Tag: Software

XBMC 11 (aka Eden) stable release download available

XBMC Media Center (formerly Xbox Media Center) is a free and open source cross-platform media centre and HTPC application. I have been using it for just a few months but I never tried any media centre as good and configurable as this one.

Version 11, codenamed “Eden”, was a significant release. It introduced a new skin engine that made it easier for designers to create custom interfaces. Library management was overhauled — scraping metadata for movies and TV shows became more accurate and faster. Hardware acceleration was improved, making HD playback smoother on a wider range of hardware.

Eden also added support for more audio formats, better UPnP streaming, and an improved add-on system. The PVR (live TV) integration, while still marked as a beta feature, was a promising addition for those looking to replace their set-top box entirely.

If you have a home theatre PC or even just a computer connected to your TV, XBMC turns it into a proper media centre — movies, TV shows, music, pictures, all with a beautiful interface designed for a remote control. It supports almost every file format you can throw at it and runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and even the original Xbox.

Download your free version and give it a try!

Download the free version and give it a try!

Give it a try!

Re-open last tab/tabs closed on Google Chrome/Chromium

We’ve all done it. You’re flicking through tabs, your hand moves faster than your brain, and bam — you closed a tab you still needed. You stare at the screen for a second before remembering there’s a keyboard shortcut for that.

Ctrl + Shift + T (or Cmd + Shift + T on a Mac).

That’s it. Press it once and the last tab you closed comes back. Press it again and the one before that comes back. Chrome and Chromium keep a stack of your recently closed tabs in memory, so you can walk backwards through your mistakes as far as you need.

It works across sessions

If you close Chrome entirely and reopen it, Ctrl + Shift + T will restore the last window you had open with all its tabs. This is separate from the “Continue where you left off” startup setting — it’s a one-time restore that works even if you have Chrome set to start on a blank page.

Right-click also works

If you prefer the mouse, right-click on any tab and select “Reopen closed tab” from the menu. Same result, one extra click.

What about the History panel?

For tabs you closed a while ago (not just the last few), go to Menu > History or press Ctrl + H. You’ll see a full chronological list — the “Recently closed” section at the top shows your last few tab closures with their full titles, making it easier to find the one you actually want.

The shortcut is one of those things you don’t think about until you need it. And once you know it, you’ll use it more often than you’d expect. :-)

Free 3GB SpiderOak account – (Dropbox alternative)

SpidearOak gives you 2GB to start with. If you want to start with 3GB instead use this link.
Keep reading if you want to find out more.

So, first of all, SpiderOak is a web-based file hosting service “similar” to Dropbox.
You don’t know what Dropbox is? oh well :-). You can have a look at the Dropbox intro video or keep reading..
Anyway, I’ve used Dropbox for a couple of years, until last month.
I was using it to share some files among different computers/phone and I must say that it has always worked well for me.
I always look for software that do things better but, in this case, I was even more encouraged to find an alternative when, last July, Dropbox made its license more restrictive.
As you can see from the last paragraph in the Wikipedia Dropbox criticism “In early July 2011 Dropbox revised their Terms of Service several times after first including language that appeared to give them an unrevokable license to any material uploaded. They subsequently clarified that language in response to the maelstrom of criticism and concern that resulted from artists and corporate users with confidential data.”
The bottom line here is. Dropbox is still a good service but using it for confidential data MIGHT (I repeat myself, MIGHT) be risky.

The Dropbox staff can get access to your data. No one is saying that they do (on a regular basis at least).
So, SpiderOak, is a good and safer alternative to Dropbox.
Safer because SpiderOak based their entire architecture on a zero-knowledge policy and encryption.
I’ve already installed it on three Ubuntu boxes and my Android phone and I can guarantee that is fast, easy to use and has a nice GUI.
SpiderOak-GUI
As you can see from the screenshot, it can be used to backup, synchronize and share data.

Another great thing is that you can get up to 50GB of space for free (with a refer-a-friend program).

There are two huge differences between the SpiderOak and Dropbox refer-a-friend program:
1) SpiderOak gives you 1GB per each friend (not 250MB);
2) SpiderOak gives BOTH of you that extra GB (not the referrer only like Dropbox).

So, for example, this is my SpiderOak referral link. If you subscribe to their service trough that link you get 1GB extra as well as me. That makes you start from 3GB rather than 2 only…

It’s good for me, it’s good for you. I like it that way… :-D
It’s also cross-platform so you can enjoy it on Linux, Mac, Windows, IOS and Android.
You can add as many devices as you want.

Under Ubuntu Lucid (and probably others similar as well), if the “Launch SpiderOak at Login” option does not work for you add it manually:
Preferences -> Startup applications -> Add .
Name: SpiderOak (or whatever you want)
Command: /usr/bin/SpiderOak (which is the result of “which SpiderOak”)
Comment: Online backup/sync solution (or whatever you want)

Once again. Here is the link to open a 3GB SpiderOak account.
That’s all for now. Hope you enjoy your new free sharing service.

Hope it helps!