utilities

There are several ways to display disk usage in OS X, with some of the more-common options being the Finder's status bar, or to get information on your hard disk in the Finder, or to use Apple's Disk Utility program. However, while these options will display the available disk space on the system, in OS X Lion you might see some differences between the numbers reported in these areas.

For example, on my Mac running OS X Lion there is currently 184.43GB of free space reported as being available on the disk if I get information on … Read more

Electricity costs on game consoles have soared into the billions with tons of energy being wasted, according to a study (PDF) by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. However, it doesn't have to stay this way.

The moral of this study: power down when done playing.

According to the research, 68 percent of all game console energy consumed in 2010 happened while in idle mode, which equaled 10.8 TWh of energy and about $1.24 billion in electricity costs. Overall, 1 percent of U.S. residential energy consumption in 2010 was spent on video game consoles, which is an … Read more

In the world of utilities, WinPatrol is something of an anomaly. It's been around forever, as evidenced by its goofy, Windows 95-era interface and hideous, Internet 1.0-era Web site. Yet it's amassed a huge fanbase, with more than 1.6 million downloads from CNET alone.

What makes the program so popular? For starters, it gives Windows tinkerers a robust set of tinker-tools, yet has a footprint of less than 1MB. Also, creator Bill Pytlovany comes across as just a regular guy who wrote a program, not some faceless developer.

Although the free version of WinPatrol offers plenty … Read more

Programs don't have to be fancy to be useful, and Snap Backup is proof of that. Its interface is plain and its features are basic, but we like it because it's an incredibly easy way to back up your files. And when you have a task that's so important -- yet so easy to forget about -- anything that helps you do it on a more regular basis is worth checking out.

Snap Backup has a simple interface that's easy to figure out. First, select the directories you want to back up. Next, select a destination … Read more

Looking to convert a video or audio file into a different kind of video or audio file? Freeware favorite HandBrake can handle some video formats, but it's a bit out-of-date -- and nowhere near as comprehensive as a utility like WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe.

That tool normally sells for $49.95, but from now until tomorrow, April 11, you can download WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe absolutely free. It's available for Windows and Mac; the license codes you need are listed right on the download page.

Update: My apologies! This giveaway is for the Windows version only.… Read more

TuneUp Utilities 2012 presents a wide range of useful system maintenance and optimization tools in one interface. Some tools you'll use to regularly clean your system, while others only need to be run only once in a while or if you have a specific Windows problem. The 2012 version of TuneUp Utilities also includes the Program Deactivator, which disables unused programs until you need them, and Economy Mode, which can help laptop users improve battery life. TuneUp Utilities is free to try for 15 days. A nag screen tracks the trial period.

TuneUp Utilities keeps things simple with its … Read more

Wear and tear slows your computer down over time. With WinSettings Pro, not only can you clean up duplicate, temporary, and junk files, but you can also optimize system settings and remove unnecessary startups, cookies, and associations. What makes WinSettings Pro different from other utilities is that you are always in control. It lets you review and selectively delete individual files and cookies. Plus, it finds and fixes errors, ensures privacy and security protection, and maintains your computer's peak performance and reliability.

Rated 4-stars by CNET, you can save 90% for three days only and get it for just $… Read more

The bottom line: The new owners of Lavasoft have revamped Ad-Aware to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors besides function. It's a good reboot, but it's not out of the woods yet.

Review: While the name Ad-Aware remains the same as it has for the past 13 years, everything from the user interface to the code powering Ad-Aware 10 is entirely new.

More so than any recent version of Ad-Aware, the suite is usable, lightweight, and worthy of your attention.

Installation The installation is straightforward, although it still does opt you in … Read more

The bottom line: The new owners of Lavasoft have revamped Ad-Aware to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors besides function. It's a good reboot, but it's not out of the woods yet.

Review: While the name Ad-Aware remains the same as it has for the past 13 years, everything from the user interface to the code powering Ad-Aware 10 is entirely new.

More so than any recent version of Ad-Aware, the suite is usable, lightweight, and worthy of your attention.

Installation The installation is straightforward, although it still does opt you in … Read more