Mind if we mix things up a bit today? After a considerable amount of searching, I failed to come up with one deal that really blew me away. Thus, I thought we could shift gears and talk about everybody's favorite topic: freebies.

Specifically, free software. There's so much good stuff out there nowadays, it's a wonder anybody buys software at all anymore. Indeed, a true cheapskate will always look for free alternatives to commercial apps.

Some of my freeware favorites include image editor IrfanView, start-up optimizer Soluto, cloud storage utility SugarSync Manager (which works in concert with … Read more

By now you've probably heard about on-demand music service Spotify, which has finally arrived in the U.S. (As CNET's Donald Bell noted in his hands-on coverage of Spotify, "music fans have reason to cheer.") For now, however, it's invitation-only--and invitations have been very slow in coming.

Until now. Good old Coca-Cola is offering free Spotify invitations to anyone willing to supply an e-mail address. And I like the company's little privacy disclaimer:

"As much as Coke loves to share, we will NOT be giving your information to any third parties. Only Spotify … Read more

A couple weeks ago I told you how to get WonderFox DVD Ripper for free. (That offer has since expired, FYI.) Today, the company is back with a new giveaway, a program that's a fine companion to the previous one.

For a limited time, and exclusively for Cheapskate readers, you can get WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro (Windows) for free. The program normally sells for $29.95.

Update: The link appears to be broken, possibly owing to excessive traffic. I'm checking with the developer and will update again when I know more.

Update #2: The link seems … Read more

Surprising revelation: for the last month or so, I've been using a Linux-powered laptop as my primary work machine.

Linux, of course, is the free, open-source alternative to Windows and Mac operating systems. I've fiddled with it from time to time, but never considered it a viable replacement for either one. 

Mind you, I can't abandon Windows altogether. Not only do I write about it for a living, I also rely heavily on certain features and programs not currently available in Linux.

But this much I've learned: If you want to breathe new life into … Read more

Let's continue Unofficial Free-Stuff Week here at the Cheapskate, shall we? (Freebie Tuesday was a big hit, and I hope some of you were able to nab the free iPhone games I posted on Monday.)

From now until July 3, you can get WonderFox DVD Ripper free of charge, no strings attached. Regular price: $39.95.

Just enter your name and e-mail address, then click Send Email. Developer WonderFox Soft promises you'll receive your registration code within 24 hours. (If yours doesn't arrive, be sure to check your spam filter.)

To clarify: when you initially download the program, … Read more

Yesterday's batch of free iPhone games got me in the mood for more free stuff. I mean, even cheap deals cost money, right? Sometimes you just gotta give the credit card a rest.

With that in mind, I've rounded up a handful of freebies for today. Nothing earth-shattering, but some worthwhile stuff to satisfy your daily-deal sweet tooth.

First up, Amazon is offering a free $2 credit for use at its MP3 store. Just click that link and enter code CLOUDMP3. Presto: you've got two bucks to blow on the songs or album of your choice. (If … Read more

What's the only thing better than iPhone games? Free iPhone games, of course! I've rounded up five titles that'll give you hours, days, maybe even weeks of portable fun, and they're all absolutely free.

But not for long. Some of these games are part of short-term promotional giveaways, and I don't know when those promotions will end. My advice: grab them now while they're still free. (I promise all of them were as of this writing.)

Death Rally: Originally $4.99, this top-down racing/shooting/blowing-stuff-up game pays homage to the PC-based original. It'… Read more

If you share your PC with friends, family members, co-workers, the occasional IT guy, etc., there may be files and folders you want to keep private. You know, financial data, company secrets, certain sensitive video files--that kind of thing. (Hey, I'm not here to judge.)

Out of the box, Windows doesn't give you the tools you need to password-protect files and folders. For that, you'll need a third-party utility. Most of them cost anywhere from $30 to $50, but if you're quick with your clicking finger, you can score one absolutely free.

Today only, Giveaway of … Read more

CyberLink PhotoDirector 2011 is the first photo-editing program from the company behind PowerDirector, a top-rated video-editing tool. It's due to go on sale later this month for $99.95.

However, if you're game to be a beta tester and provide a little feedback, you can get PhotoDirector 2011 absolutely free.

To get started, just click the above link, then provide your name and e-mail address. You'll receive instructions for downloading the PhotoDirector 2011 beta. Test-drive the software, then e-mail the feedback form to CyberLink no later than June 20.

By June 30, you'll receive an e-mail … Read more