Neat Net Tricks Issue # 109
September 1, 2001

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IN THIS ISSUE:

01.  Ixquick
02.  3D FTP
03.  Directory Printer
04.  Shredder
05.  Domain Surfer
06.  Passwords revisited
07.  Quick Tray
08.  Mail left on server
09.  Compare-Stuff
10.  Quick View
11.  Total Recorder
12.  Adobe Photoshop
13.  A better way to Internet access

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01.  IXQUICK.  Billed as "the world's most powerful metasearch 
engine", Ixquick at http://ixquick.com calls on 12 search 
engines and customizes your search in 14 languages.  Not a lot 
of fluff, but effective.

02.  3D FTP. A File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a necessary tool 
if you maintain a Web site and need to upload or download files 
to and from the site.  You have a lot of choices in FTP, many 
are free, some cost entirely too much, and we all have our own 
preferences.  I just began using 3D FTP, and my preference is 
rapidly leaning toward it. If the decision was based only on 
looks and feel alone, 3D FTP would be at the top of the heap 
with full skin support and customizable appearance. But most 
impressive (to me) is the transfer speed, up to 10 times that 
of its competitors.  Speeds are displayed by visual bar and 
histograms, and nonstop file transfers and resumed interrupted 
transfers are supported. Drag-and-drop capabilities and 
scheduling make transfers a breeze. I've only scratched the 
surface, but you can experiment with 3D FTP, and it's free at 
http://www.3dftp.com. Or, gain more desktop space and remove 
the ads and nag screen with a $29.90 purchase.

03.  DIRECTORY PRINTER.  If you're an organization nut, Windows 
likely drives you semi-crazy with it's inability to print 
directory lists. Since you have to resort to other software to 
enable this feature, may I suggest a look at Directory Printer 
3.1 at http://www.galcott.com . With this software you can 
print entire directories or specific folders and subfolders.  
You can sort as you wish, export them to a desired spreadsheet, 
word processor, or database, and, of course, print them. Put it 
through the paces free for 15 days or buy for $24.00.

04.  SHREDDER.  Here is another tip in the "sheer 
foolishness"category. Shredder at 
http://www.potatoland.org/shredder makes a mess of your 
favorite Web site.  But it's all in fun and, fortunately, 
very temporary.

05.  DOMAIN SURFER.  This one is a helpful resource for the 
aspiring Web designer who is searching for just the right domain
name.  Perhaps all the good ones are taken, but enter any 
portion of the URL at http://www.domainsurfer.com and you may 
get an idea for your own. "Who is" information is displayed 
along with the link for all domains registered with any portion 
of the search string.

06.  PASSWORDS REVISITED.  In Issue 104, we suggested you store 
your passwords at a free service, http://www.passwordsafe.com . 
A reader expressed concern that storing them on someone else's 
Website might raise some security concerns.  He suggested 
Password Safe, a free download at 
http://www.counterpane.com/passsafe.html .  The program allows 
creation of a database on your hard drive using Blowfish 
encryption algorithm, pretty secure stuff.  And you can take 
your passwords with you by simply backing them up on a floppy.

A clumsy suggestion to save passwords on line, said one 
reader.  She prefers Lockbox at 
http://refsoft.com/lockbox.html .  This program, also free, 
requires one master password to view all the others you set up 
in the database.  Data is encrypted to prevent access by 
someone trying to go through the back door with 
Windows Explorer.

07.  QUICK TRAY.  Windows 98 has a file QuickTray.exe and you 
can find this on the Win98 CD in the Tools/Reskit/Desktop path. 
This utility allows you to add programs into your system tray, 
that part of the taskbar that resides in the lower right corner 
of your desktop.  If this is something you want to experiment 
with, copy the QuickTray.exe file onto your hard drive, 
assuming you haven't already installed the entire Win98 
Resource Sampler Kit there.  Then place a shortcut to 
quicktray.exe into your startup folder so the application 
starts when you boot up.  It places an icon in your system 
tray, and by clicking on that icon you can add applications to 
the Quick Tray so that they will appear in the system tray 
rather than elsewhere on your desktop.

08.  MAIL LEFT ON SERVER.  You might check your email from a 
remote location but desire that it be left on your server until 
you return home.  This is easy when you use one of the 
Web-based mail checking programs we've previously discussed in 
NNT.  They usually give you the option of keeping the email on 
the server or deleting it as you read it.  Netscape Navigator 
gives the same option, so on your laptop you may wish to retain 
email on the server by going to 
Edit|Preferences|Mail & Newsgroups|Mail Servers.  Select your 
mail account, click on Edit and the POP tab, and click on Leave 
Messages On Server.  This choice would likely be unchecked on 
your home computer, so that when you retrieve messages from 
there they are removed from the server.

09.  COMPARE-STUFF.  An interesting variation of the usual 
search engines,  Compare-Stuff at http://www.compare-stuff.com/ 
asks you to enter two things to compare and a term against 
which they will be compared.  Maybe you can then compare which 
Windows program has the least likelihood of crashing.  
Maybe not.

10.  QUICK VIEW.  In Windows 98, right-clicking on a file in 
Explorer will likely bring up a context menu including Quick 
View.  If that file has a viewer, Quick View will display the 
contents of the file in its own window.  If Quick View isn't 
installed on your system, use the Control Panel's Add/Remove 
Programs, click Windows Setup tab, double click on Accessories 
and check Quick View in the displayed list.

11.  TOTAL RECORDER at http://www.highcriteria.com/ is an easy 
way to record digital and analog sounds from other applications 
such as Quick Time, Windows Media Player, Win Amp, Internet 
broadcasts and others. Or use any sound card input such as 
microphone, CD or cassette player. Convert sound files to .wav, 
MP3, or Real Audio format and record sound files to CD-W.  
Total Recorder's scheduler for record or playback is similar to 
programming a VCR. The free evaluation version is limited to 40 
seconds for each recording but that should be enough to decide 
whether to register the product for $11.95 ($17.95 Cdn).

12.  ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. Most graphic artists and Web designers 
agree that Adobe Photoshop is one of the top graphics programs. 
Since the release of Adobe Photoshop 6.0, Adobe users are 
jumping up and down with glee as they play with the new 
additions and improvements. They can now do image editing with 
integrated vector-drawing support, produce an Adobe PDF file; 
and, get really creative with the new enhanced layer effects, 
the new type-warping feature, and interactive image (liquify) 
warping. The slicing tools, the rollover styles in the built-in 
Web production tool ImageReady 3.0, and the ability to generate 
a CSS (cascading style sheet) along with an HTML file when 
saving an optimized image, all make a dream program for Web 
designers.  Photoshop 6.0 integrates beautifully with the rest 
of the Adobe family, and you can read more at 
http://www.adobe.com .

13.  A BETTER WAY TO INTERNET ACCESS.  Those of you who have 
followed my travel trials and tribulations have likely sensed 
my frustration with the lack of good Internet access on the 
road.  I've just discovered Slingshot and I'm very impressed 
with its ease and economy.  It works as simply as this:  
connect to a telephone jack, pop Slingshot's $10 CD into your 
PC, type in an access code, and you're on the Internet for 600 
minutes on a local access number or 120 minutes anywhere in the 
U.S. using a toll-free number.  Slingshot resides peacefully 
with any other ISP and browser you already have, and it's a 
stand-alone arrangement; that is, you can connect to the 
Internet with Slingshot and not even have another ISP.  You use 
whatever browser you are most accustomed to.  You even get an 
email box and address as well.  Install the Slingshot CD in a 
couple of minutes and you never again need the CD to access the 
Internet from anywhere you can find a telephone hookup. When 
you run out of minutes recharge your account online with a 
credit or debit card, or buy more time from a number of major 
retailers.  Slingshot at http://www.slingshot.com even provides 
a free trial if you want it. A neat "buy what you want, use 
what you need" arrangement indeed.

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NNT makes no endorsement or warranty, expressed or implied, 
with regard to featured products or services.  Results may 
vary based on operating systems and other variables beyond 
our control.

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Copyright 2001 by Jack Teems.  All rights reserved. Neat Net 
Tricks is registered with the U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 
1533-4619.
