Steve's Ravin' Reviews
~~Steve Mills

• Weather Watcher - 5 geezers
• iCarbon - 3 geezers
• SpyBot Search & Destroy - 5 geezers
• NewsDesk - 4 geezers

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Weather Watcher
Version: 5.0.22f
Author: Mike Singer
Web Site: www.singerscreations.com
Freeware
Rating: 5 Geezers

In a previous column, I mentioned my growing displeasure with Weatherbug and its march toward commercialism and nag/spy-ware. One of our readers brought this fine program to our attention and I thank him.

While not as feature rich as Weatherbug, it is more than adequate for my needs and probably yours. It sits quietly in the system tray and is ready with weather conditions and forecasts for your city with a quick clip. No ads, no nags, just doing what it is supposed to do. I've yet to find a glitch.

I've given it 5 Geezers, as I think it will get better with additional features. It has become my weather program of choice. Get it!

iCarbon
Version: 2.1.3
Author: Frederik Schaller
Web Site: www.idev.ch
Freeware
Rating: 3 Geezers

The first thing I read when I get PCWorld is Steve Bass's column. I've been a fan since he gave one of my programs a good review MANY moons ago. I have always found his choice of software well considered and practical. Obviously, he's someone that uses the stuff. Steve recommended this program and I gave it a try.

I've been somewhat unhappy with every program that attempts to turn a scanner into a copier. It probably makes sense to get one of those all in one machines since they are so cheap now, but I'm tight on space and money (see opening remarks for why). This one isn't bad and I've found that different programs perform differently on varying combinations of computer / OS / Scanner / Printer. The author, also, seems to be actively improving the program, so even if it doesn't do what you need today, it may RSN (real soon now). I particularly like the ability to save a configuration and recall it with a simple click, since most of my copying is in black and white, but once in a while I need one in color.

iCarbon offers these features:

• Clean user interface
• Easy to use
• Fast
• Copy in Black/White, Gray scale and Color
• Choose your scan quality
• Set up the contrast for each copy
• Store different copier settings
• Activate invert printing for black and white images if you have printing problems
• Last setting will be saved and loaded at the next application start

SpyBot Search & Destroy
Version: 1.2
Author: Patrick M. Kolla
Web Site: http://security.kolla.de
Freeware
Rating: 5 Geezers

Fearless leader pointed out that I had expressed a preference for Spybot Search and Destroy to remove spyware, but never gave it a full review. Yesterday, I was infected with Xupiter. This thing is as close to getting maggots in your system as any program could possibly be. Out came S & D and in a half an hour and one reboot it was eradicated. I resent these marketing types from invading my privacy and stealing my time, but, at least, I recovered.

S & D keeps a backup of the crap it removes. Other programs, such as Ad-Aware, see the stuff and flag it as spyware. S&D warns you about this at startup. It's not a problem - similar to a false positive from your virus detection program. Spyware steals your system resources and opens you to SPAM, pop-ups and other privacy invading garbage. Get rid if it!!

I still recommend running more than one program. Personally, I use this and Ad-Aware.

The feature list is huge. Both the Easy mode and Advanced mode are available in the single free version. It's just a way to keep the interface from being too confusing for new users:

 

NewsDesk
Version: 1.0
Author: David Peckham
Web Site: http://www.wildgrape.net
Freeware
Rating: 4 Geezers

NewsDesk is a reader for RSS news feeds. Something that I believe will become increasingly important over the next couple of years.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary (depending on who you're talking to). Either way it's an XML standard for syndicating content via the Internet. Content is offered in XML so that programs other than web browsers can import and format it.

NewsDesk is the first reliable reader for Windows that I've found to capture these feeds for easy reading. You choose the sites or blogs you want to regularly read and the headlines, in most cases, are regularly downloaded. You can then choose to read the full article if you wish. Some feeds, like mine, offer both the headline and full feed. The one pictured below is my headline feed within the NewsDesk interface.

You'll find documentation lame in this whole area, as we are at the beginning.

Something for the adventurous.

NewsDesk offers:

• Get the latest headlines from around the web, delivered automatically to your desktop
• Read web pages without leaving NewsDesk Search for headlines using lightning-fast keyword and age filters
• Browse headlines immediately using our NewsMenu system tray icon
• Hide headlines you've read
• Send headlines using email
• Drag and Drop RSS links from any web browser
• Automatically subscribe to channels when you use the "Subscribe to this feed" link found on many web pages

Final Thought:

The trouble with most self-made men is that they worship their creator.

Steve Mills has been reviewing software in different capacities for many years.  He has recently left his job with a search engine consulting firm and is looking for a new adventure.