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10 Best Apps for Linux

June 25, 2010 By 4 Comments

The latest Ubuntu release, 10.04 Lucid Lynx, has been available for free Download since the end of April. It allows folks new to Linux to comfortably transition to the free operating system. These apps are must have ones that cater to both the new folks on Ubuntu and the veterans on Fedora and other variants.

  1. AllTray: This application offers a system tray, supporting other apps that come with a minimizing feature. Unlike most others, you can drag and drop applications that do not onto the tray, so that you can easily click the tray to access them.
  2. amaroK:This is a music player built specifically for folks who use Linux, making it a must have for all of its users. This app comes with automatic cover art and the ability to drag and drop songs to a playlist.
  3. Beagle: This app quietly indexes the files you create and modify them, which is especially useful for people who need to search among their many files. For example, it’s helpful if you have a large music library.
  4. Beryl 0.2.1: This gives new Linux users the familiar feel of the Vista interface, effectively mimicking the Windows OS. While you will still be running Linux, it will simply be themed like Vista.
  5. CheckGmail 1.11: If you migrated from the world of Windows to Linux, you will undoubtedly notice that you no longer are able to access your Gmail notifier, which only works on Windows. However, this application fills in the void.
  6. Cinlerra: This application has been cited as being a movie studio in a box, and for good reason; it allows users to essentially create their own movie and edit it once they are done. Capture your movie, composite it, and edit both the video and the audio to top quality.
  7. Deluge 0.5.0: This is a client that allows you to easily Download BitTorrent files without a problem. Share your own files with friends and save the money of those who use their resources on their web hosting and hardware. Even if you have not toyed with a BitTorrent client in a long time, this is a great place to get back into the groove.
  8. Flash: It is difficult for very many people to survive the Internet without the magic known as Flash. Luckily, Flash is available for all Linux users.
  9. GIMP: Rather than dish out the down payment on the fortune that is Photoshop, there is a free alternative: the GNU Image Manipulation Program, or GIMP. This application allows you to author images, composite images and otherwise manipulate the images in ways that Photoshop could only dream of doing.
  10. GnomeBaker:This application is the way Linux users make do when they want to burn their DVDs and CDs. It is an easy to use tool and is perhaps the most popular of all of other alternatives available in the Linux library, and for good reason. It is difficult to go wrong with GnomeBaker.

These are just ten of the literally hundreds of different free applications available in the Linux library, and they are ten of the best.

This post was written by James Adams, a tech writer and commentator based in the UK who works for an online store supplying ink cartridges and franking machine ink for businesses in the UK.

Filed Under: general, linux

16 Best Free Apps for Mac OS X

June 14, 2010 By 5 Comments

Developed by Apple, Mac OS X has offered much promise to users since 2002. Just like its other electronic products, there are many useful free and/or open source apps available for Mac OS X users. This list showcases some of the best ones that are available for download.

1. OpenOffice.org

Because Microsoft Office is not exactly available to Mac OS X, there is an alternative that actually has more features available to it. Additionally, free is a much better price than the investment MS Office requires.

2. The Unarchiver

For the most part, Max OS X is good with extracting archived files, but there are still a few that it does not recognize when it comes fresh out of the box. To fill in the missing gaps, there is the Unarchiver.

3. Anxiety

This is a robust checklist that serves to subside its namesake. Never worry about whether or not the laundry was picked up.

4. Firefox

Not even Windows users enjoy Internet Explorer these days, and the best secure and customizable alternative is Mozilla Firefox, a handy multiplatform Web browser.

5. CyberDuck

With a convenient drag and drop user interface, this is simply the best FTP program from which a Mac OS X user could ultimately benefit.

6. MAMP

Those interested in Web site development would greatly benefit from testing it before actually letting it go live. After all, what if there is a fatal syntax error?

7. Transmission

Common on operating systems outside of Windows, Transmission makes for an excellent bittorrent client.

8. NetNewsWire

This app requires a free account on NewsGator, though once that is out of the way, it will allow for multiple RSS streams in one convenient location.

9. smcFanControl

As the name suggests, this allows for total control over the fans in the Mac. Use this to change the speed when they run too quickly or not quick enough.

10. GIMP

Though not quite as feature-packed as its competitor, the $600 Photoshop, it is the best alternative with many of its own, as well as the ultimate price tag: free.

11. Flickr Uploadr

Photography hobbyists will enjoy a quick and convenient way to mass-upload their works of still art to Flickr, where their work can reach a very wide audience of enthusiasts.

12. Audacity

Newer versions of Mac OS X come shipped with iLife, which has GarageBand included. However, for those that do not, there is an equally capable free alternative for recording audio.

13. Adium

When iChat does not suffice, there is Adium. It offers just about any instant messaging system imaginable in it, including AIM, MSN, YIM, ICQ, MySpace IM, Google Talk, Bonjour, Facebook Chat and much more.

14. TinyAlarm

Those who do not have an iPhone to use as an alarm may want to try this handy little application, which allows the Mac to function as an effective alarm.

15. VLC

This useful app is the most capable of media players on the Internet. If the format exists, it can probably play it well.

James is an Apple aficionado, tech writer and resident analyst at a leading online printer ink supplier where he comprehensively reviews myriad products such as the popular HP 351 ink cartridge.

Filed Under: general