Quick Tip: Five Free Photo Apps for Your PC

With a smart phone in all our pockets, when we shop around for apps with usually neglect our desktop computers. There are tons of apps for PCs. Here’s a selection of great tools for photographers found in the Intel AppUp Center. And they are all free!

Do not be jealous of your friends with portable systems that use apps, you can have your share of apps too. Mac users can find more apps than anyone would care to test. But the apps presented here are for PC, as a PC user it is easier for me to install and try apps created with photographers in mind.

The Intel AppUp Center is the place to go if you want to look for apps. You’ll find tons of apps, thousands that you have to pay for, but many free solutions that will surprise you. Some have become part of my normal workflow.

You should remember that if you’re using Windows Vista you’re out of luck. Since the Windows Vista discontinuation announcement, Windows XP, 7, and 8 are the only operating systems bring supported in the AppUp Center. Vista is absolutely not accepted so if you try to install these apps you’re on your own.

Now that I’ve explained how it works let me say that these apps are all checked by Intel, so they can be downloaded without any problem. Just head to the Intel AppUp center) to find them. Sign up and start searching and downloading all the apps you want or need. Here are a few to get you started.

Ezvid is for Video

Ezvid is free video editing software and an excellent Windows Movie Maker alternative. The program interface looks like a stripped down version of ProShow Producer, my video editor of choice.
With a very easy to use, very modern user interface, Ezvid is optimized for multi-core CPUs, supports most video formats, has automatic image animation and is 100% free. It includes a project manager and has 20 free licensed songs, so you can create sound beds from day one.

Perfect for sharing your memories with friends and family, Ezvid is the easiest video maker in the world. Check it out at http://www.appup.com/developer/ezvid.

PicResize the Easy Way

EasyPicResize is a small app created by Gabriel Ludosanu that does what the name implies: lets you resize multiple pictures through a simple interface that accepts drag and drop. You just need to define the dimensions and other values on the settings panel, click the Start button and go do something else.

With EasyPicResize the tedious and tiresome task of resizing groups of images is a thing of the past. Rest assured that the originals are kept intact. EasyPicResize will not overwrite the original photos, instead it will create a new folder where all the re-sized photos will be saved. Learn more at http://www.appup.com/developer/gabriel-ludosanu.

Freemake Video Converter

Freemake Video Converter is a completely free yet fully-featured video converter. With it you can quickly and easily convert videos to the majority of handheld devices: iPod, iPhone, iPad, Sony PSP, PS2, PS3, BlackBerry, Xbox, Apple TV, Android mobile devices, Smartphones.

The program also lets you rip and burn DVDs. Turn photos and MP3 to slideshows. Edit videos: cut, join, rotate. You can also upload videos, photos, MP3s to YouTube directly without going to access the website.

Freemake Video Converter also supports CUDA technology, providing accelerated video conversion and less CPU usage. Due to the ergonomic and friendly interface, the whole process takes just a few clicks. The program is optimized for netbooks and runs under Windows XP, Vista, 7. It does not have any hidden costs or intrusive advertising. Find out more at http://www.appup.com/developer/freemake.

Foto Frame, a Slideshow App

The market is full of programs that let you have slideshows on your desktop, but I could not leave aside this little free app called Foto Frame, that creates “a frame” on your desktop for you to show your photographs.

It’s a simple photo viewer that lets you choose the images from different sources and create multiple shows, automatically playing photos with customized time interval and music. Give it a try at http://www.appup.com/developer/nano-nino-inc.

FotoOpt, the Filter Factory

I left this app for last because it really is the cherry on top of the cake. This is the Lite version of one app that costs $4.99. But believe me, the version of FotoOpt 2.8.1 Lite is something you should have in your desktop.

Besides giving you a lot of information about your pictures, this app lets you apply filters, a whole boat load of them, to your pictures. It’s so immensely fantastic that I spent a lot of time just playing with the controls. But FotoOpt is more than a box of special effects.

FotoOpt supports filters, actions, brushes, and batchs. The multiple functions let you do what you want to photos, and helps a beginner optimize photos while still being able to surprise and amaze older photographers like me. This is a keeper! See more at http://www.appup.com/developer/fotoopt.

There are far more apps at the Intel AppUp center. From utilities to games, there a lot you’ll be interested in. There are tons of apps for photographers, especially if you’re will to drop a few bucks on them. Have fun with a new tool today!