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Flyswat Beta: Fly Through the Web

Internet Explorer add-on offers helpful hypertext links while you browse, but doesn't know when to quit.

By Paul Heltzel, PCWorld   

It's not what you think--Flyswat is actually an oddly named utility designed to reduce the amount of time you spend searching the Web, by quietly locating relevant pages as you browse.

Available as a quick, free download, the utility automatically launches and integrates itself with Internet Explorer. It's in beta test now, and a Netscape Navigator version is expected later this year.

I tested out the software while spending a few days checking out news and vendor sites. While I surfed, Flyswat analyzed each page. When Flyswat recognized a word, the software added off-yellow text hyperlinks to the existing text on the page.

At Gateway's site, the words 'Gateway, Inc.' appeared in a Flyswat link. When I clicked on it, a menu appeared with links to news about the company, analysis, stock quotes, message boards, and information about its competitors.

When Flyswat recognizes names and places, it offers biographical and historical information. At CNN.com, Flyswat recognized and created links for several geographical locations, offering travel and historical background. If a page already contains links, Flyswat will search for more information. If it finds any, Flyswat adds a small icon in front of the existing link.

In addition to inserting hyperlinks to relevant sites, Flyswat adds a small pane that appears at the bottom of the browser, called an Explorer bar. The Explorer bar should have more functionality once Flyswat is out of its beta testing stage. New versions of the software are scheduled for release in early and mid-October. These versions will have buttons that appear on the Explorer bar, which will let you customize Flyswat features and turn the links on and off.

In fact, the one major hang-up I found when using the program was that I couldn't turn the links on and off.

After closing the Explorer bar, I'd launch a new browser window and Flyswat would appear again. I dug through the menus in IE5 (it adds a 'Show Flyswat' selection to the Tools menu) and read the somewhat limited online help. But I was still unable to turn it off for good.

Flyswat has the potential to be a winning utility, but it needs to take a hint and disappear when you close it. As the service matures, it should become less pesky. If so, it will make a smart companion to your browser.