Wolf's Titanic Freeware!!

[tomdawes]

welcome to WTF!! - Wolf's Titanic Freeware!! for PCs List!!

in this thread i will be introducing new awesome freeware for ppl to use on their pcs. the freeware will be for general computer use, audio, drawing, video [anime] related stuff and more!!

i will [attempt to] offer a piece of freeware for your perusal at least once every two weeks. if you have a suggestion for a freeware to showcase - email me at wolftjd@ymail.com. please don't be offended if i choose NOT to use your suggestion. this list will be for what i deem is the best of the best!

please feel free to comment on the Freeware i showcase - praise and gratitude is always welcome!! please do not, however, post any freeware of your own in this thread. comparisons of other software is acceptable.

thank you for a opportunity to serve you, the greater FTP-Anime community!! blah, blah ... blah blah blah! i hope this listing will help many!

wolf [tomdawes]

btw - to the mac and linux users - if i can, i'll post as many multi-platorm freeware as i can ... or an equivalent ... but the bottom line is ... i'm a pc ALL the way!

[tomdawes]

from the developer:

YPOPs! is a free open source software that provides POP3 and SMTP access to Yahoo! Mail. You can use your favourite email client, be it Outlook, Thunderbird, or whatever else you like and connect to Yahoo! Mail seamlessly.

Wolf's review:
YPOPs is a handly tool makes any Yahoo Free Email Account accessable to your computer based email client! i like to have copies of my mail on my computer for backup and reference purposes. sometimes i need to see what that $39.95 was spent on last month. or recover the serial number of a piece of software i bought a year ago. or see - did i really say THAT to them?
YPOPs allows me to pull my web mail into my email client for free. YPOPs runs with Windows 95-XP, has no other requirements and has a small footprint [4MB of system resources] when running all the time.
i configure YPOPs to NOT start with Windows, to NOT download the "Bulk Mail Folder", to NOT mark messages unread, and TO download items from the "Sent Folder". [i simply run YPOPs, run my email client, and close YPOPs when i'm done - i'm very frugal with my system's resources]!
documentation for the various email client setups can be found here.

mac users - try MacFreePOPs [NO idea how well this works, but it looks good and had good reviews!]

Next time, i will introduce you to my email client - one you've [probably] NEVER heard of before!

[tomdawes]

Foxmail is a freeware email client developed by a Chinese company whose main product is Foxmail Server. it has spam control, great search capabilities, one of the [imo] BEST gui's for an email client i've seen. with up to four panes of info - Foxmail can display your multiple email accounts, the inividual folders [ie the inbox], the emails themselves, and the address book!

one of the main advantages of Foxmail is it's plain text display of ALL emails. there IS an HTML button on your email to switch from text to HTML display ... but displaying in the plain text format stops any embedded virus, worm, trojan or any other destructive script from running - thereby keeping your computer safe from email attack. Foxmail's spam detection is also as advanced as any i've seen in a client.

Foxmail lets you have, check, manage POP3 AND HTML email accounts. it has a built-in proxy that allows you to download from your Hotmail account with no additional software needed. it downloads from your Gmail [Google] account, when the Gmail account is setup right on it's end. it also can download from your Yahoo account when used in conjunction with YPOPs, the first freeware offer in this thread.

Foxmail is easy to backup as well. just save the folder it's installed to and you have Foxmail backed up. Foxmail is also able to import or export to and from Outlook Express. emails can be saved in .txt, .eml or .msg format making your mails very accessible!! i personally have been using Foxmail for 5+ years - with no intrusions, issues or problems!! i have 10 different email accounts including my provider, my website email, hotmail, yahoo and Gmail accouts - all managed with Foxmail [with years of info saved and accessible]. grab this and be safe for GOOD!

Foxmail's menu system, etc. is in Chinese by default. to switch Foxmail to english - go the folder that you installed Foxmail to and delete the Chinese.lgb file. next time you start Foxmail, voila! - english!!!
wolf
sorry mac-ites - i have no equivalent for you this time ...

[tomdawes]

Avant Browser is, hands down, the best browser on the planet. it has all the best of Internet Explorer, Opera and even Foxfire, and then gives you more. Avant Browser is loaded with surfing power and protection while on the internet than you can imagine!

from the developer:

Top Rated Features of Avant Browser Online Profile Storage: Avant Browser can save users' bookmarks, RSS Feeds, configurations or web passwords etc, in Avant Online Storage. In this way, users can access their personal data from anywhere, office, home or an Internet cafe, and don't need to worry about losing those data when re-installing Windows. AutoFills: Help users to memorize web passwords, and fill passwords for users with one click. Flash Animation Filter: More than 85% of all flash animations on web pages are advertising. These flash files are pretty large, and normally take up to 90% of the size of the page you're visiting. With Avant Browser you can save the bandwidth by blocking the download of these flash files with just one easy click. Avant Browser also provides options to block downloads of pictures, videos, sounds and ActiveX components. With these options users can control their bandwidth and speed up page loading. Built-in AD/Pop-up Blocker: Easily eliminate unwanted AD banners and pop-up pages automatically with just one click. Built-in RSS/ATOM Reader: Avant Browser has a built-in RSS/ATOM Reader, which allows you to read RSS/ATOM feeds just like browsing web pages. And you can also keep your favorite feeds as bookmarks. Additional Mouse Functions: If you click a link in the web page with the middle mouse button, the link will be opened in a new window in the background. This feature is extremely useful for opening posts in forums. Avant Browser also comes with customizable Mouse Gestures, with which you can easily navigate the browser by moving the mouse. Multi-Window Browsing: Browse multiple web pages simultaneously. All opened pages can be easily stopped, refreshed, closed or arranged with one click. Real Full Screen Mode and Alternative Full Desktop mode: When you enable Full Screen Mode, all you see is the webspace, with no toolbars or other clutter. They are simply autohidden! Move your mouse over the top or bottom and find the toolbar and tab bar respectively. Avant Browser also provides Full Desktop Mode, which is the same as Full screen mode, but differs in that your windows task bar stays visible. Built-in Search Engine: Avant Browser provides a built-in search engines. Built-in search engines enable user to search for web pages, images, groups, directories, news, lyrics and software in Internet. Full IE Compatibility: Avant Browser comes with all Internet Explorer functions, including Cookies, ActiveX Controls, Java Script, Real player and Macromedia Flash. IE bookmarks are automatically imported into Avant Browser. Control Your Privacy: With Avant Browser, you can easily keep your privacy by deleting all browsing traces such as: Typed Addresses, Auto-Complete Passwords, Cookies, History of Visited Web Sites, Temporary Internet Files and Search Keywords. Safe Recovery: If Avant Browser is closed improperly, all open web pages are saved and will be automatically reopened at next startup. Customizable Skins: Express your creativity by making a skin for Avant using a custom, easy to use program called Avant Browser Skin Maker, or use any of the many and varied skins made by other users.

i have been using Avant Browser since version 7.0.2.9 - since January 12, 2003 - before FireFox was even created!

On April 3, 2003, the Mozilla Organization announced that they planned to change their focus from the Mozilla Suite to Firefox and Thunderbird. [Wikipedia]

Avant Browser was providing tabbed, safe internet browsing b4 FireFox was a 1 or a 0 [lame attempt at a programming joke]!!
at present i use version 10.1 build 40 - because the newer versions have bookmarks and stuff saved online for the new generation on the go [you guys]. i'm old and paranoid, so i stick with this older version. but the newest Avant Browser [version 11+] is loaded with ALOT of great new tweaks [or older tweaks made better]!!
i know the "way" to go is Firefox ... but i've never been a "do it like the rest of the crowd" kinda guy - in this case, the "we hate Microsoft and Internet Explorer" crowd. Firefox is nice and i do use it when i want to - but for me, it's a "maybe i can print it right in this browser" or maybe i like one of the plugins.
But Avant Browser has been doing it longer, safer, as good or better than almost any browser around. give it a try!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Update!! - in Avant Browser go to "tools" [in the menu], then "Avant Browser Options", then "URL Alias". here you can type in 1 or two letters [or numbers!] and then paste your favorite web address in the next field and Viola!!! - SUPER easy access to your favorite websites! my URL alias for this site is a1 [anime#one in my mind!]. i have three good anime sites and the other two are a2 and a3. i bring up the "smilie page" here with "as" for anime-smilies! make your own URL aliases and SUPER charge your internet surfing.
- wolf!

[tomdawes]

that's right!! i, wolf, claim IFNS [Instant File Name Search] to be the BEST search prog ON THE PLANET.

why do i make this claim? because IFNS does exactly what it says - nothing more - nothing less. i want a search prog to search. fast. i don't want or need a buch of bells and whistles that i'm never going to learn or use. i don't need some kind of fluffy eye-candy like interface. i want to find what i'm looking for, as fast as i can, and get back to what i was doing in the first place.

thanx ximmi for the idea of the next freeware offering! i've been using IFNS for 3 years straight and NEVER been disappointed. i went to the Pro version [$19.95] after a year, which gives you right click and Windows Explorer capabilities. without those capabilities, this baby will find anything you ask it for in seconds, and then you need to use Windows Explorer from there.

info from the developer of IFNS:

Instant File Name Search File Name Search for Windows Instant File Name Search (IFNS) is a fast and easy to use search software. You can instantly search files by name or wildcards on your PC or LAN (Local Area Network). What's New (v1.8 - May, 2009): New command line parameters: 'rescan' and 'exit'. Example: ifns.exe rescan Removed inconvenient 'Exit' dialog. Improved 'Open folder' function. Improved processing of incorrect folder names. Correct support of 'menu' key. Many small improvements. Instant search of files by name or wildcards Support of Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) Search in various directories or LAN resources Easy to use, Explorer like user interface Database management (you can create several databases) Taskbar icon and hot keys for quick access Pro version features: File operations with search results (copy, move etc.) Context menu and drag&drop for files and folders Export and report functions IFNS requires Windows 9X or Windows 2000/XP/Vista.

go download IFNS today and find what you lost in the thousands of files on your computer in seconds!!!

[tomdawes]

PolyEdit Lite is the best free word processor you will find that exists to date!! in fact i JUST found it a week ago. it works with TXT, RTF, DOC, INI, LOG, HTM and HTML files. b4 this i used notepad [comes w/windows] for my TXT files and AbiWord, an open source project that is VERY good, for my RTF files.

but ...

then i found PolyEdit Lite. wow. the speed that this thing opens with is phe-NOMINAL!! it's layout is beautiful - powerpacked and functional! it's multi document tabs give you access to many documents in one beautiful tabbed environment - it's greatabulous!! UNlike many other editors it has a format painter, MONSTER toolbars that rival wurd, opens doc files up to wurd 2007 [like, who cares?!?] and has a TINY FOOTPRINT [low resources used and small amount of space used on HD]!!!!!!! another benny* is when opening TXT files, ALL web addresses are clickable!!! this works in RTF and DOC files as well [of course]!

PolyEdit Lite also has english, french, portuguese, german and spanish dictionaries - AND it integrates with WordWeb - one of the BEST spelling dictionary thesauruses on the internet!

get PolyEdit Lite now - and make your life easier. check back here for a "PolyEdit Lite Configuration" pdf to download [@ a later date].

*benny=benefit

[tomdawes]

this one's for you, mish!! i started using FlashGet February 1999, more than 10 YEARS AGO!! i've checked out many other dl managers, but none surpassed - and most couldn't equal, FlashGet!!
i still use version 1.73, not because i have a problem with the newest version, but because of my "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" policy. also, it's still offered - SPECIFICALLY ver.1.73 - on FlashGet's website!! that's because it is THE MOST STABLE VERSION of FlashGet to date. so ... get 1.73. or get the newest version - 1.96. just GET IT!!!

now ... why do i need FlashGet? first off - a download manager is used for many reasons - but first and formost is ... to manage your downloads [duh!]. reasons to use FlashGet would be - to schedule downloads for times you won't need the computer [say 2am-7am], to speed up downloads [in certain cases, this is do-able], to automatically categorize downloads [say you need Bleach, Elfen Lied, and Naruto folders].
i was on dial-up for many many many many years. without FlashGet, my downloads always dropped off, hung up, and generally made me pull my hair out. FlashGet fixed ALL of that!!! well ... not me pulling my hair out ... but it made it better!!
in mish's case - he's got DSL and seems he doesn't get the speed he wants. in my experience with DSL and Cable, i've found that the "download multiple parts" will increase the dl speeds by 2 to 5 times. this DOES NOT work with dial-up and satellite internet.
BUT!!! with my switching from WildBlue HELL to HughesNet satellite - i will be able to schedule downloads to run from 2AM - 7AM ... because HughesNet does not count those hours toward your overall satellite usage!! so VERY SOON i will enjoy fan-subbed anime that has been out of reach for me for quite some time!!!
if this sounds difficult to use - for some - it is. i will start work on FlashGet 1.73 tuts and add them to THIS post as i can. these will help the more "technologically challenged" to be the master of their own computer [or at least help them THINK that they are!!]. do NOT ask me for help on any new version of FlashGet - i will not be switching to any newer version UNLESS ... someone pays me a lot of money!! no no no!!! i'll switch if a new version give me a feature that I want in my download manager!
remember to check back for tuts!!

[tomdawes]

this time we'll look at a freeware watermark program called Alamoon Watermark Lite!! welovehina suggested xmichikox watermark her files [because they are THAT good!!!] and i agree!! so ximmi, here's a freeware program 4 u!!!

Alamoon Watermark Lite does a few things but we'll look at the main function - watermarking. it's quick, easy and done!!! THAT'S the way to do it. i have many programs for just one or two purposes each - and this does what it offers well. Alamoon Watermark Lite also converts to 7 different formats and can resize your image as well!

from the developer:

Prevent people from using your files or images without your consent, just stamp it with a strong visual watermark to make it your copyrighted property. With Alamoon Watermark editor you can virtually add a text or images watermark to your photos in seconds. A simple to use tool helps you to quickly and easily create watermarks and process thousands of files in seconds. The major picture formats supported by Alamoon Watermark are JPEG, BMP, TIFF, PCX, PNG, TGA, PBM, PGM, PPM, GIF, VDA, ICB, VST, PIX, WMF, FAX, PSD, PDD, PSP, CUT and PCD Image Formats.

Alamoon Watermark Lite - get it, mark it, and post it - safe, secure and SEEN!!!

[tomdawes]

todays offering is PictureGirdle - a picture resizer that every now and then can be equaled but never beat!! as with all software in WTF!! - PictureGirdle is freeware - pay nothing for a fanTAStic piece of software!!!

PictureGirdle resizes your pix in two ways physically - as in 3200x2140 to 1024x768 or 640x480. you don't need to give your best stuff to internet users. and PictureGirdle resizes pix physically. [WHAT!!! didn't he just SAY that?!?] yes - but this time it resizes the number of bytes that the pix is made up of. PictureGirdle resamples pictures better the best of ANY program i have [in my 20 years on computers] EVER EVER seen!!!

take for example the two pix below.
there's no discernable difference between the two! the first one appeared on www.WunderGround.com - my weather site of choice. the fellow who uploaded the pic of tweeties [a user named botulism] squeezed his pic down to 152KB. not bad you say. but i PictureGirdled it to the same 640x480 and brought it down to 80.9KB as well!!!! almost half the size of an already-resized pic!!! PictureGirdle even renamed it with the same name with an underscore [ _ ] after the name! Drag, drop, click "OK", done!!!

PictureGirdle will batch resize as well! don't take MY word for it [altho by now you should] - go get it for yourself ... and resize until your heart's content!!!

[btw - you WILL need to have Microsoft .NET 2.0* installed prior to installing PictureGirdle. have fun!!]

[* This download is .NET 3.5 SP1 which includes version 2.0 and up - a 250MB download,]

[tomdawes]

today i introduce you to Clicktray Calendar - a systemtray calendar program the fills ALL needs!!!

I have been using this freeware calendar since December 2004. Clicktray Calendar shows the date in the system tray, uses VERY little resources and allows me to leave messages [to myself] that come up to remind me on any day i wish!!! from birthdays or aniversarries to what movie's on tv 4 days from now! dr. appointments, days i used my CC and for how much, ...

well you get the picture ... this thing is my MEMORY!!! only with Clicktray Calendar i can search my past for that phone number i forgot or to prove to my wife that i DID pay that bill last month!!! [she knows i hate to type!!!]

this is all i use Clicktray Calendar for, but it does MUCH MUCH more!! an address book, a calculator, a "to-do" list, even moon stages and more!!

i have 4 1/2 years of notes to myself at my disposal - and plan to have many manty more!! get YOUR copy of this GREAT freeware program - Clicktray Calendar today!!