Date: 09-25-96 (20:48) Shareware Dispatch The weekly newsletter from CNET's SHAREWARE.COM Vol. 2, No. 14 Wednesday, September 25, 1996 http://www.shareware.com/ 180,000+ subscribers CONTENTS: 1. News and hot releases. - "Hey, Macaroni!" screen saver - Mac System 7.5.5 released 2. What's hot this week: our top 10 downloads. 3. Featured applications for the PC. 4. Featured applications for the Mac. 5. Get on. How to subscribe/unsubscribe to our mailing list. *********************** 1. NEWS AND HOT RELEASES: "Hey, Macaroni!" Screen Saver is the Latest Craze The Macarena may be all the rage in dance clubs across the country, but it's long overdue for a little parody. The "Hey, Macaroni!" screen saver pokes fun at the popular dance, featuring performing pasta, clever lyrics, and a catchy tune. The screen saver is free, and runs on any Windows system. To dance the day away, go to: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/Find?archive=cnet-win95&cfrom=power&searc h=macaroni&and=¬=&orfile=on&name=&hits=10 System 7.5.5 Stabilizes MacOS Mac users should download this MacOS update if they are using System 7.5.3. Apple has released this update to fix a variety of bugs, including some problems with virtual memory on some machines. This is a recommended upgrade for all System 7.5.3 users. To bring your Mac up to speed, point your browser to: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/Find?archive=amug-mac&cfrom=power&search= 7.5.5-update-netInstall.sit&and=¬=&orfile=on&name=&hits=10 *********************** 2. TOP 10 DOWNLOADS FROM SHAREWARE.COM: #1 Paint Shop Pro 4.10 for Windows 95/NT --> 26,324 downloads #2 Quake 1.01 --> 19,028 downloads #3 VRAMDIR for Windows 95 --> 19,009 downloads #4 McAfee's Virus Scanner for Windows 95 --> 15,323 downloads #5 Extreme Pinball 1.0 --> 13,736 downloads #6 Organic Art Screen Saver --> 11,220 downloads #7 Windows 95 Tips & Tricks --> 11,129 downloads #8 Netscape Navigator 3.0 for Windows 95/NT --> 11,004 downloads #9 QuickTime 2.1 for Windows --> 10,609 downloads #10 WinZip 6.1 for Windows 95 --> 9,555 downloads For more information on SHAREWARE.COM's most popular files, check out: http://search.shareware.com/SW/Search/Popular/ *********************** 3. FEATURED APPLICATIONS FOR THE PC: ACTIVATE YOUR WEB SITE The Activator lets Web site designers add customized Java applets to their pages with a minimum amount of fuss. The program itself is written in Java, so it must be launched from inside a Java-enabled browser. Incorporating highly functional effects and utilities is simply a matter of choosing a desired applet from the menu, clicking to see an uncustomized demo of it, and making modifications to the applet's speed, size, and color. The Activator then produces the necessary HTML for hassle-free inclusion in your Web page. The program comes complete with batteries and a nice selection of applets that includes a spreadsheet, several ticker-style and live-feed scroll bars, and an image map with context-sensitive help menus. FACT FILE: Program Name: The Activator ProV2 Version: 2.0 Size: 440 K Developed By: Noware License: Shareware ($79.95) Requirements: Windows 95, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or Netscape Navigator 3.0 For a complete Java construction set, be sure to check out: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2fdevt ools%2fact2%2dp%2ezip&size=450565 DESKTOP PARALLEL PARKING IconDock provides a visually pleasing application bar for the Windows 95 desktop. The program could be called the Windows version of the appbar found in NextStep's operating system, yet IconDock manages to add a few tricks of its own. Like the Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar and other similiar utilities, IconDock lets you place shortcuts to your favorite applications on its icons for easy access. It provides large, intuitive buttons, a replacement for the standard clock and calendar, and a trio of surface textures from which to choose. IconDock also gives you the option of sliding the entire appbar to one corner of the desktop, maximizing available screen space while remaining easily accessible. FACT FILE: Program Name: IconDock Version: 0.9 Build 35 Size: 100 K Developed By: Tony Chow License: Freeware Requirements: Windows 95 For speedy access to your favorite apps, point your browser to: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2futil ities%2ficondockbeta%2ezip&size=103755 To download a set of prefabricated, high-quality icons, check out: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2futil ities%2fallicons%2ezip&size=145057 GOING IN CIRCLES Have you ever wondered just how far your mouse travels in a month? The Odometer provides the answer with its cumulative digital measuring tape that follows your mouse wherever it goes. It's designed for Windows 95, and access to the distance travelled is available from a small icon in the system tray beside the clock. Units of measure are provided in pixels, inches, feet, miles, centimeters, meters, and kilometers. The counter can be reset at any time, but the unregistered version is good only for the first 1,000,000 pixels. FACT FILE: Program Name: Odometer for Windows 95 Version: 1.0 Size: 20 K Developed By: Ribau Frederic License: Shareware ($6) Requirements: Windows 95, mouse To begin counting the miles, point your browser to: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2futil ities%2fodomtr%2ezip&size=19914 TWIST OF THE WRIST Road Rash is a fast and furious sportbike racing game that requires throttle-twisting skill and a no-fear attitude. Not to take anything away from the fun of motorcycle racing, but it's difficult to imagine anything more appealing than striking your opponents with the back of your fist at 100 mph and then watching as they bounce, skip, and skid along the pavement. Road Rash challenges you to scream through a five mile track and finish ahead of everyone else. To capture the checkered flag, you'll have to backhand opponents, run over pedestrians, dodge traffic, and outrun the police. The city scrolling, sound effects, and bike movements are very realistic, but it quickly becomes evident that this is only a game when you wipe out at warp speed and then casually jog back to your unscathed two-wheeler. Have fun, but please don't try this kind of riding on your own city streets! FACT FILE: Program Name: Road Rash Version: Demo Size: 4520 K Developed By: Electronic Arts, Inc. License: Commercial Demo Requirements: Windows 95, Pentium 75, 16 MB RAM, sound card, Microsoft DirectX 2 For a wild ride, take the following exit: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2fgame s%2frashdemo%2ezip&size=4743818 To obtain the required DirectX drivers, point your browser to: http://search.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2fu tilities%2fdxextract%2eexe&size=2834432 HARD DISK HERO As PC hard disks continue to grow, it becomes increasingly important to choose an appropriate cluster size in order to minimize wasted space. Waste for Windows 95 quickly analyzes a specified disk and indicates the total amount of space in use. It also provides various figures that can help you decide on how to best partition the disk for maximum use of real estate. Specifically, it reports how much space is wasted due to the disk's cluster size, and how much more or less would be wasted for other given cluster sizes. This type of graphical comparison lets you make an intelligent and informed decision on partitioning your hard disk. For example, if you're using 32K clusters, Waste for Windows 95 lets you see exactly how much space you could recover if you split the disk into multiple partitions, each with 8K clusters. FACT FILE: Program Name: Waste for Windows 95 Version: 2.5 Size: 740 K Developed By: Isis Interactive License: Shareware ($5) Requirements: Windows 95 To recover idle megabytes from your hard disk, check out: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/File?archive=cnet-win95&file=win95%2futil ities%2fwaste95a%2ezip&size=753639 *********************** 4. FEATURED APPLICATIONS FOR THE MAC: ESCAPE TO A WORLD OF ADVENTURE Escape Velocity is a first-class adventure/action game from Ambrosia Software. Escape Velocity combines an intriguing plot line with detailed graphics and fantastic sound effects. This is one game you will not easily tire of, or finish quickly. To start your escape, make a break for: http://www.shareware.com/code/engine/Find?cfrom=quick&orfile=True&search=escap e-velocity-102.hqx&category=Macintosh *********************** 5. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST: If you're getting this newsletter forwarded to you from a friend but would rather subscribe for yourself, it's easy. Here's what to do: To subscribe on the Web, do the following: 1. Go to http://www.shareware.com/SW/Subscribe/. 2. In the field provided, enter your email address. 3. Click on the subscribe button. To subscribe by email, do the following: 1. Send an email message to sw-dispatch@shareware.com. 2. In the body of the message put the following: subscribe shareware-dispatch you@your-domain To unsubscribe, do the following: 1. Send an email message to sw-dispatch@shareware.com. 2. In the body of the message put the following: unsubscribe shareware-dispatch you@your-domain