Welcome to Macworld's monthly Interactive CD-ROM. If you don't already know it, there are some amazing pieces of freeware and shareware programs for the Mac. This month in "21 Shareware Gems", we focus on 21 software jewels you shouldn't be without.
There are also many prized nuggets to be found on the Internet. Our bonus feature "50 Best Mac Web Sites" brings you the very best resources for getting news, reviews, product information, music, and much more. (Astute readers will note that there are actually more than 50 sites on our page.) Naturally, you will need a Web browser to view this article.
Internet and Microsoft fans will be joyed at the release of Internet Explorer 5. This month's review of IE 5 says "there's no compelling reason not to use IE 5." Call me a Luddite, but my compelling reason is that I *like* my current Netscape browser. Still, I will keep IE 5 around for testing and the occasional Internet foray. We include the entire installer on this disc so you can decide for yourself.
Also in Reviews this month, see why Director 8 is da bomb (that's good), why form•Z 3.5 is still a great modeler if not animator, and why Katabounga 3's horrible documentation will cause you to go blind—or at least to become a shut-in. Plus, we include demos and reviews of Freehand 9, Virex 6.1, NetMinder Ethernet 4.1, and the cool action-strategy game Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six.
Note: Always be sure to check the read me files of Review demos for memory and hardware requirements.
GameSpace kicks back a little this month with four enticing, but non-gory, games. The Tetris-esque Candy Crisis brings you arcade action with considerable strategy. This is a fun one to play against the computer or a human opponent. Mighty Mike takes you into a giant virtual toy store where your task is to save the fuzzy bunnies. Save the "how cutes!" for later—many cute things in this game have nasty bites. Grump is a card game for double-, triple- and even quadruple- solitaire addicts. I wasn't able to win, but maybe you will be. Finally, Fuffy is a thoughfully and elegantly designed Yatzee knock-off. And if you're like me, this one will bring back good memories of afternoons at Grandma's. Seriously.
Now everyone knows about mothers and computers. In Breen's Bungalow, patient son and Mac expert Chris Breen shows *his mom* the intricacies of the Mac.
Plus, many new "Internet Utility" shareware additions bring our shareware archive to nearly 300 shareware programs!
This rest of this document contains technical and user information
regarding the software on this CD-ROM. Please review it now, or take a
moment to print and read this document.
NOTE: All of the videos on this disc require QuickTime 3.0 or later.
SOFTWARE NOTES
*** Contextual Menu (CM) Plug-ins ***
Some new shareware items on this month's disc are "contextual menus" plug-ins or CM's. These enhance your Macintosh in the following way:
If you press the Control key while clicking your mouse, a menu will appear with a set of options appropriate for the task you are doing or the window you are clicking in. These are called "contextual menus" because the menus provides options that make sense in the current context of what you are doing.
To install a CM plug-in, drag the uncompressed plug-in onto your System folder. The MacOS will install the plug-in in the Contextual Menu Items folder.
You can then use the CM by holding the Control key while clicking your mouse in the appropriate context.
Rainbow Six – Rainbow Six requires at least 64MB of RAM and OpenGL 1.1.2. You can download OpenGL 1.1.2 from Apple by using your Web browser to go to "http://www.apple.com/opengl/".
iView – iView is intended for Mac's running MacOS 8.x. Check iView's Web site for updates.
DISK CONTENTS
All products are demos unless stated otherwise:
***Featured Shareware***
Acrobat Reader 4.0
Anarchie Pro 3.6.2
Archive 4.1
Color Box
CoolViews 1.1.1
CopyPaste 4.4
CopyPaths 1.5
Extension Overload 4.6
File Buddy 5.3.2
Font Catalog 2.2
FontAgent 8
GraphicConverter 3.7.2
IconMacher 1.5.4
Kaleidoscope 2.2.1
Nag 3
Search & Rescue 1.0.1
Snapz Pro 2.0.1
Stuffit Expander 5.5
TypeIt4Me 4.8.1
Version Finder 2.5
ZipIt 1.4
*** Products ***
Candy Crisis
Director 8 Shockwave Studio
form-Z 3.5
Freehand 9
Fuffy
Grump
Internet Explorer 5 Macintosh Edition
Katabounga 3
Mighty Mike
NetMinder Ethernet 4.1
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
Virex 6.1
*** New Shareware ***
Audio CD Labeller 1.0.2
CacheXtractor 1.0
DoItAllText 3.0.6
Fast Mail CM Plugin 1.1
Greg's Browser 2.6.1
iCab 2.0
iStream 1.2
Language Assistant 1.0
MacSOUP 2.4.5
NetChronometer 1.4.4
Quicksand 1.0
QuoteMe 1.2
ShadowKeys 1.0
SnapperHead 1.3
the MP3 Alarm Clock 1.1
Tri-Cleaner 2.0.2
UtilityDog 1.0
Web Checker 1.2.1
Web Confidential 2.0
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DEMOS & SOFTWARE:
Software provided on this CD-ROM has been compressed. All software must be
uncompressed and installed onto your hard drive. If you are unable to play
game demos or go online, or if movies play back poorly, you may be short of
memory. Quit other applications to free up more RAM and continue.
Trouble-shooting & Memory problems:
If this CD interface fails to launch, there are several things you can do
to remedy the problem:
1) Turn on the Virtual Memory using the Memory Control Panel and set your
total memory to at least 16MB. If you are using MacOS 7.5.5 or later this
is the recommended solution.
2) To change memory allocation for a program, click once on the program's
icon to select it, choose Get Info from the File menu, and set the
Preferred Size to the desired amount.
3) Make sure you have enough memory to open the application you wish to
run. To check your available memory use the "About this Computer..." menu
option under the Apple menu while in the Finder.
4) Quit any applications you are not current using in order to free up
memory for the software on the CD-ROM.
Minimum System Requirements:
1) Mac OS compatible computer (with a Motorola Power PC Processor).
2) System 7.5.3 or newer.
3) 14 inch color monitor with the capability of displaying 256 or more
colors at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.
4) Double speed (2X) CD-ROM drive.
5) QuickTime (QuickTime 3, Sound Manager 3.2).
6) 12 MB of free RAM. At least 24 MB of physical RAM is recommended. To
see how much available RAM your computer has, choose "About this Macintosh"
from the Apple Menu.
For questions regarding this CD, call toll free 1.877.243.9863, or send
email to:
cd@macworld.com.
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