NetCaptor
Encyclopedia
NetCaptor was an Internet Explorer shell
that was in development from 1997 to 2005. It used the Trident layout engine
of Internet Explorer
in conjunction with additional programmed features to create an alternate browsing experience with a tab-based interface and an expanded feature set. It was an adware
/shareware
program, but its developer released a registration key for free public use once development ceased.
After development stopped, one of NetCaptor's most valued features—a side bar and panel that listed search results—also ceased to function. Most other features continue to work. It later releases were not Trident-based Internet Explorer Shells but resembled Internet Explorer 6 in many ways, except for the tabbed browsing feature. Many people uninstalled Internet Explorer in favor of NetCaptor because Internet Explorer 6 lacked tabbed browsing.
), NetCaptor's tabs were closest in form and function to the tabs found in modern browsers.
NetCaptor was a closed-source program started and maintained by Adam Stiles.
The last released version, 7.5.4, was made available on February 18, 2005. On a post dated January 8, 2008, Stiles officially declared that "NetCaptor is Dead" after 10 years, and "What a ride it's been". Stiles recommended that users switch to the Mozilla Firefox
or Safari
web browsers. He simultaneously released a free registration key for anyone still wishing to use NetCaptor, but due to the browser's tendency to phone home to check registration key validity and the dissolution of the website, the key no longer functions:
There is no legally-provided workaround or modification available.
Internet Explorer shell
An Internet Explorer shell is any computer software that uses the Trident rendering engine of the Internet Explorer web browser. Although the term "Trident shell" is probably more accurate for describing these applications , the term "Internet Explorer shell", or "IE shell", is in common parlance...
that was in development from 1997 to 2005. It used the Trident layout engine
Trident (layout engine)
Trident is the name of the layout engine for the Microsoft Windows version of Internet Explorer.It was first introduced with the release of Internet Explorer version 4.0 in October 1997; it has been steadily upgraded and remains in use today...
of Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
in conjunction with additional programmed features to create an alternate browsing experience with a tab-based interface and an expanded feature set. It was an adware
Adware
Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up. They may also be in the user interface of the software or on a screen presented to the user during...
/shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
program, but its developer released a registration key for free public use once development ceased.
Main features (as of the last released version, 7.5.4)
- Tab-based browsing interface
- QuickSearch: Allows you to perform search engine queries directly from the address bar. For example, to search for "testing" on GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
, you would simply type "g testing" into any tab's address bar. - Aliases: Like QuickSearch, except that they do not require you to enter a search term as a parameter. For example, typing "g" would take you to the Google front page. Can be used to replace Favorites.
- Automatic data wiper: Allows you to clear usage data, temporary internet files, cookies, and more whenever NetCaptor is closed. Supports several different file wiping methods.
- CaptorGroups: Essentially, grouped Favorites that can be opened all at once. You could, for example, have several news sites in one single CaptorGroup, then use that group to open all the sites the next time you want to look at news.
- PopupCaptor: Pop-upPop-up adPop-up ads or pop-ups are a form of online advertising on the World Wide Web intended to attract web traffic or capture email addresses. Pop-ups are generally new web browser windows to display advertisements...
blocking feature capable of blocking unrequested popups, or filtering them based on URLUniform Resource LocatorIn computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....
matches (i.e. all popups from a certain website only). - URL Blocking: Allows you to prevent anything coming from the specified URL from loading. For example, you can prevent the loading of all data (images, sound, ads, etc.) sent from a certain website.
- Quick access to settings: Quick access to things like security settings or cookies. You can also quickly enable or disable functions like JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
or ActiveXActiveXActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language-independent way. Software applications can then be composed from one or more of these components in order to provide their functionality....
. - Quick access to useful websites: Quickly translate the current page using translation engines like BabelFish, access an archived copy of the website using the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
, look up WhoisWHOISWHOIS is a query and response protocol that is widely used for querying databases that store the registered users or assignees of an Internet resource, such as a domain name, an IP address block, or an autonomous system, but is also used for a wider range of other information. The protocol stores...
information for the site, or perform other user-defined tasks.
After development stopped, one of NetCaptor's most valued features—a side bar and panel that listed search results—also ceased to function. Most other features continue to work. It later releases were not Trident-based Internet Explorer Shells but resembled Internet Explorer 6 in many ways, except for the tabbed browsing feature. Many people uninstalled Internet Explorer in favor of NetCaptor because Internet Explorer 6 lacked tabbed browsing.
History and development
NetCaptor's development began under the name SimulBrowse in 1997. SimulBrowse was renamed Netcaptor because the developer didn't like the name. Some of the browser's features were original, while others were inspired by similar products. According to a statement from developer Adam Stiles, NetCaptor was one of the first browsers to feature a tabbed browsing interface; while similarities were found in other browsers of the era (such as Booklink's Internetworks or OperaOpera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
), NetCaptor's tabs were closest in form and function to the tabs found in modern browsers.
NetCaptor was a closed-source program started and maintained by Adam Stiles.
The last released version, 7.5.4, was made available on February 18, 2005. On a post dated January 8, 2008, Stiles officially declared that "NetCaptor is Dead" after 10 years, and "What a ride it's been". Stiles recommended that users switch to the Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
or Safari
Safari (web browser)
Safari is a web browser developed by Apple Inc. and included with the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems. First released as a public beta on January 7, 2003 on the company's Mac OS X operating system, it became Apple's default browser beginning with Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther". Safari is also the...
web browsers. He simultaneously released a free registration key for anyone still wishing to use NetCaptor, but due to the browser's tendency to phone home to check registration key validity and the dissolution of the website, the key no longer functions:
BBLdOxhx2bovHIQ0pVZjaiTWmAuEjmPOUM3tsFTcNzb4kjXdiq0
P+wsLJp4BBuNKtYYyKyAuRRgp8h=REQ+7f2h3PfFIoZFH91P5On
6eppScyJ560Xjr1z9dQDcLj43LACA496IEz+jNAVeEOT7RfWph5
7tCk6ajYmLEFc5ODjy
There is no legally-provided workaround or modification available.