Best freeware apps for Mac users

From video editing software to kid-safe browsers, there is alot of open-source stuff out there that will make Mac users drool withexcitement.

 

Avidemux (avidemux.org)
Not only does this piece of free code make video editing andfiltering a simple and speedy affair, but it also makes the task of re-encodingyour clips an uncomplicated click-and-go affair. For precision editing, all youneed to do is stop and crop using the utility's incremental multi-secondadvance and rewind tools. To save in the output format of your choice, justtake your pick from a drop-down menu. It supports several popular file types,including FLV, MPEG, AVI, VCD, H.263/4 among video codecs while audio formatsinclude MP3, AAC, WAV, and Ogg Vorbis, etc. Advanced options like a genericdecoder and post-processing tools, user-defined filters, GlyphSet adjustments,etc. are also available. Avidemux is available for Linux, BSD, Mac OS X andWindows under the GNU GPL license.

Crashplan (crashplan.com/consumer/crashplan.html)
Online backups are awesome indeed. But you need to keep arepository of your data offline as well. Crashplan is a neat tool that helpscreate reliable online as well as offline backup. So, apart from sending yourdata into its cloud everyday, you can also deploy it to backup automatically toattached drives as well as a second PC - be it onsite or offsite. The backupsare encrypted and happen in the background. The interface is fairly intuitive,but it will take a couple of runs before you can get the hang of it.

Kidzui (kidzui.com)
The Web and vice go hand in hand-or should we say, mouse inhand… And with kids taking to the Internet like ducks to water, some level ofparental control on what they browse, view and read is imperative. Unlike otherbrowsers which make you set up filters to make the Internet safe for yourprogeny, Kidzui is browser just for kids.

A "walled children's park" of sorts,the entire Web content available through it has been pre-approved andpre-sifted by Kidzui editors. Children can do everything they want - search,view videos on YouTube, rate content, share opinions, and more. Popular topicslike movies, TV, sports, animals and games are just a single click away on themain menu. The interface is cheerful, bold and attractive. Kidzui isundoubtedly one of the safest and most hassle-free ways of leaving you li'l onealone with the comp.

Hotspot Shield (anchorfree.com)
While we are on the issue of safety, let's take a look at agotta-have for anyone who needs to use public WiFi networks. A safety net,Hotspot prevents hackers from infiltrating your connection from a publichotspot and spying on you. To achieve this, the programme establishes anencrypted connection to the Hotspot Shield servers and converts your HTTPtraffic to the much-safer HTTPS mode. Hotspot Shield is browser-independent andappears as a toggle-off/on system tray icon. But setup can be a tadcomplicated. Plus, you need to suffer a tedious video every time you activatethe free version.

All2MP3 (tresrrr.com/Personal/ENGLISH.html)
If you are tussling with a variety of audio file formats andwondering how you manage to get MP3 versions of the same, this program will bemusic to your ears. As the name suggests, All2MP3 is an audio converter thattransforms several types of sound file formats into MP3. It has an idiot-proof,ultra-simple drag-and-drop window interface that allows you to work withindividual files or covert whole batches in one go. It supports almost allpopular audio codecs, but is not all encompassing and may trip over someformats. But, what the heck, it's free and it's fast!

Senuti (fadingred.com/senuti) Puzzled over how to get musicoff your little iPod and on to your computer? Well, Senuti (iTunes spelledbackwards) let's you do this bit of "reverse engineering". The handy littleutility extracts not only your music but also your playlists, video, et al andmakes them available to you on the Mac in one single swoop. This "iPod ripper"has a straight forward user interface and guides users through every step ofthe way. Do go through the documentation to avoid any inadvertent disasters -like erasing the iPod after dumping your files on computer. The downside ofSenuti is that it is free for just 30 days.

Perian (perian.org)
QuickTime-walas often gnash their teeth and rue the factthat they have a limited set of formats and codecs available within thesoftware. To the rescue comes Perian, a free, open-source plug-in that beefs upQuickTime's abilities to handle a larger (over 24) set of formats. The programis easy to install and use. Install it and you'll know what we are talkingabout when you throw a hitherto unplayable file at QuickTime.

Courtesy: Gadgets and Gizmos