10 BEST - FREE SOFTWARE AND WEBSITES February, 2013

Why is there Freeware (free software) available on the Internet and can it be trusted?

Why: The term freeware was coined in 1984 for software for which the author did not wish to use traditional methods of distribution because of the cost. Current use of the term freeware is used for software that is normally fully functional for an unlimited time with no cost, monetary or otherwise. It may sound strange, but there are many people who are more intrigued by solving problems then selling things. Their reward is recognition by their peers and having an improved tool.

TRUST: There are many sites that collect these programs and store them for easy download. Some sites test the software and many have reviews not only by their staff, but by average users. They can generally be trusted and will report problems with the programs. Pop up ads that offer free software should NOT be trusted, they are probably spyware or viruses.

Trusted Sites for Downloads:

www.softpedia.com  List of free software downloads

download.com A good download site run by CNet.com. Includes CNet and user reviews.

BOTH SITES INCLUDE FREE SOFTWARE, FREE-TO-TRY SOFTWARE AND SOFTWARE TO BUY. ALSO, SOME SOFTWARE IS FREE BECAUSE IT IS AD-SUPPORTED. CHECK BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD!

These sites normally break down the lists by types of programs, (Utilities, Photo, Business, etc). Then it is up to you to select the software that fits your needs. Here are the 10 of the best free software downloads (in NO particular order):

Picasa Photo Organizer - A free photo album and photo editing program.

Zone Alarm Free Firewall 2012 – Firewall to protect your computer.

AVG Anti-Virus Free 2012 – Antivirus software.

Evernote - Create, manage, and save note and documents that you can access anywhere.

Open Office - Complete Office Suite. Includes software comparable to Microsoft’s Word, Excel, Presentations, and Drawing.

CutePDF Writer – Converts any printable document to .pdf format.

Gadwin PrintScreen – Capture and save shots of your computer screen with ease.

Firefox – a customizable Internet browser with speed and safety.

Desktop iCalendar Lite - Create and manage various events and to-do list on your desktop.

Skype - Talk with friends and family for free over the Internet.

Whether you're the type that will admit it or not, we pretty much all play on the Internet at some point in the day. Many websites have come and gone over the years, but, there are a few that have held on to their popularity and others we have become so accustomed to that if they went off line, it might actually be devastating.

Everyone has different tastes, different reading habits and many interests. These sites are ones that we feel are useful to everyone on a daily basis. The 10 best websites, in no particular order:

www.Google.com - How can you argue? Google finds everything else, including the following 9 sites.

www.Amazon.com - Originally just a bookseller, Amazon now sells just about anything you need.

www.WebMD.com - By far the best source for trustworthy health news, information and resources.

www.CNN.com - All the news you ever wanted– or didn’t want – to know.

www.ESPN.com - The same as CNN, except for the sports enthusiast.

www.howstuffworks.com - a subsidiary of Discovery Communications, this site is the source of credible, unbiased, and easy-to-understand explanations of how the world actually works.

www.YouTube.com - A video-sharing site with a vast collection of user-submitted videos of all descriptions, including movies, concerts, sporting events, and original programming and channels dedicated to many subjects including science and technology.

www.Hulu.com - Hulu is where you go for full-length television episodes and movies.

www.Yelp.com - local reviews combined with social networking. The problem with reviews is that they really boil down to one person's opinion. Rather than trust what a single person has to say about a restaurant or auto repair shop, we can see what everyone thinks about it.

www.Wikipedia.com - An encyclopedia written and edited by the people, it has quickly grown to become the world's most extensive source of basic information on just about any subject.

And, #11 just for fun:

www.cuteoverload.com - a weblog featuring commentary, photos and videos related to various aspects of cuteness in animals.