Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter 3.1.5.55

The minor quibbles we have with Free YouTube to MP3 Converter have nothing to do with its functionality. This effective freeware is ready to go right out of the box, but can be easily customized by the user.

No effort has been made to dress up the program's utilitarian interface, which consists of seven large buttons, a few fields, and a drop-down menu. A plain text box advises users to paste URLs in the field, and this is all the onscreen guidance you'll need. Once you see the video title in the field, you click Download and the program goes to work. The process wasn't lightening quick, but considering the size of some of our test files, it wasn't bad. Converted files played without a hitch.

The beauty of this converter lies in its simple set up. By default, converted files are saved into the program's folder in My Documents, and they retain the name of the source video. The files are saved as MP3s, normal quality. These settings are easily changed, though, with quick-access buttons and a drop-down menu. The most work a user might have to do is fill out the fields in the optional Tags fields for artist, title, track, and other information.

Sadly, the program doesn't integrate with your browser, but you can opt to have it automatically pick up URLs from the clipboard, which eliminates one step from the cutting and pasting process. It also installs the Ask.com Toolbar and resets your home page to the Ask.com Web site by default, so if you don't want these extras, you'll have to uncheck some boxes during the installation process. These inconveniences are offset by the fact that this program is not only effective, it also costs nothing to use. We highly recommend Free YouTube to MP3 Converter for any user.

Download Free YouTube to MP3 Converter 3.1.5.55

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FreeZ Online TV 1.20

While we love the idea of free TV (who doesn't?), it never seems to be quite what we hoped. FreeZ Online TV is no exception. The channel selection is unimpressive and user guidance is nonexistent.

The most confusing things about the program are the links that appear on the initial screen when the program is opened. We mistakenly believed they might provide more guidance for the program but instead directed us to two different sites promising free online TV. Both require additional downloads, and weren't related to FreeZ Online TV.

That said, once we explored those two false leads, the program itself proved fairly easy to operate, although disappointing in its outcomes. A standard viewing screen sits next to a file tree with 16 main categories, including News, Entertainment, and Weather. Within each category are at least a half dozen channel choices, but many are not in English. Simply click one and it begins playing. The typical media controls to stop, start, pause, etc., become visible at the bottom of the screen as the content buffers. What you won't find are any guides to the channels, which seem randomly selected from various countries around the world. All you get are the call letters (like WSTV) or largely unrecognizable names like NOS Journaal. We also found that many of the listed channels didn't play at all. There are no user settings, so you can't delete or add your own channels, and no Help file or other user guidance is available.

Downloa FreeZ Online TV 1.20
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 4.8.5

With the K-Lite Codec Pack you should be able to play all the popular movie formats and even some rare formats. This package is mainly for power users and people who do their own encodings.
Features of K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 4.8.5 :

• Player:
- Media Player Classic Home Cinema [version 1.2.1008.0]
- Media Player Classic [version 6.4.9.1 rev. 99]
• ffdshow:
- ffdshow [revision 2925]
- ffdshow VFW interface
- extra plugins
• DirectShow video decoding filters:
- XviD [version 1.2.1]
- DivX [version 6.8.5]
- On2 VP6 [version 6.4.2.0]
- On2 VP7 [version 7.0.10.0]
- MPEG-2 (Cyberlink) [version 8.4.0.205]
- MPEG-2 (Gabest) [version 1.0.0.4]
• DirectShow audio decoding filters:
- AC3/DTS/LPCM (AC3Filter) [version 1.51a]
- Vorbis (CoreVorbis) [version 1.1.0.79]
- AAC (MONOGRAM) [version 0.9.6.0]
• DirectShow audio parsers:
- FLAC (madFLAC) [version 1.8]
- WavPack (CoreWavPack) [version 1.1.1]
- MusePack (MONOGRAM) [version 0.9.2.0 | 0.4.0.0]
- Monkey’s Audio [version 1.0.0.0]
- OptimFROG (RadLight) [version 1.0.0.1]
- AMR (MONOGRAM) [version 1.0.1.0]
- DC-Bass Source [version 1.2.0]
- AC3/DTS Source (AC3File) [version 0.5b]
• DirectShow source filters:
- AVI splitter (Gabest) [version 1.0.0.9]
- AVI splitter (Haali Media Splitter) [version 1.9.42.1]
- MP4 splitter (Haali Media Splitter) [version 1.9.42.1]
- MP4 splitter (Gabest) [version 1.0.0.5]
- Matroska splitter (Haali Media Splitter) [version 1.9.42.1]
- Matroska splitter (Gabest) [version 1.0.3.1]
- Ogg splitter (Haali Media Splitter) [version 1.9.42.1]
- Ogg splitter (Gabest) [version 1.2.997.0]
- MPEG PS/TS splitter (Gabest) [version 1.2.1020.0]
- MPEG PS/TS splitter (Haali Media Splitter) [version 1.9.42.1]
- FLV splitter (Gabest) [version 1.0.0.5]
- CDXA Reader (Gabest) [version 1.0.0.2]
• DirectShow subtitle filter:
- DirectVobSub (a.k.a. VSFilter) [version 2.39.5.1]
- DirectVobSub (a.k.a. VSFilter) [version 2.33]
• Other filters:
- Haali Video Renderer [version 1.9.42.1]
• VFW video codecs:
- XviD [version 1.2.1]
- DivX [version 6.8.5]
- x264 [revision 1115]
- On2 VP6 [version 6.4.2.0]
- On2 VP7 [version 7.0.10.0]
- Intel Indeo 4 [version 4.51.16.2]
- Intel Indeo 5 [version 5.2562.15.54]
- Intel I.263 [version 2.55.1.16]
- huffyuv [version 2.1.1 CCE Patch 0.2.5]
- YV12 (Helix) [version 1.2]
• ACM audio codecs:
- MP3 (Fraunhofer) [version 3.4.0.0]
- MP3 (LAME) [version 3.98.2]
- AC3ACM [version 1.4]
- Vorbis [version 0.0.3.6]
- DivX ;) Audio [version 4.2.0.0]
• Real Alternative:
- RealMedia codecs [version 6.0.14.895]
- RealMedia plugin for Internet Explorer
- RealMedia plugin for Firefox/Mozilla/Netscape/Opera/Chrome
- RealMedia DirectShow splitter [version 1.0.1.2]
• Tools:
- Codec Tweak Tool [version 2.5.1]
- GSpot Codec Information Appliance [version 2.70a]
- MediaInfo Lite [version 0.7.14]
- VobSubStrip [version 0.11]
- GraphStudio [version 0.3.1.0]
- Haali Muxer
- FourCC Changer
- Bitrate Calculator

Changes from K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 4.8.0 to K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 4.8.5 :

- Updated ffdshow to revision 2925
- Fixed a ffdshow threading bug that could make Windows Media Center crash
- Updated Gabest MPEG splitter to version 1.2.1020.0
- Updated MediaInfo Lite to version 0.7.14
- Minor changes and improvements

Important Note :

- The K-Lite Mega Codec Pack works only on Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista.

Download K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 4.8.5

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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Advanced SystemCare Free 3.3.1

Slow down, freeze, crash, and security threats are over. Advanced SystemCare Free is a comprehensive PC care utility that takes a one-click approach to help protect, repair, and optimize your computer. It provides an all-in-one and super convenient solution for PC maintenance and protection. All work will be done with 1 click and 1 minute. Compared with its nearest competitor, Advanced SystemCare Free provides the more essential and practical formula for Windows: Removing Spyware and Adware, Preventing Security Threats, Privacy Protection, Fixing Registry Errors, Temporary Files Cleanup, Startup Cleanup, Repairing Windows, Speeding up System and 1-click Mechanism.

Download Advanced SystemCare Free 3.3.1
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