I love Skype and use it all the time, and I bet lots of you do too. I have to confess that I use the standard laptop + webcam combo most often, but just the other day I was reminded of all the other ways there are of using the service. Did you know you can use Skype on your iPhone? PSP? Your TV?!

Despite the options available, most people use Skype on their home computer. The famous VoIP developers have all angles covered, from Windows to Mac and even Linux. There's even a business version for people who want to use it professionally - and they should. Businesses that advertise online but have no Skype support drive me crazy!

Obviously there's no use limiting such great technology to your home, which is why Skype is also available for iPhone, Windows Mobile and Symbian. Regardless of where you are and what cell phone you're using, there's really no need to miss out on the wonder-app.

I wouldn't be surprised if you already knew about those Skype options - you are technology fans, after all - but what about Skype for your PSP? As long as your PSP is from the 2000 series, and you have a WiFi connection, headphones and a few other bits, you can use Skype as if you were at home. You'll have to set up the service first, but once you do, you'll have another way of calling family and friends for free.

I've saved the best until last - Skype on your TV. Ok,  it's not possible right now, but it will be very soon. Just think - your boy/girlfriend's handsome/pretty face in 48'' HD, or long conversations with your grandmother while relaxing on the sofa - it'll be almost as good as being there in person! Skype are slating this spring for the release of the Skype-enabled TVs and special webcams you'll need, so watch this space!

The moment your friends and relatives learn you work for a software distribution company like Softonic, they immediately assume you know every single program that exists on Earth. And "How do I rip music from my iPod?" is one of those classic questions you're constantly being asked, together with "how to make Windows start up faster" and "I think I have a virus, can you help me?".

But talking about ripping music from your iPod, it's easier than it may seem. All you need your iPod, the USB cable to connect it to your computer and Pod To PC. This app lets you manage the contents of your iPod, as well as transfer any selected tracks from the Apple device to a folder on your computer without any hassle.

After plugging in your iPod to the computer and launching Pod to PC, you'll see the program's main interface with a summary of the iPod's features - pretty much like the iPod screen on iTunes. Click on the Music & Video Track Transfer tab, and you'll see a list of all the contents of your iPod. The list can be sorted in several ways, and the program also includes direct access to the  playlists stored on the iPod and a built-in search tool to locate a given song more easily.

When you've selected all the songs you want to copy from the iPod to the computer, hit the Transfer button. The destination folder for those files - as well as the name they'll be stored with on your hard drive - can be set up in Pod to PC's configuration menu, in Edit > Options.

There's a catch though: Pod to PC is not free, and the trial version only allows you to transfer 10 songs at a time. But $19.95 is a reasonable price to pay, if it allows you to recover all the music from your iPod.

One thing that's always annoyed some people about the iTunes Store is that simply to preview a track, you have to download or open iTunes first to do so. However, Apple have finally seen sense on this issue and decided to allow users to preview tracks in their browsers whether or not they have iTunes installed or open.

You can try for yourself by going to the iTunes top 100 albums charts, selecting the album you'd like to preview and then pressing the play button.

The play button doesn't appear until you hover your mouse cursor next to the track and you still get an annoying prompt to open it in iTunes first but at least you can dismiss it. If you decide that you want to buy a track or album, just click on the "View in iTunes" link on the right.

Previews are performed using QuickTime in 44.1 AAC 300+ kbits/second quality and limited to 30 seconds per track.

Could this be a sign that Apple are willing to move towards a more universally accessible and convenient web-based iTunes rather than a standalone application? It would certainly make sense to do so with all the different mobile devices now on the market which can all browse the net and are thus able to use a browser based iTunes service without having the actual application installed. Apple definitely have to be a little bit more innovative about how they take iTunes forward in the new decade especially in light of the success of other music apps such as Spotify.

We have iTunes, Spotify, Grooveshark... so what else does tunesBag have to offer? tunesBag is a new music storage and sharing service that enables you to upload all your music to 'the cloud' and access it from anywhere in various ways – as long as you have an Internet connection, that is.

Once you've created a user account on the tunesBag website you're ready to start browsing playlists or uploading your own music.  You can create a new account (it's free and takes less than one minute), or use your login credentials for Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, MySpace, Yahoo! or Google. Playlists are either created and shared by other tunesBag users, or generated by the system itself with the latest additions, the top rated songs or the recently played tracks.

In order to upload your own music, you can either use a web-based uploading tool, a special desktop uploader (that must be downloaded and installed on your PC) or even send the songs via email to a personalized tunesBag address.

Windows: When you publish photos on the web you need to be aware of their size to ensure proper loading speed - without giving up on quality. RIOT Portable helps you find the perfect balance between size and quality, allowing you to resize photos while keeping an excellent image quality. And all of this, without even having to install it on your PC!

Mac: You may not know it, but iTunes is not the only tool with which you can manage the contents of your iPod. Yamipod is a great alternative to iTunes, offering you a clean interface and easy-to-use tools to browse the music library on your iPod, check playlists, remove duplicate files and copy MP3 and AAC to and from the iPod.

Mobile: The Holiday season is not the best time for diets, but if for any reason you need to count calories KCal is the app you're looking for. This little handy tool lets you search online food databases to check the calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein and fiber of any particular product you're about to eat. You can keep track of the calories you've taken in so far and also mark certain food as favorite.

Windows: When it comes to voice chats on the web, Skype is definitely the way to go. This awesome app - chosen by three Softonic editors as top of the decade - keeps on improving with every new version. The latest one, Skype 4.2 Beta, features call quality indicator, Google Chrome extension, enhanced support for the Windows 7 taskbar and the ability to transfer calls.

iPhone: If you're growing tired of the default Clock feature on your iPhone and want a new way of waking up then check out Alarm Clock Free. This handy app turns your iPod into a stylish digital clock and alarm. The neon green-on-black clock skin bears a striking resemblance to Night Stand, but this is no bad thing, as it looks good and is easy to see from a distance.

Mac: There are few Mac applications that can compete with VLC Player when it comes to playing video but MPlayerOSX is a very decent attempt to do so. MPlayerOSX impresses by playing virtually any video file type. These include MPEG/VOB, AVI, Ogg/OGM, WMA/WMV, QT/MOV/MP4, RealMedia, Matroska, and many many more. It may be a little rough around the edges in places compared to VLC Player but it's definitely worth a try.

Windows: More and more people work with dual monitor PCs today, and while this can help productivity, it's not always easy to find nice wallpapers wide enough to stretch between them. This pack of 20 Dual-Monitor Wallpapers gives you a wide selection of high quality images to choose from, designed specifically to suit dual monitors.

Mac: If you haven't installed Flip4Mac WMV on your Mac yet then how on Earth have you survived without it? Flip4Mac WMV is an essential collection of QuickTime components that allow you to play, import, and export Windows Media video and audio files on your Mac using your favorite QuickTime-based applications.

iPhone: If you're trying to stir up some Christmas spirit then I recommend you take a look - or rather a listen - at Christmas Sounds. This is a collection of 16 different festive noises and music, all available to play by clicking on an icon. Each icon is decorated with a fun seasonal image that represents the audio hidden behind it.

This week I finally got a CD I ordered online a while ago, but funnily enough, when I arrived home I realized I don't really have anything to play CD anymore – except for my computer. I stopped using audio CD a long time ago, switched to MP3 and never looked back. And now whenever I buy a CD, I immediately rip it to MP3. It's a simple process that hardly takes ten minutes and makes my favorite music much easier to carry around and enjoy!

So, if someday you find yourself in the same situation, here's how to rip audio CD to MP3. I'm using an open source ripping tool called CDex, which works great. All you need to do is insert the CD and wait for CDex to read it and display its contents on the interface.

If CDex doesn't recognize the tracks, you can try to search an online music database for that info. CDex includes a couple of them, plus other ways to find the necessary details for your songs. If nothing of this works, you can always type everything.

Choosing the best 10 applications of the past decade is certainly a hard task - especially if you work as a software editor and test hundreds of them every month! But this experience is precisely what helps us identify outstanding programs right on the spot: programs that are more than just simple lines of code compiled into functional software; they're tools that can improve our lives. Tom and Nick have already selected their Top 10 apps of the decade, so now it's my turn. I've introduced a small variation though: I've included two paid apps (both games) in my list. Being a hopeless gamer, I simply couldn't resist it!

Firefox - Released 2004. Firefox is always the first app I install on any computer. I adopted it as web browser when it was still version 1.5, and never thought about using Internet Explorer again. Though it can be a resource hogger sometimes, the incredible amount of add-ons and themes you can use to customize it makes up for it.

Spotify - Released 2008. It has only been on the market for a year, but Spotify has already changed the way we listen to music. The first time I tried it I was shocked by its ease of use, its quick response - streaming music as if it was on your hard drive! - and above all, its amazing collection of music. Spotify will surely create lots of buzz in the months to come.

Twitter - Launched 2006. I must confess I didn't like Twitter at first, but after using it for some time and making the first Twitter contacts, I quickly saw all the potential in this simple yet great online app. 140-character messages have proved to be enough for social interaction, blog promotion, latest news and event streaming. Impressive!

VLC Media Player - Released 2001. An easy media player with support for ALL those formats (including DVD), subtitles, audio and video effects, all for free? It does look like a dream, doesn't it? Well, it's not: it's VLC Media Player, the best media player out there - especially for video. It's fast, flexible, super-light and very stable. You couldn't ask for more.

Google Maps - Launched 2005. If I had been told ten years ago that one day I'd be able to fly around the whole world, or walk the streets of many important cities as if I was right there, I wouldn't have believed it. But this - and more -  is what Google Maps lets you do, with your own computer, on your standard web browser. Think about it. Ain't that amazing?

Skype - Released 2003. The first time I heard about the possibility to make free phone calls from your PC I was simply amazed. Skype made the dream of thousands of people come true: a great app to keep in touch with your loved ones, no matter how far they are, in a cheap, easy way. Support for video chats in its latest versions have made it even better!

iTunes - Released 2001. I'm not a big fan of iTunes as music player, but I do think it's the best music manager you can find, especially if you own an iPod. Plus the iTunes Store has shown the industry that legal music downloads are possible, and that if you offer good music at a competitive price, people will pay for it - even if they can also get it for free.

World of Warcraft - Released 2004. The release of WoW set a turning point in the history of MMORPGs. This epic adventure has captivated more than 10 million players worldwide in just five years. WoW has not only become an incredible source of revenue for Blizzard, but also a true phenomenon that has gone beyond the limits of videogaming. 'It's not a game, it's a world!'

The Sims - Released 2000. Almost ten years after its release, The Sims is still the best-selling PC game in history: a never-ending story created by the developer of SimCity, and a source of endless expansion packs. The Sims is one of those games you either love or hate, but it deserves to be acknowledged as one of the greatest hits in the gaming industry.

Shazam - Released 2002. The first time I saw this app in action I was truly awestruck: I could finally find out the title and artist of all those unknown songs playing in the radio! I always had Shazam on my iPhone, and I have it now on my Android as well. It's a small great app for a very specific purpose, but I personally think it's simply awesome.

Windows: A good antivirus doesn't necessarily have to be a system resources hogger. With Panda Cloud Antivirus your computer will be protected while keeping its performance intact. This popular antivirus has reached version 1.0 and remains a lightweight, easy security tool that does its job without nagging you with constant updates or desktop notifications.

iPhone: Ever hear a song you like on the radio, on TV or at a party but don't know what it's called? Install Shazam on your iPhone and you can find out. Whenever you hear a tune you dig, simply hold your iPhone's microphone to the speaker. Shortly after, as if by magic details of the song will appear in the Shazam interface, including the name of the song, the singer, and the album it appears on.

Mac: You may have already switched from Safari to Mozilla's Firefox. But are you ready to ditch Mail and try the developer's Thunderbird mail client? Mozilla Thunderbird is Mozilla's award winning and free solution to manage your mail more efficiently. And there are many advantages of switching to it too. Unlike Mail, it can handle virtual identities, create on-the-fly addresses and has one of the best spam filters out there.

So another decade is coming to a close and I think it's safe to say it's been the most exciting one ever for downloads. A top ten list of the past decade reads like a "Who's Who" list of the download scene today. Almost all of the most downloaded apps on Softonic today were released within the past 10 years. During that time, I've converted from a frustrated Windows user to a dedicated Mac fan so here is my selection of apps for both platforms that I think should grace any 2009 Christmas stocking:

Firefox Released 2004: Surely the undisputed number one application of the decade. Ever since I ditched Internet Explorer for Firefox, I've never looked back. The sheer amount of customization possible with Firefox is staggering. From integrated FTP clients to the best bookmarking system out there, Firefox remains an indispensable tool to me.

Skype Released 2003: Before Skype came along talking with friends and family abroad was always costly involving annoying pre-paid calling cards or ludicrously expensive phone bills. Skype came along and changed all of that allowing users to talk for free and eventually, amazingly cheap calls to landlines and nowadays, webcam chats.

VLCPlayer Released 2001: Playing video files always has been, and still is, a pain sometimes due to the huge number of different codecs out there. Gone are the days when you needed several different players to play different types of media thanks to VLCPlayer. If there's a video format out there, chances are VLCPlayer can play it.

uTorrent Released 2004: Before uTorrent, I used eMule for my P2P file sharing needs. But in the search for something faster and more lightweight I discovered uTorrent and have never looked back. Now finally available for Macs too, uTorrent is everything a P2P file sharing client should be and more.

Picasa Released 2000: My photos used to be as organized as a jumbled mess of thumbnails stored in crudely labeled chronological folders. Then Picasa came along (although not until 2009 on Mac) and made browsing through my collection as absolute pleasure. Not only that, it eventually enabled me to instantly upload and share them with friends and family.

Adium Released 2001: There was a time when I had to have different Instant Messenger clients installed in order to chat to different contacts. Adium changed all that by allowing me to bring all of my IM client needs under one lightweight and easy to use application. It's just a shame Windows users can't enjoy it too.

Spotify Released 2008: A relative new kid on the block but what an app this is. I test a lot of applications but the first time I tried Spotify, it was obvious that this was something special. Spotify instantly struck me with its ease of use, the huge range of music available and potential as the future of music distribution.

TVUPlayer Released 2005: While many of the first P2P TV apps consisted of difficult to understand Chinese interfaces and instructions, California based TVUPlayer distinguished itself by not only being easier to use, but filled with hundreds of channels around the world. Now finally available on Mac, it remains my most used P2P TV app.

Google Talk Released 2005: I was an enthusiastic early convert Gmail and so it was no surprise when Google Talk turned out to be just as good. Using a clean interface, tabbed conversations, and crystal clear voice calling, I've used it many times when audio quality on Skype was bad. Just a shame there's no standalone version for Mac yet.

Google Earth Released 2005: Although I don't use it much nowadays, I won't forget the first time I used Google Earth. Suddenly it felt like sophisticated satellite mapping technology was available to anyone, anywhere at the touch of a button. Exploring cities, towns and landscapes around the world was never so much fun and it keeps getting better.

Some of you will no doubt argue there are a few major omissions here such as  iTunes, Windows Live Messenger and LimeWire but for me personally, the decade didn't get any better than any of the above.

iPhone: If you reckon you can do a better job than Dr. Dre at making 50 Cent sound good then prove it by installing this app on your iPhone. The snappily-named 50 Cent "Baby By Me" Sound Lab gives you the chance to remix the rapper's hit single. You don't need to be an experienced music technician, either. The mixing desk consists of a series of icons that represent different tracks (e.g. drums, vocals, bass, etc.).

Windows: Songbird is an open-source music player and organizer with which you can manage, play and discover music. It's free, cross-platform, highly customizable thanks to a wide variety of plug-ins and can be improved and extended by the contribution of its user community. It also works like a web browser, and will collect any MP3s that you find on pages automatically.

Mac: Don't be fooled by the name - Alarm Clock Pro is much more than just a flashy way of getting you out of bed on time. Now updated to version 9.2.2, Alarm Clock Pro is a fully functional organizer and scheduler that aims to ensure you never miss an important date again. As a wake-up alarm, it allows you to configure the tone as anything from an Internet radio station to an MP3 and even a movie or daily task.

If you fancy having a bit of fun next time you use Skype then why not try out a voice-changing app? You'll be able to do all sorts of cool things, from prank-calling your pals as Darth Vader to faking a sore throat in order to get a day off work. There are a number of software tools around that can change your voice in Skype, and none of them are particularly difficult to use.

Skype Voice Changer is a free app that does exactly what its name suggests. Install the application on your PC, open up Skype and agree to the permission request. You'll then be presented with an effects panel that lets you alter your voice. There are a range of presets and you can tweak each of them using the sliders to change various aspects of the sound.

A more comprehensive and easier to use solution is MorphVOX Pro. The program has some really cool preset voices, including a demon, robot, woman, kid and even a dog! You can also apply background noises to your voice as you're talking, such as a shopping mall or a traffic jam (perfect for a call to your boss saying you'll be late for work). Another great thing about MorphVOX Pro is the 'Voice effects' section, where you can apply various filters to your dulcet tones, including nasal, growl, underwater and monotone. All of the presets can be customized using the 'Tweak Voice' control panel. The downside of MorphVOX Pro is that it costs $39.95, although you can try the program free for 30 days.

If you really want state-of-the-art then check out AV Voice Changer. This app is loaded with a multitude of options that let you really fine-tune your fake voice. There are lots of preset voices to make you sound young, old, sexy, patronizing, joyful or sarcastic. The program includes a 'Parady Mixer', which lets you sample celebrities voices before calling people up and pranking them. The tinkering you can do with AV Voice Changer is more akin to a professional audio production app, including a formant morpher (to alter acoustic resonance), voice equalizer and noise reduction settings. The only trouble with AV Voice Changer is the trial is pretty limited, and the program is more expensive than MorphVOX Pro.

If you really want an idea of the fun you can have with voice changers, then you must watch this video of a guy using MorphVOX Pro with some hilarious consequences.

Windows: Having the appropriate codecs is essential in order to be able to play any audio or video format. With K-Lite Codec Pack Mega you can rest assured that you have all the codecs you need on your PC, plus a bunch of interesting related tools. The latest update 5.4.4 includes the most recent versions of a handful of codecs, plus other changes and improvements.

Santa's Run: Being the actual Father Christmas is not a job I would relish, given the amount of work the guy has to put in. However, playing the role of Saint Nick for just a few minutes can be jolly good fun, as Santa's Run proves. The game charges you with the task of delivering presents to children across the planet. You need to throw the presents into the chimneys or doorways, using your finger to flick them in the air.

Mac: Are you frustrated by the inability to use the webcams in MSN Messenger for Mac? aMSN (now updated to version 0.98 1-1) is an alternative to the classic MSN Messenger with more features - including webcam support (but not audio) - yet a more slimline interface. The aMSN developers have delved into the preferences menu, adding extra little features like event alerts and sounds and conferencing support.

Windows: Do you need to convert any audio or video file? Oxelon Media Converter is the perfect tool for the task. This simple app can convert multiple media files simultaneously, and it works surprisingly fast! Oxelon Media Converter supports dozens of formats and is perfectly embedded with Windows Explorer, which enables you to convert files with one click.

iPhone: Halloween is upon us once again, but if you haven't got the money or the inclination to go trick or treating this year then check out Spooky Photo Free. This app allows you to make scary scenes out of your photographs. For example, you could put a zombie into a wedding picture, make bats appear in the sky above your house, or add a menacing pumpkin head onto an image of your dog.

Mac: Keychain on Mac does a pretty good job of managing passwords but once you've tried 1Password you'll probably never look back. If you're tired of making up passwords to access sites or worried that your passwords are not secure enough, it really is invaluable. 1Password creates strong, unique passwords for you, then remembers and restores them all within your web browser.