There is one that I just downloaded 2 days ago and its free too. Its called KGB. You can zip 1gig down to 10megs. Thats what got my attention about it. I use WinRAR Crystal myself.

Even though it would be great for WinZip or WinRAR to advertise there software on this site, I don't see it happening because they have been around for some time now.

In case you haden't noticed, there aren't any exciting compressed file formats. Sure, there are new ones that can get the file freaking small, but they aren't suited for widespread use because they take freaking ages to decompress.

The other reason to use ZIP, which you sort of skipped over, is that unlike a lot of new, "exciting" formats, I don't believe you need to completely decompress the ZIP to remove a single file stored within.

All that said, I use 7-zip. http://www.7-zip.org/ It's completely free and open source. Works just as well as, if not better than, WinZip.

If you need a good zipper, try http://www.securezip.com/ - still on a free individual licence, get it while it's hot!

Zip is NOT an exciting format, since any improvement that remains compatible with traditional zip/unzip is limited, and anything beyond that muddies the water as to just what "zip" means - and just about the only thing going for "good old zip" is the near universal compatibility, as this the small dictionary size and non-solid nature really dates the zip format compared to more powerful ones, though it is still fast compared to most of the superior formats.

Use the trial of winrar which is 40 days or google for the free licenced version given away around xmas time.

I rather they gave winrar as the GAOTD since it can do everything winzip can do and more

y nt use ZipGenius (www.zipgenius.it) or 7-Zip (www.7zip.org) instead?? :)

Please give this program as the GAOTD.