We've been using Firefox 3.5 for a month or so now and you wouldn't know it was only a release candidate. Very stable, very fast and it's going to be a key release when it's available - and the rumour is tomorrow, the last day in June. However, if you have multiple editions of Firefox 3.5 installed across various computers, you'll want to keep your bookmarks, preferences and other information in sync.

Mozilla Weave 0.4 for Firefox is an updated version of the Firefox synchronisation tool that has always made sure your bookmarks and passwords are in sync, but the latest version will now synchornise your preferences. It also will give you the same identity support (based on Open ID) across your editions of Firefox, so you can quickly access a secure web page, so you don't have to remember your login information.

Mozilla Weave link.

If you're planning your new website, it's very difficult trying to come up with something innovative, new and exciting. Generally speaking, we need to spend time searching through various websites for our inspiration. We can source a colour scheme for inspiration, navigation ideas and much more. Problem is that websites have a bad habit of changing, much like wallpaper. Note a URL and go back to it later to find that it's completely changed, down or immensely slow. Not the best situation if you're sitting in a meeting with your web design team to show them inspiration for your site.

LittleSnapper 1.0.4 is a Mac-based commercial tool that's a little like Evernote. It enables you to browse the web and add grabs of a web page to the application, which you can use to build a database of inspirational ideas. You can add tags and other reference points, so you can quickly find sites based around certain colours, as an example.

LittleSnapper link.

Obsolete applications quickly occupy space within your PCs memory and can even drain system resources. Most people would turn to the Windows Add/Remove facility to remove these unwanted programs, unfortunately though some tools may leave associated folders and files behind even if the program itself is successfully removed. If you are in search of a reliable removal tool, it may be worth considering a more proactive uninstaller.  

Ashampoo Uninstaller 4.0 takes a snapshot of your computers Registry prior to the installation of any new application, determining where all folders and files are placed.
you can then use the uninstaller's comprehensive "Before and After" comparisons to monitor and identify the activities of any program such as hidden files and Registry keys.

Ashampoo Uninstaller 4.0 link.

Only a few years ago, it was easier for people who knew how to use the command line to use it to copy files between drives, rename folders and even download applications from an FTP site. For some people, they still prefer to use the command line as you can do some really powerful stuff if you understand the commands and parameters. Mozilla Labs have realised this and implemented a way of controlling the Firefox browser from a command line.

Mozilla Ubiquity for Firefox 0.5 is a free add-on that brings a command line to your browser and, on a simple level, will enable you to control the browser. However, it will also do far more complex things in the future and you will be able to tell your browser to perform a function using simple natural languages.

Mozilla Ubiquity link.

Maintaining an organised computer not only helps your PC run more smoothly but it's essential for privacy reasons, too. Inevitably files will accumulate on any PC, and although many will be harmless, there will still be files that your machine will automatically store that may be more sensitive. Even if you think you've removed these items, there are some tools that are better than others at completely removing these files.

CCleaner Portable 2.21 is a portable version of the popular cleansing tool. The portable version enables you to run the application without installation on any machine you may be using via a USB stick or other portable media. The application is also useful for removing old Registry entries such as uninstallers and invalid shortcuts.

CCleaner Portable 2.21 link.

Most of us have a fairly large collection of media files on our home computer. These could be our audio tracks, the photos we've taken on vacations or videos we've ripped from our own DVDs. There's little point using our laptop screen to view a movie or attempt to listen to our favourite tracks through the computer speakers. As your laptop or home computer is likely to have a VGA-OUT or DVI-OUT socket, you only need one cable to connect this to your TV. Problem is that you need some decent media management software to get the most from your collection.

Boxee for Windows and for Mac is an early preview version of this superb free open-source media centre technology that's designed to find and group together your media collection, connect your computer to your TV and watch your movies, photos and listen to your audio tracks.

Boxee for Windows and for Mac links.

After installing and removing software from your computer, over a period of time this will slow and result in your PC taking longer to boot, start applications and will generally feel sluggish. You can do three things to solve this situation. Remove some of the unnecessary items from your Registry, using a Registry optimisation tool, cleanse your PC from unnecessary startup applications and give your drive a boost by defragmenting the drive contents. This means you use software that will take your drive contents and re-arrange them in a logical manner so that your computer can find and load them more easily.

Defraggler 1.11 is the latest version of the free defragmentation tool that you can use to optimise your drive or drive partition, internal or external. There's a portable version of the software which you could install on a USB flash drive and take with you to optimise other computers. The latest version ships with a number of small fixes and enhancements.

Defraggler and Defraggler Portable links.

Whilst the latest non-DRM audio tracks from online music stores, such as iTunes, are produced from the original masters, many of us still have tracks that we've sourced from other locations. We'll have live tracks taken from bootleg recordings, recorded from the radio or even tracks we've recorded ourselves from old LPs or cassettes. Either way, they'll be poor quality, with a lot of crackle, perhaps cheering at the start of the track and other parts that might need some editing.

WavePad for Windows 4.03 or for Mac are free audio mastering tools that will enable you to take a track and fade it in or out, perhaps remove some crackle, merge with another track and much more. Of course, if you need more than basic audio editing tools, there's a paid-for Mastering Edition available, too.

WavePad for Windows or for Mac links.

Modern broadband packages now provide more reliability and greater connection speeds than old dial-up connections and most modern Internet users have not used or needed to use an FTP client before. Although FTP clients are no longer necessary since the development of modern web browsers, they are still useful in certain circumstances and especially if you regularly download files. They are also an efficient way of quickly uploading data.

FileZilla 3.2.5 is a popular, freeware FTP client that enables you to transfer files to and from the Internet with ease. By using the client alongside a good broadband connection, it's possible to administer a remote site or take advantage of any free homepage space you may have to upload files more efficiently.

FileZilla 3.2.5 link.

People are now using smartphones, PDA's and other hand-held devices to do more and more, from creating a document and sending emails to browsing the web and paying bills online. As with using a normal computer or laptop, it's important to keep personal data secure. Malware can still affect handheld devices and cause them to function erratically and even enable others to access your phone. It's also important to keep data safe in case you are a victim of theft.

Norton Smartphone Security 5.0.4 is an application from Symantec that utilises a selection of solid security applications. The software ships with a powerful firewall, antivirus protection, data encryption and password protection.This smartphone application also provides real-time protection, keeping your device secure at all times.

Norton Smartphone Security 5.0.4 link.

Going online in search of a particular audio track or video clip is usually the easiest way of finding what you are looking for, but much of the time these files are compressed in a variety of different formats which can make and playing them using your default media player a little tricky. If you download files from different sources you may find that you need several different players to listen to or view your newly downloaded files, making it almost impossible to easily listen to your entire audio collection back-to-back.

Songbird 1.1.2 is a free, cross platform media player. The application enables you to manage audio files ripped from CDs as well as stream video and audio as well as download media files directly into your media library. Songbird also supports a number of useful add-ons and can be customised with different themes.

Songbird 1.1.2 link.

Phone calls from mobiles and landlines are cheaper than they ever have been, and the service is generally reliable to but the fact is, it still can't compete with instant messaging, especially if you have friends and family abroad. Another plus point is that communicating in this way enables you to talk to people on a one-to-one basis as well as in groups. However, one downside is that because there are so many different messaging clients available it's pretty unlikely that all your friends and family will be using the same one.

Miranda 0.8.0 is a free instant messenger client that enables you to communicate across almost anyone, irrespective IM network. All status icons are included for other networks and your contacts are consolidated onto a single list. Unfortunately the application doesn't support all advanced features that ship with some IM tools, but it's a small price to pay for the convenience of using a single application.

Miranda 0.8.0 link.

Many of us keep our most important files on a detachable USB drive which could easily be taken by a third-party, files copied on to their drive, without you being any the wiser. This could include your media collection, work documents, accounts or any other file. Although we setup a login and password to secure our PC, we simply forget that some of those files are not hosted on the main hard drive (and even then are not that secure).

TrueCrypt 6.2a is free encryption technology that you can use to secure your drive and prevent unauthorised users from gaining access to the contents. You can create an encrypted volume, if you desire, and simply read/write to this volume as if it was a standard partition. As TrueCrypt is a cross-platform tool, if you decided to turn your portable USB key in to an encrypted drive, you could simply move this to/from your PC and Mac and use it with few compatibility issues (irrespective of the NTFS read/write issues).

TrueCrypt for Windows and for Mac links.

Go out and buy the latest 32GB iPhone or iPod Touch and you'll soon realise it's tricky to fill the entire drive. Most business use their iPhone as their smartphone, storing their 'to do' list, their notes and their email. Why not go one stage further and use the device to store your most important files, documents and other information? Like the iPod Classic, you can turn your iPhone or iPod Touch in to drive which can use to store your data.

DiskAid 3.0 is a commercial tool that will turn your iPhone in to a disk. Simply connect it to your computer and you'll be able to drag your files on to the device. By using the iPhone 'FileAid' app, you can even access some of the files you've placed on your iPhone, from your computer, using the device. Open images, PDFs, text files and more.

DiskAid link.

If your in the market for a new computer and haven't done your research, you can easily come unstuck. Many computer brands advertise their products with various facts and figures, some you may understand but others may be more difficult to decipher, which can be frustrating when attempting to compare machines form different manufacturers. Obviously manufacturers need to make a profit on each machine and sometimes cut corners to save themselves money, the trouble is that manufacturers can disguise poor components in seemingly 'good value' packages.

Belarc Advisor 7.2 is a free tool that will perform a detailed audit of your computer, identifying installed hardware and operating systems. By performing a thorough audit you can identify how well your system is really performing, or if it matches the manufacturers advertised figures or use it to compare a new machine to an older one.

Belarc Advisor 7.2 link.

Filling in web forms with the same personal information can quickly become tiresome and although you can set some browsers to remember this information, it's not exactly secure. Trying to get the balance between quickly filling out large online forms and keeping personal data secure isn't easy, but there are applications that can help.

AI RoboForm 6.9.95 is a popular and established application that helps you fill in tedious online forms. The application keeps sensitive and personal data completely secure whilst enabling you to quickly fill in forms. The latest revision supports all major browsers including Netscape 9, Firefox 3 and Internet Explorer.

AI RoboForm 6.9.95 link.

Most computer users will be aware that certain aspects of their machines appearance and performance can be adjusted. Even for novice users, Windows makes it relatively easy for you to perform basic tweaks, but it can be a little too basic for some. If you still want to optimise your systems performance but don't have the knowledge to edit your Windows Registry, Optimisation tools are designed so that users can quickly and easily tweak a number of areas of computer performance, with minimal hassle.

Ashampoo WinOptimizer 6.24 is a suite of utilities designed to help you optimise your systems performance in a number of different areas. Use it to manage areas of your computers performance, from booting speeds to online performance all with minimal effort, ideal for those who don't have the time or in depth knowledge to manually adjust complex settings.

Ashampoo WinOptimizer 6.24 link.

Again, this is another application that we're not going to put online for public download until it receives a public preview, but it's still worth a mention for serious users. People ask us why we do not put every beta on v3.co.uk/downloads, unlike other downloads sites. The reason is that the software developer isn't promoting it publicly on the frontpage of their site, so why would we want to promote it on the front of our site? Respect the developer's wishes.

VirtualBox 3.0 has been released as an early first beta for testing, mainly aimed at advanced VirtualBox users who want to help test some of the new features for the forthcoming new version. It supports up to 32 virtual CPUs which is useful if you want to share your multi-core CPU across your virtually hosted computers. You can also use DirectX 9 applications on hosted Windows virtual machines and more.

VirtualBox 3 beta link.

We're big fans of Opera 10. Although we can't use it at work - it isn't supported by our CMS - it's a key browser and works well on our Mac laptop. Safari seems lightweight in comparison. The latest Opera Unite, which we put online yesterday, now enables you to take your Opera 10 to a new level. You can use it to share date, files, photos and other information with other users. This means a small team, who chose to use Opera Unite as their primary browser, could share their files and work. But should they?

Opera Unite doesn't use any encryption to protect your most important data. Now, for most people this is going to be fine. But if you wanted to share documents which contain information about how to admin your server or company accounts, then you may want to think again. On top of this, Opera Unite requires you to open and use an Opera account, where the data goes via their proxy server. You have to agree to this via the Opera Unite EULA and that you won't use the service to share data where you do not own the content (or a license to share your files). In theory, Opera could track the files and content you are sharing as it goes via their servers.

Opera Unite for Windows link.

Although we're not yet hosting Firefox 3.5 RC1 (it should be released publicly at the end of June or July) on v3.co.uk/downloads, we're busy testing it for compatibility across our systems, including our internal CMS. So far, so good.

The first impression is that it's far faster than the older Firefox 3.0.x, which is the current public release version. It's clear to see a big difference if you use 3.5 for a few hours and then revert back to the current 3.0.11 release. There are also big improvements to the support for the latest web technologies, including HTML5, new CSS properties and much more. There's a private browsing mode which means that the sites you visit will not be recorded or stored on your drive, keeping your privacy safe.

Be aware that some themes, add-ons and extensions may not yet work with the latest Firefox 3.5 RC1 and some may need to be updated manually using a test version of the add-on from the developer's website.

Download Firefox 3.5 RC1 link.

All online accounts require a password or login details of some kind, from your email account and social networking sites to online banking. Although not all accounts are incredibly important, it's incredibly frustrating to be denied access because you've forgot or lost the relevant login information. Scribbling down a password on a scrap of paper isn't the most secure way of storing them, but keeping them on your machine may leave them open to anyone who uses your computer.

Password depot 4.0.12 is a free password manager that's designed to be incredibly easy-to-use. As well as keeping your passwords safe you can also use it to automatically complete fields on a web page that require usernames, passwords and other information. You can also store the application on a USB Flash drive so you can your passwords can be taken wherever you go.

Password depot 4.0.12 link.

Although email is a primary source of communication for most businesses, it's an equally convenient way of communicating with friends and family all over the world. The trouble is, most email clients are more business orientated and can look a little too formal when emailing friends and family. You could personalise your email messages but this does have a tendency to look amateur and even tacky with, especially with basic customisation features.

IncrediMail 5.86 is designed so that users can personalise all aspects of their email messages. To make things even easier, the application has a similar look and feel to the popular Outlook email client. You can add images, 3D animations and even sounds to messages which can be downloaded from the IncrediMail website.

IncrediMail 5.86 link.

When you work on a computer each day, you probably have some sort of routine. Unfortunately, many computer based tasks can be incredibly uninteresting, but still need to be done. It's possible that your workload could become a little less laborious with the aid of a simple automation tool. Such tools could help perform basic tasks like copying and pasting and even send emails by using simple key combinations, leaving you more time to work on more important jobs.

RoboTask 3.4 is a tool that enables you to automate simple but boring computer tasks. You can program the application with basic key commands and use shortcuts to automate these actions. This could be incredibly useful for completing mundane tasks.

RoboTask 3.4link.

Malware come in all shapes and sizes, some forms more harmful than others. Viral infection at its most serious may prevent your machine from booting correctly, if at all, which can not only prevent you from identifying the problem but it can also make it extremely difficult when trying to rectify the problem. For users without the necessary knowledge or skills, without taking drastic steps, how do you go about recovering your machine and all of your files and other data?  

System Rescue CD 1.2.1 is a freeware tool that ships with a number of useful utilities on a bootable CD, designed to repair Windows. It's a Linux system on a bootable CD so it doesn't require Windows to start and is still able to read files from your Windows hard disk. It will also access the Internet in an attempt to find answers to any problems your machine is experiencing.

System Rescue CD 1.2.1 link.

Only recently Opera announced that they were going to reinvent the web. We all wondered what this could mean. Opera 10 was already in public preview, so surely it couldn't be a new version of this browser. If it had been, it was poor PR. Luckily for us all it's a brand new way of handling your media files with other web users. Opera were one of the first browser developers to add BitTorrent support to the browser. This enable you to download files more quickly from the Internet. The next stage is to enable you to share your files.

Opera Unite for Windows and for Mac (Linux version also available) have been released as a public preview through Opera Labs. Unite is technology that enables you to add various modules to your browser. These modules include the facility to share files, host and share your photos and even setup your browser as a web server. Remember though, you have to keep your computer running in order to provide the files to other users.

Opera Unite for Windows and for Mac links.

From time to time we'll need to use a temporary host computer. On vacation recently I had to make a couple of small changes to some documents, but didn't have my laptop. However, there was no chance of leaving any trace of these files on this host machine. Luckily I had a collection of portable applications on a tiny USB drive, which meant it was easy to load the documents in to my Word-compatible portable word processor and then upload with the portable FTP client to the remote server.

Eraser Portable 5.87 is a free portable version of the file and data shredder. Simply select the files you want to erase from the computer and Eraser will completely remove them and leave behind no trace. Instead of trying to empty your trash, use this portable file eraser instead.

Eraser Portable link.

Although it may not be the case any longer, not so long ago typing up a letter or document used to be most people's first experience of using a computer, and more often than not it would have been with Microsoft Word. After a short period of time using the application many people tend to find it difficult to migrate from away from Word and before long, it becomes difficult to begin using an alternative. There are a few reasons for moving to an alternative, but cost is the main reason for most. As with many other office applications, Word is an expensive piece of software and if you're on a budget, it's not always a viable option. Another reason people look for alternatives as they do not require all the features that ship with Word.

AbiWord 2.7.4 is a free word processor that recognises and enables you to edit and save Microsoft Word documents. The application itself may not be as feature rich as word but it still offers extensive functionality, more than enough for the average user. There are also free plug-ins available via the AbiWord website.

AbiWord 2.7.4 link.

We've all used the Windows Explorer file manager at some point; it's a simple utility that enables you to perform maintenance tasks which include renaming, making backups and deleting unwanted data. As with most applications and utilities there are alternatives available. However, changing your file manager could vastly improve productivity and make boring maintenance tasks easier than ever. Another benefit of using a third-party replacement is that it enables you to customise certain areas of the explorer and even change the look and feel depending on personal preference.

Directory Opus 9.1.3.0 is a capable replacement for your existing Windows Explorer, letting you perform tasks more quickly and easily. The application is highly customisable and you can use it in single or dual-pane mode to quickly move folders and files as well as use it as your FTP tool for synchronising files between different computers.

Directory Opus 9.1.3.0 link.

There are various new add-ons that enable you to share your bookmarks and passwords across your various Firefox browsers, wherever they are installed. If you have Firefox on your work PC, add a bookmark and you'd find it automatically appears on your Mac laptop (with Firefox). Passwords are the same. You can keep your web login and passwords synchronised securely across your various browsers. Problem is that you can't share your add-ons, so you have to spend time individually configuring each edition of Firefox, every time you install the browser.

Mozilla Firefox Add-on Collector 1.0.2 is a free official tool from Mozilla that enables you to publish your add-ons as a 'collection' which you can migrate to other Firefox installations. You can also share your collection with other users and download new add-ons as part of a pre-compiled collection.

Mozilla Firefox Add-on Collector link.

On a personal level, I'm still confused how Microsoft Outlook manages its database. Boot your computer and the first thing you'll need to do is download and check your email. If you're anything like me, you may have more than one source for your email and you will have to sit there and wait for Outlook to stop downloading and processing your incoming mail, before you use your computer. It's got to be the slowest application on my machine. Worse, as it's all based around one central database, if this is affected by a system crash or other problem, you can lose a lot of your important data and email correspondence.

MOBackup 4.3 is a commercial tool which you can use to backup your Microsoft Outlook email, data, contacts, calendars and other information. If you then suffer from a system crash or other problem in the future, you can quickly restore this data.

MOBackup link.

Whilst some of the heavyweight commercial developers release their office suites every few years (and we wait around in the meantime, keen to upgrade), the free office suite developers are getting new features in to their products every few months. OpenOffice 3 was a huge upgrade, particularly for Mac OS X users, which was the first native version on this operating system. Lotus Symphony is equally as substantial and this is a truly free Microsoft Office compatible office suite you can use across your Windows, Mac or Linux-based computers. Try doing that with your commercial office suite.

Lotus Symphony 1.3 is now available and this version brings a number of new features. The key main feature is improved support for Microsoft Office 2007, the ability to create live hyperlinks within your documents, clipart support, the facility to create and print envelopes and much more.

Lotus Symphony for Windows or for Mac links.

Over the next few years the way in which we watch television will go through a number of changes. For those of us in the UK, all analogue broadcasts will be switched off by 2012 to be superseded by an array of new, high definition services. Gradually though, more and more people are beginning to use their computers to access new and more interesting programs. Why not use your PC to play to tune in and play MPEG-2 video streams? You could even record them to your hard drive and watch them at a later date.

ProgDVB 6.06.5 is a freeware application that can record programs, display TV full screen and will even decode HD streams. Although it's a good tool for watching satellite and streaming TV on your PC, setup can be confusing for newcomers.

ProgDVB 6.06.5 link.

If you're seeking a quality, well-designed Windows laptop, despite the Microsoft adverts telling you otherwise, there's no reason why you couldn't consider a MacBook Pro. Grab the new 13" version for £899 and you can quickly create a Bootcamp partition and install Windows. Problem is, how large should you make the Windows partition? Are you going to use this as your primary operating system (thus requires a large partition) or will you just boot in to Windows from time to time? Once you've created your Windows Bootcamp partition, you can't easily change this again from either Windows or OS X.

CampTune for Mac OS X is free pre-release software that will enable you to boot in to a CD that will then allow you to resize your existing Windows partition, without it affecting the contents of each partition.

CampTune for Mac OS X link.

Larger amounts of storage now enable computer users to obtain and store large amounts of data, particularly useful for creating a library of your favourite audio and video files. Importing audio and video files is fairly straight forward, simply insert a CD or DVD and save the content to your media library. The trouble is that things can become a little more complicated when you save files from other sources such as a P2P network, you may find that once you've downloaded a file, it may be saved in a format your media player doesn't recognise or play.   

MediaCoder 0.7.1.4430 is a freeware application that enables users to collate codecs in a single interface then import your audio and video files and quickly see the codecs used to encode them and convert them to another format, where required. Extremely useful for those who work with audio and video codecs on a regular basis.

MediaCoder 0.7.1.4430 link.

From time to time, you may need to re-install Windows back to your computer. Indeed, it's often a very quick and easy way of getting a clean system. If you only use a few apps and your data is stored on an external drive, it's a good way of starting with a brand new fresh install. Everything will just seem quicker. Problem is, Windows installation discs tend to ship with safe drivers to guarantee compatibility and are often much older than the drivers available from the manufacturers website.

DriverMax 5 is free driver management software that you should install once you've put Windows back on your computer. It will scan your hardware and build a database of drivers which will be compared to the current drivers. If any of them need updating, you can choose to do this automatically, boot your computer and you may find it's even faster still (as the new drivers may be more optimised than those on the Windows install disc).

DriverMax 5 link.

When browsing the web you're bound to come across a website or web page that may contain items of interest, but don't really want to add everything we come across to our bookmarks. Printing these pages would result in poor quality images, and you won't be able to print them at all if the page is made up of dynamic content. This is the ideal time to take a screengrab, especially if you plan on using the content for reference purposes, as it's an easier way of storing information.

WebShot 1.70 is a tool designed for taking grabs of interesting websites and web pages, then exporting the grabs as images. Grabs can be adjusted, printed and stored for use at any time. There is also a professional version available that boasts a more extensive feature set and interface.

WebShot 1.70 link.

We all know that if you install and remove software from your computer, it leaves behind traces of the installation, adds entries to your Registry that need removing and can even leave behind applications that attempt to start when you boot your computer. This means that your PC takes far longer to startup, applications can seem sluggish and your drive can take time to find, locate and load large files.

Comodo System Cleaner 1.1649 is a free tool that you can use to optimise and cleanse your computer. It will scan your Registry and seek entries that are irrelevant and then delete them, without harming your computer. You can also tweak and boost your PC to get the most from the performance and give it a speed boost.

Comodo System Cleaner link.

Losing out on an item on sites such as eBay can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it's by just a few pounds or even pence. Unfortunately this is beginning to happen more frequently as many bidders are now using sniping tools which enable them to bid for items automatically, in the dying seconds of auctions, without even having to be at their computers. Unless you are able to watch items twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week it's inevitable that you'll lose out on some items, unless of course you had a way of easily monitoring and bidding on selected items.

AuctionSleuth 3.0.0 is a small application that enables you to outbid rivals right at the end of online auctions. You can also monitor new 'Buy it now' items so you can be first to know when they are made available. You can also use AuctionSleuth to ensure you don't lose out on the things you want, to somebody who may be using a sniping tool themselves.

AuctionSleuth 3.0.0 link.

Only the other week Google moved v2 of their Chrome web browser from development to a public release and are steaming ahead with v3. On top of this, Opera released a public preview of v10, across all platforms, with us pleased with the quality of the browser. With Internet Explorer 8 released this year, and Firefox 3.5 expected by the end of Summer, 2009 is becoming a year of the web browser. It's such a competitive market. That's only a good thing for us consumers.

Apple Safari 4 for Windows was released this week at the WWDC, at the same time as the Mac version. Apple claim this is the 'worlds fastest web browser' and it's certainly quick. It supports the latest web standards (including HTML 5), is the first public release final version to pass the ACID3 test and includes a new faster Javascript engine.

Apple Safari 4 for Windows link.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of setting up a brand new computer, everything works perfectly and using it is a pleasure. The trouble is, it doesn't take long for it to accumulate folders, files and other junk which may all contribute to your machine behaving more erratically and performance becoming hindered. Although it's not quite time to call technical support, it may be time to try a diagnoses tool and attempt to identify any problems yourself.

Fresh Diagnose 8.08 enables you to analyse and benchmark certain aspects of your PCs performance. The application detects CPU and hard disk performance as well as motherboard information, so it can be used to identify any potential problems with regards to the performance of your hardware.

Fresh Diagnose 8.08 link.

It doesn't take long before even the most interesting job to become a little routine, but for those who perform similar computer-based tasks on a daily basis, it can be incredibly tedious. The worse thing is that although these tasks may not be difficult or particularly time consuming, they are still necessary and have to be done. If you work in this way it may be worth looking at one of the many automation tools available to see if it could help ease your workload, even if it's just a trial version to see if you could benefit.

vTask 7.56 is an automation tool that enables you to control many aspects of your computer without programming any code. A potentially ideal solution for those performing repetitive tasks or other administration tasks, so it could save you time as well as increase productivity without you having to learn any programming code.

vTask 7.56 link.

Although many of us use the same password to access certain websites or accounts, we tend to use different passwords for anything more important. This could be to access online banking or maybe an eBay account. Although it's possible to remember two or three passwords that are used on a more regular basis, remembering others that are used infrequently can be more difficult. Writing them down isn't very secure and neither is storing them within your PC because if someone has access to your machine, they may have access to more sensitive data.

KeePass 1.16 is a secure application for storing all important passwords. By remembering one master key, you can unlock the database, access and use the stored information as and when required. By using a secure database, there's no need to remember or write down private data. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish).

KeePass 1.16 link.

There are plenty of free security applications out there, most of which offer a reasonable amount of protection. There are also many commercial applications available, all varying in performance and price, a potential minefield for those who don't quite know what they require. A good place to start is with a trusted commercial developer, someone who specialises in PC protection and who have been doing so for number of years.

PC Tools Spyware Doctor 6 is the latest version of the popular anti-spyware tool. The latest version ships with a host of new features including advanced support for finding and eliminating rootkit, Intelli-scan for the proactive search of spyware and SiteGuard, which helps to prevent you from accessing malicious websites.

PC Tools Spyware Doctor 6 link.

When we first started browsing the web, the easiest and quickest way to find similar websites was to locate your favourite site and similar follow the web links on the 'Links' page. Most sites contained a 'Links' page which enabled you to follow and store sites you thought were of interest. As soon as Ask, Yahoo and Google started to take over the search engine market, it became far more commercialised and we now rely on these search engines to find relevant sites. However, due to the commercialism of the engines, certain sites tend to appear closer to the top of the list and you have dig deep down in the search results.

SimilarWeb 0.8.5 for Firefox is an add-on that enables you to load your favourite site and then see a list of similar sites which you can use as an alternative.

SimilarWeb link.

The standard Windows Notepad is a simple and convenient tool that many of us use, especially for copying and pasting. Notepad also has a number of other useful implementations such as editing text documents and web page code. It's such a small application it enables you to quickly and easily open it up and edit documents with minimal effort. The trouble is that although it's useful for performing basic tasks, Notepad does lacks useful features which is evident when viewing programming code.

Notepad++ 5.4.2 is a more capable alternative to the standard Notepad that ships with many useful tools and features such as a file browser, spell checker and a function list as well as colour coding. If you have the relevant skills you can even use it to completely replace the standard Notepad, after a little editing of your Windows Registry.

Notepad++ 5.4.2 link.

If you're a Mac user seeking an alternative web browser, then there are a number of new options, including the latest version of Opera 10, which is now available a public preview. This is as good on the Mac as on other platforms. You can also choose between the official interface and a Mac OS X native version. However, the big wait has been for the Mac version of Google Chrome which was promised many months ago. It's been a fairly big hit across the Windows platform and there are now Mac and Linux versions available.

However, bear in mind that the version of Google Chrome for Mac OS X is a very early beta version aimed at developers and advanced users who know how to protect their own privacy. This early Mac version doesn't support video streaming, contains little privacy protection and so much more. You can find more information here.

Google Chrome for Mac link.

When working in a busy office environment, jotting down an important telephone number or email address on a scrap of paper is a common occurrence. Unless you are always prepared, or store the details straight after the call, that scrap of paper may end up lost or in the bin. Virtual sticky note applications are designed specifically for such scenarios and can be accessed extremely quickly and you won't run the risk of the details getting misplaced or thrown out with the rubbish.

IQ Notes 4.05 is a free sticky note application that enables you to safely store and organise important phone numbers, email addresses and other important information. You can also synchronise your notes between multiple machines as well as add notes to applications and even web pages. The latest v4.05 now ships with a clipboard manager and other enhancements.

IQ Notes 4.05 link.

We hope you've had time to take a look at the latest Opera 10 Preview? We're impressed. It's fast, well designed, ships with a number of new features and is an impressive all-round browser. The only downside is that our internal CMS doesn't support Opera, which makes it tricky to use it as our primary browser. Damn. One of the key new features of Opera 10 is the way it gives you a visual preview of your open tabs and, if you want, you can expand your tabs so you get a small image of each open tab. Think Omniweb and how that browser handles your websites.

Tab Sidebar 2.0.1 for Firefox is an add-on that's been around for a while (and, despite other sites claiming that someone would develop a similar feature for Firefox, this was last updated in Summer 2008!) and enables you to add a visual preview of each tab, rather than use the traditional tabbed system. It takes some getting used to. Switching between open tabs, using the visual system, is perhaps more ingenious, but maybe less productive.

Tab Sidebar link.

When you undertake a new work or home based project it's important to identify and outline each individual task that's required for completion. There are numerous task and/or project management applications available that can be used to stay organised and on top of your own workload, such applications may help you manage a number of different areas of a project, from assigning tasks to costs involved with completing a project.

Task Coach 0.72.9 is a single-user application that enables users to manage both individual and multiple tasks. It's a cross-platform application so it can be used with Windows, Mac OS and Linux. Unfortunately the application only supports single users but the developer intends to migrate the tool so that this information can be shared.

Task Coach 0.72.9 link.

Almost any modern day computer is capable of recording and editing audio if equipped with the right kind of software, software that once would have been way to expensive for the average person to justify. Although expensive, industry standard applications such as Logic and Cubase produce fantastic results in the right hands, you may be surprised to learn that there are some very able and inexpensive solutions available.  

REAPER 3.01 is a relatively inexpensive audio editor and mixer that ships with all the usual features found in more expensive editors including MIDI support, time stretching and pitch correction. It's also compatible with all the main standards for plug in effects and virtual instruments including VST and VSTi. Ideal for beginners and extremely feature rich considering its low price.

REAPER 3.01 link.

Most people who have used a PC to surf the web would have encountered Microsoft's Internet Explorer; after all, it has shipped with the Windows operating system since 1995. Unfortunately, after years of popularity the browser fell out of favour with many as it increased in size and became more and more cumbersome. Even after such a decline in popularity, Microsoft's Internet Explorer is still the first choice browser for many. Sometimes though, wouldn't a lighter weight version be a better option?

Avant Browser 11.7 is a browser based on the IE engine that has a similar look and feel but benefits from added features and options whilst remaining more lightweight than the standard Internet Explorer. One handy feature is the ability to deactivate certain elements of particular web pages including Flash animation and pop-ups.

Avant Browser 11.7 link.

Most of us are giving remote server space as part of our broadband connection, but few of us know how to make use of this free space. One of the wisest ideas would be to use it to store our most important documents, files and to backup our data online. The thought of using an FTP client puts a lot of people off, even though using a remote server is much like plugging a USB drive in to your computer.

ExpanDrive for Mac 2.0.2 is a simple tool that enables you to use a server from within your standard Finder window. You connect to the server and that opens within the Finder window, where you can simply copy files to and from the server, as if it was just a standard USB flash drive.

ExpanDrive link.

Problem with traditional anti-virus software is that you rely on the technology to auto-update its database to protect itself against the latest threats. This is fine if your AV software is designed to update daily, half-daily or more often. However, if this doesn't happen, then you can get infected quite easily, without knowing you are infected. Boot your computer and you may find you can't get back in to your system.

Trend Micro HouseCall 7.0 is a beta preview of forthcoming technology that will enable you to run an online scanner from your desktop that uses the latest anti-virus definitions to thoroughly check your computer for the latest threats. The downside is that you need to have valid online connection and hope any infection hasn't affected how you interact with a remote server.

Trend Micro HouseCall link.

If you work in an office, you probably spend your time performing several different computer based tasks throughout the day. When you're working on your PC, you can easily lose track of time and spend too long concentrating on a single task which can be a problem if you need to stay on track. Some of us have important deadlines and when you focus on just one task, you can leave yourself little or no time to complete other important work.

WorkTime 4.19 is a simple tool that enables you to track the time you spend working on particular tasks. It starts when your machine boots so you can monitor time distribution for certain projects. It also keeps a record of all actions performed. In addition, WorkTime offers a multi language interface, powerful reminders and other useful features.

Quite rightly, a lot of music-loving friends were very sceptical of iTunes and the quality of the downloaded audio tracks. However, this has changed recently and particularly since Apple moved to introducing DRM-free tracks to the store. Instead of ripping tracks from CDs, the audio is sourced from their music studio and provided by the publisher. The tracks are also of a higher bit-rate (256Kbps), meaning the overall audio experience is far higher than previous tracks. Indeed, I've compared CDs and the same downloaded DRM-free iTunes audio tracks and those tracks seem far more dynamic than the same tracks on the CD.

Apple iTunes 8.2 is now available and the key feature within this release is suppose for iPhone or iPod Touch with software 3.0 installed, which is expected to be released at the forthcoming WWDC, which starts next week.

Apple iTunes link.

Only a short while back, it looked like most of the other browser developers were about to or had left the market and would leave Firefox to go on and dominate. In the last couple of years, Microsoft have re-entered the market with Internet Explorer 8, Google Chrome is now at v2 (and v3 in beta), Apple launched a Windows version of their Mac-based Safari web browser and Opera 10 has now entered first public beta-testing.

Opera 10 Preview is the first version of the browser for the public and ships with a host of new features which include Opera Turbo which is an optimisation feature which will speed up how you access web pages, particularly for slow network connections such as accessing the web via 3G. A Visual Tab feature will enable you to quickly see a pictorial image of open tabs, whilst we might have forgotten to mention that Opera 10 managed a 10/10 score in the Acid3 tests. That's almost unheard of, making this a browser worth investigating.

Opera 10 Preview link.

Most anti-malware applications available are often based around existing technology that may be incorporated in larger security suites, relying on updates to provide protection against the very latest threats. The trouble is that whilst you are waiting for an update, your PC may be susceptible to malicious software. Another problem with such tools is that they often require you to manually perform or schedule system checks. Wouldn't it be easier if your security application was a little more pro-active?

PC Tools ThreatFire 4.5 is an application that constantly monitors system activity, alerting you when something out of the norm may be happening. This ongoing protection requires no definition updates or manual system checking so is fairly low maintenance. There is also a pro version available that includes an Anti-Virus module for additional protection.

PC Tools ThreatFire 4.5 link.

There was a stage where lazy web designers would code up their web pages to get the most from Internet Explorer, knowing that this was the primary browser used by the majority of Internet users. Developers can't afford to do this these days, but there are still some sites that just don't quite look right in Firefox. Some do not even allow you to logon to their site (for 'security reasons') using anything but Internet Explorer.

IE View 1.4.2 is a simple add-on for Firefox that enables you to open a web link from within a Firefox rendered web page within Internet Explorer. However, you can also open stored bookmarks within Internet Explorer. So, although you may use Firefox for the majority of your web browser, if there's a site (such as your bank) that requires Internet Explorer, then you can use this add-on to open it within IE.

IE View link.

We're all seeking new ways to manage and switch between our open applications. The Windows TaskBar enables us to inconify our open applications, but if there are many open windows, it can take a few vital seconds to find the correct application. There must be a better way. One possible idea is to turn your open applications in to a tabbed based system. For example, if you tend to open two or more editions of Microsoft Oulook (perhaps one for email, another for your calendar), you could use tabs to switch between windows, within the same application.

WindowTabs v239 is a new application that enables you open tabs (much as like Google Chrome's tabbed system) at the top of any application, selected applications or all applications excluding apps where you don't need a tab (for example, some apps don't seem to like tabs at all). You could group together similar apps, multiple windows from the same app and more.

WindowTabs link.