Free Downloads That Are Worth a Donation, Part 1 - ericksonforkabounce

During my day-to-daylight work I address careful applications metre and over again, and soon they turn vital, apparent to blend in with Windows itself. Some of those programs are matured commercial products, much as Microsoft Office Oregon Total Commander. Others, however, are applications I did non give birth to devote a dime for, thanks to the generosity of industrious developers WHO have opted to share their creations with the world for rid of, requesting only a donation from those users who are willing and able. (PCWorld's Downloads library lists donationware as free, but you'll catch a tattler editor's note on the review page explaining that the program's developers accept contributions.)

This vacation time of year, I took a fewer moments to look done my Start menu and taskbar for those donation-based applications I tend to direct for granted all year daylong. If you're already using any of the following programs, now is a great clock time to support them or the causes they stand out for. And if any of these tools are young to you, give them a try–you'atomic number 75 going to have it away them.

(For golf links to all of these downloadable programs in unrivalled convenient list, watch our "Free Software Meriting a Donation, Part 1" collection.)

One of the most famously expensive computer applications is Adobe Photoshop. A new copy of Photoshop CS5 volition set you back whatsoever $700. That May be a obedient investiture for pro designers, but non for users who need to edit a handful of images now then. Thankfully, you have two established, capable alternatives to Photoshop: the open-source, grumpy-platform GIMP (Wildebeest Image Manipulation Broadcast), and the Windows-only Paint.Net. GIMP is very efficacious, while Rouge.Net sports a friendlier interface. Some projects accept donations.

You probably view more media than you create, though. Not many image viewers can match the office and versatility of IrfanView. I've been using this lean programme for years, and it has only gotten fitter over time.

What about moving images? For video, I use VLC. This open-source media player can handle roughly any video format known to humankind, and it offers triplex control interfaces. I've recently taken to controlling it remotely victimisation my Android phone, via an coating called VLC Remote. An iPhone version is available besides.

Ah, but life isn't each movies and popcorn. Security and confidentiality are a key part of today's world–even though we're not all secret agents, everyone has files that they want to keep private. For my own encryption needs, I use TrueCrypt. This open-source utility lets you create virtual encrypted volumes (drives), and even inscribe uncastrated hard drives; it offers a choice of several military-ground level encryption algorithms (AES-256, Serpent, Twofish, and more) and is in general play to use, especially if you're somewhat paranoid.

Non all the files I necessitate to work happening as a Web designer reside on my own computing device operating room LAN. I often have to access outback sites via FTP, and for those occasions I play to FileZilla. This open-source, get across-platform FTP client is continuously updated, and information technology does just what you think an FTP client should do, with a stripped of trouble and an impressible-to-use port.

Once I experience the documents I pauperism, it's time to edit–and that's when I elicit dormie Vim. Working with this superb, ASCII text file, cross-program text edition editor in chief does involve a learning curve, but it offers incredible customization options and true lets you use IT remotely (via a Telnet or SSH link). The second-best part: When you donate to Vigor, you are likewise supporting ICCF Holland, a charity dedicated to helping orphans in Uganda.

Sometimes, though, I need the diametrical of a full-blown editor, and I just want a way to keep a small-arm of text edition in front of my eyes amidst the welter of else windows. For that role, I practice Stickies, a sticky-note lotion that supports precocious features so much as continual alerts while still staying simple and fast for daily wont.

I'm sure that some of you went through this list pendulous your heads and intelligent that these programs are obvious choices–after entirely, if they're in my Startle menu, they may be in yours, too. But that's part of the point: Each of these powerhouse applications is free to use with no string section attached, but all of them politely ask for our support. Whether the donation goes to a charity or to a coder working hard happening the future version, we users can buoy build the world a little better, just as these programs make our lives a weeny easier.

Read Region 2 of this feature, which recommends donationware offerings that are sporting as deserving but a bit less known.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/472635/free_downloads_that_are_worth_a_donation_part_1.html

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