Software

Core FTP Lite is no lightweight

Core FTP Lite is a top-notch freeware FTP client, with a wide, uncluttered layout to keep things organized. Easy to use and lacking only the most advanced of features, like multisite connections, Core FTP is a must-have.

Major functions such as Site Manager for maintaining connection information, Quick Reconnect, and mode switching are given big buttons on the toolbar. When you're connected to a site, though, the file-management pane also replicates buttons for most of these functions so you don't have to mouse very far to use the tool you need. The client supports all essential FTP functions, … Read more

Core FTP Lite is no lightweight

Core FTP Lite is a top-notch freeware FTP client, with a wide, uncluttered layout to keep things organized. Easy to use and lacking only the most advanced of features, like multisite connections, Core FTP is a must-have.

Major functions such as Site Manager for maintaining connection information, Quick Reconnect, and mode switching are given big buttons on the toolbar. When you're connected to a site, though, the file-management pane also replicates buttons for most of these functions so you don't have to mouse very far to use the tool you need. The client supports all essential FTP functions, … Read more

Invest in a tune-up for XP

At some point, every computer user has watched her PC churn and wondered if there were some way to tune it up. Experienced hackers can get into the guts and do it themselves, but for ordinary computer users there are programs like WinXP Manager, which help tweak settings to speed performance, start-up, and shutdown.

The suite gives access to the inner workings of the XP operating system, including the Registry, file system, security settings, and details of the interface. The program's own compact interface effectively keeps this wealth of options organized, and an easy-to-use wizard helps guide new users … Read more

Take your music in a new direction

Ableton Live is one of several digital audio products that have genuinely transformed the music scene in the past few years. The software is about as close as it's possible to get to a computer-based sequencer that can be played live, like a real instrument. Recording and arranging audio is effortless with its elegantly designed interface, and its Arrange window makes composition just as enjoyable. MIDI composition and editing can be integrated seamlessly into compositions that also use prerecorded audio. Adding effects and manipulating sounds in radical ways, all on the fly, is a snap, and the software supports … Read more

Take your music in a new direction

Ableton Live is one of several digital audio products that have genuinely transformed the music scene in the past few years. The software closely resembles a computer-based sequencer that can be played live, like a real instrument. Recording and arranging audio is effortless with the elegantly designed interface, and the Arrange window makes composition enjoyable. MIDI composition and editing can be integrated seamlessly into compositions that also use prerecorded audio. Adding effects and manipulating sound in radical ways, all on the fly, is a snap, and the software supports third-party plug-in technologies including VST. Rewire functionality helps connect it to … Read more

Swiss-made for your PC

Unlike similar applications, SymmTime works like clockwork when it comes to keeping track of any of the 24 time zones around the world. It synchronizes your computer's system clock to one of several free external timeservers, so you know it's never off. The basics are well-covered here, too, with all changes accessible through the context menu.

Setting the multiple time zones to multiple clocks, choosing colors for the analog faces or fonts for the digital ones, renaming zones to represent your favorite locales and even setting the clock panel to a favored place on your desktop are all … Read more

Stay in charge with Child Control

True to its name, Child Control gives you a number of creative ways to control your kids' use of the computer.

For instance, it lets you restrict access to games or other applications to a certain amount of time per day, or you can set the PC to automatically shut down after a certain hour. If you're concerned about your child's Web-surfing activities, you can block sites that contain blacklisted words. Monitoring PC usage in your absence won't be a problem, as Child Control can send reports via e-mail. With special temporary-access codes, you can even extend … Read more

Stay in charge with Child Control

True to its name, Child Control gives you a number of creative ways to control your kids' use of the computer.

For instance, it lets you restrict access to games or other applications to a certain amount of time per day, or you can set the PC to automatically shut down after a certain hour. If you're concerned about your child's Web-surfing activities, you can block sites that contain blacklisted words. Monitoring PC usage in your absence won't be a problem, as Child Control can send reports via e-mail. With special temporary-access codes, you can even extend … Read more

Stay in charge with Child Control

True to its name, Child Control gives you a number of creative ways to control your kids' use of the computer.

For instance, it lets you restrict access to games or other applications to a certain amount of time per day, or you can set the PC to automatically shut down after a certain hour. If you're concerned about your child's Web-surfing activities, you can block sites that contain blacklisted words. Monitoring PC usage in your absence won't be a problem, as Child Control can send reports via e-mail. With special temporary-access codes, you can even extend … Read more