In Depth: 24 best free Windows apps from Microsoft: "
Putting aside the ridiculous price for Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, Microsoft has got a soft side and these freebies prove it.
If you are a student, you can download more amazing software such as Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate for free, provided that you are able to verify your status on the site.
The following list contains some of the best free applications that have been developed partially or completely by Microsoft, making your Windows 7 computer a lot more useful.
1. ISO recorder
A great new addition to Windows 7 is native ISO burning. However, if you want to do the opposite, ie, create an image from a DVD, there is no such native option on Windows 7. ISO recorder makes it easy to create an ISO image by adding the option to 'Create Image from a DVD' by right clicking the Drive in Windows Explorer.
2. Security Essentials
Probably the most straightforward of antivirus programs, Microsoft Security Essentials doesn't have all the extra features that some of the paid anti-virus suites boast, but it fairs well in terms of real-time protection and manual scanning for dangerous programs. The interface is very straightforward and neat, making this piece of software a pleasure to use.
Read TechRadar's Microsoft Security Essentials review
3. Windows Live Essentials
Chat to friends, check your email, organise and edit your photos, ensure your kids' safety, create a fun movie or quickly update your blog - the Live Essentials apps are a must-have for any Windows PC.
4. Microsoft SharedView
Sharing your screen with a friend or colleague is invaluable for those types of work that require simultaneous viewing. Microsoft Shared View does just that, giving access to your screen not to up to 15 people, with a very simple interface and procedure.
5. Synctoy
Automatically backing up your data onto a separate device is a piece of cake with Synctoy. The three-step wizard hides the complexity of the operation neatly. This piece of software will appeal to home users and professionals alike.
6. Autoruns
Autoruns is a great utility for finding out the various programs that run during start-up, and the various processes and executables that use up your machine resources.
7. XNA Game Studio 3.1
Creating a professional game requires professional tools. XNA Game Studio is a free tool that allows hobbyists or independent game developers to create games that can be sold in online marketplaces to earn real money. However, there is a very steep learning curve that involves learning programming.
8. Windows Virtual PC
Virtual PC lets you install a separate OS alongside Windows that sits and works independent to the primary OS. What you do with your new Virtual Machine is totally up to you, while your main operating system remains safe.
9. XP Mode
Windows Vista frustrated users when it could not run some XP applications. However, Microsoft has learnt from its mistakes and released XP Mode that runs using Virtual PC. XP Mode virtualises the XP environment within the Virtual PC, allowing you to run applications that refuse to run on Windows 7.
10. Speed Launch
As the name suggests, Speed Launch lets you quickly launch a program using the Windows+C shortcut. However, unlike the search on the Start menu, it's a lot quicker and allows the creation of custom shortcuts. For example, typing 'im (enter) techradar (enter)' will open an image search of TechRadar in your default web browser.
11. Visual Studio Express Editions 2008
If you are aspiring to learn a programming language, a great place to start is to download Visual Studio Express Edition. The tabbed interface along with tree diagrams and many other options make this software suitable for the independent developers and hobbyists. The site includes links to free e-tutorials for newbies and intermediate programmers.
12. Paint.Net
To the surprise of many, Microsoft Alumni has been responsible for the creation of Paint.net, a fantastic open-source software app that raises the bar of free graphic imaging tools. In addition to the standard list of tools present in all graphic tools, user-made plu-gins add a whole new level of features.
13. Robotics Developer Studio
Working in conjunction with Visual Studio, Robotics Developer Studio Express Edition permits the creation of robot applications. Simulating a scenario in a virtual environment can be a lot more cost effective, and experimenting with different variables poses no risk. Background knowledge of programming is required, but it's a great product for recreational and semi-professional work.
14. Truespace
Similar to Google Sketchup, TrueSpace is a free 3D rendering tool. With real-time lighting effects and in-built scripted animations, TrueSpace isn't for the amateur (though it can be fun to play around with). User-made 3D renders of various buildings and landmarks can be uploaded onto Virtual Earth. Considering it is free, it's a worth a try before you spend your money on paid software.
15. Windows Easy Transfer
Windows Easy Transfer lets you transfer photos, documents, emails, settings and more from your old Windows computer over a network, from an external hard drive or using an Easy Transfer Cable (about £30).
16. Windows SteadyState
SteadyState makes it a lot easier to manage computers and user accounts over a shared network. Restricting various functionality to different users is as easy as ticking the appropriate checkboxes, and with a great help file included, SteadyState is a great apps to use at schools and at home.
17. Keyboard Layout Creator
Having a custom keyboard layout means that you can adjust your keys to something that suits you better. For example, having certain letters bunched up together can be useful for heavy Photoshop users, and since switching between layouts is pretty quick, you can easily save a layout for various specific programs. Keyboard Layout Creator also allows you to modify an existing keyboard layout file to build new layout.
18. Desktops
Spaces on OS X is a simple yet effective method of having multiple work environments. Desktops mimics the same feature, allowing up to four separate desktops to run simultaneously. This means you can have your 'business' windows and 'personal windows on separate desktops, for example.
19. Icon Editor
With Icon Editor, you can create your own icons in multiple formats and use them as custom thumbnails for folders or programs. As an added bonus, the source code is included with the download, for you to mess about with - if you are an enthusiastic programmer.
20. Image Composite Editor
Image Composite Editor lets you stitch photos into a panorama. The wide variety of tools is impressive and the panoramas can be saved in multiple formats, including JPEG, TIFF, HD View and Silverlight Deep Zoom.
21. SpeechSaver
SpeechSaver is a simple utility that switches off the Speech Recognition after a few minutes of inactivity. This ensures that background activity can't perform unnecessary voice commands.
22. Desktop Time Tracker
Spending too long on a task? Track your timing using a simple Time Tracker that sits on the notification bar. Choose your task, 'punch in' and 'out', and at the end of the day, obtain a simple table that breaks down the time you have spent.
23. Insomnia
Every now and then, you wish your computer wouldn't go to sleep, but, at other times you want it to sleep after 15 minutes of inactivity. Since Windows 7 gives no such advanced sleep options, an easier solution is to use Insomnia. Insomnia is a small .exe file that will prevent the computer from sleeping for as long the window is open. Simply close the small window when you want your computer to return back to its normal sleep settings.
24. Windows Speech Recognition Macros
Windows Speech Recognition Macros is an extension to the default speech recognition, allowing you to create your own macros that are activated by voice commands. With this app you could create a macro to insert frequently used details in Office documents, for example.
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