These are just quick links to help me maintain software on various computers, some for business and some personal. Sorry if it's a little cluttered, but it's helpful to have it all in one spot. The version numbers are current as of the last time I checked, but newer versions might be available. All software is free and most is Open Source.
All:
Firefox (3.6.8 - web browser [mirror])
Thunderbird (3.1.1 - email client [mirror] - see release schedule)
Java (JDK/JRE 6 update 21)
Flash (10.1.53.64 for Firefox on Linux/Windows)
Windows:
Audacity (1.2.6 - audio editor)
GIMP (2.6.10 - Photoshop alternative)
OpenOffice (3.2.1 - Microsoft Office alternative)
PuTTY (0.60 - secure terminal)
WinSCP (4.2.8 - secure ftp based on PuTTY)
VLC (1.1.1 - media player)
IZArc (4.1 - file compression - supports most formats)
Adobe Reader (9.3.3)
Security Related:
AVG (antivirus)
Avast (antivirus)
S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring Tools (5.39.1 - hard drive pre-fail detection)
Nmap/Zenmap (5.21 - port scanner)
Wireshark (1.2.9 - packet sniffer)
SyncBack (3.2.21 - backup software)
Optional:
Google Earth
Pidgin (2.7.1 - aka Gaim - multi-protocol IM client)
xchat (2.8.6 - mirc alternative chat client) [alternative builds]
FrostWire (4.20.7 - multi-platform LimeWire alternative Java-based p2p software)
Ares (2.1.6 - p2p software)
Exact Audio Copy (EAC) (0.99pb5 - recommended for perfect rips.. see below for settings)
Lame 3.98.4 (mp3 audio encoder - current recommended version for EAC and other apps.. see below for settings)
ImgBurn (2.5.1.0 - cd/dvd burner great for iso files)
FinalBurner (2.21.0.188 - cd/dvd burner)
Burrrn (1.14b2 as of 8/26/2007 - burns music cds from audio files)
Other:
NVIDIA display drivers
Firefox Extensions/Themes:
Adblock Plus
Adblock Filterset.G Updater
NoScript (can be annoying until you whitelist common websites, but great if you accidentally load a risky website)
PDF Download (with all the recent PDF drive-by browser exploits, this plug-in which intercepts PDF files asking what you want to do with them is a must-have security add-on)
User Agent Switcher (loads broken websites that only know IE and Netscape)
JSView (view CSS/JS files from any webpage)
Greasemonkey (does nothing by itself.. needs additional scripts for each site. Absolutely essential for one website I use, totally useless for others.. depends on the site)
ReloadEvery (if you need to keep reloading a web page.. eg to stay logged in)
FoxyProxy (proxy switcher)
Phoenity Classic (one of my favorites for FF3)
EAC Settings for Perfect MP3 Rips:
Extract Lame from the link above and copy this into EAC's manual encoder settings. Adjust the -V quality # and the version used in the comment as appropriate (# should be 2-3 for transparent rips on most hardware and 4-5 for portable mp3 players.. 2 was considered Oink quality. If you need better, I recommend a lossless format like flac instead of mp3 or you'll end up with the worst of both (eg large+lossy instead of large+lossless):
Lame 3.98.2+: -V# --pad-id3v2 --ta "%a" --tt "%t" --tl "%g" --ty "%y" --tn "%n" --tg "%m" --tc "Lame 3.98.2 -V#" %s %d
Lame 3.97 (not recommended): -V# --vbr-new --add-id3v2 --pad-id3v2 --ta "%a" --tt "%t" --tl "%g" --ty "%y" --tn "%n" --tg "%m" --tc "Lame 3.97 -V# --vbr-new" %s %d
For more information about why these are recommended settings, please see the Hydrogenaudio Forums. My commands above differ only in that they offer more detailed ID3 tagging than Hydrogenaudio's guide.
