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The Completely Free E-mail Update #6
Issued Aug 12, 1997
Welcome to the sixth edition of the ‘Completely Free Software E-mail Update’. Over the past week we’ve added a great many new freeware and shareware (free-for-personal-use) programs, including the ones listed below.
We are interested in hearing about your favorite freeware and freebie websites so we can share them with others. The Internet is (or should be) about sharing – us to you, you to us, all of us to each other. If you find any of the links broken or changed, please let us know immediately so we can amend the CFS website.
FREE WIN95 PROGRAMS
HTML Buddy
Yet another excellent HTML editor, and this one has some fairly unique features. These include: color picker for both web-friendly colors & custom colors; image browser (lets you see what the image looks like before you insert it) with integrated color picker; character table for special characters; project management; unlimited filesize (RAM dependant); unlimited number of editor windows can be open (but hard to access); floating toolbars for almost any tags, including support for Cascading Style Sheets; free sample graphics; and context sensitive help on HTML. What a list! On top of that, HTML Buddy allows you superb tag control. Of course, it isn’t perfect but if you are in any way dissatisfied with your current editor, give this one a go – specially as it’s only a 897kB download. It can be accessed from:
W95 Internet Related
The N-Knights (& N-Queens) Problem
Two separate games, but similar. N-Knights has two basic modes, each played on a variable-sized chessboard. The first is to see how many times the Knight can move on the chessboard without touching the same square twice (maximum 15 with the smallest 4x4 board!). The other is to see the minimum number of Knights required to threaten all of the empty squares, without threatening each other. In N-Queens you try to place Queens on the same variably-sized chessboard, without threatening one another. In the second mode you try to place on the chessboard the minimum number of Queens required to threaten all of the empty squares, without threatening each other. Board sizes can be varied from 4x4 to 12x12 (9 variations). Sounds complicated but the gameplay is quite easy. However, don’t be fooled, this game takes some serious concentration to play properly. Requiring a screen with 64k colors minimum, these downloads are 110k and 109k respectively and an be accessed from:
W95 General Games
Venusoft HTML Optimizer
If you want to check the HTML tags on your page(s) this validator could be just the ticket. It will "check the layout of web pages and let you control the size of pages and objects linked to the specified page. If a broken link is noticed, the program will try to fill it starting the Template Wizard". It even works, most of the time! We accidentally deleted a set of table finishing tags which meant that the page would not load properly. Unfortunately, in this case HTML Optimizer could not pick the error. This 1.7MB download can be accessed from:
W95 Internet Related
Santa Slayer
Lock up the kids before you let loose this game because the object is to, you guessed it, slay Santas. Terrific 3D animation and graphics really boosts this action shoot-em-up game above and beyond most other freeware games. You are riding in a sleigh and the ‘fake’ Santas are using hang gliders. Needing Direct-X from Microsoft, Santa Slayer is one great game and will give you hours of rocket-firing and pistol-firing fun as you, as the ‘real’ Santa, shoot-up the fakes (well, we reckon that’s the story, there’s no ‘plot’ offered). Be warned, the ‘fake’ Santas are armed too and you’ll soon be on the receiving end of their fire. There are also some great shots of falling presents and a Santa’s head when you blow one up! The game can be played in single player mode, or in multi-player mode using a modem, ipx (lan), tcp/ip (internet) or direct com-port connection. Wow! Access this 1.4MB download from:
W95 General Games
The Blaze! Screen Saver
We don’t normally get excited about screen savers (they haven’t really been needed since the old XT days of ‘burn in’), but this week we found one which replicates a blazing fire which has had everyone commenting. Everyone says: "Hey! Your computer’s on fire!". This W95 screen saver is technically a DOS program, but let’s not get confusing. You’ll need the VB4 runtime library to use it as a screensaver (which most should have) and it has its own install program plus instructions on manual installation. It’s worth the tiny 12k download just to have a look at this gem. It can be accessed from:
W95 Windows Extras
Dissolve Screen Saver
We’ve done it again, found a terrific screen saver which we can’t help but list because it’s so good. This one is in 3D and the picture changes constantly. The following is the description of the screen saver from the readme file (with some editorializing): "[The screen saver uses] 3D object manipulation and morphing in real time, spinning the camera (your viewing point) in 3D space using two degrees of freedom. Included in this version are about 30 objects which may appear in random sizes and colors. The transitions between objects are really worth watching because you are unlikely to view the same transition often. The objects are displayed using points, fading in distance. Camera moves constantly around them, with varying speeds, creating an amazing effect." You really can just sit there and watch the screen saver ‘saving your screen’ (see comments above) because the 3D modeling and morphing is so good and the changing camera angles so enticing. Access this 109k download from:
W95 Windows Extras
SK-111 Star Killer
Another space invaders-type game, but one which requires a very powerful computer. We tried it on a P133 with 24meg of RAM and it crawled along (specially in the 640x480 window). It performs fine under a 320x200 window (the default) which we found too small on our 800x600 screen. It also requires a minimum of 32k colors (16-bit or ‘true’ color). A simple game, we couldn’t see why it should require such powerful hardware to run properly (or maybe it was our machine!). Either way, if you want to give this 1.8MB download (why so large???) a try, access it from:
W95 General Games
Excalibur 32-bit for Windows
The following is from the ‘press release’. Guess it really says it all :) “Excalibur for Windows 32-bit version is a full featured RPN-only calculator. Clean interface and multiple function banks (Scientific, Statistics, Business, Conversion, Programming, Geometry, Complex Numbers, More) make quick work of complex calculations. A user-defined custom bank lets you show just the keys you are interested in most. Multiple storage registers and built-in support for keystroke record and playback. This 32-bit only version contains a full install/uninstall.” So there you have it. If you have a need for a gutsy RPN-calculator – with an excellent Help file – then try this 690k download which you can access from:
W95 General Programs
FREE WIN95 & DOS PROGRAMS
F-Prot for DOS
Don’t trust the old saying “it can’t happen to me!” because viruses (virii?) are around and anyone who puts a disk into your computer, and everytime you download from the Internet, puts you at risk for getting a virus. An excellent virus protection program – which has been around for years and which is constantly upgraded – is F-Prot for DOS (there are other versions, this is the only free one). Don’t just get F-Prot for DOS now and expect to protected for the next 20 years, go back each month and check for updates, keeping the absolutely latest version in your machine. This 1MB download can be accessed from:
W3.1 & DOS
TcpSpeed
Win 3.1 utility program to "measure the bandwidth that flows over your Internet connection". It does this by sending out a massive signal to a nominated server (your ISP, a university, major ftp site, etc) and measuring the bandwidth. Because it is so hard on the whole internet connection between you and the nominated server, tests are limited to a 12 second duration and users are asked to respect everyone else on the net and not abuse this tool. Access this 31kB download from:
W3.1 & DOS
3DCubes
3D version of a falling ‘cubes’ game based off Tetris and the old DOS game, Block Out. In this version you align the irregular-shaped pieces before allowing them to fall, which makes the game sound easy. However, it is really a challenge to visualize the ‘terrain’ into which the piece will drop and to work out the exact shape of the piece (it’s in wire-frame format) and then manoeuvre it into position. Shapes are really creative and do not always fit together properly. Don’t be surprised how quickly the hours fall away when you start playing this game! This 1MB download can be accessed from the games section at:
W3.1 & DOS
Calmira
Use Win 3.1 and can’t load Win 95 on your 386/486 machine? Do you have trouble switching between a Win95 and a Win 3.1 PC? Then get Calmira! This Win95-type user interface makes any Win 3.1 machine look and feel like the 32-bit version. This highly advanced front-end lets you really get the feel of Win 95, which will make a later transition to that platform much easier. What they say: "Calmira aims to unify the user interface across all Windows platforms by giving 16-bit users a Win95-style shell. It is designed to work on low-end machines, typically 386 and older 486 models, running Windows 3.x". This is an essential download for all those with Win95-envy, and those looking to upgrade Win 3.1 without going to the expense of lining Billy Gates’ pocket. Access this terrific 883kB download from:
W3.1 & DOS
WEBMASTER’S FREEBIES
www.GIFWorld.com!
Claimed to be "the best free animated GIF Site for WebMasters on the Web", after browsing through some of the 30 categories we tend to agree. With only four GIFs displayed per page (and any larger than 8k not loaded but displaying a special link to view it) be prepared for it to take a long time if you want to browse around for something to use (if we were cynical we might suggest it’s called "exposing the visitor to the maximum number of ads"). Then again, if you have a good idea of what you want then the on-board search engine might be able to find your special something without it taking all day and night. Access this site from:
WebMaster’s Freebies
HIGHLIGHTED WIN95 PROGRAM OF THE WEEK
On August 1, version 2.63d of ‘Super NoteTab’ was released. If you got your copy of this fabulous W95 NotePad replacement before that date (if you’re not sure, check the ‘About’ section under ‘Help’), we suggest that you get the newer version. The author says: “Super NoteTab has a superb interface with a fully customizable toolbar and a tab bar to easily switch between documents. It includes the much imitated ‘Editor Clipbook’ which lets you easily insert any kind of text in your documents (HTML tags, frequently used sentences, glossaries, etc). Super NoteTab is web sensitive so it can open links in your text or view documents in the default browser. Other features include search/replace text in all open documents, text filters (convert between ASCII, UNIX, MAC), strip HTML tags or convert special characters to HTML syntax, sort/join/split/indent lines, change case, Favorite Files menu, detailed text statistics, automatic scrolling, capture any text sent to the Clipboard, drag-and-drop text and files, shortcut menus, detailed help file, and much more...” Would you need more? It’s a 726kB download you can access from:
W95 General Programs
FINALLY
1) We have been asked to supply a ‘new additions’ section to the website and we are looking at this at present. If you have any thoughts on this subject, please forward them to us at editor@completelyFREEsoftware.com with the words ‘CFS New Additions’ as the subject (do not use ‘CFS Update’ or you will go on our mailing list again and get an extra copy each week!).
2) One of our subscribers, Surasak Surinphong of Thailand, has advised us that Microsoft has updated the DirectX files to version 5 (a 5.6MB download!). The URL is http://www.microsoft.com/directx/ if you are an avid gamer (and don’t mind the huge download size). He also advised that Microsoft has removed the download link for RegClean (if you run Win95 you need it!) and we have ammended our link accordingly. Thanks Surasak.
3) We have also been advised that the sensational Win95 boardgame Mah-Jong (if you haven’t tried it, do so) has had a minor upgrade to version 5.1.30. This new version links to the Mah-Jongg website and records the ‘world’s best’ result for each of the board layouts and tilesets (24 separate ‘bests’). The creator of this freeware gem is also asking users to contribute their own tilesets (a BMP-format template is offered to assist authors). Mah-Jongg can be found in the General Games section of the Win95 pages at:
W95 General Games
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