The Internet Connection (February 2000 Action for Libraries newsletter) By Michael Sauers Utilities Enhance Web Browser Several add-ons to World Wide Web browsers are now available that enhance the functionality of the browser itself. All of these programs, however, require at least version 4.x of the browser and may work only in specific browsers as indicated below. Some of the programs' functions may replicate features of others, so users may want to decide which best meets their needs. (All five programs are currently running simultaneously on both Netscape 4.7 and Internet Explorer 5.0 (IE) on this writer's computer without any noticeable problems.) GuruNet -- Available at URL: www.gurunet.com -- Netscape and IE This is a separate program that runs in the background, but also integrates itself into the browser. Highlight a word, right-click on the word and select the GuruNet menu item. A small GuruNet browser window pops up and presents information about the highlighted word. In many cases the information is a definition with options for encyclopedia articles, thesaurus entries and Internet searches. If GuruNet believes the word selected is a company name, it presents a corporate description, news items and stock information. (GuruNet is a wonderful idea but doesn't always work. Calling up GuruNet on "BCR," retrieved information on C.R. Bard, Inc. because its ticker symbol is "BCR.") AltaVista Translate -- Available at URL: doc.altavista.com/help/search/babel_tool.shtml -- Netscape and IE The program adds either a toolbar button or right-click option to send the URL of the current document to AltaVista's BabelFish translation service. At the AltaVista translation page, the user selects both the language from which the document is to be translated and the language into which it is to be translated. AltaVista Power Tools -- Available at URL: doc.altavista.com/help/search/avtools.shtml -- IE 5.0 only This program adds the following four features: AV mini-portal (offering stock, sports and weather information), search on highlighted words (similar to GuruNet), Link Search (other pages linked to the current one) and Host Search (other pages available on the current host computer). Alexa -- Available at URL: www.alexa.com -- IE 5.0 only Alexa replicates the functionality of Netscape's What's Related button. It offers a list of sites related to the current one, site information, news and searching. The program works as either a window to the right side or along the bottom of the browser window. Internet Explorer 5 Web Accessories -- Available via the Tools|Windows Update menu -- IE 5.0 only The web accessories add the following features to IE5: Open Frame in New Window (built into Netscape), Quick Search (quick access to search engines via the links bar), Zoom In/Zoom Out (on images), Image Toggler (turn automatic image loading on or off, built into Netscape), Text Highlighter (highlight text in the same manner as in Microsoft Word), Web Search (search on highlighted keywords, like GuruNet), Links List & Image List (display a list of all links or images for the current page, like Document Info in Netscape).