Download the web’s best-kept secrets

We lift the lid on some of the best content you never knew existed

You love free software, and so do we. That’s why we devote a whole section to it in every issue of Computeractive (see page 18). But what about all that lesser- known stuff you can download? The resources that experts love to use but hate to share, the tools that developers would rather you didn’t know about, and the simulators that let you explore galaxies far, far away. It’s all out there, as we reveal in this Cover Feature. And when getting hold of a program isn’t as straightforward as clicking a familiar Download button, we’ll talk you through the process.

We’ve scoured the internet, looking for genuinely useful downloads that we know you’ll love. Some are hidden features of programs you may already use, but our focus is more on content like ebooks, audiobooks, films and posters.

You’ll find everything from printable board games and 3D printing models to scans of original scripts from your favourite BBC shows and newspapers dating back to the 1800s.

We’ll also show you how to create your very own art collection by printing high-resolution images from famous artists - all for free. And on those sites that won’t let you download, we’ll explain how to take multiple screenshots and seamlessly stitch them together using a little-known tool from Microsoft.

These are our favourites, but we’d love to hear what secret downloads you’ve discovered. Email yours to letters@ computeractive.co.uk and we’ll share the best with your fellow readers.