Useful Programs Thread

[Kuat]

Well, I think I'll just keep postin' away. This thread was ripped from a site a frequent, with additions here and there from myself. If you have anything to add, feel free. I'll update the list here. I'm also going to revamp the Good Links thread, and probably partially merge the Game Programs thread to this one.


Audio
CD-ripping, music file conversion
Chat
Download accelerators/managers
E-mail
File transfer/sharing
Firewalls
Gaming
Image Editing/Viewing
Internet
Office
Recording
Skinning/Interface
Spyware removal
System tools
Text editing
Video editing
Video playing
3d modelling
XXXXXXXX


AUDIO

Name: Audacity
Description: Record, play, export audio tracks in WAV, AIFF, OGG, MP3, add effects etc
OS: Windows, Linux, Mac
Cost: Free

Name: Fruity loops
Description: Virtual studio type program, create music etc.
OS: Windows
Cost: $49-299 (depending on version), free demo available

Name: Goldwave
Description: Digital audio editor
OS: Windows
Cost: $40 (US)

CD-RIPPING, MUSIC FILE CONVERSION

Name: dBpowerAMP
Description: Rip CDs, convert music files to various formats
OS: Windows, Linux (via Wine)
Cost: free

Name: FreeRIP
Description: Simple to use ripping program that does everything that the average user needs.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

CHAT

Name: Gaim
Description: Alternative to AIM. Works great and the plugins are very nice.
OS: Windows and Linux
Cost: Free

Name: Trillian
Description: An all-in-one chat program, does AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, and IRC.
OS: Windows
Cost: None for Basic, $25 for Pro

DOWNLOAD ACCELERATORS/MANAGERS

Name: Flashget
Description: Download accelerator
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Name: LeechGet
Description: The ultimate download utility.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Name: Net transport
Description: Download accelerator (100% spyware free!)
OS: Windows
Cost: free

E-MAIL

Name: Mozilla Thunderbird
Description: Great e-mail client.
OS: Windows/Linux/Mac
Cost: Free

FILE TRANSFER/SHARING
Name: Bit Torrent
Description: Download and send files with this little program. Works like edonkey, and has many places that you can download stuff with it.
OS: Windows/Mac/Linux/
Cost: Free

FIREWALLS

Name:Outpost Firewall
Description: Firewall with attachment, content, advertisement filtering, open port monitor and more.
OS: Windos
Cost: free

Name: ZoneAlarm
Description: A great firewall (software) that enables you to control what comes in and goes out.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

GAMING

Name: GTKradiant
Size: Depends on what game packs you download
Description: A useful, reliable, editor for JO, JA, Elite Force, Return to Castle Wolf. and other PC games.
OS: Designed for Windows, Linux and Mac
Cost: free

Name: Qtracker
Description: A great alternative to Gamespy that supports JK and MotS.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

IMAGE EDITING (2D)/VIEWING
Name: IrfanView
Description: image viewer/converter, make screensavers and slideshows from images
OS: Windows, Linux (under Wine)
Cost: free

Name: GIMP
Description: Graphics program similar to photoshop.
OS: Windows, Linux, Mac
Cost: free

INTERNET

Name: Mozilla Firefox
Description: Internet browser.
OS: Windows/Linux/Mac
Cost: Free

Name: Opera
Description: Internet browser.
OS: Windows/Linux
Cost: Free (ad-supported)

Name: Pop-up stopper free edition
Description: Free pop-up stopper
OS: Windows
Cost: free

OFFICE

Name: OpenOffice.org
Description: Fairly fully-featured open source office suite.
OS: Linux, Windows, Solaris
Cost: free

RECORDING

Name: CamStudio
Description: Record on screen activity into an AVI
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: FRAPS
Description: make video recording of gameplay
OS: Windows
Cost: free (with restrictions), full version: $US29.95

SKINNING/INTERFACE TOOLS

Name: Objectdock
Description: A snazzy looking program bar
OS: Windows XP/2000
Cost: Free

Name: Wonderful Icon
Description: All purpose wonder utility
OS: Windows
Cost: free

SPYWARE REMOVAL

Name: Adaware
Description: Removes spyware, works best in conjunction with Spybot.
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: Hijack This + CW Shredder
Description: Hijack helps you see what, among other things, is running on your computer. Not everything it sees is spyware, but it's great at finding hidden crap. CW helps remove fragments of the henious Cool Web Search spyware.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Name: Spybot
Description: Removes spyware, works best in conjunction with Adaware.
OS: Windows
Cost: free

SYSTEM TOOLS

Name: Ace Utilities
Description: Tools like Registry Cleaner, Disk Cleaner, Duplicate File Finder, Internet History Eraser, Startup Manager, etc.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Name: Belarc Advisor.
Description: builds a detailed profile of your installed software and
hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in
your Web browser.
OS: Any Windows interface. Unsure of Linux compatibility.
Cost: Free.

Name: DCOMbobulator
Description: To verify the effectiveness of Microsoft's DCOM patch, and to shut down DCOM completely.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Name: jv16 Power tools (older free version)
Description: Registry cleaner, back up, temporary file removal
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: RAM Idle
Description: keeps track of free memory and processor usage. lets you free up any amount of memory you want at a given time and will also do so automatically if you want.
OS: Windows
Cost: free, though there is a pro version for $13.95

Name: TinyResMeter
Description: Small lightweight system monitor
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: TweakUI
Description: This program gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

TEXT EDITORS

Name: Crimson editor
Description: HTML, /C++, Perl, Java, Matlab and LaTeX source editor.
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: SciTE
Description: All purpose text pad. Works with 25+ languages.
OS: Linux, Windows, Mac
Cost: free


Name: Texturizer
Description: Text editor for nearly 30 languages.
OS: Windows<
Cost: free, $19.95 to register


VIDEO EDITING

Name: Videomach
Description: Video editing program, support for AVI, MPEG, FLIC and HAV construction
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: Virtual Dub
Description: Video editing program
OS: Windows, Linux (under Wine)
Cost: free

Name: Name: Wax
Description: Video editing program
OS: Windows
Cost: free

VIDEO PLAYING

Name: MPlayer
Description: Plays just about every video file available (makes Cool Matty quiver with excitement at the mere mention of its' name)
OS: Linux
Cost: free

Name: Videolan
Description: Plays many video formats, focus on multimedia streaming
OS: Everything
Cost: free

Name: Xine
Description: Play many video formats, supports streaming.
OS: Linux
Cost: free

ZIPPING

Name: 7-zip
Description: Compression program that supports 7z, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, TAR, CPIO, RPM and DEB
OS: Windows, Linux (CLI under wine only)
Cost: free

3D MODELLING
Name: Blender
Description: 3d modelling program with a animation and raytracing capabilities
OS: Windows, Linux, Mac, FreeBSD
Cost: free

Name: Milkshape 3D
Description: 3d modelling program with animation support for many game model formats.
OS: Windows
Cost: 30 days free, then $25 (US) to register and reactivate saving functions.

Name: POV-RAY
Description: Create raytraced scenes using text language
OS: Windows, Linux, Mac
Cost: free

Name: Terragen
Description: Create photorealistic terrains
OS: Windows, Mac
Cost: free for non-commercial use, $79 (US) for commercial use and removal of image size restriction.

Name: Wings3D
Description: 3d modelling program, no animation capabilities
OS: Windows, Linux, Mac
Cost: free


XXXXXXXX

Name: Wink
Description: Create flash tutorials for computer programs
OS: Windows
Cost: free

Name: Atmosphere Lite
Description: Listen to nature sounds while you sleep. Even has a built-in alarm clock. There are tons of various sound presets.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Name: Flash Toolset
Description: Useful for decompiling .fla files.
OS: Windows
Cost: V1.0: free v2.0: $

Name: KeyNote
Description: Notebook tool for neat organization freaks.
OS: Windows
Cost: free

[Kuat]

Chat

Name: DeadAim
Description: An unobtrusive free add-on that works within AIM, DeadAIM can tweak transparency, keep all conversations in a single tabbed interface, log sessions and events (such as log-on and log-off) separately for each buddy, and hide elements of the main AIM window. In addition, DeadAIM can pop up a notification when buddies sign on, sign off, set "away" messages, or come back.
OS: Windows
Cost: Anything before version 4 = free.

Name: Middle Man
Description: Middle Man is a free plugin that will enhance and extend the functionality of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Does such functions as running multiple screen names at once, easier chat logging, ect.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Image editing:
Name: OpenCanvas
Description: Hell if I know, page is in Japanese. However, someone posted this saying it was a "Cool program for line drawing." I might as well include it.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

Text Editing:
Name: Context
Description: ConTEXT is a small, fast and powerful freeware text editor, developed mainly to serve as secondary tool for software developers.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free

This is a list-in-progress that I'm compling from other sites, if it weren't for finals I'd have it all up today. There is like, a crapload more.

[Inaaca]

Audio CD Ripping

Name: Audiograbber
Description: An organized, easy-to-use program that rips quality sound tracks from your music CD to your hard drive. Can make .mp3 and .wav file formats.
OS: Windows
Cost: Free


This is one of the best CD ripping programs I've come across. 'Tis the one I use.