These days, when it comes to publishing your own photo albums and sharing them with your friends there are many programs to choose from. JAlbum is a free and intuitive tool to edit your photos and prepare good looking albums.

Although the interface feels a little crowded it will provide a good way of exploring your folders for pictures and quickly selecting the ones you want to put into your album. JAlbum also includes a good set of editing tools to tweak your pictures a bit, like removing red eyes, blurring or sharpening.

However the strongest feature of the application is certainly making albums. This is very easy to do and JAlbum comes with a number of styles to start out with. You can also download more skins from the developer's website. Once you're album is done, you can either upload it to your JAlbum account, if you have one, or to any other server if you have the login details.

With a good set of editing tools, and a straightforward process, the free JAlbum makes for a great way of creating photo albums to share with your friends.

Download JAlbum 11.1.5 in Softonic

MarsEdit lets you publish blog posts from your desktop, which, if you work on multiple blogs simultaneously, is much easier than having to visit different dashboards.

The first time you start up MarsEdit you'll be asked to enter your blog address or request MarsEdit to recommend a Content Management System (CMS) for you. The recommended choices it provides are Blogger and WordPress although MarsEdit handles much more than this including, TypePad, Drupal and Moveable Type. Adding accounts is easy and painless as MarsEdit automatically detects the right settings to use based on the blog address you provide.

MarsEdit has a very simple interface which lets you really focus on your post. When editing, apart from writing, you'll be able to enter what you normally do in your CMS such as adding categories, author and post date. MarsEdit can also handle publishing of media files meaning you can post videos, audio clips and images very easily. If you have a Flickr account, the program will also allow you to scan your library for pictures. You can preview posts instantly so that you know exactly how they will look online before you publish.

One of the major advantages of MarsEdit over blogging platforms however is that you can compose posts offline. This is especially useful if you are on the move or don't have access to the internet but want to update your blog urgently. I also like the Re-Blog It! feature which is similar to WordPress's PressThis! feature and allows you to publish exciting web pages and content immediately to your blog with just a click of a button.

MarsEdit also comes with a few extra scripts that offer specific features. The list is limited to less than a dozen, but you can always add more if you know of a good place that offers AppleScripts for MarsEdit.

If you're looking for a no-fuss desktop blog publishing tool, then MarsEdit is exactly what you need. It's simple, efficient and enjoyable to use although those who want maximum control over their blog will find it disappoints in certain areas..

Download MarsEdit 3.5.9 in Softonic

This comprehensive database manager is specifically for people who work with databases a lot, and doesn't make life easy for novices. A wide range of database platforms are supported, in fact there are almost 30, from MySQL to MS SQL Server, Oracle to HSQLDB, PostgreSQL to SQL Lite and so on. RazorSQL's tabbed interface means you can monitor multiple databases and connections at once and control them all from a single workplace.

RazorSQL is well made, light and reacts very quickly to commands. You can query, compare tables, import or export data, create backup of tables or an entire database, cut or merge files, obtain detailed information on the DB, look at logs and more. RazorSQL also includes a powerful SQL script editor. The work environment is very comprehensive but is intended only for advanced and professional users.

For database experts, RazorSQL is a powerful manager that offers a wealth of capabilities in a lightweight and fast package.

Download RazorSQL 6.0 in Softonic

Praat can read sounds recorded with the program or audio files recorded in another way. Once loaded, Praat generates a graph of waves which indicate intonation, intensity, volume and other complex details. Praat is able to isolate certain sound bites or filter frequencies either manually or using scripts.

There's no avoiding that Praat is a useful tool for linguists. It's difficult to get to grips with, though, and although there is an extensive manual, it's aimed mainly at linguistic experts. For those seeking an introduction to audio analysis and spectrographs, they may well find Praat too complex.

Praat is a powerful audio analysis tool that will give linguists a high degree of control over spectrographs.

Download Praat 5.3.17 in Softonic

The bigger your website grows, the longer it can take to load in a browser. This is especially true if your site is rich in mutlmedia content.

Web Site Maestro is designed as an optimizer to 'crunch' your website so that it loads much quicker. Web Site Maestro speeds up your site by optimizing both HTML and JPEG/PNG images. It does all this in a separate folder, meaning your original files are left untouched. Note that you should continue to edit web files in your original folder and your website will continue to be 'compressed' in the duplicate folder.

Using Web Site Maestro is very easy thanks to a wizard takes you through the installation process step by step. You have a high degree of control over what is optimized and can choose exactly which scripts you want to compress . These include JavaScript, Java, LassoScript, CFscript, VBscipt, Jscript, PHP, ASP, JSP, CSP, TPL and CSS. There's also a handy 'Smart Handling' feature, which allows you to optimise only those files that you've modifed which makes things much quicker. Web Site Maestro also makes it easy to upload your new files to FTP or WebDAV servers with it's own internal FTP client.

Web Site Maestro is a powerful tool for speeding up slow websites and compressing content rich web pages for faster loading.

Download Web Site Maestro 8.6.3 in Softonic

One thing Facebook users often complain about is the frequent change in designs. With Yontoo Layers, you can instantly change the look back to a more classic design or even select something totally different that you prefer.

You can download layers from the official developer site and within minutes, you'll have Facebook and MySpace decorated in all kinds of weird and wonderful designs. However, if you want your friends to see the changes you've made using Yontoo Layers, you'll have to invite them to install the same program which is a bit annoying.

In addition, the loading times of websites will be affected by the changes you make but the overall advantage is that you take control of the kind of site designs you'd like to see. Combined with a Firefox plug-in such as Greasemonkey, you can really take full control of the way websites are displayed on your screen.

Yontoo Layers is a good idea, although the fact your friends have to install it to appreciate changes and that it slows down browsing, make it somewhat disappointing.

Download Yontoo Layers 1.03.01 for Firefox in Softonic

It has won several awards for professionalism and power and is one of the leading industry 3D animation packages. One of the reasons for this is that Autodesk Maya offers a huge amount of objects and effects to work on your projects and because Autodesk Maya is based on an open architecture, all your work can be scripted or programmed using a well-documented and comprehensive API (Application Programming Interface) or one of two embedded scripting languages, the Maya Embedded Language (MEL) or Python.

This combination of of openness combined with industry standard 3D visual effects, computer graphics, and character animation tools is more than enough for professional film, television, game development, and design projects.

Although beginners will be completely lost at the beginning, the Autodesk Maya interface is surprisingly well organized for such a huge application and different elements such as dynamics, animation or polygons are directly accessible via tabs. Within these are advanced editing features in fields like rendering, animation and relationships. Finally, the Timeline is at the bottom of the interface and allows you to animate and control the evolution of your modeling project.

If you are new to Autodesk Maya however, there are lots of video tutorials and tips on startups about how to use it. These will teach you a number of things like rotating, keyframe animation, component selection and preview rendering. The Help menu is also full of further tutorials and offers links to extra learning resources.

Note that to get the best out of Autodesk Maya, you do need a three buttoned mouse to complete all of the actions possible. Although Autodesk Maya 2012 isn't a huge change from 2011, it offers plenty of powerful new features and has fixed many of the bugs in the previous release.

Autodesk Maya is a solid 3D modeling application that still keeps setting the industry standards.

Download Autodesk Maya 2012 in Softonic

MAMP installs a local server environment on your Mac and it completely free to use. Don't worry if you've got any existing Apache servers setup - MAMP will not compromise them. No scripting knowledge is required and there's refreshingly little configuration needed either. To remove a MAMP installation, all you need to do is delete the MAMP folder and your OS X settings will remain untouched.

The developers warn however that MAMP was created primarily as a PHP development environment and so should not be used as a Live Webserver and for those users they recommend using an OS X server with the provided Apache or a Linux server. Once setup, controlling your server is possible via a simple widget which floats on your desktop.

Although experienced database managers and web developers won't need MAMP to setup a sever, it will make your life a lot easier. It is however ideal for those that are new to database management and want to setup a server for their WordPress blog for example. Note that this download includes both MAMP and MAMP Pro.

MAMP is a refreshingly easy way to setup Apache, PHP and MySQL databases and servers on your Mac.

Download MAMP 1.9.6.1 in Softonic

Ghostery only blocks once it has alerted you to what sites sites are trying to do. This includes revealing the identity of trackers and even their script source. Ghostery can be managed and monitored in the Firefox taskbar. By right-clicking the little ghost icon, you get access to Help (online), Options (not many) and information on the trackers.

When Ghostery does not detect any bugs, it is gray, and when it sees something watching you, it turns red and highlights what it has found, displaying a warning in the taskbar and a small floating square containing the names of the bugs and trackers on the website in question.

Ghostery also offers you the option of collaborating with other Ghostery users to make it more effective. This is done via a feature known as GhostRank, which sends Ghostery servers anonymous information about the trackers you encounter and where you encounter them helping the developers to create a comprehensive list of detectable items. However, the developers assure that Ghostery places no cookies in your browser, there's no sign-up required and there's no tracking of your internet usage.

Ghostery is very efficient to the point where you may find it a bit intrusive at times. It may also cause crashes when certain objects try to launch in Firefox.

Overall though, Ghostery is an excellent Firefox add-on for those that want to take control of their surfing privacy.

Download Ghostery Firefox Add-On 2.5.3 in Softonic

There is a distinct lack of First Person Shooter games on the Mac so Warsow tries to plug the gap with a futuristic take on the genre.

You play the role of the hero in a cartoon graphic world where you take-on rocket launcher-wielding pigs and laser gun-carrying cyberpunks in a variety of different worlds. The controls are fairly simple - you jump, dash, dodge and wall-jump your way through the game using the arrow keys, the mouse to aim and shoot, and a "special key" to speed-dash.

As you progress, you have to grab power-ups, plant bombs and ultimately, steal the enemy flag. However, there are variations on the aim such as Team Deathmatch, Clan Arena and Duels. If you've got any scripting knowledge, you can even create your own gametype using the gametype scripting system.

When you start the game, you have to join one that's already in progress. The problem is that many of these have passwords you have to be sure to select one that's open to all. It's advisable to follow the game tutorial first which you can find in the "Demos" menu. The overall graphics aren't bad for a free game and jumping off walls and speed dashes adds some spice to it. You can also cycle through an impressive array of weapons using the mouse wheel.

Joining and leaving a game can be a pain though. You have to wait a while to join a new game and if you are killed, it takes a long time before you can rejoin.

Overall though, Warsow is a well designed and lovingly put together First Person Shooter game with a thriving community of users to have fun blowing away.

Download Warsow 0.61 in Softonic

InterMapper RemoteAccess is an easy-to-install and use network monitor that allows you to view the state of your network wherever you may be although it does require InterMapper installed for full functionality.

It features NetFlow traffic analysis that locates bandwidth hogs (even useful for home users trying to work out who's downloading all the time at home), network maps showing device status and location, and network forensics, device diagnostics and performance trend charts. InterMapper displays geographically live network traffic plus server performance, application response times, outages etc so you can detect a problem easily at any time.

You can set InterMapper RemoteAccess to alert you anytime traffic goes over a certain amount or threshold which it will do via an alarm, e-mail, pager, SMS, text message or even just by executing a script. The program is clearly aimed at high-end business users and networks that employ the services of professional IT administrators although at a pinch, an average user could pick up and learn how to use it without much trouble.

If you're looking for a serious monitoring tool at half the cost you would pay normally, then InterMapper RemoteAccess is worth a look.

Download InterMapper RemoteAccess 5.5 in Softonic

iTunes 10 UI Overhaul requires you to perform a three-step process. First, you have to CMD-click two files (iTunes.rsrc and iTunes.icns). Secondly, you have to drag the two files to the folder provided. Finally, you need to double click on a script which restores the iTunes windows controls (the red, green and yellow buttons at the top of the interface) back into their original horizontal position.

However, iTunes 10 UI Overhaul should be used with care. It's not clear how you uninstall the changes after they've been made, so unless you're really sure you want to restore color to iTunes before executing the files. If all else fails though, you could always reinstall the latest version of iTunes.

iTunes 10 UI Overhaul is a simple solution for all those that miss having color in their iTunes interface.

Download iTunes 10 UI Overhaul in Softonic

SwitchResX is a tool to manage resolutions on your Mac. You may want to adjust these because you've changed screen size, are displaying your Mac's contents on a different screen, or are simply looking for the best resolution.

SwitchResX includes a wide range of default resolution settings from which you can choose, all quickly available thanks to a drop down menu bar. If you want to dig in a little more, you'll see you can create your own custom resolution for all types of situations, but also save the position of elements on your screen. One smart feature is being able to link monitor settings to special events, however this wasn't the easies thing to do. Since SwitchResX offers AppleScript support, it's probably best to work with those, if you have some knowledge of scripting.

We'd recommend SwitchResX for the access to all the standard resolutions it gives you, and if you are having an issue with your screen. Also, since the menu features a restore button, you can always set it back to what it was.

Despite being a little complicated to use, SwitchResX is very handy to change to any sort of resolution and adjust your screen.

Download SwitchResx 4.2.1 in Softonic

The application is easy to set up and will monitor two types of infringements: authentication failures and failed screen unlocks. Once you come back to your MacBook, you can view how many infringements there has been and what sort they were, straight from the menu bar. Watchmac also keeps them all in a log.

One of the handy features of Watchmac is that it can take snapshots of whoever tries to force themselves onto your Mac. In the preferences, you'll see you can take snapshots, from one to ten, and set your own interval and delay. If the intruder is a Mac user, he might notice the iSight camera changing color though.

If you feel comfortable using the Terminal, you'll see you can control Watchmac from a simple script in the utility. I don't advise all users to try this out though. It's easier to stick with the normal interface.

While it monitors only two types of infringements, Watchmac is a useful tool to see if anybody has tried to use your MacBook while you were away.

Download Watchmac 1.6.1 in Softonic

GeekTool is a Preference Pane (so it installs into your System Preferences rather than as an external program) app that lets you display many different types of system information and processes on your desktop. You can instruct GeekTool to follow a specific file that you want to track, launch custom script commands and monitor the data load on your machine such as bandwith usage, CPU loads and memory availability.

You can instruct GeekTool to 'stay on top', so that it will always remain visible whatever you're doing. Be warned though that this is not a tool for beginners. GeekTool is pretty hard to work out for the first-time user and you're only hope is to use the GeekTool Wiki page to get up and running. There are no sample scripts or user scripts that you can test for yourself although there is a user forum if you get really stuck.

GeekTool will definitely appeal to all those advanced Mac users that want maximum control over how their Mac performs.

Download GeekTool 3.0 in Softonic

If so then OpenMenu X could be the perfect solution for you. OpenMenu X is a preference pane that allows you to unify Services Menus, Context Menus, Scripts Menus, application launchers, file system browsers and other aspects of Finder's file system. It gives you much greater control over how you open documents, run applications, execute scripts and much more.

When you install OpenMenu X, you have to logout out of your user profile and login again for the changes to take effect. Organizing how you want your context menus to appear is fairly self explanatory. Select the components that you'd like to appear in it from the windows on the left and drag them into the windows on the right. Within a few clicks, you'll be able to launch applications, access folders and perform many other tasks via your context menu.

Discreet, easy to use and effective at modifying your context menus, Open Menu X will increase your productivity and is a must for all context menu fans.

Download OpenMenu X 2.05 in Softonic

Remember Lemmings on the Commodore Amiga? What made that ridiculous game, where you had to stop lemmings from throwing themselves off a cliff, so addictive?

I don't know - maybe it was the cute characters or maybe it was just because it was something entirely new in the gaming world. Pingus is inspired by lemmings and sees you guide penguins to their safety via a series of challenges. As in Lemmings, the penguins have a mind of their own and you can only control them by giving them instructions by clicking on them with your mouse and changing their preset action, for example, from walking to digging.

The goal of each level is to reach the exit by safely guiding them all there. Like Lemmings, the secret is in the challenges Pingus presents. Each level is different and you have to use your brain and reflexes to work out the best way of getting the penguins home. There are a few added bonuses in Pingus though. If things are going too slowly, you can speed up the action by putting the game in fast forward mode. You can also blow-up all the penguins in one go which is a bit sadistic but quite amusing and allows you to leave a level early if it gets boring.

The soundtrack is cute and bouncy and the story lines are well narrated and animated, although there was a problem with the sound which kept breaking up at various intervals. It also generated an Apple Script error on closure.

Pingus is a free so you've got nothing to lose but your mind by giving it a go. If you liked Lemmings though, you'll love it.

Download Pingus 0.7.2 in Softonic

Download Videocue 2.7.1 in Softonic

MimMac is a fast, easy-to-use, and comprehensive backup and cloning utility, designed to make backing up, synchronizing, merging, and cloning your data as painless as possible. With MimMac, there's no need to set up complex scripts, or navigate a bloated interface just to do simple tasks such as running multiple simultaneous operations or excluding items from your backup operation(s) -- everything is ready at hand in MimMac's straight-forward and compact interface.

With MimMac's myriad of options, filters, exclusions, and mirroring capabilities, you have complete control over exactly what gets backed up, and what doesn't. MimMac also performs incremental backups automatically, thus making your repetitive backups quick and painless. And when coupled with its ability to check and enable ownership on destination volumes, as well as repair permissions on source volumes, you can be assured that your system clones will not only be bootable, but faithful to the original.

MimMac is not a front-end for any pre-existing command line backup utilities; its backup engine was built from the ground up using Cocoa. As such, MimMac does not depend upon any third-parties in order to do its job.

Download MimMac 1.9.2 in Softonic

QuoEdit is a plain text editor that runs on Mac OS 7.1 or later. While editing text is based on traditional, Mac OS encoding (TEXT), QuoEdit is also familiar with Unicode (utxt). (QuoEdit is also wishing to be hybrid someday, to support both Mac-encoding base and Unicode base.)

QuoEdit supports AppleScript powerfully in the following levels:

Scriptable

Full features (and more) of the application can be controlled by script.

Recordable

You can record, replay and save your jobs with/without the Script Editor (like keyboard macro).

Attachable

You can attach scripts to menus with various options by QuoEdit's Menu utility or AppleScript. (To the customizable menus, you can also attach text, tags and any files.)

QuoEdit supports regular expression (regex) search as well as ordinary search. As for the ways to search, ordinary search and batch find are supported. Also, QuoEdit supports multiple levels of undo/redo, rectangular selection, sort, and so forth. The most operations (including dialogs) in QuoEdit are supported by keyboard. The text engine and the search engine are its original code.

Download QuoEdit 1.1.5 in Softonic