If you are looking for or need a software firewall, there a few choices when it comes to freeware.

Comodo Firewall Pro is the best free firewall i have tested. I has a nice set of features, the interface is good and has options for everyone. I read also that it has passed some standard tests before so it can protect you against know network attacks.

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This is one my favorite freeware image viewers, if not the number one. Its fast at displaying pictures and has tons of features.

You can customize it by choosing among all the options it has. Can apply lossless transformations, which is great for digital photos because you can rotate them, either automatically or manually without any single loss of quality.

You can download it with an installer or in a zip file. I use the latter because i can set it to store all settings in an .ini file inside the program’s folder. This way, i make it portable or i can make an installer to use in unattended installations.

Supports various languages. Read about all the features.

Highly recommended.

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It can help you clean your computer from temporary files, browser’s cache and other useless files. Comes with a registry error fixer and program uninstaller.

Remember to choose other builds in the downloads page in order to avoid the setup that comes bundled with Yahoo! toolbar. I recommend to download the portable build.

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Today, Microsoft has released officially Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (KB936330) to the general public. This is what Microsofts calls Wave 0, or the first language versions of SP1.

The languages already available are English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese. All are included in the downloaded setup.

Few weeks ago i posted about the new disc images that are probably set to hit the stores in the upcoming days. This is the preferred way to install all service packs, doing a clean install. But for most people this is not possible and that is why there is an Update setup.

I have SP1 already in my laptop and it is running great. My desktop computer is waiting for me to finish doing my unattended setup to install it.

So far, the only Windows Update that appeared post-SP1 is the monthly release of Microsoft’s Malware Removal Tool. Almost all of the highly criticized performance and compatibility issues are gone (for those of you, that, unlike me, have come to experience this issues with Vista).

Read the Overview of Windows Vista SP1, including what’s new, technical details, guidelines and notable changes.

There is one thing to note though. Vista SP1 will be released via Windows Update in the upcoming days and the file size will be smaller because it will only contain the appropriate language. This Wave 0 release if intended for people that don’t want to wait and want to deploy it right away.

Before installing SP1, read Microsoft’s article “Things to Know Before you Download Windows Vista SP1“.

This Wave 0 is available in 32bit & 64bit so choose the appropriate version when downloading.

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Today Launch 1.0 is released. It is the first public release of this program.

With it you can execute, with paramaters if you want, any file type. It is a simple but effective solution to replacing the Run box in the Start Menu of Windows.

I have test it thoroughly before uploading it to make sure everything is working as expected. If you find any error bugs or simply have suggestion on how to make it better, don’t hesitate to send your feedback.

You can find the detailed description and screenshots in the program’s page.

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I’m developing a new application. Its goal is to execute files with the possibility to use parameters or arguments when launching it. Think of it as a replacement for the Run box in Start Menu.

It is almost finished, right now i’m making some tests to be sure it is working without any errors.

One member of a forum i visit very often posted a link that leads to a norton site which gives you one-year free subscription for their Norton Antibot anti-spyware program.

If you are interested in trying, hurry up and just enter a valid email address in the form field and select the checkbox. When you’re done click the button and wait for the email. Mine just arrived in about 3 minutes.

Norton’s Description:

Norton AntiBot provides advanced, real-time protection against emerging threats, including bots that are used to perpetrate identity theft and other online crimes. This powerful new security solution from Symantec detects unusual behavior on your PC and removes the malicious bots causing it. This protects your PC from unauthorized access and tampering, detects and stops attempts by hackers to take remote control of your computer, and delivers extra protection against emerging ‘zero-day’ threats. To help ensure that you’re always protected, Norton AntiBot monitors your PC continuously to stop suspicious programs.

I haven’t tried that program but im will try it to see how good it is. And if it is worth keeping, that free subscription doesn’t hurt, does it?

* I don’t know how long this offer will last, so hurry up if you want the free subscription.

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The monthly version of Catalyst drivers is out now.

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