by Bob Click
Greater Orlando Computer User Group
From the July, 2005 issue of the I/O Port Newsletter
It has come to my attention that a nasty popup has been emanating from my Web
site intermittently. I would never put a popup/under there myself, and yet there
it is. I finally became suspicious after getting it twice when accessing my Web
site just to check my browser connection, and that was the only place I had
been. A friend checked it closer and finally discovered it in the html code he
found, but didn't think it was in my Web site files. There is a script
containing a URL [www.registrarads.com] and a reference to NamesDirect.com. I
sincerely apologize for this, although it was without my knowledge or
permission.
Since I use the free space on Earthlink and some additional donated space from a
friend for my Web site, I use a URL redirect through NamesDirect.com. Originally
the redirect was through Yournamefree.com who I never had a problem with, but I
discovered Yournamefree.com is now part of MyDomain.com, which is also
affiliated with NamesDirect.com. Network Solutions is the registrar and I see no
need to change that because I can reach them anytime day or night with a free
call and they are not the offenders. In the past I became very dissatisfied with
MyDomain.com for my other domain names, and after much difficulty making the
transfer, thought I was rid of them. A call to NamesDirect.com acknowledged the
problem and that I would have to change them to the registrar or take their Web
hosting to avoid the problem. I told them I don't reward bad business practices
by giving them more business. They didn't care that I was going to write about
this in my column, so profit from my bad experience.
The popup offers to reset your computer clock, but clicking on it gets programs
downloaded to your computer. I hope no readers were stung by that obnoxious
popup. Most user group members are too smart to fall for that one, but it is
deceptive. The whois shows that my technical contact for the dealsguy.com had
been changed to NamesDirect.com and I have changed it back to myself twice, but
could not make the change stick until I changed the password. A while back it
had been changed to some guy in Australia and I changed it back to me when my
friend called that to my attention. What a mess, but I hope to get it resolved
soon, somehow.
Reminder
The deal for the biometric fingerprint device to operate your locks featured
last month is still good for August. Think about just laying your finger on a
pad that will quickly unlock doors or open your garage door. Ain't technology
great! For information see [http://www.ekeyusa.com] and to order, e-mail
[Hassan.Hares@ekeyUSA.com] or call (941) 782-1227. To get the 30% discount, use
the password "dealsguy05."
The other announcement deals I featured last month are also still good for
August. I had a great product ready for this month, but they could not put a
deal together in time, so look for home building and remodeling software next
month. I may also finally have a deal on the Dazzle 990, a great product. I'm
having fun looking at them. In place of it, I'll include more announcements with
a discount or free for user group members.
Free Database
At this writing, InterSystems was still offering Cache, a post-relational
database that uniquely combines advanced objects and high performance SQL, as a
free download. They say that with Cache, no mapping is required between object
and relational views of data, thus contributing savings in both development and
processing time. Cache also incorporates a powerful Web application development
environment that dramatically reduces the time to build and modify applications.
To get your free download, the URL is [http://www.intersystems.com/free] and I
hope it's still free. My description is from their ad and it appears that you do
have to register for the download.
How About a Free Toolbar!
(Edited) (Received back in November) (read the privacy statement "carefully"
before using the software)
The ToolbarBrowser is a new project supported by Trellian and is now available
for download: [http://www.toolbarbrowser.com] The ToolbarBrowser is a Toolbar
management tool and a complete Toolbar authoring system.
Imagine if you could take just the features you want from the many toolbars
you may have installed, and combine them into a single super toolbar.
Imagine if you could manage dozens of separate toolbars in a single tab
control.
Imagine if you could write your own toolbars as easily as you write HTML
pages, and share these with your friends, clients and web site visitors.
Imagine if you could add new toolbars at a click of a button without having to
install new software, and uninstall them just as easily.
Imagine if you could write your own toolbars in XML, HTML, Java, JavaScript or
even Flash.
We very much look forward to receiving your feedback, suggestions and comments
and invite you to participate in the ToolbarBrowser developer forum:
[http://www.toolbarbrowser.com/forum]
Adding Toolbars -- Once you have installed the ToolbarBrowser, visit our
Toolbar Library to add new toolbars at a click of a button.
[http://www.toolbarbrowser.com/toolbar.htm]
Standard Features -- In addition to being fully programmable and customizable,
there are many standard toolbar features that include: Popup Blocking, Keyword
Highlighting, Form AutoFill and more...
Advanced Authoring -- If you are a webmaster, one of the most powerful features
is the ability to generate individual toolbars, customized to each visitor's
needs or preferences. For example, if you have a financial web site, you could
display real time stock quotes that are individually tailored to each user.
There is virtually no limit to what you will be able to do. Cost? The
ToolbarBrowser is freeware.
Company: INFOTECS
ViPNet Safe Disk for Pocket PC: A bulletproof data security system for desktop
computers is now available for your PDA. INFOTECS announces version 1.0 of
ViPNet Safe Disk for Pocket PC. This application is designed for PDA owners who
can now protect their personal information from prying eyes by encrypting and
password-protecting their sensitive files. ViPNet Safe Disk for Pocket PC
provides your PDA with a totally protected environment where data is stored
encrypted and protected by a password even when your device is switched off, or
in the "stand-by" mode. It allows you to create the so-called "containers".
These are secure folders for confidential files, which are created in the memory
on a PDA and mounted by ViPNet Safe Disk software. You can easily open and edit
any file from a secure folder in a word processor or database program, the file
being automatically decrypted when opened and encrypted when saved. The program
supports two 256-encryption algorithms.
AES and GOST.
In case of emergency you can use the "panic" mode to demount all mounted
"containers" and hide the main window of the program from view with one tap.
Added to this is the ability to connect your PDA to a PC and exchange data,
provided that ViPNet Safe Disk is installed on the desktop computer.
Pricing and Availability
ViPNet Safe Disk for Pocket PC runs under Windows Mobile 2003 and costs $26.40
(USD) for a single-user license. A 20% discount is available to the buyers of
ViPNet Safe Disk for Pocket PC and ViPNet Safe Disk for Windows. Registered
customers are entitled to free updates and lifetime technical support. A 20-day
fully functional demo version of the program is available as a free download at
the company's Website [http://www.infotecs.biz].
Product page link: [http://www.infotecs.biz/Soft/safe_diskppc.htm]
Direct download link: [http://www.infotecs.biz/demo/download_safedisk_ppc.htm]
E-mail: [novikov@infotecs.biz]
IconoMaker:
A Neat Little Gift From Icon Empire
May 31, 2005: Icon Empire introduces IconoMaker.
Icon Empire, a producer of award-winning graphics editing software, offers a
nifty little freeware package for editing icons with a variety of custom
attributes and creative styles. IconoMaker creates and edits icons of any size,
colored by virtual pen, brush, airbrush, ellipse, straight line or curve tools,
compatible with Windows™ XP 32-bit color depth with 8-bit alpha channel. Users
can roll, shift and rotate images, sort images within icons, and copy and paste
images to other applications. This program supports ICO and ICPR formats, and
now supports PNG images. Happily for Linux users, IconoMaker now imports and
exports XPM and XBM images. For a total rundown of IconoMaker's features, visit
[http://www.free-icon-editor.com/].
Icon Empire is giving it away. A Microsoft Windows™ 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003
operating system is required.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Victor Ivlichev
E-mail: [feedback@iconempire.com]
Direct evaluation download URL:
[http://www.iconempire.com/downloads/iconomaker.exe]
Screenshot URL:
[http://www.iconempire.com/free-icon-editor/scrf.png]
That's it for this month. Meet me here again next month if your editor permits.
This column is written to make user group members aware of special offers or
freebies I have found or arranged, and my comments should not be interpreted to
encourage, or discourage, the purchase of any products, no matter how enthused I
might sound. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click [bobclick@mindspring.com]. Visit my Web
site at [http://www.dealsguy.com].
For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here
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Tulsa Computer Society 7/01/2005
Don Singleton, President