PC software programs are a wide selection of tools that make the computer more useful, efficient and entertaining. These include systems, device drivers, optimisation programs and application software.
System software includes compilers, assemblers and interpreters that convert the high-level languages used to program other software into low-level machine code instructions. It also includes error detection and debugging software.
VLC media player
VLC media player is an open source cross-platform multimedia player that plays most audio and video formats. It also supports DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. Its features include a wide range of advanced tools and information, including codec information and media statistics.
The software is available for Windows, macOS, and several varieties of GNU/Linux. Its icon is based on the traffic cone, which is an ode to the time that its creators spent collecting them at school. Its developers claim that it is one of the best free programs on the market, although there are some limitations and bugs.
Among its many functions, it can play MKV files without having to install additional codecs, and is capable of handling HD video playback (MPEG-4 AVC and H.264). It also supports a number of popular audio formats, including MPEG-1/2, AAC / MPEG-4 part3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Apple Lossless, MIDI, Speex, ATRAC 3, and WMA. It can even support multiple audio tracks and subtitles.
WeDo 2.0
WeDo 2.0 teaches students how to program using a drag and drop interface. It also offers a new ‘Computational Thinking’ curriculum which helps to support the key science skills linking to STEM – problem solving, investigation, modeling, prototyping and computational thinking.
This version includes tablet software whereas 1.0 was an add-on and it can run on Chromebooks too. The app is updated regularly so it’s important to keep your computer or tablet up to date.
The WeDo 2.0 Smart Hub uses Bluetooth Low Energy/Bluetooth 4.0 technology to connect to the WeDo 2.0 software on the student’s computer or tablet. This means that the student must have a built-in or external BLE adapter – the Bluegiga BLED112 is recommended by LEGO. The app is compatible with Windows 7 (and later), but a dedicated USB adapter is required for connecting to the Smart Hub. The WeDo 2.0 software starts up a little slower than the previous version and requires 12 seconds to be ready for use, after which the student must navigate their way through the Science Lab Lobby.
Glary Utilities
Over time, your computer can accumulate a lot of unnecessary files and other computing detritus that slow it down. Glary Utilities provides an array of tools to clean up this mess and improve system performance.
The program can find and repair broken Registry entries, remove spyware, optimize memory, and perform disk defragmentation. It can also identify programs that start with Windows and disable them, manage context menu entries, and delete duplicate files. Users can also use Glary Utilities to securely erase files and folders.
This free utility suite has an attractive, easy-to-use interface and is compatible with most versions of Windows. Its robust set of features makes it a worthwhile option for anyone looking to keep their computer running smoothly and efficiently. Some of its most useful tools include a disk space analyzer, which can find and display files and folders that are taking up the most space. It can also help users find and fix duplicate files, which will save them valuable hard drive space.
CCleaner
While computer processing power has been doubling every year, slowdowns and lag are still common. One way to avoid these problems is to keep your system clean of unnecessary files or programs that hog resources. CCleaner is a program that can do this and more. It can delete temporary and cache files, modify the programs that run at startup, manage Internet Explorer add-ons and find duplicate files on a hard disk. It can also analyze a hard drive and wipe free space or even an entire disk.
CCleaner is also known for its patented Registry cleaner that finds and removes old and invalid entries. These detrimental registry entries can cause errors and make Windows unstable.
Although CCleaner isn’t as feature-rich as other competing software, it offers a free version that gets the job done. Its competitively-priced Professional version is another draw. It also has a number of customer support options, including a help center, community forum, FAQs and YouTube channel.