Microsoft might have actually read the average user’s mind this time. It is now offering DirectX 11 for both Windows 7 and Windows Vista platforms. Last time most of the people didn’t even bothered downloading DirectX 10 cause it was only available with Windows Vista.

The easiest way to download this baby is from the regular Windows Update. The update not only guarantees the DirectX upgrade but also many other improvements.

• Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library – The Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library enables developers to take advantage of the advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging, and printing applications
• Windows Automation API – The Windows Automation API enables accessibility tools and test automations to access the Windows user interface in a consistent way across operating system versions.
• Windows Portable Devices Platform (Vista only) – The Windows Portable Devices Platform supplies the infrastructure to standardize data transfers between an application and a portable device, such as a mobile phone, a digital camera, or a portable media player.
• Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library – The Windows Ribbon and Animation Manager Library contains the following features:Windows Ribbon API, a command framework that enables developers to quickly and easily create rich ribbon experiences in their applications and Windows Animation Manager API, an animation framework for managing the scheduling and execution of user interface element animations

Microsoft Support [Via]

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is one software for those want-to-be and professional photographers. You can enhance and showcase images with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 and its much easier to organise. Here is how you can download it for free.

Some of the new features in the new Lightroom 3 are:

♦ New import handling designed to make importing streamlined and easy

♦ State-of-the-art noise reduction to help you perfect your high ISO shots

♦ Flexible customizable print package creation so your print package layouts are all your own

♦ Watermarking tool that helps you customize and protect your images with ease

♦ Brand new performance architecture, building for the future of growing image libraries

Download Free Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3

Via

Thanks to the all round hype about Google Wave and its awesomeness, developers have diverted their attention towards Wave. You here that Google? When questions like how can we make it better and more useful popup, the developer tends to find some answers. This is one of them.

While Google Wave is still in the beta version with its share of ‘minor’ glitches and bugs, Adobe AIR powered Waver 1.0 is here to save the day.

At a first glance, Waver actually is the iPhone version of the Google Wave. But then you can also use click on text and stuff and it won’t load somethings like buttons and other UI features.

Some of the other features include viewing a list of waves, replying to waves and also managing wave contacts.

Considering my previous experience with other Adobe AIR supported apps like TweetDeck, I am sure Waver is here to stay for a while.

Via

Norton Internet Security 2010 is one of the most used antivirus software on the net. First of all due to its popular tag of the best antivirus there is. And the other factor is the fact that the new Norton takes minimum of system resources and is really efficient.

And here is a way to get a 6 month license key to enjoy the latest Norton Internet Security 2010 for free. Here’s how:

♦ Navigate to this page.

♦ First enter your valid email address.

♦ Next, select any country from the drop down box. And check the following two paragraphs.

♦ Next, click the big yellow button.

♦ Check your mail and then click the activation link sent by Norton. You’ll receive a second mail containing the 6 month valid license key.

♦ That’s it. Enjoy the license key. If you don’t have NIS 2010, download it from any of the mirror sites. After installation is complete, enter the 6 month license key to activate NIS 2010.

You will be asked to setup a Norton account. Enter your mail address and then enter the received password to complete registration and to complete the activation of the 6 month license key for NIS 2010.

via WongSK

iDFX recently released by Power Technology is a software application that enhances or boosts the iPhone/iPod sound. So you can listen to the music in your iPod/iPhone much better and clear. The iDFX is a software accessory for iTunes that allows the tracks transferred to the iPhone to sound as full and rich as the original recordings.

The app is for Windows and installs as an accessory for iTunes. Users can select individual songs or enhance the entire library with a mouse click. The settings of the software also set all tracks to a uniform volume level.The software re-encodes your MP3 and AAC files with a patent-pending method that repairs damage done during the original encoding process.

This software is priced at $39.99.

Via

Google Maps is one of the most useful tools on the web. I actually have used it so many times that everytime I plan to go somewhere, my subconscience redirects me to Google Maps. But what if you don’t have a net connection when you want to view a map badly? Solution: Offline Maps.

You can download and save the section of a map for future use and reference. Offline maps not only downloads maps from Google maps but also Openstreetmap.

Offline Maps also lets you download any tile with the zoom factor and save that particular section of the map. It also lets you receive data from a GPS device and position the device from the points received.

Download Offline Maps

If there’s one thing that irritates me while downloading something really cool from Rapidshare, its the wait time. Since most of the files are split into .zips and .rars, I have to wait 110 minutes for downloading each and every one of them. RapidDowner says otherwise though.

RapidDowner is simple and easy to use. Its a manager that can help you download files without you having to wait. Some of the awesome features include:

♦ ProxyGrabber which is a built-in proxy program to grab open proxies.

♦ Automatic Proxy Search

♦ Proxy Rating systems for faster and quality download

Its simple. Just grab the download link and start downloading while locating other proxies and changing your IP to continue your download.

Download RapidDowner

BitDefender is pretty hot stuff nowadays. Bitdefender, Romania is offering free Bitdefender Internet Security 2009 key for 90 days and this is a chance for you to grab it even if you are out of Romania.

How to get BIS 2009 Key For 90 Days:

1. Navigate to http://www.phpproxy.ro/ and there paste the following URL in the box:

http://www.bitdefender.ro/site/Promotions/treiluni

and click GO.

2. The web page will navigate to the Romanian Bitdefender Promotion web page. Enter your email address and name and then click ‘Trimite’.

3. Next, you will receive a mail telling you have received a Bitdefender Internet Security 2008 product key. The same can be used for BIS 2009.

If you don’t have BIS 2009, you can download them from the following links:

Bitdefender Internet Security 2009 32 bit

Bitdefender Internet Security 2009 64 bit

4. Thats it. During installation just key in the product key you got via email and it will run for the next 90 days.

via WongSK

Been at a never-seen-before birthday party and your friend has captured every moment of it and uploaded it on Facebook/Flickr? Supposing say there are 100 photos, it would take a hell lot of time to download each and every photo. So how do you download them all at one click? Introducing Fotobounce.

Fotobounce has a simple interface and has more to it than just downloading albums from Facebook and Flickr.

It also supports features like face recognition and mobile access to your photos. If you want to view photos you can do so using Fotobounce locally without having to download all of them.

You can also upload photos to Facebook and Flickr right from your desktop by simply right clicking the photos and uploading them. There are lots of uses for Fotobounce some of which you might have already noticed by now.

Fotobounce [via LifeHacker]

System Mechanic has been in this game for years and is probably the best tool to fix up and maintain your computer at all times. Not only does it make your computer fast, it also removes unwanted files off your Windows folder everyday.

The original System Mechanic 9 standard version costs around $40. Here is promotional offer for people to use System Mechanic 9 for the next 6 months absolutely free. Some of the features of the new System Mechanic 9 are:

♦ 19 ways of accelerating your PC.

♦ Recovers RAM memory.

♦ Turns off useless background programs.

♦ Boost internet speed.

Here’s how you get the license for free System Mechanic 9:

♦ Navigate to the Promo Page and click Continue.

♦ Click on Secure Checkout.

♦ Enter the proper details including the email address and click ‘Review Order’, then ‘Continue’.

♦ You will have received a mail for a six month subscription key.

If you do not System Mechanic 9, click here to download.

Well thats about it! Enjoy 6 months of System Mechanic 9.