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The
LangaList
A Free Email Newsletter from Fred
Langa
About BrowserTune, HotSpots, Columns, and Other Activities
8-Feb-98
Short issue this week--because of item #1!
BrowserTune98
Public Beta!
At last! Here's your
heads up: This week (on or about 14-Feb-98), BrowserTune98 will enter Public
Beta, and you're the first to hear of it!
I'm in the final fit-and-finish
coding now, and building the last few test pages.
BrowserTune98 contains everything that BT97 contained,
plus a lot more. Every page has been rewritten and recoded, and many totally new
pages have been added.
As before, each page safely and noninvasively tests one or
more essential real-life functions and features of your browser and shows you
the results.
In all, BT98 thoroughly and safely tests close to 300
separate browser features and functions from the bedrock basics up to Dynamic
HTML, streaming audio and video, Java, ActiveX/OCX, scripting, push
"channels," applications- and desktop-integration, and more.
BrowserTune98 also incorporates numerous suggestions I’ve
received from people---including many LangaList readers!--- who’ve used
earlier versions. For example, the #1 suggestion I’ve gotten in the past was
to make BrowserTune take less time to run. As a result, BrowserTune98 is
completely modular, with no dependencies from section to section. (BrowserTune97
had some serial dependencies, where you had to run section "A" before
you could run section "B.") Now, you can isolate just the test or
tests you want to run, jump in and jump out again with no problem whatsoever.
Also, similar tests have been grouped together so you can run as many as five
separate tests from a single BrowserTune page!
The second most-common request I got was for better
navigation---it can be a bit overwhelming to be somewhere in the middle of
hundreds of tests and not to know exactly where you are in the sequence.
Browsertune98 offers an always-available roadmap that shows you where you are,
what tests you’ve already run, and which tests you haven’t yet gotten to.
Relatedly, BT98 also offers you a floating checklist you
can leave on screen or print out: As you finish each test, you can check off
whether your browser passed, failed, or "needs retest." I personally
think this floating checklist is a "way cool" feature--- but you be
the judge.
Stop on by and give it a test drive at http://content.techweb.com/winmag//bt98/
later this week!
Toss Your Cookies?
In a recent column, I gave an address for downloading an
interesting bit of free beta software. Although many people downloaded and used
the beta, I got enough mail of the following sort to make me wonder:
"NO Cookies! Cookies not worth it. My Privacy is not
for sale."
"I WILL NOT ACCEPT A COOKIE EVEN FROM GOD! I WON'T
ACCEPT SCUMBAG COOKIES."
Yikes!
To tell you the truth, I hadn’t even noticed that the
beta site used cookies: I have my browser set up not to complain when a site
wants to set a cookie.
Am I nuts to welcome cookies to my hard drive? If you’re
anti-cookie, why? Is there something evil going on here that I’m not aware of?
We'll discuss what cookies are, how you can see
what cookies already have been set on your PC, and more starting Wednesday Feb
11 at http://www.langa.com/badlink.htm.
Fixing Broken Windows,
Pt3
Over the last two weeks, we've
walked through light-weight fixes (CFGBack and ERU) and medium-weight fixes (the
no-reformat full restore trick).
You can guess what comes next: When all else
fails, sometimes you have to do a full-blown, down-to-the-bare-metal reformat
(and maybe FDISK!) and restore. This week, we'll share the safest, surest ways
to bring Windows back to life even when the worst possible disaster strikes.
Check it out Monday Feb 9th. The column should be
available from the WinMag home page ( http://content.techweb.com/winmag/)
by noon on Monday, or you can try this
link which should work, but which I can't guarantee because the actual link
won't be live until Monday.
RegClear 4.1a
Last week, I asked readers to let me
know if the new version of Microsoft's RegClean (http://support.microsoft.com/download/support/mslfiles/Regcln41.exe)
caused any problems; four readers reported troubles of one kind or another.
That's not a huge number, and a tiny percentage, but it still suggests there may
be some "gotchas" lurking in the code.
Just for Fun
I have to get back to finishing BrowserTune98, but
just for fun let me share this email from reader Harold Locke with you:
Subject: Re:
Everything's FREE! Pass it on...
This GREAT list of FREE
STUFF has been circulating around the internet for months. I've cleaned it up
(removed the forwards, etc.) and am starting a clean new run with this post.)
There's no telling if all these offers are still valid, but all the ones I
checked were. You'll recognize the brand names of these companies. All are
legitimate major companies. I took out the nasty links. PASS IT ON TO YOUR
FRIENDS! They'll thank you for it.
Free 35mm film offer: http://www.yorkphoto.com/yptoc200.htm
Free sample T-shirt transfer kit for ink jet and laser printers: http://www.conde.com/
Free Child Safety kit: http://www.pollyklaas.org/safetykit.htm
Free Photo Scan for your computer, e-mail it to friends http://www.MyFamilyScrapbook.com
Free daily cartoon for your web site: http://www.cartoonfactory.com/host.htm
Free subscription to alternative health newsletter: http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~b.synesael/yourlife
Free subscription to new fashion, entertainment and lifestyle magazine: http://www.Freewheelin.com/
Free coupon book (must sign up for credit card): http://www.webcom.com/sph9212/Freeoffer.htm
Free desktop/"wallpaper" images, undersea theme: http://www.cyber-sea.com/
Digital camera giveaway contest: http://www.recharge.net/
Free quick reference health care guide: http://www.csn.net/her
Free Metamucil sample: http://www.pg.com/docYourhome/docMetamucil/Access
Free Alka-Seltzer sample: http://www.alka-seltzer.com/
Free world time zone chart: http://www.go-global.com/
Free wine club newsletter: http://www.topwine.com/
Free promotional "Mouse Klip" http://www.angelfire.com/biz/everyday
"Sing and Snore Ernie" giveaway contest: http://www.youfoundme.com/contest.htm
Free sunset poster: http://www.lifetime.com/talk.html
Free Report on Scary Year 2000 Computer Bug Meltdown http://www.spycave.com
Free men's razor sample: http://www.schick.com/
Free "Robotman" comic book: http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/robotman
Free "letter from Santa" http://www.all-about-me.com/
Free graphical e-mail "sig": http://autosig.com/
Free hieroglyphic alphabet chart: http://www.pittsburgh.net/cartouche/
Free "Magic the Gathering" trading cards: http://pw1.netcom.com/~brilove/index.html
Free Chrismas crafting supplies: http://www.ppi-Free.com/xmas.htm
Free $10.00 prepaid telephone calling card: http://home.onestop.net/netel
Free e-mail "reminder" service: http://www.2remember.com/
Free instant, automatic homepage: http://www.lombardia.com/
Free caffeine tablet sample: http://mainsail.com/cgi/viv_new_date.pl?dog
Free nutrition CD-ROM (for schools): http://www.dole5aday.com/
Free hieroglyphic alphabet chart: http://www.pittsburgh.net/cartouche/
Free "Magic the Gathering" trading cards: http://pw1.netcom.com/~brilove/index.html
Free database search of lost forgotten or unclaimed cash accounts: http://www.foundmoney.com/
Free "Garfield" screen saver: http://www.garfield.com/game/screensaver/
Free e-mail software (for Macintosh): http://www.claris.com/software/browse_popular.html
Free cookie sample: http://www.horsecookie.com/info.htm
Free "Jelly Belly" candies: http://www.jellybelly.com/
Free salt substitute sample: http://www.nusalt.com/index.html
Free exotic tea sample: http://www.taigatea.com/order.html#sample
Free cajun seasoning samples: http://www.cajunspice.com/Free.html
Free introductory subscription "American Baby" magazine: http://www.dc.enews.com/magazines/baby/subscrip.html
Free CD-ROM and issue "The Net" magazine: http://www.thenet-usa.com/subscribe/subsform.html
Free dental floss samples: http://www.zila.com/zila/consumer.html
Free Ralph Lauren fragrance products: http://www.ralphlaurenfragrance.com/rlf/club.html
Free web graphics: http://www.ourdomain.com/gallery/index.html
Free web site banners: http://www.NetBanner.com/
Free Secrets, Tips, Tricks on AOL http://www.clever.net/spymaster/aol.html
Free demo CD-ROM - video for web sites: http://www.b-way.com/register/register.html#democd
Free demo CD-ROM - Lotus Notes Mail: http://www.lotus.com/dir_mktg/notesmailcdoffer.htm
Free demo CD-ROM - multmmedia Games: http://www.potogold.com/Freecd.html
Free 1996 Olympics screen saver: ftp://ftp.winsite.com/pub/pc/win3/desktop/olymp96.exe
Free computer networking T-shirt: http://www.harte-hanks.com/baynetworks/1541baystack301.cgi
Free knee-high hose: http://www.silverliningplus.com/visit.html
Free pantyhose: http://www.legwear.com/indulge.html
Free savings kit from Merrill Lynch: http://www.plan.ml.com/cgi-sys/autoform.cgi?extension=1327
Free latex gloves: http://www.marsin.com/marsin
Free golf video: http://www.golfbobmann.com/Free.htm
Free cassette tape: http://www.harplandmusic.com/
Free introductory subscription "American Baby" magazine: http://www.dc.enews.com/magazines/baby/subscrip.html
Free CD-ROM and issue "The Net" magazine: http://www.thenet-usa.com/subscribe/subsform.html
Free issue "Fortune" magazine: http://pathfinder.com/fortune/freeoffer.html
Free video: "Currency Futures and Options Trading" http://www.cme.com/market/video.html
Free rock video: http://rock.roll.com/video.html
Free Amish country travel video: http://www.visithhc.com/wilkum.html
Free roll of 35mm film: http://www.filmworks.com/
Free video - Aruba http://www.sailboardvac.com/info.html
Free gum sample: http://www.burstgum.com/registration.html
Free butter substitute sample: http://www.butterbuds.com/sample.html
Free Mexican yellow rice: http://www.chefmerito.com/
Free hot cocoa or cappucino: http://www.hotcocoa.com/index.html
Free sugar-Free candy sample: http://www.sweetnlowcandy.com/
Digital camera giveaway contest: http://www.recharge.net/
Free Metamucil sample: http://www.pg.com/docYourhome/docMetamucil/
Free world time zone chart: http://www.go-global.com/
Free corporate offerings by email Revlon coupons: http://www.revlon.com/
Free computer software: http://www.Freesoft97.com/
Free "virtual pet" software (for PC): http://www.net-gate.com/~bridgetb/tommy.html
Thanks, Harold!
===
See you all next week!
Fred
(fred@langa.com)
A live web version of this note is online in the "what's new"
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