Mac

Windows

Utilities such as NeoWorx's NeoTrace can track a connection across the Internet, show which backbones you're using and pick out bottlenecks. It can be tricky to discover which companies' networks go where and who they connect to. It can also be useful. A job for dull winter evenings?

Requires Microsoft version of winsock – Trumpet may cause problems.

Web link: NeoWorx

A simple way to find out where a Web host is located and check connection problems. Gives great detail of nodes your connection passes through, including a geographical map showing the main nodes.

Web link: www.visualroute.com

To see the real speed of a site, you need a utility such as AnySpeed. This will track a number of sites for you at once, letting you choose whichever site is responding the fastest.

Web link: Py Software

The optionware (payment is optional) utility, MTU-Speed Pro 4 will interactively change packet size defaults and let you test them. It's especially useful for those with ultra clean or extremely noisy lines.

No installation is required – copy the mtuspeed folder from the windows\software\utils folder on the CD to your hard drive and run the program (mtuspeed.exe) from there.

Web link: www.mjs.u-net.com

DNTools provides a comprehensive set of tools for optimising, monitoring and troubleshooting your Dial-Up Networking settings. It features a graph representing your connection speed, a 'stay connected' function, a redial-if-connection-is-lost facility, DUN settings optimiser and notification of new email. If that's not enough there's a log file that enables you to keep track of connection statistics, time spent online, and phone charges.

Requires Microsoft Dial-up Networking v1.3 or higher.

Web link: www.atmosoft.com

Keep track of your time online and what it's costing you. This is designed for the UK and can handle non-BT providers such as Telewest and C&W. Extra data files are in the folder on the CD – just copy them to the Phone Monitor rates folder once you've installed the program.

Web link: www.vizion.demon.co.uk

Recently updated

View all those Acrobat format documents found around the Internet and elsewhere.

Free and easy file transfers – just drag and drop.

(Requires a VB5 'runtime' file, msvbvm50.dll, which is probably already on your system. If not, copy it from the software\windows\utils folder on the CD to your windows\system folder.)

Web link: Brandyware

NetTools is a set of network tools useful in monitoring and diagnosing networks and your computer's network connections. Includes a NetBIOS scanner, NATShell auditing utility, a monitor of external connections to your computer's shared resources, and lots more.

Web link: www.tamos.com/soft

Free up and optimise your computer's RAM. More available memory means more work in less time.

Web link: www.sci.fi/~borg/rambooster

Configure and personalise all sorts of system settings to which you don't normally have access. Includes many tips for improving your system's performance.

Web link: www.magellass.com

Recently updated

This free program aims to enhance your time online. An animated bandwidth graph lets you see how much of your bandwidth potential is actually utilised at any given time. Other features include the ability to notify and/or disconnect all active dial-up connections when the data transfer rate drops below a certain minimum value; audible signals each time a specified amount of data is transferred; an auto-Ping feature designed to keep your net connection open; and a handy session summary display indicating total bytes transferred, IP address and connection duration.

Web link: www.softsol.cx/ativa/index.htm

DrNet32 could save you a lot of trouble. It is an anti-virus plugin for Netscape and MSIE 4 and above that can detect viruses 'on the fly' while they are still downloading from the Internet. This shareware version does not support the curing of infected files.

Web link: www.spbnet.spb.ru/drnet

Recently updated

An FTP client with features aimed at handling the upload and maintenance of Web pages. See the directftp35.txt file for more details...

Web link: www.coffeecup.com

Tardis 2000
v1
(NT)

A utility for Windows that makes sure your PC's clock tells the right time. It can find out what the right time is in various ways including using networked timeservers, GPS (The Global Positioning System), and by listening for time broadcasts over a LAN. Tardis 2000 requires the TCP/IP networking protocol to be installed. The NT version of Tardis 2000 runs as a Windows NT 'service', just like other services that come as standard with Windows NT.

Web link: www.kaska.demon.co.uk

TopDog is a Web site positioning and ranking application. It queries 56 of the top search engines for your Web site and keywords, and shows where you and your competitors are positioned. TopDog produces reports on your Web site and on any competitors and alerts you to changes in rank. This version now supports 56 of the top search engines. It also features faster performance and an improved user interface. The evaluation version of TopDog enables only 5 of the 56 supported search engines. There is no time limit on its use.

Web link: TopDog

WinZip
v6.3
(Win 3.x)
Evaluation version

NEW: Here's the latest Windows 9x/NT 4 version of WinZip as well as the current version for Windows 3.x. WinZip is an excellent archive file manager, handling ZIP and other compression formats, including many common on the Internet, such as TAR, BinHex, UUencode and MIME.

Version 7 includes many enhancements to the interface and general usability. To make use of one or two 'cosmetic' features, you may need an updated Windows system file – comctl32.dll version 4.71 or later – if you use Internet Explorer 4 or later or have Windows 98, you should already have this. If you need to update, there is an installation program on the CD. Access the Internet Magazine CD and open the SOFTWARE\WINDOWS\UPDATES\WIN9 folder; double-click the file 40COMUPD.EXE (you will need to restart Windows once the installation is complete).

Web link: www.winzip.com

FileHound is what you need if you often download files from the Internet. FileHound is invaluable, saving you lots of irritation and even making you more productive. The Hound's sole purpose in life is to look after your downloads.

You will no longer need to worry about your connection going dead, FTP sites timing out or getting overcrowded, forgetting where a file was after you've abandoned a futile download attempt. FileHound captures URLs copied to the Clipboard and can get to work automatically. Downloads that have begun can be paused or put on hold, you can even go offline mid-transfer and come back another day to continue where you left off. FileHound can kick in your anti-virus software to keep your system safe.

Web link: www.nexi.com/albinofrog

FPArchie seeks out the files you're after by trawling through the world's 'Archie' sites and then downloads them for you via FTP. Quick and effective and multiple instances can be run at once.

Web link: www.fpware.demon.nl

Latest version of multimedia extensions for Microsoft Windows, needed to run many applications. Now includes DirectMusic for high-quality synth sounds.

Vbrun5
(Win 95)

Visual Basic runtime libraries for Windows. Some applications ship without these files, requiring you to install them.

Mac OS

NOTE: The Mac programs are mostly in archived 'HQX' (BinHex) files – they can be extracted with several applications, including Stuffit Expander (see below). Clicking on the links below should set the process in motion. You may receive a message that the file cannot be loaded into Simple Text — if so, start Stuffit and then open the HQX file you want from within Stuffit.

New version

View all those Acrobat format documents found around the Internet and elsewhere.

Analog is a program that analyses log files from Web servers. Features user-customisable log formats, hierarchical reports, and much more.

WebbToys aims to help you accomplish a lot more when you're online. Control your online connection, check for email, search the Internet, launch applications, dial phone numbers, launch URLs, launch all Internet software, use channels and perform Internet-related diagnostics on your Mac.

You get a command line, from which phone numbers may be dialed, applications launched, URLs invoked, and more. It also features 'screen crawling', which allows it to stay offscreen until you want it – simply moving the cursor over to the left side of the screen will invoke it. It is OS 8.5 Appearance Manager-aware and features SuperCard-compatible plug-in architecture for easy enhancements.

Requires minimum OS 8.

Web link: www.webbtoys.com

This utility sits on your Control Strip and allows you to connect, disconnect and switch between dial-up connections. You can configure OT/PPP Strip to display the length of time connected, your connection speed and a flashing icon representing the amount of data sent or received. If you like using the Control Strip, OT/PPP could be a useful addition to it.

New version

Anarchie is the most popular Mac FTP tool – probably. It has an interface that is easy to use on the whole, supports Drag & Drop and includes a comprehensive AppleGuide. Importantly, Anarchie allows you to search for and download files in one go, with one application.

Web link: www.stairways.com

Apple's implementation of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), based on Sun Microsystems' Java 1.1.6 specification. MRJ allows you to run Java applications and applets.

MRJ 2.1 makes many improvements over Apple's previous JVM, including greatly increased performance, improved reliability, and support for AppleScript and Sun's JFC/Swing. MRJ 2.1 also runs more applications and applets than earlier versions.

Don't let dead links spoil the show.

Freeware

If you like getting under the covers, here's a powertool to bring your Mac under control and keep it there... Compatible with Mac OS 8.1, you can check the data within your system file to determine whether or not your system is corrupted. TechTool checks almost every resource within your system file.

You can zap your entire PRAM chip; rebuilding the desktop is done more efficiently as instead of simply updating the existing desktop database, TechTool deletes the desktop and forces the Finder to create a new database; you get the option of saving file comments; TechTool can show you the date your computer was manufactured and how many hours of use it has had, as well as just about anything you need to know about your Mac, including a listing of all extensions and control panels.

Freeware

The latest version of FreePPP – the 'little brother' of GearBox, the full-featured connection tool from Rockstar Studios – includes connection throughput performance enhancements along with numerous bug fixes for compatibility with the multitude of modems and configurations in use today. Now also fully OS 8 compatible.

Download Deputy
v3.1
(68k)

Set up batch downloads of all that software you find on the Web. The Internet Magazine cover CD aims to save you some of that trouble, anyway...

(Recently updated versions.)

Updated version

That well-known file retriever... good dog!