HoT TiPs

These links and tips are subject to expiry so get them while they're HOT.

Students: Buy Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for $64! Microsoft has set up a webpage for students at TheUltimateSteal.ca where they are offering the chance to buy Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for $64 or a one year license for $22. There are of course freeware alternatives like StarOffice, but Microsoft Office is still the standard and will guarantee that you won’t run into any compatibility issues, for example, on the day you’re supposed to do a class presentation

Stealth Web Page Recorder is a tool that allows you to record all Internet Explorer Web sites that have been visited, including contents of password protected pages and Web pages that use a secure HTTPS connection. It enables you to record e-mail messages that are viewed, using online e-mail services like Hotmail and others. The program logs and records all text on visited pages, and sorts them by date and site for easy review. It runs completely hidden, and you can configure the program to record all Web sites visited, or only the ones you specify http://www.antispy.biz/downloads/inst_swpr.exe

Here's a new Online AV tool from Computer Associates. ca.com/virusinfo/virusscan.aspx

Cool Web Site - {Motorcycle origami} Impressive looking paper versions of motorcycles. If motorcycles aren't your thing, there are animal and other series available. http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/eng/papercraft/

GMIP is a tool for people that need to access their PC from a remote location, but have a dynamic IP address. It will e-mail your IP Address to you whenever it changes. http://www.getmyipaddress.com

eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite from Computer Associates. Free 12-month software subscription to Computer Associates' eTrust EZ Armor Antivirus and Firewall security suite. Download it here

Outlook Express Freebie Backup For Versions 5.0 and Greater. http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx

DBXtract is a freeware program that extracts all the individual mail and news messages from an Outlook Express 5 or 6 message store. DBXtract is designed for recovering corrupted OE files, and (in its Recover Mode) it can even extract messages that have been deleted. http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract

DeepBurner helps you create data, bootable, and audio CDs as well as data DVDs. Friendly and intuitive user interface with drag-and-drop features helps in all aspects: starting from compilation of data and audio to be burn onto a CD/DVD till making and printing labels for the particular type of media storage. http://www.deepburner.com/index.php

InterChat is a network messenger that allows you to chat over a Local Area Network (LAN). It automatically detects other users on the network using the client and allows you to chat with one or more users. It includes many features like auto-reply text, file transfers, multi-user chat, online status, alert messages to all users, and more. http://www.conware.org/products/ic3/about.php

OpenOffice 1.1 RC5 is a free open source alternative to MS Office with a Word- compatible word processor, a complete Excel-compatible spreadsheet program, and a PowerPoint-like presentation software and drawing program. It also allows you to save to a PDF file. http://www.openoffice.org

POPFile is an email classification system, that automatically sorts your messages and fights spam. It acts as a proxy between your email program and the mail server, scanning all incoming mail and then marks the mail according to your settings. http://easynews.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/popfile/popfile-0.19.1-windows.zip

Restoration is an easy to use tool to undelete files that were deleted from within Windows. You can scan for all files that may be recovered and also limit the results by entering a search term or extension. It also provides the option to wipe the found files beyond simple recovery. Restoration works with FAT and NTFS as well as digital cameras cards. http://hccweb1.bai.ne.jp/~hcj58401

Web Picture Creator allows you to create photo albums that can be published on the Web as thumbnail galleries. It offers customizable HTML output that you can edit to match your site design, and also save the design as a template, so it can be applied to other galleries. http://webpicturecreator.com/

swf2avi is a tool to convert Flash and Shockwave movies (SWF) to bitmaps, bitmap-sequences (BMP, JPG) or videos (AVI). The program includes and executes all required movies and ActionScripts while converting the SWF movie. www.pizzinini.net/?category=8&item=37&language=en

Monitor Calibration Wizard is an easy-to-use tool for calibrating the colors displayed by your monitor. Most monitors have flaws, they may be too dark, too bright, or they may have a color tint like green or blue. All these problems can be easily fixed through Monitor Calibration Wizard. www.hex2bit.com/products/product_mcw.asp

TweakUI PowerToy Update includes more functionality making it a worthwhile upgrade. Windows XP SP1 or Windows Server 2003 are required. Grab it here

NeroNet A network sharing extension is available for download, which allows a CD writer to be shared with other PCs. The package consists of a server portion that Nero clients utilize from networked desktops. Pretty cool stuff! www.nero.com/en/index.html#c1031588092181

Create PDFs for Free Now you can create PDF files without buying the full version of Acrobat, by using a free program called CutePDF Printer. This program does more than just print PDFs; it creates them. Head on over to www.acrosoftware.com

Gizmo Richards - The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities List can be found at www.techsupportalert.com/best.htm

A full-fledged game with quality graphics. The Ta-Tas work to quash the Fungi infestation that has hit their land. Move to the next level by meeting the goals for the current level until all the levels are completed. The no-good Fungi Colony has seized the Ta- Ta land and has ruined the beautiful blueberries and flowers. www.renegadeware.com/TaTaMahatta/

A full featured FTP client with SSL/TLS support, queuing, sessions, remote file searching, resume of transfers, bandwidth control, recursive deleting and much more. Easy to use interface and fast loading file listings. Free for non-commercial usage only. www.coreftp.com/

Like Free Utilities that have outstanding quality? www.systemtools.com/free_frame.htm

Microsoft Producer for Microsoft Office PowerPoint. Provides users with many powerful new features that make it easier to synchronize audio, video, slides, and images to create engaging and effective rich-media presentations. Download

CapturePad is a video capture utility which allows you to capture any screen activity into standard AVI file, JPG sequence and even into Flash SWF file. Besides that CapturePad works with any video hardware attached to the computer so you can easily grab and save a video from your webcam, tv tuner, etc. The application is still in beta-state. www.capturepad.com/

Try the ParaShooter 3D Deluxe game for a study break. Includes four weapon types, five enemy types, 20 levels, and six bosses to support efforts to destroy enemy aircrafts and paratroopers. Click here to download full version.

WipeOut 1.0.3.1 is a system cleanup tool which allows you to wipe the free space on a selected drive; delete cookies, Internet history, browser cache, temporary files, and more. It offers one-click cleaning based on four security levels. securitysoftware.cc/Programs/WipeOut.exe

AbiWord is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft® Word. It is suitable for typing papers, letters, reports, memos, etc. www.abisource.com/

iCarbon allows you to combine your printer and scanner into a photo copier using a small and fast program. All TWAIN-compatible scanners on your computer can be acquired with one click, as can all your printers. Scan/Print is just one simple operation. www.idev.ch/icarbon/

Avast! antivirus engine scans for computer viruses, worms and Trojans. It can be used to scan any object you like - files, memory, e-mails, web sites etc. Avast checks constantly for updates if there is an Internet connection present. Free for home use

iEdit is a collaborative editing program. This means that more than one person can edit the same file simultaneously via the internet or a LAN. Simple collaboration tool

SoftPerfect Network Scanner pings computers, scans for listening TCP ports and shows what types of resources are shared on a network (including system and hidden). In addition, it allows you to mount shared resources as network drives, browse them using Windows Explorer and more. Network Scanner

Underground covers the lifestyles and motivations of some of the more prolific hackers in computing history. The book is now available free in every common electronic format. www.underground-book.com/

This looks like a very promising new site from Examnotes.net. Question of the Day carries 42 exams to choose from for various certifications. Thay also claim to have 80 free newsletters for all interests. www.qod.to/i-1.htm

PagePlus v5.0 The free download comes with wizards, samples, fonts, animated GIFs, clipart, and backgrounds. Includes publication options such as ads, brochures, stationery, flyers, newsletters, programs, posters, and greeting cards. www.freeserifsoftware.com/serif/pp/pp5/index.asp

FUZZPAD. The site at may interest you if you compose HTML from a text editor. Pasting your code into the window and clicking on "ShowIt" will display how the code will appear on a Web site. www.fuzzylu.com/docs/html/js/home.htm

ExeLock Express will take any Windows program and lock it with a password. Once the program is locked it cannot be run without the password. www.stratusburg.com/default.asp?pg=ExeLockExpress

Free Beachfront Quizzer Choice of: Win2000 Professional, MetaFrame, Network+, A+, CCNP, CCNA
* I do not advise that you enter completely truthful data at this site. Use your spam account as the address for them to send your installation code. Worthy of your download but they inundate you with sales pitches forever and ever ... and they're product is not superb in my opinion. www.beachfrontdirect.com/csb79.html

Create your own bending and distorting graphics, then animate the morphing process. Have a sentence on your web site turn into a spiral and back, or make an animated logo. xiberpix.homestead.com/index.html

Don Kentner