After drought comes the deluge

It seemed so boring that there was absolutely no interesting software to discuss. I was resigned to writing about the many (often powerful) reasons why you need a RAM Drive. But that's for another slower time. But now before I introduce to the delights of fresh software, a small diversion or two.

Spyware signature updates for Microsoft Anti-Spyware (v5699 dated March 19, 2005), Spyware Blaster 3.3 (March 16, 2005) and Spybot Search & Destroy (March 19, 2005) are available. And I recommend you upgrade your copies immediately. There's also an updated Ad-Aware reference file. However, I find (quite sadly) I can no longer completely trust Ad-Aware. As all this application ever seems to detect are mundane tracking cookies from mainstream trackers like WebReference; so common to anyone surfing the Web. It never seems to detect the instance of CoolWebSearch or any of the really invasive spyware as does Spybot.

The first refresh software is Gaim. A free (and open-source) multi-service instant messaging (IM) client. The new Gaim 1.2.0 build fixes Yahoo-related issues including file receiving, buddy icons display plus privacy. I recently introduced my family to the "joys" of Gaim'ing. If you still remain undecided amidst the babble of similar IM clients, consider that Gaim supports MSN, Yahoo, AIM, IRC and Jabber. And what I really live (and frequently leverage on) is the software's ability to support multiple identities on each service. I use it at both work and from home all the while alternating between by official and personal identities.

As someone with multiple POP/IMAP-enabled mail accounts, I constantly search for that perfect utility. Last week I previewed YPOPs and e-Prompter. This week let's see if the open-source PopMan 1.3 is a fitting replacement for my now (quite outdated) PopCorn 1.67 Beta: the last of the free versions. Although PopCorn is still available free in a limited-to-single-account demo version.

What interests me about PopMan is its ability to support both POP3, POP3 SSL, POP3 APOP+SSL, IMAP4 and IMAP4 SSL protocols. Which means you can also check a GMail account if you have one. PopMan also includes a email viewer that safely renders HTML mail into plain text to keep you safe from malicious scripts. There's also a blocked senders list function. This Beta adds a multi-tabbed view. Where you can define a tab per account or group several accounts on a tab. PopMan can also import Outlook mail settings but seems to lose the account password in the translation.

And for those looking for a free GMail account, I'd like to help but administering the offer takes up way too much time. Instead why not take advantage of kinder folks. Like isnoop.net's GMail invite spooler who have 549,556 invites available to share... and have distributed 580,719 invites since this page went up on Sep 13, 20041

I also chanced across TCBurner 0.93, a free CD/DVD burner and CD audio ripper for Total Commander (a Windows File Explorer substitute). This wholly free add-in is built using the FoxBurner SDK. Use it to prepare an audio CD, data CD/DVD, ISO image or a VideoCD (VCD). You access TCBurner via the Network Neighborhood icon in Total Commander. And the learning curve is unfortunately quite steep. Configuration is quite straightforward. But with no Help file, I had to resort to trial and error to figure out how to burn my first disk. You copy the files you want to burn into the relevant data type's (virtual) sub-folder. You can then choose to save the project or burn the disk. For my trials I used a CD-RW (ReWriteable) which meant I could easily recover from the default 'Finalize Disk' setting.

I was recently visiting Eric Mayer (a noted CSS and HTML expert who can freely hold forth subjects such as CSS, Web design, Web standards, Web browsers, and how they all go together) web site. When Eric's not busy developing seminal work on CSS, he's also publishing multiple blogs and some very useful (online) tool kits. One of the really interesting ones is the Color Blender. Select the primary and secondary colors (Hex, RGB, RGB%) from the on-screen swatch, define the midpoints (blended colors) from between 1-10, click the blend button and you have an instant palette of complimentary shades. Or spend a while browsing the his Redesign Watch list of standards-compliant web sites.

And finally time for another Firefox extension. This is for readers who prefer using Download accelerator tools other than DownLoad Express. FlashGot 0.5.7.7.1 works great with almost all download managers, offers multiple options without being bloated. And is a must have for Firefox (and Mozilla) users wanting perfect integration with external download managers.

That's it for this week. Stay Safe and we'll meet again next week.