Overview

With this trial of Windows 8, users have an opportunity to test a slick and solid operating system that promises to revolutionize the way you do everything, from browsing the web to viewing multimedia files.

This is the most ambitious operating system that Microsoft has ever created. By blending both a tablet interface and a traditional desktop interface, Microsoft hopes that Windows 8 can please everyone. But can it? Let's find out.

Modern Interface

As seen in the numerous preview versions, the Windows 8 interface is one of the largest changes to the Windows operating system. Every app you install on the new Modern interface is shown in multiple colored squares on your screen. Each square acts as a shortcut to open the program or the corresponding directory. Each panel is also fully customizable, so you can group apps together.

New features

Flash

The use of Flash in Windows 8 is one of the primary updates. Working together, Microsoft and Adobe have created a situation-specific version of Flash that works with Internet Explorer 10. This ensures Flash will run when you want it do, such as during video play-back, but won't affect your PC's performance or battery life by running when unnecessary. This is especially important for Windows RT users who value battery life and performance on the go.

New apps

There are also quite a few Windows Store expansions when it comes to apps included natively in the Modern interface. Bing has added apps for travel, sports and news, for example. There are also, of course, existing Modernapps that were released in conjunction with Windows 8. Some of these include Weather, Maps and Finance.

Surfing the web

Windows 8 ties up a lot of loose ends in terms of stability issues seen in its preview versions. There is also a new feature users can look forward to called Flip ahead, IE which uses crowd-sourcing to determine what web page you're the most likely to click on next during your web browsing. To advance, all you have to do is swipe the screen if you have touch screen capabilities or click the forward arrow onscreen to get to the next page. This feature works while searching Bing, of course, but is also compatible with other search engines, so long as you're using Internet Explorer 10.

There's also now a Share feature in Windows 8's Modern UI version of the IE browser that lets you share web pages with friends - just open the Charms Bar then choose Share and you can Tweet or Facebook your page.

In addition, both desktop and Modern UI versions of this Windows 8 have Flash 11.3 built right into it.

Mail

In Windows 8, the Mail feature has also been tweaked to add a better user experience. You can pin multiple inboxes to your start screen to differentiate between your different email accounts more easily. There is also a useful threaded conversation feature, which groups emails from the same conversation thread. Microsoft also addressed some stability issues to ensure less instances of app crashes.

Windows 8 Pro

Stepping up to Windows 8 Pro, users will gain the following features:

BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker To Go

This is great for people looking for more security. BitLocker will encrypt the entire drive and prevent hackers from getting to your precious information if your computer is ever lost or stolen. BitLocker To Go will provide the same level of encryption to your USB drives.

It's nice to see business oriented features like this be included in a consumer oriented version of Windows 8.

Functionality Hyper-V virtualization

This is a very technical piece of software that's oriented toward IT professionals, allowing them to deploy software and manage servers.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop is a great feature for those who need to access their computer remotely. It's also a great tool for those who need to provide tech support for their friends and family. This feature was first introduced in Windows XP but has been refined over subsequent versions.

Windows Media Center

Fans of Windows Media Center will have to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro to get these features back. This is also the first time that Windows Media Center will be a paid add-on for Windows 8. This will anger many Windows users who have home theater PCs.

Windows 8 Enterprise

Going up to Windows 8 Enterprise will add the following features:

Windows to go

This feature will allow Windows 8 to be installed and run from a mass storage devices like USB drives and external hard drives. This makes it fully manageable in corporate environments. This makes imaging and deploying a copy of Windows simple for system administrators.

Access via DirectAccess VPN

This allows users to work from home as it will create a secure connection to a company's internal network from anywhere.

BranchCahce

BranchCahce enables PC cache files from a central server, which helps to improve speed. This is perfect for companies that have offices in different locations. BranchCahce will enable servers to automatically retrieve and deploy local copies of files to remote clients.

AppLocker

This feature allows you to lock access to applications if you share a computer.

Conclusion

Microsoft has offered a lot of welcome changes in its Windows 8. Navigation on a desktop is still a bit tricky without touchscreen capabilities, but many will appreciate the simplicity of the Modern interface, as well as the completely redesigned apps that come with Windows 8. If you'd like more details on installing, just have a look at Lewis' handy blog post telling you how. Don't forget to check if you need the 32 or 64bit version.

Windows 8 is a necessary change for Microsoft but it remains to be seen if its gamble on this radical new operating system will be adopted by consumers.

Download Windows 8 64 bit in Softonic

Overview

With this trial of Windows 8, users have an opportunity to test a slick and solid operating system that promises to revolutionize the way you do everything, from browsing the web to viewing multimedia files.

This is the most ambitious operating system that Microsoft has ever created. By blending both a tablet interface and a traditional desktop interface, Microsoft hopes that Windows 8 can please everyone. But can it? Let's find out.

Modern Interface

As seen in the numerous preview versions, the Windows 8 interface is one of the largest changes to the Windows operating system. Every app you install on the new Modern interface is shown in multiple colored squares on your screen. Each square acts as a shortcut to open the program or the corresponding directory. Each panel is also fully customizable, so you can group apps together.

New features

Flash

The use of Flash in Windows 8 is one of the primary updates. Working together, Microsoft and Adobe have created a situation-specific version of Flash that works with Internet Explorer 10. This ensures Flash will run when you want it do, such as during video play-back, but won't affect your PC's performance or battery life by running when unnecessary. This is especially important for Windows RT users who value battery life and performance on the go.

New apps

There are also quite a few Windows Store expansions when it comes to apps included natively in the Modern interface. Bing has added apps for travel, sports and news, for example. There are also, of course, existing Modernapps that were released in conjunction with Windows 8. Some of these include Weather, Maps and Finance.

Surfing the web

Windows 8 ties up a lot of loose ends in terms of stability issues seen in its preview versions. There is also a new feature users can look forward to called Flip ahead, IE which uses crowd-sourcing to determine what web page you're the most likely to click on next during your web browsing. To advance, all you have to do is swipe the screen if you have touch screen capabilities or click the forward arrow onscreen to get to the next page. This feature works while searching Bing, of course, but is also compatible with other search engines, so long as you're using Internet Explorer 10.

There's also now a Share feature in Windows 8's Modern UI version of the IE browser that lets you share web pages with friends - just open the Charms Bar then choose Share and you can Tweet or Facebook your page.

In addition, both desktop and Modern UI versions of this Windows 8 have Flash 11.3 built right into it.

Mail

In Windows 8, the Mail feature has also been tweaked to add a better user experience. You can pin multiple inboxes to your start screen to differentiate between your different email accounts more easily. There is also a useful threaded conversation feature, which groups emails from the same conversation thread. Microsoft also addressed some stability issues to ensure less instances of app crashes.

Windows 8 Pro

Stepping up to Windows 8 Pro, users will gain the following features:

BitLocker Drive Encryption and BitLocker To Go

This is great for people looking for more security. BitLocker will encrypt the entire drive and prevent hackers from getting to your precious information if your computer is ever lost or stolen. BitLocker To Go will provide the same level of encryption to your USB drives.

It's nice to see business oriented features like this be included in a consumer oriented version of Windows 8.

Functionality Hyper-V virtualization

This is a very technical piece of software that's oriented toward IT professionals, allowing them to deploy software and manage servers.

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop is a great feature for those who need to access their computer remotely. It's also a great tool for those who need to provide tech support for their friends and family. This feature was first introduced in Windows XP but has been refined over subsequent versions.

Windows Media Center

Fans of Windows Media Center will have to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro to get these features back. This is also the first time that Windows Media Center will be a paid add-on for Windows 8. This will anger many Windows users who have home theater PCs.

Windows 8 Enterprise

Going up to Windows 8 Enterprise will add the following features:

Windows to go

This feature will allow Windows 8 to be installed and run from a mass storage devices like USB drives and external hard drives. This makes it fully manageable in corporate environments. This makes imaging and deploying a copy of Windows simple for system administrators.

Access via DirectAccess VPN

This allows users to work from home as it will create a secure connection to a company's internal network from anywhere.

BranchCahce

BranchCahce enables PC cache files from a central server, which helps to improve speed. This is perfect for companies that have offices in different locations. BranchCahce will enable servers to automatically retrieve and deploy local copies of files to remote clients.

AppLocker

This feature allows you to lock access to applications if you share a computer.

Conclusion

Microsoft has offered a lot of welcome changes in its Windows 8. Navigation on a desktop is still a bit tricky without touchscreen capabilities, but many will appreciate the simplicity of the Modern interface, as well as the completely redesigned apps that come with Windows 8. If you'd like more details on installing, just have a look at Lewis' handy blog post telling you how. Don't forget to check if you need the 32 or 64bit version.

Windows 8 is a necessary change for Microsoft but it remains to be seen if its gamble on this radical new operating system will be adopted by consumers.

Download Windows 8 32 Bit in Softonic

Microsoft Live SkyDrive is a free 25GB online virtual drive you can access for free with your Windows Live ID. It enables you to upload and share photos, videos and documents, either in public folders – accessible by anyone – or private folders than only you can see. And with this little app called SDExplorer Base, managing your stuff on SkyDrive is now easier than ever.

SDExplorer Base adds a new drive to the 'My PC' window, enabling you to access your files and folders with just a single click. Once logged in to Microsoft SkyDrive Live, you'll be able to manage your data as if it was stored right on your local computer.

SDExplorer Base lets you perform all basic file management actions, such as creating and deleting folders, renaming items, and also copying folders and files to and from SkyDrive. Being the Base version, however, there are some things you won’t be able to do with SDEplorer Base, like moving files and folders within SkyDrive, or changing the sharing mode.

Note that all these actions in SDExplorer Base may take a bit longer than usual because it's all being done online. Other than that, SDEplorer Base works really well. It'll feel just as if your hard drive suddenly found an extra 25 GB!

If you use Microsoft Live Skydrive to host files online, you'll love SDExplorer Base: a small handy app that lets you manage your online data as if it was stored on your local drive!

Download SDExplorer Base 3.1.0.493 in Softonic

Like Foxit’s other PDF apps, Foxit PhantomPDF is a lovely program to use. It’s light on resources and quick to install. Once it’s up and running, there’s a tutorial and a welcome wizard, as well as lots of help and online resources. Thanks to this ease of use and excellent planning, using Foxit PhantomPDF is a really pleasant experience.

Creating PDFs
With Foxit PhantomPDF, you’ll be able to add text, graphics, images and more to create PDFs, all from within a very easy-to-use interface. What’s more, you can create PDFs from common Microsoft Office programs, like Word and PowerPoint, in just one click.

Editing PDFs
Foxit PhantomPDF also helps you out when it comes to editing PDFs, such as when you want to add hyperlinks, images or multimedia items. All these tools are available across Foxit PhantomPDF’s top menu, while right clicking will bring up even more options.

Reading PDFs
If you want to carry out simpler tasks, like reading a document in PDF format, Foxit PhantomPDF can help you out. There are a selection of viewing modes, bookmarking, excellent full screen navigation, and more.

Foxit PhantomPDF Express is the most basic of Foxit's PDF creation suites. If you want slightly more advanced editing and security options, take a look at the Standard or Business versions.

In all, Foxit PhantomPDF is a great app, with excellent PDF reading features and all you'd expect from a basic PDF editor.

Download Foxit PhantomPDF 5.4.3.1106 in Softonic

By allowing the user to add up to 12 dB of boost or cut at any of 15 bands centered around ISO 2/3 octave frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz, the GEQ15P extends consumers audio experience in Windows Media Player.

Either if you listen to MP3s, CDs, Internet Radio or watch DivX, GEQ15P gives you the opportunity to re-shape the character of virtually any sounds fed through it.

It turns your PC audio environment into an exclusive and professional stereo system. GEQ15P includes many equalizer presets designed to enhance different types of music and audio.

And, of course, you can adjust the equalizer manually to create your own custom preset. GEQ15P improves nearly all popular file formats. Some examples:- audio formats including: mp3, wma (Windows Media Audio), MPEG-4 (mp4, m4a), wav- CD playback- streaming audio formats including: Windows Media (wma, asx), MP3 stream (m3u, pls).

This means you can enhance hundreds of Internet Radio stations- audio of video formats including: DivX / XviD, avi, wmv (Windows Media Video), MPEG (mpeg, mpg, mp2).

GEQ15P improves the audio of films and Internet TVMain features:1. 15 bands (standard ISO 2/3 octave), constant Q equalizer2. freq. @ 25,40,63,100,160,250,400,630,1k,1.

6k,2. 5k,4k,6. 3k,10k,16k [Hz]3. extremely transparent action4. 64bit internal precision5. highly optimized DSP code6. ultra clean and noiseless processing7.

8 / 16 / 24 / 32 (integer) bit audio support8. 25 factory presets9. 1 recallable custom preset slot10. stereo output (mono->stereo, stereo->stereo) System Requirements1.

Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 Series or later2. Microsoft Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/XP3. 200 MHz Pentium processor or 100% equivalent4. At least 32MB RAM.

Download GEQ15P - Windows (Windows Media Player) 1.0 in Softonic

After scrambling, the file cannot longer be played or executed any more. The famous Blowfish algorithm offers perfect security. Features::: Scrambling and encryption with 384 bit single files or complete folders.

:: Secure password input, dialog with virtual keypad. :: Scrambled files will either be hidden or invisible, but can no longer be played or executed.

:: File names and extensions can be converted automatically in random names and letters. :: Each program version has a unique program key. Optionally scrambled or encrypted files cannot be unscrambled or decrypted by other ScrambleIt versions.

:: For use with Microsoft Windows (TM) (Win98SE, WinME, Win2000, WinNT, Win XP)Information:Based on a special, patented algorithm, we developed a procedure that scrambles oneGigabyte (GB) of any kind of data in just one second, so that no program is able to read,play or execute these scrambled files.

All computer users are working with sensitive and private data, that need to remain private. What happens if these files might be started by an unauthorised person?

Documents will be shown, a video starts playing immediately or music can be listened to. Once your PC is unobserved for just a minute, unauthorised persons may have access to allyour data and will be able see what's on your PC!

ScrambleIt will prevent this! Files, once scrambled with ScrambleIt, can no longer be recognized, played and executed! Extraordinary quickly you can scramble single files or complete folders.

Download ScrambleIt 1.2 in Softonic

Microsoft Live SkyDrive is a free 25GB online virtual drive you can access for free with your Windows Live ID. It enables you to upload and share photos, videos, documents and more, both in public folders – accessible by anyone – or private folders than only you can see. And with this little app called SDExplorer PRO, managing your stuff on SkyDrive is now easier than ever.

SDExplorer PRO adds a new drive to the 'My PC' window, enabling you to access your files and folders with just a single click. Once logged in to Microsoft SkyDrive Live, you'll be able to manage your data as if it was stored right on your local computer.

SDExplorer PRO lets you perform all basic file management actions, such as creating and deleting folders, renaming items, transferring data from and to SkyDrive, or moving files and folders within your virtual drive. The only drawback to SDExplorer PRO, if any, is that all these tasks may take a bit longer than usual because it's all being done online.

Other than that, you won't notice that you're actually working on an online virtual drive. With SDExplorer PRO it'll just feel as if your hard drive suddenly found an extra 25 GB!

If you use Microsoft Live Skydrive to host files online, you'll love SDExplorer PRO: a small handy app that lets you manage your online data as if it was stored on your local drive!

Download SDExplorer PRO 2.1 in Softonic

Virtual PC lets you create separate virtual machines on your Windows desktop, each of which virtualizes the hardware of a complete physical computer. Use virtual machines to run operating systems such as MS-DOS, Windows, and OS/2.

You can run multiple operating systems at once on a single physical computer and switch between them as easily as switching applications—instantly, with a mouse click. Virtual PC is perfect for any scenario in which you need to support multiple operating systems, whether you use it for tech support, legacy application support, training, or just for consolidating physical computers.

Configurability

After installing Virtual PC, you can configure it to suit your requirements. Virtual PC has a number of settings that control how the product interacts with the physical computer, allocates resources, and so on.

Easy installation

Virtual PC is simple to install. Any administrator can run the Virtual PC guided setup program, and installation doesn’t require a reboot. The first time Virtual PC starts, it guides you through the process of creating the first virtual machine.

Standardization

Configure and test upgrades and installations on virtual machines, and then you can deploy throughout your company a standard configuration that avoids problems caused by minor differences between hardware platforms.

Convenience

Users switch between operating systems as easily as they switch between applications. They simply click the window containing the virtual machine. They can pause individual virtual machines so they stop using CPU cycles on the physical computer. They can also save virtual machines to disk and restore them at a later time. The restoration process normally takes a few seconds—much faster than restarting the guest operating system.

Host integration

Users can copy, paste, drag, and drop between guest and host. Virtual PC provides additions that you install in a guest operating system to enable this functionality.

Download Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 1.0 in Softonic