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PROGRAM SITE
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WHAT IT DOES
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TYPE
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INTERNET BROWSERS
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A free alternative browser to Microsoft Internet Explorer. More organised
than IE with useful plug-ins. Comes with Google search bar. Both browsers
can be kept on your system and you decide which is dominant. When loading
Microsoft upgrades, such as Windows Media Player, some plug-ins may be
overwritten in Firefox, so will need to be reloaded.
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browser
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VIDEO CAPTURE PROGRAMS
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A Flash file capture and reader program that copies the file onto your
hard drive and off the website. Demo version copies 75% of the file, bought
version (reasonably priced) copies 100%. Start it then go to the website
and it captures the link and starts recording. Has built in Flash player.
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Flash file
capture and
player
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A free add-on to Firefox which works in the background and
tells you, via a rotating coloured symbol, when a file can be downloaded
successfully. Downloads video and image files from various sources such
as YouTube, etc. You don't have to watch the video while it's downloading.
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video
downloader
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VIDEO PLAYER PROGRAMS
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A free universal video player that plays downloaded videos without the
need for further conversion. Once you've got your YouTube (or other site)
video using DWHELPER above, you can play it on your computer using VLC
media player.
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mulit-format
video
player
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A free Flash player that plays all Flash animation files
either automatically or on a double click on your computer
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Flash animation
player
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Free Adobe Flashplayer used to run many video and graphic animations.
Usually present as a plug-in in the browser but needs updating periodically.
In Internet Explorer a built-in security feature for ActiveX files requires
a first click of the mouse to begin any bulit-in interaction within the
file (shows as a grey outline on mouse rollover). Can be used on the desktop
without the need to go through the browser.
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Flash
animation
player
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Instructions and scripts to add to your webpage creation to get around
the double-click problem in Internet Explorer when playing Flash files.
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Flash
problem
solver
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VIDEO CONVERSION PROGRAMS
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A free multi-format video converter program that will produce conversions
to play on your computer, mobile phone, etc. It can also extract the audio
from a video to play as a ringtone or just to listen to without the video.
Ideal for YouTube videos, when you like the song but don't want the video.
Can be used just as a video player as well. PS: download is at bottom
of page after clicking on version number.
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mulit-format
video and
audio
converter
and player
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A reasonably priced program that removes protection from some video (wmv,
mp4, mpeg4) and audio (mp3, wma, ogg, wav) files, by creating an unprotected
copy as you first play the protected file.
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audio and video
protection
remover
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A free program that works in the background and automatically unlocks
country protection from any dvd, so that you can play it on your computer.
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dvd region
remover
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A free program that shrinks and burns a full-size movie onto one dvd,
when it has originally been uncompressed on your hard drive. This program
is free, do not pay other sites to download it.
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dvd
compression
burner
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A low cost mutli-format video conversion software. Converts to most common
formats including Windows Media Center files. Many enhancement and correction
features and full file compression ability. Converts files directly for
DVD burning as well as to iPods. Can separate audio from video files.
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multi-format
video converter
and compressor
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VIDEOWEB
WIZARD |
A relatively inexpensive program that creates a video player in its own web page with redirection ater playing. Converts any video to a Flash file with size and resolution determined by variable settings. |
Video player
for web pages
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AUDIO RECORDING PROGRAMS
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A free audio recording and manipulation program with lots
of effects and adjustments. Allows you to record and then clean up the
file for professional presentation. Equally good for personal presentation
as well. A knowledge of sound recording fundamentals is useful but not
essential.
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audio
recorder
and
manipulator
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Reasonably priced audio program, similar to Audacity in
its recording and manipulation facilities but a little less complex, thus
initially easier to use. Again a knowledge of sound recording fundamentals
is useful but not essential.
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audio
recorder
and
manipulator
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WEBSITE MP3 PLAYERS
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A reasonably priced neat little MP3 player that you insert
into your webpage for visitors to play MP3 files (music or voice) of your
choice. Requires PHP support from your server, so check first. Files can
be played automatically or customised to suit order of play, etc. Appearance
can be customised using the free skin software. Part of a suite of audio
and video players. Uses FLASH for the skins.
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MP3
player
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MP3 SOUND
STREAM
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A lost cost program that converts MP3 or WAV files into a smaller file for playing on a web page. Creates a Flash player (from version 4) and the necessary web page - can be embedded in own web page. |
MP3 converter
and player
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IMAGE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS
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Moderately cost image enhancement program with similar features
to Corel Photopaint and Photoshop, but at a much lower price. Many auto
correction features and precise manual manipulation. (Uses update manager
to keep program up-to-date)
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image
enhancement
program
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Low cost powerful image enhancement direct plug-in to Photoshop
and Photoshop Elements. Can also be used with other image manipulation
programs (check on website). Further enhances quality of image and provides
many creative tools including air-brush style conversion, etc. Does not
work as a stand-alone program and requires Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
Part of a suite of powerful image and video enhancement programs.
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image
enhancement
plug-in
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A webpage that allows you automatically create gradient fills for page
or table (and individual cell) backgrounds online, and then provides the
resulting image to download.
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webpage
backgrounds
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3D GRAPHICS PROGRAMS
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A free 3D creation and rendering program that provides design
within the program and import from other 3D programs for photo-realistic
rendering using a plug-in ray tracing program (comes with the download).
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3D graphics
creation and
rendering
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3D LASER
SCANNER |
Free software in conjunction with line laser providing 3D scanning of any small object. Requires laser (can use laser level from hardare stores) and camera (webcam ideal). |
3D scanner |
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IMAGE FILE VIEWER PROGRAMS
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LIGHTBOX |
Free dynamic picture viewer that displays full-sized images from a thumbnail link and sits on top of the web photo page it links from. Thus prevents being blocked by software and browsers since it is not a pop-up. |
Web photo
page viewer
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Free PDF file reader to access any PDF file when included in any website
or as a stand-alone file. Usually present as a plug-in in the browser
but requires up-dating periodically. Can be used on the desktop without
the need to go through the browser.
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PDF file
reader
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A reasonably priced easy-to-use image viewer that provides a quick way
of viewing your image files. Will also play movie files, create screensavers
and desktop backgrounds from your own images.
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image
viewer
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A free viewer for viewing 2D and 3D drawings from the big
expensive CAD programs. Has interactive controls such as rotation, zoom,
etc. Requires acceptance conditions, but is free.
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2D and 3D
CAD viewer
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A free viewer for Gerber files, used in the printed circuit
industry. Easy to use and automatically detects format specifications.
Also reads dxf and drill files. Requires registration but is free - constantly
updated.
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CAM files
viewer
(Gerber)
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A comprehensive free CAM viewer for Gerber and other photo-plotting formats;
also reads dxf, hpgl and drill formats. Requires registration but is free
- constantly updated. GC-Prevue Pro is the cost version which allows full
manipulation, GC-Prevue is just the viewer.
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CAM files
viewer
(Gerber)
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eDOCUMENT AND eBOOK CREATION PROGRAMS
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A digital paper file creator which saves a variety of formats, including web pages, in a PDF file via a virtual printer (part of the software). Provides manipulation within saved files thus ebooks and edocuments can be created which help the environment by not needing paper prints and allowing digital transfer through email, etc. |
PDF file
creator |
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FILE SPLITTING AND JOINING PROGRAMS
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A free program that splits large files into smaller chunks.
Can be used for faster and more convenient downloads, or other network
transfers. Works for video files, data files, etc. Companion HJ-JOINER
can be used to rejoin split files.
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file
splitter
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Reasonably priced program to join movie files into one long
continuous file. Comes with built-in viewer as well. Many companion utility
programs from the same website.
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movie file
joiner
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FREE HELP MANUALS AND TUTORIALS
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A site where you can download free manuals for free programs, such as
Audacity, Blender, VLC player, Firefox, etc.
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free
manuals
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Learn how to use HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT and many other web languages in an easy to follow online tutorials with detailed examples as you go. |
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FREE PROGRAMS FOR PUBLIC USE
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Essentially a programer's site where the clever ones give
everyone else their programs for free. All programs can be downloaded
and used without copyright. Depending upon how complex some are, will
depend upon the extent of knowledge you require to set them up: but you
don't have to write the programs in the first place.
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free
software
programs
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FREEWARE
FILES |
An extensive range of free to use utility, video, audio and graphic programs (including 3D). Free newsletter advises of updates, support and help. |
free
software
programs |
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WEBSITE ENCRYPTION PROGRAMS
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A program (personal edition is free) that encrypts an HTML page so that
the source code cannot be read by clicking 'view source' in any browser.
It completely jumbles up all the code. Beware: you must keep your original
file elsewhere on your computer because it cannot be unencrytped. Make
alterations to the original html file, then encrypt again.
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webpage
encrypter
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