Comp-U-News V1N9

Compunews Vol 1 No 9

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Hi again... here's some additional reading to keep you busy during this festive season. Enjoy

More on Real Audio

A new, improved version of the RealAudio Player is now available. If you haven't experienced this new way of receiving audio 'live' as it downloads, now is the time.The Vers 2.0 is now available at the following site:

http://www.prognet.com/products/player/beta2.0form.html

With this version, you can access RealAudio programming and play it back instantaneously. You get full control of RealAudio streams much like a VCR, with start, stop and pause options. You can jump to any part of an audio program, like a CD player.

With this version, you also get much improved sound quality over 28.8 Kbps modems, live broadcast capability, and many other exciting new features.

Sent your Christmas card yet?

One of the best site to send a card to loved ones. It's never too late, as they say....

http://www.christmas95.com/

SUPER TIP: SAVING/BACKING UP THOSE HUGE FILES...

Once again, I beleive I mentioned this program before but here we go, anyway....

In the old days (read: before Win95), when I wanted to save to disk an extra big file such as the ones we now download from the Net (3.5 Meg etc...), I used a regular backup program such as PC Tools etc. With the advent of Win95, several of those older backup programs no longer work reliably, mainly because they have problems with long filenames sed with Win95 etc...

I now have switched to a program called Easy Install (now in its 6th version). The name is a little misleading because it backs up more than it installs. Although a DOS application, I always run it from Windows. It runs in its own window which means that when you backup Megabytes of stuff, you can do it in the background while you continue writing that new bestseller of yours....

This app is so versatile in fact that I have even used a stack of varying density disks (5" DD & HD) intermixed to backup the data to. Don't beleive me? Try it! Just for fun, I have backed up the entire directory (with its sub-directories) of my Flight Simulator (over 40 MegBytes of files) to an intermixed lot of 5" 360K and 1.2Meg disks!

How it does it..... When you select a directory (and sub-dirs) to be backed up, the program compresses every file (using LHA) and writes the whole thing to ONE packed datafile to floppies. It breaks the file in as many parts as are required while copying them to the floppies.

If all files have copied to floppies without error (that is, you didn't have any BAD disk in there), then you are assured of a good backup. If disk no 39 turns out to be bad, I suggest you restart from scratch. But that has happened to me only once so far. When you are ready to re-install the backup, you insert disk no 1 in the drive and type INSTALL. You then have a choice to restore it anywhere you want.

I suggest you get that program pronto because it's more than worth it. You may find it will become the most useful program you ever owned. This is one shareware program you will also feel like registering right away. Get it at:

http://vsl.cnet.com/cgi-bin/vsl-master/File?archive=garbo-pc&file=diskutil%2fei60%2ezip&size=258089 I suggest you 'paste' that one in....

ps: The best way to get that address is to cut and paste it into your Netscape. Or else, go straight to the Virtual Shareware Site at http://vsl.cnet.com/ and use the search function (under DOS programs, not Windows All) and search for EI60.ZIP. This will take you to that long address listed above. The fastes site I found for that particular program was at Archie Australia. Enjoy!

ANOTHER SUPER TIP AIMED AT THE POWERUSERS

Surfing OFF-LINE with The Internet Resource Database

I mentioned this application in an earlier issue. I used it extensively since then and thought you might like an update.

INTRO

Who hasn't, at one time or other, come across a large list of sites found on the Net while searching and wished they could surf through the hundreds of listings offline? Sure, one can always save that particular homepage then read it offline but after a short while, one finds himself submerged in HTM files.....

With the IRD database, you are assured of always surfing the LATEST sites (offline) because you can download databases of whichever areas interest you the most, whenever you want to.

Following is a partial reprint of the FAQ provided by IRD people.

1) What are the benefits of using the Internet Resources Database, compared to other searchtools, guides, printed indexes, etc.?

One primary advantage is that our IRD powerful searchtool can be usedat your PC, eliminating the online costs of searching while online. Let us use a comparison to illustrate this point: Many people, even those who are really enthusiastic about the possibilities of the Internet (as in fact we are), prefer using a printed magazine over the online electronic version. Reasons for this are multiple. One is that you read it when you like, where you like, slow or fast, once or twice, you can make notes in this magazine, and you can refer back to the information without having to pay for it again. It's yours.

This type of flexibility over resource information is possible with the Internet Resources Database.

Furthermore, you can totally customize the Database you want. You can update the information anytime with the most current data. So using IRD eliminates the disadvantage of printed material -- much of the information is of limited value because it becomes outdated before the ink has a chance to dry.

The second advantage is the content:

Again, another off-line example illustrates this important point. Assume you have the need for some specific, focused information. You have two options... 1) Head to the local regional/local library where there is a vast, unfiltered array of information... 2) Contact a friend or consultant who because of interest in the topic or other reasons has already searched and isolated the *critical* and pertinent references you need.

The on-line analogy is to approach the giga bytes of information and millions of URL's poorly indexed... OR... contact your own personal consultant or knowledgeable friend -- The Internet Resources Database -- and ask:"Hey I'm looking for "'this and that" on the Internet, do you know where to go?" Although this "in-the-know" friend will likely not have even 50 resources available, the quality and focused nature of the filtered set of valuable information will more closely meet your needs while saving you considerable time.

Advantageously, the IRD is not only like a Consultant-On-Demand, but you can also enjoy just walking or surfing offline through the immense variety of information available on the Internet if you prefer.

2) You call the program IRD reader and Notebook. What can I do with this program ? What is the Notebook part?

* #1: The IRD reader program allows you to use current and future IRD datafiles. It is a very easy to use, friendly and logical hence a very powerful database program optimized for this purpose.

You can build your personal Internet Resources Database by appending all, most, a few or just one file to your database. You can do this in any combination you like, any time you want. You can add files (for ex. new subject files becoming available) to your database or you can load a new version of a file you already have, to actualize your data.

Finding the information you are looking for in the database is very simple. It is done by following a detailed subject tree or by keyword search. You can also combine subject and keyword searches. Every addition of a datafile will modify the subject tree to reflect the new information.

* #2: The notebook function allows you to maintain your own Internet Resources Notebook. You can save information's about all the places you find interesting. Complete personal customization allows you to train your 'consultant' on your specific needs.

You can retrieve the information you saved as easy as the other database entries by a topic index or by Keyword. You can even save HTML pages you find interesting (as source code) and recall them later as HTM file for loading into your Web browser or HTML editor.

NOTE: This is one of the best feature of IRD for those assembling their own Homepage of Interesting Sites etc.... Also you can create and maintain a hot list of favorite places. You can edit all data of the database, allowing you to keep notes, make corrections or add descriptions. All your entries won' t be affected by updating the database.

3) What hardware and software is required to run IRD?

The minimum requirement is a 386 PC with 4 Mbyte Ram and 4 Mbyte free space on the harddrive and Windows 3.1 or higher. With this minimum PC configuration you will have satisfactory performance only with smaller databases.

If you are going to append most or all data files that will be available at the start of IRD in October / November we recommend 8 Mbyte Ram and a 486 PC with 50 MHz. (Note: With all databases appended, my main database file is now over 13 MegBytes! Don't think of using that big a file with a 386 and 4Meg Ram. You still can run the program though and use a smalled main database)

4) Will the program run under Windows 95?

Yes it will. No problem.

5) Where can I get the IRD program and the datafiles and what is the price for it.?

The IRD Homepage is located at:

http://www.mbmarktcons.com/mbmarkt/irdhome.html

The IRD reader and notebook program, as well as the IRD database files are available at several ftp sites, from our ftp server and from our web page listed above. There will be 5 to 6 official download sites world wide which will be updated with the most current software. Over time we expect other sites to mirror the official download sites or carry the program files.

The Internet Resources datafiles are Freeware.

The IRD reader and Notebook is Shareware. This means that you can download it or get it from a Shareware distributor on disk. If you decide that you want to use it on a regular basis, then you have to register your copy.

The registration fee is DM 30,-- or US $ 22,--.

6) I have a listing of interesting sites regarding my hobby, which I would like to contribute to the database. How can I do that?

We appreciate all inputs from users of IRD. In fact this is the most important source of information for us and for the moderators.

You can submit information using the online form on the IRD Web page, you can use the "Submit" function of the IRD-Reader & Notebook program, or you can send your feedback via email.

8.) Can I get my homepage listed in the Internet Resources Database?

Yes! A great opportunity for exposure. There is a special IRD datafile named "Homepages" where all owners of a private (non commercial) Web page can list and describe their page in a short form. To wit, if you type any of the following words in the 'Search' box: astronomy, Omega, Compunews, Newsletter... it will lead you directly to the Compunews URL!

This datafile is especially for those, who are searching for Netcitizens with similar interests and likes. The homepages can be searched by country, by Title, and by keyword. You can look, for example, for pages from people interested in skiing (keyword defined by the page owner) in a certain country.

Final Note: The explanations above may make it look harder than it actually is to use this fine program. Try it. I believe you will not only like it but will wonder how you ever did it before!

Merry Christmas to all..

Send comments or suggestions,