AddictiveTips » ASK

Classic Shell Brings Classic Start Menu In Windows 7

ASK — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:23:11 +0000

Classic Shell is an application which provides Classic XP styled Start menu and Classic Explorer toolbar buttons such as Up, Cut, Copy, Paste etc. in Windows Vista and Windows 7. It is developed for people which don’t feel comfortable with Start menu of Windows 7/Windows Vista and miss the classic toolbar buttons of Windows XP.

During installation you see two options, first is the classical Start menu (XP styled having recent documents, Drag and drop to organize applications and easy keyboard navigation through installed programs etc.) while second is Classic Explorer which is a plugin for Windows Explorer that will add a toolbar having buttons for Up, Cut, Copy etc. You can select any one of them, or both to be installed.

Start menu settings can be adjusted by accessing Settings from right click context menu of Windows start button.

As it adds the classic start menu, the Windows 7 / Vista styled start menu, however, is not disabled, it can be accessed by pressing Shift and then clicking on the Start button. If you are an XP user who just upgraded to Windows 7 and miss classical start menu and classic explorer toolbar buttons, give this application a shot.

Testing was done on system running Windows 7 x86.

Download Classic Shell

Previously, we covered a useful tip that required Classic Shell application.

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Customize Mac Logon Screen With Ravissant

ASK — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:22:09 +0000

Users of Windows 7 can tweak and customize logon screens via various applications. Ravissant, however, is an application that lets you customize Mac logon screen by adding specified logo, OS text, welcome text, and background image to it. It enables you to customize logon screen within moments – you can add your own picture, name, or any random message as easily as you type in a text file.Different tabs are provided on the main interface to change display picture, OS name text, welcome text, host info and background image of logon screen. Select appropriate tab and customize it in your own style. Clicking on Logo tab will highlight the default logo, simply drag-and-drop any other image which you want to be displayed as logo. In the same way, OS text tab will enable you to customize text which is displayed as OS name. You can change other info in the same fashion. Once done, click on Apply Changes to save all settings. It will prompt you to save the setting in a file, save it in local drive and you are done.

Testing this small application was of great fun, if you want to enjoy too, try it out!

Testing was done on Mac OS X 10.6.4 .

Download Ravissant

For Windows, check out the Logon Screen Changer.

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Download And Browse Websites Offline With Maria [Mac]

ASK — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:21:46 +0000

Maria is a tiny application that lets you download websites or web pages for offline browsing. You will need to insert a URL of any website and in a single click it will start downloading instantly. On launch it prompts for website address, insert the complete URL including “http://”.Simple and tiny interface lets you download any website for offline browsing smartly. By default, websites are downloaded in Download folder but you can specify any different location. Access the Preferences panel from the the application menu for further configuration. You can select file types such as html, jpg, swf, avi and mp3 etc., which you want to be downloaded from the website. If you want to download multiple websites, just write the urls in a text file and click on the Read URLs from file available in the File menu.

This will come useful if you want to read articles offline while on the go. Testing was done on Mac running OS X 10.6.4

Download Maria

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Lingoo Lets You Quickly Translate Any Text And Copy It To Clipboard [Mac]

ASK — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:23:21 +0000

Lingoo is a small wrapper application for Google online translation services which lets you translate text from one language to another quickly. It provides a novel text translation experience right from your desktop. It is developed as a background application residing in menu bar which can be activated by pressing used-defined hotkeys. Apart from translation, it quickly makes your translated data available on your clipboard. Once installed, it resides in system tray for quick access. Click on Translate from its system tray menu to quickly start translating. Enter text, select source & destination language, and hit Translate button at the bottom of interface to get the translated text. Usage couldn’t get more easier than this.

Preferences panel lets you select further settings to simplify its usage. Also you can define custom hotkeys from shortcuts tab.

If you often encounter with foreign languages, this small utility will help you in quickly translating text right from your desktop. Furthermore, its copy-to-clipboard feature will save you a lot of time and efforts by providing the quick paste facility.

Testing was done on Mac OS X 10.6.4 .

Download Lingoo

For Windows, check out Google Translate Client .

Read Lingoo Lets You Quickly Translate Any Text And Copy It To Clipboard [Mac] by ASK on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter

Manage Your Own Media Streaming Server With Subsonic

ASK — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:34:31 +0000

Subsonic is a web based media streaming tool which lets you play, share, search and access radio stations and offers whole lot of other features. It allows to stream music on-the-go, which works great when you want to play different genres in different locations. Once configured and set up, your media collection can be accessed from web or from any mobile phone. Yes, they have separate apps for both iPhone and Android.

It is developed to handle gigantic music collection, even though it is optimized for MP3 streaming yet supports almost every audio and video format. On first time usage, its system tray icon will prompt you to configure settings to get started. Just open Subsonic web application and you’ll get a complete control panel with awesome collection of features to begin with. Select music folders, themes, default language, etc. Furthermore, it lets you authorize users with appropriate rights to create and share music library. With transcoder plugins you can easily convert and stream any audio formats on real-time. You can also select bitrates of music streams and let it work as podcast receiver.

The local music folders can be located from Music Folders option under Settings.

Once you’ve selected the local music folders, it will list all tracks on the interface.

If you are a music addict having fervor for many genres who wants to play, share or stream own playlists , try out this application. You’ll love it.

It runs on all platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix etc. Testing was carried out on Windows 7 x86 system.

Download Subsonic

For more, check out mSpot.

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Quickly Switch Between VirtualBox Machines From System Tray [Mac]

ASK — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:12:39 +0000

VirtualBox Menulet is a tiny yet very useful application that lets you quickly open VirtualBox machines in Mac without opening the main VirtualBox application. As its name implies it is a small menulet which resides in system tray for quickly accessing the virtual machines.On launch, it automatically tries to detect the VirtualBox application. However, if failed, it asks you to locate the VirtualBox application from the local drive manually. It includes icons which show state of Virtual machine, for example it has a different icon for Virtual machine which is currently running and different for others. You can easily change machine order by appropriate buttons available at Preferences panel which can be accessed from system tray icon.

If you have multiple VirtualBox machines running on your Mac, this tiny application will save you time and system resources by quickly navigating through them. Enjoy!

Download VirtualBox Menulet

Note: Above Screenshot is taken from developer’s website.

Read Quickly Switch Between VirtualBox Machines From System Tray [Mac] by ASK on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter

System Nucleus Is Windows Maintenance, Diagnostic, And Backup Tool

ASK — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:39:07 +0000

System Nucleus is a robust application which caters 10 most useful Windows tools. The idea behind the built is to provide users with various Windows build-in tools under one window for performing multiple routine tasks. Prominent features include; Backup & Recovery, Process & Program management, Start-up & Services settings, and System audit.

You will see all the tools right up front on the main interface, all that is required is to click the desired tool to launch right in the application. It supports tabbed interface to let user launch and manage tasks simultaneously. Each tool has its intrinsic features and options to get along with. Diving deep, the Backup & Recovery feature checks registry hives, event logs, and all of the installed drivers. It also lets you install / uninstall programs in bulk. COM feature lets you view, start, restart and edit installed COM+ applications. You can view all disk and drives’ details from the Disks & Drives feature.

Another power feature is managing installed drivers. You can start, stop, enable, or disable any driver by simple clicks. Process management also have made easier than before. Services feature lets you start, stop or manage windows services easily. Furthermore, it includes online help to easily find out the best solution of multiple problems such as; Malware/Virus scan, Log analysis, Security auditors, and lot more. Under Online Tools menu, you can easily open the online help page in question.

Apart from 10 mostly used tools, it also lets you explore other Windows build-in tools, which are categorized under Tool menu. You can launch any administrative task, Control Panel item, run Diagnostic & Repairing tool, view & manage Network Connections, optimize Security, and Configure other basic system settings from respective categories.

As it encompass multitude of tools & features, you can always save the application’s view to quickly track-back to the previously launched or used tools’ window. To save the windows state, under File menu, click Save Current View. For change application’s general preferences, under Edit menu, click Preferences. It shows multiple categories at the left side bar which mainly includes; General application settings, Confirmations, Disk & Drives, Input Response, System Editor, etc.

All-in-all, it is one awesome application which allow users to view, maintain and tweak system resources smartly and efficiently. It runs on all Windows based OS, including the latest Windows 7. Testing was carried out on Windows 7 x86 system.

Download System Nucleus

Read System Nucleus Is Windows Maintenance, Diagnostic, And Backup Tool by ASK on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter

Input Director: Share Keyboard And Mouse Between Mutliple Computers

ASK — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:33:02 +0000

Input Director is a simple utility which enables you to use a single keyboard and mouse (attached to one computer) with multiple computers which are connected across the network. With the help of hotkeys or mouse pointer movement, you can select which computer gets the shared keyboard and mouse input. Furthermore, you can also share clipboard across all the connected computers.

Its configuration is simple and easy. Install the application on all connected computers on which you want to share keyboard and mouse. It works on Master and Slave phenomenon, thus you need to configure at least one system as Master, and other(s) as Slave. To set a system as Master, launch the application and hit the Enable as Master button available under the Main tab. You can register hotkey to quickly start sharing keyboard & mouse with other connected systems.

When system is enabled in Master mode, it will notify you about master mode being enabled with no slave systems configured. Now go to Master Configuration tab and hit Add button available at the bottom of the window. From Hostname, enter the name of node which is to be configured as slave and hit OK, it will instantly list down the slave system’s host name along with showing the response status of slave system.

After you’ve done with setting master system. Move to the other system (Slave System) and enable it as slave by clicking on the Enable as Slave button. Now from Slave Configuration tab, you will need to add a master system which you have just configured by specifying host name.You also need to specify master system(s) to be connected with, for this, you can either enter host name of master system or allow access to all systems on the network. Once slave system is configured, click OK.

Now you can start sharing master system’s keyboard & mouse with all the configured slave(s) system. Just move the mouse pointer to extreme right side of the screen to show on the slave’s computer and start controlling the slave’s computer as if you are handling a single system. You can also set Macros, configure Master Preferences and Global preferences from respective tabs available on the interface. It sits in the system tray letting you access it anytime with a simple click.

If you are connected with Home network and are in need to use and control multiple systems concurrently, this application will wholly satisfy you. It may also be helpful in corporate sector, where the demonstration of a complex project needs multiple systems to be used and controlled through single peripheral set. As the usage is simple and it hosts multiple features and other complementary options, it will be useful for both an advanced user and average Joe alike.

It runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Testing was carried out on Windows 7 x86 system.

Download Input Director

For more, also check out Win2VNC and Synergy+.

Read Input Director: Share Keyboard And Mouse Between Mutliple Computers by ASK on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter

WizMouse: Scroll Background Window Without Bringing It To Foreground

ASK — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:42:50 +0000

Mac users can scroll the inactive windows in the background without bringing them to focus. Windows 7, however, lacks this very useful functionality. WizMouse is a small utility that lets you scroll through background or inactive windows without clicking on them (without bringing them to foreground). You won’t need to click on the inactive window, merely point the cursor there, and start scrolling with the mouse wheel.On launch it ask for configuration, select appropriate options. This tiny application resides in system tray icon so that you can quickly access it and works in background using very low system resources. Once its running you can utilize the benefit of scrolling inactive windows.

As shown in image below there are three windows open: ASK, AddictiveTips, and Chartwar. If you are working in AddictiveTips window and need a file which is located in the bottom of ASK folder, simple take mouse there and without clicking scroll down, it will start scrolling without coming upfront on AddictiveTips window.

In a nutshell, this tiny application is very useful and helps to quickly scroll inactive background windows.

It runs on all Windows based OS, we tested it on Windows 7 x86 system.

Download WizMouse

[via Cybernetnews]

Read WizMouse: Scroll Background Window Without Bringing It To Foreground by ASK on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter

WinGuard Pro 7: Block Software Installation, Lock Task Manager, Windows Explorer, & More

ASK — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:57:45 +0000

WinGuard Pro 7 is an application that allows you to password protect a program, folder, and drives, lock task manager, windows explorer, and block software installation. On launch it requires password-setup, where you can use the default password too. Password protecting any program is fairly simple, hit the Protect a Program or Website link from Welcome tab or directly access it from Access Control tab. It will list major applications which you can lock by putting a password. You can also put password on any current running tasks, click on Browse button, select the task from the list and hit Lock.

You can easily put advanced locks on both Windows and Internet as seen in the screenshot below. Now locking Internet Explorer, 3rd Party Browsers, and File Downloads is just a click away.

Free version however doesn’t allow you to lock any website and moreover you also can’t encrypt a folder using password. Apart from this, it is a very useful application which safeguards your programs.

It runs on all Windows based OS, including the latest Windows 7. Testing was carried out on Windows 7 x86 system.

Download WinGuard Pro 7

For more, also check out Game Protector, Easy File Locker, PenyuLocker, and BuduLock.

Read WinGuard Pro 7: Block Software Installation, Lock Task Manager, Windows Explorer, & More by ASK on AddictiveTips - Tech tips to make you smarter

View And Inspect Network Traffic with SmartSniff

ASK — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:23:02 +0000

SmartSniff is a portable network application developed by NirSoft to view and inspect network traffic which passes through your network adopter. It captures all TCP/IP packets of network traffic and represent them as the sequence of conversation between clients and servers.

On launch it prompts for capture option, you can select capture method and network adopter which you want to monitor. Once selected, it launches the main interface. Select Start Capture option from File menu or click on the green button available beneath file menu or press F5 key to view the network packets. For protocols such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and POP3 it displays TCP/IP conversation in ASCII mode, while for protocols such as DNS it displays hex dump.

You can export packet streams or save packet summaries by accessing appropriate option from the right click context menu.

Packet properties allow you to view further details about packet stream. To view packet properties select specific packet, and click on the Properties button available in the interface (as displayed below).

It runs on all Windows based OS, including the latest Windows 7. Testing was carried out on Windows 7 x86 system.

Download SmartSniff

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Paragon Go Virtual Free: Advanced Migration and Virtualization Tool For Windows

ASK — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:03:43 +0000

Paragon Go Virtual is a tool that allows you to migrate from physical hardware platform to virtual environment. It lets you to convert any physical system running Windows (later than 2000) with all applications, settings, and user configurations as it is to a virtualized system. It has a build-in support for eminent virtualization tools such as VMware, Microsoft Virtual PC and Oracle Virtual Box.Select P2V Copy option to transfer operating system and all data to virtual environment or if you want to modify an existing virtual disk to make its OS bootable on virtual environment, try out the P2V Adjust OS option.

A wizard guides you through the physical to virtual copy process after you click on P2V Copy option.

Hit Next button available at the bottom of window.

From this window, select the partition in which that OS is installed which you want to virtualize. You can also select multiple partitions, but don’t forget to include the one having OS. Once you’ve selected the drive, hit Next button.

All installed OSes in that partition will be listed at this window, and this application will try to patch them all in the new virtual environment, but it is better to select one OS as guest. You are prompted to select a virtualization vendor from the list provided at this window. Hitting Next button will take you to next window.

From this window select the virtual machine version and name, CPU number and memory amount and hit Next.

From here set the proper interface for your virtual disk. Click Next button when done.

You will need to select a folder on local hard drive to save the resulted virtual machine.

Once you are done selecting location of your virtual drive, clicking Next button will start the virtual disk creation process.

In the same way a simple wizard lets you adjust any previously virtualized drive to make its inside OSes bootable.

To summarize, some of its salient features includes, full Windows OS support, physical to virtual migration without rebooting Windows, smart driver injection, migration of offline systems, and adjusting previously migrated OS drives.

Testing was done on system running Windows 7 32-bit OS.

Download Paragon Go Virtual

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