Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The buzz about security these days is all about the Internet. Everyone is worried about all the nefarious programs that can be delivered right to your system via the Internet. Problem is, the Internet is not your biggest security problem. The biggest threat you face is to your local machine -- security issues would exist even if you unplugged the network cable that leads to the Internet.
This is not to say that you shouldn't pay attention to Internet-related security; you should. You just need to be aware that if you don't make your system secure from non-Internet-related threats, you're missing the most likely source of security problems.
Consider these, as examples:
Data loss. You have hundreds, if not thousands, of hours invested in the data on your system. The old adage is true: Time is money. So the time you spend amassing your data represents a huge investment. Losing data is a huge security risk. If you run a small business and lose your data, your business could be severely damaged.
The more your investment is worth, the more important it is to back up data. Minimize the chances of damage by periodically doing backups.
Data recovery. When you delete information from your hard drive, Windows marks as free the hard drive locations previously occupied by the data. This means the locations are once again available to store information. Notice that Windows only marks the locations as available; it doesn't actually delete data. That's right -- the data previously stored on the hard drive is still there, until it's overwritten by new data. With the right tools, the data in these deleted locations can even be recovered and viewed.
The accessibility poses a security threat if someone starts using your system. To avoid this problem, many disk utilities include programs that completely erase data by overwriting it with new data and then deleting it. System Mechanic includes a program called Drive Scrubber, and McAfee's QuickClean includes a program called Digital Shredder. Either program -- or their counterparts from other system utilities -- helps ensure the security of deleted data.
If you give your system away or sell it to someone else, they can use software to access your deleted data. Make sure you use a secure deletion program like Drive Scrubber or Digital Shredder to remove all traces of your data before the old system leaves your hands.
This is not to say that you shouldn't pay attention to Internet-related security; you should. You just need to be aware that if you don't make your system secure from non-Internet-related threats, you're missing the most likely source of security problems.
Consider these, as examples:
Data loss. You have hundreds, if not thousands, of hours invested in the data on your system. The old adage is true: Time is money. So the time you spend amassing your data represents a huge investment. Losing data is a huge security risk. If you run a small business and lose your data, your business could be severely damaged.
The more your investment is worth, the more important it is to back up data. Minimize the chances of damage by periodically doing backups.
Data recovery. When you delete information from your hard drive, Windows marks as free the hard drive locations previously occupied by the data. This means the locations are once again available to store information. Notice that Windows only marks the locations as available; it doesn't actually delete data. That's right -- the data previously stored on the hard drive is still there, until it's overwritten by new data. With the right tools, the data in these deleted locations can even be recovered and viewed.
The accessibility poses a security threat if someone starts using your system. To avoid this problem, many disk utilities include programs that completely erase data by overwriting it with new data and then deleting it. System Mechanic includes a program called Drive Scrubber, and McAfee's QuickClean includes a program called Digital Shredder. Either program -- or their counterparts from other system utilities -- helps ensure the security of deleted data.
If you give your system away or sell it to someone else, they can use software to access your deleted data. Make sure you use a secure deletion program like Drive Scrubber or Digital Shredder to remove all traces of your data before the old system leaves your hands.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Blogging Tools
Adminimizer Toolbar
The easiest tool for updating your Blog with Internet Explorer 6
ashnews
a simple program using PHP/MySQL that allows you to easily add a news/blog system to your site
AvantBlog
a very simple interface which will allow you to post to a blog from your Palm or WinCE device via AvantGo
b2
A news/blog tool
b2evolution
a multi-lingual, multi-user, multi-blog engine. It was developed to provide a free, feature rich, extensible, and easy-to-install solution for efficient Web publishing of information ranging from professional news feeds to personal weblogs. b2evo can easily be installed on almost any LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) host in a matter of minutes
Blog
An automatic web log program which allows you to update your site easily without the hassles of HTML editing and having to use a separate program to upload your work. Windows client freeware
Blog Navigator
makes it easy to read blogs on the Internet. It integrates into various blog search engines and can automatically determine RSS feeds from within properly coded websites
BlogAmp
a web audio player for bloggers. Blog-Amp can be positioned on a web page or displayed in a mini pop-up window. BlogAmp does not require listeners to use media player applications which means that everyone with a web browser can listen. For bloggers themselves it couldn’t be any easier when it comes to managing, programming and tracking their Blog-Amp. Simply upload any recorded MP3 files to your secure online media manager
Blogarithm
a web service that let's you subscribe to blogs and be notified by email when they have new content. Also has a tool to generate stickers you can add to your own blog to make it easy for readers to subscribe to you. A way to be reminded about blogs you read and to generate more views of your blog
Blog (Web-Tagebuch)
Dies ist die Demonstration eines Webservice, der die Funktionalität eines blogs bereitstellt
BlogBack
Allows visitors to comment on your weblog posts, without the need to host the service yourself
Blogbox
Blogboxes provide exciting, instantly deployed functionality for your blog or Web site. They are free for non-commercial use
blogBuddy
A small Windows client providing a front-end to the blogger.com website
BlogChat
a browser-based chat window that you can attach to your weblog or site. When you are online your visitors can engage in a text discussion with you in real time. The chat can be a popup window or you can embed it right in the page. All you have to do is put some links on your page, we provide the service. If you run PHP and mySql, you can host your own single blogchat by running the original free version. It has less features and requires your hands-on maintenance, but comes as source
BlogCounter
Free comprehensive site statistics and web counter system for bloggers which tracks host/IP (both proxyfied & 'real' IP), referrers, Search Engine keywords, user agents, date & time, resolution & color, operating system, online time spent, page impressions, browsed page paths, currently online visitors and more!
blogdex
System built to harness the power of personal news, amalgamating and organizing personal news content into one navigable source
blogdexter
Will help you jump to the page on blogdex that displays the web addresses of people who have linked to your URL
BlogFace
provides a weblog-style interface to a cataloged collection of objects, without requiring that the catalog or entries be modified, or even know about the BlogFace at all. It will work with any catalog and collection of entry objects, so long as the catalog provides an ISO format date attribute for each entry record
BlogFlix
Use this blog and online service to add video effects (pan and zoom) to blog photos. Also delivers Flash video clips in a small frame in your blog. Just paste a snippet of code to make movies appear. Supports all major blog hosting services
Blogger FAQ blog
The blog formerly known as Blogger archive/template troubles, featuring fixes for problems with Blogger's archives, templates, and more
BloggerBot
Blogger AIM client
BlogHoster
written in PHP and uses a single MySQL database. The entire system includes no flatfile data storage, which means that backing up your system is as simple as downloading your MySQL database. To install BlogHoster, your server only needs PHP 4.2.0 or higher as well as an available MySQL database
Bloglet
offers an email subscription service for your blog
blogLinker
a free tool to manage your web links on your blog/website and to dramatically increase traffic to your site. It can be embedded anywhere in your web page and can be easily configured to fit the existing design of your site. blogLinker is the only tool of its kind
BlogMax
An Emacs package that aids in the creation of a weblog
Blogrolling.com
This site provides a free, easy to use service to manage your buddy lists on your blog that works with every major blog tool and website.
BlogSnob
The better, faster way to publicize your personal site
blogsnow
'reads' blogs, depending on what's going on between 100 and 240 a minute. Out of this stream of information it extracts links and displays them in different views every 10 minutes
Blogster.net - Top 25
Blosxom
[pronounced "blossom" or "blogsome"] is a lightweight yet feature-packed Weblog application designed from the ground up with simplicity, usability, and interoperability in mind - Mac OS X
bookmarklet.ping
Allows a user to ping the weblogs.com update server via the Userland pingSiteForm
bplog
a minimal weblog/news script for use with Apache+PHP+MySQL
Bricks Site Builder
A Dynamic HTML (DHTML) layout tool that runs on Apache + mod_perl + Mason. It enables a web designer to quickly build assemblies bricks (dynamic components, such as images, or weblogs) using a web-based select-and-submit interface
Chronicle Lite
provides a friendly client application for people who use Blogger.com for all of their journalling needs. It also looks to satisfy the needs of the "power users" who want to interact with files on their local computer, and publish them to their online journal. Helpful shortcut keys speed up editing of HTML content, and drag-and-drop support allows tags to be created simply by dropping a file onto the Chronicle Lite window
CityDesk
runs on your Windows desktop, using any web server. Files uploaded via FTP
CocoBlog
a free weblogging software tool based on Apache Cocoon and Apache Xindice
corzblog
a drop-in-and-blog content management system for human beings. stylish, intelligent, easy-to-use blogging with automatic rss/rdf news syndication, secure editing, one-click blog archiving, and expanded bbcode entry. a blogging system with character. worth a look just for the cute archives menu. the bbcode to html to bbcode parser can also function in stand-alone mode, navigate to /inc/cbparser.php for its built-in demo
csBlog
a powerful blog (web log/journal) management tool. Use the script to create ongoing news items or journal entries. csBlog allows you to quickly and easily manage entries into your website with ease. CGI / Perl script. $49.00
DAWG project
The goal: write a cool, easy to use, easy to install, attractive, and VERY flexible weblog generator using PHP 4 and its XML-related functions
diary2002.cgi
is an online journal or diary script. You may call it also a blogger or weblog. fact is you will be able to write, read, search and delete your own articles or stories from your browser. diary2002.cgi is designed for easy setup, use and maintaining. web publishing has never been that easy. your articles will be stored in text file format, so no database like for example "mysql" is needed
dotcomments
Free, distributable PHP-based comment system used on hundreds of individual and group weblogs
Drupal
A full-featured content management/discussion engine suitable to setup a news-driven community or portal site
Easy Blogs
By uuba.com. Allows anyone to write and publish his or her very own web log or "blog". Simple enough for the non-technical, and yet with enough extra features to please the demanding too. Use one of the many included web-site templates or build your own. Templates are designed to be sharable with other Easy Blogs users. Store your Blog on your PC. Automatic publishing to your web site using FTP. Windows? XP, 2000, ME, 98, NT4 Compatible
EasyMoblog
an open-source platform for personal weblogs and moblogs. It allows the creation of customizable and easy-to-use weblogs: you'll be able to update your EasyMoblog contents just sending e-mail messages
ecto
a feature-rich desktop blogging client for MacOSX and Windows, supporting a wide range of weblog systems, such as TypePad, MovableType, WordPress, Drupal, Nucleus, Blogger, and more. ecto is the successor of the wildly popular Kung-Log, which has been in use by thousands of Mac users and which earned a 4.5 mice in the MacWorld July 2003 issue. ecto earned high ratings at VersionTracker.com, and at MacUpdate.com
enetation
is a play on words of annotation, the adding of remarks or comments to something. The aim of enetation is to provide a system that allows users that are not able to afford hosting or have the technical knowledge to install scripting to have commenting on their website
EzWebBlog
Professionally Designed Complete Blogging System
Falou & Disse
commenting system for blogger.com
Falasério
commenting system for blogger.com - in Portugese
Frequency
a desktop weblog client. If you have a weblog you manage with Blogger, Radio, Movable Type, or other Blogger API or metaWeblog API system, you can use Frequency to add new posts instead of logging into the web site every time. Comes in three versions: Mac OS X, Windows2000/XP, and Mac OS 9
Geeklog
allows you to create your own virtual community area, complete with user administration, story posting, messaging, comments, polls, calendar, weblinks, and more! It can run on many different operating systems, and uses PHP4 and MySQL
googlebox js
online form for creating a googlebox
GoogleBrowser
this lets you browse Google recursively, finding connections between sites. Enter any URL, and then follow the arrows to see other related sites.
Greymatter
For anyone interested in creating an online weblog or journal, Greymatter offers a new level of power and control
handX webLog for Palm OS
Allows you to use your Palm OS device to create webLog (blog) entries for a web site
iBlog
you post messages to your weblog using blogger XML-RPC API
Instant Gratification
a way to get AIM instant messages when someone reads your blog. Only requires adding a small fragment of HTML to the blog that you want alerts from
InTerra
a blog engine, rather simple at first sight, but extremely powerful inside. Moreover it is extremely scalable and extendible thanks to 3tier architecture and high-end design guidelines
Jabber
The first application of Jabber technology is an instant messaging system focused on privacy, security, ease of use, access from anywhere using any device, and interoperability with IM, phone, and web-based services
Jericho
a Java-based weblogging tool which interfaces with the Blogger and Manila XML-RPC interface
jogger
Powered by Jabber, this new weblog service (or blog) allows anyone to update their own personal journal through a normal Jabber client. Jogger is intended to demonstrate how Jabber can be used as a platform for application communication
Journaling Script
Free CGI script for publishing your own journal or weblog
JustBlogIt
a Mozilla / Firefox extension to allow easy right-click posting to a weblog. From any website your new blog post is only a right-click away
Link Feedback
see and show where your visitors come from! - a very simple set of links that you can insert into your pages to automatically track incoming links and echo them back to people who visit your site. Basically it's automated link-exchanging, but hopefully with more interesting results - Sean Nolan
Link Hype
where the intelliforge webminer bot post interesting links it finds
LiveJournal Meme Tracker
From this page you can see the most popular URLs referenced recently on LiveJournal
Manila
An Internet server application that allows groups of writers, designers and graphics people to manage full-featured, high performance Web sites through an easy-to-use browser interface
MarsEdit
a weblog editor for Mac OS X that makes weblog writing like writing email—with spell-checking, drafts, multiple windows, and even AppleScript support
Master WebLog
Written primarily for maintaining WebLog pages
monaural jerk
Allows one or more authors to regularly publish content without touching HTML. It has a nifty web-based editing/publishing sytem. It has a built-in search engine. And it is free for personal or corporate use, under the GPL: this is open-source software
Movable Type
Six Apart's powerful, customizable publishing system which installs on web servers to enable individuals or organizations to manage and update weblogs, journals, and frequently-updated website content
MozBlog
a tool to enable people to a blog with mozilla while they surfing
myMediaList.com
a free, web-based tool for all blogs. It lets you embed and remotely manage a list of music, books, films and computer games anywhere in your blog/webpage. Fully customizable design. Beats coding html; just copy and paste a single line of code
MySmartChannels
an Application Framework Server that lets anyone quickly and easily publish, organize, and reuse information in a secure Web environment. Beneath the MySmartChannels interface lies a powerful Web services platform that provides a solid foundation for corporate blogging, knowledge management (KM), enterprise collaboration (EC), and a collection of services for solving a wide variety of content-oriented problems. A FREE MySmartChannels User Account is available
NanoBlogger
a small developement & demo site for a small weblog engine
NewsBruiser
A simple but full-featured weblog management system. It is almost entirely self-contained, requiring nothing but SSI and Python (1.5.6 or greater) to be happy
Nucleus
allows you to easily maintain your own weblog(s) on your own server. It offers a system that is easy to install, but still offers maximum flexibility
Open Journal Project
Free, perl-based open journal script you install on your Web server to maintain a Web log or online diary
Particle Blogger
allows you to set up a blog in minutes just by entering your database settings and running the installer script. You can then begin blogging with automatic archiving of posts my month, an integrated RSS feed and the option to turn on static (search engine friendly) URLs. Requirements: PHP 4.x or above. MySQL 3 (4 recommended)
Personal Weblog
PHP/MySQL include file for adding a weblog to a home page. It is highly configurable and can be changed to fit any web page style
PhoneBlogger
a tool for publishing to a blog via a phone call. It is an automated voice application that first asks you for info about which pre-configured blog you wish to post to. After collecting the necessary information, PhoneBlogger records your audio message. Finally, it posts a blog entry that links to the recorded audio
PHPBloggerAPI
a PHP implementation of the Blogger XML-RPC API. The code is available as a collection of "free-standing" functions, or a fully OO class
PHP-Blogger
a free script for posting and sharing news, pictures and slideshows with your friends and family. It provides tools for posting and editing posts without the need for an FTP client. It provides authentication for a single-user and allows the user to customize certain aspects of the UI. Of course, since the script is open-source it can be completely modified from the ground-up for those who like to dabble in PHP scripting
phpWebLog
A complete news-driven website package with lots of bells and whistles. A few features include interchangeable templates/themes, multilanguage translations, fully configurable web-based administration, rdf import/exporting, internal links / statistics pages, search / archiving capabilities, and more
PikiePikie
A collection of CGI scripts, written in the Python language, with which to create collaborative web sites in the tradition of WikiWiki. Each page can contain its own weblog, and the page layout can be customised extensively. The latest version supports skins, or themes, with which visitors can select their preferred appearance for the site
Ping-O-Matic
will let you send a ping to various weblog tracking services such as weblogs.com, blo.gs, Technorati, BlogShares, and more, to let them know that you have updated your content
Pivot
a web-based tool to help you maintain dynamic sites, like weblogs or online journals. Pivot is released under the GPL so it is completely free to use. It is written in PHP, and does not require additional libraries or databases to function
Pix8.net
Free Image Hosting - Provides free image hosting to customers. Take advantage of free hosting offers today without having to signup for a webhosting account. Good for ebay and yahoo advertisements, weblog users' images. No signup required
Planarchy
an application that lets you easily publish news, reports, statistics and so on to your website with ease. You do not need any knowledge of HTML (although it is an advantage) or require the use of an external FTP client. This is because Planarchy takes care of it for you; hit New Entry, type in your new entry, then click on Publish and your brand-new entry will be uploaded to your site. Windows
pLog
a PHP and MySQL based blogging platform and its main goals are flexibility and extendibility. It uses a powerful template system based on the Smarty template engine to render the templates, whick makes the platform highly customizable and safer to let other people customize the templates, since the presentation code is isolated from the PHP code
pMachine
is blogging/news software with a LOT of extra features, like member registration, mailing list manager, random content displayer, search engine, birthday calendar, hit counter.... and, well... MORE! pMachine runs on your own server and installation is a breeze
Polywogg
was designed to allow users to view journals on the web. Polywogg Publisher and Polywogg Reader provide links to the web. In addition, anyone can go to www.polywogg.com to view journals, read and leave comments, view user profiles and to send feedback to Polywogg management. for Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) or Higher
Popdex
the website popularity index
The Posting Station
Excellent blog/website creation tool that allows users to create photo galleries, categorized posts, and much more. The site features an email notification system that allows your site's visitors to subscribe to topics and the Posting Station will email your subscribers automaticly when you create posts. No more fuss about having to notify people to take a look at your site when it is updated, the posting station will do this for you
PostNuke
an Open Source content management system
Psychoblogger
PB or Psychoblogger is a PHP/MySQL based Blogging tool. Requirements: PHP 4.1.0+, MySQL 3.23+, Web Server
PWAIN
a windows client that uses WYSIWYG editing and ftp upload. It has full image support
pyLJclient
a Live Journal client written in python and wxpython
Quick Topic bookmarklet
makes adding a Quick Topic "Discuss" link to your weblog (or any web page) super-easy
Quickblog
an automated web publishing tool currently in beta test. Quickblog offers many of the same features as other popular blogging tools such as Blogger or LiveJournal
Radio UserLand
An easy-to-use Weblog tool that runs on your desktop. Automatically builds your site, organizes and archives your posts, and publishes your content -- without any knowledge of HTML, FTP, or graphic design
Reblogger
Allows readers of Web Logs managed by Blogger to post comments on a post. Reblogger features a post counter, which indicates how many comments have been made on a certain post
Roller
server-based weblogging software - a web application that is designed to support multiple simultaneous weblog users and visitors. If you want to see Roller in action, take a look at the Blogging Roller weblog
scoop
A "collaborative media application". It falls somewhere between a content management system, a web bulletin board system, and a weblog
ScratchLog
a Weblog/Journal script based on PHP and MySQL
Serendipity
a weblog/blog system, implemented with PHP. It is standards compliant, feature rich and open source. Needs a PHP installation together with a MySQL or PostgreSQL server
Simplog
provides an easy way for users to add blogging capabilities to their existing websites. Simplog is written in PHP and compatible with multiple databases. Simplog also features an RSS/Atom aggregator/reader. Powerful, yet simple.......
SIPS - Simple Internet Publishing System
web based system for publishing news stories, and it will in later versions have options for letting users discuss these stories. It also has an integrated search/link indexing system
SnorComments2
a script programmed in perl that can be run on most web servers with cgi capabilities. It can be used for adding a commenting feature to Blogger.com blogs
Soapbox
an easy to use, open, cross-platform, web application for creating, managing, and publishing weblogs
Squishdot
Host your own weblogs with software similar to slashdot.org. Built as a plug-in module for the Zope Application Server
Tangelo
termed "web publishing with a twist," is a departure from most traditional weblog publishing tools. Instead of installing or using weblog software on an Internet web server, Tangelo is installed on the user's computer as a standalone application, providing much easier installation, greater weblog control, and ease of use. Tangelo streamlines organization of weblog text and images, and publishes the weblog to both an Internet web server and to the user's own computer for better control and backup. In addition, Tangelo features integration with NetNewsWire 2.0 for posting RSS news items.
telnet7 - Bloggy
simple and yet powerful web blogger for websites that use free webhosting services like Tripod, Angelfire, etc. telnet7 Bloggy is still in its alpha stages but can already be used
texting.com
"This is a simple concept. We tell people about cool websites. Sites are ranked by how many times our users add them. To make texting.com useful, you should join the fun. The more the merrier"
TextRouter
paste text to Blogger.com or Manila weblogs
thatware
Based on Apache/PHP3/MySQL
Thingamablog
a cross-platform, standalone blogging application that makes authoring and publishing your weblogs almost effortless. Unlike most blogging solutions, Thingamablog does NOT require a third-party blogging host, a cgi/php enabled web host, or a MySQL database. In fact, all you need to setup, and manage, a blog with Thingamablog is FTP, SFTP, or network access to a web server
thumblogger
with this tool you can blog picture galleries
Tinderbox
A personal content management assistant for making, analyzing and sharing notes. A tool for making Web logs and news sites. It's superb for collecting and understanding complex information. Tinderbox for Macintosh will ship in February 2002. Tinderbox for Windows will follow
tkblog
- free blogging application. standalone, cross-platform. does NOT require blogger.com, etc. or xml, or php/mysql, or running your own server
Tojo
an online collaborative journal/diary system written in PHP, allowing multiple users to add entries to a page, with a new page every day. It is designed for small groups in mind, and thus works differently from a BBS/forum or blog
TowerBlog
Fast & powerful weblogging program that runs on any server supporting PHP 4.1 or greater. Features a customizeable layout via CSS & templates, a fullly searchable archive & category system, as well as quick and efficiant backup and restores
Traction Software
The leading Enterprise Weblog software. Easy to use, secure blogging software designed for business and group use
Trellix
Create your own weblog using client-side windows based software. No HTML experience required
TypePad
a personal publishing service designed to provide a simple yet full-featured environment for you to put your thoughts, ideas, and experiences on the web, whether it be a weblog, journal, photo album, diary, or an entirely new creation. With TypePad, there's no installation or configuration required. Your website and all the tools are managed by the service, and upgrades and updates to the TypePad application are included in your service subscription fee
Userplane AV Blogger
an easy-to-use system allowing the creation of audio and video recorded messages for use in blogs, websites and email
Vanilla
simple and extensible hypertext system which subscribes to the Wiki philosophy and is written in Rebol
w.bloggar
Blogger API client
Weblog Translator
Bookmarklet for Google's Translate feature
Weblogs.Com
Read the hot list of weblogs most recently updated. Have your site included with the Ping-Site Form
Weblogs ping bookmarklet constructor
Simple as can be: enter the name of your blog and its URL and click submit to get a page with a bookmarklet which will ping weblogs.com in a popup window whenever you select it from your links toolbar
webpad
a web-based text editor which gives the user access to files from: the users' computer, the server it's installed on, any remote FTP server, posting to Blogger.com accounts and even the source code of webpages
WheatBlog
a web journaling application, similar to blogger in some respects, but designed for personal use on your own server
WordPress
born out of a desire for an elegant, well-architectured personal publishing system built on PHP and MySQL and licensed under the GPL. It is the official successor of b2/cafelog. WordPress is fresh software, but its roots and development go back to 2001
Wordsmith
a versatile blogging tool designed to help writers get their words out in no time. It's based on PHP/MySQL platform and supports most of the standard blog functionality, and much more
Write2Left
Post a site and have it forwarded via FTP to your host. By Tim Dorr
Xoops
an open source portal script written extensively in object-oriented PHP. Backed with a number of databases (currently only mySQL), XOOPS is an ideal tool for developing small to large community websites
YACCS
a service that allows you to place a comments section in your blogger entries. It's very easy to set up and use; you don't need a server that supports php, you don't need to upload any files to your server, and you don't need to know any programming languages. Created by Hossein Sharifi
YesI!
a PHP application that allows you to build a tree-structured website via a browser. It lets you store text, images, grab webpages from other sites, share your data with others in a multi-user mode, create on-the-fly weblogs, store your contacts in the addressbook and store your appointments in the personal calendar
Zempt
a desktop tool for the Movable Type content management system
Sponsored in part byBlog-City
The easiest tool for updating your Blog with Internet Explorer 6
ashnews
a simple program using PHP/MySQL that allows you to easily add a news/blog system to your site
AvantBlog
a very simple interface which will allow you to post to a blog from your Palm or WinCE device via AvantGo
b2
A news/blog tool
b2evolution
a multi-lingual, multi-user, multi-blog engine. It was developed to provide a free, feature rich, extensible, and easy-to-install solution for efficient Web publishing of information ranging from professional news feeds to personal weblogs. b2evo can easily be installed on almost any LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) host in a matter of minutes
Blog
An automatic web log program which allows you to update your site easily without the hassles of HTML editing and having to use a separate program to upload your work. Windows client freeware
Blog Navigator
makes it easy to read blogs on the Internet. It integrates into various blog search engines and can automatically determine RSS feeds from within properly coded websites
BlogAmp
a web audio player for bloggers. Blog-Amp can be positioned on a web page or displayed in a mini pop-up window. BlogAmp does not require listeners to use media player applications which means that everyone with a web browser can listen. For bloggers themselves it couldn’t be any easier when it comes to managing, programming and tracking their Blog-Amp. Simply upload any recorded MP3 files to your secure online media manager
Blogarithm
a web service that let's you subscribe to blogs and be notified by email when they have new content. Also has a tool to generate stickers you can add to your own blog to make it easy for readers to subscribe to you. A way to be reminded about blogs you read and to generate more views of your blog
Blog (Web-Tagebuch)
Dies ist die Demonstration eines Webservice, der die Funktionalität eines blogs bereitstellt
BlogBack
Allows visitors to comment on your weblog posts, without the need to host the service yourself
Blogbox
Blogboxes provide exciting, instantly deployed functionality for your blog or Web site. They are free for non-commercial use
blogBuddy
A small Windows client providing a front-end to the blogger.com website
BlogChat
a browser-based chat window that you can attach to your weblog or site. When you are online your visitors can engage in a text discussion with you in real time. The chat can be a popup window or you can embed it right in the page. All you have to do is put some links on your page, we provide the service. If you run PHP and mySql, you can host your own single blogchat by running the original free version. It has less features and requires your hands-on maintenance, but comes as source
BlogCounter
Free comprehensive site statistics and web counter system for bloggers which tracks host/IP (both proxyfied & 'real' IP), referrers, Search Engine keywords, user agents, date & time, resolution & color, operating system, online time spent, page impressions, browsed page paths, currently online visitors and more!
blogdex
System built to harness the power of personal news, amalgamating and organizing personal news content into one navigable source
blogdexter
Will help you jump to the page on blogdex that displays the web addresses of people who have linked to your URL
BlogFace
provides a weblog-style interface to a cataloged collection of objects, without requiring that the catalog or entries be modified, or even know about the BlogFace at all. It will work with any catalog and collection of entry objects, so long as the catalog provides an ISO format date attribute for each entry record
BlogFlix
Use this blog and online service to add video effects (pan and zoom) to blog photos. Also delivers Flash video clips in a small frame in your blog. Just paste a snippet of code to make movies appear. Supports all major blog hosting services
Blogger FAQ blog
The blog formerly known as Blogger archive/template troubles, featuring fixes for problems with Blogger's archives, templates, and more
BloggerBot
Blogger AIM client
BlogHoster
written in PHP and uses a single MySQL database. The entire system includes no flatfile data storage, which means that backing up your system is as simple as downloading your MySQL database. To install BlogHoster, your server only needs PHP 4.2.0 or higher as well as an available MySQL database
Bloglet
offers an email subscription service for your blog
blogLinker
a free tool to manage your web links on your blog/website and to dramatically increase traffic to your site. It can be embedded anywhere in your web page and can be easily configured to fit the existing design of your site. blogLinker is the only tool of its kind
BlogMax
An Emacs package that aids in the creation of a weblog
Blogrolling.com
This site provides a free, easy to use service to manage your buddy lists on your blog that works with every major blog tool and website.
BlogSnob
The better, faster way to publicize your personal site
blogsnow
'reads' blogs, depending on what's going on between 100 and 240 a minute. Out of this stream of information it extracts links and displays them in different views every 10 minutes
Blogster.net - Top 25
Blosxom
[pronounced "blossom" or "blogsome"] is a lightweight yet feature-packed Weblog application designed from the ground up with simplicity, usability, and interoperability in mind - Mac OS X
bookmarklet.ping
Allows a user to ping the weblogs.com update server via the Userland pingSiteForm
bplog
a minimal weblog/news script for use with Apache+PHP+MySQL
Bricks Site Builder
A Dynamic HTML (DHTML) layout tool that runs on Apache + mod_perl + Mason. It enables a web designer to quickly build assemblies bricks (dynamic components, such as images, or weblogs) using a web-based select-and-submit interface
Chronicle Lite
provides a friendly client application for people who use Blogger.com for all of their journalling needs. It also looks to satisfy the needs of the "power users" who want to interact with files on their local computer, and publish them to their online journal. Helpful shortcut keys speed up editing of HTML content, and drag-and-drop support allows tags to be created simply by dropping a file onto the Chronicle Lite window
CityDesk
runs on your Windows desktop, using any web server. Files uploaded via FTP
CocoBlog
a free weblogging software tool based on Apache Cocoon and Apache Xindice
corzblog
a drop-in-and-blog content management system for human beings. stylish, intelligent, easy-to-use blogging with automatic rss/rdf news syndication, secure editing, one-click blog archiving, and expanded bbcode entry. a blogging system with character. worth a look just for the cute archives menu. the bbcode to html to bbcode parser can also function in stand-alone mode, navigate to /inc/cbparser.php for its built-in demo
csBlog
a powerful blog (web log/journal) management tool. Use the script to create ongoing news items or journal entries. csBlog allows you to quickly and easily manage entries into your website with ease. CGI / Perl script. $49.00
DAWG project
The goal: write a cool, easy to use, easy to install, attractive, and VERY flexible weblog generator using PHP 4 and its XML-related functions
diary2002.cgi
is an online journal or diary script. You may call it also a blogger or weblog. fact is you will be able to write, read, search and delete your own articles or stories from your browser. diary2002.cgi is designed for easy setup, use and maintaining. web publishing has never been that easy. your articles will be stored in text file format, so no database like for example "mysql" is needed
dotcomments
Free, distributable PHP-based comment system used on hundreds of individual and group weblogs
Drupal
A full-featured content management/discussion engine suitable to setup a news-driven community or portal site
Easy Blogs
By uuba.com. Allows anyone to write and publish his or her very own web log or "blog". Simple enough for the non-technical, and yet with enough extra features to please the demanding too. Use one of the many included web-site templates or build your own. Templates are designed to be sharable with other Easy Blogs users. Store your Blog on your PC. Automatic publishing to your web site using FTP. Windows? XP, 2000, ME, 98, NT4 Compatible
EasyMoblog
an open-source platform for personal weblogs and moblogs. It allows the creation of customizable and easy-to-use weblogs: you'll be able to update your EasyMoblog contents just sending e-mail messages
ecto
a feature-rich desktop blogging client for MacOSX and Windows, supporting a wide range of weblog systems, such as TypePad, MovableType, WordPress, Drupal, Nucleus, Blogger, and more. ecto is the successor of the wildly popular Kung-Log, which has been in use by thousands of Mac users and which earned a 4.5 mice in the MacWorld July 2003 issue. ecto earned high ratings at VersionTracker.com, and at MacUpdate.com
enetation
is a play on words of annotation, the adding of remarks or comments to something. The aim of enetation is to provide a system that allows users that are not able to afford hosting or have the technical knowledge to install scripting to have commenting on their website
EzWebBlog
Professionally Designed Complete Blogging System
Falou & Disse
commenting system for blogger.com
Falasério
commenting system for blogger.com - in Portugese
Frequency
a desktop weblog client. If you have a weblog you manage with Blogger, Radio, Movable Type, or other Blogger API or metaWeblog API system, you can use Frequency to add new posts instead of logging into the web site every time. Comes in three versions: Mac OS X, Windows2000/XP, and Mac OS 9
Geeklog
allows you to create your own virtual community area, complete with user administration, story posting, messaging, comments, polls, calendar, weblinks, and more! It can run on many different operating systems, and uses PHP4 and MySQL
googlebox js
online form for creating a googlebox
GoogleBrowser
this lets you browse Google recursively, finding connections between sites. Enter any URL, and then follow the arrows to see other related sites.
Greymatter
For anyone interested in creating an online weblog or journal, Greymatter offers a new level of power and control
handX webLog for Palm OS
Allows you to use your Palm OS device to create webLog (blog) entries for a web site
iBlog
you post messages to your weblog using blogger XML-RPC API
Instant Gratification
a way to get AIM instant messages when someone reads your blog. Only requires adding a small fragment of HTML to the blog that you want alerts from
InTerra
a blog engine, rather simple at first sight, but extremely powerful inside. Moreover it is extremely scalable and extendible thanks to 3tier architecture and high-end design guidelines
Jabber
The first application of Jabber technology is an instant messaging system focused on privacy, security, ease of use, access from anywhere using any device, and interoperability with IM, phone, and web-based services
Jericho
a Java-based weblogging tool which interfaces with the Blogger and Manila XML-RPC interface
jogger
Powered by Jabber, this new weblog service (or blog) allows anyone to update their own personal journal through a normal Jabber client. Jogger is intended to demonstrate how Jabber can be used as a platform for application communication
Journaling Script
Free CGI script for publishing your own journal or weblog
JustBlogIt
a Mozilla / Firefox extension to allow easy right-click posting to a weblog. From any website your new blog post is only a right-click away
Link Feedback
see and show where your visitors come from! - a very simple set of links that you can insert into your pages to automatically track incoming links and echo them back to people who visit your site. Basically it's automated link-exchanging, but hopefully with more interesting results - Sean Nolan
Link Hype
where the intelliforge webminer bot post interesting links it finds
LiveJournal Meme Tracker
From this page you can see the most popular URLs referenced recently on LiveJournal
Manila
An Internet server application that allows groups of writers, designers and graphics people to manage full-featured, high performance Web sites through an easy-to-use browser interface
MarsEdit
a weblog editor for Mac OS X that makes weblog writing like writing email—with spell-checking, drafts, multiple windows, and even AppleScript support
Master WebLog
Written primarily for maintaining WebLog pages
monaural jerk
Allows one or more authors to regularly publish content without touching HTML. It has a nifty web-based editing/publishing sytem. It has a built-in search engine. And it is free for personal or corporate use, under the GPL: this is open-source software
Movable Type
Six Apart's powerful, customizable publishing system which installs on web servers to enable individuals or organizations to manage and update weblogs, journals, and frequently-updated website content
MozBlog
a tool to enable people to a blog with mozilla while they surfing
myMediaList.com
a free, web-based tool for all blogs. It lets you embed and remotely manage a list of music, books, films and computer games anywhere in your blog/webpage. Fully customizable design. Beats coding html; just copy and paste a single line of code
MySmartChannels
an Application Framework Server that lets anyone quickly and easily publish, organize, and reuse information in a secure Web environment. Beneath the MySmartChannels interface lies a powerful Web services platform that provides a solid foundation for corporate blogging, knowledge management (KM), enterprise collaboration (EC), and a collection of services for solving a wide variety of content-oriented problems. A FREE MySmartChannels User Account is available
NanoBlogger
a small developement & demo site for a small weblog engine
NewsBruiser
A simple but full-featured weblog management system. It is almost entirely self-contained, requiring nothing but SSI and Python (1.5.6 or greater) to be happy
Nucleus
allows you to easily maintain your own weblog(s) on your own server. It offers a system that is easy to install, but still offers maximum flexibility
Open Journal Project
Free, perl-based open journal script you install on your Web server to maintain a Web log or online diary
Particle Blogger
allows you to set up a blog in minutes just by entering your database settings and running the installer script. You can then begin blogging with automatic archiving of posts my month, an integrated RSS feed and the option to turn on static (search engine friendly) URLs. Requirements: PHP 4.x or above. MySQL 3 (4 recommended)
Personal Weblog
PHP/MySQL include file for adding a weblog to a home page. It is highly configurable and can be changed to fit any web page style
PhoneBlogger
a tool for publishing to a blog via a phone call. It is an automated voice application that first asks you for info about which pre-configured blog you wish to post to. After collecting the necessary information, PhoneBlogger records your audio message. Finally, it posts a blog entry that links to the recorded audio
PHPBloggerAPI
a PHP implementation of the Blogger XML-RPC API. The code is available as a collection of "free-standing" functions, or a fully OO class
PHP-Blogger
a free script for posting and sharing news, pictures and slideshows with your friends and family. It provides tools for posting and editing posts without the need for an FTP client. It provides authentication for a single-user and allows the user to customize certain aspects of the UI. Of course, since the script is open-source it can be completely modified from the ground-up for those who like to dabble in PHP scripting
phpWebLog
A complete news-driven website package with lots of bells and whistles. A few features include interchangeable templates/themes, multilanguage translations, fully configurable web-based administration, rdf import/exporting, internal links / statistics pages, search / archiving capabilities, and more
PikiePikie
A collection of CGI scripts, written in the Python language, with which to create collaborative web sites in the tradition of WikiWiki. Each page can contain its own weblog, and the page layout can be customised extensively. The latest version supports skins, or themes, with which visitors can select their preferred appearance for the site
Ping-O-Matic
will let you send a ping to various weblog tracking services such as weblogs.com, blo.gs, Technorati, BlogShares, and more, to let them know that you have updated your content
Pivot
a web-based tool to help you maintain dynamic sites, like weblogs or online journals. Pivot is released under the GPL so it is completely free to use. It is written in PHP, and does not require additional libraries or databases to function
Pix8.net
Free Image Hosting - Provides free image hosting to customers. Take advantage of free hosting offers today without having to signup for a webhosting account. Good for ebay and yahoo advertisements, weblog users' images. No signup required
Planarchy
an application that lets you easily publish news, reports, statistics and so on to your website with ease. You do not need any knowledge of HTML (although it is an advantage) or require the use of an external FTP client. This is because Planarchy takes care of it for you; hit New Entry, type in your new entry, then click on Publish and your brand-new entry will be uploaded to your site. Windows
pLog
a PHP and MySQL based blogging platform and its main goals are flexibility and extendibility. It uses a powerful template system based on the Smarty template engine to render the templates, whick makes the platform highly customizable and safer to let other people customize the templates, since the presentation code is isolated from the PHP code
pMachine
is blogging/news software with a LOT of extra features, like member registration, mailing list manager, random content displayer, search engine, birthday calendar, hit counter.... and, well... MORE! pMachine runs on your own server and installation is a breeze
Polywogg
was designed to allow users to view journals on the web. Polywogg Publisher and Polywogg Reader provide links to the web. In addition, anyone can go to www.polywogg.com to view journals, read and leave comments, view user profiles and to send feedback to Polywogg management. for Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) or Higher
Popdex
the website popularity index
The Posting Station
Excellent blog/website creation tool that allows users to create photo galleries, categorized posts, and much more. The site features an email notification system that allows your site's visitors to subscribe to topics and the Posting Station will email your subscribers automaticly when you create posts. No more fuss about having to notify people to take a look at your site when it is updated, the posting station will do this for you
PostNuke
an Open Source content management system
Psychoblogger
PB or Psychoblogger is a PHP/MySQL based Blogging tool. Requirements: PHP 4.1.0+, MySQL 3.23+, Web Server
PWAIN
a windows client that uses WYSIWYG editing and ftp upload. It has full image support
pyLJclient
a Live Journal client written in python and wxpython
Quick Topic bookmarklet
makes adding a Quick Topic "Discuss" link to your weblog (or any web page) super-easy
Quickblog
an automated web publishing tool currently in beta test. Quickblog offers many of the same features as other popular blogging tools such as Blogger or LiveJournal
Radio UserLand
An easy-to-use Weblog tool that runs on your desktop. Automatically builds your site, organizes and archives your posts, and publishes your content -- without any knowledge of HTML, FTP, or graphic design
Reblogger
Allows readers of Web Logs managed by Blogger to post comments on a post. Reblogger features a post counter, which indicates how many comments have been made on a certain post
Roller
server-based weblogging software - a web application that is designed to support multiple simultaneous weblog users and visitors. If you want to see Roller in action, take a look at the Blogging Roller weblog
scoop
A "collaborative media application". It falls somewhere between a content management system, a web bulletin board system, and a weblog
ScratchLog
a Weblog/Journal script based on PHP and MySQL
Serendipity
a weblog/blog system, implemented with PHP. It is standards compliant, feature rich and open source. Needs a PHP installation together with a MySQL or PostgreSQL server
Simplog
provides an easy way for users to add blogging capabilities to their existing websites. Simplog is written in PHP and compatible with multiple databases. Simplog also features an RSS/Atom aggregator/reader. Powerful, yet simple.......
SIPS - Simple Internet Publishing System
web based system for publishing news stories, and it will in later versions have options for letting users discuss these stories. It also has an integrated search/link indexing system
SnorComments2
a script programmed in perl that can be run on most web servers with cgi capabilities. It can be used for adding a commenting feature to Blogger.com blogs
Soapbox
an easy to use, open, cross-platform, web application for creating, managing, and publishing weblogs
Squishdot
Host your own weblogs with software similar to slashdot.org. Built as a plug-in module for the Zope Application Server
Tangelo
termed "web publishing with a twist," is a departure from most traditional weblog publishing tools. Instead of installing or using weblog software on an Internet web server, Tangelo is installed on the user's computer as a standalone application, providing much easier installation, greater weblog control, and ease of use. Tangelo streamlines organization of weblog text and images, and publishes the weblog to both an Internet web server and to the user's own computer for better control and backup. In addition, Tangelo features integration with NetNewsWire 2.0 for posting RSS news items.
telnet7 - Bloggy
simple and yet powerful web blogger for websites that use free webhosting services like Tripod, Angelfire, etc. telnet7 Bloggy is still in its alpha stages but can already be used
texting.com
"This is a simple concept. We tell people about cool websites. Sites are ranked by how many times our users add them. To make texting.com useful, you should join the fun. The more the merrier"
TextRouter
paste text to Blogger.com or Manila weblogs
thatware
Based on Apache/PHP3/MySQL
Thingamablog
a cross-platform, standalone blogging application that makes authoring and publishing your weblogs almost effortless. Unlike most blogging solutions, Thingamablog does NOT require a third-party blogging host, a cgi/php enabled web host, or a MySQL database. In fact, all you need to setup, and manage, a blog with Thingamablog is FTP, SFTP, or network access to a web server
thumblogger
with this tool you can blog picture galleries
Tinderbox
A personal content management assistant for making, analyzing and sharing notes. A tool for making Web logs and news sites. It's superb for collecting and understanding complex information. Tinderbox for Macintosh will ship in February 2002. Tinderbox for Windows will follow
tkblog
- free blogging application. standalone, cross-platform. does NOT require blogger.com, etc. or xml, or php/mysql, or running your own server
Tojo
an online collaborative journal/diary system written in PHP, allowing multiple users to add entries to a page, with a new page every day. It is designed for small groups in mind, and thus works differently from a BBS/forum or blog
TowerBlog
Fast & powerful weblogging program that runs on any server supporting PHP 4.1 or greater. Features a customizeable layout via CSS & templates, a fullly searchable archive & category system, as well as quick and efficiant backup and restores
Traction Software
The leading Enterprise Weblog software. Easy to use, secure blogging software designed for business and group use
Trellix
Create your own weblog using client-side windows based software. No HTML experience required
TypePad
a personal publishing service designed to provide a simple yet full-featured environment for you to put your thoughts, ideas, and experiences on the web, whether it be a weblog, journal, photo album, diary, or an entirely new creation. With TypePad, there's no installation or configuration required. Your website and all the tools are managed by the service, and upgrades and updates to the TypePad application are included in your service subscription fee
Userplane AV Blogger
an easy-to-use system allowing the creation of audio and video recorded messages for use in blogs, websites and email
Vanilla
simple and extensible hypertext system which subscribes to the Wiki philosophy and is written in Rebol
w.bloggar
Blogger API client
Weblog Translator
Bookmarklet for Google's Translate feature
Weblogs.Com
Read the hot list of weblogs most recently updated. Have your site included with the Ping-Site Form
Weblogs ping bookmarklet constructor
Simple as can be: enter the name of your blog and its URL and click submit to get a page with a bookmarklet which will ping weblogs.com in a popup window whenever you select it from your links toolbar
webpad
a web-based text editor which gives the user access to files from: the users' computer, the server it's installed on, any remote FTP server, posting to Blogger.com accounts and even the source code of webpages
WheatBlog
a web journaling application, similar to blogger in some respects, but designed for personal use on your own server
WordPress
born out of a desire for an elegant, well-architectured personal publishing system built on PHP and MySQL and licensed under the GPL. It is the official successor of b2/cafelog. WordPress is fresh software, but its roots and development go back to 2001
Wordsmith
a versatile blogging tool designed to help writers get their words out in no time. It's based on PHP/MySQL platform and supports most of the standard blog functionality, and much more
Write2Left
Post a site and have it forwarded via FTP to your host. By Tim Dorr
Xoops
an open source portal script written extensively in object-oriented PHP. Backed with a number of databases (currently only mySQL), XOOPS is an ideal tool for developing small to large community websites
YACCS
a service that allows you to place a comments section in your blogger entries. It's very easy to set up and use; you don't need a server that supports php, you don't need to upload any files to your server, and you don't need to know any programming languages. Created by Hossein Sharifi
YesI!
a PHP application that allows you to build a tree-structured website via a browser. It lets you store text, images, grab webpages from other sites, share your data with others in a multi-user mode, create on-the-fly weblogs, store your contacts in the addressbook and store your appointments in the personal calendar
Zempt
a desktop tool for the Movable Type content management system
Sponsored in part byBlog-City
Friday, July 15, 2005
Excel comes with a text-to-speech feature that you can use as an aid in proofreading your spreadsheet data. This tool is useful for the sight-impaired but can also help if you're entering a lot of data manually -- for example, from a printed sheet. While you're entering the data into the range, you can look at the printed sheet while Excel confirms each entry audibly. Or, if you've already entered the data, you can check the printed sheet while Excel speaks out each entry.
To use the text-to-speech feature, you need to display the Text to Speech toolbar. Follow these steps to display the toolbar and use its options:
Choose the Tools, Speech, Show Text To Speech Toolbar menu command. (You can also choose the View, Toolbars, Text To Speech menu command.)
Excel displays the Text To Speech Toolbar.
If you want Excel to speak a range, select the range and click the By Rows or By Columns button to make Excel speak the cells across rows or down columns.
Click the Speak Cells button for Excel to start speaking the cells.
Click the Stop Speaking button for Excel to stop speaking the cells.
If you want Excel to speak the cell every time that you enter data into a cell, click the Speak On Enter button.
Click the button again to cancel the feature.
Remember: Your PC must have the appropriate equipment for the text-to-speech feature to work. At minimum, you must have a sound card with speakers or a pair of headphones.
The Speak On Enter tool persists across Excel sessions -- that is, if you enable it during one session and shut down Excel, it's still enabled the next time that you start Excel.
To use the text-to-speech feature, you need to display the Text to Speech toolbar. Follow these steps to display the toolbar and use its options:
Choose the Tools, Speech, Show Text To Speech Toolbar menu command. (You can also choose the View, Toolbars, Text To Speech menu command.)
Excel displays the Text To Speech Toolbar.
If you want Excel to speak a range, select the range and click the By Rows or By Columns button to make Excel speak the cells across rows or down columns.
Click the Speak Cells button for Excel to start speaking the cells.
Click the Stop Speaking button for Excel to stop speaking the cells.
If you want Excel to speak the cell every time that you enter data into a cell, click the Speak On Enter button.
Click the button again to cancel the feature.
Remember: Your PC must have the appropriate equipment for the text-to-speech feature to work. At minimum, you must have a sound card with speakers or a pair of headphones.
The Speak On Enter tool persists across Excel sessions -- that is, if you enable it during one session and shut down Excel, it's still enabled the next time that you start Excel.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
In some cases, when you start Outlook Express 6, it automatically kicks in MSN or Windows Messenger (assuming Messenger wasn't running already). Outlook Express does that so it can show you the status of your Messenger contacts. Icons next to your Messenger contacts indicate whether they're online or not.
If Outlook Express starts Messenger automatically, as soon as Messenger kicks in, everybody who has you on his or her Messenger Contacts list sees that you've signed in. Many people feel that's an intrusive, time-sapping side effect of starting Outlook Express. It's also an incredibly stupid security exposure, hanging a "kick me" sign on your computer for no good reason at all. If you agree, it's easy to turn off:
Choose Tools-->Options-->General.
Outlook Express shows you the Options dialog box.
Uncheck the Automatically Log On to Windows Messenger box.
Messenger calls it sign in, not log on, but what's a foolish inconsistency among friends?
Click OK.
The next time you start Outlook Express, it doesn't attempt to start Windows Messenger.
If Outlook Express starts Messenger automatically, as soon as Messenger kicks in, everybody who has you on his or her Messenger Contacts list sees that you've signed in. Many people feel that's an intrusive, time-sapping side effect of starting Outlook Express. It's also an incredibly stupid security exposure, hanging a "kick me" sign on your computer for no good reason at all. If you agree, it's easy to turn off:
Choose Tools-->Options-->General.
Outlook Express shows you the Options dialog box.
Uncheck the Automatically Log On to Windows Messenger box.
Messenger calls it sign in, not log on, but what's a foolish inconsistency among friends?
Click OK.
The next time you start Outlook Express, it doesn't attempt to start Windows Messenger.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Is your digital image slightly out of focus?
Your image editing program's sharpening filters may improve your picture. Photoshop and PhotoDeluxe provide three automatic sharpening filters:
Sharpen will sharpen your entire image.
Sharpen More does the same thing as Sharpen, but more strenuously. Beware: This command may over-sharpen your image.
Sharpen Edges improves areas of your image where significant color changes occur.
You may find that the Sharpening Tools in your program will vary in their effectiveness from those mentioned above. Be sure and do plenty of experimenting.
Your image editing program's sharpening filters may improve your picture. Photoshop and PhotoDeluxe provide three automatic sharpening filters:
Sharpen will sharpen your entire image.
Sharpen More does the same thing as Sharpen, but more strenuously. Beware: This command may over-sharpen your image.
Sharpen Edges improves areas of your image where significant color changes occur.
You may find that the Sharpening Tools in your program will vary in their effectiveness from those mentioned above. Be sure and do plenty of experimenting.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
Suppose you go away on a business trip or vacation and Quentin Tarantino sends you an e-mail message. The world-famous director wants you to be in his next movie. Snubbing the director and missing your big chance at movie fame is, of course, unthinkable. To keep that from happening, you can tell Yahoo! Mail to automatically reply to all who send you e-mail while you're away. Yahoo! calls this kind of response a vacation response.
Follow these steps to compose a vacation response and tell Yahoo! Mail how long to keep sending it:
Choose Mail, Options or click the Mail Options link to go to the Mail Options window.
Click the Vacation Response link (you may have to scroll down the window to find it).
In the Vacation Response window, write the response and declare how long to send it.
Click the Turn Auto-Response On button.
If you change your mind about responding, return to the Vacation Response window and click the Turn Auto-Response Off button.
Follow these steps to compose a vacation response and tell Yahoo! Mail how long to keep sending it:
Choose Mail, Options or click the Mail Options link to go to the Mail Options window.
Click the Vacation Response link (you may have to scroll down the window to find it).
In the Vacation Response window, write the response and declare how long to send it.
Click the Turn Auto-Response On button.
If you change your mind about responding, return to the Vacation Response window and click the Turn Auto-Response Off button.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
What's a Bot In short:
A bot is a software tool for digging through data. You give a bot directions and it bring back answers.
The word is short for robot of course, which is derived from the Czech word robota meaning work.
The idea of robots as humanoid machines was first introduced in Karel Capek's 1921 play "R.U.R.," where the playwright conceived Rossum's Universal Robots. Sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov made them famous, beginning with his story I, Robot (1950) and continuing through a string of books known as the Robot Series (see the Isaac Asimov FAQ - for more details including "The Three Laws of Robotics").
On the Web, robots have taken on a new form of life. Since all Web servers are connected, robot-like software is the perfect way to perform the methodical searches needed to find information.
For example, Web search engines send out robots that crawl from one server to another, compiling the enormous lists of URLs that are the heart of every search engine. Shopping bots compile enormous databases of products sold at online stores.
The term bot has become interchangeable with agent, to indicate that the software can be sent out on a mission, usually to find information and report back. Strictly speaking, an agent is a bot that goes out on a mission. Some bots operate in place; for example, a bot in Microsoft Front Page automates work on a Web page.
Bots have great potential in data mining, the process of finding patterns in enormous amounts of data. Because data mining often requires a series of searches, bots can save labor as they persist in a search, refining it as they go along. Intelligent bots can make decisions based on past experiences, which will become an important tool for data miners trying to perfect complex searches that delve into billions of data points.
Bots were not invented on the Internet, however. Robotic software is generally believed to have been created in the form of Eliza, one of the first public displays of artificial intelligence. Eliza is a computer programmer that can engage a human in conversation: Eliza asks the user a question, and uses the answer to formulate yet another question. Artificial intelligence is an advanced form of computer science that aims to develop software capable of processing information on its own, without the need for human direction.
At times, Webmasters look on some forms of robots as a nuisance. A spider robot may uncover information the Webmaster would prefer would remain secret; occasionally, a bot will mis-behave as it crawls through a Web site, looking for URLs over and over, and slowing down the server's performance. As a result, search engine developers have formed standards on how robots should behave and how they can be excluded from Web sites.
BotSpot classifies Bots and Intelligent Agents by subject. Most of the bots you'll find discussed at BotSpot can be downloaded and used on your computer; some require a fee for permanent registration. Others are completely free. Browse through Bots by Category to begin your journey in the brave new world of bots.
A bot is a software tool for digging through data. You give a bot directions and it bring back answers.
The word is short for robot of course, which is derived from the Czech word robota meaning work.
The idea of robots as humanoid machines was first introduced in Karel Capek's 1921 play "R.U.R.," where the playwright conceived Rossum's Universal Robots. Sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov made them famous, beginning with his story I, Robot (1950) and continuing through a string of books known as the Robot Series (see the Isaac Asimov FAQ - for more details including "The Three Laws of Robotics").
On the Web, robots have taken on a new form of life. Since all Web servers are connected, robot-like software is the perfect way to perform the methodical searches needed to find information.
For example, Web search engines send out robots that crawl from one server to another, compiling the enormous lists of URLs that are the heart of every search engine. Shopping bots compile enormous databases of products sold at online stores.
The term bot has become interchangeable with agent, to indicate that the software can be sent out on a mission, usually to find information and report back. Strictly speaking, an agent is a bot that goes out on a mission. Some bots operate in place; for example, a bot in Microsoft Front Page automates work on a Web page.
Bots have great potential in data mining, the process of finding patterns in enormous amounts of data. Because data mining often requires a series of searches, bots can save labor as they persist in a search, refining it as they go along. Intelligent bots can make decisions based on past experiences, which will become an important tool for data miners trying to perfect complex searches that delve into billions of data points.
Bots were not invented on the Internet, however. Robotic software is generally believed to have been created in the form of Eliza, one of the first public displays of artificial intelligence. Eliza is a computer programmer that can engage a human in conversation: Eliza asks the user a question, and uses the answer to formulate yet another question. Artificial intelligence is an advanced form of computer science that aims to develop software capable of processing information on its own, without the need for human direction.
At times, Webmasters look on some forms of robots as a nuisance. A spider robot may uncover information the Webmaster would prefer would remain secret; occasionally, a bot will mis-behave as it crawls through a Web site, looking for URLs over and over, and slowing down the server's performance. As a result, search engine developers have formed standards on how robots should behave and how they can be excluded from Web sites.
BotSpot classifies Bots and Intelligent Agents by subject. Most of the bots you'll find discussed at BotSpot can be downloaded and used on your computer; some require a fee for permanent registration. Others are completely free. Browse through Bots by Category to begin your journey in the brave new world of bots.
All about Bots
A bot, short for robot, is a piece of software that digs for information. In other words, you give a bot instructions, and it goes out and finds the stuff you're seeking. Internet.com maintains the BotSpot, a Web site all about bots.
You can find:
Categories of different kinds of bots.
A comprehensive list and description of all the bots in each category, including shopping to help you in your shopping search.
A bot forum, newsletter, and the latest news.
The next time you can't seem to locate what you're looking for, run down the list of bots at the BotSpot and let a bot do the work for you.
A bot, short for robot, is a piece of software that digs for information. In other words, you give a bot instructions, and it goes out and finds the stuff you're seeking. Internet.com maintains the BotSpot, a Web site all about bots.
You can find:
Categories of different kinds of bots.
A comprehensive list and description of all the bots in each category, including shopping to help you in your shopping search.
A bot forum, newsletter, and the latest news.
The next time you can't seem to locate what you're looking for, run down the list of bots at the BotSpot and let a bot do the work for you.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Well-composed pictures should be uncluttered -- without a bewildering excess of detail. Here's how to examine your subject for excess busy-ness.
Will my photo picture many objects, or just a few?
If shooting many objects that are similar, consider singling out a few of them for emphasis. Do you really need a picture of a whole pile of pumpkins, or would a photo of just one of them be more interesting?
Will my photo show something viewers will care about and want to look at?
A pile of sand is boring; a sand dune can be graceful and beautiful. A swarm of ants can be featureless, but a close-up of two solider ants from opposing anthills might be fascinating. Select your subject matter carefully.
Can my photo make a statement about something that goes beyond the picture itself?
Consider the gripping portrayals of heroism captured with simple elements: the flag of the United States and smoldering rubble. Some of the best photographs take a stand and say something.
Will my photo picture many objects, or just a few?
If shooting many objects that are similar, consider singling out a few of them for emphasis. Do you really need a picture of a whole pile of pumpkins, or would a photo of just one of them be more interesting?
Will my photo show something viewers will care about and want to look at?
A pile of sand is boring; a sand dune can be graceful and beautiful. A swarm of ants can be featureless, but a close-up of two solider ants from opposing anthills might be fascinating. Select your subject matter carefully.
Can my photo make a statement about something that goes beyond the picture itself?
Consider the gripping portrayals of heroism captured with simple elements: the flag of the United States and smoldering rubble. Some of the best photographs take a stand and say something.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Censorship is an ugly word to most people, especially in connection with the Internet. Unfortunately, in running your own Web site, you sometimes find that you need to limit in some way what others can post to your site. In extreme cases, you may even need to bar a particularly disruptive person from posting in your chat room, for example. Is this act -- and that of setting up filters -- a form of censorship? The answer to this question depends on why you're doing it. If your intention is simply to keep someone from voicing an opinion, you're engaging in censorship, plain and simple. If your intention is to defend the free speech rights of the rest of the members against someone who's interfering with them, that's another matter entirely.
This topic isn't an idle philosophical matter but a very real consideration that you'll likely face as a Webmaster. It's a sad fact that someone, sometime, will probably jump into the middle of your nice, happy online community and try to mess it up. Although you may expect a certain amount of disagreement and even heated discussion in any group, personal attacks and deliberate disruption of discussions are different matters. As a Webmaster, your responsibility is to act for the benefit of your peaceful visitors. And at times, that may mean you have to ban a troublemaker from your site.
This topic isn't an idle philosophical matter but a very real consideration that you'll likely face as a Webmaster. It's a sad fact that someone, sometime, will probably jump into the middle of your nice, happy online community and try to mess it up. Although you may expect a certain amount of disagreement and even heated discussion in any group, personal attacks and deliberate disruption of discussions are different matters. As a Webmaster, your responsibility is to act for the benefit of your peaceful visitors. And at times, that may mean you have to ban a troublemaker from your site.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Suppose that one afternoon, you're wondering what the mortgage payment is on one of those monstrously huge houses. You know the type: tens of thousands of square feet, acres of grounds, cottages for the domestic help, and so on.
To calculate what you would pay on a 30-year, $5,000,000 mortgage if the money costs 7 percent, use the Quicken Loan Calculator:
Choose Planning, Financial Calculators, Loan to display the Loan Calculator dialog box.
Move the cursor to the Loan Amount text box and enter the loan amount.
Enter the annual interest rate in the Annual Interest Rate text box.
Move the cursor to the Number of Years text box and enter the number of years you want to take to repay the loan.
Indicate how many loan payments you plan to make a year in the Periods Per Year text box. For example, if you want to make monthly payments, type 12.
Quicken calculates the loan payment and displays the amount in the Payment Per Period field.
To get more information on the loan payments, interest and principal portions of payments, and outstanding loan balances, click the Schedule button, which appears on the face of the Loan Calculator dialog box. Quicken whips up a quick loan amortization schedule showing all this stuff.
To calculate what you would pay on a 30-year, $5,000,000 mortgage if the money costs 7 percent, use the Quicken Loan Calculator:
Choose Planning, Financial Calculators, Loan to display the Loan Calculator dialog box.
Move the cursor to the Loan Amount text box and enter the loan amount.
Enter the annual interest rate in the Annual Interest Rate text box.
Move the cursor to the Number of Years text box and enter the number of years you want to take to repay the loan.
Indicate how many loan payments you plan to make a year in the Periods Per Year text box. For example, if you want to make monthly payments, type 12.
Quicken calculates the loan payment and displays the amount in the Payment Per Period field.
To get more information on the loan payments, interest and principal portions of payments, and outstanding loan balances, click the Schedule button, which appears on the face of the Loan Calculator dialog box. Quicken whips up a quick loan amortization schedule showing all this stuff.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
One of the things (among many) that drives a lot of computer users crazy is preloaded software. You buy a computer from Dell, Gateway, or any number of other retailers, and they throw in a boatload of software, already installed on the computer. The problem is that most of the software is of very little value. Sometimes all of the software is of no value. It's easy to fill up a computer with no-value software and tout what a great deal you're getting. Hogwash!
Did your computer come with lots of software preinstalled? If so, take a few minutes to figure out how much of it you actually use. Take a look at what was installed when you got your system and add the unused software to your list of removal targets. Don't worry; removing preinstalled software won't make your computer stop working, void your warranty, or subject you to criminal prosecution. (Unlike that stupid little tag on mattresses that you might still be scared to remove.)
Did your computer come with lots of software preinstalled? If so, take a few minutes to figure out how much of it you actually use. Take a look at what was installed when you got your system and add the unused software to your list of removal targets. Don't worry; removing preinstalled software won't make your computer stop working, void your warranty, or subject you to criminal prosecution. (Unlike that stupid little tag on mattresses that you might still be scared to remove.)
Monday, July 04, 2005
If your Windows 2000 Desktop icons look gigantic (or puny), here's a trick to adjust their size to suit your tastes. Follow these steps:
Click the Start button and choose Settings and then Control Panel.
Double-click the Display icon in the Control Panel.
Click the Effects tab and scan it until you locate the Visual Effects list.
Check or uncheck the Use Large Icons checkbox according to the nature of your problem (icons too big or small).
If the problem is that your Desktop icons are too big and the Use Large Icons checkbox is checked, uncheck it and your icons magically shrink as soon as you apply the new settings.
On the other hand, if the problem is that your Desktop icons are too small, check the Use Large Icons checkbox and you'll find your screen easier to read as soon as you apply the new settings.
Click the Start button and choose Settings and then Control Panel.
Double-click the Display icon in the Control Panel.
Click the Effects tab and scan it until you locate the Visual Effects list.
Check or uncheck the Use Large Icons checkbox according to the nature of your problem (icons too big or small).
If the problem is that your Desktop icons are too big and the Use Large Icons checkbox is checked, uncheck it and your icons magically shrink as soon as you apply the new settings.
On the other hand, if the problem is that your Desktop icons are too small, check the Use Large Icons checkbox and you'll find your screen easier to read as soon as you apply the new settings.
