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All posts tagged "freeware"


Friday, January 13, 2012

A Fast, Free Image Viewer: Nexus Image

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home Software" @ 11:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/5872901/nexus...wer-for-windows

"Nexus Image (no relation to Google or the Nexus line of phones) is a free, sharp-looking image viewer that loads images quickly, displays EXIF information in a transparent overlay, lets you browse images via keyboard shortcuts, and can even dim your desktop to provide a lightbox effect while you browse."

I've tended to use Picasa as my image viewer, or ACDSee's Quick Viewer if I've got it installed on the computer I'm working on, but this looks like a fast, lightweight solution. I took it for a quick spin, and it's indeed fast and has some decent features. On the plus side, you can use a scroll-wheel or track pack to move through images in a folder. Weirdly though, the keyboard arrow keys won't work if the image window is in focus (you need to click on the column of thumbnails for them to work). Minor gripe though - this looks like a winner to me!


Sunday, August 28, 2011

Download.com Wrapping Freeware in Bloatware

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home News" @ 02:00 PM

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...out-motivations

"There was a time long, long ago when Download.com was the place I went for software. It's been years, however, as the site repeatedly showed signs of devolving into a site every bit as bothersome as the many third-tier software repositories that hide genuine links below clever-placed advertisements and bundle toolbars with their "certified" local downloads."

Well isn't this just an ugly corner CNET's Download.com has backed themselves into. They're apparently taking freeware applications such as VLC Media Player and wrapping the installer inside another installer...and the CNET installer includes toolbars and other ad-based crapware. By all accounts, they seem to be doing it without the permission of the developer who's software it is they're "wrapping". What a mess. I hope the developers rise up and take their software off of Download.com. Without key software to drive traffic, Download.com is just an empty shell...


Sunday, August 15, 2010

Freemake Video Converter

Posted by Reid Kistler in "Digital Home Software" @ 11:30 AM

http://lifehacker.com/5600735/

"With all [the] video converting apps out there, it can get a bit overwhelming. Freemake combines almost everything you need into a clean, simple, one-stop-shop for all your video converting, editing, and burning needs . . . if you don't need a ton of control."

Lifehacker.com reports that Freemake Video Converter (Windows only) provides fewer options than Handbrake, but is easier to use, with a simple drag and drop interface. The "easier to use" part might be enough in itself to qualify Freemake as an attractive download, but it also has a companion application, Freemake Video Downloader, which is designed to help you obtain videos you might later wish to convert - and both products appear to be under active development, with multiple recent updates that add features and / or implement bug fixes. (Note: While working on this post, I found that the Handbrake site was not available one evening. That proved temporary, but it might make Freemake an attractive download as a backup - while at the same time pointing out one of the dangers of relying upon freeware for anything beyond personal use.)


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