KompoZer - free web-authoring software, uses a WYSIWYG editor (What You See Is What You Get) to write html web pages. It's easy, similar to using a word processor. Can also see and alter the html source if you choose to, and can directly publish pages to your website. NVU was updated/renamed to KompoZer, then discontinued, but old versions can still be downloaded. Found BlueGriffon about the time it stopped being updated. These are needed for HTML websites but not for CMS websites.
Zoom Basic free version - video conferencing to keep in touch with family or work friends. Free version limits meetings to 40 minutes and 100 participants per meeting, so it's pretty useful for home use.
Photo Story 3 - free show-and-tell program from Microsoft - create movie-like videos from photos, such as birthday parties, reunions, vacations. Can add music of your choice, or create music using the music generator in the program. Here's a short video I did with Photo Story 3, using music generated by the program. Link goes to a Microsoft Forum, where people have found it also works in Windows 11.
DesignPro 5 - free program made by Avery for use with Avery labels and other products. No longer available, link goes to the new online program. Use it for name tags, business cards, luncheon cards, dividers. It also does CD and DVD labels and covers. However, Nero came on my new computer and I started using Nero for CD and DVD labels, because Nero seems easier to use. I still use DesignPro for everything else.
VLC Media Player - free opensource program for viewing movies and videos, written by the VideoLAN Team. Lets you watch virtually any type of video without having to go hunt the proper codec. Replacement for Windows Media Player and RealPlayer. Works very well. Many new laptops don't come with a media player any more, VLC is a good choice to use.
Windows Movie Maker - free program from Microsoft to make home movies on your computer and share them with friends. I've use it to make a cohesive movie out of several short video clips, mixed with photos, and title pages for comments. Very easy drag and drop. Can add rolling credits at the end. Can add voice-over or music where ever you want it. Can rotate images, clip parts out of them, overlay titles on images. Also has effects and transitions. Says it's for XP, don't know if it works on other platforms or not. Very easy to use.
