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- Cool Websites and Tools [November 11]
- 2 Online Guides to Check Your Illness Symptoms Online
- Transmute – Migrate Bookmarks Between Your Browsers
- How to Build a Gaming PC [PDF Guide]
- 3 Great Sites For Old Wives’ Tales & Superstitions
- How To Browse On A Budget & Maximize Battery Life With BashFlash [Mac]
- How To Connect Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive To Your PC
- How To Download Completely Free Amazon Kindle eBooks To Your PC
| Cool Websites and Tools [November 11] Posted: 11 Nov 2009 05:01 PM PST
(1) The App Garden – Newly created section on Flickr which basically is a repository of Flickr apps. It lists all sorts of handy tools for Flickr i.e. stats counters, download/upload tools, slideshow generators, mobile browsers and so on. You can search for apps, browse by tags, and discover new tools. Read more: The App Garden – Great Flickr Tools Collection
(2) NewOCR – Web based tool that can recognize text from images or scanned documents and convert into editable text. The application is completely free, and the process of getting text from images is very easy. Read more: NewOCR – Recognizes Text From Images (3) Voicethread – Powerful tool for creating multimedia slideshows and lectures. It combines different media to create effective teaching materials and projects, stored online and easily shared and commented on by others. Read more: Voicethread – Create Powerful Multimedia Slideshows (4) Usabilla – Usability testing website that offers an easy way to quickly collect visual feedback on a webpage, mockup, sketch or an image. It has a nice interface with clear instructions on how to get the user feedback. Read more: Usabilla – Website Usability Testing Tool (5) ForwardOn – Web service that provides an alternative way to share your favorite emails with others. Instead of forwarding them to your friends individually ForwardOn lets you send them to share@forwardon.com and convert email to html entities by publishing it on your personal www.forwardon.com<> page for your friends and family to see. Read more: ForwardOn – Convert Favorite Emails To HTML Pages
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. Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on Twitter ? Now you can follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Related posts
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| 2 Online Guides to Check Your Illness Symptoms Online Posted: 11 Nov 2009 02:01 PM PST
In this article, let us look at two online guides to check your illness symptoms online, which are extremely easy to use and provide information about probable causes. Before we proceed, it is necessary to stress that these guides should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. It is better that you use these tools as a supplementary resource to get more information, while you may be waiting for your doctor's appointment, or to learn more about certain illnesses. Check Symptoms Online With WebMD Symptom CheckerWeb MD Symptom Checker is an easy to use interactive tool, where you select specific symptoms and it identifies possible causes.
If applicable, you can select and add more symptoms. Once you identify the symptoms, the Symptom Checker shows you a list of possible conditions that may be the cause of them. You can check more about any possible condition right within the Symptom Checker. For each condition, Symptom Checker provides you with an overview, a list of all symptoms associated with that condition, and related articles and videos on the WebMD website. Mayo Clinic Symptom CheckerUse this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms. The Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker takes a different approach to isolating possible conditions than the WebMD version. You first select between Adult and Child symptoms on the first page. For Adults, there are 28 common symptoms listed. After you choose one kind of symptom, the next page lets you select related factors depending upon the selected symptom:
Note that this page is specific and different for each of the 28 symptoms listed in the first page. The questions on this page are similar to what a doctor would ask you after you tell him about a symptom. So the process actually feels similar to an actual diagnosis! After you make the appropriate selections on this page, the next one gives you possible causes of the symptoms. Here, you can see all associated factors or symptoms related to this condition. Clicking on the condition takes you to the main page for it on the Mayo Clinic website. Here, you will find a wealth of information and resources such as description, causes, risk factors, tests and diagnosis, treatment and drugs, home and alternative remedies, prevention, etc. For more health-related articles, check out our health category. Did you find these tools useful? Any other online illness guide that you prefer? Tell us in the comments! Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| Transmute – Migrate Bookmarks Between Your Browsers Posted: 11 Nov 2009 12:01 PM PST
It's safe to assume that you have more than one browser installed on your system. I have five. Though we may not use more than two, all of us suffer from a bit of browser fancy. As soon as developers announce a launch of a browser that promises to speed up the web for us, we click on the download link. That's not a problem, but keeping the same set of bookmarks across the browsers is. Xmarks is a nifty solution to migrate bookmarks across the world. But for now, it supports Firefox and IE (with Safari in Mac OS). The one for Google Chrome is in the works. The browser that's missing is Opera. That leaves us with a job half done. Bookmark syncing using Delicious and its bookmarklet tool is one roundabout. But it's public by default and you have to log-in to change it to private. So, it's still not as easy a click. Transmute attempts to fill the gap by letting us migrate bookmarks across all the browsers. Why Is it Such a Headache to Migrate Bookmarks?Not very much so, but every browser has its own way of storing its bookmarks. Most bookmarks are stored as HTML files. Opera uses an .adr format. Firefox 3.5+ too differs in that respect as it stores its bookmarks in a Places.sqlite file which is a database file. The bookmarks.html files that used to hold all the links in the earlier versions had been discontinued from Firefox 3 onwards.
The imported bookmarks also get added to the existing bookmarks usually in a separate folder with the name of the browser that was the source. For instance, imported Firefox bookmarks get located in a folder that's marked Netscape. Imported bookmarks in Chrome get added under Other Bookmarks. You can then manually shift the bookmarks around into any other root folder. Next, you have to manually weed out the duplicates by going through each and every link. This is where the headache can start. Transmute Offers Better (& Quicker) Control Over BookmarksWhy such a name? Is it because it does the job of bookmark transfer 'silently' and without fuss? Perhaps, because the Transmute interface is hassle free.
And finishes! That's it; you can migrate bookmarks across multiple browsers without the hassle of import and export. Transmute also comes in a PRO flavor giving some extra bookmark selection controls and co-ordination with services like Google Bookmarks and Delicious. But for the simple task of keeping all my browsers with the same bookmarks, the free version more than stands up. If you hate installing things, then there's a portable option too. Having the same bookmarks across all your browsers is such a basic need and keeping them all updated with each other is where Transmute steps in with a speedy click. Transmute v1.63 is Windows only and requires Microsoft .NET Framework. It may also run on Linux and Mac OS X with Mono Framework 2.0 or higher installed. Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on Twitter ? Now you can follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Related posts
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| How to Build a Gaming PC [PDF Guide] Posted: 11 Nov 2009 11:01 AM PST
By building your own system, you will be able to suppress these costs, saving up to a couple hundred bucks. But what you’re planning to do isn’t easy, and we’re not talking about the actual building. First you’ll need to gather all of your components. MakeUseOf presents its latest PDF release - How to Build a Gaming PC, written by our very own PDF Manual Editor, Simon Slangen. In this guide, we’ll familiarize you with all the different computer components, from a gamer’s point of view. Instead of telling you what to buy, we’ll teach you how to weigh and judge these individual components.
Don’t wait, download the the How to Build a Gaming PC guide now as a free PDF, or read it online on Scribd. If you enjoyed this release, check out our other MakeUseOf PDF Manuals. Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| 3 Great Sites For Old Wives’ Tales & Superstitions Posted: 11 Nov 2009 10:01 AM PST
Why am I telling you this? To let you know where I got this topic from. There have to be a few dozen old wives’ tales about how to get rid of hiccups. Cream soda, sipping water from the other side of the glass, a good scare, holding your breath for 13 seconds, 60 seconds or, my favourite, a year. That one works, however the outcome isn’t desirable. So what other lists of Old Wives’ Tales are there out there? Fret not, I’ve done the research for you!
Old Wives’ Tales at Birthmarks
And the dumbest, most ignorant one yet…
There are quite a few more at the site. Some are quite sentimental and sweet, some are very personal, and a few are just downright foolish. Either way, they’re all interesting. They have some superstitions on birthmarks as well. Corsinet
Really? For who – the cricket? He’ll be lucky if I don’t crush him with the heel of my shoe, when I can’t sleep at 2 a.m.
I need some clarity on this. Does the elephant have to face the door, or just the picture?
That’s one that makes perfect sense, especially if you’re the one that has to clean the stove. By the time you get through this sites Old Wives’ Tales, you’ll probably be thinking those old wives had a lot of time on their hands and that must be all there is. Nay nay, my friend, nay nay. The Longest List of Old Wives’ TalesReally, just typing the name of the site would have been an article in itself. Although, you won’t doubt that they have the most Old Wives’ Tales when you get to this site. They don’t even have a list – they have an index. Cats sneezing, stepping on a nail, ringing in your ears, knuckles cracking – the old wives have something to say about all of those. Most of it isn’t terribly good either and often involves rain. You’d think they’d notice the rain clouds before they notice a cat sneezing. Here’s a one to try out:
Pretty sure that doesn’t work for men looking for a wife. But Russian dating sites do! I hope you got some good entertainment out of these tales and superstitions. Some are kind of fun to keep going, even though we know they aren’t true. If you’ve got a good family superstition or Old Wives’ Tale, let us know in the comments. We’re all ears! Image credit: Steve Weaver Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| How To Browse On A Budget & Maximize Battery Life With BashFlash [Mac] Posted: 11 Nov 2009 08:01 AM PST
Let me put this in perspective for you – I had less than 4 hours to research a topic for my next article (from scratch), think of the angle which should be presented to you (the readers), write the article, proofread it and submit it – all within the four-hour time frame. I’m not saying that it’s impossible but really, quite close to the limit. Since then, I got myself a UMTS device and luckily from a provider which offers unlimited usage for a fixed monthly fee. I know for a fact that a lot of other providers out there charge by the megabyte. Those of you with such a tariff and are looking for a way to reduce your internet usage, read on. Both of these issues (battery life and restricted internet usage) can be addressed with one simple application – BashFlash. You see, flash is a major pain in the ass. It appears in ads as animations and online video players. And it does two things very well; firstly, it takes up a lot of your internet usage because of those damned flash videos that masquerade as advertisements which automatically load whether you want them to or not; and secondly, when flash videos play, it uses a whole lot of CPU power, heating it up, and draining the battery because the fan has to run and cool it back down again. Here’s where BashFlash comes in. It’s a menubar app that detects the activity of the Flash plugin. Whenever Flash takes up a significant amount of processing power, BashFlash’s menubar icon will turn from grey to red, allowing you to kill the Flash plugin. If you happily fulfill both requirements, then let’s see what BashFlash can do for you. After installing it, BashFlash places its icon on the menubar. If there is no Flash content running in Safari, the icon will appear grey. Once a flash-enabled ad or video loads, the icon will turn red and subsequently allows you to kill the Flash process. And look what happens immediately. The plugin is temporarily disabled and the video stops playing, CPU usage goes back to normal, internet usage normalizes, and battery is saved. All is well. Reload the page and everything starts up again, including the Flash plugin. Nothing is permanently disabled so you get to choose exactly when and how to deploy the Flash killer. Again, BashFlash will only work with Safari and Intel Macs running on Snow Leopard at 64-bit. Do you get annoyed with flash ads that suddenly spike up your laptop’s core temperature and start spinning the fan unnecessarily? What do you do about it? Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| How To Connect Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive To Your PC Posted: 11 Nov 2009 06:01 AM PST
Microsoft uses a special connector to attach the hard drive to the Xbox 360, and you won’t be able to connect it to your PC. At least not right away, because inside that shiny plastic and metal shell, there’s a small hard drive like any other. Today we’re going to show you how to open up your Xbox 360 hard drive and connect it to your PC, in this step by step, illustrated guide. Opening Up Your Xbox 360 Hard DriveTo pull this off, you’re going to need
Since you’re working with sensitive electronics, you might want to wear an anti-static wrist strap or surface. Otherwise, by carrying over static electricity, you might short some of the components.
Be aware that this voids all and any warranty that you have left on your Xbox 360’s hard drive. If it breaks after the procedure, you’ll have to buy a new one. Don’t worry too much though, the warranty on your Xbox 360 system will remain intact nonetheless. You’ll notice that there are four visible screws at the bottom, one of which was hidden under the seal. You can remove these with the TORX T-6 screwdriver. After that, the top side should part pretty easily. Don’t pull too hard, just start at the rounded side and pull it open slowly. The square part should give away too, in the end. To your great horror, you’ll discover four more TORX screws. You can use the T-10 this time. After you’ve removed them, pull away the thin metal cover. Abracadabra. Below you’ll find a 2.5″ hard drive. After you unplug the cable and try to take it out of its shell, you’ll notice that it only slides until it hits a little plastic button at the far side. To get it out, gently lift up the metal casing, and keep it high while you slide out your hard drive. If you can’t unplug the cable, start sliding the hard drive out first, and gently push the cable out of its socket once you’ve got enough room. Voila, there you have it. Did you ever imagine your Xbox 360 hard drive would be so… ordinary? Connecting Your Xbox 360 Hard Drive to Your PCThe Xbox 360 hard drive is a simple 2.5″ S-ATA hard drive, so you would connect it like you would a regular one. Most computers open pretty easily, and you can take the side away with only two screws. You’ll need to attach both a S-ATA cable from your computer’s motherboard to your hard drive, as well as a S-ATA power cable from your computer’s power supply. Both are depicted below. Alternatively, you can find S-ATA to USB adapters online for ten to twenty bucks. It’ll spare you a lot of trouble, and is safer if you don’t like opening up your computer. To view the files on your disk, or to make a full back-up, you’ll need to download Xplorer360. It’s an entirely free and easy to use tool. With Xplorer360, you can read and write to Xbox 360 hard drives. By going to Drive -> Backup Image, you can already make a full back-up. Have fun! I hope you’ve learned something from this tutorial. If you’ve got any other questions, don’t be afraid to ask, there’s a comments section below! Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on Twitter ? Now you can follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Related posts
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| How To Download Completely Free Amazon Kindle eBooks To Your PC Posted: 11 Nov 2009 04:01 AM PST
You can turn your portable computer or even your desktop computer into a full featured Kindle. It may not look like a Kindle but it can let you read, bookmark and annotate your eBooks. Is it sounding too good to be true? Well it's not and it is here to stay! Why would Amazon want to limit their sales to only people who have shelled out the dough for a Kindle? So with out further ado here it is in all it's glory – the Kindle for PC, with the Mac version on it's way!
I started by downloading the software from here. After the download is completed, run the installer and install the application. Then you will see a screen that looks like this: You will need to give them a email account or your Amazon account’s email address to speed things along. And you will HAVE to have a credit card on the account. You will not need to buy anything but a credit card is required. Fill in the required information: Go ahead and click the register button. That will bring you to your Kindle home screen. On it in the upper right hand corner you will see this: If you already have purchased or have books in your account they will show up here. If not, hit the shop in the Kindle store button next to the Menu button. From here you can buy or download free books. The ones on the home page are their best sellers and cost money! But let's search for some free books. Do you see the search box at the top? Go ahead and hit the go button: That will return all the results in Kindle Land. Then when you have your search results lets sort them by price lowest to highest like so: If you see something that catches your eye grab it. If not search for your favorite old world authors. I chose Charles Dickens as you can see below: Then I went ahead and clicked on Oliver Twist, circa mid 1800's. To download it click on the Buy now with 1 click orange button. It will deliver to your PC version of the Kindle by default. If you have other devices select the appropriate one. Then you will see a thank you screen. Next go back to your Kindle screen and hit the sync and check for new items (F5) button as you can see below: That will get the ball rolling… Yeah! I have a book! Click on it to start reading… The right and left buttons will turn your pages. And your other options are bookmark and note. Here is what the text looks like: Hit the bookmark button to store a bookmark. To retrieve it hit the show notes and marks button: You can add notes by dropping down that box to say notes and type away! Do you love it or hate it? We would love to hear how you consume eBooks. Let us know in the comments! Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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There are times when we want to check certain illness symptoms we or our loved ones are experiencing. We may not be sure if the symptoms warrant further investigation or we might just want to satisfy our curiosity about health and fitness in general.
Call Transmute a bookmark 'synchronization' tool. Transmute calls itself the ultimate bookmarks converter. Both claims need to hold true for filling in a job that's a result of prolific web browsing and using more than one browser to do it.
Gaming can be an expensive hobby, especially the hardware. If you want to keep up, you’ll have to make sure you’ve got a sufficiently strong PC.
Hiccups are just stupid. I’m certain that hiccups, poison ivy and mosquitoes are evidence that whoever runs this universe sometimes does things for no good reason. When I get hiccups, sometimes I can get rid of them by breathing just so – sort of like a Chi exercise. If I can’t get rid of them that way, then well, I have to let the Chi out and it sounds like I’m yelling Ralph, if you catch what I’m saying. Too much information?
These tales are as interesting as the birthmarks they supposedly caused. Personally, I find birthmarks fascinating, but some people that have them are distressed by them. I think once you add the tales they’ve been told, you’ll understand the stress. Check a few of these out:
Here’s a small trove of more general Old Wives’ Tales. I think sometimes these tales have a root in truth, or at least in coincidence. Some just make me think that old wives had access to some great herbal remedies. Corsinet breaks them down into 2 separate pages – A to L and M to Z. Maybe you’ve heard a few of these:
Those who frequently work with portable Macs should really consider reading this article. I’ve been dealing with some internet connectivity issues at home recently and as a result, I’ve had to bring my MacBook to Starbucks where I get to leech off free wifi in exchange for a Chai Latté. Sure, that temporarily connected me back with the rest of the world but I had to be quick. With the wireless network adapter switched on and no power point in sight, my battery would last a measly 4 hours.
Did you ever need to connect your Xbox 360 hard drive to your PC? Whether you wanted to make a back-up of your files or decided to use the storage, it probably didn’t prove as easy as you thought.
Are you really jealous of friends who have a Kindle? They are able to download and read completely free eBooks on their fancy devices. Well don't feel left out laptop and net book users!
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