Looking through the Windows Start menu could give you a headache if you have dozens of applications installed on your computer and you go from one arrow to the next looking for that elusive program. Vista Start Menu makes it easier to find what you need. Users have been impressed with the interface, which is better than the regular Windows menu. Program shortcuts don't move around. There is keyboard support and zoom, resizing and tabs, power buttons and scrolling. Plus, new programs are highlighted so you find where they are. The Pro version has additional menu customization and one-click launch, which reminds you of the days when Windows was actually simple.



You can get almost anything free online these days, including these impressive 3D software that give an added dimension to your screen or artwork.

DAZ Studio 2.2.2.15 from DAZ 3D is more stable than its previous releases. It features Lip-Sync to integrate sound files from Mimic. It also provides the new Smoothing Angle and the added your favorite tools to the morph panel.

Blender Foundation's open-source Blender 2.46 gives you all the tools you need to become a 3D animator. Like DAZ Studio above, this is a bug-fixing release, with added features such as cloth and fur simulation, shading, glossy reflection and refraction, soft shadows, improved rendering features, amongst others.

If you want to create images but Photoshop does not appeal to you and you find traditional art materials are too expensive and messy, your prayers have been answered. ArtRage 2.5 from New Zealand-based Ambient Design is a elegant little package that gives you the tools for painting on your computer. With realistic-looking painting tools, you can create and print as you please. The free Starter Edition has eight painting tools including oil, pencil, and felt pen. You can also trace existing images with ease. The Full version has four additional paint tools, layers, metallic paint, and many other additional features for $25. It also has stencils and rulers to help you with lines and curves. The interface has been improved and support for Photoshop PSD has been added, as well as for importing and exporting capabilities for other image formats. See what millions of users have been raving about now.

Can one software bundle answer all your security needs? From the looks of the new PC Tools Internet Security, it can. The entire tried-and-tested PC Tools anti-spyware, anti-virus, anti-spam and firewall protection has been bundled to find and eleminate Trojans, worms, keyloggers and protexts agains phishing, tracking threats, identity theft, and other malicious attacks online. It includes the celebrated Spyware Doctor, which has won awards from respected publications in the industry. PC Tools Internet Security updates automatically to keep you abreast of the latest threats. It is user-friendly for novices and experts alike, and has free support.

Award-winning Access Manager is the software that makes keeping all your passwords safe in one place a breeze. Your email, website and logon passwords, bank numbers, PIN numbers, and other codes will be secured using a master password and strong dual encryption technology. You can store as many passwords as you like, drag and drop or copy them, or automatically generate them. Link to files, folders or websites, import codes, share or keep them private. Access Manager makes searching for passwords and categorizing them simple and convenient. It comes as a free download, with a Professional edition for $24.95.