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Software Reviews
by Leendert
The reviews and opinions below are posted by SnapFiles visitors. They do not necessarily reflect our opinion, and are solely based on the experience of individual users.
- Freeware
Win (All)
Excellent 
Folder Guide version 1.0
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Couldn't browse without it (or could I, but I won't) - Really helpful, access any folder from practically anywhere. Should have been implemented in the OS. Excellent.
Review date: Nov 11, 2006
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista
A space for time ...
Calendar Magic version 16.3
- Interface: 3
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
The number of time related calculations one can perform with this software is amazing... the interface is definitely not the summit of elegance, but indoors is filled with a thousand and one surprising discoveries... really worth a try. I've kept it.
Review date: Nov 07, 2006
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Et voila!
PDF2EXE version 1.0
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
If the purpose is to have a PDF file readable without a dedicated... reader, than PDF2EXE is here just for that, and accomplishes the task brilliantly. Adds only a few kilobytes to the original PDF file's size, and delivers an attractive interface for its lecture. An elegant and efficient solution.
Review date: Nov 07, 2006
- Freeware
- 2000/XP
Remarkable
TVUPlayer version 2.2.0
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Finally (I've only just discovered TVUPlayer), finally a "TV Player" which is neither bundled with advertisement nor desynchronized with quality (and networks!). Not as many channels as some other players of the sort? Maybe, but all channels here are valid (even a french TV channel is available!). Nice GUI, great video rendering, easy to install and a pleasure to use... reminded me watching TV in New York many years ago :). A remarkable (and remarked) piece of software. Yes, I definitely recommend!
Review date: Oct 01, 2006
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP
Compact, elegant, handy
Chaos Manager version 2.25
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
It's all in the title, and in Snapfile's description. Unless you're dealing with 200 appointments in a 25 hour day, this is the solution to a neat, nicely built organizer. Even password protection is available. Nice, simple, adequate.
Review date: Aug 31, 2006
- Freeware
- XP/Vista
This release is operational
SpeeDefrag version 3.2
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Works fine. This latest 3.2 release is fully operational, and includes option to either reboot or shutdown computer after defragmentation. No problem, only advantages. Advised.
Review date: Aug 14, 2006
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
The fully featured high-speed browser
Mozilla Firefox version 1.5.0.5
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Firefox is fast, even if it is true that Opera is faster. But do we go on holidays with a dragster? Firefox remains the best combination of speed, features and security. I've tried them all, but Firefox always called me back.
Review date: Jul 29, 2006
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP/2003
Splendid
PFrank version 1.68
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
PFrank is the very best file renaming tool I've tried up to now, perhaps because it is the most flexible one. Unfortunately updates, if always a good thing as such, are a bit too frequent. How about a PFrank Tuesday? :)
Review date: Jun 29, 2006
- Freeware
- NT/2000/XP
A remarkable news aggregator
GreatNews version 1.0 Beta (Build 368)
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
GreatNews has everything one might expect from a feed reader, and so cleverly put together it's hardly believable the whole resumes to 1Mb as compared to 3 times more quite often elsewhere. When we discover a software we often wonder "OK, but... is this other feature implemented?" Well, it is! "I'm sure they haven't thought about that other point..." Well, they have! The authors have programmed this little beauty with the end user in mind: it is definitely smart, like you and me!
Review date: May 05, 2006
- Freeware
- Win (All)
The first, the last, my everything...
EditPad Lite version 5.4.6
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I've been using EditPad ever since it came out, never found better. Simple, fast, excellent HTML editor as well, just one of those fine products you use every day, with pleasure. It's there, waiting for you: grab it!
Review date: Mar 17, 2006
- Freeware
- Win XP
Give and take
Windows Defender version BETA 2
- Interface: 5
- Features: 3
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 4
- Overall:
As always, Microsoft protects your home... if you give the keys. Defender reacts to system modifications only if it considers there is a threat, not otherwise. Should you install a software which decides to launch at Windows startup, Defender will notify you only if it considers the software is a threat, not otherwise. Concerning malware itself, Defender remains one of the best analyze engines. Finally, I personally do not appreciate at all the fact updates require Windows Update to be installed, but this is a pure tradition of the company: take and give, or forget it. I would advise Defender as an extra scan system, not on a monitoring basis.
Review date: Feb 28, 2006
- Freeware
- Win XP
Everything remains relative
SwitchIt! version 0.7.5.Beta
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Excellent product, I'd rate it 4 out of 5, and still wouldn't recommend it. Why? Because similar products deal with ten times less than 2006kb and do not require .Net Framework. There is something absurd about using a whatever framework and absorbing more ram than other emancipated framework-free products. I'm missing a point, certainly.
Review date: Feb 28, 2006
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP
Wide, accurate, rapid
McAfee SiteAdvisor (for Firefox) version 18
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This Firefox extension is amazing. Its database is wide, very wide. Information retrieval is fast, non obtrusive at all (in fact, SiteAdvisor's servers are called only after page is totally displayed: no halt!), available information is accurate and goes beyond notification of security issues alone. Moreover, available information per site is disclosed within major search engines, SiteAdvisor being smoothly integrated. I am really impressed. Any Firefox user concerned with security must absolutely discover this discreet little gem. Amazing.
Review date: Jan 20, 2006
- Freeware
- 2000/XP
A joke
Aurionix FileUsage version 1.1.0
- Interface: 2
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 2
- Overall:
Now, what are we getting here, a Windows Explorer add-on or an incitement - one more - to install .NET Framework? The latter is absolutely not required to perform an Explorer add-on. There were times when such a utility was done with a few lines of clean tight code. Using .NET Framework for this is like using a helicopter to cross the street. We all know .NET Framework is trying by all means to make it's way through, but perhaps could it be in a more appropriate way? Otherwise, yes, the add-on works. But it's not because a software is correct that it means it's worthy.
Review date: Dec 30, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/Vista
A senior's experience
Ad-Aware 2007 version 1.06 SE Pers.
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Ad-Aware was one of the first to deal with spyware/malware, far before the deal ever appeared as the cushy number for rising and often inexperienced softwares. They know what they're talking about, this is professionalism at it's best. Also, Ad-Aware SE Plus - shareware - and its Ad-Watch monitoring component is, I believe, worth a little sacrifice for the peace of mind it delivers. In my opinion, a minimum, besides the firewall and the anti-virus, includes Ad-Aware.
Review date: Nov 23, 2005
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP/2003
First-class extension
AudioShell version 1.1
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is one of those softwares I use every day forgetting it is an added extension. It is so handy for audio files, giving the immediate info I need, allowing me to edit this or that of an audio tag. It is even possible to edit a global tag entry (highlight multiple same type audio files and right-click for 'Property", change Album name or whatever, the edit is then applied to all files, right from this extension!). I could live without Audioshell, but I don't see why!. Neat, small, just great!
Review date: Nov 08, 2005
- Free Trial ($29.95)
- 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista
Strong but hungry
Spyware Doctor version 3.2.2
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 4
- Overall:
Excellent anti-spyware tool, very capable. I've adopted it, but I do not use the real-time feature: it absorbs far too much RAM, over 40MB in my case. Still, on regular scanning, it has found one malware no other dedicated software had, which is relevant. Easy of use, all aspects of spyware intrusion are taken care of, excellent very regular data updates. I guess 40MB of RAM is the price to pay, but it is really heavy.
Review date: Nov 07, 2005
- Freeware
- NT/2000/XP
Great, but productive for experts only
RootkitRevealer version 1.56
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 1
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Difficult to state a recommendation, and that is precisely the point of my review. I would recommend it for experienced users, not because I can testify of its efficiency as I am not a specialist, but because it is signed SysInternals, a name of highly qualified software, a developer of whom I use other brilliant gems of software. I would not recommended it to novice users, because once RootkitRevealer has established diagnostic results, 1- I have no idea what should be considered as intrusion as opposed to normal data, and 2- should intrusion have been established, I ignore how I would be able to eradicate it. Seems rootkits are the future of malware. The whole system is getting smarter. Rootkits on one hand, heuristic developed (including rootkit diagnose) anti-malware on the other hand. So, more than ever, we'll have to delegate our confidence. SysInternals is in the lot of friends, but knowledge is at this point too highly required for unqualified users, of which I am.
Review date: Oct 28, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
A+ for a must
IE Privacy Keeper version 2.7.2
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I've tried quite a few "cleaners", and in my opinion IE Privacy Keeper is the best. Don't tell anyone, but I would have bought it, if it hadn't been - moreover - free, true freeware. It's easy and complete. Now for those who believe it slows down the system, may they just acknowledge it is also longer to remember an erased password than to retrieve it from a file, quickly accessible but accessible by all. Seriously, IE Privacy Keeper cleans good and cleans fast and cleans when you say so: a good way to combine overall system speed with both privacy requirements and system's fitness. An excellent software, an everyday surfing companion.
Review date: Oct 13, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Obvious as a bed
RoboForm version 6.3.99
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
What do I consider I *really* need besides a browser, to surf quietly over the web? Besides obvious security tools, I know only two: 'Ad Muncher' and 'AI Roboform'. Spare on anything, but not on the basis: a bed fot the flat, AI Roboform for the browser. It's as simple as that. Moreover, Roboform is not a cockpit with switches everywhere, it is *really* as easy to install (and personalize) as it is practical - and efficient - to handle *all* my UserNames and Passwords. And I'm definitely *not* a geek!
Review date: Sep 25, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Would i recommend eprompter? definetly
ePrompter version 2.0 SR81
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is an astonishing, neat, speedy, simple and so helpful email checking program. Things have been "thought" to avoid redundancy, to get to the point - my email! - here and now. Just dealing with this software is cheerful (colors, as icons do, give a flavor to ordinary tasks!). I'm enthusiast, but it's worth it. Really.
Review date: Sep 19, 2005
- Free Trial ($39.95)
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Excellent, but ...
Folder Lock version 5.2.6
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 4
- Overall:
Everything has been done for secrecy: encryption *and" transparency. I have a slight regret, not for the *availability* of encrypting and hiding, but for the *obligation* to have the main "safe" folder hidden if encrypted. I would wish to be able to encrypt alone first, in order to backup the encrypted folder on another support, and then only hide the given folder. What I have to do - in my case - is to create another "Folder Lock" folder on second hard disk, copy content from folder 1 to folder 2, then encrypt and hide both. Rather cumbersome. Besides this, nothing to say, or rather this: excellent: efficient, fast, aesthetic.
Review date: Sep 16, 2005
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP
Average qualities and free-to-try-ware
FxFoto (Free version) version 3.0.057
- Interface: 1
- Features: 2
- Ease of use: 2
- Value: 1
- Overall:
The qualities are not exceptional compared to what is available on the market, including freeware. But most of all, a freeware which continuously harasses the user to upgrade is *not* a freeware, in my opinion. I accept nag screens, when things are clear: "This is trialware, you will encounter nag screens", OK! But let not the appealing term of "freeware" be used when the software is *not* freeware. It's free, therefore freeware? Well, trialware is also free (to download and try!), so why not just call *all* software, freeware?!
Review date: Sep 16, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Discreet elegance
Avant Browser version 10.1.022
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
If you're not an anti-Internet Explorer aficionado, if you're searching for the best IE engined browser available, Avant Browser is the answer. Discreet (not bloated!), fast, powerful, it is a Ferrari, not a tank. Everything anyone needs is there, except the plugin the friend of the brother of my sister-in-law will wish once in a decade! AB has many features, those of speed and tranquility (pages render fast, smooth 'n' fast, the ad-blocker is a marvel), the default skins are sexy, others very tempting. I love this software, and I've tried practically everything a browser may be! Just try it. It does not intoxicate the registry, and is as easy to remove as to install. But I'd be surprised you remove it!
Review date: Sep 13, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Pro, easy, free: what more to wish?
SymmTime version 2.5.0
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
SymmTime is the time zone desktop reference I've been searching for... a long time. Up to 30 simultaneous clocks, elegant interface, wide display choices: this software is not smart, it's intelligent!
Review date: Sep 13, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/2003/Vista
The very best in its category
ERUNT version 1.1i
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
ERUNT (both NT Registry Optimizer and Erunt Registry Backup) is the best, because accurate, complete, easy to use. 1-Clean Registry (RegSupreme, another very complimentary software), 2-Optimize registry (NT Registry Optimizer), 3-Backup Registry (Erunt Registry Backup) is a fantastic trio. I had used up to now WinRescue, also very good, but slower and less complete. Also, I had had Registry compacting problems with either WinRescue or other softwares, when Kaspersky Antivirus was running (I had to quit Kaspersky Antivirus first) : not with ERUNT Registry Optimizer, though it is longer if the antivirus is running. I think every category has its leaders, and ERUNT is definitely the best here.
Review date: Aug 19, 2005
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista
`nec plus ultra` isnt english ...
TheSage version 1.0.5
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
"Nec plus ultra" isn't English. In French, though, it means "the ultimate". LeSage English Dictionary is in my opinion definitely the best computerized desktop dictionary available. It goes beyond traditional - or most used - functions one expects, delivering more than the immediate meaning, it explores deeper roots if so is one's wish. In fact, it translates the meanings, so to say. Brilliant, and brilliantly organized. A word to my French compatriotes, to those sometimes complaining of the "invasion" of English culture: where do you find equivalent in quality French dictionaries? Nowhere. Why do 95% of French (mainly teenagers and young adults) express themselves on forums - vocabulary & rhetoric - as 5 year old kids? It would be time some people start moving in this country (France) and do as much for their language as others do for their own! Hum... I do need that dictionary, don't I!
Review date: Jul 28, 2005
- Freeware
- 2000/XP/Vista
Transparent software
iTunes version 4.9
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
ITunes is both so easy to use and so cleverly managed that you hardly realize you're dealing with a piece of software! I personally have the feeling of being in a music store and listening to music, wandering around and wondering if I should or not, if I would, if I will buy this or that music. I endorse the idea iTunes is the best on-line music store software available. It's more than handy, it's an everyday pleasure. Moreover, the audio playback quality is awesome. Great for parties (get on the mix!) as well as for a rainy Sunday afternoon stroll... I just love it!
Review date: Jul 01, 2005
- Freeware
- 98/ME/2000/XP
U.s. weather only
Weather Grabber version 1.0.3b
- Interface: 1
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 1
- Value: 1
- Overall:
Perhaps some Americans, among whom the author of this software, haven't realized that the planet does not resume to the USA: there are other countries. Consequently, for all those who are not lucky enough to live in the grand nation, perhaps would it be a good thing to let them know Weather Grabber grabs only within the US. Search for Weather Watcher if you're looking for real weather forecasts, that is, worldwide.
Review date: Jun 09, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Trickware = false freeware
MediaMonkey version 2.4
- Interface: 5
- Features: 1
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 1
- Overall:
The Gold version is maybe fantastic, but I just can't agree with the idea of being taken for an idiot: this software is shareware, not freeware. It's free alright, crippled to the bone. I call that Trickware, and I systematically boycott any company proceeding this way.
Review date: Jun 06, 2005
- Freeware
- Win (All)
Perfectly handy
Local Website Archive Lite version 1.22
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Contrarily to what is mentioned in Snapfiles' article, Local Website Archive (LWA) works with ALL browsers, should it be for some only on the right click menu ('Add to LWA'). The program is still under development, and has also a shareware version (with a few extra features, of course), but the freeware version is fully functional, and works perfectly well, is very easy to use. Moreover, viewing saved pages is done through LWA's integrated browser (but also in dedicated browser), enabling real-time page modification possibility and browsing. A great piece of software.
Review date: May 28, 2005
- Free Trial ($25.00)
- Win (All)
The very best
Ad Muncher version 4.6
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Ad Muncher is in my opinion the best anti-popup, the best adverts removal tool I have ever used. Ad Muncher blocks adverts in all browsers, blocks unwanted popups in all browsers, blocks adverts in programs like ICQ, Morpheus, Kazaa, Grokster, Opera, PalTalk, iMesh, Bearshare, LimeWire, etc. , speeds up page loading, thanks to the missing adverts and popups, blocks many annoying site behaviors, filters quickly and reliably, includes extensive options for those who like to tinker, allowing to remove anything that annoys you. Absolutely fantastic. It blocks neither too little neither too much, but all and only what is to be blocked, though one still has the choice to moderate its' skill. This software is a must.
Review date: May 22, 2005
Create interactive Flash movies and tutorials to show how applications and systems work.
