Neat Net Tricks Issue #77
May 1, 2000
http://www.NeatNetTricks.com
Reply-To: NNT@silver.lyris.net

IN THIS ISSUE:

01.  Searching Mamma
02.  Cyber pop
03.  For the middle wheel crowd
04.  Spot the barricades
05.  Safe to the core
06.  Speak4Free
07.  Firetalk
08.  Webzard HTML Editor
09.  The Urban Legend Generator
10.  PocketMail
11.  Who wants to be Prez?
12.  Declutter desktop
13.  Obongo

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

01.  SEARCHING MAMMA.  Billed as The Mother of All Search Engines,
Mamma.com at http://www.mamma.com claims to access 4.2 million
unique users and 40 million pageviews on a monthly basis.  Mamma
probes 10 major search engines simulatenously and creates a virtual
database, formatting results by relevance and source.

02.  CYBER POP.  Who can resist the allure of popping those little
bubbles that are used for packaging?  You'll find perpetual bubblewrap
at http://www.urban75.com/Mag/bubble.html where you can run your cursor
over the bubbles and they pop.  Unlike the real stuff, they also 
recharge, so you can spend an entire rainy afternoon doing this and
wondering if you should give serious thought to life outside the PC.

03.  FOR THE MIDDLE WHEEL CROWD.  If you have a middle wheel on your
mouse, you probably are looking for something to do with it other
than scroll.  Here's a couple of slick tips recommended by a reader.
Unfortunately, they work only on Microsoft Internet Explorer.  With
the browser screen active, holding the Shift key down, the middle
wheel, depending on direction, will advance you back or forward.  If
instead, the CTRL key is depressed, that wheel then enlarges or
reduces your Web view.

04.  SPOT THE BARRICADES.  In South Dakota, they say we have just two 
seasons, winter and construction.  While you may not be able to 
predict winter, you can perhaps locate the construction sites in 
advance of your travels with the Department of Transportation's 
National Traffic and Road Closure information at 
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo.

05.  SAFE TO THE CORE.  CoreSave allows you to save information  
about your computer's configuration (set up, start menu, system info,
.ini files, and desktop) and stores this data in what it calls 
"images" per your direction.  It also creates boot images every time
you start up your computer.  It's a bit of preventative maintenance
that allows you or your tech support guy to restore your system 
following a crash.  Try it free or buy it for $39.95 at 
http://www.innovativesoftware.com/coresave/coresave.asp .

06.  SPEAK4FREE.  Although becoming scarcer, the Internet still provides
some nice freebies and Speak4Free at http://www.speak4free.com is a 
great example.  After registration, click on phone numbers you've stored
in the program's phone book, or add the desired number along with your 
own phone number.  The service calls you at that number and after a
short ad, connects you anywhere in the U.S. for a free 5-minute call.

07.  FIRETALK.  Speaking of "free," here's another good one at 
http://www.firetalk.com .  Register and download a 2 meg or so file,
then voice- or text- chat, join forums, or call others in an interface 
vaguely suggestive of ICQ. This is going to require a Pentium 120 mhz or 
better, 16 MB RAM, Windows 95 or better, a full duplex sound card, a 
microphone of course, and a 28.8 kbps connection or better.
 
08.  WEBZARD HTML EDITOR.  OK, this one is basic for sure, a really
stripped-down version of an HTML editor.  But it has some nice 
features for a simple little editor.  Front Page is not going to fear
competition from this item, but then, its free price tag is appealing.
Take a look at http://www.webzard.co.uk/html .

09.  THE URBAN LEGEND GENERATOR.  Now, I'll probably get flamed for 
this in spite of my voracious hatred of the urban legends, hoaxes, 
myths, or whatever you choose to call them on the Net.  But every now 
and then we need a bit of pure silliness, and the site at
http://toybox.asap.net/legend/ fits that need quite nicely.  You are 
welcomed to the Misinformation Super Highway and asked to make a few 
selections. Then your very own outrageously concocted story is prepared
to send to your gullible friends.  Use cautiously; someone will surely 
believe it because, after all, if it's on the Internet it must be true!

. . . .
Thanks to all of you who participated in the recent surveys.  If you're 
curious as to the Neat Net Tricks readership and its likes and dislikes,
view the "Audience" page on the Web site, http://www.NeatNetTricks.com .
. . . .

10.  POCKETMAIL.  Summer vacations will soon impact at least 90% of our
readers who may not have access to their computer and email.  Not a
problem with PocketMail.  Choose either the BackFlip at $99.95 as a 
Palm add-on, or the standalone Sharp TM-20 at $119.95.  Then sign up
with PocketMail for $9.95 per month or $99.50 for a year, and take your
Email along with you.  I chose the Sharp, only a bit larger than a deck
of playing cards; with a full keyboard, address book, email folders
just like the home computer, and other handy features such as calendar
and memo pad.  With the interface, I transferred address files from my 
PC to the Sharp.  Composing email is a breeze, and then all it takes is
dialing PocketMail's toll-free number, holding the unit to the phone,
and pressing a button.  Outgoing messages are sent, incoming received,
and you're in touch.  Check it out at http://www.pocketscience.com/

11.  WHO WANTS TO BE PREZ?  It's inevitable in an election year here 
in the U.S. that many sites will spring up on the subject. You can see
if you have what it takes to be President at 
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/extra/president/ .  The latest 
Shockwave is required, an easy install from that site.  Poll the 
electorate or call an advisor for help; or, cheat by retrying a wrong
answer on your way to 50 million votes and election.

12.  DECLUTTER DESKTOP.  Make a little extra room on your desktop by
putting your icons on a diet.  Right click anywhere on the desktop and
select Properties and Appearance tab.  In the Item drop-down menu,
select Icon, choose a smaller size, and click OK.  You may have to
experiment to get an icon small enough to free up space but still
large enought to be manageable.

13.  OBONGO. Faithful readers of NNT will recall problems I had with 
Gator (worked fine on one machine, crashed another) and other readers
reported similar experiences. Along comes a similar application, Obongo,
at http://www.obongo.com . After a quick (and free) set-up, it stores 
user name, password, and form information for quick log-in to sites or
filling out of forms, etc. It also filters email, sounds privacy alerts,
and does quick searches. And, so far, it seems to reside peacefully 
where Gator didn't. In fairness, though, I prefer Gator's ability to 
"pop-up" for log-ins and then return to hiding. With Obongo, you must 
access the desired site through its toolbar, just one more claim to 
real estate on our already-crowded desktops. 

>>>> A SPECIAL NOTE:  We all need a vacation at times, and Neat Net
Tricks is no different.  The next issue will be distributed about one
week late, approximately May 22, to provide a few days for that much-
needed respite.  Subsequent issues will be back on schedule, on the 1st
and 15th of the month.  

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

For information on .....

subscribing, unsubscribing, or changing your address, send a blank
email to info-neatnettricks@silver.lyris.net

advertising in Neat Net Tricks at very low rates, send a blank email 
to advertise-neatnettricks@silver.lyris.net

back copies of Neat Net Tricks, send a blank email to
archive-neatnettricks@silver.lyris.net

technical questions or comments, visit the NNT Bulletin Board at
http://www.escribe.com/bb/nettricks/

NNT is hosted by Lyris.com, the best in email list management.

Copyright 2000 by Jack Teems.  All rights reserved.
