Mac

Windows

Requires IE4 or later

Adbin, from Paw-Print Software, integrates with Microsoft Internet Explorer to remove advertising from Web pages as they are downloaded.

This is the shareware that the shareware sites don't want you to use – Adbin is worrying shareware sites so much that only a few have agreed to distribute it.

Adbin sits alongside IE and whenever a page is downloaded, it scans the page for ads. It uses an extensible set of rules to identify ads and when it finds an image that it suspects is an ad, Adbin replaces it with an image directly from the PCÆs local drive.

It's worth remembering that some smaller companies and individuals rely on small ad revenue to help keep their sites online.

Web link: http://paw-print.com

This utility speeds up Web browsing by automatically removing banner ads, cookies and pop-up windows from Web pages. Adsoff! works in the background and tells your browser not to download adverts and banners so they are not requested in the first place. It actively prevents all interactions with known ad servers and can prevent both IP and cookie tracking which increases your online privacy.

Web link: www.intercantech.com

Free

WebCopier is an offline browser that downloads Web sites and stores them locally on your hard drive. It performs precise links searching, including JavaScript parsing, and can download up to 100 files simultaneously. It can also print an entire Web site or only specific parts of it.

WebCopier offers support for proxy servers and allows you to specify an account name and password to access secure Web sites. It also lets you schedule projects to download, specify download levels, and restrict downloads to certain links only. WebCopier includes FTP support, a dialer, support for Shockwave files, auto disconnect and auto shutdown, and different language modules. This version features better JavaScript support and a few minor bug fixes.

Web link: http://home.columbus.rr.com/mklimov/

More enhancements to the Netscape suite. Browse the Web, use email, access newsgroups, chat and get up to all sorts of other online activities.

Now includes WinAmp MP3 player, RealPlayer G2, a Netscape Radio service and a number of bug fixes.

Important Notice: Some users have reported problems with Netscape Communicator 4.7 after installation. If you are experiencing problems, to ensure that Netscape Communicator 4.7 works properly, you must remove your fullsoft directory. It should be located at C:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\Program\FullSoft – find it and delete it.

You are advised to backup any important files such as address books and email folders.

Netscape Support statement: "...end-users are not entitled to any support, warranty, or documentation associated with the Product unless they have paid for such support, warranty or documentation." Visit the Netscape Web site for information on purchasing support.

Look out for version 6 coming soon – still at pre-release stage at time of going to press.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser – it's not just a browser, you get lots of extras, including many multimedia extensions.

You may be required to connect to the Internet during or before installation. Microsoft recommends that you uninstall any previous versions of IE before installing this version.

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.

New version

Another update to Microsoft's Web browser and Outlook Express. This final release version has a new look and includes various fixes making it more stable.

PageSucker is a small utility that allows entire Web page hierarchies to be downloaded automatically. The pages are modified in such a way that they can then be viewed off-line (even after copying them to a CD-ROM or the like). Read the documentation for a list of PageSucker's features.

Web link: www.pagesucker.com

Note: Before you install Communicator, make sure that your hard disk names do not include the slash (/) character. Account Setup won't run if any of your hard disk names include a slash. If you are using a 3.0x version of Navigator and want to transfer your preferences automatically to Communicator 4.7, you need to run NSMacPrefs. First, install Communicator 4.7 and run it once. Then, install and run the NSMacPrefs utility.

To install Communicator, copy the .bin file from the software\mac\browsing\netscape folder to your hard disk and double-click it.

Netscape Support statement: "...end-users are not entitled to any support, warranty, or documentation associated with the Product unless they have paid for such support, warranty or documentation." Visit the Netscape Web site for information on purchasing support.