Top 10 Freeware Software Nobody Knows About - But Should

nice list. most of them I am already using

Nice list of programs. I’ve used a few of them like Blender, MusikCube, IrfanView and Foxit. But the SharePod and AutoHotkey were new ones to me. Tried the AutoHotKey and liked it!!

Thanks for guiding me to that tool!!

Don’t forget about one of the most hidden crown jewels of free software: Linux - a complete operating system with a huge collection of free software like KDE desktop, Compiz Fusion 3D look, Amarok music player, K3b CD/DVD burner…

Tsiolkovsky - linux deserves a post(s) of its own

Saptarshi Purkayastha - The first time that I heard about AutoHotKey I was amazed also. It’s great

WoW AFKBOT here I come!

Notepad++ > ConTEXT. Also use Audacity for audio editing. Many good free/open source programs out there.

That blender one looks good

As an avid Mac user at home and a windows guy at work I am always looking for ways to mimic Mac functionality on my windows PC. A little know program I found called Directory Scope allows you to see folder sizes as a column in windows explorer just like file sizes. It integrates directory with Windows explorer so there is no reason to run a seperate application. The only down side is that it is not compatabile with 64bit OSs like XP 64Bit.

Don’t forget InfraRecorder (a complete burning suite), Notepad2 ( a simple but attractive notepad replacement), VLC (media playback without codec hell) and the various free Print-To-PDF tools out there.

What about Google SketchUp? Totally free and quite possibly one of the easiest and simple 3D design programs out there. And it has a huge community base behind it (sketchup.google.com)

While I’ve never tried it, I think you’ll find AutoIt to be slightly more robust than AutoHotKey.

Directory Scope is $15.

Google SketchUp now has a usage limit on how many minutes you can use to app.

Notepad++ > ConTEXT

Personally I find Notepad++ to be a very good editor tailored for programmers.

Nice list. Have to agree Blender is one incredible program.

Also see crimson editor for scripting.

You’ve got a great list there! Much appreciated!

There’s just one thing that you could have worded in a different way - the note on Blender. Some folks may not agree that just by using Blender one can make CGI movies like Pixar. Creating CGI movies is very hard and requires a lot of artistic skill. It sad to see that people appreciate actors so much, while they hardly even know who is behind great movies like Ratatouille.

Just adding that one has to LEARN to use Blender can mean a lot to many folks.

Thanks for reading!

you had me at foxit

Nice list.

thanks

p.s Title should say “almost nobody”.

In response to Directory Scope, yes it is a very cool little program, but I thought this article was about FREE software. Directory Scope is not free, so I would have to include that in the list of downsides.

One of the great programs I discovered recently - PAINT.NET is definitely missing on this list. Much simplier than Adobe Fhotoshop but replicates a lot of functionality

I have been using all of these for about 20 years now.

I prefer XnView over Ifran.

Excellent. Thanks!!
Google users should also download google’s web accelerator to improve loading times.

Another program:
SequoiaView

It uses squarified treemaps to display all files on a disc, color coded by file type. It works on any file system that can support a directory search in windows (e.g. NTFS, FAT, server space mapped with a drive letter).

awessomeee.

Instead of citing a “Snipping Tool”, you should cite a better program - MWSnap (http://www.mirekw.com/), which also works on numerous versions of Windows and is freeware for most uses. It’s a great tool.

I second the notion to include VLC. It’s like the swiss army knife of media players. Plus, it fits on my thumb drive.

Launchy is like a simpler form of Quicksilver for PC. A global hotkey brings up a text field. As you type it guesses which program you want and pressing enter launches it.
Most useful for XP users as Vista’s start menu has similar functionality.

many of these programs, plus some other useful free applications available as an ISO here.

great little disk to have on hand.

7-Zip should be enough but TUGZip (http://www.tugzip.com/) has nicer eye candy.

I would add the Type Ahead Luncher Colibri to this list. It works like macosx Spotlight.

All this and no one mentions Firefox?

Pspad >> Notepad++ >> Context

foxit is absolutely great! thanks for pointing it out.

how about alzip for archiving purposes. it supports a lot of file formats..

xnview.com is much better than irfan imho

SIW…display windows system information
Process Explorer…display and control window processes
CPUZ…display info about your CPU
Adblock Plus…Firefox plugin banishes pop-up ads forever.

These four freeware programs are an absolute must for any self respecting PC user.

I found AutoIt to be much more useful and easy to use than AutoHotKey.

exactly what inthewayboy and Anonymous said: AutoIt is much more useful.

AvaFind - great software for searching any kind of file in your system. Its super fast and real easy to use.

Notepad++ over ConTEXT
offers much more functionality

If you like AutoHotKey (like me) than you will also like iMacros, which is basically the same but for the web browser!
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3863

If you like AutoHotKey (like me) than you will also like iMacros, which is basically the same but for the web browser!
Web Browser Scripting Tool

(now with link)

Don’t forget about Pidgin (formerly known as Gaim), which replaces heavy IM clients such as AIM or Trillian with a small-footprint, fast-loading application..

Robert H. Goretsky
Hoboken, NJ

“don’t forget GIMP, FileZilla, Daemon Tools, Trillian, anything by FastStone, SpyBot, Weather Watcher, Xfire, CCleaner, and DVD Flick”

Daemon Tools is now adware supported… don’t use any of the new versions.

If we’re talking about Windows software, I’d have to mention Paint.Net.

I tried it once a few years ago and it was so-so, but version 3.x (currently 3.10) is pretty good stuff, and the list of plugins is long and getting longer.

Other than games and the software that comes with my computer, I install freeware software for nearly all my needs. A simple Google search often brings the best stuff forward.

I disagree with Amazon321…
Though both AutoIt and AutoHotkey both are excellent tools, AutoHotkey is much, much easier to learn for someone not used to scripting. The language is much more intuitive to a beginner.

Blender sounds cool but actually sucks. It’s UI is horribly designed. GIMP isn’t that great. Linux being “free and useful” kinda goes without saying, fanboys. Settle down.

i’d add these

notepad++
infrarecorder
inkscape
winamp has ipod support thats decent
autoit

great list…..but what about slickrun by Bayden Systems and good old VIM (both *nix & win32 executable….)

muito legal a lista , valeu !!!!

most of them are familiar to average internet geek.. specially apps like blender, foxit reader etc..

Christine
http://www.prankvideoz.com

billy
best music player ever !!!

http://www.sheepfriends.com/?page=billy

ViM > Pspad > Notepad++ > Context

Just thought I’d add to the discussion on text editors. ViM is probably the king of these, however learning to use it may take some time, but it is well spent! Pspad is great too though.

Any clues as to where to find the Vista snip tool? I can’t find it under programs, applications, or by searching!

You missed a few:

Paint.NET
Notepad++
LogMeIn.com (free, not pro)

Wow!
Thanks for sharing.
I am trying blender!

“Any clues as to where to find the Vista snip tool? I can’t find it under programs, applications, or by searching!”

Check that you didn’t disable the Tablet PC services in Vista.
For some reason, many people suggest that this service is unnecessary - but it it really is very useful.

I use IrfanView at work and it is great. One other program I like is called EditPad. It is a improvment on NotePad giving you a few more options and the ability to open multiple files by using tabs.

snip tool i believe is not included w/ home edition, least wasn’t on mine, ultimate had it, just typed snip into the new search box

but even better, install ubuntu and instanbul, make a screencast of a worth os

transfz is alaso a very very useful program!

Quickly launch a lookup in any online search engine or dictionary through a Global Menu from ANY program. Just highlight a word and press a hotkey!

http://www.transfz.com/

And it is greenware, if you like you donate and transfz will buy trees and save the enviroment!

Anybody suggested the GParted application?? It’s like an opensource Partition Magic, but one that works!! lol

Also comes as a live CD so you can boot and fix damaged partitions if you can’t load linux/windows/whatever!

Notepad++ all the way too!

PAINT.NET rocks and should be on this list, make it a baker’s dozen…

Looks like SnagIt’s been snagged.

This list would rock if I used a flawed OS like Windows.

one of my recent favorites - Launchy. give it a shot and no doubt it will be on every windows install you ever do.

great list.

i recently discovered win-get. i use multiple computers between work and home. win-get has made downloading and installing freeware apps on all the machines i use incredibly easy.

all i have to do is type “win-get install program_name” in the windows run dialog box, and that’s it. so simple.

Awesome list. Using a few of them though.

I would also like to recomend Freemind, a piece of very useful mindmapping software

@Joshua Seigler

Launchy is just spotlight/windows search for xp. Quicksilver is a whole lot more than just a launcher.

IMHO, Sumatra PDF is a much better (and believe, smaller!) than FoxIT.

Give it a try (it’s open source also!)

blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/

No just smaller (including a portable version in portableapps suite), but also has better rendering than FoxIt (I was a long time user before discovering Sumatra)

[ ]’s
JrezIN

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good DVD maker???

Some of these are pointless, some of these are great, and some of these should be changed. I personally belive Blender should be replaced with Anim8or, Anim8or is easier to use, less resource heavy, and best of all its free (Blender is too, but Anim8or gives you more bang for the buck).

jEdit > ViM > Pspad > Notepad++ > Context

uhm how did i end up at this shitty post?

it was titled ‘top 10 free software programs nobody has heard of’, i think on reddit.

obviously he forgot linux. if he had _remembered_ linux, you wouldn’t be reading this shitty list of closed source useless crap that only runs on a deprecated, archaic operating system.

For the person that asked about DVD’s:

http://www.doom9.org/
http://lifehacker.com/software/dvds/hack-attack-burn-almost-any-video-file-to-a-playable-dvd-232322.php
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/dvds/hack-attack-oneclick-dvd-rips-208866.php

If people would learn to use keywords properly…. that’s all you need to know, really. Keywords.

Use them at Google… del.icio.us… or any site that has a search box, really, they’re likely to answer all the questions you need answered, I promise.

This is a cool list!
Could you create a similar list for Linux/FreeBSD software?

Nice list, but Blender is a very common.

another vote for doPDF a free pdf converter - http://www.dopdf.com

i think DYNAMIC 3i Free Edition should be included. it’s a full ERP and MRP solution that can run any business for Free.
http://www.sdc.ca/free

How about “Top ten ways to support censorship by deleting valuable comments people leave me”?

Liveslick.com, I’m about to do some wonderful advertising for you.

Oh my, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAN NOTEPAD?

if you want to check out more freewares, check out my coolware list

irfanview, foxit, i used it before. nice list man.

WTF??? Foxit is *not* FREE

I clicked the link for AutoHotkey and Kaspersky Antivirus popped up (one of the best AV programs):

9/14/2007 12:06:58 AM Malicious HTTP object http://www.autohotkey.com/: detected Trojan program ‘Trojan-Downloader.JS.Psyme.le’.

It’s possible that this is a false positive, but some caution should be in order. I’m certainly not going to download it…

leapkick-spam@yahoo.com

Instead of snipping tool, available only on Vista, you can use Gadwin Printscreen. It’s freeware and very configurable.

Nice list, especially ImgBurn, which is new to me.

But IrfanView is freeware “nobody knows about”? It’s the 18th most popular app on download.com. I don’t think that really qualifies.

Queen fan much? You’re worse than me..

One more free great media viewer from FastStone: www.faststone.org/

Seems the Autohotkey Homepage is definitely infected with the trojan Trojan-Downloader.JS.Psyme.le, received the same error as in Kaspersky but with F-Secure…

DO NOT EVEN CLICK ON THE AUTOHOTKEY LINK

To those that claim that AutoHotkey is somehow infected:

http://virusscan.jotti.org/

File: AutoHotkey104704_Install.exe
Status: OK(Note: this file has been scanned before. Therefore, this file’s scan results will not be stored in the database)
MD5: 9f51365cebfdfdb3646f73111ab38cc1
Packers detected: PE_PATCH.UPX, UPX
Bit9 reports: File not found

Scanner results

Scan taken on 14 Sep 2007 19:53:14 (GMT)

A-Squared Found nothing
AntiVir Found nothing
ArcaVir Found nothing
Avast Found nothing
AVG Antivirus Found nothing
BitDefender Found nothing
ClamAV Found nothing
CPsecure Found nothing
Dr.Web Found nothing
F-Prot Antivirus Found nothing
F-Secure Anti-Virus Found nothing
Fortinet Found nothing
Kaspersky Anti-Virus Found nothing
NOD32 Found nothing
Norman Virus Control Found nothing
Panda Antivirus Found nothing
Rising Antivirus Found nothing
Sophos Antivirus Found nothing
VirusBuster Found nothing
VBA32 Found nothing

So: false positive… AutoIt fanboys perhaps?

To those who still have not learned to read before posting useless logfiles : its the homepage that got infected (Chris fixed it, see the ahk forums), not the software.

So: no false positive… author of the trojan perhaps?

“simple graphic viewer. It has many essential features like email, “

Seriously! I hate it cluttered do-everything programs. I’m still using ACDSee from about 1998, because the newer versions are full of crap.

Awesome list.

I’m sorry - I also meant to say thanks.

very usefull sources of freeware, thanks.

blender is complicated!

good list… and thanks. Have you considered Windows PowerPro for this list? I never boot without loading it. see http://powerpro.webeddie.com/

Can anyone confirm that the autohotkey site fixed it? The link has been removed until further confirmation.

very good collection. i’m using 2 of them already.

ImgBurn is my No.1 - Good collection though I dont really have use fro many of them.
Cheers.

Very nice list. I also use most of them.

I can add one other programm I use really often: