free

While YouTube hosts an endless amount of content, it requires an active Internet connection for streaming. Free YouTube Converter for Mac converts YouTube formatted videos to more-common types, but ultimately doesn't complete the necessary steps.

Available as freeware, Free YouTube Converter for Mac downloads and installs seamlessly with its own native installer. Upon startup, the program takes the user to the developer's Web site, where other programs are sold. While a slight nuisance, this is acceptable for a freeware program. The program's design is well thought out, with large, easy-to-recognize buttons for the main functions of locating … Read more

Depending on the source of audio files, the format may prevent some songs from working with different players, making it important to be able to convert files. Free WMA to MP3 Changer for Mac is a simple, but effective program that performs its limited functions well.

Available as freeware, Free WMA to MP3 Changer for Mac's small size allows it to install easily. There does appear to be support for the program, since it prompted for an upgrade to fix reported bugs. After a quick startup and the upgrade prompt, the program was up and running. Instructions for how … Read more

NASHUA, N.H. -- Zach Harvey has an ambitious plan to accelerate adoption of the Internet's favorite alternative currency: installing in thousands of bars, restaurants, and grocery stores ATMs that will let you buy Bitcoins anonymously.

It's the opposite of a traditional automated teller that dispenses currency. Instead, these Bitcoin ATMs will accept dollar bills -- using the same validation mechanism as vending machines -- and instantly convert the amount to Bitcoins and deposit the result in your account.

"It's even easier than just using a regular ATM," says Harvey, 33, who demonstrated the device … Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- How a movie changed one man's vision forever.

- Google's stock breaks $800 for the first time.

- Report: OfficeMax, Office Depot discussing merger.

- Microsoft moves Outlook.com out of preview.

- Dow 14,000: Stocks near new crest.

- Middle class remains stuck.

- Free File: Do your Federal taxes for free!… Read more

Emsisoft Free Emergency Kit collects a number of powerful system utilities in one portable package. With its help, you can clean, debug, and repair damaged and corrupted systems. Its Emergency Kit Scanner searches your PC for every kind of virus, malware, rootkit, Trojan, and keylogger that the very latest reports and updates identify, plus any new threats it finds, and will then remove or quarantine suspected files, depending on what you tell it to do. Advanced users will appreciate the Commandline Scanner, which is the same scanner but without a GUI. HiJackFree offers powerful manual malware scanning and removal capabilities, … Read more

AnVir Task Manager Free Portable bundles together some powerful system maintenance tools in one portable package controlled by a single interface. It replaces Windows Task Manager, managing your startup menu, scanning for and removing viruses and malware, and even tweaking Windows settings by disabling unneeded processes and regularly cleaning up unnecessary files. Recent updates include improved traffic monitoring.

AnVir Task Manager is a substantial bundle with a 271MB download, which nevertheless would fit easily on nearly every portable storage device in use. Clicking the program's extracted executable file produced a dialog box offering two options, Run As Administrator (recommended) … Read more

Spotify has been around for a good year and hasn't changed much; it's still one of our favorite applications for music on-demand and music library management. Taking cues from iTunes, Spotify integrates your existing music libraries with its own giant catalog of songs from artists all over the world. Where it trumps iTunes is that all the music is pretty much available to stream for free, with offline functionality for an addition ten bucks a month. In their in-app advertisements, claimss like "Piracy is overrated" are quite justified; it's seriously one of the most easiest … Read more

There are a ton of great iPad apps out there, priced 99 cents and up, that are worth every penny.

But you know how it is. Sometime you catch yourself browsing the App Store for some free app that can offer some momentary entertainment.

Apple keeps a running tally of its most popular free iPad apps over on iTunes, which is updated constantly to reflect current trends. At our request, we asked Apple to provide us with a list of the Top 5 most popular apps based on their most recent weekly totals.

The following CNET Top 5 video recounts … Read more

iHeartRadio is an old favorite of mine that lets you stream radio from over 1,500 live radio stations or create custom stations based on a song or artist. The best thing about it, though, is that your custom stations are completely ad-free.

Live radio stations from all over the U.S. are available, including everything from pop, country, rock, electronic, and urban, to talk and college stations. You can browse by genre or location and listen to music until you hit a song you don't like, then hit the Scan button to move on to another radio station (… Read more