If you're a statistical analyst then you'll be familiar with the design of Neural Networks which help find connections between several variables.

Pythia is a program designed for the development and design of Neural Networks which are used to detect hidden relations in a set of patterns such as stock market data or weather data. Pythia allows you to import data from different file formats or from spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel.

Pythia is ideal for statistical analysts working on variable models of learning and information and can be used for statistical calculation, pattern recognition or even filters and electronic simulations of artificial intelligence. What distinguishes this application from the rest is the fact that it uses a graphical interface to clearly display linkages and patterns.

If you're looking for a way to find connections in statistical calculations, then Pythia is one of the only GUI solutions out there.

Download Pythia 1.02 in Softonic

OpenOffice 3.0 is already here, at least in beta version. The most popular alternative to the almighty Microsoft suite has released its first public beta to allow users to provide feedback and help fine-tune the final product. So here's our two cents.

First, though the OpenOffice site displays a warning about possible instability issues in this beta, fear them not. The complete suite was perfectly stable during our tests, with all its applications running as smoothly as expected. This new OpenOffice is compatible with all file formats from Microsoft Office, including the latest docx, xlsx, pptx and so on from Office 2008.

All OpenOffice tools, along with your more recent documents, are easily accessible from a launcher ("Start Centre") with freshly designed icons, which is one of the main new features in this version. The launcher includes a handy template manager as well, though it's quite empty at the moment.

The suite's applications met our expectations in every aspect: they're easy to use (especially if you're used to working with Microsoft's suite) and feature all the necessary tools to create complete documents, spreadsheets, presentations and databases. I particularly liked the wizard-style interface in Impress (the "Power-Point" app) which enables you to create presentations in no time.

OpenOffice 3.0 left a very good taste in our mouths. In spite of being labeled as Beta, the whole suite works perfectly fine and enables you to enjoy all of its new features right now.

Download OpenOffice.org 3.0 RC 3 in Softonic

If you've never backed up your e-mail then you could do a lot worse than use KLS Mail Backup to make backups of your most important files.

KLS Mail Backup copies messages, email addresses, folders, rules and can even copy your browser history, favorites and cookies, etc. Best of all, it doesn't save them in that annoying MST format that MS Outlook uses - it compresses them in ZIP format that anyone can restore when they need it.

The big question is, how long does it take and what applications does it work with. Well, with Outlook Express it's pretty quick although it doesn't work with Microsoft Outlook unfortunately. It does however work with Mozilla Thunderbird, SeaMonkey and Windows Mail which isn't a great deal but covers most of the major alternatives outside of Outlook. One added bonus is that it can also backup Windows Live mail contacts, Messenger files and configuration but not unfortunately, the mail itself.

KLS Mail Backup is a pretty flexible mail backup system that has most of the major avenues covered except the glaring omission of Microsoft Outlook.

Download KLS Mail Backup 1.3.0.0 in Softonic

How many times have you tried to save streaming media locally but realised you don't have the appropriate tool? Net Transport (NetXfer) can do just that for you. Net Transport downloads MMS and RTSP streaming in multiple threads with perfect video & audio quality.

There are some other great features, like "Site Manager" which allows you to keep the active connection with the remote servers. In addition, the support for both SSL and SSH is hardly found in other upload/download tools.

Main Features:

• Simple but powerful "File Manager" to categorize and manage downloaded files
• Simple multi-user management
• Inbuilt "Site Explorer" lists the directory structure of the remote server
• FTP reuse mechanism uses one connection to get different files from the same site
• Assign every working thread a different proxy to break certain site restrictions
• Proxies with NTLM authentication can penetrate local firewall, like Microsoft ISA 2000
• Adjust the bandwidth usage of Net Transport
• Monitor browser click
• Can automatically shutdown the system or hang up the modem
• NTLM authentication is supported for both MMS and RTSP
• Use multi-threads for both MMS and RTSP to significantly reduce the time of downloads
• Automatically parse streaming script such as .asx, .smi to acquire real URLs
• Support SSH encryption for both HTTP and FTP
• Flexible "Scheduler Manager"

Download Net Transport (NetXfer) 2.64.423 in Softonic

If you're a serious gamer then you'll need some help to get the most out of your system and ensure your graphics card is performing to the peak of it's abilities.

Game Gain 2 is the latest version of this popular gaming assistant which attempts to take gaming to the next level. It can help you enjoy games like you never have done before by using those parts of your processor and graphics card that had formerly laid dormant. The program is remarkably easy to use requiring just the tweaking of a few throttles and switches to blast your PC into the gaming stratosphere. However, you should use this utility with caution because it does change registry settings that could unbalance your system if your registry is already damaged. It works by making direct changes to system registry and system files to enhance memory, screen drawing, animations, refresh rates, CPU threading speeds. However the developers assure that it only optimises based on the capabilities of your system and won't try and push it past anything it can't handle. If you do experience problems afterwards, the system analyzer should help remedy them.

A great tool for gamers although if you've got the latest Intel Quad processors, you'll probably have little use for it.

Download GameGain 2.9.29.2008 in Softonic

LiveStation is a peer-to-peer application that lets you watch watch television online. At the moment the selection of channels is limited to international news stations like BBC World, EuroNews and Al Jazeera along with two radio services: BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4.

The positive aspect of this software is that, being based on peer-to-peer technology, it virtually eliminates buffering time, meaning you won’t have to wait to watch the channels. The video experience is much more enjoyable than what you can get from a traditional streaming service because the data comes from many sources at the same time, reducing congestion problems. Every PC connected is both client and server.

Livestation requires Microsoft Silverlight to run, but don’t worry because during the installation it asks you whether you want to download it automatically.

The interface is simple but cool with smooth fade effects and once the channel is selected, the very high quality stream starts immediately. Unfortunately there is no pause button, nor any functionality for recording programs at certain times. That said, the application is still at a 'technical trial' stage so there is still room for these kinds of improvements.

If you have a fast internet connection you can always be updated on what’s happening around the world by watching the most famous international news channels with the light and usable LiveStation.

Download Livestation 2.1 in Softonic

So you’ve taken the leap and installed the versatile internet browser, Firefox, but are you ready to trade in your Outlook Express for Mozilla’s open source mail application? Thunderbird is Mozilla’s award winning and free solution to manage your mail more efficiently.

Thunderbird woos users thanks to its flurry of options and the benefits of an open source application. Automatic updates ensure that you have the latest version of Thunderbird, preventing any security threats and offering you new features as soon as they’re available.

The biggest worry for users is switching from one mail application to another and losing precious information. With Thunderbird the switch is painless because you can quickly import your mail and contacts from your Outlook and set up your POP3 or IMAP account is a snap. To stay well organized we suggest taking advantage of Thunderbird’s filters. While this option is nothing new to the experienced Outlook user, you’ll have to admit that Thunderbird makes filters much more accessible, thanks to a simple selection of combinations and actions. Create distinct folders for your personal and professional mail and your newsletters and associate them with filters to avoid the hassle of constantly sorting your mail. Another feature we could single out is the integrated spell checker, a blessing if you send many emails and can’t be bothered to constantly verify your writing.

Although it isn’t visible right away, Thunderbird also features an RSS reader. Handy if you need to follow the news or specialist websites, this tool fits seamlessly into Thunderbird and you could almost forget that it is a mail application. Paste in the RSS feed from your favorite news source and the main messages window will reveal a list of all the latest feeds. The message pane is used as an integrated browser window to display the selected article.

Email is the number one source of viruses, that’s why Thunderbird offers various levels of message encryption, a spam filter and support for valid certificates. We found the spam filter particularly effective. Set it to “learn” mode, and it teaches itself to separate the valid email from the rest of the junk. You have to be mindful of this option though, because Thunderbird can become too restrictive and may decide on its own that one of your friends is suddenly persona non grata. Reviewing your junk folder every now and then should avoid you accidentally losing friends. Thunderbird also automatically turns off Javascript and by default does not load remote images, a good way to defuse the risk of viruses from dodgy emails.

Another known feature of the Mozilla line of products is customization. Just as with Firefox, Thunderbird can integrate a slew of extensions and add-ons to rev up your inbox. You can also add or remove icons from the actions pane, selecting the ones you use most frequently.

The one place where Thunderbird fails, and professionals will confirm this, is the failure to integrate Microsoft Exchange support. An essential tool in any work environment, the collaborative messaging software is sorely missed in Thunderbird and seriously limits its usefulness in offices. Furthermore, we can question why Mozilla included an RSS reader yet failed to incorporate a calendar, standard in most mail applications nowadays.

While the lack of proper business minded features will limit Thunderbird’s point in the workplace, the simplicity, customizability and security make it a number one choice for home users. If you’re worried about your safety on the Internet or are just looking for a more efficient way of handling your mail, Thunderbird is probably the best solution out there.

Download Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.17 in Softonic

Windows Live Pack is a complete pack of utilities, all powered by Microsoft and mostly related to Internet and web services.

The flagship in Windows Live Pack is undoubtedly Windows Live Messenger, the popular IM client, but you can also find some other handy apps to check your email, manage your photos, restrict Internet access to your kids or write your blog, among other tasks. If you don't need all of them don't worry: Windows Live Pack lets you choose the ones you want during the installation process. They all require a Windows Live account to work though.

Besides Messenger, the pack contains the following apps: Windows Live Call Beta, Windows Live Family Safety Beta, Windows Live Mail Beta (replacing good ol' Outlook Express), Windows Live Photo Gallery Beta and Windows Live Writer Beta.

These new Live apps are still at a beta stage, but they were all pretty stable during our tests. Plus they all feature very clean, slick interfaces which makes them very visually appealing and easy to use.

Windows Live Pack is a handy toolkit with several varied apps, specially designed for Microsoft fans.

Download Windows Live Pack Beta in Softonic

Spam Terrier sits between your email server and your email client, working as a powerful filter to prevent all those spam messages from reaching your inbox. Although we didn't have the time to test it thoroughly (it would have taken days to check its accuracy) we certainly could see that this is a very polished and promising tool that can help you in your personal battle against unsolicited messages.

Spam Terrier is seamlessly integrated into your e-mail client as a toolbar from which you can mark messages as spam or non spam. The program does require some prior training but this can easily be done by means of a wizard and the messages you already have in your inbox. The program also enables you to create white and black lists (for approved and banned senders respectively) as well as decide what to do with spam messages.

Download Spam Terrier 2.0.164 in Softonic

If you're constantly working between your phone and your PC, then you'll need to make sure that both are in perfect sync. WinFonie Mobile helps you do exactly that by synchronizing contacts, appointments, and tasks between Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. It also works with Tobit David, Lotus Notes, Lotus Organizer, Palm Desktop, Combit address manager according to the developers.

As soon as data is updated in your PC or mobile phone, WinFonie Mobile automatically detects the change and synchronizes. The good thing about this program is that, if you're not happy with the results of the synchronisation or if your files have been synced badly, you can preview them before accepting. What I also liked is that synchronisation is swift and detection immediate. However, I did find that WinFonie Mobile's access to Outlook was blocked by an a virus scanner I have installed in Outlook. I had to remove the program first before I could sync successfully so if you have any Outlook security add-ons installed, be aware that it might conflict with this program.

Download WinFonie Mobile 2.1.4.6 in Softonic

High speed Internet connections are quite common now but that doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes need some help when it comes to downloading game demos, videos, MP3 collections and other big files. So, even if you’re enjoying the fastest router in the neighborhood, take a look at Internet Download Manager, because it really has a lot to offer.

This excellent app will take care of all your downloads from the moment you install it on your PC. You can add new download tasks from the program’s interface but the usual thing is to let it capture the links. This means that every time you click on a certain file type (which can be specified through configuration options), IDM will handle the download for itself rather than letting the browser do the job. It’s a really handy option because everything is automatic: no changing from one app to another, no copying and pasting links, just no hassle at all. Also, it works with all major web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera.

Once IDM captures the link, you can either start to download the file right away or add it to a download list for later, which can be a good alternative if you need all of your bandwidth for the moment and plan to leave the computer on during the night. Downloads can be classified into custom categories right before starting them and can also be resumed if the connection is lost or broken for some reason.

As regards download speeds, Internet Download Manager does meet expectations, although it all depends on your Internet access. That is, don’t expect to download at the speed of light if you’re still using one of those old-fashioned 56K modems. Anyhow, IDM achieves quite satisfying download rates as a result of establishing multiple thread connections to servers. Also, it displays a small window with some interesting information about the download process: transfer rate, data downloaded so far, time left and a neat progress bar for each thread.

The program’s configuration menu displays a wide range of functions and tools devoted to handling your downloads, such as checking files for viruses directly from IDM with your own antivirus system or limiting the amount of bandwidth used by the program. There’s also support for server authentication and proxy, FTP and HTTPS servers.

The fact of the matter is, we couldn’t really find anything wrong with Internet Download Manager. It does its job and does it pretty well, so even if your Internet connection speed is far beyond the usual limits, you should definitely give it a try.

Download Internet Download Manager 5.14.5 in Softonic

MioNet is the first and only personal private network that makes remote access and file sharing seamless, simple and secure. It is incredibly easy to set up and use - no dedicated hardware, networking protocols or firewall reconfigurations required.

It can access anything you want on any of your computers running MioNet - documents, music, photos, and more - regardless of where they're physically located. And you can access them all immediately since each computer simply appears as another drive on your local desktop. You can also share photos, home videos, work folders, webcams, you name it.

Finally, MioNet is seamlessly integrated with your Microsoft OS, so everything you can do on one computer you can now do across all your computers - simultaneously. Desktop search, Microsoft Office applications, photo and music management, even backup.

Download MioNet 3.6 in Softonic

Microsoft has made the first public beta of Internet Explorer 8 available for download. While generally keeping the same design as IE 7, this new version features some new functionality and is also fully standard-compliant.

First of all bear in mind that this beta of Internet Explorer 8 is intended solely for web developers and designers, not for the average user. This beta is still under heavy development and may not work properly with certain web pages. True, you've got a button to "emulate" IE7 while running IE8 but that's not the point. So if you're not a programmer or do not like strong emotions you'd better stay away from this one.

Internet Explorer 8 includes a couple of exciting new features: Activities and Weclips. The first ones are a collection of customizable add-ons that let you access online services from the browser's context menu. As for webclips, they work like RSS feeds, but focusing only on certain areas of a given webpage that are being constantly updated. Besides these two elements, Internet Explorer also features some other goodies like integration with Facebook and Live Maps and a crash recovery system.

This first public beta of Internet Explorer 8 lets you take a sneak peek at the future next version of Microsoft's web browser and start playing with its new feature. For a more extended review, check out our blog OnSoftware.

Download Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 in Softonic

If you want to access your favorite programs as quickly as possible, you may find Microsoft Speed Launcher interesting.

Microsoft Speed Launcher is an application launcher from which you can access and run your most frequently used programs. Not only does it work with software, but it can also open web pages. Plus the program comes with a few handy shortcuts bundled as an example.

Microsoft Speed Launcher stays on your desktop at all times for quicker access, but being a semi-transparent icon on the bottom right corner it won't disturb you. You can always reduce the size of the icon or hide it completely (in which case you'll have to use a keyboard shortcut to open the launcher).

You can easily customize Microsoft Speed Launcher with your favorite programs, either using the built-in shortcut manager or simply dragging and dropping the executable file on the launcher's icon.

Microsoft Speed Launcher works fine as an app launcher, but it's not certainly the handiest I've seen. I miss having more configuration options plus a more comfy way to access shortcuts. Then again, the program is still under development, so hopefully it'll be improved in future versions.

Microsoft Speed Launcher lets you quickly access applications and websites from a desktop customizable menu.

Download Microsoft Speed Launch 1.0.811.0 in Softonic

Following the release of new versions of both Internet Explorer and Firefox, the infamous 'browser wars' are flaring up again. Despite both Firefox 1.5 and the Beta of IE7 making significant strides, it would be be foolish to think this was a two-horse race. While gaining a good reputation with geeks and power users, Opera has long been a bit-part player among the big boys of the browser world. However, if this preview release is anything to go by, the Norwegian-built browser could finally be ready to punch with the heavyweights.

Opera has been pioneering new ways of browsing the web for some time. It has had tabbed browsing since the days before tabbed browsing was cool and developed the innovative 'mouse gestures' control system, where you navigate through the web just by holding the mouse button and flicking your wrist. The developers even dabbled with a multi-pane interface for viewing several pages within one interface.

The good news is that Opera has lost none of its appetite for innovation, and version 9 is packed with new goodies that will have the programmers at Mozilla and Microsoft choking on their doughnuts. For starters the app runs much quicker than the previous release, making it arguably the quickest browser around (except perhaps for Safari) at rendering pages. Incredibly, despite this boost in performance, the program appears to use less memory than version 8.5, making it far less draining on system resources than Firefox and IE.

In terms of features Opera is the gift that keeps on giving. New to the program comes OSX Tiger-style 'widgets', allowing you to check news, convert currency, view the weather and so on through a series of draggable pop-ups which anchor themselves in front of the browser. Although there aren’t many widgets to choose from at present, this is sure to change once the tech-minded Opera fans start developing more.

Another great addition to Opera 9 is BitTorrent support, allowing you to download torrents directly within the browser – a feature that amazingly no one had thought of before. This system works very smoothly, which makes us wonder why RSS feed reading support in Opera is still so poor.

Among the other new treats within the program is a nifty new search feature which lets you add any search engine to the search bar in the main toolbar. This means you can instantly access searches within your favorite online destinations (Softonic, for instance).

Tabbed browsing remains, although some users may be annoyed to discover that Opera has added close tab buttons to the tabs themselves rather than as a separate button. Having said this, the new web page preview thumbnails that appear when you rollover a tab are a real masterstroke. Mouse gestures are still there too, along with the addition of Total Recall-style voice commands – another example of how cutting-edge this browser is.

Opera's developers have been keen to ramp up security features too, and although they aren't highly original, the new content blocking and pop-up blocking functions serve their purpose effectively. What's more, it's refreshing to see a browser that embraces the latest web standards so freely, with the latest release boasting support for CSS 2.1 and CSS 3 tags.

The browser is remarkably stable and is far better behaved than Internet Explorer 7. Combined with its speed, innovative features and standards support, Opera is undoubtedly web software's best-kept secret, and the final release may prove to be even better than Firefox. Don't say anything though, or everyone will want it.

Download Opera 9.52 in Softonic

Do you know that when you install Windows, it leaves open a lot of vulnerable points that can be exploited by hackers or spyware.

Xpy allows you to close a lot of these vulnerable holes and make Windows considerably safer without the need to install any kind of security software. Amongst the things it can do are disable Windows "calling home", disable unnecessary services, disarm Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and remove Windows Messenger. You can instantly improve your privacy and security by running it and removing certain unneeded components, speed up the performance of your system. The problem however is that it can close vital components that are needed for Windows to update itself. When you are presented with a list of components to remove or close-off, be very careful what you select as there is no real guide as to what each one corresponds to. The reason for this is that XPY is written and compiled using NSIS which do often get picked up as spyware by programs such as AdAware. The developers have assured that the program does not install any kind of malware and they are working to resolve this problem

A very simple way to close security holes and threats on Windows but be careful what you remove or close down.

Download Xpy 0.10.8 in Softonic

SPAMfighter Exchange Module (SEM) is designed for the special needs that Outlook's Exchange Server has when dealing with spam.

SPAMfighter Exchange Module is designed to work with Exchange Server 2000, 2003 and 2007. SPAMfighter Exchange Module, like most products from the SPAMfighter developers, is incredibly easy to use and administer whether you're an advanced network administrator or just a home user sick of being deluged by spam in Outlook.

SPAMfighter Exchange Module also works with Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) so it's also suitable for small businesses suffering from spam outbreaks. The program is remarkably powerful as it utilizes over 5 million SPAMfighter servers from 222 countries which are constantly on the alert for spam attacks. If enough SPAMfighters report the same spam mail, it is instantly added to the SPAMfighter Exchange Module database and you can be sure it won't get through. Whatsmore, it doesn't require client side installation so can be used and administered by one network specialist from one location.

SPAMfighter Exchange Module is a very powerful solution for those using Outlook that have been plagues by spam for too long.

Download SPAMfighter Exchange Module in Softonic

Achieve Planner is a time management software system that helps you get organized, increase your productivity, and make better use of your time. It features a hierarchical (multi-level) project/task outliner with a weekly calendar to schedule meetings, appointments, and allocate time to projects.

Plan your work for better results

Make weekly and daily plans using the schedule. You can create "project blocks" to get important work done, and schedule other meetings, appointments, and activities. The weekly planning wizard software tool helps you plan your week, or you can do it yourself using drag and drop. You can also sketch out your ideal week by allocating time for different activity zones like health & fitness, finances, and family time.

Capture, organize, and manage your tasks and projects

Achieve Planner personal time management software provides a central location to keep track of everything you are working on and need to get done. It uses hierarchical (multi-level) outlines, which means you can break up large items into smaller steps using as many levels as you need. Separating projects and tasks gives you a smaller, more manageable and effective to-do list.

Set priorities to make the best use of your time

Too much to do and not enough time? Achieve Planner supports the ABCD prioritization system to help you spend more time on what is most important and valuable. Prioritizing your to-do list with our personal time management software helps you do less and accomplish more by using the 80/20 rule.

Get a better sense of when your work will be completed

Personal task management is easier when you can plan your projects in greater detail by tracking effort estimates for tasks and recording your actual work. Achieve Planner Pro automatically computes the start/end dates for all your projects/tasks based on your effort estimates, priorities, and schedule. Learn more. If you use Microsoft Outlook (XP/2003), you can keep your tasks and appointments synchronized with your plans. You can even create projects/tasks to keep track of your action-oriented emails (with a link so you can open the associated email at any time).

Download Achieve Planner 1.7.2.0 in Softonic

I've always used MS Word for my word processing needs but if you don't have Office installed, then it's not exactly a cheap option.

AbiWord can read and write all standard industry docs ranging from open source efforts such as those created in OpenOffice to those created in professional apps such as Microsoft Word. It also features support for WordPerfect documents, Rich Text Format documents, HTML web pages etc. Although the editing options can't compare with Word, I do like the fact that this is a very light word processor that doesn't take up much more processing power than even MS Text. This makes it especially suitable for those working on slower machines who haven't got a decent word processor installed. What's also nice is that AbiWord is fully customisable with several different plugins to extend its capabilities. These can vary from format converters, document importers and thesauruses to image importers and a text format managers.

This may be basic but it's generally a very impressive word processing app that has everything you need to edit simple documents.

Download AbiWord 2.6.4 in Softonic

OpenOffice.org is both an open-source product and a project. The product is a multiplatform office productivity suite. It includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to those of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office.

Localizations of OpenOffice.org are available in 27 languages, with more being constantly added by the community. OpenOffice.org runs on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), and Windows. Written in C++ and with documented APIs licensed under the LGPL and SISSL open-source protocols, OpenOffice.org allows any knowledgeable developer to benefit from the source.

Download OpenOffice.org 2.4.1 in Softonic