Guy was nice enough for forward the comment to me and here’s the answer: There’s no need. It’s built right into Mac OS X!

It’s called Parental Controls and it’s located in System Preferences. You may not have noticed it if you’re the sole user of your Mac but if you have children, Parental Controls can be a huge help. I’ll show you what it can do and how to set it up exactly.

Let’s dive right in! Launch System Preferences but before you can actually start to use Parental Controls, there needs to be a separate account to control. If your kid already has his or her own account on your Mac, perfect. Just select that account in Parental Controls to manage it. If not, then you’ll have to create a new account.

Head over to Accounts Settings and click on the plus button to add a new account. In the window that appears, select “Managed with Parental Controls“, fill in the appropriate fields and click “Create Account“. Right, the account has been created and is set to be managed by Parental Controls.

Now head over to Parental Controls (System Preferences -> Parental Controls) and select the account to configure its settings. To enable Parental Controls for existing accounts, simply click on “Enable Parental Controls” and the settings will appear.

Under the System tab, there are options to use a Simple Finder. This is basically a simplified Finder window. There is no sidebar and no navigation to system folders allowed. There is also an option to select applications you want to be made available to your child. It’s useful if you want to prevent your children from meddling with important apps or perhaps if you want to cut off their MSN privileges temporarily. If you check this box, the list below will unbrick and you are able to select exactly what you want your child to play with.

In the Content tab, you’re provided the option to filter profanity from the Dictionary and to restrict access to certain websites. If you’d like to give your children some room to play, you could use Apple’s filter to automatically limit access to adult websites. In addition to that, you can also add specific sites to the white- or blacklist. Personally, I find that option to have the best balance of leniency and compromise.

In the next tab, Mail and iChat, the idea is really simple: the applications will only allow communication between people on the whitelist. The thought of unsupervised children chatting online is definitely one of a parent’s worst nightmares. Who are they chatting with? Now you can safely control their communication without being overly intrusive.

The next tab is something we’re very interested in. Time Limits is very easy to use and when put into action, it is simply the best way to get your child to bed on time! You can set daily weekday and weekend time limits as well as bedtime restrictions! Your child is logged off automatically as soon as it’s time for bed! Sure, there could be times when your kids have a project due and could use a couple more hours on the computer – that’s something very easy to overcome, I’ll show you how it’s done in a while. But now, let’s log in to an account managed by Parental Controls to see how it will look like, shall we?

As you can instantly recognize, the Finder is simplified to show only the allowed applications. Navigation is crippled so your children can’t delete or modify any of your precious files.

If you’d like to change any of the Parental Controls settings, there’s no need to log off and log into your account. Say, your child wants to access his favorite website, which you had unfortunately overlooked when modifying the whitelist, no worries. You can add it instantly by entering your password (if you have an administrator’s account).

If you’ve set time limits, the remaining time is visible within a drop down menu once you click on the clock. Your children will receive an alert 15 minutes before the time runs out completely and they are able to save their work or ask your permission for more time to play.

Parental Controls is really awesome and extremely useful if you’re a parent. It will allow you to monitor and restrict your kids’ computer activity without being too intrusive. Settings which you’re able to control i.e. communication, apps, navigation; are really flexible and can be changed on the fly. Your child will always go to bed on time, and you can sleep soundly knowing that they’re safe from online intruders.

If there are any other apps that operate better than Parental Controls, I’ll be glad to hear about them. Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

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Now think back to when you were a kid and how many pickup games of road hockey, baseball or even cricket that you had. (Do European and Australian kids have pick-up games of cricket? I’m just trying to be more inclusive.) At least once or twice a week? Nothing organized, just a bunch of kids getting together and having fun.

So, where did the kids go? I know there are kids out there or we wouldn’t have Hannah Montana or toy stores. The kids are inside, surfing the Internets, IM’ing their BFF’s, Facebooking and YouTubing. If you’re like me, you know life is to be lived – not watched. So what to do?

How about free software to limit your kids’ online time on the computer?

Here’s a free one to check out:

Romaco Timeout

This is a fine piece of freeware from fellow Canuck, Mark Furneaux (a.k.a. TheUbuntuGuy – no relation). It simply does what it says it will. Perhaps the only caveat is to make sure that when you install it, that you select the Install for Everyone option. That way you can apply it to whichever users are on the computer.

Take a look at the settings window and I’m sure you’ll be able to figure out exactly how to use this software. The beauty is the simplicity.

When the Romaco Control Panel opens, you must enter a password before you can even change any settings. Of course, choose a password that your kids won’t guess. Once you’ve done that, the rest of the Control Panel is accessible.

In order to make the program start counting down, you must check the Enable Timeout checkbox. From there, you can choose the method you want to put healthy limits on the computer usage.

Do you want them to be on the computer for no more than an hour or two a day? Choose the Daily Quota option.

Did you say they could only go on for half-an-hour before supper? Choose the Per-Session Timeout.

With the Per-Session Timeout, you do have to set it for a minimum of  15 minutes. Now, if you set the Warn n minutes before action option in either scenario, there is NO WAY the little goobers can say, “I didn’t know it was going to shut off.” Or the ever-popular, “It’s not fair! I didn’t have time to save my game. I need to get back on and get to a save point!”

Personally, I would only respond to that last statement with my patented, “Did I promise you fair?” accompanied by the arched eyebrow. See that warning below? It scales to whatever size your screen is. They can click the OK button to continue their Twittering.

There are two possible outcomes from setting the timer – Log Off or Shut Down. How you choose is up to you. Log off is good enough for our kids since they know that they’ve had enough time and respect us. Ha! I almost typed that last line with a straight-face.

I’d also recommend checking the Startup Automatically For This User. That way it will startup automatically for that user. That was redundant.

Once you have it set as you want, simply click on the Run Immediately button. The countdown will begin. Then click on the Apply and Close button. That will minimize the Romaco Timeout to the system tray – out of the way.

The only easy way to stop the program now, is to open the Timeout Control Panel from the system tray icon and enter the password. If you’ve done your job right, the kids won’t be able to cirvumvent this. Unless they are more into computers than just surfing. In that case, you may want to look at registry tweaks to disable the Task Manager.

I can’t promise you that your neighbourhood will fill up with kids playing and laughing by using Timeout. What you do with your kids when they step away from the flickering-blue babysitter is up to you.

What other methods do you use to help keep their computer usage healthy? How do you encourage them to get outside and just play? I’m all ears and willing to learn. Just leave me a note in the comments below.

Image Credit : krisandapril

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

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There are a number of free parental control software packages and some tools designed to assist parents in this very task. Here are five that are worth a look.

Windows Parental Control Software

Windows has been offering parental control features (or some that are close to the feature) from some time now. Internet Explorer has had a content advisor since ages ago. The recent version of Windows offer even greater control. Barring the Business edition, all other Windows editions ship with parental control. You would have to create a separate account for kids (which is the sensible thing to do anyway), then you can access and manage parental controls from the Windows Control Panel. You can limit the amount of time your kids spend on the computer, the applications they can use and for how long; and you can also get an activity report of what they have been up to.

OpenDNS

OpenDNS not only resolves web addresses quickly. It also offers a host of other interesting features similar to free parental control software which you can use to protect users from phishing attacks of unsuitable content on the Internet. All you need to do in order to use OpenDNS is to set the nameservers for your computer or router. Once this is done, go ahead and create a free web account. This will let you manage what to allow and give you detailed statistics as well.

OpenDNS maintains a list of websites, broken down into categories that you can use to make browsing a little safer. You can also create your own blacklists to restrict access to any sites you don’t want your kids to view.

Kidzui

Kidzui is safe, free parental control software in the form of a web browser for kids. It let’s the children access games, videos and content that have been approved by parents around the world. One really nice feature of Kidzui is that it takes up the entire screen by default, hiding the Windows interface so that children don’t wander off elsewhere on your computer. Kidzui is great if you want to set up a hassle-free, safe and educational window to the web for your young ones. Here is the complete scoop.

Visikid

Visikid is more of a monitoring application with a strong focus on your kid’s activities. It monitors the applications that are accessed and the sites that are visited along with the time spent on them. All this information is presented to you nicely categorized should you choose to know what your kids have been up to. There are graphs, custom categories and much more on the Visikid dashboard that you can access at their website. Here is the complete review.

Pikluk

Pikluk also allows you to create list of websites that you deem suitable for your kids. Similar to Kidzui, it provides a safe means to access educational websites, games and all the usual features. A distinguishing feature is that you can create a Pikluk email address for your children and create a white list of users they are allowed to communicate with. Any email to or from anyone not on the list will be blocked.

Video sites for kids

Videos are generally very popular among kids but allowing access to something like Youtube is fishing in troubled waters. Although they are not strictly parental control tools, sites like ZuiTube and Totlol take a lot of burden off your shoulders when letting your kids watch videos online. These sites list videos that are fun, educational and moderated to be child-safe.

With all the tools combined and a careful strategy, you can be reasonably sure your kids are safe on the computer. However, nothing can match the caring and watchful attention of parents. We suggest you stick to that from time to time as well. Also check out 5 sites that promote internet safety for kids for some serious in depth information on the topic

What do you think about these? Do you know of some other useful tools for similar purposes? Sound off in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Visikid- Free Parental Internet Control Software to Monitor Your Child Online (14)
• Parental Controls – Safely Restrict Your Kids’ Computer Access [Mac] (5)
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• 5 Sites That Promote Internet Safety For Kids (14)

As adults, we have ways of dealing with many of these things because we have the tools and the wisdom that comes with age.  However, when it comes to Internet safety for kids, our children need our help.

Previously here on MakeUseOf, some writers have already written articles on some tools that are available (Visikid, Free Norton OnlineFamily, 2 Parental Control Add-ons for Firefox, and even Preschool Online Games).  I, too, have written an article or two about child safety (Keeping Your Kids Safe Online).

In this article I would like to introduce a list of 5 sites who’s sole purpose is to keep kids safe while they’re online:

NetSmartz

NetSmartz is a colorfully decorated site dedicated to educating others about Internet safety for kids.  From the first glance of the front page, it is easy to tell that they offer material for several categories of people: Parents & guardians, educators, law enforcement, teens, and kids.

What exactly does NetSmartz offer that works to keep your kids safe?  Let’s take a look:

Parents:

Communication is an effective tool for parents and guardians when helping their children avoid the dangers that exist on the Internet. NetSmartz provides on- and offline learning activities for parents to facilitate discussions with their children and teens about Internet safety. Visit “Parent FAQ” to learn more about how and why parents should use NetSmartz.

Educators:

This page is designed to show educators and administrators how to use NetSmartz interactive materials in their classrooms, accumulate more information about Internet safety and technology, and take steps to bring their classrooms into the 21st century.

Law enforcement:

Law-enforcement officers often receive invitations to conduct Internet safety presentations in schools and communities. NetSmartz offers a variety of resources to law enforcement to assist them in their efforts to keep their communities safer. Whether the presentation is 10 minutes long or 2 hours, for children or adults, NetSmartz resources can accommodate the circumstance.

Teens:

Today’s teens have a knowledge of the Internet that often surpasses that of their parents. Because so many teens are Internet savvy, it is imperative that they also have an understanding of the dangers that exist online and how to deal with them. Watch teens share their own “Real-Life Stories” about issues affecting them on the Internet such as cyberbullying, online enticement, and giving out too much personal information.

Kids:

There is a whole site dedicated to Kids called NetSmartzKids where you’ll find all sorts of games and activities specifically designed to reinforce Internet safety for kids.

Stop by and check them out!  You may find material worth your while!

WiredSafety

WiredSafety is another great site for helping to keep your kids safe online.  Although the graphics aren’t as colorful or extensive, don’t let that fool you into thinking that they skimped on information! On top of cybercrime, cyberlaw, and an FAQ section.

Information on the following subjects is presented: cyberstalking and harassment, kids online, spyware and adware, email safety, chatting online, online gaming safety, downloading music safety, identity theft, and so much more!

They also have online AND printable materials for training and even offer speakers for events!

Check them out and see what else they have to offer.

WiredMoms

WiredMoms is more of a community, a place for mothers to meet and learn from each other.  From the horse’s mouth:

This site is your virtual back fence – a place where you can come and meet with other moms to share stories and learn different ways to navigate through the latest technologies that our kids seem to know intuitively.

The site has an interesting column entitled “Ask Eva” where readers can ask questions and have them answered on the site!

This day and age we need all the support we can get.  If you can find other people in the same place (this case is specifically about keeping kids safe online) then you can begin to set up a support system and perhaps even find some friends along the way.

Microsoft – Protect your family – Beyond the basics

Microsoft has a good page on the subject of child safety online.

They have several tips on topics such as keeping passwords secret, family contracts or agreements, security for students, online predators and more!

There is also a “Microsoft family safety settings” page all about the settings you can manipulate on specific Microsoft systems (such as xBox, Zune and Windows) in order to keep your family safe.  Check out the 10 Things to Teach Kids page to find ways of bringing up important safety topics with kids.

SafeKids

This site is apparently a blog about Internet child safety.  A quick glance down the sidebar, however, shows that there is so much more offered!  I visited a link about child safety on the Information Highway, I tried a tool by Google called “Child Safe Search”, I reviewed sample contracts for families to sign and follow, and I took the safety quiz.  There is also a link to a funny video series called “The Webs.”  Well worth a look see.

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you know of another site that would also help in the area of child safety, please tells us in the comments area!

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Visikid- Free Parental Internet Control Software to Monitor Your Child Online (14)
• Parental Controls – Safely Restrict Your Kids’ Computer Access [Mac] (5)
• Let Your Geeky Kids Play Online With KidZui (19)
• 5 Free Parental Control Software That Will Set Your Mind At Ease (16)
• 2 Addons to Add Internet Parental Control to Firefox (17)

However, we don’t care for content filtering programs which has been shown to potentially block educational or family-friendly material, and which can be a chore to configure. The compromise here is to use operating system monitoring software such as Visikid so that we can watch over what sites and applications he is using.

Visikid is free parental internet control software and works on Windows versions XP, Vista, and 7.

Installation is very simple, and by default, the Visikid monitor will run on your system’s startup. Upon first run, you will be prompted to create an account on Visikid.com, which is free, but has the downside of only displaying the current day’s activities. I’d like to note here that there is a paid subscription version that lets you keep track of your child’s activities over time. This costs $39 per year, or five dollars per month.

Next, you’ll create a user profile for your kids. On Windows, you should access your child’s profile, and login to the Visikid software to create the link.

A record of any sites visited or programs that were accessed under your child’s user session will be made available for viewing that same day on your Visikid.com dashboard. Well-known desktop applications and sites are divided into categories. The option is there for assigning categories such as “education” and “communication” to unknown sites.

Graphs and charts illustrate just how much time was spent on a particular site or application. This is a very good way to make sure that your kids are concentrating on homework, and not social-networking.

Of course, there is no substitute for direct parental supervision, but if you have to leave your child’s side, say, to go make dinner or corral the toddler, then programs like Visikid can act as your third-eye when you’re not available.

Some other good safety practices for kids on the Web are as follows:

• Users of the Mozilla Firefox browser are encouraged to install my three favorite Firefox security and privacy add-ons, as well as an alternate shell like KidsMenu, which I’ve previously reviewed. Please keep in mind that for many sites with kids’ games, you may have to add them to NoScript’s white list.
• Add some bookmarks to your kid’s browser toolbar leading to approved safe sites. One of my favorites for games is Orisinal, reviewed here.
• Teach your kids to only chat with and send messages to friends and family, and not to strangers or bullies.
• Conversely, teach your kids to only accept messages from friends and family, but never to open attachments without asking a parent first.
• Can’t stress this one enough: teach your children to not give out any personal information.

Here are some other MakeUseOf posts on monitoring your children online :

- Protect Your Kids Online With Free Norton OnlineFamily.
- 2 Addons to Add Internet Parental Control to Firefox.
- Let Your Geeky Kids Play Online With KidZui

Do our readers know of any similar free parental internet control apps worth looking into? How do you monitor your child’s activities and keep them safe? Give us some ideas in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Let Your Geeky Kids Play Online With KidZui (19)
• 5 Sites That Promote Internet Safety For Kids (14)
• 5 Free Parental Control Software That Will Set Your Mind At Ease (16)
• Restrict Windows and Web Access for Kids with KidsMenu (12)
• Parental Controls – Safely Restrict Your Kids’ Computer Access [Mac] (5)

I should back up for a moment and explain what the “shell” is. The shell is what allows a user to interact with the operating system. For most of us, the default Windows shell is Explorer, which includes the Start Menu, desktop icons, System Tray, etc.

If you’ve tinkered with your own PC enough, then you know that kids can find quick and easy ways to (unintentionally) mess up your system. If you’ve ever let your young ones frolic in the big, bad, World Wide Web, then you know what kind of trouble can appear on screen very quickly. KidsMenu is one program that can help prevent such things.

After installing the program, you’re going to want to gather shortcuts to all of the kid-friendly applications available on your system. In this example above, that includes several games, the KidZui browser (reviewed here), and even a Google-Chrome-created application shortcut to YouTube (this opens in a window without browser controls). Copy those shortcuts into the folder c:\Program Files\KidsMenu\shortcuts .

Before you comment, I’m well aware that there is objectionable content on YouTube. My oldest son, however, is also well aware that his mother and I are not only watching him while logged-on, but also checking the browser history, which records any sites he visits. He knows now not to go looking for stuff we wouldn’t approve of.

When KidsMenu is launched, it will overlay the current wallpaper being used, and lay the shortcuts out in web-page fashion. Clicking the shortcut launches the program, and exiting the program returns you to KidsMenu. KidsMenu can be run on top of the Windows shell as an application launcher, but what’s really handy is the option to use KidsMenu as the shell.

You’ll need a separate account for your kids so that you can continue to use the Explorer shell under your profile. To create a Windows user profile for your kids, go to the User Accounts Control Panel. You’re going to want to make sure that it is a “limited” account and not an administrator.

Log into your kids’ profile, and then launch KidsMenu from the Start Menu. Now, hold Ctrl+Alt and press “i” to see the above prompt, and select Yes to replace the shell. Now, whenever that profile is opened, KidsMenu will start up first, instead of Explorer. Clicking the “sleep” icon at the top right will only log the user off, it won’t allow access to the rest of the system.

Technology and the Internet in general can be exciting to kids, but worrisome for parents. KidsMenu is one of those programs that allows you to control your kids’ PC experience. To the parents out there: What are your favorite kid-friendly applications and sites? What shortcuts will you put on your KidsMenu? Let us know, yes, in the comments.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

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Children are prone to learning inappropriate things whether in school or the outside world, however you have the control over what they may learn in your home. Explore the following two preventative Firefox applications to add Internet parental control to your favorite browser. Choose the one that can aid you and your family the best.

FoxFilter

This first app is a powerful filter that blocks access to inappropriate content because of its pre-defined set of rules that are instantly triggered when an individual visits a site that may contain explicit groups of keywords (i.e. Adult Content, 18+, erotic, etc…)

Configuration & Options

As you’ll note the resemblance in its name, FoxFilter is a Firefox add-on that’s compatible with Mac, Linux and Windows operating systems. In order to modify your version of FoxFilter and edit whitelist/blacklist preferences you’ll need to login to your account settings.

You can do this by double-clicking the FoxFilter icon at the bottom of your Firefox browser. If a URL is whitelisted it’s because it has been previously blocked and believed to be a legitimate site by you. Whitelisting is easy, all you have to do is access your account settings.

Suricate

This Firefox add-on collaborates with a global group of sites that have been flagged by previous Suricate users. Not only does it use this list to deny access to users on your PC, but it also blocks the sites you select as well.

How it Works

The way it works is if you come across a site that Suricate didn’t initially block then you can click the site banning button at the top left hand corner of your browser and it will immediately block the site, add it to your blacklist and notify the Suricate central site that the URL you’ve just banned isn’t appropriate for children in general.

With these options you have the control to customize Suricate by banning the sites you want and allowing whichever ones you prefer.

This is a shot of me configuring Suricate:

FoxFilter vs. Suricate

When it comes to deciding which of these two applications best suit your parental control needs you should take into account the simplicity and basic uses of the apps. FoxFilter is easy to use, however it is a bit more difficult to configure when compared to Suricate due to the extra settings.

Although in order to access your account all you need to do is click on the FoxFilter button, some detest the idea of having to travel to another site, while with Suricate you can just configure it by selecting the options button in the add-ons window.

In regards to effectiveness, both applications are fast as they work to immediately blacklist or ban a URL and instantly make it seem as though it’s been wiped off the face of the Internet.

Thus with this being said, FoxFilter and Suricate are both similar applications and either one will aid you on your quest to successful parental control.

Which app do you use to restrict your child’s access to the internet? Please let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

• Restrict Windows and Web Access for Kids with KidsMenu (12)
• Parental Controls – Safely Restrict Your Kids’ Computer Access [Mac] (5)
• 5 Sites That Promote Internet Safety For Kids (14)
• 5 Free Parental Control Software That Will Set Your Mind At Ease (16)
• Visikid- Free Parental Internet Control Software to Monitor Your Child Online (14)

If you have only very recently upgraded or bought a new computer then hopefully this list of essential downloads will be useful for you.

These are not suggested replacement applications, these are downloads to enhance and complement what already comes with Windows Vista.

1. Windows Live

Windows Vista comes with Windows Mail and Photo Gallery which are not bad, but I would suggest replacing these with the newer and updated Windows Live suite.

It’s not necessary to install and use all of these services and programs. Windows Live comes with 5 programs: Windows Live Mail, Photo Gallery, Writer, Messenger and Family Safety. You will get the option to choose which of these you want after downloading the Live installer.

Windows Live Mail will update Windows Mail and is a lot more stable and has more features such as support for Hotmail and Live email accounts.

Windows Live Photo Gallery upgrades Photo Gallery and has some great features like creating panoramic photos and uploading to Flickr. For a easy way to organise and share your photos I recommend updating to this.

Windows Live Messenger is a way you can keep in touch with your contacts through instant messaging. You can talk to both Windows Live and Yahoo contacts.

Family Safety: Only download this if you plan on controlling your children’s access to the computer and possibly restricting where they browse and monitor what they do. Vista also has some comprehensive parental controls which are useful for this purpose.

2. Vista Codec Pack

This download is guaranteed to save you no end of frustration.

Did you just try and play a DVD on your new Vista computer, and got nothing but the soundtrack? Or perhaps you tried to open a torrent file movie and couldn’t play it at all.

It’s annoying but very simple to fix. Just download the Vista Codec Pack and you should be able to play just about any video or audio file that you come across.

This isn’t a media player – it simply enables the media player you do have (Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center) to play just about any file or DVD.

3. Windows Search 4.0

When you got Vista it came with Windows Search 3.0 and this is the technology behind the start menu and the search panels in all the Explorer windows.

In case you didn’t know how Windows Search works then here is a Make Use Of article from a few weeks back on the subject. Essentially this update will make your computer search faster and give you more accurate results.

Take a look at the Windows Search Overview, or download it directly from the Microsoft download centre.

4. Windows SteadyState

Only very recently Microsoft released Windows Steady State for Vista and here on Make Use Of Karl covered it in detail a short while ago.

In brief, Steady State is an application that you can use to restore your computer back to the state it was in before you screwed it up. Particularly useful for anyone with kids who like to muck around on the computer and occasionally delete unimportant system files.

Install this and you’ll thank me later.

5. Download add ons for Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer actually does have a few add-ons which at least brings the browser up to a semi-comparable level with Firefox and other modern browsers.

Microsoft has actually made a page of 5 recommended add-ons of which I would say 3 of them really are worth downloading:

IE7Pro: If you are going to use Internet Explorer then this add-on is really a must have. It provides a lot of enhancements and features which really should have been included with IE7 by default.

LeechGet: A download manager which greatly enhances the built in manager and enables you to start, stop, pause and resume downloads.

RikReader: IE7 actually introduced a lot of people to RSS feeds, but as far as a feed manager goes it’s pretty inadequate. RikReader enhances the reader significantly.

6. Windows Gallery

Here is where you can find all kinds of extras to download and customize things like the Windows Sidebar and Live Messenger.

Gadgets are the main thing you can use to customize your desktop and sidebar and provide you with access to all kinds of web services and tools within quick and easy access. Microsoft has created some easy to follow guides for using and customizing the Windows Sidebar.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/

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