Solved 10 open-source apps I recommend every Windows user download - for free

Open-source might not be the first thing you think of with Windows, but these free tools can seriously boost your productivity.

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I'll add one of the proggies I like to the list.

Called InternetOff. You can turn the connection to the net off/on with just a click. If I go somewhere or know I'll be away from the PC for a while, I shut of the connect. Also has multiple features like password protect & allowing only a certain amount of time online, great for if you have kids & want to limit time spent online.

InternetOff allows you to quickly turn off the internet so that you can go offline. When you need the connection, you can enable the internet easily for some period (and it will be automatically turned off) or permanently in just two clicks. Besides the program lets you password protect and schedule access to the internet.

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File Converter sounds interesting. I will definitely check it out.

I am presently using Change File Extension Shell Menu
Version 2.8.6.0
T800 Productions 2011

Sadly, the software company has closed shop but you can still get it here:

hxxps://t800-productions.software.informer.com

It is not so much the file extension that I need to change, but right-clicking on the file tells me what its extension is. Is it png or jpg, mp4 or mkv, iso or rar, rtf or word, etc? I need to know the extension of the file I am dealing with. Well, you get the picture.

InternetOff is another good. One click does it all. That is really cool.

Thanks for sharing, pal.

Text2Html is a Text to Html converter. It can greatly improve your productivity when converting plain text files to HTML format.

It is one of my most liked applications.
I have a list of urls on a text file. By just right-clicking on it, it converts all of them to hyperlinks. Unfortunately, it works fine with Win7 and Win 8 but not Wins 10 or 11. I am still looking for a replacement for Win 10.

Here is the website:
hxxps://www.cybermatrix.com/t2faq.html#:~:text=Text2Html%20is%20a%20Text%20to,you%20as%20soon%20as%20possible.

There is a demo on the website that better explains what I have touched on.

I have a couple of recommendations:

1 - Voidtools Everything (and Everything Toolbar): Great replacement for Windows Search

2 - MSI Afterburner: Good for tracking a number of different variables for your graphics card including Temp and Memory Usage, and it can display them in a game window

3- HWInfo: Great for getting detailed information on your entire system or displaying that information on third party devices like an Elgato Streamdeck (which I use for my streaming)

I have none of those but use Autoruns, Driver Store Explorer, TreeSize Free, HWInfo, Partition Wizard Portable, Revo Uninstaller and Macrium Reflect on all PCs. All are free but I did buy the full version of Reflect.

That list is so meh!

Who came up with it is obviously another wannabe journalist trying to show they are experts when all they have done is randomly selected a number of items.

There is NOT ONE that I would consider worth installing.

InternetOff, MSI Afterburner, HWInfo, Macrium Reflect, Revo Uninstaller, TreeSize Free and even Autoruns - are not Open Source (a term that refers to software with a publicly available source code - which anyone can view, study, modify, and distribute the code for any purpose, as long as they adhere to the terms of the open-source license). This apps are simply Freeware - a term describing closed-source software (copyright proprietary software - which can be limited in some regards compared to the paid version, freeware till it gains enough popularity - even for the sake of beta testing - then next versions will be paid, or fully usable with no limitations - other than being closed-source - so you're not allowed to modify it and make your own and such).

Actual Open Source software i use myself and would recommend: My Top 10 (Actual) Open Source Software List (this topic inspired me to open another - for the sake of clarity and preferred software longevity).