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Freeware Reviews - Nov/Dec 1998 |
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| Magic Mail Monitor v2.52 [58k]
W9x/NT FREE
Want another great way to access messages sitting in your e-mailbox without downloading them first? This "magical" program handles an unlimited number of accounts, sports a familiar Explorer-like interface, has message header preview functionality, allows you to perform "quick" replies, sends, deletes, and views... and if that doesn't sell ya, the program takes up less space than your average BMP file. This is one bit of magic that everybody should know--there's nothing tricky about it. TClockEx v1.3 [388k] W9x/NT FREE I admit it... I wanted to look at this program a few weeks ago, but didn't get around to it. I assumed it was another "silly" clock program--but I couldn't have been MORE wrong! This is exactly what Microsoft should have done with their System Tray clock! You can configure what data shows up in the Tray (and ToolTip) as well as how it appears: day, month, year, minute, second, week, time zone... even display basic system resources. Everything imaginable is configurable to your liking. I can't think of any reason you wouldn't want to use this. Two o'clock thumbs up!MP3 Extension v3.0 Beta 4 [105k] W9x/NT FREE Has the MP3 bug bitten you yet? The format seems to be sweeping the world off its feet quicker than the Spice Girls. If you have a handful of MP3 files already sitting on your hard drive, then this add-on is right up your alley. MP3 Extension will add an additional page to the properties for your MP3 files so that you can see and edit the info for them (including ID3 information). View play length, bit rate, sample-frequency, layer, mode, and other "background" details. Too easy, too cool!MySpace v1.0 [1.4M] W9x FREE Sometimes I'll look at a monitor and see so much wasted space around the edges. Well, along came The Pixel Company, and they created an application that will actually run in that blank space that you might see at the bottom of your screen. In the MySpace bar, you'll have quick access to various utilities (web searches, stock quotes, CD player, etc.) in an area that would have otherwise gone unused. This application should work "normally" with most video cards, but there are a few which won't (listed at the site). It's still a killer idea!MiniApps V1.3 [950k] W9x/NT FREE Everybody needs utilities for their system. Sorry, but 'calc' and 'charmap' just won't cut it nowadays. I suppose that's why this VB5 programmer decided to throw together twenty-four "mini apps" and hand them to you on a silver platter. I'd waste space by listing them all here, so be sure to check out the page for mini-explanations. My favorites: SubInfo & BlockIt. I'm sure you can find at least one among the 24 that you really like. And if not, then swing by the author's site and check out his other downloads (not all free).Copernic 98 v2.51 [2.1M] W9x/NT FREE Along comes another searching utility--but this one is truly a winner. Copernic will search the "top" search engines & directories then collect the results, remove the duplicates, and "score" each match. There are different "channels" that you can use which will access search engines specific to that topic (movies, music, sports, kids, jobs, etc.). The freeware version is limited only to searching the web, newsgroups, and for e-mails, but that's enough to show you why Copernic is golden.IconShop v1.01 [40k] W9x/NT FREE There is NO OTHER product like this one available--I've looked high (and low). If you like Windows icons, and you're looking for better replacements, now you can check out ANY GIVEN Macintosh one on your PC. Of course, you'll need separate utilities (BinHex, StuffIt, etc.) to get the icons out of their compressed state. But once you've done that--you'll see why most Mac icons are much BETTER looking than PC ones.NFODIZ v4.0 [473k] W9x/NT FREE Downloading monsters are everywhere. Look around you--there's probably one behind you right now. Or, perhaps you're a downloading monster? That is to say, you'd rather download something from the Internet than spend a quiet evening with your soul mate on the shores of some uncharted desert isle. Quit dreaming, Gilligan, and figure out what kind of program is contained inside a ZIP archive. Have you ever seen those FILE_ID.DIZ or "NFO" files when you're looking inside a ZIP file? They're typically text files that provide clear-cut information about the program they're bundled with. So, if there's no README.TXT file (or you just want a quick synopsis of the archive's contents), this viewer will allow you to view DIZ & NFO files perfectly--especially if there's ASCII Art involved!CallCenter v3.5.7.5 [5.5M] W9x/NT FREE I always call, but nobody's ever home. Why doesn't anyone bother to pick up anymore? Perhaps they're stuck using outdated software to help manage communications via their PC. They should probably look into downloading CallCenter. Here's a program with a great user interface that (when working with the correct type of modem) gives you answering machine functionality (single mailbox) on top of faxing capabilities. It even supports voice record & playback from a telephone handset (just like the classic answering machine). If you find that you demand more out of a software communications package, then be sure to check out it's big brother: CallCenter Pro (available for purchase at the site). Now, if only I could convince people to LEAVE a message when they call me...SiteChecker v1.2.5 [5.3M] W9x/NT FREE Who among us doesn't like to know more than the average Joe? I didn't think so. More information is (typically) a good thing. Here's a simple program that allows you gather more information on websites. You'll be able to verify the existence of files referenced within host HTML files, find unused files & discover the size of files on the host, and uncover invalid references within host HTML files. You can even locate duplicate files on a host! I can't believe that something like this even exists, but I'm sure it could come in handy (especially if you're cleaning house on your own site). It's pretty darn configurable, and the author appears to be intent on delivering new revisions on a regular basis. Another great tool for we (remote) web developers!Rename It v1.1 [581k] W9x FREE You have to admit, Windows 9x is easier to use than DOS. Well, unless you're a command line user who really loves his (or her) command line utilities. The rest of us, however, have to cope with the myriad of Windows downfalls. One of the "things" that was missing from W9x was the ability to rename files quickly and easily... from changing registered file extensions (when they're hidden from view) all the way to renaming a number of files sequentially. Here's one program that'll "do it" for you. I really can't suggest using any other program at this point--this one is free, fast, powerful, & complete. If you know how to drag & drop, you'll know how to use Rename It!Abstractamation Mcatis v1.1 [244k] W9x/NT FREE Before the name scares you away, understand that this is a program for any HTML coder. That is to say, if you design or create web pages, then you're in need of this utility. No doubt you've heard of META tags before? Yes, they're strange little (hidden) tags put at the top of HTML documents which supposedly will get you more hits from certain search engines (if done correctly). There are a thousand and one META tag editors out there, but this, by far, is the most complete one I've ever used. Abstractamation Mcatis takes the guesswork out of formatting the META tags correctly (rather, with the proper syntax). It even showed me a couple of possibilities that I had never seen before! The title sounds like gibberish, but the program is definitely NOT.Bill Checklist v1.08a [2.0M] W9x/NT FREE After the wedding came the bills. And, oh... did the bills ever come. Then we got a phone call from some place in New Jersey that told us we still owed them a few hundred bucks for something we purchased back in June (no joke). And then I found out that some other place (and some other billing company) had been sending invoices to the wrong address--somewhere in Colorado!? If I had some easy way to manage our bills, perhaps I could keep track of things a bit more easily. Enter Bill Checklist. And no, it's not for checking to see if Bill Gates is online. Rather, you can enter all your "bill" information (ya know, the things that come once a month) and keep track of it on your PC. It even has multiple user support! No charge...SendTo FTP v1.2 [483k] W9x/NT FREE And the SendTo Folder tips keep on comin'! You should know (by now) that you can throw shortcuts into your SendTo Folder to make it easier to manage files. I've covered them in recent issues. Just click on Start, type "SendTo" (without the quotes), then put shortcuts to commonly accessed programs, folders, drives, peripherals, etc.. Here's a program that will help you manage FTP sites within your SendTo folder--this is especially cool for people who work on web stuff remotely. While it's somewhat limited (not like a full-fledged FTP client), it's quick and easy to use. And, it should give you great ideas about what else you can do with that "already existing" menu. Remember, to access the SendTo menu, right click on any file or folder.Multilingual Speaking Clock v1.2 [386k] W9x/NT FREE One of the funniest moments in Star Trek "history" is when Scotty tried to talk to the computer in "The Voyage Home"; he picked up the mouse and spoke into it. Speech recognition has come a long way since that movie was released, but what about computers talking back to us? Yes, there are great programs out there that'll do that--but in how many languages? If you don't want to bother watching the clock to know when a certain time has passed, consider picking up this gem. Not only will it tell you the time in English, but also Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish! The user interface is superb, too. Download the different language modules from the site--a truly international experience!Hotfix Control v1.1 [228k] NT4 FREE WindowsUpdate, you gotta admit, is a pretty cool thing to have in Windows 98. It allows you to download the latest versions of applications, drivers, and bug fixes. So you don't have to worry about not having the latest version of anything. Windows NT users: listen up! Do you need to keep track of which hotfixes are applied, and when they were applied to a system? The information is already there, although not readily accessible. This program gathers that information (along with the filenames which are affected) into a list, and let's you view it quickly & easily. It'll even work with any computer on your network! You can also uninstall any hotfix, as well as open the closest-related Microsoft Knowledge Base article for it. Tell me that's not cool?CmdUtils v1.2 [65k] W9x/NT FREE Tradition states that I must feature "cool" command line utilities every once in a while. Luckily, I've found a few outstanding ones lately. Keep in mind, these are programs that are to be launched at a command prompt within Windows. This collection has "Recycle" (which sends files to the recycle bin instead of deleting them), "PropsFor" (which displays the shell Properties dialog for files, folders, or drives), "Context" (which displays the "right-click" menu for the specified file), and "FixP" (which fixes the command line prompt under Windows NT after you've run a 16-bit application). Novice users probably won't get much from these (or any command line-related) utilities. Still, they couldn't hurt to have in your path!HotMail Express v1.13 [292k] W9x/NT4 FREE Who doesn't have a Hotmail account? They're perfect for those of us who only have web access, or who are oftentimes on the road sans laptop. Beyond that, they make great secondary accounts when your primary account might not be working (how else are you going to quickly contact someone if your main POP3 account isn't functioning properly?). Lockergnome Daily HTML issues show up perfectly in Hotmail, too. But doesn't it seem like Hotmail is getting slower and slower? You have to wait "forever" for the graphics and everything to load... ugh. With this "beta" program, however, you can use just about any popular e-mail clients to check your Hotmail account! Don't worry, you can still access your web account after using this software. Hot!WinBoost 98 v1.21 [1.2M] W9x US$15 Let me start out by saying that this program is far from perfect (the UI is a bit cluttered, it isn't easy to cancel out your changes, and it bashes previous tweaks when first run). However, it still does SO MUCH MORE than any other Windows 9x tweaking program I've ever seen that I'm more than happy to pass the URL along to you. You can change settings in Windows (and DOS) that you never thought possible... even change the names of items in the Start Menu (as well as the Start Button caption). This is exactly what TweakUI should have been--that's for sure. You can enhance and manipulate the Desktop, Explorer, your Internet settings, and more! Tweakers aren't true tweakers until they've tried this.Super Coder v2.0 [44k] W9x/NT FREE Getting a message from point A to point B typically isn't a problem--but making sure that nobody else (in between) can read that message might prove to be difficult. Encryption is the answer. If you've got a simple (secretive) text file to transmit, use this program to "code" it. Of course, you better make sure that your friend on the other end has the same program so that s/he may decode the message. Or, you could simply use this program to encode text files stored on your hard drive. Without the key, nobody can get in.Kleptomania v1.0 [250k] W9x/NT US$20 Stealing stuff isn't right. If someone called me a "kleptomaniac" before today, I would have been very offended. However, if someone calls me that now, I'll proudly show them that I have been stricken with Kleptomania. This unique "capture" program will copy text that can't normally be copied to the clipboard: text from menus, dialog & message boxes, status lines, lists, etc.. As long as you're copying text that's using a registered font, this thing actually works (and very well). I suppose it's okay to "take" this download--it would be a crime not to do so.TweakJr 99 v1.0 [238k] W9x FREE You're probably thinking: oh great, another tweaking tool. Though in many ways, this one unites other tweaking tools that I've seen (including the ones which come with Windows 9x). Tweak the "startup" programs, the Windows interface, miscellaneous security settings, etc.. Remember those special Start Menu folders I featured in the GnomeTIPS section a few months ago? This program will create those folders automatically (and so much more). Free registration is available at the author's site.PrintFolder v1.0 [455k] W9x/NT FREE A computer without a printer is like a car without a radio. Sure, it'll work, but the experience isn't quite as fun. Think of all those things you can print: web pages, documents, Christmas cards, etc.. But what about printing the contents of your folders? There are roundabout ways of doing this, but why go through the extra work when this freebie will do it for you? Select any folder and PrintFolder will print a list of the files within it (and their details). Other freebies are available for download at the author's website.PowerZIP v4.5 [1.2M] W9x FREE Compressed files (ZIP, RAR, CAB, etc.) are as common on the Internet as links to Yahoo.com. But what can you use to extract files from those archives? Better yet, what can you recommend for others to use that won't cost them a cent? Check out PowerZIP... it has a familiar interface, and while it isn't quite as configurable and extensive as other "ZIP" programs, it works well. PowerZIP even has shell extensions to make archive extraction even easier, and you can create self-extracting archives with it, too. Very powerful indeed!TopIt! v5.00 [923k] W9x/NT FREE For most our lives, we struggle to make it to the top. At least, here in Iowa we do. And yes, we have more things to do than just plant corn. Anyway, getting to the top isn't an easy task. With this program, however, you can put & keep any program "on top" of any other running programs. This is a godsend, especially if you have to flip back and forth between applications all the time (which essentially wastes time). I'd suggest putting the smaller windows "on top" and keeping the larger ones "as is".Real Player G2 Final [2.8M] W9x/NT FREE Get Real. No, seriously. I mean: get Real! They've released their final version of G2--which, might I add, is pretty darn decent. If you surf the Internet, you NEED to have this player (which is the main reason why I'm mentioning it). Even though you have an older version (including all previous Real Audio Player betas), now is the time to upgrade to G2. It's more functional (than previous versions), streams media better, and... well... what else can you use to listen to Lockergnome's Daily Defrag? Nope, don't try it with Windows Media Player--right now, we're not supporting that format. Haven't listened to the Daily Defrag yet? Why not? Now you should have no excuse. And I even threw Lockergnome's Christmas Song URL in here just for fun.DOWNLOAD VISIT SITE VISIT SITE Directory Snoop v2.1 [336k] W9x FREE Mind your own business. But even if you don't have your own business, you should still use your mind. Just don't use your mind on other people's stuff. Snooping around isn't a great hobby to get into. Especially if your friends have things to hide from you. "So that's where my cheese grater went!" Now, it's perfectly safe to snoop through your own stuff--your hard drive, in particular. Sure, the Explorer works okay for file management, but what if you want to know the details about low level disk structure and activity? This particular version works on uncompressed FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32 volumes. Advanced users can map files & directories, undelete files, and basically gather more information about the contents on their drives!72 Hour Emergency Preparedness v1.1 [1.1M] W9x/NT FREE I want every single one of you to be safe. But sometimes we forget how to be safe--or we might not even know if we're as safe as we could possibly be. Of course, this potentially applies to both you and the rest of your immediate and/or extended families. With this program, you can MAKE SURE you're prepared for potential disasters. Typically, after a disaster occurs, the first 72 hours are the most important ones. When you know what to do during this time, you're safer and (hopefully) wiser. This program will tell you how to cope with tidal waves, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding, fires, power failures, severe storms, volcanoes, hazardous material accidents, and more. Of course, we don't get many tidal waves out here in Iowa, but you never know!Lynx v2.8.1 [1.7M] W9x/NT FREE How many of you can remember the first web page you ever saw? The first one I looked at had no graphics... in fact, I don't think it had any links, either. My university didn't have Windows in the computer labs, and I didn't own a computer back then, so all of my first Internet experiences were text based. The first page I ever created was optimized for Lynx. What?! Never heard of Lynx before? Thought it was dead? Not hardly; it's still alive and kicking on multiple platforms. It's come a long way since I last used it from a telnet prompt--it's still a very viable browser. If you want to seriously cut through all the graphics on the Internet, then consider using Lynx. It's a tried-and-true alternative to any of the "popular" browsers.HZ Tools v1.2 [178k] W9x FREE It's refreshing to have a nice, tall glass of sparkling water (with a twist of lime). But since your computer monitor wasn't built to handle liquids, we need to give it some other sort of refreshment. Rather, a way to change its refresh rates in different resolutions. While Windows 98 took a step in the right direction, it didn't follow through. This is entirely understandable, as messing with your monitor's refresh rates could prove disastrous. It's a beautiful thing to be able to tweak refresh rates, resolutions, bit-depths for Direct3D, OpenGL, and Windows, but be careful when you play with these settings, people! This program will prove to be most helpful for gamers, although any power user shouldn't be without it, either.Genius v2.0 [2.8M] W9x/NT FREE "Hadley, you're a genius!" I don't think anyone has ever called me a genius before, and I'm glad. If I were a genius, I'd have to be even more eccentric and not comb my hair "correctly". Plus, I'd have to join MENSA. And I just don't have the time for that. Well, the author of Genius (to tell you the truth) must be a genius himself. The program seems to do so much, yet consume so few resources! Not only that, but he's got awesome plans for future versions of this "intelligent" program. The interface is unobtrusive, easy to use (a big plus), and filled with just about every common Internet utility known to the world. On top of THAT, you'll find several other great "offline" utilities in the same program (which help automate common Windows tasks). Smart!AboutTime v4.8 [820k] W9x/NT FREE Are you sure your computer is telling the correct time? Ya know, when a fuse blows, you usually have to rely on your watch to reset all the clocks in your house. But what if your watch is 15 minutes slow? I guess that means you'll probably miss that "important luncheon" tomorrow. That's where utilities like AboutTime come in handy. If you haven't synchronized your computer's clock before, it's AboutTime you did. It's quick, accurate, and (this program is) configurable. Yes, there are different "time setting" utilities out there, but I found this one to be the "fastest & easiest" to use. It's "careware" from the author of Arachnophilia (a solid HTML program). So, be sure to FIND THE TIME to do something nice for someone else today.Win-Res-Q v1.0 [136k] W9x FREE Have you ever had Explorer crash on you? C'mon, if you've used Windows before, that's an automatic YES. With Windows 9x, a crash doesn't always mean a blue screen of death. However, when Explorer crashes, you usually lose all those icons sitting in your System Tray (like your Internet Connection, System Resource Monitor, etc.). There's virtually no way of getting them back sometimes. Win-Res-Q to the rescue! If you need to get to a program that isn't visible anymore, instead of rebooting, run this program instead. Just select which process you wish to see (WARNING: all the Windows processes show up) and it should show up again! I was amazed to find out that the author of this program (and other OUTSTANDING programs) is a Lockergnome subscriber! Be sure to check out E-Res-Q, too.HomeSite v4.0 [7.6M] W9x/NT US$89 "Hey Chris, what do you use to edit your HTML?" Why are people surprised when I answer: "With Notepad?" Actually, that isn't entirely true. If I have to do hardcore coding, designing, search & replacing, remote editing, or CSS scripting, I use HomeSite 4.0. Yes, Nick Bradbury and Allaire have released their new version. It's better looking, a bit faster, and robust. There are just some things that Notepad can't do for ya, gang. I've been using HomeSite since 2.x--and it has yet to disappoint me. You can try the demo version for 30 days, and if you don't think it's worth your money, then don't buy it. However, if you're serious about HTML, seriously consider using HomeSite.Deskcolor v3.0 [107k] W9x/NT FREE What kind of wallpaper do you have on your Desktop? Is it a pattern? Is it picturesque? Personally, I seamlessly tile a simple starfield. But, no matter what kind of graphic you have in the background, your icon title backgrounds still show through. Whether you have a few or several icons on your Desktop, this can be annoying. Thankfully, this utility will save the day (and your Desktop)! Change your settings on the fly through the System Tray icon; there's no need to reboot when you want to reconfigure things. It should work with high-color icons, as well as any resolution or color depth. Finally, your Desktop background will be able to shine through! Why didn't Microsoft think of this?NoteTab Pro v4.51 [1.3M] W9x/NT US$20 Notepad (ya know, the one that comes with Windows) is a great application. It's simple, small, and easy to use. But if you demand more from your "Notepadish" program, then you can't go wrong with NoteTab Pro. Or, if your pocketbook is screaming for mercy, there's also a freeware version available. However, the "Pro" is aptly named; it's extremely configurable, executes common operations quickly, helps non-WYSIWYG HTML coders with built-in support, and is generally more robust over all other NoteTab versions. If you don't have a Notepad replacement on your computer, you're missing out on great functionality. It's like going halfway between Notepad and a bloated Word Processor. Keep tabs on your textual files with NoteTab Pro!Send To Printer v1.01 [107k] W9x FREE Built in to everyone's version of Windows 95 and 98 is the "SendTo" menu. I recently suggested that you place a shortcut to Notepad in there. Some of you asked if other shortcuts could be placed in the SendTo menu, and I wasn't entirely sure what to say. Beyond adding "commonly accessed folders" to the list, there's not much else you could do with it. Then Dr. Frye wrote in and told me about this handy little add-on. Now you can send "ready-to-print" files directly through the spool manager and into your printer(s). The author has other shareware/freeware applications available for download (in both French and English), so be sure to check them out while you're downloading this sucker.Netscape Full-Screen v1.0 [32k] W9x/NT4 FREE How big is your monitor? If you answered with 14" or less, you might want to set aside a couple of bucks to upgrade to a larger monitor. Why? Because as screen real estate grows, so does productivity. You can have more windows open at the same time, see more on the screen at the same time, probably get better refresh rates (to keep those 60Mhz headaches away). Okay, so if you can't upgrade your monitor, you might as well get as much out of it as possible. That is to say, browse the web in full-screen mode. Internet Explorer 4.x users have the ability built-in, but Netscape users are out of luck... unless you download this free utility! So, if you have Netscape 4.02 or higher, you can use this to maximize your browsing experience. Stop wasting those pixels... |
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Copyright 1998 - 2002 Mark Oberg, All rights reserved. |
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Techweenies.com and Top-Techsites.com are Copyright 1998-2007 Mark Oberg All Rights Reserved |
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