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Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter

February 25, 2007

  
Hi Everyone.

Thanks for reading my newsletter. Each week, I will have freeware reviews, tips, tricks, news, and lots of cool websites for you to check out.

I hope you enjoy this week's letter. Be sure to write me for advice or yell at me for messing up.

Email me

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visiting this newsletter!

_Online?


REVIEWS

Dial-a-fix - fixes a few Windows foul-ups

review from ClifNotes, Date, permalink _ System Tweaking

A few weeks ago, I had a little trouble getting a Windows update to work. I read about this utility in a forum and I gave it a try hoping it would fix my problem. Well, it didn't help me, but it didn't hurt anything either. According to the authors, DAF's primary philosophy is to fix problems by setting various things back to their original Microsoft defaults.

In any case, I'd recommend that you only use this cool tool when you are advised to do so by those with more expertise. When used in the right way, this one is a real system saver.

Quote from the website
Dial-a-fix is an advanced utility for 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows written by DjLizard in Borland Delphi 7 that repairs various Windows problems, such as:

  • Windows Update errors and problems with Automatic Updates
  • SSL, HTTPS, and Cryptography service (signing/verification) issues
  • COM/ActiveX object errors and missing registry entries
  • and more.


http://wiki.djlizard.net/Dial-a-fix


FileZilla - monstrous powers to transfer files

review from ClifNotes, Mar 2005, Jan 2006, Feb 2007, permalink _ FTP Programs

The monster, Godzilla, is well known for his powers of destruction. Unlike Godzilla, FileZilla can help you build. I use FileZilla as my FTP client several times a week while building websites. Over the years I've tried many free FTP programs. They all did the job, but FileZilla is the one that I finally kept. It's easy for me to use and does everything I need. I like the dual pane views which make dragging and dropping files between the web and my PC a simple task. It will also connect to my FTP sites with a single click of the mouse, because it remembers all of my FTP logins and passwords. FileZilla downloads in a 4.5mb installer and will run on all Windows versions. If that isn't enough, it's a freeware open source project that has been around a long time. I feel I can depend on it's continued support and improvement.

Recently, an old friend of mine asked me for a recommendation for a good FTP program. I recommended FileZilla. Later, she wrote back telling me she was having trouble figuring it out, so I wrote up a quick tutorial on starting out with FileZilla. Here it is.

click to expand picture
Quote from the website
FileZilla is a powerful FTP-client for Windows 9x, ME, NT4, 2000 and XP. It has been designed for ease of use and with support for as many features as possible, while still being fast and reliable.

The main features of FileZilla are:

  • Ability to resume Uploads/Downloads (if the server supports it)
  • Custom Commands
  • Site Manager with folders
  • Keep Alive system
  • Timeout detection
  • Firewall support
  • SOCKS4/5 and HTTP1.1 Proxy support
  • SSL secured connections
  • SFTP support
  • Upload/Download Queue
  • Drag & Drop
  • Multi-language support
  • GSS authentication and encryption using Kerberos
http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/


Sharpshooters Miniature Golf - play and design your own courses

review from ClifNotes, Feb 2007, permalink _ Games

Super! I downloaded and installed this game. A few minutes later I was having fun and laughing at myself for how badly I was playing. I'm not Tiger Woods but I think he'd have a tough time on this one too.

The game is simple to figure out and you can view your holes from all angles in a 3D environment. The tough part is figuring out how hard to hit the ball.

There is a hole editor included in the game if you are one of those folks who find this too easy.

Quote from the website
Two FREE minigolf games for all ages. Sharpshooters comes with 135 unique and challenging holes PLUS with the included Course Designer you can create unlimited custom courses of your own design. Dead Eye comes with an 18 hole course. Try both and have fun.

http://www.geocities.com/john_kotas/


Donation Coder Review - Altiris SVS

review from cthorpe, Jan 2007, permalink _ Virtualization Software

Comment from Clif:
I often visit donationcoder to see the reviews of software there. These guys aren't afraid to try new stuff and they really seem to understand software. That's not surprising since many of them write software as a hobby. Drop by and visit Cody the Donation Coder mascot to see what he's up to this week.

http://www.donationcoder.com/

From cthorpe:

Altiris SVS has to be one of the coolest software concepts since FirstDefense-ISR Wink. It is an application virtualization system. Think of it like VM Ware or Parallels, but on an application by application basis. Want to install Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Office 2000 at the same time? No problem. Just install each one it its own "layer" and activate the one you want to use at any given time. Want to install a program for very occasional use but not have it hanging around, messing with your other programs, slowing down bootup and shutdown, eating all your food, and leaving the toilet seat up? Just put it in a layer, activate it every once in awhile as needed, and then deactivate it until the next time. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well, it almost is.

Read the rest of cthorpe's review here.

Quote from the website
Altiris® Software Virtualization Solution™ (SVS™) software is a revolutionary approach to software management. By placing applications and data into managed units called Virtual Software Packages, SVS allows you to instantly activate, deactivate or reset applications and to completely avoid conflicts between applications, without altering the base Windows installation.

http://www.altiris.com/Products/SoftwareVirtualizationSolution.aspx

Old Newsletter

I like to look back and see what I was thinking about. Here's another letter from the wayback machine.





TIPS AND FEEDBACK

Tips from Tiffany

permalink

From Clif:
Tiffany writes me occasionally to tell me about her favorite websites and new freebies she tries out. Tiffany's comments are in brown.

Did you know? - a glimpse into the future

From Tiffany, Feb 23 2007
Hi Clif,

A glimpse into the future that will shock and amaze you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHWTLA8WecI

********************************************
http://tiffanycartier.stumbleupon.com/
http://hello-kitty.group.stumbleupon.com/ =^..^=
********************************************

Thanks Tiffany!
I've been aware of what is in store for us for a few years now. I'd love to be able to stick around and experience our future. Maybe I'll get a life extension? Who knows?
Clif


Website Change Detection Tools - when there are no feeds

review from ClifNotes, Feb 2007, permalink _ Web Site Monitoring

RSS feeds are pretty cool. I've never really gotten used to using an RSS feed reader but I pretty much get most of my news from my Google home page (which uses RSS feeds). Sometimes you need to monitor a site a for changes and they don't offer a feed. The article below explains some of your alternatives for keeping up to date on websites.

Quote from Marshall Kirkpatrick
Ok, so every once in awhile I come upon a web page that 1. doesn't change very often 2. doesn't offer an RSS feed and 3. I want notification from any time the page changes.

So, what can you do in such circumstances? You can set up an account with a web site monitoring service. But which one should you use?


Watch That Page
ChangeDetection
ChangeNotes
TrackEngine

Read the rest:
http://marshallk.com/a-review-of-web-site-change-detection-services


Comments last week

Thanks to everyone who commented on the articles last week. You gave me more ideas and some good advice. If you see comments on an article, you will be missing out if you don't click on them to take a look.

If you commented last week, check to see who commented on your comment!

Here are the comments from last week.

Snap Preview Anywhere - do you like it? •
ZuluPad - notepad on crack •
RootkitRevealer - shedding light on hidden programs •
GNU Solfege - music practice makes perfect •
Ad-Aware SE Personal - scans your PC and removes adware and spyware •
ImageBot - instant image hosting •
ERUNT - The Emergency Recovery Utility NT •
John Hood asks what you want to pay for software •
CyberGuide is replaced by CyberNirvana •
Freebie Wiki - doing more than I can•
Making Music: A big list of FREE music making software! •
Midieval Tech Support - have you had trouble opening your text? •
LearnHowTo.tv - videos that make sense •





COOL WEBSITES

PhishTank - Out of the Net, into the Tank

review from ClifNotes, Feb 2007, permalink _ Web Service

Some time back, I found out about this new service for reporting on Phishing websites. Some day we may be able to surf the web in safety again with the help of organizations like PhishTank.

I was curious about PhishTank and I wrote them to ask a few questions.

Hi Alisson,

I'm sure much of this is already at the site, but I always prefer to get a real person if I can. I'll keep it simple and you can too. A sentence or two is all I need on each question.

1. What is PhishTank
2. How can I use it
3. How can I help
4. What is the future of PhishTank

Hi Clif,

I'm the community manager for OpenDNS and PhishTank and I'll be helping you out with this.

1. What is PhishTank

PhishTank is a community driven effort founded on the belief that in order to effectively fight phishing, we all must work together. PhishTank is a free to use, community site where anyone can submit, track and verify phishing sites.

2. How can I use it

Every time you get an e-mail that seems phishy, you should submit it to PhishTank. From there you can monitor its status, see if the community agrees that it is, in fact, a phish. You can also help verify suspected phishes submitted by others.

If you're a developer, you can use PhishTank's open API to incorporate anti-phishing technology into your tool(s).

3. How can I help

PhishTank works because of its active community. Everyone can help by submitting phishes and verifying phishes submitted by others.

4. What is the future of PhishTank

PhishTank is becoming more and more effective every month. Our long-term aim is to involve our active community members more in the leadership of PhishTank.

(David U blogged about this here:
http://www.phishtank.com/blog/2007/01/22/the-phishtank/)

Quote from the website
Submit suspected phishes. Track the status of your submissions.
Verify other users' submissions. Develop software with our free API.

PhishTank is a collaborative clearing house for data and information about phishing on the Internet. Also, PhishTank provides an open API for developers and researchers to integrate anti-phishing data into their applications at no charge.

http://www.phishtank.com/


The COOLSITES Newsletter - find the coolest links here

review from ClifNotes, Feb 2007, permalink _ Web Service

This fella named Mark Donaldson has been sending out his lists of cool sites since 2003. I'd never heard of him before last week. One day I was Googling myself to see who was posting links to my newsletter, and I found his website. I guess he's mentioned my newsletter at least 3 times.

I like the COOLSITES website too, but I think it could use some reformatting to make it a bit easier to read. What I really like is the content there. Mark must really read a lot of stuff on the web and he takes the best links then tells you about them.

click to expand picture
Quote from the website
In February 2000 I went online (I waited out the bogus y2k scare) with a used IBM 486. Since I've been online I have spent less than $800 which includes purchasing 2 used computers (I'm presently using a Compaq that was owned by Enron), Ram, HDDs, printer, CD drives, modem and ISP monthly fees (I'm on Juno at $4.95 a month). Just about every program I use is freeware. Every newsletter I get is free.


http://luem42.com/coolsites.aspx


Windows Live Contacts (Beta) - trying it out

tip from El Tel, Feb 2007, permalink _ Web Service

From El Tel in the U.K.

I want to tell you about this new service called Windows Live(TM) Contacts beta. It's like an address book that updates itself. So whenever you change your e-mail address or phone number, I'll automatically see all the changes in my address book. Much easier than sending out a mass mailing to everyone you know. And the nice thing is you can still control access to your info - you get to choose who knows about you.

Learn more: http://spaces.live.com/profile.aspx?action=learnmore&mode=activecontacts

Quote from the website
Say one of your contacts just moved and has a new home address. When they put their new information in Windows Live™ Contacts, your contact list is automatically updated in real time. The same thing happens when you change your phone number, e-mail address, etc.—your friends and colleagues immediately get your new information. Contact updates can be seen in your Windows Live™ Messenger and Windows Live™ Mail Beta contact list, and also on your Spaces profile.

http://spaces.live.com/profile.aspx?action=edit&mode=activecontacts

Websites I've visited recently

Have you seen any cool websites you want to share with us?





NEW NEWS

SnapFiles.com - new and updated freeware

Source - http://snapfiles.com/freeware

News from Sarah in Tampa



Security news from Malware Advisor

blog by TeMerc Internet Countermeasures, source
Infected? Go to http://temerc.com for help





OTHER STUFF

Get Gmail! and Get Firefox!

You need a free 2.7 GB Gmail account to access many of the cool features at Google. I'll send you an invitation right away if you write me and say I WANT GMAIL.

I think Gmail works best in the awesome Firefox browser. It's free, easy to use, and it's way more secure than Internet Explorer. My favorite thing to do is to customize Firefox so that it does much more than IE ever could. You can select new button controls for your toolbars, install extensions to add new features, or change the look of your browser with themes - the way Firefox looks and works is under your control.

Get Firefox!


Chatting at FreewareWiki

permalink

Now you can chat with anyone visiting a website by using Gabbly. To see who's gabbing at this website, click here.

Find out more about Gabbly.com

Frapper - you people live all over the world!

Wow! Over 400 people and still growing! I invite all of you to record your locations on this map. You can include as little or as much information as you wish. I think you'll enjoy seeing yourself there.

Here's a small look at my frapper map.



Write your own review

I get many of the reviews in the newsletter from the readers. You don't have to be a genius or computer guru. Just answer a few questions and send me a review. I'll probably put you in the newsletter.


What do you have to say?

Just tell me what article you are talking about and leave me your comment.

Have fun and surf safely.

Clif

http://clifnotes.net & http://freewarewiki.pbwiki.com
Devoted to promoting Freeware and Free Information

Want a free 2.7Gb Gmail account?
Email me here.


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