Anfy Java 2 is a $20 download that lets you apply magical visual effects to images on your Web site. The applets can be used on all operating systems but only the Windows version features wizards to install them. (You can preview applets from the 1.4 version at the anfyteam's Web site.) All functions except the link function are available in the free version.
Stardock's WindowBlinds 3.4 lets you redecorate your Windows PC by changing title bars, push buttons, and almost every part of Windows. WindowBlinds has thousands of skins that can make Windows resemble Mac OS, Linux, or a new creation. The software works on 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP; on XP, the software extends the visual style engine so that it supports new features and increases performance. It costs $20 to buy; the free version has limited skinning capabilities.
Freshdevices FreshDownload is a download manager that speeds up your download time of freeware, shareware, MP3s, movies, pictures, and more. The software speeds up both FTP and HTTP protocols over any connection. It features a download manager that handles multiple connections and will pause and resume broken downloads, even recovering from dropped connections. It works with Windows 95 and up, and will integrate into Explorer, Communicator, and Opera. You can schedule downloads for low-traffic periods, scan downloaded files for viruses, and use its built-in Zip extractor. The software is free.
Lavasoft's AdAware 5.83 is a free spyware utility that scans memory, registry and hard drives for spyware. The software runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0 and 2000; an XP version is being developed, although the site says that users are running AdAware on XP without problems. AdAware now supports German, Swedish, English, and Dutch, and it will now scan removable drives and allow you to scan particular drives.
PowerStrip 3.2, by EnTech Taiwan, lets you configure your settings and display with a toolbar. The software works with Windows 95 and up (except Me) and requires a PCI or AGP graphics card. It supports multiple graphics cards from multiple chipset vendors. It lets you enlarge or reduce the desktop size, control color calibration with hot keys, associate applications with display settings, and more. You can try it for free, but it's $29.95 to buy.
Applied Software Consultants have released aSc Network Clipboard 1, a utility that lets you copy files, text, images, and Internet address from one computer to another. You copy the item on the first computer, and the person on the second computer can immediately press paste. The free program also enables you to copy the item into any applications that allow pasting.
