FoxyTunes - Control media from browser

It may be troublesome to control music during web-surfacing. FoxyTunes is a browser add-on which control the music playing in the browser. FoxyTunes works with most of the popular media plater like iTunes, Winamp, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer. Besides, FoxyTunes could find videos, photos lyrics which related to current playing. Other features include:

-Recently played song history
-Subscribe to podcasts
-Music signatures for email, blog and forums
-Stream media files directly from the Web to your media player

Official Website:
http://www.foxytunes.com/

Power Plan Assistant for Windows 7

For mobile devices such as notebook, the power is limited. And the notebook consumes too much energy. It is better to save some energy for the Earth. Power Plan Assistant for Windows® 7 is a smart power management application for Microsoft Windows 7. It allows a user to switch between the built-in and custom power plans.

Feathers of the software:
-Easily switch between the Windows® built-in/custom power plans
-Switch the power plans automatically to save energy before the battery has no power
-Power off the display, lock workstation or toggle Windows® 'Flip 3D' mode instantly and easily
-Run the user-defined application or a batch file if power plan changes

Official Website:
http://www.powerplan7.com/home.htm

Youtube Downloader 2.6.3

As what can be understand from the name of the software, Youtube Downloader can be used to download Youtube video. Apart from Youtube, Youtube Downloader can download video from Facebook, Google Video, Yahoo Video, etc. It can act as a Flash player that plays Flash video.

Besides, Youtube Downloader is not only a "Downloader", but also able to convert them for Ipod, Iphone, PSP, Cell Phone, Windows Media, XVid and MP3. Moreover, Youtube Downloader can cut and select the output quality of converted videos.

The new version, version 2.6.3, fixes some downloading problems and adds support for "youtube.com/user/..." URLs for YouTube, xtube, keezmovies, and a few other sites. It can also download restricted video from Youtube.

 

Official Website:
http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/

Download Link:

http://download.cnet.com/YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-10647340.html

Mixxx - Free DJ software for Live Mixes

Today I would like to introduce a free mixing software - Mixxx. Mixxx provides everything required for creating live mixes without any extra hardware. Mixxx could replace a traditional "turntables and mixer" DJ setup.

Features:
A. Mixing
-Comprehensive MIDI controller and vinyl control support
-Hardware video acceleration
-looping and hot cue control
-Allow subtley nudge songs back in sync
B. DJ MIDI Controller
-Support most DJ MIDI controllers
-Can set up other controllers with Mixxx
C. Vinyl Control
-Playback can be syncronized to the turntable
-No expensive sound card is required
D. Flexibility
-Skinnable interface and customizable EQ shelves

Official website:
http://mixxx.org

HAMSTER Free Video Converter

HAMSTER Free Video Converter is the Free Video Converter that I high recommend. First, this video converter is free, but it is as powerful as those software that we need to pay. This video converter supports many format, for example, 3GP, MP3, MP4, AVI, MPG, WMV, MPEG, FLV, HD, DVD, M2TS. We could convert any video to iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, PSP, etc. This software is powerful, and also easy to use. What we need is just clicking on the buttons "Add file", "Edit" and "Convert". Besides, this software support many different languages such as English, Fench, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc.

Official Website:


http://videoconverter.hamstersoft.com/en/

Comparison of Folder Protection Software

Your computer may be used by others with or without your authentication. There may be some private information such as password, dairy, photos and company information that you don't want to share with others. We might use Winzip which encrypt files or folders, but it will take a long time to zip large file. There are several software with forbid access to certain folders. Today I am going to show you some:

1. Folder Lock
http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/
Folder Lock is one of the most popular software which encrypt and use password to protect files and folders. It use 256-bit AES encryption and can hide all traces of Folder Lock. The folder that locked cannot be invisible. Any folder can be locked and hidden. Another featured function is that is can monitor wrong password attempts and can shut down PC automatically.

One of the disadvantages is that the complete version of this software is not free. Some anti-virus software may report virus/danger about this software, but it should have no problem.

2. Microsoft Private Folder
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/offers/Details.aspx?displaylang=en&countrycode=USA&offerid=441c2998-248b-49cf-b084-f3a237b58f71
This software is developed by Microsoft. It only has one specific folder to be protected by 
password. The files under this folder would not be seen. The only advantage of this software is free.

3. dirLock 1.4
http://emon.us/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Lockdown/dirLock.shtml
I would recommend dirLock 1.4. It is free. It can encrypt any folder that you like. One of the disadvantage is that the folders that are password protected are seen by others. And others could know which folders are locked simply by clicking the dirLock 1.4 without password.

Best softwares for safer web-surfing in workplace

I am not sure what your working environment is. I do not have right to install software in my office computer and my office does not encourage web surfing for private use. I highly recommend the following software for safer web surfing in office:

1. Portable Firefox

Official Webiste:
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

A portable software means that it can be installed without administrative right. I recommend Firefox because it is a fast web browser that allows you to visit website and close your browser faster. Firefox has a setting that clean up your history and temporary Internet files when closing the browser. The most important function is that Firefox has many addons that make you visit websites safer in office.

2. Firefox extension  - Page Title Eraser

Official Website:
https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-TW/firefox/addon/2363/

As what you may understand from the name of the addons, Page Title Eraser allows you to hide title and icon of the selected tab by using hot key (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H) or from "Right-click" menu. So when you boss comes behind you. You could simply minimize your web browser without closing it.

3. Firefox extension - Panic

Official Website:
https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-TW/firefox/addon/6367/

This extension allows you to close all tabs and opening another one that you want to show your boss. When your boss goes away, you could restore to the website that you browse before.

4. Firefox extension - Adblock Plus

Official Website:
https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-TW/firefox/addon/1865/

Adblock allows you to block the Flash content on screen. As Flash content is more visible far-way than words and advertisement is useless, this extension make you free of the danger from useless advertisement.

My last recommendation is not to visit website in workplace too often. The software above could not delete the browsing history in office sever. When the boss checks for the browsing history, everything would be known. The softwares above is just use for occasional use.