MyIE2 vs Netcaptor

BANGALORE: Just last week we learned an Internet Explorer update's coming soon. And considering the derring-do of the hacker community I'm sure early Betas will begin surfacing by early-2004; after the Christmas and New Year holiday season ends. The scheduled release date for Windows XP Service Pack 2 that includes an "improved" IE build is end-2004.

The new MyIE2 (M2) 9.1 build improves on the best free MDI (multi-document interface)-enabled browser that's come a very long way, less than 2 years. Beginning life as a free NetCaptor-clone (without the obligatory memory leak), I think it has upped the ante for Windows browsers. It includes a search engine, support for IE and its own plug-ins, supports customizable skins, and has a very manageable memory footprint. Internet Explorer is the last of the single windows browsers and there's even now a http://blacksweb.com/SurfTabs/" TARGET="_blank">shareware plug-in to allow MDI support!

The other free multi-tabbed browser Mozilla. As mentioned in a previous column, the current Netscape version is based on very buggy Mozilla code. So if you must use a MyIE alternate, download and use Mozilla 1.1x or a later build: you won't be missing any features. Still, my vote goes to Mozilla Firebird (MozFirebird) which is just the browser, without mail and news (available as http://mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/" TARGET="_blank">Thunderbird), chat client (http://www.mozilla.org/projects/rt-messaging/chatzilla/" TARGET="_blank">Chatzilla) or HTML editor (http://www.mozilla.org/editor/ " TARGET="_blank">Editor). This browser supports all Mozilla features plus unique http://texturizer.net/firebird/extensions/" TARGET="_blank">extensions like intelligent download managers, mouse gestures, user-agent switching, style sheet managers, blogging tools, search engine packages (Mycroft) and more.

And last week, while prowling Mozilla FTP folders I found a pre-release copy of the ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firebird/nightly/latest-trunk/" TARGET="_blank">MozFirebird 0.7+ setup version. This 6 MB download (similar to the .ZIP versions) can detect an existing MozFirebird install and update relevant components. There aren't too many changes on the surface yet, except that pop-up blocking is included by default. The sole feature I dislike most about Mozilla family software is that for every new extension installed, you need to exit and restart the software before the new feature is enabled. I do so much prefer install-on-the-fly.

http://www.opera.com/" TARGET="_blank">Opera Web Browser remains is a 30-day trial that then displays advertising. Although its page rendering engine is among the fastest (often beating IE for .JSP content) it's still doesn't support VB Script and ActiveX. And even though MozFirebird navigates the MSN and Hotmail sites, Opera always has a problem; even when pretending to be IE6!

NetCaptor, the browser that began the IE-styled MDI revolution in mid-1998, fell on hard times midway. Initially advertising supported, it morphed into a 15-day trialware version, which is when the MyIE star began ascending. NetCaptor continued to stagnate with its memory leak getting worse on Windows 2000/XP systems.

The new http://www.netcaptor.com" TARGET="_blank">NetCaptor 7.5 Beta 6 seems a clone of MyIE2 9.1 by adding support for the Google toolbar (Win 2000/XP/2003) and for RoboForm, a Privacy Policy Scanner (included in IE6 SP-1), easy access to Url Blocking, user configurable storage for CaptorGroups & Application Data, and Shared CaptorGroups. http://www.myie2.com/html_en/home.htm" TARGET="_blank">MyIE2 v9.1 goes a step further: you can add an open site to Favorites, or a Group: just right click the site's tab, and select Sent To | Group | . In the final analysis, I'd choose a software that was free over one that wasn't. Wouldn't you?

http://www.ultrafunk.com/products/popcorn/" TARGET="_blank">PopCorn v1.57 Beta 3 is available. It decodes base64 encoded mail body text in both text/plain, multipart and mixed MIME formats and includes a "Safe download & delete" check box in the User Profile manager. The new Beta is a bit faster than previous ones. But I find that it too often freezes when downloading mail if there's a bandwidth-related transient including a dropped connection or when my download manager gloms all Windows threads to download a software.

FeedDemon too has been recently updated and this is planned as the final Beta before the full, pay to use version is released in January 2004.

Besides the usual bug tweaks, also new is an MDI interface, so when you open a new web link from an RSS feed, you can view the original feed placeholder, as well as new content. Of course, http://www.Feeddemon.com/" TARGET="_blank">FeedDemon needs IE 5.5 or later installed. http://www.ghisler.com/" TARGET="_blank">Total Commander 6.01 too has been released and resolves some bugs in the previous 6.0 version.

And finally, if you are looking for a full-featured antivirus with preferably a firewall. Yet can't afford to buy one now. Or didn't want to waste money until sure of its utility. Want a trial period longer than 45 days or a combination of all these factors. Look no further than Computer Associates who are still offering a 12-month long free subscription trial for their eTrust EZ Armor Antivirus & Firewall security suite. that offers auto-updates, email attachment checking, a firewall, spyware controls, ad blocking and cookie management. You need to http://www.my-etrust.com/" TARGET="_blank">register to receive a trial key or can subscribe to the service for US$ 50 annually. I learnt about it courtesy the http://www.langa.com/" TARGET="_blank">LangaList: A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, Software, and Time Online.