The Freeware Outpost 'blogged'

return.....

2008-06-16T20:17:00.002-04:00

I have finally returned home back to the "States".
And am getting settled into my new home.
I hope to shortly get the site out of 'mothballs' and again actively develop it.

I am currently, as my schedule allows, going through and getting rid of the volumes of no longer pertinent posts.
Many links in many posts are 'live' or current.
Plus many of my 'articles' need some reworking.

PhotoFiltre

2008-06-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

PhotoFiltre is now at ver. 6.31

Wow, it has been awhile since I have worked on this site, as when I took time off it was at version 6.13.
So I need to work on a fresh/up-to-date 'review'/synopsis on this outstanding image editing app soon!

Contact

2008-06-15T09:33:00.001-04:00

Due to my unhappiness with the forced (and intrusive) ads being used by the service that I had been using for my "contact" form, I now will just provide a contact email addy here. It is not a clickable mail link (sorry), so you must manually type it in.

OR - you can use my contact form (opens in a new window).

If the image above does not load for any reason(s), simply type in freewareoutpost@gmail.com_mail (but remove the _mail)

If you are submitting freeware, please include :
Name of proggie
Size of proggie
Version # of proggie
Homepage url
Screenshot url
d/l url
Author's name
Author's contact info (and if/how to be listed)
Which version(s) of Windows it works with

Desktop search.....

2008-06-13T11:40:00.001-04:00

This post will soon be 'updated' to reflect the plethora of 'desktop search' apps that are available.

Have you taken the 'desktop search' plunge yet?

FAQs

2008-06-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

How do you choose what proggies/applications are listed?
I list only programs I personally use and find useful, and that are true 100% freeware (NO exceptions).

What is the definition of 'freeware' for this site's purposes?
My/The Freeware Outpost's opinion of true freeware is software
that is available for download at no costs and with no spyware or
adware included. And with no expiration/no time restrictions or and no
'demo only' features (or the lack of features).

Can I submit a freeware program for possible listing on Freeware Outpost?
Click here to submit your freeware only suggestions (please - no spyware or adware).

How often is the site updated?
New listings are posted as I find them. This may vary depending on my schooling and work schedules.

When was this site started?
This site first came online in April 2003, though it had been an idea of mine for over a year. Thanks to the support and encouragement of several friends, it finally was born/created/conceived (?)

Do you list spyware or adware?
NO, I do not consider (in my opinion) spyware and adware to be
freeware so I do NOT list them or consider them for listing on this
site.

Where can I ask a question not answered here?
Use my contact form to send your question(s).

What is The Freeware Revolution?
Here is where you can view an informational page regarding this movement.

Is it spyware?

2008-06-08T21:38:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder if a 'freeware' program may actually be "spyware"?
Use the form below (from the folks at SpywareGuide.com) to see.

Or if you care to, you may puruse the full listings of spyware as listed at SpywareGuide.com here.

What The "Freeware Revolution" stands for

2008-06-06T18:38:00.000-04:00

Please take the time to read what I as part of The "Freeware Revolution" stand for

Graphics Freeware

2008-06-02T08:21:00.000-04:00

PhotoFiltre (ver 6.31)
Author : Antonio Da Cruz
PhotFiltre just may be THE photo editing proggie of choice for me from here on out. FREEWARE photo editing proggie that is!
It has a vast array of option and functions and comes preloaded with a slew of plug in/filters!
Size : 1.6 Mb - Rating : 5
Homepage - Download

Irfanview (ver 4.10)
Author : Irfan Skiljan
If you get one graphics freeware program - Irfanview is it. It may appear to be just a graphics viewer (it is notable that Irfaniew was the first Windows graphic viewer WORLDWIDE with Multiple (animated) GIF support. One of the first graphic viewers WORLDWIDE with Multipage TIFF support. The first graphic viewer WORLDWIDE with Multiple ICO support), but it goes far past 'just' that. It is a thumbnail creation tool, can support many plug ins, can view many additional formats (avi, mpg, mp3 among others).
Size : 4.6 Mb - Rating : 5
Homepage - Download

PIXIA (ver. 3.1te)
Author : Isao Maruoka
PIXIA is a very well rounded graphics program. It serves all this site's graphics needs superbly. It has so many features of commercial graphics programs costing hundreds of dollars (ie, working with brushes, layers)
Filesize : 3.6 Mb Rating : 4
Homepage - Download

DeKnop (ver. 4.3.11)
Author : Sam Francke
I want to thank the author of this proggie for submitting it and for providing this very nicely detailed description :
"DeKnop is a graphics editor that is designed to let you create buttons for your web site without requiring any graphic design experience. Besides it's easy to create 3 fold buttons for Neobook projects.
It provides an easy to use step-by-step interface that lets you select
the text, font style, colors, 3D bevel, size, gradients and more. DeKnop also supports projects, allowing you to save your work.
Create you mouse-over buttons.
Easy to translate the user interface in your language.
Help and interface in French, more interface: Spanish, Francais, Dutch,
Hungarian, Polish, Catalan, Chinese, Czech."
Filesize : 950 Kb - Rating : 4
Homepage - Download

Capture (ver. 1)
Author : Bernt Levinsson
The program's title is 'Capture' and it does just that - screen captures. It saves the 'grabs' as bitmaps (no need to sweat the size of bmp.s , just fire up Irfanview and convert it to another format, my choice is gif). It can do window captures, screen captures or selected areas. You can also do time delayed captures.
Filesize : 248 Kb - Rating : 4
Homepage - Download

Color Cop (ver. 5.3)
Author : Jay Prall
If you work with web pages or graphics, a 'color picker' is a very necessary tool. ColorMania is by far the best and easiest to use I have run across.
Filesize : 326 Kb - Rating : 4
Homepage - Download (download is from C|Net site)

The 'selling' of freeware

2008-06-02T06:33:00.000-04:00

Note : This piece was originally written back in 2003, but it is still as relevant as it was back then.

I am actually beginning to 'enjoy' part of the 'freeware' world (note, I said 'some parts of the freeware world'). For I am so delighted that the Freeware Revolution is now beginning to gather momentum and to reach many via some open mined media journalists. This is contrary to the previous maligning goings ons about it that were occurring(and for all I know still do go on). I also am really pleasantly suprised at the numerous kind exchanges I have had via membership at FreewareArena, which it is free, with no strings attached, and no pressures to 'do anythings' (like the typical 'tell everyone about us', click on this link, or visit these sites because we "approve" of them), for people have sent me very nice messages and that is not the typical result of 'joining' a site, usually the site operator is either 'pushy' (as previosuly addressed) or the 'webmaster' simply wants anyone and everyone to be a 'member' to either A ) brag about members numbers, B ) lourde over their 'members' like they are their 'minions' to do their bidding (sorry that is just a line I have always treasured from "Creative Writing" class a few years back), but it does illustrate what many nefarious 'webmasters' do - they impose their greedy goals by pushing the 'promote me' issue, sometimes very discreetly (albiet subtle) or just plain 'hammer to the head' boasting of how their site is so..."blah blah whatever, bling bling of this or that...and soon we will be on top", and other pathetic diatribes to encite visitors to act as promotional tools. I feel sympathy for sites that have to play the 'fame game' and play dirty to 'succeed'. They spend so much time talking trash** that they only end up appealing to the same type of users that they are (**lowest common denominator theory).

The more opportunistic 'webmasters' there are, the narrower the lines of useful knowledge become. Search engines are already overwrought with poor 'results' when searches are done. And the number of 'keyword games players' grows. I am in total agreement that content trumps flash anyday. But intelligence is insulted when this 'knowing how to properly use keywords' is the petty excuse put into play.

Then there are those sites that will proudly link to anyone. Anyone? Hmmm...anyone, could that signify either an urgency to get traffic or simply that they have no regard for visitors as they have no standards. I myself (though new to the 'webmastery' realm) am very selective and though that may ire many, I don't use my site as a soapbox to scream 'look at me'. I have communicated with a small number of very reliable and professional 'webmasters' whose sites are useful and certainly are usable from my youngest cousin to my Grandma. I was raised to be respectful of others and the Internet has the potential to reach untold numbers, so should someone new to my site visit and I send them to a site that I myself would not revisit or am appalled at, what message am I sending to 'guests' to this site? That people are only numbers? NO, I prefer to do things honestly, professionally and straight as an arrow. I only seek to share resources and sites that I find helpful or useful.

Now if I were so inclined to make money, I could follow the trend of 'selling' freeware on disks. But how can doing that convey to people what freeware truly is? If you visit a site that sells freeware, stop, and click to another site, or resign yourself to having been indoctrinated into believeing freeware and shareware are synonymous. And abandon the respect that freeware authors deserve for you have just enabled a plagarist to take a 'gift' and turn it into a 'product'. Also acknowledge that by frequenting/supporting these 'payware' sites, you are condoning and validating these bandits lack of creativity. For they haven't the intelligence to create an original idea, and must ripoff talented people.

Perhaps the answer is one that may trouble some but 'could' alleviate such thievery from getting recognition - censoring on the part of search engines. But with a different approach - have 2 Nets, one for free content(s) and one for 'pay for' contents(s). YES that is a far fetched idea, and no doubt would have 'free speech radicals' warbling about freedom of speech, but when something is blatantly stolen it is a crime, plain and simple. And users deserve the truth, not just 'come ons' of the best 'free software', and then to be led to questionable sites, or lurid content(s). Nor to be duped into 'buying freeware'.

But maybe it relates to how the words aesthetic and pathetic sound so similar any yet are so diametrically different, one deals with beauty (or the conveyance thereof) and one is the almost putridness that results from wallowing in depravity and smirking at what one can wreak.

Sincerely,
Lis

Monopoly?

2005-06-04T21:10:00.000-04:00

Monopoly (courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
):
1 : exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply, or concerted action
2 : exclusive possession or control
3 : a commodity controlled by one party
4 : one that has a monopoly
First - I DO like Google.
Second - I have no ill will against Google, and that has nothing to do with the fact that Google owns Blogger and Picasa and Hello.
Third - I have long been one who is using a computer because of Microsoft and just want to snap out when I hear/read that real jagasses that rant about "Microsloth", the "Evil Empire" and so on.
Now in that vein I refer to the whole MS is a monopoly mindset/mindrot.
Ok, MS is a monopoly because of their huge and control of the market right?
Google rules in search right? And now in blogging, right? And sports a pretty cool desktop search tool (though it is free, some plug ins are demos, what's up with that??), right? And Picasa and Hello rock too right?
So...not that I am saying it, but using the bonehead thinking applied to MS, wouldn't some comspiracy theorists who must wear aluminum foil hats and use radiation mointors to ward off being radiated by evil neighbors also apply such accusations to Google?
"Nah...not Google, they are just looking to knock MS down a notch or two, which somebody should", they'd say. Hmmm...so if MS is on top of things and has so much in a tight vise grip, then wouldn't knocking of and thereby taking over mean that they would be the new monopolizer?
Here's my thoughts on it all. I like MS (no they are not perfect and Windows NEEDS improved and all the holes plugged just to mention a few things), I also like Google.

As long as users examine what they do and what others may be able to do to them, then who's fault is it at the end of the day if we ALLOW compamies or whatever to hold sway over things and or us? Either build a better whatever or please, please do me and everyone else a favor, please?
Do this. Push your lower jaw up against your upper jaw, and do not make a sound, thx:)

Antivirus

2005-06-03T09:44:00.000-04:00

McAfee AVERT Stinger (ver. 2.5.4)
Author : McAfee
McAfee provides a free anti virus tool called STINGER that is a good secondary tool to detect and remove specific viruses.

As stated on McAfee's website, "It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system.", but that having been said it is worth having for certain instances, and it IS freeware.
Filesize : 1.1 Kb Rating : 4
Homepage - Download

AVG (ver. 7.323)
Author : Grisoft
Antivirus is an absolute without question necessity! And AVG is fantastic (not only because it is freeware and that updates are free) in it's functions. I love the shell integration (making it so simple to scan specific files. It can also be set to scan your Outlook Express mail - NICE! (note - the screenshot is of ver. 6)
Filesize : 11 Mb Rating : 5
Homepage - Download

avast! 4 Home Edition (ver. 4)
Author : ALWIL SOFTWARE
avast! Home Edition is a superb antivirus program. It has a ton of useful attributes, like - automatic updates, shell integration and email scanning. Much like AVG, avast! requires registration, but as with AVG I gladly gave up my email addy (ok actually I gave a 'throw away' addy I use for such registration needs).
Filesize : 8.92 Mb Rating : 5
Homepage - Download

Thunderbird 1.02

2005-06-02T11:44:00.000-04:00

That email client that you can't do without, or have to pay for is not at ver. 1.02

Thunderbird ver. 1.2

Firefox 1.04

2005-06-02T11:43:00.000-04:00

Firefox ver. 1.04 is here!!

Get it here

Desktop Search the battle rages for supremacy

2004-12-23T12:56:00.000-05:00

Here's some of the big name entries in the "desktop search" battle that is under way......
blinkx
Copernic Desktop Search
Google Desktop Search
MSN Desktop Search
Ask Jeeves Desktop Search
Article about the Yahoo! Desktop Search projected for launch Jan. 1st (2005)
A piece that touches on AOL's potential "desktop search" entry that is purported to be part of their soon to be released AOL Browser (** yawn **) can be viewed here

Home Computer Magazine

2004-12-22T18:59:00.000-05:00

Home Computer Magazine home of "Free PC tutorials, reviews, advice, help and more", according to the site's main page.

You can dl an app that will "deliver" each issue (pdf format) to your computer.

Sounds interesting and I will report on it when (and if) I give it a go.

How to write Firefox extensions

2004-12-20T11:50:00.000-05:00

How to write Firefox extensions

Handy dandy easy read on creating Firefox Extensions!

The Smile Project

2004-12-17T11:58:00.000-05:00

The Smile Project - a "must have" extension for Firefox users who frequent forums and such!

MS plugs weak XP firewall

2004-12-17T11:35:00.001-05:00

MS plugs weak XP firewall from The Register

Microsoft Buys Anti-Spyware Company

2004-12-17T11:35:00.000-05:00

Microsoft Buys Anti-Spyware Company from PCWorld.com

A few interesting articles.....

2004-12-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

From PC Pro : XP SP2 passes security experiment

A rather "duh" article from USA Today entitled, "Unprotected PCs can be hijacked in minutes".

From IT Observer, one titled, "HP Looking to Ward off Viruses."

And finally, from PCWorld, "Lycos Antispam Screensaver Draws Fire"

weather.com - weather at the Freeware Outpost

2004-11-29T05:04:00.000-05:00

weather at the Freeware Outpost

Total UnInstall

2004-11-29T04:18:00.000-05:00

Knowing just what changes may be made when you install a piece of software IS very vital.
The freeware program Total UnInstall does just that.
Well not "just that", it does more as well.

Just an observation - many freeware sites don't actually try out all (or any of) the "freeware" that they list.
Doesn't that make you wonder, WHY NOT ? ? ?

Thunderbird for OE

2004-11-26T06:01:00.000-05:00

I love the various Lockergnome.com newsletters, and an article in a recent edition of the Windows Fanatics is version entitled Switching to Thunderbird is a very good and timely piece to read.

This one is especially for my friend PearyLime.

Stinger (specific anti virus freeware tool)

2004-11-23T23:36:00.000-05:00

McAfee provides a free anti virus tool called STINGER that is a good secondary tool to detect and remove specific viruses.
It currently is at version 2.4.5.1

As stated on McAfee's website, "It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system.", but that having been said it is worth having for certain instances, and it IS freeware.

Another great freeware site - Buzzy's Stall Wall

2004-11-23T11:57:00.000-05:00

Excellent freeware site!
At Buzzy's Stall Wall you can find very nicely (and honestly) reviewed freeware.
I salute this site as the webmaster takes the time to really check out and go through freeware, this way you KNOW what you will get and what to expect from the freeware that is listed.