Useful Free Applications

[xpgeek]

I still use DVD Shrink to compress copys to fit on single layered discs, but I use another program now to rip the movies to disk in the first place. I used to use the famous DVD Decrypter, but that too stopped development long ago. But I know something even better.

DVDFab Decrypter
DVDFab Decrypter is a simple version of DVDFab Platinum. It copies entire DVD movie to hard disk, and removes all the protections (CSS, RC, RCE, APS, UOPs and Sony ARccOS) while copying.

DVDFab Decrypter is upgraded to DVDFab HD Decrypter, please download it instead.

... and yep, don't know how legal this is, but its a respectable company, and its free too,

DVDFab HD Decrypter
DVDFab HD Decrypter comes with same functionality as DVDFab Decrypter, but with full HD-DVD and Blu-Ray support (Removes AACS).

... I been using DVDFab Decrypter for, um, a good year or two now. Its updated quite often to support new methods of protection.

http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm

[Ryan Wagner]

Ha, funny! I was just using DVD Decrypter the other day but had never heard of the DVDFab Decrypter. I wish tools like this were built-in to DVD Shrink because that utility rocks, but DVD Decrypter does a wonderful job.

[OldManDeath]

Ha, funny! I was just using DVD Decrypter the other day but had never heard of the DVDFab Decrypter. I wish tools like this were built-in to DVD Shrink because that utility rocks, but DVD Decrypter does a wonderful job.

Yes it (DVD Shrink) does rock.  I was using DVDFab Decrypter for the ones that DVD Shrink did not work on.  It was slower, but performed the job admirably.  However, I really have no use for either as I just "acquire" the DVD's I want in another way.

[Island Dog]

I will have to check those out.  Thanks.

[OldManDeath]

I will have to check those out.  Thanks.

If you want a single solution, then go with DVDFab Decrypter as it is still supported and gets updated.

[xpgeek]

Yea that is the main reason I use DVDFab instead, I've run into a few disks that old DVD Decrypter wouldn't work on, but DVDFab is updated often to work with new disks.

[javasharp]

Thanks xpgeek for DVDFab HD Decrypter! 

[javasharp]

GigaTribe aka TribalWeb



GigaTribe(also known as TribalWeb) is a revolutionary program that lets you share entire folders with friends in a private peer to peer (P2P) environment. Share all your files (home movies, pictures, documents?) no matter how large they are. It's secure, encrypted?and free!

Download

[Ryan Wagner]

I do really like the idea of this software. I'll have to try it out and probably write an article about it on the site. Thanks once again Javasharp!

[El Guru (Al)]

Add this into the reason I like this forum, all the great free software I have discovered. Still a little bummed about FastStone though.

[Ryan Wagner]

Yeah, that is indeed a bummer. It is one of the first good applications that I have seen turn to shareware.

[Chris Rossini]

I'm a little bummed too...I use FastStone everyday.

Hey, at least we have the current version...It gets the job done.

[javasharp]

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 2.1.0

K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of codecs and DirectShow filters. Those components are needed for encoding and decoding various audio and video formats. This Codec Pack is designed as a user-friendly solution for playing all your movie files.

Download Page

[javasharp]

Texter- Text substitution App

What it does: Lets you define text substitution hotstrings that, when triggered, will replace hotstring with a larger piece of text. By entering your most commonly-typed snippets of text into Texter, you can save countless keystrokes in the course of the day.One common use example given for applications like Texter is email signatures. For example, you could define a series of hotstrings that would be replaced by different signatures. So something like sig1 will automatically be replaced by your full signature when triggered.

Basic Use:As you can see from the video, there are a lot of ways that you can use Texter. Signatures, addresses, and commonly used abbreviations can be quickly and easily expanded from very small user-defined snippets.

Download

Source: http://lifehacker.com/software/how-to/use-texter-as-an-automatic-spellcheck-262015.php

[Richard]

Pidgin 2.0.1 is Out

http://www.pidgin.im/

We've released version 2.0.1 of Pidgin (formally Gaim). This is a bugfix release addressing over 100 bugs reported in 2.0.0. Keep those bugs coming in, and we'll continue making regular, frequent releases.