compress

Dealing with registry errors is never fun, but this back up and restore program helps you make sure you can quickly recover when things go wrong. Even if you wouldn't attempt to modify the registry, Mz Registry Backup makes it a snap to quickly restore your registry to an earlier backup if things go wrong when you install or uninstall a program.

Mz Registry Backup has a very simple interface that looks clean and professionally designed. Unlike some registry programs that overcomplicate the process, or those geared towards the expert user, this program makes the process easy enough for … Read more

This free program lets users compress and decompress executable files. Novice users might find its user interface and features a little overwhelming, but more-experienced users will find it to be a valuable compression tool.

At first glance, Free UPX's user interface appears a little cluttered. But once we spent a little time with it, we found it easy to navigate. Using the command buttons at the top of the window, we browsed for, and added, the executable files to be compressed. The layout of the interface flows really well, so we went easily from one step to the next, … Read more

If Windows Explorer is a bit clunky or slow for what you need to do each day, this lite-featured widget may help speed your productivity with its built-in file compression options and ease of use.

MiniFM launches a nicely designed interface similar to a three-paned e-mail client and resembling older versions of Windows Explorer. A few command buttons along its top toolbar offer handy features, but most of this free file manager's functionality is accessed through mouse clicks.

This utility performed very well in our tests. We liked that we could select from three compression formats--ZIP, bzip, and gzip--just … Read more

Browser maker Opera Software has released a test version of software called Opera Turbo, designed to use compression and the company's own servers to speed browsing over slow Internet connections.

Opera Turbo runs on a person's PC, fetching data not just from the original Web site but also from an Opera server that compresses that site's text and images on the fly, Opera's Roberto Mateu said in a Friday blog post about Opera Turbo.

That's useful when grappling with overtaxed wireless networks, slower broadband wireless cards, or Net connections through a mobile phone, the Norwegian … Read more

Last December, James May, co-host of the UK car show "Top Gear," flew to LA to test drive the Honda FCX Clarity prototype, which he calls "the most important car since the car was invented."

The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that uses compressed gas to generate electricity and power the car's electric motor. The Clarity has a driving range of 280 miles per tank, delivers 135hp, can travel up to 100 mph, and can reach 60 mph from a standstill in under 9 seconds.

The video clip made it onto … Read more

Playing with sound files is something not all of us aspire to do in any greater detail than clicking "Buy Now" in iTunes. But this is one of those cool Mac niches that is filled with possibilities you might not have thought about before.

For instance, have you ever wished you could easily record a phone call for a job interview? How about automatically record your favorite radio program from the Internet, even if it's on in the middle of the night? Ambrosia Software's WireTap Studio, recently updated to version 1.0.8, is an inexpensive … Read more

While we could have done without the product pushes, this free file compression tool delivered good results. We especially liked its drag-and-drop functionality for creating new zip files.

There are three ways to access TyphoonZip's user interface: desktop shortcut, taskbar shortcut, and your context menu. The interface is nice to look at, and very easy to navigate. It consists of one window, with prominent command buttons for creating new zip files, opening zip files, and more. When right-clicking on the taskbar icon, we were a little put off by the long list of extra tools that require you to … Read more

Compress executables and protect apps, but don't expect any hand holding from this program. eXPressor's tightly-stuffed dialog-sized checkbox and pulldown packed interface will make sense only to those few destined to appreciate this app. Those who don't create applications for fun and profit should move along. There's nothing to see here.

Those left reading will like eXPressor's simple setup and operation. Packing an executable takes as little as a pair of clicks. Of course, users can complicate the process by choosing from numerous compression engine options. The program helps the process through helpful warnings and … Read more

The misleadingly named PIM is an adequate, but uninspiring archiving tool amid a sea of more capable multifunction utilities. However, what this program lacks in features, it makes up for in the power of its compression algorithm. It doesn't offer much in the way of an interface, relying on window menu items or an incomplete set of shortcut keys to access its functions.

PIM delivers on its promise of creating smaller compressed files (compared with a ZIP file), using its proprietary format, and it opened ZIP files as expected. Its minimal options/settings window lets you easily associate the … Read more