Offtakes on Web-related software, services 'n tips
Archive for year 2005
Raptor: Call of the Shadows Revisited
Nov 20th
I’ve spent the better part of this weekend playing an old DOS-era game: Apogee’s Raptor: Call fo The Shadows. While I’ve played both this, and a subsequent Windows version, before, in both instances it was the level-, weapon- and feature-limited shareware version. But a friend cleaning out old software offered me the complete registered version on CD-ROM!
So my son (who’s supposed to be studying for exams) and I spent a weekend bonding by shout. Raptor doesn’t work over a LAN and we had to exchange notes of baddies found and destroyed, scores achieved and levels crossed by shouting between rooms! Daddy More >
Firefox 1.5 RC2 Musings
Nov 15th
I must saw I’m quite impressed by the overall quality encapsulated in Firefox 1.5 RC2. For a change I didn’t have to download the entire 5+ MB package (on Windows). What I did get instead was an in-browser alert via a pop-up dialog that a new version was available. And would I like to upgrade. What a question. Of course! An upgrade can (mostly anyways) always be an improvement of the existing build. The pop-up dialog box also offers a Details link. Clicking doesn’t open a new instance (window) of Firefox and open the Firefox Releases page. However as Firefox 1.5 More >
OpenOffice.org 2.0′s A Suite Little Rock ‘n Ruler
Nov 8th
So, you have a pirated copy of Microsoft Office. Never mind which version. Oh! You don’t, well never mind. If you really want a copy and are willing to compromise, you could download a pirated version via Torrents, on a CD sourced from a friend or direct from your somewhat-friendly neighborhood pirate. Or you could acquire a absolutely legal and powerful alternative: OpenOffice.org 2.0 available (in separate versions) for MacOS (OpenOffice.org 1.1.2 only), Windows and Unix/Linux/Solaris.
OpenOffice.org 2.0 is the first office suite to support for the OpenDocument OASIS Standard. This XML file format can be used regardless of vendor specific More >
BitTorrent Best Way to Download Files
Oct 30th
The OpenOffice.org 2.0 review is delayed. Because I have gotten a free moment to test it out. But while reviewing older issues of this column to see what I’d promised readers. I found a planned BitTorrent client overview. And here it is.
First and foremost is Bram Cohen’s (original) BitTorrent client. That seems to have changed over from freeware to shareware. But it’s still possible to download an older, free version. Originally developed for Linux, BitTorrent was subsequently ported to Windows. But a key issue with this client is the really basic user interface that on the Windows version may come with More >
Opera 9 Technical Preview Passes Acid Test
Oct 24th
There’s plenty happening on the free software front this week. Let’s begin with the stunning new Opera 9.0 Technical Preview 1 (Build 8031). Available in separate Windows, Linux/Unix and Mac versions.
It turns the premise of the old Opera browser as we know it on its head! What can I say? Except that Opera 9 follows on Firefox is more ways than one. To begin with you can now access all Opera’s configuration options via opera:config. Type this into a new Tab to gain access to all browser settings. By default the view is condensed.
And while I advise a careful explanation before you attempt More >
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