class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cydia_Sources-300x3001.png" alt="cydia app dialers" />Some users pack their iPhones full of so many applications that finding and opening them can become quite a process. Have you ever wished for an easier way to open the applications you use a lot, without having to remember the folder you placed them in? No? Well me neither, but that was before I discovered AppDialer, and I realized how much of a convenience an application like this is.

AppDialer is a Cydia tweak that allows you to literally dial an application or iPhone function and have it quickly open. You simply use Activator to store a gesture to launch AppDialer, enter in the numbers or pattern you stored for the application and the application will open up quickly and easily. I did not really think I needed a tweak such as this on my phone, but now that I have it I could not imagine going without.

Installation

AppDialer is available for free on Cydia. It is under the default repos so there is no need to go seeking out any funky repo for the app. Simply open up Cydia and search for “AppDialer” and click on the link for AppDialer in the search results. On the top of the screen you will see an install button, click that and let Cydia do its thing.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_6263.png" alt="cydia app dialers" width="320" height="480" />

When the application finishes downloading, Cydia will force you to respring your device to allow the changes to take effect.

Set Up

Setting up AppDialer take a few steps. First, go to the settings option on your iPhone, scroll down to the section right below “Store” and click on AppDialer to adjust the settings for the app.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_7007.png" alt="cydia tweak" width="320" height="480" />

The next step is to click on “Activation Methods” to set what kind of gesture you would like to use to activate AppDialer. I chose to shake the device to get it going, but there are lots of available options to make it start whichever is the most comfortable for you.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/shake.png" alt="cydia tweak" width="320" height="480" />

Next you will have to choose whether you want to use numbers or a pattern to make each application open.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/choose.png" alt="cydia tweak" width="320" height="480" />

After you choose how you want to input your commands, you need to actually set up a command in the application. To do this click Dial Setting on the first setting page. Click the “Add Item” button to input a new command.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/add.png" alt="app dialer" width="320" height="480" />

A keyboard or pattern input screen will pop up, and you need to enter whatever you want for this particular app and click call. Your newly entered command will appear below the “Add Item” button. Click on it to tell the application what program to open when you choose this command.

Next choose “Activator Event” at the bottom of the screen and scroll through the list to choose whatever you want this new command to do. You can make it open an application, or launch a basic iPhone function, whatever you prefer.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/activator.png" alt="app dialer" width="320" height="480" />

Now try it out. Shake your device or do whatever activator control you used, enter the code or make the pattern and your application should open the same as if you clicked the icon on the springboard.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/enter-number.png" alt="cydia app dialers" width="213" height="320" />

Conclusion

This is one of those awesome Cydia tweaks that you just do not think you need until you try it. This is one that I will be keeping on my phone for the long haul, and I highly recommend that you check it out if you are a user with a lot of apps on your phone.

Have you tried AppDialer? How did you like it? Let us know in the comments.

View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cydia_Sources-300x3001.png" alt="cydia app dialers" />Some users pack their iPhones full of so many applications that finding and opening them can become quite a process. Have you ever wished for an easier way to open the applications you use a lot, without having to remember the folder you placed them in? No? Well me neither, but that was before I discovered AppDialer, and I realized how much of a convenience an application like this is.

AppDialer is a Cydia tweak that allows you to literally dial an application or iPhone function and have it quickly open. You simply use Activator to store a gesture to launch AppDialer, enter in the numbers or pattern you stored for the application and the application will open up quickly and easily. I did not really think I needed a tweak such as this on my phone, but now that I have it I could not imagine going without.

Installation

AppDialer is available for free on Cydia. It is under the default repos so there is no need to go seeking out any funky repo for the app. Simply open up Cydia and search for “AppDialer” and click on the link for AppDialer in the search results. On the top of the screen you will see an install button, click that and let Cydia do its thing.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_6263.png" alt="cydia app dialers" width="320" height="480" />

When the application finishes downloading, Cydia will force you to respring your device to allow the changes to take effect.

Set Up

Setting up AppDialer take a few steps. First, go to the settings option on your iPhone, scroll down to the section right below “Store” and click on AppDialer to adjust the settings for the app.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/IMG_7007.png" alt="cydia tweak" width="320" height="480" />

The next step is to click on “Activation Methods” to set what kind of gesture you would like to use to activate AppDialer. I chose to shake the device to get it going, but there are lots of available options to make it start whichever is the most comfortable for you.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/shake.png" alt="cydia tweak" width="320" height="480" />

Next you will have to choose whether you want to use numbers or a pattern to make each application open.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/choose.png" alt="cydia tweak" width="320" height="480" />

After you choose how you want to input your commands, you need to actually set up a command in the application. To do this click Dial Setting on the first setting page. Click the “Add Item” button to input a new command.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/add.png" alt="app dialer" width="320" height="480" />

A keyboard or pattern input screen will pop up, and you need to enter whatever you want for this particular app and click call. Your newly entered command will appear below the “Add Item” button. Click on it to tell the application what program to open when you choose this command.

Next choose “Activator Event” at the bottom of the screen and scroll through the list to choose whatever you want this new command to do. You can make it open an application, or launch a basic iPhone function, whatever you prefer.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/activator.png" alt="app dialer" width="320" height="480" />

Now try it out. Shake your device or do whatever activator control you used, enter the code or make the pattern and your application should open the same as if you clicked the icon on the springboard.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/enter-number.png" alt="cydia app dialers" width="213" height="320" />

Conclusion

This is one of those awesome Cydia tweaks that you just do not think you need until you try it. This is one that I will be keeping on my phone for the long haul, and I highly recommend that you check it out if you are a user with a lot of apps on your phone.

Have you tried AppDialer? How did you like it? Let us know in the comments.

View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/intro1.png?54167" alt="password manager"/>

href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/using-keepass-to-secure-your-online-accounts/">KeePass/ href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/keepassx-secure-password-management-linux-os/">KeePassX is a popular open source project that has won the hearts of thousands, with a myriad of href="http://lifehacker.com/5046988/eight-best-keepass-plug+ins-to-master-your-passwords">plugins and href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search?hl=en-US&q=keepass">extensions such as href="http://keefox.org/">KeeFox and href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search?hl=en-US&q=keepass">ChromelPass, that dramatically improve the user experience. However, KeePass isn’t the only open source password manager out there. If you’re looking for a simpler but still secure application where you can store your login credentials and important notes, why note check out additional open source programs?

Even if you’re accustomed to your beloved and convenient commercial password manager, it’s probably not a bad idea to try other ultra secure applications that offer some of the same features and risk less at your expense. If you’re ready for some password manager goodness, read on!

href="http://www.clipperz.com/">Clipperz [ href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-of-both-worlds-online-passwords-offline/">Web-based]

Clipperz is a web-based password manager, not unlike LastPass, with a major difference in that it’s open source. Jim reviewed it href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-of-both-worlds-online-passwords-offline/">here a couple of years ago so be sure to check his review for more details.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/clipperz_compact_tabs.png?54167" alt="password manager" width="484" height="308" />

Pros:

• Support for direct one-click logins (made with a special bookmarklet) so users can login automatically from the Clipperz website.
• Provides an encrypted HTML copy for offline read-only use.
• Login history is recorded.
• Registration requires no email (just a username and passphrase) so users can maintain anonymity.
• Works on any OS with a major browser (like Firefox or Opera) that has Javascript enabled.
• href="http://www.clipperz.com/support/user_guide/clipperz_compact">Compact site for Firefox sidebar and Opera panel with access to direct one-click logins.
• Clipperz can also store notes with sensitive content.
• Password generator available.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_104715.png?54167" border="0" alt="password manager reviews" width="490" height="285" />

• Users can import data from a number of password managers.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_102719.png?54167" alt="password manager reviews" width="442" height="562" />

Cons:

• Saving direct logins involves manually copy-pasting code onto Clipperz website,
• Direct login codes don’t seem to work for all sites. In my tests, Imageshack and Springpad couldn’t create direct logins from the bookmarklet, but users can always create new “web passwords” or cards and specify the website URL manually.
• No support for passphrase recovery since emails aren’t required.
• Cannot organize accounts in groups.

href="http://www.yadabyte.com/Yadabyte_Portables.php">Yadabyte Passwords [Windows]

Yadabyte Passwords is like a tiny Keepass manager, except it carries fewer bells and whistles. Though it’s a bit older, this portable password manager is absolutely a breeze to use. You simply create a master password and then type the usernames, passwords, and URLs for all the services you want included in your password database.

Pros:

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_112637.png?54167" alt="password manager reviews" width="249" height="327" />

• Portable
• Easy to use

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_112855.png?54167" border="0" alt="free password manager" width="249" height="327" />

Cons:

• Might be too simple for some users as it doesn’t have lots of features.
• Cannot organize accounts in groups.

href="https://github.com/zdia/gorilla/wiki/">Password Gorilla [Cross-Platform]

Password Gorilla is a password manager and personal vault that can store login information and notes. The application consists of a single executable that allows you to create a database and save it to a specified location. The encrypted database can only be read in Password Gorilla of course, but the database is actually a different file, separate from the application, so you can create several databases if you wish.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_115859.png?54167" alt="free password manager" width="400" height="257" />

Pros:

• Portable
• Can create groups and subgroups to organize passwords and sites.
• Can import password databases saved in CSV format.
• Automatically locks the database after a defined amount of minutes.
• Can clear the clipboard after specified number of seconds.
• Users can set what double-clicking a login does: open a browser directed to the URL, copy password to clipboard, edit login or do nothing.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_120349.png?54167" alt="free password manager" width="529" height="341" />

• Can copy username and password to the clipboard with keyboard shortcuts.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_120037.png?54167" width="408" height="267" /> /> Cons:

• Exported files are unencrypted plain text files.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_120911.png?54167" width="492" height="199" />

href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/upm/">Universal Password Manager [Cross-Platform; Android]

Universal Password Manager is a simple program that uses 128bit AES encryption and, like Password Gorilla, allows you to create databases once you’ve set a master password.

Pros:

• Databases can be exported and imported.
• Android app available.
• Can load and sync remote databases from URL.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_130616.png?54167" width="500" height="304" />

• Can copy username and password to clipboard with keyboard shortcuts.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-06-26_125814.png?54167" alt="password manager" width="500" height="304" />

Cons:

• Cannot organize accounts in groups though they are alphabetized. A workaround could be to create several databases.

From this list, I prefer Password Gorilla as it has robust features. There are, however, dozens of additional open source programs we couldn’t possibly cover, so if you’re eager to learn more, be sure to check out href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/manage-and-protect-your-personal-data-with-lockcrypt/">LockCrypt, href="http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/">Password Safe, href="http://www.petroules.com/products/silverlock">SilverLock, href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/opensimsim/files/">OpenSimSim and href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/oubliette/">Oubliette.

Do you use an open source password manager and have tips to share? Enlighten us  in the comments!

Image Credit: rel="nofollow" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=77476477">Shutterstock – Mario7 />
/> Follow href="http://twitter.com/MakeUseOf" target="_blank" >MakeUseOf on Twitter. Includes cool extras.

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href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-open-source-password-managers-passwords-safe/">4 Open Source Password Managers To Keep Your Passwords Safe is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf

More articles about: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/open-source/" title="open source" rel="tag">open source, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/password/" title="password" rel="tag">password, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/password-manager/" title="password manager" rel="tag">password manager, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/security/" title="security" rel="tag">security />

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class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs.jpg?54167" alt="save browser tabs"/>If you are a heavy Internet user, you are most likely to often have multiple tabs open simultaneously. We have shared quite a few tips on how to manage your tabs effectively in various browsers.

Here are href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-extensions-chrome-tab-management/">10 best extensions for Google chrome tab management as well as a few solid tips on href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-effective-ways-to-deal-with-the-too-many-tabs-syndrome-in-firefox/">dealing with the “Too Many Tabs” syndrome in Firefox.

Today’s post will help you secure your active tabs against any crashes as well as synchronize them among your various work places:

Sesh (Google Chrome)

(Backing up on request)

With href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/emclpejnhkiogdlimfgipbdfpdcnhhoj#">Sesh for Google Chrome you can save a tab or an entire windrow with multiple active tabs.

• To store a tab, click the extension icon and select “Store a tab”
• To store a window, click the icon and select “Store the Window”

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs-01.jpg?54167" alt="save browser tabs" width="360" height="139" />

You will need to name a tab or a window you are going to store:

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs-02.jpg?54167" alt="browser tabs" width="448" height="217" />

Basically, it works similarly to href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/toomanytabs-turns-firefox-task-management-powerhouse/">“TooManyTabs” for FireFox we have reviewed earlier. When you store a tab or window, Sesh saves and closes it, and thus cleans up space for you to do other things. When you want to get back to a saved tab or window, click on it, and Sesh will open it and remove it from storage.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs-03.jpg?54167" alt="browser tabs" width="550" height="170" />

Additional feature to enjoy:

Sesh lets you synchronize active tabs among different computers, so you can continue working after coming home from work. For that, you will have to enable Chrome sync ( href="http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=185277">here are the official instructions).

Note: The extension doesn’t store your cookies, so you’ll have to login everywhere once you start working on another computer.

Save My Tabs ( FireFox)

(Backup automatically)

Note: there seems to be a href="https://github.com/turian/save-my-browser-tabs/tree/master/chrome">Google Chrome version as well.

href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/save-my-tabs/">Save My Tabs is a little addon that works in the background and saves your active tabs automatically. The addon regularly creates a new TSV text file, that contains info on all open tabs user had kept opened by the time the file was created. Each tab info is organized the following way (one line per tab):

• Window index,
• Tab index,
• URL of the tab and it’s title.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs-06.jpg?54167" alt="browser tabs" width="363" height="372" />

In the addon preferences you can:

• Set the time frame to create a new backup (default is 15 minutes);
• Set the file path to store the TSV files in.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs-05.jpg?54167" alt="browser tabs saving" width="402" height="222" />

3. Tab Cloud (Google Chrome and FireFox)

(Backing up on request)

Here’s a detailed href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/restore-tabs-chrome-firefox-machines-tabcloud/">review of TabCloud by Jessica

href="http://chrometabcloud.appspot.com/">TabCloud is a browser tab backup tool that offers a few very neat features:

• Easily name and save any open window;
• Quickly recognize any backup thanks to favicon support;
• Synchronize active windows and tabs (Securely hosted by Google, login with your Google Account.)

Whenever you want to save the current tabs, click the extension icon. The same icon gives access to all previously saved sessions:

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backup-tabs-04.jpg?54167" alt="save browser tabs" width="334" height="247" />

You can also manage the currently saved sessions:

• Reorganize your tabs by dragging and dropping (Currently Chrome only).
• Middle-click (or CTRL + click) any tab icon to open just that tab.
• Click on any windows name to rename at any time.

Additional feature to enjoy:

Synchronize your active tabs with your Android (through this href="http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/tools/tabcloud_miyj.html">Android app)

Are you using any fun addons to save your browser tabs and windows? Please share them in the comments! />
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href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-easytouse-browser-extensions-backup-open-tabs/">3 Easy-to-Use Browser Extensions To Backup Your Open Tabs is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf

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class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/filesortericon.png" alt="remove mac files"/>

I’ve written several articles on Mac automation software, including href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/automator/">Automator and Apple‘s href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/download-the-awesome-automation-guide-for-mac-users">smart technology folders and albums. Much of our purpose with computers is to get work done faster and more efficiently. To this end, there are several paid third-party automation apps on the market, including Hazel and QuicKeys 4.0, that require no knowledge or use of automation code, as with AppleScript.

Well, finally, there’s a free option that might make a useful introduction to bulk file and folder automation; it’s called FileSorter—a free download in the href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/filesorter/id411279149?mt=12">Mac App Store.

Let me say upfront, FileSorter is not the best app for what it does. It’s not even close. But it’s a useful introduction to folder actions if you’ve never used a similar automator program before. FileSorter requires no knowledge of automation code. It simply sorts files based on rules and actions you assign. It works fairly well, but as a version 1.0.2, it has many limitations I will point out later.

Setting FileSorter Rules

After downloading FileSorter, launch it, and in the welcome window click on “Create a new rule.”

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/filesorter.png" border="0" alt="remove mac files" width="550" height="392" />

There are three parts to creating rules and actions for moving, copying, or removing files. Here’s a practical rule you might find useful:

This FileSorter rule will move PNG files on your desktop to a designated folder. This rule can be used for any type of files that normally gets placed on your desktop, and that’s why you would want to have a quick way to move them. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/extension.png" border="0" alt="copy mac files" width="580" height="409" /> /> First click on the green + button in the menu bar of FileSorter. Click on the “Filename” and then on the  drop-down button, select “Extension.” Next, click on the second drop-down button and select “is.” In the final text box type “PNG” or any file extension, e.g. doc, pages, JPG, pdf,  that you want to quickly move. Before moving to the next part, assign a name to this action.

The rule we’ve set so far means that FileSorter will only act on files ending in the extension you specify. Next, we need to create a folder in the Finder to move selected files to when activated upon by FileSorter. So for example, you might move all the png files to a PNG folder inside the Pictures Folder of your Mac. Since for some files, FileSorter does not allow you to create a new folder inside its application, you need to create one before we add the action in the next step. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/choose.png" border="0" alt="copy mac files" width="580" height="409" /> /> Next, click on the “Add Action” button, and in the drop-down menu select “Move,” or Copy—whichever you prefer. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/move.png" border="0" alt="copy mac files" width="272" height="279" /> /> Now, click on the Edit button and select “Choose,” and then select the PNG folder you created for this action. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/choose1.png" border="0" alt="open mac files" width="580" height="409" /> /> Now, to test it out, simply select PNG files on your desktop or anywhere in the Finder, and drag and drop them on top of the FileSorter icon in your Dock. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/movetofilesorter.jpg" border="0" alt="open mac files" width="425" height="354" /> /> FileSorter will automatically move your selected files to your designated folder.

That’s the basic rule and action set up for FileSorter. This works for other type of files. For example, you can set up rules and actions to move items in your Download folder to various different folders in your Finder. This is a great way to sort say all those PDF and JPG files that get saved to your Downloads folder.

Similar Folder actions can be created using href="../tag/2-useful-tips-for-organizing-electronic-files-mac-only/">Automator as well. But again, since FileSorter is free, and if you have no experience with this type of automation you might want to download it and give it a try.

Growl Notice

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/preferences.png" border="0" alt="open mac files" width="206" height="116" /> /> In FileSorter‘s Preferences, you might to want to click the “Use Growl Notifications” which will inform you that FileSorter has successfully run your rules and actions. See more about href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/notified-growl-mac/">Growl here.

Other Rules

Another practical rule may be for quickly moving old files to the trash or an external drive. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/moveoldfiles.png" border="0" width="452" height="264" /> /> In this example, you might want to move all your Word doc files that were created last year to the trash. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/movetotrash.png" border="0" width="575" height="305" /> /> When you click on the Edit button, you can select to move the selected files to the Trash or just Delete them all together. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/200plus.png" border="0" alt="200plus" width="580" height="109" /> /> The similar rule could be used for moving or deleting files in a folder that are over a certain file size.

Finally, FileSorter allows you to add Automator workflows as an action. This is useful for including complex actions that FileSorter can’t perform by itself. To add Automator actions, select “Open” as an action, click the Edit button and add the Automator application you want to run. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/automatorworkflow.png" border="0" alt="remove mac files" width="483" height="261" />

Limitations

There are some big limitations with FileSorter, especially when compared to a paid app called Hazel, which has been around for quite a while and automates rules and actions without you having to manually select specified files and move them on an icon in the Dock.

The biggest limitation to FileSorter is that if you include two or more rules that are similar to one another, FileSorter will run them both. So say you make two different rules to act on PNG files. Both of your actions will run whether you want them to or not. Also, another limitation to the program is that Creation and Modification Date rules are limited to specific days. It would be better if it included parameters like, “in the last ___days”, for example.

But again, if this type of Mac automation is new to you, FileSorter might well be worth downloading and trying out.

Let us know what you think about FileSorter and other similar Mac automation programs you use. Also, check out my free MUO PDF, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/download-the-awesome-automation-guide-for-mac-users">The Awesome Automation Guide for Mac OS X.

  />
/>Need Assistance? Ask questions to MakeUseOf staff and thousands of other readers on href="http://www.makeuseof.dev/answers/" target="_blank" >MakeUseOf Answers!

/>

 

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More articles about: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/automate/" title="automate" rel="tag">automate, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/automator/" title="automator" rel="tag">automator, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/growl/" title="Growl" rel="tag">Growl, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/mac-hacks/" title="mac hacks" rel="tag">mac hacks, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/organization/" title="organization" rel="tag">organization, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/organization-tools/" title="organization tools" rel="tag">organization tools, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/productivity/" title="productivity" rel="tag">productivity />

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View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/filesortericon.png" alt="remove mac files"/>

I’ve written several articles on Mac automation software, including href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/automator/">Automator and Apple‘s href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/download-the-awesome-automation-guide-for-mac-users">smart technology folders and albums. Much of our purpose with computers is to get work done faster and more efficiently. To this end, there are several paid third-party automation apps on the market, including Hazel and QuicKeys 4.0, that require no knowledge or use of automation code, as with AppleScript.

Well, finally, there’s a free option that might make a useful introduction to bulk file and folder automation; it’s called FileSorter—a free download in the href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/filesorter/id411279149?mt=12">Mac App Store.

Let me say upfront, FileSorter is not the best app for what it does. It’s not even close. But it’s a useful introduction to folder actions if you’ve never used a similar automator program before. FileSorter requires no knowledge of automation code. It simply sorts files based on rules and actions you assign. It works fairly well, but as a version 1.0.2, it has many limitations I will point out later.

Setting FileSorter Rules

After downloading FileSorter, launch it, and in the welcome window click on “Create a new rule.”

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/filesorter.png" border="0" alt="remove mac files" width="550" height="392" />

There are three parts to creating rules and actions for moving, copying, or removing files. Here’s a practical rule you might find useful:

This FileSorter rule will move PNG files on your desktop to a designated folder. This rule can be used for any type of files that normally gets placed on your desktop, and that’s why you would want to have a quick way to move them. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/extension.png" border="0" alt="copy mac files" width="580" height="409" /> /> First click on the green + button in the menu bar of FileSorter. Click on the “Filename” and then on the  drop-down button, select “Extension.” Next, click on the second drop-down button and select “is.” In the final text box type “PNG” or any file extension, e.g. doc, pages, JPG, pdf,  that you want to quickly move. Before moving to the next part, assign a name to this action.

The rule we’ve set so far means that FileSorter will only act on files ending in the extension you specify. Next, we need to create a folder in the Finder to move selected files to when activated upon by FileSorter. So for example, you might move all the png files to a PNG folder inside the Pictures Folder of your Mac. Since for some files, FileSorter does not allow you to create a new folder inside its application, you need to create one before we add the action in the next step. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/choose.png" border="0" alt="copy mac files" width="580" height="409" /> /> Next, click on the “Add Action” button, and in the drop-down menu select “Move,” or Copy—whichever you prefer. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/move.png" border="0" alt="copy mac files" width="272" height="279" /> /> Now, click on the Edit button and select “Choose,” and then select the PNG folder you created for this action. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/choose1.png" border="0" alt="open mac files" width="580" height="409" /> /> Now, to test it out, simply select PNG files on your desktop or anywhere in the Finder, and drag and drop them on top of the FileSorter icon in your Dock. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/movetofilesorter.jpg" border="0" alt="open mac files" width="425" height="354" /> /> FileSorter will automatically move your selected files to your designated folder.

That’s the basic rule and action set up for FileSorter. This works for other type of files. For example, you can set up rules and actions to move items in your Download folder to various different folders in your Finder. This is a great way to sort say all those PDF and JPG files that get saved to your Downloads folder.

Similar Folder actions can be created using href="../tag/2-useful-tips-for-organizing-electronic-files-mac-only/">Automator as well. But again, since FileSorter is free, and if you have no experience with this type of automation you might want to download it and give it a try.

Growl Notice

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/preferences.png" border="0" alt="open mac files" width="206" height="116" /> /> In FileSorter‘s Preferences, you might to want to click the “Use Growl Notifications” which will inform you that FileSorter has successfully run your rules and actions. See more about href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/notified-growl-mac/">Growl here.

Other Rules

Another practical rule may be for quickly moving old files to the trash or an external drive. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/moveoldfiles.png" border="0" width="452" height="264" /> /> In this example, you might want to move all your Word doc files that were created last year to the trash. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/movetotrash.png" border="0" width="575" height="305" /> /> When you click on the Edit button, you can select to move the selected files to the Trash or just Delete them all together. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/200plus.png" border="0" alt="200plus" width="580" height="109" /> /> The similar rule could be used for moving or deleting files in a folder that are over a certain file size.

Finally, FileSorter allows you to add Automator workflows as an action. This is useful for including complex actions that FileSorter can’t perform by itself. To add Automator actions, select “Open” as an action, click the Edit button and add the Automator application you want to run. /> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/automatorworkflow.png" border="0" alt="remove mac files" width="483" height="261" />

Limitations

There are some big limitations with FileSorter, especially when compared to a paid app called Hazel, which has been around for quite a while and automates rules and actions without you having to manually select specified files and move them on an icon in the Dock.

The biggest limitation to FileSorter is that if you include two or more rules that are similar to one another, FileSorter will run them both. So say you make two different rules to act on PNG files. Both of your actions will run whether you want them to or not. Also, another limitation to the program is that Creation and Modification Date rules are limited to specific days. It would be better if it included parameters like, “in the last ___days”, for example.

But again, if this type of Mac automation is new to you, FileSorter might well be worth downloading and trying out.

Let us know what you think about FileSorter and other similar Mac automation programs you use. Also, check out my free MUO PDF, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/download-the-awesome-automation-guide-for-mac-users">The Awesome Automation Guide for Mac OS X.

  />
/>Need Assistance? Ask questions to MakeUseOf staff and thousands of other readers on href="http://www.makeuseof.dev/answers/" target="_blank" >MakeUseOf Answers!

/>

 

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View full post on MakeUseOf

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/intro2.jpg" alt="logo art" />It seems like there’s a growing number of users that have given GIMP, Inkscape and other open-source software a chance. In many cases, being liberated from the grips of commercial software does not mean professional-grade graphics cannot be created. With a lot of patience, skill and enthusiasm, many users have demonstrated time and again that href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/photoshop">Photoshop really isn’t the only tool capable of producing high-quality visual art.

To prove my point, I’ve scoured the web and DeviantArt in search of great graphics. The result was absolutely exhilarating. Not only did I find many magnificent pieces made entirely with open-source software, I also was surprised to find a growing community of professional visual artists dedicated to spreading the word about GIMP, Inkscape, MyPaint, etc. using them exclusively to produce their artworks and even extending them to produce improved painting packages like href="http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/">GIMP Paint Studio. There were too numerous works worthy of mention here, but including all of them would have probably made this too long of a post. So here are some stunning pieces flowing around deviantArt.

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/122430398/">Inkscape 0.47 Contest Entry

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1.jpg" alt="logo art" width="580" height="503" />

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href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/77954092/">sm_2

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Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/">hrum on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/120639620/">Bjork Vector Inkscape 2

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href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/158109316/">Inkscape 0.48 Screen Contest

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href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/103391176/">Pinkitude For Life

A reminder for women that self-breast exams are key for early detection & prevention.

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Author: * class="u vt-p" href="http://theshock.deviantart.com/">TheShock on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART (author of href="http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/">GIMP Paint Studio)

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href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/203639838/">Princess Of The Wind Kingdom

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/11.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="839" />

Author: * class="u vt-p" href="http://anokorok.deviantart.com/">Anokorok on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/203949998/">Sweet Candy

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/12.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="435" />

Author: * class="u vt-p" href="http://starca.deviantart.com/">starca on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/art/Attack-of-the-gnome-33389962">Attack Of The Gnome

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/13.jpg" alt="" width="411" height="500" />

Author: href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/">hrum on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviantART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/75234516/">big_water

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/14.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="435" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/">hrum on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/99135586/">Negra In Vector

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/15.jpg" alt="logo art" width="580" height="707" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://pretojackson.deviantart.com/">pretojackson on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape & GIMP

Interesting DeviantArt Groups

If you’re interested in exploring additional paintings, be sure to look at the galleries of the following groups on DA. Each group has an RSS feed that you can subscribe to and most even accept members without any eligibility restrictions. That way you can constantly see artwork and be motivated to keep learning.

• href="http://foss-designers.deviantart.com/">FOSS Designers
• href="http://openartists.deviantart.com/">Open Artists
• href="http://ubuntu-artists.deviantart.com/">Ubuntu Artists
• href="http://linux-deviants.deviantart.com/">Linux Deviants
• href="http://mypaint.deviantart.com/">MyPaint
• href="http://gimpdome.deviantart.com/">Gimp Dome
• href="http://gimpies.deviantart.com/">GIMPies
• href="http://gimp-artists.deviantart.com/">GIMP Artists
• href="http://mastergimpers.deviantart.com/">Master GIMPers for resources, patterns, tutorials
• href="http://krita-free-art-app.deviantart.com/">Krita Free Art App

I imagine at this point you’re bit curious to learn more about Inkscape and GIMP. If so, check out some hand-picked href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-beginner-level-video-tutorials-learn-gimp-fast/">beginner video tutorials, some easy text-based href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tutorials-amazing-wallpapers-gimp/">tutorials to create your own wallpapers, or some href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-learn-gimp-photo-editor-online/">dedicated href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-learn-gimp-photo-editing/">websites. After being through with those, you can have fun href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cartoonify-photos-gimp/">creating cartoonish versions of your photos, or use GIMP for some non-artistic work, such as making href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-make-an-animated-gif-image-with-gimp/">GIFs, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-image-map-gimp/">image maps, adding href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-speech-bubbles-screenshots-gimp/">speech bubbles or callouts, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-simple-zoomed-effect-screenshots-gimp/">zoom effects, and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/optimize-images-web-gimp/">optimizing (read shrinking file sizes of) images. If you want to use GIMP to paint, you should definitely check out href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gimp-paint-studio-great-addition-gimp-digital-artists-playground/">GIMP Paint Studio, which offers a variety of brushes and goodies to improve the drawing and painting features in GIMP.

Do you know of any beginner-friendly tutorials for open-source software that are worth mentioning? Please let us know in the comments!

Read comments: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/photoshop-15-amazing-logos-portraits-open-source-tools/#disqus_thread">Loved it? Hated it? Join discussion here …

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class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/intro2.jpg" alt="logo art" />It seems like there’s a growing number of users that have given GIMP, Inkscape and other open-source software a chance. In many cases, being liberated from the grips of commercial software does not mean professional-grade graphics cannot be created. With a lot of patience, skill and enthusiasm, many users have demonstrated time and again that href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/photoshop">Photoshop really isn’t the only tool capable of producing high-quality visual art.

To prove my point, I’ve scoured the web and DeviantArt in search of great graphics. The result was absolutely exhilarating. Not only did I find many magnificent pieces made entirely with open-source software, I also was surprised to find a growing community of professional visual artists dedicated to spreading the word about GIMP, Inkscape, MyPaint, etc. using them exclusively to produce their artworks and even extending them to produce improved painting packages like href="http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/">GIMP Paint Studio. There were too numerous works worthy of mention here, but including all of them would have probably made this too long of a post. So here are some stunning pieces flowing around deviantArt.

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/122430398/">Inkscape 0.47 Contest Entry

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1.jpg" alt="logo art" width="580" height="503" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://sko.deviantart.com/">sko on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/49622704/">Inkscape Is My Bitch

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/21.jpg" alt="digital portraits" width="456" height="562" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://wflu.deviantart.com/">wflu on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/77954092/">sm_2

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/3.jpg" alt="digital portraits" width="579" height="445" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/">hrum on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/120639620/">Bjork Vector Inkscape 2

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/4.jpg" alt="digital portraits" width="420" height="572" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://ndop.deviantart.com/">ndop on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/158109316/">Inkscape 0.48 Screen Contest

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/5.jpg" alt="examples of digital art" width="580" height="490" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://arwassa.deviantart.com/">Arwassa on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://uberdiablo-pixels.deviantart.com/art/Jacky-D-Icon-124990687">Jacky D Icon

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/6.jpg" alt="examples of digital art" width="569" height="650" />

Author: href="http://uberdiablo-pixels.deviantart.com/">~uberdiablo-pixels

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/103391176/">Pinkitude For Life

A reminder for women that self-breast exams are key for early detection & prevention.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/7.jpg" alt="examples of digital art" width="486" height="535" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://quicheloraine.deviantart.com/">QuicheLoraine on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape

href="http://theshock.deviantart.com/art/Nixie-Pixel-portrait-148411228">Nixie Pixel Portrait

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/8.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="707" />

Author: * class="u vt-p" href="http://theshock.deviantart.com/">TheShock on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART (author of href="http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/">GIMP Paint Studio)

Software used: GIMP and href="http://code.google.com/p/gps-gimp-paint-studio/">GIMP Paint Studio

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/162632183/">Jensen Ackles – GIMP Painting

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/9.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://lasianicole.deviantart.com/">LasiaNicole on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/205168309/">Ailvhe Ni Faolain

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/10.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="879" />

Author: class="u vt-p" href="http://anokorok.deviantart.com/">Anokorok on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/203639838/">Princess Of The Wind Kingdom

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/11.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="839" />

Author: * class="u vt-p" href="http://anokorok.deviantart.com/">Anokorok on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/203949998/">Sweet Candy

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/12.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="435" />

Author: * class="u vt-p" href="http://starca.deviantart.com/">starca on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/art/Attack-of-the-gnome-33389962">Attack Of The Gnome

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/13.jpg" alt="" width="411" height="500" />

Author: href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/">hrum on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviantART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/75234516/">big_water

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/14.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="435" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://hrum.deviantart.com/">hrum on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: GIMP

href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/99135586/">Negra In Vector

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/15.jpg" alt="logo art" width="580" height="707" />

Author: ~ class="u vt-p" href="http://pretojackson.deviantart.com/">pretojackson on href="http://www.deviantart.com">deviant href="http://www.deviantart.com">ART

Software used: Inkscape & GIMP

Interesting DeviantArt Groups

If you’re interested in exploring additional paintings, be sure to look at the galleries of the following groups on DA. Each group has an RSS feed that you can subscribe to and most even accept members without any eligibility restrictions. That way you can constantly see artwork and be motivated to keep learning.

• href="http://foss-designers.deviantart.com/">FOSS Designers
• href="http://openartists.deviantart.com/">Open Artists
• href="http://ubuntu-artists.deviantart.com/">Ubuntu Artists
• href="http://linux-deviants.deviantart.com/">Linux Deviants
• href="http://mypaint.deviantart.com/">MyPaint
• href="http://gimpdome.deviantart.com/">Gimp Dome
• href="http://gimpies.deviantart.com/">GIMPies
• href="http://gimp-artists.deviantart.com/">GIMP Artists
• href="http://mastergimpers.deviantart.com/">Master GIMPers for resources, patterns, tutorials
• href="http://krita-free-art-app.deviantart.com/">Krita Free Art App

I imagine at this point you’re bit curious to learn more about Inkscape and GIMP. If so, check out some hand-picked href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-10-beginner-level-video-tutorials-learn-gimp-fast/">beginner video tutorials, some easy text-based href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-tutorials-amazing-wallpapers-gimp/">tutorials to create your own wallpapers, or some href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-learn-gimp-photo-editor-online/">dedicated href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-websites-learn-gimp-photo-editing/">websites. After being through with those, you can have fun href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cartoonify-photos-gimp/">creating cartoonish versions of your photos, or use GIMP for some non-artistic work, such as making href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-make-an-animated-gif-image-with-gimp/">GIFs, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-image-map-gimp/">image maps, adding href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-speech-bubbles-screenshots-gimp/">speech bubbles or callouts, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-simple-zoomed-effect-screenshots-gimp/">zoom effects, and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/optimize-images-web-gimp/">optimizing (read shrinking file sizes of) images. If you want to use GIMP to paint, you should definitely check out href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gimp-paint-studio-great-addition-gimp-digital-artists-playground/">GIMP Paint Studio, which offers a variety of brushes and goodies to improve the drawing and painting features in GIMP.

Do you know of any beginner-friendly tutorials for open-source software that are worth mentioning? Please let us know in the comments!

Read comments: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/photoshop-15-amazing-logos-portraits-open-source-tools/#disqus_thread">Loved it? Hated it? Join discussion here …

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More articles about: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/art/" title="art" rel="tag">art, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/creative/" title="creative" rel="tag">creative, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/design/" title="design" rel="tag">design, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/gimp/" title="GIMP" rel="tag">GIMP, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/graphics/" title="graphics" rel="tag">graphics, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/logo/" title="logo" rel="tag">logo, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/open-source/" title="open source" rel="tag">open source, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/photoshop/" title="photoshop" rel="tag">photoshop />

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class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/hiring.jpg" alt="" />With MakeUseOf progressing in leaps and bounds, we’ve decided to expand the writing staff a bit more and take on up to an extra 5 writers. We’re always on the hunt for fresh new talent who have the skills, experience and energy to take MakeUseOf to the next level.

To maintain our high standards and ensure that our readers get only the very best, we will be very choosy in who we eventually take on. But if you think you have what it takes, if you can write articles that will knock everyone’s socks off, then we definitely want to hear from you.

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class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SpringIconmkII.png" alt="strategy game engine" width="175" height="175" />Spawned off the back of popular real-time class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/strategy-games/">strategy (RTS) game Total Annihilation, Spring is an open source freeware strategy game engine designed to run on class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/windows">Windows and class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/getting-started-guide-linux">Linux, with a Mac version still under development.

Developers can take the engine and use it as they please, without having to pay the creators any money for the licence. This has helped the Spring engine build up a class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-awesome-free-opensource-games-enjoy-windows-mac-linux/">roster of games that will please even the most seasoned RTS fan.

There are also a selection of commercial projects, but it’s the free ones I’ll be focusing on in this article.

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The Engine

Licensed under the class="vt-p" href="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html">GNU GPL, the engine is free to download, use and adapt upon. The development team comprises of community members who have surpassed the project’s initial aims of bringing Total Annihilation into 3D, with support for all the mods and third-party extras the original could handle.

Spring is a desirable platform for developers as it has evolved to support some fairly advanced features and is limited solely by the hardware you have available. Within one arena there is support for up to 30,000 units with 250 players taking part with deformable maps, realistic weapon trajectories and varied units, economy and maps.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/spring.jpg" alt="strategy game engine" width="580" height="359" />

In order to play games that make use of the Spring RTS engine, you’ll need a minimum of: 1GHz single core CPU, 512MB of RAM and a graphics card with 64MB of VRAM. The minimum install is 200MB, and this depends on what else you’re after (be it extra maps, units or add-ons).

If you really want to get the most out of the engine then these requirements shoot up to a 2GHz processor, 1GB or more RAM and a 256MB GeForce 6600 or better. Your install directory can also reach several gigabytes if you’re determined to try the lot, so class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-analyze-your-disk-usage-pattern-in-linux/">make sure you’ve got space.

Installing Games

For Windows the install process is fairly straightforward. You simply need to class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Download">download the Spring installer executable, run it and you’ll be able to choose from a selection of games to install as optional components during the install procedure.

You are also able to download maps and mods from a link within the Spring client. This community-made video explains the ins and outs of getting to grips with the Windows setup procedure and the client in general:

classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="580" height="460" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ll58N26aDgU" /> type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="580" height="460" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ll58N26aDgU">

For Linux users there is a class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/SetupGuide">setup guide to follow, and if you’re using Ubuntu or a package that uses Synaptic then you only need to punch a couple of lines into the console before you’ll be playing.

Note: Linux users will need to add the class="vt-p" href="https://launchpad.net/~spring/+archive/ppa?field.series_filter=maverick">Spring repository and install (or update) from there to use the latest versions.

class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/repositories-package-management-ubuntu/">Ubuntu users can open Terminal and use:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:spring/ppa /> sudo apt-get update /> sudo apt-get upgrade

Some games have their own individual installers, but for most you’ll simply need to place the main game files in your Spring “mods” folder and maps into the “maps” folder.

Whilst many of the games are focused on pure class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/multiplayer-war-games-fps-assaultcube/">multiplayer mayhem, some have single player campaigns and full support for bots so you can play on your own if you feel like it.

The Games

Here’s a selection of four of my favourite Spring derivatives. Some of these are stable and popular titles whereas others show promise and demonstrate what the Spring engine is really capable of. You can download more at class="vt-p" href="http://www.springfiles.com/">SpringFiles, or check out the official Spring  class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Games">games page.

class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Balanced_Annihilation">Balanced Annihilation

Currently the most popular game utilising the Spring strategy game engine, Balance Annihilation provides players with a very in-depth, tactical and competitive online battlefield. The game is home to many refugees from the original Total Annihilation and new players are encouraged to read class="vt-p" href="http://springrts.com/wiki/Balanced_Annihilation:Starting_With_TA">this guide before jumping in.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ba.jpg" alt="spring strategy game" width="580" height="348" />

Regarded as a mature and well-developed game, updates now only include minor tweaks as opposed to big upgrades. Tactical options open to each player invariably shape the way each game is played out, with strategies focusing on map control, air superiority and aggression amongst others.

class="vt-p" href="http://www.spring1944.org/">Spring: 1944

Still under development, the only World War II themed Spring game to date has a keen following thanks to the aspirations of the development team. Eventually the team would like to create four playable sides (Britain, the US, Germany and the USSR) with historically accurate units and attributes.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1944.jpg" alt="spring strategy game" width="580" height="423" />

At present you can play with German and British troops, which is good enough for a very tactical game of toy soldiers. Like many of the other Spring games, 1944 strives for realism so you might benefit from reading class="vt-p" href="http://www.spring1944.org/wiki/doku.php?id=guide">the documentation first.

class="vt-p" href="http://zero-k.info/">Zero-K

Once known as Complete Annihilation, Zero-K is another dynamic and action packed RTS that promises to provide hassle-free tactical gameplay. Perhaps the most impressive aspect are the hundreds of available units that shape your tactical choices, and the game’s eventual outcome.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/zerok.jpg" alt="spring strategy game" width="580" height="435" />

Whilst continuing to be a very in-depth game, aspects are simplified like the streamlined economy which requires careful monitoring of resources but little in the way of micromanagement. Zero-K makes for a very balanced and approachable game in an often over-complicated genre. As always, if it’s your first game you’ll probably benefit from class="vt-p" href="http://zero-k.info/guide-newbie.php">reading the guide.

class="vt-p" href="http://www.imperialwinter.com/">Star Wars: Imperial Winter

Completely free and unofficial, this non-Lucas Arts RTS is set in the politically unstable post-Return of the Jedi universe and should keep even the most dedicated Star Wars fans happy.

style="text-align: center;"> class="alignnone size-full wp-image-62248" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/starwars.jpg" alt="strategy game engine" width="580" height="464" />

With more than a hundred units available for either the Rebel Alliance or Galactic Empire, this free community-driven project attempts to provide more units than any game released under the Star Wars guise yet.

Currently in beta, this one’s worth keeping an eye on if you’re a strategy-obsessed fan of the Force.

Conclusion

Whilst many of the games on the Spring strategy game engine are still in need of time, developers and refinement – some are ready for you to play right now. If you are an class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/dyson-ambient-real-time-strategy-game/">avid RTS fan, longing for a decent multiplayer effort to latch onto then there’s bound to be something using this engine that ticks the box. Hopefully the Mac version will be stable enough for a proper release soon.

Do RTS games do it for you? Have you got any favourite Spring based games and maps? Let us know in the comments. />
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class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs.jpg" alt="open web documents in google docs" width="250" height="216" /> class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/google-docs/">Google Docs has long been my preferred collaboration and note taking tool. I did try some class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-great-alternatives-to-google-docs-you-should-consider/">alternatives but I always came back to Google Docs.

There are plenty of reasons to love Google Docs: the tool is quick and reliable. It has a set of features that allows you to play with it for multiple purposes: I for one found it great for collaboration. class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-features-google-docs/">Its comparatively new and improved features (including real-time collaboration and chat) are awesome! Google Docs as a note taking tool works well as well. I found the tool really useful for easy organizing and accessing the information you come across online.

What’s more, Google Docs can improve your browsing experience a lot by allowing you to preview and open documents without having to download anything locally. Here are my favorite tools that make it easier to open doc, docx, pdf, ppt, pps and xls files in Google docs in Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera 11.00.

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Firefox

Firefox has quite a few addons that integrate with Google Docs, my personal preferences being the following:

Open IT Online

The class="vt-p" href="http://www.openitonline.com/">Open IT Online tool adds a new option to your download dialog that lets you open the file using Google Docs instead of downloading it locally. Besides Google Docs, the addon supports a few popular document and image hosting services including Zoho, View Docs Online and Vuzit to edit or view documents and Snipshot, Pixlr and Sumo Paint to edit or view images.

The addon also shows you the file size of the document you are about to open:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs-01.jpg" alt="open web documents in google docs" width="394" height="333" />

Google Docs Viewer & Google Docs Preview

Two similar but less useful addons to preview documents in Google Docs are class="vt-p" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/48971/">Google Docs Viewer and class="vt-p" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/14226/">Google Docs Preview. They both add an extra option to your right-click context menu and they both support only PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX and TIFF files. It proved to be less usable to me as my right-click menu is pretty much cluttered already.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs-02.jpg" alt="open documents in google docs" width="421" height="142" />

Import To Google Docs

While the above two tools support only PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX and TIFF files, class="vt-p" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/49217/">this one makes it possible to open .XLS files you see in Google Search right in Google Docs. With it, for any XLS file you see in Google search results you will find an alternative link opening it in Google Docs:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs-04.jpg" alt="open web documents" width="466" height="203" />

Google Chrome

Google Chrome also has quite a few extensions that allow you to open web documents in Google Docs. My favorite one is class="vt-p" href="https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/edgbhipncfdgcekflcoelhmnkcfdfjcl">Ultimate Google Docs Viewer. It works via the right-click menu but it can also open specified file types in Google Docs automatically (you can enable and disable which files you want to open automatically in the Google Docs Viewer options).

It supports doc, docx, pdf, ppt and pps files.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs-05.jpg" alt="open web documents" width="380" height="174" />

The options page allows to customize pretty much everything in the extension behavior including which file types to support and where to open them:

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs-06.jpg" alt="open web documents" width="421" height="428" />

Opera 11

class="vt-p" href="http://www.opera.com/browser/next/">Opera 11.00 does have one handy (and pretty reliable) class="vt-p" href="https://addons.labs.opera.com/addons/extensions/details/documents-preview/1.0/?display=en">extension that allows you to preview any web documents in Google Docs. It prompts for document preview when you click links pointing to downloadable documents.

Sadly, it works only with .DOC .PPT or .PDF files. (What? No .XLS file support? It’s all I download online!). Well, that’s probably because XLS files are not supported by Google’s Doc Viewer.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/google-docs-03.jpg" alt="open web documents in google docs" width="540" height="172" />

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class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/00-FF-Chrome.jpg" alt="organize tabs firefox" border="0" width="300" height="165" />One of the main reason why href="http://makeuseof.com/tags/internet-explorer">Internet Explorer lost its popularity back then was the lack of tabs. If you wanted to open two sites, you had to open two browser windows. Twenty sites equals twenty windows. This reason alone was enough to make people switch to IE’s archenemy at that time: href="http://makeuseof.com/tags/firefox">Firefox.

Nowadays, every browser has a tab feature and internet users have changed their old habit of visiting only few sites at once in different browser windows to loading all that they can in just one window but in multiple tabs. You could easily have 30 or more open tabs at once. Managing them becomes our new problem.

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Survival Of The Fittest

It seems like the fate of Internet Explorer is also happening to Firefox. The browser that everybody used to love begins to lose its ground to the competitors. Users complain that as time goes by, Firefox has become more and more bloated.

To win back its fans, Firefox tries to innovate. They tried by proposing a solution for the tab management problem: a concept called href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/tab-candy-reorganizes-browser-revolutionary/">Tab Candy – then renamed as Panorama. The feature is already built into the latest href="http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/beta/">beta release of Firefox 4.

To understand more about Panorama, you could watch this short video:

width="400" height="265"> name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=14364400&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /> src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=14364400&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="265">

href="http://vimeo.com/14364400">Firefox Panorama: How To from href="http://vimeo.com/user532161">Aza Raskin on href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo.

If you prefer to wait until the final release of Firefox 4 but your hands are already itching to try Panorama, you could try a similar feature on Google Chrome with the help of an extension called href="http://tabsugar.com/">Tab Sugar. So let’s have a look at this one first before going to the real thing.

Pour Some Sugar On Me

To install the extension, go to href="http://tabsugar.com/">Tab Sugar site using Chrome and click the “Try Tab Sugar” blue button. You will be brought to the Chrome extension page for Tab Sugar. Click “Install” on the page and click “Install” one more time on the confirmation page.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/01b-Install-Tab-Sugar.jpg" border="0" alt="organize tabs firefox" width="387" height="218" />

The extension will reside on the top right area of the window, next to the URL field.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/01c-Tab-Sugar-Installed.jpg" border="0" alt="tabs in firefox" width="429" height="200" />

Click on the icon to start using it. A new tab called “Tab Sugar” will open. Inside the tab is an unnamed group with all of your open tab inside. Start by naming the group.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/02a-Tab-Sugar-Group.jpg" border="0" alt="tabs in firefox" width="425" height="205" />

Then click on the expand button below the group to view all the open tabs.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/02b-Tab-Sugar-Open-Group.jpg" border="0" alt="tabs in firefox" width="580" height="395" />

You can then drag out member(s) of the group to create a separate group, drag and drop web pages from one group to another, resize and move the group windows and arrange them to your preferences.

When you click on a group, only the pages within the group that will be opened in tabs. Other pages from other groups will not be opened. This will create less tab clutter in your browser. To open other groups, you have to go back to Tab Sugar.

There’s an “Options” link at the upper right of Tab Sugar interface. You might want to tinker with some of the items like assigning keyboard shortcuts to open Tab Sugar and disabling the latest news update.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/03a-Tab-Sugar-Options-1.jpg" border="0" alt="firefox tabs" width="580" height="304" />

The Sweet Panorama

And for those who feel a little adventurous, why not check href="http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/beta/">Firefox 4 Beta and the Panorama concept? Since all that Tab Sugar does is trying to reproduce Panorama, you would find these two to be similar.

The Panorama button is located next to URL field. You can open the panorama mode by clicking this button or by using the shortcut key assigned to it: Ctrl + Space (Windows) or Alt + Space (Mac).

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/04a-Firefox-Panorama.jpg" border="0" alt="firefox tabs" width="580" height="250" />

A quick introduction video (similar to the one we have above) will open in the panorama mode. You can just close it.

Group or regroup open tabs by dragging and dropping them on top of each other. Resize the thumbnails and rearrange them to your liking.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/04c-Panorama.jpg" border="0" alt="organize tabs firefox" width="580" height="346" />

And The Verdict Is…

After trying both Tab Sugar for Chrome and Panorama in Firefox 4 Beta, I can conclude that the Firefox version is more stable. The grouping and re-grouping process is much smoother. And as a bonus, you can snap the group windows to grid, so everything looks neat and tidy. I think Firefox could make a comeback with this one.

While for Tab Sugar, I think we should wait until a more stable build is released (it’s still in alpha at the moment of writing). But I like the option to assign our own of shortcut key combinations and the possibility to use the news update for other news feed (it’s not applied yet but I think it’s possible. One can dream, can’t he?).

And as a tab junkie, I also hope that this kind of tab organization method will find its way to other browsers.

Have you tried Tab Sugar and/or Panorama? Do you have your own way to organize tabs in Firefox or Chrome? Share using the comment section below. />
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Anyone who has used the Internet on a regular basis has heard mention of open source software. However, very few people understand what its full potential is and how it works, and how it can benefit the online community.
Open Source Software is unique because it can be designed by everyone for everyone to use. The intention of the software is to enable every computer user to be able to use it without having to worry about high costs or administrative issues.
In most instances, when software is developed it is done under a cloak of secrecy. Not many people are involved in the design and development phase. With most software, for more details visit to www.page-brand-generator.com there is a huge cost that is associated with it and it is usually this cost that is paid for by the consumer, whereas the development of open source software is completely free from start to finish, and the general online public can download it immediately at no cost.
Open Source Software is not new to the Internet. It has been around for over twenty years. Yet many people still do not understand its scope. This software played a big part in the way the Internet developed. It is the reason why the World Wide Web is free for all to access. Many different Internet providers have converted their browsers to Open Source and have had great success.
When a company installs Open Source Software, they are giving themselves the ability to reach markets that they not ordinarily be able to do business with. All business people know that image is everything, and when they use Open Source Software, for more details visit to www.software-designers-pro.com they are able to contribute something back to the public thereby increasing their popularity with consumers and acquiring customers.
The creators of Open Source Software believe that when you allow the public to view how the software is made, it creates a sense of trust and thereby building a strong and united online community. Those who are dedicated to Open Source Software claim that is more reliable with fewer problems than the commercial counterparts.
The people who contribute to Open Source Software often are talented, caring, and are available to provide customer support when it is needed. They are able to provide a quality product that is far superior to commercial software. They do not do it for the money; they do it for the love of the software and Internet. They do not rush through the process just to get it done and sold, they create a product that everyone can understand and use on a daily basis.
Another benefit to Open Source Software is that anyone who uses the software can contribute his or her ideas to be used. What this means is that the general public can offer their preferences in the development of the software, where commercial software is developed according to the designers preferences.
Finding Open Source Software can be found very easily. By doing a simple Internet search, you will find millions of links to this software.
with time perimeters. The system will automatically search and find the next available appointment for that type of appointment and associated time frame.Yes. You must be set up as an Administrator in order to install and setup MDC for the first time.
Can you work with my medical billing software?
If your software can output the HCFA data as noted above, then we can process your claims for you. However, we do not directly “talk” to your medical billing software for any sort of confirmation process. Also, we cannot circumvent your software and change your claim data. If you have an issue with your software then you must take it up with your software company.If your software can output the HCFA data as noted above, then we can process your claims for you. However, we do not directly “talk” to your medical billing software for any sort of confirmation process. Also, we cannot circumvent your software and change your claim data. If you have an issue with your software then you must take it up with your software company.Yes. As long as our software support agreement is in force you will receive all upgrades and enhancements to our software at no charge.
How do I align the new CMS-1500 and how do I tell MDC to use the new form when printing claims?
To align the new form, select Edit ? Preferences. In the upper left corner, the screen will say Form Type. Make sure you select the 08/05 form. Then enter the nudge parameters. There are separate nudge parameters for the 08/05 form so make sure you select the correct form before entering the nudge parameters and testing the form. Most client have needed to align the form vertically (about 0.25) this selection does not determine what form is used when you print a real claim.Yes.
What reporting capabilities does the software have?
The system comes with a powerful user-friendly custom report generator program which allows you to create your own custom reports and allows you to name them and run them as often as you desire.Yes. Using a static IP address for security, you can retrieve and amend patient data from any location in the world that has internet connectivity.We have very attractive lease rates that are very competitive. This allows you to select a monthly payment plan if you so desire rather than paying for the system upfront.

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Based on Cry Me a River, revamped the lyrics to be more IT-centric. Although anyone that works in IT or has to deal with their company helpdesk can appreciate the song Update – now has the lyrics as captions! Recorded with a Rock Band microphone and opensource Audacity, this was a labor of love. Huge thanks to all the volunteers who made this video possible!

Warhammer online – Age Of Reckoning This is just a quick video to give you some idea of what is on the way. I’ll be uploading more videos of the beta very soon. Minimum System requirements: For Windows XP * 2.5 GHz P4 (single core) processor or equivalent * 1 Gigabyte RAM * A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 * At least 15 GB of hard drive space For Windows VISTA * 2.5 GHz P4 processor or equivalent * 2 Gigabyte RAM * A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0 * At least 15 GB of hard drive space Supported Video Cards ATI Radeon(TM) series * 9500, 9600, 9800 * X300, X600, X700, X800, X850 * X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950 * 2400, 2600, 2900 * 3650, 3850, 3870 * 4850, 4870 NVIDIA GeForce series * FX 5900, FX 5950 * 6600, 6800 * 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950 * 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800 * 9400, 9500, 9600, 9800 * GTX 260, GTX 280 Intel(R) Extreme Graphics * GMA X4500 For more info if you are from Europe: www.war-europe.com For more infor if you are from the states: www.warhammeronline.com