LibreOffice Productivity Suite 3.5.0 review
There aren’t many things in life that you can say are completely free. In the case of free software, you often find that you must make some sort of compromise, whether it be putting up with a limited version of a commercial application, enduring advertisements, or simply having to work with something that is less than impressive in terms of standards. Almost every computer user has need for an office suite, or at least some component of it, at some point, if not every day of their lives.
Microsoft Office may be the most widely-installed suite, but for the average user it is expensive and unless a copy came pre-installed on your computer, you may not feel inclined to part with that amount of money. This explains the increased interest in free alternatives, and one such suite is LibreOffice Productivity Suite, which has just hit the milestone release number of 3.5.0.
Catalog Blu-rays, DVDs and DivX videos with Movie Label 2013
While digital video formats are more popular than ever, most people still have large collections of DVDs and Blu-rays. One of the many advantages of digital video formats is that they are easily stored on removable hard drives and can be searched and cataloged in a variety of way.
Movie Label 2013 is the latest version of a movie cataloging tool that has been designed to place you firmly in control of your DVD collection, storing more information than is possible in the majority of similar tools that are available.
Sky Satellite TV app for Android arrives -- on 7 phones only!
Subscribers to UK satellite TV provider Sky have just gained a new way to watch TV. Sky Go is a free app from the broadcaster that enables subscribers to access various channels on their Android phones at no additional cost. This is something that has been available to iPhone and iPad users for some time, and Android users now have the same option, although there is slightly patchy support for different devices.
In fact the app, at time of writing, is only compatible with seven handsets, all of which are phones -- it's not a great start. There is currently no support for any tablets, nor indeed support for any devices running Ice Cream Sandwich. This is something that will hopefully be addressed in future updates to the app as in the coming month there are Ice Cream Sandwich update scheduled for a number of the currently supported phones. A lack of support for larger screen tablets also seems like a serious oversight when the app is concerned solely with watching television.
What's in a week? 23 downloads you may have missed
There has been a great deal of activity in the security software department this week, starting with the release of Avast! 7 Free (beta2), a preview of what to expect from the upcoming antivirus tool. Interesting features such as the Reputation Service to check the safety of files and websites, and Remote Assistance for remote problem fixing, mean that this is worthy of your attention. From the same company comes another beta tool in the form of Avast! Internet Security 7 (beta2) which takes the security of your computer even more seriously.
Norton is a well-known name in the security arena and Norton 360 v6 FINAL is a complete suite of tools including a firewall, password manager and phishing protection as well as handy bonus features such as backup and system optimization.
WinZip comes to iOS
It has taken rather a long time, but the stalwart of file compression,WinZip, has finally released a version of their famous archive handling tool for iPhone and iPad. Available completely free of charge, the app can be used to open compressed files and preview their contents, and while the restrictions of iOS mean that this is not as complete a compression tool as many people would hope, WinZip for iOS is still a welcome addition to the App Store.
Where the app proves particularly useful is in the way it enables you to view zip files that have been emailed to you. Whether you are working with the email accounts you have configured in the mail app, or you are using a web based service such as Gmail or Hotmail, the app can be used to view the contents of zip file attachments. It does not matter if the zip files you want to view are encrypted; providing you have the necessary password, these can be opened as well.
WinOptimizer 9 improves Registry and hard-drive cleanup
Tweaking and performance boosting tools for Windows are not exactly difficult to come by, and there are countless free tools available. With the proliferation of free software, you may wonder why you would want to spend money on a program that claims to improve the performance of your computer. Take Ashampoo WinOptimizer 9 for a test run and we think you’ll find that it is worth parting with your cash for -- it will even provide you with proof that it is doing its job.
Performance enhancing software often makes all sorts of claims about what can be achieved, but Ashampoo WinOptimizer puts its money where its mouth is and provides you with benchmarking options so you can test performance before and after and see what difference it makes. You can get as hands-on as your feel comfortable with, or you can take advantage of the various one-click optimization options that have been designed to automate many common tasks. If you’ve tried system boosting software in the past and have wondered if any speed benefits you notice are for real or just the result of the placebo effect, the benchmarks available here should speak for themselves
Get Laplink PCmover Express for free
You got a new PC, and you're excited. Only then you realize how much work is involved setting it up. Chances are your old computer held a very large number of personal files that you will want to transfer to the new machine. It is also likely that you have a number of settings in place that you have become used to, and the task of reinstating all of these could be a very lengthy one.
This is where Laplink PCmover Express can help, and you can take advantage of a free copy of the program worth $29.95. For 24 hours, so do hurry.
Count `em, 19 downloads you shouldn't miss this week
This week has seen an impressive number of releases, so many that you may have missed one or two. In this roundup we’ve collected together some of the highlights starting with a selection of mobile app. OneNote Mobile has been available to iOS users for a little while now, but the app has just made its way to the Android platform. Offering synchronization with your computer and a comprehensive selection of options, this is a great way to manage notes, lists, to-dos and more.
If your children have an Android mobile or they have access to yours, you can turn to Norton Safety Minder 2.3 to place restrictions on how the Internet can be used and monitor the web pages that are visited. Should you be in the market for a new web browser for your mobile, look no further than Chrome for Android Beta 0.16.4130.199, which is available for Ice Cream Sandwich devices and compares well to the desktop version of Google’s browser, even at this early beta stage.
Our gift to you: Paragon System Backup 10.5 Special Edition
Backing up data is something that every computer user needs to do, but many people simply never get round to -- it is one of those chores that is just too easy to put off. There are a few obstacles that put people off: the time it takes to configure backup software and the amount of money it costs to invest in one are probably the main ones. With today’s special giveaway, you can eliminate both of these issues and safeguard your valuable data by grabbing a free copy of Paragon System Backup 10.5 Special Edition, worth $29.95.
The beauty of working with this particular backup tool, aside from the fact that it can be yours completely free of charge, is that it is so incredibly easy to use. Paragon System Backup 10.5 Special Edition will automatically check your system and determine which of your available hard drives has sufficient free space to be used to store backups -- as such, it is a good idea to ensure that you have any USB drives connected so they can be analyzed. Once this has been done, the program will automatically create a snapshot of your system, getting the protection process underway immediately.
Save big on security software in February
February is a great month if you’re looking to bolster the security of your computer as we have an amazing selection of offers available on AVG products in the Downloadcrew Software Store. Whether you are looking to protect a single computer, or several, we have deals on the most appropriate software for you so you can save money whatever your needs.
For complete, all-round security, look no further than AVG Internet Security 2012 Complete Bundle, which includes an incredible five AVG products -- (AVG Internet Security 2012, AVG PC Tuneup 2012, AVG LiveKive (complete with 25GB of storage), AVG Family Safety 2012 and AVG Mobilation). This exclusive bundle is available for just $34.95, saving 82 percent of the MSRP of $198.
Waterfox 10 -- 64-bit browsing for your Windows PC
When it comes to operating systems, 64-bit is becoming increasingly popular. The ability to access additional, and ever-more-important, memory is a big draw, as is the added security and stability. But despite a general move to 64-bits for OSes, there is still relatively little 64-bit software that has been written to take advantage of them -- well, Windows. This is also true in the browser arena, but it is something that is being addressed by Waterfox 10, a 64-bit version of Firefox.
While it is true that there are already 64-bit versions of Firefox available, this is only the case in the less stable Nightly and Aurora channels, and this is not something that everyone will be comfortable using. It is also worth noting the existence of Pale Moon, which is another Firefox-based web browser that also has a 64-bit version available. Waterfox is fully 64-bit and is based on the latest Firefox code -- this means that the two browsers are all but identical, save for the color and labeling of the Firefox/Waterfox menu button.
27 downloads you shouldn't miss this week
The update rate for web browsers is faster than ever, and this has been a particularly busy week for Firefox, starting off with the release of Firefox 10 FINAL. While there aren’t a huge number of big, notable changes, aside from perhaps the rejigged forward button that hides until it is needed, this is still an important milestone and offers impressive performance and stability improvements over previous version as well as better support for third-party addons.
There is also a portable version of the browser available in the form of Firefox Portable 10.0. The release of a new stable version of Firefox means that there has been a spate of releases in the other channels, including Firefox 11 Beta 1. If you’d like to peer a little further into the future, Firefox Aurora 12.0a2 gives a taste of what to expect from upcoming releases.
Skype 5.8 for Windows released -- get it now!
Less than three months ago, a beta version of Skype was unveiled that boasted a number of new features. The latest update to the popular VoIP tool sees the software jumping straight to version 5.8, finalizing some of the features found in the beta and adding a couple more for good measure. There are a number of highlights to Skype 5.8, and there is a great deal to investigate if you have not been keeping track of the beta versions of the software.
Conducting video chats has for too long been a blocky, stuttering affair, plagued with poor quality footage -- not just in Skype, but in general -- but support for full HD video-calling, assuming you have a suitable camera and a fast enough internet connection, means that this is set to change for Skype users. Video calls are great not only for personal Skype chats, but also for business meetings, and in the same vein the new group screen sharing is an interesting new addition. If you have a Skype Premium account, during the course of a group chat you can now share your entire desktop or just a single application window.
GooReader: When you need Google Books to go
Google Books is a gigantic and ever-expanding online library of books and magazines that can be used to read classic titles free of charge as well as to purchase new releases in all manner of categories. But you may be one of the many people who have found that the interface for the website and the way you interact with books leaves a little to be desired. Enter GooReader, a desktop app that enables you to browse your books both on and offline.
You can take advantage of a handy interface that makes it easy to navigate through the pages of your books and you can also zoom in and out, which is great if you are using a laptop with a smaller screen, and perform searches. All of the books you have purchased can be accessed from within the app and organization of your library is delightfully simple. When it comes to lengthy tomes or even an average sized novel, bookmarks can be used to quickly jump the place you left off.
Quick ‘n’ Easy Web Builder lives up to its name
Creating a website is something that many people feel an urge to do but, as with many things, the perceived steep learning curve is enough to put most folks off the idea. In reality, it is actually quite simple to create web site -- obviously, the greater your knowledge the more impressive site you can create -- and there are a number of WYSIWYG editors to choose from that mean you do not need to know HTML, CSS or any other form of coding.
Coming from the team behind WYSIWYG Web Builder, Quick ‘n’ Easy Web Builder is a cross-platform website creation tool that shows great signs of promise.