Software Downloads & Games

Free email program

YOURLifeChoices subscriber, Carol, purchased a new computer which didn’t come with an email program so Webmaster, Drew, went to work to find one that was easy-to-use and free.

Q. Carol
I’ve just purchased a new computer and foolishly thought it would come with Microsoft Outlook already installed.  Do I have to pay for Outlook or can I get it free?

A.
Carol, I have something even better than Microsoft Outlook in mind, and it’s free. Mozilla, who also provide the internet browser named Mozilla Firefox, have an equivalent to Outlook, Thunderbird. I have never used the program before as I had always had access to Outlook but I may now be changing to Thunderbird. 

I started out as a skeptic but downloading the program was straight-forward and at 8mb, puts no strain on your bandwidth limits. The installation process was also simple. With Microsoft Outlook and Express, the hardest part was always setting-up the email account, as you had to locate complicated information that was never easily accessible.

Mozilla Thunderbird finds all this information for you (my jaw literally hit the floor). As you can see in the example to the right, the only information you enter is at the top (name, email address and password). The Thunderbird server then confirms the information with your ISP and detects your outgoing email box settings. All you need do is click on “Create Account” and click on “Accept” in the pop-up box.

There are other impressive features with Thunderbird. Much like their internet browser, the mailbox opens all emails in tabs within the Inbox. This means you can have 4-5 emails open at the same time without having to collapse the field in your menu, in the Windows task bar to find an email!

For those who are sick of Microsoft Outlook, you can export all your contact details to Thunderbird (you will be prompted to do this when you install it).

To download and use Mozilla Thunderbird free, click here.

Free online document storage

Store and share your documents free and securely online.  Just on the off chance a household accident destroys your PC, or your computer becomes infected with a virus, keep those important documents intact!

A new release from Google adds to the ever-increasing line of features offered by the web gurus. Google Docs is one of the most useful features added to Google’s impressive list of tools.  Google Docs allows the user to upload a document or text and save it in their profile.  The user can then share the information with 50 email addresses if they desire and set certain emails with the ability to edit the material if they choose to!

How do I get started?

Visit the Google Docs website.

If you do not already have a Google account, you will need to create one.  This will only take a minute and you will definitely use it in the future. If you already have a Google account, sign in now.

Unlike other applications, you do not need to opt in or sign up, it will automatically let you in and enable you to use it right away!

The set up is very simple.  Set up like an online email address, you click the “New” button to create a new document, presentation or spreadsheet. If you are looking to upload a file to be stored or to share with friends, you hit the “Upload” button and find the file on your computer by hitting the “Browse” button.  Once you have selected the file, hit “OK” and then “Upload File”. It will now upload and open the document in a web format for you. If you want to share this file, you can see the button at the top right hand side of the screen next to “Save” and “Save and Close”.

If you want to share this file with friends, click “Share and Invite” people. Now put in the email addresses of whom you wish to be able to view the item. You have two options to choose from below this address box, you can click “To Edit” or “To View”. If you want some people to edit and some to view, click the relevant one, enter your message in the box to the right and invite those people you want to be able to edit your document, then put in the email addresses of those who you want to be able to view only and enter your message and send to them.

Now click across to the “Advanced Permissions” tab at the top of the mini screen. You can now choose if those who you have invited can invite others to view the item or to even edit it.

Now click “Save & Close” and you’re done with inviting.

At the top right of the page you can now click “Save & Close” to take you back to the Docs homepage!

Enjoy and backup those files!

While you’re at it, make sure you have a Virus Scanner on your computer. If you don’t, download a free Anti-Virus program.

Free computer software

No longer do you need a Microsoft application to be able to type a letter, create a spreadsheet or build a presentation.  Now there is an acceptable alternative and it’s free!

For years, Microsoft has been taking our money for constant upgrades of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and other “Office” software, which we hardly use and barely ever changes. There is a free alternative to paying for this, and it is called OpenOffice, with over 50 million downloads of their latest upgrade, many companies and home users are turning to it!

It is important to remember that you always get what you pay for, and you know that you always get a quality product from Microsoft when it comes to their Office range, but in these tough economic times, it makes sense to try the free alternative first!

To find out more information about OpenOffice and how to get it free!

Bigpond Games

Bigpond now offers a gaming store from which you can download trial games, read online reviews and buy games (20% discounts apply for bigpond members).
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Free/Subsidised Computers

The Computerbank Project is an Australian initiative to supply free GNU/Linux systems to disadvantaged groups. Computerbank branches across Australia are now providing help to low income individuals, families and under-resourced community groups and schools, especially with obtaining computer hardware and training in how to use it. This Project has resulted in the formation of volunteer organisations in several states. Check the website to find the closest branch to you to offer support or to find out more information.
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Computer Time

Clocks in computers do not keep good time. NISTime allows you to very quickly synchronize your computer’s system time with a signal from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Internet Time Service. This free service is easy to download, install and use.
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Frequently Required Software

Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® is free software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. With Acrobat Reader, you can also fill in and submit Adobe PDF forms online. Many websites have information on PDF files so you will probably need Acrobat Reader if you do a bit of Internet browsing.

Flash Player is increasingly being used on websites. You can download Macromedia Flash Player 9 here. It's free.

Freeware and Shareware

These sites offer a large range of free software and shareware:

5-star - Shareware and freeware downloads from a UK site. This is not the biggest library but all the software is four- or five-star and all are reviewed. Check out their anti-virus centre while you are there.
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CNET Download.com - "The largest free software download library on the Internet." There are also shareware and demo versions, software for sale, and many other services. While you are there you can also check out ZDNet Downloads where you can get the results of reviews by professional critics. Both cover the PC, Mac, Linux and handhelds.
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Jumbo - Huge site for freeware and shareware to suit PC, Linux and Mac. 
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SlaughterHouse - The site has a simple design and tons of great applications divided into four main categories: Games, Internet, Media and Utilities. Most are rated, using the SlaughterHouse 1 to 5 skull rating system. If you’re tired of CNet, ZDNet and the others, check out the SlaughterHouse:
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TUCOWS - "The leading distributor of digital content on the Internet" offering users comprehensive software reviews and a simple, reliable rating system. Software for Windows, Linux, Mac and other operating systems (see the menu at the bottom of Tucows home page). Also has software for sale.
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Computer Games

The sites listed here cover a very wide variety of games that can be played on a computer, including card games, board games, arcade games, casino games, dice games, puzzles, word games, children games (beat the grandkids!), adventure games, sports games, role playing and strategy. Many games are available for free download, some can be played online, some you buy. Sites also offer reviews, tips and cheats, links to official sites and chat rooms. There's a vast amount to explore here.

Some of the links on the Card and Board Games page also include online play.

Note: If you are going to play games online you should have an unlimited Internet access plan from your ISP and only local telephone call charges, not STD or timed call charges.

And what do you do if you get stuck? Fortunately there is help for most games. Cheat Planet - The Planet's source for Cheats - is one of the largest and most visited cheat code and game help sites on the Internet. "Cheats" are special instructions or codes that make it easier to play games. This website has hints, cheat codes, gameshark codes, walkthroughs, strategy, save games, reviews, demos, release dates, game trainers for various computer systems and game machines.
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@boutSeniors Daily Crossword

See how you go with our crossword puzzle - there’s a new batch every day.
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Battleships

Play battleships online.
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Bingo

Four levels and custom set-up to play WebBingo online.
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Games Sites

• Online Games For Seniors - A safe, fun and entertaining website, with games specially loved by seniors. Here you can discover cognitive training fun with diverse exercises with numerous options and difficulty levels.
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• Gamespot - Here’s ZDNet’s Australian site so your downloads will be a lot quicker. The site has demos, free games guide (so you can win!), downloads, online games, news and reviews.
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• Free Games Online - Largest collection of free games on the net. Includes on-site and links to shareware, freeware, abandonware and emulators for discontinued platforms (Atari, C-64, older Nintendo and Sega etc.)
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• GameFAQs - Here’s where you find the solution to the game that’s been puzzling you for weeks. This is where you cheat!
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• Gameflame - Largest collection of on-line games on the net. Links to hundreds of other sites that host the games.
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• GamesZone - Has everything: on-line, cheats, reviews, chat etc.
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• Pogo.com From Electronics Arts: casino games, card and board games, sports games, word games, puzzles, arcade games, extreme games and trivia. Sign up and play online. Note that the prizes are only for US and Canadian residents.
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• Word Search Puzzles & Card Play. From the games section of zdaily.com. Play for fun! Available online are casino card play (blackjack, poker and slots), wordknowledge game/search puzzles/quizzes, romance fun, as well as classic favorites such as Pong, TicTacToe, and Battleships.
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Hangman

Bill's Games - Free, award-winning web-based games for the whole family. Play Hangman online. There are lots of other games including solitaire, video poker and word scram.
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Yahoo! Games

Many online card and board games to play, including single player and fantasy games. Different skill levels or play against the computer. You have to register before you can play.
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Scrabble