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phrase

Let PhraseExpress Portable type it out for you

People who have to type in the same words and phrases over and over again should check out PhraseExpress, a free tool that automatically enters any string of text you set it up to enter; as many as you like, as often as you like. It can automatically detect repetitive phrases and text strings and offer to automate them. Its algorithms can also help you complete your sentences. PhraseExpress USB Edition is a completely portable version of PhraseExpress. You can save it to a USB drive and run it on any compatible computer without having to install it.

We started … Read more

PhraseExpress AutoText completes

PhraseExpress AutoText combines autocomplete with macros in one versatile free tool that can type phrases, sentences, and other text automatically when the program detects certain keystrokes or manually via hot keys. Its AutoText feature lets you designate abbreviations for frequently used words and phrases such as your address. When you type the abbreviation, PhraseExpress automatically enters the expanded text.

The central access point for PhraseExpress is the program's system tray icon. Here we could open the settings page as well as enter new phrases, access the last used entry, and clear the clipboard cache. We opened the settings, which … Read more

What's that language?

Likasoft calls Polyglot 3000 an automatic language recognizer, which is an apt description of this specialized tool. It's similar to automatic translators in that it analyzes the language of text entries, but instead of translating the text, it identifies and displays the language, including confidence in the match expressed as a percentage. It handles more than 470 languages.

Polyglot 3000 has a very simple interface and an equally simple operation. It has a text entry field for typing or pasting text to identify, or you can load Unicode or ANSI text files directly into the program. It has but … Read more

Google's Ngram Viewer: A time machine for wordplay

The word "spiderman" appeared in books in the 1920s, long before the famed Marvel superhero debuted in the early '60s. And the term "smartphone" was in use during the first decade of the 20th century, a century before anyone picked up their first iPhone.

How do I know all this? By using a new tool from Google called the Ngram Viewer. Launched by the search giant yesterday, this tool lets you trace the usage of a word or phrase during the past five centuries--five centuries!--by seeing how often it's appeared in books over that … Read more

Web hit magnet

Web sites incorporate keywords to get search engine hits and attract visitors. A1 Keyword Research from Micro-Sys makes it easy to find the right keywords and phrases to optimize your content and attract Web traffic. It builds a wide variety of keyword lists for nearly any Web site. It even checks all spelling and grammatical variations, displays ranking graphically, and handles multiple Web sites and search engines.

The developer's experience shows in a blistering fast installer and an attractive, efficient interface. The title bar tracks the trial period, an unobtrusive placement we'd like to see more often. Optional … Read more

Web site searcher

Finding just the right line of text or code in a Web site can be frustrating, especially if the site is large or has many links and pages. Browser-style search tools and basic editors often aren't up to the job, particularly if you're looking for more than one type of file. Inspyder Finder is a Web crawler utility that can search for specific content anywhere on a Web site. It can search CSS and JavaScript files as well as HTML content.

This interesting tool is basically a Web crawler with sophisticated search capabilities, though you might think of … Read more

Repetition reducer

If you work in any kind of environment that requires the regular use of a computer, more than likely you find yourself typing the same things over and over again. Quotes, invoices, reports, letters, e-mails can all get pretty repetitive, not to mention time-consuming. If your computer tasks have you feeling like a broken record, try Perfect Keyboard Professional. This simple program allows users to record text and macros in a variety of ways, saving you the time and effort of typing the same stuff out yet again.

The program's interface is plain but well-designed and intuitive. The first … Read more

Amazon lets shoppers pay with a phrase

A simple phrase and pin code may be all you need the next time you pay for that book or CD at Amazon.

The online retailer on Thursday debuted a new feature called Amazon PayPhrase, designed to let busy shoppers store their name, address, and payment information in a single phrase and pin code. Instead of entering all that data at the online checkout counter, you type your phrase and pin number when it's time to cough up the cash.

PayPhrase doesn't just work at Amazon--it can be used at any online retailer that lets you pay via … Read more

Challenging word game

Guess The Phrase offers players a challenging word jumble and pop culture game rolled into one. With simple game play and challenging questions, this program does an excellent job of balancing fun with fact.

With an instantly understandable layout and helpful hints along the way, users will have no trouble with the program's interface or its cartoonish look. However, a Help file is available for those in need. The game consists of jumbled letters that resemble a word search, hangmanesque blank spaces where the answer must be filled in, and with a clue. Users must link touching letters to … Read more

Rhyming dictionary

Rhymesaurus provides users with a fast, effective way to find a word's rhyme. In addition, the program offers some bonus features that make this stand out from its competition.

The program's interface is incredibly simple, with only one place to enter data. Beyond that, the program is broken into tabs for various definitions, which keeps things simple. Users should not need the Help file, though one is available. The program begins with users entering their word in a search engine. From there, they may choose one of the seven tabs for answers. Tabs include Dictionary, Thesaurus, Rhyme, Sounds … Read more