14 DAY TRIAL // Have you ever spent hours looking for an application that did that certain something you needed? I know I used to waste a lot of time searching for the fittest program for the job at hand. Of course, you can beat software download websites and use their search engines, or dig deep inside forum threads. One way or another you will find what you are looking for. If there are God detecting softwares, there must be a program that does exactly what you have in mind.
However, even if you choose the above mentioned solutions for getting the program to do what you need there would still be a terrible waste of time. Fortunately, the problem can be solved with another application, based on the many users that employ it for the very same reason as you do. RapidFinder just reached its first version and already has about 1000 users that insert links to softwares, movies, drivers, games, e-books, music, videos, tutorials or photos.
RapidFinder is based on its community as its users are the ones creating the database and making the application stand. The software is absolutely free, but there is also a premium version. The Premium version allows full access to any option available in the interface while the free issue brings a couple of limitations like wait time nag, restricted access to the latest 50 links appended to the database, pending links, today's links, as well as access to the list of the entire community in order to view the links appended by each member.
There is however a way to go from free account to premium one without paying a dime. For this, you have to collect 5000 points. These are gained by providing links, each of them bringing you 20 points. So if my math is correct you will have to provide 250 links in order to earn a life time registration of RapidFinder.
Immediately after installing the application and launching it, you will need to create an account. There is no complication and all there is needed is a username, a password and an email address. As the app does not have too much experience, do expect minor glitches here and there. For instance, you may get a connection error, but this can be solved by downloading appropriate MySQL drivers (the application provides a direct link to their download address).
The looks are nothing much and there is a clear feeling that the developer focused more on the functionality of the program rather than on the interface. It is typical to a search engine, only a bit more elaborated. In the upper part of the screen, there is the toolbar (not all tools are functional in the free version) providing the means to submit your links, view your profile, access favorites folder (premium user only), Search Pro (premium user only), report broken links, manage the messages from the members of the community, link editing (premium user only), program settings (not implemented yet) and view the top 20 of the most productive users.
The main panel is dedicated to searching for what you need. There are 14 categories to choose from, each with a set of sub-categories. Applications, Music and Games categories are the richest of all comprising almost all the subsets you need. The program categories available in RapidFinder include areas like 3D design, antispyware, antivirus, backup, recovery softwares, codecs, converters, databases, firewall, Internet related, network tools, U3 apps, uninstallers, text editors, TV broadcasting, utilities etc.
It covers almost all the sub-categories you need and from what I've seen every sub-domain contains at least a few solutions. Of course, without the support of the users, the database will not enlarge and the application will stagnate.
Out of the four buttons available in Search left side panel only one of them worked (Today's Links) while testing a free account. Pending Links and The 50 Latest Links are restricted in this version but Premium accounts can use them unhindered. When hitting My Links button nothing happened and RapidFinder returned no message. However, testing this in a Premium account everything worked like a charm.
Submitting the links is an easy task. All the fields are already created and you need only to fill them with the name of the application/file, choose its category and subcategory, language and provide some links to downloading it. These fields are mandatory, and if you want to provide more information, you can add a brief info, image and homepage link. Also, if you want the download to be restricted to RapidFinder community you can protect the file with a password.
Favorites folder is a bit problematic in Vista as it does not work right. As soon as you press the Favorites button, a message will tell you that the link is already in the folder. Checking it will result in the software displaying a blank page. On XP, this option seems to work with no issues at all.
All in all, the application is a very good idea and provided the community keeps growing it'll definitely become a very good source of applications, movies, video clips and all sorts of files.
The Good
Installation is smooth and the interface is nothing any user can't handle. You can report broken links, communicate with any user in the community and add links to a favorites folder.
There are many categories, despite the fact that the application is at the beginning of the road.
The Bad
There is no control over past versions of applications. In some cases, there is more than one edition of an application and I imagine that all users are after the latest and the greatest.
Minor glitches like the behavior of Favorites folder in Vista need to be fixed. Lack of a Settings panel though the option is displayed in the interface, also needs a change.
The user cannot configure the application to update automatically whenever a new link is submitted by a user.
Free version has too many restrictions, although this should be a motivation for the users to add new links in order to gain a free premium account.
The Truth
As long as it has a strong community behind it, the application will continue to grow and provide good solutions for its users. It is obvious that RapidFinder is not yet finished, but all in all, it is a good solution for a fast way of fining what you want/need.
However, there is a small community right now (about 1000 users) and you may not find what you're looking for.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
