Open source software (OSS) began as a marketing campaign for free software.^[1] OSS can be defined as computer software for which the human-readable source code is made available under a copyright license (or arrangement such as the public domain) that meets the Open Source Definition. This permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form. It is very often developed in a public, collaborative manner. Open source software is the most prominent example of open source development and often compared to user-generated content.^[2] A report by Standish Group says that adoption of open source has resulted in savings of about $60 billion per year to consumers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software#Open_Source_Definition

I started off this blog with the definition of Open-Source. Below the definition, there is a link to the wikipedia.org page where I got the definition. This page has the history, rules, ideas, etc for what Open-Source truly is and why its around. There are more links below.

I have been interested in ‘Open-Source’ software for awhile now. My interests, to be honest, are to simply save money when looking to acquire a program that does what I need it to do. Granted, some open-source programs aren’t at the level where closed-source programs are. But there are some, such as Fire Fox’s web browser, Songbird’s media player, etc.

I’ve found a few websites, programs, operating systems, office suites, etc that follow the open-source idea. I’ve downloaded or ordered CD’s for programs that I’m interested in. I’ve used them, and I’m completely happy with the outcome. I’ll try to either leave information here or give website links to where you can go to read up and make decisions on your own as to whether or not this is something you are interested in.

I’ve simply become interested in this movement. I’ve found a huge list of programs/software that are comparable to programs/software that you would normally pay hundreds of dollars for in stores or off the internet, but open-source for the most part is free.

Most, not all, open-source programs/software are ‘cross-platform’. Cross-platform, for those who don’t know, means you can download the software and use it on either a Mac computer or a Windows based system. So whatever you are using, take a look and see if there is something you like.

The first link is for a program I just recently downloaded, and I must say, I love it to death. Songbird is a cross-platform media player that can be prettied up like a browser can with ‘Themes’. Changing colors, etc. You can download add-ons to further change the appearance as well. Free to download, free to use. You can even get free streaming internet radio. Currently I’ve got over 150 radio stations. Everything from Christmas music to Country, Rap, Trance, Energy, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and Today. Just to name a few.

The link to Songbird http://getsongbird.com/

This next link is for an entire operating system. An operating system would be Windows XP or Vista, to name a couple of examples. Ubuntu is a free, fully packed operating system similar to what Mac and Windows offers. Ubuntu comes with its own fully operational office suite. It can read and understand Windows Office programs such as Word, Excel, etc. Matter of fact, if you go and update ‘Java’ on your computer, you will get prompted to try ‘Open-Office’ which is the same suite that comes with Ubuntu.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Here are more interesting programs and sites that I’ve bookmarked myself.

http://synfig.org/Main_Page - Two-dimensional animation has long been the domain of proprietary software. That changes with the introduction of Synfig, a free software/open source tool for producing feature-film quality animation with fewer people and resources.

http://www.nch.com.au/index.html - Just about anything dealing with Audio, including a file switcher/changer. For example, changing a .wav file to a .mp3 file. But before downloading, be sure to see if you can use it on your Operating System. Also, some of these programs on this website offer a ‘professional’ version which you do have to pay for. But, even though you are paying for it, you aren’t paying the huge prices that some of the other more mainstream programs cost.

http://www.getmiro.com/ - This little program is very nice. You want free internet tv? Take a look here. You can also save YouTube videos with this!

http://www.getpaint.net/ - You say you cant afford Adobe’s Photoshop Program? Why even try? Go check this site out. And while you are there on the home page, look at all the awards this Windows based program has won! Unlimited Undo’s…there it is, two words. Wow! FREE!

http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php - Any Mac users out there? NeoOffice is a full-featured set of office applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing, and database programs) for Mac OS X. Based on the OpenOffice.org office suite, NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native Mac features and can import, edit, and exchange files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office.
NeoOffice is one of the most stable office suites for Mac OS X. We have created an office suite that is adapted to the unique needs of Mac users by taking the features in Sun Microsystems' OpenOffice.org office suite and adding improvements. Stop by this site and check them out.

http://www.openoffice.org/ - The Windows based Free and Open productivity suite. It does everything Microsoft Office does, including import, edit, and exchange files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office.

http://sourceforge.net/ - You wanna find Open Source programs? Head here First!

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ - Audacity® is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

http://www.gimp.org - GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.

http://imgv.sourceforge.net/ - Imgv is a unique and feature rich Image Viewer. It is released as free software with full source code. Imgv is portable and can run on Windows, Linux, BSD, OSX, and other operating systems.

Features include a GUI that doesn't get in the way of viewing your images, a file browser, slideshows, zooming, rotating, on-the-fly Exif viewing, histograms, fullscreen support, wallpaper setting, the ability to view 4 images on the screen at once, adjustable thumbnail sizes, playlists, view and download images from Web sites, movie playing, file searching/filtering, multiple directory loading, transitional effects, image hiding and more.

http://www.osalt.com/ - This site should be one of the first places you go if you know already what you are looking for. Find open source software alternatives to well-known commercial software! You pick the Commercial software and the site will give you alternatives, that simple!

Why pay ALOT of money for a program when its almost surely out there for free just with a different name and built, most of the time, better. Check out the websites, take a look around and dont be afraid to try something.

Jason
Thanks for listening.