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Ken Rename from Kensoft is a free batch file renamer that offers a lot of configuration options and enables you to replace strings, reorder and renumber files, remove and insert specific characters from files, decode files, and create macros to perform batch processes automatically. It includes extra features such as picture previews, EXIF support, and import/export capabilities.

At first glance, Ken Rename's red-bordered interface seems busy, but it actually does a capable job of managing a lot of features in a limited space, with a file menu and toolbar along the top, a tabbed selection of functions, and … Read more

Doxillion Document Converter from NCH Software is a free tool for converting documents to and from the most commonly needed file formats. It can convert DOC, DOCX, HTML, PDF RTF, TXT, and WPD documents into DOC, DOCX, HTML, PDF, RTF, and TXT files, singly or in batches of thousands. It integrates with right-click menus in Explorer and also supports drag and drop. It can even attempt to repair corrupted documents as it converts them, potentially rescuing data. It's totally free and needs no other software to run, but it also integrates with NCH's other tools.

Doxillion is very … Read more

Bulk File Changer from NirSoft is a little program with a lot to like. At just over 68KB, it's a very small download, and it runs without installation, so it's totally portable. It's also free. You can use it to create lists of files, even spread out over multiple folders, and perform various functions on them en masse, such as changing the date and time they were created, modified, or last accessed; modifying file attributes such as Hidden or Read-Only; and cutting, copying, and pasting in Explorer.

Bulk File Changer's interface and controls are basic but … Read more

Desktops from Microsoft Sysinternals is a free tool that lets you create and organize up to four virtual desktops on one Windows system. Using it, you can arrange your applications, documents, and tools in specialized desktops for work, leisure, gaming, and so on. You can instantly toggle between desktops using programmable hot keys or a System Tray icon. Most desktop multipliers show active windows and hide the rest, but Desktops uses separate objects for each desktop, so they're truly customized and personalized. Desktops is portable and works in all versions of Windows from 98 to 7, including server editions.… Read more

We'll admit up front that we never played the original Ant Attack--we were still in diapers when it was first released--so we're not prepared to tell you how 3D Ant Attack stacks up to its predecessor. What we can say is that this arcade-style game, despite its apparent simplicity, is both challenging and exciting.

The object of the game is to rescue a series of people from a 3D city that is swarming with giant ants. Users can defend themselves by jumping--either on the ants, to stun them, or to higher ground--or launching grenades that paralyze or kill … Read more

Ashampoo Slideshow Studio HD is an intuitive program that allows users to create attractive, multimedia slideshows. Although nothing about it is particularly amazing, it's a good choice for users who want to create nice-looking slideshows without going to too much trouble.

The program's interface is intuitive, with several different easy-to-use sections. In one section users select the images they want to include in the slideshow, in another they can select a theme--birthday, breaking news, etc.--that will frame each image, in a third they can edit captions and other text, and in the fourth, a preview of the … Read more

Children can have fun coloring cyber style with this computer-based coloring book. Coloring Book 10: Baby Animals includes a selection of baby animal drawings that children fill in by clicking on colors in preloaded palettes. Parents can help their children print their finished artwork with a few simple clicks.

Coloring Book 10: Baby Animals features a colorful, easy-to-use interface that children of all ages should be able to navigate. The program's drawings are simple, so older children may not find them challenging enough. Each drawing is "colored" by selecting colors from the palettes that ring the edges … Read more

First Impression provides a simple way to view your photo collection. The program's simplicity helps it to not get caught up in the trappings many other viewers do.

The program's interface was delightfully simple, consisting of a small, intuitive menu of commands. Its ease of navigation was fortunate since the program lacked a Help file. When we opened our photo, the layout caught us slightly off guard, as most other viewers frame the photo within the program, but here a blown-up shot took up the screen with nothing surrounding it, exposing our desktop. We simply right-clicked the image … Read more

With online video and audio becoming more popular every day, most have experienced the frustration of not getting a podcast or video to work because of codec issues. Fortunately, this little utility helps let you know what's installed on your machine.

InstalledCodec offers a basic functionality: It lists all the codec drivers and Direct Show filters currently installed on your system. The interface isn't flashy or ostentatiously designed, but simply a functional pane that lists items according to a variety of categories. These categories include the driver or filter's name, type, whether it's disabled, its install … Read more