Description
Internet Explorer 6.0 includes many new and enhanced features that can simplify the daily tasks you perform while helping you to maintain the privacy of your personal information on the Web. The integrated Advanced Search bar makes it a snap to find whatever you may be looking for on the Web. The Image Toolbar feature allows you to quickly and easily save pictures, e-mail pictures, and print pictures that you find on Web pages. You can also view all your saved pictures in the My Pictures folder. When you point to pictures on Web pages, the My Pictures toolbar appears, giving you instant access to My Pictures functions. Another new Explorer bar, the Contacts bar, allows MSN Messenger Service members to use instant-messaging features from within the browser window while they surf the Web. The Media Bar offers a seamless Web media experience. It provides a simple user interface for locating and playing media within the browser window. The Media Bar has simple controls that enable you to play music, video, or mixed-media files without opening a separate window. The Media Bar also lets you control the audio volume and choose which media files or tracks to play.

The advanced security features, such as the Cookie control feature and the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) will be an instant hit with many surfers. Many Web sites provide a privacy statement or a Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) policy that you can view with Internet Explorer 6.0. P3P helps protect the privacy of your personal information on the Internet by simplifying the process for deciding whether and under what circumstances personal information is disclosed to Web sites.

Internet Explorer 6.0 has also taken steps to improve Web browser reliability. When Internet Explorer stops or closes unexpectedly, it displays the new Internet Explorer Error Reporting Tool rather than the standard fault dialog box. The Internet Explorer Error Reporting Tool provides fault collection services. It offers to extract information about the Internet Explorer problem and upload the data to Microsoft for analysis.

Note: You must have Windows 98 or newer installed on your machine in order to run Internet Explorer 6.0. It features Active Setup (a 496K file), which requires that you maintain your Internet connection after you double click ie6setup.exe. Active Setup will prompt you to choose among various IE packages; these range in size from 8.5MB to more than 45MB, with a typical install of 11MB.

Description
Netscape 6.2, the latest update to the Netscape browser suite, greatly enhances the performance and stability of Netscape 6 while improving functionality. In addition to high-speed browsing and instant messaging capabilities, Netscape 6.2 now features one-click searching from the address bar; Quick Launch, which reduces the browser start-up time; a history tab in the My Sidebar area; an integrated download manager; an automatic online form filler; an easy-access instant messenger; and improved e-mail management.

Major updates to the Netscape 6.2 browser include Windows XP support and numerous performance enhancements.

Version 6.2.1 is a maintenance release that includes some minor enhancements and bug fixes.

Note: The Download Now link will download the Netscape Smart Installer file (226k) to your computer. Remain online and double-click the Smart Installer file to download and install Netscape 6.2. The installation program will automatically determine the necessary files to download to your system. The maximum download file size for full installation is 26MB.

Description
WinZip is a straightforward, fast, and easy-to-use zipping and unzipping utility that includes built-in support for popular Internet file formats such as TAR, ZIP, UUencode, XXencode, BinHex, MIME, and Unix-compressed files. Older ARC, ARJ, and LZH files are supported via external programs.

Description
ICQ 2001b is the latest release of ICQ ("I seek you"), the popular instant-messaging program that lets you communicate with friends and colleagues in real time. To seek out a friend on the ICQ network, simply enter his or her ICQ number, name, nickname, or e-mail address. Once your contact list is set up, you'll be notified when your friends are online so that you can chat; send instant messages, files, and URLs; play games; or just hang out.

ICQ 2001b features include ICQphone, a new feature that incorporates IP telephony functions into the ICQ program. Users can initiate and participate in PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone calls. In addition, users can now also utilize SMS technology, send wireless-pager messages, view up-to-date information on ICQ channels, and integrate ICQ with Outlook.

ICQ 2001b features a new design for User Details, in which a new menu on the left side of the dialog replaces the design tabs in previous ICQ versions. An additional Contact option highlights the concise information for the user. A similar design appears for the Alert/Accept Modes. There are additional options in the Message dialog. You now have the option to send your message by e-mail or initiate an ICQphone call. There is also better coverage for the ICQ SMS service with more available networks.

This latest version of ICQ 2001b features new file sharing options, a smaller download size, the ability to select which features you want, improved support for working behind firewalls, the ability to access your contact list from any computer, 2-way messaging with cell phones, and e-mail integration.

Description
The Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to view, navigate, browse, and print portable document format (PDF) files that have been created by Adobe Acrobat. It also enables you to fill in visually rich, interactive PDF forms. An ActiveX control for Internet Explorer and a plug-in for Netscape Navigator are included and automatically installed in the browser of your choice.

This latest version includes a host of new features, such as the ability to save copies of files downloaded in Web browsers; drag-and-drop toolbar icons, dynamic thumbnails generation, and other usability improvements; improved access to Web-hosted applications and online services; support for Adobe Illustrator 9.0 graphics that contain transparency; compatibility with previous versions of Acrobat Reader; better display of text on LCD screens using Adobe CoolType technology; and more. Plus, you can download Asian font packs that enable you to view Adobe PDF files that contain Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fonts on nonnative systems using Acrobat Reader 5.0. For a complete listing of updates, please visit the developer's What's New page.

Acrobat is a must-have for checking out elaborate documentation online. You can use it in your home or office to save paper and print out forms from the Web.

Note: The Web Buy feature will transmit information about your computer to distributors of documents created using PDF Merchant. This information includes, but is not limited to, your internal computer ID, your storage device ID, and in certain circumstances, your logon name. You will be warned if additional information is required. Depending on the online distributor, your initial connection to the content provider's server may not be secure, and this information could be sent unencrypted over the Internet. This process does not occur when viewing normal, nonencrypted PDF files.

Description
From the developer: "ACDSee 4.0.1 is a fast image viewer, browser and multi-media management application for Windows. With ACDSee you can rapidly browse through the digital images on your computer, and then open and organize them easily. ACDSee offers a wide range of support that allows you to view almost any image or multi-media format. ACDSee currently supports over 50 different multi-media formats including image, sound, archive, and movie files formats such as JPEG, GIF, TIFF, MP3, WAV, ZIP and MPEG.

ACDSee is an image editor that offers image manipulation and photo enhancement features such as red eye reduction, sharper image enhancement, brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, negative, emboss, and image rotation. These image enhancement tools will let you fix most any digital photo - making ACDSee a powerful digital camera software package.

ACDSee 4.0 comes with many new features that make viewing and organizing your images even more convenient. The most important of these new features is a newly redesigned user interface that lets you see and access any program function from the main window by clicking on tabs and by accessing various functional panes. This new interface gives you more flexibility and makes organizing your images even easier. ACDSee 4.0 comes with a host of other new features including the ability to add advanced timing and transition effects and to run slide shows, view movies and play music files with full playback controls.

This updated version of ACDSee, version 4.0.1, offers numerous improvements over the initial release, including: faster start-up and improved overall speed, enhanced folder hierarchy in the Photo Discs pane with complete thumbnail viewing, reduced memory requirements, improved speed and when using removable disks and portable storage devices, and image Description support for contact sheets.

Description
WS_FTP is a standard FTP client for Windows sockets. The graphical interface was designed with the novice FTP user in mind, but there are also advanced features for power users. WS_FTP Pro provides advanced support for handling frequently visited FTP sites, time-outs, port numbers, passive file transfers, and firewalls. It also automatically resumes interrupted transfers and includes file maintenance options to help prevent overwriting files. The program also enables remote-to-remote transfers and has command-line support for automating file maintenance operations.

Version 7.0 added several new features, such as Transfer Manager, updated interface, support for multiple connections, Firescript Editor, and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for file security. Version 7.04 includes unspecified enhancements and bug fixes.

Description
DirectX is the multimedia system foundation for Windows operating systems. Through DirectX, programs take full advantage of your system to give you the best multimedia experience possible. This latest version of DirectX offers updated graphics, faster frame rates, and support for massively multiplayer games. It also offers more immersive audio when running and displaying programs rich in multimedia elements such as full-color graphics, video, 3-D animation, and surround sound. If you had an earlier version of DirectX installed on your system, you will see little difference in available space on your hard drive following the installation.

DirectX 8.1 will overwrite any earlier versions. DirectX 8.1 provides the latest update to the DirectX technology. It will ensure trouble-free installation and includes the latest USB game controller updates in addition to the features provided by DirectX 8.0.

Note: After installation, the DirectX 8.1 runtime cannot be uninstalled. DirectX is a system component. It cannot be uninstalled without reinstalling your operating system. Users of Windows 95 should continue using DirectX 8.0a. Applications designed for DirectX 8.1 take advantage of advanced features in computers running more recent versions of Windows, including Windows 98 and later versions.

Description
Viruses can be accidentally received through disks, bulletin boards, e-mail, local networks, and the Internet. VirusScan offers virus detection, removal, and support services to remedy this problem. The program scans all system areas, including local and network drives, CD-ROMs, floppies, boot sectors, file allocation and partition tables, files, and compressed files. It cleans most virus infections from files, master boot sectors, partition tables, and memory, returning them to a virus-free state. Other features include a new user interface, support for Windows XP, new Quarantine and Safe & Sound utilities, incremental DAT file updates, and a new Installation Configuration Assistant.

The latest version also includes an integrated personal firewall, intrusion detection, and protection during PDA synchronization.

Description
ZoneAlarm is designed to protect your DSL or cable-connected PC from hackers. This program includes four interlocking security services: a firewall, an Application Control, an Internet Lock, and Zones. The firewall controls the door to your computer and allows only traffic that you understand and initiate. The Application Control allows you to decide which applications can and cannot use the Internet. The Internet Lock blocks Internet traffic while your computer is unattended or while you are not using the Internet, and it can be activated automatically with your computer's screensaver or after a set period of inactivity. Zones monitor all activity on your computer and alert you when a new application attempts to access the Internet.

ZoneAlarm 2.6 features a new tutorial, improved color-coded Alerts with ratings and advice, as well as enhanced online help. ZoneAlarm 2.6 also has "hardened" security at the operating system level to safeguard users from the latest forms of Internet sabotage and includes improved intrusion blocking. Version 2.6.357 features improved advice for every alert, support for Windows XP, improved stability, bug fixes related to Windows NT and SP6A, blocking for uncommon IP protocols, and more.

Description
Nero is a flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use application designed to write to both CD-R and CD-RW discs. It supports ISO 9660 images, as well as ISO mode 1 and XA mode 2, and allows for on-the-fly disc recording, in addition to overburning (if supported by hardware). Nero also supports multi-session and mixed-mode recording; HFS, ISO/HFS hybrid, UDF, PSX, OFAS (optimal file access speed), track-at-once (TAO), and disc-at-once (DAO) writing; digital audio extraction; and more. In addition, Nero can dynamically disable automatic-insert notification, and it offers support for multiple languages and works with all major models of CD-R and CD-RW drives.

Recent updates added a full-featured WAV editor with a range of audio processing options, real-time effects, a settings manager, an advanced cover designer, a drag-and-drop MPEG1 video encoding feature, an audio plug-in interface for new audio formats, and a drive toolkit for benchmarking and adjusting drive speed.

Version 5.5.7.2 adds support for new recorders and new accessibility features and speeds up checking for dynamic read/write speed support, and the ability to erase at 12X speed. The latest version also includes a host of bug fixes.