In working with computers you're bound to hear unusual terms like URL, SMTP, FTP, buffer and many more. You may have heard of "ripping" as well. Despite the sound of the word "ripping" actually refers to copying data. Here's a

definition of ripping in computer terms.

Some

terms used in computers and computing

are a little bit strange. Some of them, like POP and FTP, are acronyms that stand for something. Then there are terms like "ripping" or "burning," which sound like ways to destroy data. Far from it. Here's a tech

definition of "burning."

You've got a bunch of CDs, but you'd like to

have the music on your computer

and mix it up a little. So, all you need to do is "rip" the music from the CD and save it to your computer's hard drive.

CDs are so 1990. Miss Download, AKA Cheryl Poirier, has a simple tool that makes it easy to get your music off the polycarbonate discs that currently hold it and on to your portable audio player. It's called FreeRip and, as the name implies, it's a completely free audio ripper. It can rip to and convert common audio formats like MP3, WMA, WAV and even Vorbis.