Emulating a CD drive may not seem that useful at first but in fact it has many advantages. For instance, you can load any image file directly onto your Mac instantly, you save the time and effort of CD burning and, virtual drives are much faster than CD drives. If you're stuck with a file on your Mac in ISO, BIN, MDF or NRG format, DAEMON Tools can help. In all, DAMEON Tools for Mac supports *.iso, *.isz, *.b5t, *.b6t, *.bwt, *.ccd, *.cdi, *.cue, *.mds, *.mdx, *.nrg, *.ape formats.

After installation all you have to do is browse to where your image file is saved on your Mac and 'mount' it as a virtual drive using DAEMON Tools. You can do this using Finder under the Devices category or access it from your Menu Toolbar. Other useful features of DAEMON Tools include:

- View history list of recently mounted images
- Automatically replace the oldest mounted image with a new one
- Configure hotkeys for mounting and ejecting
- Use Autostart and Automount options
- Automatic updates

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.

This free version of DAEMON Tools is 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.

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

Download DAEMON Tools for Mac 1.2.22 Lite in Softonic

The Atari 2600 was introduced in 1977 and according to the developers, was the most popular home video game system of the early 1980's. Most have now been consigned to the dustbin or a museum but that doesn't mean you still can't relive the good old days.

Stella is free to use and even supports joysticks if you have any connected. To play a game, you'll need a ROM file which you load into Stella. Unfortunately, no ROMs come preinstalled with Stella and the developer doesn't offer any but some Googling should help you find a few sites that host emulator ROMS (such as Atariage.com). However, note that it is illegal to use ROM images of games that you do not actually own since they are still copyrighted, even 30 years on.

Loading a ROM can be a bit intimidating however if you've never used an emulator. The most important thing to load them is the ROM launcher which you'll find in "Options" and then "Config Files". For this, you'll undoubtedly need to refer to the user guide which is extensive and explains clearly what you need to do to launch a game.

Stella will have all Mac owning Atari nostalgics rolling back the years. Just make sure you've got plenty of ROMs to load as you'll soon get bored!

Download Stella 3.8.1 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 the Mac.

Download DeSmuME 0.9.8 in Softonic

The mobile OS space is already crowded with iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry but that's not stopping Mozilla from developing its own. Firefox OS Simulator will let you test out Mozilla's offering without the need for fancy hardware.

Firefox OS Simulator is in an early alpha but it proved to be very stable and usable. The emulator worked flawlessly and didn't crash. There are elements in the emulator that don't look quite right, such as text overlaid on top of other text. This may just be an early (and rough) build of the Firefox OS.

You can download apps from Mozilla's marketplace to test within the Firefox OS Simulator. Apps loaded quickly and functioned much as you would expect apps to function. These apps are basically web applications but feel like native apps.

The Firefox OS Simulator provides an early taste into Mozilla's latest mobile operating system but doesn't offer any features beyond a simulator.

Download Firefox OS Simulator 1.0 in Softonic

PokerTH is a Texas Hold'em emulator but unlike most online gambling games, it's absolutely free to play so you don't need to worry about losing a dime.

PokerTH allows you to play up against a maximum of six virtual opponents, via a local network or via other players over the net. If you're new to Poker, there's a handy tutorial and you never feel lost unlike some online poker games where you've lost money before you've begun.

You are however advised to follow the PokerTH quick tutorial first as going head to head online against a net opponent is rather intimidating. One of the best features of PokerTH is that you don't have to play on just one table - you can opt out whenever you want and move onto another game and of course, you never have to tip the dealer.

PokerTH is a safer option for those that love to play Texas Hold Em against great players but don't want to risk losing money.

Download PokerTH 0.9.5 in Softonic

Drumatix est une émulation fidèle des TR 606, 808 et 909 ainsi que de la LinnDrum, autre boîte à rythme de légende. Elle comporte un séquenceur avec 16 pas (step sequencer) classique sur ce genre de machine et est aussi entièrement pilotable au clavier. Parfait pour les lives.
Pour stocker vos motifs rythmiques (patterns) vous avez le choix entre 10 banques de 9 motifs chacune. En plus des émulations de boîtes à rythme, Drumatix propose un cinquième patch avec des samples issus du beat Amen Brother, un rêve éveillé pour programmer de la jungle.

Drumatix est un instrument de musique avec une forte personnalité mais qui demeure extrêmement simple à manipuler. A mettre entre toutes les mains.

Download Drumatix dx-232 2.1 in Softonic

The software has extended automation functions, e.g. a script language with over 200 commands and other features that allow automatic processing of routine tasks.

The software is intended for users who need to access remote servers, e.g. network specialists, webmasters, etc.

Download ZOC Terminal SSH and Telnet Client 6.43 in Softonic

VisualBoyAdvance, also known as Mac Boy Advance, emulates all the games of the popular portable Nintendo consoles. VisualBoyAdvance supports 148Kb Flash and the application of automatic IP patches. This GBA emulator is written specifically for OS X and according to the developers, has a higher compatibility than Boycott Advance.

However, expect some bugs while using it. Recent updates to OS X seem to have made it liable to crashes or a tendency to display screens incorrectly or not at all. However, depending on the game you want to play, it may be the only emulator that runs it for you. However, it does work with Intel Macs running Lion.

VisualBoyAdvance isn't perfect but is a must for all hardcore fans of GameBoy games.

Download VisualBoyAdvance (Mac Boy Advance) 1.7.5 in Softonic

Soundflower emulates the interface of an audio device but allows any audio application to send and receive audio with no other support needed. It opens as one of two audio devices (2ch/16ch). For most people and needs, the 2-channel device is sufficient.

If you want an application to interact with another application via the soundcard, select Soundflower as the output device in the first application and Soundflower as the input device within the second application. If an application does not allow you to specify audio devices, you can make Soundflower the default input or output device inside the Sound panel in the System Preferences, or with the Audio MIDI Setup utility application which is the only slightly tricky part.

You may hear interference at first when you setup an audio channel and if so, the developers recommend increasing the buffer size of both applications (set within each application). Note that if more than one application is sending its output to the same channel, the audio will be mixed.

The practical usages of Soundflower include conducting interviews with both voices. So instead of recording an interview with Skype and only hearing one voice, Soundflower allows you to record both voices for a more professional production. Alternatively, it's useful for routing audio from applications such as iTunes and Spotify to other applications and devices.

Note that this download is for OS X 10.5.8+. You can also download the OS X 10.4 compatible version (Version 1.4.3)..

Soundflower is a remarkably effective and free audio routing solution..

Download Soundflower 1.6.2.1 in Softonic

The main aim in KSP is to build a space-worthy craft, capable of flying it's crew out into space, without killing them. At your disposal are a collection of parts, which must be assembled to create a functional ship. Each part has a different function and will affect the way a ship flies:

Kerbal Space Program allows players to design, build and pilot a space vehicle from pre-fab modules. These modules or parts include engines, fuel tanks, and wings and to make things more interesting, additional parts such as bombs, payloads and landing gear have been added to the game by players.

Some of the most notable features of KSP are:

At the moment there is only one planet - Kerbin - which you launch from and its moon, known as the Mün. There is also a sun called Kerbol. Kerbin and the Mün travel along an orbit, with Kerbin orbiting the sun and the Mün orbiting Kerbin thus emulating the Earth, Sun and Moon.

Like Minecraft, Kerbal Space Program leaves a lot of room for imagination. Players can create almost anything which has lead to the creation of several mods for the game which allow vehicles and other craft to be added to the game.

Kerbal Space Program has a small but thriving community of players although this looks set to expand as the developers plan to add more planets and moons, extra-vehicular activities and a space station. At the moment, Kerbal Space Program is free to play but it will eventually require payment to play once it has reached a higher level of development.

Kerbal Space Program is a unique and fun game. If you're a fan of Minecraft and have an interest in Space, you will particularly enjoy it.

Download Kerbal Space Program (KSP) 0.13.1 alpha in Softonic

Tribler is an extremely easy-to-use P2P network aimed at file sharing newbies who haven't been able to handle applications, like eMule and Limewire.

Tribler has an extremely clean and simple interface, which displays only the search box, your 'sharing reputation' (based on how many files you've shared) and search results. Despite its simplicity, Tribler is capable of retrieving large amounts of material including video, audio, pictures, and more. The reason for this is that Tribler is integrated into large media sites such as YouTube and Liveleak. Parents will be reassured to hear that an effective family filter is activated by default which is quite effective at blocking adult search terms.

As with most major P2P portals, Tribler allows you to browse simply by media category, and the most popular content is displayed first. What I really liked about Tribler, however, is the preview function. When you select a file, you can choose whether to preview or download it. Preview it by clicking the big Play button and Tribler will search for other users with the file so that you can see whether it's worth downloading. The disadvantage of this though is that the previews take ages to load as it searches for other users with the same material.

The settings are very limited. You can configure a nickname for your profile on Tribler, a maximum upload and download limit, the router port you want Tribler to use, and a default download location. It doesn't save your search terms, so you have to retype them if you want to search a subject regularly.

Overall, Tribler is an excellent P2P file sharing client for those new to it, although seasoned users will find it more than lacking in certain areas.

Download Tribler 5.5.8 in Softonic

By now everyone who has ever used a computer surely knows about Peer to Peer file sharing and the controversy it has stirred up since the days when Napster rocked the music industry. Although it's still illegal and you run the risk of being taken to court if you're caught with substantial copyrighted material, there are still plenty of file sharing networks and clients you can use to obtain free music, video and files like FrostWire.

What is special about aMule?

Using the eDonkey network, aMule stands out from most of its rival P2P clients because it is open source. This frees you from pesky spyware and adware, leaving you able to get on with your downloading in peace. In addition, aMule doesn't rely on one central server like many older clients. By using a multitude of different servers, the network is virtually impossible to shut down and is consequently very secure.

aMule is simple to use. This doesn't mean it lacks depth though, and aMule's features are some of the most advanced to be seen in a P2P client. For example, you can view all kinds of information on machines you're downloading from, call up charts outlining downloading stats and check download status through aMule's advanced progress bar.

What are the results like?

Since aMule uses a large network of servers its search results are pretty vast. There's one major annoyance that can come up with aMule though: it's very slow at downloading files. This is largely because of the way aMule handles download priority, which looks at the number of servers you're connected to, the connection speed and the size of the file.

aMule also relies heavily on a credit scoring system, where people who use the service a lot are rewarded with faster downloads. While some may champion this as being in the true spirit of file sharing, the system makes it frustrating for new users who get penalized with ultra slow downloads.

Still, with its simple interface and loads of features, it's not difficult to see why aMule has become a very popular P2P app.

Download aMule 2.3.1 in Softonic

Vuze (formerly known as Azureus) is a bit-torrent client which follows a similar format to eMule but its makers claim it can offer significant improvements in terms of hits, download times and navigating available material.

There's no doubt that Vuze offers some spectacularly fast download times but this comes at a price. Mainly the fact that Vuze is extremely bloated and tries to install two toolbars when you install it. On the upside, because Vuze is an open source project, there is a large community of programmers, designers and users who are continually testing and improving it and there's an excellent FAQ.

You receive comprehensive stats about every file that's downloaded with Vuze (most of which will mean nothing to you though) but most importantly it gives you the all important Estimated Time of Arrival and Share Ratio which tells you how much of a particular file you have uploaded or given back to the community. Apparently, in a perfect world, every file should have a share ratio of two which means for each file you download, two users download it from you.

Possibly the most notable feature of Vuze, however, is the media website that's embedded into the application. It looks like an entertainment website and that's pretty much what it is only the entertainment can be downloaded via Vuze. These include gameshows, user generated content, sports and more.

Vuze has a rather overwhelming interface as a result. It's far more bloated than other P2P clients such as uTorrent and Transmission. It takes some getting used to at first the upside is that it is much more customisable than most Mac P2P apps. For example, if you want to configure Vuze to work only with a VPN, you can do unlike uTorrent and Transmission.

Vuze is generally an excellent P2P application that may be a bit more bloated than most but works well and has plenty to offer.

Download Vuze (Azureus) 4.7.0.0 in Softonic

Protecting data from interception is a difficult task with so many trojans and hackers willing to exploit data holes. SecureCRT also provides secure remote access, file transfers, and data tunneling within an organization or company. SecureCRT also offers session management and customization features, for those that need to work in multiple sessions.

SecureCRT emulates a number of major terminal consoles such as VT100, VT102, VT220, ANSI, SCO ANSI, Wyse 50/60, Xterm, and even Linux. SecureCRT can also help you automate routines so that you don't have to worry about executing them manually.

SecureCRT was originally designed for Windows and it's not exactly as necessary or as tailored for OS X. However, once mastered, it can be an excellent tool to keep your data encrypted.

SecureCRT is a great terminal manager and secure authenticator that can help protect your most sensitive data.

Download SecureCRT 6.7.1 in Softonic

Download MacWise 12.3.5 in Softonic

In The Sims Medieval you’re taken to the Middle Ages, where you’ll have to build a kingdom, choose an ultimate ‘ambition’ for that kingdom and then complete quests that reward you with the necessary kingdom points to achieve that goal.

Everything in The Sims Medieval has been adapted to medieval times: buildings, clothes, decoration and even professions. Your sims can become wizards, blacksmiths, knights, merchants or bards, among others. There’ll be also dangerous situations such as duels, plagues and peasant revolts. All the objects in the game have been redesigned to look handcrafted.

The Sims Medieval is quite different from any other Sims game you may have played before; the focus is still set on sims, but the kingdom as a whole also plays an important role. There’s romance, humor and adventure, but the game atmosphere is now slightly moodier and more dramatic – a reflection of those dark Medieval times.

The Sims Medieval lets you live new adventures with your sims in the Middle Ages.

Download The Sims Medieval in Softonic

Unlike DOSBox, Boxer makes running DOS games user friendly. You don't need to know anything about DOS, as Boxer holds you hand throughout the process, from installing to running your DOS games.

As well as simplifying DOS emulation, Boxer looks good too. It can create a bookshelf-style folder for your game collection, and the application overall is attractive and fits perfectly with the OSX look.

Installing a game is really simple. Once you've downloaded a DOS game, simply drag the folder into Boxer, and it will walk you through the installation process. You are still very much in control of the process in DOS, but Boxer gives you instructions for everything at the bottom of the interface. Expert users can still use DOS as they remember it!

When a game is running, there's a neat optional interface where you can tweak performance. For example, you can choose a processor speed like 486 or Pentium, depending on the age of game. Boxer chooses this automatically, but if it happens to be wrong changing it is easy. Full screen can be toggled with Command & F. Remember that in the old days you often needed manuals for controls, but luckily Boxer has some good suggestions of online DOS game libraries.

Emulating DOS may not be everyone's idea of fun, but if you want to relive those memories of 90s PC gaming, Boxer makes it really easy.

Download Boxer 1.0.2 in Softonic

To use Joypad you must install the app on your iPhone and a desktop client on your Mac or PC. Both devices have to be connected to the same WiFi network. The Joypad desktop client should automatically discover your iPhone is the app is running, but if not you can open settings and manually enter the MAC address of your phone which is given to you in the app.

As soon as the connect light turns green, you'll be able to use Joypad. The lite version comes with one 'pad, based on the old Nintendo Entertainment System. Upgrade and there are a number of more modern joypads you can use. Each button of the joypad can be configured to a corresponding key, and various configurations can be saved.

While touch joypads never quite match the real thing, Joypad is pretty good. Playing flash arcade games worked really well, as did playing old games through an emulator. As Joypad connects over WiFi, it is essential your connection is stable and not overloaded or it will suffer from lag. It's a shame bluetooth is not supported, as iPhones and Macs have it, as do many PC laptops.

Joypad is a great game controller app that's responsive and nicely configurable. If you hate playing with keyboard controls this could be just the thing for you - just hope no-one calls you mid-game!

Download Joypad Desktop Client 1.4 in Softonic