The Download Blog

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I download and review a lot of great software, but obviously I don't keep everything. Some programs don't make the cut simply because I have a better option on my computer already or I have no use for them at work. But other applications I've downloaded have withstood the test of time and remain useful on a day-to-day basis. I'm talking about my must-have applications.

I've already given you my Big Three free security applications which should be the first programs you download when setting up a computer. Clearly if you haven't downloaded software to cover each of those security areas, you should do so right away. But today's post is about the applications I can't live without--the ones I download after I feel like my computer is reasonably secure.

Today's programs are the workhorses behind the scenes in my everyday work life. One is a text editor that's perfect for quick word processing and looking through HTML code. Another is a multipurpose screenshot and image editor that's great for most basic graphics needs. The last is a Firefox extension which is great for a pro downloader like me, but I think it will be useful for you as well. The best thing about all three of these applications is that they're completely free.

Syntax coloring makes working with confusing code much easier.

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NotePad++ is a HTML and text editor with several excellent features for writing HTML code, but is also perfect for jotting down or pasting text you're going to use later. I really like the tabbed interface because NotePad++ automatically saves every tab until you close it--even when you quit the program. This makes getting back to a project the following work day extremely easy. When dealing with HTML code for Web pages or newsletters for Download.com, NotePad++ offers syntax coloring so sifting through code (something I would rather not do) becomes a lot easier.

Windows Explorer navigation on the left and thumbs on the right help you find the right image.

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FastStone Image Viewer is a solid free image-editing application that's great for resizing, cropping, and converting images to different formats. An intuitive interface makes it easy to browse through folders of images using thumbnails, so getting the image you want is a snap. If your chosen image needs some editing, simply double-click the image to go full-screen and move your mouse to the sides of the screen to bring up pop-up toolbars for quick editing, cropping, resizing, and image conversion tools. I use this one often for editing and resizing screenshots for software (including the shots you see in this post). This one is so useful, you won't believe it's free.

Downloads show up as blue boxes across the bottom of your Firefox browser.

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Download StatusBar is a Mozilla Firefox extension (apologies to non-Firefox users) which adds a bar to the bottom of your browser to let you know the progress of downloads. Mousing over a download pops up a window showing the download link, where on your hard drive the file is going, the file size, how much time is left, and the speed of the download. Once the download is finished, you can double-click the box to begin installing the file without leaving Firefox. A right-click lets you choose options like getting the source URL and the containing folder. Frankly, if you're a downloader (and I hope you are) this Firefox extension is a must-have.

Not everyone uses the same kind of software in their profession so my workhorses might be different from yours. If you have use for any of these types of programs, I suggest you give my favorites a try. If you have other free applications that are worthy of everyday downloaders, let us know in the comments! What are your must-have applications?

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When it comes to software media players, computer users understandably follow what I'll call the "path of least resistance" rule of life: they use what's available on their computer out of the box. If you're a Windows user, that means Windows Media Player. Mac users have iTunes. Once Windows users take the step of adding their iPod (if that's their chosen player) into the fray, they will likely download iTunes to make it easy. But what if you don't like iTunes or Windows Media Player?

Before companies tied their portable players to their software, there was a lot more MP3 software on the market. Though many have disappeared over the years with the big names taking up the spotlight, there are still a few great choices available if you're looking for a change. These alternative media players have upped the ante by making their software compatible with popular portable players and adding cool features to entice people away from the big name apps.

There are both paid and free software options here at Download.com, but in the interest of not spending your (or my) money, I decided to pick some great free alternatives.

If you're looking to buy music online, you can quickly switch to the Amazon MP3 store.

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Media Jukebox has a somewhat generic name, but its feature list is anything but generic. iTunes users will immediately notice the layout of Media Jukebox is extremely similar to Apple's player, but it's the extra features that make Media Jukebox shine. You'll be able to burn and rip CDs, watch DVDs, sync with just about any portable (including iPod), tag your tracks, and convert your files to several popular formats. It has browser support letting you buy music from Amazon and plug-ins for several services including Last.fm so you can find new music based on your taste. You also have your choice of skins you can download to give your player a new look.

The Bento layout makes finding everything easy with all the modules in one place.

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Winamp was once the king of Windows music players and continues to be an excellent all-in-one jukebox. It has support for multiple popular players including the iPod. Old-school Winamp users will like the Bento layout that joins the old modular interface together, and there are thousands of skins to choose from should you want a new look. Playlist creation with Winamp remains as one of the best in this category of software and when you're sick of your own music, you can always sample streaming audio and video content for something new. Though there have been a few bugs reported with video playback, Winamp still stands as one of the best in this category. You'll need to go pro ($19.95) to get high-speed CD burning, but overall Winamp is worthy of a look.

JetAudio's smaller tabbed interface lets you switch between the programs many functions quickly.

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JetAudio Basic is a long-time favorite for many here at Download.com. This free all-in-one player is completely skinnable, plays and coverts audio and video to most major file formats, lets you burn and rip CDs, watch video, and much more. Like the others, you'll be able to listen to streaming music to find new stuff you like, and JetAudio Basic's tagging features help you whip your music library into shape. You can also enhance your music using included effects like reverb and wide sound, and make your transitions smooth as silk with the included cross-fader. You can even sing along using JetAudio's synchronized lyric tools or import lyrics using the supported MIDI-Karaoke (.kar format). One big missing feature: JetAudio won't sync with your iPod, but as a desktop or laptop player, this app is tough to beat.

If you're looking for a new way to organize and listen to your music, or if you're just tired of certain features in iTunes or Windows Media Player, check out one of these programs. As always, if you have a better alternative than the ones listed here, let us know in the comments!

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I take a lot of pictures with my digital camera at birthdays, family gatherings, and other events, so I'm always on the lookout for new ways to share the photos. As new programs hit the scene and older programs evolve over time, my favorites change because of various factors like ease of use, number of features, and of course, the king of all reasons: price.

One of the best ways I've found to share pictures with friends and family is to make them as accessible as possible by creating Web albums. With the right software, you can lay out your pictures any way you want, create a template to fit the theme, and write in your own captions. When you're done, simply send a link to your personalized Web album.

There are plenty of paid offerings to choose from in this category of software, but I've found several free programs that do the job nicely. The best Web album software provides ways to host your work on the Web so all you'll need is some creativity and your already honed photo-snapping skills.

The step-by-step process makes it easy to create simple albums.

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Photozig Albums Express offers a step-by-step process so you can design your project from start to finish. Big button icons with descriptions make it easy to start your project and select the preferred output for your images including sending in e-mail, burning to a CD, or uploading to a Web site. The finished product is a basic layout of thumbnails that you can click to enlarge, but you'll have no skins to choose from with this one. The Photozig Web site requires you register with an e-mail address, but you'll be able to display your albums on the Web for free once you're signed up. For basic albums, this is the one to choose.

A clean-looking interface and several themes make album creation easy.

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Web Photo Album is another simple free album creator offering several nice (if sometimes cheesy) templates. A nice interface layout makes it easy to find the pictures you want and quickly create a simple album. It offers basic editing functions like red-eye removal and picture rotation, and you can add captions to each picture. The finished product comes out as a page of thumbnails and once you click on a picture, you're given a close up with the ability to navigate to other shots across the top of the page. Though there are a staggering number of themes to choose from to match your pictures, your overall layout is unchangeable. Web Photo Album lets you sign up for the free Photo hosting service, or you can save to a folder to burn to CD or post to your own site.

With numerous skin and layout choices, JAlbum is tough to beat.

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JAlbum for both PC and Mac users is one of my long-time favorite free Web album programs. It doesn't direct you through the process like Photozig, but a quick look through the menus will be enough for you to get started creating great Web albums. There are several great-looking templates and skins to choose from, with more skins available at the JAlbum Web site. An integrated FTP program makes it easy to post albums to your Web site or blog. The JAlbum site also lets you post your projects to their Web hosting service for free, but as with the others, you'll need to register with a name and e-mail address.

With spring weather returning here in the Northern hemisphere, you're going to have a lot of chances to snap some great pictures. Use one of these free Web album programs to turn your pictures into a nice project that's easy to share with anyone.

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Every Windows user knows that removing a program is more complicated than just deleting it. During the installation process, several files are dropped into different areas of your system to make a program work. The Windows Add/Remove programs utility was meant to be the tool to use for getting the various parts of programs off your hard drive, but it doesn't always do a great job.

Fortunately, some savvy developers designed uninstall programs to do all the guesswork for you. These applications attempt to gather all the files associated with unwanted programs, so that you can get every component of the software off your hard drive for good.

It's important to note that, while these programs do a great job of rooting out rogue files, my experience is that you still want to check all files thoroughly before deleting them--the best defense against getting rid of something you might need is checking it over carefully. With that, here are my three favorite uninstallers.

Simply pick the unwanted program from the list and hit Uninstall.

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Your Uninstaller 2008 lists all your installed programs in a window letting you quickly choose which applications you want to uninstall. Double-clicking on a program begins the uninstall process. Your Uninstaller 2008 runs the available uninstaller which comes with the program you want to uninstall, then it rechecks your hard drive for files the program's uninstaller may have left behind. In my tests, this program worked pretty well to get all the associated files out of my system, but the steep demo limitations are pretty frustrating. You only get two uninstalls per launch of the program before you register ($39.99) and you can only use the program for 21 days.

The sparse interface hides powerful tools to get rid of applications for good.

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ZSoft Uninstaller is a free program which uses a similar technique to Your Uninstaller 2008. It first runs the unwanted program's original uninstall option before cleaning up with its own technology. But for a more thorough uninstall, ZSoft Uninstaller offers an analyze function that you can use during the initial installation of programs to track exactly which files are being added to your system. Later, when you want to uninstall a program, you can then click the Analyzed Programs tab and rest assured when you uninstall the program, every associated file will be included. The search box for finding specific programs and the capability to get rid of temporary files are nice additions to this free program.

Use this dialog to choose how thoroughly you want Revo to look for associated files.

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Revo Uninstaller, which has been featured recently here at Download.com is another solid free uninstaller. With Revo, you can choose the level of uninstall you want it to perform, from simply using the programs included uninstaller to performing a deep scan of associated files in the registry for a thorough cleaning. Revo Uninstaller takes you through each step of the process giving you the power to save certain files from deletion. Revo also offers a "Hunter Mode" which places a cross hairs icon on your desktop. To get rid of a program, simply drag the cross hairs over a programs unwanted shortcut icon and Revo will find all associated files and take you through the steps for deletion. Even as a free program, Revo uninstaller is definitely tough to beat in this category of software.

Getting rid of old and unused programs is a great way to make room on your hard drive, but sometimes the Add/Remove programs utility is not enough. If you really want to clean up your computer, these uninstaller options will almost always do the trick. As always, if you have a better uninstall program than the ones listed, please let us know in the comments so we can check them out!

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Drawing has never been my strength. I love looking at art and can certainly appreciate an artist's skill and patience with creating something pleasing to the eye. But when it comes to putting a pen or brush to paper, I simply don't have the talent. I always admired my friends who had the gift of being able to draw, but it was a gift I never received. I'm sure there are many of us who have thought it would be nice to be able to draw at one time or another.

Fortunately artists (or maybe even just people who appreciate art) got together with talented software developers to make programs that help the less-talented create some decent-looking stuff. Obviously, there's no program that will turn you into the next Picasso, but with creatively made tools and brushes, you'll find you can create some very nice work. I probably won't quit my day job, but when I'm feeling the creative urge, it's nice to know there are programs designed to make art more accessible to the rest of us.

There are a number of programs that give you the tools to draw on your computer, but in this Killer Download, I've put together a group of apps that offer unique tools and methods for creating something with a bit more than just lines and shapes.

Choose from a huge list of brushes and effects for your project.

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SmoothDraw is the most straightforward drawing tool of this group, but offers some unique brushes and features to enhance your work. You can use pens, pencils, air brushes, spray cans, water colors, and many other tools to get your preferred effect. To add more to your work, you can choose from a nice list of simple filters and effects. You also can experiment with layers and change several variables of each brush to get a different look. Though this one is the most straightforward, it doesn't offer the truly unique toolsets of the programs below, but as a paint program with some extra options, it's a good choice ($45).

The strengths of this app are the unobtrusive interface design and realistic brush strokes.

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ArtRage makes your whole desktop the canvas, with an interesting and well-thought-out interface designed to stay out of your way. You get to choose from tools such as paint brushes, pencils, felt pens, and crayons, and each looks much like its real-world counterpart. The best thing about this program is the attention paid to your work with regard to the interface. As you get over near an edge, interface elements will automatically disappear to stay out of your way. Also, right-clicking removes all tool bars so it's just you and the canvas. There are a number of cool-looking tools you can unlock if you register ($25), but the included brushes and pens are fun to work with too.

This app lets you experiment with several variables to create the perfect kaleidoscopic design.

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Mandala Painter was designed to help you create kaleidoscopic Mandala designs, but is loaded with options and features for simple drawing as well. The kaleidoscope effects are excellent, with tools for creating extremely simple designs or incredibly complex multidivision Mandalas (think: more mirrors in the kaleidoscope). You can also play around with filters for different effects and add layers to your project to get it just the way you like it. One feature that is truly unique (in a funny way) is the ability to play new age music from within the interface. If the jazzy flute and guitars don't get you in the creative mood, I'm not sure what will. A demo version watermark will stay on your work until you register ($29).

Not everyone was lucky enough to be born with the ability to draw or paint. With one of these unique paint programs on your hard drive, maybe you can fulfill your creative urges and produce something nice to look at in the process.

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We've looked at and reviewed Windows and Firefox themes before at CNET Download.com, but after getting a new computer at home, I figured it was time to revisit new themes. Though a Firefox theme is hardly a must-have Killer Download, I would argue a working (or nonworking) environment in which you feel comfortable makes all your computing more enjoyable. Once I got the new system online, along with my usual security downloads and other useful utilities, I decided a little browser customization was in order.

Most of my regular computing at home including e-mail, writing, and other work-related stuff is done on my Mac. Since I designed my Windows machine from the ground up for gaming, it seemed fitting to me I would give it a gaming feel when it came to themes. Many gaming sites, including our very own GameSpot, have a darker-themed look to set off the graphics of the hottest new games. That's why I decided to cross over to the dark side when it came to choosing my Firefox themes. I should note dark themes are not for everyone, so only download these if you like the dark look.

Here are a few of my favorite dark themes so far, but I'm hoping readers will add more in the comments so we can all check them out. As with most Firefox themes, these themes are easy to install. After downloading, simply drag the .JAR file onto Firefox's theme dialog, select "Use theme", and restart your browser. You're new look should load right up.

I like the glassy buttons, but I would like it better if the sidebar shared in the darkness.

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Aquatint Black is a dark grayish theme with glossy blue interface buttons. I like the look of this one mostly, but it does something weird with the graphics in my All-in-one Sidebar Firefox extension. Maybe this is an All-in-one Sidebar specific problem, but it also leaves all my bookmarks a much lighter color. All pull-down menus are the same dark gray color with a glossy-blue highlight running down the left side. If you're not sure about having a dark theme, this is the lightest of this group so you'll know immediately if it's your cup of tea.

The crisp colors of the icons look great on the dark interface.

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Aero Fox does a great job of emulating the look and feel of Vista. Though Vista hasn't really caught on for a lot of Windows users, the glossy buttons in Aero Fox contrast perfectly with the darker overall theme. The glass-like quality of the interface looks great. They left the pull-down menus a pleasing dark gray (without the gloss) for better readability. Even if you're not a Vista user yet, this theme is definitely worthy of a look.

The darkest theme of this group has a really clean look.

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NASA Night Launch is probably the darkest theme of the group, but it's also my favorite. The flat buttons look great on the dark interface, and a few other extras make it a nice-looking choice. As you load Web pages, you're treated to an animation of the Space Shuttle taking off in the throbber on the upper right. Window backgrounds include a larger picture of a night launch as well. Though the shuttle pictures are a little hokey, I like the overall theme the best out of this group.

If you're looking for a dark Windows theme to complete the look, try the Zune Theme we reviewed recently in the Daily Download. Got a dark theme for Firefox or Windows you like better? Let me know so I can check it out!

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Just about everybody who uses the Internet these days has broadband access. Whether it's DSL, cable, or a direct high-speed LAN connection, most people choose a faster connection to make files download faster, videos stream smoother, and online gaming much more enjoyable. But what if something is eating up bandwidth that you don't know about? Particularly when you have a superfast connection or Wi-Fi, how do you know there isn't something or someone leeching off your bandwidth when everything seems to be working smoothly?

Though I have my Big Three security apps running on every Windows machine I use, I know I can never be too careful about malware. Though it is not a fullproof system for detection, knowing how much bandwidth your computer is using can be a clue into possible issues. One of the best ways to detect an issue is to watch for changes in your computer's behavior, and a bandwidth meter can detect changing trends as an early indicator. Even if it's not malware, a good bandwidth meter can tell you if a new program is sucking up too much bandwidth or if another user is leeching your Wi-Fi connection.

I've rounded up a few freeware and shareware bandwidth meters you can download and check out right away. At the very least, you'll have a window into how fast your Internet connection runs over time to find out the best time to download large files. But if you notice a trend of sustained decreases of bandwidth, it might be an indicator for malware or possible Wi-Fi hackers.

Tons of information is available online with Line Speed Meter.

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Line Speed Meter is a free program that's great for getting bandwidth stats and following trends in your connection speed. After a quick setup process, you can run a test to get basic info about upload and download speeds. But to get more information, you can click the My Results button to get in-depth information online with graphs and diagrams showing your connection speed and trends over time. I like the way the information is set up at the online site, but an included animated window showing real-time connection speeds would have made this free app even better.

Full traffic reports for multiple connections are only a click away.

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Net Meter is a shareware alternative ($19.95) that includes all the information you need within the interface. A small window shows real-time connection speeds for multiple network connections and a right click to the interface lets you bring up stats for daily, weekly, and monthly trends. You can use the options to change display graphics and choose which stats you want shown in the window. This one also lets you set alarms for when your bandwidth exceeds your specified limit.

The graphical stats make this free app tough to beat.

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BitMeter could be my favorite of the bunch, but it might be more about aesthetics than functionality. This free app offers everything you need right in the interface like Net Meter, but the smaller window and the way it displays stats seems more appealing. Just like Net Meter, you can access a contextual menu with a right click to bring up connection statistics, but with BitMeter, stats are displayed graphically. You can then drill down further to get a summary of network activity by the hour, day, or month. BitMeter lets you set alarms for both speed and volume alerts, including ISP restrictions if you have a time-based volume limit.

Keeping track of your bandwidth usage can be an indicator of malicious software and can notify you of possible Wi-Fi leechers. If you have a better app for the job please let us all know in the comments! For a more general connection speed indicator to compare your connection with other services, try the CNET Bandwidth Meter (Yahoo Widget).

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One problem almost all laptop users have experienced is not having the "latest version." I'm not talking about a particular piece of software, a driver update, or even the laptop itself. I'm talking about that moment when you're on the road or at a conference and you smack yourself in the head because you forgot to get the "latest version" of that important file off your desktop PC. From there, it's a scramble to call your co-worker, roommate, or significant other to find a way to get the latest version to you.

While I don't have the power to make people remember to sync every important file to their laptop, I can certainly provide ways to make the process easier. A good syncing application makes it easy to see which files are up to date with your latest work, and which ones are not. Usually syncing apps provide a dual-paned interface so you can browse folders on different drives and computers. The good ones have helpful alert icons so it's easy to pick the right files to transfer so you always have the latest version. Of course, the nature of syncing programs make them a great choice for creating regular backups of your important files and folders as well.

The 2-paned interface makes it easy to match up files in important folders.

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Synchronize It offers a two-paned interface for easy folder and directory syncing. A start dialog helps you designate what you want to sync up, whether it's between your desktop and your laptop, folder to folder, or even FTP sites for Web site updates. There are several preset rules for syncing up your data, but you can use the options to create new rules, select specific file types, and create filters so you know you're getting exactly what you want. If you want a hard copy of folder contents, Synchronize It offers options for HTML reports and printouts. Synchronize It is shareware so you'll get 30 days to sample its features before you'll need to register ($19).

Use the wizard interface for quick synchronization, or access the regular interface for more advanced functions.

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Easy2Sync offers free and paid versions, but this free version is great for simple folder and file syncing. Easy2Sync offers helpful wizards so you can set up rules for syncing, schedule regular syncing tasks, and make sure you sync up only the files and folders you want. Though initially even the wizards can seem a bit complicated, the Easy2Sync help system gives you all the basics to make the job a lot easier. This free version does not support syncing of subdirectories or performing multiple tasks, but if it's simply a folder you need to sync up on a regular basis, it does the job nicely. The full version of Easy2Sync business edition costs $79.

Check the directional icons in the middle of the interface to see the status of matched files.

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GoodSync is a popular free syncing program that boasts one-click functionality. You can set up filters for specific file types and folders like the other apps, and you can schedule regular syncing for backups and to make sure, for example, your laptop always has the latest versions. It supports syncing to FTP sites like Easy2Sync, or several other media types like USB keys, CDRW drives, and Flash drives. You also get a number of options for when you want GoodSync to sync up important files, such as at system start-up, on a schedule, or when your laptop is first connected. One thing I particularly like about GoodSync is the tabbed interface so I can quickly get to different syncing jobs with the click of a mouse.

The last thing you want to happen when you're on the road for work is find out the project you've been working on is completely out of date. Make sure all your important folders are synced up using one of these apps. As always, if you have a favorite that isn't listed here, please tell us about it in the comments!

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Whenever I'm setting up on a new computer or test machine at work, or even after I've downloaded my must-have programs on a new home machine, one of the first things I do is grab an RSS newsreader. Though you can use Web browser favorites to hit and save your most visited sites, newsreaders have a few advantages that make getting all the latest updates even easier.

With a good newsreader on your machine, anytime you see an available RSS feed at a Web site (usually with an orange RSS or XML label), you can have all the latest news from that page delivered to you. Think of it as having your own digital paper boy. Once you've loaded up your RSS reader with feeds from your favorite blogs, news, and technology sites, the latest posts show up in your newsreader automatically without you needing to seek them out.

The newsreader category runs the gamut of interface diversity so you can get your feeds in a lot of different ways. There are news tickers like the Mighty Ticker, which show headlines you can open as they trail across your screen; unique toolbar-like apps like KlipFolio, which sit as a stand-alone widgets on your desktop; and Web-based apps like Google Reader (for those with a Google account) that offer a strong browser-based alternative .

To keep it simple, I've narrowed my selections down to newsreaders you can download right away with the most intuitive and commonly used interface. I just want to point out, when you're ready to explore some of the other methods of getting the latest news, there are plenty of options available. As always, if you have a favorite newsreader that's not featured here, let us know in the comments!

When you find a story you like, you can open it full screen.

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RSS Bandit is a free newsreader offering the standard three-pane interface with your feeds on the the left part of the interface, headlines on the upper right, and story summaries on the lower right. Clicking on a story opens the story in full-page view like a browser. With this type of setup, you can click through your feed list quickly and browse through the stories you want to read without shuffling through a bunch of browser bookmarks. One of the best things about RSS Bandit is the ability to detect feeds on a page. So when you find a site you like, you can use the Wizard to discover all available feeds before making your choice.

The basic three-pane design makes it easy to find the information you want.

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Snarfer is another great free newsreader with a similar interface layout to RSS Bandit. This one comes with several feeds already set up for you to browse, but it's just as easy to add them on your own. What makes this app interesting is it includes a wizard you can set up to do complex searches on Craigslist and eBay so you'll be the first to know when a specific item becomes available. I also like how it offers a tabbed interface so you can get important stories on screen which you can browse when you're ready.

The multitude of viewing, sorting, and discovery options sets FeedBeast apart

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FeedBeast is a shareware alternative (usually $18.95, but $5 for a limited time. Check the developer site for more info) which offers the standard three-pane interface, but is a bit more polished than the free offerings. Features like e-mail synchronization to get important news to your in-box and Word Watch, which lets you search for news via keywords, are handy additions. It comes with numerous sorting options so you can get to the exact information you're after. Also, getting new feeds from your favorite sites couldn't be easier with FeedBeast's one-click subscription feature.

If you're a news junkie like I am and you're sick of drowning in bookmarked favorites, download one of these apps. You'll quickly realize how much more efficient your daily news and information browsing can be with a good newsreader.