compression

Although it's easy to compress and reconfigure select Microsoft Office files with this useful utility, NXPowerLite's short 10-use demo is on the stingy side.

Still, anyone who can use Windows Explorer can use this tool. The dialog-size interface merely displays a list of files chosen to compress, a pull down menu to choose compression level, and an Optimize execution button. NXPowerLite works on Word, PowerPoint, and Excel file formats since Office 97.

The application offers five compression options from the quick Normal to the slower but more precise High Quality. Also included are a custom set of compression … Read more

This file compression tool offers the convenience of previewing an entire file before extracting it, and it does so free of charge.

Zipeg for Windows has a very simple interface that will appeal to all users. The minimal command buttons allow you to open files, and extract and preview them. There is also an Options button that lets you select the file you would like the program to open by default, and also where to place the destination file. When we opened a compressed file, the file's contents were displayed in the main window. Hovering the mouse over each … Read more

Thanks to its easy-to-use interface, this free file compression tool makes it a snap to unzip files.

The Extractor opens with a panel-style interface that is clear-cut enough for all users to understand. We especially liked the drag-and-drop functionality that let us quickly add ZIP and RAR files. We also like that the user specifies the output file. Once we clicked Go, the program instantly unzipped our file and placed the contents into our designated output folder. Our favorite feature was the Preset option that let us assign a preset task for each output folder after unzipping the file. The … Read more

Novice-friendly but with features for the expert and free archiving tools rarely cover all those bases, but PeaZip and PeaZip Portable hit back-to-back home runs.

Operating PeaZip is as easy as dragging files. Drop a ZIP file on the interface and PeaZip goes into decompression mode. Drop a regular file and it opens the archiving screen. Well-labeled buttons and simple functions make both processes quick and painless. Adding files and folders is also quickly accomplished using function buttons and traditional file browse tools.

Novice users will be able to use default settings to create well-made archives. Experienced users will like … Read more

UPDATED: Clarified the end result of AppCompactor on a standard program.

When you gotta go, advanced users should strongly consider using AppCompactor to stay mobile. Just introduced by John T. Haller of PortableApps, this portable power user's right-hand man crushes program files, often shaving 50 percent off the size of a disk.

AppCompactor melds 7-Zip and UPX to compress and archive DLLs, EXEs, JARs, and other files essential for running any program into a package that doesn't need to be unarchived to run. Programs that have been compacted run smoothly from a flash drive or other on-the-go storage … Read more

This file-compression tool offers all the bells and whistles required by power users, while keeping the program easy enough for novices. Quick Zip's button and pull-down menu helps users by ghosting unavailable commands until they're applicable. The multipane interface makes it easy to see files, folders, and archive properties. An extensive Help manual should give inexperienced users everything needed to be program power users.

Numerous options and methods to use this application means a steep learning curve for those who want to master every feature. However, operating Quick Zip can be as easy as dragging files to the … Read more

Yahoo, which has considerable expertise in maximizing Web site performance, has long offered advice on how to speed up sites up by minimizing photo size. Now it's released a tool to help Web programmers automate the process.

The Web-based tool, called Smush It, can perform multiple operations to shrink graphics file sizes without impairing visual appeal, Chris Heilmann of the Yahoo Developer Network said in a blog post after tool creators Nicole Sullivan and Stoyan Stefanov announced the tool at this week's Ajax Experience conference.

Among the things Smush It can do: convert GIF images to the PNG … Read more

If you're looking for one tool that can handle a myriad of compression methods, from RAR and ZIP to TAR and TGZ and nearly 30 other formats, ALZip just might be for you. In fact, archive format support is ALZip's forte. It'll even open ISO and other CD images. All the usual archive application options are here, as well: context menu additions, password protections, virus scanner integration, and assistance in creating self-extracting archives.

The interface looks modern and is well-designed, with archive contents displayed as icons, in a list, or in a detailed spreadsheet-style grid. There are … Read more

Although it's ancient in Internet years, WinZip is still up and kicking. Among the various improvements and tweaks, the latest upgrade to Version 12 includes one massive reinvigorating feature: the WinZip folks have figured out how to compress JPEGs without sacrificing image quality.

The details on exactly how this is done remain a secret for now, although WinZip has promised to open up its compression algorithms as they've done in the past. On the user end of things, this means that ZIP files containing JPEGs will be more than just bundles of your photos--the archives will actually be … Read more