Developed by the same creators of BearShare (a popular P2P file sharing tool), BearFlix is a P2P sharing tool designed specifically for videos. If you’re a BearShare user, you’ll be able to use the application in no time. The interface and commands are almost the same with a few tweaks so that it could adapt to video downloads.

But even though you’re not familiar with BearShare, you can still use this application with ease. Like BearShare, you will be required to create an account online which could be done in the application. After signing-up you can use the search tool to locate your preferred videos. The application could connect you to websites that offer free videos wherein you can download them directly from the website. As a P2P tool, videos shared and uploaded by members could be available for download at the same time. The application also offers automatic resume so that you can switch off your computer and continue your download as soon as you are back online.

BearFlix could also be used as a video player. However, the application still relies on the installed video players in your computer for codecs. That means if you don’t have an installed video player that could read H.264, then BearFlix will not be able to read the specific file type.

Although BearFlix is a very impressive application for video file sharing, being limited to videos only is its main disadvantage. Many users still prefer P2P applications that could share more than just videos. On the other hand, this application could greatly compliment your BearShare application.

Check it out at http://www.bearflix.com

What You Own Home Inventory is a free application that allows users to create a complete list of the properties found in their home. A home inventory application helps users in monitoring the costs of their property which is very helpful in many ways. For example, you’ll have increased efficiency in cost control in your home as you provide important data regarding your spending.

But the software is not just a simple inventory tool that lets you list down the things that you own. Take pictures of the things you own at home and import them in this software. As you create a list, you can categorize them according to their location or create a separate category for easy searching. Through the categories, you can easily search for the object or use the search tool in the application.

Information such as pricing, date of purchase, product description and even place of purchase could be added manually in the application. If you have an online copy or at least written down the receipt in PDF or DOC; you can import these files for more information about the product your own. You can even take photos of the things you own and upload them in your application.

The interface of What You Own Home Inventory is very simple. It uses a familiar interface when you need to open or edit files. Shortcuts on important functions are also provided so that you can interact with the application as soon as you download the application. A print command is also available in case you want a hard copy of the data you just uploaded.

Check it out http://www.whatyouown.org

CodySafe is a portable application (could be installed in a USB Flash Drive) that works as a launcher of other portable applications. This application emulates the functionality of the “Start Menu” in PC wherein it provides a familiar interface if you want to easily launch applications. This tool is highly recommended if you have portable applications in your USB.

CobySafe could be downloaded for free with additional portable applications such as Skype Portable or XMPlayer. All you need to do is to install the application in your Flash Drive and you can launch the application in the folder.

The main feature of CobySafe is its ability to automatically detect applications in your Flash Drive. If you already have portable applications installed in your flash dive, CobySafe will detect the applications. Click on “Start” of the application and you’ll be able to see the shortcuts of the portable applications in the start menu.

Customization is also possible through Applications Management and Autorun Management tabs. In Applications Management, you can categorize the application, rename it, remove the application and even change the image. The Autorun Management tab will help you identify which application should be placed on top of the order for easier access.

The application launcher is fully compatible to most portable applications. Aside from the official website of the application, users can also download from other sources. The portable application launcher will automatically detect the installed the application and make the necessary adjustments. It’s a very user friendly application that helps you access your portable applications in your flash drive.

Check it out at http://www.codyssey.com/

As the name suggests, HDClone (HD for Hard Disk) Free Edition is a tool used to back-up the contents of the hard disk. This is a very important tool since important files, pictures and videos could be lost in an instant if your hard disk fails to work properly. Through this application, you can back-up your data and still access them even if your hard disk failed to work.

This free edition extends the functionality of a hard disk cloning tool. Aside from data back-up, the entire OS installation will be migrated as well. This means you can run your computer to retrieve the important files with the same OS even though your hard disk will not work. This application could also clone the partition and transfer them to another partition in the same hard disk. In case your original partition will not work, the cloned information in another partition could be used. The partitioning of hard disk even expands automatically in case your cloned partition is not enough to hold the entire data (for FAT and NTFS only).

This application could work in any type of hard disk and connection. If your memory card can handle the entire OS and data of your PC, you can even back-up your data in memory card. That also includes USB flash memory and even SSD (Solid State Drive) which is very popular in many netbooks. Cloning speed for the free edition could peak 600MB per minute. This speed should be more than enough for home use.

Check it out at http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

Transform your simple PC into a very powerful alarm clock with this simple application. Russell Patterson Alarm is an easy-to-install alarm clock for PC which will definitely help you wake up or at least have a alarm clock in your PC. The application is very small so you’ll be able to use the application right after download.

The application comes with a default sound which will surely wake you up. Frankly, the sound is a little bit annoying. But it does its job in waking you up because of the noise.

On the other hand, you don’t have to be limited with the default sound with this application. Select an MP3 or WMA file or even a playlist so that the alarm sound would be in the form of your favorite music. The looks of the application is also changeable as different themes are available along with the download. You can even configure the music to slowly fade in as a soft reminder or alarm.

The only downside of the application is on the alarm increment. The application will only let you set the alarm every 15 minutes in an hour. But that could be resolved as you can set the snooze depending on your preferences. You can even launch the application more than once so that you can have two or more alarm clocks in your desktop. The application comes with an automatic update scanner for the application but you can still disable this feature if you don’t want to scan for more updates.

Check it out at http://alarm.russell-patterson.com/

Gmail is one of the most popular email clients today. Offering more than 7GB of free space to their users, the email client has become the preferred online application by small and large scale businesses worldwide.

But the online application’s capability could even be pushed further with a small application called Gspace. This small application is a Firefox extension (requires updated Firefox browser) and through this tool, you can upload and download data directly to your Gmail account. The application is installed in the browser and could be launched in the tools tab. Gspace is launched in a separate window in the browser. After providing your username and password, you can easily drag and drop the files that you want to your Gmail. The files you want will show up in your email as an attached file. You can also remove files from your email using the same application.

The interface in the browser is very impressive. You’ll be provided with four folders which serve as shortcuts for browser based applications. File Transfer will help you control the files in your Gmail account, Player Mode is for music, Photo Mode for pictures and Gmail Drive if you have multiple Gmail accounts.

Although the application is very impressive, usage of this application should be limited. Google offers Gmail primarily as an email account and not a file transfer protocol or FTP. If you use Gmail too much or transfer more than 1GB of file in one day, your email might be frozen by Google. But this application is very useful if you want to transfer smaller files to your Gmail without accessing your account.

Check it out at http://www.getgspace.com/

TeamViewer is a free application that allows users share files and their desktop. The application could also be used to control computers remotely. It’s one of the few applications today that offers premium services for desktop sharing without any fees.

The most impressive feature of TeamViewer is the ease of configuration. There are other desktop sharing applications that require knowledge of firewall configuration, IP and general networking. This usually creates confusion not to mention frustration for beginners. But TeamViewer do not require any advanced knowledge in computer networking. After installation, you can sign up in TeamViewer wherein you’ll be provided with a unique ID. To share your desktop, you can install TeamViewer on another computer, sign up with a separate account and enter your unique ID to begin sharing.

TeamViewer could also be used to launch presentations. Instead of simply showing your desktop, you can launch your Excel or PowerPoint files and it will show in full screen mode on other computers.

Aside from desktop and file sharing, TeamViewer could be used as a communication platform. The unique ID of different users could be added to your “partners list” so that you don’t have to ask for their ID again and again.

The features do not end there: network administrators could use this application to remotely control a computer. A web based application is also available so that you can access your computer wherever you are. TeamViewer is a very powerful application that does not require any extensive knowledge from their users.

More info and download at http://www.teamviewer.com/

Starting an application could take a very long time if the user has too many applications that automatically run when the computer starts. Although this could be controlled without the help of an additional application, a user unfamiliar with the system might disable functions that are important to the system.

StartEd Lite is the application every inexperienced user could consider in speeding up the start-up process of the computer. The application will help the user uninstall applications that are not important in the system or just prevent it from starting up when the computer starts.

Security of the system can also be achieved through this application. The application comes with the database of 150 trojan virus. These viruses are known to destroy the entire system and the application could be used as a shield to these dangerous viruses.

The interface of the application is very interesting. Aside from the standard options you would have in disabling or uninstalling the applications, information about the specific application is added. Color coding is also used in the application so that you’ll know even without reading (although you should) which application is not that important to be started once the computer starts.

StartEd Lite also has a back-up system so in case something wrong happens after you uninstall an application, you can always go back to the original configuration. There is a professional version of StartEd but the professional version is only recommended for business purposes. For home security and personal use, the StartEd Lite should be more than enough.

Check it out right here.

Switch Off is a very simple application that will help you control your computer. Through this application, you can shut down your computer automatically. You just have to set the timer and the application will take care of the rest. Customizing the application according to your preferences is relatively easy since the application will be installed in the system tray (right side of the task bar). With a simple right click; you can make some changes in the application.

But aside from being countdown timer, the application could be used as a scheduler on how long you should use your computer. It can set automatic shutdown daily or according to your preferences. Aside from shutting down the application, you can also use the application to disconnect internet connection. Restarting your computer as well as automatically locking your computer is possible through this simple application.

The features of this small application don’t end there. Aside from controlling the computer after installation, there is also a web based control that comes with the application. This web interface will give you the ability to control your computer remotely online. As long as you have a decent (even dial-up) connection in your computer, you can remotely control your computer from any browser. A WAP address is also added so that you can control your computer through WAP-enabled mobile phones.

Overall Switch Off is a very small application that could be used in a simple task. But the application offers a wide variety of control options which makes it a must download for busy users.

Check it out at http://www.yasoft.8k.com/eng/switchoff/

Count Time is one of the must download applications for those who wanted to control computer use in their network. Families who have more than one computer interconnected could actively monitor computer use in terms of time used. The application could be used to limit the use of computers as the computer will be automatically locked if the time allowed to the user has been consumed.

At first glance, the application looks like a simple clock. The users will see their clock and the time remaining while the administrator could monitor the users in real time. But the application gets interesting if the user transfers to another computer. If the user will access the computer with the same user name and password, the clock from the other device will be updated. The timer will resume even though the user is in another computer in the same network.

The hours allowed could be set by 24 hours, a week or 30 days. The time spent per user and the time remaining are conveniently displayed with a virtual clock that’s actually a pie chart that informs the user and the administrator on how much time was used. (more…)