There are a handful of websites that we tend to visit everyday. These can include our favourite social networking sites, our Google Mail account, football forum and others. We open our web browser, find the site and then open various tabs to skim through the information. However, for many situations, a web browser is overkill for doing simple such as using Google Mail. All the controls are within the browser interface and could be self-contained within a simple user-interface.

Fluid for Mac 0.9.6 is a simple free tool that will enable you to turn your favourite websites in to a dockable application that you can use to launch within its own window. You can give your site specific browser it's own dock icon and even add an option to your menu, so you can see, for example, a drop down list of the latest news or RSS feed.

Fluid for Mac link.

Most of us just want to burn a disc, quickly. If you have lots of audio files on your computer, you don't want to have to spend time wading through various applications to produce a simply customised audio CD. For this reason, some of the smaller simple burning applications have become more popular, such as BurnAware Free. They don't do very much, apart from enabling you to create a simple data and audio CD. Nero have recognised this and produced a free version of their powerful disc burning suite.

Nero Free 9 is a cut-down version of the disc burning suite that does very little apart from burning a data or audio CD, with the minimum of fuss. If that's all you want, then this is an ideal application. If you want more, you can upgrade to the full commercial version of Nero 9.

Nero Free 9 link.

Not only will keeping your machine tidy help it run more smoothly but it may help you to keep sensitive information more secure. Generally, most files that accumulate on the average PC will be relatively harmless but there may be some files and folders that contain private or personal information. When you delete these files or folders some tools are better than others at completely removing them so when you want to remove them, its important to find a reliable and effective tool to do so.     

CCleaner 2.22 is a popular system cleansing utility that will enable you to remove any data, irrelevant or sensitive, that may be stored on your system. Use it to remove temporary Internet files and clear browser history as well as clean Registry files and other obsolete information.

CCleaner 2.22 link.

Working across more than one computer is commonplace for many people and there are a number of benefits from being able to do so. One advantage is that it provides greater flexibility but on the other hand, it does pose other problems. Transferring data between machines can make it more difficult to identify particular files and folders but by using a synchronisation tool, you can ensure that the latest saves are easily identified and opened on any computer you are using.

GoodSync 7.9.12 enables you to automatically sync or backup documents. By using the application, this application makes it possible to work on a document whilst travelling, arrive at work, switch on your office machine and continue working on the same document or project. A very useful utility for anyone who uses more than one computer.

GoodSync 7.9.12 link.

The Intel-based Apple Macs offered existing Mac users one key advantage: they now enable you to run Windows, natively, through the supplied Bootcamp technology, without having to run virtualisation software. You can boot in to Windows - like we do - on your Mac and use it as your primary operating system, if you desire. However, there are situations where you would prefer to use Mac OS X, but keep most of your important files on your Windows partition. One solution is to use Paragon NTFS for Mac which enables you to read and write to any Windows partition or external drive, from within Mac OS X.

Better still, we're giving away Paragon NTFS for Mac 6.5 free of charge. It's a commercial application worth around £24 (original RRP) and is essential for any Bootcamp users. However, hurry as the free full download is only available for a limited period of time - the promotion will be offline by 4th of August 2009.

Paragon NTFS for Mac 6.5 free world exclusive download link.

Time and time again I take a look at Adobe Acrobat and think about taking the plunge. However, it's so expensive and I figure I only need 20% of the functionality. If you want to create a simple web-friendly PDF, you can do this with many of the free PDF tools. We recommend doPDF or PrimoPDF for home users. If you want to go much further, such as guaranteeing your PDFs are suitable for commercial printing, require full editing capabilities (such as merging more than one PDF document) or want to create powerful PDF forms, then you need a far more advanced PDF tool. Adobe Acrobat is one example, but there are others.

NitroPDF Professional 6 is one of the best and, better still, until 31st of July 2009 you can buy one or more licenses and get 30% from the retail price. If you were seeking a powerful PDF management application, this is a good option.

NitroPDF Pro 6 with 30% discount link.

After switching on your PC, there are a number of applications and files that start before Windows is fully up-and-running. Some of these applications wont cause any problems, but others can really take there toll on your systems resources. Sometimes it's hard to identify what effect an application has once it's installed on your PC and it can be even more difficult finding out what information it is adding to your Registry.

WinPatrol 16.1  enables you to identify problematic software that may be performing hidden tasks. Instead of scanning your drive for previously installed threats the application, it pro actively examines your system and warns of any changes made to your system without your permission.

WinPatrol 16.1 link.

Those of us who use a computer on a daily basis tend to have a selection of freeware or shareware applications that we use regularly, some of which are updated fairly often, monthly or sometimes even weekly. These 'updates' may not be major, but they make applications more stable. If you don't regularly visit download sites or software publisher's sites, it may be more difficult to recognise newer versions of installed software. A useful and convenient way of keeping software updated is to use an auto-update tool, so you don't have to check manually.

UpdateStar 4.6.960 is an auto-update tool that enables you to find updates for any applications installed on your PC. At the moment, it's not likely to find updates for all the software installed on your machine, but this will improve with the release of newer versions of the software.

UpdateStar 4.6.960 link.

Once you've installed an anti spyware application, most people assume that they're fairly safe. Unfortunately, even with the very latest anti spyware applications, you can't always be sure. As with other anti-virus applications, much of the security is provided by systematic checks, updates and so on. If your out of the office or away from your computer, you can't always ensure you run system checks and this makes it possible for a Trojan or other malicious software to access your system.   

SUPERAntiSpyware 4.27 enable you to detect the latest Trojans, Worms and other malicious items. This free version is a useful tool but does require you to manually check your system, so you'll probably benefit from purchasing the professional version which offers more pro-active protection.

SUPERAntiSpyware 4.27 link. 

Spend weeks or months configuring Firefox, downloading and testing various add-ons, themes and adding your favourite bookmarks, only to find that a system crash or drive failure means you lose the whole lot need to start all over again. It is a problem. As our web browser is becoming the central hub for our system, if you rely on your browser to store all your most private information, then if you lose this data then you have to run around and find all this information and hope you've written it down on paper.

Firefox Backup Extension 6.2 is one solution and it's free. It will backup your preferences, your download and installed extensions, cookies, passwords and much more. Better still, you can then restore the data on another computer, so it's a good tool for rolling out the same configuration across multiple computers.

Firefox Backup Extension link.

Now we have digital audio stored on our computers, we want to make sure we can play those tracks on our speakers through our home. Unless we burn our favourite tracks back to CD, this isn't such an easy process. One solution is the Apple Airport Express system. Relatively low-cost solution, it enables you to connect an Airport Express device to every audio platform where you wish to hear your audio tracks and then wirelessly stream from your computer. Controlling is another matter though.

Sonos Controller for PC 3.0 is a software device you can install on your computer to control the Sonos wireless audio distribution system. Similar to the Airport Express system, Sonos includes far better control over your music, shipping with a unique hardware-based controller. This software enables you to control, stop and play your tracks from your PC, whilst your using your PC. There's a Mac version available, too.

Sonos Controller for PC and for Mac links.

Nearly every one of us will use the same web browser across multiple computers. Problem is, add a bookmark to your laptop-based Firefox, turn on your desktop and the bookmark won't appear automatically. You need a system for synchronising this information across your computers. Up until recently we were big fans of Foxmarks. This company completely re-focused, renamed themselves Xmarks and released updated Firefox add-ons. At the same time, Mozilla Weave was slow and sometimes would hijack your browser whilst it was synchronising data with the remote server.

Mozilla Weave 0.5 has been released and the roles have reversed. Whilst Xmarks keeps coming back with an 'error 3' warning when trying to sync our data, Mozilla Weave 0.5 works perfectly and is faster than it's ever been. We've now ditched Xmarks and moved across and haven't looked back since. Don't forget you can also use Mozilla Weave to synchronise your Firefox preferences, passwords and other key info.

Mozilla Weave 0.5 and Xmarks for Firefox links.

Most modern computers are assembled using hundreds of components sourced from an array of manufacturers. If you go into any large electronics retailer there are a large number of computer manufacturers all offering 'great value' packages and usually boasting bigger processors, more powerful graphics cards and upgraded memory compared with their competitors products. This method of building PCs is excellent for cutting costs, but how does the finished article perform?

SIW 2009-07-28 enables users to check there current system for details on installed components. You can use the application to find out almost everything about your machine, including information on your CPU, memory and all other hardware contained within your system.

SIW 2009-07-28 link.

Keeping photographs organised isn't always easy, as they tend to be stored across multiple drives and other removable media. Another issue with digital images is the number of different file formats used, as not all applications recognise every format. Keeping your images in one place helps you refer to your images more easily, especially if they date back a while. The easiest way of storing and archiving images is to use a photo management utility.

StudioLine Photo Basic 3.60 enables you manage, archive and edit your images. You can also categorise image files as well as add keywords and descriptions to make searching for images easier. This is a solid freeware tool, but requires free online registration after thirty days.

StudioLine Photo Basic 3.60 link.

For anyone who has tested the latest beta of Opera 10, you'll have noticed the polished user-interface, including a much-improved Mac version. It's made the current Firefox 3.5 interface look dated. Indeed, we have the Chromifox extension installed and this makes the plain Firefox interface look rather basic.

However, quick on the heels of the Firefox 3.7 visual previews, Mozilla have released some visual ideas for v4. These included an all-glass user-interface option for Vista or Windows 7 users, a unified stop/refresh icon and a more polished design. Problem is that Firefox v4 is going to be a a long-time from release, so don't expect it any time soon. For now, you might be better off seeing if there are any Firefox themes, such as the Firefox 3.7 Mockup Redux 2.5.

Firefox 3.7 Mockup Redux 2.5 link.

For most people, it's easy to turn to Apple iTunes to grab audio from your favourite CDs. However, it's such a chore making sure you have the latest version installed on your PC. Start the application and it warns you that a new update is available, requiring you to download and install from scratch. It's amazing how many applications iTunes has to close to install, primarily as the process also installs QuickTime to your computer. There must be an easier way of getting your audio on your PC.

Ashampoo Music Studio 2009 is free full commercial software, worth £13. It will enable you to grab audio from your CDs are store as an uncompressed WAV or compressed Ogg Vorbis file. You can then create your own customised audio discs, add your own label and much more.

Ashampoo Music Studio 2009 link.

It's really easy to create a basic PDF document. Within Mac OS X, you can output just about any document as a PDF from within the operating system. Within Windows, you need a PDF converter and there are a number of free tools, including doPDF and PrimoPDF. These are fine for home users or small business users who may want to convert a document for download on their homepage. If you want to do more, such as send a document to a commercial printer, you'll need to make sure all your images, fonts and other components are embedded with the file. If you want to create a PDF form, again this is tricky within the free PDF tools.

NitroPDF 6 Professional is one of the best commercial PDF managers and it's far cheaper that Adobe Acrobat. Until the end of July, you can purchase NitroPDF 6 Professional and get 30% from the RRP.

NitroPDF 6 Professional link.

One of the main reasons Mozilla's Firefox is so popular is that you can customise the browser with an array of third party add-ons, some of which can greatly enhance the browsers functionality. The trouble is many of the thousands of available plug-ins aren't that useful, but sometimes we come across something a little more interesting.    

HyperWords 5.6.1 enables you to find more information on a highlighted word displayed on a web page, like a town or city. You can refer to Wikipedia and Google as well as quickly translate foreign spellings. This is a useful add-on for finding more information quickly, within your current browser window.

HyperWords 5.6.1 link.

It doesn't take long before a PC accumulates a whole host unwanted items, from unused software to obsolete files and folders. The speed at which your computer accumulates unwanted data is obviously dependant on usage, but once get online this is dramatically increased as your machine is bombarded with numerous malicious applications. It's no wonder then, that over a period of time, all these unnecessary items eventually contribute to system slow down.

Auslogics BoostSpeed 4.5 is an application that enables you to tweak and optimise different areas of your computers performance. Use it to optimise memory, clean your Registry and adjust browsing options as well as enhance numerous other areas of system performance. The application may also help to start applications more quickly.

Auslogics BoostSpeed 4.5 link.

Purchasing a new PC is a big purchase and is usually done occasionally, maybe every few years or so. Within this relatively short period, computers tend to improve significantly as hardware and operating systems are developed and improved. When it's time to replace computer or it's components it's important to identify which upgrades will be most beneficial to your own needs.

CPU-Z 1.52 enables users to compile and view an audit of a machines CPU. You can use this useful application to analyse cache details, CPU speed as well as find details on other related hardware such as installed memory and motherboard information.

CPU-Z 1.52 link.

Preventing minor errors escalating into potential disasters is one of the best ways of maintaining reliable computer. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to sort small problems as they arise, and often find something more important to do than pro-actively scan your system looking for faults. If this is the case, a decent maintenance and diagnostic tool would be useful as you can use one to easily identify any problems as well as protect your system from other potential issues.

System Mechanic 9 enables you to take control of all aspects of system maintenance. The application will assist you in diagnosing, correcting and preventing system problems as well as aid you in recovering accidentally deleted files and completely formatting your drive. This is the latest and v9 which, in addition to Windows 7 support, ships with a number of new features to give your system a speed boost, enhance your Registry and more.

System Mechanic 9 link.

Most modern applications will be updated regularly but unless you use the software regularly, you can often miss out on regular updates, which could lead to software behaving erratically. Even the most thoroughly tested programs can ship with minor bugs, needing fixes to stop erratic behaviour, so it's important to keep your software as up-to-date as possible.

SUMo 2.6.2 enables you to keep applications up-to-date. The simple update reminders that are integral to many applications are great if you use the software regularly, but SUMo will alert you when updates are available, even if you are not using a particular program.

SUMo 2.6.2 link.

Even with the latest, super-fast broadband connection, downloads can sometimes be incredibly slow. However, with the right download manager, it's possible to increase download speeds without changing your modem or any other physical aspects of your connection. Multi-threaded download managers split files into several parts or download from multiple sources simultaneously, and by using such an application, you'll be able to schedule, monitor and resume broken downloads.

HiDownload 7.31 is a multi-threaded download manager that enables you to download single or multiple files from web or FTP sites. Whilst you're downloading, it attempts to maximise your connection speed whether you're downloading single or multiple files and you can also use it to stream audio and video files.

HiDownload 7.31 link.

Anyone who uses the Internet will have a selection of password they use to access online accounts. To keep this information secure it's important to use a different password for each online account, but remembering them isn't always easy and if you're using a PC you have logged in on before, you'll need this information. If you cant remember all of your passwords and other login details, then it may we worth checking out a good password manager.

Steganos Password Manager 2009 is a centralised password manager that enables users to keep important login details safe and secure, accessing them as required. Important data is encrypted and cannot be accessed by others without the use of a single, master password.

Steganos Password Manager 2009 link.

The trouble with many anti spyware applications is, although they provide your computer with protection from the latest threats at the time of purchase or installation, it's not long before developers create cleverer, more dangerous spyware and malware applications. The only way to stay fully protected long-term is to use an application that provides thorough protection and is regularly updated, keeping your PC as secure as possible.

Ashampoo AntiSpyware 2.10 comprehensively protects against a broad spectrum of malware threats you may encounter whilst browsing the Internet. The application ships with an additional suite of security tools and includes a useful sidebar gadget, task planner and more.

Ashampoo AntiSpyware 2.10 link.

Not only does removing data keep your machine clutter-free but it also ensures any personal information cannot be accessed by other users. Unfortunately, with a standard Windows set-up, it's more difficult than you may think to completely remove this data. Although the contents are deleted once you remove them from the bin, there will still be traces of recoverable data that can be retrieved with specialist applications.

East-Tec Eraser 2009 enables users to permanently erase and overwrite unwanted data. Use the application to keep your system secure by removing private or sensitive information as well as delete unused folders and files. The program is easy-to-use and thoroughly removes obsolete items.

East-Tec Eraser 2009 link.

Whilst browsing the web you'll constantly encounter adverts of some kind, not only are they incredibly annoying but they increase the loading time of most web pages. This is usually because the source of the ad is often located away from the page or site. Although it's virtually impossible to get rid of these ads completely, you may be able to block at least some of them by using an ad-blocking utility. Doing so may even speed up the time it takes particular websites and pages to load.

Adblock Plus 1.1 is an addon designed to work with Firefox that enables you to prevent in-line annoying adverts from loading. Once the application has been installed, right click a particular advert and it will not be loaded again. You can also use the filter subscription to automatically prevent unwanted ads. This utility will only prevent in-line ads from loading, not pop-ups.

Adblock Plus 1.1 link.

In such uncertain times, managing personal finances has become much more of a priority. Its so easy to spend money, sometimes it's difficult to remember where much of it has gone.  Although looking at the state of your finances isn't always a pleasant experience, seeing when and where your money goes could help you manage your outgoings more effectively and by using a money management application, you may find it easier to keep track of your  finances.

iCash 5.4.4 enables you to manage income as well as credit and bank transactions. This user friendly application is designed for use by almost anyone, from a single user to a small business. The application is incredibly useful for identifying what's coming in and going out, even if it is a shock.

iCash 5.4.4 link.

You may or may not know that it's inevitable that at some point your computer will encounter malicious software of some kind. This software can be disguised and distributed in a number of different and ingenious ways which makes it increasingly difficult for many applications to identify, let alone protect against. Although there are a number of applications that will protect your machine they tend to be overblown and are far larger than necessary.
 
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool 2.12 is a basic utility that ensures you are protected against the latest malicious threats. The application scans and checks your system, automatically removing any unwanted items as well as displaying a full report at the end of each scan.

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool 2.12 link.

Having a website is incredibly important for most businesses, especially those who need to advertise themselves to a large audience. The problem is that a good website can be a hefty investment, and for most people, creating their own may be too challenging and if you don't have an understanding of web-building languages, it's a non-starter and once you've overcome the initial design and layout stages, you've then got to think about hosting and site maintenance.  

TOWeb 3.01 will make creating your own website as easy as possible. You can add text, images and other content to your site whilst TOWeb provides assistance with the rest, helping you to create a professional looking, well made site.

TOWeb 3.01 link.

Only a few short years ago, Paint Shop Pro was the image editor of choice. There was a time, at my previous employer, where we spent many months attempting to convincing JASC to give us an old version for covermount across our UK magazines. They 'limited' us to giving away 50,000 serial codes and those codes went within a couple of weeks, leaving a lot of readers disappointed and JASC stunned over the success of the promo. Shortly after, however, Corel bought the company and, of course, Paint Shop Pro.

Now Corel have gone and given away Paint Shop Pro X, free of charge, as part of a deal with the memory card manufacturer, Lexar. It's only going to be online for a limited period, so get it whilst you can. Don't forget that you can upgrade to Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2, which offers far more functionality and is definitely worth the low-cost upgrade available from the Corel website.

Free Paint Shop Pro X link.

Many of us are downloading our media files from the Internet, then storing them on our hard drive. The problem with this is that we're not always able to go back and get the same media files again, in the future. If you suffer from a drive error, then it's all-too-easy to lose your files and important data, including those media files. What we recommend is some drive or partition backup software which you can use to backup to another drive, disc or even your homepage.

Acronis True Image 2009 is some of the drive backup software around and it will enable you to quickly back up your drive at the end of every day or working week. With incremental backup support, you won't need to backup the entire drive each time, either.

Best of all, we have an exclusive 25% off promotion, so you can buy Acronis True Image 2009 for only $35.99 or £23, for UK web users. To take advantage of that promotion, click the Acronis True Image 2009 link, change the price to US dollars and purchase.

Acronis True Image 2009 link.

There are a number of freeware download managers available, all of which claim to increase download speeds or provide a more secure environment for downloading files. Most of us use or have used a download manager of some kind and often notice they don't always improve your download experience. Although this may be the case for many download managers, there are some more effective applications out there that will improve speeds and provide a more secure environment for downloading files.

Download Accelerator Plus 9.2 claims to increase download speeds by around 400% by identifying the most reliable serving download. The application can also split the download into several segments and access them from multiple sources if necessary.There is also premium version available that ships with comprehensive privacy features and more advanced downloading tools.

Download Accelerator Plus 9.2 link.

When extracting audio from CDs, many basic applications convert audio to mp3 alone, which is a bit limited if you'd like a choice of compression formats and rates. There are a number of different ways of compressing audio and if you're a keen music fan, you may be more particular on how audio is compressed. Although it may not be like listening to a CD, they are easier to manage and it's still possible to get reasonable audio quality from compressed files.

Easy CD-DA Extractor 12 enables you to extract audio from CDs whilst not restricting you to mp3 conversion. You can convert your music into almost any audio format available, so rather than just ripping and naming you music, you've got control over what your tracks sound like.

Easy CD-DA Extractor 12 link.

Most of us are now keeping our PCs for far longer than in the past. We're still using old white iMacs and have no real intention of upgrading them any time soon. Why should we? Even though they are three years old, they are still 2.2Ghz Dual Core Intel-based computers and the current 20 inch Mac is 0.5Ghz faster and ships with that awful glossy reflective screen, which is useless in a bright environment. Problem is that the components in our computer can be the first to go and we forget that our hard drive only has a limited lifespan. If we store all our key applications on one drive, and that drive goes down, the problem is that you might not be able to salvage the data.

Ashampoo HDD Control 1.0 is commercial software which you can use to monitor the status of your hard drive. It doesn't just keep one eye on the status (and will warn you if the drive is likely to fail soon), it will perform small repairs by defragging the content and improving performance.

Ashampoo HDD Control link.

Only a few years ago, there were two key free anti-spyware tools, which were Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware. Both were immensely popular but, for some reason, Ad-Aware didn't update their free anti-spyware tool for quite some time, which allow other free tools to make some headway and enter the market. However, Lavasoft brought out a completely new version, last year, and it's now back better than ever.

Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition 8.0.7 is now available and, if you're seeking quality free anti-spyware software, you won't need to look much further. Ad-Aware is from commercial developers and is updated regularly, meaning you'll always have the latest definitions to protect your computer from the latest threats. Of course, Lavasoft have commercial paid-for versions available in both a Plus and Pro format.

Ad-Aware Anniversary Editon link.

File sharing has had a lot of bad press, especially in the past, just look at the controversy surrounding Napster in its early years. Even now there are applications such as Limewire who still offer free, basic versions of their software. Now there are more 'legitimate' P2P solutions available, but file sharing still remains a controversial subject and although developers are still producing applications based on the technology, it's ultimately the user that is responsible for what they share.    

Vuze 4.2.0.4 is a P2P sharing technology which enables users to take advantage of their broadband connection. Not only can you schedule downloads but you can also control and manage connection speeds using the Autospeed feature. Another interesting feature is that it's on a Java platform, so can be used across multiple operating systems.

Vuze 4.2.0.4 link.

If you wanted to send someone a document, you often would send them a Microsoft Word document. This is the primary reason why Microsoft Office became such a necessity for most organisations. They couldn't afford to have a scenario where someone sent a business proposal, as a Word document, that couldn't be opened or printed, so using Office became a must. Problem is, this was never the best way to send a document. If you use fancy fonts, these do not get embedded within the document. If you have to export your Word document for an older version of the software, the formatting might look weird, too.

PrimoPDF 4.1 is a free tool that enables you to turn any document in to a PDF from just about any Windows application. It's far better to send a PDF as the fonts, images and formatting are all embedded within the document and the end results are a more professional document. Most people can now open PDF documents, without requiring commercial software.

PrimoPDF link.

Some of the best audio and video was recorded back in the 90s when people would swap live tracks from their favourite bands, or extended remixes of popular audio tracks. Problem is, back in those days, there was big competition to get you to use their codec and there were a number of prosumer tools designed to encourage you to encode your vido with their technology. These codecs are long-since supported, but you'll still need a player that can play these and other formats and there's nothing better than VLC Media Player.

VLC Media Player 1.0 is now available and it's the best free cross-platform audio/video players. You can open and play just about any format, including video produced many years ago. As it's cross-platform, you can use VLC Media Player on Windows, your Mac or use a portable version you can take around on a USB stick.

VLC Media Player for Windows, Mac or portable links.

If you regularly download software files and other applications, you will know how important a fast and reliable Internet connection can be, but if your download manager isn't making the best use of available bandwidth, what's the point? Although download managers are not as widely used as they once were, a good one will enable you to allocate bandwidth and even accelerate your downloads.

Orbit Downloader 2.8.14 utilises multi-source download technology and supports multiple protocols, maximising your connection to maintain optimum download speeds and reliability. This download manager can also be used to stream video data from web pages as well as download Flash content.

Orbit Downloader 2.8.14 link.

If you are looking for a website or web page on a particular subject, most of us turn to Google. Search engines are now so powerful that although they often provide hundreds of results in seconds and tend you stick to the first few results, rather than exploring further. Before we had such advanced search facilities, it wasn't always that easy, which meant searching for useful links required a little more effort.

Shareaholic 1.9 enables you to quickly and easily share any interesting links you find whilst browsing the web from within your browser. The addon lets you submit and share links via your favourite social network, and you can see how many times other users have visited recommended sites or pages.

Shareaholic 1.9 link.

If your current broadband package seems to be costing you a small fortune, why not check if you are being incorrectly charged for unused services? Before you renew your broadband package with your current provider, it may be worth looking at your bill a little more closely, especially if you are regularly being charged for excess bandwidth usage. The only way to know for sure is to use a monitoring tool, or to set incoming traffic limits.

NetWorx 4.9.8 enables you to monitor and evaluate bandwidth usage and network activity. You can set usage limits over given periods of time to avoid excess charges from your ISP. Traffic information is represented in a line chart and logged as a file, enabling you to view your statistics in a variety of formats.

NetWorx 4.9.8 link.

Even if you are running a fully up-to-date computer and have access to a high speed broadband, a download manager could still improve your download speeds and the reliability of your connection. Download managers will separate files into smaller pieces in order do download and manage them more efficiently than a single, larger file. Another benefit of using a download manager is that most of them enable you to resume broken connections and incomplete files.

Flashgot 1.1.9.8 is a download manager for Firefox that enables users to easily handle single or multiple file download. It ships with the usual download manger features such as the ability to resume downloads after your Internet connection is lost or broken and is incorporated with your browser so there's no need to run a separate download manager. Downloads can also apply to media files on the web, so you can download music and similar files to your desktop.

Flashgot 1.1.9.8 link.

Before burning tools began shipping with masses of extra tools, they were designed to make burning a CD as hassle-free as possible. This type of application is ideal for those of us who haven't got time to sit at the computer and burn ¨semi-professional¨ CDs or DVDs of holiday snaps and videos. Luckily there are a number of new burning solutions, including BurnAware and FinalBurner that enable you to quickly and easily burn the disc you need.

CDBurnerXP 4.2.4.1420 is another free disc burning tool that enables you to burn virtually any CD you would need to from an audio or MP3 CD to a DVD or high-quality Blu-ray disc. This easy-to-use application has been around for quite some time and is definitely worth a try.

CDBurnerXP 4.2.4.1420 link.

New computers will make light work of almost anything you throw at them, especially in comparison to your previous machine. This is partly because the hardware installed on your new machine is undoubtedly superior to your previous computer, but another factor for the improved performance is that your machine has not yet accumulated clutter from unused files and folders. As this unwanted data accumulates, even the fastest machine will eventually slow down, and left unchecked, could lead to a fragmented hard drive.     

IObit SmartDefrag 1.20 helps users maintain a smooth running machine. This simple defragging tool enables you to arrange and consolidate space on your drive to improve overall performance. This will potentially help applications to run more efficiently and reduce the time it takes your system to boot amongst other improvements.

IObit SmartDefrag 1.20 link.

Many people now have more than one computer, maybe a home machine for everyday use and a laptop for using on the move which tends to be equipped with a similar collection of, including your favourite web browser. Having applications you are accustomed to using makes life a lot easier but using one without your trusted utilities can take some getting used to. Bookmarks are also important for those who use the Internet on a daily basis, but syncing them across different browsers isn't always easy.

Transmute 1.57 is a simple tool that enables users to import bookmarks from one browser to another with relative ease. This useful app is now available as a portable utility so could potentially be used to not only sync bookmarks between different browsers, but different operating systems.

Transmute 1.57 link.

Keeping certain files backed up helps to keep items safe in case anything disastrous happens to your computer, but although most of us know we should be regularly backing up photographs, music and other personal or important files and folders regularly, how many of us actually do? Those who have experienced problems before are more likely to, but for those who haven't; it may be worth investing in a backup tool, before you experience any problems of your own.  

SyncBack SE 5.6 enables users to backup important data at regular intervals. This means that in the case of an emergency, backups are as up-to-date as possible. You can use the application to backup and store information on a CD-R or portable Flash drive. You can also utilise homepage space so that data can be accessed anywhere, via the Internet.

SyncBack SE 5.6 link.

If you are an artist and tend to use more traditional media, you may find it more difficult to freely express your ideas using computer. For many artists and even designers, there's nothing like the freedom of using more traditional methods such as pencil and paper for quickly developing ideas and sketches, and computers can affect this. You could always scan in your hand drawn images, but raster images can't be used with many popular CAD programs.   

RasterVect 14.9 enables you to convert raster drawings into a more versatile vector format. Use the application to scan in hand drawn images and convert them so that they can be opened and edited in almost any CAD application. The program has a number of different conversion methods and includes a selection of viewing tools.

RasterVect 14.9 link.

Go out and buy a multi-core computer and you'll soon realise that basic tasks won't even saturate the power of one core, rather than the other three or four cores that make up your CPU. However, there's no reason you couldn't allocate more than one core to a virtual operating system and enable this to use more power. It's now possible to use your virtual operating system management tool to allocate resources individually to each OS.

VirtualBox 3.0 is now available and this is a major new release. As mentioned above, it enables you to allocate more than one CPU core to each virtual operating system. Other highlights include enabling Windows-based hosts to use and access DirectX 9 as a virtual operating system, support for Windows 7 and much more.

VirtualBox link.

Although we put this online yesterday, it's the big release we've all been waiting for. Firefox 3.5 is here and it's been worth that wait. Our immediate thoughts was that this appears far faster than the previous Firefox 3.0.x. Pages loads more quickly, images render more smoothly and so on. The latest version also supports more of the latest web standards, including HTML 5.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 is available for download in 70 languages and across multiple platforms, so you can grab a version for Windows as easily as you can for your Mac. It ships with a private browsing mode which will enable you to surf the Internet, without leaving a trace behind on your computer. Ideal if you share a desktop computer between family members. You'll need to check whether you favourite add-ons are compatible with the new version.

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 link.