100 Open Source Downloads for Windows: Page 5

Multimedia Tools

1. VLC Media Player
The VLC Media Player lets you play files from an astonishing number of different audio and video formats—way too many to list here. Contributors have also designed lots of different skins for the player, so you can make it look just the way you want.

2. Miro
Miro lets you play any video file, save videos from YouTube and elsewhere, and it acts as a BitTorrent Client. It also claims to offer more HD content than anyone else.

3. InfraRecorder
InfraRecorder is a Windows-only application for burning CDs and DVDs. It supports dual-layer DVDs, as well as multiple file formats, including WAV, WMA, OGG, MP3, and ISO.

4. Mplayer
Its name is short for “movie player,” but Mplayer actually plays audio as well as video files. It supports a staggering number of file types, drivers, and languages, and it has an impressive list of awards to its credit.

5. FripTV
Want to watch TV on your PC? FripTV is an SDL-based IPTV TV player. It’s still in the alpha stage, so be prepared to encounter a few bugs.

6. Wink
If you create tutorials or presentations demonstrating how to use computer applications, Wink makes that process much simpler. With wink, you can capture screenshots, mouse moves, audio input, and more in a simple Flash animation. Check out the Web site for a demonstration.

Networking/Systems Administration

7. Wireshark
Formerly known as Ethereal, Wireshark calls itself “the world's foremost network protocol analyzer” and “the de facto (and often de jure) standard” for network monitoring. It offers deep inspection of numerous protocols, live capture and offline analysis, multi-platform capabilities, VOIP analysis, and more.

8. Angry IP Scanner
Despite its name, Angry IP Scanner bills itself as a “fast and friendly” network scanner designed to help systems administrators check the security of their networks. Additional features include providing NetBIOS information, favorite IP address ranges, web server detection, customizable openers, and more.

9. Appupdater
Appupdater simplifies the life of systems administrators by automating the process of keeping multiple workstations up-to-date with the latest versions of software. It’s completely customizable, so you retain control of how often to check for updates, which types of software to update, etc.

10. Pandora FMS
Pandora is a free monitoring system (FMS) for large IT networks. You can configure it to detect and notify you of nearly any event: network hardware outages, Website defacement, even a sudden drop in the stock market.

11. MyLogon
Designed primarily for small businesses, MyLogon is a Windows applet that allows users to log on to a network fileserver. It allows for simple network account management without the need for expensive software, and it even allows Windows XP Home edition users to connect to a network.

12. Networking Commands for Windows
If you’d rather perform network configuration and maintenance activities from the command line instead of a GUI, check out Networking Commands for Windows. This collection of command-line tools lets you use a small list of short, easy-to-remember commands to perform day-to-day systems administration activities.

13. Panic Button
Panic Button adds a small icon to the Windows system tray. When users click it, it takes a screenshot of any error messages currently displayed and sends a message to the helpdesk or system administrator. It’s also handy for anyone with friends or relatives who frequently ask for help with computer problems but never remember exactly what their error messages said.