CHAPTER 4

Internet Extras

The Microsoft Internet Explorer Starter Kit supplies much more than just an Internet browser. You also get powerful communication tools that give you the ability to send and receive e-mail, participate in newsgroups, and even share computer programs across the Internet! If you're in a competitive mood, the Internet Explorer Starter Kit gives you an interactive, multiplayer game.


Contents


Internet Extras Overview

The Extras that come with the Internet Explorer Starter Kit enrich your Web experience. In addition to powerful communication tools and a multiplayer Internet game, they include tools to help you view and create Web content, a collection of interesting Web sites, cool ActiveX™ Controls, and more.

This chapter provides detailed information about the primary Internet Extras, such as Internet Mail and News, and provides brief overview information about the other Extras.

Here is a brief summary of the Extras you can install from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc:

Note  If you are installing from floppy disks, most of the Internet Extras are available at http://www.microsoft.com, the Microsoft Web site.


Installing Internet Extras

You can choose which Internet Extras you want to install from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc.

Some Extras are programs that you run from the Start menu. Others are installed on your computer and work in the background. The Internet Extras page also includes information about how to use each extra after you install it on your computer.


Using Microsoft Internet Mail and News

Whether it's e-mail between you and a few friends, or newsgroup messages between you and the world, reading e-mail and newsgroup messages should be fast, fun, and easy. And with Internet Mail and News, it is!


What You Need Before You Begin

Before you can run Microsoft Internet Mail and News, you need the following, most of which is supplied by your Internet service provider (ISP):


Configuring Microsoft Internet Mail

Microsoft Internet Mail is installed when you install Internet Explorer.

You can change any of your configuration information later by clicking the Mail menu in Internet Mail, clicking Options, and then clicking the Server tab.

See Also   For more information about using Internet Mail, see "Microsoft Internet Mail" in the Internet Mail and News Help Contents.


Sending, receiving, and replying to e-mail

Sending and receiving e-mail is fast, fun, and easy with Internet Mail.


1. Title bar
2. Menu bar
3. Folders bar
4. Message list pane
5. Status bar
6. Preview pane

Sending e-mail

Faster and more fun than postal mail ("snail-mail"), Internet Mail can put you in touch with friends, relatives, and new acquaintances in seconds! In order to send an e-mail message, you must have the recipient's e-mail name-for example, patsmith@company.com.

Your e-mail is delivered to your mail server the next time Internet Mail checks for new mail.

Tips   You can have Internet Mail automatically check for new mail every few minutes while you're online. For more information, look up "automatically, checking for new mail messages" in the Internet Mail and News Help Index.

To forward your response to one or more people, along with the original message, click the Forward button, and then enter the e-mail names of the recipients.


Receiving e-mail

When you start Internet Mail, it connects to your mail server, logs on to your e-mail account, and automatically downloads any new messages into your Inbox folder.


To view your e-mail

If you think you might receive mail during an Internet session, just click the Send And Receive button to have Internet Mail check your mailbox again.


Replying to e-mail

Internet Explorer makes it easy to reply to e-mail you receive, without having to type a name or e-mail address. You can also add the sender's name to your address book.


Configuring Microsoft Internet News

Internet News is installed when you install Internet Explorer.

You can modify any of this information later by clicking the News menu in Internet Mail, clicking Options, and then clicking the Server tab.


Participating in Internet newsgroups

You can interact with newsgroups as much or as little as you want. You can go to a newsgroup just to read what other people have to say, or you can post your own questions, tips, opinions, or answers.


1. Title bar
2. Menu bar
3. Newsgroup bar
4. Status bar
5. Preview pane

Reading newsgroup messages

There are literally thousands of newsgroups on the Internet, generating hundreds of thousands of messages every day. With Microsoft Internet News, it won't take long to find some that pique your interest.

You can browse any of the newsgroup servers your ISP offers, reading as many messages in as many newsgroups as you like.

See Also   For more information about reading messages in newsgroups, look up "reading messages" in the Internet Mail and News Help Index. For more information about subscribing to newsgroups, look up "Subscribing to newsgroups."


To read newsgroup messages


Subscribing to a newsgroup

When you find a newsgroup that you want to visit regularly, add it to your Subscribed list. If your interests change, or if you find you don't visit a newsgroup often, you can easily remove it from the list.

To cancel your subscription to a newsgroup, click the newsgroup, and then click Unsubscribe.

You might want to see a list of the newsgroups you subscribe to.


To view your subscription list


Posting messages to a newsgroup or individual

It's easy to post new messages to a newsgroup or individual, or reply to messages you read.

Your message is delivered to your news server the next time Internet News checks for new news.

See Also   For more information about sending messages to newsgroups and authors, look up "posting" in the Internet Mail and News Help Index.


Managing Internet Mail and News messages

Mail and news message files can accumulate quickly on your computer. You can organize your messages and reclaim diskspace in several ways. You can:

For information about these and other Internet Mail tips and tricks, look up "folders" and "downloading" in the Internet Mail and News Help Index.


Using Microsoft NetMeeting

Don't just "chat" online­call a meeting! Microsoft NetMeeting™ is an Internet telephone tool that combines:

With the right hardware, you can call a friend, relative, or business associate right from your computer! While you're talking to them, you can draw on a whiteboard, share a program and more, right on each other's computer screens. (All participants must be running NetMeeting and be logged on to the Internet or the same LAN, or be connected by modem.)

Note  You can establish a voice connection between you and one other person and share data with up to 32 people.


What you need before you begin

Before you can participate in a NetMeeting call,you need:


Configuring Microsoft NetMeeting

You can install NetMeeting from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc as explained in "Installing Internet Extras" earlier in this chapter.

When you first run NetMeeting, you are automatically logged on to a User Location Server. This server maintains information about the address of each person running NetMeeting.

When you place a NetMeeting call you can use this server to locate a person, or you can type his or her computer name or modem phone number.


Placing and receiving calls

Now you can call a friend, relative, or business associate right from your computer, and even have data conferences with several people!


1. Title bar
2. Menu bar
3. Buttons
4. Volume controls
5. Status bar
6. Work space

Placing a call

Remember, anyone you want to involve in a NetMeeting conference call must be running NetMeeting and be connected through the Internet or a LAN, or by modem.

If both you and the person you call have the hardware necessary to use the audio features of NetMeeting, you can talk by using your computer's microphone and speakers. So don't just sit there reading to yourself-say something!

Note   You can only use the audio feature with one of the people in your meeting.

If either of you lacks a sound card, speakers, or microphone, you can still chat by typing text in a chat box, share applications, transfer files, and draw on a common whiteboard. (See "Sharing Data During a Call or Conference" later in this chapter.)

Tip   NetMeeting can automatically accept incoming calls for you. For more information, look up "automatically accepting calls."


Receiving a call

When someone calls you, the following dialog box appears at the bottom of your screen.

See Also   For more information about placing calls, look up "calls" in the NetMeeting Help Index.


To receive or reject a call

NetMeeting shows you who's participating in the call.

If you have the hardware necessary for a voice call, but have trouble hearing or being heard, adjust the speaker and microphone volume sliders in the NetMeeting window. If the problems persist, click the Tools menu, and then click Audio Tuning Wizard. (For more information about troubleshooting, look up "troubleshooting" in the Internet Explorer Help Index.)


Sharing data during a call or conference

Whether you're calling an individual or hosting a conference call, you can use the NetMeeting Chat, Whiteboard, and file and application sharing features.


Using Chat

Chat enables online conference participants to send typed messages to each other in real time. When one person in a conference runs Chat, it appears on everyone's screen.

See Also   For more information about using Chat and Whiteboard, look up "Chat" and "Whiteboard" in the NetMeeting Help Index.

NetMeeting displays the messages instantly in a Chat window on each participant's computer screen, regardless of which participant in the conference types them. To change the way messages appear on your screen, click the Options menu, and then click Chat Format.


Drawing on the Whiteboard

If you need visual aids to get your point across, you can use the Whiteboard to draw a picture that other people in the conference can see. You can even all draw on the picture at the same time!


To use the Whiteboard

NetMeeting displays the same Whiteboard window on each participant's computer screen simultaneously. Any participant can add to or modify the Whiteboard contents at any time. Sharing files

See Also   For more information about sharing files across the Internet, look up "sharing, files" in the NetMeeting Help Index.

It's one thing to tell someone where to find a particular file on the Internet or an internal computer network, but it's something else altogether when you can place that same file right on a friend's or colleague's computer desktop!

With NetMeeting, you can send a file, a group of files, or a folder to all the participants in a conference by dragging it into the NetMeeting window or by following these steps.


Sharing applications

See Also   For more information about using shared programs, look up "sharing, applications" in the NetMeeting Help Index.

Now you can show everyone in a conference call exactly what you're talking about, even if they're half way around the world!

NetMeeting lets you share Windows-based applications, so that other people in the conference can see what you're doing or even take over the program and run it themselves. They don't even need to have the application installed on their computers!

When you share an application, it is automatically shared in Work-Alone mode, which means that only you can work in it. If you want, you can let others work with you by clicking the Collaborate button on the NetMeeting toolbar.

Caution   When you collaborate using an application, other people can use the commands in that application to gain access to other files on your computer or network.

To stop sharing a program, click the Tools menu, click Share Application, and then clear the check box next to the application you're sharing.


Using Comic Chat

What's more fun than an online chat in real time? Comic Chat, where your online conversations appear as an interactive comic strip!

Online chats normally occur in text-based "chat rooms," or conversation areas. But with Comic Chat, as you and other chat participants type text, a comic strip unfolds showing the conversation as comic characters with word balloons.

Note   This feature may only be available in English in some countries.


1. Title bar
2. Menu bar
3. "Starring" pane
4. Member List pane
5. Self-view pane
6. Emotion wheel
7. Status bar
8. Compose pane

After the chat begins, you can scroll through the "starring" pane to see the viewing pane, where the conversation takes place and the chat history appears as a comic strip.


Configuring Comic Chat

You can install Comic Chat from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc as explained in "Installing Internet Extras" earlier in this chapter.


Connecting to an IRC server

In order to take part in a Comic Chat conversation, you must connect to an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server. We've given you one to start with, comicsrv1.microsoft.com, but you can change IRC servers at any time.

Note  If you are connecting to the Internet from a corporate network, you should be aware that most corporate proxy servers, or "gateways" to the Internet, limit access to chat servers. If you have any questions, contact your system administrator or use a dial-up analog line or ISDN line (Integrated Services Digital Networking, which is available from most telephone companies) to access the Internet.

Tip   After you have connected to a chat room, you can save it by clicking the Favorites menu and then clicking Add To Favorites. You'll keep the same character from your most recent chat session.


To connect to an IRC server

After you have connected to an IRC server, you can search for a specific chat room, or even a particular person.


To search for a specific chat room


Setting Comic Chat options

Comic Chat asks you to enter a nickname for yourself the first time you sign on, and then assign a cartoon character to that name, specify how many cartoon panels you see at one time, and establish a background for the cartoon panels. You can change any of these settings at any time during a chat session.

Tip   To find out what types of chat servers are available, click the Search button in Internet Explorer, and use one of the search services to find the words "chat and rooms."

Comic Chat also assigns a random title to each chat session, but you can change the titles on the list that Comic Chat chooses from.

Note  If you add or remove a title, change the number at the top of the list to reflect the number of titles.


Bringing chat sessions to life

With Comic Chat, you can express a wide range of emotions, change the way the character communicates, "set the scene" with action descriptors, and even change your character's gestures.

Tip   You can test your character's expressions and gestures by clicking the emotion wheel and dragging the cursor to different positions.

Most of us do our chatting "out loud," but you might want to "whisper" a comment to a specific participant, or just "think" it. (Just remember, your chat partners can "read your mind.")


To change the way your character communicates

Type a comment, and then do this
To see this
Click the Say button.

Click the Think button.

Select the person you want to speak to (from the Member List pane), and then click the Whisper button. Only that person will see the comment.

Click the Action button.

In addition to changing your character's expression and means of communication, you can change the way he or she gestures-with just your choice of words. Using terms like "you" and "I" change the arm positions, and capital letters and certain punctuation change the facial expressions. For a detailed list of tips and tricks, look up "Tips and Tricks" in the Comic Chat Help Contents.


Activating the Web

Say good-bye to stale, static Web content forever. Microsoft ActiveX™ Controls bring Web pages to life!

ActiveX controls are software components embedded in Web pages; they run in your browser. Do you want the excitement of an action game, the richness of a multimedia CD-ROM title, or the power of a productivity program? ActiveX controls bring all this to the Internet now.

You can install a package of ActiveX Controls from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc as explained in "Installing Internet Extras" earlier in this chapter.

ActiveX controls are easy to use. Whenever you visit a Web page that uses an ActiveX control, Internet Explorer automatically checks to see if the needed control is installed. If it isn't, Internet Explorer runs it for you.

Support for ActiveX controls opens up endless possibilities for new Web content. You'll be able to shop, learn, communicate, teach, and interact with an almost infinite number of Internet resources.


Using ActiveX Controls

See Also   For more information about ActiveX Controls and how to use them, see "Internet Extras" on the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc.

When you visit a Web page that has an ActiveX control, Internet Explorer checks to see if it has been digitally signed. A digital signature lets you know who created the software. If no digital signature is found, the following dialog box appears, which lets you decide whether you want to download the control.

If the control has been signed, Internet Explorer displays a certificate such as the following.

For information about ActiveX Control Pad, see "Other Internet Extras" later in this chapter.


Using Viewers

Don't worry if you find an interesting Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document while cruising the Web and you don't have those programs. The Internet Explorer Starter Kit supplies viewers for all three programs. This means you can open and view what you find right in Internet Explorer.

You can install them from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc as explained in "Installing Internet Extras" earlier in this chapter.

When you type a path to a folder, Internet Explorer displays a list of the documents in that folder. When you click a document, Internet Explorer starts the viewer that can read it, and displays the document.

Using Internet Assistants

Ever look at a Web page and wonder how the Web author did that? Here's how you find out: right-click any Web page, and then click View Source. What you're looking at is HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) code. Looks pretty complex, doesn't it?

See Also   For more information about using Internet Assistants, seeHelp in each program.

Well, you can create your own Web page, too, quickly and easily, with Microsoft Internet Assistants. There are four of them in the Internet Explorer Starter Kit, one each for Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.

Tip   You can use Internet Assistants to convert documents to HTML format.

You can install Internet Assistants from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc as explained in "Installing Internet Extras" earlier in this chapter. You must have Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, or PowerPoint installed in order to install its Internet Assistant.


To use Internet Assistants

Congratulations, you've just created your first Web page! It's not on the Web, of course, it's still on your computer. You can type the path to the HTML file in the Address box in Internet Explorer and see what it looks like for yourself!


Hellbender: Internet Multiplayer Game

No Internet package would be complete without an interactive, multiplayer, battle-to-the-death Internet game. And Hellbender is the game to end all games.

Your choices: victory or total galactic extinction. The battle for planet Fury ended with the destruction of the Bion warriors' base, but they're back in massive numbers and bent on annihilation of the human race. As the pilot of the Hellbender attack craft, you must destroy these invaders before they complete their deadly mission.

Feel the rush of intense multiplayer combat-dogfighting with up to eight competitors over a local area network, four players on the Internet, or two players over a modem.

Notes   It is recommended that you play Hellbender Internet games with four or fewer players. Playing with more than four players causes Hellbender to slow down.

If you access the Internet by using a proxy server, you will not be able to participate in a multiplayer Internet game.

The version of Hellbender that ships in the Internet Explorer Starter Kit is a trial version. This means it is a smaller, sample version of the game. For example, you cannot explore all the planets in this version. Microsoft does not offer product support for this game.


Requirements for Hellbender

You need the following to play Hellbender:


Installing and configuring Hellbender

You can install Hellbender from the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc as explained in "Installing Internet Extras" earlier in this chapter.

See Also   For more information about Hellbender, see Hellbender Help.


Starting a multiplayer Internet game

To host a multiplayer Internet game, you need to tell the players joining the game what your Internet protocol (IP) address is before they can join.

To join a multiplayer Internet game, you need to obtain the IP address of the player hosting the game before you can join.

The number listed in the IP Address box is your IP address. When you are hosting a Hellbender Internet game, you need to give this address to other players before they can join the game.


To send your IP address to the other player

Use one of the following options:

Internet Relay Chat (IRC), E-mail, A bulletin board service, An Internet newsgroup.


To start or join a multiplayer Internet game

After the host clicks Next in the Gathering Players dialog box, the game starts and no other players can join.

Multiplayer game players wait at the Receive Player Information dialog box until all players select a ship and click Play Game.


Other Internet Extras

This section presents overview information about the other Extras that come on the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc. To install these Extras or to find out more information about them, insert the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc into your computer as explained in "Internet Extras Overview" earlier in this chapter.


TrueType fonts

Do your eyes ever get tired from reading text on your computer screen? Many Web pages now use TrueType fonts, which smooth out jagged letters and make small text more readable on screen.

The Internet Explorer Starter Kit provides a set of TrueType Web fonts for Windows. If you install these, you can read Web page text that was designed to be viewed as TrueType fonts. Don't worry, though, if you don't install the TrueType fonts. Internet Explorer displays the text in a font that you do have installed.

Note  Some TrueType fonts may already be installed on your computer.


SurfWatch

Internet Explorer uses the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC) ratings system to give you control over what Web sites people can visit from your computer. This system depends on Web sites being rated, and right now many of them aren't.

SurfWatch (a trial version) solves this problem by installing on your computer a list of X­rated World Wide Web, FTP, and Gopher sites, Usenet newsgroups, and Internet Chat rooms. This prevents them from being displayed on your computer.

After you install SurfWatch, you don't need to configure it in any other way. It automatically filters out any sites that are on the list on your computer.


ActiveX Control Pad

If you're feeling adventurous and want to learn how to create your own ActiveX Web site, then ActiveX Control Pad is the tool for you. It includes a Web tutorial which instructs advanced Web authors and multimedia designers how to insert controls into your Web pages and control the behavior of their scripts, and provides instructions for designing with advanced layout and multimedia features.


Personal Certificates

Personal certificates are digital identifications that let you identify yourself to Web sites and gain access to information on the Web. The "wallet" technology in Internet Explorer 3.0 lets you store and manage these certificates, in much the same way that a real wallet stores your identification cards.

To obtain a personal certificate, you need to apply for and receive your certificate from a certificate authority, such as VeriSign. More information and a link to this site is provided on the Internet Extras page on the Internet Explorer Starter Kit compact disc.


ActiveMovie

With ActiveMovie, you can view the most popular sound and video file formats on the Web todayall without having to download separate programs. This means you can listen to WAV, MIDI, AU, AIFF, and MPEG sound files, and view MPEG, Video for Windows, and QuickTime video files within Internet Explorer.

For more information about ActiveMovie, see "Experiencing Multimedia with ActiveMovie," in Chapter 3, "Mastering the Internet."


Favorites

As you learned in Chapter 2, "Exploring the Web with Internet Explorer," you can save and organize your favorite Web sites in your Favorites folder. To get you started collecting favorite sites, the Internet Explorer Starter Kit includes a set of favorites for you to install.


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