Grub's up
None of today's search engines indexes more than a fraction of the web: it is too big and it is growing too fast. One solution could be to distribute the search by having indexing software running on thousands or millions of servers, just like Seti@Home shares out the calculations in the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence.
That is the idea behind Grub, the first distributed, open source "internet crawler" ( www.grub.org ). But although peer-to-peer ideas like this are fashionable, Grub may be avoided by some potential participants because it is a commercial company and will sell access to its database.
What's hot?
When you're browsing Yahoo and something catches your eye, you can click a link and email the story or picture to someone else. The number of times that happens must be some sort of guide to interest in the content, but you can decide that for yourself at http://news.yahoo.com/h/mt/?u
That is where Yahoo collects and ranks the items most often mailed by readers during the previous six hours. The most mailed content on Yahoo UK & Ireland is at http://uk.news.yahoo.com/ mostmail/new/most.html
Tyred out
If the words "Michelin guide" mean something special to you, then head for the new Michelin web guide at www.viamichelin.com . The site provides maps and driving directions for all of Europe, a guide to hotels and restaurants, plus tourist and weather information.
A refuge
Migrating Memories is a timely website that lets refugees and asylum seekers tell their own stories, but there is nothing sensationalist about it. The site supports a European Union-backed exhibition that is now on show at Museum Centre Vapriikki, in Tampere, Finland, and will visit Nottingham (July 14-August 29) before finishing with a conference in Malmo, Sweden. Not all the content has been translated yet. Go to www.migratingmemories.net
Global explorer
MSN Explorer is not to be confused with Internet Explorer, though it does much the same thing. The MSN version is designed for people who are new to the net or think IE is too techie. In other words, it is prettier and more integrated than IE5. Microsoft is now launching localised versions for countries outside the US, such as Canada. There will be nine versions in English, including one for the UK. For a list, see http://explorer.msn.ca/intl.asp
Use of English
Who says all the best domain names were taken years ago? Engrish is perfect for this homage to the way the Japanese use English to sell a wide range of products from the famous Pocari Sweat soft drink to My Fannie paper rolls and Angel Relief chocolate biscuits. See www. engrish. com
Profusion
It is hard for search engines to compete with Google ( www.google.com ), but there are times when you want something different, and ProFusion ( www.profusion.com) looks like filling one of those gaps.
The presentation is like a Yahoo from earlier days, when there was less of it.
But pick a subject area, and instead of a directory, you get the option to search selected subgroups of information sources. In many cases, this lets you eliminate millions of "false positives" that are outside the area you want.
And if you want an even more specialised channel-based search engine, try www.quickfindit.com .
Love story
The 60th anniversary, the TV programmes, the books ( www.coffeetablebooks.com/PearlHarbor/ ), and the blockbuster film could lead to a summer of endless hype about Pearl Harbor.
The National Geographic had both TV specials ( www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/channel/pearlharbor.html ) and a website ( www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/) up for the film's premiere.
The film, of course, has its own website ( www.pearlharbor.com ), though Yahoo's links pages may be more useful ( http://movies.yahoo.com/ shop?d=hv&cf=info&id= 1800444945 ).
The very old unofficial fan site devoted to heroine and love interest Kate Beckinsale ( www.katebeckinsale.co.uk ) could not be reached at the time of writing, but she can be found on Thespian.net ( www.thespiannet.com/actresses/B/beckinsale_kate/).
New & noted
* Now you can create your own mobile/SMS portal at www.wol-m.co.uk/uk/portal.html
* More than you want to know, perhaps, but it's official: www.naomicampbell.com
* Encyclopedia of Computer Security plus a newswire: www.itsecurity.com
* A test version of Swarmcast has been launched at www.swarmcast.com/gate/ It provides a peer-to-peer way to distribute large files.
* Stupid net games: is www.netcandy.co.uk/Who_ate_pies.html really an improvement on Pong?
* CPIP, the carrier pigeon internet protocol, lives on. See www.blug.linux.no/rfc1149/
Six of the best Free Windows enhancers
Powerdesk - replaces Windows Explorer
www.ontrack.com/powerdesk/
Tweak UI - control Windows' interface
www.microsoft.com/NTWorkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp
Irfan View - thumbnails in any directory
www.irfanview.com
ReGet - simplifies file/image downloads
www.reget.com
PowerArchiver - zips, decompresses, extracts
www.powerarchiver.com
Zone Alarm - keeps hackers out
www.zonelabs.com
