Absolutely Free Software -
Best Windows Freeware
No shareware, no nagware, no adware. Reviewed constantly. Categorized conveniently.
This page is updated regularly. Last update: October 5, 2005.
Free Informational-Educational Software
Free Mapping Software
Google Earth
added August 29, 2005
Google Earth is one of the most draw-dropping pieces of software I have ever seen. Google says you can use it for planning trips or to find businesses, which you can. The wonder of it, though, is the ability to explore the world in 3D, the whole, amazing world. Unlike traditional mapping services, Google Earth shows you satellite imagery on top of which you can overlay road maps or political boundaries. You can see businesses and buildings. Mountains and molehills (maybe not molehills). The data is updated via the internet, so you always have the most up-to-date info available.
Not only can you view everything, you can actually tilt the map to see topologically correct terrain. You can see how tall Everest really is. You can see Niagara Falls. Major cities even have their buildings represented in 3D. Visit the Las Vegas Strip. Gaze at Manhattan's skyline.
Another fancy feature is the ability to download extra information from 3rd party groups like, say, WiFi hotspots, or crop circle information.
All expected mapping functions are there as well, of course. Adding locations, route planning, etc. It's all there. I bet, though, that you spend a lot more time sightseeing than planning trips.
http://earth.google.com/
Free Planetarium Software
stellarium
added August 29, 2005
When you get tired of our earth, move to the sky.
This is a beautiful piece of software, literally. Using it is like sitting in a planetarium where you control the show. The sky is wonderfully represented with twinkling and shooting stars. You see sunsets and sunrises, the ground and sky, fog and clouds. Overlay images of the mythological constellation creatures on top of their night-time counterparts. You can simulate eclipses and view nebulas. A wonderful creation.
http://stellarium.sourceforge.net/index.html
Free Space Simulation
Celestia
added August 29, 2005
When you tire of looking at space, why not visit it?
Another beautiful piece of software. Celestia differentiates itself from planetarium software because it lets you travel through all of known space. You will want to see Saturn's rings (who doesn't?), but you can also travel far beyond our solar system.
It comes with a huge catalog of spacecraft, stars, planets, moons, asteroids and comets. You can also download extra libraries when your known space isn't quite big enough.
Everything is rendered in impressive 3D. Flying through space is a simple click and go.
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/
Free Educational Games For Children
Childsplay
GCompris
added August 29, 2005
These two suites of games are designed for children up to about ten years old. They cover pretty much all the bases of educational software for children. Math, language, puzzles of all sorts, geography, etc. Different games are appropriate for different ages, some as young as two. The graphics are great, the games are good, and the software is free. Terrific combos.
http://childsplay.sourceforge.net/index.html
http://www.ofset.org/gcompris/
Free Drawing Program for Children
TuxPaint
added August 31, 2005
Kids love to draw and color and make a mess. Computers make the process a little less messy. Tuxpaint is a fine choice for young kids, as good as any program, free or not, of its type.
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/
Free Graphing Calculator
GraphCalc
new! added October 5, 2005
The finest Windows graphing calculator ever. If you are studying trigonometry or calculus, or are just a math aficionado (I didn't want to say geek), this is it.
From the site:
".. your first, last, and only line of offense against the mathematics that threaten to push you over the brink of insanity. It slices, dices, shreds and purees functions that leave other calculators wondering what hit them."
They're telling the truth, folks. An amazing piece of software, this.
http://www.graphcalc.com/
