NetGuide CD

Download
(The hottest new freeware and shareware as featured in the magazine)

Internet software

Fresh Download 7.14

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.freshdevices.com/

Fresh Download is a clever and super-fast free download manager which speeds up FTP and HTTP downloads and automatically recovers from lost connections. It uses from four to eight connections per file, so it's fast whether you have a dial-up or broadband connection.

Chrysanth Mail Manager 2.0

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.chrysanth.com/Products/CSMailManager.htm

Chrysanth Mail Manager lets you take control of your email. The program allows you to view your messages on the mail server, so you don't have to download suspicious ones - you simply delete them. Also on the mail server, you can set up a colour-coded Friends list and a Blacklist, plus rules for your mail.

WebCopier 4.1

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware (15-day trial)
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.maximumsoft.com/

WebCopier downloads entire Web sites for offline use. If you have a slow connection, or share a computer, this saves you time and frustration. You can schedule the program to copy sites overnight or when you're away from your computer.

eBay Auction Search for eBay 2.0

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware (30-day trial)
Minimum system requirements: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Web: http://www.myauctionsearch.com/

Whether you're a new auctioneer or a pro, eBay Auction Search makes running auctions and bidding in them faster and more profitable. Before you list, you can find out who sold a similar item and what the winning bid was.

All-in-One Secretmaker 3.9.7

Operating system: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.secretmaker.com/

As its name suggests, All-in-One Secretmaker is a great tool to maintain your privacy and security online. It's a free collection of eight must-have utilities, which includes a spam-fighter, a pop-up blocker and a history cleaner. The program is ideal for novice computer users because no tinkering is necessary.

Improve your productivity

Copernic Desktop Search 1.0

Operating system: Windows NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.copernic.com/

Sick of searching your computer using Windows' wimpy Search? Copernic Desktop Search can save you time and energy. The program indexes your computer. You can choose to index your email messages, documents, images and music files. Once the indexing is complete, you can type a keyword into the query box, and get almost instant results.

AZZ Cardfile 3.1

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware (30-day trial)
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.azzcardfile.biz/

The problem with most database programs is that they're too complex for many users. Although AZZ Cardfile's rolodex concept is simple, it's a powerful little program that's easy to use. It stores anything you want to keep in it: names and addresses, study and research notes, recipes and task lists, and your information is instantly searchable.

Diary Book 1.7

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.tsm-soft.com/

Diary Book is a great little free program which will store all the information and images you want to keep from prying eyes. It's locked and encrypted, so no one else can access your data.

Everest Dictionary 3.10

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.free-soft.ro/everest/everest.html

Whether you're a student, a business person, or just need a good multi-language dictionary, Everest Dictionary is a must-have reference tool. The full program contains 37 dictionary databases, which cover all major European languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish etc), as well as specific medical and technical dictionaries.

Consumer

TextAloud MP3 2.0

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware (30-day trial)
Minimum system requirements: Sound card required
Web: http://www.nextup.com/

TextAloud MP3 is a clever program which will help you to manage the avalanche of material you have to read every day. The program converts text into speech, producing MP3 files which you can play at your desk, copy onto CDs or onto any MP3 music player.

FxFoto 2.0.043

Operating system: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free(standard edition)
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.fxfoto.com/

A lot of image management software is complicated for computer novices to use, but FxFoto makes it easy. With this excellent program not only can you enhance and organise your photos, you can also create archives and annotations, and send and print your images.

CDex 1.51

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.cdex.n3.net/

If you've just bought an MP3 player, you'll want to digitise your music CDs, tapes and LPs and save them to your computer. CDex extracts music tracks from your chosen source and collects track data from the CDDB service so that you don't have to type it in.

Just for fun

FreeSaver MP3 2.25

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.mgshareware.com/

FreeSaver MP3 creates special musical slideshows you'll be proud to share with others. You use your own favourite images with MP3 music. Why not create a slideshow of your children and then record their MP3 commentary for a special Christmas present for grandparents?

FamiliaBuilder 3.0.7

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.dralex.com/

FamiliaBuilder offers a unique way to share your family tree, which is sure to find long-lost relatives and international family connections you didn't know you had. The program lets you put your family tree online without any Web site building skills needed.

BookCAT 6.22

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Shareware (40-book limitation)
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.fnprg.com/

Book collectors, hobbyists, researchers and students will appreciate BookCAT - a comprehensive database for tracking book collections. BookCAT downloads book information from the Internet, so you only need to type in minimal information, like the title or the ISBN number, and the program does the rest. With 30 customisable data fields, including image fields, in addition to standard fields, this program adapts itself to any situation.

Project Dogwaffle 1.2

Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Licence: Free
Minimum system requirements: N/A
Web: http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/free/index.html

Project Dogwaffle is a fun, free paint and animation program for artists, Web developers, students or anyone with the slightest artistic leaning. The program's site is crammed with videos and tutorials to help you get started, or you can experiment freely with the program's many tools.