NetCaptor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NetCaptor is an Internet Explorer shell, meaning that it uses the Trident rendering engine of Internet Explorer. It provides an alternative, tab-based interface for IE users, along with an expanded feature set. It is an adware/shareware program which can either run in free mode (in which certain features are disabled and small, text-based advertisements are displayed) or as a registered program (with no ads and all the features).
[edit] Main features (as of version 7.5.4)
- Tab-based browsing interface (see tabbed document interface)
- QuickSearch: Allows you to perform search engine queries directly from the address bar. For example, to search for "testing" on Google, you would simply type "g testing" into any tab's address bar.
- Aliases: Like QuickSearch, except that they do not require you to enter a search term as a parameter. For example, typing "g" would take you to the Google front page. Can be used to replace Favorites.
- Automatic data wiper: Allows you to clear usage data, temporary internet files, cookies, and more whenever NetCaptor is closed. Supports several different file wiping methods.
- CaptorGroups: Essentially, grouped Favorites that can be opened all at once. You could, for example, have several news sites in one single CaptorGroup, then use that group to open all the sites the next time you want to look at news.
- PopupCaptor: Pop-up blocking feature capable of blocking unrequested popups, or filtering them based on URL matches (i.e. all popups from a certain website only).
- URL Blocking: Allows you to prevent anything coming from the specified URL from loading. For example, you can prevent the loading of all data (images, sound, ads, etc.) sent from a certain website.
- Quick access to settings: Quick access to things like security settings or cookies. You can also quickly enable or disable functions like JavaScript or ActiveX.
- Quick access to useful websites: Quickly translate the current page using translation engines like BabelFish, access an archived copy of the website using the Internet Archive, look up Whois information for the site, or perform other user-defined tasks.
[edit] History and development
It has been in development since 1997, and features have gradually been added over the years. Some of its features are original, while others were inspired by those of other browsers. According to a statement from developer Adam Stiles, NetCaptor was one of the very first browsers that featured a tabbed browsing interface; while similarities were found in other browsers of the era (such as Booklink's Internetworks or Opera), he says, NetCaptor's tabs were closest in form and function to the tabs we know today.
NetCaptor is a closed-source program, and its main (perhaps only) developer is its original programmer, Adam Stiles.
The last released version, 7.5.4, came out on February 18, 2005. As of March 2007, no newer version has been released. The official NetCaptor forum has also been closed for at least two years (an archived version of the forum is available from the WayBack Machine).
