The xaddr.com Windows client is a small program that runs in the system tray of your task bar and converts long addresses to short, easy to type urls with a click of the mouse. To use it, you just copy the address you wish to shorten to the Windows clipboard using Ctrl+C, and then click the icon. The client checks that the clipboard contains a valid address, and then submits it to the xaddr.com server. The result is copied back to the clipboard ready to be pasted into a document, email or forum posting, and a pop-up balloon shows you the url your long address has been shortened to.

Xaddr.com works with ftp and email addresses as well as web addresses. The short urls created by xaddr.com are also safer than those created by many other services. When you click one, it takes you to a landing page where the target address is displayed. You have to click on the address to open the target. This gives you a chance to see where the short url is going so you can change your mind if the destination address looks suspicious or not what you expected. The short address cannot be used to hide the real destination and trick users into opening pages that contain viruses or spyware.

If you often use short urls to send long web addresses to other people, get the xaddr.com Windows client. It's a real time-saver!