Our chief editor

Axel Gerken is chief editor for DownloadMix.com, DownloadMix.de, Download-Apps.de und GamesMix.de.

Since years he is in touch with the latest developements in software, freeware & games and has a major overview on all programs at DownloadMix and its partner sites.

Our Reviews

Inpaint

Shareware (19,99 $) | 3.6 MB | Version 5.2

Easily remove unwanted objects from photos.
It often happens that when taking a picture there suddenly and unexpectedly are unwanted objects or persons on the photo. You found a great scene, the lighting conditions are perfect and just when you are pressing the shutter button, an unknown person appears in the middle of the scene. Very often only when doing the post processing, you realize that there is an ugly lamp post in the middle of a beautiful scene. However, there is a great way to edit this kind of photo afterwards and remove unwanted objects. The software program Inpaint has been well-known for years and is specialized in removing unwanted elements from photo easily. I had a closer look at the current version Inpaint 5.2 here.

When I was testing Inpaint, I selected a random picture from my collection that has grown to an impressive size up to now. The photo showed an unwanted part of a fence post. Inpaint opens the photo very quickly. All in all, the program offers four different tools for the selection of objects to be removed. One of them is a marker. This tool works like a virtual pen that allows you to just paint over unwanted parts of a photo. The line width can be customized individually. Then with a click on “Inpaint“ the area that was painted over looks like there has never been a fence post before. That is quite amazing. Another selection tool is the “magic wand”. With a click on an object to be deleted this function automatically selects the colors that are similar to the object that I selected on the photo.

Therefore the entire area with a similar color is being selected. This area can be removed in the same way as described above. Additionally a lasso function and a polygon are available to border the object to be deleted. All selection tools work on the principle that the object is always selected or rather marked in order to almost magically remove the selected area, as if it has never been there. Furthermore, Inpaint provides the option to enlarge the photo or rather the areas you want to remove. Thus there is no need to be close to the screen to precisely select the object. As quickly as you can zoom into a photo you can return to its original size. If a selection is not quite correct, you can of course undo the selection.

Inpaint - main functions / features
* Freehand selection (Lasso) for object selection
* Polygon for object selection
* Removes the selection of already marked areas. With InPaint 5 individual selections can be removed from objects
* The amazing reconstruction algorithm can reconstruct the background of deleted objects even more true to the original now
* Very precise cutting of objects to be removed
* Clearly structured user interface Summary: Although Inpaint can only remove unwanted objects from photos, it provides great quality and offers wonderful tools.

I have to admit that I was rarely so amazed by a program that has only one function that is to remove objects. The Handling of the program could not be easier. Now everyone can remove a fence post from a photo in no time. Inpaint receives a “Highly recommendable” from me and is a free trial is now available on Downloadmix. Axel Gerken
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Ashampoo Photo Commander 11

Shareware (49,99 $) | 158,3 MB | Version 11.0.2

Just everything for your pictures

The ever-increasing number of pictures as well as videos and the growing volume of data on your computer that needs to be saved according to different criteria make an optimum overview of your data more important than ever. The new Ashampoo Photo Commander 11 combines a perfect management with many useful tools for image editing. The all-in-one software solution has always guaranteed comfortable managing and optimization of complete picture and video collections. I had a look at what is new in this version. Read my review on Ashampoo Photo Commander 11 here.

As expected, the new Ashampoo Photo Commander 11 appears in a very elegant design. In the left area folders can be enabled with a check mark to add the photos in them to the management or image editing. After the import the pictures will be shown with a preview image sorted by date in the area on the right. The preset sorting by date and other features can be easily changed. In the middle you can find the new image viewer. Here you can apply changes and settings to a digital photo. All areas can be conveniently dragged with the mouse so that imported areas, e.g. the image viewer, get more space. A selected photo is instantly shown to the new image viewer. By scrolling with the mouse the photo is shown enlarged or made smaller. If the size of the image exceeds the frame of the viewer, a smaller image area will be displayed that shows the current detail in a dotted frame. This can be directly moved to a different position with your mouse. The large photo in the viewer then changes it detail accordingly. That is not only very convenient, but also a lot better than in many free software solutions.

You can display or hide additional image information such as EXIF (e.g. camera data) at the bottom edge. Furthermore, you can also add additional keywords to your photos to better organize them. This way you can search for those keywords in the photo management.

A double-click on the image viewer opens the image editing, another core feature of Ashampoo Photo Commander 11. One of the new features is the Tilt-shift effect. This new effect turns objects on photos into miniatures in a surreal landscape. Functions allow this effect to be precisely customized. With diagonal lines alongside image objects you can define which detail will appear focused and what will appear blurred. I think that is a very interesting effect.

If you are unsure about applying several changes on your photo, I can assure you that there is no need to worry. The new backup automatism creates a backup before saving each time so that you can restore the original photo any time. Furthermore, this version offers you four different modes to remove unwanted (text) objects and scratches on photos. This could for example be an unwanted date or time information on a photo.

More new features of Ashampoo Photo Commander 11:
* Newly integrated backup function to undo changes
* New and powerful image viewer with new optimizing technology
* Apply image effects with pixel precision
* New Tilt-shift tool to create amazing miniature scenes
* Remove unwanted objects or scratches
* Editing 3D images
* Load, save and process Adobe XMP meta information

Summary:
The new Ashampoo Photo Commander 11 offers everything that you will need for your pictures. The excellent photo management gives you the necessary overview and the feature-rich image editing provides many options to improve your pictures, apply effects or create an interesting slideshow. The new Ashampoo Photo Commander receives a “highly recommendable“ from me and a free trial is now available on Downloadmix for you. Axel Gerken
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PASSWORDfighter

Shareware (14,95 €) | 3 MB | Version 1.1.16

A universal password manager

Over the course of time many passwords, license keys and other sensitive information, which have to be kept save, accumulate. Furthermore, I like shopping online, but for safety reasons I use a different password in every shop. Recently Europe’s leading anti-spam software company, SPAMfighter, released PASSWORDfighter - a program to safely store passwords. I had a closer look at their program. Please read my review on the current version of PASSWORDfighter here.

Right after the installation I was asked to enter a universal password. From now on there is only one single password that I will have to remember, because when I enter the universal password, I have access to all passwords that I created. The PASSWORDfighter starts up and shows an overview with different kinds of information such as passwords for online user accounts, app accounts for programs, bookmarks for websites, business cards to automatically fill in online forms and create notes. At first, I was interested in the option to create web user accounts where I cannot only manage the passwords for online portals like Amazon and eBay, but also links for automatic login. Now I can directly out of you PASSWORDfighter login securely to a website with just one click. For this to work perfectly, it is necessary to also install plug-in programs for the Internet browsers that you are using. You can easily create new web accounts with PASSWORDfighter, by registering and then logging in to a website as usual. The PASSWORDfighter then directly asks me to save the login data in the database. Then the new access data will be available in the password manager at the next login to that website.

The password for applications that are installed on the computer can be managed in the app accounts. At the same time PASSWORDfighter is so smart that it provides a list of programs that were already installed on the computer. I find that very convenient.

Furthermore, if you are unsure about choosing a password, you can create a very secure password with the integrated password generator. You do not have to remember that password yourself, but you can very conveniently manage it with this program.

If you also want to access your passwords on the go, you can easily and without any problems save them on a USB flash drive. It is very convenient that with the export of your passwords also a portable version of the PASSWORDfighter is installed on the USB flash drive. Thus all passwords are also available on the go, but still only after entering the universal password.

Functions and advantages of the PASSWORDfighter:
* Automatic logins – Recognizes password protected websites and logs in automatically
* Fill in forms – Fill in online forms safely and accurately with just one click
* Strong passwords – Create and save passwords in an encrypted database
* Safe notes – Keep your credit card data and other sensitive information
* Manages passwords – Groups passwords for a better management
* Encrypts all information – Data is being kept in an AES encrypted database
* Portable – Take your passwords anywhere on a USB flash drive
* Import/export – Import your passwords from Internet browsers and export them to text files or spreadsheets

Summary:
In addition to password management, the new PASSWORDfighter provides the option to save complete login data including links. Thus securely logging in has never been easier. All your account data will by saved securely in a database. The program is convenient as well as easy to use and therefore receives a “highly recommendable” from me. The PASSWORdfigther can be tested for free in a 30-day period and is available in many languages. Axel Gerken
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DateiCommander

Vollversion (19,99 $) | 17.8 MB | Version 14.1

File manager being a tool all-rounder

The days when a file manager only specialized on managing files and folders are long gone. An up-to-date example of a modern file manager is the current version of DateiCommander 14 that is not only customized for Windows 8, but it also offers an extensive tool package and many new functions. I would like to present you the new multi-purpose software by the programmer Christian Lütgens. Read my review on DateiCommander 14 here.

The first impression very often remains. That is not only true for humans, but also for software. The DateiCommander welcomes me with a clearly structured interface that allows me to switch between a classic explorer style, a two-window-interface and a professional search by the means of three tabs. I like that a lot, especially because that is extremely convenient. The currently active window is slightly highlighted and therefore it is easier to navigate on the interface.

Among many handy tools the new DateiCommander also contains a new function to synchronize files and folders. I tested this function today. For the test a connected my external hard drive and selected the folders to be synchronized from the drives on the left. After the selection of a source and target folder, I started the synchronizing function in the toolbar at the top. The newly opened window conveniently copied the source and target folder and then provided extensive options to compare and select. As I tested the synchronization for the first time, I skipped the option to synchronize only new or changed files. In the settings menu I also ticked the box for subdirectories so that those would also be synchronized. With a final click on one-click-synchronization the DateiCommander starts the copying process, as expected. Assuming that you would also have to pay for a synchronization program alone, it is very convenient that this function is already integrated in the DateiCommander.

Another function that I would like to show you is the new ClipboardViewer. The tool saves selected images, texts and file lists on the clipboard. Those are saved and can be later on included in any Windows application or opened via a hotkey. With the ClipboardViewer you can even create and manage several clipboard list. This is a convenient way to use, for example, frequently needed text blocks or even images system wide.

I also like the new quick preview. With a mouse click the DateiCommander you can view a file. That makes it incredibly easy to take a quick look at texts or images, play audio and video files or open an archive.

DateiCommander – New features:
* Clipboard Viewer: Manages your clipboard
* Synchronizing Tool: This tool synchronizes files and folders
* Packer: The Packer supports the formats ZIP, RAR, CAB, ACE and 7-Zip
* Slideshow: Photos can be integrated in a slideshow out of the DateiCommander
* Quick preview: The DateiCommander provides a preview for different file formats at a click of the mouse
* Multi-Renamer tool: Rename multiple files in one go

Summary:
At the second glance I’m still in favour of the DateiCommander and the great first impression still remains. You get a real multi-purpose tool with extensive tools that is very far from a usual file manager. The handling is very easy and convenient and therefore the all-round talent receives an “absolutely recommendable” from me. The current version is available for download and can be tested free for up to 60 days. Enjoy your own trial of the DateiCommander. Axel Gerken.
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Audials Tunebite Platinum

Shareware (39,90 $) | 75 MB | Version 10.2.19305

Smart music and video recorder

Today I would like to introduce you to a program that can record all music or video streams on your computer. The program called Audials Tunebite is a classic streaming recorder. When it comes to legal recording of music, movies and DVDs, Audials Tunebite has been well-known for years. The platinum edition can also convert recordings so that you can even enjoy movies and songs on mobile devices. Read my review on Audials Tunebite 10 here.

The streaming recorder starts up with an elegant, dark design. If you would like to change the colors, you can use the menu “color scheme“ on the right-hand side. I wanted to record a video that I have seen on YouTube. I just had to select the function „Record video“ in Audials Tunebite. In the next step I had to define from which source I wanted to record and selected YouTube with just one click. In my Internet browser a small window appeared on the top right and I could start or stop the recording there. After the video ended, I stopped the recording with another click. Then Tunebite asked me, if liked to save my recording. I confirmed that and then the video was directly available on my computer. Then I could also decide whether I wanted to convert the video to watch on my mobile. All recordings are available in the integrated library from where they can be played or converted later on. Furthermore, Audials offers two more options to record videos. Audials Tunebite 10 also allows you to enable the option to record videos directly from on-demand services or online media libraries. It records all kinds of video resources, such as online videos, HD movies, media libraries, online rentals and DVD, of course.

During the age of tablet PCs and other netbooks one function of Audials Tunebite really proofs to be import. It allows you to quickly make your own DVDs available on tablet PCs and netbooks. Very often tablet PCs such as Apple iPads, netbooks and other mobile devices are unable to play movies directly from a DVD. Audials Tunebite allows you to directly read unprotected DVDs or re-record copies of protected DVDs without quality loss for your achieve and in the right video format to convert it for all devices. Here the software developer already supports clouds (Amazon, Telekom and Strato are already pre-configured). Therefore, the videos are available to play on all devices after an initial upload.

Features of Audials Tunebite:
* Record music from websites
* Record music from subscriptions and streams
* Convert audio books into different file formats
* Mini audio studio tool for postproduction
* Copy movies from DVD
* Record movies/TV shows from video portals
* Download Internet videos
* Convert audio files for PC and mobile devices
* Organize music libraries and add tags and lyrics
* Load media on smart phones and mobile devices
* Save digital media in clouds
* Play music, videos and movies

Summary:
It is the perfect program to record anything that is played on the computer. Many conversion functions and the option to upload recorded music or movies into different clouds are very useful. If you would like to search and record music from a large number of Internet radios in addition to conversion and recording functions, I would recommend Audials One to you. This might not be interesting for anyone, therefore the differentiation makes sense. Audials Tunebite receives a “highly recommendable” from me and is available to try for free on DownloadMix.com. Axel Gerken
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