A lot of people know how much RAM is in their PC, and perhaps the type and speed, but after that the details get a little fuzzy. That could be a potential issue if, for example, you are considering adding extra RAM to your computer, or perhaps do some memory over-clocking.

It’s not necessary to open your machine to discover more, though. Simply run PassMark’s latest release RAMMon, it will access the Serial Presence Detect (SPD) data on your memory modules, and immediately let you know everything you ever needed to find out about your RAM setup.

This begins with the basics: the number of DIMMs you have, which sort (DDR2 or DD3, for example), capacity, the memory slots that are occupied, and any that are free and available, altogether very useful if (for instance) you’re running the program on a system your considering purchasing.

It also has details like the DIMM’s manufacturer and part number, which will help out if you’re considering adding more RAM and would like to make sure it’s compatible. RAMMon also has a “Search!” link that opens a browser window at Amazon.com, displaying matching DIMMs.

The program provides extensive details on the CAS latencies supported by these DIMMs, and all your other memory timings, crucial information if you’re planning to fine-tune these for a PC performance boost.

There are competing utilities around that accomplish something similar, but RAMMon reveals more information than most, and so if you need to find out more about your RAM configuration then it’s certainly a great place to start.

This program is free for personal use, but companies must purchase a licence, with prices starting at $15.
Check it out here.

The great thing about open-source software such as Google’s Chromium (on which the popular Chrome web browser is based) is that there is always somebody prepared to take the source code and move it in a new direction, or at any rate add new or better things lacking from the original program. ChromePlus is one of these things, taking Google’s progressively popular browser and sticking on various new features to give it additional functionality.

Now, ChromePlus – which recently updated to version 1.4.2.0 (repairing several bugs) – provides 5 features lacking from Chrome: firstly is support for mouse gestures, letting you execute various actions by dragging the mouse in a certain manner (for instance, to scroll the page down, click and drag down the page using your right mouse button). The 2nd feature is “super-drag”, which lets you click and drag on a chosen weblink to open it up in a new tab, or click and drag selected text to search it using your default search engine.

The IE tab allows you to view those webpages that don’t work in ChromePlus in a new tab using the Internet Explorer rendering engine, seeing to it they work right, whilst you can also double-click tabs to close them. The last extra feature is support for third-party download tools – if you’ve installed stuff like NetAnts, FlashGet3 or WebThunder (among others), you can right-click a download link to download it utilizing one of these tools.

Another thing worth mentioning is the privacy features are entirely customizable, a big difference from chrome.

The latest version of ChromePlus is now available for free download. Check out the homepage at chromeplus.org

Corel WinDVD 2010 is DVD and video playback software that delivers entertainment in different ways. Users can watch all their favorites movies and videos while on the go with their laptops, and play home movies from AVCHD camcorders. This application delivers very clear and unforgettable experience for users. Users can enjoy their videos right from their cameras, camcorder and DVD – no downloading is required fro this.

Some of the benefits include: play movies in popular audio and video formats; watch movies whenever you are with battery optimization for your laptop; crystal clear pictures; experience the crisp sound quality of Dolby digital surround; and many more benefits users can enjoy.

Users may also find some of the following features when they install Corel WinDVD 2010 on their systems: Blu-Ray and DVD playback performance on your computer; sharp contrast; rich color; quality sound; and more.

Corel WinDVD 2010 10.0.5.544 is a shareware program that can be downloaded at $79.99 at the publisher’s home page. However, users who want to have a shot at this program may still do so for free because it also comes with a 30 days trial period. I believe the 3o day’s trial period is enough to have a feel of what the program has to offer.

Want to check it out? Visit Corel.

RemoveIT Pro is an application that is built to locate and remove some Spyware, Malware, Worms, Trojans, Adware, and many other programs. Version SE 29.09.2010 comes with a few changes, which include; update of core engine update, fixing of some of the bugs noticed in older version, and update of database. It is one of the easiest antivirus programs to use, and does not drag or slow down the performance of your computer when installed.

Some of the features include: live auto updates; full support for upgrading database and whole program through the internet; adware and spyware removal; ability to detect and clean most detected virus on your system; and a lot more. Users who feel they love to have more advanced features can download the RemoveIT version7 enterprise solution.

One the low side, I also noticed some false-positives during use, but not enough to discourage me from using it. RemoveIT actually detected some of the programs on my system as malicious, but like I already said, this can be managed. RemoveIT Pro v4 is freeware, and can be downloaded and used without any limitation in terms of days. The user interface is also easy to understand, and even an amateur can become familiar with how it works within a short time.

Want to check it out? Visit Incodesolutions.

My Personal Informer is a program that gets its information from the websites, while also looking for information from web pages automatically. This monitoring tool is designed to keep the information in archive and will display a desktop alert if a specific keyword is found. Quite contrary to popular RSS feeds; this time around users can monitor and supervise any web page and any tag from any page. As a user of this program, you can receive any information from sites and automatically analyze it. Some of the sites you can use My Personal Informer to monitor include; forums, blogs, news, entertainment, software review, job, and many more. My Personal informer is a good program to help you keep track on competitors, and stay informed all the time.

Some of the latest changes in My Personal Informer 1.0 Beta 4 include: web task constructor; context analysis; keyword analysis; keywords and changed content highlighting; web page elements; and web page snapshots.

My Personal Informer 1.0 Beta 4 is a shareware, and can be purchased for $19.95 per program. Now you have a program that allows helps you do all your routine work; receiving information from your favorite sites regularly, and analyze it as well.

Want to check it out? Visit Personalinformer.com

SideSlide 3.0.03 is a dockable program that adds some beauty to your computer desktop and computer. The program gives you instant access to everything you have already on your system; keeping all configuration files in a single folder. At least you can have a clean desktop because SideSlide helps you to clean all the clutter and make your computer friendlier and faster than ever.

Some of the latest changes include: the ability to set the container note font size; change of shortcut tooltip to include shortcut tags and tag start indication; can now drag shortcut icons and drop them on top of the other shortcut labels to use for editing; same menu options for shortcuts and containers when the workspace is locked for editing; and many more.

Some of the features include: browse through your favorite RSS news feeds; keep shortcuts to files; execute various commands quicker than ever; addition of multiple notes; multiple and sizeable pictures; and many more. Users can also shrink and fold, download ready-made containers from an online library, linking containers to actual folders on disk, detaching containers from workspace to claim additional space, and many more.

SideSlide 3.0.03 can be customized to suit your needs or tastes.

Want to check it out? Visit Northglide.

If you are looking for an application that lets you have a quick launch on your computer, 8start launcher 1.9 is one of them. The 8start Launcher 1.9 lets your program to be easily identified from the groups and the icons displayed. The art panel design and the graphical interface will give your desktop a better viewable and useful than all the wallpapers on your computer. With a single click, you can access any installed program on your computer; maintain a clean desktop, and more.

The publishers can do a lot better with the mouse hotspots which are considered too tiny. However, it still remains a wonderful freeware program worth downloading and installing on your computer to make it look beautiful.

Some of the features of 8start Launcher 1.9 include: organize shortcuts into groups and categories; changeable skin with transparency .png format supported; individual customizable button style; auto download website favicon to local for url type button; launcher into shrink to fit number of icons; create and manage buttons fast and easy keeps your desktop clean; show program name/description when mouse is placed over the icon; quick access to the drive content by clicking the drive letter; and many more.

Want to check it out? Visit 8start.

Scarab Darkroom is a digital camera raw file converter that supports most DSLR-s from canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, and Sony. It is a program still under development, and also interesting to know that it is also in Beta state. Version 1.0 Beta Build 46 comes with a few new additions which include; EXIF saving for JEPG-s fixed (this was broken in build 45), Beta error resilience to damaged raw files, and Lens name displayed in the metadata tab for most Canon cameras.

This freeware program supports cameras like: Fujifilm HS10/HS11; Pentax K-7, K10D, K20D, K100D, K100D Super, and other versions; A100, A200, A230, A300, A330, A350, A380, A450, A500, A550, A700, A850, A900, NEX-3, and NEX-5; Samsung Pro 815; Sony A100, A200, A230, A300 and many more; Canon EOS300/Digital Rebel, Powershot Pro 1, and others; and a few other cameras.

Actually the publishers have stated that Scarab Darkroom 1.0 Beta Build 46 was released primarily for testing purpose. Hopefully, when the main version comes out, users are likely to experience more changes different from what were in previous versions. Based on other versions, Scarab Darkroom 1.0 is going to turn out a fine program for all the cameras mentioned above.

Want to check it out? Visit Scarablabs

MoodBook is a very small Windows utility that brings art to your desktop and sets a tone for your daily mood and emotions. This small application can actually make your desktop look almost like an art gallery, changing art expositions either automatically, at different intervals, at regular intervals or manually, all by a click of the button. The basic aim of this program is to help you control your sense and mind, and set a tone for your mood; and in fact adjust your mental state.

I thought the publishers should have a bit of features to make this program work like some other programs that can change your computer theme. However, in terms of pictures and packaging, MoodBook 3.00 can be a good addition to your computer. Originally, it comes with some art packages, but users can still purchase some more packages if they want to add more to this program and give their system a lift.

MoodBook 3.00 is freeware, and comes without any limitation; as a matter of fact, users can freely distribute this program. Some of the features include; ability to tune up the desired color scheme, choose a picture of art, and many more. Now you can organize all the pictures scattered on your computer.

Want to check it out? Visit Moodbook.

If you want to have a knowledge of all the different programs that runs when you boot your system or login, and also show you the entries in the order; Autoruns is one program you can use. Some of these programs include; the ones in your folder, RunOnce, Run, as well as other registry keys. The program has the ability to display or show how many executables launched automatically during boot; giving you a better knowledge of what you have on your system.

Autoruns 10.04 can be configured to show other locations which include: Explorer shell extensions; browser helper objects; toolbars; Winlogon notifications; auto-start services; Appinit DLLs; image hijacks; boot execute images; Winsock Layered Service; and a host of others. Not a bad program if you really want to have a peep into what is actually new on your computer, especially during startup.

Not many freeware programs have so many loaded features like Autoruns, at least not for now. Users need to be very careful before disabling some of the programs on their system because this might cause some problems for them later. For the things you don’t need on your computer, just be absolutely sure you take a proper look at them before disabling them; the third-party programs in particular.

Want to check it out? Visit Microsoft