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Freeware Reviews - May/June 1999 |
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xSite v1.0 [2.1M] W9x/NT FREE DOWNLOAD
While there are still a few performance (and interface) issues to be worked out, I'm excited about this HTML editor: xSite. It offers a feature I've only seen in expensive, high-end HTML editors: the ability to automatically select and change the attributes for any given tag on-the-fly. Beyond that, you can edit your pages in 'text' or WYSIWYG modes, and get an immediate preview of the current document. It's what I'd consider to be a 90%-complete HTML editor, though it's still rough around the edges; you can't beat the price, though. MagniFind v1.0.21 [1.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.magnifind.com/Inxight/MagniFind_Program.exe
The Windows Explorer may leave a dry taste in your mouth--you're not alone. If it's limited capabilities bother you, there are dozens of viable replacements. That being said, I've never seen a file manager or computer "explorer" quite like this. With MagniFind, you'll interact with your PC in a rather novel way. Instead of pointing and clicking, you'll be clicking and dragging--manipulating each folder as though it was a branch on a tree. This program provides a great demonstration for Inxight's 'Hyperbolic Tree' technology. MagniFantastic! MPEdit Pro v1.0b [3.1M] W9x/NT FREE http://psnet.animeplanet.com/download/1.0b/MPInst.exe
I've been asked how one could go about creating 'MP3' files. There are several able utilities, but most require that you be a digital wizard to run them efficiently. If you're just getting started with MP3 files, MPEdit Pro is a "must have" utility. It was essentially created for novices, sports a nice interface, and will guide you through every step in the encoding process. Heck--even if you're a professional MP3 lover, I'm sure you'll find this an attractive package (you can download MP3s directly from the program). It's MP3 for you and me. Table2HTML v1.1 [138k] W9x/NT FREE http://hem2.passagen.se/autospy/tbl2html.zip
I remember when tables first appeared on the HTML scene. I thought they were silly, and wouldn't be very useful. Boy, was I wrong! It took me a while, but I finally mastered the art of TABLE creation. For the post part, I still do most of my coding by hand (in Notepad). Every once in a while, I need a program to help me complete a task quickly; this puppy does just that. You type in the data and separate it as you would like to see it in an HTML table, and Table2HTML will translate it for you. Just copy/paste the code, and you're good to go. 3D-FTP v1.5 Beta [927k] W9x/NT US$30 ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/inet/3dftp101.zip
FTP client functionality is the same: you use them to transfer files from one site to another. However, that's where their similarities usually end. You can 'skin' an MP3 player, you can skin an instant messaging program, but can you totally revamp the UI of an FTP client at a moment's notice? 3D-FTP stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam with me. It sends, receives, generally performs well... but most importantly, it looks totally awesome just sitting on your Desktop. Keep your eye on this one, gang... it can only get better. Parental Photo Snoop v2.5 Beta 15 [1.3M] W9X/NT US$10 DOWNLOAD
There are all kinds of graphics on your hard drive, but some of them may be hidden from prying eyes. If you're a parent (or individual) not very familiar with how Windows or the Internet works, this is definitely a utility to download. With it, you'll be able to view just about every image on your hard drive. Why is this so important? Well, if you want to ensure that other members of your family (or household) aren't visiting any "questionable" sites, this indexer may help. Plus--it was designed by a fellow Lockergnomie! You're such a snoop. Handy 2000 v1.01 [745k] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/desktop/h2000v01.zip
When I first launched this utility suite, I wasn't terribly impressed with the user interface; it's bulky and a bit gaudy. However, after I ran a few of the included programs, I became impressed. It's got a typing tutor, a couple of games (including one to improve your mouse clicking speed and accuracy), an extensive conversion applet, a screen magnification tool, a doodle program, a "gradient" wallpaper maker, a date calculator, a stop watch, and a few other miscellaneous gizmos. I've got to hand it to the programmer: Handy 2000 is handy. Random Saver v2.2 [23k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.overware.com/cgi-bin/download.cgi?rss32.zip
Now that you have all these nifty screen savers installed, it's a shame that you can only run one of them at a time. That is to say, if you want to use another screen saver (other than the one you're currently using), you have to change the selection. It'd be a lot easier (and more fun) if there was some sort of 'randomize' option built-in... but I guess Microsoft wasn't thinking too hard that day. Random Saver to the not-so-random rescue! Just tell it where your screen savers are located; use it as your screen saver and it'll randomize the rest. WatzNew v1.0.2 [246k] W9x/NT FREE http://watznew.virtualave.net/cgi-bin/download/download.pl?wnfull
How much time do you waste in a day checking to see if certain sites have been updated? You don't want to read everything every time you visit, you just want to see what's new. So why not see WatzNew? This little tool will sit silently in your System Tray and check to see if any of your sites have changed since its last update. The interface is somewhat tweakable, but not that offensive to the eyes as is. Even site owners can get it on the action by adding WatzNew tags within their HTML code! Quit letting your fingers do the walking. wMancala v1.0.0.1 [105k] W9x/NT FREE http://ksharrel.home.mindspring.com/mobius/lg/wmancala.zip
Can you think of a good board game to play that doesn't involve dice or cards? I can: Mancala! Admittedly, I hadn't heard of this Ancient African game until Gretchen brought it home one night. Game play is fairly straightforward: the goal is to accumulate as many seeds as possible in your 'Kalaha.' But don't let the game's simplicity fool you: strategic thinking is required. It's good to note that the author will enhance his version with better sounds and graphics, but it's "fun enough" as is. It's time to forget about minesweeper... NextSTART v1.0.12 [2.4M] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/WinSTEP2000/NextSTART-Full.zip
Blast that dratted Start button; it's sitting in that corner with a smug Windows logo on its face. It holds within it the Start Menu--something most of us can't live without. I'd love to change the menu's color and font... but that means I'd have to change the rest of Windows' appearance as well. Time to take the next step and start using NextSTART. It's a Start Menu clone which is infinitely more configurable (you can even designate its access coordinates). It's perfect if want a new look & feel on your Desktop without installing a new shell. Dragon Castle [3.4M] W9x FREE ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/3dfiles/games/dragoncastle.exe
Feeling medieval today? Why not hitch a ride on your local dragon. We all know these mythical creatures are not easily found in the twentieth century, so you'll have to settle for a three-dimensional binary representation. In this DirectX game, you become a Dragon Knight, fighting enemies in 20 different levels. It makes for a great, cheap distraction, and the programming team plans on developing other (fantasy) games in the future. Remove that chain mail armor from your cubicle, and climb aboard this beast. I doth think you'll like it. Log Monitor v1.1.0 [286k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4436/LOGMON.ZIP
It was easier to keep track of files and directories when my hard drive was 1400% smaller. Not that I'm complaining with all this extra space, just that monitoring for specific changes is a task that's fallen to the wayside. I went in search of a savvy software solution myself; 'Log Monitor' popped up. You can configure it to watch certain files or directories. Here's the kicker: not only will it monitor files that HAVE changed, but it'll also detect files that have NOT changed! The applications for this gadget are endless, unlike the space on my hard drive. InoculateIT AntiVirus v4.5.0 [2.2M]
W9x/NT FREE http://www.cai.com/antivirus/personal/ "Computer Associates is offering this as a service for PC users in order to significantly limit the damage caused by viruses to PCs. The increasing prevalence of viruses and the growing numbers of desktop computers has led to this initiative. Virus protection is an integral part of the PC and should not have to be purchased separately." All in all, if you're looking for a cheap, 32-bit anti-virus solution, you can't go wrong with InoculateIT. WinMerge v1.2 [709k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/8632/WinMerge.zip
You shouldn't compare apples and oranges. But what if you needed to compare a 'Washington' with a 'Granny Smith?' They're both apples, but their tastes are dissimilar. In a similar vein, what if you needed to compare two text files with one another? Opening up two NOTEPAD sessions is okay, but it'd be easier if the software would pick out the differences for you. This is exactly why WinMerge was created! You can analyze text files or directories with an integrated editor and multiple-level undo. Now, how do you like them apples? ZDU v2.0 [25k] W9x/NT FREE http://haywire.fatalunity.com/HSw/zdu/zdu20.zip
"Zdu is a little tool that can come in handy when cleaning up your hard drive and general disk information. The idea behind Zdu is to scan a path (one or more) and report the content therein, how many directories, how many files and how much a specific directory allocates on the hard disk." This is a great command line utility for power users... reminiscent of UNIX's 'du.' Jump To Folder v1.0 [759k] W9x FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/9842/jumpto.zip
It's no secret: I used to spend a lot of time at the command prompt; I "changed directories" more often than I changed clothes (now that's sad). When I needed to get to a completely different subdirectory, I relied on a useful third-party tool called "TO." The utility would make an index of all my directories and then I'd type "TO MISCPICS" and it would take me to the MISCPICS directory immediately. "Jump To Folder" is based on the same principle, only accessed and used directly within Windows. While it's only in beta, this is a killer proggie. After v1.0 [45k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/1142/after.zip
"Use this utility to postpone the programs in your startup group. Instead of having three or four programs jostling each other to get loaded up first, load them one at a time over a period of say, 60 seconds. You'll also get the chance to prevent some of them from loading if you wish." Believe it or not, this utility might save you some time--try launching two programs at once and watch how much slower they'll each load. Registry Patch Editor v1.1.0 [2.0M] W9x FREE http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Jase_T_Wolfe/SW/RPE.zip
Managing Windows 9x on a network can be frustrating--especially if you have to deal with different policies all day long. Here's (quite arguably) the most unique 9x administration tool I've ever seen. You can toggle the settings for a particular 'setup' and then generate a regular registry file (REG) to be imported into the system registry at any given time. This way, with one click, new settings will be in place for a computer. Stop interacting with the system policy editor--this is a quicker (more portable) method. WARNING: this is for expert users only. FTP Directory Mirrorer v1.0.1034 [3.5M] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/pboers/Fdm.zip
"You can use this program... to mirror remote FTP directories on your local hard drive. It's able to transfer directories to another FTP server, too. FTP Directory Mirrorer can update the database with the following kinds of records: names of the directories, name of the predefined uploader (you can edit the name in the preferences box), date (normally current day -1, but you can change this)." The author says it just takes a click of the button... amazing! Freeware Currency Converter v1.1 [270k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.belgraver.demon.nl/currconv/currconv.zip
If there's one thing most of us don't have enough of, it's money. Shaun Shulba (my favorite Canadian) and I are always joking about the current exchange rates for currency. Although it's no laughing matter, some people need to know how much 'X' they'll get for this much 'Y.' If you hadn't figured it out by reading its title, the Freeware Currency Converter won't cost you a cent (no matter which country you're from). It handles all the popular currencies, as well as a few minor ones; you can customize its listing to suit your preferences. Penny for your thoughts? Cmdtime v1.0 [50k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.softshape.com/download/cmdtime.zip
"This is an easy-to-use command-line utility which adjusts computer's date and time via Internet Time Servers. It's recommended to use it either standalone, or in batch-files, or with external schedulers." Actually, out of all the Internet time synchronizers I've ever used, this is my favorite one. There are no fancy buttons, no extra files to install--just a single executable which works very well. I recommend it for both novice and adept users. News-Lynx v1.01A [189k] W9x/NT FREE http://members.tripod.com/Mark_Bascin/free/exe/news/nlynx.zip
How can you be expected to know where all of the news-related sites are on the Web? It would be a full-time job just to keep those URLs up-to-date... and your list probably wouldn't be comprehensive. Mark Bascin has done the research for you and presents his findings in an easy-to-use, familiar format. It's a set of well-organized Web pages with links to news sites from all over the globe. If you appreciate this program's format, you might also pick up Software-Lynx, Library-Lynx, and Book-Lynx (all of which are available at the Web site). Lynx links! Oasis SE v1.3c [1.1M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.adept.co.za/~oasisdev/downloads/oasisse.zip
"Oasis SE (Standard Edition) is a Freeware help authoring tool for Windows 9x/NT4. It provides the user with an integrated interface for writing Windows 95/NT4 Help (HLP) Files. This product is compatible with Microsoft Windows Help version 4.0." HLP is just a few clicks away; now you can make your own support files for distribution. NOTE: HTML, tables, macros, and secondary windows are not supported in this limited edition. Absolute Memory v1.1 [1.2M] W9x/NT US$10 http://dx.raid.ru/memory/memory.exe
Where did I leave my glasses? Oh well, I guess I'll have to type this review without them. Can you remember the classic game of flipping tiles (two at a time) to find matches? Here's an ever-expandable and increasingly-challenging binary version. I found (at higher levels) that when you guess incorrectly, the tiles flip positions! This may appear to be a kid's game, but adults will have just as much fun with it. Other tilesets are available for download at the site. I need to sit down for a second... *CRUNCH* Oops. I think I found my glasses. Personal Finances v6.26 [3.3M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.iic.cc/pfsetup.exe
Yes, I probably spent a little too much money on Phantom Menace figures the other week--but I have to fuel my hobby somehow! Keeping an eye on my checking and savings account balances is difficult to do--especially when I forget to record transactions as they take place. That's probably one of my worst habits. This program, while not incredibly attractive, may help keep me on track. Red numbers in the checkbook are usually not a positive sign; 'Personal Finances' will do the calculations for you--to ensure that you're somewhere above zero. I hope. Short To Long Date Converter v1.0.2 [182k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.ozemail.com.au/~jaesenj/stldc.exe
I believe I've finally settled on a date format for Lockergnome issues which is not only Y2k compliant, but easily understandable. An example would be 07.26.1973 (07 is the month, July; 26 is the day; and, without question, 1973 is the year). Some countries might reverse the placement of the day/month, but this method doesn't work as well for filename indexing. Nevertheless--have you ever been presented with a date, only to wonder what day of the week it fell on? The Short To Long Date Converter will tell you. BTW, 07.26.1973 was on a Thursday. DirectControl v3.0.0 [106k] W9x FREE ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/3dfiles/utility/bgr/setupdcontrol.exe
"DirectControl is a system utility that allows the user to ENABLE or DISABLE Direct3D, DirectDraw, and DirectSound Hardware Acceleration on-the-fly." It's a great way to tweak your system, though DirectControl's optimizations aren't all directly DirectX-related. Optimize your CD-ROM cache, CD-ROM pre-fetch settings, and Windows Vcache. If you have every other DirectX tool at your disposal, this should make a welcome addition. Home Cookin v3.4 [436k] W9x/NT US$30 http://www.mountain-software.com/demos/hmcook34.zip
There's a crock pot in the corner and it's currently set on 'low.' This seems to be the only way we're assured to eat dinner around here. See, if we don't prepare earlier in the day, we wind up going out to eat that evening. I'm sure this story isn't unique. Having a program to help plan meals is wise, and Home Cookin makes a great kitchen assistant. Add & store your own recipes, build grocery lists, and plan meals months in advance. You can always download new recipes from the Web site, just in case your taste buds are lookin' for a change. BURP! DATMAN-98 v2.06.0 [990k] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.datman.com/download/datman98.zip
"DATMAN is a file system for DOS and Windows which transforms SCSI-interfaced tape drives into virtual disk drives allowing the user to access the contents via a drive letter. In short, DATMAN makes a tape drive behave like a disk (you can view the contents of the tape volume using Windows Explorer). It also comes with a rich set of file management utilities for full backup as well as incremental and differential backup jobs." It's free to use if you have up to 1 Gigabyte per tape. Clip2DHTML v1.0 [2.7M] W9x/NT FREE http://may8software.com/try/hifidown/hifidown/exec/clip2down.exe
"Wow--that's amazing. How did you get your text on that Web page to be so... dynamic? How long did it take you?" I used a rich text editor, copied it to the clipboard, then pasted it into this little application. It generated the DHTML code for me without coughing. How long did it take? Let's put it this way: it takes longer to thaw an ounce of hamburger meat. When you need overlapping, formatted text for your Web page, Clip2DHTML offers a speedy (headache-free) solution. I suppose the hardest part is trying to come up with text to transform! AOiSP v0.1.3 [1.0M] W9x FREE http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Vault/5252/aoisp007.zip
"AOiSP was created for those people who use AOL only for an internet connection. It makes AOL a virtual Internet Service Provider (TCP). It also has other useful features, such as the ability to turn your Instant Messages on/off quickly & easily. AOiSP was made for use with America Online v4.0 and is a vital program for people who don't need AOL, but do need an Internet connection." For obvious reasons, this is not an official product. Kyodai Mahjongg v8.52 [1.4M] W9x/NT US$23 ftp://ftp.download.net/sw/win98/boardgames/kyodai.zip
It's been in development for years and has finally become the world's best 32-bit Mahjongg adaptation. The user interface is finally 90% tweakable! As you know, I don't usually mention a program more than once in this newsletter, so you should take it to heart when I say that this download holds the record for "most times featured in Lockergnome." If you haven't seen it yet, you're truly missing out; this game offers much more than just Mahjongg. There's 'Columns,' 'Memory,' and a few other piece-driven puzzles for you to solve. Registration lasts a lifetime. YTS Words Suite v3.0 [6.3M] W9x/NT US$35 http://www.dcalcoda.com/dl/yrtspell.exe
Notepad doesn't come with a spell checker. And, believe it or not, it lacks a thesaurus as well. So this software developer threw together an amazing package which combines the power of these basic language tools with a text editor and expansive dictionary (more language sets are available). It sits quietly in the system tray until I invoke it with either a keyboard shortcut or a mouse click. Simply copy a word to the clipboard and the YTS Words Suite will do the rest. Some suite components are also available separately, but I'd stick with this puppy. Oblivion v1.27a [800k] W9x/NT FREE http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/fluke/807/oblivion.zip
Long before MP3s were on everybody's mind, MIDIs dominated the multimedia music scene. In many ways, MIDIs are still worth downloading; they don't take up a ton of hard drive space, and every once in a while you'll find one that sounds absolutely phenomenal. Creating your own songs can be difficult to do--especially if you don't know that much about music. Oblivion is great for both beginning and advanced users; it's a fractal music generator... which means each composition will be unique. Adjust a few settings and in a matter of seconds you'll have a song! CoolRuler v1.0 [221k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.fabsoft.com/downloads/ruler.zip
Most word processors and image editing applications come with internal rulers so that you can see the exact measurements of your handiwork on-the-fly. What about all those other great pieces of shareware which lack this tool? They just need to add a little cool. Or, more specifically, CoolRuler. It's a standalone applet which you may move freely about your screen to take measurements (horizontally or vertically). Use centimeters, pixels, inches, or your own system for measurement. The interface is pretty slick; you'll find that it measures up. Rich Diamond v1.0 [4.9M] W9x/NT US$27 http://www.coregames.com/downloads/rddemo.exe
A couple of years ago, I went on a quest to find Gretchen an engagement ring. I searched high and low--and talked to so many professionals. Who knew there was so much to know about gems? It would have been easier (and a lot cheaper) if I just handed her this download and told her to find her own diamonds. In this game, you'll assume the role of Rich Diamond, grand adventurer. Battle monsters, navigate your way through mazes, and solve challenging puzzles as you collect diamonds. I'm sure that 80 levels will keep you entertained for quite a while. XXCalc v0.6 [62k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7095/XXCalc.zip
I'm not the one in charge of balancing the checkbook around here; numbers and I don't get along. There's a tried and true application that's been around for a long while in Windows: the calculator. Of course, its interface leaves much to be desired--but the applet adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides divinely. It's about time that someone developed a skinnable calculator! XXCalc has all the same, basic calculator functionality, but (on top of this) you'll be able change its appearance with downloadable skins from Skins.org. It's cool times ten! Emergency Undelete v1.2.047 [1.0M] NT
FREE http://www.undelete.com/zips/Emergency_Undelete.exe
"Emergency Undelete is a new tool that recovers accidentally deleted files directly from any NTFS or FAT disk and can even recover files that were deleted prior to its installation. It can eliminate the hours of time spent searching through back-up tapes for vital lost files, and can quickly restore what was previously unrecoverable. The full-featured product provides an enhanced "Recovery Bin" that captures and stores files deleted from all sources, including all files that bypass the Recycle Bin. This version is supported on Intel x86 NT 4.0 platforms." Windows Sniper v2.0 [697k] W9x US$12 http://www.unhuman.com/files/WinSniper.zip
You may want a window to look and behave like YOU want it to; the programmer's vision isn't always akin to yours. In these cases, you're wise to turn to the Windows Sniper. It's a real sharpshooter when it comes to opening up and tweaking a window's appearance. Enable options previously unavailable to "limited functionality" windows, turn on disabled menu items, force "on top" windows NOT to be on top, hide any given window, reveal forgotten passwords, and more. Use "Training Mode" to retain your tweaks every time that application loads. Bullseye! UniRefresh v1.3 [29k] DOS FREE http://home.student.utwente.nl/r.muller/unirefresh/unirfrsh.zip
Here's a refresh rate tweaker for DOS. "[Set] all VESA graphics modes at the optimal refresh rate; easy to configure, only the specifications of the monitor need to be entered; measured refresh rate is shown on the test screen; resident part is only 208 bytes." Acid WAV v1.3 [2.1M] W9x/NT US$45 http://www.polyhedric.com/software/acid/acid13.zip
I've downloaded gigabytes worth of WAV files over the years. Unfortunately, not all of them were perfect (some of them needed a bit of editing). Your own collection may be in need of tweaking, too, but Sound Recorder doesn't have any advanced functions. It's time to trip on Acid WAV. The interface is straightforward and powerful; the learning curve is almost non-existent. Novices will appreciate its ease-of use, and power users will love the plethora of options. Check out Polyhedric Software's other audio products while you're at it... especially WAVmaker! WinToPrinter v1.0 [1.2M] W9x/NT FREE DOWNLOAD
Why doesn't the 'Print Screen' key work like it should? Well, it does--but it works in a roundabout way. When you tap the 'Print Screen' button in Windows, it takes a snapshot of the on-screen elements and copies the image to the clipboard. TIP: holding onto the ALT key while doing this will copy only the active window. Nevertheless, you have to then paste the image in an editor and print it from there. WinToPrinter skips all those extra steps and sends your shots directly to the printer. The only problem you'll encounter is running out of ink... DirectPad Pro v5.0 [85k] W9x FREE http://www.ziplabel.com/dpadpro/dpadpr50.zip
"DirectPad Pro is a combination hardware/software interface that allows Windows 95 and 98 to utilize PlayStation, Saturn, Atari, Genesis, Jaguar, SNES, and other kinds of console joysticks and keypads on PCs. All of the interfaces require minimal wiring and operate through a free parallel port." X0 Board Game v1.0 [129k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/xo1.zip
Can you think of a single game that can be played without the use of an AC adapter or batteries? Remember Tic-Tac-Toe? When my friends and I became bored with a teacher's lecture, it was a great way to pass the time. Well, the XO Board Game is Tic-Tac-Toe on steroids; the grid is 11x11 (as opposed to 3x3), and you have to get five characters in a row (as opposed to three). If this download doesn't thrill you, perhaps the author's strategy game (based on Sid Meier's Civilization II) will trip your trigger. They're both Tic-Tac-Totally fun (and free). Registry Engineer v1.0.1 [35k] W9x FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4414/RegEng.zip
The system registry contains a myriad of keys and strings. You may find yourself visiting the same items over and over. While you could memorize the exact locations of certain elements, it would be easier to "bookmark" them for simplified future access. That's where the Registry Engineer can help. In a matter of seconds, you'll have one-click access to any given key in your registry. If you're a power user, this Engineer will definitely help keep your system on track. No more redundant searches, no more memorizing, no more muss or fuss. All aboard! IE Personalizer v1.02 [27k] W9x/NT FREE http://accesscodes.hypermart.net/files/iepsnzr.zip
"[This is] a program that can customize the internet explorer's window title, the logos, the background of the toolbar, the search button and its server identification." If you want to remove "branded" features from Internet Explorer, this tool can definitely help. Drag Tag v2.0 [43k] W9x/NT FREE http://awdsites.com/software/zips/dTag.zip
If you code HTML in a "vanilla text" editor, clap your hands! Okay, you can stop clapping now. From the beginning, I've kept an eye out for helpful tools to keep in my HTML arsenal. Drag Tag is a time saver--especially if you deal with changing images on your Web page(s) on a regular basis. Simply launch the program, drag & drop an image (GIF or JPG) onto it, and the <IMG> HTML tag will automatically be copied to the clipboard. It'll automatically add the SRC, HEIGHT, WIDTH, BORDER, and ALT attributes to the tag. Drag, drop, paste, upload, go! WinDowse v1.1 [200k] W9x/NT FREE http://greatis.virtualave.net/windowse.zip
"Do you want to know what processes sit inside a program? WinDowse will show you all! The information about any program, window, or other component will appear before you (name, function, icon, small icon, cursor, module handle, style, etc.)." This tool is especially useful for program development. Replace v1.1.1 [369K] W9x/NT FREE http://www.mediaport.org/~daft/Replace.zip
Take a wild guess: how many files do you have on your hard drive? When you need to change more than one, it can be tricky. You may need to 'Replace' your mode of operation. To illustrate how this utility works, I'll borrow from the author's example: say you have a folder with hundreds of MP3s in it. These files have underscores in their names where you'd rather see blank spaces. You can tell Replace to look at all MP3 files in that folder and replace all occurrences of '_' with ' '. Also change attributes, filename case, and file contents. Wizard! Virtual Control Panel v1.00 [571k] W9x/NT
FREE http://wonderwork.virtualave.net/vcp.zip
"The program is a graphical control panel which will work just as the normal one. In this way, you can use it more easily. This software will not replace your original control panel." This is a good navigational tool for the novice who understands concepts visually. A killer Taskbar Wallpaper toy is also available from this author. QuickMix v1.00 [267k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.msaxon.com/quickmix/QuickMixIn.EXE
Gretchen goes to bed early around here, but I usually stay up late to surf the Web and (lately) play Rogue Squadron. I love blasting Imperials out of the sky, though Gretchen isn't too fond of my preferred sound level. So, I either turn down the speakers, or lower the volume (with the speaker icon in my System Tray). It's a hassle to constantly change audio settings to suit a situation--especially when I need different settings at particular times. QuickMix is the solution; you can configure your audio levels and save the scheme for future use. Sounds good! TaskbarHide v1.0b [119k] W9x/NT FREE http://users.cybercity.dk/~dko1437/tbhide/tbhid10b.zip
Come out, come out--wherever you are! Does your Taskbar stay on top all the time, or do you have it set to disappear when not in use? To maximize screen real estate, it's wise to keep that puppy hidden. I'm sure you know that the Taskbar is still there--does that tiny line which remains annoy you? TaskbarHide will wipe it off the screen! Now your background image may look cleaner (there's no 'line' to cut off a border), plus you'll gain a pixel or two in resolution. Every bit counts! Your Taskbar will still be there--only hidden... for REAL. ArrangeIt v0.91 [256k] W9x US$6 http://www.orbicon.com/arrangeit/files/arrit-s.zip
Contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all. Sometimes an application window is too large... other times it may be too small. You can resize most windows, but there are some which refuse to budge. Finally, you can fix those stubborn suckers with ArrangeIt! It's a nifty little gizmo that rests quietly in your System Tray until you need to resize something. Another of the more notable features is it's ability to automatically resize windows to the popular resolutions (640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, etc.). It'll make all the necessary arrangements. Netscape SmartDownload v1.1 [96k] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/smartdownload/smartdownload.exe
"SmartDownload is a new service from Netscape Netcenter designed to assist you with downloading files from the Internet. Key features of SmartDownload are its ability to pause and resume downloads, recover from a dropped Internet connection, and show informative content from Netcenter while downloading." Eyedropper v2.1 [200k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.inetia.com/eyedrop21.zip "What a colorful screen you have, my dear." All the better to code you with! There's a color in an image that I'd love to use on my Web page, but how do I know what its hexadecimal code is? I'll use the Eyedropper! With it, you can hover your cursor over a color and it'll give you the RGB code for it. The HTML code can be quickly copied to the clipboard (CTRL+C). This is an awesome tool in so many respects--and it's not just for HTML coders. It supports CMYK color space, displays the screen coordinates, measures distance and area, and more. Eye, eye! Iris v1.0 [628k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.cinegraphics.net/downloads/iris_x86.zip What graphic do you have set as your current Desktop wallpaper? Is it a picture of something or someone you know? Or is it a seamless (tiled) image? If your bitmap collection is small, you should look at Iris. She'll help you create completely original (and seamless) images to be used as your Desktop or Web page "background." Adjust the sliders to tweak the graphic, and when you're satisfied with the real-time preview, save the bitmap. You can even save your settings to create complete libraries using the same effect with different colors. See it? Window Namer v1.0 [3.0M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.kupex.com/new_software/winnamer1.ZIP What's in a name? Everything. Would you rather play at "Fred's Bowling Alley" or "The Bowl-a-tron Universe"? Okay, my vote goes for Fred, but you may have different tastes. Sometimes the titles in windows (in Windows) aren't very descriptive--or possibly too descriptive. The Window Namer will enable you to rename any given running window on-the-fly; when you minimize it, your text will be seen in the Taskbar. I've never seen a tool quite like this; I'd give it a "7" for options, but a perfect "10" for originality. It's the classic 7-10 split. EasyCleaner v1.5 [1.1M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.saunalahti.fi/tonihele/files/EClea1_5.exe "EasyCleaner is a small program which searches Windows' registry for entries that are pointing nowhere. Deleting these entries will speed your up. But as you already might know, deleting entries from registry can be dangerous for your computer, so it is wise to make a backup of your registry." Scrabble v1.1 [4.0M] W9x/NT FREE http://fourcom.tm/wolff/arnezips/scrabble.zip I spent an hour arguing with Gretchen the other night. I was trying to convince her that QUAKAZYX was a word. It refers to the backbone of a dewback... ya know, those giant lizards the stormtroopers ride in Star Wars? She didn't believe me--and it was for a triple word score, too. Here's the binary variation, which is just as much fun as playing it on the table. You're opponent will have to "leave the room" when it's your turn to play (so they can't see your tiles). The UI is rather pleasant, and you can add your own words to the dictionary. Woo hoo! |
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