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Freeware Reviews - July/Aug. 1999 |
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GovernMail v1.00 [1.5M] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/inet/gvml100.zip "Government officials work for themselves." And if you believe that, you're wrong. By definition, they work for YOU and YOUR country's, state's, or province's best interests (hopefully). But what's the easiest way to get in touch with them? Electronically. GovernMail contains all US and International Government official contact information; its easy-to-use, Outlook/Explorer-like interface is refreshing. Your voice can (assumedly) be heard, but you have to speak up first. FreeCard v2.0 [485k] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/mmedia/frc201.zip When I get a greeting card in the mail, I can't help but wonder if there's money inside. Oh, c'mon... you know you're thinking the same thing! Well, it's virtually impossible to send cash via e-mail at this time, but you can still send a card (you could also make it downloadable)! FreeCard is your best bet for electronically-distributable card creation. You have full multimedia capabilities with this puppy--and the output is stored in an EXE (for easy viewing). VCalc Vehicle Management v6.5 [941k] W9x/NT US$25 http://HansenSW.com/vcalc.zip Automobiles are strange creatures. I've owned three in my life: an old convertible bug, a Chevy Citation, and my current car, a Ford Escort. Each one had a personality, and that's not necessarily a good thing. If you're the type of person who enjoys crunching data on your PC, you're gonna love this tool. Keep track of fueling, maintenance, insurance, purchases, cleaning, mileage, and other auto-related 'numbers.' Calculations will be made automatically. Drive it home! Joystick's Friend v1.00 [1.4M] W9x/NT US$15 http://bstar.net/joystick/joystick.zip In my day, we didn't have joysticks. We had happylogs. They weren't quite as easy to control, and they took up a lot of space. Then came the giddytwigs. They were a lot skinnier, but still rather cumbersome. On a completely unrelated note, Joystick's Friend will allow you to play non-joystick-enabled games with your joystick. It remaps keyboard controls to your game controller; quite a fantastic tweak that's been long overdue. "Classic" game players: rejoice! PrintKey 2000 v5.02 [1.0M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/~gigaman/printkey5ef.zip For as many cool downloads as I feature, I'm really a software minimalist. You know you can use the 'Print Screen' key to capture a graphical snapshot of your current Desktop... so why download a separate utility to do it for you? Because--it's PrintKey 2000. I honestly think that this is the MOTHER of all screen capturing utilities; its on-the-fly image tweaking tools are very handy (adjust brightness, contrast, colors, image size, etc.). You'll want this 'key' player on your team. GIcons v1.1 [80k] W9x/NT FREE http://black.inforis.ru/tvsoft/gicons/gicons.zip Let's say you have a graphic called IMG-0013.JPG, but you have no idea what the image looks like. Sure, you could launch its associated application, but what if you want a quick-and-dirty preview? GIcons will automatically show you a 32x22 (pixel) representation of the BMP, JPG, or GIF in lieu of its default icon in the Windows Explorer. It gets better: right-click on a graphic file, pull up its properties, and see a larger preview as well as dimension details. CD Ejector Pro v1.04 [846k] W9x FREE ftp://elodea.com/CDEjectorProSetup.exe It's time for another one of those "coffee-cup holder" utilities, but this one claims to be 'elegant.' From what I've seen, I'd have to agree. You'll have an icon sitting in your System Tray--click it, and your chosen CD-ROM tray will eject (or close). One of the more interesting features of CD Ejector Pro is the logging CD Friendly Names, Serial Numbers, and Volume Names; now you'll know what CDs have been in your PC. Registration is free (and recommended). Inject an ejector today. Adlor's Stationery Creation Tool v1.1
[1.7M] W9x/NT FREE http://pages.preferred.com/~adlor/AdStat.zip Outlook Express introduced 'Stationery' to our HTML e-mail vocabulary. For the most part, it was a welcome addition. That is, until people started to abuse the "right." Before you go wild and crazy with this gizmo, keep in mind that not everybody has speedy Internet connections. Using a background image that is 100k in size isn't incredibly smart. If you have no clue as to how to create simple stationery (with images and sound), Adlor's tool will help. Link Crafter v1.000 [1.5M] W9x/NT FREE http://linkcrafter.bannermation.com/lc.exe One of the best ways to drive traffic to your Web site (or, for that matter, e-mail newsletter) is by establishing reciprocal links with other online content providers. The problem is: they're difficult to keep track of. This version of the Link Crafter will help you find Web pages with similar content as yours, create links to them, then craft a message to let their owners to let them know they've been "linked" on your page (and inviting them to reciprocate). Links really work! TaskbarHide v1.0b [115k] W9x FREE http://users.cybercity.dk/~dko1437/tbhide/tbhid10b.zip "Well, it annoys me that my background pictures look silly with that ugly single line at the bottom of the screen (or where ever the Taskbar is located). It looks way better when the Taskbar is totally hidden. And, considering the time I spend looking at my Desktop, I thought: 'why not make a little program to fix it?' (As I know no other way of removing it)" Scratch v1.01 [335k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.analogx.com/files/scratchi.exe This util gets my vote for "most awesome audio toy of the year." Now, it's time to put my m-m-money where my mouth is. You've probably heard DJs scratch records before; you're most likely to hear scratching done in "rap" music. With this toy, you can finally scratch your scratching itch. It places one WAV file in the background (most likely, the beat). Then, you can choose another WAV file to scratch. Record the results or just have some on-the-fly audio fun. bls Calendar Creator v1.0.1 [1.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://207.67.193.218/software/blscalendarcreator/blscalsetup.exe On the whole, my calendar is completely blank during the summer months. This year has been quite an exception; I've had to move into a house, coordinate necessary home improvement projects, meet writing deadlines, and in a few days, I'll be in the wonderful state of California. The bls Calendar Creator keeps me confident that I can remember important dates and times. Design and publish HTML calendars with ease; of course, you can print them, too. Oops--gotta get to a meeting now. ADOM v0.9.9 Gamma 14 [950k] DOS FREE http://www.adom.de/adom/adomg14.zip Just because a game doesn't have killer graphics doesn't mean it won't kill time. There's more than one way to kill a wyvern, ya know. Ancient Domains of Mystery (ADOM) is a roguelike adventure game, emphasizing role-playing over dazzling imagery. ASCII Art aficionados (and those of you with overactive imaginations) will appreciate this game. The situation will be slightly different every time you play. What creatures are lurking around the bend? Only you will know! PxRecorder v1.0 [28k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.vc-net.ne.jp/~phoenix/files/pxrecorder.zip "And then you take your mouse cursor and point it here, then you move it over there, click on this icon... why aren't you following me?" I suppose I can record the sequence of events with PxRecorder so you can play them back at a later time. Providing, of course, that the same elements are in the exact positions on your screen. This proggie isn't perfect, but it will record your actions and play them back flawlessly on demand. For a second there, I thought my system was possessed! The Partition Resizer v1.3.1 [97k] DOS
FREE http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Zeleps/Files/PRESZ131.ZIP "[This is] the first free program to resize and move partitions without data loss, is now more complete, with support for disks up to 2TB of size. Partition resizer is a small DOS executable, which requires no installation, and can perform all these tasks in a short while, giving you the opportunity to re-arrange your disk partitions safely, quickly, and fuss-free." Exploring Weather v2.0 [4.4M] W9x/NT FREE http://pcsinspace.hst.nasa.gov/space/files/weathwin.exe Pirillo "secret" factoid #2093: I always wanted to be a television meteorologist... though, I probably would have settled for "weather man." I'd probably get blamed for bad weather and poor predictions (especially here in Iowa), but I suppose that comes with the territory. If you think you (or someone you know) would be interested in observing Mother Nature's precarious patterns, check out this tutorial. Learn about "the weather" in the comfort of your own home. Copying Machine v1.13 [1.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/4042/copymach.zip I used to love photocopiers. I don't know why, but I thought it was so cool because I could duplicate text or pictures so quickly. I don't use my scanner everyday, but when I need to get an immediate copy of a document or photograph, this software will automatically turn that peripheral into a personal copying machine. If anything, it saves you a few steps (and perhaps a few pennies). Copying Machine is quick, clean, configurable, and convenient. Now, I think I'm seeing double. Netscape Bookie v1.02 [602k] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/tessman/download/nsbookie_setup.exe "When I uninstalled IE4 a while back, there was only one feature that I missed having around. That was the Favorites menu embedded in my Start Menu. The reason that I uninstalled IE is that I prefer Netscape. But I was hard-pressed to find any means of obtaining functionality similar to the Favorites menu with Netscape. That is, until I gave birth to Netscape Bookie." Home Planet v3.0 [7.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.fourmilab.to/homeplanet/hp3full.zip What planet are you from? I'll assume that Lockergnome issues aren't being seen outside our solar system, so it's a safe bet that you're from Earth. This doesn't mean you can't pretend that you're from another world (or a general hospital, for that matter). Home Planet is this galaxy's most comprehensive collection of digital astronomy tools; you'd be hard-pressed to find a suite that could do more. It's like having your very own powerful telescope... only cheaper. DynamIP v3.50 [3.3M] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/DynamIP/files/DynamIPv350.zip I'm hoping to pick up a USB VidCam in a couple of weeks. Perhaps (at one point in the future) I'll add a semi-live stream to Lockergnome's site. When that time comes, I know what software I'll be using to keep the viewers up-to-date; DynamIP is definitely dynamite. Set the timing, capture images, automatically compress those shots, then upload them to your server without blinking. It also has support for multiple capture devices. I just have to remember to never pick my nose. AniChoice v1.0 [536k] W9x/NT US$19 http://members.aol.com/danicur/achoice.zip Is that a simple, white arrow I see on your screen? How generic! There are thousands of cursors freely downloadable from the Internet, so you really have no excuse for not being creative. >From Dierk (a guy who's name is synonymous with animated cursors) comes AniChoice: a manager for all of your pointers that move. On top of being able to preview animations, you can set it up to change your cursors after specified periods of time. Today's pointer: download this utility. Selfseek! v1.0a [3.1M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.illumix.com/products/ssk10a.exe You know you've seen something on someone's site, but you can't quite remember exactly where it was. You may find that it's impossible to find anything using their search engine--if they even have one to begin with. Selfseek gives the power of powerful searching to your own PC. It'll download and thoroughly categorize the content of any given set of Web pages (or Web site). When you know what you're looking for, don't waste your time actually looking for it. Seek it yourself! DesktopFrames v1.2b1 [162k] W9x FREE http://somedec.com/downloads/DesktopFrames1.2b1.zip This is one of those utilities that you need to have--if only for it's uniqueness. It's like Microsoft's 'Active Desktop,' without the bulky overhead. You can add countless images to your Desktop quickly and easily, and associate each one with an action (like a program launch) when clicked upon. Create collages without blinking (although the images will remain on top of your Desktop icons). Originally designed for LiteStep users, DesktopFrames can be used by anyone. MiniBase v2.0b [1.4M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.alphalink.com.au/~wdtaylo/minib20b.zip Do you have a foundation for your information... er, that is to say: a base for your data? A database? You might as well have a functional, organizational tool installed. With unlimited records (25 fields and 10 indexes) for each table, fully customizable table creation, flexible searching functionality, filtering options, and basic import/export capabilities, MiniBase is a useful utility. It's the perfect personal database for both your personal and professional life. DPIC v0.1 [525k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.lausitz.net/~petro/data/dpic.zip Gotta lotta graphics filling up your hard drive? Who doesn't? When you know what image sits behind a file name, it's not a problem. However, when you go to distribute certain images, it'd be helpful to have an index of sorts. That's what the DPIC does for you (displays selected images in ONE image). It's actually rather interesting, even if you have no desire to redistribute your own images. Easily tweak the colors, fonts, and organization; stop doing it the hard way. CuteMAP v1.0 [536k] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp1.cuteftp.com/pub/cutemap/cutem10.exe If there's one thing I can't stand, it's when people use 'cute' to describe inanimate objects. However, I'll always make an exception for anything that comes from the fine folks over at Globalscape. You're probably aware of CuteFTP (a killer client), but have you heard about their new development? It is (by far) the best Imagemap program I have ever used (I like how HTML code can is seen up front and refreshed on-the-fly). For a first version, its features are off the map! InternetPrint Lite v1.0 [3.5M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.newsoftinc.com/public/nadiolite1.exe "With Nadio's patent-pending Universal Printer Driver, you can print to any printer, without having to install the specific printer driver. Simply select "Nadio InternetPrint" as your printer driver from any Windows application to print a document to any brand of printer, anywhere in the world!" WinShaper v1.0 [150k] W95/NT FREE http://www.kiss.uni-lj.si/~k4fe0244/winshape.zip Are you tired of staring at the same windows? Wouldn't your browser look better in the shape of a circle? Or what about a heart-shaped spreadsheet? WinShaper acts like a binary corset--for those who enjoy working outside the rectangular box. Of course, this will do nothing to boost your productivity levels, but at least you'll get a nice change of pace. Besides, you know you've always wanted to see a triangular image editor. NOTE: this will not work in Windows 98. CaseRename v1.2.0.1 [262k] W9x/NT FREE http://www2.crosswinds.net/~mauricioferman/zip/CaseRename.zip Orders just came in from the central office. Looks like I'm on the case; Agent 631 is on the move. This time, however, the case IS the mission. I need to capitalize all the file names in a certain folder, and reverse the case of file names in another folder. No problem--with CaseRename in hand, I'll be done and home in time for dinner. I could even make the case ZiG-zAgGy if I wanted to (but the boss wouldn't like that). This shell extension was built to save you time. Heinzel Shell v1.0 [12k] W9x/NT FREE http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/heinzel/hshell.zip "[This] is a small console program for Windows 9x (it should work on NT, too). It lets you execute the most common shell commands like copy, delete or shortcuts." Some of the 'unique' commands are: Create Desktop Folder, Create File Folders, Create Shortcut, Create Internet Shortcut, and Create Desktop Shortcut. Towers v1.0 [29k] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/jansoftware/Towers.zip "Rapunzel, Rapunzel... let down your hair." Or, rip it out from its roots when you become utterly frustrated from not being able to master Towers. The premise: you need to move a stack of "boxes" from column A to column C, moving one box at a time, not being able to stack a larger box on top of a smaller one. Sound difficult? Gameplay is simple (once you catch on), but as the levels progress, so does the difficulty. It's a puzzle game--prepare to be perplexed! SurveySolutions Express v1.0 [640k] W9x/NT FREE http://207.201.151.129/download/setupssx.exe How many surveys do you take in the average month? It's easy to give answers, but not quite as simple to provide the question. But even if you already have a plethora of questions in your bag, do you have the software know-how to incorporate them into your Web site? SurveySolutions Express makes it easy to build, include, and manipulate data from Internet-based surveys. The only question you really have to answer is: would you like to upgrade to a more robust version? IBM Hard Disk Drive Utilities http://ssdweb01.storage.ibm.com/techsup/hddtech/welcome.htm Have a hard drive or two in your system? Fly over to this page and pick up a utility or two; all of them will work with IBM drives, but you may find something for drives made by other manufacturers: Drive Fitness Test, Disk Manager, EZ-Drive, Power Booster, Data Advisor, EZ-S.M.A.R.T., IBMATA66, Wipe, and Zap. Visual Orangator v1.0 [200k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.chat.ru/~musicsoft/TRX-VOR.ZIP Does complete silence soothe you? Or, are you the type of person who falls asleep to the sound of white noise? Sounds good to me, but what would you rather hear? If you love creating with object-oriented programs, Visual Orangator is right up your alley. With it, you can create generic sound waves by linking components together and tweaking each one. You'll also be able to export your sounds into WAV files, so get those samplers ready! Do you hear what I hear? Media Magnet v0.98 [4.4M] W9x/NT US$150 ftp://webgrip.com/pub/MediaMagnet2.EXE You just did something cool. Who are you going to tell about it? Your friends and family will surely agree, but will they help you get worldwide coverage? Not likely. Media Magnet is a cool tool for those of us who need to be in touch with members of the press on a regular basis. Within one program, you can compose and distribute press releases and other e-communiqués to over 7000 media contacts who may be interested. Start driving traffic to your Internet resource today. GameBar v2.0 [1.3M] W9x/NT FREE http://users.snip.net/~tressler/gamebar2.zip A few short years ago, you didn't need a top-of-the-line card to play the hottest titles. Of course, we always throw nostalgia into the back seat after we take a look at any given high-res, three-dimensional diversion! The problem: different games run better in the different resolutions. Instead of changing your display settings every time you play a particular game, use Gamebar to switch them for you automatically. Waste less time so you can... waste more time. TopStyle v1.01 [2.0M] W9x/NT US$50 http://www.bradsoft.com/topstyle/download/ts1eval.exe The power of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is unreal; this coding subset did for the Web what color did for television. Remember Nick Bradbury? He's one of the world's most popular programmers, and he's back. After creating and developing the HomeSite HTML editor, he's back on his own. This time, he's crafted a very quick, configurable, and complete CSS editor. Check your code's compatibility with various definitions, and preview it internally (using either Gecko or IE). Top stuff! BSOD Properties v1.0a [200k] W9x FREE http://www.pla-netx.com/linebackn/news/bsodprop.zip "Are you tired of the same old blue screen of death? Well say good-bye blue screen and hello to green screen, or purple screen, or black screen of death! Just download this simple little utility called BSOD Properties and select your favorite color. This program makes use of some old Windows 3.1 options in the system.ini file that have been long forgotten, but are still present in Windows 9x." GTRipple v1.0 [293k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.pnc.com.au/~garethth/download/GT-Ripple.exe We have bodies of water in Iowa, but they're nothing compared to the Pacific Ocean in California. In larger bodies of water, you'll see waves develop. But in much smaller basins, you usually see ripples. Now you can have a virtual pond on your Desktop without experiencing water damage. This is an amazing toy; for its first version, GTRipple is quite configurable and equally as stable. Your background image will be set in motion indefinitely. I just hope you don't get seasick easily. KeeBoo v1.01 [7.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.keeboo.com/download/enu/keeboo101/keeboosetup.exe Let me tell you one thing: people don't write books to make money. Heck, you're lucky if a book sells over 10,000 copies--and most of the money is not passed along to the author(s). Still, books are a great way to compile and distribute information. If you've ever wanted to create an e-book of sorts, then I'm sure you'll consider KeeBoo a killer tool. Gather text and graphic content, personalize it, customize it, package it, then pass it along to others. Take a peek at KeeBoo. Ballistyx v1.03 [103k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~jbrooks/Software/Ballistyx/Ballistyx103.zip How many buttons do you have to push around here to have fun? With this game, the answer is none. You're "driving" on a grid, trying to isolate empty areas--with a number of objects bouncing off the walls. But don't let any moving objects touch you or your line as you're creating it. The graphics are very simple, and changing the difficulty level is a snap; I'm sure you'll find the game challenging. I don't think you'll go completely ballistic over Ballistyx, but you'll have a blast! HTML Browser Compiler v1.3 [580k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.bigwig.net/softwaredesign/download/setup.exe At one time, I wanted to pass out floppy diskettes containing Lockergnome's past issues. However, it was tedious to package the information for simple navigation. I wanted to use a standalone application with an internal viewer. This way, I would know exactly what the data would appear like on every computer. The HTML Browser Compiler is a resource-saving utility; rather than having hundreds of HTML and image files scattered across your disk, you can keep them inside a single EXE. Bret Johnson's TSR Programs http://members.aol.com/bretjohn/ "[These] programs are all free (gratuities are gladly accepted, however). They are all DOS TSR (Terminate but Stay Resident) programs. NOTE: These are DOS programs, and are designed to work with DOS programs. They are not specifically designed to work with Windows." Here are a handful of awesome utilities--the most interesting of which is a DOS driver for the Microsoft SideWinder GamePad. Subliminal Messages v3.0 [2.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.jeffguy.com/download/subliminal.exe Sometimes you have to read between the lines. It's like those random dot stereograms--you have to relax your eyes before you can see something which isn't sitting directly on the surface. In a similar vein, your computer can now display subliminal messages (of your choice) without intervention. If you're trying to get into (or out of) a habit, give this puppy a whirl. Before you know it, you won't know what hit you. That's the whole idea (you really want to download this tool). NeoTrace v2.02 [1.1M] W9x/NT US$30 http://diablo.neoworx.com/download/NeoTrc202.EXE Your computer is sitting in front of you. When you're surfing the Web, you're connecting with other computers across the globe. Have you ever wondered (or needed to know) how information gets from one place to another via the Internet? You can type "TRACERT" (then a target) at the command prompt, but visual feedback will be infinitely easier to interpret. Enter NeoTrace: a "high-speed, GRAPHICAL traceroute with integrated whois and ping functionality." Easy, functional, and kinda fun! AppToService v2.1 [23k] NT FREE http://www.basta.com/Software/AppToService.zip "AppToService is a Windows NT Unicode console application that lets you run regular applications as NT Services. This allows you to have some of the benefits of a Windows NT service, such as the ability to run an application even when no user is logged on the computer, the ability to run an application under a specified user account, the ability to allow an application to survive logoff/logon sequences, hence saving the overhead of restarting it for each new user, and so on." Salameanderer v1.0 [1.3M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.furgabat.com/astral/saliac10.exe There are different kinds of amphibians in the western US. Well, they're not so much different as much as they are LARGER. I swear, while we were driving down the highway, I saw a snake that was as large as a sewer pipe! Wait, Shaun just told me that it was a sewer pipe. Regardless, here's a nifty adventure game which puts you (a salamander) in the middle of a jungle. Gameplay is reminiscent of Pitfall, although the graphics are slightly better. Tip the 'scales' in your favor! AutoDialogs v1.0.37 Beta 2 [310k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.metaproducts.com/download/adsetup.exe How much time could you save if you had the right tools in hand? Productivity is important for everyone, whether you've got a bottom line to meet or not. When you need to open or save a file, do you find yourself wasting time because of repetitious folder navigation? If so, then AutoDialogs is a godsend (it should work with most applications). Configure a list of your most frequently-accessed folders, then when an open/save dialog pops up, you're only a click away from your destination. Guilty B*stards v2.03 [4.0M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.ifarchive.org/if-archive/games/pc/guilty.exe You've played command line (text based) games, and you've fiddled with the latest 3D technologies. But have you dropped yourself into interactive fiction? The visuals, while still, are colorful and fresh, and the high-quality audio is pretty darn catchy, too. You're able to communicate in full sentences (if you so desire), though most of the classic commands will work just fine (go, look, inventory, et al). It's a great diversion, though I'd only suggest it for mature users. MyCQ v1.0 [1.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://software.mickem.nu/SoftWare/MyCQ/Mycq.zip Seems like 'instant messengers' are the latest killer app. If software companies aren't battling over standards, they're working on interoperability with existing clients. Well, at least SOME companies are. ICQ is probably the world's most popular IM at this time (although Odigo looks promising). The problem: ICQ doesn't have a thrilling UI. MyCQ changes all that; it'll give the program a completely different interface. There aren't many skins available yet, but ya gotta start somewhere. USBReady v3.01 [545k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.usb.org/data/usbready.exe "USB or Universal Serial Bus is the technology that features one "Universal" plug type for all USB peripheral-to-PC connections. USB replaces all the different kinds of serial and parallel port connectors with one standardized plug and port. USB simplifies the connection of peripherals to computers by providing an instant, no-hassle way to connect these USB peripherals." This utility will test your system for USB readiness. Aldo's Pianito v1.0 [16k] W9x/NT FREE http://members.tripod.com/avargas/piano.zip I wasn't forced to take piano lessons from my best friend's mother; I wanted to learn how to manipulate those ivories. Unfortunately, I started too late. By the time I mastered 'Lightly Row,' Luke was confronting Darth Vader for the second time. I needed to master The Force before anything else. Who knew if the Jedi would return again? Aldo may help keep your mind focused on music--even if you don't have a piano (or electronic keyboard) lying around. Pianito is small, but it works. FletMail v1.03 [211k] W9x/NT FREE http://panchop.hypermart.net/fletmail/fmail103.zip Mail merge commands are extremely powerful. For instance, with Lyris mailing list software, I can insert your e-mail address automatically at the bottom of each issue simply with a predefined text string. When you have to mail more than one person, these commands will save you time; %NAME% may automatically plug in the appropriate person's name, %ADDRESS% may substitute the recipient's address, etc.. FletMail will help you organize and utilize mail merge commands via e-mail. Wonderful! esgear v1.2.0.51 [1.4M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.esgear.com/web/esgear.exe There's something stuck on the side of your browser... but that's the way this suite works. esgear is a set of digital gizmos that'll make your surfing experience a little more pleasant. Each "gear" is a separate program: e-trailgear (for predefined Web destinations), discussiongear (to discuss your thoughts on a page with other visitors), translategear (for on-the-fly language interpreting), searchasitegear (for searching any given site for content), and more! NOTE: no winding required. NetMeeting Patch for ICQ v1.0.17.1 [76k] W9x/NT FREE http://noeld.com/download/icqnm.zip "This little program will patch the registry with the correct settings so that you can place a NetMeeting call to someone else using ICQ. Actually ICQ says something like "you have called your own computer". This is due to incorrect settings in the registry for ICQ. This patch should correct this. The latest version also adds Network Address Translation (NAT) support for Windows NetMeeting." WinTorres v2.1.1 [65k] W9x FREE http://wintorres.sashimi-net.com/win/wt211up.exe Help! There's a cute Klingon half-breed staring at me; I believe her eyes are following me around the room. It's WinTorres--the cutest thing to hit your Desktop since them crazy dancin' hamsters. So what does she do? Well, she basically sits there and looks pretty. If you don't like her, you can also download other Star Trek (and/or Star Wars) characters. It's a lotta 'fun' with a little functionality (birthday reminders, fortune cookies, etc.). For the person who has everything. Tool Pro v1.45 [375k] W9x FREE http://www.ppprogs.demon.co.uk/progs/tpro.exe I have mixed feelings about all-in-one utility packages. They seem to do everything... except what you really need them to do. I'm typically content in using various programs to accomplish different goals. Peter Pearson, I might mention, has impressed me. >From one icon in the System Tray, you'll have access to a stripped down e-mail client, an Inbox cleaner, a 'keep alive' utility, a timer, a random string (password) generator, and a handful of other small (and extremely useful) tools. MP3 Stream Recorder v2.2 [1.2M] W9x FREE http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/gateway/y/yyz81/mp3recorder/mp3rec22.zip Nowadays, everybody is broadcasting something over the Internet. MP3 is arguably the world's most popular audio format, and Shoutcast is setting the scene ablaze. Streaming media servers are popping up left and right. It's a lot like radio, only you're not restricted by geographical boundaries. When you want to record something from your radio, you pop in a cassette and press the REC and PLAY buttons; if you want to record something from a Shoutcast stream, you use this utility. CountryCodes v1.10 [37k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.empire.net/~jason/software/ccodes5.zip Lockergnome is an international e-publication. If the country has Internet access, a Lockergnomie lives there. I live in the heart of the US, but I try to remain 'worldly' when writing my views and reviews. My humor may not translate well in other languages, but--then again--even most Americans can't understand it (so don't feel bad). There's more to the Web than just .COM and .NET. There are .LU and .BM addresses, but what countries do those suffixes represent? Download and discover. ArkoSoft System Snapshot v1.0 [547k] W9x FREE http://www.arkosoftech.com/files/apps/snapshot.exe Take a picture--it'll last longer. Especially if you install shareware more often than you change your underpants. It just takes one small problem to take a system down. Tracking and troubleshooting installation changes is difficult without a simple method for comparison. ArkoSoft System Snapshot lives up to its name; run it before and after software installation, and it'll show you what has changed. If having full control over your system is a way of life, then snap this sucker up. WackyWiper v1.00 [356k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.webwiper.com/wacky100.exe Seeing my Uncle Larry in a moo-moo was pretty strange, but this has got to be the wackiest thing I've ever seen. No doubt, you've seen those Web pages which will automatically transform text into different dialects? Cut out the middle man by using this standalone program: WackyWiper. Every page you visit in Internet Explorer will be slightly... amended. Choose from the following bastardizations: Beav-ize, Accents, Pig Latin, Canadian, French, Valley, Umm, Negate, Roman, and Ken. EXE Locker v1.1 [138k] W9x FREE http://home.hkstar.com/~myst/lock.zip "I don't want you to run this program while I'm away, understand?" And I know for a fact that you won't be able to launch it without knowing the password. With this downloadable gadget, you can assign a password to any given program (EXE file). A DOS window will pop up, prompting the user to enter a password. Without it, s/he'll be out of luck. I'd suggest choosing passwords that you'll remember, or else you may lock yourself out of your own file(s)! It's simple (and sure) protection. LiveWire! Broadcast v1.0b3 [2.6M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.ebaytech.com/lwb10b3.zip The world's largest radio tuner is right at your fingertips. There are so many sites that are streaming media--you just have to find them. Which, believe it or not, is the hardest part. With LiveWire! Broadcast, you can tune into over 2,000 stations (playing Real, Windows Media, and Shoutcast streams). While still early in development, this utility contains a solid database of audio broadcasts that you'll wanna listen to. Hear it for yourself--there's definitely more to come. My Boot Manager v2.7b3 [330k] W9x FREE ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/util/mbmgr273.zip No two operating systems were built alike. I guess that's why the world has so many of them. Are you still debating making the leap from Windows 95 to 98? Or even Windows 98 to 98 SE? You're not alone. Still not sure which one will work best for ya? My Boot Manager will allow you to install one or more versions of the Windows 9x operating systems on the same computer. It's perfect for those who use English and non-English versions of Windows on a regular basis. Make your choice. CoolMaze v1.0 [204k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.pc-guru.com/pcggam02.exe Entering a maze is easy, but will you get out alive? I bet you turned left instead of turning right (that happens to the best of us). Programs (and games) are often not aptly named. However, CoolMaze is both cool and a-maze-ing. Feel like mastering a little maze? Make the window smaller. What about a large maze? Make the window bigger. The digital labyrinth will be automatically redrawn when you change the window's size. You can also tweak the perspective. Catch the maze craze! EXTEditor v1.0 [453k] W9x FREE http://personal.redestb.es/oscarrg/extedit.zip There are files scattered all over your hard drive, but that's okay; I'm assuming they're supposed to be there. Almost every file should have an extension, and consequently, an associated program. Editing extensions isn't always the simplest thing to do; it's not terribly complicated, but the process is cumbersome. EXTEditor steps in and streamlines the task. Even if you've never worked with tweaking a file's options, this'll come in handy. It's not perfect, but then again, what is? DXBall Board Editor v0.10b [94k] W9x
FREE http://www.dxball.org/Freeware/boardedit/dxboard.zip It's time for everybody's favorite 'breakout' game: DXBall! Haven't heard of it? Break into the loop, man. It's amazingly addictive, and now you can create your own boards for it (and distribute them to friends). Control your own destiny... to a certain degree (nobody knows what 'goodies' will pop out from those bricks). But before you get sucked in, be sure to explore this fantastic fan-driven site. For a shareware game, DXBall has quite a following. It's much more than a ball. ReturnWeb v1.0 [1.2M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.dsdcorp.com/files/rw_setup.exe In the average day, how many different Web sites do you visit? If you're a Gnomie, the answer should be somewhere between 4 and 40,000. The Web is always "on," but servers aren't always up. When you're in the heat of battle, it's frustrating when you hit a stubborn Web site that doesn't want to load. Yes, you can put the URL on the backburner and hope to remember it later, or you could have this puppy fetch it for you (when it finally becomes available). What a nice little doggie. QuasiFractal Composer 2.01 [1.8M] W9x/NT FREE http://geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Node/1043/qfc.zip I don't pretend to understand the ins and outs of music... I can't even read it. I took piano lessons when I was a kid, but that's about as far as my 'professional' experience went. There's just something about creating an original tune that's exciting... which is exactly why QuasiFractal Composer has filled an empty void in my life. Within seconds, you'll have created a digital composition worthy of distribution. I must say, this is the best program of its kind. Random, but right on. PECompact v0.94 [272k] W9x/NT FREE http://mercury.spaceports.com/~quel/quel/files/pecsetup.exe For centuries, humans have struggled with the question: how can we get more for less? And then there are those who say that less is more. And what more can be said about saying anything less? I don't know what that means, but I do know that PECompact will help shrink the file size of any one of your applications (EXE files). Code bloat should no longer bring you down, as you can choose which executable resources are actually compressed. I suggest making a backup copy (just in case). 3D Morris v1.03 [2.3M] W9x/NT US$18 http://software.webset.de/fivep/3dmorris.exe Checkers is challenging... for the first five minutes. And I'm sure you've had it up to here with tic-tac-toe. But what would happen if someone combined those two games? I suppose you'd get something like 3D Morris: "a three thousand year old strategy game of the ancient Egyptians." Gameplay isn't tremendously difficult to pick up, but it'll (assuredly) take you a while to master. The interface(s) are simply breathtaking -- I wish all downloadable games looked this nice. Registry Protector v1.00 [78k] W9x US$25 http://mikkoaj.hypermart.net/regprot.zip Once upon a time there lived a knight who was very protective. His name was Nohm. It was his job to protect the palace of Registry. The castle was constantly under attack by the wicked programs from the Internet kingdom. He faced these battles bravely every day. Are you sick and tired of programs taking over your Registry and changing values without your consent? Perhaps you need to hire your own Registry protector. Lo, and there shall be much merriment throughout the system. Test Screens v2.1 [63k] W9x/NT FREE http://pages.vossnet.de/jwa/vc/tscreens.zip "Eight different test modes (some with sub-modes) for your monitor. Test the screen for sharpness, moiré, geometry, convergence, high voltage supply stability, brightness, color quality and more. This program adjusts to any given resolution, and is easy to operate." For troubleshooting tools, this is a winner. UnPlugged v1.3 [128k] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/rambo/rp-all.exe All image editors are limited in certain respects. Sure, you'll always have access to basic editing functions, but what if you need to get downright funky with your graphics? That's where plugins come into play; within seconds, a plugin will change the appearance of your graphic (without much work on your part). The Unplugged plugins will allow you to apply 'special effects' to any image. Check to see whether (or not) your editor can handle PhotoShop-compatible plugins. Octopus v3.0 [777k] W9x/NT FREE http://members.xoom.com/Moskalyuk/Octopus/Octopus.zip A few years ago, I would have considered anything over a megabyte in size a "monster download." Since I'm on ISDN now, I'd say that anything over ten megabytes would be considered a beast. This Octopus won't squirt black ink, but it'll break down those large downloads into smaller chunks -- then combine them once each chunk has been successfully downloaded. The advantage: use several concurrent threads (connections) to obtain a single file. Get those tentacles flailing, buddy! CDR Identifier v1.42 [104k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.gum.de/cdrid/cdrid142.zip "With this little Tool you can read the ATIP (Absolute Time in Pre-Groove) of a CDR media with most of the current CD recorders. This information tells the real manufacturer and the type of dye used for this media." Now that I have a CD-R, I can see how this utility is useful. Per the OSJ definition of the ATIP: "this Method defines as to obtain interchangeability between discs and writers for high speed recording." FontLoader v1.0.1 [480k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.moonsoftware.com/cgi-bin/download.exe?fontloader I'm sure Lockergnome is just one of your sources for finding new fonts. I've been asked quite a few times: "Once I've downloaded a font, how do I get that sucker installed?" Well, it usually just takes a drag & drop into the Font folder, but with this fantastic new shell extension, you can right-click on a font and find four new options: Load, Unload, Install, and Uninstall. NOTE: to use this proggie, you must first find the password on the Moon Software products page. DietWatch Diary v3.1 [2.5M] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.softwatch.com/dietwatch/dietwatch.exe Most adults have the ability to choose what they eat at the dinner table. Would you eat the low fat veggie burger or the high fat filet mignon? I'd go for the beef (as you know, I'm a successful low-carber). Whichever you choose, as long as you're happy (and your body is equally happy), you're good to go. Americans are fixated on constantly dieting, and this program can help. Keep track of your weight loss (and/or overall health) via the Web; peer support is a mouse click away. CDCheck v1.8 [265k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.zejn.si/~mitja/apps_eng/CDCheck/CDCheck.zip "CDCheck checks CD integrity by checking all files on CD. All corrupted files are reported. This application's main purpose is checking CDs for errors and preventing further loss of data if the CD begins to deteriorate. It is also good for checking if CD was written properly. When errors are detected it is a good idea to make a new CD (or move data on some other media) and protect remaining data." BlockCAD v1.8 [452k] W9x/NT FREE http://user.tninet.se/~hbh828t/blockcad3218.exe Think of a toy that pushes a child's imagination to the extreme. And, sorry, that cup-and-ball game doesn't cut the mustard. Remember LEGOs? The sound of a hand shuffling through a container of interlocking blocks is still music to my ears. While this program won't emulate sound, the visuals are nothing short of amazing. With this digital trinket, you can construct... well, whatever you can make with LEGOs, you can make with BlockCAD (and you'll never run out of pieces). Business Card Wizard v1.1 [1.7M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.soft-ware.co.uk/download/bcardwiz.zip The hardest part about starting Lockergnome was finding a proper title. 'CEO' sounds self-important, and 'Janitor-in-chief' missed the mark entirely. I finally settled for 'Electronic Publisher,' although people are just as confused with that as they are with the word 'Lockergnome.' Where's your excuse for not having your own business card? Heck, even if you don't have a business, you can at least make one up for the sake of having something to hand to people on the streets. CD Speed 99 v0.41 [173k] W9x/NT FREE http://users.glo.be/~erikd/cdspeed99_041.zip "The best way to see how well your drive performs is to test it with a benchmarker (like CD Speed). Comparing this result to another drive that has the same speed rating should tell you if your drive matches its specs (or not). CD Speed is a CD-ROM benchmark which can test the most important features of a CD-ROM drive. Tests include: transfer rate, seek times, CPU usage, burst rate, DAE quality, transfer rate, and spinup & spindown time." Special Effects v2.3 [2.0M] W9x/NT FREE http://users.owt.com/pixelate/products/spfxv23.zip In Iowa, fireworks are illegal. So, when we cross the border (into Missouri or Nebraska), we make sure to stock up on... sparklers! Yeah, that's it. Sparklers. They're not illegal in the Silicorn Valley. The last time Gretchen and I went to Kansas City, she nearly emptied our checkbook on... "sparklers." Well, forget about dropping another dime on colorful explosives -- Special Effects is (bar none) the best fireworks sim in the galaxy. "Ooohs" and "Ahhhs" not included. Fraction v2.6.1 [1.7M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/5858/fractions.zip There are certain phrases I heard in school which still make my stomach turn. "Pop Quiz," "No retakes," and "Show your work" were the worst ones. I could usually write my way through an essay-based assignment with ease -- this is where I was formally introduced to the fine art of embellishment. But it's impossible to BS your way through any mathematical problem. I dreaded having to turn fractions into decimals (and vice versa). If only I had this puppy in the fourth grade. ieTuner v1.02 [3.1M] W9x/NT US$5 http://web.wt.net/%7Eepulse/IETuner.exe You're still listening to a local radio station? I have just one question for you: why? Sure, the DJs may have great personalities, but you've (literally) got the whole world at your fingertips. Internet Explorer users will appreciate ieTuner for its simplicity, configurability, and all-around beauty. In the convenience of your Web browser, listen to live radio streams (Windows Media and Real Media formats are supported). No powerful antennas are required to tune in today. html2pdf v0.0.7 [154k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/5247/html2pdf.zip More corporations are turning to the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) to distribute spec sheets on products and/or services. When it comes to controlling the layout of text and graphics, PDF has HTML beat (hands down). Are you ready to master a new document format? With this command line utility, you won't have to. If you need PDF (PDQ), this'll do a quick-n-dirty job. NOTE: the program still in early alpha stages, but it works. The author openly accepts feedback. NovaMatic v1.0 [163k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/8762/Otros/novam10.zip So which one's the north star? I know that none of you in the southern hemisphere can see it, so don't burn any brain cells trying to find it in the heavens. Contrary to popular belief, it's NOT the brightest object in the sky. Now, if you're looking to throw a very bright star into the picture, NovaMatic is an automatic helper. It's still early in development, but for those who need a quick & simple solution, you can't miss this supernovatic star. Wow, that's really bright. Babylon Translators v20.14 [6.2M]
W9x/NT FREE http://www.babylon.com/eng/download/download.html My foreign language instructors encouraged me to read 'non-English' texts for comprehension, and when I came upon a word I didn't know or understand, I should have looked it up. It seemed like I was consulting the dictionary every two minutes! English is a difficult language to learn -- especially if it isn't your native tongue. The Babylon engine will translate English words (on-the-fly) into Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and/or Portuguese. Microsoft Snapshot Viewer [1.7M] W9x/NT FREE http://support.microsoft.com/download/support/mslfiles/Snpvw90.exe "The Microsoft Snapshot Viewer enables you to view a report snapshot without having Microsoft Access 97 or Access 2000 or the run-time version of Microsoft Access 97 or Access 2000 on your computer... think of a report snapshot as a portable Microsoft Access report. A report snapshot file contains a full-fidelity copy of each page." ODIN II v2.21 [2.2M] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.stl-group.net/pub/mirror/ftp.omega.nl/odin-setup.zip When you first begin building your collection of images, they're easy to manage. However, as your database develops into thousands of graphics, you may have a few duplicates. And what's the point of having more than one copy of an image? Well, unless you really want to eat up precious disk space: there is no point. Odin II enters the scene with brute force; it'll scan your media and pick out the dupes automatically. Review the thumbnails then delete those unnecessary files. X-Setup v5.0 [2.4M] W9x/NT FREE ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/util/xqxset50.zip As most Windows 9x users know, TweakUI suffered a surprising death when Windows 98 SE was released. The PowerToy was never officially supported by Microsoft. Wipe those tears away from your eyes -- X-Setup is (in many ways) a much more complete tweaking utility. Aside from the hundreds of possible "hacks" included in this package, X-Setup was designed to accept third-party developed plug-ins (for even greater functionality). It's what TweakUI should have been all along. Mr. Coloring Book v1.10 [1.3M] W9x/NT US$20 http://members.aol.com/xfaxtastic/mcbsetup.exe I was always jealous because my classmates had boxes of 64 crayons (with the built-in sharpener), and I was stuck with a generic-brand '48.' Sure, now I can afford to get the crayon set I want, but coloring isn't much of a challenge anymore. Perhaps I could find a coloring book that captures my attention? Ah, I'll just make one of my own with this simple-to-use utility. Mr. Coloring Book will transform regular graphics into easily-colorable, black and white images. Neat! Outlook Custom Form / Program Launcher v2.01 [929k] W9x/NT FREE http://paul.qualls.com/HTLauncher.zip Toolbar space is a terrible thing to waste, which is why some programs allow you to configure them to your liking. The only problem is: for most toolbars, you're limited by what the program offers. Outlook 97, 98, and 2k users are in luck. This free add-on will allow you to put "links" to nearly anything in any given toolbar, giving you the opportunity to keep your most-used utilities a single-click away. I wonder why they didn't develop this sooner? Look out, Outlook! Stars Screensaver v1.1 [1.1M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.demonews.com/hosted/nehe/files/stars.zip Metropolitan areas are convenient in many ways, but city slickers often miss out on mother nature. when it gets dark, step away from your computer and go outside. Look up. Do you see anything in the sky? Provided there's unlimited vertical visibility, I hope you can see pinpoints of light in the curtain of night. If not, your computer can pass through the tail of this screen saver; put away your binoculars -- the spectacular light show should take place before your eyes. AdWizard V1.0 [627k] W9x/NT FREE http://www.wavget.com/adwizard32.exe When Gretchen & I moved into our house, the people who lived here before us left a few things behind. Ya know, nothing we'd really need. I wanted to throw the junk away, but Gretchen convinced me that someone else might want some broken curtain rods and dried out paint. Okay, fine. So we submitted a classified ad... and couldn't pay people to take them away. You may have items you're wanting to get rid of; the AdWizard will help you post your "stuff' to hundreds of classified ad sites. WinMag Snooper v1.03 [263k] W9x/NT FREE http://img.cmpnet.com/windows/karen/download/ptsnoop-setup.exe "Keep track of the programs your computer runs, even when you're away. This Power Tool runs invisibly, and creates a log file (snoop.log) that records the starting and stopping of every program. The program can be used to detect tampering, or just to track the time spent using each program. What will you see in a log file? A portion of a typical file is shown in the sidebar 'A PC Rap Sheet.' What you'll see in your own log file depends on how much information your applications display in their window title bars." Visual Tubes v1.3.0 [3.7M] W9x/NT FREE http://www.pro-soft.dk/htdocs/download/vt130setup.exe When I got my first computer, I had to download an image editor/viewer. The best one around was Paint Shop Pro. To this day, I'm a PSP supporter (I'll let you know when v6.0 is finally released). Have you used a PSP 'picture tube' yet? Several images are stored in one file, which you may 'spray paint' over any graphic. This utility will help you create and distribute your own picture tubes (for other PSP users). WARNING: 'picture tube' addiction is a laughing matter -- they're fun. |
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