Mac

Windows

Free – latest update

This update recognises the Netscape 7 browser. There is also better diagnosis of Windows operating systems for Netscape and Mozilla browsers, and a new version of IIS How-To.

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.

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

New evaluation version

HTMLock is a quick way of password protecting your Web pages and hiding the source from casual snooping. The four-step wizard lets you select the file you want to encrypt and the password you want to add. A number of templates are included with various layout formats as well as session and cookie support that let you store a password on the user's local machine which can be used to protect a whole site. HTMLock works by encrypting your HTML files into JavaScript, which works on most browsers and platforms. The encrypted pages contain both the encrypted content and the JavaScript to enable the content to be displayed after the right password is entered.

Web link: www.atrise.com

Latest trial version

The new version of this award winning FTP client provides all the tools that have made it popular in the past (such as resuming interrupted uploads and downloads) plus a load of extra features. The interface has been tweaked for Windows XP support and work has gone into streamlining FTP transfers with faster startups, quicker connections to FTP servers and improved site navigation logic. A new scheduler lets you schedule current or saved queues for later transfer and a new search feature lets you find music, software and image files using multiple search engines. The Site Manager has been improved and provides an easy way to store FTP site usernames, passwords and addresses with optional encryption. The familiar two-paned interface makes it easy to transfer files between your local PC and remote computers simply by dragging and dropping files from one pane to the other.

Web link: www.globalscape.com

30-day evaluation

An essential tool for checking your Web pages' appearance and accessibility on other systems that may have a variety of browsers and screen resolutions. Also tests colour palettes. BrowserMaster can take into account Microsoft Windows TaskBar and also Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar.

Web link: www.applythis.com

Free

REL Link Checker Lite is a free and easy link checker tool that assists in checking and verifying your Web site's hyperlinks. The program can check up to 1,000 URLs during one session. This is the free version of the more powerful commercial version, Web Link Validator (included on previous IM cover CDs).

Web link: www.relsoftware.com

30-day trial

BlackICE secures your PC through application protection, intrusion protection and personal firewall functionality. Systems are protected from Trojans, Back Doors and various Denial of Service attacks. The program also protects you from unauthorised users grabbing files, passwords, etc. It is possible to track down the origin of hacking attacks. BlackICE works over all types of network connection.

Web link: www.guildsoft.co.uk

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

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 7.5. This means that you will also have the opportunity to install an unregistered trial version of StuffIt Standard Edition, as well as unregistered shareware versions of DropStuff and StuffIt Browser.

Web link: www.stuffit.com

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

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

Free – latest version

Requires CarbonLib if on a system earlier than OS X.

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.

New to this version: updated to the latest Unix version; recognises the Netscape 7 browser; better diagnosis of Windows operating systems for Netscape and Mozilla browsers; now includes Analog Helper X version 1.5.1.

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

Recently updated – shareware

Speed Download has gone through a number of updates this year, incorporating numerous changes, improvements and fixes. The program lets you use multiple simultaneous connections to perform downloads, working with Internet Explorer, Netscape and Opera. Open up to 32 simultaneous connections per file. All downloads are resumable and a queue system that supports schedules and scripting allows for efficient use of online time.

Speed Download is ready for Mac OS X and has multi-processor optimisations when running under OS 9 or higher. It doesn't install system extensions, control panels or other gadgets, but just brings speed and performance.

This latest version brings improvements to performance and compatibility. There have also been bug fixes and other enhancements.

Note: this unregistered version supports only two simultaneous downloads. The program is intended for use with broadband Internet connections.

Web link: www.yazsoft.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