With SkypeCap you are able to record microphone audio chatting and moreover, the most interesting part - webcam real-time Skype video. Your partner won't be aware his/her video and audio session being captured by SkypeCap.

How does it work? Just launch and login to Skype. Launch SkypeCap. Status bars will let you know If SkypeCap is conected with Skype and it is ready for video and audio capturing. Choose an output directory.

Make a call to any of your friends from Contact list. Begin audio or video session. Now SkypeCap is ready to capture or it is already capturing audio or video (with audio) if you set it for automatical beginning. So now, everything what you see or hear by Skype is recording as you see it. You can also capture audio chatting in Skype-out mode. You can make a call to any of your friends cell phone or office number and start recording and saving it.

Download SkypeCap 2.3.3 in Softonic

Have you ever wanted to record audio for a radio broadcast, phone call or media player but couldn't be bothered fiddling with complicated software to do so?

If that's the case, then Meda MP3 Recorder is a useful solution for those that want to record Mp3 audio outputs. Meda MP3 Recorder can record form just about any type of source including internet broadcasts, video games or media players such as Windows Media Player, Real Player, Quick Time, Winamp and more.

Even more useful, Meda MP3 Recorder can also record conversations you have on VoIP software such as Skype and any other audio input that comes through your microphone jack, CD player and other audio from your sound card. The name Meda "MP3" Recorder is a bit misleading because it doesn't just save MP3 audio - it can save just about anything but unfortunately, only in MP3 format although for most people, this is the best format to save audio in anyway.

Meda MP3 Recorder also doesn't rely on you starting the recording on time. Meda MP3 Recorder has a useful Auto detect control tool which can auto start , auto stop, auto pause and auto restart according to when the audio kicks in.

A versatile and simple to use audio recorder, Meda MP3 Recorder is not really for professionals but for those that need a simple and flexible audio recorder.

Download Meda MP3 Recorder 1.5 in Softonic

There are plenty of special effects we can add to IM clients in the form of emoticons, avatars and pictures.

But webcams are generally restricted to nothing but the image you see. However, with WebcamMax Full, you can add all manner of special effects and images to webcam images to make your broadcasts and webcam sessions more interesting. WebcamMax adds videos, pictures and effects to virtual/real Webcams and broadcasts on messenger services.

You can add videos, screenshots, pictures, flash and effects to virtual or real Webcams and messengers including the most popular IM clients such as ICQ, AIM, MSN, Camfrog, Skype, Paltalk, Yahoo, ANYwebcam and Stickam. You can also add special motion effects (Frame, Transform, and Emotion) over your webcam image. If you find that the program doesn't offer you enough effects, you can also download up to 1500 more from the developer's website. Apart from having fun, this program can enhance your YouTube videos or blogcasts by changing the background or environment from where you are broadcasting from.

Perhaps the most useful feature however doesn't relate to effects at all and relates to PinP (Picture in Picture). So for example, you want to talk about a certain part in a film with a friend or discuss it in a review, WebcamMax Full allows you to choose an alternative source which plays in the corner of your webcam in a smaller screen while you talk.

An interesting webcam tool which can be used for fun or more serious pursuits like picture in picture to get the most out of your webcam.

Download WebcamMax Full 5.0.4.8 in Softonic

A little game of pool is always good fun and MacPool makes it possible.

We liked the sleek graphics, the way the balls roll, the semi transparent interface window and the colors used in the game. Hitting balls is all done by dragging your mouse to add force to your shot and calculate the angle. You use the arrow arrow keys to adjust the hitting point on the ball and add effects like top spin.

The game offers detailed instructions for anybody who might not know the rules of pool and the advanced settings, available from the top menu, allow you to set table cloth color or table quality (traction and cushions). You can supposedly play online against competitors from anywhere in the world, but we never managed to connect with anyone when we tried out MacPool. There's more than a dozen narrator voices to comment your play, some of them rather annoying and others amusing.

MacPool is an entertaining pool game. Although the controls are a bit tricky at first, once you get used to it it should prove loads of fun.

Download MacPool 10.5 in Softonic

One of the biggest temptations when chatting on the Internet is playing a joke on the person you're talking to. And AV WebCam Morpher can be a really good help.

AV WebCam Morpher is especially designed for video chats. The program replaces your current webcam video signal with a fake video loop that shows a completely different person. This means that it'll be this character's face – and not yours – the one that will appear on the video window on whichever IM client you're using.

You can choose between different people in AV WebCam Morpher. Video loops are quite elaborate: people on them play a very credible role while pretending to be typing on a keyboard or looking at the screen. What's more, AV WebCam Morpher includes a smiley menu with which you can make them laugh, dance, grin and many other visual gestures that are part of body language.

AV WebCam Morpher is quite easy to set up, and is also compatible with popular IM clients such as Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Camfrog, PalTalk Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. On the downside, its interface could be greatly improved.

With AV WebCam Morpher you can play a funny joke on your video IM client pretending to be someone else.

Download AV Webcam Morpher 2.0.23 in Softonic

PrettyMay is your personal voice assistant for Skype. You can record and replay any Skype call easily and simply as an add-on (or plug-in) for Skype. PrettyMay also auto answers calls and chats for you when you are away or don't want to be disturbed. It makes it simple to share your recordings with your friends.

PrettyMay saves calls in mp3 audio format instead of the standard large wav file. PrettyMay Offer the feature that allow you to remote access Skype voicemails and PrettyMay voicemessages from regular phone or another Skype account. Furthermore, you can forward voicemails via emails, or call back the contact who leave the message for you directly from regular phone whether he or she has Skype in number or not.

PrettyMay also support you to use Skypeout credit to dial internatinal call from regular telephone/mobile. If you want to chat with your friend abroad when you are outside, you can dial your Skype in number firstly, then enter PrettyMay IVR system, dial international long number according to the voice indication, input your friend's number, PrettyMay will use Skypeout to dial your wanted number. This will help you to avoid the expensive call fees.

Download PrettyMay for Skype 3.0.5.18 in Softonic

Organising contacts is an increasingly difficult task no matter who you are - if you add together all of the contacts on your mobile, e-mail and other external devices, it would probably be enough to go round the moon twice - or something like that.

Open Contacts is a brave attempt at trying to tie all these contacts together. The first thing that strikes you is that, it's not exactly the best looking program you've ever seen. It's more like an Excel spreadsheet with a few tasteless looking pink fields here and there. However, once you get working with it, you realise that it's not just an ugly face. The application has presets for various types of contact namely People and Companies. Both follow the same principle and the default layout gives you four fields within each one which you can move about. Each field expands into a whole page which allows you to enter just about everything from their eye colour to their favourite food if you so choose. In fact, few people will want or need to go into so much detail about their contacts but this is supposed to be a definitive kind of contacts book that you will refer to time and again although you get the feeling it's more like a police database at times. The program could have done with a few wizards to take you through the whole process a few times to begin with although the help file is extensive.

Open Contacts does help link and divide your contacts but it could do with a much better looking interface and a more simpler data fields for most people's needs.

Download Open Contacts 5.2.4.593 in Softonic

The VoIP protocol has caused a total revolution in the way people communicate on the Internet, and Skype is undoubtedly one of the most widely used VoIP clients you can find.

With Skype you can not only have voice chats on your computer – just like telephone, only for free – but also make real phone calls at much lower rates, using the so called SkypeOut service and paying with Skype credit. Besides voice chats, Skype also includes the standard IM functionalities (written conversations, emoticons, user avatars and so on) and also lets you have video conferences.

These video calls are precisely the main focus on Skype's latest beta version. The program's interface has been completely redesigned with video conferences on mind. This means it's been made wider (full screen, really) so that video fits in perfectly with your written chat, your contact list and a toolbar to manage conversation. Honestly, I'm not sure this is a big improvement; my guess is that most people still use Skype only for voice calls and will find the new interface too obtrusive.

The sound quality during our testing was perfect: loud and clear. Unfortunately we can't say the same from the video image quality. The fact that it was displayed at quite a big size made it look too pixelated. There was though one nice detail, and that's the ability to see your own video image built-in on your contact's video. Also, though this is still a beta version, I must say I didn't have any problems while testing it.

Other improvements in this beta are, among others, a call quality feedback indicator, the ability to turn alerts off, the possibility to group contacts and a new feature called Video in mood, which lets you embed online videos from Metacafe and Dailymotion in your status message.

Skype 4.0 Beta features a complete interface overhaul that now focuses more on video chats, and also adds some handy improvements to the way you communicate online.

Download Skype 4.0.0.145 Beta 1 in Softonic

Long gone are the days when you’d have to save up for weeks to make a long distance or international phone call. Thanks to Voice over IP technology and the widespread availability of broadband it’s now possible to talk free of charge to anyone in the world.

Skype has made the technology accessible to all through it’s simple and fun-to-use chat-style interface. The program is gaining in popularity, meaning the community of users you can chat to for free is expanding. This update certainly contains some decent additions to the previous version, most notably its webcam facilities. This means you can now watch your buddies as you chat to them and let them see you if you want.

You can use the program to chat with other Skype users anywhere in the world for free either via telephone or the built-in chat feature. However, some overly optimistic users may be disappointed to learn that you still need to pay for credits to make calls to landlines and mobiles with Skype, through the SkypeOut function. Luckily, this is a very painless process, and Skype has recently added a plethora of different ways to pay.

The program is perhaps even easier to use than ever, with streamlined new tools such as the ability to add a contact from the main Skype window and contact grouping for arranging your friends, family and colleagues into categories. You can even import contacts from Outlook, and find out if any of these use Skype. The changes to the interface and its icons may confuse existing users for a while, but once you get used to it, the new GUI is arguably more intuitive than ever.

As we’ve come to expect there’s plenty you can do other than just having a two-way conversation with a friend, including inviting other users into a conference, setting up chatrooms, exchanging files, and viewing the history of your contacts. You can even set up customized voicemail to record messages while you’re away from base.

We're also excited by the new public chats function. You'll get to join in many different groups and talk about a specific subject. You can even create your own chat for others to join in, like an Italian language class or a talk on the consequences of the Iraq war.

As more people clamber aboard the Skype bandwagon, the network will become a much more convenient way for people to chat with each other. The client now provides the perfect platform on which to join the communication revolution. Let the Skyping commence…

Download Skype 3.8.0.139 in Softonic

Organising contacts is an increasingly difficult task no matter who you are - if you add together all of the contacts on your mobile, e-mail and other external devices, it would probably be enough to go round the moon twice - or something like that.

Open Contacts Portable is portable version of Open Contacts which is a brave attempt at trying to tie all these contacts together. Of course, if you're on the move a lot and making contacts all the time, then this version is much more suitable because it fits neatly on a Pendrive. The first thing that strikes with Open Contacts is that it's not exactly the best looking program you've ever seen. It's more like an Excel spreadsheet with a few tasteless looking pink fields here and there. However, once you get working with it, you realise that it's not just an ugly face. The application has presets for various types of contact namely People and Companies. Both follow the same principle and the default layout gives you four fields within each one which you can move about. Each field expands into a whole page which allows you to enter more details although the portable version is more limited than the original which is no bad thing. Few people will want or need to go into so much detail about their contacts as the original allows and so I'd rather use this version anyway. Although it's simpler to use as a result, the program could still have done with a few wizards to take you through the whole process a few times to begin with although the help file is extensive.

Open Contacts does help link and divide your contacts but it could do with a much better looking interface although the simpler data fields in this portable version are actually an improvement on the original.

Download Open Contacts Portable 5.1.1 in Softonic

Linux is one of those things that most general PC users stay clear of because traditionally it has been viewed as intimidating to setup and use especially when it comes to installing external components.

However, did you know that you can enjoy all the benefits of a Linux environment without installing it courtesy of Ulteo? Ulteo is a virtual desktop that allows you to run Linux applications in a Windows environment. You’ll have to sign-up for an Ulteo account to synchronise data stored on your hard drive with Ulteo but once done, it’s a surprisingly powerful and useful way to run Linux without installing it. Ulteo comes preinstalled with all the major tools you need to work and surf the internet and is intended as a replacement for Windows. Amongst the packages you receive are Firefox, OpenOffice (that can now work with MS Office 2007 and 2008 documents), KPdf to deal with your PDF documents, Kopete (a cross-client instant messenger), Skype, Thunderbird, Enigmail, Gimp and Digikam to manage your pictures and Inkscape and Scribus to create great graphics and DTP projects. It’s a genuinely exciting package filled with open source applications that are easy to use and won’t bug you with ads or registration requests.

For anyone that divides their time regularly between Linux and Windows, this tool will speed up your productivity significantly.

Download Ulteo Virtual Desktop 20080514 Beta in Softonic

My Gmail address book must be one of my most trusty contact lists that I have. I constantly refer to it because it's easy to use and intuitive.

However, it's also a pain to have to log into Gmail everytime I want to access a contact. iContact works by using Gmail/Google Apps contacts list as the central database for your contacts. You can still see and edit your contacts in Gmail but iContact allows you to have instant access to your contacts whenever you need them without logging into your Google/Gmail account - great for if you are travelling or don't have access to an internet connection. The program can also integrate with Microsoft Outlook to import your contacts directly from there and add them into Gmail. It also features integration with Skype and Google Maps and allows you to send contacts to your Satnav or TomTom device which is useful for contacting people on the move. iContact also doesn't care which machine or PC you are working on - you can access your contacts on all computers without the need to synchronize them.

This is not exactly a Web 2.0 app but it's about as close as you can come without actually being one and a much more convenient way to organise your contacts.

Download iContact in Softonic

Lupo PenSuite is a completely free suite of portable programs and games (no need to be installed). This suite is designed to simplify the user’s life, by collecting the best suites and portable programs available on the web.

Optimized to be loaded on a pendrive and brought always with you, this suite works perfectly well on any hard disk. It includes over a hundred programs and lots of games, classified into several categories, such as Internet (Firefox, Thunderbird, Skype, uTorrent, Filezilla...), Multimedia (VideoLAN, XMplay, Audacity, mp3DirectCut, DeepBurner...), Graphics (IrfanView, PhotoFiltre, The Gimp, FastStone Capture...), Security (CCleaner, TrueCrypt, Keepass, CyberShredder...), System (SIW, DTaskManager...) or Office (AbiWord, Notepad++, Foxit Reader, EssentialPIM, Stickies...).

You can also easily customize your suite adding programs from our broad software database. Simply follow the tutorial in the Extras tab and see how easy it is. All your software needs covered in one single package!

Download Lupo PenSuite 6.60 in Softonic

Kat MP3 recorder is a powerful and free, sound recorder for your computer. It is very user friendly and all the options available to set the sound quality and the file formats are visible from the main program view, making it very easy to use.

The interesting feature of this program is that you can record any sound that is passing through your computer, which includes phone calls with Skype or other VoIP programs, your favourite internet radio programs or even game soundtracks. With this versatility, Kat MP3 recorder can replace many different recording programs previously used to record just phone calls, or internet audio streaming.

The application worked well during my test, but I had to select a sound quality of 192Kbps in the format settings to obtain a decent quality for the recordings. Lowers settings seem to make the sound too distorted for my tastes. You can save your recordings as MP3 files, but also WMA, OGG, VOX and many others.

Kat MP3 recorder is useful, free and easy to use. It can record any sound passing through your computer's sound card and saves it in 7 different formats. Record phone calls or your favorite radio programs to create your own personal audio collection.

Download Kat MP3 Recorder 1.1 in Softonic

Express Talk basically makes calls between computers using IP Telephony. This application is compatible with other software-based VoIP SIP protocols which can be called free of charge to computers that have installed Talk Express. In addition to the functions typical of a VOIP call via the Internet, Talk Express maintains up to six simultaneous conversations, reduces background noise and can be configured to circumvent firewalls, record conference calls in MP3 format, identify incoming calls, store numbers etc.

You can configure up to 6 lines on one phone with the ability to put calls on hold. It supports video (H263, H261) for webcams or IP Phones and also integrates with Microsoft Address Book (with some difficulty). Business users will however have to upgrade to the Business Edition which supports call transfers and allows up to 6 people to join one call using the Call Conferencing feature.

If you need something that offers a bit more than Skype or your normal VOIP service, Talk Express is a useful option for individuals and business users alike.

Download Express Talk 3.06 in Softonic

The Google Desktop application allows users to search their desktop content quickly and easily. Praised for its ingenuity and criticised for its intrusiveness, Google Desktop brings the power of Google’s search engine technology to your PC.

After installing the application, you’ll have to give it some time to index the files on your PC, including emails, photos, chats, contacts and calendar events. Google Desktop will index the first 10,000 words in the first 100,000 documents on your PC. The application supports the majority of file types and you can decide which ones to index, or omit protected files, using the preferences menu.

In its latest version, which is compatible with Windows Vista, Google Desktop has been given a new transparent look, providing a pretty sleek feel to your PC. Your search results will appear in your browser (in the familiar Google web page format) and a small preview button allows you to view results without actually clicking on the corresponding link. Results are as precise as we’ve come to expect from Google searches, however we were slightly disappointed to learn that the application doesn’t offer logical 'OR' support or substring search. On another note, Google Desktop is not limited to your PC as you can cross index content from multiple machines and share some panel items with your friends.

Google Desktop is not only about search, though. Joining a marketplace already occupied by Apple’s Dashboard Widgets and Yahoo! Widgets, Google Desktop can be fitted with any number of little gadgets. These mini apps perform all kinds of functions, from fetching your mail to jotting down notes or checking up on your local weather. There are hundreds of gadgets to choose from to customize your desktop bar. Our personal favorites are: Google Translate, the Skype plug-in to check your credit and call your contacts, “Am I Blocked” to find out who’s blocked you on IM, Workspace to quickly move between tasks, System Stats to monitor your PC and Games, a selection of Flash games like Tetris and Moonlander.

When running, we found Google Desktop to use up around 30 MBs, but that can quickly increase if you add more gadgets to it. The application is also constantly re-indexing your files to incorporate your modifications and new elements. However you should rarely feel your PC slowing due to indexing.

When you’re dealing with Google, however, you know the main criticism will be about security. Because Google Desktop indexes all your documents, you’re basically opening up your PC and all your personal files to the Moutain View company. What some users fear is that Google could one day take advantage of that access or that a bug in the application would allow malicious users to infiltrate your PC and steal information.

While the intrusiveness of Google Desktop will give some users pause for thought on installing the app, Google Desktop is highly effective and simple to use. The gadgets you can add to its sidebar may not all be essential, but many of them are quite fun and original and let’s face it, the sidebar looks good. Give it a go if you think your PC is a mess and you need quick access to anything.

Download Google Desktop 5.7.802.22438 in Softonic

MX Skype Recorder is a new tool that works in conjunction with Skype for recording Skype audio conversations.

It has several key features. It can work in automatic mode, so you don't need to press "record" or "stop", or manual mode. It also automatically compresses conversations into mp3 format using Lame MP3 Encoder or it can also save the file in wav PCM format.

You can record conversations either in single or dual audio track (one channel for input, other for output) and it can even work in "Spy mode" - users who use Skype won't even know that all their conversations will be recorded.

It also supports all versions of Skype, Google talk, Yahoo Messenger and several other VoIP applications.

Download MX Skype Recorder 3.5.2 in Softonic

SoliCall is an innovative software that will help you reduce unwanted noises on your part during an online conversation.

Ticking on your keyboard? The phone rings? Your kids play loudly in the other room and you just don't want the other party to be continuously disturbed by all these noises? SoliCall can help. Whether you use Skype, Yahoo Messenger or Google Talk, SoliCall will make you sound more professional.

Also, you can enjoy and hear SoliCall's performances yourself by using the Screen Incoming Audio feature, which minimizes background noises coming from the other end. In addition, you get an Automatic Recorder that allows you to record your calls and the files would be saved automatically under your name.

Download Solicall 1.2.2 in Softonic

Normally you can only connect one application to a single video capture source. SplitCamera is a freeware virtual video clone and split video capture driver for connecting several applications to a single video capture source.

Usually, if you have a web camera or video camera connected to your computer, you cannot use it in more than one application at the same time, and there are no standard Windows options that make it possible. Split Camera driver allows you to easily multiply your web-camera (any model), video cameras (analogue or digital including VHS, DV, TV-IN or TV-tuner).

These can be added to video chat or video conferencing software like ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype Video, Camfrog, AOL AIM, Pal Talk and more. The maximum connection is for up to 64 clients in a single video source. You can also use splitcam to send your home videos at the same time to many video conference programs such as a friend using MSN Messenger that can see your home video while another friend uses Yahoo messenger can see it too.

This program is an excellent idea although in reality, coordinating between multiple messengers or video sources can become very confusing. The setup process is also tricky and you might find yourself spending more time trying to get simultaneous images than actually using it.

Download SplitCam 4.1 in Softonic

When I was a teenager I used to save chat logs in all my IM clients (namely ICQ and MSN Messenger). Although I don't do it anymore, I would have loved to know a tool like IM-History back then.

This app saves the chat history of several popular IM clients and synchronizes it with an online storage service. This means that your chat logs are permanently synchronized and up-to-date, no matter where you connect from: home, office or even mobile devices. And of course, you can access them any time with a simple web browser.

Online chat storage is conveniently protected by a personal username and password. As for the desktop client, I must admit I had some problems to properly configure it, but I emailed the Support team and got the solution in about an hour. So if you're having trouble in getting IM-History to find your installed messengers as I did, simply make sure you log on each one of them at least once. I also had some connectivity issues while testing the program, but this is probably due to the fact that it's still in beta stage.

IM-History features a colorful, intuitive interface where you can review all your chats, perform searches by contact or by keyword and also mark any given sentence as Favorite. Chat logs also save emoticons, web links and even photo and video preview.

Despite some configuration and connectivity problems, IM-History is an excellent tool to save, manage and organize chat logs from many different IM clients.

Download IM-History 1.0 Beta in Softonic