Software and Application

I've listed here places and items that plug-in to your web browser, add to your computer to do various stuff, or places to update the stuff you already have.

Where to get Updates:

Windows: Since windows 98 the folks at Microsoft built in to their operating system a way for the average user to update their os while online with a simple mouse click. However easy they made it most people have no idea that it is there. So if you haven't updated you windows.. DO IT!!

Internet Explorer: Well, since most people just use whatever is on their computers as is; however every now and then you should see if anything is new. Since the window updater usually does your IE as well. But if you what just to see what they are doing at IE then check out this link..

Netscape: Like I said under IE above, most people will just use whatever is on their computers when they got them. However if you want another good web browser other then IE then check out Netscape.

Direct X: Firstly direct x is a very important driver set for your computer. Drivers are what let software communicate with your hardware (i.e. lets things appear on your monitor and sounds play). If you play games of any type that were made in the last 4 or 5 years chances are they us some or all of the direct x divers. So you may what to keep these up to date. BUT be sure you update the latest and greatest Direct X make sure your hardware drivers are that version compliable because you can't reverse a direct x install if they are not.

Win Drivers: This site is host to almost every driver you could ask for, for any computer or piece of computer hardware you can find. This service use to be free however that isn't the case anymore. I still use it for a starting point for any driver search I make.

NVIDIA: There are so may hardware manufactures out their I can't possibly list them all here, but I'll list a few. If you got a new video card or computer in the last 2 or so years, then you probably have a video chipset made by this company. Need a driver or/and an update. Then check out their site. NVIDIA chipset are common called Geforce these days.

ATI: If you didn't get a video card or computer equipped with a Nvidia chipset then you proably got one from ATI. ATI makes the All-In-One wonder boards and many others. The are the leading designers and suppliers of laptop video cards. So if you need their drivers then visit them.

Creative: Does your computer have sound? Is it creative sound? Creative is the leading edge company of sound cards for computers. So if you need a driver for your sound card and it's creative then go and check their site or just do it to see what are you missing.

Windows Media Player: If you have Windows XP you already have this program. It plays mp3, wav and music cd's. It also plays movie files and many other things. It has an updater program built into it and is also updated through the normal windows updater. However this is it owns web site.

GL Setup: If you or your kids play or plan on playing games on your computer, besides making sure your video, sound and direct x drivers are up to date then you may also need to upgrade Open Glide or GL drivers for your video card. This site makes or made a program to do just that for you.

Places to go to get programs and programs you should think about getting:

Download.com: If you are looking for some type of software for your computer this is one of the first places you should look. They have a whole host of stuff. The downloads are free and most of the software they offer is freeware, shareware, or trial base; so no purchasing do you need to do, unless you really like the software.

WinZip: If you are looking to or already do download stuff from the net. Most items come zipped. Windows XP ships with a Zip tool, but if you want to really use the zips to their full potential then you'll need this handy program. Follow the link or get it and download.com.

WinRAR: Another type of compressed file you'll find a lot of is .arc and .arg files these archive type compressed files get smaller then regular zip files however they do require another type of software to unpack them. That is what WinRAR does. It works just like WinZip it can even handle zip files but not as well as winzip does.

ACDSee: Do you have digital pictures on your computer and can't really see them the way you want to? Then maybe should check out this viewer program. I've used it on and off for the last few years. Does great slideshows and the zoom works fairly flawlessly.

Zone Alarm: Need a firewall? If you are using a cable or DSL or similar on line all the time ISP they you probably want or should use a firewall system. This one is relatively easy to use and an over all good program for that.

Black Ice Defender: This is another good firewall program you can use. If your curious the main use of a firewall is to let you use the internet without letting other people into your computer.

Win-Amp: Still using Media player to listen to music on your computer? Then get a better program for that. Win-Amp plays most forms of encoded audio files can even convert mp3 to wav. Lots of skins for lots of different looks and plug-ins for screen saver and other things.

Z-Mud: I play MUD's so I'm putting this here too (think it's in on-games). A MUD is a Multi-player User Dungeon, these are all text based telnet games. You can get a large listing of differnt styles of this game time at the Mud Connector listed on my Online Gaming page. Any way Z-Mud is a client program that lets you play these games a bit easier.

ICQ: This program is a internet based program that allows you to instant message other ICQ users and talk and chat online. It runs independent of your browser so you can browse the web and chat at the same time.

Common Plug-ins:

What's a Plug-in? a Plug-in is a program designed to run within your web browser to play games, play sounds, or play video clips. Some of these plug-ins can be used outside of your web browser.

Real Player: Real player is a program that plays both audio and video clips encoded to it. It can also be used as a plug-in. I put it here in plug-ins because that what it is used mostly for.

Quick Time: Even more popular then Real player is Quick Time. This plug-in plays video files directly in a web page or enlarged outside the page. Know I did not send you to the wrong page to get it and yes it is for your PC. and YES it is made by Apple!

Flash: Flash is a plug-in that makes Dhtml affects look weak. You can set up animated movies all kinds of weird font and button effects and more. But you need the flash program to see it.

Shockwave: Is a plug-in made by the same people who make Flash. But what flash does for text and stuff shockwave does for sounds.

Adobe Acrobat: This program has become hugely popular to write manuals and other text based documents with. The end file is smaller then most other text documents and it also supports picture and images. It also allows you to make and fill out; fill-out doucomets. These are found all over the web and even on bought retail programs. This is a stand alone program but it is also a plug-in.

All original material contained here in is written and maintained by Mars21st and all rights persevered. All trademarks and copyrights owned by companies and other people are theirs and they reserve their rights (not used with their permission either).

page was last edited: 01 March, 2004 14:49