Category: ifttt

By Adam Dachis, Lifehacker – February 23, 2013 at 11:00AM

Some apps are essential, and everyone who’s anyone knows to have them on their computer. Some apps, however, are fantastic yet fly under the radar. Today, we look at our top 10 underhyped apps for Mac.

We’ve shared our favorite underhyped webapps a few times before, but we were shocked to find we hadn’t done the same for our beloved desktops. Last week we tackled Windows. Now it’s time for the Mac.

10. Sonora

Even though it’s now out of development, Sonora is still our favorite iTunes-alternative music player—especially now that it’s open-sourced and free. The latest version greatly improves on an already awesome interface and updates Sonora’s excellent on-the-fly song queueing features. My favorite part of Sonora, however, is the global hotkey that lets you bring up a search panel and type what you want. It works like an app launcher, except you get music results as you type. You can play a playlist, album, or just a song. If you still need to manage your music with iTunes because you use an iPhone (or other iDevice), Sonora will sync your collection at startup (or manually at any time of your choosing). It’s a fantastic music app and we hope someone else continues its development, but in the meantime the latest beta is solid and deserves to be your music player of choice.

Download Sonora (Free)

9. Autograph

Need to sign a document? Got a multitouch trackpad? All you need is Autograph and you can sign with your finger or a capacitive stylus. All you do is invoke the Autograph window with a hotkey of your choosing, sign, and insert the signature into whatever document you need. It’s pretty much the easiest way to digitally sign anything.

Download Autograph ($3)

8. ScreenSharingMenulet

ScreenSharingMenulet does one great thing: it puts a menu of computers available for screen sharing in your OS X menubar. Why Apple hasn’t added this to OS X itself is hard to understand, because it’s such a useful feature for anyone who accesses their computer screens remotely with any kind of regularity. Local and Back to My Mac Hosts show up in the menu by default, but you can add bookmarks to other desktops if you want as well. It may only do one thing, but it’s one vital thing if you care about remote desktop on your Mac.

Download Screen Sharing Menulet ($1.99)

7. PopClip

PopClip has a very simple premise: add iOS-style copy and paste to your Mac. When you select text, PopClip will show copy and paste buttons. If that’s all it did, however, it wouldn’t be worth the cost. Fortunately, PopClip is extensible and allows you to integrate tons of other features of your choosing. Want to search for selected text on Google/Amazon/virtually anywhere else? No problem. Need an instant word count for your selection? Done. If you can think up a selected text function, PopClip can probably do it. It’ll set you back $5, but a free trial is available if you want to give the app a shot first.

To learn how to get the most out of PopClip, check out our guide.

Download PopClip (Free Trial, $5)

6. GrowlVoice

Google Voice is awesome, but replying to text messages and checking voicemail from your computer could be quite a bit easier. GrowlVoice solves that problem on your Mac by shoving everything you’d want to do into your menubar. The elegant interface provides an easy way to send and respond to text messages, plus you can listen to voicemails and even call back if you want.

Download GrowlVoice (Free Trial, $5)

5. Unclutter

Unclutter stores all sorts of useful things at the top of your screen. Just move your mouse to the menu bar and swipe down with a couple of fingers to reveal a clipboard, file storage area, and a notepad. Basically, the app takes three handy tools you could use access to and throws them into one convenient, accessible-when-necessary space.

Download Unclutter ($3)

4. Found

You saved a file…somewhere. It might’ve been in some folder on your computer, or perhaps you left it on a cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive. No matter, because Found will search it all—and quickly, for that matter. If you’re dealing with issues of data fragmentation due to storing it in many different places, you won’t have to worry about losing things anymore if you install this free app.

Download Found (Free)

3. Adapter

Most of us use the wonderful Handbrake to convert videos, but the user interface isn’t exactly intuitive for someone unfamiliar with video encoding. On top of that, formats are limited and you can’t convert audio files or images. What free can do all of that? Adapter, the lesser-known multimedia powerhouse that deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It can convert all your movies, encode audio, and change the format of your images. It’s pretty much as fast as Handbrake, too, as it uses the same encoding libraries. If you have media of any kind to convert, be sure to check it out.

Download Adapter (Free)

2. XtraFinder

XtraFinder adds a bunch of useful features the OS X Finder is lacking, such as cut and paste, putting folders on top in list view, dual panel and dual window view, global hotkeys, and tabbed windows—just to name a few. While Pathfinder can do much more, it costs $40. If you want to supercharge the OS X Finder without paying, XtraFinder is the answer.

Download XtraFinder (Free)

1. DropZone

Dropzone is one of my personal favorite apps. If there’s anything you want to do via drag and drop, Dropzone can handle the task. It can upload files to FTP sites, speak text, print documents, upload pictures to Flickr, and tons more. If a capability isn’t built-in, Dropzone is extensible and might have a third-party option. If not, and you’re feeling ambitious, you could even write an extension. All you do is drag a file to the menu bar, then move it to the task you want to complete. Dropzone will handle the rest. When uploading, it’ll even copy a URL to the clipboard automatically. If you want to know more about what you can do with Dropzone, read our guide. It’s a really awesome way to create a variety of useful shortcuts.

Download Dropzone (Free Trial, $10)

By umOuch, Apple TV Hacks – February 22, 2013 at 12:01PM

Now that we are able to officially pair Bluetooth keyboards with our Apple TVs, the question quickly becomes: what are the best Bluetooth keyboards to use? Well, after searching the highest highs, the lowest lows, and everywhere in between we believe we have compiled a list of the best options, and great choices, for every preference out there.

Granted, you may be thinking to yourself that all keyboards are the same but the fact is that there are a wide verity of options out there. Each options is designed with your preferences in mind. So, ask yourself if you like minimal design or the busy looking? Do like small keyboards or large keyboards? Do you love official Apple gear or do you prefer other brands? Whatever your preference is, we have found the keyboard for you.

Let’s start with the actual choices provided to us from Apple themselves, and move on from there:

APPLE WIRELESS KEYBOARD – From $51

For use with your Mac, iOS devices, and now your Apple TV, this sleek, completely cable-free aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard uses Bluetooth technology, so you’re free to move the keyboard just about anywhere within range and wirelessly type away. Use the Apple Wireless Keyboard on your desk, on your lap, or anywhere within 30 feet of your Apple TV. Also, worth mentioning, this compact design takes up 24 percent less space on your desktop than full-size keyboards.

APPLE WIRELESS KEYBOARD WITH NUMERIC KEYPAD – From $42.99

The Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad features an elegant, ultrathin anodized aluminum enclosure with low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel. Its extended layout includes document navigation controls–page up, page down, home, and end–and full-size arrow keys for playing games and scrolling through documents. For those of you who like the full size keyboard and separate numeric keys, this is the option for you.

ANKER ULTRA SLIM KEYBOARD – From $18.68

For those of you who love the look and feel of the Apple Keyboards, but are not fans of the prices, this is the best option for you. This device offers all the functionality of the smaller Apple OEM keyboard at a fraction of the price. This keyboard offers great battery life and great performance for your Apple TV.

ANKER ULTRA SLIM KEYBOARD (BLACK) – From $18.39

If you love the Apple look, but wish they had a keyboard to match your Apple TV, this is the best option for you. Notice one key difference with this device, this keyboard comes in a beautiful matte black finish. This device offers all the functionality of the smaller Apple OEM keyboard at a fraction of the price. This keyboard offers great battery life and great performance for your Apple TV.

LOGITECH BLUETOOTH ILLUMINATED KEYBOARD – From $67.63

Stylish sleek innovative nearly-full-size portable Bluetooth keyboard easily switches between 3 devices. This can include your Apple TV, your tablet, and even your phone, no matter what the operating system. The best feature here is likely the use of backlighting. Now you can see what you are typing in the dark.

MICROSOFT CURVED BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD – From $18.67

Compact comfort. Clean lines. Stay comfortable and productive with this sleek Bluetooth keyboard. Exclusively for Bluetooth computers and devices – no transceivers to connect or lose. This device has a unique design with a winged, or curved, keyboard. For those of you looking for an ergonomic approach to typing from your lap, this may be the keyboard for you.

MICROSOFT WEDGE BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD – From $39.95

The new, ultra-slim Wedge Mobile Keyboard was designed for Windows 7 and Windows 8 tablet users who are constantly on the go, but it also works with iPads, iPhones, iPods, and of course your Apple TV. Its thin, lightweight design makes it easy to carry, while the full-sized, soft-touch keyset provides a comfortable, efficient typing experience that makes using it a breeze.

PERIXX PERIBOARD-804 BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD – From $31.57

Compatible and mapping with your Apple TV, Microsoft OS, iOS, and Android devices. PERIBOARD-804 is an ideal Bluetooth keyboard for your tablet PC and Smart Phone. With its portable size and light weight, you can easily carry it together with your tablet or smart phone on the go. Works within a 30ft range.

iKROSS BLUETOOTH WIRELESS SILICONE KEYBOARD – From $25.99

Brand new bluetooth wireless keyboard with a foldable design allows you to carry your device anywhere. It is small, light, and easy to store, waterproof and easy to clean. The keyboard is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery. Recharge your battery by connecting the provided USB cable to PC or laptop. This support Bluetooth v2.0 and will work great with your Apple TV. Note: this is best for hard surfaces, not a great option for lap type’rs.

SATECHI MINI KEYBOARD – From $39.99

Satechi ST-K100 is a wireless Bluetooth mini keyboard and integrated mouse. Sleek and slim design fits comfortably in your hands and allows for easy typing with its precise keys. Designed to work with your Bluetooth-HID-enabled iOS or Android SmartPhone, Tablet, HTPC or PS3 – no software installation – no cables to keep track of, simply turn on the Bluetooth on your device and connect via Bluetooth.

Visit What’s on iPhone for the best iPad and iPhone app reviews!
Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

By James Bruce, MakeUseOf – February 22, 2013 at 01:01PM

Judging by the popularity of our last home surveillance article, it seems quite a lot of you are increasingly worried about the security of your home. Whether that fear is justified or not, it’s always a good idea to take precautions and be ready.

Read on as we examine technological tools and tips that you can employ to both protect your home, and help deal with the fallout should the worst ever happen.

As ever, please don’t take this as legal advice. Check local laws first.

Home Surveillance & Offsite Backup

Let’s get this one out the way first as it remains a strong deterrent to any determined intruders. We did a group test of various computer based surveillance packages before (and an update here from 2 more surveillance solutions), so read that to find out the best packages.

Your main choice will be between spending on a “proper” outdoor network based camera, or DIYing a solution with an old webcam, as well as how many cameras to place. Whatever you choose, be sure to make outdoor cameras obvious so as to actually act as a deterrent – a flashing red LED, placing the camera in clear view from the front (the front of the house is best).

You might want to set up additional cameras inside your house in the home office or hallway, as most burglars won’t be expecting internal cameras in a residential zone. At least you might be able to catch them.

Obviously, if the criminals do get inside and take equipment, you’ll be glad if you used a cloud-based solution rather than saving to a local drive. At the very least, hide your surveillance data drive in the loft or somewhere otherwise inaccessible, with a long USB cable.

Track Your Devices

For Apple devices, go and check right now that each is linked to your iCloud account, and enable tracking via the Find My iPhone service. If your iPad or iPhone are then taken, you’ll be able to quickly locate the stolen goods assuming the thieves are stupid enough not to take out the SIM cards. I’m not just saying this based on theory – my wife’s iPhone was stolen, and we got it back.

For other devices including laptops, we suggest setting up Prey. Once triggered and assuming its connected to the Internet, the device will take periodic pictures and screenshots of the thief and post them back to you, as well as attempt to figure out the location from detected wifi networks.

Home Automation, Or Just Timer Switches

Criminals are cowards, so most will only attack homes that are obviously vulnerable or where they’re unlikely to meet the home owner. With that in mind, the easiest home defence is just to make it look like you’re at home. Mechanical or electronic timer switches are inexpensive and can be attached to radios, TV and floor lamps to give the impression of someone still being there.

Fake Defence Systems, With An Arduino

Arduinos are wonderful little devices, and when combined with a simple distance sensor hidden in a flower pot or a more elaborate motion sensor, you could rig them up to trigger the sound of a barking dog (make sure it’s a long recording with variety), turn lights on in the bedroom, or even the sound of a shotgun being cocked (OK, maybe not that one, but you get the point).

Wire up some servo motors and you could even go all Home Alone on their burgling a**.

Take Inventory

OK – so if you were to get burgled, just imagine the stress of trying to figure out exactly what was taken and how much it was worth! That’s where a home inventory system comes in useful. Simply take pictures of your devices and scan the receipts for everything you own – many insurance companies refuse to cover losses that you can’t actually prove you owned in the first place. You don’t need to use a scanner for receipts – most camera phones offer sufficient quality nowadays.

Just get into the habit of keeping receipts and photograph them immediately. You probably already do this anyway if you’re self-employed. With any luck, you’ll never need your inventory at all. But, like your scouting guidebook said, be prepared!

There are specialized home inventory apps to do this which will let you print out customized lists according the insurer’s specifications, but honestly the free Evernote is more than up to the task. Create an Inventory notebook and add a new note for each item.

Do you have any more ideas on how technology can protect your home and help you deal when the worst happens? Share them in the comments and I’ll throw a few points your way!

The post Don’t Let The Criminals Win: 5 Tools & Tips For Preventing Burglary appeared first on MakeUseOf.

By samzenpus, Slashdot – February 22, 2013 at 03:07AM

cylonlover writes “If Joseph Zawodny, a senior scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center, is correct, the future of energy may lie in a nuclear reactor small enough and safe enough to be installed where the home water heater once sat. Using weak nuclear forces that turn nickel and hydrogen into a new source of atomic energy, the process offers a light, portable means of producing tremendous amounts of energy for the amount of fuel used. It could conceivably power homes, revolutionize transportation and even clean the environment.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

By Jason Kottke, kottke.org – February 20, 2013 at 03:00PM

This Reddit group is collecting links to full-length movies and TV shows that are available on YouTube. Like this unauthorized copy of Django Unchained:

See if you can get through the whole thing before it gets taken down.

Update: David reminded me that you can actually watch full-length movies and TV shows on YouTube for a rental fee. (thx, david)

Tags: Django Unchained   movies   video   YouTube

By Sam Biddle, Gizmodo – February 20, 2013 at 03:40PM

Have you ever heard of Highlight? I hope the answer is no, because incoherent “social” app has a logo that’s so horrible it will actually give you a headache. A physical headache, in your head. It’s dangerously bad. More »

By Andrew Tarantola, Gizmodo – February 20, 2013 at 01:00PM

Steve Sansweet is a bit of a rebel among hardcore Star Wars collectors. While many afficianados will specialize a single type of memorabilia—Rob Foster’s 2,000-piece set only includes figurines for example—Sansweet will pick up anything from the series for curation in his massive, 300,000-piece museum, Rancho Obi-Wan. More »

By Oracle MySQL Group, Planet MySQL – February 19, 2013 at 08:13PM

MySQL is the world’s most popular open-source database, and powers websites and applications of numerous leading and fast-growing organizations.


On March 12, we’re hosting the first Virtual Developer Day: MySQL at 9am PST to give you a one-stop shop to learn all the essential MySQL skills and the latest features in MySQL 5.6 GA. With a combination of presentations and hands-on lab experience, you’ll have the opportunity to practice in your own environment and gain more in-depth knowledge to successfully design, develop, and manage your MySQL databases.


Featuring speakers coming from Oracle’s MySQL engineering, support, product management, and sales consulting teams, this FREE virtual event has two tracks tailored for both fresh and experienced MySQL users. Attend the live sessions and sharpen your skills to:
•    Develop your new applications cost-effectively using MySQL
•    Improve performance of your existing MySQL databases
•    Manage your MySQL environment more efficiently

If you’re in Europe, Middle East or Africa, don’t worry! We have another live event for you on March 19 at 9:00 GMT so you can join the sessions and get better with MySQL during your business hours.

Don’t miss this opportunity so reserve your spot today!

PlanetMySQL Voting:
Vote UP /
Vote DOWN

By Alan Henry, Lifehacker – February 19, 2013 at 05:15PM

If your system won’t boot, you’re running into strange PC performance problems, or you want to test your hardware for failures, you’ll need a good system rescue disc to save the day. With the right one, you can boot to it, use your machine like normal if you have to, scan for viruses, test your hardware, fix partitions, repair your operating system, and more. We asked you last week which rescue discs you thought were the best—the most flexible, functional, and packed with the most useful tools. Then we took at look at the five best system rescue discs based on your nominations. Now we’re back to highlight the winner.

Without a doubt, HIren’s BootCD was the community favorite, bringing in the most nominees in the call for contenders thread and over 59% of the overall vote in the poll.

In second place with over 16% of the votes cast was the ever-popular Ultimate Boot CD, which many of you noted has been in your PC repair toolkit for years and years. Behind it in third with just over 8% of the vote was the Trinity Rescue Kit, and behind it by a mere seven votes with exactly 8% of the votes cast was the aptly named System Rescue CD. Bringing up the rear with just under 8% of the vote, and behind third and fourth place by 24 and 17 votes respectively, was Knoppix, the Linux live CD that’s packed with troubleshooting utilities as well as productivity tools.

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it’s not because we hate it—it’s because it didn’t get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it’s a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!

By Whitson Gordon, Lifehacker – February 19, 2013 at 06:30PM

If you’re sick of paying for home phone service, you can convert your home phones to use the internet for calls—also known as Voice Over IP (VoIP). Our friends at the How-To Geek show us how to set it up from start to finish.

We’ve talked about OBi adapters before, in our Hive Five on internet calls, but if you’ve been waiting to take the leap, the How-To Geek’s guide will take you through every step of the process. You can use any VoIP provider you want, but they’ve gone with Google Voice for all its awesome features—but non-US users have a lot of choices too. All you’ll need is an OBi adapter (which costs anywhere between $38 and $75), a few cables and your old corded or cordless telephones. Hit the link to check out the guide.

How to Switch to VoIP and Ditch Your Home Phone Bill Forever | How-To Geek

Photo by Billy Brown.