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iPhone Tool
Registry Fix Tool
Performance Tool
Backup Tool
HDD Repair Tool
AntiSpyware Tool
"Green" Software
Photo Tool
Disaster Recovery Tool
by Michael E. Callahan aka Dr. File Finder ™
Reviewed This Week......
The Bat!, by RITLABS, is an extremely powerful email client and yet, it's also very easy-to-use. Over the years I've tried just about every email program available and The Bat! is the one I use. It's packed with features that make it perfect for experienced users, but also great for new users. It has support for both POP3 and IMAP4 email. It can handle multiple accounts with ease. It has all the basic features found in most email programs so what sets it apart from the rest? How about a mail "ticker" that shows you the headers of your email just like a stock ticker? It has built-in support for PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), to keep your email secure. The message filtering is very powerful and about the best I've ever used. It also has message templates that you can fully customize. It's so flexible every folder can have its very own templates! The Bat!, by RITLABS, is a powerful email client that's also easy-to-use. It appeals to
me because of it's many advanced features, but at the same time it would also be great for a new user. So, if you're looking for an email program give The Bat! a try. It's one of the very best email programs I've ever tried and it's the one I use!
Spam Crusher, by American Systems, is a program for filtering all of the unwanted email that you get. Email that's commonly called "SPAM." I've pretty much tested every program you can find for filtering SPAM and this is the one I use. In fact, I use it not only to filter my email, but the email accounts for my entire family! And I've found that the more you use Spam Crusher, the better it gets. It comes with a huge list of filters that's constantly updated. Then, as new email comes in you can add to the filters on-the-fly. Block a certain email address or an entire domain! And as you add new filters the program just becomes more and more efficient. At the same time Spam Crusher lets you create a "Friends" list. You can add them one at a time if you wish. Or, you can import the address book of most email programs in CSV (comma-delimited) or text format. Those designated as friends will never be filtered. And, you can add friends on the fly too -- right from the Trash Can. You can even "sa
lvage" email that's been filtered. The program can handle multiple accounts, can notify you with different sounds for each account, and lots more. Spam Crusher, by American Systems has reduced the amount of junk email I get by about 98%. And the fact that it can use sounds when email comes in means it doubles as an email notification system! I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Spam Crusher is the best program I've tried for filtering out unwanted mail. That's why it's a part of my software toolbox and a part of my desktop. Give it a try!
Servers Alive, by bvba Woodstone, is a powerful network monitor that's easy-to-use. At the same time its a product that's loaded with features. And far more features than I can adequately cover here, but I'll hit the high points for you. To begin with, it can monitor any winsock service. It can do things like determine the amount of disk space currently available or make sure that a particular process is running.
And if there's a problem it can notify you in any number of ways. It can play a sound, send you an email, or even page you! At the same time, it can reboot a Windows server or even create a Web page! It can monitor up to 1,000 different hosts or services at one time, including things like Oracle databases, FTP, DNS, POP3, SMTP, SQL servers, UDP services, and lots, lots more. If all this weren't enough, Servers Alive is the first product of its kind to support IPv6 enabled DNS checks as well as WAP pages that can be viewed on a wireless device. That means you can get an SMS text message on your phone telling you about a problem on your network. Servers Alive,
by bvba Woodstone, can keep you aware of exactly how things are going on your network. I've looked at similar programs and to date, this is the best I've seen! In my opinion, this is a program that no network administrator should be without! Give it a try!
Cherokee Trails, by Pharos Games, is the most interesting new game I've seen in 2002! That's a powerful statement because I've looked at a good number of games. But Cherokee Trails is a challenging adventure game that's very educational. Based on the "Trail of Tears" it teaches both children and adults about this forced march of the Cherokee nation of nearly a thousand miles. The game is beautifully done. And while it's filled with historical facts, it's also a great deal of fun to play. You begin your journey in a flea market and magically get transported back in time. The people you meet are fascinating, and each has a story to tell. Each can also help you on your journey. You'll visit the trading posts, go fishing, and lots more. As you travel you'll need supplies and you'd better think about which items you pick. Along the way members of your party will come down with an array of problems like frost bite, poison ivy, and pneumonia. If you've traded wisely, you'll be able to take care of ever
yone. And how well you do in the game depends on how healthy your party stays. This adventure will keep you coming back for more! Cherokee Trails, by Pharos Games, is quite simply a beautifully done educational game. It's filled with wonderful scenery, characters, animation, sounds, and music. I've said this before, but I feel it bears repeating. Over the years, I've looked at a lot of games of every different type. And to me, Cherokee Trails is one of the very best educational games I've ever encountered. You owe it to yourself, and your children, to give it a try! Cherokee Trails gets my highest recommendation!
Animated Beginning Typing, by FLIX Productions, is a very cool typing tutor that was created with younger typists in mind. Kids are on computers at an early age and they need to know how to type. It used to be that you didn't take "typing" until High School, but why wait when there's a program as good as this! The program is designed for kids from pre-Kindergarten to 3rd grade and it does a beautiful job of teaching typing. And it does it all with cool animations and sound effects. It starts with where to put your hands and moves on from there. A keyboard right on the screen helps kid to associate what they're looking at with what they're typing on. Animated Beginning Typing really makes learning fun through the use of games! The "Letter Drill" lets the child pick anywhere from 20 to 120 letters to practice. When they finish they get a report on their progress and a cartoon. Another neat exercise is called "Flying Letters" and this one is re
ally for the child who's been at it for awhile. Then there's a simple exercise called "Jumping Letters" which is really good for the younger learners to start out with. So, if you have children and they want to use the computer this is a program you need to get! They can learn to type and have fun while they do it! Animated Beginning Typing is a real winner and another excellent product from FLIX Productions! Get it for yourself -- it's one of my favorites!
WinFlash Educator, by Open Window Software, is a powerful educational tool that's perfect for everyone! Yes, I said everyone. It's great for kids, but it's also wonderful for adults. You can use it to learn anything. In fact, I can't really think of a subject where you couldn't use it. WinFlash Educator can be used by anyone to create learning tools for any subject, on any level. It actually keeps tracks your progress so you know how you're doing. And then, it puts more focus on the things you have trouble with! What can be better than that? Nothing! And you can even add sounds, video, and graphics to make your flash card sets really special. You can even take and export your card decks out to a PDA device for PocketPC or Palm and study on the go. WinFlash Educator, by Open Window Software, is quite simply a great program for learning anything. There are several different levels including basic, scholar, and educator. That means you can get e
xactly the one that's right for you. And it's great for people of all ages because it gives you the flexibility you need to learn! WinFlash Educator is one of the best educational programs I've ever looked at. So, do a favor for your children, and yourself, and give it a try. I recommend it highly!
Well, that brings us to a close. And that's it for my Dr. File Finder Favorites, at least for now. As I write this it's Christmas Eve and 2002 has been a year filled with great software. I look forward to many things in 2003 and lots of new software is among those things. And you'll hear from me next in 2003. So, I wish all of you a very happy and healthy holiday season. And I especially wish all of you a Happy New Year! I'll be back with more "Picks" in 2003. Until then, be safe, and happy downloading!
Doctor File Finder's Pick Archive
Michael E. Callahan, known around the world by the trademarked name "Dr. File Finder", is regarded as the world's leading expert on shareware. Dr. File Finder works with software programs and developers full-time, and in the average year he evaluates 10,000 programs. Since 1982 he has evaluated over 190,000 software and hardware products. He is an active member of the shareware community and a co-founder of the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation. Mr. Callahan is an honorary member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), the President of the Educational Software Cooperative (ESC), and the chairman of the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation (SIAF). Dr. File Finder™ is also a recipient of the 1993 Shareware Industry Award for lifetime achievement and has been inducted into the ASP Hall of Fame. Mr. Callahan began evaluating software online in 1982 and no one has been at it longer. He currently works doing online PR and marketing for software companies.
All graphics courtesy of Lincoln Beach Software!
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