You will certainly need:- a newsreader. You might use your browser's built-in newsreader, but if you are here to stay, it's a very good idea to get yourself a dedicated newsreader. They are far more convenient to use. There are inexpensive shareware and even freeware newsreaders available (see 12.3). You will most probably also need the following: - an image viewer (see 12.4). - a thumbnail index creator (see 12.5). - a movie viewer (see 12.6). - a program to unpack compressed file archives (see 12.7). Depending on the capabilities of your newsreader, you may possibly need: - one or more decoding programs to decode posts that your newsreader cannot handle by itself (see 12.8). If you are security minded (as you should be), you will need: - programs that enhance your security in different ways (see 12.9). If you find it difficult to manage a large picture collection, you may have use for: - programs that help you to organize files and directories (see 12.10).
Where can I get the software I need?
Most of the programs we recommend are either shareware or freeware, and can be obtained from either:
www.tucows.com or: www.shareware.com (Try Tucows first; it is much easier to find what you want there, because the site is organized in a way that's far superior to shareware.com. Also, Tucows is more reliable for getting up-to-date program versions.) Users of Windows 95 should also look at: www.windows95.com This site is very well organized. Each program suggestion is followed by a three-part code, which tells you:1. If it's freeware (F), shareware (S) or a commercial (C) program.2. What platforms it's available for: DOS (DOS), Windows 3.x (W16), Windows 95 and NT (W32), Macintosh (Mac), OS/2 (OS2), UNIX (U) or Amiga (A).3. If it's available at Tucows (T), shareware.com (S) or some other site (O). For "other" sites, an URL is given. For example the following:(F - W16/W32/Mac - T/S) indicates a freeware program, available in 16- and 32-bit Windows versions and a Macintosh version, available at both Tucows and shareware.com. NOTE: shareware programs can usually be used for a trial period without payment. When the trial period is up, please pay for your program or erase it from your computer. The shareware method of distribution is a great advantage to all computer users; please do not sabotage it by using bootleg codes or running evaluation copies longer than you're allowed to. Commercial programs do not have a trial period; they can't be used (even if they can be downloaded via the Net) until you've paid for them. We mainly recommend programs with which we have had some first-hand experience. That does not mean that the others are bad; in fact they may be every bit as good. If our recommendations do not suit your requirements, by all means try some of the other ones.
What are the features of a good newsreader, and which ones are commonly used?
A good newsreader should have the following features:
Offline-reading: This means you can retrieve the headers from your subscribed groups, go offline, mark articles for retrieving, tell your newsreader to retrieve the bodies and go for a cup of coffee. Your newsreader will retrieve the bodies of the marked messages, and will automatically go offline having finished that. Very comfortable.
Kill/watch filters: Annoyed by certain kinds of posts? Simply put the author's name or a catchword into your killfilter, select "mark read" (*not* "skip" if you use a catchword), and the selected messages will be dimmed or appear in another color. Particularly interested in certain posts? Add the poster's name or a catchword to your watch filter, and choose the appropriate action ("mark for retrieval" "retrieve immediately").
Ability to post and decode UU-encoded and MIME/Base64-encoded binary files: For reasons of a very technical nature, "binary" files (programs, pictures, sounds etc.) cannot be posted as they are. The Internet mail/news forwarding system would choke on some of the bytes contained in such a message. Therefore they must be encoded. There are many encoding schemes; only two of them are of any importance in ABIA-F. One is called UU-encoding and the other MIME/Base64 encoding. Your newsreader must be able to at least decode both types; it's an advantage if you can also post using either format. IMPORTANT: Don't flame others for using one format or the other. Only lazy lamers behave like that! NOTE: Don't confuse encoding with encryption. Encoding is done for technical reasons, and anyone with the proper software can decode an encoded file. Encryption is done for security reasons, and only those in possession of the proper key or password can decrypt an encrypted file.
Support of multiple news servers: Most servers do not provide full newsfeed (or don't even have this group).
. Threading: That means replies to a message will appear just below that message, which makes it a lot easier to follow a discussion. Here are the names of some good newsreaders: - Newswatcher (F - Mac - T) - Forte Agent (C - W16/W32 - T/S) - WinVN (F - W16/W32 - T/S) - Autopost (S - W32 - T) is not a newsreader, but useful complementary tool for posting multiple files to a news server.
What should I think of when selecting a viewer, and which ones are commonly used?
A good viewer should have the following features:
Formats: JPEG, progressive JPEG, GIF, animated GIF, TIFF, bitmaps. It should also be able to call on other programs to open or display files that are not pictures.
It should be fast, easy to handle and need little memory. Here are the names of some good viewers: - Jpegview (F - Mac - T) - IrfanView32 (F - W32 - T) - ACDSee (S - W16/W32 - T/S) Known to handle practically all-existing image file formats. - VuePrint Pro (S - W16/W32 - T/S) - QPV (S - DOS - O). Available at:
harley.pcl.ox.ac.uk/%7EABPics/ This site also has a lot of other viewers, decoders and other utilities. NOTE: The JPEG format is an evolving one. As of this date, some viewers will not display some of the pictures posted here, even when they are correctly decoded. If the viewer you pick doesn't work, get another one. Or convince the poster to change the way he saves files. Which do you think is easier?
What should I think of when selecting a thumbnail index creator, and which ones commonly used?
A good thumbnail index creator should have the following features:
Formats: Same as viewers (both for opening image files and saving finished indexes).
Functions: Ability to select number of pictures in each index; features that are versatile and easy to handle; ability to select desired image compression in JPEG format.Names of some good index creators: - LView Pro (S - W16/W32 - T/S) - CompuPic (S - W16/W32 - T/S)
How can I view movies (.AVI, .MPG, .MOV files)?
. AVI, .MPG (or MPEG), .MOV are formats for moving pictures. In spite of the often-huge file sizes, the results are usually pitiful. A megabyte file may easily yield only 15 seconds of poor quality movie.If you want view them anyway, the following software will help you: - Windows 95 has built-in support for .AVI and .MPG formats. For the native support to be available, you must have installed the Windows multimedia components.
- Windows NT 4.0 only does .AVI. Again, you must have installed the Windows multimedia components. - Quicktime (F - W16/W32/Mac - T/S) - NET TOOB (S - W16/W32 - T/S) - Vmpeg Lite (S - W16 - T)
What are .ARC, .LZH, .RAR, .TAR and .ZIP files, and what software do I need in order to use them?
These files are compressed file archives. Usually, people use compression in order to reduce the space used by a file or a collection of files. There is not much sense in compressing a JPEG or GIF file (it's compressed already). However, compressed archives can be used to collect a number of files into a single, compressed file. For that reason people sometimes use them so they might post several pictures in a single file. This is convenient for the poster and may eliminate decoding problems for the downloader (some news- readers don't decode properly if there are several different files included in a single article). Of the formats mentioned, .ZIP is most widely used. There is no single program that's able to handle all the different formats, but the better ones are able to start another program to do the job when they encounter a format they cannot handle themselves. These programs may be recommended: - StuffIt Expander (F - W16/W32/Mac - O). Available at: www.aladdinsys.com/consumer/expander1.html- WinZip 6.2 (S - W16/W32 - T/S) This is a really great program, which also handles UU- and MIME/Base64 encoding and decoding. It can also be configured to start up other programs for formats it doesn't handle natively.
Sometimes, my newsreader seems to decode some posts, but then I can't see the pictures. At other times, it fails to decode at all. Do I need some additional software?
There are some combinations of posting newsreader and decoding newsreader that just do not work. If that happens to you, your only chance may be to download the articles without decoding, and save them as text files. Later, you can decode them with a stand-alone decoder. The following programs are known to be useful: - UUDeview (F - DOS/W16/W32/U - S) - WinZip 6.2 (S - W16/W32 - T/S) - XferPro (S - W16/W32 - S) All of the above handles most encoding formats that are in use. - SJHB64 (F - W16 - O) handles only MIME/Base64. Available at: www.sjhdesign.com/dl.htm
What security software could be useful?
In VIII.4 we mentioned some different kinds of software that will increase your security. Here are some specific programs which may be recommended:- Shredder (F - W32 - O). File shredder, available at:
www.oz.net/genio/shredder.htm - Stealth Encryptor (S - W16/W32 - O). File encryption, available at: www.tropsoft.com/stealth - Encrypted Magic Folders (S - W32 - O). File hiding and encryption, available at: www.pc-magic.comThis program even hides itself. - TweakUI, a part of PowerToys for Windows 95 (F - W32 - O). Many security affecting settings for Windows 95, available at: www.microsoft.com/windows95/info/powertoys.htm- Partition Magic 3.0 (C - W16/W32 - O). Disk partitioning tool (Including hiding of partitions). No Net download; info at:www.powerquest.com A huge list of commercial encryption/security software for all systems is available at: www.benchin.com
Are there any programs I can use to keep track of my files when the numbers start to rise?
- The Next Tool For Windows95 (S - W32 - O), available at: members.aol.com/TNTWin/ - Calypso (S - W32 - S). Do not confuse this program with the Calypso e-mail client. This program is a file manager with built-in image viewing and file compression/decompression functions. - PicaView (S - W16/W32 - O). This program installs itself as an extension to the Win95/NT Explorer, letting you view images by right-clicking on the filename without having to start a stand- alone viewer. Very useful when going through or, sorting files. Comes from the makers of ACDSee, available at:www.acdsystems.com
