Web Browser Tips
Well, Internet Explorer 5 is finally out and it is very much like its predecessor, with a few new features added. Here are tips for using IE 5:

<>Want to save a web page to your favorites list?
Just press Ctrl + D.

<>IE 5 has an "autoaddress" feature.
Just type a word in the address bar, hit Ctrl + Enter, and http://www and .com will be added automatically.

<>Want to stop those distracting animated gifs?
With IE 5, you can go to the Tools/Internet Options and click the Advanced tab. Scroll down to Mulitmedia and deselect Play Animations and click OK. Now all you'll see is an UNanimated gif!

<>Windows Shortcuts
Use your windows key (located between the Ctrl and Alt) to save time:
Windows key-E opens Windows Explorer
Windows key-R opens Run dialog
Windows key-F opens find utility
Windows key-M minimizes windows

<>Open Files Quickly
Using IE 5's desktop integration, you can open any file on your computer without opening Explorer! Right-click the Taskbar and choose New Toolbar in the Toolbars menu. When the window pops up, choose My Computer and click OK. Now you can access any of your disk drives--or even the Control Panel or Dial-Up Networking--right from your Taskbar!

ICQ TIPS
<>Activate Your ICQ Homepage.
Contacts with a picture of a house next to their names have activated their ICQ User Homepage. To activate yours, you must first create it by selecting Services/My ICQ Page/Make My ICQ Homepage. Use the Homepage Factory that pops up to design your page. Once it's created, activate it by selecting Services/My ICQ Page/Activate Homepage.

<>Drag Files to Send.
You can drag a file--or even a folder full of files--over a contact's name to send it to that person.

<>Offline Troubles?
Have you not been able to receive offline messages, URLs, events, or authorizations since the holidays? Don't worry: it's not your fault. ICQ has been having trouble with its servers since the new year (no word on whether it's a Y2K problem) and almost no one can get offline messages. There's nothing you can do to fix it on your machine. If you want to send a message to a friend who isn't online, be sure to use email until the problem is solved.

<>Edit or Disable ICQ Shortcuts.
In the ICQ Menu, choose Preferences & Security/ Preferences, and click the Contact List tab. To the right you'll see a list of options under Contact List Design. You can use these to change the appearance of your contact list to fit your tastes.
Check the box next to the Customize Colors button, then click the button to choose the colors of offline, online, future, and other kinds of users. Choose whether you want to sort by users' names or statuses. While you're there, if you want the program to look less cluttered, hide the contact list tabs and buttons. You can also choose whether you want ICQ to show announcements, whether you want to use keyboard shortcuts (and edit them), and whether you want multilanguage support

<>Change Users in ICQ 2000.
If you're having a hard time changing users on ICQ 2000, first open your ICQ menu, click Preferences, and make sure you have Contact List selected from the navigation bar on the right. Click the Design tab and check the box in front of Show bottom ICQ buttons. This allows you to view and click a button labeled "My ICQ." Then choose Change User On This Computer and you'll have the option to change the active user, add a new user, or remove an ICQ number from your computer.

<>Play Tetris With ICQ Buddies.
Want to fire up a game of Tetris with your friends on ICQ? Just install NetTetris, a free download that lets you play the fast and furious game over ICQ.