MakeUseOf.com: “Cool Websites and Tools [April 8th]” plus 9 more |  |
- Cool Websites and Tools [April 8th]
- The MakeUseOf Team Spotlight [April 8th 2010]
- 8 Cool Google Chrome Extensions That Make Use Of Google Services
- KnowYourMeme: An Encyclopedia Of Humorous Internet Memes
- How To Build Your Own WordPress Site [PDF GUIDE]
- Browse The Web Privately & Without A Trace With Browzar [Windows]
- Top Deals of the Day [April 8th]
- Use Syphir With Advanced Filters & Automated Actions In Gmail
- How To Share Your Files In Style With CloudApp [Mac]
- An Easy Tutorial On Enabling Internet Explorer Parental Controls
| Cool Websites and Tools [April 8th] Posted: 08 Apr 2010 08:31 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. Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers! Similar MakeUseOf Articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The MakeUseOf Team Spotlight [April 8th 2010] Posted: 08 Apr 2010 06:31 PM PDT
Apart from writing for us, the MUO staff are also very busy writing for other sites, including their own, as well as starting their own projects. We have quite some smart people working for us. We have decided to occasionally profile and link back to some of our staff’s other work. This will also give you – the reader – an idea of what else our writers do, as well as giving you a wider variety of posts to read. So welcome to MUO Team Spotlight. A bi-monthly feature where we show you up to 5 examples of what our staff get up to behind our backs.
1. Keyword Tool Superchargerby Jorge Sierra @ Geeklad
Jorge’s keyword tool supercharger takes the Google AdWords Keyword Tool to the next level, by providing competition data on the pages providing content with the keywords being sought. 2. A New Wireless Criminal Identification Systemby Ryan Dube @ Associated Content
3. How To Refurbish Or Recycle An Old Computerby Justin Pot @ Ecohearth
If the machine is beyond repair, the article explains how to recycle a computer so it won’t end up polluting third world countries. 4. My Blog Guestby Ann Smarty @ MyBlogGuest
Check it out if you’re looking for some talented people to guest post on your blog. 5. How To Sync Browser Sessions Between Multiple Computersby Evan Wondrasek @ Techerator
You can simply save all your open tabs to a new session, or manually pick which tabs to save for later viewing. The best part: FreshStart uses Chrome's built-in bookmark syncing feature to keep your sessions up-to-date between other computers. Image Credit : Visualogist We NEED Your Comments! Please do share your thoughts in article comments! Similar MakeUseOf Articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 Cool Google Chrome Extensions That Make Use Of Google Services Posted: 08 Apr 2010 04:31 PM PDT
Specifically, Google has done a great job making Chrome able to easily work with many of Google’s other services through official Google Chrome extensions. In this article I would like to share some of the cooler ones that I will get the most use out of. Come along and see what Google has up its Chrome Extensions sleeve.
Select To Get MapsGoogle Maps has been a constant companion of mine for quite some time now. As a guy, I have this unearthly fear of asking someone for directions. With Google Maps all I need is an address and I can just google the directions myself! Now with the “Select to Get Maps” Google Chrome extension, googling an address from a website is as easy as highlighting the address and choosing whether to see it on a map or automatically get directions. The ultimate man extension, eh?
Google VoiceMy Google Voice number has become my home number. I’ve taken advantage of the perk of having a Google Voice number in a number of ways including forwarding calls to both cellphones, saving money by making unlimited outgoing cellphone calls for free, and getting voice mail transcribed (I ran a test on the transcription service a while back) and emailed to me. Now with the “Check for new Google Voice messages” official Google Chrome extension I no longer have to be in my email to know I received a message. I can just glance up and see how many messages I have. Incidentally I can also make outgoing calls and SMS from the same button.
Google Mail CheckerJust like the Google Voice extension, Google has released the “Google Mail Checker” official Google Chrome extension which allows me to see how many email messages I have eating away at the inside of my mailbox just waiting for me to exact some mad organization ninja skills. No, seriously, I went through my email box so you all couldn’t see that I used to have over 100 messages waiting for me. Please don’t judge me. This extension also makes your mail box just a click away.
Send from GmailThe “Send from Gmail” official Google Chrome extension gives me a clickable icon which will pop up an email message containing a link to the page I am currently on. This makes emailing a link to someone really easy. Since another extension (which I will be sharing further down this list) also gives this ability, I probably would have skipped it if it weren’t for the fact that it also makes “mailto” links open in Gmail for me. Thanks Google for being redundant.
Google Calendar CheckerI personally haven’t organized my life to the point of making good use of Google Calendar. Coming across the “Google Calendar Checker” Google Chrome extension has actually given me another reason to finally jump in and let Google Calendar help me. How would you like to have an icon showing all the time that allows you to see exactly how much longer you have until your next appointment? I know it would help me. That’s what this extension does. I suppose it could also help you keep tasks to the time you originally intended to.
SlideshowThe “Slideshow” Google Chrome extension doesn’t have any real use productively but it is fun to use. Basically if you are on a site containing a photo album (and it happens to be on Picasa, Flickr, Facebook, or Google Images), an icon will show in the address bar (and a strip will show at the bottom of the site) telling you that you can view the photos in a slideshow view. One upside beside the aesthetic perk is that you can navigate using the arrow buttons on your keyboard making it easier. Just click the “x” when you no longer want to use that view.
Google Quick ScrollHave you ever searched for something on Google only to have to search the landing page for the search word(s)? Sometimes if the word is only found once in a very long article, it can be annoying to find. Sure, Chrome highlights the word and you can always use the Ctrl-F command to run a search but there is an easier way. Google has released the “Google Quick Scroll” Chrome extension. This will give you a box popped up at the bottom of the site showing the context of the search term. Click it and you’ll be brought directly to the spot on the page where it is found. It could be a help, right? I think so.
Google Share ButtonWho doesn’t want easier ways to share stuff online? Google gives us the “Google Share Button” Chrome extension with many of the services we use all the time. Click the green icon and you’re given a drop down menu giving you the list. Notice how Gmail is on the list duplicating the work of the “Send with Gmail” extension. Although I usually use bookmarklets to share much of the sites I share, this may change my habits.
Now that Google is beginning to give Chrome more extendability, the browser race is on! Google has many great offerings and now that they are beginning to work more fluidly with Chrome, I can see many people seeing the benefits of a switch. The extensions I have listed here are official extensions released by Google for Google services. I’m assuming since they’re made by the same makers, they shouldn’t have many issues. Tell us, which Google Chrome extensions can you see yourself getting the most use out of? Share in the comments. Hey Facebookers, make sure to check out MakeUseOf fan page on Facebook. Over 15,000 fans already!
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| KnowYourMeme: An Encyclopedia Of Humorous Internet Memes Posted: 08 Apr 2010 02:31 PM PDT
See this picture of a focused couple playing chess on a roller coaster? There are hundreds of people who’ve done this and posted pictures of it on the web. Why? Well, back in 2007 the spectacular web-comic XKCD (which you should all read) posted a hilarious comic about playing chess on a roller coaster. XKCD readers weren't content to just laugh at the comic, however: they recreated it. There's even a collection of fan-photos over at XKCD.com.
Encyclopedia Meme | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How To Build Your Own WordPress Site [PDF GUIDE] Posted: 08 Apr 2010 12:31 PM PDT
And I’m not talking about Twitter accounts and Facebook profiles, but rather about fully-fledged websites. Tomorrow, you could have yours! No matter for what purpose, WordPress has proven to be one of the most efficient, most diverse, and most accessible platform. It’s what we use at MakeUseOf!
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to know to get your first, second, or tenth website successfully off the ground, ranging from finding a suitable web host and setting up your blog or website, to using an offline blogging client and even designing a simple website banner!
Want to learn from the pros, and make your mark on the internet? Then you’re in the right place! It doesn’t matter if you’re an internet newbie or a nerd on steroids, this guide will get you to where you need to go. This is a free PDF guide, no strings attached or signup required. Download Build Your Own WordPress Site now in PDF, or read it in your browser on Scribd.com. Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Includes cool extras. Similar MakeUseOf Articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Browse The Web Privately & Without A Trace With Browzar [Windows] Posted: 08 Apr 2010 11:31 AM PDT
While most people have nothing at all to hide on their own home PC that is usually shared among family members, there’s always the matter of writing emails, having chat sessions or even conducting financial transactions over the web from a library computer or some other form of public Internet access. Unfortunately, using a browser that’s installed on a public PC is like using a public water fountain. You know that there are germs all over the thing, but are you so thirsty that you simply have to take the chance?
Well, now you don’t have to. I would like to introduce you to Browzar, a lightweight, private web browser that you don’t have to install to use, and it doesn’t leave a single trace on the computer where you use it. Installing the Browzar Private Web Browser Is Easy – You Don’t!You could always install privacy plugins for the web browser that you use, such as the Close N’ Forget plugin for Firefox that Karl covered. However, considering the size and the features of Firefox (especially if you’ve installed a large number of plugins), can you be absolutely certain that there’s no trace left? So long as you’re using an installed desktop application, there’s going to be some form of logfiles, cache or temporary directory somewhere that could hold a small trace of your activities. Instead, why not use a standalone application that you don’t even have to install on the computer? Lightweight is an understatement – Browzar weighs in at only 222K, so it’s the perfect portable application. Just download and place the executable wherever it’s most convenient for you – whether that’s your own PC or your USB stick. The next time you’re at the library or the Internet cafe and you want to check your bank account, just launch the executable private web browser and browse without a trace.
To be honest, this lightweight browser has most of the features you’ll need to do most of your online activities while you’re mobile. It even has a funny “Boss Button,” which is apparently for people to press if their boss walks by. Either pressing the Boss Button or Control-Space will instantly kill the application. The reason it’s funny is because if someone is attempting to use Browzar at work, then their Internet traffic is still being logged by the firewall and they aren’t really getting away with anything (something to keep in mind if this is your intended use). In all fairness, Browzar is based on IE and requires that IE is installed on the target PC – this is why the executable is so small. However, unlike IE, Browzar doesn’t make use of the history or logging (unless you want it to cache your information), and upon exiting the application, it makes sure every file or directory it had to write to is completely cleaned up.
Regardless how you exit the application, this cleanup procedure gets triggered. If it crashes or fails the last time you ran it, just rerun Browzar and exit again, and the cleanup routine will repeat successfully. Now, if you’re concerned because a simple delete doesn’t really remove the information, and that a forensic scan of your PC could discover the formerly “deleted” information – then all you have to do is enable the “secure delete” feature in Browzer.
Secure Delete will actually overwrite the previously written information with random information, and it will do so several times, as well as renaming the files themselves. You can’t get much cleaner than that. The application itself is about as simple as it gets. There are no preferences or options – the app simply uses whatever Internet access you’ve configured for IE.
The only available tools are only related to your security and the browser’s ability to keep a clean trail. If you want to clean up your tracks even before you exit, just go to Tools and click on “Force Cleanup” and the app will run through the cleanup procedure. The application is so ridiculously small that you could really use it anywhere. Rename it to a zip file and email it to yourself if you’re traveling and you can access it any time from your email account. Just download it to any PC, change back to “EXE” and run it. If you carry around a USB memory stick, this app will hardly make a dent in memory consumption, and you can run it directly from the stick. Whether you’re at a friends house, on a business trip or at school – Browzar can give you the peace of mind that you’re truly browsing the Internet in complete privacy and security. Always beware that the Internet can be monitored by a firewall system, but as a method to access the net without leaving a trace on the PC you’re using – Browzar definitely fits the bill. And for the price (free) you can’t go wrong. Do you use Browzar to surf the web? Do you have your own secure browsing solutions for when you’re traveling? Share your insight in the comments section below. Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers! Similar MakeUseOf Articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top Deals of the Day [April 8th] Posted: 08 Apr 2010 11:00 AM PDT
Today, refurbished gaming consoles, cheap digital cameras, Sony Style and HP store coupons, and refurbished Macs.
All deals are accurate at the time of writing. Image credit: Modified from Svengraph’s icon set We NEED Your Comments! Please do share your thoughts in article comments! Similar MakeUseOf Articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Use Syphir With Advanced Filters & Automated Actions In Gmail Posted: 08 Apr 2010 10:31 AM PDT
The other day Lifehacker mentioned Syphir. Being such a big fan of Gmail filters and labels I was keen to see what Syphir could add that was not possible with the indigenous filters in Gmail. I must say, I am quite impressed by certain feature that Syphir brings to your Gmail inbox.
First off, you need to authorize Syphir so that it can access your account. This seems scary at first but they don’t store your passwords and you can even turn off the advanced mail analysis if you are not going to use some of the advanced features or the iPhone app.
Now go ahead and set your time zone, next up you will be creating rules! Each rule has a condition and an action which is performed if the incoming mail satisfies the condition you specified. There are different types of conditions that you can use individually or combine to form your rules. You can filter mail based on who sent it, content, time of arrival, number of recipients and if it needs a reply or not.
Next step is to create actions that will be performed on the emails that match the said criteria. In addition to the standard actions like skip the inbox, apply a label or delete, Syphir offers two additional actions called “Notify Mobile Device” and “Delay Email“. While the first requires that you purchase an iPhone app (which will then receive push notifications), the Delay Email action on the other hand simply prevents the mail from appearing in your inbox till the configured time you specify as an option.
Lastly, give the rule you just created a suitable name and you are done. You can then view all the rules that you created on the rules page. Clicking on the “+” icon quickly shows you the conditions and the actions associated with the rule. You can just as easily delete rules from using this overview page. In addition to the conditions and actions mentioned above. Syphir also mentions additional conditions and actions that are in the works presently. These are greyed out and won’t work if you try to use them. So in the future you could hope to use Syphir to filter emails by the amount of time they have been sitting in your inbox or auto respond to emails or forward it to a new account. Syphir adds a little something extra and allows you to do a lot more than Gmail filters. That said, one has to be careful not to rely too much on third party enhancements, especially after what happened with Xoopit for Gmail. Do you use Gmail filters and labels regularly? Would you use third party enhancements like Syphir to set up advanced filters in Gmail? Hey Facebookers, make sure to check out MakeUseOf fan page on Facebook. Over 15,000 fans already!
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| How To Share Your Files In Style With CloudApp [Mac] Posted: 08 Apr 2010 09:31 AM PDT
The sharing habit doesn’t stop at the real world. File sharing is a common internet activity among web users. There are already many file sharing services out there, but most of them intentionally make the process difficult – at least for free users. Using file sharing services usually means web-only file uploads and hellish file downloads.
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| An Easy Tutorial On Enabling Internet Explorer Parental Controls Posted: 08 Apr 2010 08:31 AM PDT
Soon enough she will be able to navigate the web in other ways besides clicking on pictures of her favorite cartoons. Soon she will be able to Google stuff or type in URLs on her own. How do I protect her? Sure I can use OpenDNS but we want to be as secure as possible right?
To enable Internet Explorer parental controls, you will need to enable your content advisor. Go ahead and click on tools –>internet options —>content.
When you are at the content tab click on the Enable button. This will turn on content advisor ratings. Next you need to select what you want to allow or block.
By default all the categories are set to none. That means no websites showing depictions of alcohol use, drug use or even “Content that sets a bad example for young children” will be displayed. You can drill down and modify specific categories by clicking on them like so:
Moving that slider all the way to the right will allow for unrestricted access to view the content category that you selected. You can also move it to one or two points in the middle. Work with it and decide what is right for your child. Personally, I will be blocking everything. Next up we will look at the approved sites tab. This is a white-list that will allow websites to pass through the Internet Explorer parental controls without being blocked regardless of content. You can also block websites from ever being able to be viewed in a blacklist type fashion.
To white-list a site you need to type in the URL of the website you want to allow and then click the always button. If you want to never allow the site to be shown click the never button. The next tab is labeled General. This is the most important tab. Here is where we set the user options. Take a look at what you can do:
Make sure the first check box is NOT checked. The second check box allows a supervisor password to bypass the restrictions. You create the password by clicking on the create password button below. The last section of the general tab should be left at the default option of ICRA3 unless your organization provides an alternative list specifically created for you. The final advanced tab will allow you to add a ratings bureau or PICSRules to your browser. I have never actually seen these used. A large corporation might create their own PICSRules or mandate a Ratings bureau. Do you use Internet Explorer's parental controls? If so, how is it working out for you? We would love to hear from you in the comments. Follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Includes cool extras. Similar MakeUseOf Articles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If you’re in the market for a new computer, laptop, mobile phone, games and other accessories; don’t waste your time searching online. We’ve taken the liberty of locating the best deals tech deals and unifying them into a single post for your convenience.
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In this article I will cover a bit about how to set up Internet Explorer parental controls. I have been a father for almost two and a half years now. My daughter loved computers straight off the bat and more and more each day. I let her 
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