If you are not entirely happy with the software that comes with your new iPod (It is on your wish list, isn’t it?), you may want to try Xplay 2.0.11.  It brings the power of the ultimate MP3 player to Windows users. Just plug your Apple iPod into your Windows computer, and XPlay makes it easy to load your MP3 music and other files. If you like, XPlay will automatically synchronize your iPod with your PC music collection when you plug it in, so you are always ready to take your favorite music with you. Thanks to built-in MacDrive technology, XPlay even makes your iPod appear as a normal hard drive, so it’s a great way to take your data files and documents with you anywhere--even with a Macintosh! This updated version adds support for iPods also used with iTunes 4.7, adds Windows Media Player 10 compatibility, and other minor fixes and revisions. 
$29.95
Download

Another program that might interest you is iPod Access for Windows, the premier application for transferring songs from your iPod to your Windows computer. Most iPod transfer utilities must fetch ID3 tag information by opening every music file and fetching information. iPod Access is able to utilize the iPod internal database so that it can display your iPod's contents almost instantly. This includes tag information from protected AAC files that have been purchased from the iTunes Music Store and all Playlist information. With a simplified user interface including song filtering by Artist/Album or Composer/Album, you can find the songs you need to copy and even listen to them directly in the main window. When copying songs, iPod Access can organize them into Artist/Album folders or Composer/Album folders and change the file names if desired. iPod Access can even copy files to PC formatted drives if the "Remove Special Characters" option is checked in the settings.  iPod Access also provides one button full sequential music backups. By pressing "Backup" in the toolbar you can speed up the process of regular backups. iPod Access will by default only copy new songs added to your iPod so you don't have to remember what you have added.   
$10.00
Download

Although our winters are mild in San Antonio, many of us still long for spring and the joy of planting a new garden.  With Living Gardens Screensaver you can have a spring day every day of the year.  It features three amazing garden scenes that will surely remind you of the joy of gardening. This screensaver will randomly select between the English Garden, the Backyard Pond, and the Garden Fountain scenes and take you through the journey of life. The gardens and flowers will appear to bloom and blossom before your eyes. Each scene encompasses lively animations that include birds, butterflies, chipmunks, turtles, and fish. The classical style music and ambient sounds add to the relaxation effects of Living Gardens. You have the option of also turning on or off the sounds and music independently of each other. See if you can find all the hidden animations. 
$14.95
Download

Winter Fun Screensaver 7.2 may also interest you, especially if you have migrated from the northern regions of our country where you were accustomed to a white Christmas.  It features a winter screensaver with vivid 3D and interactive sound effects. Holiday snowflakes transform your computer monitor into a winter wonderland with three-dimensional snowflakes falling from the sky. Windows XP screensaver’s floating spheres and soothing blue waves show what you can do with Windows XP. 
FREE
Download

Likely, you’ll be taking lots of pictures during the Christmas season.  You’ll want to share these with Aunt Millie and Uncle Joe, not to mention Grandad and Maw-maw.  If they are on the information super highway, you are in luck with OurPictures 1.2 which makes the online sharing and printing of digital photos shockingly simple. Families and friends love to share photos, but until now bounced e-mails or long upload times were frustrating. OurPictures users can share one or 100 photos in seconds, with a few simple clicks. Recipients need nothing special on their PC. The printing options include quality prints by mail for 19 cents, prints at your local retailer in just one hour, or prints at home. The simple UI can replace the software bundled with digital cameras or run as a separate tool. Storage and editing features complete the package, which has received favorable ratings from industry editors. 
$19.95
Download

My last offering is perhaps the most important.  Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.05 will keep the spyware gremlins off of your computer. With the ability to scan your RAM, registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components, Ad-aware SE easily can clean your system, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web.  Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition boasts a number of improvements. Extended memory scanning now scans all modules loaded by a process. Scanning uses the all- new CSI (Code Sequence Identification) technology to identify new and unknown variants of known targets. Extended registry scanning now scans registry branches of multiple-user accounts and performs additional smart checks to detect dynamically created references. Scanning speed is noticeably faster, and this version offers an Extended Scanning mode for known and unknown/possible browser hijackers.  I use this one all the time and almost always find bad stuff that needs removing.  Get it, you’ll like it.
FREE
Download