Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Released

After had enough teasers from Mozilla project community about upcoming features in Firefox 3.1, the second beta finally released for testing. The release notes list are:

• This beta is now available in 54 languages - get your local version.
• Added functions to make it easy to clear recent history by time as well as remove all traces of a website.
• New support for web worker threads.
• The new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine is on by default for web content.
• Improvements to the Gecko layout engine, including speculative parsing for faster content rendering.
• Removed the new tab-switching behavior based on feedback from users
• Support for new web technologies such as the

As usual most of your extensions will probably not work with beta 2. I will for the portable version.

Download Firefox 3.1 Beta 2

Norton Antivirus 2009 Gaming Edition

One of the reason why people hate to use Norton Antivirus because of it's high CPU usage but I still prefer using it as long it provide better protection. Maybe kept that in mind Norton releasing Norton Antivirus 2009 Gaming Edition which designed specifically for gaming and estimated to use 80% less memory as compared with other antivirus software.

The gamer targeted Gaming Edition of Norton AntiVirus 2009 equips with “Gamers Mode” which will suspend all the update download and anti virus alerts, thus not interrupting user gaming experience and the system is still under protection. It happened quite number of time for me when the game suddenly *lags because the antivirus updating the virus definition discreetly on behind.

Currently there are not much information regarding this edition as it is not yet released or any release date provided as well.


*lags = (slang) is a term used where the computer freezes and than continues some time later when an action is used, (via Wikipedia)

Technorati Tags: norton, antivirus, gaming

Yahoo Messenger 9.0 Released

After introduced some cool improvements in Yahoo Messenger 8.1, the newer version Yahoo Messenger has been released for Windows user. The new version lets you to embed video clips, Flickr images, spam alerts,ability to chat with friends directly from their Web site or online profile page and maps right in your windows. The interface has been redesigned with more skins and space. Check for in depth review of Yahoo Messenger 9.0 new features by Download.com.

Download Yahoo Messenger 9.0

Essential Freeware

Can you imagine your desktop or notebook without Microsoft Office, Norton Antivirus, Nero and etc? Why paying extra cash to purchase expensive software whereby you can use freeware with almost similar features. In this article I handpicked several essential freeware that can help you in major computing needs and some positive side of using it compared to the others.

Antivirus
If it’s comes to antivirus software the first thing I will stress is say no to AVG antivirus software. Please don’t ask me why instead I will suggest other anti-virus software which are way better: Those software are quite new among users but its gain popularity for its effectiveness in detecting and protecting system from various threats.

AntiVir Personal
Avast! Home Edition
AVG Free Edition

Firewall
In case you prefer better protection apart from default Windows Firewall, my first choice would be ZoneAlarm. I used ZoneAlarm Firewall before without installed any antivirus software and I never had virus attack (for casual Internet surfing).

ZoneAlarm Free
Comodo Firewall (PC Magazine Online's Editor's Choice)

Browser
Even though Internet Explorer is default browser for Windows, its known for giving problems to the user varies from security problem, lags the system and less user friendly compared to other browsers.

Mozilla Firefox 2
Nothing much to say about this browser, well known enough for its add-on features and security even though having issues for its high RAM usage and freezes apart from that it working like gem. Besides that, you can give a try for Mozilla Firefox 3 – currently in beta stage claimed use less RAM usage compared to Firefox 2.
Opera

Viewing and Word Processing

OpenOffice
An alternative for Microsoft Office with the user interface and functionalities are almost similar
Foxit Reader
Even though Adobe Reader is famous for using to view PDF format, I prefer using Foxit Reader is far way lighter and small installation file size compared to Adobe Reader. Besides that, Foxit Reader have quite number of interesting features which are not available in Adobe Reader.

Compression
7-Zip
Open source file archiver and support formats: 7z, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, Z, TAR, CPIO, RPM and DEB

Image and Photo Manipulation
Adobe Photoshop is famous for this purpose however; its way too expensive that one can afford it.

Paint.NET
Provide powerful features that expensive commercial applications have. Paint.NET requires the .NET Framework 2 in order to run.
Inkscape
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.
The Gimp

CD/DVD Tools

CDBurnerXP
A popular freeware able to writes all standard formats up to Video DVD pr Blu-ray even as multisession or boot medium. Besides that, CDBurnerXP able to create and burn ISO files and create bootable discs as well.

Media Players

VLC Player
Supports wide variety of popular multimedia format such as MP3,OGG, 3gp, QuickTime, MPEG, DivX, Real Media and more.
jetAudio
Compared to Winamp and Windows Media Player 11 I found out jetAudio is the best audio player for Windows users by providing wide variety of audio enhancements tuning, good in ripping and burning audio CDs.

p/s: Those are freeware of my choice, so they might be differs with you guys. So, if you wish to add or critic just drop it at the comment section so we all can share it as well..

GoneIn60s an Unique Recovery Program

Nah it’s not the Nicholas Cage movie title, it’s actually a software name that will be savior for those work in hurry and haywire. Let’s say you have finished writing a twelve page text and you exit Word (except for Word 2007) but have forgotten to save the document! Poof it’s gone and you gonna start screaming and spit out every bad words that you knew.

GoneIn60s help you in preventing such worst case scenario. After closing an application, you have 60 seconds within which you can right click on the symbol of the tool in the taskbar and recover document. Be amazed this trick works with all applications.

If you thinking 60s are not enough, you can increase the preset time limit in ‘Settings’.

Download Mirror 1
Download Mirror 2

dBpowerAMP 12.2 Music Converter

Most converters need you to necessarily launch the application first and then browse the files to be converted but db Poweramp prefers to do it more intuitively by letting users right click the file and ‘Convert’ directly into the required file format.

dBpowerAMP ripping capability and converting sound files while maintaining the sound quality at its best. The simple CD copier is well thought of as its searches the online CDDB database automatically for CD track names.

Download

Microsoft Updated Windows Genuine Advantage

Instead using disable programs on user's computer, Microsoft turned to use gentler approach based on nagging alerts if it suspects the software is pirated,.

The new version of Windows Genuine Advantage will be embedded with the first service pack for Windows Vista, due in the first quarter of 2008.

When computer user activate Windows Vista or try to download software from Microsoft's website, the Windows Genuine Advantage system scans the PC for signs of pirated software. If the copy of Vista is pirated, the glassy Vista user experience disappears and other features are suspended.

The desktop wallpaper will turn black and white notice will appear alerting users to the problem. As usual each time they log in, they will be prompted to buy legitimate software, and every hour. A reminder bubble will appear on the screen as well .

Besides that, Microsoft also said Monday the package of Vista updates will fix holes in the operating system that allowed pirates to create fake copies:

• the activation of software by computer makes before PC is sold
• extends given period to people who install new software, before they must activate it.

Microsoft also plans to offer an updates for Windows Genuine Advantage that will run the piracy check regularly.

Source: Tech2

How to Rip Audio from a DVD?

How to rip audio from a DVD to mp3? Free DVD MP3 Ripper can do that and its a freeware application. Free DVD MP3 Ripper rips DVD audio to your hard drive. Besides that, this application also can rip audio from MPEG files, VCD and SVCD movies. Again its free.

Download

Yahoo! Messenger 9 Beta Released

Yahoo today announced the launch of its Messenger 9.0 Beta that designed to work on both Windows XP and Vista. The new Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 not only supports Vista, but also allows people in six new markets to use the program in their language. They are Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and India.

The features:

• New design and choose from several color themes. Avatars and status messages can now be seen right next to contact's names. New skins and emoticons add to the visual appeal.
• Fully compatible with video and photo sharing applications such as YouTube, Yahoo Video or Flickr.
• Call forwarding option - allows users to stay connected with contacts even when they are away from their desktops. Voice mails are sent as MP3 attachments via email.
• File transfer claimed to be much more secure.

Download Yahoo! Messenger 9 Beta

Winternals ERD Commander 2005 Ready for Download

As I promised before, I finally downloaded the Winternals ERD Commander 2005. A few words about Winternals ERD Commander 2005:

• If your server or workstation won't boot, you need ERD Commander 2005
• ERD Commander 2005 boots dead systems directly from CD into a Windows-like repair environment.
• You will have full access to the dead system's volumes, so you can diagnose and repair problems using tools located on the ERD Commander 2005 Start Menu.
• You can repair a system quickly and easily, saving you time and rescuing your critical data.
• If you planned to use ERD Commander 2005 to recover Windows XP password, head to here for detailed explanation.
  

Download ERD Commander 2005
Password: keshzone.com

The format is ISO image file, so you need Nero or Alcohol 120% to burn it onto CD.

I uploaded it due few requests so let me know whether its working or not

UPDATE: The above link is not working anymore. Check out the new link below.

New Download Link

*According to the readers comments, it seems this link not working as well. New link will be provided in the mean time. Please be patient. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

The new link is provided check it out here

8 Best Free Anti-Spyware Softwares

Before you continue read this post, you might thought 'Do I need an anti-spyware installed in my PC?' and my answer definitely will be 'It depends on you'. Haha because it depends your on Internet surfing habit, if you prone to download everything you saw and the sites you visit (malwares infested), then you need one. I won't talk more about that for now maybe on coming post. If you uncertain about the spyware or generally known as malwares threats, head to Understand Types of Malwares and Its Definition. In this post I listed the anti-spyware softwares that I tested and satisfied ever since I start online.

Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.3
Ad-Aware provides protection from known Spyware including: Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components.
Download

AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5.1.43
Anti-Virus programs offer insufficient protection against urgently growing threats like Trojans, Worms, Dialers, Hijackers, Spyware and Keyloggers.
Download

HijackThis 2.0.2
HijackThis scans areas of your registry and hard drive and returns a log of items which it detects. As this tool is recommended for advanced users only, we recommend you run a scan and then post your log file on a support forum, where someone will be able to suggest which entries to remove.
Download

RootkitRevealer 1.71
RootkitRevealer is an advanced root kit detection utility. It output lists Registry and file system API discrepancies that may indicate the presence of a user-mode or kernel-mode rootkit.
Download

Spybot Search and Destroy 1.5.1.17 Beta
Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer.
Download

Spyware Terminator 2.0.1.224
Bring your computer protection to the next level! Get unique combination of real-time antispyware protection together with alerts preventing you to enter potentially dangerous websites.
Download

Windows Defender 1.1.1593
Microsoft Windows Defender (formally known as Windows AntiSpyware) is a security technology that helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
Download

Advanced WindowsCare Take Care of Your PC

Advanced WindowsCare, a freeware that will give a complete diagnosis and deep scan of your registry and Windows core of errors and conflicts, and then fix them all. Besides that, it will give complete diagnosis and deep scan of your system performance status and suggest optimizations, then clean junks and accelerate the whole system. In short an application that combination of several other application such as CCleaner, Registry Cleaner, TuneUp Utilities and Everest.

After the installation, with one click it will:

• Scan and remove spyware and adware
• Prevent spyware from being installed in your PC
• Fix invalid or incorrect registry entries and values
• Optimize and repair system configuration
• Control and optimize Windows startup times
• Erase your activity history and surfing traces
• Clean up junk files and recover disk space

Besides that, it also provide other functions such as providing full information regarding your machine which functions like Everest.

Verdict:

I installed and using it till now and felt that Advanced WindowsCare being one of the best and trustworthy freeware around to maintain your PC or laptop. You can manage your startups, fix registry, routine maintenance and apply system optimization tweaks without the need being as a computer geek.

Download Link 1

Download Link 2

Share Anything on Your Desktop with Jing Project

Actually this is the software I was looking for all these days. Even though the name Jing sounds funny, it is actually a cool software developed by TechSmith. Jing is a tiny application that sits neatly on your desktop letting you share anything on your screen with anyone.

It allows you to capture and share your screen, by taking an instant screenshot or even a video. You can edit these screenshots within Jing itself. As soon you done with your video and image editing, just click on share and Jing will then upload it onto a their server and send you a link – the content will hosted at screenshot.com.

So, with Jing you probably won’t have problem to explaining to your grandma setup a blog with Jing Project – because explaining through video far more understandable than literally or words, right.

Before that, you need to install NET.Framework 3.0 in order to run Jing Project and you may download it directly from:

Microsoft (NET.Framework 3.0)

or

FileHippo (Net.Framework 3.0)

Transbar Make Your Taskbar Transparent

I just hate to make my taskbar to set as auto hide and same goes to others if they auto hide it. Its just irritates me a lot. Instead make your Windows taskbar auto-hide, how about add transparency to your Windows taskbar and slightly more usable desktop space with Transbar. Transbar is a simple , lightweight utility.

Download Transbar

via Lifehacker

Moyea FLV Downloader

Yet another easy way to download videos from video sharing websites. Moyea FLV Downloader is a free software that can download FLV videos from most file sharing site. It will monitor your browser for any FLV videos and automatically capture the URLs for downloading.

Features:

• Automatically detects videos, no need to copy paste the URLs.
• Download FLV videos from Youtube, iDaily, Metacafe, Yahoo, Google, Dailymotion, Myspace, etc.
• Preview panel for downloaded videos: also features a linked full feldged FLV player.
• Display video information such as frame rate, codec, bit rate, etc.
• Compatibility: Support IE, Firefox, Maxthon, Opera. Windows NT4.0/+ SP6/2000/XP/Vista.

Download Moyea FLV Downloader


via Freeware Genius

Firefox Extensions Causes Problems

The major advantage of Firefox is its extensions, they can provide unique and useful features but at the same time they can cause problems. Certain extensions can cause your browser crash, excessive CPU usage and memory leaks.

Cybernetnews listed handful of famous extensions that cause problems with any known fixes. You may find answers for your confusions for your erratic behavior of your browser.

Cybernetnews [Firefox Extension Cause Memory Leaks and Crashes]

Vista Compatible Softwares

You might be happy and proud to own new classy laptop run on Vista but do you know whether your favourite softwares compatible with Vista? That’s the problem faced by most of the Vista user, couldn’t find the right software or precisely the versions of the software that can run on Vista. I have quite number of lists of Vista compatible softwares that you can check it out.

• 7-zip 4.42
• Ad-Aware 6.5
• Adobe
• Acrobat 3D, Acrobat 7.0 Professional, Illustrator CS2 bis 12.0.1, Photoshop 7 & 9 CS2, Reader 7.0.8 & 8.0
• Avast 4.7 Home & Professional
• AVG Antivirus Free 7.1.405
• Bitdefender 10
• Corel Draw X3, Corel Paint Shop 10
• Cyberlink PowerDVD 5 & 6
• Daemon Tools 4.08
• Flash MX 2004
• Flashget 1.73 build 128
• FLV Player
• Google Earth 4 Beta
• ICQ 5.1
• iTunes 7.02
• Kaspersky Antivirus 6.0
• Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Microsoft Office 97, 2000, 2003 & XP
• Nero Burning ROM 6 & 7
• O&O Defragmenter 8.6 & Pro 8.0.1398
• Open Office ab 2.0.2
• Opera
• Paintshop Pro 7
• Quicktime 7.1 & Alternative
• Real Alternative
• Skype 3.0
• Spybot S&D 1.4
• TrendMicro PCCilin 14 Beta
• Ulead PhotoImpact 8, Ulead Video Studio 10 Plus+ Download Vista Pack
• uTorrent 1.5
• Virtual Clone Drive
• VLC Media Player
• Win DVD
• Win On CD 8 & 9
• WinRAR
• Winzip

Softwares that does not run on Vista:

• AntiVir 6.x & 7(restricted functionality)
• McAfee Internet Security 8
• Microsoft Works 7.0
• Microsoft ActiveSync 4
• Norton Ghost 9 & Norton Partition Magic 8.0
• Real Player
• ZoneAlarm

Left out anything, voice out.

Wyzo, New Internet Browser

Wyzo which is also called as The Media Browsing focuses on optimizing your online media experience. Let me summarize about Wyzo:

• Light gradient background and orange icons - simple yet attractive.
  
• Built from Firefox technology made the features and the use feels like you are using Firefox.
• Integrates torrents downloads in its download manager.
• Available for Windows and Mac OSX
• Addons such as extension and theme just like Firefox.
• Importantly its faster than Internet Explorer .
• Lower memory usage compared to Firefox.

Seeking less memory hunger Firefox version Internet browser, Wyzo is the right choice for you.


Download Wyzo

Revive Dead Thumb Drive

Can thumb drive dead, I mean can it dead and stop functioning? I never experienced it before but I found an article how to revive your dead thumb drive in a forum. Hence, I thought it would be helpful for those who might face such problems.

There’s a “Magic Potion” that can take the drive back from death and it’s from a wizard called HP and the magic utility is called HP Boot Utility.

Officially HP Boot Utility is for HP drives. But not “only” for HP drives. Yes it can be used with almost every flash media including some memory cards too.

Download Magic Potion

Usage Method
After installation the utility will place a shortcut in 'HP System Tools' in the 'Programs' start menu folder.

To make your drive key bootable and/or capable of flashing firmware:

• Place your hp USB drive key in an available USB port.
• Select the 'HP Drive Key Boot Utility' shortcut in the 'HP System Tools' folder.
• Complete each step presented by the application.

During the interview process, when asked to select the drive letter your key is using, if the drop down box is unpopulated please note that the drive key is either not properly connected to the system or is of drive type "fixed disk". To determine the type of a USB mass storage device, enter "My Computer" and right-click on the USB drive key and choose "Properties." The drive type will be displayed in the Properties pane. If the drive is labeled "fixed disk" or "local disk" the following steps must be followed to assign a drive letter to the USB drive key prior to running the HP Drive Key boot Utility.

• Insert the Drive Key.
• Login as Administrator.
• Select Start-> Programs-> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management.
• Select Computer Management (local) -> Storage -> Disk Management (local).
• Select "Change/Add Drive Letter" for the disk to map the Drive Key to.
• Choose a drive letter.

For a list of available firmware, please visit the ROM Updates page.

For SmartStart CD and Firmware Maintenance CD functionality, use the HP USB Key Utility to copy your SmartStart CD and Firmware Maintenance CD on to your portable USB key storage device.

via Bellgates (TMS Forum member)

Tweaking Tool for Vista

TweakVista 1.0 released by Stardock allows user to modify the hard to access or hidden settings to increase the performance of Windows Vista. TweakVista came in two varieties – free version (with few features excluded) and a paid version. The two TweakVista versions features autoupdate option, configuration for a larger number of services, memory optimization ability, Vista assessment system etc.

On the other hand, Xdn Tweaker is able to tweak Windows XP and Vista system settings. Xdn Tweaker offering strong set of simple yet useful tweaks such as removing Windows Media Integration with the right click menu or the always annoying “Shortcut to” text before all new shortcuts. Interestingly, Xdn Tweaker is a freeware. [via Freeware Genius]

Download TweakVista 1.0

Download Xdn Tweaker