Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Mozilla FireFox v10.0 Final Portable

Mozilla FireFox v10.0 Final Portable:


Mozilla FireFox v10.0 Final Portable | 26.1 MB


Mozilla Firefox - faster, more secure, easier to use and sporting a new look, this latest Firefox release sets a new standard for web browser innovation. Mozilla Firefox project (formerly Firebird, which was formerly Phoenix) is a redesign of Mozilla's browser component, written using the XUL user interface language and designed to be cross-platform. It is small, fast and easy to use, and offers many advantages over other web browsers, such as the tabbed browsing and the ability to block pop-up windows.

Friday, January 27, 2012

How To Install Android 4.0.3 ICS MIUI ROM On Galaxy S II [Tutorial]

How To Install Android 4.0.3 ICS MIUI ROM On Galaxy S II [Tutorial]:
Ever since the source code for Ice Cream Sandwich was released some two months back, many talented developers have been tirelessly experimenting in order to bring a range of custom ROMs for those running certain Android devices.

Screenshot_2012-01-22-10-23-58

One such ROM is MIUI, which, based on CyanogenMod, is one of the more popular custom builds due to its smooth and distinct interface. More than being just a pretty face though, it features a better notifications menu as well as enhanced Camera/Gallery/Music apps.

Last month we showed you how to install MIUI on your HP TouchPad device, and courtesy of adyscorpius over at XDA-Developers, you can now install it on your Samsung Galaxy S II. It’s a pretty well-tuned build, thus you won’t have to sacrifice any basic functions in order to enjoy it, and while we’d usually advise against performing such mods on your daily runner, this particular ROM is at version 2.1, so many of the usual caveats found in early alpha releases have been resolved.

If you’ve already installed CyanogenMod on your Galaxy S II, you will need to boot into ClockworkMod Recovery, wipe /data and /cache partitions, before installing the downloaded .zip file from install zip from sdcard menu; just as we did in our previous tutorial: how to install CyanogenMod 7 (Alpha 3).

Even if you haven’t already installed CyanogenMod, don’t fret, since installing MIUI on the Galaxy S II isn’t particularly difficult. Check out the guide how to install CyanogenMod (Alpha 11) for information on how you can do that.

DISCLAIMER: Redmond Pie will not be held responsible for loss of data or damage to device whilst following of this guide. Proceed at your own risk, and be sure to back your device up in advance.

With the formalities out of the way, let’s get started. Before you begin, make sure you’ve the following files at the ready:

Step 1: Download the AdyScorpiusMIUIv2.1-ICS-i9100-2.1.20.zip via this link. The file is over 100MB, so may take a few moments for those on slower connections.

Step 2: Once the download is complete, copy the .zip file to /sdcard.

Step 3: Boot your Galaxy SII into Recovery Mode.

Step 4: Select Wipe Data/Factory Reset, and then go to Mounts and Storage and select Wipe System.

Step 5: Install zip from sdcard – Version 2.1.

Step 6: Wipe Data/Factory Reset once more.

Step 7: Reboot your device, and you should be good to go.

If you come across any problems along the way, don’t hesitate to check out the official thread on XDA.

Pasir Ris beach reopens after water quality improves

Pasir Ris beach reopens after water quality improves:

Pasir Ris beach reopened to the public on Friday, after the quality of its water was upgraded by the National Environment Agency. The water, which previously received a 'Fair' grading, has improved to meet 'Good' standard.



Thursday, January 26, 2012

Get Your Game On With These 30 New and Classic Boardgames for Mac

Get Your Game On With These 30 New and Classic Boardgames for Mac:
Are you looking for a good way to have fun on your Mac but don’t really consider yourself a gamer? Perhaps you’re nostalgic for the days when playing a game involved a couple of dice, a colorful board and some interestingly shaped pieces to move around that board.

Well you’re in luck because there are a ton of board game apps out there for Mac. You can stick with the classics (there’s at least one version out there of every big name board game you can think of) or you can try some board games that you might not often find in physical form. Those are less common, but I’m going to take you through the classics and then point you in the direction of some you might not have seen before.



The Classics



Monopoly
Monopoly


Monopoly


Monopoly is our first classic game. It’s available in the Mac App Store for easy download and Electronic Arts does offer an official version of the game. The game offers great graphics and sounds, with a playing style that really reminds you of playing Monopoly with a real board game.

If you want, you can play against 4 difficulty levels of computer players. You can also try out the “teacher mode” where you learn from a computer competitor. Lastly, you can play against up to 3 other players locally. The game doesn’t yet offer an online multi-player mode.

Price: $9.99 (on sale now, 50% off)

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6 or later

Developer: EA Games




Here and Now
Monopoly Here & Now


Monopoly Here & Now


If you’re looking for a modern day take on Monopoly, check out Monopoly Here & Now. It’s a bit pricier and less updated than the EA version of the original Monopoly. On the plus side, you get to become a billionaire!

This game features updated locations like the Texas Stadium and huge airports like LAX instead of train stations. You get to trade at prices that are much more like what you would see today. You get the same basic features – options to play against various difficulty level computer players or the option to play against your local friends and family.

Price: $19.95, free demo

Requires: Mac OS X 10.3.9

Developer: Macsoft Games




Fortune
Fortune


Fortune


If you’re looking for a free Monopoly style game, there aren’t a lot of options for Mac. Fortune seems to be the most common game out there. It’s a similar strategy style game of investing and trading, featuring a board and game play style that are extremely similar to the original Monopoly.

Again, you can play with up to 4 players, both human and computer. It promises to be a very customizable experience. While the graphics and interface leave something to be desired, it’s the closest that you’ll find for free!

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X 10.3

Developer: Abdulnasser Alkaabi




The Game of Life
The Game of Life


The Game of Life


The Game of Life was probably my favorite board game growing up so I’ll take any opportunity to play this game. EA’s The Game of Life offers game-play that is very similar to the classic board game. The board is still set up in the same fashion, with similar careers, life cards and more.

The game offers more interactivity and some modern updates. You can sell your first house in order to buy a second, better house. You can interact with the board game in new ways – moving the boat, or ringing the doorbell. It also offers a journal at the end to check out your journey through life.

You can play with up to 6 players. You can play against the computer players, or you can play with your family and friends in party play mode.

Price: $9.99 (currently on sale, 50% off)

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: Electronic Arts




The Game of Life - Path to Success
The Game of Life - Path to Success


The Game of Life – Path to Success


If you’re interested in a spin-off of The Game of Life, you should check out The Game of Life – Path to Success. While this game isn’t a traditional board game, you still get some of the experience of The Game of Life. It’s more of a game loosely based on the story of Life. You complete levels, working in a time management situation and play mini-games.

This game is fun and simple. It’s good for someone who wants a combination of board game style and time management play. There aren’t any multi-player options, so don’t expect there to be any player interactivity. This is entirely a solo play.

Price: $19.95, free demo

Requires: Mac OS X 10.3.9

Developer: GameHouse




Scrabble
Scrabble


Scrabble


Scrabble is certainly a classic. There are tons of versions of classic scrabble, enhanced scrabble and plenty of free knock-offs as well. This version of scrabble offers 4 different game modes where you can play against 1 of 8 computer opponents or play against your friends and family.

You can play 4 different game modes in this version. You can try the classic mode, race against the clock, play a tournament or set up a custom tournament. It includes hints and even has a scrabble dictionary!

Price: $9.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.3.9

Developer: GameHouse




Scrabble Plus
Scrabble Plus


Scrabble Plus


If you like scrabble but want some extra features, you should check out Scrabble Plus. This game still offers the classic version of Scrabble, playing against computer opponents or friends and family. It includes hints and a Scrabble dictionary, making it a nice version of classic Scrabble.

The twist is that this particular version includes Scrabble Golf, where you try and reach the green by playing the longest words; Scrabble Battle, incorporating a Risk style element of controlling territories; and Scrabble Wizard which has 3 extra-challenging versions of scrabble.

Price: $19.95, free demo

Requires: Mac OS X 10.5

Developer: MacSoft




Clue Classic
Clue Classic


Clue Classic


Clue is yet another classic board game. This version by MacSoft really captures the original feel of the game – The characters, locations and weapons are all true to the original. The game even captures the Art Deco type feel.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer a multi-player option. However, there are hundreds of possibilities and many levels of computer opponents to play against. If you’re a Clue fan, it’s probably worth the investment.

Price: $19.95, free demo

Requires: Mac OS X 10.3.9

Developer: MacSoft




Guess the Character!
Guess the Character!


Guess the Character!


Guess Who is a popular board game, with several different physical versions being put out over the many years of its existence. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find an official version of the game. I did, however, find Guess the Character! a simple knock-off of the game.

Gameplay works in the same fashion as the original – pick a character, ask yes or no questions to eliminate candidates and guess your opponent’s character. The graphics are simple, and your only play options are a simple player versus computer or player versus player. It still captures the spirit of Guess Who, however, so if you’re into the original it’s definitely worth a shot, especially at this low price.

Price: $1.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: Jandusoft




Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride


Ticket to Ride


Ticket to Ride is a strategy board game that basically involves creating as many train routes as possible around the country in order to earn points and best your opponent. It’s a classic, with many different maps and versions available for physical gameplay. There is a Mac version, but unfortunately it’s not nearly as expansive as the physical versions or as cost effective as the mobile versions.

Ticket to Ride offers the basic US map with online capability for ten bucks. Unfortunately, that’s only one map and only one challenge. For greater variety you can buy the Europe, Swiss and 1910 US expansion packs for 5 bucks apiece. These maps can be played online or downloaded directly to your computer for a greater experience with high resolution and online opponent availability.

Price: $9.99 for original, expansions are $4.99 each.

Requires: Mac OS X 10.3

Developer: Days of Wonder




Risk II
Risk II


Risk 2


Risk is a cult classic requires no introduction. This version of the classic game mixes fantastic graphics and animated battles with advanced map options and even more ways to play. You can play against friends or other opponents, against computer players or try the hot-seat mode.

For variety, you can play in multiple locations, or try same-time mode or tournament mode. If that’s not enough, you can also changing the winning conditions – things such as world domination, missions and capitals let you change the game length and provides some great twists.

Price: $29.95, free demos available

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: MacSoft




Lux Delux
Lux Delux


Lux Delux


If you’d like a slightly cheaper version of Risk that focuses more on traditional game play but still provides many options for customized games, Lux Delux might be for you. The only option for playing style is the classic option – that being said, you can still change the game to suit you. You can play 11 different computer opponents, of 11 different difficulty levels. Beware: Level 11 is hard!

You can also choose from over 800 maps, they have historical, geometric, geographic and fantasy settings. There’s a huge user base, which is where most of the maps come from. You can create your own maps using the built-in editor and publish it online for others to download. You can also get involved with the fan base in their active forums, or by playing an internet-based game.

Price: $14.95, free 30-day trial

Requires: – Not Stated

Developer: SillySoft




Domination
Domination


Domination


If a freeware version of Risk is what you seek, Domination is the closest match on the Mac app market. While the graphics aren’t the greatest, you still get an experience similar to Risk. There are also no sound effects and no soundtrack.

You can play against computer opponents, or against up to six players. You can create a network within the game for you and your friends. You can also view all of your stats at the end of every game. They do have some extra maps available for download. While it isn’t the greatest gameplay, if you really want a free version of Risk, this should do the trick.

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X

Developer: Yura




Catan - Cities & Knights
Catan - Cities & Knights


Catan – Cities and Knights


If you’re a fan of Settlers of Catan, this is a very popular expansion pack that’s available for Mac. This game includes the base game as well as Seafarers and Cities & Knights. This is an exciting strategy game with a 20 level campaign and many story sequences.

If you’d like to stick to traditional gameplay, that’s available against various computer opponents. They have a trial available, so if you’re into strategy games but haven’t played Settlers of Catan before, you can check that out. The game offers nice simple graphics with an easy to use interface.

Price: $29.95, free trial

Requires: Mac OS X 10.5, or you can run it in compatibility mode for OS X 10.4 and earlier.

Developer: Catan GmbH







Oops!


While there isn’t an official version of Sorry! available for Mac, you can check out Oops! as a freeware alternate. The game is a direct knock-off of Sorry! from the board to the cards. Gameplay functions in the same way, and you are able to play against up to 3 computer opponents. You can also go head to head in network play.

The downside of this freeware version is that the computer opponents aren’t exactly the most intelligent. Unfortunately, they do not grasp the strategy of gameplay well which can be frustrating. It’s free, however, so that has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X 10.4

Developer: Erik Hinterbichler




Maxi Dice
Maxi Dice


Maxi Dice


To the best of my knowledge, there isn’t an “official” version of Yahtzee for Mac. There are a few versions for mobile devices, but nothing for the desktop. Maxi Dice is probably the nicest version of Yahtzee that you’ll find for Mac. This game offers 2 styles of Yahtzee – You can play original Yahtzee with 5 dice, or for some added excitement you can play Maxi Yahtzee. This version offers 6 dice and more categories in which to place points.

This game is simple but well-designed. The interface is intuitive, and it makes it easy to pick up and play a game. You can play against friends locally, or against computer opponents.

Price: $9.95

Requires: Mac OS X

Developer: Kristanix




Jahtzee
Jahtzee


Jahtzee


If you want a free way to play the most basic version of Yahtzee, Jahtzee is your game. It offers the most basic functionality of Yahtzee – dice and a digital score card in a very basic interface. If all you want to do is play a game of Yahtzee with family and friends locally, check out Jahtzee. Otherwise, it’s not really worth it without computer opponents or other functionality.

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X

Developer: James D. Gutholm




Mancala FS5
Manacala FS5


Mancala FS5


Mancala is a game as old as it gets. I’ve been playing this game since I was young, and it’s definitely one of those “easy to learn, hard to master” type games. Whether you’re new to the game or have been playing for years, Mancala FS5 is a great game.

Offering a simple but well designed user interface with basic customization options the game works well. You can play against a computer opponent, against another player locally or play against one of thousands of people that play online throughout the day.

Price: $4.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6

Developer: FlipSide5, Inc.




Sigma Chess
Sigma Chess


Sigma Chess


Once you start looking for ways to play “classic” games like chess and checkers you’ll find an abundance of options. This is particularly true because of the App Store where you’ll find tons of chess and checkers apps for only a dollar or two. Sigma Chess is a very straight-forward but full-featured free chess application.

This app offers something for everyone from beginners to master level players. If you’re a beginner, you can select an easy opponent and play a simple game on the 3D chess board. If you’re an advanced player, you can play a computer opponent up to master level 13. You can also annotate and analyze the games you play using an array of built-in features.

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X 10.4 – Older versions can be run in compatibility mode.

Developer: Ole K. Christensen




InCube Chess
InCube Chess


InCube Chess


You’ll very easily find a multitude of decent paid chess apps available, so I wanted to provide a twist on chess. InCube chess adds a third dimension to chess. Rather than moving solely along the X and Y axis, you’re also able to move along the Z axis. You’re literally playing chess within a cube.

Because of this entirely new chess playing strategy, the game offers easy opponents and “hint” modes for beginners play. Once you master the game, you’re able to play against harder levels of computer opponents. You can also play locally against a friend.

Price: $3.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: InCube Games




Fantastic Checkers
Fantastic Checkers


Fantastic Checkers


Would you like a simple, well designed way to play a quick game of checkers? Then this is the app for you. This game doesn’t boast any amazing features, but you’re able to play a quick game against various levels of computer opponents. You can play against 3 levels of computers, or against a friend. Checkers, pure and simple.

Price: $0.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: Ensena Soft




Checkers Clash Challenges
Checkers Clash Challenges


Checkers Clash Challenges


If you’re interested in a more challenging version of checkers, then Checkers Clash Challenges is worth checking out. This game presents a number of different checkers related challenges that you must beat. There are 60 levels of increasing difficulty so if you think you really know checkers or just want to boost your playing skills you should check this out.

Price: $1.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6

Developer: Mura Studio




Mahjong Artifacts
Mahjong Artifacts


Mahjong Artifacts


Mahjong is probably one of the most common games on the Mac App Store, and you’ll find just as many ways to play outside of the app store. I find mahjong to be relaxing, but sometimes it can get a little tedious. If you have that same problem, Mahjong Artifacts offers a story mode with specific challenges and a story line to liven up the gameplay at times.

You can also play traditional games in classic mode with 100 different layouts. The graphics are simple and classic, perfect for a mahjong game. For further incentive, you can try for various bonuses and trophies that can be earned for different achievements. You can also try endless mode for a “zen” experience.

Price: $6.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6

Developer: G5 Entertainment




Moonlight Mahjong
Moonlight Mahjong


Moonlight Mahjong


Moonlight Mahjong is a free Mahjong alternative that offers many different playing styles for lots of variety. The board game is ideal for a multi-touch trackpad for tilting turning the board to see the various tiles but it can also be played with a mouse.

There are 4 types of play available. Scramble mode is an arcade style playing mode where you play against an automated opponent trying to make matches faster than they do. Challenge mode is a full on puzzle mode that requires a lot of strategy but still pits you against a computer opponent. Puzzle mode lets you play challenge mode with no time limits, and relaxation mode allows for scrambling with no time limit or opponents. This is definitely the easiest mode. The game is fun and a great deal.

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: Michael Howard




Backgammon Deluxe
Backgammon Deluxe


Backgammon Deluxe


While there aren’t quite as many backgammon games available, there are still quite a few. Backgammon Deluxe is the only one I’ll mention in this round-up. The free version is very full-featured. You can play a simple game of backgammon against a friend or against 3 levels of computer opponents.

The graphics are well done, with an easy to understand interface. The only huge difference between the free and full versions is that the paid version comes with a variety of backgrounds and sounds. This is a nice way to pay a quick game of backgammon, or to really spend some time and learn the strategy behind backgammon.

Price: Free/$0.99 for all backgrounds/sounds

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: Ensena Soft




Domino for Mac
Domino for Mac


Domino for Mac


Dominos is another one of those games that’s been around forever. It’s a street game most commonly, with a different type of game play from every region it’s played in. Domino for Mac offers a nice interface for playing Latin American style dominos.

The computer opponents are available in 3 different levels. You can also configure various game rules, including points and the starting piece. The statistics menu allows you to keep track of your long-term wins and losses.

Price: $2.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.7

Developer: Jose Varela




Chickie Dominos
Chickie Dominos


Chickie Dominos


Chickie Dominos is one of many domino apps available. This one allows you to play the classic “chicken foot” domino style. This is the three prong pattern of play that makes rounds a bit more exciting at times. The game is free but has all of the same features as most other dominos applications. You can play against a computer of a variety of levels, and make some basic changes to the rules at the beginning of the game. Unfortunately, there isn’t an option to play against a friend at this time.

Price: Free

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6

Developer: Mindlube Software




Board Game Collection
Board Game Collection


Board Game Collection


If you’re in the mood for a variety of games, you should definitely check out some board game collections. This particular one, aptly named “Board Game Collection” provides several classic board games. Some of the games included are Nine Men Morris, Checkers, Reversi and Tic Tac Toe along with a number of variations.

While the graphics pain my eyes a little bit, I enjoy the quality and variety of games in the collection. You can play all of the games against the computer or against a friend locally. I’d love to see network play added, but that’s for another day.

Price: $2.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.7, 64-bit processor

Developer: Uwe Meier




Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games
Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games


Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games


Hoyle Puzzle & Board games offers over 1,000 games and variations. You can try classics like chess, checkers and dominoes. You can also try chinese checkers, battleship, mahjong and memory match just to name a few. they also have a number of puzzle games such as word searches and logic based games to keep you entertained.

As is often the problem with massive collections of games, the user interface isn’t the prettiest. However, the amount of games and the customizable features make for a generally enjoyable experience.

Price: $19.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6.6

Developer: Encore




Trade Mania
Trade Mania


Trade Mania


I did promise to include a board game style that isn’t based almost entirely on a game found in real life. Trade Mania is one of those games. This game takes from Monopoly (you invest in properties and trade them/collect rent in order make the most money) and also takes from other strategy and time-management based games.

The overall goal is to collect the most money, but rather than only earning money from properties, you also have the added challenges of making and selling products and completing tasks that are given to you on task cards. The game is enjoyable, although not my favorite. While it’s interesting to see the different “classic” games it pulls from, I’m not entirely into it. I think I’d rather play monopoly.

Price: $6.99

Requires: Mac OS X 10.6

Developer: Dekovir, Inc.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Best Apps for your Dropbox

The Best Apps for your Dropbox:
Dropbox has made our digital lives so much easier. You put a file in your Dropbox folder and it becomes available on mobile phone, your tablet and on all your other computers. If you have shared a Dropbox folder with another person, say your mom, any files that you add to the shared folder instantaneously appear on her computer. So useful!

Best Dropbox Apps

The Best Web Apps for Dropbox


Dropbox has 50 million users worldwide and, because of such immense popularity, an entire ecosystem of apps has been created around Dropbox that add new functionality and extend the service beyond the realms of online storage. Here are some of the best apps that you should try with your Dropbox account.

1. Use Dropbox to Host a Website or a Blog


Your Dropbox has a public folder and files that you add to this folder can be accessed by anyone on the web as long as they have a link to that file. You can thus put all your HTML, JavaScript, CSS and image files into this folder, map it your domain and your mini website is ready for public consumption.

Alternatively, if you want a more simple solution, check out apps like DropPages.com, Scriptogr.am and Pancake.io all of which let you publish simple websites using Dropbox for free. DropPages and Pancake are more suitable for publishing regular web pages while Scriptogram is geared towards the blog (reverse chronological) format.

2. Keep Google Docs and Dropbox in Sync


Wouldn’t it be nice if you could write a document inside Google Docs and access it offline inside your Dropbox folder. Or vice-versa where you add one or more files to Dropbox and they magically appear inside your Google Docs account?

There’s an excellent service called insync that keeps your Google Docs files in sync with your desktop folders and with a little trick, you can get it to work with Dropbox as well. Launch the Insync utility (it’s available on Mac and Windows) and under Preferences, just change the default Insync directory to one of your Dropbox folders. The other alternative is cloudHQ though their free plan has a few limitations.

3. Save Email Attachments in Dropbox


With attachments.me, you can quickly save file attachments available in your Gmail account to your Dropbox folder with one click.

There are two ways of doing that. You can either install the attachments.me Chrome extension and, as you are reading a message thread in Gmail, send any of attached files to your Dropbox without leaving Gmail. Alternatively, you can use the attachments.me website to save any of your email attachments to Dropbox.

4. Save Web Clippings to your Dropbox


Gimme Bar is a neat bookmarking service that lets you clip web pages, photos and everything else that you see on the web. It even grabs screenshots of whole web pages so the archived pages look exactly like what you see on your screen.

You can connect your Gimme Bar account with Dropbox and it will periodically dump all your saved web clippings to your Dropbox folder. The backups aren’t instant though.

5. Download Online Files to your Dropbox


With URL Droplet, you can download any of the online files to your Dropbox folder even from a remote computer.

Simply copy and paste the URL of any web file to URL Droplet and the app will save that file to your Dropbox folder in the background. This is especially useful when you want to download an online file to Dropbox but the computer you are working on, say your office computer, is not linked to your personal Dropbox account.

6. Request Files in your Dropbox Folder


Do you want other people – like your clients - to upload files to your Dropbox but without having to share any of your Dropbox folders with them?

There’s a free service called DropItToMe that lets you receive files from anyone, anywhere and the files are added straight to your Dropbox. Alternatively, you can create an online form using JotForm and any files uploaded through this form are again sent to your Dropbox.

7. Transfer Dropbox Files to any Cloud Service


If you are looking for any easy way to transfer files across different cloud services like Dropbox, Google Docs, Picasa, etc. or if you need to move files between Dropbox and an FTP server, Otixo is a near perfect solution.

Otixo connects to all popular cloud services, including Dropbox, and lets you access all your online files at one place. Then, like Windows Explorer or Apple’s Finder, you can copy or move files from service to another using easy drag and drop.

8. Upload Files to Dropbox via Email


Dropbox, unlike SugarSync, doesn’t offer an option to upload files by email but there’s a free app called Send To Dropbox that can help you do that.

Once you connect your Dropbox account with the app, it will provide a unique email address and any files sent to that address will get saved to your Dropbox account. This is useful for uploading files to Dropbox from a mobile phone or when you want to quickly save Gmail attachments to your Dropbox. There’s a DIY alternative as well.

Related tip: Print Files from Mobile Phone using Dropbox

9. Dropbox for Distraction-Free Writing


Write Box is a minimal writing app for your browser that auto-saves your text document into any of your Dropbox folders. You can also open any of the existing Dropbox text files into Write Box and edit them in the browser.

The app has no toolbars and you can switch to your browser's full-screen mode (press F11) for more comfortable and distraction-free writing. Press Ctrl+S anytime to quickly sync your edits with Dropbox.

10. Add More Power to your Dropbox


With tools like IFTTT and Dropbox Automator, you can easily glue your Dropbox with various other services like Facebook, EverNote, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and do some really clever stuff that would otherwise require programming.

For instance, you can setup a task that will auto-upload your pictures to Facebook as soon as you add them to your Dropbox folder. Or a task that will auto-deliver your ebooks and other documents to your Kindle when you put them in a designated Dropbox folder. The possibilities are endless and if you spend some time understanding IFTTT, it will probably be the only add-on that you’ll need for your Dropbox.

One more thing..

These apps connect to Dropbox using OAuth so you’ll never have to share your login credentials with either of them. That said, if you have tried a Dropbox app and don’t plan to use it later, go here and permanently remove that app from your account.


Thursday, January 5, 2012

How to convert any video file to an animated GIF

How to convert any video file to an animated GIF:
Convert video to GIF
Have you ever wanted to convert a clip from a video file into a GIF image?, say for use as an animated Avatar image or for publishing on a website, etc. This post will present a relatively quick and easy method to convert any video file to GIF at the press of a button, without having to export your video into individual image frames first and without a lot of mucking around. If you just want to convert a segment (or segments) or a larger video file, this article will begin by describing how to do that as well. Lastly, we will use all freeware software installed locally, without using any web apps.



To begin with, we are assuming that you have a video file that you would like to convert to an animated GIF image.

Freeware tools used (Windows only):


  • Windows Live Movie Maker: to clip your video. It will take any format as input.

  • iWisoft Free Video Converter (if this sounds like a strange pick, I understand, but this obscure tool does a better job converting to GIF that any other video converter I found).

Before you start: since most GIFs are short snippets and not what you would consider full-fledged videos, we assume that you need to clip a short segment (or segments) of your video first that you want to convert to GIF. If your video is already clipped and you want to convert it to GIF in it’s entirety, skip to STEP 6; otherwise start with Step 1.

Note on clipping: GIFs are by nature should be small and compact, in order to be easily distributable and light when used in websites and the like. Therefore, CLIP YOUR VIDEO into a little snippet before converting it to GIF. If you don’t, you will end up with a very large and somewhat useless GIF (that is much larger than the source video). We have successfully converted a 5 minute 49 meg music video to a 144 meg GIF that played fine in Internet Explorer, as well as a 20 minute 175 meg video into 1.11 GIG GIF (that incidentally no browser or GIF player would play). What I am trying to say here is: make your GIFs as small as possible; clip your source video first.



Step 1: We will use Windows Live Movie Maker, a free video editor from Microsoft, to clip the segments you want from the larger video. Download it from this page. Note that the installer downloaded might include other Windows Live components; make sure to select Movie Maker and not anything else (unless you want them, of course). Install and run



Step 2: add your video into Windows Live Movie Maker (click on the ‘Add Videos and Photos’ button in the ribbon).

Windows Live Movie Maker open video



Step 3: in the ‘Edit’ tab. Next, decide on how many segments of the video you want, then move the slider beneath the video and use the ‘Split’ tool in the ribbon to cut the video into however many initial segments that you want (you will later refine these segments using the ‘set start point’ and ‘set end point tools’).

In the screenshot below I cut the original video into three segments. Each segment appears as a thumbnail in the right sidebar.

Windows Live Movie Maker 3 part split



Step 4: use the slider at bottom to isolate the segments you want within each part you created, and the ‘set start point’ and ‘set end point’ tools to hone in on the segments you want within each. Note that the slider under the video will move across all parts when you move it, so keep your eye on the thumbnails on the right to see where you are.

Windows Live Movie Maker start and end points

Note: this will create a single video with all the parts you isolated strung together. If you want to cut out different clips and convert to separate GIFs then that is even easier; just do each segment separately.



Step 5: lastly, save your movie.

From the ‘File’ Menu, go down to ‘Save Movie’ and then all the way up to ‘Recommended Setting, and save it under any name. Output format will be WMV; that’s perfectly fine.

export movie windows live movie maker



Step 6: download and install iWisoft Free Video Converter, then run it.

Note: the choice of this program is because it supports GIF creation across lot of options and up to a maximum resolution of 704×576. Format Factory also creates GIFs, but with a max resolution that is a lot smaller (which actually might not matter much because the higher the resolution the bigger the file size, and you want to keep GIFs small in general).



Step 7: load your WMV from step 5 (you can drag and drop it onto the interface) then select “Picture – GIF Animation Formats” from the profile dropdown menu.

Note: you get this profile via “Flash Video And Picture” then “Picture / GIF etc”. See the screenshot below.

iWisoft Sreenshot select GIF profile

Next, click the ‘settings’ button (next to the profile). In the screen that follows, choose the output resolution you want as well as the bitrate. A higher bitrate = smoother animation, but also a greater file size. Finally, click the big ‘Start’ button in the lower right to start the conversion process.

iWisoft Sreenshot settings

A note on bitrates: my suggestion, try a bitrate of 10 or 12 and see what file size you get, if it is too high you might think of redoing it using a smaller bitrate, if it is small enough you might redo using a higher bit rate.



That’s it, you’re done. See the GIF we created from this YouTube video below.

My Movie mpg_3