Tips and Tricks
Add Chrome Like Text Search Functionality to Firefox (Add-on)
Finding text on a webpage is something that can be helpful in a number of situations. In the web browser Mozilla Firefox you can search for text on a webpage by using the “Ctrl+F” key combination. This pops up a mini-window at the page’s bottom from where you can search for a word or phrase. You can use the “Highlight All” option to highlight your search item wherever it is on the webpage.
Suppose you want to view the context each search item is used in. You would have to jump from one highlighted search item to another. This can be a problem especially if the results are many and spread out far over the webpage.
A solution to this is presented by “Find All.”
Find All is a browser add-on for Firefox. With the add-on installed, the “Highlight All” option changes to “Find All.” This “Find All” option lists all the search results in an easily navigable view which helps you compare the results.
This view also eliminates any special formatting and displays the results in simple text, making the comparison much easier.
You can access the add-on’s options to modify the font size in which the results are displayed.
The options also let you change the highlighting color, choose to alternate the row background color, and display the “Highlight All” option along with the “Find All” option.
For people who use Firefox’s search feature a lot, “Find All” will prove itself to be a very useful tool. Get “Find All” Firefox Add-on.
Now Effectively Improve Windows Boot Time With Soluto
All computer owners want their machines to startup as fast as possible. Unfortunately there are some programs that initiate with your startup and slow down the overall process. A way out of this would be to put your computer in Hibernate / Sleep mode and never shut it down. But this technique does not speed up the startup – it only avoids it.
The best way to speed up your computer’s startup, without changing its hardware, is to deselect some startup programs. One way to do this is pressing the “Windows Logo + R” key combination and typing in “msconfig” then heading over to the Startup tab.
From here you can deselect any startup entries you wish. But as you can see from the image above, you cannot tell which process is a necessary one and which process you can safely deselect.
All this is why Soluto is the best solution to eliminating startup programs in Windows.
Soluto is a freeware program for Windows operating systems. Although no system requirements are specified on the website’s page, I tested the program on a Vista 32 bit machine and it ran flawlessly.
Once you download and install Soluto, it will require you to restart you computer. During the computer’s startup, Soluto will run in the background and analyze how much time each startup service is taking. Then when you run Soluto, this analysis will be displayed.
At the top you can see an overall analysis of your startup i.e. the total time taken by the startup and the number of startup programs.
In the center of the program’s window you will see startup programs categorized and color coded into three sections.
The first is the green section. Over here Soluto places startup program which you can easily remove from the startup list. Simply hover your mouse pointer over the green section and it will expand to display an individual startup program.
You will be able to see the application’s name, description, and the time it takes to run. Keep your mouse pointer on the app for a little while longer or bring it down to the link that says “More” and you will see different ways in which you can tackle this startup program: you can either deselect the program by choosing “pause,” delay its startup by choosing “delay,” or keep it in the startup list by doing nothing or clicking on “In Boot.”
The next section of startup programs is orange colored. It operates in the same way as the green section. But here, instead of programs that can safely be removed, a mixture of necessary and unnecessary programs can be found. Deselecting them is up to the user who can judge their importance on his own.
Finally, the gray category lists startup programs that are necessary for the system to run error-free. You should not tamper with the apps located in this section.
While you deselect apps through Soluto, you startup statistics on the top of the program keep changing. At the end of your modifications, you can view how much of an impact your changes have had on the startup time.
The program will also display another set of applications in the bottom right of the gray section. The apps in this newly created blue category will contain all the apps you deselected. From here you can choose to include any programs you had previously excluded from the startup process.
Once you have finalized everything, give your computer a restart and experience the new speed yourself. Soluto will monitor the new speed too and will record the results in a log. You can view the startup times history from the “History” button located in the bottom left of the program.
Overall, Soluto is a greatly user friendly and highly useful app which all Windows users need. Check out Soluto.
An Easy Solution To Synchronize Folders In Windows With Bvckup
I use two computer machines – a desktop and a laptop. I run Windows on both. Whenever I create a new file on either machine, I back it up on the other. Many people use this system of manual backup which is quite time consuming. A much better alternative is automatically file synchronization and one of the best programs for this is Bvckup.
Bvckup is a program currently in its beta that works with Windows operating systems. The program has a number of interface and functionality features which set it apart from applications that perform the same auto-synching tasks.
After installing the program you can view it monitor your files from your System Tray.
When you open Bvckup, its window program readjusts to the compact view by default to occupy the minimum space on your desktop.
To enable the backing up a folder, you simple add a new backup job. This means selecting a name / description of the backup and selecting the source plus destination folders.
If there are files in the source folder which you want excluded from the synchronization process, Bvckup lets you specify these files.
You can also choose between scheduled backup or automatic backups whenever Bvckup picks up a change in the source folder. The program detects changes in the source folder by first inspecting changes in the local hard drive area. If no local changes are found, it saves time by not even reading that part of the hard disk thereby eliminating unnecessary spin-ups of idle hard drives. Moreover while backing up files, whenever possible only the modified portion of the file is copied instead of the entire file – this saves time.
A complete backup log is maintained which details all errors that occurred, if any.
In conclusion, Bvckup is a competent and user friendly file backup solution for Windows. You should hurry up in getting it because the program is only free as long as it in beta.
You can get Bvckup from www.bvckup.com
Smart Defrag: A Free Windows Utility To Easily Defrag Your Hard Drive Partitions
Over the course of your computer usage, data accumulates and sometimes it is spread out over different parts of your hard disk. Consequently your computer has to search for different places on the disk to access data. This is called disk fragmentation and considerably slows down your computer’s overall performance.
On regular hard disks, regular disk defragmentation is highly advised. This process rearranges data and makes it easier for the computer to find what it is looking for. Windows Vista and 7 have built-in defragmentation features but for somebody new to the process, Smart Defrag is the best tool.
Smart Defrag is a tiny Windows compatible utility sized at only 1.8 MB. When you run the program, you can view all your hard drive partitions. Click on the partition you feel is responding slowly, and perform an analysis to see if any files require defragmentation.
Once you click on “Analyze” your partition is thoroughly tested and the number of files that need defragmentation are shown.
Click “Go” on this window to begin the defragmentation process which will rearrange data on the drive.
If you would like a shortcut for the abovementioned process, you can simply access the program’s “Auto Defrag” option which defrags your hard drive in the background, while your system is idle.
Auto Defrag will be the preferred choice for many people who used their computer almost the entire day.
Scheduled defragmentation can also be set up so that your drives are timely defragmented and you always experience optimum hard drive performance.
Having used a number of defragmentation tools, I found Smart Defrag to be a competent and speedy option to go with. Whether you are new to defragmentation or are familiar with it, Smart Defrag will excellently serve your needs.
Subtitles Helps You Find Movie Subtitles Of A Video File With Two Clicks
If you are somebody who downloads movies off torrent and other file sharing websites, then there is a good chance you do not get subtitles with your downloaded movies. Although many websites are online to help you search for subtitles, most of them have multiple entries for the same movies and a trial-and-error procedure is required to get the right subtitles. A much better alternative to all those sites is the installable program titled simply Subtitles.
Subtitles is an application created by the site www.subtitles.com.br. Sized at only 542 KB, it is a Windows compatible program which installs without any glitches. After installing the program you will notice that new entries have been made to your desktop or Start Menu. Actually the program has no graphical interface at all. It works in quite a unique way.
With Subtitles installed, all you do is right click on a video file. You will find that the context menu options now have a new entry that reads “Look for Subtitles.” You can enter this option and click on the language you want the subtitles in. After selecting the language, a search will automatically be executed on the program’s website. The search results will correspond to your video file and a far lesser degree of trial-and-error will be required. You will not have to enter any text in fields – simply right click on your video file and select your preferred subtitles language.
To download the Windows program Subtitles, visit www.subtitles.com.br/subtitles.htm.
New Customization Features Added to Google News
Google News has undergone extensive testing by Google and finally the service now has a number of notable customization options. Read on to learn about them:
1. Topics you can subscribe to
In the left pane of Google News, you will find a topics list. Click on any topic to find news related to it. When the news open up, you will find a button which lets you add that topic to your personalized news page thereby subscribing to the topic.
2. News For You
News For You is a brilliant idea by Google. You can edit the news topics by filtering them out of your news feed. New topics can be added by entering keywords in the search bar provided in the News For You box. You can also specify the frequency with which you read about each topic so that news is correspondingly arranged.
3. Selecting / Deselecting News Sources
If there is a certain news source that you prefer, you can click on “Settings” at the top of the page, select “News settings” and start typing the sites you’d like to see more often in Google News. On the other hand if there is a news source you do not like, you follow the same procedure and eliminate the news source from your feed.
4. Social Network Integration
Clicking on the small arrow in the top right corner of each news cluster will drop down networks on which you can share the current news. This is a great way to let your friends know of anything interesting you read.
5. Keyboard Shortcuts
Some keyboard shortcuts have been added to enhance the user experience. The following keys apply: j or n (next story), k or p (previous story), / (search), s (star), . or f (share), Enter (open the headline article for the current story).
Google has clearly improved its News page by giving more control to the user. A full list of new features can be read here, on Google’s official page on the matter.
Enable USB Write Protection to Prevent Virus Attacks And Un-Authorize Use
Many flash drive owners complain that their devices get infected with a virus easily. A flash drive virus works by writing itself onto your flash drive. If you could somehow temporarily disable the writing permissions on your drive, your flash drive would be more secure. At the same time, you will be unable to accidentally delete or modify the flash drive’s contents.
In order to achieve this, you can use a utility called “USB Write Protect” which disables writing or modifying on your flash drive.
USB Write Protect is tiny Windows utility sized at only 11 KB. You download the archive, extract it, and run the executable in it. This is what the executable looks like while running:
Before you click on the “Apply” button, plug out your flash drive and plug it back in. Then check the “Enable Write Protect” option and click on the “Apply” button. Finally click on the “Close” button.
Now head on over to your flash drive folder in Windows Explorer. If you try creating a new document you will encounter a message telling you that the disk is write protected.
If you right click on an object already in the flash drive, you will find no “delete” option in the context menu.
Highlighting a flash drive object and clicking the “delete” button on the keyboard will also not delete the object.
You can place the USB Write Protect executable within your flash drive so that you can use on any computer you plug your drive into. Its function is simple and flawless. Get USB Write Protect.
How To: Turn Android Based Phone Into Wireless iTunes Remote Control
The iTunes media player is used by many people. Its integration with the App Store allows you to easily stream and purchase the music you like. Although it has an unusually large download size (when compared to other media players), its interface features combine to form a competent media player that has many fans.
If you are an iPhone or any other Apple device user, you might already have stumbled across an application or two that enables remotely controlling iTunes. But if you own an Android smartphone, the chances to find an iTunes compatible app are very slim. TuneRemote however, is an Android application that is not only compatible with iTunes but also lets you control the player remotely through your phone.
Read on the following the 5-step guide to learn how TunesRemote can be used to wirelessly control your iTunes player.
Step 1: This is for Mac users. If you are a Mac user, you will first need to configure your firewall in order to enable remote controlling of iTunes. Go to System Preferences -> Security, then click on the Firewall tab. Click on the Set Access for Specific Services button and select iTunes from the Application list (click on the + to add application).
Step 2: This is the second step for Mac users and first for Windows users. Open iTunes and enter its preferences. In the Sharing tab, make sure the Share my library on my local network is checked. If you want tighter security, you can assign a password for the sharing.
Step 3: You can now start up TunesRemote on your Android smartphone. Most probably it will automatically find and add your shared iTunes library. In case the library is not automatically detected, you can manually add your library by accessing TunesRemote’s Manual Add option and entering your computer’s IP address along with the following pairing code: 0000000000000001.
Step 4: Now head back to iTunes where you will now be able to see an Android device option in the side pane. Click on this option and enter 0000 in the passcode screen; you will see a resultant screen confirming successful connection.
Step 5: You are all done. Congratulate yourself on being able to control iTunes through your Android smartphone. Now invite your friends over and show off your phone’s abilities.
You can search for TunesRemote at the Android Marketplace; if you cannot find it there, download the .apk from http://dacp.jsharkey.org/TunesRemote-r2.apk
Place Important Windows 7 Shortcuts Within Reach Of Every User
Windows 7 is relatively a new operating system. Applications are still being developed for it that explore and push its boundaries. If you are a Windows 7 user, you already appreciate its improvement over Windows Vista. But while 7 provides a great margin of user convenience, things can always be improved by third party applications. This brings to our today’s application – Preme.
Preme is a freeware program that helps place important Windows 7 shortcuts within reach of every user. There are a number of handy shortcuts provided by Preme which make 7’s usage a lot easier; for instance, you will be able to view all minimized windows in 3D style by just moving your mouse cursor to the top left corner. You can choose the view to be displayed in Flip 3D or Alt-Tab style.
Preme offers other useful features too; the tool gives you the ability to place your mouse pointer on the title bar of a window to keep it on top; with the mouse on the title bar, you can also scroll down your mouse wheel to minimize that window; again, with the mouse in the same position, you can click the middle mouse button (the scroll button) to close that window; the mouse cursor can be moved to the Start button area to automatically open the Start menu.
A number of other features are offered by the application; all these features are explained fully in its help file. Once you master the shortcuts offered by Preme, you will save a ton of time working on 7 and greatly improve your productivity.
5 Online Tools For Designers To Help Recognize Unknown Fonts
If you are designer you undoubtedly view websites critically. You judge their flow and overall design. An important part of a site’s design is the font used on it. If you like a font style, you would definitely want to incorporate it into one of your latest site designs. But in order to do that you first need to know what font style is actually used. Because of the sheer number of fonts available on the web and the number of new fonts being created, it is hard to recognize fonts simply by looking them.
This is why I thought I should create a list of 5 online font recognizers. These tools are must-haves for every website designers. Give each of them a read and decide which one will suit your usage best.
We would love to know what you are thinking while checking this post. If we missed any tool you are welcome to share with us. Do you want to be the first one to know the latest happenings at SmashingApps.com just subscribe to our rss feed and you can follow us on twitter.
1. Identify Fonts
Identify Fonts is a free to use website that gives you the most simple way to find out what font is used on a website. When you are on the website having the font you like, simply take a screenshot of the text-included portion. The screenshot should not be greater than 1.8MB in size, must have the text in one line only, and must be in JPEG/JPG, GIF, or PNG image format. You then upload this screenshot image onto Identify Fonts and the site displays all results. You can choose to filter the results as free fonts only, commercial fonts only, or both. Click here to visit Identify Fonts.
2. Identifont
Identifont asks you a series of simple questions in order to determine which font you are looking for. The questions are easily answerable and are like “What type of tail does the upper-case ‘Q’ have?” There are diagrams provided so that we can select an answer. If we have only a set of characters of our desired font, we can answer character-specific questions to find the font. Click here to visit Identifont.
3. WhatTheFont
WhatTheFont recognizes fonts in the same way as IdentifyFont. The image we upload can be of GIF, JPEG, TIFF or BMP image format and must not have more than 25 characters. As the characters are scanned by the website, we are asked to confirm if the right character has been confirmed. The site then proceeds to analyze each character and find our font. Click here to visit WhatTheFont.
4. Font Trainer
Font Trainer will help you view fonts in various styles. It acts as a font recognizing quiz for the user. You can train yourself to recognize many popular fonts and reduce the need of font recognizing websites. Moreover knowing the names of many fonts will definitely help you impress your fellow website designers. Click here to visit Font Trainer.
5. TypeNavigator
TypeNavigator is a font searching tool that lets you go through a series of options in order to reach your font. The options to choose are much like the questions asked by Identifont. Alternatively you can search fonts by their names or by their designers. Click here to visit TypeNavigator.
