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KaBoom! Popup Blocker (2.30)

Table of Contents

Welcome
Installation and Upgrades
Purchasing
User and Guest Accounts
Volume Licenses
Uninstallation / Removal
System Requirements
Operating Instructions
Black List
White List
Control Panel
Popup Control Tab
Settings Tab
Audio Effects
Diagnostics
Theory of Operation
Release History
Legal Stuff

Welcome Users of KaBoom! Popup Blocker,

As promised, here is the next upgrade of the KaBoom! Popup Blocker.

I have now introduced my new Intelli-Click (TM) Technology. This automatically allows a the Browser to popup when you click on a link or a shortcut. I expect this to revolutionize the popup blocking business.

Also introduced is the new KaBoom! Free Edition. This is fixed with the most aggressive settings. I expect this to be a popular download.

I have also added a quick "Close All" button and from the control panel and the task bar menu. Diagnostics functions are now available from the task bar menu too.

Corporate users: I have included the service install for running in user / locked down accounts. No more special builds!

Other highlights include a new user interface using Microsoft .NET technology. This allows the user interface to be HTML based like a web site. Pretty cool!

Check out the new box design above! I really think this is the best version yet, I think you will too.

To see all the details about what's new, check out the Release History. Also, check out my new web site:

http://www.binnsware.com/kaboomabout.htm

For those new users, here is the story of this product came to be. I wanted to have is played like the Star Wars intro, but then I thought that might be a little over the top..

On-going popups were becoming quite annoying on my PC. So I started to download some trial versions from the internet. Surprisingly enough, I could not find one that was 100% affective. Most were about 80%. Many did not even block popups from KaZaA Media Desktop. I even downloaded a popup blocker that had its own popups (Ouch!!!).

Being a software engineering professional between jobs (laid off by the evil empire), I said to myself "I can to better than this". So I seized this opportunity to create my own product.

Unlike other products, this uses the theory: "When in doubt, Block It!". Any new Internet Explorer window that attempts to open that is not your Home Page or in your Favorites will be nuked. To allow another window to come up, just PRESS and HOLD the Ctrl key down while the site is coming up.

I'm pushing this as the product that "Just Works". This page is all the documentation you need. If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions for improvements, please drop me a line.

Sincerely,
Bob Binns,
Binns and Company Software, Inc. President (or something like that)
bob.binns@binnsware.com

Installation and Upgrades

The installation is pretty standard. Just run the KaBoomXXX.exe download and answer the questions. You will require a serial number. I'm putting this out on download sites as a limited use trial version. The trial serial number is:

KABOOM-0100-QJ2DSR26T7

I also offer a 'Free Edition' of the product. The serial number for this is:

KABOOM-0300-OES97CQVOI

To upgrade the software, run the install again (KaBoomXXX.exe) and select the 'Repair' or 'Modify' option.

This trial serial number is good for 10 uses. The clever hackers may be able to get around this. But if you like the software, please send us $20 for a legitimate license and serial number. This will get you an unlimited key and the next 2 upgrades free.

We use PayPal to process credit cards. PayPal is a great service offered by eBay. They serve millions each day.

Click here to purchase from one of our affiliates.

If you would rather some other arrangements, please contact me via email.

To enter a new serial number, run the install again (KaBoom.exe) and select the 'Modify" or 'Repair' option.

User and Guest Accounts

With Windows NT, 2000, or XP, a login account with Admin rights is required to install and run. This is usually not a problem with Windows XP Home Edition. KaBoom! now automatically installs and runs as a System Service for User and Guest accounts.

Volume Licenses

Volume Licensing is available. If you are interested in volume licenses, please contact me via email.

Uninstallation / Removal

I hate software that cannot be removed. To remove, you can run the KaBoom.exe program again and select the remove option. You can also use the Windows Add / Remove programs feature.

System Requirements

Microsoft Windows (98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP) with Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher.

Operating Instructions

Unlike other products, this uses the theory: "When in doubt, Block It!". Any new Internet Explorer window that attempts to open that is not your Home Page or in your Favorites will be nuked. To allow another window to come up, just PRESS and HOLD the Ctrl key down while the site is coming up. Now with the full version, Alt and Shift can be used alternatively (see Settings below).

A Black list is a list of sites to block from popping up.

There is no Black List in KaBoom! I have found the concept to be useless. The evil popup makers keep changing the site names to thwart this feature. Instead we Black List just about everything.

A White List is a list of sites to always allow to come up.

Why waste a perfectly good user interface. KaBoom! uses the Favorites list already in your Internet Explorer web browser. Any site mentioned in your Favorites will be allowed to come up in a new window.

Your Home Page is always on the White List.

Control Panel

The Control Panel is a form with a set of Controls for configuring the KaBoom! Popup Blocker. These are explained in the sections below. The Control Panel can be accessed from the Start Menu, Desk Top, or System Tray ICON.

The controls described below are on 4 tabs: 'Popup Control', 'Settings', 'Audio', and 'Diagnostics'. The Free Edition does includes only the 'Popup Control' tab.

Popup Control Tab

Block Internet Explorer Popups

This is the primary mission of this software and is enabled by default. All popup Internet Explorer Ads will be blocked according the settings described in the document. If disabled, no popups will be blocked other the Messenger Service Popups.

Block Messenger Service Popups

KaBoom! totally disables Windows Messenger popups. They seem to have no valid use except as a vehicle for the evil popup makers to display their ads. As an added bonus, if you remove the software, it leaves them disabled. Please let me know if this is a problem, I can put an option in the next version or send you a tech note on how to re-enable them.

Use Intelli-Click (TM)

The Intelli-Click technology will enable you surf the web without having to hold down the Ctrl key to enable a Popup window. When a link or a shortcut is selected with the mouse, the resulting popup will be allowed. This revolutionary new technology will amaze you!

Works from links or shortcuts from Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Outlook Express.

Close All

This new button closes all the open Internet Explorer windows.

Intelli-Click(TM) is not available in the 'Free Edition'

Settings Tab

These settings are not adjustable in the 'Free Edition'.

Show Tray ICON

This feature is enabled in the 'Free Edition'.

Enabling this will allow the show the programs ICON in the then system tray or notification area of the task bar. These ICONs usually appear on the lower right near the clock. Personally I don't care for these, but my marketing survey says otherwise.

Hovering over the ICON with the mouse will cause a tip to be displayed with the number of popups blocked. Right click on the ICON, and a menu will appear with the option to open the control panel or close the ICON.

Block Same Site

This feature is enabled in the 'Free Edition'.

This is a feature requested from many users. They found it annoying that popup windows from the same web site you were surfing were being blocked.

The default for this is unchecked (disabled). When disabled, popup windows are allowed from the same site that the user is currently surfing. When checked (enabled), they are blocked as before.

Note: Some sites like eBay have popup ads from their own site. If you shop there a lot, you may want to enable same site blocking.

Block Fixed Size

This feature is enabled in the 'Free Edition'.

I found that when many windows were open, a popup add could "morph" one of the open windows into an ad and not be blocked (Ouch!). This is intended to plug this loophole in the system.

When checked (enabled), and a browser window suddenly turns to a fixed size, like most ads are, the new popup will be close.

Block No Menu

This feature is enabled in the 'Free Edition'.

Another "morph" possibility is to get rid of the Internet Explorer Menu. When checked (enabled), and a browser window suddenly loses its menu, like most ads are, the new popup will be close.

Block Invisible

This feature is enabled in the 'Free Edition'.

Another "morph" possibility is to hide the Internet Explorer window as a source for new popups. When checked (enabled), and a browser window suddenly becomes invisible, the new popup will be close.

Allow Popup Keys (Ctrl, Alt, and Shift)

Only the Ctrl key may be used in the 'Free Edition'.

In previous release, you could press hold down the Ctrl key to allow popup windows. Now you can select the Alt or Shift keys as well. Any of the keys Checked,can be used in the same way to allow popups.

Audio Effects

These settings are not adjustable in the 'Free Edition'

I though it would be cool to do something with my background in audio software. So I added sound effects when popups are blocked. I even provided a sample KaBoom! sound with the product. Personally, I think it sounds obnoxious, but it's great for demos and the marketing guys love it.

Mute Audio - Check this to disable sound affects. This feature is disabled in the 'Free Edition'.

Audio File... - Press this button to select a wave file (with a .wav extension) to play when an Internet Explorer popup is blocked. You can use the magnum.wav file provided or check in the c:\windows\media folder for some standard Windows Sounds. This default 'Popgun' sound is always played in the 'Free Edition'.

Diagnostics

These settings are not only available via the task bar menu in the 'Free Edition'

Below are some diagnostic controls for KaBoom! Normally you do not need to use these, but are included for your amusement and support use.

Show Diagnostics Window - Checking this will display a log of the Popups that get blocked. This is now available from the task bar menu.

Shutdown Blocker - Checking this will stop blocking popups. I don't know why you would ever do this. It will count as one of the uses for the trial version to Start again. Un-checking this will restart the blocker. This will launch on startup (hidden) automatically. This is now available from the task bar menu.

Theory of Operation

Other products just block popups from an Internet Explorer page that is already open. A Visual Basic example is provided to developers from Microsoft. I have observed that many of the products out there were developed with Visual Basic and operate using this example.

Using advanced Windows techniques, KaBoom! will do all that PLUS seek out and destroy any Internet Explorer window that pops up from anywhere; not just from another window. This program was developed with Microsoft Visual C++ with ATL / COM, which allows skillful software professionals to have access to all Windows internal functions. This is why it will work with programs like KaZaA Media Desktop and others.

Release History

5/30/04 - 2.30 Maintenance release

-Fixed problem where software would not install on Windows 98/Me (fixed in 2.29 Patch)

5/14/04 - 2.28 Maintenance release

-Fixed problem where software would not load on Windows 98/Me (fixed in 2.27 Patch)
-Fixed problem where software would not run if the default folder was not seected in the installation..

5/11/04 - 2.26 Maintenance release

-Fixed potential string corruption issue.
-Finalized ICON.

5/7/04 - 2.25 Maintenance release

-Fixed issues where home page may be blocked.
-Updated ICON.

5/2/04 - 2.24 Maintenance release

-Fixed issues with Intelli-Click where a popup may be allowed when closing windows.
-Enable Intelli-Click by default after an upgrade from free version.

5/1/04 - 2.23 Maintenance release

-Fixed issues with Intelli-Click where popups were allowed when closing windows.
-Updated ICON
-Allowed Company name to be blank during the install

4/15/04 - 2.22 Final release

-Fixed more issues with Intelli-Click
-Fixed problem where popup blocking would be disabled after disabling Intelli-Click
-Fixed problem where upgrade would fail after trial period runs out (ouch!!!)
-Fixed potential crash after extended use
-Updated documentation

3/27/04 - 2.21 Beta2 Release

-Added 'Close All' feature
-Added "Free Edition" Release package
-Added option to block Invisible Explorer Windows
-Fixed various problems with Intelli-Click
-Fixed potential crash during startup
-Updated logo and background color, clean up

2/29/04 - 2.2 Beta Release

-Added Intelli-Click technology
-Added new HTML User Interface
-Added option to turn off Blocking Explorer Popups
-Added option to Turn off Blocking Messenger Service Popups
-Added option to Block Explorer with no explorer menus
-Fixed problem where upgrades / repairs of 2.13 would fail (with unable to delete service message)
-Fixed a possible memory leak

12/08/03 - 2.13 Product Release

-Fixed problem with 2.12 Beta running under Windows 9x/Me where a keycode validation error would occur on start.
-Update version / documentation.

11/29/03 - 2.12 Beta Release

-Included service module IEAgentSvc.exe for for running on user (non Administrator) accounts. An Administrator account must be to install.
-Modified installation to install service module and check for administrator right to install.
-Fixed potential crash in user interface if audio file is removed or inaccessible.

11/22/03 - 2.11 - Product Release

-Updated Version and Documentation
-Fixed problem in user interface where Block Same Site would not work unless something else changed too.
-Fixed problem where audio file name may not appear. This problem was only found in 2.10 Beta.

11/18/03 - 2.10 - Beta Release

-Added new Microsoft .NET technology HTML based user interface.
-Added feature to allow popup windows from the same site you are surfing.
-Added feature to nuke all windows that turn into a fixed size.
-Added the option to use Ctlr, Alt, or Shift keys to bypass blocking popups.
-Fixed problem where sub domains of favorite sites were being blocked (e.g. if microsoft.com is a favorite, msn.microsoft.com should not be blocked). Only works for .com. .org, and .net sites.
-Fixed problem where diagnostics window would lock up if opened with hugh amounts of data.
-Fixed potential memory leak where explorer interfaces were created for some popup windows but never freed.

9/19/03 - 2.03 - Product Release

-Updated version / documentation.

9/11/03 - 2.02b - Beta Release

-Fixed Logo on the Control Panel

9/11/03 - 2.02 - Beta Release

-Updated UI and help
-Fixed problem where "Server threw and exception" error could occur using the control panel
-Fixed potential hang / crash in IEAgent.exe
-Added further diagnostics to display window
-Added logo and used web page background for help

9/07/03 - 2.01 - Beta Release

-Added system tray ICON with tip that shows the number of popups
-Added option to control panel for System Tray ICON
-Fixed problem where closing the diagnostic window shutdown the popup blocker
-Added popgun noise as default. Less obnoxious than the Magnum
-Added cool graphics to the control panel
-Fixed problem where non wave files could be selected for audio
-Fixed problem where upgrade would leave extra shortcuts on desktop and menu

8/15/03 - 2.0 - Beta Release (The New Look)

-Created new MFC Dialog based user interface (Control Panel)
-Moved Popup Blocked count and diagnostics to new user interface
-Added new web site access for binnsware.com
-Added Audio Effects and option to mute.

8/03/03 - 1.03 - Maintenance Release

-Added total Popup Blocked count, starts counting from 0 with this release
-Added input of serial number on installation upgrades (user repair option)
-Install now remembers previous serial number
-Now allows items in sub-folders favorites to be in the White List
-Fixed potential problem with unexpected file types in favorites
-Fixed potential memory leak that could cause a crash with extensive use
-Some code cleanup

7/21/03 - 1.02 - Initial Release to Public

Legal Stuff

User's of this software agree to all the terms and conditions in the End User License Agreement (EULA). The text of this agreements is displayed and agreed to during the installation of this software. If missing, a copy can be obtained by sending an email to:

bob.binns@binnsware.com

Binnsware, Intelli-Click, and KaBoom! Popup Blocker are trademarks of Binns and Company Software, Inc.

KaZaA Media Desktop is a trademark of Sharman Networks Limited and is not associated with Binns and Company Software, Inc.

PayPal and eBay are trademarks of eBay.com and is not associated with Binns and Company Software, Inc.

Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Visual Basic, Visual C++, and yada yada yada are all trademarks of Microsoft Corporation and is not associated with Binns and Company Software, Inc.

Users of this software will be automatically registered for product related messages via email. Simply drop me an email to discontinue this service.