Download of the Week

HandBrake is one of the most popular free video tools around, offering a powerful way to convert and compress video files. The open-source transcoder supports Windows, macOS, and Linux and can convert almost any video format into widely compatible codecs like H.264, H.265, AV1, MP4, or MKV.

ProtonVPN delivers secure, encrypted browsing with one of the most generous free plans in the VPN space. Built by the privacy-focused team behind Proton Mail, it offers unlimited data, a strict no-logs policy, and open-source apps across major platforms.

Linux 7.0 is officially taking shape with the release of the first release candidate. The new kernel lays the groundwork for upcoming distros like Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora 44, while delivering broad hardware enablement for Intel's next-gen CPUs, AMD Zen 6 and new GPUs, and expanding support for Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. Beyond hardware, Linux 7.0 brings meaningful file system and performance improvements, continued Rust integration, and a long list of under-the-hood optimizations.

Chrome has received a trio of new productivity upgrades on the desktop. The browser's new built-in split view lets you run two tabs side by side without juggling windows, while its PDF viewer can now handle highlights, notes, and even signatures. There's also a new 'Save to Google Drive' option that sends docs to the cloud into a dedicated folder.

TeamSpeak is suddenly back in the spotlight after a wave of users fled Discord over its new age-verification rollout. The voice-chat veteran says demand has spiked so hard that hosting capacity is maxed out in several regions as newcomers pile in looking for a simpler, more private alternative. Download TeamSpeak Classic or TeamSpeak 6 Beta here.

Google has pushed an emergency update for Chrome to close a high-severity zero-day vulnerability that's already being exploited in the wild. The flaw stems from a use-after-free bug in Chrome's CSS font handling and can lead to crashes, rendering issues, or worse.

One of PC gaming's greatest shooters has been given a free second life. Unreal Tournament 2004 is now available at no cost with Epic Games' blessing. The community-led revival preserves everything that made UT2004 a multiplayer legend: lightning-fast gunplay, large vehicle-filled maps, and deep mod support, while adding support for modern operating systems.

PowerFox is one of the few actively maintained browsers still supporting macOS 10.5 Leopard and 10.6 Snow Leopard. Built for both PowerPC and early Intel Macs, it delivers features long thought impossible on these systems, including TLS 1.3 support, up-to-date certificate handling, and regular security fixes.

Discord's new age-verification requirements have pushed some users to explore alternative chat platforms, and Stoat is emerging as a popular option. The open-source app emphasizes privacy and strong user control. Stoat (formerly Revolt) is available on the web, Windows, macOS, and Linux, with an Android beta now rolling out.

YUMI remains a reliable pick for building multi-boot USB drives, especially if you like having control over how your media is set up. The latest release introduces a handy new preparation menu: users can now reserve unformatted space and choose the target filesystem upfront, making it easier to fine-tune a USB stick for specific use cases or future expansion.

ParrotOS is a compelling Linux alternative for users who want strong security features without the bloat. Version 7.0 is a significant upgrade, bringing a reworked backend, a modern KDE Plasma 6 desktop, and a refreshed Echo theme, while keeping the system lean and responsive.

Discord is rolling out age verification worldwide, requiring a face scan or ID for full access starting next month. New and unverified accounts will move to a "teen" setting by default. That means tighter content filters, and safer DM handling with warnings and separate inboxes for messages from unfamiliar users.

VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 focuses on platform updates, adding USB 3.2 support, newer virtual hardware, improved Hyper-V detection, and compatibility with recent Linux releases like Debian 13, Fedora 42, and RHEL 10, plus a new dictTool utility for working with configuration files.

Google has rolled out version 50.0.23 of the Play Store, continuing its steady cadence of under-the-hood updates. As usual, this release focuses on stability and performance rather than flashy new features. You can check your current version under Settings > About in the Play Store app, and if you're behind, you can download the latest build right here.

Rufus remains one of the easiest and most reliable ways to create bootable USB drives. The tool now does a better job cleaning up partitions before formatting, improves SSD detection with long IDs, and includes several important bug fixes. Longtime users continue to praise Rufus for being fast and lightweight.

CapFrameX is a free Windows tool for capturing and analyzing PC gaming performance, with an emphasis on frame times, FPS behavior, and smoothness metrics like 1% and 0.1% lows.

WinRAR 7.20 delivers faster handling of large archives, especially when deleting files or opening ZIPs with massive file counts. The update also enhances automation with smarter archive naming masks, expanded command-line switches, and faster extraction for TAR-based formats.

Notepad++ reports that attackers compromised its former ISP in 2025 and redirected app update traffic to malicious servers without exploiting the editor's code itself – an incident we reported last month. The project has since migrated to a new host and strengthened update verification. Users must manually update to Notepad++ 8.9.1 to receive the latest security fixes.

Calibre 9.1 introduces a new virtual bookshelf view that displays book spines on digital shelves, along with an Edit Book button that lets users jump directly into editing supported ebook formats from their current reading position. The update also brings refinements such as adjustable chat font sizes and updated Kobo compatibility.

ShareX is a popular Windows utility for screenshot capture and screen recording. Version 19.0 introduces a new AI analyze image tool with support for GPT and Gemini. The update also upgrades to FFmpeg 8.0.

After an extensive beta period, Transmission 4.10 improves torrent download performance, expands IPv6 support, and reduces CPU usage. It also includes dozens of refinements across all platforms, keeping the client lightweight, and reliable as longtime users often put it.

Everything is a fast, no-nonsense search utility for Windows that finds files and folders instantly as you type. It builds a lightweight real-time index, stays low on system resources, and is widely praised by users as one of those "can't believe Windows doesn't do this by default" utilities.

PowerToys 0.97.0 focuses on expanding the Command Palette with deeper customization and new built-in extensions. The release also introduces CursorWrap, a new mouse utility aimed at improving navigation on multi-monitor setups.