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Warriors Dot Net

Let's begin with a seminal video about what makes the Web tick. If you ever have to explain how the Web works, then Warriors of the Net is an excellent training tool as well. This 13 minute movie shows how an request by your Web browser makes its way through your network to the Internet and on to its destination, collects the data requested and returns home. Produced by telecom giant Ericsson in 1999, this is an artistic Tour de Force. It's also a Tour de Size; especially if you want the best video and audio quality at 150 MB. However you can alternatively choose a lo-resolution version (78 MB) or a medium one (102 MB). To download any of the versions you need a reasonably hi-speed connection. Download it from www.warriorsofthe.net.

Leading off from my TechTalk on Windows' memory management (it@tt, 6 March 2001), I seem to have found a possible cure. MemTurbo (937 kB, Windows, 30-day trial, $20. www.memturbo.com) is a RAM defragmenter for all flavors of Windows. The latest build (v2.1) allows you to defrag RAM to recover un-allocated resources. You can also scrub RAM to recover memory that is wrongly listed by the Windows memory manager as used. It is such memory resources that force most Win 9x systems to their knees even when you know that you have free memory; somewhere.

You can set the RAM warning level when the app will automatically recover RAM. There are two settings for this level. The first defines the maximum RAM that should be recovered. The second the absolute minimum free RAM. Getting to the right level means trial and error. But the results are worth it. And the System tray icon keeps you posted on free memory. It shows a number (indicating percent resources available) topped by a bar: green for OK, yellow for warning, red for death. The moment your free resources hovers between yellow and red, MemTurbo will auto-activate to recover RAM. You can also manually recover resources with a Ctrl+Alt+M trigger combination.

Typically, Windows often does not release memory resources it was using during start-up. MemTurbo can be configured to load with Windows. And run immediately after Windows starts to recover unused resources. The app also has a CPU utilization meter that shows if the CPU is being (over) used by a rogue application. Windows 9x users who like to fine-tune everything can also re-configure their cache settings. This shareware app is available as 30-day trial that stops working after the trial period. Buy a copy (I did) because it's worth it. If you want to skate on the edge, I'm sure you'll be able to find a hacked copy on the Web. Just remember, with hacked software you always run the risk of a virus.

Finally, I end with a freeware, QClock (1.15 MB, Windows, free, www.pdabusiness.com). This visually rich Windows clock shows the time and also supports an alarm that can be set for specific days or every way. Visually rich, you can display the digital clocks in three sizes: small, medium and large. And the clocks stick to one another and can be placed anywhere on screen. The application includes a database of 500 cities across the globe. And also supports Daylight Saving Time. You can also configure your own clocks.

Happy downloading!

G Menon
[email protected]

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