't have to contend with it crashing, and it has a remarkable amount of tools to help you along the way.

[edit] Viewing

  • Picasa - If you happen to be a total shutterbug then Picasa is a great photo-organization and viewing tool. It will perform simple image editing like getting rid of red eye or editing picture colour/contrast. Particularly useful is Picasa's organization tools including the now ubiquitous tags, which are known as labels in this case.

[edit] Editing & Burning

On occasion I need to burn the odd CD or DVD, there's no need to resort to buying Nero when there is such great Freeware around.

  • CD Burner XP PRO - This excellent program is free and extremely easy to use.
  • imgburn - A great utility for burning DVD images. If you get stuck check out the guides in their forums, including how to burn a double layer DVD.
  • DVDStyler - If you want to add fancy menus to those who video DVDs then this should be your first stop. It's cross platform for those Ubuntu fans out there, but don't worry it still works in Windows!

[edit] File Viewers & Editors

[edit] File Viewers

  • Foxit PDF Reader - There are few pieces of software I could recommend more than Foxit. If you have ever accidentally clicked on a PDF file in Internet Explorer or Firefox then you know the pain of watching Adobe Acrobat bring your browser to a crawling halt. Foxit is here to alleviate this pain, booting instantly with none of the bloat and all of the functionality you could ever need; And it's free!
  • CDisplay comic book reader - If you like your comics and you have come across .cbr files in the past then you'll know that they contain the individually scanned in pages of comics for your perusal. This nifty program will read cbr files and display comic books without any other clutter on the screen.

[edit] File editors

  • Notepad++ - I've used many a text editor and notepad++ is my new favourite, having replaced editplus. Notepad++ has all the usual features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion and support for plugins. Free opensource software. Be very afraid of their website menu.
  • AbiWord - Everyone needs to write documents occasionally. On those occasions I find AbiWord unbeatable. Free and opensource AbiWord handles MS Word documents just fine, is a small and nippy word processor and is good enough for everything but larger more complex documents.
  • OpenOffice.Org - For those times where AbiWord won't suffice or you need more than just a word processor OOo as it is sometimes known steps in. Open Office is a full suite of office software from spreadsheets to presentations, it's all there.


[edit] Further Reading

Of course my list of software is not by any means the be all and end all of software lists, so below I will include several useful sources for finding the right software for you. I can't speak as to the quality of the software linked to on other sites, but on the whole if I put a link in this section it's because I think it worth exploring. Happy Hunting!

  • I Want... - An extremely comprehensive list of Freeware utilities that do one particular function. These are personally my favourite kind of apps because if you makes a program and make it do one thing well, it's of infinitely more value than a program that does everything, but terribly.
  • Freeware World - A massive repository of links to free software. I've found that some of the software on there isn't necessarily free, but nine times out of ten it is. If you want to do something very obscure the tool might just be found here!

[edit] To be sorted

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