1. AccessApps

The Scottish JISC Regional Support Centres have put together a package of over 90 free open source assistive applications that can be used from a USB stick on a Windows computer.

The package, called AccessApps, will run without needing to install anything on a computer and provide a range of e-learning solutions to support writing, reading and planning as well as visual and mobility difficulties. The software can be reached from a single portal on the JISC Regional Support Centres' website.

AccessApps includes Open Office which replicates familiar programs such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint as well as software to support reading amd writing.

The package, produced in cooperation with JISC TechDis, also includes visual support software to make reading screens easier, accessible browsers, alternative input tools, multimedia and presentation tools and other utilities.

"The type of software solution required by someone is dictated by their own individual learning support needs," says Craig Mill for the JISC Regional Support Centres.

"Our download section allows you to choose the portable applications which best suit your individual needs and download them in a single application suite.

2. Audacity

Audacity is a free, open source software for recording and editing sounds in Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and other operating systems.

Audacity is also available as a portable app from Portable Apps.

Tags: Audio and Video Editing, Open Source Software

3. FlightGear

The FlightGear flight simulator project is an open-source, multi-platform, cooperative flight simulator development project.

The goal of the FlightGear project is to create a sophisticated flight simulator framework for use in research or academic environments, for the development and pursuit of other interesting flight simulation ideas, and as an end-user application.

FlightGear are developing a sophisticated, open simulation framework that can be expanded and improved upon by anyone interested in contributing.

There are many exciting possibilities for an open, free flight sim. FlightGear hope that this project will be interesting and useful to many people in many areas.

Follow Flightgear simulator (fgfsofficial) on Twitter

Tags: Open Source Software

4. HandBrake

HandBrake is an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded video transcoder, available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.

Tags: Audio and Video Editing, Open Source Software

5. OpenSUSE

OpenSUSE is a powerful and fully functional Linux operating system.

6. Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser whose code is used for some of the Internet's most innovative applications.

Tags: Open Source Software, Web Browsers

7. PortableApps - Portable software for USB drives

Now you can carry your favorite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you. Use them on any Windows computer. All without leaving any personal data behind.

PortableApps provides a truly open platform that works with any hardware you like (USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive, etc). The entire platform is open source built around an open format that any hardware or software provider can use.

The PortableApps suite and platform is free. It contains no spyware. There are no advertisements. It isn't a limited or trial version. There is no additional hardware or software to buy. You don't even have to give out your email address. It's 100% free to use, free to copy and free to share.

8. VideoLAN Movie Creator

VLMC (VideoLAN Movie Creator) is a free video editing software, offering features to realize semi-professional quality movies, but with the aim to stays simple and user-friendly.

Tags: Add-Ins and Plug-Ins, Audio and Video Editing, Open Source Software

9. VLC media player

VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player supporting most audio and video formats (H.264, Ogg, DivX, MKV, TS, MPEG-2, mp3, MPEG-4, aac, ...) from files, physical media (DVDs, VCD, Audio-CD), TV capture cards and many network streaming protocols.

It can also convert media files, transcode and act as a streaming server over unicast or multicast and IPv4 or IPv6. It doesn't need any external codec, program or codec pack to work.

Follow VideoLAN (videolan) on Twitter

Tags: Add-Ins and Plug-Ins, Download Mirror, Media Players and Codecs, Open Source Software

10. 7-Zip

7-Zip is an open source Windows utility for manipulating archives.

Formats 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR are supported fully, other formats can be unpacked.

Tags: Add-ins and Plug-Ins, Open Source Software

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