Suggestions for other programs are welcomed in this thread.
Reply with a link, a short description, and a reason for suggesting it.

Most of these programs are for Windows and free, unless otherwise stated. Some may not work for prior versions of Windows.


The Basics & Downloading Tools

Firefox Web Browser, Free
This is one of the best, if not best browsers there is with tons of optional extensions.

DownThemAll - Firefox Extension, Free
Install this extension into your Firefox browser to mass download web pages that have JPEG links/thumbnails and Imageshack links/thumbnails (must be used with de-imageshack extension)

De-ImageShack Firefox extension, Free Alternative deimageshack-0.5.8 (no banner, credit to Jeb)
Install this extension into your Firefox browser and you will be able to see Imageshack pictures without any ads. Also works in conjunction with DownThemAll to mass download a web page full of imageshack thumbnails and some galleries (Thumbs must link directly to .jpg files). Will NOT work with ImageVenue postings and several other image hosts.

Gallery Grabber by dr_roxxor, Free (Requires .NET Framework though)
A seperate program used to mass download web pages containing ImageVenue, ImageHigh, ImageShack, and PaintedOver thumbnails and links.

Linky - Firefox Extension, Free
Install this extension into your Firefox browser to Open/download/validate links and pictures in tabs or windows.

.NET Framework
Works in conjunction with Windows XP which makes some programs and image uploaders to work.



Uploading Tools

PhotoShare, Free
Used to mass upload to ImageShack.us, ImageVenue.com, MediaUpload.net, PaintedOver.com

ShellUploader, Free (Requires .NET Framework though)
Used within Windows XP explorer to mass upload pics from your drive(s) to Imageshack or Paintedover

ImageBot - Firefox Extension, Free
Allows lets you mass upload your images to a free image hosting service (ImageShack or Photobucket)

ImageShack QuickLoad, free (Requires Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1+ installed though)
Used within Windows XP explorer to upload pics from your drive(s) to Imageshack one-by-one.



Picture Editors, Organization, Viewers, and Converters

IrfanView, Free
A very popular image viewer and editor.

FastStone Photo Resizer, Free
Is a batch image converter / resizer intended to enable users to convert, rename, resize, crop, rotate, change color depth, add text and watermarks to images in a quick and easy batch mode.

PhotoPlus 6, Free
Image and Photo Editing Software

Picasa, Free
Helps you instantly find, edit and share pictures

Image Resizer
This Windows XP PowerToy enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click.

Visipics, Free
Sorts out and deletes Picture duplicates in your drive(s).

Dup Detector, Free
Sorts out and deletes Picture duplicates in your drive(s). Works with Windows 98 as well

XnView, Free
Multimedia viewer, browser and converter.

GThumb, Free
Linux program, you can batch convert, batch rename, you can easily move or copy files to another folder and it has a video player

FastStone Image Viewer, Free
An image browser, converter and editor.

ACDSee, NOT FREE
A powerful program that makes it fast and easy to organize, manage, enhance, and share your photos.



Wallpaper Programs

WebShots, Free
Create customized photo wallpaper and screensavers. Also manages your wallpapers

WallPaper Master, Free
Can automatically change wallpaper in order, in shuffle mode, when windows starts, every x minutes, or randomly according to rating. Automatically updates WP's when new pics are added within designated folder (something other WP programs don't do)



CAPTURE programs

Media Player Classic, Free
Can be used to save caps off of video files

TMPGENC, Free
Can be used to capture every frame within a sequence. More help found here thanks to Veritas

Virtualdub MPEG2, Free, Can be used to capture every frame within a sequence through File> “save image sequence”

PowerDVD, NOT FREE, but comes bundled with many PC DVD players/burners
One of the best programs to capture DVD caps



Avatar Tools

Virtualdub MPEG2, Free
Use this to cut video clips into smaller clips to be used in an animated GIF making program

Animation Shop 3, NOT FREE
Possibly the best Animated GIF Avatar making program. Quickly create new and fun animations and banners with step-by-step wizards, but also has professional-quality effects and transitions.



Video Tools

VLC media player, Free
It supports a large number of multimedia formats, without the need for additional codecs
It is available for almost every OS (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc)


Media Player Classic, Free
Supports most formats if you have the codecs installed like DivX, XviD, AVI, MOV, MPEG1/2, RM. Built-in MPEG2/SVCD/DVD codec. SVCD/CVD switchable subtitle support.

DVD Decrypter v3.5.4.0, Free
Rips most DVD's. Useful to start creating clips from DVD's to either upload later or use for a future animated avatar. (Use IFO mode to rip chapters instead of whole movie)

Virtualdub MPEG2, Free
Used to edit video clips, convert from one codec to another, and numerous other options.

TMPGENC, Free
Used to convert video to varous MPEG formats such as VideoCD, SVCD, and DVD MPEG.

Videora iPod Converter, Free
Converts regular PC video files (avi, mpeg, etc) into the proper Ipod video format.



Codecs (Used to encode or decode video & audio information)

Divx Codec, Free
Used to decode/encode DIVX video files

Xvid Codec, Free
Used to decode/encode XVID video files

K-Lite Codec Pack, Free
Contains K-Lite Codec Pack Full (alot of commonly used codecs), QuickTime Alternative, Real Alternative and BSplayer.

Codec Pack All in 1 6.0.3.0 ,Free
An alternative codec package containing many commonly used codecs.


For more extensive Video Help I advise visiting these sites:
VideoHelp
Doom9

For Image Scanning Tips I advise this site,
Scanning Tips

*I, JT, and Superiorpics are not responsible for anything you download outside of this site.
Alternative deimageshack-0.5.8

Awesome JT...Thanks bud...It's going to take me a while to check these out.I'm sure it will come in useful.

Some good Firefox extensions I use are

NoScript http://www.noscript.net/whats...which just adds another level of protection against Java Script (can be a little annoying until you allow all places you want, but it is easily disabled

and All-In-One Sidebar http://firefox.exxile.net/index.php...which is a sidebar which is quickly hidden and let's you have more of your favorite quick touch buttons at your command <shrugs>...not bad really

Woow thanks JT this will help alot of us out

you was right when you said it was "Something Very different and Useful" thanks mate

Other Helpful Tools

Here's a few things that I use. The link below will take you to the page where you can dl them all. I couldn't hotlink each dl directly, so just look at the right panel for the 2 pieces of software that I recommend.

* Virtual Desktop Manager - Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy.

* Image Resizer - This PowerToy enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click.

Click Me!

If you have one of the video iPods Xilisoft makes a converter to make mpg, avi, ect into videos for use on your iPod. They also make one to convert an entire DVD into an iPod compatable video.

^^^Check "Videora" out instead. It's completely free.

Click Me!

I haven't tried the other Image uploaders but the ImageBot Extension works great if your uploading lots of images.

It even pre-loads the imageshack thumbnail code for forums for you.
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=1174&application=firefox

ImageBot - Firefox Extension, Free
Allows lets you mass upload your images to a free image hosting service (ImageShack or Photobucket)

Absolutely worthwhile!!! tried it today was brilliant 64 images uploaded in under 2 min without hickups

thanks for the suggesting it JT

Videoredo - Free trial http://www.videoredo.com/

Edits mpeg2 videos in seconds no matter what the size. I'd tried various programs and this one was by far the best. It also repairs any damaged sections from dvb mpeg2 streams (tv cards) Also very useful for quickly cutting sections from DVD .vob files

I'd highly recommend this one

Great thread!

Which program does everyone think would be best for getting caps from torrents of TV shows I have?