1-line description: Turbo Internet can significantly accelerate your Internet connection, but can also resume downloads, keep your connection alive, launch up to 5 applications right after being connected and much more.
Long description: Turbo Internet is an utility that can significantly accelerate your Internet connection! Turbo Internet uses & combines many technologies to accelerate any PPP dial-up Internet connection. Many users achieved a 7.5K/sec download rate (compared to the original 4K/sec).
Generally, providers will allow only a preset rate. Turbo Internet simulates low Internet activity so that the server will allow you to use more bandwith. You might gain up to 3K/sec with a 56K modem.
Turbo Internet will also automatically update the pages you visit often when your Internet activity is low, using the MyHabits technology.
MyHabits¬ is a system that will regurlarly download the pages you visit often and also the pages you visit when you have just connected. You will be surprised to see that your favorite sites will instantly display! MyHabits¬ will first check whether there is an available update, and will place in the cache the webpage if needed when there is low Internet activity.
Turbo Internet also uses acceleration technologies from the PC platform, such as pre-fetching: Pre-fetching is a unique feature of Turbo Internet that will scan for links on a webpage and that will download every linked webpage. If an image is already placed in Turbo Internet's cache and if the image size is the same, Turbo Internet will not download it to accelerate pre-fetching without slowing your connection.
Turbo Internet features a Download Resume¬ function: if for some reason your connection dropped or if you stopped a download by error, you'll have to start downloading from the beginning. With Turbo Internet, you can just resume it. Since this function is easy-to-use and does not require any custom download manager, you can deliberately stop a download and then resume it anytime.
Turbo Internet can also keep your connection alive. Most servers will automatically disconnect a user after a certain time. That might be very annoying if you're downloading a file. Turbo Internet avoids this by creating very small Internet activity. Turbo Internet will not create Internet activity if you're not surfing or downloading.
AutoLaunch is a feature that will launch up to five applications right after being connected. No need to manually launch your mail client, then your browser, then ICQ, etc. Just ask Turbo Internet to do so!
Turbo Internet is compatible with nearly every Mac browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer, Nestcape Navigator), every FTP client, every e-mail client, supports RealPlayer and almost every download manager.
MacOS X?
Turbo Internet is a Classic application and is not yet compatible with MacOS X. It will properly run under MacOS 8 & MacOS 9, but will not run in the Classic mode of MacOS X. A Carbon version is on the way.
Installation
Turbo Internet requires MacOS 8.0 and a dial-up Internet connection using PPP. Turbo Internet is compatible with MacOS 9.1.
To install Turbo Internet, drag Turbo Internet on the Control Panels Folder of your System Folder. You don't have to restart. Launch Turbo Internet to use it and to accelerate your Internet connection.
Registration
The shareware fee for Turbo Internet is just US $24.95 for a single user license. The $24.95 fee is intended to prove us that the number of sleepless nights used to program Turbo Internet were not useless.
To register Turbo Internet, please visit:
http://www.macunicorn.com/register.htm
We will send to you a registration code for you within 48 hours to enter in the Enter Code dialog.
Instructions for use
Note
You can find a FAQ list on Turbo Internet's website (http://www.macunicorn.com/turbointernet/) if you experience a problem that is not described in this Read Me.
Basic setup
You must launch Turbo Internet to use it. Choose in the Control Panels Folder the control panel "Turbo Internet".
Turbo Internet will display a Setup Assistant. You must complete the Setup Assistant to enable Turbo Internet. The Setup Assistant will scan your Internet connection and therefore requires you to be on the Internet.
When Tubo Internet is correctly configured, it will display the main menu after launching.
A few easy steps to get on the Internet with Turbo Internet
Since Turbo Internet slightly changes the Internet connection method, you need to use Turbo Internet's dial-up system to accelerate your Internet connection.
Click on Connect to display the Connection window. Turbo Internet will ask you if you would like to go directly to the Connection window next time you will launch Turbo Internet. If you check the "Do not display this alert again", Turbo Internet will not display the alert again, even if you press "No".
Press Connect to connect using the last recorded PPP settings.
ÑÑÑ If you have more than one Internet connection, open Remote Access, select the desired connection and quit. You don't have to run the Setup Assistant again and you don't even have to re-launch Turbo Internet. ÑÑÑ
Turbo Internet will display the "Connecting..." window. If Turbo Internet is properly working, the two arrows should blink. The connection time might be slightly longer with Turbo Internet than with Remote Access.
When the connection is completed, Turbo Internet will display the acceleration ratio as well as the settings you chose or the preset settings. If the acceleration ratio stays on "1.00x" or on "None", Turbo Internet does not support your Internet connection.
You can click the triangles to hide a portion of the window. Turbo Internet will remember the current setup of the Connection window next time.
Click on "Minimize" to hide the Connection window and display a floating window. The floating window will only show if Turbo Internet is the frontmost application, allowing you to gain a noticeable amount of screen space. If an error occurs, Turbo Internet will always beep and will automatically become the front application.
If you chose "Minimize" while connected, Turbo Internet will display the standard connection window next time. To change this, you must modify the preferences (explained further).
Turbo Internet will detect a connection-drop, just like Remote Access. If this happens, Turbo Internet will display a message and will automatically reconnect after 5 seconds (you can modify this behaviour with the preferences, described further).
Resume a broken download
When connected via Turbo Internet, you can show the Main Menu if you click "Main Menu" (not available for the floating window). The connection window won't dismiss. Don't worry if you close by error the Main Menu; Turbo Internet won't quit if you are on the Internet.
Once the Main Menu appears, click on "Resume" to resume a broken download.
Turbo Internet can resume a broken download only if the downloaded file is still in the Downloads Manager (for IE 4.x/5.x).
Follow the assistant instructions. When you will have to select a file, Turbo Internet will automatically recognize broken dowloads.
If the operation fails, try to give Turbo Internet more RAM memory. You'll have to quit Turbo Internet to do that, unless you have Turbo Mem, another product from Mac Unicorn Software (http://www.macunicorn.com).
Turbo Internet will backup your file and will delete the backup only if the resuming succeeded.
This feature works with every type of file and works when the download is completed anywhere from 1% to 99%. With Turbo Internet, you can deliberately cancel a download to resume it after.
To cancel a download in IE, double-click on the file in the download manager, and press Cancel. Then, resume it using Download Resume¬.
Preferences
When connected via Turbo Internet, you can show the Main Menu if you click "Main Menu" (not available for the floating window). The connection window won't dismiss. Don't worry if you close by error the Main Menu; Turbo Internet won't quit if you are on the Internet.
Once the Main Menu appears, Click on "Preferences" to change internet-related settings.
The Preferences settings are detailed and easy to understand.
Important note: If you change a setting while a Turbo Internet connection is active, you'll have to reconnect to apply the changes.
We will explain here only the options that you might not understand. Others are heavily documented under Turbo Internet itself.
Global tab
When connected, Turbo Internet can display two windows: the standard window, or a compact floating window that auto-hides when Turbo Internet is not the front application.
When connected, you can display the floating window by clicking "Minimize", or you can display the standard window by clicking "Maximize", but these changes are not permanent. You need to use the Preferences panel to make them permanent.
Turbo Internet can launch up to five applications right after being connected. To do so, check "After a connection, launch application(s)", then click Choose╔ to choose your applications. If you move or delete an application, Turbo Internet will beep and will notify you.
This feature, AutoLaunch, is very useful to launch your mail client, your Internet browser and ICQ, for example. It saves you time and money.
Settings tab
When you launch Turbo Internet, you can display the Main Menu or the Connection window (a.k.a. Turbo Remote Access). If you check "Show Turbo Remote Access at startup", Turbo Internet will directly display the Connection window. You can also let Turbo Internet warn you when you invoke Turbo Connect via the main menu by checking "Ask me if I want to show the Connection window".
You can also ask Turbo Internet to re-connect if your connection drops. This can be useful if you disabled the "Keep connection alive" function (Internet tab) or just if your server disconnects you every 4 hours, for example.
Turbo Internet will display a reconnection window, and will try to connect. If the re-connection fails, Turbo Internet will quit.
Enjoy!
Other
There are many hidden functions as well as easter eggs in Turbo Internet. You might find them one day. Happy Internet surfing!
Disclaimer and copyright
Turbo Internet is Copyright ⌐1998-2001 Mac Unicorn Software.
All the technologies used by Turbo Internet (TurboInternet¬, Pre-Fetching, MyHabits¬, Alternate Downloads, AutoLaunch and Accelerate Downloads) are Mac Unicorn Software's property & also Copyright ⌐2001 Mac Unicorn Software.
Even if Turbo Internet is bug-free, we make no warranty whatsoever, either implied or express, as to its correct functioning. When using this software, the user assumes all responsibility for damages caused, directly or indirectly, by its use.
Distribution
You can include Turbo Internet (unregistered version) on the Internet and on free CD-ROMs. Please note that if you do so, we would like you to warn us.
Turbo Internet is Shareware, which means that you are allowed to use it on a trial basis for up to 25 tries. After this period, if you want to continue using it, you are expected to pay the required Shareware fee.
Thanks
We thank all our registered users, but many people offered their support and helped us to improve or maintain alive Turbo Internet. We especially would like to thank:
Ian Schray
Richard Makarewicz
Daniel East
How to contact us
If you wish to tell us how great Turbo Internet is, or if you have a bug report, send us an e-mail at:
turbointernet@macunicorn.com
Version history
1.5
- New feature, AutoLaunch: allows you to launch up to five apps right after being connected
- New feature: the Connected window now features disclosure triangles to reduce the height of the window
- New feature: Turbo Internet now features a compact floating window that auto-hides when Turbo Internet isn't the front application
- At long last, we fixed the "-3250 error: PPP error" bug; Turbo Internet will now properly connect with any PPP version
- Now compatible with the Modem Magic scripts
- Improved interface, with smaller fonts and fully platinum-aware
- No more "disabled buttons" bug when Kaleidoscope is enabled
- Disconnections are better handled
- Perfectly stable; no more Finder quits, System crashes and bombs
- Improved engine: no more slowdowns on old PPC machines
- Many other major & minor bug fixes
- Works with streaming
- MacOS X icon implemented
- Improved Turbo Internet graphic
1.1.2r1
Ñ Fixed bug when Turbo Internet asked for Turbo Internet INIT and therefore wouldn't launch.
1.1.2
Ñ Removed Turbo Internet INIT (extension). Current users must delete it as well.
Ñ Compatibility with FreePPP improved.
Ñ Removed "Do you want to disconnect?" dialog box (many users asked this).
Ñ Turbo Internet will now properly override iCab when iCab's prefetching is enabled.
Ñ Improved stability on MacOS 9.1 (no more Finder crashes).
1.1.1
Ñ Will not display the dialog box "Connection error -3205" when clicking the "Connect" button.
1.1
Ñ At long last, Turbo Internet is compatible with FreePPP!
Ñ Turbo Internet is now compatible with iCab and will accelerate iCab surfing. Previous versions kept crashing when iCab was opened.
Ñ The main window was slightely redesigned.
Ñ The connection & disconnect windows were redesigned and improved.
Ñ Turbo Internet would play horrible noises instead of playing sounds. This is now fixed...
Ñ If it isn't for your computer, you can now disable Turbo Internet sounds in the Preferences panel.
Ñ You can minimize the Turbo Connect window and display only a very little & long window that will float over everything. We recommend to place it on the top or the bottom of your screen.
Ñ The Turbo Connect window was redesigned and will remember its position.
Ñ Turbo Internet will no more display a connection error if you already used the Turbo Connection once.
Ñ Turbo Internet will properly disconnect when called using the Disconnect button.
Ñ If your connection fails to connect, Turbo Internet would refuse to re-connect after, displaying a connection error message. This is now fixed.
Ñ Turbo Internet will properly disconnect if you cancel a connection.
Ñ More generally, Turbo Internet will disconnect and won't show the "Disconnecting..." window without actually disconnecting.
Ñ MacOS 9.1-aware (no more crashes).
Ñ Turbo Internet will not display the "Do you want to show the Turbo Connect window next time?" when the checkbox "Do not show this dialog box next time" is checked.
Ñ The Disconnect & Main Menu buttons (Turbo Connect window) were sometimes grayed, forcing you to switch to another app then back to Turbo Internet to ungrey them. This is now fixed.
Ñ A lot of other bug fixes and interface changes.
1.0.2
Ñ Your computer won't crash anymore when Turbo Internet updates MyHabits.
Ñ Turbo Internet should in most cases properly disconnect.
Ñ No more "Wrong Serial Number" error (and we mean it!)
Ñ The Setup Assistant will now ask you to choose beetween PPP, Cable/DSL and AOL. Turbo Internet cannot handle Cable/DSL/AOL but this is one more step heading to Cable/DSL/AOL compatibility.
Ñ A lot of internal changes that will improve Turbo Internet's stability (no more hard crashes or Type 10 errors).
1.0.1
Ñ Slightly improved acceleration engine.
Ñ Trial launches increased to 25.
Ñ Removed nag message displayed every 30 minutes that caused the computer to crash.
Ñ Fixed bug that caused Turbo Internet to incorrectly play the sounds (no more horrible noises).
Ñ Turbo Internet now properly disconnects.
Ñ Turbo Internet now displays the registration name on the Main Menu and on the connection window.
Ñ No more "Wrong Serial Number" error (hopefully).
Ñ If an error occurs, Turbo Internet should exit more gracefully (no crashes).
Ñ If you close the connection window, Turbo Internet will ask you if you want to disconnect instead of just closing.
Ñ If an error occurs, Turbo Internet should exit more gracefully (no crashes).
