Mac

Windows

Popup Zero Pro can help get rid of annoying, unsolicited popup windows when you're browsing. The utility identifies and blocks advertising popups only, while allowing valid 'child' popup detail windows. You can exclude sites that automatically spawn popups by adding them to the White List. The program also includes a cookie manager that allows you to clean cookies when IE exits, and there's an option to specify which cookies to keep. Popup Zero Pro is very easy to use and can be quickly activated and de-activated from the system tray.

Note: requires MS Internet Explorer 5.01 or later.

Web link: www.pcssafe.com

Powermarks is a feature-rich bookmark application that integrates with your browser and lets you organise, search and categorise your bookmark collection. The installation process finds bookmarks from all main browsers (Netscape, IE, Opera, NetCaptor, Mozilla) on your system and integrates them into the program. IE 4+ users get a new menu bar which allows quick access to the program's features.

The three-paned interface provides a search field, dictionary and URL listing. Powermarks uses keywords to locate links. As you enter characters into the search field, the list of bookmarks narrows down to only the ones that contain the letters or words that you have entered. You can also use the dictionary to do this. When adding URLs, you can choose between a quick add feature and allow Powermarks to create a keyword set from the page's title, or add a link with your own comments and keywords. The program also checks URL status and reports whether the bookmark has changed or moved since last checking.

Web link: www.kaylon.com/power.html

Note: this version displays banner-ads, which will be romoved if you purchase a licence.

There are numerous fixes and enhancements in this updated version, including improved speed and usability, and a fixed security issue with file upload.

This 'Java' version includes the Sun Java plug-in.

Web link: www.opera.com

Netscape 6.x has various enhancements to offer. The suite includes: Netscape Navigator, Netscape Mail, Netscape InstantMessenger, Netscape Composer, and Netscape Address Book; you also get add-on applications such as Java for running Web applets, Winamp for audio playback, RealPlayer8 for streaming media, and Macromedia Flash Player for high impact Web content.

This latest 'maintenance' release features some bug fixes and enhancements including improved downloading for better management of different file-types, improved autocomplete, better stability and enhanced security.

You are advised to backup any important files such as address books and email folders before updating to this new version. Netscape also recommends that you install into a new directory – installing on top of released product builds may cause problems. Your computer system should have a minimum of a Pentium 233Mhz processor and 64Mb of RAM.

Web link: www.netscape.com

Mac OS

NOTE: The Mac programs are mostly in archived 'HQX' (BinHex) files – they can be extracted with several applications, including Stuffit Expander (which is on the CD...). 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.

Shareware

Pop-Up Zapper eliminates pop-up windows when you browse the Web. The program watches the activity of your Web browser and when it identifies a pop-up window, it closes it, faster than you could by hand. Pop-Up Zapper's counter on its Dock icon lets you see how hard it is working. You can enable it or disable it easily from the Dock menu or from the main window. The history can optionally be saved to a file.

Web link: www.batista.org

'Adware'

Note: this version displays banner-ads, which will be romoved if you purchase a licence. There is an initial 30-day banner-free trial period.

Web link: www.opera.com

Free

Having dropped the 'Communicator' part of its name, the Netscape suite reaches version 6 with a major overhaul. New features include: an email client that lets you check a wide range of accounts, from AOL to Netscape Webmail; handy privacy tools, such as the Cookie Manager and Password Manager; builder tools that almost fully support the standards for HTML 4.0, XML 1.0, CSS1, key parts of CSS2, ECMA-262, and the Level 1 DOM; a customisable interface that offers built-in support for multiple skins or themes. Netscape 6 now incorporates AOL Instant Messenger directly into the interface.

This 'maintenance' update brings improved stability and other enhancements.

You are advised to backup any important files such as address books and email folders before updating to this new version.