Completely FREE Software - CFS Weekly Newsletter #481 issued July 11, 2008

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This electronic newsletter is registered – ISSN 1441-6840
Welcome to the CFS Weekly Newsletter.
The programs listed here are completely free for non-commercial use, even though some may be shareware or commercial products. None are time-limited and all are fully functional. If you know any that aren't exactly as specified, please let us know and they will be removed immediately.
If the link below does not work (does not take you directly to the program listing) it is probably because the site has been upgraded and the link is no longer valid. Please use the CFS Site Search facility (above) to locate the program.
COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE

Battle Just Started v0.1.2 – WinXP/Vista
Battle Just Started is a 3D tank battle game where you just shoot everything that moves. It features a choice of 5 different tanks, 6 maps, 9 powerups to collect, 4 weapons, choice of single player or on-line multi-player games, on-screen radar showing enemy tanks, 4 camera views (switchable), optional user manual (in PDF format – 15.3MB), and more. This is a fun, if somewhat simple, 3D tank shooter where you race around collecting powerups and blasting away at enemy tanks while avoiding getting destroyed yourself. It doesn't offer any great storyline, it doesn't even have highly rendered 3D graphics, it is just a simple shooter with a 3D aspect. Battle Just Started is not a sophisticated game, but it does provide light-hearted entertainment and is a fun way to kill some time. It is reported to play very well over a network but we did not have the opportunity to test that aspect of the game. Battle Just Started is worth grabbing if you like 3D tank battles. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 29.7MB download from: WinXP General Game

Wubi v8.04.1 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
Wubi is a program that downloads & installs the Ubuntu Linux distribution on a Windows computer, with minimum input from the user (no CDs to burn, etc), and gives a dual boot option when the computer starts – Windows or Ubuntu. This is possibly the easiest way to get the famous Ubuntu Linux operating system on your computer. Simply run the program, decide which partition you want Ubuntu to reside on (it requires 15GB of free disk space), give yourself a username and password, and then click on the Install button. Apart from having to re-boot the computer once the Ubuntu distribution (called a "distro") has downloaded (over 690MB), there is little else for the user to do but go have a coffee (or three – it took us about an hour and a half to download and install, but your mileage might be different) and you will be faced with the dual boot log-in screen when you start your computer. Ubuntu is the most Windows-like Linux distro we have seen, and has only a small learning curve for new Linux users. However, new users should realize that it is not Windows and they should spend some time learning how to get the best from this non-Windows operating system. Once installed, you will be prompted to get updates for various components and this is done seamlessly if you agree. The Ubuntu distro includes many more programs and games than Windows and, theoretically, you should not have to get any further programs to use this Linux operating system in either a business or home environment. If you want to try Linux, specially the Ubuntu distro, then use Wubi to download and install it for you with the least pain. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 958kB download (don't forget, there is another 693MB to come!) from: Win95 General Program

SeaMonkey v1.1.10 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
SeaMonkey is a tabbed Web browser with advanced e-mail & newsgroup client, IRC chat client, address book, and WYSIWYG HTML editing. It features popup ad & offensive-image blockers, a form filler, password manager, download & cookie managers, and more. This is an excellent all-in-one Web tool that replaces the now defunct Mozilla Application Suite from Mozilla.org. It not just offers an excellent Web browser (similar, but not quite as good as Firefox) but it also offers e-mail facilities and an excellent WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) HTML editor for creating your pages. The other functions are just icing on the cake. SeaMonkey lacks the modern look 'n feel of Firefox (its sister application) and is more reminiscent of the old Netscape Communicator suite. It even shares the same icon as Netscape! As with Firefox, SeaMonkey enjoys the provision of add-on tools to enhance the application but with far fewer add-ons than are available for Firefox. The Composer (HTML editor) allows for both WYSIWYG editing and also source code editing, though the source code editor does not include syntax highlighting. Overall, SeaMonkey is a superb suite that enjoys full integration with each part of the suite. We still feel that Firefox is the better browser but, if you want those other functions, is the best way to get a full suite of Web tools. We loved! Access this 12.4MB download from: Win95 Internet Related

RightMark Audio Analyzer v6.1.1 – Win9x/ME/XP/Vista
RightMark Audio Analyzer is a tool that tests the quality of analog and digital paths of any audio devices (sound card, MP3 player, CD/DVD player, acoustic set, etc). It features a playback generator, spectrum plot modes (linear/log/mel), HTML reports, supports mono & stereo, and more. Unfortunately CFS was unable to review this program. The author says that the RightMark Audio Analyzer suite is "designed for testing quality of analog and digital paths of any audio devices, be it a sound card, an MP3 player, a consumer CD/DVD player or an acoustic set. The results are obtained by playing and recording test signals passed through the tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. A more common mark is also provided for those unfamiliar with measured technical parameters." Access this 6.19MB download from: Win95 Multimedia Program

Mumbo Jumbo v1.0.8.7 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Mumbo Jumbo is a Scrabble-type word game where you create words of up to 7 letters from the board. It features timed gameplay (default is 1m 10s per turn), play against the computer (Klot the bot), tiles from bonus squares get extra points, optional tile shuffle, and more. This game is like playing Scrabble in reverse. You start with a blank rack and a full Scrabble-like board and you must find words on the board that are lined up the same as a normal Scrabble game (horizontally and vertically). Tiles have the same numeric value as those on a Scrabble board and, like a Scrabble board, there are bonus squares which give greater values for individual letters or for whole words. You can decide the maximum length of time for a turn (default is 70 seconds), the target to reach before a winner is declared (default is 110), and the number of "Mumbo Shuffles" you can use (default is 1). The tiles are shuffled after each turn so the likelihood of you getting a good score depends not only on your ability to recognize high scoring words, but also the random shuffling of the tiles. We were most disappointed in the computer opponent which might be suitable for a child but did not give an adult much challenge. Unfortunately, there were no levels of difficulty built into the game so you are stuck with the same, rather dumb, opponent. Mumbo Jumbo was designed as an on-line multi-player game and has a built-in chat function to assist communication between human opponents – but to use these functions means purchasing a separate program called "The Lobby". However, Mumbo Jumbo can be played in single-player mode without any additional programs needing to be purchased. Even with the relatively weak computer AI, Mumbo Jumbo is a fabulous game for anyone who enjoys word-based games, and for Scrabble fans in particular. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 1.45MB download from: Win98 General Game

Renpad Backup v1.0.1.11 – WinME/XP/Vista
Renpad Backup is a fast, easy-to-use file and/or folder backup program. It features 3-click backups, built-in automatic update system, splits backups into smaller pieces for portable storage media, variable compression of backups, optionally creates self extracting backups, Automation Engine to run backups after hours, optional encryption & password protection of backups, and more. This is an excellent backup tool that uses either 7z or ZIP compression (7z creates smaller files than ZIP, but it is much slower in operation). Wizard-driven, Renpad Backup is extremely simple to use and set up. Once you have created a RIB file which contains your backup information, it is a simple exercise to repeat the backup anytime you like. You can even have it automatically carry out a backup when the program is opened. We would have liked to have seen a one-click Windows system backup included so you can quickly add your main Windows data files to the backup, in much the same way as you can add a folder to the backup. Renpad Backup is an excellent way of ensuring that you still have your essential data after a system crash or other disaster (we save our backup file to a USB pen drive so that it is always with us and is kept independent of the computer). Worth grabbing! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95 or 98, and is free only for non-commercial use. Access this 1.86MB download from: WinME General Program

SureThing Photo v1.1.312.0 – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
SureThing Photo is a photo editor & manager. It organizes all photos & images (date, keywords, comments & categories), can handle many thousands of images, can automatically adjust exposure & contrast, removes red eye, sharpens blurry images, applies special effects, creates photo albums & contact sheets, prints, and more. This is a superb photo toolbox that can truly manage many thousands of images while offering some photo editing functions. It sits between a full blown photo editor and an image viewer with some editing functions though it is the photo management tools which make it really stand out. For example, the red eye reduction tool works well, but it is a manual system that some people might feel uncomfortable with compared to more automated red eye removal tools in other free programs. When you first load this program you get all the functions of the "Plus" version, like a screensaver creation tool (with transitions), the ability to backup to DVD or CD, a photo Web tool, etc. Once these are gone, you revert back to the more basic free version. Even with some of its shortcomings, SureThing Photo is an excellent tool, specially for managing large photo collections. We liked! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 13.1MB download from: Win98 Graphic Program

Hall of Shadows – Win98/ME/XP/Vista
Hall of Shadows is a massive maze game where you must find the exit while battling monsters and trading with fairies. It features 4 maze sizes (19x13, 50x50, 244x183 & 350x350), 6 levels of monsters (from none to "wall to wall"), every maze is different, map, save game function, and more. This is an awesome game that has its roots back in the old Spectrum ZX81 game, Mazogs, from the early to mid 80s, though this version is far superior in all aspects (including graphics!). The author says that the "smallest maze gives you a game you can play in five minutes, the largest would cover a wall in your house if you could see the whole of the maze at once." If you choose to play with the monsters (recommended), then you will find that some are edible and will give you more points when you defeat them, and others aren't. When you have 100 points you cannot get any more and you would be wise to avoid the monsters if you can. There are also a couple of different powerups to collect along the way. You can also collect treasures and, when you have enough, trade them with the maze fairies you find along the way. Depending on the number of treasures you have collected, you can get all sorts of help (including a path to the exit). We really enjoyed playing Hall of Shadows. It is a simple game, with a simple concept and relatively easy gameplay, but it has a fun aspect that first impressions don't always show – specially if you choose to play with the larger mazes and with lots of monsters. Don't miss this great game! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 2.79MB download from: Win98 General Game
UPDATES
Diary – a calendar-controlled logbook or diary – has been updated to version 4.17 with a new, smaller download size of 1.83MB. The author advises that changes in this version include: larger 1024x786 dialogs, multiple named to-do-lists, printing to the default printer, and more. Note: the author does not use normal version numbering conventions – the previous version we listed was 4.5 but most programmers would have called that 4.05 (the fifth minor update since version 4, whereas this version is the seventeenth update since version 4). Access this latest version from: Win95 General Program
Last of the Patriots – a retro sci-fi RPG/shooter set in 2167 – has been updated to version 1.4.1 with a new, much smaller download size of 10.7MB. The author advises that changes in this version include: optimized code; smaller file size; controls screen; and additional content. You can get this latest version from: Win98 General Game
COMMENTS
We would like to thank the regular visitors to the CFS site who have told us their favorite freeware. If you have a favorite program which isn't listed on the CFS pages we invite you to share that information with everyone through this site and this newsletter. If you are an author of a freeware app (or would just like to suggest a program) and would like it listed on these pages, please fill in the Submit Software form.
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