Download of the Week

DaVinci Resolve 21 beta pushes further into all-in-one territory, adding a dedicated Photo section that allows edition of still images using the same color pipeline that made Resolve a favorite for video. The update leans heavily on AI to speed up everyday work. Early impressions highlight how seamlessly the new tools fit into existing workflows.

OBS Studio 32.1 introduces a redesigned audio mixer with a new default vertical layout, improved controls, and the ability to pin sources for easier management. The update also adds WebRTC simulcast support, alongside enhancements to Studio Mode, source visibility, and plugin management.

PeaZip 11.0 refines one of the most capable free archivers with faster browsing, smoother drag-and-drop across tabs, and a cleaner, more responsive UI. The update also improves scaling, adds flexible icon rendering, and introduces batch archive testing, alongside the usual fixes and cleanup.

Java 26 is here with fresh language features, faster performance, stronger security, and a wave of library and tooling upgrades. Early developer reaction has been upbeat, with many praising Java's steady pace of meaningful improvements.

Nvidia DLSS 4.5 with dynamic frame generation is now available for RTX 50 GPUs using the Nvidia App (enable beta updates). The feature adjusts frame-gen in real time to balance performance and image quality. The update also adds MFG modes of up to 6x, along with beta automatic shader compilation to reduce in-game stutter.

PDFsam Basic is a free, open-source tool for splitting, merging, and organizing PDFs. Version 6.0 adds three compression modes, better support for PDF 2.0 and UTF-8 text, stronger handling for malformed files, and more quality-of-life improvements.

CachyOS is a performance-driven Arch Linux-based distribution that's been grabbing attention lately as more gamers and power users highlight its speed and polished out-of-the-box experience. As Linux gaming continues to gain momentum and become a bigger talking point, CachyOS is increasingly being mentioned as a go-to choice for users who want cutting-edge software without sacrificing responsiveness or control.

AnyDesk is a fast, lightweight remote desktop tool built for low-latency access from virtually anywhere. It stays responsive even on weaker connections and supports file transfers, session recording, and cross-platform use across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Another staff favorite, RustDesk, is also worth checking out.

Kali Linux 2026.1 lands with a fresh look, a Linux 6.18 kernel, and a batch of new pentesting tools – but the standout is a nostalgic BackTrack mode that recreates the classic desktop for longtime users. It's a relatively light release, yet one that blends practical updates with a throwback twist security pros seem to appreciate.

Minecraft's latest "Tiny Takeover" update gives baby mobs a full glow-up, with new models, sounds, and even a Golden Dandelion item that lets you keep them small a little longer. It's a lighter, charm-focused drop, but one players are already embracing for how much personality it adds to everyday gameplay.

Mozilla has released Firefox 149, bringing a new mode for side-by-side browsing, a built-in free VPN with limited rollout, and improved PDF performance thanks to hardware acceleration. The update also adds a share button and enhances security by blocking notifications and known malicious sites by default.

While Microsoft rethinks where they've failed with Windows 11, many users rely on tools like Open Shell, Start11, StartAllBack, and ExplorerPatcher to take back control of the UI. Open Shell remains a free favorite with a customizable Windows 7-style menu, while Start11 and StartAllBack offer more polished tweaks for modern systems. ExplorerPatcher rounds things out as another powerful free option.

Google Chrome 146 fixes 26 security vulnerabilities but with no evidence of active exploitation so far. The update addresses three critical memory-related flaws, along with several high-risk issues impacting components like WebGL and the V8 JavaScript engine.

Affinity's latest update to introduces Light UI for a brighter and cleaner workplace, Convert to Curves to eliminate manual tracing by transforming objects into a fully editable vector curves, and Live Tone Blend Groups which blends layers dynamically and non-destructively.

Popular Photoshop alternative GIMP has been updated to feature non-destructive Link and Vector Layers, an upgraded MyPaint Brush tool, and expanded file format support including SVG export. The update also brings UI and stability improvements.

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.