WordPress is publishing software, for blogs or websites, with a focus on flexibility. WordPress describe themselves as ‘free’ in many ways. Perhaps it’s ‘ease of use’ may need a little work but WordPress is responsible for an astonishing 70% of all websites online today so this is an application that comes with heavy credentials. Beware, there is a learning curve but with a bit of time and perseverance WordPress proves itself to be one of the most powerful online development tool available.
Media and Development Tools
Weebly is a ‘drag-and-drop’ website builder for those of us who are a little more technically challenged. This web publisher really is easy to use and requires no coding or html knowledge. Take note however that the free version of Weebly will display a small ad in the footer of your site which can be removed when upgrading to the paid versions. With no real learning curve, you can have your site up and running in no time at all.
The free version of WebPlus is one of the most user-friendly and effective web publishing applications available. This software is specifically designed for those with no html, or coding knowledge but with an idea of how they would like their website to look and function. Upgrading to the paid version does unlock quite a few extras but for those just beginning with web creation, the Starter Edition has more than enough to get going with.
Need to resize a photo? change it to black and white? Bring two photos into one? Gimp may be the image editor for you. Often seen as the best free alternative to Photoshop, GIMP does take a little getting used to. This is a tool that allows you to manipulate your photos and pictures for online and off-line use.
Photoscape is yet another image or photo editing tool which is not only free but packed with features. It is still easy to use even though it has a lot to offer which makes it a great choice for beginners. It does come with a view limitations that may be frustratingfor some, so keep this in mind.
This is a straightforward editing tool that allows you to crop and resize your photos as well as eliminate red eye and tweak your pics. You can apply filters and effects to your photos very much like Instagram.
If you would like to share images of your venue or event or perhaps your latest conference, Flickr is one of the world’s most popular photo-sharing sites. Free membership and built in social media sharing capabilities mean that this is an easy to use, convenient and above all, hassle-free application.
Aviary’s is a powerful, customizable photo editor and can be be used across many platforms including as a mobile app or desktop editor. If you are looking for a free but impressive photo-editing software, Aviary might just be for you.
If you would like to to play video or music files in almost any format, VLC media player could be what you’re looking for. This is a free download that is also one of the most flexible and stable media solutions available online.