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10
Top Magic shareware
The top shareware apps you can find on the web.
Each of them can be downloaded from the web and evaluated for a few weeks.
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1)
WinNc 4.4
(file manager)
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WinNc 4 is a file manager for Windows 95/98/2000/XP and NT 4.0 that can
replace the existing Windows Explorer. WinNc uses the same key shortcuts and
the same mouse functionality as a well-known file manager for DOS (NC).
WinNc has full drag-and-drop functionality; an internal viewer that can view
JPEG, GIF, BMP, TGA, WMF, PCX, MP3, WAV, FLC, DOCS, XLS, HTML, MID, and AVI
files; WinNc's utilities enable you to split, encrypt, and FTP your files.
This app is
great when you have to copy/move many files or drawers on your HD.
With Explorer this operation is a pain, with WinNc3000.
You can freely try it for 45 days (with no limitations; the registration
costs about 20$).
The new version 3000 (the last was '2000') enhances the
compatibility with Windows XP (and supports multilanguage).
Let me
download it! 
OVERALL: Excellent |
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2)
Process
Lasso 2.23
(system
optimization) |
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Process Lasso is intended to automatically restrain running
processes that are consuming too many CPU cycles. Often times,
processes that are 'out-of-control' can bring an NT system to a
near halt. Once one or more processes have become CPU resource
hogs, termination of the offending process(es) is very difficult
since it is nearly impossible to even open the task manager.
With Process Lasso, these processes are temporarily reduced in
priority so that the system is returned to a responsive level.
Process Lasso can work when multiple processes are
responsible for a decrease in system responsiveness.
Process Lasso acts when the total usage of all CPUs exceeds a
configured threshold. When this threshold is exceeded, processes
that exceed another configured threshold for a set amount of
time are temporarily lowered in priority. Processes that
currently have the focus can be boosted in priority.
A very good app, especially for users that use a lot of cpu
(encoding, raytracing, etc.), since with Process Lasso
multitasking works better by far.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Very Good |
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3)
The Bat 3.71
(email)
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The Bat! is a great email client
with many features and an
easy interface: can be installed on *ANY*
partition, so, if you have to change OS, or system, or HD, you can
export everything in a breeze; invulnerable to many viruses and
worms; multi templates support (you can create many templates; multi
account support (you can handle many email addresses very easily);
built in HTML mail viewer; multi language support and much, much
more. The Bat can be used without
limitations for 30 days. The version 3.60 speeds up the code and
uses less resources.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Excellent
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4)
InkSaver
(printer manager)
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InkSaver 2.0 allows you to control the amount of
ink used by your inkjet printer, making your ink cartridges last longer.
Using software algorithms, InkSaver optimizes printer data so that your
printer uses less ink – even when printing at your inkjet’s highest
resolution. Unlike printing in Draft mode, InkSaver gives you control
over your ink without compromising print quality, regardless of whether
you are printing in best, normal or draft mode. Configurable ink
savings levels let you choose the ink savings you prefer, from 0 to 75%.
Consider that up to 30% there is no visible loss in print quality, so you
really save a lot of money about ink cartdrigdes...
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Very good
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5) Easy
CD-DA Extractor v. 9.02 (mp3,
ogg, ape, mp4, etc., ripper and
encoder)
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Easy
CD-DA Extractor makes direct digital copies from audio CDs and saves
them as file formats such as MP3, WMA, VQF, OGG, and WAV. Easy CD-DA
Extractor can also normalize the music, delete silence from the start and
end of a track, copy samples of tracks with user-definable start and
lengths, and read and write ID3/ID3V2/ID3W tags
Someone of you guys will say: there are one thousand or more encoder...
why this (whit a name so ugly)?
Ok, ok. Do not joke. There can even be a million of encoders, and I
have tried many of them, but -up to now- I never found one with a
quality of results so good. The mp3s generated by this app are very,
very good.
Version 6.5 enhances many features, expecially "Turboed" WMA decoder;
Conversions from WMA files to other formats are now up to 100 times faster.
With 7.0 you can create audio CD's also from MP4, Windows Media Audio, FLAC,
Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and Monkey's Audio files
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Very good
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6)
Cpu Idle
Extreme
(cpu
cooler)
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CpuIdle lowers the CPU temperature. This enhances CPU life (a decrease by
10°C doubles the life span) and cuts power consumption. Unlike normal
power management CpuIdle is active all the time and works even when you're
actively using your computer!
CpuIdle works with any version of Windows. There has been a major
improvement in its efficience since last version, so I suggest you to give
it a try. The shareware version can be used with no limitation for 30 days
(the registration fee is 20-30 USD).The version Extreme (7.0) adds
support for most recent CPUs and motherboards.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Very Good |
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7)
AI Roboform6.6
(password
management)
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RoboForm is an automated
password manager and web form filler.
Main features are:
AutoSave passwords in browser
(Explorer, but even
Netscape, Mozilla, Firefox),
AutoFill passwords to login form,
Click Login button for you, Fill
personal info into online forms,
Save offline passwords & notes,
Generate Secure Random Passwords,
Encrypt passwords and personal data
using 3-DES, All personal info is
stored on your computer only, Take
RoboForm with you on USB disk,
Backup-restore-print your passwords.
Easy to use, and extremely useful
for people who have a lot of
login/password. You can even
generate alternate identies for
"suspicious" sites and let it fill
automatically the forms needed.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Good
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8) WindowBlinds 5
(desktop enhancer)
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WindowBlinds is a program that lets users transform the Windows GUI.
It Extends Windows XP to support additional visual styles. It also makes
Windows 98/ME/2000 fully customizeable. With WindowBlinds, every element
of the user interface can be changed (title bars, push buttons, radio
buttons, etc.). WindowBlinds can make a Windows system look like Windows XP
or like MacOS or like something completely new
Great for modifying in a few seconds the whole aspect of
Windows. And I am not talinkg about some icon collection or screensaver,
but about the best app I have ever come across for automatically change
the look of any window or application open by Windows.
There are a few skins included with the package, but on
the home site you can find over 1200 (!), alle free. Most of them are not
so outstanding, but a few are really wonderful.
The version 4 is
available for XP only and greatly improves speed and visual look. A very
important upgrade.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Good
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9)
Alcohol 120%
and Nero Burning Romv.7
(cd burning)
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I do not want to bother you writing about a couple of apps that you -if you
have a CD burner- should know for sure. I put them in my 10 Top Magic since
they are the best in their sector and since you can download a shareware
version that is fully working (for a few weeks).
Alcohol is a powerful CD and DVD-copying program that
writes in raw mode, which gives it total control over the data being
written. Therefore, Alcohol 120% can produce real one-to-one copies of
your CDs. Furthermore it can handle up to 31 virtual CD & DVD-ROM drives,
all at once, allowing you to run several CD & DVD programs simultaneously.
Supports almost any format of CD disc image files for
Emulation and Recording: Media Descriptor Image file format(mds), CloneCD
Image format(ccd/img/sub), CDRWIN Image file format(cue/bin), NERO Image
file format(nrg), Standard ISO Image format(iso), BlindSuite image file
format(bwt/bwi/bws), DiscJuggler image file format(cdi). Very, very good.
Nero Burning Rom Nero is a flexible, reliable, and
easy-to-use application designed to write to both CD-R and CD-RW discs.
Nero also supports multi-session and mixed-mode recording; HFS, ISO/HFS
hybrid, UDF, PSX, OFAS (optimal file access speed), track-at-once (TAO),
and disc-at-once (DAO) writing; digital audio extraction; and more. In
addition, Nero can dynamically disable automatic-insert notification, and
it offers support for multiple languages and works with all major models
of CD-R and CD-RW drives. The long awaited 6.0 has arrived, with a better
support for DVD writing, and much more.
Here
is a compare of Nero vs. Roxio Easy CD Platinum.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Both Very Good
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10)
Hare 1.5.1
(speed enhancer)
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Hare will accelerate games, and most of your
applications. Hare also features a Windows Optimisation feature that will
clean the registry and optimise Windows for a stable and fast system. You
can get up to 300% acceleration, without making your computer
unstable or incompatible. No settings to change, nothing to do: install
Hare and be accelerated.
There many apps that claim to improve the speed of your
system, but there is a difference with Hare: this one works! And works
great.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: Very Good
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WinRAR
3.51
(archiver) |
| Great software for archiving.
Nice and colourful graphic. To
create a rar archive all you need to
do is a right click on your mouse on
the selected application directly
from Explorer. It compresses more
that Winzip and it is probably the
best in its genre. The registration
costs between 30 and 40 Euros
(depending on where you get it
from). The free version that you can
download can be used for an
unlimeted time; however it will keep
asking you to register.
Let me
download it!
OVERALL: VERY GOOD |
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