System Purification Tool

PureRa is a simple portable tool that does a simple computer maintenance task. However, this program has special features, giving an extra functionality in comparison with other computer cleaning utilities: it removes files from your computer that other cleaning programs tend to oversee. Some of the target files are simply removed to create additional valuable space while other files (that are able to recreate themselves) are removed in an attempt to repair certain system configuration issues.

Targets that are currently removed by PureRa are:

- Config.msi Folder [The Config.msi folder contains backup of that are being installed or updated during an install. Sometimes a Windows Installer package is sloppy and doesn’t automatically remove unpacked setup files and the Config.msi folder can get cluttered with useless files]

- Thumbs.db [when you view the contents of a folder in ’Thumbnail’ or ’Filmstrip’ view a system file called Thumbs.db is generated automatically by Windows XP. Thumbs.db contains a copy of each of the tiny preview images generated for image files in that folder so that they load up quickly the next time you browse that folder. Thumbs.db also stores your settings with regard to thumbnail and filmstrip view. Though they are small they may annoy you because there may be hundreds of them]

- Iconcache.db [The icons used in Windows are saved in an icon cache. These can become corrupted and lead to garbled/fuzzy icons. Deleting the Iconcache.db file will force Windows to re-create itself flawlessly]

- .sqm-files [sqm-files are created by MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger. It is rumored that they are created to become the reports that these programs will send if you turn on the option to allow Microsoft to gather information about your use of MSN Live Messenger (read surfing behavior). These reports are still being generated (as sqm-files) but not send]

- Desktop.ini [Desktop.ini is used to tell Windows how to display a folder. For example, enabling Thumbnail view creates a desktop.ini file in that folder which amongst other things, tells Windows to add an extra item to the View menu for that folder. Desktop.ini files are also used when you customize folders, change their icons etc.]

This program is absolutely free for any use; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

The utility is small (175 Kb), fast, portable, easy to use, and does not consume significant system resources.

Developers’ website: http://raproducts.org/purera.html

Enhancing Computer Performance with CloneSpy

Why was CloneSpy written?

Do you often download files from the Internet? Is your hard drive crowded with these files? Have you ever asked yourself which files you have downloaded more than once? Perhaps you have burned files to a CD and retrieved them again? Do you want to find these files and eliminate the duplicates? Maybe you want to find duplicate files without checking your entire collection of backup CDs every time? Then CloneSpy is the right tool for you!

What can CloneSpy do?

CloneSpy can help you free up hard drive space by detecting and removing duplicate files. Duplicate files have exactly the same contents regardless of their name, date, time and location. Also, CloneSpy is able to find files that are not exactly identical, but have the same file name. Perhaps you have different versions of a file and you want to find all of them and remove the older versions. CloneSpy can also find zero length files. These are files that have no content.

With CloneSpy you can process files which

* are duplicates
* are duplicates and have the same file name
* have the same file name
* have the same file name and (approximately) the same size
* are zero bytes long

CloneSpy offers you a complete mechanism for determining which duplicate or same-name files should be removed. It is also possible to leave this decision up to the individual user.

CloneSpy can handle equal files by:

* deleting redundant files
* moving redundant files to a specific folder
* exporting a list of all equal files without removing any files
* deferring file operations on redundant files to a batch file where you can apply arbitrary file operations

With CloneSpy you can build checksum files from files on CDs (or even on hard drives, etc.) and use them to check whether these files already exist on your system.

Who can benefit from CloneSpy?

This free portable and light utility will be useful for any computer users, especially advanced computer geeks and software addicts. It is not recommended to the newbies, as deletion of the files that are essential for your computer operation can lead to the severe damage of the operation system or the important utilities installed on your hard Drive. While you are absolutely personally control the process of the files removal, be careful making any decisions. With all that, cleaning your system might bring huge benefits to improve your system performance. I absolutely recommend keeping the software a part of your PC maintenance “toolbox”, as it can be executed from USB external drive and does not require installation on your Hard Drive.

Developers’ website: http://www.clonespy.com/

Direct downloading link: http://www.clonespy.com/english/download/cspy304.exe

Free Software Song by Richard Stallman

Free Software Song

The Free Software Song is a filk song by Richard M. Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation and creator of the GNU operating system, sings a song about free software. The song is set to the melody of the Bulgarian "Sadi Moma".

This song is used by both Stallman’s supporters and critics to support their positions. Jamie Zawinski has used this song as an explanation for why he thinks co-operation with Stallman is impossible. A version of this song is also performed by a band (the GNU/Stallmans) during the credits of the documentary Revolution OS.

Video Clip

This clip was recorded at the UAB - Bellaterra (Barcelona) on April 7, 2008.

Free Software Song by Richard Stallman

Text

Join us now and share the software;
You’ll be free, hackers, you’ll be free.
You’ll be free, hackers, you’ll be free.


Hoarders can get piles of money,
That is true, hackers, that is true.
But they cannot help their neighbors;
That’s not good, hackers, that’s not good.


When we have enough free software
At our call, hackers, at our call,
We’ll kick out those dirty licenses.
Ever more, hackers, ever more.


Join us now and share the software;
You’ll be free, hackers, you’ll be free.
You’ll be free, hackers, you’ll be free.

Story of Writing the Song (by Richard Stallman)

I wrote the free software song at a filksinging session at a science fiction convention. It was a "bardic circle" session, which means each person in turn around the hall had the chance to either sing or ask someone else to sing. I had just had my turn, and there were 20 or more people there, so I knew it would be a long time before I had another turn. I decided to pass the time writing a filksong. This meant I was not starting with any particular inspiration in mind. I had to look for what to write about and how.

So first I asked myself, what topic should it be about? I realized I had never written a filksong relating to free software, so I figured it was time I did.

Then I asked myself, what tune should I use? I realized I had never written a filksong using Bulgarian dance music, so I figured that would be a good thing to do for once. I chose Sadi Moma because it is not too fast or complicated, and is easy to sing.

By the time it was my turn again, the song was ready. After I sang it, someone else in the room said, "That has an anthem-like quality. You should show it to Richard Stallman." (That year was the time I was a little famous and I was a guest at the convention.)

I said, "I am Richard Stallman."

She said, "Oh, I’m sorry!"

I responded, "Don’t be sorry, it’s fun when that happens."

Freeware Software Update Monitor

Little-by-little, the amount of the software you install on your computer, or execute from your USB (portable utilities) is growing. Some of the programs might be years old, and you might not be aware that the new versions are already available. In most cases, the new software versions bring more functionality and clean the bugs, generated in earlier releases. So, by upgrading you soft, you might benefit a lot and make your computer performance more stable. But visiting software developer Web pages just to check if there are no updates is not very attracting option for busy professional. Here comes SUMo to help you.


SUMo, which stands for Software Update Monitor, will assist you to keep your PC up-to-date by using the most recent version of the software, installed on your computer. Unlike build-in auto update features (where available), SUMo tells you if updates are available before you even need to use this software.

Main Features

* Automatic detection of installed software.
* Detects required updates / patches for your software.
* Filter / authorizing Beta versions updates (user setting).
* Ignore list: Setup to track the software you want to track.
* Internationalization support: English, French, Dutch, Danish, Turkish, Romanian, Slovenian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian.
* The utility is absolutely free to use with no limitations.

Developers Website: http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?sumo

Free ColorPicker Utility

Sometimes you see a web page or graphic, and think that color is just what you need for your own design, but you don’t know exactly what color is used on the page. ColorPic is a really handy free tool that will show you the color code of anything you hover your mouse over. Just start the software and point your mouse to the exact part of the screen you want, and ColorPic displays all the relevant color codes for you. The color picker has a magnifier attached. Grab palettes of up to 16 colors at once and use four advanced color mixers to select a spectrum of possibilities.

Main Features:

• Easily pick any color from the screen
• Totally 100% Free!
• No popup adverts or spyware, it really is free
• Colors shown in hex and decimal
• Adjust Hue, Saturation, Value, Red, Green and Blue values
• Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black percentages shown
• Easy to use with any other program
• Resizable magnification area
• Overlay a grid for quick colorpicker alignment
• Use arrow keys to nudge mouse pointer
• Save multiple palettes of colors automatically
• WebSafe Colors and names displayed
• Snap to nearest WebSafe color
• Point sample, 3x3 or 5x5 pixel color sampling
• Adjust color with four advanced color mixers
• Edit colorpicker values after selection easily
• Easy to use collapsible sections
• Works with Firefox, Internet Explorer, Photoshop and any other application

Developers Website: http://www.iconico.com/colorpic/

Advanced AdSense Statistics Utility

Shock AdSense is a freeware utility allowing checking your Google AdSense account statistics at the convenience of your desktop. It can generate reports containing eCPM, impressions, daily revenue, CTR and other related information. Shock AdSense will also be able to prepare different visually enhanced graphic performance presentation as diagrams that will enable you to analyze your AdSense accounts long-term behavior.

The utility represents one-step upper level of report than that can be provided by an official AdSense site. It is helpful for user to monitor the program activity on a daily basis and conveniently optimize your website performance.

Portable version is available, so you can run it from the external USB device with no need to install on your hard drive.

Language interface options: English and Korean.

Shock AdSense carries rating 4 of 5 on the RateItAll Rating List of 24 Freeware Utilities for AdSense.

Developers Web Site: http://www.docs.kr/entry/Download-Shock-AdSense-en