Explore and learn

Google Earth not only displays satellite images but it also includes terrains and 3D reconstruction of buildings. You can look for directions and businesses, just like in Google Maps and pinpoint areas or draw on maps straight in Google Earth.

Google Earth includes a very wide, and constantly increasing library of layers, which you can add to the map to enrich your experience. You'll find all sorts of information, from historical landscapes to national parks, regions where you can find endangered species or tourist spots. Google Earth will also showcase more news related information such as forest fires or tsunamis.

But Google Earth is not limited to terrain, and with every new version, it adds new sources of satellite imagery and information about other areas in the world. Say you're really into stars; then you should turn to the Sky mode and navigate among the constellations. Or, if you prefer exploring the seas, enable the Water surface option and learn all the secrets about oceans and marine creatures. Feeling more adventurous? Select the Moon or the Mars options and take a walk in space without leaving your easy chair. What's more, Google Earth also lets you travel in time by providing you with a new Historical Imagery function that allows you to see the evolution of certain locations during the past few years.

Navigation

Moving around in Google Earth is incredibly intuitive thanks to the multiple navigation tools. Some areas will show less information than others, and Google Earth is known to use up a substantial amount of bandwidth, but it remains a fascinating piece of software

Conclusion

Google Earth is as of yet an unequaled application. Browse around the world, zoom into streets, gaze at the stars or dive into the ocean. Millions of possibilities.

Download Google Earth 7.1.1.1580 Beta in Softonic

By encouraging algorithmic thinking in its users, Scratch lets you design characters that can dance, sing and interact with one another, among other neat actions. Scratch is essentially a graphical programming language where coding is much easier than in traditional programming languages. Creating a script involves snapping together graphical blocks in a way you might put together a puzzle.

In addition, you can also create images that move and choose animated responses to movements of your mouse. Adding in music clips or other sound effects is also possible and relatively simple. While Scratch does take a little while to master, it's more because there are so many different features in it than any real difficulty with the program itself.

After you've finished a project on Scratch, you can share it on Scratch's website. You can also embed your project into other websites like Facebook.

Scratch is a neat way to encourage kids to think critically and make unique programs on their PC.

Download Scratch 1.4 in Softonic

Free Language Translator is a useful translating utility powered by Google Translate which enables you to translate texts between more than 40 different languages – just as many as the Google service supports. It has some nice features such as automatic source language detection, accuracy calculator and even the option to create a personal dictionary with corrected, improved translations.

Using Free Language Translator is really easy. All you have to do is enter the source text on the left-side pane (you can type it in, copy it from the clipboard or drag a drop a document onto the program's interface) and click the Translate button. After a few seconds – provided you're online, of course - you'll get the translation on the right-side pane. You can then copy it back to the clipboard or save it to TXT.

Free Language Translator includes a few personalization options, like the possibility to select a custom text font and pick another keyboard layout when translating to languages that use different keyboards.

Free Language Translator is a powerful handy translator that uses Google Translate to provide you with instant translations right on your desktop.

Download Free Language Translator 1.9.4 in Softonic

Earth3D grabs spatial imagery from NASA, USGS, CIA and other resources and displays them on a simply-designed interface. You can change between different views and locations by using the categorized list on the left side of the interface, while viewing images themselves on the right side. While the virtual trip in Earth3D can be quite fun, bear in mind that this is no Google Earth, so don't expect to be able to see your home from outer space.

Earth3D features some interesting extras such as the ability to capture images or even record a small video while you're moving around the Earth or zooming in and out – just with your mouse. However, there's one big problem that prevented us from giving Earth3D a better score, and that is its incredible slowness when loading pictures.

Earth3D includes a beautiful collection of images from our planet in 3D perspective, but unfortunately takes way too long to display them.

Download Earth3D 1.0.5 in Softonic

Electronic Piano emulates one of those electronic musical keyboards on your computer, using each keystroke of your PC keyboard to produce a different sound. Just like the original instrument, this software app supports a wide range of different sound styles, enabling you to emulate almost anything from a piano to a guitar, including trumpet, bass, organ, harmonica, violin, cello and a lot more.

Of course, you'll also get the special effects section (typewriter, helicopter, applause, gun shot and so on) and finally the drums, with even a wider selection of sounds.

The program is really easy to use, as it displays the note chart on its interface so that you know what you're playing at all times. On the downside, the keyboard seems to have a slower response than expected, which makes the whole experience a bit disappointing. Also, I notice one note was out of tune, which is certainly not something I would expect from a music program, even if it's not a professional tool.

Electronic Piano is a simple, MIDI digital keyboard that lets you play some basic tunes on your PC. That said, don't expect professional output. This is just for fun.

Download Electronic Piano 2.5 in Softonic

Note: this is the 64bit version of SPSS. If you are looking for the 32bit version, or you do not know which version you need, please download from here.

This super-app affords you complete control over your data. It allows you to make complex graphs and illustrations from statistics and is firmly aimed at professionals who want to solve business and research problems. To facilitate this, SPSS features a wide range of analytical functions that take the pain out of collating data.

SPSS offers detailed analysis options to look deeper into your data and spot trends that you might not have noticed. You can test out hundreds of different variables on your data to see how figures or performance would change under different circumstances, while the app contains multiple advanced features that will allow you get the max from your data.

An array of features

Among these features are excellent sharing options, automated models, the ability to operate server versions of IBM SPSS Statistics Base and modules on IBM mainframe servers, a syntax editor, integration with Microsoft Office, and much, much more. In order to get a better idea of the functions and features, take a look here.

Obviously, such power comes at a price. The SPSS download is pretty large, and once you do have the program installed, it’s a pretty steep learning curve until you find your feet. You could argue that SPSS is actually a glorified version of Excel, but with far more options and power behind it, it’s an impressive beast. As a result, domestic users may be intimidated and would be better off getting started on a simpler data management app.

If you’re serious about statistics, then SPSS is as good as it gets.

Download SPSS 19 (64 bits) in Softonic

One of them is Ultimate Dictionary, a complete collection of dictionaries with which you can look up words right on your Windows desktop. Ultimate Dictionary includes a huge collection of dictionaries – hence the 158 MB installation file – that enable you to look up definitions, synonyms and translations to a bunch of different languages.

The program features a very simple, minimalist interface with two main areas: on the left side, you can choose to have either the list of available dictionaries or the list of word results as you search. On the right, you'll see words' definitions and/or translations. You can also enable the "Scan" mode in Ultimate Dictionary, which makes the dictionary follow the mouse and displays a pop-up window with the definition of the word right below the cursor.

Ultimate Dictionary is easy to use and performs very fast searches. You can also customize the order in which dictionaries appear, so that you can have your most frequently ones on top of the list. On the downside, the program still lacks some advanced features, such as the ability to add more dictionaries or to minimize the window to the System Tray.

With Ultimate Dictionary you can look up any word in more than 30 dictionaries at the same time, right from the desktop.

Download Ultimate Dictionary 1.0 in Softonic

Finding suitable software to help learn to play a musical instrument can sometimes prove to be more difficult than just sitting down and teaching yourself. A disproportionate number of programs scrape the surface and don’t provide the flexibility, depth or support that you'll need. Fortunately, Guitar Pro provides a complete tool that will take you from tuning the guitar, through learning the scales and even composing your own sheet music.

Interface

Guitar Pro's main interface might initially seem like a daunting array of buttons on both the top and bottom of the window. On further inspection it becomes clear that the majority of button on Guitar Pro's interface are involved with composing and each one refers to a very specific element. There are actually very few that you need to be familiar with to get going.

Features

The digital guitar tuner and the metronome feature provided with Guitar Pro are extremely handy to have, and save you the bother of going out to buy them. Once prepared, you can get started on the individual note library that lets you visualize the fingering as well as listen to how they should sound. Moving on, you can practice the large variety of scales that each come with a plethora of variations.

Music Composition

When it comes to composing or playing sheet music, Guitar Pro's virtual keyboard can be a little tedious, but will yield results when you want to compose something of your own. For optimum results with Guitar Pro you can hook up your own MIDI device like a keyboard and get working on tracks that are as simple or complex as you want. Guitar Pro's extra dimension of a separate MIDI device lets you get ideas down much quicker while also giving you the ability to experiment with variations of a piece.

Guitar Pro unfortunately does have quite a cluttered interface. A facelift certainly wouldn't hurt, with tabs or something similar that would better categorize and clean up the buttons scattered around the screen. The help file covers each topic without going into excruciating detail.

Guitar Pro is a good one-stop solution for beginners and experts alike to learning to play and compose music for the guitar.

Download Guitar Pro 6 in Softonic

Luckily there’s a whole batch of lexicon applications that’ll send it back to the shelf (or in the trash can) forever. WordWeb is the perfect example of this type of dictionary and thesaurus combo in a hands-on interface.

What you’re looking for in a dictionary application is something you can open in a click, paste your word, and immediately get the results. You get that in Wordweb via system tray integration, and a Ctrl+Alt+W hot key combination. On install WordWeb will ask you the English locale you will use, such as Australian, Canadian American or New Zealander. The program keeps a history of your searches and you can quickly access them via the side arrows. You can refine your search by selecting word categories like nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs and decide to show pronunciation, usage and offensive or vulgar words. WordWeb isn’t associated to any world famous reliable dictionary like Webster’s, preferring its very own online source, comprising of more than 240,000 words and updated regularly, according to the developer.

The heart of WordWeb resides in the results tabs, although the difference between them all wasn’t obvious from the start. After a bit of testing we found that the “nearest” tab showed you the preceding and following words in the dictionary, “see also” was a suggestion of related words and “similar” presented a word that resembled your search but had a slightly different meaning. “Types” goes down to the meaning of the word, for example solid “types” will be plastic, crystal or block. The “type of” tab is another variation. “Types of” solid will be substance, state or form. These tools will be particularly helpful if you feel limited by your vocabulary and are looking to diversify your choice of words in the document you are writing.

WordWeb is a reliable dictionary and thesaurus with a simple, hands-on approach. It is an ideal partner to fight off writer’s block and improve your vocabulary. The online dictionary is a rich source and WordWeb should help you out of any mind jam whenever you’re writing an article.

Download WordWeb 6.8 in Softonic

Babylon works from various aspects. The main interface is a translation window. From here you can access all the program features, as well as the configuration options. There is also a floating module which will appear when you ask Babylon for a translation. The whole module can be disabled if you want.

No matter which option you use, Babylon provides access to a standard multi-lingual dictionary (to which you can add an unlimited number of additional dictionaries), a text/document translation feature, a unit converter, web search and, of course, access to Babylon's paid translation services.

You can also use Babylon inside applications and online as an on-the-spot translation tool. You can configure the feature in the options area, but the default hotkey is Ctrl+right click. This will allow you to translate whatever word you happen to be hovering over or have highlighted.

In all, Babylon is a very complete tool for language enthusiasts. The translations are accurate (in the context of machine translation) and system-wide integration means that you'll never have to wonder about a word again, no matter what you are working on.

If you have to work with foreign languages on a regular basis, Babylon is a comprehensive, well-integrated tool for the job.

Download Babylon 10.0.1 in Softonic

Its a rather complex application that's aimed strictly at those comfortable with complex maths but the advantage GeoGebra offers over similar apps is that it provides multiple representations of objects that are all dynamically linked. The idea behind GeoGebra is to connect geometric, algebraic, and numeric representations in an interactive way.

This can be done with points, vectors, lines, conic sections. GeoGebra allows you to directly enter and manipulate equations and coordinates enabling you to plot functions, work with sliders to investigate parameters, find symbolic derivatives, and use powerful commands like Root or Sequence.

However, the complexity of the program is mind boggling for those new to such mathematical applications. It's very difficult to work out how to use from scratch although there are several very detailed tutorials to help you on your way.

GeoGebra isn't a mathematical program for the faint hearted but if you have to deal with arithmetic, geometry, algebra and calculus on a regular basis, its very flexible.

Download GeoGebra 4.2.28.0 in Softonic

Download Google Earth Pro 7.1 in Softonic

RapidTyping includes a series of simple exercises to get you started in the art of typing without having to be constantly looking at the keyboard. The program lets you train specific groups of letters that are located next to each other on the keyboard, and also shows you the right finger to use for each of them. At the end of the lesson you're presented with some colorful statistics that show information about your performance and improvement.

The interface in RapidTyping is a bit weird, as it includes some background images and animations that can be quite distracting. Luckily you can disable both and use a plain, white background during your lessons.

Regarding lessons, the ones included in RapidTyping are quite basic; they only cover groups of letters and don't include any real words or sentences. On the upside, you can easily create your own lessons, and put yourself to test with real custom texts.

With RapidTyping you can easily improve your accuracy and speed at typing.

Download RapidTyping 3.4.5 in Softonic

Naming anecdotes aside, the game is described as a fun method to learn to play the piano but honestly, I have to disagree on that. Synthesia is by no means an easy method to learn the piano: I have some very basic piano notions myself and I found it extremely difficult. It could be because I was using a standard computer keyboard to test the game, and not a real music keyboard as recommended by the developer.

On the upside, I especially liked the default song selection the program includes to get you started (they're all popular theme songs from very well-known videogames). Also, note that you can use just about any MID file with Synthesia, which turns it into pretty much a never-ending musical entertainment.

With Synthesia you can practice your piano skills on the computer, but forget about learning how to play it: you'll need some prior basic knowledge.

Download Synthesia 0.8.1 in Softonic