Luckily, there are quite a few open source/free Photoshop Alternatives. Here’s my favourite 5:

1. Paint.Net

Once a replacement for Microsoft’s Paint application, Paint.Net has grown into fully fledged graphics editing suite. I enjoy using it because it is relatively easy to use.

2. Gimp

Probably the most popular Photoshop of the lot, Gimp has grown in features and user base since its release in 1995. I use this with Paint.Net – Mainly for some quick logo designs.

3. Krita

Krita is open source bitmap editing and drawing with the following advanced features: 16-bit image support, High dynamic resolution images, CMYK and even color management. As part of the KOffice suite it added a full features image editing and draw application – including lots of filters for either serious use or just to play around with.

Here is a tutorial on Krita (Using a tablet for drawing)

4. Fotografix

Fotografix has a ridiculously small footprint. It’s a 370Kb download and about 700Kb once extracted. Despite its size, most of the features I rely on in Photoshop are available. Another download link : Click Here

5. Picnik

Picnik is a web based photo editor that has recently taken off due to a partnership with Flickr. It has all the basic features plus a few advanced ones like layers and special effects. It is cross platform since you only need a browser.

Here is a tutorial:

A short explanation of what makes the World Wide Web work: browsers, packets, servers and links.

1. Social Collider

The Social Collider reveals cross-connections between conversations on Twitter.

This experiment explores these possibilities by starting with messages on the microblogging-platform Twitter. One can search for usernames or topics, which are tracked through time and visualized much like the way a particle collider draws pictures of subatomic matter. Posts that didn’t resonate with anyone just connect to the next item in the stream. The ones that did, however, spin off and horizontally link to users or topics who relate to them, either directly or in terms of their content.

2. Browser Talk

Speak into your microphone and through browser personas

3. SmallTalk

it’s the nonsense chatter that we as humans use to fill the spaces in between our meaningful communication. We use small talk to connect with each other, even if it means relating on a one-dimensional basis. Small talk makes it ok to communicate, even when there is nothing really to say

4. DomTris

A great Tetris clone.

5. Ball Droppings

BallDroppings has already been implemented in other languages, you can download it for Mac or Windows here: http://www.balldroppings.com .. it’s a musical playtoy that looks like abstract pong

6. Browser Ball

Open new windows. Throw a beach ball through them. If I tell you it’s less lame than it sounds, will you give it a shot?

7. Ball Pool

Start by shaking the browser, then create new balls (click on empty space), move some others (drag) and reset the screen (double click).

8. Twitch

TWITCH is a series of minimal games within small Chrome windows. How fast can you solve them all? Each game only responds to clicking; mouse position and keyboard are ignored.

Can you stay on the perilous belt? Can you accurately aim the booming cannon? Can you navigate through the electric pyramids? Can you solve the eerie labyrinth?

9. Video and Picture Puzzle

A small experiment in generating puzzles using multiple browser windows and images or Flash-driven video.

10. Google Gravity

“Everything that goes up must come down. But there comes a time when not everything that’s down can come up.”
George Burns couldn’t probably imagine that his quote would eventually also be applied Google’s main page.

Some of these browser based apps can work on Firefox, Safari etc. However, these work best on Chrome. If you haven’t got Chrome yet, get it here: Download Google Chrome

Second place went to The Origin:

The Origin… from Agustin Eguia on Vimeo.

Third Place went to Linux Pub:

No surprises really on the winner. Although I felt Linux Pub deserved at least second place….

Check the video below for a full feature walkthrough.

Here is the creator of BumpTop, Anand Agarawala demoing BumpTop at a TED conference.

Also, check this Twitter video out courtesy of Current.com. Really funny stuff!

With its 5 fascinating eye candy layouts, FoxTab takes the tabbed-browsing experience to a new level.
FoxTab enables grouping, filtering, closing and switching between tabs quickly and easily.

FoxTab is configurable, so you can easily tweek and adjust it to fit
your personal preferences (see more details below under “Advanced Details”).

For launching the FoxTab interactive panel just press Ctrl-Q (customizable) or click on the FoxTab icon located on your browser toolbar.
You can use the mouse wheel and the blue arrows to select your desired tab, or alternatively, use the keyboard Left and Right arrows keys.
With the interactive panel you can also filter tabs using a TextBox by pressing CTRL+F or group pages that were fetched from a common domain.

For quick tab switching press the Ctrl+Tab keys (also customizable) and the FoxTab interface will be displayed immidieatly.
Keep holding the Ctrl key, and press Tab in order to agility switch between the opened tabs of your browser.
(The same as you do with the Alt-Tab keys when switching between windows in Windows XP and Vista)

If you like to switch tabs without launching FoxTab, simply press and release Ctrl+Tab.
The selected tab will be the succeeding tab or the recently used tab (depends on a user-defined preference).

DExposE2 is an Exposé clone that brings the same functionality to Windows XP and Vista.

Switcher is another Exposé clone and is only for Vista. However, this is one of the best Exposé clones I have seen thus far.

SmallWindows was one of the first clones and is now not maintained anymore. Stick with the first two.

Below is a video showing how Switcher works:

The world’s first music video in an Excel Spreadsheet. AC/DC smashes through the corporate firewall with real rock ‘n’ roll. Watch the video playing back as ASCII art in Microsoft Excel! Download http://www.acdcrocks.com/excel