INDEX TO OUR FAVORITE DOWNLOADS and INFORMATION
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Here's a few links to some software downloads and sites that may enhance your use of your computer and the internet.
Most of the information and software you will find from here are for a Windows enviroment. Which is what the average home user has.
You will find farther down this page a list of shareware and freeware sites.
You may also want to check out our Software Download News that changes as new news developes.
If you are in need of virus information you can find that from here too!
Happy hunting!
TIP: Before you download...
Be sure of what operating system you are using. And read all information given at the download site to be sure of what you are getting, along with any other pertinent information that may make installing and using easier.
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USEFULL SOFTWARE
Atomic Clock Sync 2.0
This free time keeping utility requires Windows 2000, Me, 98, 95 or NT 4
FreeWare
This program will reference an atomic clock server to get the current time with the greatest accuracy available and update your PC's clock.
Your computer clock like most clocks is not 100% accurate. It will usually lose or gain over a period of time. (note: We found our pc to lose 20 seconds a week.)
If you run this program your clock will always be the correct time.
With this little program you just run it while you are on-line and it takes care of the rest. It will set your clock to the exact time that the atomic clock is. Another option is that you can have it auto update your clock daily.
An atomic clock is what the whole world uses for their time refference. This program allows you to suck the time right out of an atomic clock. It's also radiation free!
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McAfee Antivirus Software 
Virus protection is a must have on any computer system. This is a good one.
Nothing is 100% when you are talking about antivirus protection, but this covers it as good as any we've used. Just keep those .dat files updated every two or three weeks and your computer will be quite well protected against the newest virus's out there.
McAfee.com: Virus Information Center
Go here for the latest information out on a virus.
more links to computer and virus information
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WinZip 
Easy to use zipping and unzipping shareware.
Often programs files are placed in a .zip file and must be opened and then extracted to a folder of your choice after the download. This must be done before you can even think of installing. This program makes it easy to do this. Plus you can make your own .zip files for archiving or just to reduce the original file size of a large file so you may send it by e-mail quicker.
For those that are asking what is a .zip file, it is a file that contains one or more files that have been compressed to take up less space. Example: a picture that is 1MB in size may be compressed into a zip file and end up only taking up 200KB. The amount of compression depends on the type of file being compressed, but does usually save you space. It is a great way to save files that you don't often use thus helping you save space on your computer.
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Graphic Workshop 
Hell of a good picture viewer here.
Out of all the viewers we have tried this is one of the best. It views many types of picture formats and has quite a few options and functions. Some of which are cropping, color adjustment, format conversions and viewable thumbnails if you want them.
Being that it is a shareware program you can try it out for free, but if you like it they would like you to pay a few bucks for it. It is surely worth the price.
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FILE SHARING SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE TO SHARE MP3 MUSIC
NAPSTER
For playing, seaching and downloading MP3 files. Best if you have a fast modem connection and lots of storage space. If you haven't heard of this one you probably have an attention deficit and may want to get that checked.
Audiogalaxy Satellite
This freeware is an alternative to Napster for downloading MP3 files. It works in conjuction with your web browser.
For more info read their "Information/Help Pages" and/or "Satellite FAQ".
Click here to go to the Audiogalaxy Download Page.
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SOFTWARE TO SHARE VARIOUS FILE TYPES
KaZaA
According to KaZaA, this freeware will share audio, video, images and documents files with over 300,000 users online simultaneously. They do it using Peer to Peer technology.
We personaly haven't tried this one, but it has had good reviews from those we have talked to. Could this be another alternative to Napster?
Gnutella
This program brings the web back to the web. Information-sharing technology that alows you to find all kinds of files including MP3's.
Read their "What is Gnutella?" for more information.
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CHAT & MESSAGING SOFTWARE
JUST TEXT MESSAGING / CHAT SOFTWARE
ICQ .gif)
ICQ has been Jim's favorite instant messaging/chat program for years (like you care, right?).
It is a very configurable program that allows you to choose who sees you on-line and much more. Once you get familiar with this program it can be set to work with many other programs like Net Meeting for video conferencing and a variety of other voice chat programs also. All of which are optional.
The best things we like about ICQ is that it rarely has problems, transfers files well and the party you want to send a message to does not have to be on-line at the time. It also has two modes of operation; Simple for the novice user and Advanced for those that like to get into really playing with the different features of the program.
Like in e-mail you will see rumors of viruses and such connected to ICQ. Most are just plain old bull so before you pass it on check it out here. Click here to find out about ICQ Rumors and Hazzards & Safeguards.
FULL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND FROM THEIR FRONT PAGE AT ICQ TITLE AT THE TOP OF THIS SECTION
Get the latest version here. It's free.
mIRC
This is a text chat program that uses IRC servers. IRC means Internet Chat Relay. This program requires some study to get good at. It is quite a powerful text chat program. If you are heavy into chatting then you may like this one. For more information go to "Introduction to mIRC".
Click here to go to the mIRC download page .
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MESSAGING / CHAT SOFTWARE WITH AUDIO OPTION
MSN Instant Messenger
This is the easy to use popular text and voice messaging program. Besides voice chatting over the net, this allows you to also call a phone and works with a mobile phone also [check applicable phone charges if you plan on using these options]. This program is also designed to work with Microsoft Net Meeting and if you have a web cam you may find this to be a nice feature.
In case you are wondering... no you don't have to be on MSN to use this. But you will need to set up a Hotmail account or msn passport to use. This can be set up before or after installation.
Yahoo! Messenger 
Similar to the MSN Instant Messenger and also popular. The biggest difference we found was that you could send a message to another party in your contact list with out that party being on-line at the time. A nice feature!
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VIDEO CONFERENCING SOFTWARE
Microsoft Net Meeting
Here's a good free video conferencing program. Used as a video web phone this program allows you to use a web cam and microphone simutaneously so that you can voice chat and see your chat partner at the same time. Providing of course that they have a web cam and it is turned on.
For more Net Meeting information, click here.
You'll find we have a little more information on chat and about this program
on our Communication Using the Internet page.
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HANDY SOFTWARE
Miscellaneous Software
Cnet's Catchup
CatchUp Software Updates - simultaneously searches your PC for the latest versions of your software applications and hardware drivers. Quickly and easily find patches, fixes, updates, and upgrades to your favorite shareware, freeware, and commercial software applications.
Arachnophilia
This is a good web authoring tool.
If you are looking to write your own web page you might like this one to create the HTML.
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SHAREWARE
NONAGS
A really good site for Freeware and Shareware of all kinds that have no nag screens.
TUCOWS
Good shareware and freeware software can be found at this popular place.
An Archive of Shareware and good info for novices and techies alike.
SPEED CHECK TOOLS
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20 Daily News Feed About...
SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
Find out what's new or changing by clicking on of these links.
Note: These links change as new news developes.
You may want to add some of these links to your list of favorites.
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FREEWARE
A great place to pick up some FREE software of all kinds!
An Archive of Freeware links here. Good starting point for finding other freeware and shareware sites.
GENERAL COMPUTING SOURCES
The HOMEPAGE HERALD
~NOW EDITION~
CURRENT NEWS WEBFEED
new articles daily
HEADLINES
ENTERTAINMENT
COMPUTING
View the most recent news here
on our own on-line newspaper.
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Dummies Web Site
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ShareWare.Com
Search for shareware software with this search engine
Click here to check out our search page if this search engine didn't give you the results you were hoping for.
Microsoft Download Center
Microsoft Download Center can be used to get Microsoft products and software.
IDG.net
Here is a link that may come in handy if you are on a quest for software or computer information.
CNET.com
Source for computing and technology.
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DISCLAIMER: The Jim & Ann HOMEPAGE makes no representations regarding either information or the products referenced within this site. All off site items are placed here because they are links to information or products that we of the Jim & Ann HOMEPAGE have heard or found to be usefull.
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