electric sheep is a collaborative abstract artwork founded by Scott Draves. It’s run by thousands of people all over the world, and can be installed on any ordinary PC, Mac or Linux. When these computers “sleep”, the Electric Sheep comes on and the computers communicate with each other by the internet to share the work of creating morphing abstract animations known as “sheep”. The result is a collective “android dream”, an homage to Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.

Anyone watching one of these computers may vote for their favorite animations using the keyboard. The more popular sheep live longer and reproduce according to a genetic algorithm with mutation and cross-over. Hence the flock evolves to please its global audience. You can also design your own sheep and submit them to the gene pool.

Download: electric sheep 2.7b24

The LoseThos IBM PC Operating System. x86_64, open source, free, public domain

The LoseThos 64-bit PC Operating System: A playground for programmers. x86_64, preemptive multitasking, multicore, open source, public domain.

LoseThos is a “supplemental” operating system because you’ll want to dual boot with another operating system, since you can’t access the Internet and because it’s not really suited for usage other than screwing around writing programs. It’s really good for that, though — lots of fun. Except for graphics, LoseThos is modern — 64-bit, multi-cored and HD Audio. It does not depend on other code for anything. You can put it as the sole operating system on a computer and disconnect the network. For those of you with fierce operating system cult loyalty, relax, it’s not a zero sum game.

LoseThos is simple. It runs on a standard 64-bit PC, nothing exotic, and compiles and runs native x86_64 code — no byte code or interpreter, anywhere.

Download: LoseThos 6.03

WordWeb is a one-click English thesaurus and dictionary for Windows that can look up words in almost any program. It works off-line, but can also look up words in web references such as the Wikipedia encyclopedia. Features of the free version include:

Definitions and synonyms
Related words
5000 audio pronunciations
65 000 text pronunciations
150 000 root words
120 000 synonym sets
Look up words in almost any program

Free. No SpyWare. No AdWare. No viruses. Works off-line.

Runs on Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7.

Download: WordWeb 6.1

VMware Player lets you evaluate new or pre-release software contained in virtual machines, without any installation or configuration hassles. You can also share existing virtual machines with colleagues or friends – just use VMware Player to run any virtual machine.

VMware Player makes it quick and easy to take advantage of the security, flexibility, and portability of virtual machines.

Key Features of VMware Player

• Run any virtual machine. Run virtual machines created by VMware Workstation, GSX Server or ESX Server. VMware Player also supports Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disk formats.

• Access host PC devices. Use host CD/DVD drives, network adapters, and plug-and-play USB devices.
Copy and paste. Copy text and files between the virtual machine and the host PC.

• Drag and drop. Drag and drop files between a Windows host PC and a Windows virtual machine.

• Multiple networking options. Virtual machines can share or obtain new IP addresses or be isolated from the network and host.

• 32- and 64-bit host and guest operating system support. Run a wide variety of virtual machines containing 32- and 64-bit operating systems simultaneously on the same physical PC. Compatible 64-bit guest operating systems include select Microsoft Windows, Red Hat, SUSE, and FreeBSD distributions.

• Adjustable memory. Tune virtual machine memory for optimal performance.

• Configurable shutdown. Power down or suspend the virtual machine when closing VMware Player.

Download: VMware Player 3.0.1 Build 227600

Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go.

OS: Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Download: Stellarium 0.10.4 | Screenshots

RedCrab the scientific calculator with full screen formula editor

RedCrab is a calculator with a full-screen editor. The mathematical expressions are not typed in a typical command line, but can be enter in the editor window. RedCrab display the result either under or next to the expression. The handling is easier than conventional calculators.

RedCrab supports the entry of complex algebraic equations with fractions, square roots, exponents, etc. for technical and scientific applications.

Several mathematical functions can be written on the same page. Results from one expression can be carried over to the next task.

You can save and load the formulas to create a formula library.

Complex tasks can be explained visually by importing drawings in bitmap format.

Download: RedCrab The Calculator 1.22

Polyglot 3000 is an automatic language identifier that quickly recognizes the language of any text, phrase or even single words. It is available for Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP.

Polyglot 3000 features:

- Recognizes more than 400 languages (see list below).
- Supports Unicode texts.
- Convenient user interface.
- True-Coloured icons in menu and toolbar.
- Quick and correct language identification.
- Can be set to only check for popular languages.
- Multilingual interface (English, German, French, Spanish and others).

Download: Polyglot 3000 3.44

CrossLoop is a consumer Internet company that empowers everyone to help someone anywhere in the world with its free and easy-to-use software application for desktop sharing. CrossLoop connects computer users with trusted, qualified service providers and friends who can provide the support they need quickly and conveniently.

CrossLoop opens up a whole new world of collaborative possibilities. People of any level of technical expertise can now remotely collaborate with others over the Internet. Many of the problems and frustrations associated with using computers can be solved if those who have the answer to a PC problem can quickly link to those who have the problem.

Although most of us embrace technology in our lives, there is a technology paradox – along with tremendous benefit comes a high cost… we all get stuck from time to time and lose productivity. For some, it might be a date with the blue screen; for others it’s a need to eliminate the unlimited number of browser pop-ups that show up without an appointment. Have you ever found yourself in need of help with nowhere to turn? Have you ever spent hours on hold with a computer manufacturer only to realize they can’t solve the problem? We have.

CrossLoop believes everybody helps. Our vision embraces the philosophy that there is always someone with deep expertise in a particular area of focus – this is true in life as well as with technology. For example, a person who is excellent with optimizing the speed of a computer might need help with photo editing tools or someone with expertise in software development may need help with online marketing. Anyone should be able to find a trusted source for expertise they need. Those who have the expertise to make a difference should be able to easily share their knowledge and be recognized.

Inherently, there is tremendous potential for knowledge to be transferred – a grandparent who has been taught how to edit and post videos online should be able to take that knowledge to a peer. With CrossLoop, you can teach someone (or even a class) remotely. CrossLoop shrinks distances – between countries and between those who have and do not have expertise. In the process, we reduce our carbon footprint!

CrossLoop is available in 21 languages and is used by individuals and businesses in over 150 countries for technical support, training and collaboration.

Runs on Windows and Mac (Intel).

Note: The free version of CrossLoop is for personal use and it’s supported by advertising

Download: CrossLoop 2.71

InnoTek VirtualBox is a family of powerful x86 and x64 virtualization products for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris and OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD.

VirtualBox is being actively developed with frequent releases and has an ever growing list of features, supported guest operating systems and platforms it runs on.

Download: VirtualBox 3.1.4

Download: VirtualBox Beta

Teach2000 – Helps you memorize

Stable, easy, complete

A private teacher to help you memorize a foreign language, topography or even the history of Italy by date. Improve your school results with this free trainer.

· Included examples guarantee a quick start.
· Easy handling of foreign symbols.
· Test system based on spaced repetition.
· A question can have multiple answers, and vice versa.
· Multi-line questions and answers.
· Rich formatting of the questions.
· Statistics.
· Phonetic symbols.
· Twelve dictionaries included for translations and synonyms.
· Add multimedia to the questions.
· A large number of test styles.
· Examination of vocabulary, but also sentences, dates, capital cities etcetera.
· Multiple choice questions, grammar, map quiz and yes/no questions.
· Greek font included.
· Unicode enabled.
· Easy import/export of lists.

The advantages of Teach2000 are:

· Teach2000 is 100% free.
· Print flash cards, tests and crib notes.
· Teach2000 is stable, fast and easy to use.
· Portable version (to install on your USB drive)

Download: Teach2000 8.43

WinMerge is an Open Source visual text file differencing and merging tool for Win32 platforms. It is highly useful for determing what has changed between project versions, and then merging changes between versions.

Features

- Visual differencing and merging of text files
- Flexible editor with syntax highlighting
- Handles DOS, UNIX and MAC text file formats
- Unicode support
- Difference pane shows current difference in two vertical panes
- Location pane shows map of files compared
- Highlights differences inside lines
- File filters in directory diff
- Moved lines detection in file compare
- Shell Integration
- Rudimentary Visual SourceSafe and Rational ClearCase integration
- Archive file support using 7-zip
- Plugins
- Localizable interface via resource DLL
- HTML-based Manual

Download: WinMerge 2.12.4 | WinMerge 2.13.11 (svn)

TortoiseSVN is a really easy to use Revision control / version control / source control software for Windows. It is based on Subversion. TortoiseSVN provides a nice and easy user interface for Subversion.

It is developed under the GPL. Which means it is completely free, including the source code. But just in case you don’t know the GPL too well: you can use TortoiseSVN to develop commercial applications or just use it in your company without any restrictions.

Since it’s not an integration for a specific IDE like Visual Studio, Eclipse or others, you can use it with whatever development tools you like.

As a Subversion client, TortoiseSVN has all the features of Subversion itself, including:
• Most current CVS features.
• Directories, renames, and file meta-data are versioned.
• Commits are truly atomic.
• Branching and tagging are cheap (constant time) operations.
• Efficient handling of binary files.

Operating System: Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/7 (32 and 64-bit)

Download: TortoiseSVN 1.6.7

FET is open source free software for automatically scheduling the timetable of a school, high-school or university. It uses a fast and efficient timetabling algorithm. It is licensed under GNU/GPL.

Download: FET 5.12.2

Earth Alerts is a Windows-based application that provides alert notifications, reports, and imagery on many types of natural phenomenon that are occurring real-time both worldwide as well as in specific locations within the United States (including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Earth Alerts makes use of the resources from organizations such as the National Weather Service, U.S. Geological Survey and numerous other agencies to identify what sort of things “Mother Earth” is currently doing.

To use Earth Alerts, you simply select the specific activity types (earthquakes, tsunamis, weather, etc.) and the specific locations you are interested in. The application will then automatically retrieve the latest information from various live data feeds on the Internet, and then present it to you.

Earth Alerts is 100% FREE to download and use!

System Requirements: Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000. Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

Download: Earth Alerts 2010.1.44

The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) provides the libraries, the Java Virtual Machine, and other components to run applets and applications written in the Java programming language. In addition, two key deployment technologies are part of the JRE: Java Plug-in, which enables applets to run in popular browsers; and Java Web Start, which deploys standalone applications over a network.

This release is Windows 7 support-ready and includes support for Internet Explorer 8, Windows Server 2008 SP2, and Windows Vista SP2. New features include the G1 garbage collector, plus performance and security enhancements.

Download: Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 18

EasyGPS: Free Software for Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, and Eagle GPS Receivers

EasyGPS is the fast and easy way to transfer waypoints, routes, and tracks between your computer and your Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, and Eagle GPS Receivers. EasyGPS lists all of your waypoints on the left side of the screen, and shows a plot of your GPS data on the right. Use EasyGPS to back up and organize your GPS data, print maps, or load new waypoints onto your GPS for your next hike or geocaching adventure.

EasyGPS works with every popular handheld GPS receiver, and it is 100% free software. No nags, no ads, no spyware.

Requires Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Download: EasyGPS 3.74

Asynx Planetarium – See the brightest 2500 stars, all 88 constellations, all nine planets and the moonphase from 4713BC to 9999 AD from any location on earth. Track the sun, moon, planets, and astronomic events.

Screens Overview
· You can see the planets from 3 different views: Horizontal, Geocentric and Heliocentric

Change time and location
· You can enter any date between the year 1600 and 9999 and any location on earth

Control with Keyboard
· Simple, fast and efficient controls:Control time and animation with keyboard

Print your selected screen
· You can print every view to paper (hardcopy) or PDF (softcopy)

Set your preferences
· Turn on and off stars, constellations and switch West to the left side of the screen

System requirements: Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7.

Download: Asynx Planetarium 2.61 | Screenshots

A multipurpose conversion and developer tool

Convert .NET is a multi-purpose conversion utility (VB<->C#/Translation/Encoding/RegEx)

Supported: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/Windows 7 (x86/x64)

Download: Convert .NET 4.5.3656

Sweet Home 3D is a free interior design application that helps you placing your furniture on a house 2D plan, with a 3D preview. Print, plan export with Copy/Paste…

Sweet Home 3D is available in English and French and runs on Windows, Mac OS X 10.4 to 10.6, Linux and Solaris.

Requirements: Java version 5 or 6.

Download: Sweet Home 3D 2.2

Cain & Abel is a password recovery tool for Microsoft Operating Systems. It allows easy recovery of various kind of passwords by sniffing the network, cracking encrypted passwords using Dictionary, Brute-Force and Cryptanalysis attacks, recording VoIP conversations, decoding scrambled passwords, recovering wireless network keys, revealing password boxes, uncovering cached passwords and analyzing routing protocols. The program does not exploit any software vulnerabilities or bugs that could not be fixed with little effort. It covers some security aspects/weakness present in protocol’s standards, authentication methods and caching mechanisms; its main purpose is the simplified recovery of passwords and credentials from various sources, however it also ships some “non standard” utilities for Microsoft Windows users.

Cain & Abel has been developed in the hope that it will be useful for network administrators, teachers, security consultants/professionals, forensic staff, security software vendors, professional penetration tester and everyone else that plans to use it for ethical reasons. The author will not help or support any illegal activity done with this program. Be warned that there is the possibility that you will cause damages and/or loss of data using this software and that in no events shall the author be liable for such damages or loss of data. Please carefully read the License Agreement included in the program before using it.

The latest version is faster and contains a lot of new features like APR (Arp Poison Routing) which enables sniffing on switched LANs and Man-in-the-Middle attacks. The sniffer in this version can also analyze encrypted protocols such as SSH-1 and HTTPS, and contains filters to capture credentials from a wide range of authentication mechanisms. The new version also ships routing protocols authentication monitors and routes extractors, dictionary and brute-force crackers for all common hashing algorithms and for several specific authentications, password/hash calculators, cryptanalysis attacks, password decoders and some not so common utilities related to network and system security.

Download: Cain & Abel 4.9.35 Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP

A Free Scientific Software Package

Scilab is a scientific software package for numerical computations providing a powerful open computing environment for engineering and scientific applications.

Scilab is an open source software.

Since 1994 it has been distributed freely along with the source code via the Internet. It is currently used in educational and industrial environments around the world.

Scilab is now the responsibility of the Scilab Consortium, launched in May 2003. There are currently 19 members in Scilab Consortium (Phase II).

Scilab includes hundreds of mathematical functions with the possibility to add interactively programs from various languages (C, C++, Fortran…).
It has sophisticated data structures (including lists, polynomials, rational functions, linear systems…), an interpreter and a high level programming language.

For Windows 2000 – XP – Vista – 7 – GNU/Linux platforms

Download: Scilab 5.2.0