Hard disks are by far the slowest component in your computer. CPU and memory work much faster than hard disks because they do not have moving parts. Therefore fragmented disks often become a bottleneck of the system performance.

Besides causing slowdowns, fragmentation makes the hard drive disk heads move frequently when reading files which leads to freeze-ups and system crashes. It is important to keep your disks defragmented and optimized as much as possible.

Auslogics Disk Defrag is not just a defragmenter any more, but a fully featured disk optimizer. And with all the advanced techniques of disk optimization it has, Disk Defrag 3 remains extremely compact and even easier to use!

Version 3.1.0.65 Changes

• Improved processing of files blocked by the system (e.g. system restore points)
• Added new colour to the map – unmovable files
• Fixed a compaction algorithm bug that moved files into the MFT zone when there wasn’t enough disk space
• Tuned up colour theme colours – now they match better
• Improved tray program operation
• Simplified program interface
• Improved program installer, fixed a bug that caused incorrect installation of a new version over an older version
• Corrected mistakes in language files

Download Auslogics Disk Defrag 3.1.0.65
Download Auslogics Disk Defrag 3.1.0.65 Portable

µTorrent was written with efficiency in mind. Unlike many torrent clients, it does not hog valuable system resources – typically using less than 6MB of memory, allowing you to use the computer as if it weren’t there at all. Additionally, the program itself is contained within a single executable less than 220 KB in size.

uTorrent Changelog:

– 2009-08-27: Version 1.8.4 (build 16286)
- Fix: Fixed negative allocation in RequestChunks() for web seeds
- Fix: Fix startup race condition between network and disk I/O thread
- Fix: installer with UAC
- Fix: Crashes when removing labels
- Fix: selection of labels over 256 characters in length

– 2009-08-12: Version 1.8.4 (build 16150)
- Feature: Enabled magnet bundles.
- Change: run the 64 bit version of explorer when running as a 32 bit app in a 64 bit windows OS.
- Change: disable toolbar offers for Wine installs
- Change: uninstaller is added to all user profiles
- Fix: crash when assigning new label to torrents from RSS
- Change: Incomplete downloads sort after completed downloads if sorting by “Completed On”
- Fix: maintain category list selection on update for some edge cases
- Change: if selected, install start menu and desktop shortcuts to all users instead of only current user
- Fix: buffer overrun vulnerability in create torrent dialog
- Fix: Check at startup for incompatible versions of NVIDIA nForce firewall

Download µTorrent 1.8.4

Unlike other similar programs, Auslogics Task Manager lets you manage not only applications and processes, but also Windows services. The program provides all necessary information both as text and graphs, which can be understood even by a novice user.

Auslogics Task Manager offers you better and easier to use tools to manage your computer.

Download Auslogics Task Manager 1.5.6.125
Download Auslogics Task Manager 1.5.6.125 (Portable)

K-Lite Codec Pack Changelog:

* Updated ffdshow to revision 3054
* Updated AC3Filter to version 1.62b
* Updated AC3File to version 0.7b
* Updated FLV splitter to version 1.2.1207.0
* Updated Gabest MPEG splitter to version 1.2.1207.0
* Updated MediaInfo Lite to version 0.7.20
* Added more file association options for audio file types
* Minor changes

Download K-Lite Codec Pack 5.05 : Full

Also Available:
K-Lite Codec Pack 5.05 : Mega
K-Lite Codec Pack 5.05 : Basic

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder will help you to get rid of those files. By using this powerful yet free utility, you can increase free space on up to 50%.

Daily computer activity inevitably leads to accumulating duplicate files on your computer, especially if you are an active PC user. You may download gigabytes of music and video files, documents and applications from the Internet or local network, share those files with your friends and not even realize how many duplicate files may be collected on your hard disk from such activity.

Download Auslogics Duplicate File Finder 1.5.2.50

Mozilla Firefox is a fast, full-featured web browser that’s easy to use. It has lots of great features including popup-blocking, tabbed-browsing, integrated search, improved privacy features, automatic updating and more. Plus, thanks to the PortableApps.com launcher bundled in the Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition, it leaves no personal information behind on the machine you run it on, so you can take your favorite browser along with all your favorite bookmarks and extensions with you wherever you go.

Download Portable Firefox 3.5.2

• Removes Password from AA3Launch.log
• Fix for MBS not working after server changes to a new map
• Fixes TeamReady in Mission Preplanning
• Updated authentication SDK to improve reliability and performance
• Fix for freezing on training mission load
• Improved performance on loading maps/training missions
• Fixed several small memory leaks
• Fixed performance issue with server that caused it to load UI elements into the server (where they aren’t needed) and thus use up additional CPU and memory.
• Modified training authentication so it is more efficient
• Modified AMD negative delta time exception handling so it no longer stops the server or client, but just logs the event
• Fixed Admin add Player Admin
• Fixed Admin kicking of players. Now works properly with Soldier name and has optional kick by player ID
• Add new AdminListPlayers to get list of players and their player ID’s
• Removes most of the server log spam, especially that tied to missions and mission setup and ROE
• Fixes several issues related to ROE firing off when player is bleeding, asphyxiating, or falling after being wounded by ROE
• You can now strafe on ladders so you don’t get stuck in Pipeline or Obstacle Course. Strafe too far and you fall off, just like AA 2.x
• Modified program startup to clear out any old ATS temporary files
• Improved scoring messaging support for training missions
• Fixes several scoring issues
• Optimizes more of the authentication code and adds better exception handling in it
• Adjusts STS (stats) integration to better detect invalid objects to avoid crashes
• Fixes issues with single player stats not correctly initializing all of the time
• Adds feedback to UI when player purchases training until purchase is complete (says “Purchasing”)
• Modifies MBS to track how many players are playing vs. how many players are on the server (player + Spectators) and now MBS browser only shows the number of players (so the count won’t exceed max players)
• Turns HUD off whenever menu is activated (still an issue with battle planner activation the first time, however)
• Adjusts the close menu logic to always close properly so double menus should no longer happen

Updates to America’s Army 3 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The specific changes include:

* Removed apparent lag caused by other players entering or leaving a server
* Improved start of round spawn issues
* Resolved problem with training results not saving
* Improved communication with Authentication server
* Eliminated freezing up when moving from one training mission to another
* Cleared up hesitation during training missions
* Significantly reduce number of authentication transactions between player and Authentication server
* Solved achievements save and display problems
* Improved Login communication with Authentication server
* Improved player statistics tracking for better accuracy
* Improved overall performance

Steam News Link

Click here to view the embedded video.

In America’s Army 3, Every Detail Counts and as a result, the game has more authentic military elements including training, technology, weapons, and audio than any other military game. Built on Unreal Engine 3, AA3 delivers stunningly realistic environments, lighting effects, animations, and team-based experiences so that America’s Army players can experience how Soldiers train, live, and advance in the Army. Players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and gain experience as they navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, a player’s actions and demonstrated Army values are integral to successful mission accomplishment and affect a player’s career progression.

The game is launching with five different environments, each with three different mission scenario options for a total of 15 different map/mission combinations. Initially, the core of the gameplay focuses on an Infantry Soldier (11B). Players first complete Basic Combat Training and then progress to Advanced Individual Training for a variety of specialized roles that the Infantry Soldier performs, such as Advanced Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman, Squad Designated Marksman, and Grenadier. This advanced training allows players to unlock new abilities and gear, customize their gear and equipment loads, increase their in-game skill level, and progress in their Army careers.

Click here for additional details on America’s Army 3.0.

Download America’s Army 3.0 FREE on Steam or get the download via BIG Download.

Microsoft has announced that the Release Candidate version of Windows 7 will be available to the public as a free download on May 5. And since the RC version seems to be pretty much finished (I have not tried it), then it’s essentially giving it away for more than a year: as mentioned earlier, it won’t expire until 1 June next year.

RC includes a couple of new features, mainly Remote Media Streaming (so you can stream stuff from your home PC to your work PC, for example), and in pro versions, Windows XP Mode (below).

The slight drawback is that if or when you want to buy the final version, it’s not designed to install over the beta RC. Microsoft is only testing the normal use case, which is an upgrade from a previous version of Windows.

Full Story/Source

I would not recommend using it as a main OS if reinstalling Windows 7 from scratch later is something you’d like to avoid. However, installing Windows 7 on a test computer, or one you don’t mind reinstalling later, for the purpose of kicking the tires sounds great.