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Features25 Best Open-Source (or Freeware) Alternatives You Need To Download

Posted 10/08/08 at 06:00:00 PM by David Murphy

Economy got you down? No longer able to make those day-long trips to your local computer store of choice for all the latest and greatest software tools? Tired of paying top-dollar for programs that don't quite have the functionality you want? Well put away that wallet. We spent the past week showing you the best (and cheapest) software we've been able to find across different themes: graphics design, system optimization, games, and office/productivity, and have compiled our picks into this comprehensive list.

Hit the jump for all 25 of our picks!

Comments: 8
TAGS: gaming, graphics, open-source, applications, freeware, productivity, system optimization

FeaturesThe Most Amazing Open-Source (or Freeware) Apps You've Never Seen Before!

Posted 10/07/08 at 12:30:18 PM by David Murphy

Today's batch of awesome open-source (or freeware) applications centers on a single word: wow. No, they don't help you level up in that MMO. We're going to show you a batch of free programs whose features are cool enough to make your jaw hit the floor, a small puddle of drool to escape from your lips and into your keyboard, and your twitter to light up with all messages you'll be sending your friends about these must-have applications.

We're serious. Prepare to be amazed. But if you haven't checked out the twenty other themed applications we've hit up in our last four open-source updates, now's the time to fill in the backstory! Once you're ready for greatness, hit the link below. And get your bib on standby.

Comments: 7
TAGS: open-source, wow, applications, freeware, synergy, jing, revo uninstaller, xbmc, launchy

FeaturesThe Best Open-Source (or Freeware) Office Apps!

Posted 10/06/08 at 04:00:00 PM by David Murphy

Welcome to Monday! In honor of the start of the work week, we're going to take a look at some of the top open-source and freeware office applications. We're not just talking about suites, though. Like our previous three features, we're going to run through programs that cover a wide range of activities you might encounter during a typical, nine-to-five day. Hey, maybe you'll even be able to convince your friendly IT person of choice to install these finds across a batch of computers! You'll be a hero! You'll save your company millions in licensing fees! Promotions will be thrown at your cubicle like butter on bread!

Open-source and freeware applications are just that exciting. But don't take our word for it. Check out the full list of applications after the jump!

Comments: 1
TAGS: open-source, applications, freeware, office, open office, toggl, ganttproject, freemind, eraser

FeaturesThe Best Open-Source (or Freeware) Games!

Posted 10/03/08 at 02:45:34 PM by David Murphy

We've already shown you our picks for top-notch open-source (or freeware) graphics applications and system optimizers. To celebrate the start of the weekend, we're going for the gusto this time around: games. But the difficulty in this list stems from the fact that there are a ton of excellent games in the independent scene right now. We frequently profile these as much as possible on the Maximum PC monthly CD, but even then, it's tough to pick five examples of top-quality games--we could fill an article with five hundred. Your favorite open-source game might not have made our list this time around, but feel free to leave comments about other awesome alternatives you've sampled!

Now that the disclaimer's out of the way, cancel your appointments and throw up your away message. It's time to game, and it's time to game for free. Check out our list of awesome free games after the jump!

Comments: 7
TAGS: gaming, open-source, freeware, a game about bouncing, tremulous, glest, vega strike, ultimate stunts

FeaturesThe Best Open-Source (or Freeware) System Optimizers!

Posted 10/02/08 at 06:40:18 PM by David Murphy

We're back! In our last feature, we showed you the best open-source/freeware graphics applications. But we realize that not everybody is an artist. Thus, we're aiming for a general market this time around. Enclosed within this article are the top freeware system optimization tools we've discovered in our might search of the Web. Clean your PC of spyware! Keep it virus-free! Run new, scary program in a virtualized environment! And much more--our full list of awesome, must-install applicaitons awaits you after the jump. Check 'em out! Your PC isn't complete without them!

Comments: 7
TAGS: open-source, freeware, clamwin, sumo, driveimage xml, ccleaner, virtualbox

FeaturesThe Best Open-Source (or Freeware) Alternatives to Photoshop

Posted 10/01/08 at 03:15:36 PM by David Murphy

Economy got you down? No longer able to make those day-long trips to your local computer store of choice for all the latest and greatest software tools? Tired of paying top-dollar for programs that don't quite have the functionality you want? Well get ready. It's freeware and open-source week at Maximum PC. We're going to spend the next week showing you the best (and cheapest) software we've been able to find across different themes: graphics design, system optimization, games, and office/productivity.

Just because it doesn't come in a box doesn't mean that these titles are any less powerful than their retail counterparts. The graphics category exemplifies that fact, offering programs that are every bit as good as their hundred-dollar Adobe counterparts. But just for good measure, we threw in our favorite free Adobe graphics program too. Check out that, and the rest of our exclusive list, after the jump!

Comments: 20
TAGS: Software, photoshop, picasa, open-source, freeware, xnview, pencil, gimpshop

NewsTake a Look under the Hood of Your Favorite Web Browser

Posted 09/13/08 at 02:43:11 PM by Justin Kerr

The current sea of web browsers is awash in promises, but what makes Firefox better then Internet Explorer? And is Google’s Chrome really any faster or better at rendering web pages then Safari? Neowin.net was looking to answer this very question when it authored an excellent roundup of browser rendering engines. The report helps to break down which browsers and applications make use of each of the four most prominent technologies: Trident (Microsoft), Gecko (Mozilla), Webkit (Apple/Google), and Presto(Opera). While both Trident and Presto are both closed source projects, Gecko and Webkit remain open source and are likely to be the basis of any future browsers entering the market. It is an excellent reference for users looking to switch browsers and is a reminder that we should pay attention more to the underlying engine being used then the name of the browser itself. Market share of the various engines is a very telling indicator of general compatibility on the web. It will also help you the next time a Mac head goes on rant over how much better Safari is than Chrome. You now have the tools you need to put him in his place.

Comments: 4
TAGS: Software, Google, firefox, open-source, Internet Explorer, browser, IE, Safari, Opera, closed source, chrome

NewsOpera Initiated into Symbian Forum

Posted 09/11/08 at 03:49:17 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Opera Software has been formally initiated into the Symbian Foundation, the body that now oversees the development of the Symbian platform. Opera isn’t the only new initiate as some other companies including Sharp have also joined the Symbian Forum. Nokia decided to turn Symbian into an open-source platform, governed by a consortium, after it bought the remaining shares in UK-based Symbian earlier this year. More than 40 companies have joined the consortium since its inception in June, 2008. Opera Software, for its part, has emerged as a major player in the world of mobile web browsers. It will be an important cog in the Symbian wheel.