PC_Tech_Authority_July_2017

FREE SOFTWARE FEATURE
Plex
plex.tv
If you just want to play the odd video file, VLC
will do you fine (see below). For those with
bigger ambitions, Plex is the way to go. It’s a
complete media library system that can stream
movies and music to any device in your house –
or outside of it.
It’s built on a client/server model, so you’ll
need to configure one machine on your home
network as a media server. This might be a PC
or a Mac; alternatively, you can run Plex on a
Linux-based NAS appliance – check the website
to see which brands are supported.
Once this is done, the magic begins. Plex scans
your video and music files and – based on filename
recognition – organises them into a rich visual
library, with preview images, episode information, subtitles and
more, all automatically filled in from free online sources.
You can then browse and play media using either the Plex client
app or a smart web interface. Enable remote access and you can
access your library even when you’re out and about, and if you pay
for the optional Plex Pass you can open it up to friends and family
too, with their own custom playlists and restrictions. It’s like your
own personal Netflix, and it’s completely free.
Sonic Dash
Windows Store
VLC Media Player
videolan.org/vlc
Do you like your games to be simple, colourful and with a hefty dollop of nostalgia?
If so, Sonic Dash is the game for you. Now in its third year on Windows, its
lurid visuals and worlds should put a smile on the face of anyone who fondly
remembers Sega’s ring-collecting blue hedgehog from his beginnings in the
1990s.
But Sonic Dash isn’t just for diehard fans. It takes the tired Temple Run format
and, well, runs with it, fleshing out a flimsy premise with additional content.
This comes in the form of unlockable characters (including Knuckles and Tails),
combos, power-ups and “boss levels” in which you can take on rotund adversary
Doctor Eggman.
As ever with free games, there are a couple of drawbacks. The first is a liberal
smattering of adverts, but most of them can be promptly dismissed after a few
seconds. The second is the looming presence of in-app purchases, which can
become wearing.
Nevertheless, Sonic Dash is ideal for anyone in need of a mindless break – just
don’t blame us if you’re still playing it two hours later…
The grande dame of the free media player
world, VLC Media Player still has the same
aim as when it launched in 2001: to easily
play almost any audio or video format for
free. And it does.
Once set up as your default media player,
bringing VLC Media Player to life is a silkysmooth
process: pop in a DVD, click on a file,
choose a stream or open your webcam and
get started. If you’re playing a video, the
software has a few neat tricks up its sleeve,
such as setting the screen as your wallpaper
so you can continue browsing, custom
bookmarks, automatically saved snapshots
and fun visual effects (our personal
favourite is the trippy “Psychedelic” setting,
which certainly breathed terrifying new life
into Dad’s Army).
Furthermore, the interface is fully
customisable, allowing you to get rid of,
for example, the loop or shuffle button
when playing an album. Moreover, power
users can make the most of VLC Media
Player’s module for batch-converting media
files into a different format, which can
be used alongside Freemake’s software
(see opposite). If that wasn’t enough, the
developers have also thrown in a few treats
for Windows 10 users, including Cortana voice
commands (“Hey Cortana, play Slipknot”) and
Live Tiles.
www.pcandtechauthority.com.au July 2017 35