Mac

Windows

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

At last, after extensive beta testing, it's time to upgrade to the latest Windows 9x/NT/Me/2000/XP version of WinZip. 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. Features handy integration with Windows explorer.

A key addition to this version is compatibility with Windows XP. There are also major enhancements to the integration of WinZip into Windows Explorer, with many new functions and options in the context menu. You should generally find the handling of your ZIP files easier than before. There are various cosmetic changes and improvements to the program and its help files.

Web link: www.winzip.com

Free 'Adware' – latest update

DAP helps manage your downloads. Features include the ability to resume interrupted downloads (even from servers that do not normally allow it) and splitting individual file downloads between multiple threads for added speed. It offers additional acceleration options to users with connections faster than 56k modems.

DAP 5 features the ability to import/export downloads lists and operate triggered sounds, password management, and the option to save files to different folders based on their file extension.

After version 4.0 you also get improved download acceleration and additional features such as: Advanced Mirror Servers Search; integration with Netscape 6 and Opera browser versions 4 and 5; improved multi-connection management; improved proximity check of mirror servers; Windows ME support; a new Multi-Lingual Interface (German, Dutch, French, Chinese Traditional, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian), and much more.

The unregistered version displays rotating banner ads within the program interface.

Web link: www.speedbit.com

Latest version – 'adware'

Lockbox can store an unlimited number of passwords, usernames and descriptions, generate new secure passwords, secure the screen from prying eyes, and much more. Lockbox is simple to use and is supported by anonymously served banner ads (no personal information is collected) – the banner ads can be removed by paying a small registration fee.

Web link: www.refsoft.com

30-day trial – new version

Tweakmaster aims to speed up your Internet connections. Modem users could gain as much as 3 to 8 Kb/sec greater download speeds. Tweakmaster works by modifying various hidden Windows dial-up settings. There's a number of them, so Tweakmaster provides a wizard with three preset scenarios that you can experiment with. A number of other tools are included such as a DNS accelerator that stores host name lookups, a keep-alive feature that maintains your connection when it's idle and a tool that synchronises your PC clock with time servers available on the Internet. There is also a 'Pro' version available that includes DU Meter to accurately and effectively monitor your download speeds and bandwidth usage.

This latest version helps optimise a wider variety of computer systems, including AOL 7.0, and makes it much easier to restore original settings. It fixes minor bugs and the DNS Accelerator 'exception list' lets you better fine-tune the DNS Accelerator.

Web link: www.tweakmaster.com

Latest version – 21-day trial

Modem Booster works by tweaking the Windows registry settings for dial-up connections. The initial setup of the program is a lengthy process, as it dials in repeatedly to your service provider in order to ascertain the optimum settings that work best with each ISP. This methodical approach does bear fruit, however, and you should notice an increase in speed while accessing the Web. This updated includes fixes and improvements as well as support for AOL 6.

Web link: www.inklineglobal.com

Free – latest version

Analog is a statistics program to measure the usage on your Web server (or Web site). It can show you which pages are most popular, which countries people are visiting from, which sites they tried to follow broken links from, and all sorts of other useful information. Analog can read all standard log formats and can handle large log files very quickly. This version includes various fixes and enhancements.

Note: Analog is ready to run and does not require installation – to use it, simply copy the folder as above to your hard drive and run the file analog.exe from there.

Web link: www.analog.cx

30-day trial

DUN Manager sits in the Windows system tray and allows single click start-up and hang-up of a dial-up networking connection defined by time or day of week; monitoring in a call status window of up to nine simultaneous connections or ISDN channels including those started by other applications and routed connections using leased lines, dial-on demand routers, ADSL or cable modems.

Redialling may be done if the initial connection speed is poor or alternate numbers dialled on busy. If one ISP is not available, DUN Manager can automatically try another using sequential default connections. A performance graph shows the transmit and receive data speeds during DUN and routed connections, and graphs may also be viewed later for further analysis. Dial and hang-up can be allocated to hot keys. This new version includes the ability to run as an NT service, enhanced Windows XP features, and other minor improvements and bug fixes.

Web link: www.magsys.co.uk

Free – latest version

NetAnts aims to speed up downloading by making multiple FTP or HTTP connections, each of which will download a separate part of a single large file. As you would expect, NetAnts will resume cancelled or interrupted downloads. It also has a Clipboard monitor, drag-and-drop for links, browser integration, batch downloading, automatic dial-up, download scheduling, job prioritisation, and proxy support. This version includes a number of new features such as the ability to automatically execute downloaded files. There are other enhancements and bug fixes.

Web link: www.netants.com

30-day trial – latest version

MegaPing gives you access to nslookup, ping, traceroute, port scanner, finger and whois utilities in an approachable Windows environment. Features include: monitoring of multiple remote computers simultaneously, processing any number of ping, traceroute, general DNS, finger and whois requests simultaneously, and more. The program comes with SkDNS, SkICMP, SkFinger, SkPortScan, and SkWHOIS ActiveX controls that can be used by software developers to add network diagnosing, troubleshooting and monitoring to their programs. These controls can be used from any 32-bit Windows development environment, including Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Delphi.

Web link: www.magnetosoft.com

Latest version – demo

RA give you complete control over a computer that is out of reach: you can do anything from transferring files from folder to folder, install and use programs, and even show a user how to perform tasks. RA allows stealth surveillance as well as administration, instant training, interactive chat, user assistance and remote application sharing on more than 100 remote computers at the same time.

This update includes many enhancements and fixes – follow the Web site link below for full details.

This demo allows you to establish connections with only two slaves for five-minute sessions only and does not retrieve system passwords for security reasons. The demo does not allow you to change the default port number (4000) and the default password (trial). This is a major security hole because all demo users share the same port and can access your Slaves with the same password – registration ($20 per PC) will solve that problem. The Directory Server is not available in this demo for security reasons.

To use Remote Anything, first copy the folder as above to your hard drive, then copy the master.exe file (from the folder as above) to one computer and the slave.exe file to another and run them.

The PCs must be connected by a working TCP/IP network. When the Master asks for a UserKey type in 'trial', then type the IP address of the PC where the Slave is (or use the autodetection button) and type in 'trial' in the password entry box. You should connect now. If you have any problems or need more information, please visit the company's Web site.

Web link: www.twd-industries.com

Free – latest version

Aladdin's Stuffit Expander gives you an easy way to expand most compressed or encoded files including those downloaded from online services and the Internet. The program handles Mac and Windows archive files.

Note: StuffIt Expander is a free component of StuffIt Lite 6.5.1. This means that you will also have the opportunity to install an unregistered StuffIt Lite package, as well as unregistered shareware versions of DropStuff and StuffIt Browser.

Web link: www.aladdinsys.com

New trial version

Webserver Stress Tool simulates any number of simultaneous users (this unregistered version is restricted to simulating only up to five simultaneous users) accessing a Web server. Select the URLs of your server or Web application, choose the number of users and you are told how long your visitors or customers have to wait when browsing your Web site and how your Web server performs under heavy load.

Web link: http://web-server-tools.com

Free for non-commercial use

WS_FTP LE (Limited Edition) is the cut-down version of WS_FTP Pro. It still gives you the most important file transfer functions: you can transfer files between a local PC and another remote computer system connected via a modem or by a local-area network; browse through directories and files, and transfer files between the two systems; create, change, and remove directories and view, execute, rename, or delete files; the program can also resume interrupted file transfers.

Web link: www.ipswitch.com

Recently updated 30-day trial – Shareware

CoffeeCup Direct FTP allows you to edit HTML and text on your Web site's server. This FTP client has support for drag-and-drop and multiple FTP server profiles. You can upload and download all file types and preview images directly on the server. It allows you to back up your entire Web site with the click of a button. You get a built-in list of HTML tags, colour-coded HTML tags and a quick-start feature for creating new pages. Various wizards are included. Other features include a find-and-replace utility, document bookmarking, and an FTP log viewing option.

This version features enhanced recursive uploading/downloading capabilities and improved Web archiving.

Web link: www.coffeecup.com

Recently updated 30-day trial

CuteFTP is a file transfer application that's easy for beginners to use yet has enough features to be useful to power users. From simple file transfers to Web site management, this client does just about anything. Like any FTP client worth its salt, CuteFTP supports download resuming – so you needn't worry about dropped connections. Other key features include directory upload, directory compare, remote site editing, queued uploading and downloading, complete directory overwrite and delete, and a progress rate display.

CuteFTP features browser integration and offers MP3 and file searching, along with many other goodies. This latest version includes performance and stability enhancments.

Web link: www.globalscape.com

Free

NeoTrace Express is a freeware version of the popular NeoTrace tool. This version offers the mapping features of the Pro version and the essential features you need to trace Web sites and IP addresses. It's very fast and shows the route on a world map. NeoTrace Express can also integrate with Internet Explorer to offer one-click tracing to Web sites and URLs.

Please note that registration of this application is required for its continued use. The process is fast and simple. The software producers will generate you one free registration code with a customer password and email it to you. When you receive the email with the registration code, simply cut and paste it into the registration dialog on the program.

Web link: www.neoworx.com/products/ntx

Free

AccessDiver is primarily intended to detect security failures on your Web sites but can simply be used for its features such as pinging DNS testers, domain name whois, and so on. It has also a complete proxy-managing kit to verify your proxy and see if it is anonymous. You can also hunt for Web proxies.

Web link: www.accessdiver.com

Free ('DonationWare')

SmartFTP is another option for your file transfer needs. It has a Windows/Internet Explorer like user interface and supports drag & drop. It supports multiple connections, can resume broken transfers and allows FTP search. You will find many other features in this handy package. The author of SmartFTP modestly asks for a donation if you decide to continue using the program.

Web link: www.smartftp.com

Free

View all those PDF documents found around the Internet and elsewhere. Acrobat Reader is a standalone program and browser plug-in that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. PDF files are useful for distributing documents that will always look the same, regardless of the platform and operating system they are viewed on.

Version 5 now includes many new features including the ability to save PDF files downloaded to your browser, drag-and-drop toolbar icons, dynamic thumbnail generation, improved access to Web-hosted applications and online services, improved support for the visually impaired, better display of text on LCD screens using Adobe CoolType technology, and support for Adobe Illustrator 9.0 graphics that contain transparency. This latest version also lets you download Asian font packs so you can view PDF files that contain Chinese, Japanese and Korean fonts.

Web link: www.adobe.com

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.

Web link: www.aladdinsys.com

NetFinder
v2.3.1
(OS 7+)
30-day trial

NetFinder is an FTP file browser with an interface just like the Finder. There is support for HTTP, Firewall/Proxy, secure storage of passwords using Apple's Keychain Manager, SSL FTP, ICI Script, previewing of Movies, MP3's and Shockwave files, improved integration with BBEdit, and much more. There is mouse wheel support under OS X.

NetFinder can automatically resume interrupted downloads. It's also Internet Config-aware and will automatically use those settings when available. Extensive online documentation is available to help get you started.

Web link: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~pli/netfinder

Free – latest version

Requires CarbonLib.

Analog analyses your Web site log files, giving you vital statistics on visitors' usage of your site. It understands MacHTTP, WebStar, WebCenter and NetPresenz log formats. It also understands the common log file format, NCSA old-style and the NCSA/Apache auxiliary and combination. This version incorporates fixes and enhancements.

Web link: www.summary.net/soft/analog.html

WhatRoute
v1.4.3
(68k)

This program is designed to find the names of all the routers through which an IP packet passes on the way from your Mac to the destination host. In addition it measures the round-trip time from your computer to the router thus enabling you to determine slow links (hops) in the Internet. It can also find dead links – routers that don't respond, etc. WhatRoute incorporates Ping, DNS Query, Finger and Whois.

Web link: http://mac.org/internet/whatroute

Shareware

Interarchy (formerly known as Anarchie and always very popular) is a powerful file transfer tool. It can transfer files via FTP and HTTP, search the Internet to find the files you want, provide all sorts of information about remote servers, as well as your local Internet connection and Internet applications, help manage remote servers, and allow you to control and test your Mac across the Internet from remote locations.

Interarchy offers Sherlock-compatible Internet searches, including a Sherlock plug-in testing function, Keychain support for storing passwords, crash-proof transfer resuming, and transfer progress icons.

Version 5.0 introduces a new feature called FTP Disk. This feature allows you to access files on frequently used servers with any application in exactly the same way you access files on your hard drive. It requires no proprietary software on the remote computer, as it works via the standard FTP protocol. This latest update features minor bug fixes and stability enhancements.

Web link: www.stairways.com

Free

View all those Acrobat format (PDF) documents found around the Internet and elsewhere. A plug-in for Netscape Navigator is included and automatically installed. For the latest version 5 you will have to go to the Adobe Web site to perform an online installation.

Web link: www.adobe.com