Convert Anything to Everything Online

  

Remember the time we used to download a million different tools to convert .flv movies to .avi or .divx, or convert word document to pdf and vice versa? No less than 6 months ago, my computer was loaded with such different file converter for audio, video, images, documents and archives. I even had apps installed on my phone to do file format conversions. Finally I decided to find an online alternative for this. Something which will convert anything to the target format I need. And YES, I still believe in the internet, because I found www.online-convert.com – Convert media free, fast and online. No software installation needed. All you have to do is Select the Target format, tweak the output file settings, upload the file or choose a file from Dropbox (favorite feature) or the URL of the file you want to convert and it’s done.

Currently free and Ads supported, www.online-convert.com can convert over 168 file types to JPG. With advance settings like frame-rate, bit-rate, cut/trim videos, etc. the video converter works flawlessly. Apart from audio and video www.online-convert.com offers converters for e-books, images, documents, hash and archives. The archive converter does not support .RARs yet, but .7z and .zip are great (another reason not to ever buy WinZip).

A lot different websites like convertonlinefree.com, www.zamzar.com, www.convertfiles.com, media.io offer similar features but only www.convertfiles.com offers comparable diversity of supported file formats.

www.online-convert.com is fast, free and elegant and totally deserves a place on your bookmarks bar ( beside TechMef.com)

Super Sync Sports : Use your phone as a controller

The Best Google Chrome Experiment yet. Google’s Super Sync Sport is a simple sports game and the aim race in different sports – Running, Swimming or cycling. What makes it different? Use of mobile phones as controllers. Upto 4 players can participate in a race, choose adorable characters from a huge roster and Get Set Race!!

Super Sync Sports VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Open Super Sync Sports on Google Chrome or download the Chrome app. Grab your phone(s) or tablet(s) and visit g.co/super. Enter Code to connect to the same session and start playing. Up to four players can join in every race.

Requirements:

• A Computer that can run Google Chrome (Duh!)
• Phone(s)/Tablet(s) (Android 4.0+ and iOS 4.3+) with Google Chrome installed.
• Internet connection on all devices including the computer.

Super Sync Sports uses new browser technologies like the HTML5 audio, CSS3 and Canvas, and the Touch API to recognize the gestures you make on your mobile device and WebSockets to make sure your phone(s) and browser stay in sync similar to Remo Music player.

Super Sync Sports

Super Sync Sports | Web app | Google Chrome WebStore

Z-Type : Type to Shoot

Playing games can improve your hand-eye coordination, stimulate quick thinking and reduce reaction time. A lot of games help you learn how to fly an aircraft or be more social. Z-Type is a HTML5 game that helps you type faster. A simple, 2D, type to shoot game is a better alternative those boring softwares that are suppose to help you type faster. Dominic Zsablewski is a developer/blogger who has created games like Z-type, X-type, Biolab disaster, Drop, etc. All these games can be played on a browser, some have mobile browser compatibility too.

Killing time on Dominic’s webpage is really easy. It’s the place to find a lot of games, good reads and a lot of other stuff for free. Undertaking such projects brings out the potential of HTML5. Developing web apps instead of mobile apps or downloadable content is a better choice, as no one wants to download and install stuff when they get bored. All they have to do is open a web page and start playing.

Follow the Chrome Experiment here.

Z-type X-type | via Dominic Zsablewski

Biolab disaster | Google Play | App Store

Google Play Newsstand : Magnet for everything you love

Recently Google launched a new app for Android called the Google Play Newsstand. It’s a consolidation of Google Currents and Play Magazines with a Cards based UI. Newsstand manages subscriptions of newspapers and magazines directly from Google Play. Unlike standalone apps by newspaper publishers and free content subscription apps like Flipboard and Google Currents, Newsstand offers paid subscriptions for high profile publications too.

The features that make Google Play Newsstand the best newsreader app yet are

• Read Now – Breaking news, trending articles and even subscription recommendations.
• Bookmarks – Offline access for reading articles later similar to Pocket or Instapaper.
• It automatically imports Google Currents and Google Play Magazines subscriptions.
• Automatic tagging each article like “Android” or “Xbox One”. Reading related articles is just one tap on the tag away.
• Full HD support and simple UI

The Offline mode solves the problem Currents had with high data and battery usage. Newsstand widely uses Google’s machine learning in tagging articles and finding newer and more enjoyable subscriptions for you to read.

You can subscribe to TechMef’s RSS feed here.

Google Play Newsstand | Google Play Store via The Verge

Flutter

It has been almost an year since I posted an article about Flutter – an app that lets you control music with hand gestures. I’m re- reviewing Flutter because of two reason : First, Google acquired Flutter and second Flutter now has a Chrome extension that lets you use your webcam to control Netflix, YouTube, Grooveshark and Pandora. With added support to Spotify and Netfilx on Windows and Mac, Flutter’s Desktop app has a few updates too including the ability to control your Powerpoint slideshows. Put your hardware to use now with Flutter.

You can download the Flutter Chrome Extension from Chrome Web Store or by right-clicking on the Flutter icon in the notification tray.

Flutter for Windows

Flutter – Chrome Extension | Chrome Web Store

Flutter | Mac App Store

GPU-Z : Look inside your PC Graphics

has come up with a graphics card information utility tool for Windows users that gives a lot of information about many different parameters of on-board and dedicated graphics of your PC. This lightweight app can access the temperature sensor of your video card, which helps controlling the random overheating or thermal trips. Beside temperature, GPU-Z can measure GPU clocks, load, memory, VDDC required for every over-clocked GPU’s health check and maintenance. As a cherry on the top, it can also measure the number of transistors on your device ( Just to Brag!!)

 

GPU-Z is a freeware that runs on Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 (both 32 and 64 bit versions are supported). For more information visit www.techpowerup.com/gpuz 

GPU-Z | Download link.

‘Google Keep’ or ‘Evernote’

Note taking apps are a major productivity booster. Making To-Do lists, taking notes, making image or voice reminders and syncing them over Web, phone or a tablet helps planning and scheduling your next move. With the rise of cloud services syncing everything over all your devices is easy, but selecting an app to do so is a tough job.

Google has released the Google Keep app for both the Web and Android devices. It's a small step in the right  direction. But the question is Evernote, Microsoft Office OneNote, Any.Do, SpringPad, SimpleNote are already available on the market, so ‘Why Google Keep?’. To start with, I’m a big fan of Google’s developments so far. This might make me a little biased but after using a lot of productivity tools, it comes down to Google Keep or Evernote.

Why to keep ‘Keep’?

I’ve to confess right away that before Google Keep, Evernote was hands-down the best productivity app. But the minimalistic approach is always a WIN. The clutter free look, color coding the notes and the ability to dictate the notes (which are converted to text) are some of the features that I like.

My favorite features: As I visited sites on my phone, I could click a "share" link and save the site, including a preview image and the link, to Google Keep. That makes it a powerful bookmarking tool, even if that functionality only works currently for the mobile app, not the Web app. Also converting lists to checklists and snapping photos right from the app makes highly usable.

Google Keep lets you see all of your notes in a thumbnail view, which makes them easy to organize and find. On an android device, there's also a widget that makes it easy to create a new note or task list, snap a photo, or record a memo. The web app needs a few more changes, but if you are an android user: Keep the Keep.

Why Evernote?

Evernote has nothing to worry about because of the time to release advantage. Evernote is like ‘The Hulk’ of the note keeping Avengers. SHARING NOTES: The one feature that puts Evernote ahead of all. Also adding multiple sound, video clips or images to a single note ( For Keep 1 note = 1 multimedia file). Grouping notes together in different notebooks.

My favorite features: Powerful search that lets you search even in images, text and handwritten notes. Business features like invites, sharing with others, tagging, notebooks and stacks.Apart from all this adding other files like a report to a reminder, keeps stuff integrated under one roof.

Evernote is the most diverse and powerful productivity and note-making app out there. Google Keep is nice and simple, but very limited.

WINNER: Evernote provides users with a powerful note-taking platform, along with customization and infinite capabilities through apps and add-ons. Plus, Evernote's version for businesses is a win too. I might still keep my Keep, because it can do what I need to do, but Evernote is indeed a WINNER here.