65 Open Source Downloads That Could Change Your Life

What we found were tools that truly can help you significantly change the way you live or the way you use your computer every day. And as we put the list together, we noticed that a lot of these tools fall into categories that corresponded with some of the most popular New Year's resolutions.

For example, a recent survey by Franklin Covey found that the top New Year's resolution for 2010 was "improve my financial situation." We found a whole host of open source apps that can help you accomplish that goal by creating a budget, managing your portfolio, or even launching your own e-commerce site.

In fact, we found open source apps for most of the most popular resolutions: apps to help you eat better and exercise more, apps to help you stop smoking or break other bad habits, lots of apps to help you get organized and make better use of your time.

We found open source apps that could help you get started in a new hobby, read more, improve your mind, and become more spiritual. And for the (admittedly small) group of people whose New Year's resolution is to try open source for the first time, we assembled a small group of apps for open-source neophytes.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard we looked, we simply couldn't find any open source tools for one of the other most popular New Year's resolutions: improving your love life. So until some creative open source developers come up with an app that can help you find your true love, you'll have to make due with the rest of the tools of our list of 65 open source applications that can change your life.

Download open source apps to:

Page 1: Improve Your Financial Situation, Lose Weight (Diet/Exercise), Stop a Bad Habit

Page 2: Get Organized, Make Better Use of Your Time

Page 3: Start a New Hobby, Learn a New Language, Read More

Page 4: Improve Your Mind, Become More Spiritual, Give Open Source a Try

Improve Your Financial Situation

1. iFreeBudget

One of the simplest budgeting apps available, iFreeBudget offers home and small business users a free alternative to Quicken or MS Money. It stores data in a password-protected, encrypted file, and it generates reports, updates stocks, and does most of the other things you'd expect a personal finance program to do. Operating System: OS Independent

2. jGnash

This java-based, double-entry accounting system tracks budgets, creates pdf reports, prints checks, and imports data from Quicken files. It's fairly robust, but may take a while to figure out if you've never used personal finance software before. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

3. Buddi

The “personal budget software for the rest of us,” Buddi is an excellent option for people who have never used personal financial management software before. It includes helpful tutorials and a QuickStart guide when using it for the first time. Like many of the other options in this category, it also imports data from Quicken and MS Money. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X

4. LightWallet

If you have trouble remembering to save receipts or enter transactions in your budgeting software, LightWallet is for you. This Java-based personal finance package installs on your mobile phone, so you can enter transactions while you're on the go instead of having to remember what you bought when you get back home. Operating System: OS Independent.

5. StockManiac

Manage your own investments? StockManiac incorporates a feed reader/comment system with a stock tracker so that you can track your thoughts about your stocks while you track your stocks. It's not suitable for day trading, but works well for average personal investors. Operating System: OS Independent.

6. JStock

Another portfolio management tool, JStock provides you with near real-time data on 24 world stock markets, in addition to providing you with plenty of reporting and graphing tools. It also allows you to store your data in the cloud so that you can access it online from anywhere. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

7. Market Analysis System

Ready to get really serious about investing? This app tracks a huge number of metrics and analyzes market data, flagging you when certain criteria are met. You can run it on a single PC or in a client/server setup. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

8. PrestaShop

Considering changing your financial system by setting up your own e-commerce site? PrestaShop offers a handy demo tool on its Web site, so that you can see exactly how it works. It's lightweight, fast, and easy to use, even if you've never managed a Web site before. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

9. Magento

Downloaded more than 1.5 million times, Magento calls itself the "world's fastest-growing eCommerce platform." The free community edition offers plenty of features to get you started with a basic site, and the paid enterprise edition adds support and features like strong encryption, gift certificates, enhanced content management and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

10. Zen Cart

Unlike most other e-commerce platforms, ZenCart was designed by actual businesspeople. As a result, it meets the needs of business owners well and includes features like XHTML template system, multiple ad banner controller, newsletter manager, discount coupons, gift certificates, and quantity discounts. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

Lose Weight (Diet/Exercise)

11. iDiet

Trying to decide which diet to try? iDiet makes it easy to compare a lot of different diets, including Atkins, Summer Fresh, The Zone, Body for Life, Jenny Craig, based on nutritional guidelines. Once you pick a diet, the Java-based app helps you set goals and track your progress. Operating System: OS Independent

12. SportsTracker

No matter what sport you participate in (running, cycling, lifting weights, tennis, etc.), SportsTracker can help you track your training plan, type of activity, body weight, time spent exercising, etc. It also integrates with several brands of heart rate monitors, so you can track your heart rate data as well. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X

Stop a Bad Habit

13. QuitCount

Need some motivation to help you stop smoking? Quit Count adds up how much money you've saved and how much time you've added to your life expectancy. Operating System: Linux.

14. No Smoke Counter

Like QuitCount, the No Smoke Counter tracks your money saved by not smoking. However, this version is designed for your smartphone, so you can take it along with you. Operating System: OS Independent.

15. Areca Backup

Even if you don't have a bad health habit, like smoking, you probably have a least one bad computing habit. If you're bad habit is neglecting to back up your files, Areca Backup is for you. It makes it fast and easy to back up and encrypt your files, so you won't have to worry about a hard drive crash. Operating System: Windows, Linux.