Mac OS X only: Donationware application SurplusMeter monitors and records your upload and download traffic volume and offers tonnes of useful bandwidth stats, like average daily use and bandwidth allowance tracking (if your ISP has a cap, that is). Keep in mind that the application doesn’t actually keep track of what traffic is from the internet and what traffic may be local network traffic (like transferring files from your desktop to your laptop), so it won’t be 100% accurate if you have much network traffic on your LAN. However, if you’re looking for a simple method for tracking your bandwidth, it’s a handy little utility. SurplusMeter is donationware, Mac only. Windows users, check out Freemeter.
SurplusMeter [via Simplehelp]Windows only: Add transparency to your Windows taskbar and give yourself slightly more usable desktop real estate with freeware application TransBar. While the latter claim (more desktop space) may seem like nonsense, it’s especially true for two-row taskbar folks like myself who don’t like auto-hiding the taskbar. Whether you want a touch more desktop space or you just want to keep in step with your favourite Windows desktops, TransBar is a simple, lightweight utility that can do both. TransBar is freeware, Windows only.
TransBar [via CyberNet and Trevor Huxham]Two years after imposing a $US50 subscription fee for people to view its archives and columnists’ writing online, the New York Times has decided to reverse the decision and open up all areas of its website for free browsing.
It seems to be a global trend in the online world, but I thought this was particularly cool – in addition to opening up its website, the Times will also make its archives from 1987 to the present freely available, as well as those from 1851 to 1922, which are in the public domain.
