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Dynamite Downloads
Dynamite DownloadsForget pricey shrinkwrapped software. We uncover 25 shareware and
freeware gemsfrom office workhorses to musthave Web utilities and handheld
apps.
Just as a cup of coffee in the afternoon can put a little pep in your
step, the right download can give your PC some added zip. We've located 20
freeware and shareware programs that promise help with an array of functions,
from backing up your data to managing your MP3 files. Every program that we
recommend costs $30 or less and is a complete applicationnot a trial version
of a more expensive software package. We've also evaluated each program's ease
of use, features, and overall value.
Of course, downloading programs from the Internet is sometimes a
perilous process, and many programs can be downright hazardous to your PC. In "
The Dark
Side of Downloading," we look at the sorts of programs to avoid
and explain what you can do to protect yourself. And finally, we pinpoint five
downloadable programs that your PC shouldn't go without. Download any of the
programs listed
here.
Business/Personal Productivity
Take a look at these helpful productivity applications, which range from
an email program to a synonym finder. One of these downloads could be just the
tool you've been yearning for.
Easy EMail
Delta Mail, 76KB, $12
Two words people rarely use when describing email software: simple and
safe.
Delta
Mail's clean interface recalls the days when email clients
weren't cluttered with icons, toolbars, and menus. And the program is as easy
to set up as it is to use: Just enter your SMTP and POP3 servers, your email
address, and your user name and password. But what really sets Delta Mail apart
is its automatic encryption of outgoing messages (including the subject line
and attachments) using a 256bit algorithm that doesn't require digital IDs.
You also get protection from many email viruses simply because most virus
writers target Outlook and Outlook Express.
Dennis O'Reilly
View That Document
MakePDF for Word 3.1, 1.7MB, $30
Maybe you need to convert your heavily formatted Microsoft Word
documents to Adobe's Portable Document Format so people who don't have Word
running on their PCs can read them, but you can't justify spending $249 for
Adobe Acrobat.
MakePDF for
Word is a less expensive (albeit less functional) alternative
for people like you. Copy the MakePDF.dot template into your Word Startup
folder to add a MakePDF toolbar to Word. Click the toolbar's 'Print to PDF'
button to create a PDF version of the Word file and save it to the folder of
your choice. You get a range of encryption and filecompression options, but
you don't get Acrobat's internal links, bookmarks, and other advanced
features.
Dennis O'Reilly
Maintain Contact
Wordware Personal Information Manager 2002a, 602KB,
$24
A cottage industry has developed around utilities that add functions
Microsoft neglected to provide in Word. One of the most useful of these gap
fillers is
Wordware
PIM, a simple program that introduces to Word a menu command
(to the right of Help), along with a singlebutton toolbar, that leaves your
personal and business contacts' email addresses, phone numbers, and other
information just a click away. That click opens a dialog box where you can
arrange to enter, edit, and delete contacts and their information; import and
export data; create envelopes and mailing labels; send faxes; and even generate
reports. Anyone who has struggled with the bulky Outlook interface will
appreciate Wordware PIM's clean, simple look. The program does lack some
features available in standalone PIMs, but if Word is your primary
productivity tool, an integrated contact manager like this may be all the PIM
you need.
Dennis O'Reilly
My Notes Are Here Somewhere
TexNotes, 2.6MB, $15
For people who use Microsoft Word or Notepad as a scratch pad to
scribble down quick notes,
TexNotes
represents a flexible alternative that allows you to track your notekeeping.
The program lets you organize files and documents in different "notebooks,"
which it saves to your hard drive and lists in an Explorerstyle browser along
the right side of the screen for easy retrieval. You can add new files and
documents by clicking a button. Each new note is a blank, white page; but a
Microsoft Officestyle toolbar lets you format your notes however you like,
with different fonts, styles, and backgrounds.
Lisa Cekan
At a Loss for Words?
Idea Magic, 1.92MB, $20
If you're dissatisfied with the word choices offered by Microsoft
Word's Thesaurus tool, this program is for you.
Idea Magic
finds synonyms from a database of 30,000 words, and it works in Word, Notepad,
WordPad, and even Excel. When you select a word for it to search on, it
identifies the word's various contexts in one pane and provides a list of
synonyms for the selected context in another pane. For instance, typing in
slippery brings up contexts such as "smoothness" and "improbity," along with
synonyms for the currently selected context. Now the right words won't escape
you.
Kalpana Narayanamurthi
Utilities/AddOns
Think of these handy utilities and program addons as the tonic your PC
needs to acquire some performance verve.
Back It Up
Handy Backup, 1.36MB, $30
Everyone should back up data on a regular basis, but it's such a
Herculean task that we tend to put it off. Enter
Handy
Backup, an easytouse utility that employs a nifty wizard to
guide you through the process. You can back up to your hard drive, to another
computer on a LAN, to your CDRW drive, or to an FTP site. You can set the
program to back up daily, weekly, or monthly at a specific time. You can even
instruct the program to encrypt your data using 128bit encryption. The simple
interface is so userfriendly, you might actually find yourself backing up your
PC regularly.
Kalpana Narayanamurthi
Stay Healthy
AntiVir Personal Edition, 3.45MB, free
Antivirus software has become an essential utility that every PC needs
to have installed. For the best protection and easiest controls, we recommend
Symantec's
Norton AntiVirus ($50). If your budget is tight, however,
you'll want to consider
AntiVir Personal
Edition. This simple but very effective antivirus application
provides realtime protection by scanning a file every time it gets accessed.
The program also lets you scan entire drivesbut not individual files or
folderson demand. With AntiVir's basic scheduler and a little tinkering, you
can also set up regularly occurring program updates, though not automatic drive
scans (as you can with Norton AntiVirus).
Seán Captain
Antivirus Fire Drill
EICAR Standard AntiVirus Test File, 68KB, free
The best time to learn how your antivirus scanner works most assuredly
isn't in the middle of an attack. Fortunately, you can run your PC through a
test using the
EICAR AntiVirus Test
File, a small program that antivirus vendors list in their
virus definition databases. The Test File shows you how your scanner will react
to a bona fide infection and lets you familiarize yourself with the warning
messages and dialog boxes you'll have to navigate. Once you know the ropes, you
won't be caught offguard when forced to deal with a real virus attack.
Seán Captain
Make Photos Feel Manipulated
SuperBladePro, 4.1MB, $30
All image editing applications come with vast assortments of filters
for jazzing up photos. But many of them don't allow you to tweak the filters.
Though
SuperBladePro is really a surface and texture generator
plugin, it can work as a selfcontained image editor. Start it from within
your image editing app (it works with any image editing program that accepts
Adobe Photoshopcompatible plugins, including Photoshop Elements, Jasc Paint
Shop Pro, and Ulead PhotoImpact), and you can bend, twist, and colorshift for
hours. Play with settings like Glassiness, Iridescence, and Glare; induce Rain,
Evaporation, and Grit. A collection of singlefunction plugins capable of
doing all this would definitely cost a mint.
Alan Stafford
Shoo, Ads, Don't Bother Me
AdsGone Pop Up Killer, 2.53MB, $19
Popup ads can drive you crazy, especially when you spend more time
closing them than perusing the Web page you intended to visit.
AdsGone
runs while you browse the Web with either Internet Explorer or AOL, and it
blocks popups before they appear. You can configure the program to block
banner ads, too, and you can alter settings by adding ad servers to or removing
them from the blocking list. The easytouse interface has a status bar that
lists how many ads have been blocked, as well as a logging button that provides
information about each ad. Not having to scoot your pointer around the screen
closing unwanted windows will make you a much happier Web surfer.
Kalpana Narayanamurthi
Spinning Images
PanoStitcher, 6.2MB, $30
Pixtra's
PanoStitcher is the best of several inexpensive applications
you can use to create 360degree panoramic images. (Better, moresophisticated
programs typically cost hundreds of dollars.) PanoStitcher doesn't have all the
features the pricey packages do; but it's fast and relatively easy to use, and
it produces acceptable results. Use PanoStitcher to create QuickTime VR
panoramas that you can spin and zoom in on with your mouse, or to stitch
together a composite.jpg image, as well as a Web page to display either. A
special tripod head will improve your panoramas, but PanoStitcher works with
freehand shots, too. The demo version is fully functional, except that it
watermarks "Pixtra"over the entire image. The $30 version omits the
watermark.
Alan Stafford
Go Online, Offline
WinHTTrack Website Copier 3.15, 2.4MB, free
Whether you want to preserve a copy of some research information or
back up your own Web site, this handy utility can do the trick.
WinHTTrack Website
Copier lets you copy or mirror entire Web sites; and while the
interface isn't particularly inviting or userfriendly (neophytes may wish to
consult the instructive online help), it does suffice to walk you through how
to copy a site or pages. You can set various parameters (say, whether to
include images; whether to exclude specific URLs; and whether to stay within
the URL domain). The efficient software notifies you of problems it encounters,
and it handled with aplomb the JavaScript code on one of the sites we
downloaded.
Melissa J. Perenson
Log Me In, Please
AI RoboForm, 609KB, free
If you find yourself writing down all your login names and passwords
on little pieces of paper so you won't forget them,
AI
RoboForm can put your house in order. In your browser, RoboForm
installs various hot buttons that you can click to automatically fill in
Webbased forms and to enter login names and passwords instantly. You must
supply the program with your name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, and
any other date you want to store. To fill out a form, click the Fill Forms
button; the program will fill in the blanks using the information you've
provided. RoboForm uses Passcards to store your login names and passwords. The
program can manage multiple users because each Passcard is passwordprotected;
to access and change your information, you must remember your Passcard
password.
Kalpana Narayanamurthi
Play Music Your Way
MP3 WAV Converter 2.6, 2.6MB, $20
When it comes to digital music, sometimes you want the compactness of
MP3s, and sometimes you want the quality of a CD.
MP3
WAV Converter makes it easy to have both. By changing.wav
music files into.mp3 files, the program reduces them to roughly a tenth of
their original size; it converts MP3s to.wav format for playback on standard
CD players. MP3 WAV Converter also doubles as an audio player, minus the fancy
skins and light shows most players have these days. The program completes its
conversions in seconds, and it allows you to convert and play batches of files
at the same time. Any.wav files converted into.mp3 format are automatically
normalized to a consistent volume level.
Dennis O'Reilly
Mood Music
MoodLogic 2.0, 3MB, $30
It doesn't take much to throw your MP3 collection into disarray. A
download here, a ripped CD thereand before you know it, your library is full
of files with misspelled song titles and recordings attributed variously to
"Simon and Garfunkel" and to "Simon & Garfunkel."
MoodLogic
automates the process of fixing ID3 tags and organizing digital music (MP3,
WMA, and.wav) in bulk. Once the files are organized, you can sort your music
by genre, artist, tempo, or mood (aggressive, mellow, upbeat, happy, romantic,
sad), and create playlists accordingly. Musical mood information is culled from
MoodLogic's database, which is populated by songs profiled by users. If your
songs aren't already profiled, though, you must manually complete the
fivescreen profiling process to add each song to a MoodLogic playlist.
Melissa J. Perenson
Handhelds
You can load these PDA programs, which range from a file manager to
simple games, onto either your Palm OS PDA or your Pocket PC device.
Palm OS Downloads
File Finder
FilePoint, 894KB, $30
The more applications, documents, and games you add to your Palm OS
PDA, the more you realize that it desperately needs a good file management
tool.
FilePoint
lets you organize and find Palm apps, documents, and files with draganddrop
ease. This utility simplifies creating folders, launching programs, tracking
recently used files, and (especially) moving files to and from expansion memory
cards. A $50 deluxe version, FilePoint Pro, extends this functionality from the
PDA to the PC desktop. Each time you resync, any draganddrop changes you made
in PC file and folder locations are updated accordingly on your Palm OS device.
Now why didn't Palm think of that?
Michael S. Lasky
Let's Make a Date
Palm DualDate, 282KB, free
The Palm date book that comes standard on Palm OS handhelds is a
single calendar for tracking appointments and reminders only.
Palm
DualDate expands on those solo capabilities by letting you and
other DualDate users send, receive, and synchronize calendarsso, for
instance, you and an associate can more easily locate a time when you both are
free for lunch.
The enhanced screen views include sidebyside calendars on the same
page to complement the original single view. You also get handy user options
for maintaining privacy by limiting the data sent or received to your
specifications. Though DualDate will work on both monochrome and color screens,
color is better for differentiating between twin calendars, especially in
monthly views. You can switch between solo and dual calendar views with a
single icon tap.
Michael S. Lasky
A Gem of a Game
Bejeweled, 68KB, $15
Ultimately, simple games wind up being the most popularlike
Bejeweled for the Palm.
Bejeweled
is highly addictive, combining the beguiling style of classic Tetris with its
own unique puzzle. Five types of gems randomly drop into an 8 by 8 array; you
play by tapping two adjacent dissimilar gems so they trade places. The object
is to switch the gems' positions so that three or more matching gems align
horizontally or vertically, causing them to disappear. As the matched sets fade
out, random gems fall from the top to replace them. Color graphics and
animation are sharp and lively, but you can play Bejeweled in gray scale on a
monochrome Palm OS device as well. For a heartpounding experience, switch to
the caffeinated, timed game mode. Just don't plan to get very much work
done.
Michael S. Lasky
Pocket PC Downloads
Tap Once to Remember
Pocket Informant, 2.6MB, $20
Pocket PC PDAs come with builtin applications for scheduling
appointments and maintaining contacts and todo lists.
Pocket
Informant improves on these tasks by integrating them. For
instance, if you want to make sure you don't forget a friend's birthday, you
can create an alarm that links to your friend's name, letting you see the
details for that entry. The app's excellent task manager allows you to filter
tasks to view the matters that require immediate attention.
Richard Baguley
Burst Your Bubble
Bubblets, 82KB, $15
In this seemingly simple
game, five
colors of "bubbles" are randomly placed on a grid. You play by clicking on a
bubble; it and every adjacent bubble of the same color pops. The more you pop
at once, the more points you get. When you pop the bubbles, ones above sink
into the available spaces, and others waft down from above those; if you can
maneuver the bubbles together to form bigger blocks, you score more points.
Richard Baguley
AllStars
Looking for the very best downloads a little money can buy? Don't
overlook these five musthave tools and utilities.
Adaware:
872KB, free
Protect your privacy and prevent the system crashes that secretly
downloaded ads sometimes cause.
Cookie
Crusher: 325KB, $15
Set this tool to accept or reject cookies; use it to determine whether
cookies are tracking your Web surfing, as well.
Winamp:
1.97MB, free
This customizable media player saves playlists and equalizer
settings.
WinZip:
1.76MB, $29
This easytouse compression utility makes the task of sharing and
moving files uncomplicated.
ZoneAlarm:
2.78MB, free
Use this firewall program to protect your Internet connection and
dramatically reduce its vulnerability to hackers.
The Dark Side of Downloading
If you've ever used the popular filesharing program Kazaa, you probably
know that copies of its downloaded client software contained code that would
have enabled the program to take over your PC's processor and storage space on
your hard drive for a planned distributedcomputing network.
Many downloaded programs contain elements that can be harmful to your
PC. Fortunately, you can take a few measures to protect yourself and ensure
that the programs you download aren't performing tasks you're unaware of.
Adware and spyware are the two most widespread insidious elements that a
download can contain. Adwarewhich installs itself on your PC during the
download processputs links and ads on Web pages that you visit, without your
knowledge or consent. Spyware monitors your system information and your Web
browsing patterns, and then uses your Internet connection to send that
information to advertisers.
According to Jason Catlett, president of Junkbusters, there is no easy
way to determine whether a program contains adware or spyware. He cautions
against trusting any program. "Remember that once a program starts running on
your PC, it can do anything with anything on your computer. You wouldn't give
the keys to your house to a stranger," he says.
To defend yourself against potential problems with a download, Catlett
advises taking the following steps:
Check whether the download is listed on
Spychecker.com, a site with a database of over 1000 freeware and shareware
programs that contain spyware or adware.
Investigate software packages
before downloading them. Examine professional reviews of download programs, and
peruse user testimonials.
Use Lavasoft's
Adaware, a
freeware utility that scans your system's Registry and hard drive for spyware
components.
Consider using Zone Labs'
ZoneAlarm,
a free firewall program that will notify you if a program starts "phoning home"
or attempts to send outbound information back to an advertiser over your
Internet connection.
Uninstall a program if you suspect it of being
malicious. Most programs include an uninstall feature; look for it in the file
description or the program's feature list.
Kalpana Narayanamurthi
