PhotoPlus 6 is an incredible image editing software that enables you to create, manipulate, and enhance photographs, bitmap graphics, and web animations. All the tools you need are provided along with handy hints to enable you to achieve totally unique results. • Image Export Optimizer • Photo Enhancement • Unique Selection Options • Image Slicing/Image Maps • Editable Text • Smart Shapes. PhotoPlus 6.0 is free. All you have to do is register it for free and you have full use of it. It is also better documented than PhotoFiltre and has lots of features.

PhotoFiltre is a complete image retouching program. It allows you to do simple or advanced adjustments to an image and apply a vast range of filters on it. It is simple and intuitive to use, and has an easy learning curve. The toolbar, giving you access to the standard filters with just a few clicks, gives PhotoFiltre a robust look. PhotoFilter does not have as much documentation but there are sites on the web showing you how to use it. Also many people have contributed plug-in files that can greatly enhance the editor. They can be downloaded from the PhotoFiltre website. If you have used PhotoShop you will know how to use this program right away.

TrueCrypt is a very powerful data encryption program that runs on Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux and gives the user a very high level of security. With news stories about laptops with sensitive information being stolen and people's personal information compromised this need not have been the case if TrueCrypt was used to secure the information. With TrueCrypt you can create multiple virtual encrypted disks or encrypt a whole file which can only be opened with your own password. You could encrypt a USB flash drive with all your passwords. Depending on what encryption level you choose and the length of your password this file would be uncrackable. This is a free program developed by the open source community.

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution that is 100% free and very easy to use. If you have been reluctant to try Linux because you thought it was too difficult to learn, then wait no longer. Ubuntu is an old African word meaning "humanity towards others". You can test drive Ubuntu by booting from the CD or install the full Ubuntu Linux OS. Hundreds of free programs are accessable for download through the operating system. You can download the latest version or order a free CD mailed to your address, absolutely free of charge.