Software that won't cost you a cent

<p>There is one thing everyone can be thankful for: free software.</p><p>Some free programs have revolutionized our lives -- iTunes, Gmail and Internet browsers such as Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer and now Mozilla Firefox.</p><p>But the land of free software is more diverse, and perhaps as difficult to navigate, as the 76 miles between Mount Whitney and the bottom of Death Valley.</p><p>So The Press Democrat has compiled a list of free programs to better equip you -- whether you use an Apple or PC. And maybe you'll find one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day.</p><p>Entertainment-- Just about every computer has iTunes installed. But here are a few lesser-known programs that will help make your computer an entertainment czar:</p><p>HandBrake -- Ever wished your entire DVD collection could fit in your pocket? This free program helps you get there. HandBrake is opensource software that lets you take a DVD and recode it into several movie formats on your computer's hard drive.</p><p>Some formats are tailored to playing on an iPod, while others are easy to burn to a DVD in case your original copy is destroyed. The program also lets you set the size and quality of the movie file it creates.</p><p>Add an inexpensive portable hard drive, or just a classic iPod, and you'll have an entire DVD collection in your pocket.</p><p>VLC Media Player -- Holy cow! How annoying is it when you pop a DVD into the player, then have to wait for the FBI warning, then a lame intro for the production studio, then maybe some trailers, then there is an intro to the menu screen. Phew! Just bring on the movie already.</p><p>VLC Media Player jumps you straight to the menu screen. It also offers more advanced tools for skipping to a specific scene in a movie. And have you ever wanted to make your favorite scene in "The Godfather" the wallpaper on your computer? With VLC, just click a button and it will make a digital movie still.</p><p>But the best part of VLC is that it plays nearly every video file format. No more stumbling around looking for the right codec, or trying to figure out which program works with what video type. VLC is the one program to rule them all.</p><p>VLC's interface is not the prettiest, and some of the commands can be tricky to figure out. But it's probably easier to learn than the remote to your first DVD player.</p><p>Also check out Miro -- Miro.com. It is a great program for watching, managing and downloading made-for-Internet TV. It also lets you save streaming video from sites such as YouTube and Dailymotion.</p><p>Creativity -- There was a time when the only free creative software was Paint, and whatever software came with your printer. Now plenty of free options exist.</p><p>GIMP -- It stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program, and offers many of the same features found in Adobe Photoshop.</p><p>Like any feature-laden program, the learning curve can be steep. But spend a little time with it, and you'll unleash a whole new world of photography. It's capabilities go far beyond color touch ups and cropping. This program lets you edit a young Barack Obama into your bar Mitzvah photos -- or remove Dick Cheney.</p><p>Mac users might prefer Seashore, which is GIMP in a format more native to OS X. Also check out Google's Picasa and Splashup.com.</p><p>Audacity -- Are you getting the band back together? For those on a limited budget, Audacity is a basic sound recording and editing program. It will help you turn your garage rock into an Internet sensation -- while leaving you money for more important things, like replacing the guitar you smashed on stage.</p><p>Productivity -- When you need to get something done, there is no replacing a good word processor or spreadsheet program.</p><p>OpenOffice -- Schools in Sonoma County are turning to this program to save money. It provides the same basic functions as Microsoft Office. It includes programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases. It can open word documents and can creates files readable by Microsoft programs such as MS Office.</p><p>Mac users can try NeoOffice, which is OpenOffice designed specifically for OS X.</p><p>Mint.com -- Move over Quicken. Mint provides many of the same basic features for free. It can automatically download all your financial accounts -- from checking and saving to credit cards -- into one easy-to-navigate interface. So if you're thinking about putting a household budget together -- you might want to start by not spending money on software.</p><p>An alternative is Wesabe.com. It compares the anonymized spending habits of its users to make recommendations about less expensive shops. For instance, it compares the average amount spent at Safeway versus Lucky Supermarkets, and lets users rate their experiences at those businesses. With a quick glance, you can compare average spending at a store to average user experience. It's a pretty neat trick.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Nathan Halverson at 521-5494 or nathan.halverson@</p><p>pressdemocrat.com.</p>