SevenVG RC (Windows 7 Theme) for Windows XP

SevenVG RC Theme is a nicely tailored Windows 7 skin that gives Windows XP the new look. The theme is dead easy to install – something you don't usually find in this kind of software - and includes a wide array of changes: new fonts, new common tasks bar, new window style and much more.

Like I said, SevenVG RC is very easy to use. Simply follow the instructions provided by the developer on his website and you shouldn't have any problem. Bear in mind though that you need the uxtheme.dll file patched to be able to use this and other third-party themes.

The only thing I missed in SevenVG RC was a bit more extra material. It would have been great to also have Windows 7 icons and cursors, more wallpapers and some of the extra features you get in the new operating system, such as Aero Shake (which lets you minimize all windows by shaking one of them with the mouse) or Aero Peek, with which you can make all windows transparent.


Download here:

http://windows-7-theme.en.softonic.com/download

Download Sony Vegas Video 8.0.217

There are a number of video editing packages out there, from the simple Windows Media Maker to industry standards like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut. Sony’s contribution is Vegas Video and like most Sony products, it offers an original take on the editing genre.

Vegas actually began as an audio editing app and it shows – the entire feel of the program is more like an audio editing program than conventional video editing programs. On the plus side, Sony has emphasised giving users the greatest control over soundtracks and audio tracks to ensure that your film sounds great.

Sony Vegas Video 7.0 includes an entire suite of tools – Vegas itself as well as DVD Architect 4 to help you burn films and Dolby Digital AC3 coding software to enable you to offer broadcast quality sound in your productions. Vegas allows you to edit DV, HDV, SD/HD-SDI, and all XDCAM formats in real time and even give them surround sound. As HDV starts to become more popular, the ability to edit this particular format means that for some users, it’s their preferred editing package by default.

The video timeline works on a typical Windows drag-and-drop principle where you can add a myriad of effects to video and audio, cutting and splicing it with ease. However, as mentioned earlier, the interface is tailored more for audio than video editing. Unlike Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere, the actual video preview window of what you’re working on is given little space, being tucked away in the corner. This is rather annoying when you’d rather see a decent preview of what you’re creating than have the timelines dominate the screen.

However, one nice feature of the layout is that the interface can be customised according to your preference. You can save these configurations so that for different projects, you can have different layouts. This is especially useful if you’re trying to concentrate on one particular aspect of your film such as special effects or rendering options. You can even create your own keyboard shortcuts, a handy option for those who are mouse-shy.

The audio features are first class though. Sony Vegas was one of the first to support 24 bit audio as well as 5.1 surround sound – usually the preserve of professional editing programs such as Avid. To add surround sound, you’ll need to use the Dolby Digital AC3 software. Another excellent Sony idea has been to add a network connection to other PCs during installation. So for example, if you’re working on a project with a friend, you can edit seamlessly in real-time together.

For creating really cool titles, Vegas now features the Sony ProType titler (available in the Media Generators tab) which allows you to make some really swanky looking graphics. There's also new digital signage support which allows you to create rotated projects for viewing on a vertical or inverted display. Encoding has also been improved with support for 10-bit video encoding when previewing or capturing from AJA SDI video cards.

Vegas is never going to compete with prosumer programs based on the traditional Avid way of editing. For those used to such programs, the interface could prove too awkward, limited and confusing to make editing video a pleasure. However, as regards sound, it can’t be touched. For many users, it makes the perfect package to polish the soundtrack on their film after editing it in another package. Be warned also that if you’re unfamiliar with video editing programs, it's going to take a while to get accustomed to Vegas, so the bundled tutorial is highly recommended.


Download Here:

http://sony-vegas-video.en.softonic.com/

PPLive 1.9.21

When you first encounter PPLive it seems like someone’s playing a sick joke on you. Upon first installing the application you’ll almost certainly be thinking this is the most annoying, pointless program you’ve ever seen and will be ruining the time you wasted downloading it. The reason for this being is that at first glance it just looks like a very poor media player and the entire interface is in Chinese.

These problems are made all the more frustrating by the riches promised by the program. The shareware app boasts to offer you the ability to watch free television from across the world on your PC, including live sport, live news, the latest episodes of top dramas and comedies, and a host of brand new movie blockbusters. The software integrates advanced peer-to-peer technology so it can provide the users with the smoothest TV programs with no interceptions, meaning every user becomes a broadcaster, saving the cost of traditional streaming media.

Not being fluent in the Eastern language and uninspired by the drab GUI we were all set to uninstall and even thought about removing the program from the Softonic site altogether to save you visitors from the worst ten minutes of your life. Then something happened – after stumbling across a site devoted to PPLive we realized that was a way around the frustration.

ESSENTIAL USER TIP: How to change the interface to English

By loading up the PPLive TV Engine and right-clicking on the fourth option from the bottom (the one that looks like a squiggle) you’re presented with the chance to change the interface into English. Hallelujah! Unfortunately, opening the Channel List menu gave us even more Chinese to try and decipher but luckily the Football4Less site contains the full list online, as does the PPLive site.

The list of streaming feeds is pretty comprehensive, and although many are in Chinese, it’s possible to dig around and find some great programs such as Desperate Housewives, English Premiership football games, American Idol, WWE wrestling, and a host of new films . Clicking on the link in the ‘Currently’ category on the listings page brings up the schedule of programs for that particular channel for the day, although many repeat the same show or movie all day. You can also search channels by category, such as sports, movies, news, cartoons, etc.

The task of finding western movies and shows is made all the more tricky by the Chinese-to-English translations of the programs, which can be a little baffling until you get used to it. To give you some clues to start with: Friends is known as ‘Six person of like’; Desperate Housewives becomes ‘Crazy Housewives’, and Brokeback Mountain is curiously known as ‘Breaks arm mountain.’

Clicking on a show will open your media player and begin playing the show or film from the start. You can choose to use the built-in media player (which is rather limited in features), or open in Windows Media Player or Real Player. The program uses P2P technology to share TV shows, so the more people are online the faster and more reliable the access will be, and we were pleasantly surprised by the speed in which most of the streams are buffered and the quality of the video. Unfortunately, like many P2P apps, the program turns out to be riddled with malware which installs itself in your temporary drive - so be warned!

Although it’s about as easy-to-use as a rubber saw, PPLive is certainly worth investing a bit of time and patience in if you want to watch TV for free online, and once you’ve figured it out it becomes a very addictive way to spend your time.

Languages:
English, Chinese Simp, Chinese Trad

OS requirements for PPLive:
OS: Win98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP/Vista
Minimum requirements:
Windows Media Player 9 or higher
RealPlayer 10 or higher

Picasa 3.1.71.43

When it comes to photo viewers there are many alternatives to choose from. I've always had something of a crush on Picasa and this new version has made it my absolute favorite.

The brand new Picasa 3.0 is just out beta stage and you can already get a full glimpse of all the eyecandy it brings to your desktop. The interface remains pretty similar to the previous one, but has been enriched with new options to manage and edit your photos, as well as some new ways to show them off.

Among other features, Picasa now includes a folder manager to handle your folders right on the hard drive, a screen capturing tool, an improved and extended photo editing menu (with new filters and effects) and new exciting options for your creativity, such as creating a movie with your photos.

Picasa now lets you manage your pictures in more comfortable way, both online – by automatically syncing your photo library with Picasa web albums – and offline, with an awesome photo viewer you can use instead of the default Windows image viewer.

The all-new Picasa has successfully completed what it seemed a difficult task: improving a software app that was already very good.

Languages:
English

Recent changes in Picasa:
Now available in all the 38 languages currently supported by Google
OS requirements for Picasa:
OS: WinXP/Vista

Ares Galaxy 2.1.1.3035

Bittorrent and Gnutella might be hogging the headlines of the peer to peer (P2P) world, but close behind comes Ares, a successful P2P application that boasts of having its own decentralized network and a simple, quick access interface. Ares spun-off from Gnutella in 2002, and since then has been building a strong and dedicated community of users.

Installing Ares only takes a few minutes and the interface is simple enough that anybody will feel comfortable with it. The new version has a very sleek and dark interface, not unlike that of WMP 11. When you start Ares, it lets you auto scan your PC to find files you might like to share on the network. Beginners will be relieved to know that there is no complex configuration process involved. Once Ares is installed, all you need to do is select the search tab and type the name of the file you want to download. Once it appears, double click on it to begin downloading. You’ll be able to check its progress in the transfer tab. The recent update adds bittorrent support, opening Ares up to loads of new content.

If you enjoy exchanging words with other users, click on the chat tab and connect to one of the thousands of channels available. You can pick up tips on how to use Ares better, ask which files other users recommend or just chit chat about your life in general. You can even insert emoticons into your conversation and keep a list of your favorite chat channels.

Of all the P2P programs, Ares probably features the widest preview screen. You can set it to fit to screen or adjust it to your preference. This is a great way of making sure you’re downloading the right movie or to get a sneak peak at your downloads.

Unlike WinMX or FileNavigator, the two other spin-off Gnutella projects, Ares did not drop into obscurity and unites a flourishing community of users. However, the same old problems usually seem to arise. According to many Ares users the application suffers from constant connectivity troubles making it difficult to properly search for a file or to successfully complete downloads. Others will worry that Ares is a much smaller network than the globally used Gnutella and does not offer quite as much download sources.

Ares is an ambitious project, and the fact that it still remains standing while eDonkey has fallen at the hands of the RIAA, is characteristic of its reliability. Thanks to a strong community of users, a simple interface, a great preview page and multichat service, Ares remains a P2P application of choice for anybody interested into sharing files over the internet.

Languages:
English, Spanish

Recent changes in Ares Galaxy:
Bugs fixed
Upload speeds improved
OS requirements for Ares Galaxy:
OS: Win98/98SE/Me/2000/XP



Download here

DirectX 9.26.1590

DirectX is a package of special libraries developed by Microsoft that attempt to improve and optimize audiovisual performance on your system.

These drivers enable you to make the most of modern graphic cards with 3D capabilities, which makes them generally advisable for multimedia tasks and an absolute must-have for gamers – in fact, DirectX is usually a compulsory requirement to install certain games.

Installing DirectX on your computer is as easy as launching the executable file, which in turn will download some necessary components from the web. Then just follow the wizard's instructions and you're done.

Note that, when installed, this new version will overwrite any other previous versions you may have of Directx.

DirectX is an indispensable package of drivers and libraries to achieve an optimal level of performance in games and multimedia on your system.

Languages:
English

OS requirements for DirectX:
OS: Win98/98SE/Me/2000/XP


Download here

Real Estate Investment and Development Software

This powerful software offers a series of advanced features for commercial real estate developers, allowing you to ensure that all of your projects run according to plan and that you keep on top of finances. There are a number of core utilities built into the suite, which include:

Annual Property Operating Data (APOD)

Creates an APOD for the first year (operating statement formatted for income property). This is the standard real estate analysis tool used by the real estate industry. It conforms to Standard Real Estate Practices. An APOD is the best starting point for analyzing an income property because it provides a brief summary of performance.

Benefits of Income Property Ownership (IPO)

Creates several complete financial analyses of income properties' potential, including time value of money analyses, and many more. Full color charts and graphs, as well as detailed explanations, help you understand the analyses. Contains the Encyclopedia of Income Property Real Estate.

Appreciation Calculator

Calculates past (historical) appreciation of properties. A convenient way to calculate historical appreciation of subject properties and comparable properties to determine a reasonable projection of future appreciation.

Amortization Calculator & Tables

Supports up to 30 balloon payments. As simple or as full featured as you need.

Start-up Cash Flow

Analyzes Start-up Cash Flow for new income properties (i.e. a new construction). Determines how much cash reserve is needed after construction is completed to cover Start-up Costs. Helps make construction and long-term financing decisions.

Languages:

English

Limitations:

Maximum of 10 uses

OS requirements for Real Estate Investment and Development Software:

OS: Win98/98SE/Me/2000/XP


Download here

http://real-estate-investment-and-development-software.en.softonic.com/

w/Ease Small Business Software 1.5

w/Ease Software is specifically designed to help small business owners organize and manage daily operations such as job scheduling, estimating costs, pricing, recording completed work and invoicing. Small Business owners can also generate clear, concise accounting reports to submit for tax preparation. w/Ease is priced ideally for the small business owner, with no hidden charges, upgrade costs or maintenance fees. w/Ease is a new solution that will help small, cash and time strapped service businesses operate more efficiently. It allows them to organize their daily schedule in advance and maintain proper business records.

Languages:

English

Limitations:

Limited functionality

OS requirements for w/Ease Small Business Software:

  • OS: Win98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP

Download Pilot Newsletter Software 2006

Pilot Group Email Newsletter Software is a new opportunity for your web site. With this program you can easily improve the popularity of your web site within a short period of time and, thus, boost your sales.

Pilot Group Email Newsletter Software is a web based newsletter management system. Using this program, you can just create your message and multiple mailing lists and let the program deliver your letter to every person in one or another recipient list.

Your newsletter is one of the most important parts of your customer relationship work. Your performance greatly depends on your ability to compose newsletters. If they are noticeable, interesting, well designed, informative, promptly delivered and, most importantly, are addressed to your customer personally, they will not be treated as SPAM; your customer will gain interest to the information you provide and it is quite possible he will gain interest to your web site and even tell his friends about you and your business. Undoubtedly, this will improve your web site's ratings and boost your sales and, consequently, your profit as well. It takes quite some time to create a unique, personalized letter for each customer. First, you have to find the person's address and their name, then you insert the message text and copy images from a separate document, and so on. It takes so much of your valuable time, effort, and patience. As a result, this practice turns out to be unproductive.

Languages:
English

Limitations:
60 day Trial Period

OS requirements for Pilot Newsletter Software:
OS: Win98/98SE/2000/XP



Download here

J2SE Software Development Kit (JDK) Standard Edition 1.4.2

The Java 2 Development Kit lets you write Java applets that conform to the latest applet API for Java. Previous versions added new functionality to Java, including accessibility, drag-and-drop, application services, a Java extensions framework, collections, input methods, version identification, reference objects, the Java interface definition language (IDL), the Java Virtual Machine Debugger Interface (JVMDI), Java servlets, and Javadoc doclets. Performance enhancements include native thread support, memory compression for loaded classes, faster memory allocation and garbage collection, monitor speed-ups, and a native library JNI port.

Languages:
English

OS requirements for J2SE Software Development Kit (JDK):
OS: Win95/98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP


Download here

Pownce Desktop Software 1.02

Pownce is a new microblogging site that many people compare to Twitter and which also has its own desktop clients – yes, just like Twitter.

This Pownce client has been created and released by the Pownce developers themselves to provide their users with an easier and more comfortable way to post messages to Pownce and also follow those of their friends. The Pownce client is based on Adobe Air, which means you'll need to download the Adobe Air runtime files before installing and running it.

As other Adobe Air desktop apps, the Pownce client works very smoothly and features a slicky interface from which you can publish messages, URLs and events, see your friends' messages and reply any private notes you may have. All these items are presented in a shared timeline which makes it a bit confusing – it would have been great to be able to filter messages by author, type and other topics. The program only allows you to manage one single Pownce account and doesn't feature any configuration settings at all.


Languages:

English

OS requirements for Pownce Desktop Software:

  • OS: Win2000/XP/Vista

Minimum requirements:

  • Adobe Air

Zune software 3.1.620.0

Zune™ software is your one stop for music and entertainment. Manage and view your songs, videos, and pictures. Rip and burn CDs. Create playlists. Edit track and album information. And Zune software can automatically import your existing files, including your music and video from iTunes® and Windows Media® Player.

Browse Zune Marketplace to discover new tunes and find old favorites. Plus, Zune works with Xbox™ 360! Access media right in the Xbox dashboard, or listen to music while playing games. And don't forget, Zune works with...Zune!

Languages:

English

Notes:

You need to be using Internet Explorer to download it.

OS requirements for Zune software:

  • OS: WinXP/2003/Vista

Download Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2

Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system, which is especially useful if you share your computer. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder, ensuring complete elimination from your system. For advanced users, it allows you to fix Registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations. The handy online-update feature ensures that Spybot always has the most current and complete listings of adware, dialers, and other uninvited system residents.

Version 1.6.2 features support for the latest Opera releases, support for Google Chrome, and improved support for fast user switching while Spybot is running.



Download here

Distance Measuring Gadget



This new Smart-Rule 7-in-1 is an distance measuring which tells u an accurate measurments it is designed as which fits in palm of your hand. It has the handy laser pointer to locate the target, then measure the distance in feet and or meters with pushbutton convenience and audible confirmation. Also includes bright LED flashlight, emergency flasher, panic alarm, pullout ballpoint pen, handy key ring attachment, long-lasting battery and easy-to-follow instructions. For key ring, purse, backpack or for styling you can hang it with your jeans loop.

Features Include:

  • Distance Measuring Device
    : Accurate to 50 feet (15 meters)
    : Laser Targeting
    : Measure Button with Audible Confirmation
    : LCD Display
    : Feet and Meter Modes
  • Laser Pointer
  • Bright LED Flashlight
  • Emergency Flasher
  • Panic Alarm
  • Pullout Ballpoint Pen
  • Quick Release Attachment & Key Ring Holder
  • Automatic Shutoff
  • Beautiful Chrome-Plated Finish
  • Battery Included
  • Product Size: 3-1/4” x 2-1/4” x 7/8”
  • Product Weight: 3.5 0z.
  • Patent Pending
  • Comes with a One-Year Limited Warranty

Acute Softwares Diary 5.0

Acute Softwares Diary is a replacement for your paper diary and all those Post-it notes scattered around your desk. Manage appointments and tasks, and note important events so you'll be reminded to do them whether or not the diary is running. The program comes with a time-sheet generator, a quick event recorder, a date calculator, and other utilities.Version 5.0 build 858 improvements: new filters allow you to choose exactly what types of events to display; new search lets you choose multiple search terms at once; multiline entries can be put into the Diary to allow long entries (like a journal); improved reminders screen allows snoozing of events, or launching the main diary if it isn t already running; added Bold Calendar days (works when you click prev/next on calendar arrows); InfoLink has a program launch feature to allow quick access to commonly used programs; InfoLink can automatically start without recording PC Usage.

History Clean

History Clean (formerly Online Privacy Pro) is an Internet Cleanup tool, that lets you clean up traces including cookies, browser cache, history, typed URLs, auto-complete data, websites visited and more. It allows you to select which items to clean, and also which entries to exclude. This enables you to keep selected cookies and URLs, while deleting all others. In addition, the program offers secure deletion of selected files, plug-ins for popular applications, cleaning of user defined directories and more. The cleanup can be performed manually, or on a regular schedule.

AlienFiles 4.0.03

AlienFiles creates professional-quality listings for your eBay auctions. The easy to use editor has all the tools you need to design great looking listings quickly and with no technical knowledge. Over 30 images of your item can be added to your listing, which makes it possible to add your images to eBay for free. AlienFiles lets you add other file types to your listings as well. For example: Video, Audio, Office Files, PDFs and Flash Banners. With AlienFiles you can also add a map of your location, plus your previous eBay feedback. You can preview your listing, do a spelling check, change the presentation and pick a template until your listing looks perfect, which may help to sell your items on eBay for more. AlienFiles can be used with other online auctions too, such as Yahoo auctions.

AlienFiles wants to help users improve the image of their eBay auctions. With a simple set of tools, users can make their pages look more professional.

This program lets users make a new listing with a simple white and gray page that is lined with tabs for all of the customization options your eBay auction needs. All you do is enter the auction description and standard information into a traditional word processing screen. Images are then easily added with a simple screen that uses a file tree to help download photos. AlienFiles really comes together with its tab for creating banners. You can choose from hundreds of flash banners that present a range of messages from, Awesome Deal! to Bid with Confidence and everything in between. Standout messages that function much like a flash banner can be customized with your own text. In addition, you're given options to add audio and video to your auction page, as well as add feedback, a map or Web sites.

Users must keep in mind that they need to have an auction already established via eBay's Web site to apply their new changes. But by inputting some simple information, this process is incredibly intuitive. From start to finish we were impressed with AlienFiles' ease and simplicity and we recommend this download for any would-be auctioneer.

DeskPDF Professional 2.5.8

DeskPDF Professional provides users with the ability to create PDF's that are 100% Adobe Reader compatible from any application. By using the 'print' analogy within Windows; DeskPDF can create PDFs from Microsoft Office and over 250 other applications without having to learn or go through the tiresome process of opening a new program. Version 2.5.8 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

This PDF converter didn't wow us with its feature set, but it demonstrated good speed and usability. Like similar programs, DeskPDF Professional installs as a virtual printer, allowing you to convert any printable document to PDF format. You also can select a file for transformation by right-clicking it or dropping it onto the program shortcut. DeskPDF Professional supports such PDF features as metadata, viewing options, and password protection. It also can merge documents, but it can't, unfortunately, bookmark them. The program comes with a handful of watermarks, and we like its ability to save settings in profiles for quick application later on. Overall, DeskPDF Professional provides solid functionality that ought to satisfy most people with basic PDF-conversion needs.

AUDIO CASSETTE TO CD/MP3 CONVERSION KIT


About this Product

Features:

  • Convert your cassette songs to MP3 formats with 100% Digital Quality.

  • You can also record songs/audio from Television/Radio into MP3 format.

  • The converting process is very simple and effective.

  • The Kit includes a manual in the CD giving step-by-step information on using it.

  • You can convert into MP3 of any desired Bit-rate. (32Kbps-192Kbps).

System Requirements:

  • Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, or later. (Sorry, it is not supported on Windows 95 or NT 4.0.)

  • Runs best with at least 64 MB RAM and 300 MHz processor.