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Search Tools Product Reports

Phantom

Product Information

Now marketed by the original developer, ACTIV Software of Victoria, Canada, no longer by Maxum. ACTIV has developed a Windows NT/2000 Service version and is working on a Mac OS X version. Upgrades are available for current users.

Price: Can $650 (approx. US $427)
Platforms: Mac 68K, Mac PPC; Windows 95, 98, NT 4, 2000

Features

• Nice web browser administration
• Crawls multiple sites or local file system
• Allows multiple search indexes with custom page layout
• Indexes HTML, text and PDF
• All/Any words menu, advanced search options
• Find Similar Pages feature
• Tag language to design results pages
• Can run as a standalone web server
• Version 2.2.2, June 2002
  • Now runs as a "service" under Windows NT / 2000

Articles & Reviews

• Mac servers get more search tools MacWEEK, July 13, 1998 by Avi Rappoport
  Description of the benefits and issues of site search tools, including indexers vs. crawlers. Covers the features of iHound, Boolean Search, Phantom and WebSTAR Search.

• Internet: Fleshed-out Phantom handles more searches MacWEEK, June 11, 1998 by Joanna Pearlstein
  Describes features in version 2.1, including additional virtual search engines, language compatibility.

• Search tools hold their own MacWEEK, December 1, 1997, by April Streeter. Short but thoughtful coverage, with user comments. Phantom, Social Engineering Search Server, Limit Point Software Boolean Search, Metasys Mango, Icatt iHound, and Virginia Systems WebSonar.
  

• Review: Phantom 2.0 (Macworld, July 1997, by Jim Heid)
  Positive review covers new features, but with little detail.
  

• Phantom 2.0 a quick, capable Web Indexer (MacWEEK, June 2, 1997, by Mark H. Anbinder).
  Thorough review of product, recommended.
  

• Phantom indexes your intranet (InfoWorld, June 9, 1997, by Jeff Senna)
  Short but very positive review.
  

• And Then There Was One... Search Engine Shootout TidBITS, May 19, 1997, by Adam C. Engst.
  Real-life testing of several site search tools for the Tidbits web site, covering various specialized solutions, Phantom, and Apple e.g. (which won).
  

• Send In the Robot (Macworld, January 1997 by Geoff Duncan)
  Covers Phantom along with other automated tools.

• DNA Files - companion site to NPR radio series on genetics (search served from SearchTools.com)
• Horse Search Engine - for horse breeders, covers almost 8,000 horse web sites
• AnimEigo - information about Japanese anime and animation