This is for those who would like to have their computer run a Unix-like operating system while the X Windows System run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows.  For those whose interest is to port a Windows application to a Unix-like system can also compile it against the program’s libraries.

Most open source programs impress me these days; Wine 1.1.37 is one of them. Users can run most Windows programs with very little flaws. Though some few users may not agree with some features of this program, the fact that it is an open source makes it a fair program. At least the publishers have always taken their time to introduce new changes each time any update is released.

Version 1.1.37 has been modified to have some new additions to make it work better than previous versions. Some of the new additions are: A number of fixes in AVI File support; Several MSXML improvements; and fixing of some minor bugs noticed in the last version.

To check it out, visit Wine

Google is one brand that has carved a name for itself over the years. Their new browser known as Google Chrome for Windows 4.0.302.2 Beta is not going to be in any way different from what we have always known Google for.

Google Chrome browser is a good browser that does not complicate your browsing experience each time you go online. The browser only has a single box for everything you want to do online. When you type into the address bar, you will get suggestions for any page you wish to search as well as the website you wish to visit. When you wish to access any web page aside from the one you opened, Google Chrome is built in a way to allow you open another tab without closing the one you have opened.

On the other hand, I observed that files that have been downloaded with Google Chrome cannot be renamed. I think Google should have a second look at this. Apart from this, I still believe it is a fine browser. For lovers of Facebook, Google Chrome does not take much of your time before it opens.

Want to check it out? Visit Google Chrome

You would like to have your movie files on DVD so that you can play / view them on your DVD player. Using the Xilisoft DVD Creator program you can perform DVD creation and DVD burning operations. You can create DVD from AVI, MPEG, WMV, DivX, XviD, MP4, or H.264/AVC formats. Application supports both NTSC and PAL TV standards.

Features: The application supports very good feature to create DVD file. You can set application level preferences like general setting, video setting and menu settings. With general setting you can set language, skin and burn speed. You can perform video settings like video format, video aspect ration, resize method, video quality, skip menu, auto add chapter etc.

Add video files for which you want to burn DVD. You can see the details of video file like title, resolution; resize method, duration and path. You can add menu to your DVD file. Application provides various templates; you can use the template as per your choice. You can add background music, background picture and menu topics. Define the destination as save as DVD folder, save as image .ISO file and enter DVD name. Once all the settings are done click on “Start Burn” button (icon) to burn DVD for your video file. You can also set different action after conversion to be performed by program like no action, shut down, hibernate, standby and close application.

Overall: This is a very good program to create and burn DVD for your video files.

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DiscRipper is a nice program to rip full DVD or selected titles. You can convert your video file to AVI, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DIVX, XVID, H.264, WMV, 3GP and 3G2 format.

Features: This program is useful for the beginners as well as professionals. For beginners the program will suggest appropriate settings for optimal video size and quality. Professionals can customize the output format by setting audio / video bit rate, frame size, frame rate, audio sampling rate, etc.

To perform ripping operation, load the DVD file. You can see all the details of title like title, duration, status etc. Set the options like output folder, define audio stream from the available drop down list, select output format from the supported list like AVI, WMV, MPG and MP4. Application allows you to perform audio / video settings. You can define video settings like frame rate, frame size, bit rate. Audio settings like bit rate, sampling rate and channels. Program allows you to set application level options like language, theme and temporary log file path. With DVD ripper settings you can set DVD ripper priority, DVD language and check option as download DVD metadata. Using CD ripper settings you can set MP3 tags, and check / uncheck options like download CDDB data, download CD metadata, download lyrics and eject CD after done. Once all your settings are done click on Rip button to start ripping, you can see the ripping status on the screen.

Overall: This is nice program to rip and convert DVD videos to popular video format.

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MP3Producer is a nice tool to convert your audio CD collection to most popular compressed audio formats such as MP3, WMA, WAV and OGG. You can also convert WAV to MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG format and vice versa. This tool also supports audio CD ripping. It has built-in CD player, you can extract part segment of CD, add ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags. The application is supported in many international languages.

Features: You would like to convert your music audio CD to the format which your audio player can play. Generally all audio player supports most popular MP3 format. Using MP3 Producer utility you can easily convert your audio CD to MP3 format.

The application has nice user interface, you can perform all the operations from the single user screen. Select CD-ROM drive and you get list of track with all the details of title. The application allows you to add columns to view details like title, play time, status, output file etc. Select format for conversion and define output directory where you would like to save your converted file. You can fill the fields of ID3 tag like Artist, Album, comments, composer etc. The application allows you to perform setting for your MP3 file. You can set CBR bit rate, VBR bit rate, sample rate, channel mode etc. Once all the settings are done click on start button to start conversion process.

Overall: This is a very nice tool to convert your audio CD to most popular audio format like MP3, WMA, WAV and OGG which are supported on common audio player.

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The PDF Bates Tool is windows based desktop application that lets you add stamp (bates) to your PDF documents. It allows you to stamp text, logo, date/time stamp, page number, etc. It is very useful to the professional who works on PDF documents frequently to review content and stamp necessary remarks. This program does not need Adobe Acrobat writer software.

Features: As legal professionals, users, lawyers or company representatives, reviewer etc, you need to add your comments in legal way by adding some texts, notes, comments, date, time etc. to your PDF files. Manually stamping is the tedious and time consuming process. In such instance, you would prefer to have automatic program to stamp your multiple PDF files in one go with legal numbers or other defined criteria. PDF Bates Tool helps you to fulfill your requirement.

The program has nice feature to bate stamp multiple PDF files having many pages in one go. You can apply many bates like bates number, text, dates, times etc. The tool allows you to insert your own texts, comments or notes using prefix and suffix options. You can bate stamp PDF files with unique number or you can add number up to 15 digits. You can set the position, alignment and formatting of the stamp. You can add PDF file for bates to the list, Move UP and Move Down options you can rearrange the order of PDF file for stamp. The application is supported on Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2003 and Windows vista platform.

Overall: This is a simple and easy to use utility to stamp your PDF document.

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Though I am not a fan of free antivirus programs, I never the less check them out to see how well they have improved. I don’t compromise on security when I go online. The issues of threats to online activities are too serious to be toyed with.

A-squad free 4.5.0.24 is not a bad antivirus software. It has a reputation of being one of the best free antivirus available today. Though, not in the class of Avira, Avast and AVG free antivirus programs, it never the less feature some very good components that can be of great help to users online.

The program specializes in finding and removing most viruses like: Trojan Horses; Worms; Spywares and Dialers. It scans and checks all files on your computer disks for malware. Apart from scanning for malware, A-squad also scans for all traces of spywares and tracking cookies when you are surfing the net.

The publishers have taking their time to include in the program memory a feature that enables users to scan and detect malwares immediately without scanning the whole hard disk just to make a quick security check. One very interesting thing about A-squad free 4.5.0.24 is that, users have the option of selecting which malware files they wish to delete automatically.

A-squad free 4.5.0.24 provides regular updates for users in order counter any virus as they are discovered online.

Want to check it out? Visit Emsisoft.com

Malwarebyte is a fine program when it comes to checking attacks on your system. It is one of the best anti-malware programs that can be used to remove most dangerous and advanced spyware from a computer that has already been affected or invaded. The scan is one of the fastest I have seen in its category. It can scan your computer and remove malware in the process faster than most programs because of its size.

This newly released version comes with some new bug fixes and other changes as well. Some of the fixes include: problems associated with detecting certain types of malicious software have been fixed; problems related to memory usage spiking in protection module resolved; errors discovered with 704 (0, 0) corrected and the publishers have also taken time to fix some crashes noticed during computer scan.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware 1.43 is a shareware and for $24.95, can be downloaded and used on your computer to help enhance the security of your computer. Malwarebyte on the other hand keeps increasing in size because of the size of the files it has to download every time it updates. This is one area where the publishers need to look into.

Want to check it out? Visit Malwarebytes.org

If you are a network administrator, this program is just what you need to restrict your files and specify which devices other users of your computer can have access to. All it takes is for you to download and install this program on your computer. As soon as this is done, you can assign permissions to LPT Ports, COM Ports, CD-ROM and other devices of your choice.

As a network administrator, you can use DeviceLock 6.4.1 Build 23535 program to flush a storage device’s buffers and also get extended information about devices and NTFS {partitions on your computer}.

Version 6.4.1 Build 23535 has some new features added by the publishers. They are: access control and auditing for Blackberry devices. This feature enables the user to control who can connect a Blackberry device to local computer and when they can do it; integration with Lexar Jump drive SAFE3000 encrypted flash drives. This enables Devicelock to detect Lexar Jump drive S3000 drives and applies encrypted permissions to them; also, the publishers have added granular access control, auditing and shadowing for iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

For $35.00, DeviceLock 6.4.1 Build 23535 can be used as a shareware program.

Want to find out more about it? Visit Devicelock.com

Does Avast still need much introduction? This is one antivirus program that has gained a lot of attention over the past few years. Avast may be a free program in the antivirus category, but it qualifies to be regarded as one of the most reliable program in its category.

Avast is an antivirus set that can help your computer detect the presence of viruses. The kernel is built with a powerful boot-time scan, improved resident protection, script blocker and heuristic analysis for email. This version which is still in its Beta stage works as an on-demand or resident virus scanner.

One key feature users look out for when buying or downloading any antivirus program is the issue of updates. Avast is built to regularly update itself on a daily bases all by itself. Updates are usually done silently while you continue with your work online.

Just like I mentioned earlier, Avast is not a bad program, and because it is a free program for home use does not take anything out of it. Users who want a more robust and comprehensive antivirus program can go for the pro version of the program.

Want to check it out? Visit Avast.com