addin

Atheros releases first Wireless-N/Bluetooth combo minicard

Generally, wireless functions--such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular data, and so on--are added to your portable computer via add-in cards. These cards share the same PCI standard as other PCI add-in cards found in desktop computers, but they are much smaller in size.

Though small, there are only so many add-in cards a laptop, and especially a Netbook, can accommodate. For this reason, what Atheros, a known maker of wireless solutions, introduced Tuesday is a significant development.

The company announced Tuesday the industry's first single-stream 802.11n and Bluetooth combo solution on a Half MiniCard form factor for the PC … Read more

Web site dissector

Teleport Pro allows users to download and view all the elements of a Web site. While this program provides offline browsing, it is not without some flaws that might turn users off.

This program's layout is initially intimidating, offering tons of white space and not much direction. Fortunately, there is a wizard that walks users through every step of the process. Utilizing the command icons after downloading a Web site may require a visit to the Help file, as it also provides no direction for the user. Working through the wizard was simple enough for every level to utilize. … Read more

Top toolbar

If you're into toolbars, Internet Explorer, and Google, the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer does more than give IE a mere shot of nitro. With a set of features both useful and self-promoting, Google Toolbar 6 feels like it adds eight cylinders to IE's engine, turning it into a powerhouse of personalized functionality for both IE 8 users and those who are stuck on earlier versions.

There's the dedicated Google search window, the effective pop-up blocker, the form autofiller, the translation utility, the spell checker, and the map tool that automatically links addresses in Web pages to … Read more

Easy to use

Duplicate Remover for Microsoft Excel does exactly what its name suggests: it finds and removes duplicate entries and formatting in Excel spreadsheets. Thanks to its wizard-style approach, users of all skill levels will find it worthwhile.

The program operates through an extra tab that it adds to Excel's interface. Clicking on it activates a wizard that makes it incredibly easy to configure the program. Using a tip from the wizard, we first selected a large cell range to search. The program gives you the option of searching a single table or comparing two tables. We appreciated the time-saving step … Read more

Simple video downloader

Arc Soft Video Downloader helps users download movies directly to their computer, but there's a second step (and another program) if you want to watch your videos.

This freeware program is incredibly simple to use. Opening the program leads to a small rectangular screen with simple instructions for downloading a video. Little action is required on the part of the user. As soon as a video is viewed online, an ArcSoft icon appears with the ability to download the movie. Simply clicking on this icon initiates the process, and you can see the files for download on the program'… Read more

Internet danger meter

Web of Trust (WOT) for Internet Explorer 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 Internet Explorer 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 … Read more

Browse Web sites offline

Although plain in design, this handy tool lets you easily store and view your favorite Web sites offline. Instead of supplying a built-in browser, your stored pages can be quickly viewed in your designated browser.

This freeware program's bland interface is all business. A simple Wizard that leads you through the process of copying Web sites is a welcome touch. Users need only enter a project name, insert the URLs to be copied, and adjust settings as desired, including choosing how many layers of a page the program will pick up. HTTrack Website Copier goes to work very quickly … Read more

Flawed video downloader

YouTube is arguably one of the most popular Web sites on Earth. Millions of people have downloaded videos ranging from personal diary entries to blockbuster movie previews. Download Youtube Free promises to be a plug-in that helps users view these popular films, but it's incredibly flawed.

This freeware program is embedded in your Internet Explorer browser as a small, green icon shaped like an arrow. The program's interface features a large open screen, presumably for watching videos. Below are buttons to Copy URL, Save As, and Donate Now. The top of the box features only a File tab … Read more

This toolbar brings it all together

Combine Web browsing with finding shopping deals and collecting coupons for bargains. This toolbar brings it all together.

The AAfter Toolbar installs quickly and easily. Its not the best design we've seen for a toolbar, and it takes up more viewing real estate than seems necessary, but its not as cluttered with buttons as many other toolbars. We like that it doesn't try to be all things to all surfers. Instead, it focuses on its search engine and shopping deals.

The toolbar performed well in all our tests, quickly returning search results and responding quickly when we clicked … Read more

Firefox gets sagacious

Sage is a basic RSS feed and news aggregator for Firefox. Its no-nonsense approach and ease of use will appeal to all user levels.

The extension is meshed with Firefox's sidebar. It's very easy to navigate, with buttons for checking and searching feeds, and two view panels. The top panel displays each feed that you're subscribed to, and the bottom panel displays the specific feed headlines. The Options menu gives you display options, and lets you manage your feeds. We were able to easily copy and paste feed URLs and add them to our list of feeds. … Read more