Month: March 2012

Twitter Tool: Twitter Time Machine

Twitter Time Machine is a simple tool that can be fun or fill a need for those who are active on twitter. After connecting and authorizing this app it downloads (limited by the twitter API to 3200 tweets) the account’s tweets into a searchable database. Twitter Time Machine features a slider to move and back forth between dates to see tweets made on those days.

Four big buttons to the right of the interface refresh, download all, import or export the account’s timeline. The latter two use the ttm file format to save a file locally. It is also possible to change the user and authorize access to another account.

The Search feature, for version 0.3.3 tested, didn’t always find a result for a – known to exist – query. Follow @Xeo_it, the developer, for updates and if a Milan fan feel free to follow @MilanMania and ofcourse @RGdot as well!

Twitter Time Machine requires the .NET Framework 4.0 and should work on Windows XP and above.

March 27, 2012
Giveaway: Picture Collage Maker Pro Easter Edition

Comment to win a copy of the Picture Collage Maker Pro Easter Edition!

Picture Collage Maker Pro has been reviewed here on RGdot.com (Here, here and here!), along with giveaways, before and the folks at PearlMountain Technology are back again with another giveaway.

This time Picture Collage Maker Pro is ready with the Easter Edition which comes with 16 templates to use to create photo collages, scrapbooks or greeting cards for the Easter holiday.

As noted in previous reviews and giveaways Picture Collage Maker Pro makes it pretty easy to create everything from collages to calendars to posters for many occasions, and not just for Easter. It supports the drag and drop of photos into templates with customizable shapes, cliparts, masks, frames and backgrounds to share via email, print or set as wallpaper.

To use the Easter Edition templates simply click the Download More Templates button and download the Easter pack and run the downloaded exe.

March 25, 2012
ControlPad: Freeware Launcher

ControlPad is a launcher and command executor that uses the numeric keypad. It can execute or open documents and websites and send commands to a Windows computer. ControlPad is invoked by pressing the keypad key *, then typing a number using the keypad into the ensuing ControlPad window and then pressing enter.The program comes with a set of built-in commands. The list is available via a right click on the program’s tray icon or using the 902 code. These include reload (9998), Exit (9999), WinClose (9), WinMinimize (77), browser back button (222) and more.

Other codes or commands can be added by invoking the program, pressing *, typing a command (say 888) and pressing the / key on the numeric keypad. After doing so a window will appear (see image) where the user can browse to a program or file or press the {} button to choose from some of the built-in shortcuts. These include turning volume up, down or mute, playing media, launching the default mail program, going to browser’s home page, sending keys like F1, Ctrl and others to the system, sending the system to sleep or killing or closing processes. After doing so has been the number or command (888 in this case) will be associated with the chosen action. A virtually unlimited number of commands can be created to automate tasks.

ControlPad also has a SpeedPad feature where, when enabled – via the tray icon for example – single keypad keys, 0-9 and the dot (.), can be associated with commands. The only restriction is that these will work only when Numlock is turned off. ControlPad accepts anything that can be typed in the Windows’ own run box, “Notepad” (without the quotes) for example. Starting a command with + or ~ means sending keys to the system or one of the program’s internal commands respectively. These can all be found in the Help file’s Command section.

ControlPad’s options include a Laptop mode (Settings or Options —> Launch key) section where * is replaced by F12 and / by F10.

ControlPad is useful for keyboard fans but as with any launcher type program requires getting used to.

March 24, 2012
AnyClient: Multi-protocol File Transfer Freeware

AnyClient (Version: 4.2.1.57 tested) is a java based FTP client that also features some other not often supported protocols. These are FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3 and AFTP by JSCAPE, AnyClient’s own developers.

AnyClient features a standard two pane interface with an area to show or log transfers and a debug section. First thing to do, of course, is to set up login details by using the Site Manager (File —>Site Manager). The Site Manager features options to preserve time stamps when downloading and uploading, though this is often the case anyway. Here AnyClient also features settings and support for proxy servers and PGP decryption.

Back in the main interface of the program there is one interesting feature that can prove useful. The right most icon under the local system pane is called ‘Zip upload’. Here AnyClient supports choosing several files from the local machine side (via Ctrl+Click) and creating a zip file within the program and uploading them compressed.

AnyClient requires the Java Runtime Environment 1.5 or newer and it should run on all Windows versions.

Have a look at the comments section of the recently reviewed dropf for some other possible file transfer options suggested by regular visitor Asen.

March 18, 2012
Freeware Xyvos System Explorer

Xyvos System Explorer is a simple process viewer that provides potentially useful information. The information provided is divided into three sections or tabs.

The first tab is the process explorer which is a simple version of the Windows’ task manager. It provides extra information about the processes. The path to the program, the process ID (PID), description, company name and whether or not it is digitally signed.

The TCP/UDP Connections is perhaps more useful in providing a glimpse at which applications are accessing the internet. This may prove useful when trying to make sure malware is not attempting to dial out of a system. The path to the process, the protocol used and the local and remote addresses are given as is the state of the port or connection (listening, etc.)

The AutoRun Entries tab is a look at startup processes and is a simple alternative to MSConfig or other startup viewers. The process path, again, is potentially useful information.

Xyvos System Explorer should run on all Windows versions and is a single small executable.

Note: You may notice 1e100.net addresses if you monitor your outgoing processes. It is “a Google-owned domain name used to identify the servers in our network.” that Google uses to monitor safe sites and warn you about potential attack sites. See http://support.google.com/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=174717

March 16, 2012
Dropf: Easy File Uploading

Dropf (Version: 0.2.8.39926 Beta) attempts to make it easier to manage FTP accounts and share files. It places a box-like hovering icon on the desktop where files can be dragged and dropped into. From there they will be automatically uploaded to the user’s configured FTP space.

Setting up FTP account(s) comes first. Right click on the box, go to FTP Accounts and then Manage. Fill in the details and set the root and upload path or folder. The paths will be relative to the FTP login path. For example if after logging into your FTP you are at / and want the uploads to go to the root of the example.com folder add / and /example.com for root and upload respectively. dropf checks the connection and creates any folders (for example if the uploads path is example.com/uploads the uploads folder will be created) necessary. Drag and drop a file into the box, it will be uploaded and the url copied to the clipboard automatically. Dropf also has a Take Screenshot and Upload option where it uploads the (active window) full screen. When uploading multiple files or a folder they will be zipped – if the zip option is checked in the settings – and the url of the .zip file will be copied to the clipboard.

Right click the box to set theme (box shape), opacity and size. The program settings has options to add it to Windows’ Send To menu, make it start with Windows, auto copy uploaded files’ URLs to the clipboard and using one of goo.gl, 2d1.in or is.gd for URL shortening. The program offers to rename files to something ‘standard’, use time stamp naming, encrypt the multi-file zip upload and upload text clipboard items as a .txt file.

A very useful feature of dropf is the upload history, a useful reference. Using the program’s tray icon the dropf box can be hidden. Dropf should work on Windows XP and newer versions.

Note: The beta state of dropf is apparent as the box disappeared at least once when changing its size and opacity.

March 12, 2012
QT Writer Express: Light Freeware Word Processor

QT Writer Express is a word processor from the makers of SSuite Office Suite. It is a simple and lightweight program that handles documents pretty well. It is perhaps best suited for simple text files but it can do more. It stands out from most of its kind in looks at least.

Most of QT Writer Express’ options are available to the left of the writing area. Changing font, color and size. Underline, bold and italic. Text justify, indent and zoom. List style and line spacing. All occupy a relatively large portion of the screen space.

Additional features and options line up across the top of the program interface. These include print, print preview, find and replace, insert current date and insert special characters, images and emoticons.

QT Writer Express supports .pdf (both read and save), .rtf, doc, .txt and SSuite’s own presentation format .ssp. The question mark button near the top left is a very short tutorial with a list of hot keys the program supports and a list of settings saved when the program is closed and reopened later such as font size and color.

It is completely portable and the zipped download comes with MMMaster.exe, SSuite’s Mail Merge utility.

March 9, 2012
Kiwi System Info: Freeware Advanced System Specs

Kiwi System Info (Version: 1.0.0 tested) is a small system profiler. It provides a lot of detailed and advanced information on the specs of a Windows PC. In addition to All and About it is divided into seven sections or groups, each with a drop down menu providing information and specs not often available elsewhere.

The seven sections are Hardware Info, Data Storage, Memory, System Info, Network, User & Security and Developer. The aforementioned dropdowns are too numerous to name them all but a look at the above image gives an idea on the wealth of specifications Kiwi System Info provides.

(Only) a few of the information available are (picked randomly):

In Hardware Info … 1394Controller, DeviceBus, PnPEntity, PortResource, TemperatureProbe.

In Data Storage … DiskPartition, LogicalFileGroup.

In Memory … MemoryDeviceArray, SMBIOSMemory.

In System Info … ProcessStartup, ProductCheck, ProtocolBinding, SystemBootConfiguration, SystemServices.

In Network … NetworkClient, PerfRawData_Tcpip_ICMP, SystemNetworkConnections.

In User & Security … NTEventlogFile, SecuritySetting.

In Developer … ClassicCOMApplicationClasses, CodecFile, DCOMApplication, ODBCDriverAttribute, SoftwareFeatureParent

Such is the detailed info that Kiwi System Info provides that it has a stop button and a timeout setting because retrieving and displaying some of the specs can and do slow the system temporarily. Kiwi System Info is a single executable only 360KB in size.

March 6, 2012
Ken Rename: Freeware Rename Utility

Ken Rename (Version: 1.02) is a rename utility with a good number of features. It presents an immediate preview of renaming results. Choosing files or folders to be renamed can be done either by the buttons or menu near the top, drag and drop or selecting a folder from the explorer tree.

The Macro tab is first and offers a bunch of options and actions to create very flexible renaming rules. The user can use the buttons to include original file name, a counter (by any starting point and increment), date, EXIF and folder name (1st, 2nd or 3rd parent folder) in the renamed files. File filtering is available to include or exclude system, archive, hidden, read only or folders plus the option to include or exclude subfolders and some file types.

The Replace tab offers to replace matching letters in the original with something else, it has regex and match case support. It can save the replace/with combination to a preset to be re-loaded for use later on.

The Change Case tab has options to capitalize, sentence, upper or lower case renamed files. It can be set to include or exclude either the file name or extension when it renames files.

The Remove tab removes letters from file name and can again work on either or both the file name and extension.

The Insert tab adds letter(s) to different positions within the file name or extension.

The Script tab comes with several ready made (VBScript) ones to further customize renaming options. One can add other scripts as well and save them for future use. For example one of the included scripts is “reverse.vbs” to reverse the file name (eg. hello.jpg to olleh.jpg):

Function Rename(strPath, strName, strExt, bIsFolder)

If bIsFolder Then
Rename = strName + strExt
Else
Rename = StrReverse(strName) + strExt
End If

End Function

Code page and Decode work on Unicode and other formats to convert to different encoding and characters. This was not tested for this review.

The Import list tab can import a text or list type file format (lst, txt, ini, wpl, m3u or pls). An existing file list can be loaded and worked on here.

Ken Rename supports Unicode file names and reading ID3 tags, it has some command line support as well. It is available both in a zipped portable and installer.

March 3, 2012