Audiobook Recorder is easy to use text to audiobook (MP3) converting software. Also it can read any text using different human voices. The only text-to-speech software with unique 'Smart Pause' feature that dramatically improves reading quality.

Features:

• Aloud text reading with different voices and languages.
• Converting text to audio files (*.WAV, *.MP3) with high speed.
  'Smart Pause' unique feature can detect situation when pause is required, but no punctuation mark exists between words (e.g. in Contents).
• Adjustable speech parameters: speed and volume.
• Opens MS Word (.DOC), hypertext (.HTML) and plain text (.TXT) files.
• Opens big-sized files.
• Speakable text size almost unlimited.

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We've used many download managers over the years to download stuff from the Internet and we've got to say that FDM is one of the best we've ever used. It is a powerful, easy-to-use and absolutely free download accelerator and manager. Moreover, FDM is 100% safe, open-source software distributed under GPL license (not that it matters if you are a pirate anyway). This is particularly useful if your workplace, school or university has banned the installation of download managers; FDM can be installed without administrator rights or you can easily create its portable version and avoid the need to install and configure the program on each computer.

Features

• GNU General Public License
• BitTorrent support
• Upload manager: easy way to share your files
• Flash video download - Download video from video sites, such as Youtube, Google Video, etc. The video can then be saved in native .flv format or converted to one of more popular video formats.
• Remote Control -Create new downloads or view the list of active and completed downloads remotely, via the internet.
• Portable mode -If you want to use Free Download Manager on different computers, you can easily create its portable version and avoid the need to install and configure the program on each computer.
• Enhanced audio/video files support
• Absolutely free and 100% safe
• Download acceleration
• Resuming broken downloads
• Smart file management and powerful scheduler
• Adjusting traffic usage
• Site Explorer
• HTML Spider
• Simultaneous downloading from several mirrors
• Zip files partial download
• Active spyware and adware protection through active communication among users

Download:

Download latest version from the official downloads page.

Plugins (For FDM Lite only- if you have full you already have these features)

• Video Conversion plugin (2,56 Mb, setup)
• Bittorrent plugin (1,08 Mb, setup)
• Uploads plugin (448 Kb, setup)
• Languages pack (769 Kb, setup)

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Scene group RELOADED have done it once again. They've managed to release the expansion pack to popular game Command and Conquer 3, four days before its street date. This release is now available on private and public bittorrent trackers across the globe.

Experience a new story that spans 20 years with Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath. From the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the Second Tiberium War through the dramatic events of the Third Tiberium War and beyond. Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath is told through a new set of high- definition live action video sequences starring a celebrity cast. Joe Kucan, the original actor who portrayed the character Kane in Command & Conquer games over the last decade, will reprise his role as the megalomaniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod.

Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath also features a new strategic layer of gameplay that allows you to establish bases, build customised armies, and attack your enemies on a global scale - and then dive into the frenzied tactical combat where your skills as a commander will be tested to the limits. Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath introduces six new sub-factions
and a wealth of new units, structures, and powers to the armies of the Global Defense Initiative, the Brotherhood of Nod, and the enigmatic alien Scrin.

Note: You will need to original game to run this expansion.

Read comments for more information.

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AppzUniverse.org is a private torrent tracker specializing in PC/Mac applications, web templates and tutorials. Being a private tracker, new registrations are usually accepted on an invite only basis. But they have currently opened new signups and anyone who is interested can join without an invite code. At the time of post (10.19PM Sri Lankan Time (+5.30GMT) - 20/3/2008), site reads that there are only 8 more hours to go until signups are closed.

Site Name: AppzUniverse

Signup URL: http://www.appzuniverse.org/signup.php

Categories:

• 3D / Graphics
• 3D / Graphics Training
• Appz Dev Tools
• Appz Dev Training
• Appz Training
• Certification Courses
• Ebooks / Mags
• Hybrid Appz
• Mac Apps
• Mac Updates
• Misc / Other
• Mobility Appz
• Other Op Sys Appz
• PC Apps
• PC Updates
• Photo / Video Appz
• Photo / Video Training
• Web Dev Training
• Web Templates/Addons

You get 5GB free upload credit upon signup.

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Antigua based software developer SlySoft claims to have cracked the copy protection scheme used by Sony's Blu-Ray discs (BD+). The latest version of SlySoft AnyDVD HD now has the capability to copy and backup copy protected High Definition (HD) movies stored in Blu-Ray or HD-DVD discs.

 

Unlike in the case with HD-DVD, Slysoft will not find cracking BD+ to be a one time solution. This is due to the fact that BD+ supports security updates. That means, newer disks will have updated protection against the cracks. But as always, it is safe to assume that updates releases too will be cracked in due time (WGA anyone?), as has happened with almost every copy protection scheme in the world.

Here is what Giancarlo Bettini, SlySoft CEO had to say about his company's breakthrough:

"We are convinced that today's release will give the high-density market new impulse. It remains unclear just what direction this will take. On the one hand, it can give Blu-ray a boost because the end-user has the certainty in knowing now that a backup security copy can also be made from Blu-ray disks protected by BD+. On the other hand, one or more film studios may want to reconsider their withdrawal from HD DVD and Toshiba could also grant the high-density DVD a reprieve. HD DVD certainly deserves a second chance, particularly since HD DVD hardware has obtained a higher market share within the last months than its BD counterpart from SONY. In any event, I wish all those involved a happy Easter from the bottom of my heart."

Entire press release can be found here.

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ESET Smart Security is a tightly integrated solution designed to protect computers from a range of threats. Built on the award-winning ESET NOD32® Antivirus and its powerful ThreatSense® engine, ESET Smart Security provides antispyware, antispam and customized firewall features to protect against viruses, trojans, worms, adware, spyware, phishing, rootkits and other Internet threats. Utilizing ThreatSense — the industry's most advanced heuristics — the window of vulnerability between virus outbreak and signature update is reduced.

Features

• Proactive Protection: award winning ThreatSense technology combines multiple layers of detection protecting you from Internet threats before it is too late. The included antispam and personal firewall features provide you with a total security solution.
• Precise Detection: ESET accurately identifies known and unknown threats. It consistently wins top awards from testing labs and is recognized for having zero false positives.
• Lightweight Design: Smart Security requires less memory and CPU power, allowing your computer to run fast, making more room for games, web browsing, and emailing.
• Fast Scanning Speeds: ESET Smart Security is a highly efficient program ensuring fast file scanning and product updates, while running quietly in the background.

Read comments for more information.

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After some delays, bugs and more fixes, it's finally released to the public. It's supposed to address 500 odd bugs and ass much needed performance enhancements to Vista. According to MS "Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) is an update to Windows Vista that addresses feedback from our customers. In addition to previously released updates, SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing specific reliability, performance, and compatibility issues; supporting new types of hardware; and adding support for several emerging standards,"

SP1 is now being distributed over Windows Update. However you might not see the update just yet as Microsoft are rolling it step by step so their servers and support staff can handle the demand. But if you cant wait, here are the direct download links to standalone versions.

• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for X86-based Systems (KB936330)
• Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x64-based Systems (KB936330

MS has said that SP1 will effectively detect the BIOS emulation cracks most pirates used to activate their copy of Vista. We cannot confirm the accuracy of this claim yet, but some users reportedly had earlier RTM build of SP1 + Paradox BIOS emulation crack with no issues at all.

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VirusTotal is a free online service which scans and reports user uploaded files for malware. Users can upload suspicious files to VirusTotal and the service uses 32 different anti virus engines to scan the file. Once scanning is complete, a detailed report one the scan results (sorted by scan engine) will be shown. This service is extremely useful when you come across dodgy and suspicious looking key generators, cracktros, cracks , etc.

Feature summary

• Free, independent service
• Use of multiple antivirus engines
• Real-time automatic updates of virus signatures
• Detailed results from each antivirus engine
• Real time global statistics

In addition to manual uploading, VirusTotal offers two alternative methods to submit files to the service. You can submit via e-mail or install the context menu integrator for right-click-and-upload facility.

Sending files by email

Create a new message with scan@virustotal.com as destination address of your email.

1. Write SCAN in the Subject field.
2. Attach the file to be scanned. Such file must not exceed 10 MB in size. If the attached file is larger, the system will reject it automatically.
3. You will receive an email with a report of the file analysis. Response time will vary depending on the load of the system at the time of placing your request.

VirusTotal Uploader

Virus Total Uploader (Windows, 80KB, MD5: e75ba68126f3839219949f9bd20e2dab) enables you to directly send files from your system using the context menu.

List of Anti Virus Engines involved

• AhnLab (V3)
• Aladdin (eSafe)
• ALWIL (Avast! Antivirus)
• Authentium (Command Antivirus)
• Avira (AntiVir)
• Bit9 (FileAdvisor)
• Cat Computer Services (Quick Heal)
• ClamAV (ClamAV)
• CA Inc. (Vet)
• Doctor Web, Ltd. (DrWeb)
• Eset Software (ESET NOD32)
• ewido networks (ewido anti-malware)
• Fortinet (Fortinet)
• FRISK Software (F-Prot)
• F-Secure (F-Secure)
• AVG Technologies (AVG)
• Hacksoft (The Hacker)
• Ikarus Software (Ikarus)
• Kaspersky Lab (AVP)
• McAfee (VirusScan)
• Microsoft (Malware Protection)
• Norman (Norman Antivirus)
• Panda Security (Panda Platinum)
• Prevx (Prevx1)
• Rising Antivirus (Rising)
• Secure Computing (Webwasher)
• Softwin (BitDefender)
• Sophos (SAV)
• Sunbelt Software (Antivirus)
• Symantec (Norton Antivirus)
• VirusBlokAda (VBA32)
• VirusBuster (VirusBuster)

This is what happened when we submitted Eicar test file to the service:

The only AV software that did not detect the test file was something called 'FileAdvisor'. Well, sucks to be them .

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Almost all of us use an Anti Virus software. Nowadays the installation of an AV is not a complex task and most of the time can be done in a jiffy. But how can we know if the installation in working properly?

Eicar Anti Malware test file is specially designed for this purpose. First of all, it is not a piece of malware nor is it harmful. It is merely a string of characters which matches to a virus signature in most AV software's database. If your anti virus software detects the file as a virus, then it is functioning correctly. If it does not, it is time to reinstall or repair the current security product or to get a new AV.

Download Links - HTTP

• eicar.com 68 Bytes
• eicar.com.txt 68 Bytes
• eicar_com.zip 184 Bytes
• eicarcom2.zip 308 Bytes

Download Links - SSL

• eicar.com 68 Bytes
• eicar.com.txt 68 Bytes
• eicar_com.zip 184 Bytes
• eicarcom2.zip 308 Bytes

A good AV software (with maximum security features turned on) should detect the file in all instances while one with poor detection capabilities will make less number of detections.

This is how our AV software made the detection for one of the links:

As we said before, the file is harmless.

Go to Eicar Anti Malware Test File homepage.

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It is a well known fact that almost all torrent sites have scene released movies. But the number of dedicated movie trackers is much less. And out of these, only a handful are not insanely hard to get into. Cinamageddon is one such dedicated movie tracker that is currently accepting new members.

Site Name: Cinamageddon

Signup URL: http://cinemageddon.org/signup.php

Description: Dedicated movie tracker which has a growing community. Movie collection includes rare movies as well as new ones. A drawback is that some of the older and less popular movies having low Seeder/Leecher activity (which is common in bit torrent).

Categories:

• Action
• Comedy
• Exploitation
• Gore
• Hidden Gems
• Horror
• Martial Arts
• OST
• Other
• Sci-Fi

Statistics (as of 18/3/2008)

• Registered users 12,440/16,000
• Torrents 8,213
• Seeders 21,776
• Leechers 1,831
• Peers 23,607
• Seeder/Leecher ratio (%) 1189%

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