Simtel: Free Download of Computer Software, Games, Tools and Utilities - Freeware, Shareware, Demos and Trial Versions
3D Fireworks Extravaganza - 3D Fireworks Extravaganza has spectacular realisti ... 3D Fireworks Extravaganza 1.0
3D Fireworks Extravaganza has spectacular realistic fireworks effects.
Download 3D Fireworks Extravaganza

 
Hot Spots
HOT DOWNLOADS
iPod Tool
iPhone Tool
Registry Fix Tool
Performance Tool
Backup Tool
HDD Repair Tool
AntiSpyware Tool
"Green" Software
Photo Tool
Disaster Recovery Tool



ADVERTISEMENT
home › Free downloads of the best computer software freeware and shareware

Dr. File Finder's Picks

Reviews of Excellent Software

by Michael E. Callahan aka Dr. File Finder ™

Reviewed This Week......


Reviewed by Dr. File Finder
A hearty "Welcome" to all of you who haven't been here before. And to those of you who have, welcome back! Nice of you stop by to check out this weeks Picks. I've gotten a fair amount of email asking about certain types of programs, so this week I've tried to address those inquiries. Also this week, I'm adding an occasional feature that I'm calling "Hx, which is the medical abbreviation for history. And in these segments, I'll try to share a little bit of the history of the software and computer industries and how things have changed. I hope you'll enjoy them and find them of interest. Anyway, the programs await. So, if you're ready, kick back, get a beverage to sip on, and lets take a look!

  • SMASHER
  • Version: 3.0.17
  • System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
  • Get more info.
  • Download SMASHER NOW!
  • To see a screenshot of SMASHER, click here!

    SMASHER, by PopUpStop.Com, is a nifty tool for dealing with some of the "junk" that you encounter on the Internet. We encounter some similar things, like ads, on television, radio, and billboards, but some things are unique to the Internet. Things like cookies, pop-up ads, and lots more. You can configure the program to deal with all these things the way you want it to, and that's a great feature all by itself. This is one powerful piece of software because it does so much. For example, it can stop what are known as "in-browser" Java ads, pop-up ads, animated ads, and even the ever popular 'pop-under' ads. Those are the ones you generally find when you close your browser. Always fun to have to clear away ads for Web cams and other junk when you're done surfing. Not if you're using this baby because they won't be there!

    SMASHER offers a feature for dealing with the infamous "cookies" that I think is really great. The program gives you a variety of options for handling cookies. The program will actually remove 'cookies' while you're surfing, so you leave a site and the cookies that site dropped are gone. Then you have some cool options that consist of "Freeze", "Stealth", and "Smart Allow" mode. "Freeze" stops a site from adding more cookies to your computer. "Stealth" is cool because it only lets cookies be active when you're on the site that dropped it. And "Smart Allow" is there to help you keep 'cookies' that you really want. This feature will automatically kick in on sites where you enter a username and password. Very slick. And if all this weren't enough, SMASHER can also remove all of the traces you leave behind when you surf. For example, it can wipe out the URLs you type, your Internet cache, and more. It even has a plug-in that gives parents control so that offensive material can't be reached. Excellen t!!

    SMASHER, by PopUpStop.Com, is a powerful program that will make your Internet experience a lot more fun. It's highly configurable, so you can have it work exactly the way you want it to. It stops pop-up ads, pop-under ads, Java in-browser ads, and more. It gives you total control over the infamous "cookies" so you can allow the ones you want while also removing or inhibiting others. It'll clear your cache, stop questionable Web sites from being reached, and can even put password protection on Explorer. I've looked at a number of programs for taking care of these issues and this is one of the best I've seen. Give it a try, I recommend it!


    Hx - You may have noticed that I often refer to the "infamous cookies" when I mention them. That's because I think some cookies have gotten a bad rap. In the early days of computers, there was almost no customization. If you logged on to an early bulletin board, you were just happy to have connected. You didn't expect a personalized list, your weather, or to have it call you by name. Today, it's generally cookies that allow customization. Things like personalized Web pages, stock quotes and weather. So, remember, some cookies are bad, but others provide you with things you really like. Delete all the cookies on your computer and don't be surprised that your personal Web page is gone. Today, online, because of "cookies", there's a level of personalization never dreamed of in the early days. -- Doc
  • JustUrls
  • Version: 4.6
  • System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
  • Get more info.
  • Download JustUrls NOW!
  • To see a screenshot of JustUrls, click here!

    JustUrls, by Eastern Digital Ltd. Pty., is a Web utility program the likes of which a number of users emailed me about. What does it do? It lets you create a customized list of Web pages you can launch right from your system tray! You create buttons and each one represents the URL (Universal Resource Locator) of a Web page you like to visit. The program puts a "GO" icon in the system tray. Just move your mouse cursor over the icon and your list appears. Very slick! When you make your selection, JustUrls will launch that link using whatever browser you have as your default.

    JustUrls lets you create a list of buttons that can extend from the bottom of your screen to the top. One way to get more buttons would be to change your screen resolution to a higher level. For example, change from 800 X 600 to 1,024 X 768. I think the program is great for putting a list of your very favorite Web sites within easy reach. You don't have to anything except move your mouse over the icon, watch your list materialize, and click. And, if you decide you don't like your URL list popping up, you can disable it! Another neat feature is that you can provide a special way of getting to your most favorite Web site by using the right mouse button. Configure one URL to this button and when you move the mouse over the icon and right-click, that Web page will load. Slick!

    JustUrls, by Eastern Digital Ltd. Pty., is a nifty tool for creating an easily accessible list of your favorite URLs. This product is extremely easy-to-use and very intuitive. That makes it perfect for both new and experienced users. You determine how many buttons you have, can configure a special "right-click" button, and can determine if the list automatically pops up. So, if you're looking for something that can make your favorite Web sites available right from the system tray (lower right corner of the screen), this could be it! Give it a try!


  • File Scavenger
  • Version: 2.1I
  • System Requirements: Windows NT 4.x/2000/XP
  • Get more info.
  • Download File Scavenger NOW!
  • To see a screenshot of File Scavenger, click here!

    File Scavenger, by QueTek Consulting Corporation , is a really handy utility for anyone that uses the NTFS (NT File System) on their computer. About a year ago I converted all my hard disks to NTFS. And while it offers benefits over the FAT (File Allocation Table) or FAT32 file systems, it also poses some new problems. Among them is the ability to "unerase" files. Well, File Scavenger can recover files and lots more from your NTFS drives. The program can recover files that you deleted from your Recycle Bin, from your file manager, or even from DOS. Very slick, but there's more!

    File Scavenger can go so far as to help you recover a reformatted drive! Wow! Now that's impressive! And the program is fast and very efficient. In all of my testing I was very impressed with the way it was able to recover data. Now, please note. With nearly every "unerase" or "undelete" program I've ever tried, and I've tried just about all of them, the sooner you try the recovery, the better your odds of success. So, if you delete a file from Drive C and then install a couple of programs, your chances of getting back a file decrease. Yet, I've recovered things that had been deleted days before. Just depends how 'active' the drive is. File Scavenger makes the entire process very easy!

    File Scavenger, by QueTek Consulting Corporation, is an impressive utility for everyone who utilizes the NTFS file system. I can recover files deleted from a DOS command line, the Recycle Bin, from within Windows, and more. This unassuming powerhouse can even help to recover a reformatted drive. It can "find" lost partitions, and recover them. Very cool. All of us accidentally delete things and it's really nice to be able to use a program that quickly brings that data back -- whether it's a file or a drive! So, if you use the NTFS file system, you really owe it to yourself to take a good, long look at this program. Check it out ... I highly recommend it!


    Once again we're at the end of our Picks for this week. I certainly hope you enjoyed reading about these excellent products. And, I hope you'll take the time to give them a try for yourself. I'm off to look at some more great software, but I'll be back again next week with more great Picks to tell you about. Until then, I hope the rest of your week goes smoothly and that you have a wonderful weekend. 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!



  • Authors: Submit Product | My Products | My Details | Request Ownership | Request Merging
    Miscellaneous: Advertise | Recommend Us | Privacy Policy | DMCA Notice | Terms of Use | Contact Us

    Simtel is a registered trademark of Digital River, Inc. | Simtel.Net is a service mark of Digital River, Inc.