View source for NetCaptor

{{Short description|Internet Explorer program, 1997 to 2005}}
{{unreliable sources|date=June 2011}}

{{Infobox Software
| name                   = NetCaptor
| logo                   = 
| screenshot             =<!-- Deleted image removed:  [[Image:Netcaptor.gif|275px|NetCaptor Screenshot]] -->
| caption                = NetCaptor Screenshot 
| developer              = Stilesoft inc.
| latest_release_version = 7.5.4
| latest_release_date    = {{release date and age|2005|02|18}}
| operating_system       = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| genre                  = [[Web browser]]
| license                = 
| website                = {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403012050/http://www.netcaptor.com/ |date=2010-04-03 }}
}}

'''NetCaptor''' was an [[Internet Explorer shell]] that was in development from 1997 to 2005.  It used the [[Trident (layout engine)|Trident layout engine]] of [[Internet Explorer]] in conjunction with additional programmed features to create an alternate browsing experience with a [[tabbed document interface|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.

== Features ==
The main features are, as of the last released version, 7.5.4:
* [[Tabbed browsing|Tab-based browsing interface]]
* [[Omnibox|QuickSearch]]: Allows you to perform search engine queries directly from the address bar.  For example, to search for "testing" on [[Google]], 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|temporary internet files]], [[Cookie (computing)|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-up ad|Pop-up]] blocking feature capable of blocking unrequested popups, or filtering them based on [[Uniform Resource Locator|URL]] matches (i.e. all popups from a certain website only).
* URL Blocking: Allows you to [[Ad blocking|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 [[JavaScript]] or [[ActiveX]].
* Quick access to useful websites: Quickly translate the current page using [[Machine translation|translation engines]] like [[BabelFish]], access an archived copy of the website using the [[Internet Archive]], look up [[Whois]] 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. Its later releases were not Trident-based Internet Explorer shells but resembled [[Internet Explorer 6]] in a number of ways, except for the tabbed browsing feature.  Some people{{who|date=June 2011}} ceased to use "bare" Internet Explorer in favor of NetCaptor because Internet Explorer 6 lacked tabbed browsing natively,{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} which led to Microsoft implementing this feature in the next release, [[Internet Explorer 7]].

== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://netcaptor.com/simulbrowse.cfm|title=What happened to SimulBrowse?|publisher=NetCaptor|access-date=2009-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991013132307/http://netcaptor.com/simulbrowse.cfm|archive-date=1999-10-13}}</ref> 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 [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]]), 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".<ref>netcaptor.com: [http://www.netcaptor.com NetCaptor is Dead - Long Live Tabbed Browsing!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403012050/http://www.netcaptor.com/ |date=2010-04-03 }}</ref>  Stiles recommended that users switch to the [[Mozilla Firefox]] or [[Safari (web browser)|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 [[Phoning home|phone home]] to check registration key validity and the dissolution of the website, the key no longer functions:

<pre>
BBLdOxhx2bovHIQ0pVZjaiTWmAuEjmPOUM3tsFTcNzb4kjXdiq0
P+wsLJp4BBuNKtYYyKyAuRRgp8h=REQ+7f2h3PfFIoZFH91P5On
6eppScyJ560Xjr1z9dQDcLj43LACA496IEz+jNAVeEOT7RfWph5
7tCk6ajYmLEFc5ODjy 
</pre>

There is no legally provided workaround or modification available.

==See also==
* [[Internet Explorer shell]]
* [[Internet Explorer]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{citation |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE6D9163BF934A15752C0A9639C8B63 |title=BASICS; Custom Tailor A Web Browser Just for You |first=Peter |last=Wayner |author-link=Peter Wayner |work=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331 |oclc=1645522 |date=2005-01-27 |access-date=2012-02-21 }}
*{{citation |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2004-07-07-baig_x.htm |title=Tired of Internet Explorer's risks? Try one of these browsers |first=Edward C. |last=Baig |author-link=Ed Baig |work=[[USA Today]] |issn=0734-7456 |date=2004-07-07 |access-date=2012-02-21 }}
*{{citation |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21901255.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025211912/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21901255.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-25 |title=User friendly |first=David |last=Shamah |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |issn=0021-597X |date=1999-06-13 |access-date=2012-02-21 }} {{subscription required}}
*{{citation |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/biz/2001/11/08/stories/2001110800290100.htm |title=A new choice in operating system |first=J. |last=Murali |work=[[The Hindu]] |issn=0971-751X |oclc=13119119 |date=2001-11-08 |access-date=2012-02-21 }}
*{{citation |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1001B212D945A11D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Tabbed browsing a big reason to try alternatives to Explorer |first=Walter |last=Mossberg |author-link=Walter Mossberg |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |issn=1553-8478 |date=2004-01-10 |access-date=2012-02-21 }} {{subscription required}}
*{{citation |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PSWB&p_theme=pswb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1007BC84D46175EE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Pasadena man's NetCaptor program helps Internet browsing |first=Jamie |last=McClintock |work=[[Pasadena Star-News]] |issn=1087-3023 |date=2004-01-30 |access-date=2012-02-21 }} {{subscription required}}

{{Web browsers|desktop}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Netcaptor}}
[[Category:Discontinued web browsers]]
[[Category:Internet Explorer shells]]