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BOOT CAMP 444 (03/10/06)
Ten
Top Freeware programs, part 3
In the final
instalment of this roundup of the very best free PC software we turn our
attention to imaging and multimedia applications, to help you get the best out
of your digital camera and your PC’s graphics display, audio and video
capabilities.
Before we
begin here is the customary disclaimer. If you install any of these programs on
your computer you do so entirely at your own risk and we are unable to help
with any technical queries. Please pay the licence fee or make a donation if
you find them useful, it’s the right thing to do, and in case of difficulty all
of the programs are listed at: www.pctoptips.co.uk/software.html
AUDACITY
Quite simply the best audio recorder and
editor money cannot buy. This remarkable program has the kind of features you
would expect to find on a commercial program, but it’s all absolutely free. It
records any sound passing through your PC’s audio system or from an external
source. It’s just the job for recording ‘streamed’ audio from the Internet and
compiling CDs from your vinyl LPs or cassette tape collection and the
comprehensive range of editing tools and effects will turn your PC into a
sophisticated home recording studio.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
AUTOSTITCH
The perfect way to capture a dramatic panoramic view with
your digital camera. Simply take a sequence of overlapping pictures of your
favourite vista and Autostitch joins them together to create a seamless and
spectacular looking image.
www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html
THE GIMP
The Gimp for Windows was originally
developed for the Linux operating system. It is a high-end drawing and
image-editing program and it is packed with advanced features. It is possibly a
little daunting for absolute novices but it’s ideal for those who want to
progress beyond the mainstream graphics applications.
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/
IRFANVIEW
An old favourite and still one of the
most versatile image viewers around. IrfanView can display and convert just
about any picture file format and as an added bonus it has some useful editing
and printing features.
www.irfanview.com/
MEDIA PLAYER CLASSIC 6.4
A simple, no-nonsense media player, very
similar in appearance to Microsoft Media Player 6. It has all of the
capabilities of its more sophisticated cousins and is compatible with a wide
range of multimedia file types, including ASF, AVI, DVD, MPG, RM/RMVB, VO and
WMV. A great little player, simple to use and no unnecessary or
resource-sapping bells and whistles.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=82303
PICASA 2
If you have a digital camera then you
really should get to know Picasa. It automatically locates, catalogues and
organises all of the image files on your computer but it’s the superb
assortment of editing, viewing, and special effects functions, printing options
and email and web tools, that sets it apart from other picture viewers. It is
so easy to use, and great fun to play with -- you will love the powerful
picture zoom and photo montage features. You can straighten wonky pictures and
correct bad lighting with just a few mouse clicks and it has one of the best
red-eye removal tools in the business.
http://picasa.google.com/index.html
REAL ALTERNATIVE
Many streamed internet audio service,
like the BBC ‘Listen Again’ force you to sign up to RealPlayer software. Real
Alternative is compatible with RealMedia files but without any the intrusive
extras and background processes. It comes bundled with Media Player Classic
(see above) so there is no need to install any other software or codecs. If you
are an Archers addict then look no further.
www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm
SKETCHUP
Another great freebie from Google and
this program will interest anyone who wants to try their hand at 3D modelling.
It’s also compatible with Google Earth, so you can add your own buildings and
structures to aerial images. Add an extension to your house, design a bridge or
just create some wacky and interesting shapes, and view them from any angle,
hours of fun!
http://sketchup.google.com/index.html
VOLUME TRAY
The Windows volume control can be a real
pain, you have to click on the speaker icon then jiggle the slider control.
It’s slow and inconvenient, but with this little add-on all you have to do is
hover the mouse pointer over the icon in the System Tray and press the left or
right mouse button to adjust the volume. It couldn’t be easier!
http://glorysoft.omsk.ru/
WINAMP
Backed by a vast army of fans and
developers who work to continually improve and enhance the program, WinAmp is
the granddaddy of multimedia players and justifiably famous for its versatility
and highly customisable ‘skins’ which allow you to transform the look and feel
of the player.
www.winamp.com/
NEXT WEEK – Windows Vista
Revisited
JARGON FILTER
CODEC
Compression/decompression
(or coder - decoder) software utility or add-on used to process digital data
SKIN
The
‘look’ of a computer program -- cosmetics, colour and graphical layout,
buttons, menus and dialogue boxes etc. A growing number of programs allow the
skin to be changed -- like the cover of a mobile phone -- to reflect the users
mood or personality
STREAMING
Technique
used to send sound and pictures over the Internet. Data is 'buffered' or stored
in a temporary memory by player software on the PC to minimise the
interruptions that would otherwise occur as data on the net is sent in chunks
or 'packets'.
TOP TIP
Although Windows has it’s own built-in screen capture facilities
(PrtScn, or Alt + PrtScn for the active window), they are rather basic and if
you want to just copy a part of the display you will have to import the image
into a picture editor. ScreenHunter (Free Edition) www.wisdom-soft.com/products/screenhunter_free.htm
simplifies the whole process. You can specify the just area you want to capture
with your mouse pointer, zoom in and out and even set it to capture an image
after a preset delay.
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©
R. Maybury 2006, 2709
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