If you've just purchased a new computer, completely wiped your harddrive, or want to test out a few free software options Ninite makes it way too easy.
Simply select the software you want to download and the installer takes care of the rest. It even automatically dismisses the annoying extras that often come with these installs (such as toolbars and such).
I haven't tried everyone of these applications, but I'm currently using (or used in the past) many of these programs. Some of these are no-brainers (Firefox, Thunderbird) and others will automatically be downloaded on your computer as you browse the internet (Reader, Java, Flash, .Net). Others provide an excellent service that may otherwise be overlooked: VLC, Audacity, Paint.Net, Picasa, OpenOffice, Essentials or AVG, CCleaner, and Defraggler are all programs that I would highly recommend for every user.
G&P
- Andrew
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009
Photo Generators
The wild 'n wonderful internet is full or photo generators and manipulators, but I've come across a few this month that are worth highlighting.
The first is SeeNow.com where you can put your facial features inside the face and body of a celebrity with LOTS of options to choose from. The steps are easy and the program does a decent job seamlessly stiching your photo into the image. You can even re-size and shift your photo so that it lines up better with the celebrity image.
The other generator is much more plain in comparison, but still kind of fun. It's a personal money generator and it has dozens of bills from the around the world to choose from. Just upload the image you would like to place on the billfold and you have your own personalized currency.
Shifting a little from photo generators to photo editting / manipulating, Tuxpi has over two dozen different ways to tweak a photo. But if you're looking for an online source to edit a photo, it's hard to beat Picnik. There is also LunaPic, which I'll give a "glitter warning" too. Some OK editting options, of which I like the single image collage-effect the most.
Here's a couple of my photo creations:
G&P
- Andrew
The first is SeeNow.com where you can put your facial features inside the face and body of a celebrity with LOTS of options to choose from. The steps are easy and the program does a decent job seamlessly stiching your photo into the image. You can even re-size and shift your photo so that it lines up better with the celebrity image.
The other generator is much more plain in comparison, but still kind of fun. It's a personal money generator and it has dozens of bills from the around the world to choose from. Just upload the image you would like to place on the billfold and you have your own personalized currency.
Shifting a little from photo generators to photo editting / manipulating, Tuxpi has over two dozen different ways to tweak a photo. But if you're looking for an online source to edit a photo, it's hard to beat Picnik. There is also LunaPic, which I'll give a "glitter warning" too. Some OK editting options, of which I like the single image collage-effect the most.
Here's a couple of my photo creations:
G&P
- Andrew
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Video Ripping & Conversion
Yesterday I highlighted a Firefox addon that will rip YouTube video and download it as an .flv file. Maybe .flv isn't your thing or maybe you're not interested in installing another media player specific for that file type (VLC) and so you need to convert the video into a different format. Here are some suggestions:
Movavi is super-simple and the best that I've seen so far. You can choose to either upload a file or select a URL (ie a YouTube video link), choose the output format and - voila! - you're done.
Vixy.net is another option, but it has less versatility: it only converts from a URL (can't upload a file) and it has fewer output options.
With great online options such as these, I wouldn't recommend installing conversion software, even if it's free (such as AVS Video Converter). There simply isn't the need anymore.
Finally, I found an instructional on how to rip video from Facebook. While the post highlights some wonderful reasons why this is a great Firefox add-on, my immediate concern was for all those individuals who haven't clued into the privacy settings for their personal photos and video. Please, if you post pictures or video on Facebook don't forget to set the privacy!
G&P
- Andrew
Movavi is super-simple and the best that I've seen so far. You can choose to either upload a file or select a URL (ie a YouTube video link), choose the output format and - voila! - you're done.
Vixy.net is another option, but it has less versatility: it only converts from a URL (can't upload a file) and it has fewer output options.
With great online options such as these, I wouldn't recommend installing conversion software, even if it's free (such as AVS Video Converter). There simply isn't the need anymore.
Finally, I found an instructional on how to rip video from Facebook. While the post highlights some wonderful reasons why this is a great Firefox add-on, my immediate concern was for all those individuals who haven't clued into the privacy settings for their personal photos and video. Please, if you post pictures or video on Facebook don't forget to set the privacy!
G&P
- Andrew
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Firefox Add-ons (Youth Pastor Picks)
I'm a big-time advocate for using Firefox to browse the internet. If you are using a different browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, etc) or are trying to find ways to maximize your Firefox experience, I have created a collection of Firefox extensions (also known as "add-ons") which will make a great browser even better.
To get started on the goodness of Firefox, check out the home page to download the latest version (make sure you choose the right operating system). The main page for add-ons is a great place to go if you're interested in seeing what's new and popular, or if you want to search by topic.
If you want explore some of the extensions that I use reguarly, browse the Youth Pastor Picks collection. Each extension is described in detail, able to answer most of your questions. Below I have briefly listed why I use each extension. Hopefully this is enough to get you started.
Ad Blocker Plus
A no-brainer. ADB rids your screen of the annoying ads that show up almost everywhere you go (Facebook, Gmail, Hotmail, etc) . For the extension to work, you need to download the "Easy List" at ADB's main site (the link is found top left corner of screen).
NoScript
This isn't too complicated to understand: this extension allows the user to choose what portions of the site will load and what won't. Basically, it prevents you from clicking on something (malicious?) that didn't want to, or holds back the annoying 'flashing' components of a site. Once this extension is added, an "S" and a "options" button shows in up in the bottom right corner of your brower window, and you can choose if you want to temporarily or permanently allow portions of the site to load in your browser.
Target Advertising Cookie Opt-Out (TACO)
Guess what: some of the major websites in the world study your internet behavior. This simple add-on prevents such. Add it.
BetterPrivacy
Does the same thing as "TACO" but for Flash-based cookies.
ProCon Latte
A customizable filter (based on specific sites or key words) that will prevent access to sites that contain specific content (words or images). It is password protected and keeps the user from stumbling onto sites that should be avoided. I'm a big fan of the "White List" feature: it enables sites that you know are safe to be viewed even if a questionable word is present. This is an extremely handy option since many youth ministry sites would otherwise but inaccessible based on the subject matter that is sometimes present.
Tab Preview
I like having multiple tabs open within Firefox. Instead of clicking on the other tabs, I just hover the mouse over the tab and 'mini-screen' drops down to show me what's on that page.
Permatabs
I 99% of the time have Gmail and Facebook tabs open when I'm on the internet. I have these two sites set as permanent tabs so that they load on start up and never close. Plus, the tabs-size is shrunk take up less space ... remember I like having many tabs open simulatenously!!
Better Gmail 2
Among other neat-o things, this extension puts the number of unread emails in the tab.
Integrated Gmail
This extension brings in my Google Calendar and places it below the Gmail inbox. It saves me from having two open!
Gmail Minimalist
This extension isn't available at Firefox ... yet. Go the creator's site for this add-on. It gives a few options on how clean up and simplify your Gmail appearance.
DownloadHelper
Do you have a YouTube video that you want to show the youth? Download it as an .flv file and then use the free and open-source VLC Media Player to view it.
MozBackup
Creates back up files for Firefox and Thunderbird (email software) that store all your bookmarks, extensions, and so on.
Enjoy.
G&P
- Andrew
To get started on the goodness of Firefox, check out the home page to download the latest version (make sure you choose the right operating system). The main page for add-ons is a great place to go if you're interested in seeing what's new and popular, or if you want to search by topic.
If you want explore some of the extensions that I use reguarly, browse the Youth Pastor Picks collection. Each extension is described in detail, able to answer most of your questions. Below I have briefly listed why I use each extension. Hopefully this is enough to get you started.
==============================
CONTENT / SECURITY / PRIVACY
Ad Blocker Plus
A no-brainer. ADB rids your screen of the annoying ads that show up almost everywhere you go (Facebook, Gmail, Hotmail, etc) . For the extension to work, you need to download the "Easy List" at ADB's main site (the link is found top left corner of screen).
---------------------------------------------------
This isn't too complicated to understand: this extension allows the user to choose what portions of the site will load and what won't. Basically, it prevents you from clicking on something (malicious?) that didn't want to, or holds back the annoying 'flashing' components of a site. Once this extension is added, an "S" and a "options" button shows in up in the bottom right corner of your brower window, and you can choose if you want to temporarily or permanently allow portions of the site to load in your browser.
---------------------------------------------------
Target Advertising Cookie Opt-Out (TACO)
Guess what: some of the major websites in the world study your internet behavior. This simple add-on prevents such. Add it.
---------------------------------------------------
BetterPrivacy
Does the same thing as "TACO" but for Flash-based cookies.
---------------------------------------------------
ProCon Latte
A customizable filter (based on specific sites or key words) that will prevent access to sites that contain specific content (words or images). It is password protected and keeps the user from stumbling onto sites that should be avoided. I'm a big fan of the "White List" feature: it enables sites that you know are safe to be viewed even if a questionable word is present. This is an extremely handy option since many youth ministry sites would otherwise but inaccessible based on the subject matter that is sometimes present.
==============================
APPEARANCE / FUNCTION
Tab Preview
I like having multiple tabs open within Firefox. Instead of clicking on the other tabs, I just hover the mouse over the tab and 'mini-screen' drops down to show me what's on that page.
---------------------------------------------------
Permatabs
I 99% of the time have Gmail and Facebook tabs open when I'm on the internet. I have these two sites set as permanent tabs so that they load on start up and never close. Plus, the tabs-size is shrunk take up less space ... remember I like having many tabs open simulatenously!!
==============================
GMAIL
Better Gmail 2
Among other neat-o things, this extension puts the number of unread emails in the tab.
---------------------------------------------------
Integrated Gmail
This extension brings in my Google Calendar and places it below the Gmail inbox. It saves me from having two open!
---------------------------------------------------
Gmail Minimalist
This extension isn't available at Firefox ... yet. Go the creator's site for this add-on. It gives a few options on how clean up and simplify your Gmail appearance.
==============================
MISCELLANEOUS
DownloadHelper
Do you have a YouTube video that you want to show the youth? Download it as an .flv file and then use the free and open-source VLC Media Player to view it.
==============================
BONUS ROUND!
MozBackup
Creates back up files for Firefox and Thunderbird (email software) that store all your bookmarks, extensions, and so on.
==============================
Enjoy.
G&P
- Andrew
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Web Tool - Bureau of Communication
The Bureau of Communcation is online madlibs messages for all occasions: holidays, romance, thankfulness, and more. Simply choose the form template that best fits your situation, fill in the blanks provided, punch in the receiver's email address, and done. It's got wit, it's got saracasm, and it's perfect for injecting a little humor into someone's day. If you're looking for a free, quick and creative way to encourage or thank members of your youth group or leadership team, this is the answer.
G&P
- Andrew
G&P
- Andrew
Web Tool - Online OCR Service
Online OCR (Optical Character Recognition) provides free image to text conversion without registration or sotware installation. If you're looking for a quick way to tweak old class notes, presentations and so forth, Online OCR will convert scanned documents (.PDF, .JPG, .PNG, and more) into editable text formats such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Adobe PDF.
[via LifeHacker]
G&P
- Andrew
[via LifeHacker]
G&P
- Andrew
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Free Church Media
If you're looking to bring some freshness and colour to a presentation, Church Marketing Sucks has a great collection of sites that offer free church graphics. There is a treasure trove of high-quality images, counters, motion-backgrounds, and videos available within the seven sites listed. Worth reviewing if you find your PP slides are a little bland and uninspiring.
G&P
- Andrew
G&P
- Andrew
Web Tool - 280 Slides
PowerPoint is a great tool to have, and if you want to go the free route OpenOffice is a wonderful option. But if you rarely need PowerPoint, then a free online service such as 280 Slides may be the way to go since it doesn't require software to be installed onto your computer to create your project. The site is very easy to use and the final project can be downloaded as .pptx, .ppt, or .pdf files. And remember, Microsoft has a free PowerPoint Viewer that will allow you to play your finished project.
[via gHacks]
G&P
- Andrew
[via gHacks]
G&P
- Andrew
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Web Tools - Generators
Another 10-second post. Mashable collected 13 of their favourite images generators. Some are simple, some require a little more user input, and all except one are free. A few of the sites linked to include more than just the selected example so go ahead and snoop around.
[via Youth Ministry Geek]
G&P
- Andrew
[via Youth Ministry Geek]
G&P
- Andrew
Web Tool - Flipping Typical
Looking for a way to quickly review how a phrase or title looks in a variety of fonts? Flipping Typical is the answer. This web tool searches out the fonts you have available on your computer, and allows you to type in a phrase to see how it looks in every variety. Simple. Convenient. Boo-yah.
G&P
- Andrew
G&P
- Andrew
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Web Tool - Dirpy
Funny, I was just look for something like this last week and today it popped up in one of go-to tech sites (LifeHacker).
It's simple: if you find a You Tube clip you like but only want the audio, Dirpy is the solution. It provides high quality .mp3 recording and even allows you to select a segment of the whole. It's perfect for sermons, comedy, and so on.
It will be interesting to how the music industries responds to this site, since many fans upload their favourite songs as homemade music videos. For example, I don't own the A Collision album from the David Crowder* Band, but in minutes I was able to rip the song "Foreverandever Etc" into a near-perfect mp3.
G&P
- Andrew
It's simple: if you find a You Tube clip you like but only want the audio, Dirpy is the solution. It provides high quality .mp3 recording and even allows you to select a segment of the whole. It's perfect for sermons, comedy, and so on.
It will be interesting to how the music industries responds to this site, since many fans upload their favourite songs as homemade music videos. For example, I don't own the A Collision album from the David Crowder* Band, but in minutes I was able to rip the song "Foreverandever Etc" into a near-perfect mp3.
G&P
- Andrew
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