Month: February 2011 (Page 4 of 7)

Back in the “olden days” finding a suitable player for multimedia files was not a problem. This was because there were very few differing formats. It used to be if a user had Winamp, iTunes or Windows Media Player there were no playback issues. But recently, due in part by the ever-increasing technological advancements in the area of multimedia, it has become harder to find a playback solution that will play all the popular formats out there. In addition, because of these technological advancements the usual playback programs such as Winamp have increased in size due to addons and updates to the point they have become almost impossible to use easily.

However, there are a few solutions out that that can help users with all of their media playback needs. One of the best around is KMPlayer.

KMPlayer is a program that is offered free of charge as it is part of the Open Source initiative. Users may worry that because KMPlayer is a free download that it will come along with malware or spyware. There is no such worry to be had. All Open Source software comes free of these or any other malicious programs. It is also supported by a group of developers and technicians to provide new updates and support services.

KMPlayer is also easy on computing resources. It will play on most Windows machines due to its small computing footprint and minimal front-end design and is compatible with various streaming protocols. These features also allow users to quickly play their media files, with little to no hassle.

This program will playback most video and audio formats. This will simplify the end users’ experience because users will now only have to use a single program. In addition, KMPlayer will allow the user a full range of tools that allows for changing video properties, filter application and more.

Anyone that loves first-person shooter games must check out the free, Open Source game called Assault Cube. Many people long for the old days when they could play Doom with multiple players on their LAN. While it Doom didn’t do much for corporate efficiency, it was a great example of a first-person shooter game that could be played between people in different physical locations. The development community surrounding the CUBE engine have taken the original Doom concepts and offered them to anyone interested in developing games, players and strategies for multi-player games on the Internet. Assault Cube is a fast-action, fun game that is highly addictive to anyone that checks it out. Assault Cube is supported in current versions of Microsoft Windows, Linux and the Apple Mac operating systems.

Many multi-player Internet based games require a very fast, broadband connection. Even when you have a very fast connection, like on a cable modem, it might be susceptible to latency in times of peak traffic. When that happens, Internet gaming usually starts to get jittery and becomes annoying really fast. The developers who created Assault Cube recognized these problems and optimized the interface and game for latent broadband and even slow connections; all the way down to 56kbps. The initial game download is also pretty small, given the intricate and intense game boards and attention to detail. Most games of this quality require a complete DVD worth of media and image files. Assault Cube breaks the mold in several respects and is a really entertaining experience. The first-time player will find the program very quick to learn and the movements easy to master. Some online games require complex instructions or accessories. But Assault Cube works with a standard PC keyboard and mouse. Check it out and you’ll see why millions of others love it as a great and free Internet based first-person shooter game.

Everyone has heard a story about an individual who downloaded a free program only to have his computer system crash. While this may keep some consumers tied to paid products, others understand that even commercial products can encounter issues. Take Windows for example. It’s one of the most attacked operating systems because it’s the most popular system.

Since price doesn’t really affect whether a program contains malicious codes that can destroy your hard drive, you need to base your downloading decisions on other factors. These can include the following things:

1. The reputation of the developer or development team.

The length of time a project has been available has a direct correlation to the developer’s reputation. Programs with bugs and harmful codes, such as viruses, may have a huge run before users discover the problem; however, if the issue is not resolved, then the developer is going to have a major black mark against his name.

2. The access or exclusion of the product’s source code.

Open source programs are often available free, as part of the Open Source Initiative. Programs, such as PuTTY, which can create a secure SSH connection, provide you with access to the source code. Not only can you modify the code to customize the program, but you can also check the code for lurking issues like malware or spyware. Most malicious hackers leave open source products alone because they want to hide their code for as long as possible, and open code makes that difficult.

3. The issues other users may have with the program.

Editor and user reviews can help you determine whether to download a product. If the reviews stink, look for better products.

Free software can be a benefit to you, if you find a reputable program to download. Do a little research before you make your selection, and you’ll soon become a fan of free products.