FreeLoader is a multi-dimensional app that performs several beneficial tasks under the broad category of offline web services. Like several other Internet agents and online news clients, FreeLoader is a customized, or personalized, service designed to facilitate finding useful information on the web. Available for free, FreeLoader relies on advertisements and the support of sponsors to fund the delivery of timely and critical information to its many users. The three major areas of FreeLoader are the personal information network, download agent, and interactive screen saver. The personal information network is actually an offline web site developed and updated by the FreeLoader staff that caters to your needs and interests. Various categories house detailed information and summaries for web sites that reflect the themes of a particular category. You can use the FreeLoader offline agent to first find topical web sites that meet your needs and later download and view these sites at your convenience. You can also use FreeLoader's scheduling capabilities to download web sites overnight or during lunch; then, upon returning to work, you'll find that the web site is already waiting for you. The scheduling features in FreeLoader run according to your schedule and will even periodically check sites for updates, download any new information, and alert you to the changes when you return. The second service offered by FreeLoader, the download agent, closely mirrors the personal information network system identified earlier. The difference between the two is that rather than being restricted to the categories and web sites offered by the FreeLoader network, the download agent will deliver any web site or group of sites to your desktop, whenever you want and however often you want. Graphics, multimedia files, and even software files appear instantly and can be automatically checked for changes hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly. Finally, FreeLoader features an interactive screen saver that closely parallels the automated screen saver in The PointCast Network. FreeLoader Television, as the screen saver is called, gives you a preview of the latest news as well as information on updated web sites. Clicking on an image or news clip will instantly bring up a local web page with additional information for immediate offline browsing. Unlike PointCast, FreeLoader's ads are not limited to animated graphics; full-motion video and sound make for extremely effective advertising. FreeLoader Television will also display videos geared towards your interests, including sports clips, movie trailers, sound bytes, and more. Overall, FreeLoader combines the best features of apps like PointCast, OilChange, and Teleport Pro, making it one of the most versatile Internet agents on the 'net and, judging by user reports, one of the most popular as well. Pros: Impressive download agent, personal information network service, and FreeLoader Television screen saver Cons: Some services lack the power and versatility of their standalone counterparts, relatively slow updates Version Reviewed: 2.0 Official Release Date of Review: 10/7/96 For the latest information on FreeLoader, check out: http://www.stroud.com/agents.html#freeload apps conference Main Menu