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 5.14.3 in Softonic

We constantly hear about the importance of creating backup copies of all our important documents, in case someday our computer happens to die. So if you've finally decided to follow this wise piece of advice, you can start with Uranium Backup.

This backup application will help you create security copies of selected files and documents and save them in different locations, including network units, USB devices and removable hard drives. Of course, you can also backup to another folder in the same drive, but that wouldn't be very smart (if you lose that hard drive, you lose both the original and the backup copy).

The most outstanding feature in Uranium Backup is that you can schedule those backups to be run at specific days and times. The scheduling menu has lots of options so you can easily have your backups done when you're not using the PC and thus it doesn't disturb your work.

On the downside, this freeware version doesn't include other interesting features like the ability to save backup copies to an FTP drive, a CD or a DVD.

Uranium Backup is a simple, easy-to-use backup tool you can use for your security copies, provided you don't need FTP support.

Download Uranium Backup 6.8.0.2531 in Softonic

These days, when it comes to publishing your own photo albums and sharing them with your friends there are many programs to choose from. JALbum is a free and intuitive tool to edit your photos and prepare good looking albums.

Although the interface feels a little crowded it will provide a good way of exploring your folders for pictures and quickly selecting the ones you want to put into your album. JALbum also includes a good set of editing tools to tweak your pictures a bit, like removing red eyes, blurring or sharpening.

However the strongest feature of the application is certainly making albums. This is very easy to do and JAlbum comes with a number of styles to start out with. You can also download more skins from the developer's website. Once you're album is done, you can either upload it to your JAlbum account, if you have one, or to any other server if you have the login details.

With a good set of editing tools, and a straightforward process, the free JAlbum makes for a great way of creating photo albums to share with your friends.

Download JAlbum 8.0.9 in Softonic

This free FTP client for Windows houses all the features expected of a complete FTP client. SmartFTP reveals a very intuitive and user-friendly configuration, thanks among other things to a friendly interface. Along with the classic features included in most FTP clients, such as passive mode transfers, uploading and downloading of files, a large choice of FTP connections, creation of favorites, SmartFTP carries its unique batch of attributes. For instance, you can connect to multiple FTP connections without time delays or errors. By dragging and dropping, you can transfer files from folder to folder. A few other notable features are passive mode and site to site transfers.

However, its most entertaining novelty is probably the transfers menu. This handy tool allows you to create queues of transfers, either global or in a specific session. You can easily monitor the speed of your transfers and set specific tasks to the queue, like hibernating or shutting down, once all files have been transferred. Last and not least, SmartFTP’s menus can be customized in a breeze, letting you choose what information you want to see.

Smart FTP is free for personal use, and although beginners might need a bit of time adjusting to it, they will be bound to love the flexibility of SmartFTP as much as more seasoned users.

Download SmartFTP 3.0 Build 1013 in Softonic

AceBackup is a powerful tool to backup your data completely secure. Store your data on any local storage device attached to your computer (Hard or Removeable Disk), on Network Drive, USB, CD, DVD or on a remote FTP server!

AceBackup has five different encryption algorithms to protect your backup data against unauthorized access. On demand the program does not only encrypt the content of your files but also the file name to ensure completely secure data backup in any case.

The powerful features ensure that AceBackup is a perfect and valuable tool for your computer backups and archives: Smart Restore restores your backup quickly and easily, three integrated compression levels allow you to choose between quick or smallest backup files! Detailed reports and extended help as well as a number of wizards complete the excellent functions of this backup program.

Integration with Windows Explorer allows you to add files or folders to a backup project with a single mouse click. And powerful scheduler performs automatic data backup on regular basis.

Download AceBackup 2.2 in Softonic

Site Publisher is specially designed for web site owners. The program makes a mirror image of the offline web site on your PC, by uploading files to your website using FTP. But the Site Publisher is no ordinary FTP client. It's smart! The program only uploads files which are new, or have been changed, and deletes old files and directories from your website that are no longer needed, and all with a single mouse click!

Download Site Publisher 2.5.77 in Softonic

The program lets you monitor and control your network traffic. Visualizing your Internet activity is simple – the program is easy, even for inexperienced users. You can view all established connections, monitor network traffic over a certain period, setup various notifications, etc.

The new version introduces a unique and reliable Smart Filtering feature to monitor network traffic by Internet protocol. Unlike other network monitors, Net Activity Diagram analyzes Internet connections independently by port number, allowing you to see Web, FTP, streaming media and other activity separately.

The program has rich statistical capabilities to monitor traffic for a specified time period. You can filter traffic by connection type, IP address, port and other parameters. The Active Connections dialog shows all connections established with other computers and the amount of information passed through each one.

Download Net Activity Diagram 2.3.293 in Softonic

BlazeFtp is a multiple-session and cache-enabled ftp client with offline searching capability. It's slim, easy to use and powerful. You can learn to use it in several minutes. BlazeFtp also has many special features making esp. convenient to be used by webmasters.

Features:

• Multiple session interface based on multiple transfer threads
• Remote directory structure and file listing locally cached
• Lightning-fast offline searching on multiple ftp sites with support of regular expression
• Hierarchical transfer job definition, management and access
• Miscellaneous shortcuts to connect to a ftp site
• Uniform integration of local file copy, uploading, downloading and site-to-site transfer
• Persistent and smart transfer engine
• Intelligent file type recognition based on both extension matching and content examination

Download BlazeFtp 2.1 in Softonic