Recommended software: Difference between revisions

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==Desktop Utilities==
==Desktop Utilities==
* [[StrongHelp]] - provides help for a number of programs
* [http://sudden.recoil.org/stronghelp/ StrongHelp] - provides help for a number of programs
* [[Director]] - browse the directory structure of your Harddisc using menus and submenus
* [[Director]] - browse the directory structure of your Harddisc using menus and submenus
* [[Thump]] - Filer-like image viewer
* [http://www.drobe.co.uk/external_files/homepages.paradise.net.nz/rhudson/software/bin/thump149.zip Thump] - Filer-like image viewer
* [[HID]]* - drivers for interactive USB keyboards and mice (Iyonix and Castle USB only). 10UKP to register
* [http://www.xat.nl/en/riscos/sw/usb/hid/ HID]* - drivers for interactive USB keyboards and mice (Iyonix and Castle USB only). 10UKP to register
* [http://www.starfighter.acornarcade.com/mysite/utilities.htm#infozip InfoZip] (recommended) or [[SparkPlug]] ([[SparkFS]] - 25UKP) - Decompress (and compress) ZIPs and other archive formats
* [http://www.starfighter.acornarcade.com/mysite/utilities.htm#infozip InfoZip] (recommended) ([[SparkFS]] - 25UKP) - Decompress (and compress) ZIPs and other archive formats
* [[Organizer]] (Latest version: 11UKP) - Fully functional addressbook and diary, capable of running tasks, remembering anniversary dates, alarms
* [http://www.organizer.morison.net/ Organizer] (Latest version: 11UKP) - Fully functional addressbook and diary, capable of running tasks, remembering anniversary dates, alarms
* [[Remane]]* - Bulk renamer: rename entire directories of files using simple criteria and wildcards. 10UKP to register
* [http://www.jochenlueg.freeuk.com/english/sharewar.htm Remane]* - Bulk renamer: rename entire directories of files using simple criteria and wildcards. 10UKP to register
* [[ChangeFSI]] - Multi-format image convertor, outputting jpegs or sprites
* [http://acorn.riscos.com/riscos/releases/ ChangeFSI] - Multi-format image convertor, outputting jpegs or sprites
* [[FSIbatch]]* - Batch process of images with ChangeFSI, eg: convert a directory of large 16million colour jpegs into smaller 256 colour sprites for desktop backgrounds. 10UKP to register
* [http://www.jochenlueg.freeuk.com/english/sharewar.htm FSIbatch]* - Batch process of images with ChangeFSI, eg: convert a directory of large 16million colour jpegs into smaller 256 colour sprites for desktop backgrounds. 10UKP to register
* ([[cdvdburn]] - 65UKP) - cd and dvd burning software
* ([http://www.hubersn-software.com/cdvdburn.html CDVDburn] - 65UKP) - cd and dvd burning software
* [[cdburnlite]] - provided with the Iyonix PC
* [[cdburnlite]] - provided with the Iyonix PC


Revision as of 00:26, 22 September 2006

This is a preliminary list of 'must have' software and utilities for RISC OS.


Shareware is starred - * Commercial software is bracketed - ()

Essential modules

  • SharedUnixLib - Needed for a growing number of programs being developed: NetSurf and Cretin, to name just two
  • Universal Boot (RISC OS 3.x only) - This enables users of < RISC OS 4 to have a compatible Boot structure. Essential for all users, regardless of vintage of hardware. The skeleton official download is available from the legacy Acorn website or you can try the more comprehensive (& recommended) "FancyBoot" version.

Text Editors

There's a huge debate about which is superior. My advice is: flip a coin, and stick with that one, then cite it as the best whenever anyone asks. A quirk with both StrongED and Zap is that by default, the Delete key does a LEFT-DELETE and Copy/End does a RIGHT-DELETE, instead of the more common Delete for RIGHT-DELETE and Copy/End to jump to the end of the text. To fix this please follow the instructions on this page.

Desktop Utilities

  • StrongHelp - provides help for a number of programs
  • Director - browse the directory structure of your Harddisc using menus and submenus
  • Thump - Filer-like image viewer
  • HID* - drivers for interactive USB keyboards and mice (Iyonix and Castle USB only). 10UKP to register
  • InfoZip (recommended) (SparkFS - 25UKP) - Decompress (and compress) ZIPs and other archive formats
  • Organizer (Latest version: 11UKP) - Fully functional addressbook and diary, capable of running tasks, remembering anniversary dates, alarms
  • Remane* - Bulk renamer: rename entire directories of files using simple criteria and wildcards. 10UKP to register
  • ChangeFSI - Multi-format image convertor, outputting jpegs or sprites
  • FSIbatch* - Batch process of images with ChangeFSI, eg: convert a directory of large 16million colour jpegs into smaller 256 colour sprites for desktop backgrounds. 10UKP to register
  • (CDVDburn - 65UKP) - cd and dvd burning software
  • cdburnlite - provided with the Iyonix PC

Modules/Utilities

  • AltClick - Alt-Click on a window to bring it to the front
  • NetTime - Update your clock to internet time servers
  • PlayIt - codec for most audio formats on RISC OS
  • AMPlayer - adds support for MP3 playback
  • SpecialFX - utility that improves overall desktop appearance by anti-aliasing drawfiles and blending fonts. Also fixes printing issues which can occur when printing text from several applications
  • MiscSetup - a !Boot plugin that allows easy configuration of several desktop appearance choices no configurable elsewhere
  • ZapFonts - Bitmap font renderer. Used for Zap, StrongED and Cretin, among others

Email/News

  • Messenger/Lite (Pro - 39UKP)/(Pluto - from 29UKP) - Email and News Agent, allowing sorting and searching of messages and news
  • Newsbase - Freestanding News database for use with the free version of messenger

Note: The free version of Messenger and Newsbase are not 32bit compatible, however the Iyonix is provided with Messenger Lite as standard

  • Popstar - Mail client for fetching and sending Email
  • Newshound - News client for fetching and sending news

Other Internet

  • NetSurf - Free web browser, under constant development
  • Firefox beta - A Work-in-progress port of the popular Firefox browser to RISC OS, currently undergoing further improvement and testing.
  • Ftpc - FTP access, fully featured
  • Cocognut - File share client for the Gnutella network

Media

  • PlaySound
  • DigitalCD - multiformat audio player (MP3, Audio CD, wave)
  • AMPlay - Sophisticated MP3 player with filterable playlists

DTP and Spreadsheet

  • (Easi/TechWriter - 99 & 124UKP respectively)
  • (Ovation Pro - 125UKP)
  • (Impression Publisher) - Currently being rewritten by X-Ample Technology
  • Writer - Provided free with RISC OS 4
  • Writer+ - Provided free with the Iyonix PC
  • (Fireworkz Pro 26 - 100UKP) - Fully functional spreadsheet and database package
  • Fireworkz32 - Provided with the Iyonix PC

Instant Messaging

  • (Grapevine - 29UKP) - Supports MSN, ICQ and IRC
  • LIRC - Free IRC client. Fully featured. Not currently 32bit compatible
  • Cretin - Alternative free IRC client. 32bit version available.

Games

  • (Quake Resurrection) - 23UKP - A port of the awsome Quake for RISC OS, includes two expansion packs.
  • (Heroes of Might and Magic 2) - 35UKP - A port of the awsome Heroes of Might and Magic 2.
  • (6502Em) - 15UKP - One of the best BBC Micro emulators on the RISC OS plaform.

Compatibility

This issue is rather important for all users of minority systems, so here we go: MS Word compatible software:

  • AntiWord - a viewer and convertor of MS Word (.doc) documents. Converts to Text or Draw
  • Writer(+) also can read MS Word documents to a fair degree of accuracy, and convert them to its native format.
  • Easi/TechWriter also exports MS Word documents

MS Excel compatible software:

  • ViewXLS - ditto for MS Excel (.xls) spreadsheets. Converts to CSV, TSV or Draw. CVS files exported can then be loaded into eg: Fireworkz for editing.
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