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The best free PDF to Word converterIf the precise formatting and fonts of a document are essential, PDF is the perfect format. It requires nothing more than a competent PDF reader for documents to display precisely; everything's packaged in and ready to go. Which is all lovely until you need to extract some of that information. PDFs are usually a one-way street, consigning you to look and not touch. Unless you possess the original document used to generate the PDF in the first place, editing is going to be out of your reach. Or is it? We're here to look at the solution: free PDF to Word converters. These tools will analyse PDF files, extract the text and images, and make the best stab they can at creating a Microsoft Word-compatible file that replicates the source. Bear in mind that even with the best free PDF to Word converter, results are unlikely to be absolutely perfect – particularly if the text in your PDF has been scanned or flattened to an image. Look for a converter with OCR (optical character recognition) if you do have flattened documents. Have we missed your favorite PDF to Word converter? Let us know in the comments below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6d43ced39d7a72d077f4074016ac589d.jpg Another online converter, Nitro did a good job with our magazine page, but it's a shame you have to wait for the document to be emailed rather than downloading it directly from the site1. Nitro PDF to Word Converterhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5TkfQ8DT6Cxn8eLZ6myYJR.png Nitro PDF to Word Converter offers solid PDF conversion with just a couple of niggles You'd be forgiven for missing the free online version of Nitro PDF to Word Converter when visiting its site, given that it's so smothered in adverts for its paid-for desktop app, but this is a perfectly competent free tool – no OCR though, sadly – suitable for occasional use. Upload your PDF, give it an email address to send the results to, and it'll transform that PDF into Word, Excel or Powerpoint files and vice versa; we wouldn't recommend using the Excel converter for mission-critical work, however. We were impressed with this free PDF to Word converter's attempt at converting our test document. There was a bit of text cleanup required, possibly as a result of the unusual font, but it separated the page’s images into individually editable boxes, got the layout perfectly correct, and even managed to replicate the drop-cap, a feature that’s often missed. Overall, not a bad job at all – the best free PDF to Word converter you'll find. Try it online: Nitro PDF to Word Converter http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b391a7739327a934c5f8c2adf0c6c5bc.jpg UniPDF isn't perfect, but it copes well with different fonts and can process PDFs in batches2. UniPDFhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png UniPDF is a great choice for batch PDF to Word conversion, but isn't compatible with all files UniPDF is a completely free Windows desktop PDF to Word converter (unless you're using it commercially) but one which fell over for an unspecified reason when converting our test PDF to Word format. But let's not be hasty here: UniPDF happily extracted the raw text, had no problem converting the PDF to a pixel-perfect PNG file, and did an good job of converting that very same PDF to HTML format, which we'll count as at least a partial pass. Although UniPDF's free PDF to Word converter doesn't support OCR (so flattened PDFs won't convert to editable text) we were impressed with its ability to translate our document's mildly unusual fonts into similar examples. It's also an easy app to use if you're doing batch processing – just drag in a folder full of PDFs, hit 'convert' and it'll go through each automatically. Considering the long-winded limitations of many online tools, this is a reason to try UniPDF. But if you absolutely must have a Word document? Maybe not. Download here: UniPDF http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/15021c6f36a372e4715ac777e6a11bf0.jpg Free File Converter doesn't do the best job with text, but it can handle very large PDFs3. Free File Converterhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5TkfQ8DT6Cxn8eLZ6myYJR.png Free File Converter is a bit quick and dirty, but it's easy to use, with broad format support Free File Converter couldn't be simpler: upload your PDF, select an output format (everything from doc to ebook formats like EPUB and MOBI) and click the button to get a download link to your converted file. As you might expect, it offers a number of different format conversions besides just PDFs, although unlike the best free PDF to Word converters, there's no OCR to be seen. As a free PDF to Word converter, its performance was okay, but not exceptional. Some of the text formatting Free File Converter gave us was a bit off, with certain headlines running over from one line to two, and it rendered all of the images on the page as a single background graphic, limiting flexibility. But there's one huge upside: Free File Converter can handle PDFs up to 300MB in size, so if you've got a huge, simple PDF to convert to Word format, it could be just the trick. Try it online: Free File Converter http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0428671ed2bb5447f6dca06e75f900c6.jpg OnlineOCR works best with simple documents; complex fonts and images are beyond its capabilities4. OnlineOCRhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5TkfQ8DT6Cxn8eLZ6myYJR.png A free PDF to Word converter that's an OCR specialist – as long as you feed it the right file OnlineOCR is the only OCR-only free PDF to Word converter in this test, but there's a reason: OCR works well in certain circumstances, and very poorly in others. Our magazine page, when flattened and run through OnlineOCR's converter, did not fare well. Whether this is a limitation of the unusual fonts or the background images we're not sure, but the mess it made of the boxes at the bottom of the page suggest it's just not great at this sort of complex PDF to Word conversion. That's not to say it's a poor tool. Far from it; this outperforms a number of competing sites in its class, so much so that we've actually used OnlineOCR here at TechRadar to pull text from magazines so old that their archive discs have crumbled – although this required a lot of preprocessing to improve the clarity and contrast of text. Scanned PDFs of black text on white background tend to work perfectly without any fiddling, so if you've got a suitable source you'll get on well with this tool. Try it online: OnlineOCR http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg See all the free PDF software available to download on TechRadar http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XPNZKhoLtxo

Microsoft seems poised to get into the e-books business, judging by the latest leak posted by MSPowerUser. The outlet recent posted several images of Windows 10 store features depicting e-book sales pretty clearly. Judging from the screen shots, the allegedly forthcoming e-books portion of the Windows Store will have its own dedicated tab and store front on PCs and phones running Windows 10. There’s a focus on providing curated lists and collections as well as advertised new releases. MSPowerUser goes on to point out that this news follows Microsoft’s adoption of the EPUB file standard for e-books within its Edge browser. The outlet also reports that this was laying the groundwork for the Books page on the Windows Store, with Edge being the method for accessing purchased e-books. This news bodes well for the best Windows tabletLuckily, Edge is said to boast strong support for the EPUB standard, offering bookmarking as well as tables of contents, font customization and more through this file type. The website finally reports that this feature will launch alongside the Creators Update set to release in spring 2017, so it shouldn’t be much longer (even less so for Insider Preview members). If you ask us, Microsoft would do well to find niche’s that Amazon hasn’t yet dominated, like technical documents, white papers, and perhaps even nerdier publications like zines. Microsoft responded to a request for comment with the following statement: "The Windows Insider Program was created to enable Microsoft to test different features and functionality which will influence future versions of Windows. We regularly test new features and changes to existing features to see what resonates well with our fans. Stay tuned for more information soon." Via PCWorld But will books on a Surface Pro 4 beat a Kindle?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OTyM7QSC64E

With businesses increasingly shifting operations online it’s no wonder that cyber-attacks on companies are increasing as criminals try to cash in. According to statistics from the UK government, two-thirds of large organisations have experienced cyber-attacks in the past year. The impact these breaches have on businesses is nothing less than catastrophic. Not only do firms risk losing vital data and information to cybercriminals, but attacks can also result in them losing a lot of money. In fact, a study conducted in 2016 by internet service provider Beaming claimed that breaches cost UK companies a total of £34 billion (around $42 billion, AU$56 billion) annually. The most common attacks on companies are malware and spyware-related, and falling victim to any such breach could have a worryingly long-term impact on your business, particularly when it comes to your reputation. Fortunately, you can defend against any bad outcomes by picking up the right security tools, which is why we’ve highlighted these anti-spyware and anti-malware solutions for businesses. Getting your SMB protected with a solid security solution is a very smart move. We’ve also rounded up the best document management systemshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b24Vpvwo8tJcEqPv8DqFKn.jpg Avast produces some of the most popular antivirus and anti-malware software packages out there, and it also has a solution for business users. Endpoint Protection is a program that’s not only easy to use, but also a proven contender in the enterprise cybersecurity arena. The software will protect your company from a diverse range of malware and phishing attacks. It constantly searches for suspicious files that could render your business systems and servers useless, and runs a boot-time scan every time your computers load up to find any deeply buried malware. As well as looking out for common viruses, Avast can also run potentially risky apps without causing any harm to your computer. There’s even a handy silent mode which lets you and your employees focus on important work while security processes run in the background. You can get Avast Endpoint Protection herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BKzXBpZpaGALngdmzTUpKn.jpg Bitdefender is another big name in security products, and its GravityZone Business Security package is an excellent option for companies. Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux devices, it gives you the tools you need to protect your firm from complex online threats, and it won’t slow your systems down. The system has been built to detect and fight a range of malware, ransomware and zero-day threats that are often missed by traditional security products. It sports two anti-ransomware layers capable of blacklisting millions of risk sources and a so-called vaccine that ensures all data is encrypted, regardless of the device or platform. This offering also boasts an advanced threat control feature, which constantly runs and keeps an eye out for any hint of malicious behaviour or potential hacking. AI and machine learning are also thrown into the mix to get better detection rates, and also to minimise any annoying false positives. You can get Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zsyurjuKXP7Uspj2KzjJLn.jpg If you use a variety of different devices and platforms in your business, then Trend Micro Business Security is a good option. The solution provides comprehensive enterprise protection for Windows, Mac, mobile devices and servers. With the software, you have a way to keep your business protected from data loss, viruses and ransomware. It constantly searches files for signs of malware, viruses, trojans, worms and spyware, and prevents employees from accessing malicious content online. There are some handy tools for managing data, too. The system can limit the access of USB sticks and other portable devices to ensure vital data isn’t in danger of being compromised, and it can also prevent emails carrying sensitive information from being sent out accidentally (or indeed deliberately). There are comprehensive anti-spam capabilities, to boot. You can get Trend Micro Business Security herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mdPTua7KGcZ6Bpr3giYQMn.jpg Norton is a well-known security brand, and its Small Business product is available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices, aiming to protect business assets across the board. The system is constantly alert and ready to flag potential security threats, even if you’re not in the office. Custom-built for every device, it ensures that your computers are protected from malware, viruses and identity theft, while your smartphones and tablets aren’t exposed to the potential loss of customer information. Norton Small Business is relatively easy and quick to set up on your devices, and because it’s a cloud-based system, you won’t need any software installed at your office. You can cover all your employees by sending them an email that contains step-to-step instructions. There’s the ability to add/remove and manage as many devices as you want, and you get access to 24/7 support from a team of Norton experts. You can get Norton Small Business herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FH4MQSKde9QZjaPz84DvGn.jpg Sophos Endpoint Protection is one of the more powerful options for businesses of all sizes. Designed for use on-premise or in the cloud, the system offers a next-generation security engine that uses behavioural detection to look for and stop threats from flash drives, emails, websites – a whole gamut of threats. And its malware detection rates are impressive to say the least. As well as protecting your business from typical security threats such as viruses and malware, Sophos also encrypts your data, and boasts some interesting extras such as data loss prevention facilities which can be fully customised. We all know how precious that company data is, so it’s good to see this sort of security on board. It’s also worth noting that there’s a 30-day free trial, so you can try the system out for yourself before you commit. You can get Sophos Endpoint Protection herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6qIKCUledPw

Microsoft has launched a new app for Office 365 which focuses on ‘deskless’ workers – for example, shop or hotel employees – allowing managers to coordinate these sort of staff members and their shifts. StaffHub is available now for Office 365 users with a K1, E1, E3 or E5 plan, and it allows bosses to create and manage shift schedules for such workers through a central web portal. Workers can then use an Android or iOS app to see where they’ve been assigned, and they can easily request shift swaps if necessary. Microsoft’s StaffHub can also be used by managers to send messages or push out files to team members, or indeed share videos or news bulletins – and employees can message each other directly. Subscription requiredOne thing that is worth noting, however, is that every member of staff using the system will need to have an Office 365 subscription (from the aforementioned plans); in other words the deskless workers on their mobile apps will need their own sub. StaffHub is also designed to integrate with other tools, and with the launch of the service, Microsoft announced a hook-up with Kronos, allowing managers to directly import data on individuals and team schedules from that firm’s Workforce Central platform. However, that particular integration is still being tested in private preview right now, with only a small number of users who can access it; but it’ll doubtless be widely available soon enough. Head over to Microsoft’s official site to find out more about StaffHub. These are the top 10 business tablets of 2017http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SuGzId1nY2A

Tunnglehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Designed specifically for gamers, Tunngle can perform a clever trick: it can make your PC think the internet is a local area network, enabling you to play local multiplayer games with people from the other side of the planet. It does this via the magic of virtual private networking (or VPN for short). With Tunngle you can create or join a network that’s just you and your fellow gamers. Your PC thinks they’re all on your LAN. Clever, eh? Why you need itBecause sometimes friends aren’t close enough for LAN multiplayer - and because sometimes the online component of classic games gets shut down, rendering the multiplayer element redundant. With Tunngle you can bring those games back to life via LAN over the VPN. There’s also a bunch of additional features including chat and messaging. The free version is ad-supported and isn’t limited, although if you want power user features such as a static IP address or the ability to change your nickname you’ll need one of the premium plans. You don’t need to shell out to enjoy the gaming features, though – you can have private networks of up to 32 players and public networks of up to 255 players without paying a cent. Download here: Tunngle http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Popular downloadsThe most popular software available to download from TechRadar right now: Windows Movie Maker: One of the best free video editors around. Simply drag and drop videos, audio and photos onto the timeline, and trim them to fit. LibreOffice: An excellent alternative to Microsoft Office, with tools for making and editing text, presentations, spreadsheets, graphics, equations and charts. AVG Antivirus Free: Top quality protection doesn’t have to cost a penny. AVG has received the gold award in independent virus detection tests. GIMP: Not only does GIMP provide all the standard drawing and editing tools, it’s packed with powerful built-in plugins that rival professional photo editors. VLC Media Player: VLC Media Player can handle pretty much any video or audio file without any additional codecs. The only media player you’ll ever need. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/yWQEZ1TkCxQ

Windows 10 hasn't had the greatest track record when it comes to respecting the privacy of its users, but Microsoft is trying to turn things around with some new hardy updates. Announced in a blog post, the Redmond-based company is building a new web-based privacy dashboard that will allow users users to see and control their data. This includes location tracking, searching and browsing histories, and Cortana Notebook data accrued through every Windows device the user owns. This is the best monitor to pair with Windows 10http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DzRfo9qmcbUvwmPzH34XQC.png Secondly, Microsoft is also introducing a new privacy setup that both newcomers to Windows 10 and existing users will see. The new setup menu essentially breaks down user privacy data into more distinct categories and more clearly showing the effects of turning off and on settings. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bu7u3kgvmskiiHHryRQPKC.jpg Furthermore, Microsoft is has eliminated the Enhanced diagnostic data level collection option, leaving only full and basic. At the same time, data collected at the basic level has been further reduced to simply keeping Windows up to date, noting what apps are installed and sending out rudimentary error reports. Overall, this is a huge net decrease in the amount of information Microsoft gathers about its users. These two updates will be first seen in a Windows 10 Insider Build for early feedback and Microsoft promises to roll them out for everyone with the Creators Update. Check out our review of Microsoft’s latest flagship Surface Book with Performance Basehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/glaMkUKGn1A

We all know that the Windows 10 Creators Update is going to be a big deal for the operating system (OS), but now – with Insider Preview build #15002 just released – we have a better idea of exactly how big. Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program lead Dona Sarkar, following much hubbub over the past few days regarding how long it’s been since the last release of an Insider Preview build, shared a blog post detailing a veritable laundry list of changes and improvements. We’re talking about thousands of words worth of details – it’s almost as if Microsoft looks to make up for something. Because there are so, so many new tools and improvements now available to Insider Preview users in the Fast Ring update channel, let’s focus on the most exciting ones. Edge begins to cut the mustardMicrosoft has finally introduced a web payments interface to its Edge browser for testing, allowing users to test out how those payments will work once the system launches. In other words, you won’t be able to buy things through it yet, but at least you can see how it will work. The firm has now also bestowed a useful feature upon the browser: tab storing. Now, you can group a collection of tabs and store them together behind a handy button near the address bar. Between that and the ability to preview your tab’s webpages in a new, aptly named Tab Preview Bar, keeping your oodles of tabs organized by task or interest should be much easier. Finally, Edge will now block all Flash content by default, taking a long-overdue cue from the likes of Google and Apple in how they treat Flash in their browsers. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HmUKrziDYoFXJUrbEu56kb.jpg Cortana branches outWith plenty of third-party developers adding Cortana functions to their Windows 10 apps, Microsoft has found ways to highlight those expanded capabilities. First, a new section of the Windows 10 Store titled “Better with Cortana” will highlight apps with these voice-controlled enhancements. Secondly, Cortana can now remind you of things to do on a monthly or annual basis, which could be useful for bill reminders as well as those for anniversaries and birthdays. And finally, Microsoft changed the keyboard shortcut to access Cortana a simpler “WIN + C,” if you don’t want to use your voice. Start gets tidier and more socialWhile we all love the new-slash-old Start menu, the amount of app Tiles can grow overwhelming. So, Microsoft has introduced folders to the tool, used much in the same way you organize apps on your smartphone. (This also implies that enough people use the Start menu in such a way to make it worth designing this feature – strange.) Microsoft has also updated its sharing tool, making it more specific to the app you’re currently using and where you’ve shared to in the past. The update may also introduce more ads to the experience, as we’ve previously covered, though Sarkar’s post makes no mention of this. Windows 10 gets even more accessibleThe last leg of improvements to Microsoft’s OS are all about getting more people into Windows 10 more easily than ever – and that means all kinds of people. To start, Microsoft has overhauled the experience of setting up a new Windows 10 PC once more, allowing Cortana to drive much of the steps through voice commands. Interesting as they are, the changes are not yet complete. For starters, Windows 10 is finally getting support for Braille – something you’d think would have been there from launch day back in July 2015. However, this feature is not yet complete either. The Windows 10 Narrator tool is undergoing some minor changes, too, like a more deliberate keyboard shortcut, and Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform apps are now more legible in high contrast mode for the color blind. Rounding out the most exciting changes are a mode that reduces the amount of blue light your PC gives off – ideal for late-night users – and new capabilities for Windows Defender, like reporting on the health of your PC and refreshing your Windows 10 install. There are way more improvements in Insider Preview build #15002 than we can list here, so read the list in full right here before you enter the Fast Ring to test drive them yourself. Spring certainly cannot come soon enough. Now, here are the best laptops to experience Windows 10 withhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OLwmcqGAiJ0

Windows 10 hasn’t seen a new preview for quite some time now – in fact it’s been just over a month, December 7 to be precise – but Microsoft has cleared up why there’s been a delay, and assured testers that a new build is about to drop. Dona Sarkar, who heads up the Windows Insider Program, had previously promised more transparency when a build was held back for whatever reason. And she made it quite clear that the cause of this particular delay was a serious issue with the incoming build whereby it could potentially force testers to reinstall Windows 10 – which is obviously very bad news (even for Fast Ring testers who expect to encounter some problems). Commitment to the communityAs MS Power User reports, Sarkar said: “We have a commitment to never leave our community in a bad state if we can help it. We certainly don’t want to release a build that would leave Insiders stuck and requiring a reinstall of Windows to get back into a good state.” The good news is that apparently the problem has now been resolved, and a fresh build has been tested which doesn’t crash and burn the OS. Indeed, it seems that build 15002 will emerge this week, quite possibly earlier rather than later. Fingers crossed on that score, as it’s allegedly going to bring some interesting changes which include tweaks to prevent drivers from being updated automatically by Windows – definitely a useful touch for those occasions when new drivers break things (although updates can do that, too). Via: Digital Trends These are the best mobile workstations money can buyhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/xh1_O7CLU40

More adverts will be coming to Windows 10 with the big Creators Update which arrives in April, you’ll probably be not so pleased to hear. There are already adverts scattered around the OS, most prominently on the Start menu and lock screen, and now they will be coming to the integrated Share interface which is being overhauled for the Creators Update. As Winaero reports, the new Share box now appears in the middle of the screen rather than in the sidebar, and it features not just apps you have installed on your PC and can share files with, but ‘recommended apps’. Adverts, in other words. Twitter user Vitor Mikaelson spotted this in a preview build, posting a screenshot showing cloud storage service Box being advertised, with an ‘install’ option below its icon. Presumably you’ll be able to disable this feature, as you can do with the adverts elsewhere in Windows – if you don’t want ads on the lock screen, it’s easy enough to turn them off. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoDZv2dHW9Z8pQ6HnaBTP7.jpg Space for rentBut naturally these things are all on by default, and may never be touched by more novice users. That said, inexperienced computer users may even appreciate the suggestions, although obviously these recommendations are taking up space where actual ‘live’ icons (for installed apps) could be displayed. The other consideration is how far Microsoft is going to go with these ads. In the example cited here, there’s just one recommendation, but if there are going to be several, that will obviously take up more screen space and could be more of an annoyance as a result. Given that these sort of built-in adverts have been an area of controversy, along with the privacy aspects of Windows 10 which have come under fire, Microsoft will have to tread pretty carefully when making moves such as these. As ever, we’ll only find out the exact implementation when the Creators Update actually arrives. Via: Ghacks We’ve rounded up the 7 best Windows tablets out therehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-69puIhTJe4

The best free privacy software 2017Online privacy is a hot topic, with even world leaders weighing in on the subject. Many of the big-name websites and companies will track your activities to deliver targeted advertising, and can build up an astonishingly detailed profile including your interests, spending habits, age, location and more. If you would prefer to keep your personal details private, a VPN or proxy tool will help. See our guide to setting up and maintaining a VPN. As well as preventing third parties building up a profile of you, the best free privacy software can open up the web, granting you access to sites blocked in your country, to access region-locked content when you're travelling away from home, and to add a layer of protection when you use a public Wi-Fi network. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ea38b1389f1c0b04ad86fad086ccdbf2.jpg Tor (The Onion Router) works by bouncing your data between encrypted nodes1. Tor Browserhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A whole browser dedicated to your privacy, Tor Browser is the cornerstone of any privacy toolkit Tor Browser is probably the best-known anonymous browsing tool out there, and it is described as a 'censorship circumvention tool'. Tor Browser has a vast following in the online privacy and security communities. It works by bouncing your communication through numerous encrypted node on the internet, making it impossible to determine your location or other identifying information. Tor Browser employs complex technology, but is refreshingly accessible. It's based on the same code as Firefox, and guides you through the process of getting online one step at a time. It uses different connection methods depending on what you're trying to achieve, but there's no need to understand the details because it's all taken care of for you. This combination of effective protection and ease of use makes Tor Browser the best free privacy software you can download today. Download here: Tor Browser http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b0a6c9327ab967dfafa08d71912cd7b5.jpg Privoxy gives you a great deal of manual control over your privacy online2. Privoxyhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Privoxy gives you total control over your privacy, but the options might be overwhelming Privoxy is a web proxy tool that's available not only for Mac, Windows and Linux, but also Android and iOS. It is a tremendously powerful tool, but you'll need to invest a little time and effort to get it up and running. Privoxy can be used in conjunction with just about any web browser, which is a big bonus; simply set the browser to run its traffic through the tool. However, one of Privoxy's key features could also be a drawback for new users: it gives you very granular control over privacy settings, and configuring them is very much a manual process. There's a helpful quick start guide available, but it has the potential to be off-putting. That said, if you're happy to persevere, this free privacy software lets you set up advanced filters that will not only ensure you remain anonymous online, but also protect you against unwanted ads. Download here: Pivoxy http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/daea3a4e4f3bbb06936478b6a044be7f.jpg Hotspot Shield can be configured for use with specific sites3. Hotspot Shield Freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png An easy way to protect your privacy by hiding your IP address from prying eyes Hotspot Shield VPN is available in two flavors: a free, ad-supported one, and a paid-for version that offer unlimited bandwidth. Hotspot Shield hides your IP address and provides encrypted traffic tunnelling (ideal for use on public Wi-Fi networks) to improve security and ensure privacy. You may not want to use Hotspot Shield at all time. For instance, you may only be interested in using it to access certain sites that are blocked in your country. In this case you can create shortcuts to individual sites in the Hotspot Shield window which will enable protection before launching the sites. Protection can also be toggled on an off with a single click. The paid-for version, Hotspot Elite, only costs a few pounds or dollars a month, but it's worth trying the free edition first before opening your wallet. Its additional features, including ad-free browsing and dedicated customer support, make it a tempting proposition. Download here: Hotspot Shield VPN http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hpbfkgH32KtLGB2wDZPhzR.png TunnelBear is simple to configure - one of the most user-friendly VPN tools around4. TunnelBearhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Free and user-friendly, TunnelBear is VPN made easy – but keep an eye on the data limit In addition to anonymous browsing, VPN tool TunnelBear can also be used to bypass traffic-shaping and throttling put in place by ISPs. The free version of TunnelBear gives you up to 500MB of data each month, but if this isn't enough, unlimited data is available for a subscription fee, with prices starting at US$4.16 per month (about £3, AU$6). Whether you go premium or stick with the free version, you can share a single account between up to five phones, tablets, Windows PCs or Macs. Configuration is incredibly simple, and TunnelBear can be used with any browser – this is probably the most accessible VPN tool there is. It's just about impossible not to recommend. Download TunnelBear free http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KMoLkp4CqhgZ6WuDguHCzR.png The free version of Cyberghost has a limited number of spaces on its server, but it works well once you're connected5. CyberGhost VPNhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A great VPN tool for protecting your privacy online, but free users have to wait their turn Another multi-platform VPN tool, CyberGhost VPN is available as a free ad-supported app, as well as a paid-for edition offering better performance and more features. For day-to-day or occasional use, the free version should be perfectly adequate. Configuration is very simple, with the only potential stumbling block being the installation of a virtual network adaptor. With a single click, CyberGhost VPN will activate, giving the impression that you're browsing from another country. You can also keep an eye on how much traffic you've transferred through the service using a handy graph. The downside of using the free version is that there's a limited numbers of spaces on the servers, so you may have to wait to gain access (although you're unlikely to be kept hanging for long). Download here: CyberGhost VPN http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/o5FnkMmNxLA

Nowadays, it’s impossible to shy away from technology and software. Most of us own smartphones, tablets, computers and other gizmos – and as a direct result of this, we create heaps of data constantly. In fact, according to computing giant IBM, we generate 2.5 quintillion bytes of it on a daily basis. Do you want to know the most staggering thing about that statistic? 90% of all data has been created in the last two years. That’s how fast technology has advanced and become more accessible in a short space of time. But the fact is, most people don’t think about data and its value. Maybe it’s not such an issue for the average consumer, but big data is certainly a big deal for businesses. With the right infrastructure in place, it’s possible to use big data to streamline business operations, improve internal efficiencies and perhaps most important of all, better understand your customers. Data visualisation software is an excellent way to manage, present and make sense of complex business data. There are a ton of great tools out there that’ll help you prepare, analyse and visualise it all – and they’re suited for a variety of industries and uses. Here are some of the best. Concerned about business security? Check out the best encryption toolshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nwdcHhhngS56xsEQr6zFf8.jpg For many, managing data is a tricky task, and some companies have teams in place to conduct data analysis successfully. Unfortunately, not every firm has the means and money to do this, which is where data visualisation software becomes extremely useful. Sisense is a really good option if you’re looking to identify data sources and integrate them into all your business operations. It’ll let you prepare, analyse and visualise every bit of data your company generates. This is an end-to-end solution and can maintain growing datasets coming from a variety of areas of your business. Data is brought to life through a series of interactive dashboards built into the system. With these, you can explore data from almost any angle and granularity – letting you gather valuable insights quickly. The unique thing about this software is that it’s highly flexible, allowing you to beef it up with third-party plugins, and add customisations through JavaScript APIs. Sign up for Sisense herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FC7YRGJ2DJht7zqM6T5ka8.jpg Like the previous product Sisense, Adaptive Discovery provides you with a number of dashboards to keep on top of all the data your company creates. It offers a variety of data visualisation techniques, including waterfall, funnel, dial, histogram, radar and charts. The system also comes with advanced intelligence built in, capable of delivering analysis based on your company forecast and budget. This is handy if you want to avoid having to work out complex equations and formulas yourself – just let the software handle everything. There’s a big emphasis on reporting too. Not only does the software provide you with a complete overview of your data and finances, but it also gives you exception and variance reporting, period-on-period averages, linear regressions, trends and control charts. Sign up for Adaptive Discovery herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7LEEdbowyfjB8j8w5yT2d8.jpg As a business owner or professional, you probably find yourself creating presentations containing various visual elements for important meetings, or maybe just personal reference. And while you can create graphs and tables within software like Microsoft Office, there are tools made specifically for this purpose. Visme is a good example. It lets you turn your business content and data into engaging presentations, infographics, charts, widgets and videos. And what’s great is that if you’re not happy with a stock template, you have the option to edit it to your tastes and needs. There are a ton of templates available, catering for areas such as business, health, education, science, marketing and non-profit. You also have the ability to make your graphics interactive by adding buttons and links, and they can be turned into files and published online. Furthermore, there’s the option to work individually or as a team with the software, too. Sign up for Visme herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wtp2FoX25SMx64RrKGvNT8.jpg If there’s one area that creates a lot of data within businesses, it’s marketing. Digital marketing campaigns are all about spotting customer trends, and without the right software, you can easily end up missing out on big opportunities. TapClicks aims to change this. It’s a digital marketing and analytics platform targeted mainly at media companies, digital agencies and enterprises. The software offers a central, unified dashboard where you can keep up-to-date with all your marketing data. You also get access to a library full of pre-made visualisations and widgets, so you can tweak the system to suit your needs better. Data is useless if you can’t do anything with it. Using TapClicks, you can export to email, Word, Excel and PDF to share with colleagues and engage in further analysis. There are some useful integrations too; you have the ability to transfer data from popular cloud services such as Google Drive and Dropbox. Sign up for Tapclicks herehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tW9YGJdZbpWQtpAn6exYa8.jpg Most data visualisation services offer dashboards, and that’s also the case with Grow. They’ve been built to combine data from hundreds of sources, including databases, spreadsheets and SAS applications. It’s possible to implement dashboards for every department or team in your organisation, and use the information gleaned to implement new team objectives and strategic aims. Grow is a good option for bigger companies with a number of teams or departments, and rather handily you can try out a free demo before making the final decision to buy. Sign up for Grow herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nMRoVJP7zgo

The best free PC optimization softwareIs your Windows PC running a little slowly? It's not your imagination: over time hard drives accumulate all kinds of things that slow things down. Optimization software can't solve obsolescence - if your computer is struggling to meet the system requirements for your OS or apps that's a job for more RAM or the addition of an SSD - but if the slowdown is software-related, it can really help. It's worth noting that you can do much of what these PC optimization apps do yourself using Windows' built-in system maintenance tools, but that's time consuming; what's really being sold here is convenience. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/014edaed06e350bd80b6a739e8e9cd29.jpg Iolo System Mechanic scans your system and lets you adjust which programs run at startup, which can have a dramatic effect on boot times1. Iolo System Mechanichttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Enjoy a cleaner, faster PC thanks to Iolo System Mechanic – the best free PC optimization tool you can download Iolo System Mechanic removes junk files and unwanted apps, blocks bloatware and unwanted auto-run settings, clears out RAM and wipes various logs, browser histories and caches. Not only does this free up key system resources, it also eliminates traces of your browsing activity to protect your privacy. It's PC optimization toolkit really does make a difference; whenever we've tested System Mechanic we've found a significant speed improvement, especially at startup. The free edition is excellent, but the premium version is well worth considering if you find yourself using it regularly: it also includes a file recovery tool, and for US$40 (about £30, AU$50) you're entitled to use it on as many home PCs as you like. The genuine performance boost we saw after running System Mechanic made it our favorite system optimization tool. Read on for four more of the best apps around for speeding up your Windows PC. Have we missed your preferred speed-boosting tool? Let us know in the comments below. Download here: Iolo System Mechanic http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0396a5634abf52278432166df8a1cc60.jpg IObit Advanced SystemCare makes optimizing your PC extremely straightforward, with a clear dashboard-based interface that puts all the key features at your fingertips2. IObit Advanced SystemCarehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A hands-off approach to optimization, cleaning and maintenance that's ideal for novice users IObit Advanced SystemCare comes in two forms: a free version that covers basic house cleaning, and a Pro version that adds internet speed-boosting, real-time optimization, privacy protection, deep registry cleaning and 24/7 technical support. That's currently US$20 (about £15, AU$25) for a year, and the license covers three PCs. Whichever edition you choose, IObit Advanced SystemCare's interface is well designed, easy to use and unlikely to frighten even the newest PC user. We'd deduct points for an installer that wants to add additional programs - that's hardly in keeping with the philosophy of keeping unwanted stuff off your computer - but they're easy to avoid if you choose a custom installation. Like most of the free PC optimization software here, it cleans up files and folders you don't need, neatens up the Windows registry and corrects errors on your hard drive – all via a simple, slick dashboard. Download here: IObit Advanced Systemcare http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b89c53d418e0f94cf2426070553d48c5.jpg Piriform CCleaner not only boosts performance by removing unnecessary files, it also helps protect your privacy by deleting tracking cookies. There's a secure file shredder too, if you need it3. Piriform CCleanerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Eliminate unnecessary files, registry entries and tracking cookies with CCleaner's extensive PC optimization toolkit Piriform CCleaner has been around for a long time, and part of the reason for its ongoing popularity is that it cleans the parts of your PC that many other free apps don't. There's a paid-for version of the PC optimization toolkit that adds real time protection and cleanup scheduling, but the free edition of CCleaner covers the important stuff such as removing temporary files, getting rid of browser caches, removing unwanted cookies while keeping the useful ones and so on. If your PC just feels sluggish then this is the app to try first. It doesn't have all the advanced features of apps like System Mechanic, but the stuff it does clear is famous for slowing down PCs. Download here: Piriform CCleaner http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2b57db38037100cea44964b9e6410f72.jpg Unless you build your own, PCs often come with lots of programs you'll never use pre-installed. PC Decrapifier removes them all, ensuring you get the best performance from your new machine4. PC Decrapifierhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Just bought a new PC? Clear out the bloatware to improve its performance straight away PC Decrapifier is a PC optimization tool that's particularly useful on brand new PCs, which are often either full of exciting opportunities to discover new apps or stuffed to the gills with a load of useless junk, depending on your point of view. If you tend to the latter then then this free app is well worth a look. It analyses your system, shows you the apps it thinks you should get rid of - based not just on its developers' opinions but on other users' feedback - and then removes the ones you choose. It's so focused on cleaning PCs, it doesn't even install itself. Download here: PC Decrapifier http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d022a8fb7161c48ab15a0e89fc51dac7.jpg Razer Cortex is designed to optimize your PC's performance for gaming. The results are often minimal, but you might notice an improvement in frame rate5. Razer Cortex: Game Boosterhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Performance enhancement specifically designed for gamers who want the highest frame rates If your system struggles when you're trying to get your game on, Razer Cortex: Game Booster could well be the answer. This free PC optimization software suspends unnecessary system processes, clears out memory and defrags your system to get the very best game performance possible. Razer Cortex: Game Booster is available for Windows 7, 8 and 10, and while the differences won't make you jump up and down in astonishment - for most people the results will mean slightly smoother visuals rather than astonishing performance improvements - it does automate the fiddly process of turning off unnecessary software and services when it's time to play. Download here: Razer Cortex: Game Booster http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg See all the PC optimization software available to download on TechRadar http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/LZ9tDtuagbc

The best free email clientWith webmail services like Gmail and Outlook offering easy email access and mobile apps for all your devices, does the humble email client still warrant a place on you desktop? If you use more than one email account - as most of us do - we say yes. This is particularly true if those accounts are with different providers, which would otherwise require you to have several browser tabs open at once. As well as aggregating all your messages in one convenient place, a good email client can add features like encryption and integration with calendars, RSS feeds and VoIP apps. Desktop clients can also store your mail locally, giving you access to archived messages when you're offline and providing a valuable backup. Here's our nomination for the best email client of 2016. Have we missed your favorite? What makes it stand out? Let us know in the comments below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2e0df859650bd46539763b6c88a8b1cf.jpg The free edition of eM Client is limited to two email accounts, but includes support for communication apps like Jabber1. eM Clienthttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png The best email client, with support for a wide range of email providers and integrated chat eM Client has been kicking around for nearly 10 years now, and its long development has enabled it to develop into the best email client for Windows. The free version is limited to non-commercial use and two email accounts, but otherwise it's identical to the paid-for edition. eM Client includes support for Gmail, Exchange, iCloud and Outlook.com, touch controls, fast searching and integrated calendaring and contacts. There's an integrated chat app too, with support for common standards such as Jabber and Google Chat, and it's a good alternative to heavyweight apps like Outlook. Download here: eM Client http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/905b48ed6b8181bd067ef2ccc893ef60.jpg Mailbird is easy to set up, and can connect with Whatsapp and Google Calendar to put all your conversations and schedules in one place2. Mailbird Litehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A great-looking email client packed with features to supplement your messages Mailbird Lite isn't just an email app - it's a whole communication platform to which you can add apps for scheduling, chatting, file syncing and teamworking. After downloading Mailbird you'll be treated to a 30-day trial of the Pro version, which is downgraded to the more limited Lite edition if you choose not to upgrade at the end of the month. There are no time restrictions on the free client. Free users miss out on features such as speed reading, email snoozing and quick previews of attachments, but Mailbird Lite is still an excellent choice. It supports up to three email accounts, is optimized for speed, and looks great to boot. Setup is simple; enter your email details and Mailbird Lite will find the necessary POP or IMAP settings automatically, then get to work importing your messages. It offers to connect with your Facebook account, so it can liven up your inbox with your contacts' profile photos, and can also link with Whatsapp, Google Calendar, free task manager Moo.do, and teamworking app Asana. Download here: Mailbird Lite http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c23d1327b5a547d7c14eb13a7add2c01.jpg Claws Mail is best suited to more advanced users, and Gmail users might not like having to relax their account security in order to use it3. Claws Mailhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Claws Mail's simple interface belies a powerful email tool that's well suited to more confident users Claws Mail isn't hard to use, but is best suited to more experienced users who want to get stuck into its custom mail filtering and support for an unlimited number of email accounts. Unlike the other clients here, Claws requires users to set up their POP3/IMAP settings manually. If you use Gmail, you may also need to adjust your Google account settings and grant access for potentially less safe applications - something you might well prefer to avoid. Unusually for a modern email client there's no option to send HTML messages - Claws is plaintext-only - but by omitting potentially unnecessary features, Claws can run at lightning speeds. Its search function is particularly good, and it's expandable via plugins too. It isn't the prettiest email app, but Claws is a great free choice if you value substance over style. It's also updated regularly, so bugs are stamped out quickly. Download here: Claws Mail http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fa63c873ef0c9fb87a5585e6242c7a72.jpg Inky uses a single master account to link all your email addresses4. Inkyhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A free email client with one-time setup for managing mail across all your devices Inky's free edition is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Android, and its one-time setup makes it the perfect email client for use across all three platforms. After downloading and installing the email client, you'll be asked to create an Inky account. This links all your email addresses together, enabling you to access them from any device with Inky installed without the hassle of setting up POP and IMAP settings. Once you've registered, setup is simple; enter the username and password for each account, and Inky takes care of the rest. In everyday use, Inky is excellent, with a clever auto-tagging feature, intelligent filtering of message types (personal, subscriptions, social, notes and so on), very fast searching and cloud syncing between devices. If you're running Windows 7 or later and spend lots of time trying to find particular messages or threads, Inky could save you an enormous amount of time. Download here: Inky http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/971bcd42a58c599f234fceefd4f183b5.jpg Like the Opera browser, Opera Mail is designed to be lightweight, accessible and highly customizable5. Opera Mailhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A flexible open source email client from the team behind the superb Opera web browser The developers of Opera have always considered email to be a key feature of any good browser, and have poured a great deal of effort into developing free email client Opera Mail. Its features include message templates - particularly handy for business use - message filtering and sorting, message sorting by type and a wide range of customisation options. The client also imports RSS feeds, making it a good alternative to web apps like Feedly and the much-missed Google Reader. Download here: Opera Mail http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eeed00f55ca4d01a122e3bb642eec01a.jpg Thunderbird is an excellent, highly developed email client that can be personalised and enhanced even further with user-created extensions6. Thunderbirdhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Plenty of features, and even more available with free extensions - as you'd expect from Mozilla Like Firefox, free email client Thunderbird was created by the Mozilla Foundation (though development of the two has since been uncoupled). Like the web browser, its features can be extended and enhanced with a huge range of third-party add-ons. Some of its excellent built-in features include the ability to link files that are too big to email and the ability to read RSS news feeds alongside your email. Setup is straightforward; as with most modern email clients, all you need are your usernames and passwords, and Thunderbird takes care of the rest. Download here: Thunderbird http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/684e36528eca45e1971880b3630342db.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/af10a05ffd6ed0b6cea2adc92271619d.jpg 7. Windows Live Mailhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A venerable email client that's stood the test of time and is still a good choice today Windows Live Mail was last updated in 2012, having been superseded by the Mail app in Windows 8 and 10. However, despite Live Mail's comparatively old-fashioned appearance, the two programs are largely the same. Windows Live Mail delivers the three-pane layout that many email users, including us, prefer to more modern but more minimal designs. It supports RSS and cloud-based email as well as POP3, and makes it easy to send attachments and work with multiple accounts. If you like Microsoft's way of doing things but find ultra-streamlined Windows 10 apps too limiting, the classic Windows Live Mail remains a sensible choice. Download here: Windows Live Mail http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg See all the free email clients available to download on TechRadar http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zji6TKQViSw

Intel’s latest invention is a tiny computer about the size of a credit card, and the idea is it can be plugged into connected devices like smart TVs or fridges (or indeed smart kiosks) to provide an easily upgradable brain for the gadget. The Intel Compute Card has all of the components you’d expect in a full PC, including a SoC (system-on-a-chip), memory, storage, plus wireless connectivity. Smart devices and IoT gadgets will be built with a slot designed to take the Compute Card, and if the user wants to add smart capabilities, they can simply purchase the most appropriate card for their needs – there will be different models offering varying levels of performance. Upgrade heavenAnd of course this is an easy way to upgrade your smart device in the future. When more powerful Compute Cards are made, if you want to upgrade, say, your smart TV, it’s simply a matter of buying a new card and plugging it in. We’ve seen similar plug-and-play upgrades for smart TVs in the past from the actual manufacturers, of course, but this is a solution that aims to be universal across the smart home – or at least with those hardware makers who partner up with Intel to offer a Compute Card slot, of course. Intel says it’s already working with hardware partners including Dell, HP, Lenovo, Sharp, InFocus and a number of others. The first Compute Card will be launched around the middle of this year, although Intel didn’t say anything about the exact specs it will come with, save that Kaby Lake processors will be in the mix. Your budding smart home might also benefit from the best broadband dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/9unefb3f9GI

Windows 10 is getting an overhauled interface with a new look that boasts some considerable changes – including various animations – and it’ll be arriving later this year. Project Neon, as it’s known, won’t be a major change to the OS, but it will make quite a number of interesting tweaks to polish things up across the board. According to MS Power User, which managed to get a look at the UI in its current state – bear in mind it’s still a work in progress – Neon will bring back some of Windows 7’s Aero Glass (transparency/blur) effects along with animations, while shooting for simplicity (although animations are arguably at odds with the latter goal). At any rate, the changes look fairly nifty, with one of the main constituents being named ‘acrylic’, which basically allows for blur effects to be added to the background of app windows and sidebars, for a more modern UI look (actually, we probably shouldn’t use the term ‘modern’ here given past history – let’s try ‘contemporary’). This is tied in with what Microsoft calls ‘conscious UI’, which is basically a way of saying the sidebar acrylic adapts to what’s behind it in a context sensitive manner. Getting animatedAs mentioned, there will also be animations, with an example given being the Groove app, with the picture of the artist shrinking as you scroll down the page through to the lists of their songs. Moving your mouse pointer over menu items will highlight them with a subtle backdrop, and the overall consistency of the UI will also be tightened up, which can never hurt. Of course, a lot will depend on how these effects are actually implemented, but MS Power User assures us that the animations are ‘stupendously smooth’ no less. Let’s just hope that they don’t have too much of an effect on performance when it comes to slower PCs. All of this is still relatively early work on the interface, mind, and things may well change by the time Project Neon is actually unleashed with a major Windows 10 update – it’s scheduled to arrive with the second big update landing later this year, following the Creators Update which is due in April. Image Credit: MS Power User Don’t forget there are January sales deals to be had on Windows 10http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/MLRYi2PzKmE

LibreOfficehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png LibreOffice is a whole suite of office software that can easily replace Microsoft Office on your Windows PC. It includes well designed and fully-featured programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, flowcharts, and equations, and because it's open source it's all completely free. LibreOffice is also fully compatible with all Office file formats, so you'll have no trouble opening and collaborating on documents created with Microsoft's productivity software. Why you need itBecause LibreOffice is one of the best free office software suites you can download today. It's been in development for many years, and its active community of enthusiastic contributors ensure it receives regular updates, and any bugs are squished without delay. All of LibreOffice's programs have very similar interfaces to their Microsoft counterparts, so there's virtually no learning curve. Everything works as you'd expect, and the keyboard shortcuts are the same, so you'll be up to speed almost immediately. LibreOffice also supports downloadable extension, including new dictionaries, templates, clipart, and even advanced features like OCR. If you need an office suite for your new PC, or are considering renewing your subscription, give LibreOffice a try first. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Download here: LibreOffice http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Popular downloadsThe most popular software available to download from TechRadar right now: Windows Movie Maker: One of the best free video editors around. Simply drag and drop videos, audio and photos onto the timeline, and trim them to fit. LibreOffice: An excellent alternative to Microsoft Office, with tools for making and editing text, presentations, spreadsheets, graphics, equations and charts. AVG Antivirus Free: Top quality protection doesn’t have to cost a penny. AVG has received the gold award in independent virus detection tests. GIMP: Not only does GIMP provide all the standard drawing and editing tools, it’s packed with powerful built-in plugins that rival professional photo editors. VLC Media Player: VLC Media Player can handle pretty much any video or audio file without any additional codecs. The only media player you’ll ever need. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/z-Noyluw-sY

The best free photo editorWith phone cameras now ubiquitous, we're taking and sharing more photos than ever. But even the best phone camera is likely to produce a dud or two, and even the best shot could stand to be better. Photo editing, then, shouldn't be the sole reserve of those who can afford to stump up the cash for a subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud. And no, Microsoft Paint or Apple Preview won't cut it: you deserve more than mere cropping or a few sliders to tweak. So we've given our list a total overhaul and selected the very best free photo editors you can download, ranging from fully-featured Photoshop clones to simple, easy to use ways to add filters and effects to your favourite snaps. These are by no means the only free options, though; if we've missed your favourite photo editor, let us know in the comments below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4a858351debb9854ffd4ac5553c47edc.jpg With layers, customizable brushes, advanced filters and dozens of plug-ins, GIMP is the best free image editor around1. GIMPhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A silly name for an exceptional free photo editor The elder statesperson of free photo editing, GIMP is the most full-featured cross-platform Photoshop competitor going, and gets our vote as the best free photo editor. It's not without its crashes and glitches – that's the too-many-cooks open source development philosophy in action – and it lacks the polish of its commercial rivals. Some of the filters, in particular, seem as if they haven't been touched since it was first released 20 years ago. That said, if you're looking for a desktop free photo editor ready for just about any task, GIMP is it. Its interface will be immediately familiar to Photoshop users, particularly if you switch on the highly recommended single window mode, and it's still in active development, so new features and filters are added regularly. There's also a plug-in repository to extend GIMP's range (although it's not been updated for a while). We'd recommend grabbing the stable version, but don't overlook the development build if you want to try some new features. Download here: GIMP http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9031b48c40adb8200021b66f669351fd.jpg Despite its name, Paint.NET is an advanced free photo editor that runs quickly and has a wealth of user-created plug-ins2. Paint.NEThttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Basic photo editing with layers, filters and plug-ins Sometimes it pays not to be overloaded with bells and whistles. Paint.NET's simplicity is one of its key features; it leaves it a fast, easy to operate free photo editor that's perfect for those little tasks that don't need the sheer power of GIMP. Don't be fooled by the name, though. This isn't just a clone of Microsoft's ultra-basic Paint – though it was originally intended to replace it. It's a proper photo editor, just one that lands on the basic side of the curve. Interface-wise it's reminiscent of its namesake, but as it's grown Paint.NET has added essential editing tools like layers, an undo history, a raft of filters, numerous community-created plugins, and a 3D rotate/zoom function that's useful for recomposing images. Yes, it's lacking in certain areas, but if your machine is lacking in power or RAM we can't think of a better choice. Download here: Paint.NET http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2f4c373a26a345a356e381e0cec48494.jpg Photoscape's filters are a great way to add some pizzaz to your pictures, and its RAW conversion tool is very handy if your camera shoots in that format3. PhotoScapehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A free editor that handles more than just photos PhotoScape is, ostensibly, a rather simple free photo editor. But one glance at its main menu reveals a wealth of features: RAW conversion, photo splitting and merging, animated GIF creation, and even a rather odd (but useful) function with which you can print lined, graph or sheet music paper. The meat, of course, is in the photo editing. PhotoScape's interface is among the most esoteric of all the apps we've looked at here, with tools grouped into pages in odd configurations. It certainly doesn't attempt to ape Photoshop, and includes fewer features. We'd definitely point this towards the beginner, but that doesn't mean you can't get some solid results. PhotoScape's filters are functional and not at all beginner-like, so it's if good choice if you need to quickly level, sharpen or add mild filtering to pictures in a snap. Steer clear of the rest of the tools, though: you'll find better elsewhere. Download here: PhotoScape http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8b8135c53039469004b5881e874d49c0.jpg Nik Collection is a set of Photoshop filters that can also be used as standalone tools4. Google Nik Collectionhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A professional-level filter selection, now free Google's unending determination to corner just about every market sometimes pays dividends for the pincher of pennies. Take its purchase of German developer Nik in 2012, for example - its Nik Collection photo editor plugin range retailed for US$500 at the time, and in early 2016 Google decided to do away with the price tag and release the powerful collection for free. We suspect support and updates might be somewhat limited going forward, but this does enable you to bag seven quality photo-editing tools as-is: lens and film emulator Analog Efex; colour corrector Color Efex; monochrome converter Silver Efex; noise reducer Dfine; selective colour tweaker Viveza; and Sharpener and HDR Efex, which speak for themselves. These are perfect free plugins if you're already using Photoshop, and you can add them to compatible host applications when you install them, but they can also be run as standalone photo editors if you hunt down their executable files. They won't appear in your list of Windows apps - you need to look in C:\Program FilesGoogleNik Collection. To edit a photo, drag it onto the EXE file of your chosen editor. It's a strange system, but it works! Download here: Google Nik Collection http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/14f923dd127f80f2e4cff7fa945392fb.jpg An excellent online photo editor, Pixlr uses a slider-based interface that's easy to get to grips with5. Pixlrhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5TkfQ8DT6Cxn8eLZ6myYJR.png High-end photo editing – and quick filtering – in your browser An ad-supported online photo editor, Pixlr comes in two flavours: Editor, the more equipped package; and Express, perfect for applying quick fixes without the bloat of the bigger package. It's actually the online editor we tend to gravitate towards, both because of its clean, modern dark interface and because of its efficiency even on systems without much processor muscle. Some of Pixlr Editor's tools, particularly the filters, can be a bit tricky to use because you're not given a proper preview, but the results – when you do eventually get the sliders right – are almost always satisfactory. With support for layers, masks, and a fullscreen mode which means it might as well be a full-on desktop app, Editor (pictured) is a consistently pleasant tool to use. And don't discount Express; a bit of low-effort clicking can really make a huge difference to your photos. Try it online: Pixlr http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5952f4b511801f72e0104588d5bbf057.jpg Fotor is worth downloading for its excellent batch-processing feature alone. Process a whole folder full of photos quickly and painlessly6. Fotorhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Photo enhancement in an easy-to-use package Fotor is a photo enhancer first and foremost, more than it is a photo editor; if there's specific area of retouching you need doing with, say, the clone brush or healing tool, you're out of luck. But it includes a stack of high-end filters that really do shine. There's a foolproof tilt-shift tool, for example, and a raft of vintage and vibrant colour tweaks, all easily accessed through Fotor's clever menu system. You can manually alter your own curves and levels, too, but without the complexity of high-end tools. Fotor's most brilliant function, and one that's sorely lacking in many photo editing packages, is its batch processing tool – feed it a pile of pics and it'll filter the lot of them in one go, perfect if you have a memory card full of holiday snaps and need to cover up the results of a dodgy camera or shaky hand. Download here: Fotor http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1dd22a1020ad4f21dd3f491b24e60d4f.jpg Vintager is a more comprehensive version of Instagram's retro-style image filters, for that shot-using-expired-film look7. Vintagerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Give your photos a quick, classic film look Instagram, eh? Not only has it been an inexplicable social media hit, it's created a love of fancy photo filters the world over. For that classic vintage look on Windows you can't do much better than free photo editor Vintager, a haven of filters, borders, layers and lens-glint bokehs to make your hastily-fired shots seem like they were meant to look that way. It looks simple on the surface, with a straightforward interface which gives you quick access to filters and overlays, but there's a bit more muscle in here. You can adjust highlights and shadows, muck about with the colour balance of your shots, and even dive into curves and levels. There's also a very handy photo collage mode in which you can compile up to five individually tweaked shots into a single whole. Vintager is probably not going to be your primary photo-processing tool – there are others which do all this and more besides – but for a dead simple way to add flair to photos before uploading them there's not much better. Download here: Vintager http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/228a674f279f00d1d76ce84c51174726.jpg A browser-based editor, Sumo Paint is big on features, but also big on ads8. Sumo Painthttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5TkfQ8DT6Cxn8eLZ6myYJR.png Powerful in-browser editing, but fewer tools than we'd like Sumo Paint is powerful, no doubt about it. It's a full-featured photo editor that sits in your browser, with various artistic tools and paintbrushes thrown in for good measure. Perhaps its range of polygonal shapes and symmetry tools won't suit being plastered over your photographs, but it's high on the list of options if you're looking more on the creative end of things. There are sacrifices to be made, though. Notably the appropriately sumo wrestler-sized ads that eat up your screen space, and the slight performance hit you'll get from running it in-browser. If you want to get rid of the ads or run it on your desktop, you'll need to stump up for a US$4 (about £3, AU$5.) subscription. We struggle to recommend it too highly on this basis – while Sumo Paint does have a few tricks up its sleeve, the real magic can be found in plenty of other free apps. Try it online: Sumo Paint http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/29096b625d3b1c680e15a2aba87a27eb.jpg Irfanview is advertised as an image-viewer, but also includes tools to give your pictures a boost9. IrfanViewhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png An image viewer with batch editing and conversion Tiny, speedy and relatively unique, IrfanView does things that others don't. Utterly free in the classic, non-laden-with-adverts sense, it's predominantly an image viewer. Given its compact size it's perfect in that role, launching quickly and unfussily and making it easy to flick through a stack of snaps quickly. But it's not limited just to showing you your pictures. IrfanView does batch processing and format conversion very well – we keep it around for that reason alone. It's also useful for screen capturing, and includes support for Adobe Photoshop filters. That means you can use it as a host for, for example, Google's Nik Collection, or any other free filters you might find. Its direct editing tools are reasonably limited and the internal filters aren't particularly stellar or exciting, but give it a try and we're sure you'll find your own reason to keep IrfanView installed. Download here: Irfanview http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fb3c4e9b27c6ad0141a6bb770b6f307c.jpg 'Paint' filter effects over selected parts of your photos using On1 Effects 1010. On1 Effects 10 Freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Selective filtering for advanced photo effects The 'free' suffix offers some indication of what you're getting here: On1 Effects 10 Free is a cut-down version of On1 Effects 10 proper, pulling out just a limited selection of its filters. But we're still happy to recommend it, mainly because of its methodology. Instead of being forced to apply an effect to a full image, you can use On1's Perfect Brush tool to smear that effect on the areas you're interested in enhancing, which is a great way to create a unique look. Its quick mask and refine brush tools also make masking off areas of your image particularly easy, so you can make elements pop. Essentially this is an taster for the full version, but its diminished filter range – HDR, vignette, vintage, glow etc – is still useful and worth trying if you're after vibrant effects; you'll have to try another program for sharpening, blurring and noise reduction, so On1 Effects Free isn't great if you want to preserve the honesty of your photos. Download here: On1 Effects Free http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg See all the free photo editors available to download on TechRadar http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/7KRmHtHnsU0

Over at CES, Bitdefender has unveiled a new take on its product designed to ensure that your smart home is kept safe from virtual intruders, in this day and age of compromised routers, security cameras and other IoT gadgets being hijacked by the likes of DDoS perpetrators. The second-generation Bitdefender Box is an IoT security device which defends your home network and all the connected devices therein, from computers to smart TVs, thermostats and light bulbs. Box makes use of network traffic analysis to maintain your privacy and security, warning against vulnerabilities across all your devices, and it offers enterprise-grade intrusion prevention, inspecting all traffic to (hopefully) spot all manner of attacks and the likes of port scanning activity. Access controlAs well as checking for vulnerabilities, Bitdefender notes that its system will also tell users how to better secure their smart home. It also offers network access control so you can decide who can use your home network, and what privileges they get. Ciprian Istrate, Vice President Consumer Solutions at Bitdefender, commented: “The number of internet connected devices we own has increased dramatically, so has our exposure to hacker attacks. Now is the time to rethink the way we do cybersecurity before we learn it the hard way.” As well as the hardware itself, you get a Bitdefender Total Security subscription which covers an unlimited number of Windows, macOS or Android devices – for an asking price of $130 (around £105, AU$180). This launch follows Symantec’s new secure Wi-Fi router that we reported on earlier today – it has similar sort of built-in protection measures. Indeed, the increasing panic about Internet of Things security as the number of poorly protected IoT devices spreads is likely to trigger more of these sort of smart home security solutions. New year, new tech – check out all our coverage of CES 2017 straight from Las Vegas, the greatest gadget show on Earthhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Fhx8Z3Wvfis

In an era when everywhere you turn another tech company is making a smart home assistant, LG has its own solution, and it comes in the form of a friendly looking little robot. The Hub Robot, as it's called, is a white blob with two blinking blue eyes that doubles as a smart home gateway and personal assistant. LG already announced it was bringing the Hub Robot to CES 2017, but today was the first time we laid eyes on it. In addition to wheeling around after you, the Hub Robot can perform tasks like preheat your oven, initiate the robot vacuum (another LG robotic innovation), fill you in on commute times, tell you the weather and play music. None of these tasks are ground-breaking or all that necessary, though they could be cool party tricks to pull out every so often. LG didn't announce pricing or a release date for the Hub Robot, so we don't know when it will start scooting around after you. With the likes of Amazon Echo and Google Home costing less than $200, LG will need to keep the Hub Robot inexpensive if it has any hope of competing. Robot warsLG's robot ambitions don't end there as tech giant also unveiled a Lawn Mower Robot (self-explanatory) and Airbot, a larger version of Hub Robot designed to clean up and escort people around airports. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P4eKg4QspMFJR65mGTiapC.jpg Again, no formal release date or price were mentioned for these bots either, but the machines point to LG putting a renewed focus on robots as well as artificial intelligence to lend a hand in our daily lives. The LG G5-maker outlined its advanced AI plans for appliances ahead of CES, and today talked up its DeepThinQ tech based on learning user habits as well as voice and image recognition to deliver more intelligent personalization to home goods. A team-up with Amazon also brings the Alexa personal voice assistant to LG appliances, namely a refrigerator that lets you place orders for items when you've run low. The future! New year, new tech – check out all our coverage of CES 2017 straight from Las Vegas, the greatest gadget show on Earthhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/v3iYKIAEleA

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png AVG Antivirus FreeThe makers of free antivirus software aren’t just helping their customers; they’re helping the rest of us too, because a virus-free PC is a PC that won’t be sending out spam or trying to destroy the internet. AVG Antivirus Free is one of the best antivirus solutions out there, and although it can be a little too forthcoming with information about threats it’s foiled, it's a very useful and clever app. Why you need itBecause the internet is a cesspool, a hive of villainy, and various other bad things combined. It’s so bad that we wouldn’t be surprised if our next PC got infected before it had even been designed, let alone delivered and plugged in. Going online without antivirus software is rather like stripping naked, covering yourself in the stickiest honey and throwing yourself into an enormous nest of furious wasps. Twice. AVG Antivirus Free is very good for home and small business users: not only does it scan file attachments and downloads, but it also scans web links to see if they’re dodgy – and if your PC does get infected, it has a tool you can use to scan your PC from your phone. Download here: AVG Antivirus Free http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg Popular downloadsThe most popular software available to download from TechRadar right now: Windows Movie Maker: One of the best free video editors around. Simply drag and drop videos, audio and photos onto the timeline, and trim them to fit. LibreOffice: An excellent alternative to Microsoft Office, with tools for making and editing text, presentations, spreadsheets, graphics, equations and charts. AVG Antivirus Free: Top quality protection doesn’t have to cost a penny. AVG has received the gold award in independent virus detection tests. GIMP: Not only does GIMP provide all the standard drawing and editing tools, it’s packed with powerful built-in plugins that rival professional photo editors. VLC Media Player: VLC Media Player can handle pretty much any video or audio file without any additional codecs. The only media player you’ll ever need. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zqqHt02k_OE

Wish your home was smarter? Comcast is here to help. The internet service provider has introduced a new set of cloud-connected features at CES 2017 designed to sync your devices and help you control them with greater ease using its Gateway hub. Armed with the web, mobile app and voice commands, you can configure more devices in your dwelling over the internet as well as set controls to keep everything running just the way you like it. But what exactly do these fresh features let you do? For starters, the new tool set allows for easy set up, personalization and categorization to organize the devices in your home. You can then monitor signal strength between devices and personalize machines as you wish, while also keeping tabs on in-home Wi-Fi usage. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MxxF5RuzGcrj7snqsHfCrH.jpg You can also set schedulers and implement a bedtime mode, keeping little Billy from hopping online after 8pm, for example. If you want everyone in your house to be internet-free during dinner, you can also pause access on all devices for just a short time. The Xfinity X1 remote provides the vessel through which you can utter your voice commands, and even requests to see who's using your network will turn up results for which devices are currently connected. Finally, the smart internet platform acts as "a first line of defense" against malicious actors, Comcast says, helping to keep your data and the data of your family members secure. This suite of new connected home features will automatically arrive for customers with a Comcast Wi-Fi Gateway device in the first half of the year at no additional cost. That's about 10 million people who will have a smarter home without needing to lift a finger, so to speak, with the number expected to grow by the end of 2017. New year, new tech – check out all our coverage of CES 2017 straight from Las Vegas, the greatest gadget show on Earthhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/h2-neJqsxH4

The best free FTP clientIf you regularly transfer files between PCs or networked storage, you need a great FTP client. The best FTP clients offer an unparalleled level of control over not only the upload and download of files, but also the access permissions for files and folders. Here is our pick of the best FTP clients available today. Have we missed your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LAo7yD2357vi5o7WuhosdM.jpg FileZilla gets our vote for the best free FTP client thanks to its ability to pause and resume transfers, security options, and variety of viewing options1. FileZillahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Fast, secure and highly customizable, FileZilla is the best free FTP client you can download One of the best known free FTP clients out there, FileZilla has earned itself a great reputation over the years - and for good reason. If you're using it to upload large files to your website (or to any server, for that matter), you'll appreciate not only the secure transfer option, but also the ability to pause and resume uploads and downloads. For anyone who works with multiple sites or servers, FileZilla's bookmarking is a great timesaver. The multi-pane interface might seem a little excessive to start with, but it's something you soon get used to, and it makes navigating remote sites a piece of cake. What's particularly pleasing about this free FTP client is the fact that the interface is incredibly customizable, so if there's something you don’t like, you can probably change it. This well considered design puts you firmly in the driving seat, and makes FileZilla the best free FTP client available today. Download here: FileZilla http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pp8p2cCGz8mG27RE4aF6dM.jpg It might look a little old-fashioned, but Core FTP LE offers everything you'd expect from a modern FTP client. Its support for remote file editing is particularly welcome2. Core FTP LEhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Very easy to use, with advanced features wrapped in a no-frills interface, CoreFTP is a close runner-up A cut-down version of Core FTP Pro, Core FTP LE still has a great deal to offer, and it should be more than capable of handling your file transfer needs. Core FTP LE looks a bit dated, but that's unlikely to be a deciding factor when you're picking a free FTP client, and there are plenty of different views to work with according to your preferences. What is a slight problem, however, is the nag screen that reminds you every time you start the program that it cannot be used for commercial purposes. Some of Core FTP's features are exclusive to the Pro version, such as thumbnails, enhanced FTP scheduling and encryption and decryption, but Core FTP LE isn't short of useful extras. With browser integration, remote file editing, pause and resume of file transfers and support for proxies, firewalls, and htaccess and htpasswd editing, it's highly accomplished free FTP client that's well worth checking out. Download here: Core FTP LE http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZftNZjgdcG8cfCAD5ZHgcM.jpg Unlike some web browsers, Firefox doesn't have a built-in FTP client. FireFTP is a tiny extension that fixes that problem, and it's super speedy too3. FireFTPhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png This FTP client is a tiny browser extension that fills a gap in Firefox's arsenal of online applications FireFTP is a little different from the other FTP clients in this roundup because it is not a standalone application. Instead it is a plugin for Firefox, bringing FTP functionality to Mozilla's web browser. This is a bog bonus if you are an existing Firefox user, but is it reason enough to switch browsers if your allegiances lie elsewhere? Although you might feel that using a browser extension as an FTP client would mean making compromises, FireFTP is on a par with all of the other tools in this roundup. The beauty of this particular FTP client is that it is cross-platform -- if you can install Firefox, you can install FireFTP. You can use it to manage multiple sites, and drag and drop support is present even though this is an extension. Importantly, there is SSL/TLS encryption and remote editing, as well as folder comparison for checking what changes you are yet to upload. Download here: FireFTP http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P5EgD7rf5zze73QuudfvdM.jpg Free FTP is a dependable client that works with all versions of Windows from Vista onwards. Its clear drag-and-drop interface gives you all the information you could wish for at a glance 4. Free FTPhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A dependable FTP client from the people behind CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor Like Core FTP LE, Free FTP is getting on a bit, but that's no reason to overlook it. This free client was developed by CoffeeCup Software - a software company best known for its superb free HTML editor - so being a few years old isn't a problem in the slightest. Although Free FTP isn't an FTP client aimed at power users, it has everything you need for day-to-day file transfers, including SSH transfers, file editing, and permission editing. The interface is customizable, but it is also plagued by ads that encourage you to upgrade to a paid-for version of the program. If you can turn a blind eye to this, you'll get on well with the program even if not every feature is completely intuitive. As well as more hardcore features such as the terminal, Free FTP includes a great option for anyone with a website -- one-click backup with the Archive feature. Download here: Free FTP http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hcSpyDP6H8NikEfFpEXkdM.jpg WinSCP might be a little daunting for novice users, but once you're used to its way of working, it's a powerful file transfer client that you'll soon come to rely on5. WinSCPhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A powerful FTP client that's available in both standard and portable editions One of the great things about WinSCP is that it is available not only as a standard, installable program, but also as a portable app. This is great for anyone who regularly finds themselves working on different computers, as the software can be popped onto a USB drive and moved from machine to machine complete with all your files and settings. WinSCP is still being actively developed and updated, so don't be put off by its retro looks; it's a superb modern FTP client. The name derives from the fact that the program support not just FTP and SFTP, but also SCP. Switching to Commander view provides access to a wealth of advanced options, but this does make the interface a little cluttered and overwhelming; it's a delicate balancing act between power and usability. Download here: WinSCP http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XriTE6FXZdI

Every day, we update our software database with the latest free software releases. Here are some of today’s highlights. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Stickies 90.dhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png When you want to make a quick note on your desktop or create a brief to-do list, Stickies is the perfect tool. Just type into the virtual sticky note and position it wherever you like on your screen. There are optional alarms for important tasks, too. Stickies 9.0d includes new keyboard shortcuts for speedier note-taking. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg RivaTuner 2.24chttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A system optimization program designed specifically for gamers, RivaTuner brings all the essential tools you need for tuning your system together under one roof. Control the clock, memory speed, and fan speeds, and easily overclock your system. RivaTuner 2.24c adds support for new hardware and drivers, and improves component detection. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg Mail PassView 1.86http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png If you’ve forgotten or lost the password or other account details for your email client, Mail PassView can help you get them back. It works with Outlook, Windows Live Mail, IncrediMail, Mozilla Thunderbird and many more. It can also extract email passwords from Gmail Notifier and Yahoo Messenger. Mail PassView 1.86 has been updated to work with the latest version of Thunderbird. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg ATI Tray Tools 1.7.9.1573http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png ATI Tray Tools is an easy and safe way to tweak Radeon graphics cards for optimum gaming performance. The latest version of ATI Tray Tools adds several major updates, including support for ATI Control Center, more granular customization for video cards, improved profiles, and support for the latest hardware drivers. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VgyagGS9HpAEPUQtUJBfrg.jpg RocketDock 1.3.5http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png RocketDock is a free application launcher for Windows, with smooth animations reminiscent of macOS. It’s fully customizable, and makes accessing your favorite programs and directories a breeze. The latest version fixes a bug that caused problems with theme and skin compatibility. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/0taKFSrjHBY

Remember that Windows 7/8.1 users could upgrade for free to Windows 10 for the first year of the new operating system’s existence? That offer officially expired at the end of July last year, but reportedly it’s still perfectly possible to make the leap to Windows 10 without paying a penny. You may recall that back in August 2016, we reported on two methods which could still be used to achieve a free upgrade from Windows 7/8.1, and the good – and surprising – news is that both of these ways can still be successfully used. According to Techspot, the Windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assistive technologies to help them operate their PC is still open to anyone – meaning that Microsoft doesn’t check whether you actually need to use these assistive utilities such as the screen reader. As we pointed out in the past, this is certainly a morally questionable route for obtaining your free upgrade. Old keyAlthough the other method of using an old Windows 7/8.1 product key also still works, which is even more surprising – we’d have definitely thought Microsoft would have closed this loophole by now. Of course, more users migrating to the newest OS won’t hurt Microsoft’s adoption figures which are still being carefully scrutinized, so perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised that these unofficial loopholes remain. However, they certainly won’t remain forever, so if you’ve been regretting not upgrading, it’s probably best to take the plunge sooner rather than later. A new OS for a New Year… Via: PC Gamer Or you could get Windows 10 on one of our 15 best laptopshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OikPEsbGzeA

The best free software for WindowsSuperb software doesn't have to cost a fortune - thanks to open source, shareware and ad-supported projects, you can equip your Windows PC with a complete set of essential everyday programs completely free. We've put the best free Windows software to the test and hand-picked the very best programs for your PC. These are the programs we use ourselves at home, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Don't see your favorites listed? Share your recommendations in the comments below. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b87a7e7b6b7f0ec696b69cf0f1f49f6e.jpg The best free antivirus: Avira Free Antivirushttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Avira's security toolkit delivers reliable, discreet protection from malicious software For great protection from the latest virus and malware threats, you need Avira Free Antivirus. It has a minimal impact on your system performance and offers a range of well-designed presets, plus automatic scans and threat definition updates. Just set and forget. The best free antivirus 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9NGjxqLSTRJ8LyjigeAtTm.jpg The best free office software: WPS Office Freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png WPS gives you more productivity programs than Microsoft Office, all completely free WPS Office is a great looking free office suite containing powerful tools for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets. It's fully compatible with Microsoft Office file formats, and is packed with attractive templates. Best of all, its components work just like the latest versions of Word, Powerpoint and Excel, so you'll be up and running immediately. The best free office software 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/219411a56ee3c5633d093662ea7426c9.jpg The best web browser: Google Chromehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Google's browser is fast, flexible and almost infinitely extendable via downloadable extensions The browser wars are as fierce as ever, but Chrome takes our top spot thanks to its flexibility, stability and cross-platform support. Its integration with your Google account makes it incredibly easy to carry your favorites and bookmarks between devices, and it supports a huge archive of extensions. The best web browser 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9d8b11b635025b4f8ea1de3d26c578ec.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gGy2cJ4UXxtrafbrCxeBNW.png The best free VPN: TunnelBearhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png User-friendly, fast, and with a great choice of proxy servers, TunnelBear is a name you can trust TunnelBear makes it easy to protect your identity online and access region-blocked content. Just flick the switch, select an international proxy, and all your online activity will be re-routed. The best free VPN 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fe350292f453c0318498bbb3ced5f3bb.jpg The best free music player: MusicBeehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png With smart tagging and optimization, Musicbee is the ideal player, streamer and organizer Everything you need for managing a music collection of any size, MusicBee offers smart tagging and hardware optimization for the best possible playback quality. It's also a great choice for streaming internet radio stations and enjoying your favorite podcasts. The best free music player 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VeHQSSWM2jhDfZkhNYQFu8.png The best free photo editor: GIMPhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Make your photos look their best with the best free Photoshop alternative for Windows The best free alternative to Adobe Photoshop, GIMP is packed with smart tools like a clone stamp, healing brush, transformations, smart selections and a host of filters – from the subtle to the creative. There are also dozens of superb user-created plugins to add even more features, and GIMP receives regular updates from its team of volunteer developers. The best free photo editor 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/46cd66b02c516ab6b2faed5ef2cbf4dd.jpg The best free PDF reader: Foxit Readerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Foxit Reader can read, create and convert PDFs, and boasts superb format compatibility View, edit and create PDFs, and convert Microsoft Office files and scanned documents. Foxit Reader's superb feature set is rounded out with annotations, cloud-sharing and security options to protect you from potential security vulnerabilitites. The best free PDF reader 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/51c439e780ca192d942fe333de3793b1.jpg The best free torrent client: qBittorrenthttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A torrent client packed with all the tools that music, TV and movie fans could want Fast and efficient, with a built-in search engine and media player, free torrent client qBittorrent has everything you need for quick, secure downloads. There's automatic prioritization of torrents, torrent creation and IP filtering too, and it's easy to master. The best free torrent client 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b77950ad6e48e4ddd84522a64ded6468.jpg The best free YouTube downloader: Any Video Converterhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Download, convert and burn clips directly from all the biggest video-sharing sites Download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion and many more, then convert them to any audio or video format you like. Any Video Converter can also burn converted files to disc, and rip content from your own DVDs and CDs. The best free YouTube downloader 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/doN8fmeqw8QYkNJpVsXf9n.jpg The best free video editor: Lightworkshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Professional-quality video editing software that's within the reach of total beginners Whether you want to make a quick adjustment to a clip recorded on your smartphone or compile high definition footage into a professional-looking movie ready to upload to Vimeo, Lightworks is the tool for you. It's very powerful, and has been used to produce real Hollywood films. The best free video editor 2017 http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W8akXaGFkgGZQtpXP2wk6Y.jpg The best free anti-spyware and anti-malware software: BitDefender Antivirus Free Editionhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Guard against the latest malicious software and browse the internet with confidence Malicious software, including ransomware, is on the rise. To avoid falling victim, you need a security program you can trust. BitDefender Antivirus Free Edition offers excellent protection, and even recognizes the behavior patterns of malware so it can block threats it's never encountered before. The best free anti-spyware and anti-malware software 2017 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/erYi_CflbJM