addins

Browser wowser

Internet downloading got a major boost from bit torrents and the widespread availability of broadband, but conventional Web-based downloads are still limited by single-thread technology. Download Commander from Heitmeijer is a downloading application that uses the familiar HTTP protocol but enables multiple simultaneous downloads via multithreading, so instead of downloading each file on a Web site, you can download them all at once. It will also save various credentials so you don't have to re-enter them constantly.

Download Commander integrates itself with Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser. Right-clicking a Web page calls up the context menu with Download … Read more

Basic download manager

Sometimes it's enough to download a video or song by itself, but other times we find ourselves with multiple downloads going, which can get confusing and hard to manage. InstantGet is a download manager that helps organize downloads and claims to make them faster. Although we're not sure that the program's claims are accurate, overall, it seems to work well enough.

The program's interface is fairly basic, not differing significantly from that of other download managers we've encountered. It's not the most intuitive program we've ever seen, but with a bit of poking … Read more

Dupe zapper

Microsoft's Outlook does a good job of retaining all kinds of useful information, but its power and complexity make it entirely too easy to end up with multiple entries for e-mail or addresses. Wisco's NoMoreDupes for Outlook add-on searches out and deletes duplicate entries throughout Outlook. It can help you keep your e-mail addresses and saved messages neat and orderly, but it does much more. It finds duplicate entries in your Contacts as well as duplicate e-mails, but it also searches through your Outlook Appointments, Notes, Tasks, and Journal entries, clearly identifying duplicates, some of which you may … Read more

ActiveX-tra

AsdGraph3D Pro Excel Addin gives you the capability to create three-dimensional graphs with data from Excel spreadsheets. These 3D graphs can also plot ActiveX controls that can be used in programs such as Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer.

The 3D graphs this add-in produces aren't flashy and would be best used for programming purposes rather than for design or illustrations. Graphic design experience left us unimpressed with the look of the graphs that the program produces; however, from a programming perspective, they're quite sufficient. There's a good built-in Help file that explains the program's controls and … Read more

Web page data extractor

Happy Harvester allows you to extract data from Web pages for use in other programs. There are two primary views: Source Preview and Browser Preview. Type a URL into the Base URL window, and the Source Preview shows the code for the Web page; the Browser Preview shows how the Web page displays in a browser.

Happy Harvester's interface is basic but functional. There's a useful Help file that explains how to use the program's main features and extras. The documentation touts the program's ability to pull source code from Web pages that you can then … Read more

Ad-zapping toolbar

So, another Internet Explorer add-on toolbar...but wait! Quero Toolbar is different: It's actually worth using. For starters, it's not like those spyware "toolbars" that continue to plague unprotected PCs and careless users. Quero Toolbar is actually designed to block pop-ups, flash animations, and other ad-related annoyances that can spoil your browsing. It also integrates a search-as-you-type function, easily selectable search engines and international profiles, a highlighter, easy zoom and resize, security options, and much more.

Quero Toolbar installs seamlessly with all versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and above. The Quero button on the navigation … Read more

Well-designed toolbar

Pinoy Radio Toolbar is a useful browser add-on that gives users access to Philippine radio, news, and more. The toolbar contains both fun and practical features and is also easy to customize.

We tested Pinoy Radio Toolbar in both Firefox and Internet Explorer, and it worked well in both. True to its name, the toolbar contains access to tons of radio stations, both Philippine and international. The stations we tried connected quickly and played without issues. The toolbar also contains a search box that utilizes Conduit, which is powered by Google; we didn't like wading through all the "… Read more

Internet danger meter

Web of Trust (WOT) for Firefox provides users with a simple meter for gauging a Web site's danger level. With easy to read warnings, this program only leaves one thing to chance with your safety.

The program does not have anything to offer on your computer's desktop because it embeds itself into your Firefox browser for quick access. Depending on the Web site you visit, the program's icon turns red, yellow, or green to illustrate the danger level. Clicking on the icon displays a chart showcasing Trustworthiness, Vendor Reliability, Privacy, and Child Safety. The warnings are intuitive … Read more

Make your passwords stick

Sticky Password creates a password storehouse for passwords throughout your system, although the program is somewhat more limited than that sounds. In addition to the generally strong password management feature, the keystone of the program, it offers a good selection of useful secondary features to bolster its value.

Sticky Password will import passwords from your browser, and ask you to create a master password for accessing them. That same master password can be used to restrict access to your computer, requiring the master pass before resuming from sleep or hibernation. It supports multiple accounts, fast access via the system tray … Read more

Feed your news demon

Although FeedDemon remains one of the best desktop RSS and Atom feed catchers, its latest version contains many changes, some of them controversial.

FeedDemon has dumped its proprietary online synchronization site, newsgator.com, in favor of syncing with Google Reader. New users won't notice, but older users are likely to lose many unread feeds since Google can't import feeds with more than 10 unread items. Once synced, unread items can number more than 10 items again. There's also a new, persistent ad placed in the lower left corner of the interface that goes away when you buy … Read more