Saturday, April 16, 2011
How to Improve Your Traffic In Your Blog
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Top 8 Video Editing Software & Online Free Tools
The rise of YouTube and other popular video sharing sites have ensured that video editing doesn’t remain a super-geeky thing. Don’t be surprised if you catch your 9 year old sprucing up the video of her puppy using a video editing tool before uploading it to YouTube. With the kind of free video editing software available at your disposal now, it’s not at all difficult to edit and create great videos.
The following list talks about 8 such tools that can help you edit, add affects and do much more with your videos. Both desktop software and online tools are included. Check them out.
Windows Live Movie Maker
Windows Live Movie Maker – that comes as a part of Windows Live Essentials suite – is a powerful and feature-rich video editing software by Microsoft. You can edit videos, audio, add all kinds of effects, add photos directly from Windows Live Photo Gallery and do much more. There’s also an interesting feature called the AutoMovie theme that lets you quickly choose photos and videos and then automatically create a movie out of them in no time.
VideoToolBox
VideoToolBox is a pretty impressive online video editing tool that’s free. It can accept video file up to 600 MB in size and has a range of features to cater to all your video editing needs. It also has a video recorder tool. We’ve covered it here – VideoToolBox: Online Video Editor to Convert, Crop, Merge & Split Video Files.
iMovie
iMovie is Apple’s flagship movie making software that comes bundled with the iLife suite for Macs. It has an impressive array of features including People finder, a feature that can find faces in the video. You can also create quick trailers of your videos with iMovie.
Wax
Wax is an advanced video editing tool that can add 2D and 3D effects to your videos apart from doing various other kinds of video editing tasks. It is Windows only, and also comes as a plugin to popular (and costly) video editing software like Sony Vegas Pro and Adobe Premiere. So, if you are a professional user, you too could make use of this tool.
Stupeflix
Stupeflix is a nice online video editing tool that can help you create quick videos out of the images you upload by adding some pretty cool effects. You can also pull in the images from Flickr, Facebook or Picasa accounts. The free account limits the videos to 1 min, but that’s usually enough if you are looking to create something short and sweet. Read more here – Stupeflix is a Powerful Tool to Make and Edit Videos Online.
AVITrimmer
If you are looking for a simple, no-frills video editing tool to edit your AVI or MKV files then you might want to check out AVITrimmer. This tool can trim your AVI or MKV files without any loss in the quality (no encoding or decoding is involved).
JayCut
JayCut is a free online video editor that has an amazing number of features that is a bit surprising for a web based editing tool to have. The good thing about JayCut is that even beginners can quickly understand its interface and get started with the video editing process.
Avidemux
Linux users, if you had been feeling left out so far, Avidemux should cheer you up (of course you could go with the online tools mentioned above too). We mentioned Avidemux before in our list of tools to rip audio from video. It’s not incredibly feature-rich but has enough to get the job done.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Top 10 Things Every Blogging Needs!
Being a professional blogger isn’t as simple as waking up one morning and stating, “I am a blogger, look out world!” Like any other discipline or endeavour, being a successful blogger means that you have to take the job seriously. That means working with dedication, planning and forethought. Having the right tools is an essential part of being a blogger, as you need the right tools in order to get the job done.
1. Computer or Laptop: There is no doubt one of the key tools of the modern journalist and the pro blogger is the computer. After all, the computer has become the informational link to the world. Blogging is all about information and staying current with what is happening in the world around us. This means that your computer is an essential tool in your blogging toolkit. While it is not necessary to have a top of the line gaming computer, you should have one that can get the job done or you will lose hours and hours on productivity. Making sure that you have a quality anti-virus program and firewall might be savvy addition as well.
2. Top-Notch Monitor: A reasonably large high quality monitor is an essential tool not just for bloggers, but also for anyone spending a lot of time at the computer. Eyestrain can greatly impair your productivity and make working nothing short of unpleasant. Spending a little extra money for a quality monitor is a savvy move.
3. Broadband Access: It should come as no surprise that access to a broadband connection is essential for blogging. While some people do still use dial-up Internet, you will experience major setbacks if you don’t have access to a fast connection. If you are using a laptop computer, be sure that you have a 3G dongle device for your mobile broadband access.
4. The Smartphone: A good smartphone is an absolute essential for the blogger. This is particularly true if you have one with a good deal of functionality and apps. A smartphone can function something like a modern Swiss army knife and may include GPS, recording capability, note taking capability, as well as essential features such as a camera and video capability. Also a smartphone allows you to connect to the Internet whenever you like from virtually wherever you like. This can prove invaluable for any number of important reasons. Of course, your trusted smartphone also functions as a phone too! All of these factors combine to make the smartphone a simply essential tool.
5. The Notebook or Notepad: Sure a notebook or notepad might be a bit “old school,” but you never have to worry about the battery on your notepad running out! This makes the time honoured, battled tested notepad something of a practical real world essential. It is something that you should not be without for quickly jotting down ideas on good old-fashioned paper.
6. Pens, Pens and More Pens: Pens are always a must for the blogger. Not all note taking is digital... at least not yet.
7. A Good Desk: Having a good desk might seem like a no-brainer, but if you are going to be spending hours upon hours writing, you need to keep the importance of a good desk in mind. A good desk will also help keep you organised and enhance your productivity.
8. The Chair: A comfortable chair, one that you can spend hours in, is probably even more important than having a good desk. After all, back problems will quickly end your workday.
9. A Bookcase: You never know when you might want to include a reference to a book in your blogging endeavours. A bookcase is important for staying organised. Don’t skip this inexpensive item that is essential for keeping books in order.
10. A Quality Keyboard: Lots of blogging means lots of typing. This makes an investment in a comfortable keyboard a must. Don’t just assume that the keyboard you received with your computer is adequate.
Monday, January 31, 2011
How To Use Keyboard Shortcuts To Launch Windows Application Quickly
n this article we’ll show you how to setup keywords to open almost anything in Windows using keywords. Believe me, this could go a long long way in decreasing the time you spent opening programs, files and folders.
Lets see how we can get this done. The technique works in all versions of Windows starting from XP.
Just a small note before we begin – there are many steps involved so stay with me till the end. It’ll be worth it I assure you.
Step 1. Create a Shortcuts folder. I placed mine in my Dropbox folder to keep my shortcuts synchronized across all my PC’s.
Step 2. Open this folder and copy the path to your clipboard (CTRL+C).
Step 3. Open System Properties, by going Start -> Run (WIN+R) and typing sysdm.cpl in the prompt that appears.
Step 4. In System Properties, click on the Advanced tab then on Environment Variables.
Step 5. Find the Path, variable under System variables and click Edit.
Step 6. Add a semi-colon (;) to the end of the Variable value.
Step 7. Then paste (CTRL+V) the path to the shortcuts folder after the semi-colon.
You should now have something like.
…WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Users\Marc\Documents\My Dropbox\Apps\!Shortcuts
Click OK until all the windows are closed.
Step 8. Open your shortcuts folder in Windows Explorer and create a shortcut to it. You can do this by dragging the icon in the address bar down to the folder.
Step 9. Rename it to something that is easy to remember.
Step 10. Open another Windows Explorer window and navigate to the folder of a program that you would like to create a shortcut to. Drag the .exe to your shortcuts folder by holding CTRL+Shift and the Left Mouse Button.
Step 11. Rename it to something that is easy to remember.
That’s it! Now you can launch your your programs from the run prompt using the keywords that you set up. Just go WIN+R and type in your keyword.
If you need to create more shortcuts you can also open that folder using the keyword that you specified.
You can create shortcuts to almost anything you want. Some other examples of things you may want to create shortcuts to include:
- Control Panel items
- Fonts
- Region and Language
- Uninstall Programs
- Network Adapters
- Drives and folders
- C drive
- My Pictures
- My Documents
- Scripts (.bat files)
- Shutdown/Restart your computer
- Change your IP address
Hope this trick makes you more productive in your day-to-day computer (Windows to be precise) usage.
Do you have other ways of accessing your applications and folders quickly? Or maybe you have a special script which you use frequently. If so, share them with us in the comments.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tips For How To Create Flash Header
A Flash header can really liven up your blog! Flash headers can be exciting, dynamic, full of colors and fun. They really make your blog come to life. An example of this can be found here.
I’ll start with a new Blogger account and walk you through the steps of adding a Flash header. First, open up Blogger:
As you can see this is a new account. The first thing we’re going to do is click on the Edit HTML link:
If you’re working on a new blog (which I recommend so you can experiment all you want) then you don’t have to worry about backing up your template. If you’re working on an existing template you should back it up first. Click on Download Full Template:
Save your template to your hard drive. Next, click on Expand Widget Template:
Scroll down until you see this line of code (Tip: if you’re on Firefox hit Ctrl + F; then type in maxwidgets.Firefox will automatically take you to the code you see below):
Change maxwidgets to ’2′ and showaddelement to ‘yes’:
Save the template:
Next, click on the Page Elements link
You should now see Add a Gadget in the Header section:
Click this link and you should see the Add a Gadget window:
Click on HTML/JavaScript:
Copy the following code and paste it into the Content window:
<object width=”991″ height=”708″>
<param value=”flash_header.swf” name=”movie”/>
<embed width=”991″ src=”http://nongeekbooks.com/flash_header.swf”
height=”708″>
</embed>
</object>
The Content window should now look like this:
On the third line you’ll see that the Flash file is located at: www.nongeektutorials.com/flash_header.swf. So what I have done is create a Flash file, then I uploaded it to the nongeekbooks.com server. The name of the flash file is: flash_header.swf. If you have your own hosting account you simply need to upload your Flash file to the server. If you don’t have your own server then you can click here. At this link you’ll find plenty of free servers where you can upload your Flash file.
Also, when you create your own Flash file, your width and height will probably be different than mine. So make sure you change the dimensions on the code:
You’ll also have to edit the web address, and name of the Flash file:
When you’re done click on SAVE:
Now, click on the PREVIEW button so you can view the blog
(if you used the above code you’ll be seeing my sample Flash header):
You should now see the sample Flash header above your blog:
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Remove Search Bar From Blogger | Remove the Blogger Banner
To hide the Blogger Navbar :
1- Log in to blogger
2- On your Dashboard, select Layout. This will take you to the Template tab. Click Edit HTML. Under the Edit Template section you will see you blog's HTML.
3- Type the CSS definition in the top of the template code:
Related Keywords:
Remove Navbar, How to remove Search Bar from blogger, how to remove banner, how to hide seardh bar from blogger, how to delete search bar from blogger, how to delete banner from blogger, how to hide navbar, how to remove blogger banner
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Bottom Wrapper Widget In Blogger
You have seen the three wrapper widget in many modified templates. It is very useful in blogging platform. You can add html and javascript gadgets like recent posts, recent articles, popular posts or whatever you like. It is better to add gadgets in sidebar. But it's more better to keep widget in bottom of the page.
As it is bottom of the page, readers can read your full article first and widget in last. Where widgets are not much important your post. See the following example:
You can add this widget by following the steps.
First Log in to your Blog
Go to Layout -> Edit Html Tabs.
Now search for these code:
<div id='footer-wrapper'>
<b:section class='footer' id='footer'/>
</div>
</div></div>
Paste your code here.
And paste the below code as show above:
<div id='lower'>
<div id='lower-wrapper'>
<div id='lowerbar-wrapper'>
<b:section class='lowerbar' id='lowerbar1' preferred='yes'>
<b:widget id='HTML10' locked='false' title='Recent Posts' type='HTML'>
<b:includable id='main'>
<!-- only display title if it's non-empty -->
<b:if cond='data:title != ""'>
<h2 class='title'><data:title/></h2>
</b:if>
<div class='widget-content'>
<data:content/>
</div>
<b:include name='quickedit'/>
</b:includable>
</b:widget>
</b:section>
</div>
<div id='lowerbar-wrapper'>
<b:section class='lowerbar' id='lowerbar2' preferred='yes'>
<b:widget id='HTML2' locked='false' title='Recent Posts' type='HTML'>
<b:includable id='main'>
<!-- only display title if it's non-empty -->
<b:if cond='data:title != ""'>
<h2 class='title'><data:title/></h2>
</b:if>
<div class='widget-content'>
<data:content/>
</div>
<b:include name='quickedit'/>
</b:includable>
</b:widget>
</b:section>
</div>
<div id='lowerbar-wrapper'>
<b:section class='lowerbar' id='lowerbar3' preferred='yes'>
<b:widget id='Text2' locked='false' title='Recent Comments' type='Text'>
<b:includable id='main'>
<!-- only display title if it's non-empty -->
<b:if cond='data:title != ""'>
<h2 class='title'><data:title/></h2>
</b:if>
<div class='widget-content'>
<data:content/>
</div>
<b:include name='quickedit'/>
</b:includable>
</b:widget>
</b:section>
</div>
<div style='clear: both;'/>
</div> </div>
If you get some problems, you have to add the CSS code.
Now, find ]]></b:skin>
Paste the following code before ]]></b:skin>
#lower {
margin:auto;
padding: 0px 0px 20px 0px;
width: 100%;
background:#F6F6F6;
}
#lower-wrapper {
margin:auto;
padding: 30px 0px 20px 0px;
width: 960px;
}
#lowerbar-wrapper {
border:1px solid #DEDEDE;
background:#FFFFFF;
float: left;
margin: 0px 5px auto;
padding-bottom: 20px;
width: 32%;
text-align: justify;
font-size:100%;
line-height: 1.6em;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}
.lowerbar {margin: 0; padding: 0;}
.lowerbar .widget {margin: 0; padding: 10px 20px 0px 20px;}
.lowerbar h2 {
margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;
padding: 6px 0px 10px 6px;
background: #7AA1C3;
text-align: left;
color:#FFF;
font-weight: normal;
font-size:16px;
}
.lowerbar ul {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
list-style-type: none;
}
.lowerbar li {
margin: 0px 0px 2px 0px;
padding: 0px 0px 1px 0px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
}
.lowerbar a {color: #698CAB; text-decoration: none;}
.lowerbar a:hover {text-decoration: underline; color: #B5BFC9;}
.lowerbar a:visited {text-decoration: none; color: #B5BFC9;}
You can customize the CSS code as your like and Save The Template. And you're Done!
See in the layout section. You can find three new advanced 'Ad a Gadget'. Now add whatever you like!
Top Commentators Widget To Blogger
This widget will decide the top commentators from the latest 5000 comments to your blog.But your blog hasn't such as more comments you can add that Top Commentators Widget instead of this one.It will decide the top commentators from the latest 500 comments.
However your blog have more than 500 comments add this widget:
1.Log in to your dashboard--> layout- ->Page Elements
2.Click on 'Add a Gadget' on the sidebar.
3.Select 'HTML/Javascript' and add the code given below and click save.
Copy the HTML Code and paste it your blog:
script type="text/javascript">
function pipeCallback(obj) {
document.write('<ol>');
var i;
for (i = 0; i < obj.count ; i++)
{
var href = "'" + obj.value.items[i].link + "'";
if(obj.value.items[i].link == "")
var item ="<li>" + obj.value.items[i].title + "</li>";
else
var item = "<li>" + "<a href=" + href + ">" + obj.value.items[i].title + "</a> </li>";
document.write(item);
}
document.write('</ol>');
}
</script>
<script src="http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.run?_render=json&_
callback=pipeCallback&_id=26191599715c07fbeaa491a5729e478b&url=http%3A%2F%2Fyourblog.blogspot.com&num=10&filter=" type="text/javascript">
</script>
Note : Remember to replace yourblog with your blog name.Do not include http://
You are done.
Auto Scrolling (Marquee) Widget For Recent Posts
This post explains how to add auto scrolling (marquee) Blogger recent posts in your blog which looks cool in your blogspot blog. This is similar to display recent posts in your side bar, but this will have marquee effect in this widget. You can scroll recent posts horizontally or vertically according to your need.
Steps to add auto Scrolling HTML code:
- First sign in your Blogger dashboard
- Go to Layout > Add Gadget > Add HTML/Javascript
- Copy the HTML code, Copy and paste in blogger HTML/Javascript window.
Here The HTML Code For Auto Scrolling (Marquee)
<script style="text/javascript" src="http://digitalgupshup.110mb.com/DigitalGupshup_scrolling_blogger_posts.js"> </script><script style="text/javascript"> var
nMaxPosts = 10;
var sBgColor; var nWidth;
var nScrollDelay = 175; var sDirection="left";
var sOpenLinkLocation="N";
var sBulletChar="•"; </script>
<script style="text/javascript" src="http://yourblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=json-in-script&callback=RecentPostsScrollerv2"> </script>
Change the values in the HTML code as per your requirement (Default values are good, but change http://yourblog.blogspot to your blog address compulsary):
nMaxPosts = 10; (Number of posts you want to display)
var nScrollDelay = 175; (Speed of the scrolling text, change the number and increase or decrease the speed)
var sDirection=”left” (left for scrolling horizontally and up for scrolling verically)
Also change http://yourblog.blogspot.com to your blog address in the HTML code.
Thats all, now enjoy the scrolling widget in your blog. Ant doubts? ask via comments..
