CCleaner 2.21.940

Reviewed by: iFR Staff

Although it lacks a few of the bells and whistles found in other PC-cleaning applications, this free program offers more than enough features to make it a worthy download. CCleaner's interface is logically designed and makes it easy to wipe away your tracks from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome from various Windows system areas, and from some third-party applications.

CCleaner doesn't support the large number of extraneous programs that some competitors do, but it can erase traces from such popular programs as Spybot - Search & Destroy and WinZip. CCleaner now offers secure file erasing along with a Registry-cleaning utility that quickly scans for invalid entries before removing them. CCleaner can even back up your Registry before removal, in case it accidentally removes a crucial component, and the download includes a rudimentary feature for uninstalling any program on your machine.

Since this free application handles the majority of PC-cleaning chores and offers a nice extra, we strongly recommend CCleaner to all users, except those who need robust tools to remove supersensitive data.

Wise Registry Cleaner 4.63

Reviewed by: iFR staff on January 14, 2009

This program provides utilities to quickly tidy up your Registry, but lacks some features of competing applications. Wise Registry Cleaner 3 Free has an intuitive interface and is relatively easy to use.

The program works quickly, using very few of the computer's resources. This cleanup tool offers an undo option, which is important any time you deal with the Registry. Users can even set the program to check the Registry automatically, although there is no option to set a specific time for this function. One feature this program lacks is a severity level warning. A harmless entry from a deleted program is shown as having no distinct differences from an entry from a harmful virus or malware. It does have easy-to-understand graphic warnings for any entry that may be dangerous to delete, though.

It also would be nice if users were offered the option to select/deselect all, since there may be dozens of entries but only be one or two severe issues in the Registry. Still, this freeware Registry cleaner proved effective, and we recommend it for users comfortable working with the registry.

uTorrent 1.8.3 build 15772

Reviewed by: iFR Staff

Still not for the faint of heart, this torrent utility is one of the easiest to use. The uTorrent executable adds a directory and some option information to your PC, but it is still small enough to run off an old USB key. The memory footprint for uTorrent is very small, and system resources are barely touched. Our testers found that IP phones were difficult to use with a torrent, but uTorrent's simple button interface makes it easy to pause downloading.

The most difficult aspect of using a torrent client is finding the torrents, but included are both a torrent search bar that links to MiniNova and a handy RSS feed download function. Subscribe to select feeds, and uTorrent automatically downloads files as they publish. Adding, starting, pausing, and listing torrents takes merely a click or two each. A speed guide helps you test your ports and adjust system settings for optimal performance.

Even though uTorrent is now owned by BitTorrent, there haven't been many noticeable drawbacks, if any. Some tried-and-true BitTorrent options are available to uTorrent users, such as Local Peer Discovery and DHT Network. The latest version also includes Teredo and Ipv6 support, and patches a critical security error that has been discovered in all pre-1.8 builds, making this one of the secure torrent clients around. Throw in all the other features, and that should make it the torrent program of choice for novices, intermediate, and advanced users.

VariCAD 2009 1.06

From VariCAD :

VariCAD is a 3D/2D CAD system primarily intended for mechanical engineering design. In addition to tools for 3D modeling and 2D drafting and dimensioning, VariCAD provides support for parameters, geometric constraints, tools for shells, pipelines, sheet metal unbending and crash tests, assembly support, libraries of standard mechanical parts (ANSI, DIN), calculations of standard mechanical components, and tools for working with bills of materials (BOM) and title blocks. The comprehensive package enables designers to create, evaluate, and modify their models.

Version 2009 1.0 adds support for geometric constraints, enhanced possibilities for insertion and transformation of solids, adds new possibilities for editing shells, and improved work with true-type fonts in 2D, STEP file compatibility, DWG file compatibility. Version 1.06 is a maintenance release.

Flash Effect SiteBuilder Platinum 12.0

From Avimpeg :

Flash Effect SiteBuilder is a Flash Web site Design tool to help Web master design animated Flash Web site, flash intros, Flash banners, Flash ads, and any other Flash Web pages. With Flash Effect SiteBuilder you can place your own photos as font frontground and page background. And then combine them with animated text, background effect to create fun Flash Web site, all in just minutes. The Flash Effect SiteBuilder enables you to create simple as well as complex Flash animations whereby you can combine different fonts and effects within a single Flash animation. 3D button, 3D slideshow, multilevel menu supported.

Version 12.0 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Alarn Clock 1.0

Reviewed by: iFR

This ultrasimple freeware program allows you to set up alarms for each day of the week, but its bland interface is a snoozer. With Alarm Clock, just set alarm times (one for each day of the week or just one single alarm for the entire week), choose an MP3 or a WAV file or use the default for each of your alarms, and hit Set Alarms. You can even set a snooze interval. When the alarm triggers, you'll hear your music file or the annoying old-school bell default option. The program, while functional and easy to understand, doesn t let you personalize a display message when an alarm triggers, so Alarm Clock's simple greeting of ""Hello!"" has to suffice. If you need a no-nonsense alarm clock for your PC, this program provides a nice wake-up call.