JBidwatcher is a powerful eBay-user tool implemented in Java. Its features include tracking of auctions, bidding, sniping (automated bidding in the last moments of an auction), and a unique multisniping feature that allows you to snipe on a group of auctions, but stop the sniping as soon as you win one. It also includes remote Web-based management, XML-formatted save files, drag and drop support, some support for auction sellers, and dozens of other useful auction features.
JFreshmeat-NNTP is the first released mini-app to use an NNTP class being developed for a Java-only NNTP-based newsreader. It connects to freshmeat's NNTP server, and retrieves the headers, displaying them in the top pane of a two-pane window. Double-clicking on a particular announcement will retrieve the text of that announcement and display it in the bottom pane. The initial class is very short, calling a general purpose newsgroup monitor class. It can be adapted to monitor any server/group very easily. Future plans for the JFreshmeat-NNTP code include SOCKS support, saving article data, persistant storage of articles, UI improvements, timed polling for monitoring updates. It may also be rolled into the general purpose newsreader as a side-feature eventually.