Got excess Skype Credit, and WiFi isn't free? There's an app for that
Skype users are familiar with the idea of buying credit in order to make online calls. If you should find that you have surplus credit that you just don't know what to do with, a solution may be at hand thanks to the release of the new Skype WiFi app, available for iPhone, iPod and iPad. This free app enables you to use Skype credit to connect to wireless hotspots at a range of locations all over the world.
Using Skype WiFi is simplicity itself. Once you have downloaded the app, sign into your Skype account and ensure that you have some available credit. When you want to get online at a restaurant, airport or other location, fire up the app, and choose from one of the available providers. Each provider has its charges listed so if there is more than one available you can opt for the one that offers the best deal.
LinkedIn for iOS gets a much needed makeover
For some time, LinkedIn has been the social network that everyone loves to hate, but it still has a huge number of users. Like other social networks, there has long been an iOS app available that provides access to the service -- this in itself is nothing spectacular, but what was notable about the LinkedIn app was just how unimpressive it was. The release of LinkedIn 4.0 for iOS looks set to change the app's reputation, though.
The most noticeable aspect of the updated app is that the interface has undergone a complete overhaul. Gone are the stark, bland, dated looking icons, replaced with a UI that has a distinct, well, Mac feel to it. The previously cluttered opening screen has been redesigned so that it now comprises a mere four icons, which provide access to your update stream, your profile, your inbox and groups you may be a member of.
Got Dropbox? And Android Phone? Try Dropsync
When it comes to synchronizing files between computers, there are few better services than Dropbox. This online storage service not only means that it is possible to access your files from any computer with an Internet connection, but desktop software means that it is possible to automatically synchronize files between the various computers you use. While there is a Dropbox app available for the Android platform, it is a little disappointing; enter Dropsync to save the day!
Rather than requiring you to visit the Dropbox website and edit files online or download them manually, Dropsync is a two-way synchronization tool for Android. If you edit a file on your mobile, the changes will be uploaded and reflected in your Dropbox account. Similarly, if you edit a files on your computer, it will first be synchronized to the Dropbox website and then with your device.
When Apple's AirPlay isn't enough, Air PlayIt
Apple's various iOS devices are great for watching videos, but there are drawbacks. The process of transferring videos onto your device can be a lengthy one, and in many instances you may well have to convert to a format that can be played in iOS. Battling with iTunes is something that most iPhone and iPad owners want to avoid as much as possible, so the video streaming app Air Playit is likely to be welcomed with open arms.
Air Playit in fact comprises two components -- server software that must be installed on your Mac or PC and an app for either your iPhone or iPad. The server software can be used to manage your video collection and choose which individual files and folders should be made available. PIN protection can be used to prevent unauthorized access, or to prevent the kids from watching videos that are not suitable.
Beta This! Symantec tests new security software for Android
Security software is not something that is generally associated with mobile devices such as phones, but the open nature of the Android platform means that viruses are a real threat, just as for desktop computers. Security firm Symantec is only too aware of this and has released a beta version of Norton Mobile Security that includes not only virus protection, but also other security features such as location locating and remote wiping.
On the virus protection front, any files you download or updates you install are scanned for signs of infection before they can cause any harm, and SD cards can be automatically scanned when you insert them. This in itself is comforting, but there are plenty of other mobile specific security features that will be of interest to anyone looking to safeguard their phone and the data it contains.
Apple tool solves Leopard to Lion Migration woes
Last month, Apple released Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" to reasonably favorable response -- well, not Betanews -- but the update process has been called into question a few times. After releasing a migration tool to make it easier to upgrade from Snow Leopard to Lion, Apple has now unveiled the Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Leopard, which serves the same purpose for anyone looking to upgrade from the older Leopard OS.
The app is designed to simplify the process of moving from Leopard to Lion, making it possible to transfer personal files and data along with applications -- at least those that are Lion compatible -- and system settings to a new machine running Lion.
Lion Tweaks takes control of OS X 10.7 features from Apple and gives it back to you
A new operating system is always greatly anticipated and this is certainly true for Mac OS X. Apple's Lion caused waves of excitement when it released last month but, as is often the case, not everything that has been added to or changed in the OS has been received quite so warmly. While Lion has generally received good reviews, there are still a number of aspects that have caused irritation to users who have upgraded from Snow Leopard and this is something that Lion Tweaks can help with. A simple freeware tool that can be used to adjust settings that are not to your liking and disable features you find to be useless or annoying.
For example, reply to an email using Mail and you see a rather nifty animation. You also see this windows animation throughout Lion, particularly when switching between spaces. On a MacBook or Mac Mini, these animations are too slow for comfortable viewing. After a while, they restrict productivity.
Got Lion but feel insecure? Symantec releases two compatible beta security apps
Security firms are always keen to release new versions of their products, and the unveiling of a new operating system is as good a reason as any. Mac users who jumped on OS X Lion the moment it was released have found that there are a number of applications that do not work correctly, or at all, and this can be a serious issue when it comes to security software. Symantec has just released two Lion compatible security products in the form of beta versions of Norton Internet Security 5 and Norton AntiVirus 12 for Mac.
Lion support is one of the main reasons for the existence of both of these new versions, but there are also a number of changes and additions. Performance improvements are always something of a subjective claim, but the new Norton software takes advantages of some of Lion's new underlying features to help speed things up.
MAGIX Music Maker 17 -- Silver edition is free
When it comes to creating music with your computer, it can be difficult to know where to start. There is certainly no shortage of titles to choose from, but for anyone that isn't already an accomplished musician, the complexity of much of the music creation software that is available can be off-putting -- hefty price tags can often be an issue as well. MAGIX Music Maker Silver 17 is a little different, in as much as it is not only incredibly easy to use, it is available completely free of charge.
The Silver release of MAGIX music creation software is a somewhat cutdown version of the title's big brother. The number of audio channels you have available to work with has been reduced to four, and the number of samples included has also shrunk somewhat. In the free version of the program, there are only three musical styles to choose from when it comes to samples, and the range of instruments is far more restricted.
Opera Next clears clutter from the browser UI
The pace of browser development is quickening, with Firefox now being on a quarterly schedule. Software companies are now also much willing to release beta projects on an eager public, and we have become used to seeing endless Firefox updates pushed out. Opera is just as keen to give its users a preview of what to expect in future versions of the software and this is something that is highlighted by Opera 'Next' v11.50, also known as project Featherweight.
We've already seen a few previews of Opera's upcoming releases, but project Featherweight brings a fresh new look to the browser interface. The rather minimalist interface features a completely redesigned set of icons for the toolbar, which are more muted in style that in previous released. The result is a sophisticated look and feel that already feels polished.
Look to the heavens and fight malware with Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.5
It seems as though every type of software imaginable now exists in the cloud, and this is even extending to security software. Panda Cloud Antivirus has just been updated to version 1.5, offering a number of important improvements over previous releases of the program. Most of the improvements are to be found in the area of performance but there are also a few new features to look out for.
The first thing that you will notice about the updated software is that scanning times have been reduced. The fact that a great deal of processing is done on remote computers helps to take the strain off your own, and the new Background Scan helps to further reduce CPU usage.
Webian Shell: Full-screen browser replaces Windows, Mac OS
The much prophesized life in the cloud is now all but upon us. Software in its traditional form is still popular, but it is losing ground to web-based apps. Sites such as Google Docs and Aviary, go a long way to proving that working with online applications does not mean having to make compromises. As the Internet is now more important than ever, it is entirely possible that your web browser is your most frequently used program -- something Google is exploiting with its Chromebook. Using Webian Shell, you can achieve the same with your current computer.
The application has really been designed for use on publically accessible terminals that do not need to be used for anything other than internet access, or running a limited number of web apps, but there is no reason that it cannot be put to good use at home. As it is likely that you spend a large proportion of your time online, it seem pointless to clutter you screen with other distractions such as the Windows taskbar or OS X's dock.
Hamster Free ZIP Archiver: Easy file compression lickety-split
Editor's Note: We would have posted this story for no other reason than the cute rodent.
File compression tools are funny things. For beginners, they can be confusing affairs with a bewildering number of file formats, many of which are only supported by specific programs. For more advanced users, finding a compression tool that means more demanding requirements can be tricky. In many homes, a computer is used by several people, which means there are likely to be multiple skill levels to cater to. This is where Hamster Free ZIP Archiver can help.
With EIGHT, you don't have to wait for Windows 8
Fire up your copy of Firefox and what are you greeted by? The last tabs you had open? A blank page? The Google search page? All of these are useful options, but EIGHT offers something a little different. It is basically a browser start page, in itself nothing new, but it takes inspiration from the look of Windows 8, giving your browser a clean and uncluttered feel while providing access to useful links.
Out of the box, EIGHT includes a series of tiles that link to various popular web sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google et al, as well as a search field. But no such tool is going to prove too popular if it cannot be customized -- one size rarely fits all, after all. Thankfully, providing you are happy to get your hands dirty in a little (albeit simple) coding, EIGHT can be tweaked and customized in whatever way you like.
When Google Maps isn't enough, there's Ortelius
If a project you are working on requires a map to be created, you may be stumped as to where to start. Sure, it's possible to knock something together based on Google Maps, but what about if you need a blank map or want to display detail and information other than what can be provided by Google or other online mapping services? You could turn to using clipart, but this is often far from ideal. Ortelius may well be the app you have been looking for.
Ortelius is a Mac based cartography application that can be used to create any type of map imaginable. The app includes a huge number of royalty-free vector maps, meaning they can be scaled up without any loss of quality. Off course, no map would be complete without a selection of symbols, and this is something Ortelius has in spades. There are a wide range of common mapping symbols available that can be used to highlight all sorts of landmarks and you always have the option of using customizable shapes if you are unable to find something suitable.
Sofia Elizabella's Bio
Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson is a queer, transgender journalist based in Poland. She has been writing about technology for more than two decades, and after years working for magazines, her writing moved online. She is fueled by literature, music, nature, and vegetables. You can find her on Bluesky and Mastodon. If you like what you read, you can Buy her a Coffee!
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