Freebies

Get Cyberlink PhotoDirector 3 (Win) for free

Need a way to organize your photo library? Even better, do you need tools for tweaking your photos, tools that go beyond what the typical entry-level image editor (I'm looking at you, Picasa) has to offer?

Through tomorrow, our very own CNET is offering Cyberlink PhotoDirector 3 (Windows) absolutely free. It normally sells for $149.95.

That's a mighty big freebie, so you're no doubt wondering what the catch is. No catch! You'll need to supply your e-mail address so you can receive your license key, and then you'll need to enter that license key … Read more

Get a free touch-screen stylus from Deal Fisher

What's the best way to draw people to a new Web site? Give them something for free.

What's the best way to tick them off? Run a server that can't handle the load.

Deal Fisher is in the process of learning both these lessons. The just-launched deal wrangler is offering a free "feather" stylus for touch-screen devices, a $9.99 value. They'll even cover the shipping; all you have to do is register on the site and like Deal Fisher on Facebook.

A couple of problems, though. First, there appears to be no direct … Read more

Freebook Sifter finds Kindle freebies

E-books are all kinds of awesome. E-book prices? Not so much.

That's why I'm always on the lookout for freebies, relying on sites like Hundred Zeros to help me find gratis reading for my Kindle.

Lately I've been exploring another source: Freebook Sifter, a new site that lists over 35,000 no-cost books available from Amazon. It's not the prettiest site I've ever seen -- all links and text, no cover art or images -- but it definitely delivers on its promise.

When you first visit the site, you'll see a random listing of … Read more

MediaFire debuts for Android, offers users 50GB of free cloud storage

Back in August, I wrote about cloud-storage service MediaFire, which was offering a whopping 50GB of free space, no strings attached.

Well, there were strings in the form of certain limitations (see below), but it wasn't like you had to provide a credit-card number or start paying for the space after, say, six months.

Yesterday, the company unveiled MediaFire for Android, which joins the iOS version in giving you mobile access to your cloud drive. And new users still get 50GB of storage, free of charge.

Like other apps of its kind, MediaFire for Android lets you view documents … Read more

Get a $117 Mac app bundle for free

Let's be honest: Mac users don't usually get a lot of freebies.

Sure, there are software bundles from time to time, but usually they cost around $50 -- nothing free about that.

That's what makes this deal so special: it doesn't cost a dime. For the next two weeks, StackSocial is offering the Mac Freebie Bundle, a collection of eight Mac apps with a combined value of $117 -- and a total cost to you of $0.

What's included? Here's the rundown:

Clipboard manager ClipBuddy. Icon organizer IconBox2. Image tweaker Image Smith. Screen-capture tool … Read more

Get Windows file manager XYplorer for free

Windows Explorer has never been what I'd call a user-friendly tool. In fact, I find it pretty unintuitive. Yet it's what Windows users are stuck with for moving, copying, deleting, and organizing their files.

If you've often wished for an easier, more robust replacement, today is your lucky day: Giveaway of the Day is offering Donald Lessau's XYplorer 11.90 Windows file manager free of charge. It normally sells for $29.95.

WARNING: Do not click the big blue Download button that appears alongside the description of XYplorer. That's actually an ad, and clicking it … Read more

Why Adobe (and other vendors) should give away older software

No doubt you heard earlier this week that Adobe is giving away Creative Suite 2, an older version of its popular (and pricey) image-editing and design bundle.

Then it turned out that, no, the software wasn't free; Adobe's Don Isaacs wrote that the company was merely "terminating the activation servers for CS2," and that the download page was only for those who already owned licenses for the product.

Ah, but it was too late: the story had gone viral (big time), and it appears Adobe has decided not to try stuffing the genie back into the … Read more

Two amazing deals on PC games

Got plans for the weekend -- or, for that matter, the month? Cancel 'em, because you're about to score a boatload of PC games on the cheap.

For a limited time, GameStop has Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection for $16.99. Let's just round that up to $17, which means you're paying a buck apiece for 17 C&C games. Nice!

The collection includes everything from the original Command & Conquer to C&C Generals (my personal favorite) to the most recent entry, Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, with all the various expansion … Read more

Get a free DVD ripper, video converter, and ringtone maker

It's been a fun series of freebies this week! Free seasons of TV shows (now expired, alas), free movies from Vudu, a free membership to ShopRunner -- and today, to top it all off, some free software.

Before I tell you about it, I'm going to ask that you please read the instructions as I've outlined them below, as these giveaways always seem to trip up some readers. There's nothing complicated here, but if you don't pay attention, you'll end up e-mailing me about what a fake or scam or screw-up this is.

So. … Read more

Get 10 free movies when you sign up for Vudu

Like movies? Like free stuff? Then today is definitely your lucky day.

For what promises to be a limited time, Walmart movie-streaming service Vudu is offering 10 free movies when you sign up for a new account. (Just click the green Sign Up button and you'll see the promo.)

This is a surprisingly no-strings attached offer. All you need to create an account is your name, e-mail address, and date of birth. Or, if you prefer, you can sign up using your Facebook account. Although Vudu will ask for billing information, you don't need to provide it (though … Read more