Posts in PC & Peripherals
Goodbye Xdrive
Darius Chang | Nov 28, 2008
Synchronizing documents over multiple computers in different places is not easy. Sure, you can put it in a USB flash drive, but online storage is the way of the future.
Sadly, one of our favorites, Xdrive, will be closing its doors come January 12, 2009. From a simple Web interface, it had matured as a service and even offers a desktop template which maps the online storage as a folder on your computer. Right now, we are searching for a good and free alternative which also offers folder mapping and a drag-and-drop interface.
Microsoft Live Skydrive offers something similar. It has a drag-and-drop upload interface, though currently it does not map onto your PC folder. Unfortunately, this feature requires the use of Internet Explorer and those on other Web browsers would have to use the old file-by-file upload method.
So for long-time Xdrive users, which service have you switched to in preparation of next year's closure?
Photowriter: Wacky text on pics, for free
Eric Franklin | Nov 28, 2008
Yes, "Thank You Julia" for convincing my husband to wear his shades during our entire ceremony. Yeah. Thanks a lot. Made my day, Julia.
(Credit: Deutsch Technologies GmbH)
Go to Photowriter.org and click on the pencil. Now edit the text and press Enter. OK, was I the only one who typed something completely juvenile, just to see it show up on a picture in cloud font? Hmmm, maybe I was.
Photowriter is a free application developed by Deutsch Technologies GmbH that lets you insert text into your photos in weird, wacky, and supposedly photo-realistic fonts.
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You speak and ShutterVoice listens
Eric Franklin | Nov 27, 2008
"Computer..." (Credit: Scott Forman)
Scott Forman may or may not be a Star Trek fan, but when I watch his ShutterVoice demo in action, all I can think of is Jean Luc Picard on the Enterprise, in his quarters, editing photos, with some Earl Gray and Macbeth at his side. Editing photos?!
ShutterVoice, created by Forman, is a Windows-only application that allows you to completely control Canon's EOS utility--which enables you to remotely operate your camera through the computer, strictly through voice command. What made me giddy as a fanboy was that you seemingly have to say "computer" before each command. Uber-geeky, I know.
The software will be available in December 2008 for US$30. Check out the movie below for a full demo.
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Tags: shuttervoice, canon eos
How widely used is Chrome?
Stephen Shankland | Nov 27, 2008
Chrome doesn't have much market share among CNET News visitors, but it's climbing. (Credit: CNET News)
Is Google's Chrome browser mainstream?
Certainly not. But I've been curious how widespread its use is, in particular because I'm curious if I have any company in my choice to set Chrome as my default browser.
So I persuaded CNET's tech guys to give a window on what's going on here at CNET News. The result surprised me: 3.6 percent of those visiting the site in October used Chrome, up from 1 percent in September, when Google launched Chrome.
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OMG! It's a keyboard for blondes
Sharon Vaknin | Nov 27, 2008
A fully functional pink keyboard? Perfect!
(Credit: Keyboard for Blondes)
Blondes have suffered decades of ridicule, but it's time they embraced the jokes. When it comes to a hot-pink boost of self-confidence (or at least a few good laughs), the Keyboard for Blondes may do the trick.
The all-pink keyboard swaps out standard keys with funnier, dumber key names. The backspace key now says "Oops!" and the entire row of function keys spells out USELESS KEYS. Hit the "$" sign and you get the sound of a cash register clinking.
Blondes can even get a little technical and use special keys that type out "OMG," "ALI" (Absolutely Love It!), or "XOXO." My favorite? The Caps Lock now says: "Warning! size XXL letters."
Though this fully functional keyboard would be a great gift to poke some fun at your fair-haired friends, regular computer users may find it a bit challenging. However, like the completely blank Das Keyboard, the Keyboard for Blondes might help poor typists improve their skills, since the keys are 1) a distracting pink, and 2) no longer have the standard labels.
According to its manufacturer, European Trends, the keyboard has already been released in the UK to some success, and at US$49.95 probably only a true blonde would purchase this novelty item. It's compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. I know what Paris Hilton will be getting for Christmas.
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