15 New Articles on MakeUseOf |  |
- Cool Websites and Tools [May 20th 2013]
- Ubiquitous Player Is An Everything-In-One Portable Suite
- Get a Head Start On Your USB Toolkit With Windows System Control Center
- 5 iPhone Apps That Will Help You Communicate In A Foreign Language [iOS]
- Touch Up Your Photos With A Single Click Using Photo Commander 11 [Giveaway]
- How Undervolting Decreases Heat & Increases Battery Life
- Game Of Thrones Meets Tumblr: 12 Must-Follow Blogs
- 8 Features Missing in Windows 8 and How To Get Them Back
- Looking For New Music? Here Are 5 Of The Best Chrono Trigger OCRemixes
- Visualisations: Helping You Put Meaningless Data Into Perspective [Stuff to Watch]
- Byword Offers Fullscreen Distraction-Free Writing Pleasure On Your Mac
- Enjoy 160+ Free Recipes At Your Fingertips With Foodie Recipes For iPad [iOS]
- Power Up Your Mac Desktop With RSS Feed Reader NewsBar [Mac & iOS]
- You Too Can Benefit From The Power Of Email Signatures
- The Archie Search Engine – The World’s First Search!
| Cool Websites and Tools [May 20th 2013] Posted: 20 May 2013 09:31 PM PDT
These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed. The post Cool Websites and Tools [May 20th 2013] appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ubiquitous Player Is An Everything-In-One Portable Suite Posted: 20 May 2013 07:30 PM PDT
Windows 8 has managed to do a pretty decent job of putting all of your favorite and most-used applications right in your face with their rendition of the startup screen. Not all of us fancy it though. I personally skip straight the desktop. With all of these commonly-used applications so separated, daily tasks can seem like a hassle. Ubiquitous Player makes an attempt at alleviating that and serving as your Swiss Army Knife of application goodies. Download Ubiquitous PlayerUbiquitous Player is a completely portable application that runs on any version of Windows from XP onward. It’s 100% free and even works on tablet or touchscreen devices. This application aims to serve every purpose of your daily PC routine. It’s packed with a media player, image viewer, file manager, text editor, browser, bookmark manager, notes keeper, calculator, color picker, screenshot tool, clipboard monitor, and even more.
Ubiquitous Player’s interface is very sleek and attractive. Let’s pick apart some of its many uses. Music Player
The music player offers pretty much everything the average user needs to enjoy their music collection. You can organize a playlist and view album art (in the top-right corner) within Ubiquitous Player. You’re able to play an entire folder, play random tracks, set a track to just play once, and skip to the next album in your folder to play it in its entirety. Ubiquitous Player includes all basic media keys to start, stop, skip, go back, and change the volume of its player. Ubiquitous Player’s music player isn’t entirely impressive, yet it’s everything you should need. Notes
Ubiquitous Player’s take on notes is very bare and straightforward. As you can see in some of the examples above, note-taking is composed of “folders” (which simply act as a header describing a list of notes) and then line-by-line notes beneath them. Obviously this doesn’t compare to an Evernote or CintaNotes, but it’s very quick, good for jotting down simple things, and even supports searching your notes. Image Viewer
The image viewer offers some interesting features. Just using your left-click button, you’re able to navigate through to the next image in a folder. With each individual image, you have options to view it at its actual size, cut the image, rotate it, change the backdrop to black or white, or resave the image as either PNG, JPG, BMP, or JPEG. All images show the dimensions, size, and date modified. When you’re hunting through a cluttered folder, Ubiquitous Player’s image viewer is a great way to look at images quickly and easily. Text Editor
Ubiquitous Player’s text editor is a very straightforward alternative to Notepad. You’re able to format your text in a few ways, such as changing the font face, size, and color. You’re able to immediately access a special characters map from within the interface. You can also view your text in HTML format using the built-in browser.
The settings allow you to activate a touchscreen mode, change the interface scaling, and even set hotkeys related to screen capturing (all of which I used to take the screenshots in this post). ConclusionUbiquitous Player isn’t the type of application to exceed your expectations. It definitely isn’t going to be a replacement for any of the dedicated applications that exist as alternatives for some of its built-in features, but it does well for bringing so many elements together in a single interface. It’s the kind of application that could work best on low-resource machines (like a netbook). What do you think of Ubiquitous Player and the features it provides? What can Ubiquitous Player do better? I think it’s a really solid application that deserves some attention, and I hope you give it a try if it interests you. Let me know what you think about Ubiquitous Player in the comments section below! The post Ubiquitous Player Is An Everything-In-One Portable Suite appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Get a Head Start On Your USB Toolkit With Windows System Control Center Posted: 20 May 2013 07:00 PM PDT
Now, the Windows System Control Center itself isn’t really that amazing, it’s just an interface that gives you access to two different suites of tools, and categorizes those tools according to their functions. But when you realize what two suites we’re talking about, you start to realize just what a dynamite combination this is. Think of this as the IT world’s version of “You got chocolate in my peanut butter.” That’s right, when they come together they are worth more than the sum of the parts. We’re talking about SysInternals and NirSoft. Installing WSCCOnce you have WSCC downloaded, simply unzip the package. Inside, you’ll find an executable file called wscc.exe with an icon that looks like a lifesaver. A very apt icon indeed. To install wscc.exe on your USB thumb drive, simply copy the file and paste it onto your thumb drive. That’s it. Takes about 2 seconds. If you go ahead and do it now before you run into any Windows’ issues, you’ll be glad you did!
Running WSCCOn the first run, WSCC will prompt you to download all the latest versions of all the utilities. You may as well do that to be up-to-date. Because most of these utilities are very lightweight, well under 500KB for most of them, the process is quite quick.
Unfortunately, if you have good antivirus software, the process can take a bit longer. Some of the NirSoft utilities will get flagged and quarantined because they do gain access to intimate parts of the operating system. These are false positives, rest assured.
Setting WSCC OptionsThere are four tabs with options in WSCC: General, Software, Network, and Console. I’ve chosen some different options for my setup, and I’ve highlighted those in yellow below. By default, these options are not checked. It’s up to you if you want to select them or not, I can’t say that they make a great difference, it’s just a matter of preference.
General: I’ve chosen to have Windows System Control Center Minimize to Tray, when not in use. I just prefer it to be there rather than in the task bar. I’ve also chosen to Show Hidden Items, just because I don’t like hidden things. I like to know ALL of my options. Software: I’ve chosen to utilize Windows Services as well. Again, just because I like to know all of my options.
Network: Under Update Manager, I’ve also chosen to Include new software when checking for updates. Again, it’s about having options. The Use the 64-bit version if possible option seems like another nice-to-have since most 64-bit machines will also run the 32-bit versions. Console: I see no sense in changing things here, it’s just window dressing. What Can You Do?More like, what CAN’T you do?! The utilities are organized in a directory fashion based upon their functionality. The major categories of tools are:
SysInternalsMark Russinovich was an independent general computer god who got tired of not having the tools he needed to solve his Windows problems. So like any god, he created them. Like any other god, he also created a trick that was funny to some and very distressing to others, the iconic BSOD Screen Saver. Somehow it was the trick that got him the attention he richly deserved for his work on the Windows tools. At least, that’s how I came to know of him. When people started realizing how powerful and simple to use Mark’s tools were, word spread to the progenitors of Windows and there was a deal struck. Now SysInternals Suite is an official, and free set of tools for computer techs to use. There are 70 tools in the SysInternals suite, of which I only make regular use of about 3. To date, I have not used all the tools, but it is a comfort to know that they are there. Let me show you how powerful a tool this can be for someone to have. Let’s say you’re at a friend’s house and they just can’t get their computer to boot very quickly. You’ve got your USB flash drive with you. Plug it in, start up WSSC, go to SysInternals, click on Process, then click on Autoruns…well, watch the video. Of course, there are several other very powerful and useful tools in SysInternals. Really, we’ve written so many articles on the different components of SysInternal Suite, that I can’t even point you to one article. Please, do the search on SysInternals on our site, you’ll find so much. Now let’s take a little look at NirSoft as well. NirSoftNirSoft is another Windows god in the same sense as Mark Russinovich. It is the brainchild of Nir Sofer, a software developer with an excellent knack for cryptography and reverse engineering. In his spare time, he develops these applications that he would find useful, posts them on his website and we all get to benefit. That’s a sort of altruism that I don’t completely understand, but am very grateful for. Much like Mark Russinovich’s tools, NirSoft’s tools are already portable in the sense that they don’t have to write to the Windows registry in order to be able to use them. Which makes perfect sense. If you’re having Windows issues, you need to be able to fix them from outside of Windows. Where NirSoft goes that SysInternals doesn’t go, is into things like Password Recovery and Web Browser information. Recently we’ve been talking about technology after you’ve passed on, on MakeUseOf.com. Morbid as it is, it is a reality for all of us. So perhaps your friend has passed on and his widow needs to access somethings on the Internet, but he didn’t leave any information. Or, maybe he told you to delete stuff, so his widow wouldn’t see it! Either way, NirSoft has a strong suite of Password Recovery tools. With the tools available, you can get his passwords from Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Firefox. You can also get them from his Outlook or even online mail service. You can recover a stored WEP key for your wireless configuration as well. Pretty powerful, possibly even scary. The password recovery tools only touch the tip of the dozens of NirSoft utilities available through the WSCC interface. How handy to have these tools in your pocket! If your looking for more on NirSoft utilities, check out Tina Sieber’s article on another USB-based NirSoft utility launcher. The Take AwayIf you are a budding computer tech, you need this tool on your emergency USB flash drive. It’s that simple. Yes, there are other tools that you need, but this is certainly an excellent start to your portable toolbox. The price is right – free – and the size is right too – 3 MB, so why wouldn’t you? If you like the software, please donate to the folks that helped make it possible. I hope you enjoyed our journey through this handy tool. Have you ever used it before? If so, I’d like to hear how and what the outcome was. Do you know of other excellent portable tools like this that we should know about? Plug them in the comments and we’ll have a look at them. We are IT, and we’re here to help. The post Get a Head Start On Your USB Toolkit With Windows System Control Center appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 iPhone Apps That Will Help You Communicate In A Foreign Language [iOS] Posted: 20 May 2013 06:30 PM PDT
Fortunately, there are several iPhone foreign language apps that will help you translate simple phrases while you are exploring the globe. All of them are useful, but bear in mind that they are designed to help you communicate, not to help you learn the language. Here are five apps that will help you on your journeys. Google Translate (Free)Full Offline Usage: No Google Translate is great for those of you who need simple phrases while you are traveling out and about. Simple selections like “Where’s the bathroom?”, “Where can I get a cheap meal?”, and “Where’s the best place to hide a body without the authorities finding out?” are probably all you would want to say. While the app does not allow for full offline usage, it does let you to save translations so you can use them later. Furthermore, the app will show translations on the screen. Check out our full iOS review of Google Translate. Jibbigo ($4.99)Full Offline Usage: Yes Jibbigo is a translation app that was fully designed for travelers. While it does not offer as many languages as Google Translate, it works completely offline. This way you don’t have to worry about not having Internet access or paying for roaming charges while you are in the middle of a foreign land. Jibbigo allows users to speak their chosen phrase into the app, and it will automatically translate it using audio and on-screen text. The app is also “bi-directional”, so you can theoretically have full conversations with anyone you run across. Phrasebook (Free, $2.99 per extra language)Full Offline Usage: No Maybe you aren’t so interested in typing out phrases in one language and having them translated into another. Fortunately for you, there’s Phrasebook. The app stores a series of illustrated, audio, and text translations to help you get through your travels wherever you are. With over 2,200 phrases per language to choose from, Phrasebook is like your personal translator! While the app itself is free, Japanese and English are the only languages that come with it. $2.99 isn’t too much of an investment when you are overseas for any additional languages you may require. Here’s our directory review of Phrasebook for iOS. Universal Translator ($2.99)Full Offline Usage: No Universal Translator is a bit of an odd bird when it comes to the world of on-the-go translation. It’s weird simply because it’s designed around chatting, and in fact, it uses Google Talk. By signing in with your Google Account, Universal Translator will allow you to chat with someone and have a fluid conversation as it automatically translates both incoming and outgoing messages. Is it practical? Well, if you’re in a sit-down situation, it might be, but it’s probably not a good idea if you are roaming about. SayHi Translate ($0.99)Full Offline Usage: No SayHi Translate is fun little app that is functionally identical to almost all of the other apps that we’ve suggested. It uses vocal translation, and while its translation voice is a bit robotic, most users report that the translations are typically accurate. However, what really draws users in to SayHi Translate is its beautiful user interface. It’s exciting, bright, and quite pleasing to look at! ConclusionAll of these iPhone foreign language app are great for faking your way through the native tongue while abroad. However, as far as offline translators go, I would definitely recommend Jibbigo. Google Translate comes at a close second since it’s free, but there’s the whole issue of needing a connection. Also, make sure you aren’t getting sucked into roaming fees with the ones that require an Internet connection (use Wi-Fi wherever you can), and do your best to stay safe while in the middle of strange lands. Remember that not everyone can be Indiana Jones. What other translation apps do you like to use? Are the apps here suitable for travelling? Have you used any of these apps before? Image Credit: jbachman01 The post 5 iPhone Apps That Will Help You Communicate In A Foreign Language [iOS] appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Touch Up Your Photos With A Single Click Using Photo Commander 11 [Giveaway] Posted: 20 May 2013 06:00 PM PDT
I’ll be honest: I’m really not one to do a lot of photo editing. I rarely do anything related to photos, whether it’s taking them, touching them up, or even looking at them. But even for someone like me, Photo Commander 11 was a breeze to operate. For those of you who actually like photo editing, this program will serve you well. Photo Commander 11 is available for USD $49.99 on Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8. But for you, we’ve got a great offer that you just won’t be able to pass up: we’re giving away 10 copies of Photo Commander 11 worth a total of $500 for free! Keep reading to see how you can take advantage of this awesome offer. Photo Commander 11 ReviewWhen you first start up the program, you’ll be met with a quick setup wizard. This wizard allows you to choose file associations, languages, interface layouts, and a few other simple settings that’ll help you get started. It’s not the most helpful introduction, but it’s something.
Photo Commander 11 opens up to a clean workstation layout with pleasant aesthetics. I chose the photo editing layout as opposed to the photo manager layout (I don’t have many photos to manage) or the film strip layout (didn’t really appeal to me). I admit that I felt overwhelmed at first, but it all started to make sense after a few minutes of exploration.
The main aspect you really need to become familiar with is the top bar – not the usual menu options that you’d see in any other program, but the special blue navigation bar that holds all of the actions and options that you can play around with. It’s similar to Microsoft’s ribbon interface except not so wieldy.
Visual effects are one of the most elementary operations you can perform on a photo, but they’re just so awesome and Photo Commander makes them so easy. It really is a one-click action and you can stack multiple effects on a single photo in case you really want to touch up an otherwise subpar picture.
When you want to create a photo container – like an album, a slideshow, a collage, etc. – Photo Commander again makes it easy thanks to the various wizards that come as part of the program. No matter what you want to do, all you have to do is fill out a few fields and check (or uncheck) a few checkboxes, and voila! You’re done.
Photo Commander 11 lets you take command of your photos without requiring you to have any prior photo manipulation experience. Here are some more great features that you’ll find here:
Again, we’re giving away 11 free copies to all of our loyal and beloved MakeUseOf fans and readers. As a reminder, Photo Commander 11 only runs on Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8. How can I win a copy of Photo Commander 11?We have a new giveaway procedure in place, which will hopefully make participating much easier. You may enter using your Facebook credentials (which will require you to sign into Facebook) or by submitting your name and email address. You’ll receive one entry simply by doing so. After that, you’ll also be offered various methods to earn additional entries. They range from sharing a link to this giveaway on social networks; to commenting or visiting a specific page. The more you participate, the higher your chances of winning! This giveaway begins now and ends Friday, May 24th. The winners will be selected at random and informed via email. Submit your apps and software to be reviewed. Contact Jackson Chung for further details. The post Touch Up Your Photos With A Single Click Using Photo Commander 11 [Giveaway] appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How Undervolting Decreases Heat & Increases Battery Life Posted: 20 May 2013 05:31 PM PDT
The process can require a great deal of patience and confidence as the potential for disaster exists. Only the stouthearted should even make an attempt. For those of you looking for quicker solutions to reduce battery drain, check out Tim’s excellent article on mainstream methods of cooling your computer down. This article introduces undervolting to the uninitiated, focusing on explanation, methods of implementation, the available compatible hardware and what software exists. For a more detailed guide on how-to undervolt, check out this instructional guide. Undervolting ExplainedAfter an intense session of Call of Duty or Modern Warfare 3, you may notice your computer or graphics processor getting unusually hot. That’s because a simple relationship exists between the the speed at which a device runs and its temperature. When you use your computer to perform CPU intensive tasks, it will run at a higher frequency, and thus produce greater heat, than it would at idle. There’s a formula that electrical engineers use to explain this relationship. Unfortunately, I wasn’t smart enough to be an engineer so my understanding is weak, but here goes: P = V^2/R, where power is equal to voltage squared, divided by resistance. As you can see from the equation, lowering voltage has a tremendous effect on power. But the question remains: How could it be possible for us to lower voltage while maintaining performance? Keep in mind three factors:
Three Steps To Undervolt a Device
For Desktops & LaptopsSome desktops and laptops can alter their voltages through their BIOS. Different motherboard manufacturers, unfortunately, use differing terminologies: Some use the term “voltage offset“, which reduces voltages uniformly across all steps. Other boards only reduce voltages at the highest CPU frequencies – you should Google your motherboard’s make plus the search term “undervolt” or “voltage offset“. For example, my undervolt settings from my EFI (it’s basically a BIOS):
Intel CPUs: Unfortunately, Intel chipsets, Sandy Bridge and later models, do not benefit in any substantial way from lowering voltage. While my own experiences show some impact on temperature, the experts believe otherwise. The most common method of undervolting older Intel CPUs is ThrottleStop for the Windows OS. Throttlestop lowers voltages across a range of CPU frequencies – simply check the “Set Multiplier” box then reduce the “VID” number to drop voltages.
AMD CPUs : particularly its Brazos, Llano and Trinity lines, can undervolt with great effect. One of the best examples is the undervolting software available for the Brazos series of CPU/APU. The software used to manipulate voltage values is known as BrazosTweaker. There’s also FusionTweaker. Users report up to 30% reductions in temperatures and solid increases in battery life. For AMD chipsets, other voltage manipulation methods exist, such as PSCheck and AMD Overdrive. However, although PSCheck is the best program, it’s also the hardest to get hold of. I ended up biting the bullet and installed a zip from a complete stranger’s Dropbox—that’s always a terrible idea and you should never do that, unless you’re me. In which case you make regularly poor decisions and installing strange files from sketchy sources is the least of your worries. Stress-Testing: To stress-test your device, simply lower your voltage by a single step and then fire up the stress testing software. In my experience anywhere from 5-10 minutes of testing is sufficient. If the computer crashes or freezes, move the voltage back up at least one step before moving onto the next multiplier (sometimes referred to as a P-State, pictured below). Continue repeating the process at each stepping point, lowering the voltage until instability occurs. Notice that as frequencies increases, so too does voltage.
The best software for stress-testing is Prime95. Prime95 runs complex mathematical formulas on your computer, which causes the the CPU to run super hot. If you’ve set the voltage too low, your computer will crash and you’ll know the absolute lowest limit of your processor’s voltage tolerance. Approximately 5-10 minutes of stress testing should weed out incorrect voltages. From the Prime95 “Run a Torture Test“, make sure to select “Small FFTs“.
We’ve discussed undervolting on MakeUseOf before for laptops. Also, read about Tina’s breakdown of some mainstream solutions for getting your heat under control. Tablets, Smartphones & Android Powered DevicesBefore attempting to undervolt your device, you must have root access (link goes to SuperOneClick) and you should have installed a custom ROM supporting undervolting. While, technically, you only need a custom kernel that supports UV, most custom ROMs include a custom kernel. Most cell phones with a custom kernel and the right software can undervolt – however, doing so requires special firmware, or software that exists at a level higher than the operating system. Firmware is stored on solid state memory in an area normally inaccessible to the end-user. However, if you have the right firmware, some software can modulate the voltage fed to the CPU. My favorite software for undervolting is IncrediControl. Just run the app and select the “SVS” tab from the top menu bar. From there, you must use extreme caution. Proceed to lower voltages one step at a time. I recommend only lowering the voltages on the two or three highest frequencies; as indicated by the power equation, reducing voltages at higher frequencies has a greater impact on overall heat production.
Stress-Testing: For stress-testing, to my knowledge there’s only one app worth using: StabilityTest. Simply choose either “Classic Stability Test” or “Scaling Stability Test“. If you only intend on undervolting your highest CPU frequency, the classic test should suffice. However, if you plan on undervolting a range of values, go for the scaling test.
ConclusionCooling down your devices and getting better battery life takes only three steps: First, backup your device. Second, make gradual voltage adjustments. Third, stress test each time you make a voltage adjustment. For Android devices, this requires that you have root access and have installed a custom ROM. For computers, you must have a newer AMD chipset, such as Llano, Brazos or Trinity. On Intel system, you must have Core2Duo or thereabouts. Remember to never raise your voltages above the default value. Raising your voltages will likely destroy your computer. Does anyone else love undervolting? Let us know in the comments. Image Credits: Lightning via MorgueFile.com; Motherboard via MorgueFile.com The post How Undervolting Decreases Heat & Increases Battery Life appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Game Of Thrones Meets Tumblr: 12 Must-Follow Blogs Posted: 20 May 2013 05:00 PM PDT
The sheer amount of content on Tumblr makes it a joy to browse (as well as easy to lose hours of your day in the blink of an eye), though sometimes you really do have to filter through a lot of repetitive content to get to the good stuff. For that reason, we've put together lists of recommended Tumblr blogs that we think you should be following. We've already introduced you to 8 Tumblr blogs every writer and book lover should follow, 7 news and political blogs you should follow, 10 humorous Tumblr blogs, 6 Tumblr blogs for history buffs, and this week we're taking a stab at all things Game of Thrones on Tumblr. GOT MashupsThere are several hilarious Game of Thrones (GOT) mashups that we’ve come across. For reasons that we can’t understand, but won’t question, some creative individuals out there have asked themselves the questions – what would happen if Game of Thrones met 30 Rock? Or what if Game of Thrones met Arrested Development. Best of all, what would happen if Game of Thrones met Justin Bieber? The answers are three hilarious mashup Tumblr blogs that bring everything that we love about the HBO TV show, together with mainstream pop, awkward comedy and more.
GOT in the Real WorldWhile the Tumblr blogs above ask the question what would happen if Game of Thrones met other imaginary characters and celebs, the following Tumblr blogs ask a slightly different question – what would happen if GOT collided with the real world of fashion? The result is some pretty entertaining blogs, one of which is entirely dedicated to Daenerys Targaryen’s fashion choices in the modern world. What Would Khaleesi Wear is a genius blog which finds modern-day outfits that look like something you’d see on Daenerys. There’s even a store on the blog where you can buy GOT-inspired paraphernalia, jewelry, t-shirts and more.
A Game of Clothes is another fashion-inspired blog, but doesn’t focus on any one character in particular. It does, however, focus on women’s fashion. Shots from runways, jewelry and more – all of which look like they would fit right at home on the Game of Throne’s set can be seen on the blog. GOT Memes & GIFsA show as popular as Game of Thrones is bound to produce an endless amount of memes, and nowhere is that more obvious than on Tumblr. There is no shortage of Tumblr blogs chock-full with Game of Thrones memes and GIFs – thought-provoking, amusing, artistic – there’s something in there for everyone. F*ck Yeah Game of Thrones is a good place to start since they’re keeping an eye on all the other GOT tumblr blogs and reblog that content so if there’s something good out there in Tumblr-land – they’ll probably find it. FYGOT tends to focus more on the artistic GIFs and content that stays true to the show itself. If you’re looking for something a little more amusing, that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Thrones Meme and Game of Laughs merge all that is good about Game of Thrones with all that is good about Internet humor and you know the final result is hilarity that could keep you busy for hours.
GOT Fan ArtLove it or hate it, fan art has found its home on the Internet, and Game of Thrones has certainly been no exception. Two Tumblr blogs that feature some of the most striking fan art we’ve seen are Gallery of Thrones and F*ck Yeah Game of Thrones Art. A Gallery of Thrones accepts submissions from Tumblr users but does specify the kind of art that is accepted - 2D and digital drawings, paintings, illustrations; crafts, sculpture, anything handmade or one of a kind. If you’ve got some ideas for GIFs, then you’re better of sending them the way of the blogs listed above.
Special MentionsAny list of recommended Tumblr blogs for GOT fans would not be complete without two more recommendations. My Mom Watches Game of Thrones is a great GIF-filled blog, but one that brings with it the added delight of watching the show through a mother’s eyes. Comments on particular scenes and story-lines accompany the GIFs. And of course, with it being the Internet, there was bound to be at least one blog that had something to do with cats. You’d think it might be a little bit difficult to find a way to merge the Internet’s fascination with cats together with Game of Thrones, but Game of Kittehs is a hilarious success.
What must-follow Game of Thrones Tumblr blogs would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments. The post Game Of Thrones Meets Tumblr: 12 Must-Follow Blogs appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 Features Missing in Windows 8 and How To Get Them Back Posted: 20 May 2013 04:30 PM PDT
Luckily, Windows 8 isn’t yet a locked-down mobile operating system, no matter how hard Microsoft is trying to make it into one. While many features are missing from Windows 8, you can still get them back. Most important features can be restored with high-quality alternatives, but replacements for other features — like the Windows 7 Aero theme and Windows Classic theme — are nowhere near as polished as Microsoft has removed the necessary theming code. Start Menu, Unified Search & Boot to DesktopWindows 8 removed the Start button and traditional Start menu, opting instead for the Start screen, which functions as a sort of full-screen Start menu. You also can’t boot directly to the desktop in Windows 8, nor can you use unified search to search programs, settings, and files at once, like you could in Windows 7. All of these features can be returned to Windows 8 by installing a third-party Start menu like the popular Start8, free Start Menu 8, or traditional ClassicShell. There will be a delay before you see the desktop every time you log in — Microsoft added a delay to hinder people who try to boot to the desktop as they want you to see the Start screen every time you log in.
DVD PlaybackWindows 8 can no longer play DVDs out-of-the-box. While you can re-purchase DVD support from Microsoft by purchasing the Windows 8 Pro Pack and then the Media Center Pack, this will cost you over $100 in total. Luckily, you don’t have to do that. Just install the free VLC media player to play DVDs on Windows 8. Note that, if you purchase a new computer that comes with a DVD drive, the computer likely comes with included, licensed DVD playback software that you can use to play DVDs without downloading anything else.
Windows Media CenterWindows Media Center is no longer part of Windows 8. If you love Windows Media Center and want to keep using it, you’ll have to upgrade to the Professional version of Windows 8 and purchase the Media Center Pack. You can do all this from within Windows 8, but it will cost you over $100 in total. You could also try using a different media center application like XBMC instead.
Solitaire, Minesweeper & Other gamesWindows 8 removes Solitaire, Minesweeper, and the other games included with Windows that procrastinating office workers everywhere depend on. You can install Modern versions of Minesweeper and Solitaire from the Windows Store. If you really love the desktop versions, you can install the desktop versions of Solitaire and Minesweeper on Windows 8 — although this will take some work.
Windows Desktop GadgetsDesktop gadgets were removed from Windows 8. Microsoft says they’re insecure — a desktop gadget is a program and can modify your system like any other program. This is true, but means that desktop gadgets are just as insecure as any other desktop program. If you love desktop gadgets, you don’t have to go without. You can easily install desktop gadget support in Windows 8.
Parental ControlsThe parental control feature found in previous versions of Windows is now gone. It’s now replaced by Microsoft Family Safety, which is integrated with Microsoft accounts, gives you a web-based administration console, emails you reports about your children’s internet use if you like, and adds many other new features.
Windows Aero GlassThe transparent, glass-like Windows 7 theme is also gone. You can get some transparency with a tool like Aero8Tuner, but don’t bother. This doesn’t work very well and, even if it did, Microsoft removed the blur effect so it’s not as slick-looking as it is in Windows 7. Microsoft went out of their way to strip the Windows Aero theme engine out of Windows 8.
Windows Classic ThemeThe Windows Classic theme has been removed. You can approximate it by using a user-created Windows Classic theme, but it’s nowhere near the same. This theme is essentially a tweaked version of the High Contrast theme, as many elements of the default theme can’t be tweaked. You can also install a variety of other interesting third-party themes for Windows 8 if you don’t like the included theme. This requires overriding the protection against installing third-party themes on Windows 8, just as it did on Windows 7, Vista, and XP. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Looking For New Music? Here Are 5 Of The Best Chrono Trigger OCRemixes Posted: 20 May 2013 04:00 PM PDT
This list will cover remixes for Chrono Trigger, one of my favorite RPG games of all time, but one thing to keep in mind is that you can enjoy this music without ever having played the game. Maybe you've never even heard of it. That's fine. Music is music, right? And even though these songs are based on video game tracks, that doesn't mean they sound like video game music. Trust me on that. "Subterranean Opus" [Creeping Through the Sewers]I wasn't sure whether to sort this list in best-first or best-last order, but I'm so excited to write about this song that I think I need to start with the best. "Subterranean Opus" is a track that caught me completely off guard. I have a playlist of many OCRemix songs that I listen to on a somewhat regular basis, but before today I'd never heard of this song. Boy, I was really missing out. "Subterranean Opus" was composed by Zircon, who just happens to be one of my favorite electronic composers. I had no idea that he started his career remixing video game songs but, looking back, it makes sense. You have to listen to this song and get at least to the 1:25 mark. That's when things start to bump and sway with a beautiful mixture of hybrid orchestra touched with a Spanish flavor. This song sits at the top of my list – not only for Chrono Trigger but all OCRemixes in general – for the high quality sound and the skillful rearrangement that injects many different musical styles while maintaining the heart of the original. "Wind Scene Concert Paraphrase" [Yearnings of the Wind]Here's another song that elevates an original track up into the heavens by revitalizing it with the soul of a new genre. Based on "Yearnings of the Wind," which you might also know as "600 A.D. Wind Scene", "Wind Scene Concert Paraphrase" is one of those tracks that brims full of emotion, passion, and energy – even though the song itself is quite soft and mellow. It just feels alive. It just goes to show that you don't need an orchestra of instruments to create beautiful renditions. "Wind Scene Concert Paraphrase" is just one man on one piano creating sophisticated music using nothing more than creativity, hard work, and love. He was able to infuse the original wind song with a jazzy feel that warms the heart and relaxes the muscles. "Dream of Zeal" [Corridor of Time]Every good video game – just like every good movie – has that one tune that always pops into your head when you think of it. Most of the time, it's the theme song. If I were to mention Harry Potter, I think we all know which song you'd be thinking about. Similarly, when it comes to Chrono Trigger, "Corridor of Time" (which you may know as the "Theme of Zeal") beats out all other tracks as the iconic theme. There are dozens of "Corridor of Time" remixes available on OCRemix and many of them deserve high praise. But in the interest of not flooding this article with more than one remix of the same track, I chose "Dream of Zeal" to represent. It captures the essence of the original while adding a new layer of life on top. The sound samples may not be the best, but you have to consider that this remix was released nearly four years ago. Even still, it's held up to time well and remains as one of my favorite Zeal remixes. "Far Away Memories" [Outskirts of Time]This remix of "Outskirts of Time" has such a homey, comforting quality about it. The choice of samples and the actual rhythm-melody combination evoke some real imagery – as if I'm strolling through a sunset countryside on a long, empty road. "Far Away Memories" is aptly named and I applaud the composer for creating such a fresh take on the original track. "Behind the Sealed Door" [Sealed Door]When you name a song "Behind the Sealed Door," you inherently charge the composition with an aura of mystery. Smartly, the composer allows this mysterious feeling to pervade this remix and I think he did a great job in maintaining the original track's soul while taking it in a whole new direction (compare it to the original "Sealed Door" and you'll see what I mean). There's a dark and haunting quality to this song that I love and it's balanced with a strong rhythm that keeps it from delving too deeply into somber territory. The piano is both light and gloomy – an interesting paradox – which provides further balance. Around the 1:30 mark, there's a transition that incorporates a notably bright Final Fantasy melody, but it eases back into the eerie around 3:17. ConclusionMusic is inherently subjective so there's no doubt that some of you will read this and disagree with me. That's fine with me. If I had the time and space, I'd expand this list to ten, fifteen, or even more songs because there are just so many Chrono Trigger remixes on the OCRemix site and they're all lovely. If there's a Chrono Trigger remix that you think belongs in the top five, please share them in the comments! I'd love to hear your thoughts. The post Looking For New Music? Here Are 5 Of The Best Chrono Trigger OCRemixes appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visualisations: Helping You Put Meaningless Data Into Perspective [Stuff to Watch] Posted: 20 May 2013 03:30 PM PDT
Today’s Stuff to Watch features nothing but the most interesting visualisations I could find. As a species we’re suckers for statistics and numbers, but it’s amazing how little we can deduce from raw data without visual intervention. From the size of the universe to birth and death rates, visualisations help us understand everything. US Births & Deaths in Realtime
Fancy something to make you feel a little more mortal? Here’s a slightly unnerving realtime simulation of births and deaths in the US split by county. It’s important to remember that this is only a simulation, and so the frequency and locations of deaths and births are calculated from birth and death rates as well as random data. This simulation is the work of Brad Lyon, who just wanted to “get a feel for the qualitative rhythm of births and deaths in the U.S”. You can mouse over each county to get more information or click it to perform a Google search of that location. This would make a great screensaver to remind your colleagues of the fragile nature of life and the (frequent) miracle of birth. Perpetual OceanWhen it comes to cool-looking scientific things, NASA are on the whole are pretty good. In addition to a huge range of downloadable space apps and weeks worth of Stuff to Watch content, their Goddard Space Flight Centre are pretty good at visualising data, as seen in this Perpetual Ocean visualisation in 2011. The short video presents a three-minute long look at the planet’s tidal patterns, in a stylised and rather beautiful manner. In addition to the YouTube embed above you can download the video in a variety of formats as well as some select huge screen grabs here. US Wind PatternsOn a similar note to the NASA video above, two artists have created a stylised visual representation of wind patterns across the USA. Working under the joint name of Hint.FM, Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg created the tool to pull in fresh data every hour and display it on an interactive map. You can view the realtime results or simply watch the video above, but the creators stress this is not an accurate scientific tool for flying planes, sailing boats or putting out fires. It’s quite pretty, though. Every Documented Incoming MeteoriteVisualizing.org is a site that specialises in showcasing visualisations, unsurprisingly. In addition to infographics full of graphs and charts, video visualisations offer a highly accessible window into science, such as this visualisation of Earth meteorite strikes. Since 2500BC 34,513 meteorites have been recorded as hitting Earth, though only 1,042 were witnessed. This video provides a clear overview of that history. Stephen Hawking’s Lectures, VisualisedHow do you visualise the words and thought patterns of an individual on a chart, graph or via a map? When it came to the work of Stephen Hawking, all Jared Ficklin could see was stars and so he turned the great physicist’s voice recordings into a visual representation of the night sky. A little outlandish, a little interpretive but incredibly fitting; Jared provides a nice dry explanation at the start of the video, so click play and enjoy. 100,000 StarsA great use of WebGL if ever I saw one, 100,000 stars is Google’s attempt at visualising the universe through the wonders of in-browser 3D rendering. If ever you needed a reminder of how tiny and insignificant we all are, this is it. No really, keep zooming. And zooming. Eventually you will find our Earth, a tiny speck in a sea of nothing. These are the 100,000 nearest stars to our tiny patch of space; for reference there are 200-400 billion in the Milky Way alone. Hans Rosling’s VisualisationsHans is a professor of global health at the Korolinska Institute in Sweden, and he’s got a certain way with words. Watch Hans Rosling as he takes us through the history of the developing world, and the progress made since 1963. Hans shows us how child mortality rates fall dramatically, global education standards improve and just how recent some of these developments really are. The above video is actually a TED talk from 2010, and involves Hans using Ikea props to visualise global population growth and trends. There’s a certain charm about the mannerisms, wit and method behind this video, making it a personal favorite TED talk of mine. Finally there’s the above video, titled “200 Countries, 200 Years in 4 Minutes” which uses 120,000 data points to map the health of 200 nations in two centuries. This video was in fact an outtake from a BBC show called The Joy of Stats, which you might enjoy if this sort of thing appeals to you. Mapping Fame: Bruce SpringsteenBefore the Internet and “going viral”, the only way to measure fame involved sales and event attendance. The more records and artist sold and the more people who came to the shows, the more popular the artist was perceived to be. Here we have 40 years worth of Bruce Springsteen performances on a map of the USA along with album launches and performance attendances. It’s an interesting look at the performer’s career using the only data available, and it’s much nicer than finishing on a visualisation about how we’re all doomed. If you have any favorite visualisations either in video or infographic form be sure to share them in the comments below! The post Visualisations: Helping You Put Meaningless Data Into Perspective [Stuff to Watch] appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Byword Offers Fullscreen Distraction-Free Writing Pleasure On Your Mac Posted: 20 May 2013 02:31 PM PDT
Perhaps you have better concentration than I do, but for me my best writing happens in a comfortable, reliable and distraction-free place. If you want to, as Neil Gaiman said, “Make Good Art“. Make yourself a beverage, find comfortable seating and open up a decent writing tool. Maybe you’ve already encountered your own diamond in the desert. As we well know, there’s no shortage of great Mac apps. But if you’re using an office suite or notepad application to spin sentences (as opposed to writing reports), you’re definitely missing something out. Allow me to introduce you to Byword, a beautiful, simplistic writing tool. Byword ($9.99)The Byword writing app is a text editor available for Mac OS X and iOS. In this article, we’ll mostly be focusing on the desktop client. What you should know starting out is that Byword is no traditional office text editor or notepad application. Rather, it’s a very simplistic rich text and markdown editor, intended to be completely (or as much as possible) distraction-free.
It’s not just a prettier alternative to TextEdit, though. Byword is completed with a variety of features that assist you while you’re writing your next novel, article or literary doodle. It’s a simple package, all in all, but very rich in usability. Add in other techniques to help you focus and stay productive for a killer combination. Rich Formatting Versus MarkdownBy default, Byword will function as a markdown editor, similar to FountainPen which was previously reviewed on MakeUseOf. In case you’re wondering, Markdown is a way to impose styling (for example, bold text or headers) on a document in plain text, all without hindering reading the document in its current form. Byword provides a guide to pick up on its own MultiMarkdown formatting. The guide itself was, in fact, written in MultiMarkdown in Byword.
If markdown editors are not your cup of tea, don’t worry. You’ll be able to switch to rich text formatting in the settings. These formatting options are a far cry from what you’d find in most rich text environments, but Byword hopes to offer what you really only need to structure your writing. This covers three different text sizes, the usual bold, italic underlining, alignment, bullet lists and highlights. A nice finish is the formatting pop-over, which is activated by pressing command+T, and lets you stylize currently selected text. Fullscreen ModeOne of the first things you do when you don’t want to be distracted is close your door. The analogous action on your computer is to put your application in full-screen. Byword can be put full screen by pressing the Command and Enter keys on your keyboard.
Your text is centered on the screen and Byword’s word and character counters are still visible on the bottom of your screen in a light grey. Apart from that, there’s absolutely nothing. It may sound strange to describe it so, but it’s a view that I absolutely love. Especially when you switch the color profile from white to black in the application settings, as you can see in the screenshot above. Line & Paragraph FocusAnother two cool features that Byword adds to the mix are line and paragraph focus. The idea of paragraph focus is simple: the paragraph you’re working in looks normal while the rest of the document is greyed out. Not the best idea for documents where you need overview at all times, but good for almost any other scenario. Line focus is similar, only the current line is spared instead of the entire paragraph.
Typewriter mode offers another novel way to keep your focus on the text you’re currently working on. Not through shading, though, but through placement. Like the typewriters of old, this mode puts the line you’re working on in the vertical center of your screen. Start typing somewhere else, and it readjusts. Not only is this a great way to keep focus, it also does a lot to prevent eye fatigue. What text editor do you normally use, or do you use more than one? Let us know in the comments section below! The post Byword Offers Fullscreen Distraction-Free Writing Pleasure On Your Mac appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enjoy 160+ Free Recipes At Your Fingertips With Foodie Recipes For iPad [iOS] Posted: 20 May 2013 01:00 PM PDT
One of the apps I got acquainted with on this journey is Foodie Recipes, a free iPad app that’s both beautiful, diverse and seasonally relevant. Foodie Recipes is based on the website foodie.com, but is not merely a mobile version of the website. Rather, Foodie Recipes offers a recipe magazine of sorts, which aggregates the best seasonal recipes from food bloggers and professionals from all over the world. Each edition of Foodie Recipes has a different theme, with dozens of easy-to-follow recipes for you to prepare. When I say Foodie Recipes is free, I mean it. Not only is the app free, not only is the current edition free, but all past editions are also free, which easily brings you to over 150 curated recipes for all kinds of dishes suitable for different times of the year. Spring Flavor
The app is built much like a magazine, with an editor’s note at the beginning, and one recipe and image per page. There are several ways to navigate through the app: flipping through recipes by tapping, jumping through them using the visual toolbar at the bottom of the screen, or using the collapsible table of contents on the left.
The Spring Flavor edition includes recipes ranging from super easy ones (deviled eggs, strawberry and avocado salad, grilled baby artichokes), to intermediate ones (broiled salmon with rhubarb salsa, chocolate-covered strawberry pie), to special occasion ones (lamb curry meat pie with minted peas, chickpea cakes with shaved asparagus and yogurt, key lime pie marshmallows). Each recipe comes with one image of the finished product, an ingredient list, and step-by-step directions, as well as prep time, cooking time, and yield.
The recipes are easy to follow and clear, but if you’re a complete beginner, you’ll find that they don’t exactly teach you how to cook. Most of these recipes are aimed at people who cook from time to time or like cooking, and are looking to expand their usual repertoire. Unlike the Foodie website, there’s currently no way to bookmark recipes, add them to a recipe book, or mark them in any other way. You can, however, share a favorite recipe on Facebook or Twitter, email it to yourself or someone else, or print it straight from the app (requires AirPrint).
More EditionsFoodie Recipe’s offering doesn’t end with one edition, though. To date, Foodie has released four different editions for its iPad app: Spring Flavor, Romantic Meals, Game Day Guide, and Holiday Deserts. Some of these, such as the Romantic Meals edition, even come with an amusing video helping you set up the mood for a romantic Valentine’s day dinner.
To access these extra editions, tap the “Contents” button on the top left to expand the table of contents. Below the names of the different sections, you’ll find the “Editions” button. Tap an edition to start downloading it for free.
Each edition contains 40 recipes from a range of sources, showing you how to make everything from bourbon and ginger cupcakes or vanilla carrot soup, to stuffed pizza mushrooms, and bourbon and cider turkey meatballs. A new edition of Foodie Recipes is released every couple on months, so you can always look forward to new and surprising recipes on the same stunning interface. Best of all the app has no intrusive adverts and won’t keep nagging you to buy in-app purchases to unlock content – this is one truly free app to help discover your inner chef. Foodie Recipes is a great source of recipes, but doesn’t provide any way to collect or manage your recipes. If you’re looking for a recipe manager, Paprika Recipe Manager is worth a look. And as always, don’t forget to check out our Best of iPad Apps page for more recommendations you can make use of. Download: Foodie Recipes on iTunes (Free) Do you like Foodie Recipes? Is there another foodie app you’d like to recommend? Tell us all about it in the comments! The post Enjoy 160+ Free Recipes At Your Fingertips With Foodie Recipes For iPad [iOS] appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Up Your Mac Desktop With RSS Feed Reader NewsBar [Mac & iOS] Posted: 20 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT
One of the newest RSS feed readers on the block is NewsBar for Mac (offering a free lite version, and $3.99 full version) and iPhone ($3.99). Though I’ve been a longtime user of NewsRack, I was immediately impressed with the features in NewsBar and how they could be useful to my workflow as someone who monitors news and blog feeds throughout the day. How NewsBar Stands OutNewsBar is similar to traditional newsreaders in that it enables you to add RSS feed subscriptions and manage them in folders/categories. NewsBar also supports Google Reader integration, but since that service will be shut down by July 1 of this year, it’s probably better to manually add subscriptions instead of importing Google Reader subscriptions.
NewsBar’s user interface is quite different This window bar interface works great for large screen Macs or for those of us who use more than one desktop monitor. I have NewsBar parked on the far left side of my second monitor. Placing it on your main monitor desktop might make it a little obtrusive.
Unfortunately, NewsBar doesn’t have an automatic hide feature for when it’s not being viewed. You can however set feed items to auto hide after you have marked them read. I have mapped NewsBar to BetterTouchTool which enables me to quickly perform a three finger tap on my trackpad to mark all items as read. AppearanceNewsBar includes additional preferences that make it easy to adjust its appearance to your liking. You can select to have the window bar Always on top or always in the background. You can set the background opacity of the bar, as well as adjust the text size of feeds and the box height of the bar.
If you want NewsBar to compliment your existing desktop wallpaper, you can change the window background color of the sidebar and even add a background gradient that might make it less distracting. If you subscribe to a dozen or more feeds like I do, you might find folders useful for managing feeds. But more importantly, I really like that you can set a different text and background color for each of your subscriptions. So for example, if you have a feed that you want to stand-out above the rest, you might change the text or background of the feed’s news items or posts to red.
It is also possible to set the refresh rate individually for each feed, how many feed items to show and the number of news items that should remain in the feed window. Custom icons for each feed source can also be added or changed by simply dropping the icon in the subscribed feed window. Other FeaturesAnother one of the NewsBar’s powerful features is keyword notifications. If you monitor dozens of feed subscriptions a day, you might want to identify particular keywords in news or blog items that you want NewsBar to highlight visually with a designated text or background color.
For example, you might add keywords like “releases,” “updates,” “now available,” and “arrives” to highlight feed items that announce new updates to or releases of software or online services. You can also have NewsBar issue a sound alert for keyword related items, as well as put those keyword notices in the OS X Notification Center.
NewsBar also includes buttons and functions for performing a quick text search, adding new feeds, starring feed items, and showing only keyword filtered news. In its most recent update, keyboard shortcuts were added for toggling read items, marking items read and unread, and for starring them. Another useful feature allows you to quickly share feed items to a new email or via Twitter, Facebook, Messages, or Safari’s Reading List. By right (or control) clicking on a feed item, you can also select to mark individual feed items or all feed items as read or unread, and even delete a selected item from the list.
ConclusionIn the first few days I have used NewsBar, it has already shown itself to be a time saver. It reduces the need to constantly launch a newsreader in order to check new feeds. I can simply glance over to the left side of my second monitor and view and interact with new items. And by using special colored highlights, I can scan items for what I’m actually looking for. The “lite” version of NewsBar will give you a glimpse of how it works, but this version doesn’t include many of NewsBar’s more advanced features (no folders or menu bar buttons, and limited to two feed subscriptions). That said, if you’re an avid newsreader user I think NewsBar is worth checking out. Download: NewsBar for Mac OS X or iOS Let us know what you think of NewsBar, and any of your other favourite clients in the comments below. The post Power Up Your Mac Desktop With RSS Feed Reader NewsBar [Mac & iOS] appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You Too Can Benefit From The Power Of Email Signatures Posted: 20 May 2013 11:00 AM PDT
A few years back, I showed you how to create custom signatures in Gmail with Firefox add-ons. Much of that information remains true. So do the six tips to get more out of your Gmail email signatures. The common thread is to not only create a stylistic impression, but also create a personal brand or promote a corporate one. So, without further ado, let’s look at how you can benefit from the power of email signatures. The Benefits of an Email Signature
The Absolute Basics of an Email SignatureA neat email signature says just one simple thing – you care about the way you communicate. So, a basic email signature without a touch of pretension should answer who you are, what you do, and how you can be contacted. I personally prefer an email signature that is minimal and does not hog space. Our attention spans being limited as it is, I feel you could start with these points…
Designing a Simple Text Email SignatureEmail signatures in simple text allow you to create clean lines of information without fancy graphics and logos. They are also consistent across devices and aren’t handicapped if image blockers are in place (as in Gmail or Outlook). Designing a simple text signature for your email takes some creative thought because you can only work with fonts, font sizes, symbols, spacing, and the colors available. The following image illustrates a neat text signature created in Gmail:
This is a simple signature that took me just 3 minutes to set up in Gmail. All I used was the Verdana font and some spacing between the letters of my name to make it stand out. If it suits you, you can pick the colors of your company logo to design your text signature. Here’s another look at it with a placement of the address:
To take your default Gmail signature beyond text, you can use the rich text editor in Gmail to spice it up with hyperlinks and images too. Take Your Gmail Signature beyond Simple TextThe rich text signature editor in Gmail also helps you create HTML logos. You can insert small transparent logo icons for the services you want represented in your signature. An advanced Google Image Search will give you the location of such icons. Many services have media logos in different sizes, for instance: Twitter. Preferably, go for 16px by 16px sized transparent icons. Upload and position them appropriately. Here’s a sample signature I created quickly:
Also note (as this Gmail support page says) – if you send mail “from” multiple addresses in Gmail, you can set a different signature for each address in the General tab of your settings. You can also use the power of canned responses to set up multiple email signatures in the same account. Create a Signature with LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a rich signature generator that helps you populate your emails with HTML signatures. The signature generator comes with many hued themes to give your emails a stylized look. The LinkedIn signature generator gives you a JavaScript window as seen below. You can copy-paste the code into email clients which support HTML signatures.
The signature generator does not say that it supports online email clients. But there is a simple workaround you can implement for Gmail. Simply copy all the text in your LinkedIn signature and paste it into a new compose window. Gmail automatically displays the signature with the LinkedIn theme chosen exactly preserved. You can save and re-use this signature as a canned response.
Spice Up Your Emails with Third-Party Email Signature ToolsWiseStampWiseStamp is a browser add-on for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Thunderbird. The browser extension comes with many email signature templates which you can customize with your own information like a profile picture or logo, IM & social profiles. The singular feature of WiseStamp is that it gives you a choice of apps across the social web which you can connect to with your signature. For instance, you can add a Facebook email app to promote a Facebook page or a WordPress app to give your blog readership a boost. The free version gives you two signatures (e.g. personal and business), while the paid version with different plans comes with multiple signature support. Last year, Tina did a comprehensive review on WiseStamp. Since then new apps like Pinterest and Instagram have been introduced. Outlook.com is a webmail platform that is supported. One of the significant additions are the Sidebar Apps.
Sidebar Apps allows you to showcase your content alongside your emails. The sidebar placement allows you to promote your content on the right-hand side of your emails and potentially garner more eyeballs. Sidebar Apps are available for YouTube, Twitter, and Pinterest for now. SigwichSigwich is another third-party app that helps you create an appealing signature. It works with email clients like Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo, and on Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. Sigwich has a powerful signature engine that helps you build a creative signature easily. It has 6 different signature layouts that give you enough room to design a customized look. After touching up your signature, you can install the signature file and use it with your email client. Do note that you have to sign-up for a free account before you can click on download.
The optional signature layouts are good, but I wasn’t too satisfied with Sigwich. One of the little bugs I found while using Sigwich was that the Image Cropper wasn’t working properly. I missed the ability to color the fonts. Going head-to-head, WiseStamp is far more powerful and easier to use. There are many do’s and don’ts for creating the perfect email signature. Using the right tool is perhaps number one on the list. Keeping it simple and slim should be at number two. The benefits of using an email signature are often intangible. But you never know where the good word is being carried to. What about you? Do you consistently use an email signature? Mention how it benefits you? How did you design it? If not, it’s about time you did. Image Credit: Reading a letter by candlelight via Shutterstock The post You Too Can Benefit From The Power Of Email Signatures appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Archie Search Engine – The World’s First Search! Posted: 20 May 2013 10:00 AM PDT
Written over two decades ago and with no updates since then, Archie provided a very different search experience than we’re used to today. So how is it different, and could it still be useful today? I’ll take you on a tour of the Archie search engine and give you a perspective of how things have changed over the past 23 years. About Archie
First Impressions
Customizing Your Search
You can also choose whether the case is sensitive or insensitive. Another option that’s available is the ability to search for strings rather than paths to files or websites. In other words, if this option is enabled, it returns the filenames of what Archie finds, but not the actual place where the file was found so that you can download it. I’m not entirely sure why this feature would be very useful, but I’m sure it was added in for a reason. There are even three options for how the search results should be outputted, including keywords only, excerpts only, and links only. Advanced Options
ConclusionOverall, I feel that an Archie search engine, despite being primitive compared to today’s standards, was still a functional way to accomplish searches. I am surprised, however, about how specific you can still be with it, which can help a lot when looking for a specific file. I still prefer today’s search tools a lot more because it only takes a few keywords to find what I’m looking for without having to fill in a bunch of optional search parameters. Those improvements can be contributed to Ask.com’s ability to use natural language in its searches, and Google’s algorithmic advances. It’s interesting to see how search engines have progressed from Archie to Google, and it makes me excited to see how searches advance even more in the future! What’s your favorite search improvement when compared to the 90′s? Which search engine do you prefer most, and why? Let us know in the comments! Image Credit: Auntie P The post The Archie Search Engine – The World’s First Search! appeared first on MakeUseOf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Over the years, we’ve loved our popular search engines — AOL, Yahoo in 1994, and Google in post-1998. However, while all of these search engines have existed for quite a while now, none of them have been the first to exist. Instead, the first known search engine has made its place in history with the name of Archie.
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