TECH

5 forgotten Burning Studio gems

Sven Krumrey

A world of wonders

Do you know a fool-proof way to make a programmer blush? Just ask for features that lie deeply buried in a huge application. The addressee will look like they forgot their middle child's birthday and instantly start clicking frantically. But there's no shame in not knowing every corner of a program even if it was written by oneself a long time ago! These applications started out small, quickly gained momentum and eventually turned into feature behemoths. It's like handling children. Initially cute, small and manageable you'll eventually thank the heavens that you get along with them somehow. Naturally, Burning Studio also has a lot of useful features to discover that I wouldn't want to withhold from you.

more

TECH

Embarrassment, unexpected exits and zombies: The world of malware

Sven Krumrey

The button of fear and mysteries

Yes, I made a grave mistake. I wanted to download a codec pack. Not a problem you say? I beg to differ, especially when you're faced with multiple attempts at slipping you unwanted third-party software to get your money! Put on your Indiana Jones hat and prepare for the whimsical world of malware!

more

TECH

5 forgotten WinOptimizer gems

Sven Krumrey

hidden treasures of WinOptimizer

If you ever wanted to see actual programmers tear their hair, just suggest a feature that already exists in their programs. The larger a feature set grows, the more likely it becomes that existing and useful features are forgotten or buried in the depths of the many program menus. WinOptimizer was originally advertised as the Swiss Army knife of Windows optimization tools but as with the real thing, people tend to forget about the many possibilities the program has to offer.

more

TECH

Why freeware sometimes doesn’t cut it.

Manuel Verlaat

Shareware, Freeware, Freemium...

Do you use open source software? If you're running Mozilla Firefox the answer is a clear yes. You are using a modern browser that sees frequent updates and didn't cost you a single cent. What seems unthinkable in other industries is common place in the software industry especially for private users. Good and totally free software made by hobbyists. Programs range from simple chat applications and multimedia suites to entire office bundles. Make no mistake, immense efforts are required to create and maintain such applications!

more