Software Report
August 18th, 2004
proudly presented by
PC World
Technology Advice You Can Trust
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/1/0/
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Help with pesky software annoyances, tips on taming and improving
Windows performance, and an expert look at the most useful (and
sometimes crucial) shareware. Plus, an enthusiast's look at Linux.
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August 18th, 2004
Download This: Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
Asst. Editor Laura Blackwell
Although many downloads look tempting, your PC can't use them all.
This month, we look at a few programs that prevent download overload.
We've found a browser shell with enough security features to avoid
add-in madness, a font manager to keep those characters from slowing
down your system, and a screen saver that may be the last one you'll
ever need.
IE, Only Secure
Like it or not, Microsoft Internet Explorer is the required tool for
many Web forays. Many Web sites won't work properly (or in some cases,
at all) without IE. But every now and then some Trojan monstrosity
like Scob rears its ugly head--and IE isn't exactly a Homeric hero
when it comes to fighting security threats. Didn't hear about Scob?
Read "Known Trojan Still Plagues Web Servers" for details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/601262/0/
Trouble is, it takes a small army of software to hold the line against
browser hijackers, spyware, and aggressive advertisements.
Winferno Software's Secure IE 2004 lets you direct the troops from the
Secure IE tabbed browser, which works as an add-in to Internet
Explorer. In my informal tests, it was very easy to change the
security settings in the Preview edition of Secure IE 2004. Not only
did it allow me to block pop-ups, Flash animations, and ActiveX
controls, it let me toggle the preferences on and off from a prominent
taskbar (instead of some deeply buried menu).
The features PC World liked in an earlier version are still around:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722290/0/
The new version adds new ones, such as automatic updates, selective
pop-up blocking, and blocking of Windows Messenger pop-ups.
Secure IE lets you add sticky notes to Web pages and save the pages to
your hard disk in HTML, URL, and Zipped HTML formats. Although this
may not sound like a security feature, it certainly couldn't hurt: If
you don't have to go online just to look at a bookmarked Web page,
that's one less opportunity for malware and hackers to drip sleaze
onto your system.
You can download Secure IE 2004 for a free 15-day trial; $30 buys you
the program and one year of automatic updates. The full Secure IE 2004
Deluxe Suite, which also includes Private IE 2004 (a browser history
cleaner) and Internet speed booster Rapid IE 2004, costs $50 for the
program and one year of updates. For more info, go to Winferno
Software's site:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722291/0/
You can check out a screen shot here:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722292/0/
And download the free trial here:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722293/0/
Losing Your Fondness for Fonts?
The right font sets the mood for the occasion--but when your Lord of
the Rings party is over, do you really need the Elvish font you
downloaded for your invitations?
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722294/0/
Sure, it's fun to spell your name in Anglo-Saxon runes, but are you
likely to write business letters with them?
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722295/0/
Whether or not you use these fonts once you've acquired them, Windows
loads them--along with the ones that come with the OS--to keep them at
the ready, and that preparedness can slow down your system.
If you're using Windows XP, FontFrenzy can be your friend. This
freebie from Sound Doctrine tells you which fonts you've popped into
your system since your Windows installation and helps you uninstall
them. If you have a sneaking suspicion that those runes will come in
handy sometime next year, you can take a snapshot of the fonts and
restore them at a later date.
FontFrenzy's trial lasts 40 days. To continue using the program, you
must register the software.
You can check out a screen shot here:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722296/0/
And download the program here:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722297/0/
Next Stop: Jupiter
Although few monitors require screen savers these days, many of the
humans peering at the monitors could use a sanity saver. 3D Solar
Traveler helps you regain your peace of mind as you sit back for a
gorgeous, three-dimensional tour of the solar system. If your mind
requires stimulation instead of soothing, you can customize your
celestial experience with stardust, scientific information about the
planets, and by traveling several different routes. I enjoyed the
starry stroll with and without the mellow music provided, but I also
liked the option to set an MP3 from my own collection as the
soundtrack. Holst's "The Planets," anyone?
Even the 15-day free trial version's floating nag icon can't spoil the
beauty of space. A $15 fee registers the screen saver with maker 3Deep
Space and banishes the nag screen. That'll hold me while I save up for
a trip on the space shuttle.
You can check out a screen shot here:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722298/0/
And download the program here:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722299/0/
PC World Senior Associate Editor Andrew Brandt, Senior Downloads
Producer Max Green, and Online Indexer David Lake contributed to this
story.
Have any thoughts on these programs? Want to make us aware of your
favorite software? URLs are welcome, but messages with attached files
will be deleted unread. Write to Laura Blackwell:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Read Laura Blackwell's regularly published "Download This" columns:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/239109/0/
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Check other exclusive discount software offers for PC World
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=====================================================================
Top News From PC World
* Windows XP's Big Fix
With Service Pack 2, Windows gets an array of much-needed patches,
tweaks, and tools, all rolled into one free download. Here's what's in
it for you.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722279/0/
* Symantec Upgrades Norton Security Products
Revamped Norton AntiVirus, Personal Firewall, and AntiSpam tools fight
pests and dangers online.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722280/0/
* Check out all of today's news...
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/54/0/
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Editors' Picks
Free Utilities: Lean and Mean Office Apps
For those of us who don't use 90% of the features in Microsoft Office,
here are some lean and mean alternatives.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722237/0/
PureText v2.0
Strip unwanted code and formatting from text you're
cutting-and-pasting.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/1541/0/
ATNotes v9.41
Create Post-it style reminders on your desktop.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722238/0/
NoteTab Light v4.95
Replace your plain old NotePad with this feature-laden alternative.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722239/0/
KeyNote v1.6.5
Free personal information manager for notes, to-do items, contacts,
and passwords.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722240/0/
OpenOffice.org v1.1.1
OpenOffice.org apps include a word processor, a spreadsheet, a
database, and drawing and presentation programs.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722241/0/
AceMoney Lite
Track your spending habits, manage budgets, and track the performance
of investments.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722242/0/
For a full list of this week's Editors' Picks, go to:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722237/0/
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* Reviews *
* First PCI Express Graphics Cards Arrive
Cards based on the new bus perform well, but early tests offer no
clear reason to upgrade just yet.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722243/0/
Check the latest prices on Video Cards:
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* Top 10 Digital Cameras over $500
A powerful 8-megapixel camera from Canon leads a trio of newcomers
onto this month's chart.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722244/0/
Check the latest prices on Cameras:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/681/0/
* Pick Your Backup Software
Dantz's Retrospect Professional does it all, but the interface takes
time to master. We also liked the budget Argentum Backup 2.1, for its
straightforward approach to backup.
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/722245/0/
Check the latest prices on Utilities:
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See all Reviews:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/196668/21421683/86/0/
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