If you have an Android phone, you've probably installed an app or two. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to run them on your Windows PC? BlueStacks App Player makes this possible for certain apps.

BlueStacks App Player is the alpha version of an emulator that lets you use use Android on PC. It works a bit like a widget. When clicked, BlueStacks App Player will display the ten apps that have already been pre-installed, which are mostly games.

BlueStacks App Player's interface is easy to navigate. You can install new applications by clicking the "Get More Apps" button. Currently, there are more than 25 apps you can install this way. Hopefully, the number will grow as BlueStacks App Player develops.

The BlueStacks App Player team is currently taking emails for volunteer signups for an upcoming beta release as well. You can add your name to the list on the program's official website.

BlueStacks App Player is onto a good start when it comes to running Android apps on your PC.

Download BlueStacks App Player 0.7.12 Beta in Softonic

Although it didn’t have anything like the fancy wireless wands or web browsing capabilities of the Wii, there was always something quite enchanting about Nintendo’s N64. Ultimately it was never going to beat the PlayStation in terms of its market share, but the 64 still brings back fond memories of endless nights blasting the hell out of each other on Goldeneye, or missing dozens of lectures to concentrate on Super Mario 64. The chances are that as soon as the GameCube came along, your N64 went out with the rubbish – a decision you’ve probably lived to regret if you’re anything like us. Thankfully, Project64 helps you to transport yourself back to those halcyon days by allowing you to emulate all your old favourite N64 games on your PC.

The application is designed to play ROM files, which are essentially 'images' of the data inside an N64 cartridge. Graphically, the games are pretty good, although not quite as sharp as we remember, with a few too many jagged lines and blocky sprites for our liking. This is understandable, given that the games were originally intended to be played on a TV, which has a completely different way of perfecting pixels. Nevertheless, the overall visual experience is quite authentic, and is complemented by crisp audio reproduction.

In terms of its performance, Project64 is able to handle most ROMs without any problems and we didn’t experience any compatibility issues. Be warned though, that you’ll need a decent amount of RAM and a fairly good graphics card if you want to avoid any jerkiness when playing some of the more sophisticated games, such as Super Smash Bros. There are lots of options within the emulator for tweaking the visuals, including changing the screen resolution, running in full-screen mode or applying anti-aliasing. However, the audio functions are limited to a bog-standard volume control.

Thankfully, the fun of playing N64 games with your pals isn’t lost in this emulator and Project64 supports up to four players. As you can imagine, it’s pretty tricky fitting four people around one keyboard, so you’re best off using USB controllers if there’s more than two of you. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a cheat mode, which provides you with the opportunity to power-up your games or access special options, much as the old Action Replay cartridges used to. Each game has its own set of cheats, which is great for prolonging the life of a game or getting through particularly tough levels.

Project64 is the closest thing you’ll get to the N64 without actually buying the console itself and it performs better than other Nintendo emulators, as well as generic solutions such as MAME. It may not be a pixel-perfect recreation of the device, but it’s certainly entertaining enough to keep you off work for a few days.

Download Project64 2.1 in Softonic

PuTTY Portable is a Telnet Client and SSH Server for Windows that is packed with features and can be transported anywhere on a USB stick or external storage device. Whats more, it's completely free. Firstly however, note that the developer issues a warning on the program website that PuTTY Portable may not be legal in your country so check the law before you use it!

Basically, PuTTY Portable allows you to connect to another computer remotely using the Telnet and SSH protocols. So for example, you can install it on a Windows machine and it will connect to a Unix machine. This is great if you are administrator as you can use PuTTY Portable to take full control of the machine and work at it remotely.

In the PuTTY window that's opened, you can send messages to the other machine and vice versa. This leads to one of the major annoyances when using PuTTY Portable - the program does not remember the credentials for successive logins. This is understandable for security reasons, but could end up being very annoying if you use PuTTY Portable to regularly connect to an external client.

If you need to control a remote computer and need a client that supports SSH, then PuTTY Portable is a superb option considering that it's totally free and portable.

Download PuTTY Portable 0.62 in Softonic

It also makes it possible to emulate double mouse button clicks or double key presses and allows you to set the necessary interval between presses. Remapping and blocking options can be restricted to specific programs or windows.

- Restrict remapping and blocking to specific programs and windows. For instance, you can configure the software to allow the replacement of the X1 mouse button by Space only in program A and nowhere else. - The software does not alter the scan codes stored in the registry and does not require the system to be restarted in order to apply mapping changes.

Computer users of any type can use this software. Developers, programmers, designers etc.

Download Key Remapper 1.6 in Softonic

Other Features: - Copy/Clone CD/DVD/BD - Backup CD/DVD/BD - Create/Burn CD/DVD/BD - Convert to ISO - Customizable Cd/DVD/BD Cover - Play Multiple CDs Simultanously - Create Customized CD/DVD/BD - Burn CD/DVD/BD

Distinguishing Features: - Original CD Emulation Software - Cover Flow Design - Touch Screen Support - Clone and Copy CD/DVD/BD - Cutomizable CD/DVD/BD - A Network Edition for Businesses

Who Need VirtualDrive? - Gamers - Heavy CD/DVD/BD users - Backup, Copy CD/DVD users - Laptop, netbook - UltraBook - PC without CD/DVD drive - CD/DVD Emulator - Library - School - Public PC - Business CD/DVD archives

Download FarStone VirtualDrive Pro 15.01 in Softonic

Other Features: - Preserve CD/DVD from getting scratched by virtualization - Convenient, Accessible Training - Reduced Need for Supervision - CD/DVD/BD Archiving - ISO Support - Set access rights - The trusted CD/DVD manipulation, sharing and archiving solution - Administrator can set max number of users to use a CD/DVD simultaneously

Distinguishing Features: - Original CD Emulation and Management - The only solution designed for managing & sharing CD over network - Centerized Management - Cover Flow Design - Touch Screen Support - Clone and Copy CD/DVD/BD - Cutomizable CD/DVD/BD - CD/DVD/BD Access Control - CD/DVD/BD Usage Log for Administrator

Who Need VirtualDrive Network? - Schools - Libraries - Attorney firms - Business CD/DVD archives - Public CD Management - Testing and Engineering Div. - Heavy CD/DVD/BD - Backup, Copy CD/DVD - Training Center - Share CD/DVD/BD on a Network

Download FarStone VirtualDrive Network 15 in Softonic

Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack does an excellent job of emulating the look of Lion OS X. This includes windows, folders, Trash can and even the Dock. Of course, it doesn't include the functionality of Lion - you can't use Spaces for example or such things as Finder and Spotlight but the overall look is quite impressive.

If you want to give Windows an OS X makeover, then Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack will impress your friends.

Download Mac OS X Lion Skin Pack for Windows 7 13 in Softonic

Windows 8 Transformation Pack give you the look and feel of Windows 8 on older
Windows versions. The Metro design, themes, wallpapers, icons, sounds and other features can all be yours with this excellent free theme pack.

Features

Windows 8 Transformation Pack automatically installs several design changes and programs. The freeware comes with an imitation of the new Modern style and adjusts menus, cursors, screensavers and system sounds to emulate Windows' 8th version. You can also configure individual elements of Windows 8 Transformation Pack via the wizard.

Usability

Windows 8 Transformation Pack adds pizazz with its own Modern apps. By clicking on the tile store, you can manage programs and play mini updates or add extra apps. Standard elements include apps like Clock, Calendar, system settings, Gmail, Hotmail, Twitter, Facebook, Internet Explorer, Music and Photo Gallery.

Quality

Windows 8 Transformation Pack is a worthy successor to the popular Seven Transformation Pack. This early version of Windows 8 is a pretty impressive mimic. If Seven Translation Pack is anything to go by, as Windows 8 gets more advanced, so too will Windows 8 Transformation Pack, so keep an eye out for even more updates.

Conclusion

If you want a taste of Windows 8 on XP, Vista or Windows 7, download Windows 8 Transformation Pack asap!

Download Windows 8 Transformation Pack 7.0 (8TP) in Softonic

Download WinDS Pro 2013.4.5 in Softonic

Download MAME 0.148 in Softonic

What it does

The Lite version of DAEMON Tools only lets you emulate up to four virtual drives but doesn't have the extra features of the Pro and Advanced editions, such as support for DVD HD and Blu-Ray drivers, or the ability to create image files. However this version of DAEMON Tools is just perfect for the average home user, who will hardly need to emulate more than a couple drives simultaneously.

DAEMON Tools supports a wide variety of formats and is a really useful app for accessing your CD collection without having to carry them around, protecting them from scratches in the process.

Usability

Emulating a virtual drive may not seem that useful at first sight, but if you think about it, it has many advantages: you can load any image file directly on your system, you save the time and effort of CD burning and plus, virtual drives are much faster than actual CD units.

After installation – and the necessary system reboot – DAEMON Tools shows up as an unobtrusive icon in the system tray from which you can access the program's main tools and the configuration menu. All you have to do is browse to where your image file is stored and 'mount' it as a virtual drive using DAEMON Tools.

Hard working and reliable

DAEMON Tools supports a wide variety of formats and is a really useful app for accessing your CD collection without having to carry them around, protecting them from scratches in the process.

Conclusion

With DAEMON Tools you can easily emulate up to four virtual drives on your system, and mount a wide range of image files on them.

Download DAEMON Tools lite 4.47.1.0333 in Softonic

MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator and when used in conjunction with an arcade game's data file (ROMs), MAME Plus! will more or less faithfully reproduce that game on a PC. MAME Plus! can emulate thousands of classic arcade video games from the 70s, 80s and 90s, and even some from the current decade.

The ROM images that MAME utilizes are "dumped" from arcade games' original circuit-board ROM chips. MAME becomes the "hardware" for the games, taking the place of their original CPUs and support chips. Therefore, these games are NOT simulations, but the actual, original games that appeared in arcades.

As gaming technology continues to rush forward, MAME prevents important "vintage" games from being lost and forgotten. It's incredibly effective once you've loaded a ROM file although for newbies, the process may prove a little but tricky as the interface appears more complicated than it needs to be.

MAME Plus! is an excellent alternative for those that have had problems running their favourite vintage games in the original MAME.

Download MAME Plus! 0.147 in Softonic

The polyphonic system integrated in this software can help you select the right pronunciation according to the context. You can also use this software to look up the stroke order and the Pinyin (pronunciation) of a Chinese character. For each Chinese character in the new HSK character course, you can learn the Pinyin, the pronunciation, the related phrases if it is a polyphone, the strokes and their orders observed in calligraphy, and its example sentence. The pronunciation of Chinese character and sentence is recorded from native Chinese speaker.

Going East Learn Chinese is a multi-functional software, which can provide you a complete solution for learning Chinese. What makes Chinese hard to learn? A huge number of Chinese character and its special writing system are considered to be the primary reason. How to select the most useful Chinese characters for learning to save time? How your learning outcomes can be recognized? The new HSK character course provided by this software is exactly designed to address these issues.

This software can be used for self-study Chinese, and can also be used for Chinese teaching. It is a learning tool, and also an entertainment tool. It is suitable for all ages, from infants to adults.

Download Going East Learn Chinese 1.2 in Softonic

The GameBoy has come a long way since we first saw that big white and grey block at the end of the last century. Its great, great, great grandson, the Nintendo DS is now even more powerful than the high-tech machines doing the rounds in the arcades of the early 90s. In fact, it's so good that sometimes you'll want to play with it in the office, which obviously you can't. Well, actually you can. Actually you can't. Well, with DeSmuME you sort of can. Let us explain...

The first thing you'll need to realize is that downloading DS ROM files is illegal, so on your own head be it if the FBI rolls up outside your house. Legalities aside, DeSmuME is a pretty decent emulator, originally designed for games programmers to develop and test their latest creations. DeSmuME can be a little tricky to set up, but once running you'll be able to enjoy a huge selection of games in ROM format.

DeSmuME is a solid Nintendo DS emulator for your PC.

Download DeSmuME 0.9.8 in Softonic

myBeats takes a different approach to the users music library by not trying to emulate/copy what already exist on the platform. It adopts most of the visual design from Windows 8 Apps design language in order to deliver a unique desktop experience to the user.

It is meant for those who want a change from iTunes. It is not mean for those who want to manage their iTunes library, but is concerned with allowing users to enjoy it in a very simple manner.

Download myBeats 1.0.5.0 in Softonic

BitComet allows you to exchange files with other users although it must only be used for those files which can be legally exchanged online. The interface is similar to that of eMule with features running down the left hand pane, control buttons across the top and the torrents that are downloading in the main window in the center. Once files have started downloading, the regular stop, pause, cancel, update etc options are all available on BitComet plus a handy "remove torrent & all files" option which removes all trace of an unwanted torrent from your PC.

Download speeds are OK although not as good as similar P2P apps such as uTorrent. One of the reasons for this is that BitComet doesn't have as many users as it once had as more effective and user friendly alternatives entered the market. One of the more handy features of BitComet however is a ‘preview media’ option, which forces the torrent to download sequentially instead of randomly thus allowing you to preview any multimedia downloads. It’s a great way to avoid broken links, but, on the downside, it will slow down your download considerably.

Most recently, BitComet are experimenting with a feature that enables you to download some or all of the data in torrents from non-bittorrent sources, or even from peers of other torrents with all, or some of the same content. Note that this release is also the first bittorrent client to issue a stable 64bit version

Another interesting feature on BitComet is the ‘intelligent disk cache’ which really comes into its own on high speed connections. If you are lucky enough to get download transfer rates of 500 kb/s or higher, activating it allows BitComet to cache the data to access the disk less frequently. The result of this is that it doesn’t slow down your PC as receiving large amounts of data can sometimes do.

One downside of BitComet is that you are pestered with ads from time to time within the main interface. The other downside is that the uninstall procedure is not particularly clean. The application directory remains as does the registry entry although you can remove the former manually and the latter with any good registry cleaner such as Revo.

There are simpler and more popular clients out there, such as uTorrent uTorrent and Azureus that offer better download rates with less fuss. However, if you have a particularly fast connection, can’t wait for your files to download before watching them and enjoy a torrent client with lots of whistles and bells, BitComet might be for you.

Download BitComet 1.35 in Softonic

Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows. The Cygwin DLL works with all non-beta, non "release candidate", ix86 32 bit versions of Windows since Windows 95, with the exception of Windows CE. It consists of two parts:

• DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a Linux API emulation layer
• A collection of tools, which provide Linux look and feel

Download Cygwin 1.7.17 in Softonic

On the surface, iMesh looks polished and easy to use. The program features a tab bar that gives you access to different areas: Library, with all the media stored on your computer; Home, which is the main screen on iMesh; Search, where you can find, download and buy music and video; Discover, a tool do find new artists and music genres; and finally DJ, which plays music you may like based on a song or band of your choice.

The iMesh community is a great place to make friends, exchange messages and also share media libraries. You can also upload photos to your profile, and send songs over to friends. On the downside, we missed a bit more integration with other social services such as Twitter or Facebook.

iMesh also includes a powerful built-in player for audio and video – featuring a 10-band equalizer – plus a built-in CD burner to create custom media CD and DVD on the spot.

iMesh is a complete P2P client with which you can discover new bands, buy the music you like and make new friends.

Download iMesh 12 in Softonic

Android 4.0.3 is the version that currently runs in WindowsAndroid. It's quick to start, and offers you a basic Android experience, which has some drawbacks.

In WindowsAndroid, you won't find Google Play, the Android's app store. To run applications, you have to download the APK file, and put it the SocketeQ\windowsandroid_root\system\ folder.

WindowsAndroid also lacks audio at the moment, and the web browser is unstable. However, it is a new project, and these problems should be ironed out as it develops. It's also a neat way to discover the ins and outs of Android.

WindowsAndroid is still very young. It's a promising project to get Android running in Windows, but at the moment its far from perfect.

Download WindowsAndroid 4.0.3 in Softonic