CNET Editors' review
You won't find anything new in terms of functionality, but this freeware does give Windows' built-in clock a face-lift. Free Desktop Clock dolls up the standard digital display with a handful of skins and shows the current date and day. You can customize the simple clock settings to perform a variety of functions--such as load at start-up, use a transparent background, display seconds, and use 12-hour format. Moreover, you'll find features to sync your system clock with a couple of atomic clock servers. We like that the atomic server time could be retrieved prior to synchronizing the system clock, and the alarm feature was a definite plus. All in all, you may not be wowed by this freeware, but anyone looking to spice up that boring Windows' clock may find Free Desktop Clock useful.
Publisher's Description
From Drive Software:
View the time, seconds, month, week and day in different skins in the Windows system tray clock. Free Desktop Clock is the advanced replacement for standard Windows tray clock. Over 120 skins are included in the distribution.
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All versions:
2.9 starsout of 116 votes
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Current version:
2.1 starsout of 15 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Basic PC Alarm - worked ok"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
Simple GUI - does what it promised as described.
Cons
No cons or issues - was pretty basic but good
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"This is MALWARE/ADWARE!!!"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
This is a great simple digital clock, with the date, to place in your taskbar. It has different skins. I like it because I can look at one glance and tell the time, the date, and the day...especially useful if you're signing stuff that needs the date. Looks nice too.
Cons
This is malware/adware. It's either the program or the download installer from CNET (which I think it is). After downloading the installer, it installs an extension in ALL of your browsers, and changes the homepage in ALL your browsers. When I attempted to close my Chrome browser, the browser kept redirecting.
I had to go in and remove the extension from all my browsers, and manually change the homepages.Summary
Great clock with calendar in your taskbar, if you're willing to remove all the adware that comes with the CNET download installer.
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"NO known malware (perhaps it has been cleaned up)."
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
Easy to learn in spite of the many options. I found a color, size and aspect that just suited my needs. Works fine.
Cons
Only the pay version allows atomic clock setting. Not a problem; I use my cell phone provider's server clock for free. :-)
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"Couldn't get it to work on my computer (Windows 7)."
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Cons
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Summary
Wouldn't download again.
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"evil diarrhea"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
none and NONE
Cons
adware/malware, does not even function
Summary
Do not download this.
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"Cnet lies - this is malware"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
Do not install. I Declined offers; still change my default home page.
Cons
hard to uninstall. Crashed my Win 7 system, even the task manager.
Summary
Companies like this are shameful.
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"Looks nice. Much better than the original Windows one"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
Simple and functional
Cons
No Cons at all
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"Silently installs toolbar and potential spyware"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
Works as advertised
Many skins to choose from, although most are too ugly to be usableCons
Silently installs Somoto toolbar, Conduit, and StatisticsStub.
Summary
If there was a notification that 3rd party software was included, and an opt-out during installation to bypass 3rd party software from being installed, then perhaps I would give it 2 stars.
I think cnet should remove this crapware.
I no longer trust cnet as a reliable source for spyware-free downloads. -
"BEWARE - CONTAINS MALWARE"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
None - don't install this
Cons
MALWARE - don't install
Summary
Don't install this.
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"affected by Adware"
Version: Free Desktop Clock 2.37
Pros
did not install
Cons
affected by Adware
Summary
affected by Adware
