Each issue we’re going to be hunting down the best online-themed applications available on the internet so you don’t have to. This could be anything from download managers to web browsers, from instant messengers to media streaming and everything in between. You name it, we’re likely to cover it. Best of all, everything you’ll find on this page will be freeware. So no nagging popups, no time restrictions and no feature limitations. Just strictly no holds barred functionality! Read on to find out what we’ve been digging during the last month.
µTorrent
Gone are the days of your system grinding to a halt each time you decide to start a download on some resource-hogging, Java-based BitTorrent client. uTorrent packs in a vast plethora of features, but manages to do so with little noticeable system slowdown. All good reasons why it’s considered to be the de facto BitTorrent client for Windows.
CloseTheDoor
Reduce the chances of hackers successfully penetrating your computer by checking for open TCP and UDP ports. You’ll ensure that only needed ports are listening and all other unused ports are out of action. Analysing the ports is made all the more easier using CloseTheDoor with its ability to locate the executable file doing the damage and then terminate the process.
InnerTube NEW
Forget the reference to a tyre’s interior, this app’s basically a browser-based video library for your home network that will let you share your TV and movie files across the LAN. So you’ll be able to watch your favourites from any computer in the house. But that’s not all, the really cool thing is you’re able to carry on where you left off thanks to InnerTube’s video tracking function.
Keep tabs on your computer using Monitorx to help stave off failures
Outlook Sync NEW
Do you use Outlook for sending emails and organising dates on multiple computers? Then you’ll want to install Outlook Sync. It synchronises your calendar and contacts on two machines without the need for Microsoft’s expensive Exchange server system. You can also synchronise different versions of Outlook, from the 2003 edition and later to be exact.
WakeMeOnLan NEW
Save yourself some time by turning a far away computer on without being there personally. This can be done simply through sending Wake on Lan packets to the remote location. This can be done even more easily now with the help of WakeMeOnLan, you can turn on any computer linked to your wired network once it has identified all connected devices.
Opera
With so many browsers vying for market share developer’s are having put more resources into innovating than ever before. Successfully loading webpages is no longer enough to stand out from the crowd. That’s why the folk at Opera have developed Opera Turbo, a feature for those not blessed with the fastest of connections. It compresses pages via Opera’s servers creating quicker download times
Pogoplug
Share your entire media collection with your mobile phone or tablet by using Pogoplug to create your own personal cloud network. Do away with the storage limits that plague more portable by converting your home computer into a makeshift media server giving you access to your favourite photos, music and movies whenever and wherever you want.
fTalk NEW
Not all your chums are going to have a dedicated instant messaging client installed, but there’s a very good chance they will have a Facebook account. Why not take full advantage of this by installing a dedicated Facebook client such as fTalk? With it you’ll be able stay connected without the distraction of all the social networking’s sites other status-related features.
fTalk’s a standalone application based on Facebook’s instant messaging feature
Thunderbird
One great free alternative to email powerhouse Microsoft Outlook is Thunderbird. Now well into its sixth generation it’s no longer the flakey app it once was. Install it and you’ll instantly have access to some really cool features like the tabbed email, intelligent spam filters and a built-in RSS reader. Plus with Mozilla’s new Rapid Release Cycle you know any minor bugs will be fixed quickly
Minus NEW
While there are many simply file sharing utilities out there, very few of these offer support for Windows, Mac and Linux along with iOS, Android and Windows Mobile. Minus however, does. The software adds an icon to your system tray making it easy to share files between several devices. All you need to do is drag files over the aforemention icon.
All these great tools are part of issue 314 of PC Plus, on the shelves on 18th October 2011. Subscribe today to the paper edition and you can get it up to a week early! Subscribe to PC Plus.
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