Editors' Favorite Recovery Files
Browser-Based Games You Can Win Without Losing Your Job
From Puzzles & Card-Playing
A bit of distraction is a good way to become unstuck or gain new perspective on a work problem. Here are a few great games you can play for free, from the comfort of your browser, without installing anything (except Flash, which you probably already have). They're safe in terms of content, and you can step away if needed. After a few minutes, you'll be refreshed and ready to work again.
Twitter Tools: 11 Apps and Services You Need Now
From Social Networking
Twitter is all about keeping things brief. After all, the micro-blogging service limits you to 140 characters per post. But the market for twitter apps and services is huge. Everywhere you turn, there's a desktop app aimed at organizing your social media life or a search engine claiming to be the next best way of culling the tweets you want to read. Of course, not all of these apps are equal, but we've found 11 that manage to (mostly) improve upon your Twitter experience.
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From Benchmarking
Free and Cheap Software for Benchmarking like a Pro
Whether you're a power user or a novice, there has never been a better time to learn about benchmarking. Some people enjoy exploring the cutting-edge 3d engines employed in some gaming benchmarks, while others take their custom-painted, neon-lit rigs into competitions for speed just as serious as their four-wheeled hot rod counterparts on real racetracks. Just about every major tech blog or hardware site uses one or more of the suites in this roundup. Despite the power, they're easy to use.
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From Social Networking
Keep Kids Safe on Social Networks
The internet may seem like the wild West, but the real world's wild, too...and your kids live in both worlds. Facebook, mobile phones, and more make it hard to know where your kids are and who's trying to reach them. This software and these services help you keep tabs on your family and keep everybody safe.
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From Backup
Free and Affordable Software to Sync Your Work and Your Life
Having multiple devices is useful, but it's not trouble-free. What happens when you're on your smartphone and you want to access contacts that stored on your desktop computer? How can you keep your notes and schedule in sync everywhere? How about listening to the music files on your PC when you're halfway across the continent with only your phone nearby? You can handle those challenges and more, with help from the following downloads. All of them are easy to use. And most of them are free.
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From Browsers & Clients
Which Browser Should You Use?
Everyone needs a browser, but it can be hard to decide which one you actually want. Are you looking for something blazing fast? Or maybe you’ve been burned in the past and you’re looking for a browser with the tightest security. Or you need add-ons--lots and lots of add-ons. We found Firefox 10 the most versatile, IE9 the most secure, Opera 11 the fastest at loading pages, and Chrome 16 the best overall...but each of these browsers has its own appeal.
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From Web Development
Create or Improve Your Own Websites Using These Great Tools
More than ever before, it is easy to create content online and get your message out into the world. Many tools let you create beautiful websites, both personal and business-oriented, without writing a single line of code. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned Web developer, here are some of the best tools and services available for putting your content online today.
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From E-Mail
PCWorld's Favorite Downloads of 2011
All year long, we PCWorld reviewers immerse ourselves in desktop programs and Web software. After evaluating a program, often we uninstall it—but several of this year's finds earned places in our workflows and/or our hearts. These programs and services are the ones we reviewed for PCWorld Downloads and also kept using for our own productivity and enjoyment. Perhaps you started using them this year, too…and if not, well, a shiny new year is right around the corner.
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From Screen Savers & Themes
9 Great Holiday Downloads
Feeling stressed? Worn out from all that holiday shopping and gift wrapping? Take a few minutes to play one of these Christmassy games. And don't limit your decorating to the tree--we have classy Windows 7 themes for your desktop.
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From Desktop
Free Software Worth a Donation, Part 2
We often think of software as either commercial or free. But there is another category of software: donationware. It's given away for free, in the hope that users will donate to support the application or a cause the developer wishes to bolster. Part II covers the lesser-known gems. For well-known software and some great reasons to donate, read "Part 1."
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From Images
Free Software Worth a Donation, Part 1
I turn to the same software time and again. Some I did not have to pay for, thanks to the generosity of hard-working developers who share their creations for free, asking only for a donation from those who are willing and able. I looked through my Start menu and taskbar for those applications I take for granted all year long. If you're already using these, now is a great time to support them or their causes. And if any are new to you, you're in for a treat.
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From Utilities
PCWorld Reviewers' Favorites: November 2011
What do hard drive utilities, virtual desktop managers, mindmappers, Windows 7 themes, and creative writing software have in common? They're all kinds of programs PCWorld's Downloads reviewers tried in November. This unranked chart shows some of their favorite finds.
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