Computer Software
Free
Adobe Systems
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Adobe Acrobat Reader is used to view (*.pdf) files.
Because of the popularity of Adobe Acrobat Reader it is often the target of viruses. Acrobat Reader installs into the startup file. This causes computers to take longer to start. Adobe install also comes with third-party software that requires users to un-check a box if they do not want the added software.
Adobe announced the End-Of-Life (EOL) For flash at the end of 2020, and will cease support, distribution, and security updates for Flash.
Apple Incorporated
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April 2016: In a security bulletin dated April 2016, security firm Trend Micro said newly discovered vulnerabilities left the software [QuickTime] insecure. Apple ceased support for the Windows version of QuickTime in 2016.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sent out an urgent alert advising Windows users to uninstall Apple's QuickTime program, the video and audio software (once) widely used to play movie trailers and other Internet media clips, due to two major vulnerabilities in the program that can allow hackers into people's computers. |
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QuickTime is a free multimedia application for playing and viewing a wide variety of multimedia file formats. Because of the popularity of QuickTime, it is often the target of viruses. There are other free media players available. QuickTime now installs iTunes with QuickTime.
QuickTime is available for Mac operating systems up to Mac OS 10 and Windows up to Win7.
Getting QuickTime off a PC can be difficult. Since WINDOWS 7, Apple has discontinued the update of their web page explaining how to get QuickTime off a PC. Using the "Uninstall or change a program" tool in Control Panel will often get an error and stop uninstalling. Typically the problem is with files in the folder C:\ProgramData\Apple and the folders within. Each folder below Apple is set to Read-only and the share attribute is set to Noboby. The folders need to be set to read/write (right-click choose properties, deselect read-only and click apply). Then the share attribute needs to be set to Homegroup (Read/Write) which is also done with a right=click. (choose Share with). After that, the "Uninstall or change a program" tool in Control Panel should work. It will not delete the 100+ registry changes that QuickTime made, but it will take off enough to stop QuickTime from running in the background and slowing your PC. To prevent QuickTime from trying to start at Start-up users need to open the start menu, type 'config' in the "Search program and files" area, click on System configuration and deselect QuickTime under the Startup tab. If QuickTime is ever started, it will re-install in the Startup folder, and the process must be repeated to prevent it from re-starting at Startup.
Dani Clock
A free clock for the PC. It was written by Santa Cruz resident John Pilge. It was made to help promote a model for a friend. It has been available for download on many sites since 2008. While the program still works on Windows 10, the installer does not work with 64-bit computers. (Basically Win7 and above.)
By 2017, most download sites that were still around ceased having the Dani Clock as a download. The girl on the clock has since ended her modeling career.
Open Office
Open Office is a highly rated, free, and complete Office Suite software. It's compatible with Microsoft's Office programs, and supports over 70 languages with more being constantly added. Due to problems with the trademark being owned by Oracle, the Document Foundation came out with a new name for a product with added features. This was called LibreOffice. (Libre is the German word for "free.")
It's available for a large variety of operating system platforms including: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, and others.
Opera Software ASA
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Opera Internet Browser is a free, secure, and faster alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
It's available for a wide range of operating systems including: Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Solaris, QNX, OS/2, FreeBSD, and BeOS. For cellular phones, PDA's, smartphones, and tablets, there's the Opera Mobile and Opera Mini. They also have an internet browser for the Nintendo Wii gaming system.
Smith Micro Software
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StuffIt Expander is used to expand a wide range of compressed file formats. Aladdin Systems, Inc. of Watsonville (now merged with Smith Micro Software), was the original developer of this software.
It's available for the Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Solaris operating systems.
Sun Microsystem
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Java™ is device-independent programming language that runs a huge variety of Java based (called applets) applications and games that are device and/or internet based. In fact, many of today's cellular phones run applications that are Java based. Sun Microsystem has since been bought by Oracle.
Java is available for the following operating systems: Windows, Solaris, Linux, and Macintosh.
Other
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2012-01-13 17:42:22 QuickTime will install itself on your start-up to be your default media player. QuickTime will also be in you taskbar (always running). It is possible to disable these considerations. But they are not optional. Some programs conflict with QuickTime on start up. This includes qttask and iTunesHelper. Conflicts between iTunes and QuickTime can usually be fixed by deleting and then re-installing QuickTime. Some virus checkers flag QuickTime as a security problem. (This only means it CAN GET infected and not that it IS infected.) —Harlan
