Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
There's nothing more annoying than trying to open a file, only to find that you don't have the right program on hand to do the job. That's where Free Opener comes in. It opens a large variety of files without any hassle. We rarely keep the applications we review, but this is one that we plan on keeping around for personal use.
The program has a very simple user interface, with only three menu options: File, Edit, and Help. Using the File menu, we were able to browse for and select different files to view in the large window. One by one, we opened PDF, AVI, XLS, and HTML files without any trouble whatsoever. No matter what file we chose, each one opened clearly and effortlessly in the window. In terms of help, the About feature gives a listing of the numerous file types that are supported by the program. Another link sends you to the program's Web site, where you can access FAQs. The Preferences menu doesn't offer much, just the option to change the skin of the interface, but we can't complain because the program performed perfectly. Free Opener has one job, and it does it well.
The program installs and uninstalls cleanly.
Publisher's Description
From EZ Freeware:
Open different file types on your computer. Open Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDF Files, and many other image, movie, and music file types. No specialty software is required to open any of these file formats. With Free Opener, once you download the software, you no longer have to worry about opening files again. Opens 75+ file types on Windows including PDF, DOC, AVI, DOCX, ZIP, JAR, XML, HTML, SWF, 7Z, PHP, XLSX, MKV, FLV, XLS, JPEG, TXT, PSD, WMV, CR2, CRW, GIF, MSG, NEF, TIFF, JPG, MOV, MP4, LOG, PNG, CS, INI, MPEG, MPG, CSS, MP3, CFG, HTM, BMP, JS, XLSM, WA, ICO, REG, DNG, ARW, MID, ORF, RAF, PEF, RESX, CF2, ERF, MEF, MRW, SR2, X3F.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 15 votes
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Current version:
3.6 starsout of 15 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Adware trojan"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
don't download this
Cons
this is filled with adware. Unless you want to spend the next 15 minutes finding and uninstalling malware, stay away from this! will install adware even if you try to opt out or cancel installation. CNET please be more vigilent in your review process, this software is infected according to most antivirus protection.
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"very useful program"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
A FILE THAT YOU CAN OPENEd text,subtitles very easy....
Cons
nothing get
Summary
very easy and very fast opener text files i prefer from notepad....
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"Great software"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
It let open many and many file format, as it says.
Very good program. Easy to install and to work.
Good job!Cons
No con at this moment.
Summary
Download soon as possible thi piece of software, you will not regret.
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"Within an hour of loading this my PC will not boot"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
None I can mention
Cons
After loading I started to see strange behavior - hyperlinks appeared on words that took me to web sites you couldn't close. Removed the program immediately and ran a virus scan upon which the computer never acted right, so tried to reboot and was told my config sys could not be found - no recovery - all is lost on that PC. Gee thanks.
Summary
No more freeware for me... EVER!
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"As promised, opens plenty."
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
Very tidy program. It did not try to supplant the associations for file types I already use. It merely added itself automatically to the file types I don't already know how to open.
Cons
None yet. I was careful not to let it install toolbars; I don't like them.
Summary
Great freeware.
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"Worth installing even if you don't need it right now"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
- Lightweight & unobtrusive
- Huge range of file types can be opened (documents,videos, music etc)
- FreeCons
None so far (optional toobars or software can be avoided easily)
Summary
I installed this 5 months ago and forgot about it at first but it has proved so useful since then. I would say 99% of files I needed to open and didn't have the software for worked with this program.
It's not a media player or word processor or image viewer - it's all these things and more! Sometimes I even choose to open files via Free Opener over the original program as it's faster.
To all those complaining about spyware or toolbars - I never have this problem because I don't click my way through a couple of installation boxes like I was in a race. All you have to do is actually look before you click and you'll see a tick box you can easily uncheck if you don't want to install optional software. -
"Opens many file types"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
Very easy to use
Cons
Wants to install too many unneded add-ons. I always carefully and slowly go through screens asking to download add-ons but it installed a toolbar anyway...had to run Add/Remove programs to gt rid of it.
Couldn't open iTunes XML files.Summary
Excellent, is advertising-free but is very wilful in installing add-ons.
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"Toolbars!!"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
It probably does what it says it does.
Cons
When I installed freeopener, You have the option of express install which includes yahoo toolbar and several other yahoo add-ons or custom which lets you "uncheck" the yahoo options. I chose to decline all the yahoo add-ons. Then it asks you to accept or delcline several other products which is becoming more and more common. But as I read each one, I declined everything except the freeopener that I was here to download. So the status bar appears but there are two. One for freeopener and ONE FOR YAHOO TOOLBAR! The tool bar installs first and very fast. It was already half way accross when I clicked the cancel option. I was using IE when I downloaded the file. I closed and opened the browser, no toolbar. I checked the add/remove programs list. No yahoo.But then I checked firefox and guess there it was!? Settings only lets you disable the toolbar but doesnt actually delete. Software that I declined TWICE has made it on to my machine.I had to delete free opener to get rid of the toolbar.
Summary
I understand that add ons help pay for free software. But when I decline something, I dont want it. Either enough people will opt-in or the software just will not be free. If there are no free options then I would rather pay for something than have additional crap get loaded on that I do not want.
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"Great program"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
Easy to use
Cons
None so far
Summary
Perfect for reading old msg files since I stopped using Outlook and switched to Gmail!
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"A Really Great File(s) Opener"
Version: Free Opener 1.0
Pros
It opens just about anything and the extraction, if needed, is really quick. Other files can be easily viewed. I got rid of WinRar which was just too complex and settled on this easy to use file opener. It lets you select a file location and also to open up a new folder if needed.
Cons
Just takes a little getting used to and as I just got it today, I can only give it 4.5/5 just in case.
Summary
Get it! It is so much simpler to open 70+ file types with just this one program. Oh, and it's FREE!!!
