WEB BROWSERS:

Firefox     Internet Explorer     Google Chrome

Safari     Opera     Netscape

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Adobe Reader [PDF]

AJR NewsLink: Internet Magazines - links to dozens of WWW mags

AOL.com

Ars Technical - articles about current Internet issues

broadband speed tests (online):

• Broadband.gov - the FCC's official test, click "Test my Broadband Now" to begin test [requires Java]
• AuditMyPC.com - Broadband Speed Test [requires Flash]
• Speakeasy Speed Test [Ookla]
• Speedtest.net [Ookla] - click "Begin Test" - checks both download and upload speed
• Intel Broadband Speed Test
• CNET Bandwidth Meter

Deathswitch - service alerts your online contacts if you die

Firefox: how to turn off "system restore" (when rebooting after a crash)

Flash [Adobe]

Foxit Reader - PDF reader, an alternative to Adobe Acrobat

Google Doodles - archive of custom-drawn Google logos from 1998 to now

info.cern.ch - URL of the first Website, created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Internet Traffic Report - tracks packet loss at major servers, see how your ISP compares with others

iWorld (internet.com)

Java:

• Java.com - download the latest version from Sun Microsystems
• How do I test whether Java is working on my computer? - page automatically checks your computer

Legacy Locker - service permits your survivors to access your online accounts

The List - The Definitive ISP Buyer's Guide

Macromedia [now Adobe] - see: Flash (above) and Shockwave (below)

MP3 player - see: Music Links: Music On the Internet

MySpace Outage Leaves Millions Friendless - from The Onion, May 2007

QuickTime player - see: Music Links: Music On the Internet

RealAudio/RealVideo - see: Music Links: Music On the Internet

Search Engine Shoot-Out - PC World, April 2007 cover story

Shockwave [Adobe]:

• Shockwave.com homepage
• download Shockwave player

Slightly Morbid - online death notification service

SPAM:

• The Nigerian Advance Fee Scheme
• The Worst Spam Ever - examples of Nigerian fraud spam, with funny commentary

Talk City - chat groups of all types, download EZ Talk software to join in

TinyURL.com - converts extremely long URL's to something short that won't break up in your e-mail message

VoyCabulary - transforms any webpage into links to dictionary or thesaurus lookups

VPN (virtual private network) for watching restricted foreign TV shows online:

• VPN - watch foreign TV [Google search results]
• Lamnia VPN - watch British TV online anywhere in the world; also enables UK users to access Hulu content
• TIC VPN - watch British TV online anywhere in the world
• Hotspot Shield - for viewing US shows online from outside US

WebTV - a.k.a. MSN TV (now owned by Microsoft)

Wired