The Windows Fix » Online Apps

Snackr – Scrolling RSS Reader for Windows

T.J. Mininday — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:49:36 +0000

The go to method to receiving up to date news information these days is via RSS feeds. Whether through blogging, news, or just a periodically updated website, it is THE defacto method of delivering information. Although to those who aren’t quiet as tech savvy, may have no idea of its purpose, those of us whom are, are always looking for new way to receiving our “feeds”.

Google Reader quickly came to the forefront as the most popular RSS reader on the net. There were many online and offline competitors to Google’s powerful product, none have really come close thus far. One that I recently discovered that works much differently than most, is Snackr RSS.

Snackr RSS Reader is both an on and offline RSS reading solution that has a much different approach to displaying feeds. Snackr utilizes Adobe’s amazing Air product, scrolling your news across the bottom, top, left or right sections of your screen.

After you begin either manually entering your feeds, or importing them via a OPML file, Snackr will begin randomly scrolling your various articles at your specified location. As they scroll across the screen, you can simply click on any item and see a quick snippet of what it has to offer. If you want to continue onto the full article, you can do so quickly by clicking “View Post”, where it will take you to the posting in your default web browser.

via MakeUseOf

Free RSS News Screen Saver for your PC It’s still nice to find a decent screen saver to...
Sunday Links 11.02.08 – The Windows Fix Weekly Link Finds Another week gone by, another week of stellar stories and...
Hide Programs Quickly From View with BlindBossKey There is no doubt about it. The internet has made...

Discover File Extensions and Freeware to Open them on Openwith.org

T.J. Mininday — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:23:39 +0000

Discovering files that you cannot open can be a real annoyance. Whether you have downloaded it, received it via e-mail or found it on your company’s network, discovering an unknown extension typically leads you straight to Google. There are a lot of file extension sites out there, but none quite like this.

OpenWith.org is a simple online and offline application that can quickly find whatever extension that you are searching for and not only tell you what program it’s typically used for, but also free apps that will open them as well. Trying to find a conversion tool or combing for a free alternative has never been any easier.

In the below screenshot, you’ll see that I looked up the popular Powerpoint Presentation Extension, PPT. It has given me not just one, but two free options to opening this file type.

Openwith.org

Use CurrPorts to Check Open Ports on your Local Computer Whether you know it or not, for every application that...
Create your Own Online File Server with HFS Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to share files...
Moo0 RightClicker Adds Must Have Options to Right-Click Context Menu One of the areas presently lacking in Windows today, are...

ReRun Check: Find Out if Your Favorite Show is a Repeat

T.J. Mininday — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:23:56 +0000

Nothing can drive a TV fan more nuts then really getting involved in a show for several weeks, only to have it come up with a rerun the next week. Especially when it catches you be surprise. It would at least be nice to know if the upcoming episode was in face a repeat or not. Well, there’s a simple website that will give you the quick answer.

One my fellow MakeUseOf writers Jorge, recently came up with a very simple and easy to use website to tell whether or not your show is in fact going to be a duplicate in their upcoming episde. It’s called RerunCheck.

RerunCheck takes the pain of scraping through tough to read tv listings, and simply displays whether or not your favorite upcoming show is going to be a repeat or not. Simply enter the search for the name of your show and a Yes or No will pop-up on your screens.

There are also RSS updates to get continuous and regular updates on a show you’d like and you may finally create your own account to manage several shows and display what their upcoming show will be.

RerunCheck

Screenshot a Website and Archive It with BackUpURL Have you ever wanted to simply archive a particular website...
Find Your Next Desktop Wallpaper with Wallpaper Search After just recently writing about my favorite use of Google...
Creating a new ‘ Show Desktop ‘ Icon Ever arrive at a PC, only to find that it...

A Google Maps Pedometer for Creating your own Trails

T.J. Mininday — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:17:15 +0000

I was just sitting at the office today, pondering whether I was going to workout tonight. I decided yes due to the nice weather, because running outdoors is my preferred choice. The problem however is that I want to run a certain mileage and I have no idea what distances are around my neighborhood. So I wondered if there were any online apps out there, that I can create my own trails with. Of course there is…and I’m here to write about one of the easiest.

Gmaps Pedometer is a walking/running/biking trail creator, that allows you to create trails on the road and see the exact route and distance via Google Maps.

After entering your zip code, and getting your present location mapped, you begin recording from start to finish. It’s a very simple point and click architecture. After you have finished recording your route, you’ll see each of the one mile markers, and you get your very own link to save and share.
One nice thing to note

It’s a very simple and straightforward interface, that doesn’t require registration and has not limits. This unlike other options like MapMyRun. Try it out if you’re looking to get a new trail started.

GMaps-Pedometer

Creating a new ‘ Show Desktop ‘ Icon Ever arrive at a PC, only to find that it...
I’m Finally Sold on Google Calendar So, after months of only tinkering with Google Calendar, I...
Screencast-O-Matic – No Download On Screen Recording Application Techcrunch just posted a read on Screentoasters new, online, Java...

Browse iTunes without the Actual Application

T.J. Mininday — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:37:15 +0000

There is no denying that iTunes is a massive marketplace. Music, Movies, Books, Podcasts and the quickly growing App store is making it the goto location for everything media related. One of the biggest problems with it’s huge growth and continual addition of features, is really turning it into a bloated monster. Fortunately someone has come up with a way to browse the iTunes store without the need for the application. Only a simple web browser.

It is simply labeled as ‘App Store’ and it doesn’t look all that much different than iTunes itself. It looks very similar and acts in all the same similar manners, except for the integrated search. When you find something you like, clicking on a link takes you directly into iTunes. It makes browsing the iTunes store for your next favorite piece of media, very easy.

Checkout – App Store

via

Google Mobile on the iPhone…Voice Recognition Searching Just this past week, Google announced one of the easiest...
Xoopit for Gmail – Firefox GMail Add-on for Finding Lost Files and Organizing Photos Do you have loads of attachments, photos, videos, etc…in your...
Screencast-O-Matic – No Download On Screen Recording Application Techcrunch just posted a read on Screentoasters new, online, Java...

Ammyy Admin – Remote Access with No Steps in Between

T.J. Mininday — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:16:36 +0000

There are plenty of options out there today for remote access. Most people these days use products such as GoToMyPC or LogMeIn for simple and easy access to their home or work PC. These work great for when you need to access the same PC over and over again, but what about when you are simply trying to help out your parents or friends with a quick fix. There are a few options out there like CrossLoop, GoToAssist and Teamviewer, but all require some type of installation and their biggest benefits are the paid versions of their products. Ammyy Admin is the simplest no nonsense product that will get you connected to who ever you want, when ever you want.

Ammyy Admin is one single executable file that is downloaded and ran from both the client and the operator PC. After each of the users fires up the program they are prompted with the following screen.

On the client side, the user simply click the connect button and it connects through the firewall to an available router. During this connection period, an extremely small zip file is downloaded and installed to the proper location on the PC.

Once the client is connected, the operator needs the correct ID number in the box. The operator enters that ID, and clicks connect a small Ammy ‘viewer’ app is downloaded to that PC and installed again to it’s proper location.

Once the operator attempts to connect the remote PC, the client is prompted with box to accept with a few additional options to allow for additional access.

Which is finally followed by the actual connection and the operator receiving a viewable window of the client machine.

In addition to the above instructions, there a few more options and security measures that you can put in place.

Only allow specific PCs to connect to your client machine.
File transferring.
Run the application as a service. Allowing you to run it without any user intervention.
All sessions use AES encryption, with a different key for each. For maximum security.

I have been looking for a free solution like this for quite a while. Most other products require some type of registration and client installation. Ammyy Admin gets the job done with some added benefits such as file transfers and computer permissions. The product is compatible with all versions of Windows 2000 and above, and is a perfect solution for simple remote administration at home and at work.

Are there any other free solutions as simple as Ammyy Admin? Do you see any security flaws with this app? What are some remote admin applications that you use?

Go to AmmyyAdmin

Enable Remote Desktop Remotely If you work in a business environment and you need...
mRemote – Tabbed Remote Desktop Network Administrators of large corporate sized Microsoft Environments, often find...
Synergy – Free Software Based ‘KVM Switch’ One the many things that comes along with putting together...

Screenshot a Website and Archive It with BackUpURL

T.J. Mininday — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:06:55 +0000

Have you ever wanted to simply archive a particular website instantly? How often do you use the internet archive to look back at the internet in the past? Want to share a website that you know will be removed due to legal reasons? Well, then BackupURL is for you.

BackupURL is self proclaimed as ” The First Instant URL Caching Website!”. It takes any URL and caches it’s current page instantly. Once it’s created, a random permanent URL is created and can be shared for everyone’s use.

It works different then services such as Google or other automated cache, in that it’s instantaneous. Once you enter the URL, it automatically stores the page and generates the URL for you.

Check out BackupURL

via

Podlinez – Listen to Podcasts through you phone Just ran across this website the other day and was...
XP Syspad – All your Windows tools in one place A big problem with Windows XP, is the spaced out...

Find Your Next Instant Netflix Movie with InstantWatcher

T.J. Mininday — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:00:18 +0000

Netflix is far and away the largest online DVD rental service in the world. The ease of use and access online, has spread it like wildfire across the United States. One of the huge benefits of a Netflix account is the ability to watch thousands of movies instantly as well. Although accessing and playing these movies is very easy, Netflix is still lacking in the organization and search department. Fortuantely within the past six months, they finally released their API in order for third party users to create their own online apps for the web and including the iPhone. One of those applications based upon this new API is InstantWatcher.

InstantWatcher strips out images and displays movies in a much simpler text format. One of the biggest capabilities that InstantWatcher adds is it’s sorting. I’m sure Netflix will at some point add similar features, but at this point this is the best place to stop.

via

Streaming Netflix on the PS3 So, who would have thunk it. I was sitting at...
Screencast-O-Matic – No Download On Screen Recording Application Techcrunch just posted a read on Screentoasters new, online, Java...
Sunday Finds 11.23.08 – The Best Websites, Software and Blog Links of The Week Another edition of Sunday Finds, released on day later, because...

Send Blog Updates to Twitter via Pingvine

T.J. Mininday — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:42:56 +0000

One of the more popular methods of spreading the word on your blog posts is via Twitter. If you have lots of friends attached to your account, it’s an easy way for them to know when a post has been added to your blog. Many of the more popular blogs do this already, and many more add themselves to that list daily. Unfortunately Twitter doesn’t have anything built-in to make this an easy accomplishment. Fortunately Pingvine does the work for you.

Pingvine needs only your Twitter account and your main RSS feed, to get updates when a new blog post has happened. It’s not more difficult then that.

Pingvine – via Teknobites

Sunday Finds 11.23.08 – The Best Websites, Software and Blog Links of The Week Another edition of Sunday Finds, released on day later, because...
Install Windows Updates Through Firefox With WindizUpdate There is no doubt that Microsoft will probably never allow...
Upload Files Directly to You FTP Server with RightLoad Although Filezilla is one of the best free FTP programs...

Find Your Next Desktop Wallpaper with Wallpaper Search

T.J. Mininday — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:33:10 +0000

After just recently writing about my favorite use of Google Image Search, by using Google Image Ripper, on MakeUseOf.com, I just happened to stumble upon a very similar service but for just typical wallpaper sizes. You can search for any topic you like, and find your new favorite desktop wallpaper.

It actually works amazingly well for it’s purpose, and should be just another place to search when trying to find your next desktop wallpaper. Check it Out: Wallpaper Search

Desktopia – Rotate Great Photography and Art on your Desktop We’ve seen these before, an on/offline application that rotates user...
Enable Remote Desktop Remotely If you work in a business environment and you need...
Remote Desktop/Terminal Services on the iPhone I knew it was only a matter of time before...