Download Album Art Downloader 0.45 Free

Download Album Art Downloader 0.45 Free

I must admit, I do admit the feel of vinyl but most of all, the huge covers which graced all good LP's and singles.

Of course, CD's still have them but since most of our music is now digital, album art is not something we really see much anymore. However, Album Art Downloader finds the cover art for your albums based on their name and can add a touch of class and polish to any collection. Simply enter the name of the group and the program will search several sources of album art including Amazon, Coveralia and GoogleImage. This means that the database is incredibly large and it can recover album info for just about any modern record. Once you find the image you want, it can be "My Pictures" and the program creates a new folder called "Album art". Each album is then obviously separated into each group and artist. The quality of the downloads varies however - some are little more than thumbnails whereas others are in high resolution. The major drawback for most users is that it requires some script knowledge as you have to write scripts to download the various album art you need. However, the developer site does offer some hints and code on how to do this so if you've done it before, you shouldn't find it too hard.

Regain the glory of the vinyl days and make your collection shine again by giving it it's original album art with Album Art Downloader.

Pros

• Downloads albums art very quickly
• Huge database of images

Cons

• Requires script knowledge
• Images can vary in quality

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Download Notepad++ Plugin Manager 1.0.8 Free

Download Notepad++ Plugin Manager 1.0.8 Free

Notepad++ is a free, open source application for writing text and Notepad++ Plugin Manager expands its capabilities with a useful plugin manager.

Notepad++ Plugin Manager is a plugin that allows you to install, update and remove plugins from Notepad++. A centrally hosted XML file contains the list of plugins which Notepad++ Plugin Manager downloads and processes against the list of installed plugins.

To install Notepad++ Plugin Manager, simply download the .zip file and place the PluginManager.dll file in the Notepad++ plugins directory, and the gpup.exe in the updater directory under your Notepad++ program directory. (e.g. "C:Program FilesNotepad++updater"). Alternatively, just add the PluginManager.dll to the plugins directory, then do a reinstall of Plugin Manager from the plugin itself.

Notepad++ Plugin Manager allows you to install, update and remove all existing plugins, notify you when an installed plugin has an update available, and allows you to update directly. There are many other useful features such as the ability to calculate dependencies between plugins i.e. other plugins will be installed automatically if the user installs plugins that can be used with it. Notepad++ also ensures that only plugins that are compatible with Notepad++ are shown.

Note that Vista and Windows 7 users can only install and update Notepad++ Plugin Manager if they run Notepad++ as an administrator. You must then update plugin manager and it should work properly under a normal user.

Notepad++ Plugin Manager is an indispensable tool to manage plugins in Notepad++.

Review last updated: 05/11/12

Pros

• Makes managing Notepad++ plugins easy
• Downloads useful associated plugins
• Updates plugins automatically

Cons

• W7 and Vista must use as admin

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Download Attribute Changer 7.10b Free

Download Attribute Changer 7.10b Free

Attribute Changer is a good example of the kind of software that has been created for a very specific purpose and does its job perfectly well, with no hassle or nuisances for the user. In this case, the program adds a new command to the Explorer context menu from which you can easily change attributes.

It works both with files and folders, both with a single item or massive selections. Besides enabling you to change the basic attributes, you can also modify date and time with extraordinary precision.

Attribute Changer goes straight to the point: simple interface and easy to use. It has no configuration options (probably because it doesn't need them) but includes a fairly complete Help system to solve all your doubts about its usage.

Recent changes

• Maintenance release

Review last updated: 22/09/12

Pros

• Easy to use
• Perfect integration with Explorer

Cons

• No settings

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Download Xleaner 4.21.1165 965 Free

Download Xleaner 4.21.1165 965 Free

Xleaner helps you get rid of all junk files in your system, improving your system?s performance and recovering valuable hard disk space.

Among the tasks supported by Xleaner, you?ll find common Windows areas such as recent document lists, computer search lists, open/save menus history, Windows clipboard, the Temp folder and more. They?re all cleaned up with just a single click on the Purge button.

Xleaner also works with a huge list of applications. You can select which ones you want to clean in the Applications tab and the program will delete any trace of usage from them. Too bad the program is not integrated with Windows Explorer, nor does it show how much hard drive space has been recovered.

And in case you don?t have enough with that, Xleaner?s capabilities can be extended with add-ons. These will help you uninstall unnecessary programs, show currently active processes, optimize system memory and find and delete zero size folders.

Xleaner is a simple, quick cleaning tool to get rid of all usage traces on your computer.

Recent changes

• Improved Mozilla Firefox Cache cleaning (Cleans also startupcache.4.little)
  
• Improved Google Chrome Cache cleaning (Cleans also the Media Cache and Journal files)
  
• Optimized Resize feature of the "Cleaning Job Management" (especially the Controls of the Custom tab)
  
• Optimized Resize feature of the "Starter" form (Saves also the Window Position and Size)
  
• Added cleaning for Mozilla Firefox Recovered File Fragments, Google Update, LocalService Cookies, LocalService History, LocalService Temporary Files, IETldCache, Windows System Profile
  
• Improved support for Internet Explorer More
  
• Removed Facebook Share Button from Info form
  
• Updated German & English language file
  
• Minor UI improvements
  
• Minor bug fixes

Review last updated: 03/10/12

Pros

• Cleans traces from up to 150 applicatios
• You can extend the program's functions with add-ons
• Quick and easy to use

Cons

• Doesn't show how much space is recovered
• Not integrated with Windows Explorer

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Download Adobe Air 3.5 Free

Download Adobe Air 3.5 Free

Adobe AIR is a cross-operating system runtime that opens up much more possibilities to both developers and everyday computer users.

Adobe AIR allows developers to create new web applications using HTML, XML, Javascript and Flex. What's more they aren't limited to using Adobe's library, but can create, share and use their own to create specific web applications.

For users, Adobe AIR gives access to new and exciting rich internet applications (RIA) which can be run straight from their desktop. These use very little memory, are usually quick to launch and execute and have very smooth animations.

A quick visit to the Adobe Showcase Gallery and you get an idea of the sort of applications that are being developed for Adobe AIR: a Google Analytics reporting suite, a Twitter desktop client, a movie discovery tool and much more. Of course, you can also find apps that are not that good, but thankt to Adobe AIR the possibilities are endless and really depend on the creativity of developers.

Adobe AIR contributes to the web app revolution by helping designers and developers create all sorts of Internet-based apps.

Recent changes

• For full release log, please visit: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/release-note/fp_114_air_34_release_notes.html

Review last updated: 27/08/12

Pros

• Smooth animations
• Access to loads of original web apps
• Uses up little memory

Cons

• Quality of AIR-based apps may vary

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Download FlashGot 1.4.8.6 Free

Download FlashGot 1.4.8.6 Free

FlashGot is a Firefox add-on that allows you to customize almost any download manager for use with batch downloads on Firefox.

FlashGot is a free Mozilla Firefox (and Thunderbird) extension that's designed for people who do a lot of downloading. It can handle large numbers of batch downloads with its own download manager. This simple but powerful plugin can even handle batch downloads for many anonymous or redirected download link services such as depositfiles.com, fileserve.com, filesonic.com, hotfile.com, megaupload.com, netload.in, rapidshare.com, uploading.com, uploaded.to, ul.to, zshare.com.

FlashGot is very easy to use, and has lots of customization options that means you'll be able to tweak it just to your liking - you can modify everything from what action takes place when you click a link to what options appear in the FlashGot menu. It also supports a vast number of download managers, which means that you can continue to use favorites like IDMand DAP.

No more clicking multiple links and "Save as" - FlashGot simply scans the page for downloadable links and then you select which ones you need.

Recent changes

• Fixed regression, some downloads failing on progress notifications (thanks Juan Manuel Velazque for reporting)

Review last updated: 08/08/12

Pros

• Saves multiple links in one go
• Improves the way Firefox handles downloads

Cons

• Requires frequent updates
• Not the most user-friendly

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Download McAfee Internet Security Suite 2013 Free

Download McAfee Internet Security Suite 2013 Free

McAfee Internet Security Suite is the latest offering from the security powerhouse, a comprehensive solution for people who spend lots of time online and want to protect their computers from the worst of the web.

You'll notice a difference as soon as you open McAfee Internet Security Suite - this new version is visually very different. The interface is pared-down and minimalist, but still manages to make it easy to see what's going on. It may take you a little time to get used to the new look, but it's definitely worth it.

As far as security functions, McAfee Internet Security Suite has it covered. Apart from the standard real-time protection, regular scans and a firewall, this security suite offers web and email protection, comprehensive parental controls, online back-up and even PC optimization.

Finding your way around McAfee Internet Security Suite is very easy - click on the section that interests you and you'll see status and options displayed below. Clicking on any of those categories will display configuration options, and so on. To "go back", just click the close icon in the top right corner.

McAfee Internet Security Suite is a bit of a departure from a traditional security suite, but it's a welcome one. McAfee Internet Security Suite is very hands-off - it scans, monitors and protects with a minimum of effort - but if you do want to take a peek "under the hood", you'll find that it's one of the easiest and clearest security suites that you've ever seen.

A radical redesign just adds to McAfee Internet Security Suite, an excellent all-around security suite for internet fans.

Pros

• Very clear interface
• File shredder
• Good parental controls
• Network monitoring
• URL tools
• Installation scan

Cons

• Long installation process
• Interface takes time to get used to
• Windows cannot be resized

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Download Foxit Reader Portable 5.4.3 Free

Download Foxit Reader Portable 5.4.3 Free

Foxit Reader Portable is the lightweight and portable version of Foxit Reader. PDF (Portable Document Format) is now one of the most ubiquitous document formats on the net. The problem is that Adobe Reader is both bulky and slow.

Foxit Reader Portable on the other hand is light and quick. The proof is in the pudding for starters - compare Foxit Reader Portable's 8.5MB against Acrobat's more than 320MB and you can see why it opens documents in a snap. The key is that Foxit Reader Portable doesn't have all those annoying splash-up screens, endless credits lists and plugins - as well as the fact that it doesn't need to be installed, obviously!

Foxit Reader Portable's interface been designed with ease of use in mind. You have several toolbars available, which you can show or hide at your will and which give you access to all the available utilities: zoom, text selection, image snapshot, search tool, rotation or full screen view, among others. There is a small ad in the upper right corner, but you can deactivate it by going to the View menu and deselecting the Advertisement option.

One added bonus in Foxit Reader Portable is that you can annotate PDF documents in several ways by highlighting text fragments, underlining them, strike them out or even add personal comments.

If you want a small, fast, stable and portable alternative to Adobe Reader, then look no further: Foxit Reader Portable is what you need.

Recent changes

• Easy-to-use review and commenting tools
  
• XFA Form Filling
  
• Free spell checker for Comments
  
• Safe Mode Settings in Installation

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface with support for tabs
• No installation required
• You can annotate pages
• Light on resources

Cons

• Annotated pages will be watermarked if you save them

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Download TagScanner 5.1.625 Free

Download TagScanner 5.1.625 Free

One of the most challenging aspects of having a large music collection is being able to manage tag labelling.

If your tags are not labelled properly, it's almost impossible to organise them well. TagScanner is a powerful tag editor with batch functions and special features that allows you to export playlists to HTML or Excel worksheets. What's most useful about TagScanner though is the fact that it can edit huge numbers of tags at the same time and not just that, but it can import tag information from Amazon or Freedb.

The information retrieved by TagScanner can sometimes be hit or miss in accuracy but it saves a hell of a lot of time. You can generate tag information from file and folder names and it can edit a wide range of music formats including MP3, OGG, Musepack, Monkey's Audio, FLAC, AAC, OptimFROG, SPEEX, WavePack, TrueAudio, WMA, MP4 files.

In terms of tagging, TagScanner is also pretty impressive supporting ID3 1.0/1.1/2.2/2.3/2.4 tags, APE v1 and v2 tags, Vorbis Comments, WMA tags and MP4(iTunes) metadata. The player function in TagScanner is basic but it does allow you to create playlists and export them for reference which is useful for showing others your collection.

TagScanner is a very powerful tag editor that will surely save you time although you may find that automatically retrieved tags are not 100% accurate.

Recent changes

• New: Support for Opus Codec - stream info and metadata reading/saving (Vorbis Comments)
  
• Improved relevance of lookups on Discogs and MusicBrainz
  
• Improved: Reading of unsynchronized ID3v2.3 tags
  
• Improved: Reading of codec information from MP4 movies
  
• Improved: Reading of multi-artist fields from MusicBrainz
  
• Internal player now support multimedia features of keyboards

Review last updated: 14/11/12

Pros

• Edits multiple tags at once
• Supports many file types and tag types

Cons

• Retrievals of tag data is not always accurate

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Download Google Search for Windows 8 1.0.1.68 Free

Download Google Search for Windows 8 1.0.1.68 Free

Google Search is a browser search tool for Windows 8's Modern UI.

Google lovers using Windows 8 will be happy to know that Google Search will let you search with your favorite search engine instead of having to use Bing. To get started, watch the short tutorial about the different gestures for Windows 8. Then log in and all of your Google stuff will be there waiting for you.

Google Search is more than just a box for a Google page. There is a section for 'apps,' which just opens up Google web apps in the app. You have access to Gmail, Maps, Caldendar and more. Still, search is at the heart of Google Search for Windows 8. It's great for searching for information. Results show up as you type and links open up within the app.

Voice search also makes it into Google Search for Windows 8. Tap on the Voice Search icon and speak your search query. It works well and offers a similar experience on iOS. There are also instant previews that show you screenshots of each site so you have an idea of what you're looking for, even before you click.

The biggest reason to download Google Search is that it can replace Bing as your default search app in Windows 8. Users can activate a search using Google Search from the Charms Bar or from a keyboard shortcut. Having this level of integration with the operating system makes Google Search a must have app.

If you prefer Google over Bing, you'll definitely need to download this app.

Notes

Clicking 'Download' will take you to the Windows Store where you can download the app.

Review last updated: 14/11/12

Pros

• Quick search
• Beautiful interface
• Syncs your Google search history
• Opens links within the application
• Voice search
• Portal to Google web apps
• Replaces Bing as default search app

Cons

• Lags sometimes
• Cannot multitask with Google apps

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Download Microsoft SkyDrive 17.0.2003 Free

Download Microsoft SkyDrive 17.0.2003 Free

Microsoft SkyDrive is the desktop client for Microsoft's online storage app of the same name. It's a slick tool that offers you up to 25GB free storage "in the cloud".

In other words, Microsoft SkyDrive works like Dropbox. It's like an online hard drive with which you can synchronize the files stored on your PC so you can access them wherever you are. To be flexible, Microsoft SkyDrive offers complementary Mac, iOS and Android apps. To access your files when you're away from your PC, you just access your Windows Live Skydrive account, part of the Windows Live family.

Microsoft SkyDrive is a very easy to use. When you install it on your computer, it will create a folder called Microsoft Skydrive on your system. This folder is the shared one, so you need to put a copy of all the items you want to access in here. It comes with a few example documents so you can get to grips with the system easily, but it's really very, very simple. Once you've put the documents in the folder, they'll be accessible from any PC that you sign into with your Skydrive account.

Microsoft SkyDrive offers a generous amount of online storage, and excellent integration with Windows Live. These factors combine to make it a pretty strong tool. There aren't really any "configuration" options to speak of, but if you want to access your PC from your Microsoft SkyDrive account (i.e. from a different PC), you'll need to get a special code. Once you get the code, however, simple remote operations are easily done.

Bear in mind that Microsoft SkyDrive offers a default 7GB of storage. If you're already a Skydrive user, however, you're entitled to 25GB for free, which you can enable via your Microsoft Live SkyDrive account. It's very quick and takes literally one click.

In version 17, Microsoft added selective syncing so you can choose what files you want to sync instead of syncing everything within your SkyDrive folder. This brings SkyDrive up to speed with competitors like Dropbox and Box.

In all, Microsoft SkyDrive is an excellent app. It's clean, quick and easy to use, as well as offering 25GB of free online storage.

Review last updated: 16/11/12

Pros

• 25GB of storage
• Very easy to use
• Clean, light interface
• selective sync

Cons

• Not widely supported by 3rd parties

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Download Sleipnir 3.8.2 Free

Download Sleipnir 3.8.2 Free

If you're tired of your old web browser, try using alternatives which, despite not being very well-known, they work perfectly well. One of them is Sleipnir.

Sleipnir is a complete web browser that can fully replace Internet Explorer or Firefox. In fact, it uses the Internet Explorer core engine but you can replace it by the Mozilla Gecko engine if you want. Sleipnir also comes bundled with Roboform, a handy password and web form manager.

When running Sleipnir for the first time, you can import data from quite a varied amount of browsers. I must say however that my first impression of Sleipnir wasn't very good: the interface is simply bloated with buttons and toolbars, too many for someone like me who loves minimalist design.

That said, Sleipnir does have many positive sides to it. You can browse the web comfortably (thanks to its powerful tab management system) and safely (with a wide array of security tools). Sleipnir also features a complete built-in search tool, an RSS manager similar to Firefox Live Bookmarks, support for proxy servers and many other interesting tools.

Sleipnir is a powerful alternative web browser that's definitely worth a try, even if you're happy with your current browser.

Recent changes

• New: Supported Internet Explorer 9. - Added automatically resize function of images.
  
• Fixed bugs which are not affected by some application. - fixed bugs and made Sleipnir more stable.

Review last updated: 09/08/12

Pros

• Good security tools
• Built-in password manager

Cons

• Bloated interface

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Download Ashampoo Snap 6.0.2 Free

Download Ashampoo Snap 6.0.2 Free

Ashampoo Snap is a feature rich screen capturing tool, for taking screenshots and screencasts.

Like most screen capture tools, you can set hot keys for many of the capture features with Ashampoo Snap. You can choose to capture a window, fixed region, scrolling window, a free style region and more. You can also choose the output format, BMP, JPG, PNG or PDF. Once you've take your shot, there is a basic editing suite, where you can add some effects, text, arrows and so on. The interface is unusual, but really easy to use.

With video capture, Ashampoo Snap is also really easy - choose what you want to capture, whether it's the full desktop, a portion, or a particular application, and click start. And if you want to capture onscreen video, there's a special setting on Ashampoo Snap for that too.

Ashampoo Snap is not the simplest capture application available, but it's certainly rich in features, and is well designed. The video capture is really good, and makes simple screencasts and tutorials really easy to do. It's by no means a professional video editing studio, but for most people it will do just fine.

Ashampoo Snap is a a great mid-range application, with enough features for most users, and nice interfaces.

Pros

• Good interface
• Really easy video capture

Cons

• There are too many annoying help screens!

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Download European Bus Simulator 2012 64-Bit 1.3.2 Free

Download European Bus Simulator 2012 64-Bit 1.3.2 Free

In European Bus Simulator 2012, you drive around the fictional town of Freyfurt. It's a simulator, and you'll have observe laws, rest periods, sell tickets to passengers and be on time. As well as this 32 bit version, there's a 64 bit available

Starting European Bus Simulator 2012, you'll walk to the bus depot, choose your bus then check out the controls. There's a tutorial that takes you through all the controls and shortcuts. Freyfurt has 450 stops dotted around its streets, over six town areas, with tasks such as school runs to perform. You can create custom routes in an integrated editor.

Driving is what you'd expect. Buses are big and ungainly to drive, and keeping out of the way of other traffic is always a big concern. If you enjoy Bus driving, you'll enjoy European Bus Simulator 2012, but despite improved graphics, this is still a game that lacks character. There's no reason a simulator has to be this dry and humorless.

There's a lot of bus-detail in European Bus Simulator 2012, right down to adjusting air conditioning, so it's a treat if you're into that sort of thing. More casual bus fans may find Bus Simulator 2012 overwhelming, and lacking in fun.

Pros

• Very detailed
• Route editor included
• Improved graphics

Cons

• Environment is dull
• Poor sound

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Download Thunderbird Portable 17.0 (en-US) Free

Download Thunderbird Portable 17.0 (en-US) Free

If you're always on the move and a big Thunderbird fan, then this program should answer a lot of your prayers. Thunderbird Portable can run from a USB stick and leaves no hard disk footprint meaning you can use it with ease anytime, anywhere.

The e-mail client is one of Thunderbird Portable's most useful features - you can take your e-mail with you wherever you go although obviously, you can quickly fill up a flash drive with e-mails as you download them.
Fortunately, Thunderbird Portable itself only takes 30-40MB of space. In terms of performance, there are few noticeable differences between Thunderbird Portable and it's big brother.
It's really easy to install although we found synchronization with the mail exchange could sometimes be troublesome.
The only major worry you might have is misplacing the USB drive if it's got most of your e-mails on.
If there was some way to protect users from this kind of accident, then Thunderbird Portable would be the perfect portable app.
If you can't bear to be without your email client when on the move, Thunderbird Portable is the perfect solution, allowing you to use it on any PC you choose.

Review last updated: 30/08/12

Pros

• Allows you to take Thunderbird anywhere
• Keep all your e-mails with you anywhere
• Fits easily on a USB pen drive

Cons

• Vulnerable to security breaches if lost
• Synchronisation with mail server can be problematic

Download Thunderbird Portable 17.0 (en-US)

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