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Making Animated GIFS: Everyone likes animated GIFs. Even we like animated GIFs, as long as they're not overdone. To make animated GIF files, you need a GIF animator. And, if you would like a very nice, and very inexpensive ($7) GIF animator, we suggest that you try Easy GIF Animator from Blumental's Software. You can download your copy of Easy GIF Animator here. http://www.ltn.lv/~kblums/products.php?id=egifan. Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 29 Mar 01.
Spamex: Any time you send an email to someone you don't know, and any time you reply to an Internet marketer, you're opening yourself to spam. How would you like to send email completely anonymously? Spamex.com has a method. This isn't software to download -- instead, it's a free email service. Spamex: http://www.spamex.com/ Tip from EMAZING, 24 Apr 01.
Audio Converter Home Page: http://www.audconv.com/ Audio Converter quickly and easily converts your MP1-3, AIFF, TwinVQ and Wave files individually or in batches directly to Windows Media audio format (features MP3 quality at half the size). You can also convert audio files to MP3, AIFF and Wave format. It allows you to copy tracks from an audio CD to your hard disk and quickly make audio CDs from your audio files. It also supports WinAmp M3U and PLS playlists and CDDB.
It can convert audio CD to MP3 files, and MP3 files to WAV files, and vice versa. It will convert almost any kind of audio file into almost any other kind of audio file. Download Audio Converter and try it out. If you decide you want to keep it, the price is a reasonable $19. It could also be available through EMAZING.com (http://www.emazing.com/ ), at: http://www.dennisre.com/audconv/index.html.
How to escape from an annoying Web site
Internet Explorer or Netscape? Webheads have long argued over which browser is better, Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. They're both good, and each has strengths and weaknesses the other lacks. Lots of folks use both -- I'm one of them! I use IE at work because it's easier to copy text and URLs completely and accurately. I use Netscape 4-plus at home (haven't warmed to Netscape 6 yet) because it seems to load up a little faster and because I can keep the Bookmarks file open as a separate window (see the Internet Tip for Oct 31, 2000 in the Archive), which helps me manage my rather large collection. It also seems to handle multiple browser windows better than IE, which can get sluggish. I also like the integrated mail client, Netscape Messenger. On the other hand, Internet Explorer has better Java and does a better job displaying some Web pages. It's good to be familiar with both. Tip from EMAZING. 18 Jan 01.
More on URLs in Netscape: Several readers wrote in with comments on our "Big URLs" Tip (though no mention of the dreadful pun in the title). Both Internet Explorer and Netscape display the target address at the bottom of the browser window when you place the cursor on a hot link, as we noted (I haven't used Opera in a while so I don't know if it also does this). Netscape doesn't have IE's "Properties" box, but it does have the handy "Copy Link Location" feature. Just right-click on the target link, select "Copy Link Location," and paste it into the location bar or other document. IE does the same with "Copy Shortcut." Right-click on the link, choose "Copy Shortcut," and paste. Both methods are quicker than copying and pasting URLs from the location bar or the Properties box, but make sure you're copying the right target URL! Tip from EMAZING. 17 Jan 01.
The Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Beta: Have you tried Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 beta yet? If not, you might want to take a look to see what you like. We have been running IE 6 for several weeks now and have seen only a few bugs, none of them especially crippling.
There are a number of new features. We like the fact that you can very easily customize the toolbar and then lock it down once you're happy with what you have. . . . try it for yourself. After all, you can always go back to your original setup. Click here to get Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. Tip from EMAZING. 8 May 01. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/preview/ie6/betanote.asp?FinishURL=%2Fdownloads%2Frelease%2Easp%3FReleaseID%3D28711%26redirect%3Dno
Try Opera: From time to time we've mentioned Opera, a browser alternative to Internet Explorer and Netscape that has been growing in popularity and sophistication. The Scandinavian product is billed as "the fastest browser on earth!" It achieves its speed partly due to another advantage, its slimness. It's a much smaller download than either of the Big Two (although the Java-enabled version of Opera is much larger than the non-Java version) but it has most of the features users want. That's part of the problem with "alternatives" -- IE and Netscape wouldn't have so many features if users didn't want them. The thing that makes Opera so attractive, its small size, becomes less of a factor as Opera's developers lard it up with features and as hard drives get bigger and processors get faster. It's worth a try, especially if you're unhappy with the big boys. Click here to download Opera 5.01 for Windows! http://www.opera.com/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 19 Jan 01.
NTI CD-Maker 2000: http://www.ntius.com/index.cfm If you don't care for the software that came with your CD ROM recorder, you may want to look at some other packages. One that we can recommend, based on personal experience, is NTI CD-Maker 2000. This is the simplest program of its type we've seen. The interface is so simple that even young children can use it. But this simplicity doesn't mean that it is less effective than other programs. Also, the price is good. At $49.95, it's less expensive than its competition. Download your trial copy of NTI CD-Maker 2000! Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com
Convert CD Tracks to MP3 Files: If you've decided to build a collection of MP3 files on your hard disk, you may wish to convert some of your CDs to MP3 files. Of course, there are several ways to turns CD tracks into MP3 files, but most of them are a bit of trouble to use. For an easy-to-use, no-frills sort of conversion program that will convert CD tracks to MP3 or WAV files, look at Music File Converter by Joele Software. It's free. Click here for Music File Converter! http://www.joelesoftware.com/mfc/index.html
Color Matters: Color is an important part of the online experience. Today's graphics cards and monitors can display millions of colors. Colors have psychological effects, too. You can learn a lot about color at Color Matters. The site has information and links to just about every aspect of color you can imagine. Color and the brain, color and vision, color and art, color and science -- you can even participate in a global color survey. . . . the Color Matters site shows how and why. Click here to see why 'Color Matters!' http://www.colormatters.com/entercolormatters.html Tip from EMAZING, 4 May 01.
JPEG Compressor: As you may have noticed, some of the software used to compress scanned images isn't all that great. Either these programs don't do enough compression, or the picture quality degrades significantly. If this is noticeable to you, then you should try Advanced JPEG Compressor for Windows, from WinSoftMagic. This program compresses the files to an amazingly small size while retaining excellent picture quality.
Check out Advanced JPEG Compressor and, if you like what you see, register it for $25. Get it by clicking on http://www.winsoftmagic.com/. Tip from EMAZING, 3 May 01.
Graphics Sizer: Like to look at pictures? Perhaps pictures that you download from the Internet, or from your digital camera. Either way, you'll find a lot of size variation. To view these pictures the way they should look, try a freeware program called Graphi-Sizer from Velvet Heart. You'll find Graphi-Sizer here! http://www.velvetheart.com/download/index.html Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 27 Feb 01.
A Photo Library: If you have a large collection of photos on your hard disk, you definitely need some way to keep track of them all. Organizing photos is a time-consuming and tedious task. But you can lighten your load and get better results if you use software suited for the job. PhotoLibrarian from AME Labs is just such a program. You can download a trial version of PhotoLibrarian to see how you like it. If you do, then you can register for a measly $31.25. PhotoLibrarian is a big download at 5.30 MB. Click here to download PhotoLibrarian! http://www.amelabs.com/photolibrarian/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 2 Mar 01.
FlipBrowser Gold: Create online book-like photo album, manuals, catalogs, novels...FlipBrowser Gold lets you build all these flipbooks and upload them onto your website for sharing with your family or site visitors. Or browse the Internet with it. Pages are downloaded and stored in a page-flipping form. No more scrolling! FREE trial download available. http://click.emazing.com/ads/flipalbum/down1.html Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 26 Jan 01.
Motion Studio: How about a program that will let you design your own slide shows? Of course, you could get Microsoft's PowerPoint, but it isn't inexpensive. And, at times, it isn't all that easy to use. For a flexible and easy-to-use slide show program, take a look at Motion Studio 1.0. Using Motion Studio, you can create fantastic slides even if you have no programming skills.You can try Motion Studio to see if it meets your needs. If you like it, registration is $39.95. Click here to download a trial copy of Motion Studio. http://www.wisdom-soft.com/downloads/downloadfiles.htm Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 19 Jan 01.
Organize Your Digital Photos: Keep your digital photos organized with FlipAlbum, It organizes digital photos and graphics into 3D page-flipping photo albums. You can play music while viewing your photos, email them, and even run slide shows. FlipAlbum has earned a *ZDNet 5-Star* rating! Try FlipAlbum FREE for 30 days! Download it at: FlipAlbum: http://www.flipalbum.com/c4/?x=A02EMG File size 3.95 Mbytes.
Digital Camera Enhancer: If you're into digital photography, you need a way to enhance many of your pictures. . . . We like Digital Camera Enhancer, a freeware program that corrects pictures that have fallen victim to less-than-perfect lighting conditions. This is one of the best programs we've seen for easily correcting close-up portraits (the keyword here is "easily"). There are several rather expensive and complex programs that will probably do a better job -- if you want to spend the money and take the time to learn all the program's nuances. You can get your copy of Digital Camera Enhancer by clicking here: http://www.mediachance.com/digicam/enhancer.htm. Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 10 Apr 01.
EMAZING - The best way to start your Internet day!: http://www.emazing.com/ This is the source of many of the links cited below. I am on their automatic e-mail update of two to three e-mails per day -- some of it very useful, some of it (pop culture, and great new deals) just junk to me. On the whole, I find it to be worthwhile.
Virtual Human Email: Be the first on your street to have talking email. ::
LifeFX the Face of the Internet: http://www.lifefx.com/FaceOfTheInternet/index.html Virtual People Bringing Life to the Internet! Imagine that websites and e-mails could not only communicate ideas, but also emotions. At LifeFX, we are able to represent the expressive variety of human personality and intelligence through the Internet and e-mail using our Stand-In* Virtual People. * (Trademark.) Our free e-mail application, facemail profides a fun, easy-to-use way to send and receive e-mails with LifeFX Stand-Ins that will speak your messages. It's free, so get it now. To run Facemail you need at least a Pentium II 266MHz or equivalent (400MHz is recommended). It's a 7.02 MB download. Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com Let Rachel speak.
Reply to All? If you participate in mailing lists, online chat groups, or email discussions, be careful whom you reply to. Hitting "Reply to All" sends your response to everyone who received the same email you did. If you make any personal comments, everyone will receive them. Likewise with mailing lists -- any replies sent to the list will go to each member. Be careful when clicking Reply -- make sure the message will only go to the intended recipients. . . . sending personal messages to one and all can lead to major embarrassment . . . Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 19 Apr 01.
Grapevine's Joke of the Day 'Vine: You Think You're Funny, Don't Ya? Get on EMAZING Grapevine's Joke of the Day 'Vine and prove it! Post your best material, the funniest things you've ever heard, or stuff you've just borrowed! If it's funny, it belongs on the 'Vine -- if your joke's not funny -- don't worry, your friendly 'Vine members will likely let you know. Duck for the virtual tomato! EMAZING's Grapevine is a FREE email discussion group service. It's safe, anonymous, FREE, and funny too! The Joke of the Day 'Vine is located at: http://grapevine.emazing.com?action=vt&list_id=vine_joke Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 13 Feb 01.
User Forums: A reader wrote to tell us about his success in solving three software problems with the help of user forums. Also known as user groups, these let you post your question for consideration by the forum's readers, some of whom have probably dealt with a similar problem in the past. They post their answers to your message, and others post replies to their replies, and before you know it you've got a "thread" of online conversation, with other "threads" diverging into different (but perhaps related or at least interesting) topics. If you'd rather not post a question, you can search the messages until you find some answers -- lots of common problems have already been solved. User forums are common on the Web and in newsgroups -- some are available through both. Try searching "user forum" and the name of the software in question. It doesn't have to be software (or problems) either -- there are online forums and groups for just about everything under the sun. Need help with Microsoft products? Here's the Microsoft Mindshare user group support page: http://www.microsoft.com/mindshare/default.asp Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com.
IE 6 -- Will It Stand Alone? Microsoft is apparently considering whether to release the latest Beta version of its Web browser, Internet Explorer 6 Beta 2, as a standalone browser -- i.e., not integrated with Windows. Microsoft's strategy of integrating IE with its Windows operating system is one of the reasons the software giant is in trouble with the Justice Department, which says Microsoft's tactics are anticompetitive. Backing away from that strategy might help mollify the Feds, but the downside is that IE 6 Beta 2 won't run on all Windows operating systems -- Win95 users are out of luck, at least for time being, and Windows 2000 users will have to wait for a "full" IE 6 install, promised by the end of the year. IE 6 will go head-to-head with Netscape 6 in the browser wars, but it looks like neither is in good fighting trim just yet. Click here for more about Microsoft IE 6 Beta 2: http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2690850,00.html Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 5 Mar 01.
Electronic pen on paper: no tablet needed
Anoto - join the revolution: http://www.anoto.com/ Anoto drives the revolution in pen and paper. For the first time ever, we have enabled wireless business to take off directly from paper by uniting handwriting with everyday digital communication.Now you can send both text and drawing from wherever you are. A pen follows and records your handwriting and drawings made on a unique pattern. The pen also acts as your wireless communication gateway to digital destinations. A remarkable feature is that when the pen is placed on the paper, which is imprinted with a pattern of dots, the camera in the pen can see enough dots to determine its position on a page that could cover half the area of the USA.
The site is great, apart from some type sizes being too small.
The following is my review of another site about Anoto, not by Anoto.
The pen idea looks good if you are a poor typist, or if you do not have a keyboard handy. Otherwise, it must be remembered that a good typist can type faster than one can scribble with a pen. This site about Anoto (not the Anoto home Web site) is also one of the poorest Web sites that I have ever seen in terms of its ability to communicate a message. It uses a font size so small that it is barely legible. It then ensures that the color of the faint type is almost identical to that of the background. It then uses Flash technology to ensure that you cannot read all items on a list at once -- thereby defeating the whole purpose of having a list. It then makes it even more awkward by using the counterproductive Adobe Acrobat software to make it difficult to navigate through text, and impossible to take an extract of text from it to help make a review such as this. Perhaps the disdain shown for the communications arts and the quality of the typed word will appeal to the natural audience for this pen -- those who had better stick to scribbling trivia rather than learning how to type, and thereby comunicate faster and more legibly than with poor hand scribbling.
Wireless News Ericsson Developing Wireless 'Post-It' Pen: http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/5350.html Wireless NewsFactor Nov 13, 2000. Anoto and Ericsson Mobile Communications announced they are exploring a new concept that will bring the 3M Post-it Note into the wireless, digital domain. Users of the new technology will be able to write messages with an Anoto pen on familiar canary yellow sticky paper. Their notes will then be transmitted from the pen to a PC or cellular phone using Bluetooth wireless technology.
Go Home.
Evidence Eliminator - What evidence is on your hard drive: http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/main.shtml?A653445 Speed-Up your PC and Internet Browser, reclaim lost Hard Disk space and professionally clean your PC! Make it safer to use the Internet - All in one click of your mouse! . . . every click you make on Windows 98 Start Menu is logged and stored permanently on a hidden encrypted database within your own computer? . . . Deleting "internet cache and history" will not protect you . . . your PC is keeping frightening records of both your online and off-line activity. . . . Do you have an ex-spouse or ex-partner with a grudge against you, have you been "Grassed"? . . . Forensic Analysis equipment such as EnCase and F.R.E.D. used by Private and Business Investigators, Law-Enforcement and others, can recover evidence from parts of your hard drive that you thought were empty, parts that you had cleaned.
Safe Cable and DSL: Test your system and maybe add some security.
One of the biggest problems with cable modems and DSL (and other '"always-on" Internet options) is a static IP address (your computer's Internet address). With a dial-up service, your IP address changes each time you log on. With "always-on" service, your IP address doesn't change, which can make it an inviting target for viruses and cybervandals. Lots of cable and DSL services have pretty good firewalls, software that prevents unauthorized access to your PC or network. If your ISP doesn't, you can add one yourself, but how do you know if you're protected? Steve Gibson has the answer. Gibson Research Corp (Home: http://grc.com/) specializes in computer security products and services. One great feature of his Web site is his ShieldsUP! Page, which probes your computer (harmlessly) and then tells you how vulnerable it is to attack and what you need to do to secure it. I was pleased to find that my PC is pretty secure from cyberattack, despite my cable modem. If you need a firewall, Steve has all the info you need. Check your system's vulnerability today. Click here to visit GRC's Shields UP! page: Shields UP! -- Internet Connection Security Analysis: https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 Tip from EMAZING Internet Tip of the Day, 7 Dec 00: http://www.emazing.com.
Checking On Your Security:
How secure is your system? If you're running on cable or DSL, this is an important question since you're connected to the Internet any time your computer is active. Even if you're using a modem, you're susceptible to intrusion while you're connected to the Internet.
There are two sites that we like to use to evaluate our system security. One is DSL Reports -- a site that will scan your ports and then provide you with a report. The other site we've mentioned before -- Steve Gibson's Shields Up! site. You can elect to test your shields, or you can do a port scan on the ports most often accessed by intruders. Or, you can run both tests.
Click here for DSL Reports. http://www.dslreports.com/scan
Click here for the Shields Up! site. http://www.grc.com Tip from EMAZING Internet Tip of the Day, 10 May 01: http://www.emazing.com.
Firewalls (addendum to the GRC info above): . . . McAfee and Norton offer firewall programs, but there's also Zone Labs' Zone Alarm, which is freeware. Click here to check out Zone Labs' computer security products: http://www.zonelabs.com.Tip from EMAZING, 12 Apr 01.
Bug Squash: A surprising number of Web sites and online entities use "Web bugs" to track users' habits. The tiny programs aren't "cookies," the small files Web sites put in your computer to collect personal information, though bugs can be matched to them. Web bugs can be used in unwelcome ways, such as identifying your IP address or even invading your system -- there's one that can steal your entire email address book when you go to the bugged Web page. Software security companies are stepping into the breach with new tools to help users find and squash Web bugs in their system. Privacy advocates have testified before a congressional group studying the potential threat to privacy posed by Web bugs and other online tracking technologies, too. Click here to read more about Web bugs: http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2692472,00.html, Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com.
Attribute Changer: You can have some problems with folder attributes -- especially when you copy files from a CD to a hard disk. There is now a cool utility that will let you change folder attributes quickly and easily. The program is Attribute Changer from Romain's Software. Attribute Changer doesn't operate as a stand-alone program, but runs from a Windows Explorer window. Just right-click a folder and choose Change Attributes. Click here for Attribute Changer! http://webplaza.pt.lu/public/rpetges/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 22 Feb 01
Backing Up Your Files: Looking for a good, easy-to-use backup program? You should try Backup Plus from Avantrix, Inc. This program has a nice user interface, and it allows you back up a variety of media, such a Zip drives, CDRs, hard disks, and drives on your LAN. Backup Plus runs in Windows 9x, Windows ME, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 Professional. You can test Backup Plus for 15 days. If you wish to purchase a copy, registration is $39.95. Click here to download your trial copy of Backup Plus! http://www.backupplus.net. Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 23 Feb 01.
Back Up! You Missed The Address It's easy to back up your email address book in Outlook, Outlook Express, and Netscape. In either Microsoft program, just open your address book, click File-Export-Address Book, and then select your floppy drive when the Save box pops up (look for the Save In address box at the top -- just click to the floppy drive, usually drive A) and click Save -- it's done! Same with Netscape -- just click Communicator-Address Book-File-Export etc.; just like with Microsoft. Backing up your Favorites or Bookmarks is a little trickier, but not much. You need to quit your browser, find the proper file, and copy it to the floppy. Everyone's system is a little different, but the quickest way is to use Windows' Find feature (go to the Start button) to find Internet Explorer's Favorites file. Then, in the Find box, right-click it and click Send To Floppy. It'll copy your Favorites file to the floppy. Same thing with Netscape, only it'll be Bookmarks you'll find, not Favorites. Don't forget to look for the right file if you've renamed your Favorites or Bookmarks file (like "Joe's Favorites"). Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 26 Feb 01.
Don't Forget to Back Up Your Files: It's very easy to forget to back up your data files. Then your hard disk flakes out, and your data is gone. One way to help preserve your data is to copy it to a second hard disk, or to a removable disk such as a Zip. Or perhaps you would prefer to copy your important data to a disk on your local network. It doesn't matter so much where you store your data backups. What does matter is that you remember to keep those backup files up to date. Since it's so easy to forget, try CobBackup -- a freeware program that will remember for you. Get CobBackup: http://www.educ.umu.se/~cobian/prog.htm Tip from EMAZING. 18 Jan 01.
Be Good to Your PC: Most users put their PCs at risk through carelessness and neglect at some point. It doesn't have to be anything as drastic as a virus, either -- installing or uninstalling software, upgrading software, changing settings, and even sloppy housekeeping can hurt or kill your machine. CNET's techs have compiled a handy online list of 18 common mishaps and how you can avoid or fix them. They tell you how to manage software safely, how to delete files or clean up your Registry without zapping anything important, and how to take care of your computer so it will live long enough to be truly obsolete. If you've ever suffered through a major problem, you're probably willing to go a few extra steps to avoid the hassle and expense of a repeat performance.Treat your PC with respect! Click here to learn how. http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3662-8-4458316-1.html?tag=st.cn.1.prl.3662-8-4458316-1 Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 26 Feb 01.
Directory Compare: Let's say that you're one of those rare people who always back up all your data. After a while, you'll have files in your backup folder that you no longer need. The problem is that you don't want to accidentally delete the wrong files -- all you want to do is make sure that your backup folder matches your current working folder. To handle this job, download Directory Compare -- it's free. Click here to download Directory Compare! http://tp.lc.ehu.es/JMA/win95.html Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 1 Mar 01.
File Renamer: We often use file renamers to handle our photo files. We recently ran across one that we find works very well, and it's freeware, too. This one is called G6 Renamer, and it offers a wide variety of features. You can set up your names just about any way you can imagine them. Click here to download G6 Renamer: http://www.gene6.com/renamer/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 20 Mar 01.
Monitoring Your System: Want to make sure that your CPU isn't running too hot? Or that your system fan hasn't slowed down or stopped? What you need is a copy of Motherboard Monitor version 5.04. This utility will monitor temperatures, fan speeds, and system voltages as reported by most modern motherboards. We have tested MBM 5.04 on Pentium III/Celeron motherboards as well as several Athlon/Duron motherboards. MBM did quite well in all cases. Click here to download your copy of Motherboard Monitor. http://mbm.livewiredev.com/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 20 Feb 01.
RegCleaner: There are a number of Registry cleaning programs, but RegCleaner by Jouni Vuorio remains our favorite. You can use it to rid your system of Registry entries that seem to collect over time. The latest version of RegCleaner is now available, and is still free -- at http://www.jv16.org/ Tip from EMAZING: 14 May 01.
Capture from AnalogX. This neat little freebie will capture a full screen or an active window and save the capture to a file (or to the Clipboard if you prefer).Click here to download Capture: http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/capture.htm. Tip from EMAZING: 2 Oct 00.
SequoiaView: SequoiaView shows you what is on your hard disk and where. This program uses a technique called cushion treemaps. This is something you have to see for yourself because it's too difficult to explain. SequoiaView was written by the computer science department of the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. Since the program is free, download it and see for yourself how cushion treemaps look. To get SequoiaView, click here. http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com.5 Apr 01.
System Identification: Ok, so you probably know what kind of CPU, RAM, etc. is in your own computer, but you probably don't know what's inside other people's computers. If you work with other people's systems, you may need a way to find out what they're running. We like a little freeware utility called SysID to help us quickly determine what we need to know about a strange computer. SysID tells it all. Click here for SysID! http://www.sysid.subnet.dk/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 5 Mar 01.
Test Your Computer's Stability: Is your computer really stable? If you like to see just how fast your computer can run, you need to know the answer to this question. One tool that can help you check your system stability is CPU Stability Test by Jouni Vuorio. CPU Stability Test is freeware. Click here to download CPU Stability Test! http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/index.shtml Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 19 Feb 01.
XXCopy: Xcopy is one of the most useful command line utilities in Windows. We're always looking for more power in our utilities, so here's an enhanced version of Xcopy. This is called XXCopy and it's published by Pixelab, Inc. XXCopy is a very nice freeware utility -- one that we use often.Click here to download XXCopy! http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy/ Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com.21 Feb 01.
VCD Player: If you make VCDs (Video Compact Discs), then you could probably use a good VCD player program. QuickVCD Player is one that does a good job for us. It will play VCDs and video files on your hard disk. It requires that you have Microsoft Media Player loaded on your computer. QuickVCD Player is freeware -- click here to download it! QuickVCD Player - Free Downloads - CNET.com: http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10079-108-73127.html?tag=st.dl.10079.upd.10079-108-73127 Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 19 Apr 01.
Get The VB Runtime Files
So much shareware and freeware makes use of the Visual Basic runtimes files that you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you just go ahead and download the files. Often freeware and shareware sites will offer to let you download a program minus the runtime files. This means that you get to download the shorter files if you already have the runtimes. Click here for Microsoft's support page!
http://support.microsoft.com/ or
http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp?fr=0&SD=GN&LN=EN-US
KeyScreen Previewer (Keyscreen.com) - Graphic & Multimedia: http://www.keyscreen.com/Graphic&Multi.htm#14 Part of site KeyScreen Previewer (KeyScreen.com) - Top Rated Shareware Download & Screenshot: http://www.keyscreen.com/
UK 24 Pounds Sterling; USA US$40; Canada Cdn$65.
Screen Capture the Visual Basic Way
BV11: http://www.pgacon.com/bv11.htm Basically Visual Dec/Jan 1998 by Peter G. Aitken (c)1997.
Capturing the Screen in Visual Basic
Microsoft recognized the importance of being able to capture the screen by building a basic capture facility into Windows itself – simply press PrintScreen or Alt+PrintScreen to copy an image of the entire screen or of the active window, respectively, to the clipboard. There are also plenty of specialized screen capture programs out there, and some of them are quite sophisticated. Even so, you may want to do it yourself, . . . Listing 1. Code for the Screen Capture utility's form module . . . .
Part of the site Visual Basic by Peter Aitken: http://www.pgacon.com/visualbasic.htm#Basically%20Visual Much good stuff by an experienced author and programmer.
See also Screen Capture Program and HIJAAK PRO User Guide Chapter 9: Capturing a Windows Screen.
Redirection: If you have a Web page on one site and then decide to move that page to another site, what about people who continue to go to the old site? What you need to do is automatically direct them to your new site. To handle this redirection, you can use ReDIRECTOR Pro. This freeware program makes it easy to set up a redirection page on your original Web site. Click here for ReDIRECTOR Pro! http://iawix.virtualave.net/software.html Tip from EMAZING: http://www.emazing.com. 26 Jan 01.
Website Extractor: We have had some critical notes from readers who wanted to let us know how they feel about people who use Website extractors to steal their pages. We are definitely not trying to encourage anyone to nab Web pages. However, we often use Website Extractor 7.11 (the latest version) to download our own Web pages. This allows us to place the entire Web page in its own folder just as it currently exists. We can then modify the pages and simply upload the entire mess to the host computer. So, you see, there are legitimate reasons for a Website extractor. Website Extractor (the one we like) is freeware. Click here to download Website Extractor: http://www.esalesbiz.com/extra/ Tip from EMAZING: 27 Mar 01.
Web Site Garage: Does your Web site need a tune-up? To find out, you need to visit the Web Site Garage. Just enter your Web address and your email address and click Go. You'll get a brief assessment of your Web page. You'll find out about its compatibility, its loading speed, and even the spelling on the page. Click here for yor your checkup! http://websitegarage.netscape.com/ Tip from EMAZING: 9 May 01.
Creating An Icon For Favorite Shortcuts
If you're building a Web page, you can add your own icon to the page so that people who save your page to their Favorites folder (using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or greater) will automatically use the icon. To do this, you need to create (or locate) an icon of 16 X 16 pixels and 16 colors. Name the icon "favicon.ico" and upload it to the root folder of your Web site. Tip from EMAZING: 11 Nov 01.
Snared in the Web: Webmasters use a variety of annoying tricks to lure you to their sites and keep you there. Pop-up windows you can't close or that open a new window as soon as you close one, animation and video clips that take forever to load or that crash your browser, back buttons that won't work, MIDI files you don't want to hear -- there's an ever-expanding list of Web outrages, and every surfer has a favorite. CNET's Web wizards have compiled a list of six of the worst offenders and what you can do avoid or disable them. See "When Web Sites Attack" to learn how to fight back at out-of-control pop-ups, "attack ads," browser-freezing animations, and Web sites encrusted with every conceivable gimmick. When Web Sites Attack: http://www.cnet.com/internet/0-3805-8-4591040-1.html. Tip from EMAZING: 13 Feb 01.
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You can e-mail me at waynerp@sympatico.ca