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.

Smallest PDF viewer: Cool PDF Reader

Official Website:

http://www.pdf2exe.com/reader.html

Cool PDF Reader is the smallest and Free PDF reader that I know. As it is small (only 650KB), the software can be opened very quickly. Apart from its size, Cool PDF Reader is more than a PDF reader, it can:

-Convert PDF to graphic such as BMP and JPG
-Extract PDF to TXT
-Support many different language
-Zoom and rotate PDF page
-Slide show PDF document

Moreover, portable version of Cool PDF reader is available. This is the best for office which user does not have administrative right to install software.

My comment is that this software cannot compare with the Adobe PDF reader in terms of functionality. However, Cool PDF reader is best use for the computer that does not have much system resources and office use. I wonder why Adobe PDF reader is so large, as 650KB is enough for performing most of the common functions.

Comment on Facebook Social Plugin

Facebook can let you share your web experience with your friends. Here are some of the Social Plugin:

A. Like Button

The Like button lets users share pages from your site back to their Facebook profile with one click.

My Comment: Why no dislike button? A dislike button can give alert to friends. And I think man won't like the websites that dislike by woman.



B. Login Button

The Login Button shows profile pictures of the user's friends who have already signed up for your site in addition to a login button.

My Comment: I want to keep my privacy.



C. Comments:

The Comments plugin lets users comment on any piece of content on your site.

My Comment: Nothing New




D. Activity Feed

The Activity Feed plugin shows users what their friends are doing on your site through likes and comments.

My Comment: It is quite useful. The viewers can understand more about the website owner.




E. Live Stream

The Live Stream plugin lets your users share activity and comments in real-time as they interact during a live event.

My Comment: I think they won't share porn.

 

Overall speaking, I think Facebook developers are very creative who create many functions that have not been heard before. Besides, Facebook is very influential that many popular websites are willing to cooperate with Facebook. This makes Facebook to be the most popular social websites. 

Advanced SystemCareTM Free - make your PC run faster

Our PC has many rubbish that slow that the computer. There are many software that can optimize your PC, but they may not be as user-friendly as this one. Advanced SystemCareTM Free has a one-click approach to help protect, repair, clean, and optimize your PC. Another main advantage of Advanced SystemCareTM Free is FREE. I don't think we spend on these kind of software although they are quite useful.




Key Benefits

*Speeds Up PC and Internet

Tunes up Windows by releasing the built-in power of your system. Improves system and Internet performance by up to 400%.

*Quick and Extensive System Clean-up

Boosts your system's performance by cleaning missing files, unwanted files, obsolete files, and junk files. 50 types of junk files are supported

*Powerful Hard Drive Defragmentation

Fast, powerfully and incredibly effective Disk Defrag function to defragment hard drives - up to 10 times faster than other defragmentation tools.

*Defends PC Security with Extra Protection

Secure your PC quickly and easily. Scans and removes spyware and adware using up-to-date definition files. Prevents spyware, hackers and hijackers from installing malicious items on your computer. Erases and updates your PC’s activity history.

*Extremely Easy to Use
Completes its tasks with just one click! Scans, repairs and secures your PC within one minute.

Official Website:
http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html
Download Link:
http://www.iobit.com/ascdownload-promo.html

CCleaner v3.0 - clean your PC

CCleaner v3.0 is one of the most favorite cleaning tool for Windows PCs. The new version of CCLeaner has just released on 28-Oct-2010. The interface has not changed so much, but some functions has been added.

Changes include

A new 64-bit native EXE designed specifically for 64-bit systems.A new Drive Wiper tool screen under the Tools section, which allows users to securely erase the contents or free space on a specified drive.
Improved support for Internet IE9 and the Google Chrome browsers.We have also added improved cleaning support for HTML5 database storage, allowing CCleaner to effectively manage the next generation of web applications.
Additional cleaning support for Microsoft Silverlight Isolated Storage.
Three new environment variables (%SystemDirectory%, %SystemDirectory32%, and %SystemDirectory64%)
New Intelligent cookie keeping feature.

Official Website:


http://www.piriform.com/blog/2010/10/28/ccleaner-v30

Kill some time by "destroying" any website

http://erkie.github.com/

 Wanna kill some time? You could enter into this web. Follow the instruction. After that, you could "destroy" the website that you like.

Simple, but creative.

Daily Todo - A simple tool that lets you to track your daily tasks

Today, we start to focus on computer and Internet. I would like to share one of the featured Tool on web - Daily Todo. We all know that planning is important. With proper planning, we have more courage for achievement and have better arrangement for time and resource. This tools could help us to record the tasks for today:

 

 As shown in the screen above. Daily Todo can remind what you need to do today and the future. The tool is free and registration is not required. What you need to do is just bookmark the website and visit again tomorrow.

I think this tool is simple, but creative and useful.

DJ dog

Dog's in the mirror

Solution to Facebook privacy problem

As a user of Facebook, I think of several method to solve Facebook privacy problem.

First, it is a wide concern that the information uploaded cannot be deleted. Facebook should have a function to permanently delete the information uploaded to the web. The "delete" should be clear and easy to use. This could let the user trust the Facebook.

Second, Facebook should more variation in privacy setting. For example, some photos cannot be seen by some friends. At the same time some photos could be seen by all friends. If some information posted by friends are violating other users privacy, the user could report to the Facebook to delete it.

Last, Facebook should intend to promote communication between friends only. I mean Facebook should discourage making friends with stranger. All the user cannot see others information before adding them to friends. Facebook should ban the ip that the account that always rejected by others.

The value of university degree

As many people have a university degree, a degree seems not help us find a good job that worth for the school fee. I think it would be better to enter the university.

First, it has good chance to meet new friends in the university. I means making real friends. We have less time to play and meet friends when work. With friends, the chance to succeed increases.

Second, we can learn in the university. Although we could learn outside the university, we usually do not have so much time to concentrate on one topic with guidance from professors and schoolmate. The knowledge do have its values that is not for earning money.

Last, we could experience a very different life. In the university, we could organize different clubs, live in halls, attend lecture and joining different activities and go exchange. Those experience can hardly be found outside the university. It is cool to experience a different lives.

How to sell insurance

Many insurance agents can be rich, but most of them quit the industry and lose most of the friends. I think insurance is not an evil, there are some hints that help to become an ethical and successful agent:

1. Sell suitable products
If the customer is poor, don't sell too much insurance. The client may have financial problems that could not afford the insurance. Besides, the agent could build up reputation by not selling high commission insurance plan.

2. Make friends
Everyone knows it is important to make friends, but the main point is to let the friends trust you. I don't mean to pretend, but really be an honest person. "Concerning" a friend that haven't met for a long time is certainly dishonest. We should help others because of we wish but not for money.

3. Explain all the details
Many agents exaggerate the benefit of insurance. For example, they make the clients believe that they must claim in the future but actually many of the clients won't. Some make the clients believe that the insurance cover all the areas but actually many areas are not protected. The agent should explain all the details in order to make long term benefit.

Multi-sport event

Is it good to hold multi-sport event to boost economy?

The investment in sports facilities is large. The operation cost of the sports events is high. The income from tickets and tourists are likely not able to cover the expenses. The "long-term" effect such as the income from long-term tourism cannot be measured accurately. In terms of money, multi-sport event should not be organized.

However, the value of multi-sport event varied among different people. For those country which want to show their power and gain reputation from the world, the value of the multi-sports event is very high. For those country which lack of happiness, a sport events may be able to raise the reputation of the government and bring a little happiness to the citizens.

For the citizens, they would have more sports activities and more awareness of doing exercise. Therefore, the value of sport events depends on how the citizen value on sports activities. Some "traditional" sports activities such as track and field and swimming may not be popular to the teenager. The youth may prefer other sports activities. Moreover, the awareness of doing exercise could be raised by other means.

I think it is good to organize a "cut-cost" sports activities to balance the benefit between sports and economy. As not all sports activities are organized in multi-sport activities, the sports activities that is expensive to organize or not popular should be canceled.

Economy and Environment

Nowadays, people live in developed countries are not afraid of hanger. At least they are supplied with basic needs which could sustain their lives. However, people want a better live. I think this desire which built in Human gene is used to push human beings to survive in wild. This desire seems to be out of control as the technology are improving at a extremely high speed. Many products are invented, such as Iphone and IPad. Those products are not necessary. However, the society needs those "unnecessary" products to boost the economy and provide jobs for people.

As the technology is improving, more products will be invented. However, those products requires material and energy to produced and even for disposal. The production of the products bring with pollution. Most of us may have sense of environmental protection. Some may try to use less electricity and participate in recycling. However, the marketing of the products is far more successful. Environmentalist are persuaded to have "quality of life". If they don't buy trendy products, they looks "outdated" or "bad quality of life". As a result, many energy and material are wasted.

I do not have a solution for this problem. I personally do not buy unnecessary products. I just want to live in a low quality of live.