tools

There are far too many domain search and purchasing tools, but I haven't found one that does it like Domain Pigeon. The service tracks domains that are still available and puts them in an index that can be searched and sorted in all manner of ways.

Domain Pigeon's secret sauce, however, is that it shows you what other users have been looking at, right down to how many have clicked on any specific domain name. Domains that have gotten more attention darken in color, with the heavy hitters bubbling up to the top.

To encourage registration (which costs … Read more

Despite the constant nag screen each time a command is selected, this utility comes packed with options for keeping your system in check. If offers users a file and registry cleaner, along with tools for tweaking your user interface and network.

Users will appreciate WinTools.net Ultimate Edition's easy to navigate interface. With straightforward command buttons running along the left side of the window, you'll be off and running in no time. The Scan Files and Scan Reg buttons quickly pulled up questionable files, and thanks to the full-use trial, we were able to just as quickly remove … Read more

Building a custom pop-up for inclusion in an application or Web page is simple and straightforward with Popup Software, it's just not possible to see how you're doing or get any help.

The program's compact interface with tabbed navigation is easy to follow, but we were still disappointed to find that the Help link is for a page that has moved or no longer exists. Users are on their own if they have questions. Fortunately this utility is pretty easy to figure out. We liked that we could set the frequency of a pop-up's appearance, and … Read more

Judging by this plug-in's name, we imagined a toolbar that would give you one-click access to all things iTunes. While it did offer a few helpful resources and gadgets, we weren't overly impressed by its offerings.

iTunes Downloads Toolbar for Internet Explorer has a drop-down menu for iTunes Resources, including links that take you directly to the Apple Web site for accessories and support. The iTunes Store button again took us to the Apple site. The iTunes RSS had no activity whatsoever, and we couldn't get the radio to work for us either. We did like the … Read more

Handy Level Free is a free application that turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into a carpenter's level. The functionality and interface are extremely straightforward: you can hold your device either horizontally or vertically, with the edge of the device on the surface you want to test, and Handy Level Free's simulated bubble will tell you whether the surface is perfectly plumb or slightly sloped. What sets this app apart are its high production values (with a handsome wood-and-metal finish) and extras like buttons for holding a measurement and for calibration (important, because sensors can vary slightly from … Read more

For the paranoid or detail obsessed, Grouped Access Tools (GAT) would be a welcome Task Manager replacement. It also would appear to be a valuable software debugging tool. The interface is aesthetically spare, but not inappropriately so, as it provides well structured information on first launch. The menus seem logically arranged, and context menus are provided.

Installation is straightforward, but there's no option to exclude or specify the location of the Start Menu folder. GAT appears to deliver on all its promises, though the Memory Editor option never became an active option and couldn't be tested. With no … Read more

You might not have noticed, but the built-in viewer for your browser cache is a tad annoying--it's basically just a glorified Explorer window, and lists cookies alongside the cached files. IECacheView goes beyond the built-in with extra features you didn't know you wanted but will appreciate having, all while also managing to keep it simple.

On the surface, your basic list window and toolbar interface plays it cool. Dig in, however, and you'll find context and application menus that let you do a lot. You've got the basic open and locate stuff, but you can also … Read more

TechTool launches a small black-and-white interface with a few buttons; its compactness reflects the utility's small feature set. It scans your system and outputs a log of its findings: basic stuff, such as motherboard and BIOS info, chip manufacturer and model and speed, system manufacturer, operating system, and so forth. All this info is already accessible from your system, so TechTool's features are redundant, but may be handy for some novice users.

TechTool performed quickly in our tests, but we had some issues. First, its output stated at the top of its report, "This user does NOT … Read more

Turing machines are abstract symbol-manipulating devices that can simulate the logic of computer algorithms. As such, they're useful for classroom demonstrations. This neat little application makes creating and executing such devices a snap.

Tuatara Turing Machine Simulator launches a well-designed interface with a variety of buttons and icons--all of which could be daunting to the layman, but should prove easily understandable to experienced mathematicians. This free application performed very well for us during testing. A well-crafted Help file clarified the purpose of buttons and icons and led us through the steps of creating and executing a Turing machine simulation. … Read more