Infra Recorder is a free CD burning solution for Microsoft Windows.

I have fond memories of Nero, which came with the first CD-RW drive that I bought years back. However over the years, I became disenchanted with Nero, the bundle-ware and began actively looking for a light-weight alternative. On such a journey, I discovered Infra Recorder - which I didn't know much about except that it uses cdrtools and the programmer is also involved with TugZip. However I was pleasantly surprised with the program's simple interface, and even more with the easiness of use.

Like most of the burners, InfraRecorder can work with audio, data and mixed-mode CDs. This program is also able to handle disc images (CUE, ISO) and RAW images, supports on-the-fly recording, erase rewritable discs and save audio and data tracks to files. Full list of features can be found at the website.

SFX Compiler is a free tool to create a SFX file (.exe) and extract it to the directory of the user's (or the author's) choice. Its' interface is simple and not complicated.

ArtRage is a digital paint program developed by Ambient Designs (they did a lot of work on Kai's Power Tools).  That would be selling it short, however, so let me elaborate:

You have some art tools, and all the canvas and paint you could ever need.  Of course, this doesn't sound like much more than all the MSPaints and Pixias of the world.  What makes ArtRage great is how it feels and how the paints and other tools interact with the canvas and the other tools.  From the radical interface to the ways in which the paints mix and smear, everything clicks.

As soon as you begin painting you will see that this program is something special.  The paints have depth on the screen with bumps and valleys, shadows and highlights.  Mistakes become an opportunity to blend colors together with the palette knife.  The canvas becomes another tool as you use the grain and a light touch of chalk.  You can even set an option that gives you a little glass of water to rinse your brush off between strokes (this can be set so that your brush is auto-magically cleaned whenever you let go of the mouse button as well).  When you're done, you can export you image into numerous formats, including a layered PhotoShop file (if you have the $20 paid version).

ArtRage is an outstanding program.  I used to love to draw when I was younger, and I have tried many computer graphics programs in an attempt to rekindle that interest.  ArtRage is the first that has succeeded.  This program was the driving force that led to my recent investment in a Wacom tablet.  Even with the mouse, however, the program is amazing.

I have successfully introduced the free version of the program to children as young as 5 years old, and they are producing amazing work with it.  The full version is really wonderful, and at only $20, it is a great value.  The community on the ArtRage forums is helpful and welcoming, and offers constructive criticism to any works that are posted there.  The development team posts frequently in the forums, and is willing to investigate bugs and other issues.

Print2Flash

In my last review of Fineprint https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=6519.0 (wait, please don't click the link but read on), I called Fineprint a "Work of Art". And I thought it would be hard to find another piece of software shortly, that I would give this same credit.

Believe it or not, I did find one, but also one that can complement each other seamlessly (almost that is). Read on and hopefully you will understand what I mean.

Ever wanted to post a Powerpoint, Excel Spreadsheet, Text Document, or in fact anything that you could print (to a printer)  to the internet and have it easily accessible to anyone or at least almost anyone, without them having to click to download a file, or install a special reader or have access to a particular program.

What if you knew how to do that but you wanted to keep the rights to the documents (ahem, just like a museum exhibit) so that while others could view it electronically and search through it, they could not print it, or extract information from it - ie "you can see but please do not touch" if you so desired.

...

Print2Flash lets you easily convert any printable document (e.g. Microsoft Word, or Excel, or PowerPoint document or whatever it is that is printable) to an Adobe ® Flash ® file (file with SWF extension). This file can be shared with users who don’t have the software that created the original document (for example, Microsoft Word). You can view such files with Adobe ® Flash ® Player that is available across a number of operating systems. And these files can be easily published on the Web as well for fast and easy access to them from anywhere across the globe.

My favourite keyboard extender is now Open Source & into beta version 4..

Introduction

AllChars for Windows is a utility which adds a missing functionality to Windows: an easy way to make accents like é Ü ç î æ and special characters like € ƒ ² ‰ © £ ± ß ° ½ ¿ » ™ „ available within every Windows program.

AllChars for Windows is FREEWARE.

AllChars for Windows works with Win9x, Win2K and WinXP. The Euro currency symbol € is supported if you have the right Windows fonts (see the readme.txt file for more information).

AllChars for Windows version 2 also offers macros. With this you can make AllChars enter any string of characters in your application by just hitting two or more keys.

And finally, AllChars for Windows makes it possible to change the period in the numeric keyboard to the decimal symbol as defined in the International settings of Windows. In most European countries this is a comma instead of a period.

More info here: http://allchars.zwolnet.com/