Do you like free fractal generators?

• Fractint
  If you've never heard of fractint, I don't understand - have you been living in a bomb shelter?
  If fractal generators had parents, fractint would be the great grandfather of all the others. (I don't think it is actually the first, but it must be one of them.)
  The best version only exists for dos - so it isn't the most convenient to use.
  As far as I know, fractint is the only free fractal generator with deep zooming ability. It can go in to a fractal up to 2000 decimal places.
  There is a windows version, but it is a few versions behind, and I don't think it is updated anymore. And sadly, there is no deep zoom capability.
  This is a great place to go if you want to learn about fractals.
  
• Xaos
  Something you really need to see. Live fractal zooming.
  Highly recommended. Very easy to use. Not the best for detailed pictures and high iteration, but - LIVE FRACTAL ZOOMING - (and it even works on slow computers).
  The source code is also available if you want it.
  If you like fractals and don't download this program, you should kick yourself.
  
• ChaosPro
  Well designed, easy to use, and it draws fast.
  There isn't much more you can ask of a fractal program.
  Definitely worth downloading.
  
• Fractal Explorer
  Another fine choice.
  Unless you read Russian, I don't think there is help for you. Don't worry, though, it's easy enough to use without it.
  Many people consider this their favorite fractal generator. Download it yourself and see.
  
• Fractal Forge
  I don't know what to say without being too repetetive.
  You should look at fractal forge for yourself - maybe it will be your favorute.
  Go to Fractovia and you will find it (and more fractal generators than you can shake a stick at).
  Unless you are really good at shaking sticks.
• Tierazon29
  Tierazon is very unique in it's design and in the types of images you create with it.
  The design of this program encourages a distinct look that is not what you see elsewhere.
  The interface looks intimidating at first. Don't let the math scare you. If you understand it, great. If you don't, so what - just choose random functions and see what happens.
  One thing Tierazon makes really easy is writing your own formulas. Almost anything you put into it will draw something interesting. If you know a little about fractals, it is helpful - if you don't, maybe you will after you play with it a little. It doesn't really matter though - random formulas might even get you something you wouldn't think of if you knew what to write.
  
• Apophysis
  A flame fractal generator.
  It takes some practice to get really good images, but it is fun to play with from the first time you open it.
  When you start to get it, you can get some interesting organic looking things.
  
• Chaoscope isn't really a fractal generator at all.
  It renders images from 3-d strange attractors, which are related to fractals. It doesn't matter if you know what that means - you can just play around with it.
  It is still an early version - it still needs some work. Particularly the color control. You can always use whatever paint program you have if you can't get the colors you want though.
  Don't let my negative comments mislead you, even with the minor flaws it has now, it is a GREAT program.
  I'm just saying that I can't wait to see what this program becomes when it has some time to mature.
• Fractalus has links to lots of fractal generators, galleries, and general fractonian fun.
  Go see what they have - it's fun.
• Ultra Fractal is not free (it's not expensive either).
  But I have to include it on this list.
  In my opinion anyway, this is the fractal generation king.
  There are a billion or so free programs that let you make fractals, but they are not Ultra Fractal.
  I can't say enough about what makes Ultra Fractal so amazing. No program I have ever seen gives such color control - play with it a little, and you will agree that it the best.
  Did I mention that it color cycles 16 million colors better than most programs can cycle 256 colors?
  You want deep zooming? How about 10000 decimal places? Fractint's ability to go 2000 places is already further than you are likely to go, but 10000 is out of control.
  You can even let a network of computers calculate the same fractal (if you have enough fast computers hooked together, you could even make use of such ridiculous levels of zooming).
  Nothing I say will be enough, you should download the demo to see for yourself.
  ALL HAIL THE KING (I am in no way connected to them, I'm just impressed)
• 
  There are lots of other fractal generators out there, and I'm sure many of them are just as good as the ones I mention here. These are just some that I have used and found to be well made, easy to use, and different enough from each other that you should use them all.
  Do you know of any more that I should look at?
  How about you tell me about them?

Want some free software that doesn't generate fractals?

• NoNags has plenty of it.
  I wouldn't be surprised if they have most of what list here.
  I just list these because I've used them, and I should tell you about them.
• Game maker is just what it sounds like.
  With it, you can make games. You don't need to be able to program, which means it is easy to use. That doesn't limit you as much as I expected it to. The control you have over the games you make allows you to make what you want - not just alter pre-written games.
  Most of the program can be used for free, and to register for full use is very cheap ($10 - I think)
• Don't want to make games? How about SmartMorph?
  Morphing one image into another is fun - right.
  SmartMorph is very easy to use, and it works better than you have any right to expect it to.
• life32 should be listed under "Big important things"
  It's hard to say why cellular automata are important - it just looks like a bunch of flashing dots.
  Self organizing flashing dots.
  Play with it for a while. Think about it for a while
  Maybe you will understand.

Security troubles? Do you wish the internet was less annoying?

• ComputerCops
  Security software, information, and advice.(oh my)
  If you need help, or would like to know more about security issues, it's a good place to start. There's a good chance you won't need to look any further.
  You should be able to find whatever you need there.
• The Proxomitron goes a long way toward making the internet the pleasant experience it was meant to be. And it's free.
  Forget pop-up blockers - This is the best one I know of, but it is waaaaaay more than just a pop-up blocker.
  I have not had any problems with it, and it does everything it claims to do (more than I can possibly tell you). If you're not sure, you probably want this.
  Just remember, it's not a replacement for a firewall.
• Are you using a firewall? You should be.
  Zone Alarm is free for personal use.
  Think you don't need one? You will be shocked at how many times it blocks an attempt to connect to your computer. I'm not saying it will make you completely safe - that's not going to happen. Whatever you do, someone can get around it if they really want to. Still, do you want it to be easy to take over your computer or do you want it to take some effort?
  I guess it's kind of like locking your door. It won't stop someone who really want's to get in, but at least people won't wander around your house just because they see your door open.

What about math? Do you think math is fun?

• Cosma's Home Page.Cosma is just irritable enough to be funny - just smart enough to teach you something you didn't realize you needed to know.
  just go there
• Maybe you would just like to read his random thoughts
  There is a link here from his home page, I just didn't want you to miss it. He's got something interesting to say about more subjects than I care to count.
• Would you say that 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 is a big number?
  HA. Let Matt Hudelson tell what big numbers are.
  This may make you dizzy.

There is a nearly infinite number of things to be said about infinity.
I know that kind of sounds like math but it's different. (sort of... - all right, it's math.)

• Infinite Ink has some stuff worth reading
  If it seems over your head, it probably is. Maybe you should read it anyway.
• Gregory Chaitin has a lot to say.
  And he explains some difficult concepts without making your head explode.
• With a name like everythingforever.com, you might expect them to be wrong.
  On some details, I think they are wrong, but overall, they understand what is going on pretty well. They seem to have elaborated on things I've been rambling on about for years.

How about pictures? Do you like pictures?

• From T.V. shows?
  
• You should go look at Alice Kelley's fractals.
  
• Do you like the taste of fractals? Visit the colour kitchen.
  I don't think they want you to eat the fractals though.
• Want to look for good collections of fractals? Go see fractalus.
  I strongly suggest that you go there. There is much to see, and it is the home of the infinite fractal loop.
  What's that, you ask. It is a group of fractal related sites where you will find more fractals than you have the time to look at (well over 100 sites, some with 100's of fractals).
• Maybe you enjoy Unique Austrailian animals.
  

Here are some Big Important Things that you should see.

• Godzilla is big.
  
• Space exploration is important. And NASA is a good place to find out about it.
  But I think I prefer the JPL site.
  
• Ever seen BooBah? They probably qualify as things.
  Let me just say "boooooOOOOhhHBaaaaaaahhhhHHHHHH"
• Enlightenment is yours when you solve these Zen puzzles.
• Optical Illusions are fun.
  
• The Kingdom of Loathing
  A text based stick figure game may not sound like much fun, but it is.
  It's amazing - it's ridiculous - it's amazulous.
  If you think graphics are what makes a good game, maybe this game's not for you. If you prefer clever game design, you should hurry over and play.

Need something to think about?

• Cellular automata - the game of life.

Everybody loves flashing lights and shiny stuff.

• fractonianFun for everyone

Do you use Macromedia Director? Maybe you will find these sites useful.