BitTorrent

• Cross-platform client: Azureus
• Brian’s BitTorrent FAQ

Media Players

Audio

• Windows: Winamp
• Mac OS: iTunes
• GNU/Linux, BSD, etc: XMMS

Video

• Cross-platform: VLC
• GNU/Linux, BSD, etc: MPlayer
• Mac OS: DTV client for internet TV
• Cross-platform: Quicktime

Image Editing

• Cross-platform: GIMP
• Windows: Paint Shop Pro - free trial version

Audio Editing

• Cross-platform: Audacity
• Windows: Acid free trial version
• Windows, Mac OS: Ableton Live free trial version
• Windows98, Mac OS9: ProTools free trial version

Samples

• CCMixter Samples - huge archive of free samples from many genres.
• SynthZone Sample Links - the definite jump-off for sample searching online.

Video Editing

• GNU/Linux: Kino
• GNU/Linux: Cinelerra
• Windows: Vegas Video limited time trial version

Machinima

• Tips from the Bard Noir - a list of helpful tips to keep in mind as you begin your directing career. Aimed at directors who employ the Sims but useful for anyone.
• Sims99 - community site for Sims Machinima directors and fans.
• Red vs. Blue - extremely popular Halo machinima series.
• Machinima entry from Wikipedia with a comprehensive list of external links.

Peer-to-peer

• Windows: Soulseek
• GNU/Linux: Nicotine
• Mac OSX: SoulseeX
• Cross-platform:Limewire
• Windows: eDonkey

Community Building

• Blogger - Easy to use free blogging service.
• Wordpress - highly customizable free/open source blogging software in PHP/MySQL.
• Broadcast Machine - lasily publish, archive, and share huge files on your own internet tv channel.
• Del.icio.us - link sharing and social tagging.
• Myspace - no cost hosting and streaming for your music.
• Gmail - no cost, unlimited storage e-mail.
• Flickr - no cost, unlimited storage photo archives.
• Yousendit - no cost, limited-term hosting for large files.