blogs-org

Rapidshare is a file hosting goldmine if you know how to search it properly. There are basically two ways to do that. First, you can use Google search parameters to search Rapidshare. Several websites offer a basic search interface that does nothing more than to add the parameters to your searches and display the Google search results. Then there is a different kind of website that has its own database and performs searches using it.

The second kind of site tends to be more up to date because they use several sources for finding newRapidshare files including user submitted ones. I do not like the first kind of sites to search Rapidshare that much because I can enter those parameters by myself into a search engine like Google and get the desired results.

To be able to compare the Rapidshare search engines I have performed searches for the terms “video”, “avi” and “windows”. Finding files is one thing but finding working files on file hosting websites and keeping the file database up to date deleting files that have been removed from the file hosting website properly is another. This has also been born in mind.

I did check three results for each search term, namely the first, fifth and tenth entry to see if the links were not broken.

A basic search engine and site that does nothing more than to offer a search form and a results page.

Video: More than 5000 results. Gave no exact number unfortunately. All three results that I tested were valid and could be downloaded.

Avi: This search revealed more than 5000 results as well. All three results worked fine.

Windows: The search revealed 2096 results, the test downloads were working.

Removed because of Zango Ads on site

Removed as well.

Offers Web and Database search for files hosted on Rapidshare. Offers additional functions that increase the value of this service. Has a Rapidshare link checker for instance and offers keyword email updates.

Video: 1471 links were found in their database for the term video. Passed all three test downloads.

Avi: Not found in their database.

Windows: 2100 links found for the term Windows. All three downloads were working fine.

A basic search engine that seems somewhat slow at this time. You can limit the file size of the files that are displayed in the search results. Users can report broken links.

Video: 500+ results found. All three tests were working.

Avi: 500+ results found. All three tests successful.

Windows: 500+ results found. All three tests successful.

Is not displaying the amount of search results. Search is tag driven and the file size is shown for each file. Is listing dead files as well, wonder what that is good for. Great Speed.

Video: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Avi: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Windows: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Alternatives:

RapidShare Data
Xoogo

The alternative Rapidshare Search Engines have been added because some of the initial sites have been deleted or added malicious software to their sites.

The Digital Inspiration blog suggests that while, yes, MS Paint can make hilarious stick figure illustrations, it can be used more skillfully than you might imagine, suggesting five lesser-known features of the ever-present Windows app.

The deviantArt image thumbnailed above, for example, was crafted entirely in MS Paint—perhaps with a tablet as well, but, still, it’s an impressive showing of the app’s creative capabilities. Digital Inspiration suggests a few tools that make it really handy for photo touch-ups or drawing your own images, like keeping a semi-hidden third colour selection handy for your drawing:

If you left click on a colour shade, it becomes the primary colour while right-clicking on another colour will make that a secondary colour. There’s however an option to store a third colour in the palette as well.

Just select the “Pick Color” tool and CTRL+ left-click on any one of the shades in the Palette or the canvas window and then CTRL+ left-click to use this new 3rd shade without losing the 2 earlier shades. You can then access this colour by holding the Ctrl key while drawing

Curious about the first pre-release version of Firefox 3.7, but don’t want to actually install it on your computer and risk messing up your Firefox profile? The folks at PortableAppz have put together aportable package. What that means is you can run Firefox 3.7a1pre as an executable file without installing it first.

Instead of an installer, what you get when you download the portable version is an application that you click in order to extract the contents to any folder on your hard drive or a USB flash drive. Then all you have to do is open that folder and click the FirefoxPortable.exe file to launch the browser.

Keep in mind, this is pre-release software. It hasn’t even reached the Alpha stage yet, which means there may be some major bugs lurking beneath the hood, so don’t expect miracles. But that’s all the more reason for using a portable version.

Eventually Firefox 3.7 may introduce a tweaked theme with redesigned toolbars. For now, the biggest difference between Firefox 3.7 and Firefox 3.5.2 (the latest stable edition) and Firefox 3.6 Alpha 1 (the latest Alpha version) is that Firefox 3.7a1pre features an even newer version of the Gecko rendering engine

@ downloadsquad.com