Watermark Utility- Software for personal use

Well, this time in my blog, I just came into a problem in my newly built company, we had around 100's of images from my client that needed to be uploaded in their official website as well as FB Page. So, they needed to have a logo watermark on each of their event's pics before being uploaded on the internet. So, just to help my Designer and Social Marketing Expert, I made a small utility that can add the watermark to images.

So here's providing a link to free download this utility. It's simple, light weight, free for personal or commercial use. Need the source?? Contact me anytime. :)

Documentation

1.  Process Selection: Select “File” if you want to watermark just one file. If you want to apply watermark multiple images, copy them in one folder, and select “Batch-Folder” option for multiple files.
2. Select File: This will be enabled only if you have selected “File” option in section 1. Select the file by clicking the “…” button. The address of the file will be displayed in the text area above. DO NOT change the text area or program may crash.
3. Select Folder: This will be enabled only if you have selected “Batch-Folder” option in section 1. Select the folder in which your images are kept using “...” button. The software will automatically search for images in the folder. So, if you have some other files other than images, it won’t affect the functionality of the software. Also, the program will search for images just at the root of the given path. The address of the folder will be displayed in the text area on the right. DO NOT change the text area or program may crash.
4. Select Watermark: Select the watermark PNG image which needs to be applied on the image/s. Select the file using “…” button. The address of the file will be displayed in the text area above. DO NOT change the text area or program may crash.
5. Watermark Location: Select the location of the watermark in the image.
6. Apply Watermark: Click on the button to start the process of watermarking. Initially, it will ask for the location to save the converted file/s. If one file is converted, the file will be renamed to watermark.png. For batch-folder, the files will be stored as watermark_1.png, watermark_2.png and so on. Please note that the program will over-write the image if any available at the location with same name. After successful completion of task, the program will show a dialog box as “successfully converted!”. 

Download Link:Download Here!

Note: The software is virusfree... Be assured. It's made and actually being used by me. For any issues, please contact me at yours.akshit@gmail.com

PS: I love programming small utilities, even for free, So, if you need some more, you can contact me. Happy To Help.

EDIT: The Link has been updated and now lets you to download setup.exe and .msi files too. Sorry if you were not able to install the file earlier.

10 reasons to choose open source programs than premium softwares

We are now in the world where the two software markets stand before the customer. One that is flashy, may be colorful, filled with people who work day and night for money to provide you software as per your requirement at rates with literally NO range set. You may get the same functioned software in a wide range, all depending upon the gloss and the Brand Names of the software providers. Examples... Really needed? anyways, coming back to the other community, which may not have much good visuals as the latter. But they are lively, happy to help always! You may compare the scenes with your Official Get-together and a friend's party!

Open Source applications have now gained much popularity due to high rates of software by the Industry Giants. So, here presenting 10 reasons to select Open Source than Premium softwares!

1. They are Free!

This is the most attractive feature of open source application. They are free! So, if you want to do a cost cutting in your company or at home while setting up the computer systems, go for Open Source! They save you much!

2. No Piracy issues!

Why would you make a pirated copy of a software when you know that is is free of cost! Thus! no more issues and guilts of using a pirated software. You can freely and happily use the software!

3. A BIG community to help

Well this has been the best among all. Personally, I have been to many issues using Windows. When I queried on their official site, answers.microsoft.com, I have never ever got the solution from their official person. Instead, some geek would go by my forum post and suggest me the solution! But in case of Open Source, the community is full of millions of Geeks!!! They will help you out until you come up to your solution. My personal experience showed replies from the users within seconds. It looks good when someone actually cares for you. :) 

4. Customizable

You can customize the open source software to as much as you want! Examples needed? Take Chrome Browser! It is open source, and you can create themes and various apps for chrome to make your browsing experience the best ever.

5.Extensible

The open Source application you just downloaded is just a stock application. Almost every open source application provides plugins that can make your software work even more than you can think of.

 My personal example: I use Google Drive to save my data and actually feel hard to work on the online office software by Google. So, I had to download the file, edit it on my Office software and then re-upload it. Then I found a plugin for open-office (an open source alternative for MS Office) http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/ooo2gd that can directly pick my files from drive, open it on my local PC and then save it again online! I don't know whether MS has launched this feature in it's new versions of Office yet or not. But this plugin was available for Open Office since 2007!

6. Security

The perfect example: Linux! The best operating system made by mankind ever! The open source applications are built by thousands of developers. So, if any developer found a bug or security loophole, he will fix it up and will update the app ASAP. N not just the developer, if you found any loophole, just let them know, you will get the patch within next update or even in some days, depending how critical the issue is!

7. Quality

The open source app is made by the professionals and the users like you! And that too, in thousands of numbers. So, one person may miss some quality check, ok even five persons may never notice that thing, but when it comes to 100s of 1000s of  developers, ranging from newbies to ultra-experienced ones too, you can never even think of quality mishandling! 

8. Made with a good aim.

Now that's actually a good reason. The open source application is made just with one purpose. To serve the community. The developers, query handlers, website administrators, all work for free or on donations made by the users. You can say that it is the kindness of all those people who contributed on the software. It sends a good vibe of helping others. :) You feel glad that someone unknown to you, sitting miles away from you even don't know your language, has helped you, so that you can work effectively. It sends a good message of humanity to the world. :)

9. Interoperability

The open Source applications are platform independent. So, if you were using Open Office on your Windows, and you got a new Mac! Just download the Open-Office software for Mac and here you go! Everything same as you had in Windows. Same favourite software regardless of your Operating systems. What else you need?

10. More features than the premium ones.

Surprisingly this is true. Even stock applications have much more features than those in the premium alternatives. So, this actually means you got a software which gives you more functionality than other and that too for free!

So, still you wanna go for premium application when you have better functioning, more secure, with better support, with absolutely not giving a single penny? Choose Open Source for a better, happy world!

Please Note!: All images in this post are from various sources from the internet. The images does not belong to me!

KompoZer! The Open Web Designer!

I have switched to Ubuntu from Windows from last 6 months so was finding the alternative open-source software packages for Ubuntu which I can use for my development practice. When it came for finding the alternative for THE GREAT DREAMWEAVER, i got a simple, sleek yet powerful software: KompoZer! (Also available for windows, so MS lovers, don't get sad... :) )

Firstly, I thought I have to download the bulky software and may cost me 100s of MBs. But, when I went to Software Centre, it was just around 10 MB! Just imagine, the competitor for Dreamweaver weighing 370 MB of setup file is just 10 MB???

Well that makes KompoZer super light, fast and still, powerful.

I am not a PRO web designer, but I just want to quickly add my styles in the webpages, and I found really easy while making the CSS for the page. It was too easy. Atleast easier than that of Dreamweaver.

The basic misconception for Open-Source is that they are not user friendly at all, because they don't look good. But when I used Kompozer, I found Dreamweaver too complicated software, Open Source software being made by many developers, know how to make the things easy and what is needed instantly. They make such things handy and easy to use.

The only thing Open-Source software don't have is the Ultra fine GUI. Well, you can't expect a coder to make cool and sleek GUIs for you. ;)

Here are some of the features of KompoZer (Copied from their official site):

FTP SITE MANAGER

With KompoZer, all the sites you have specified in your Publishing Settings become browseable in a sidebar. You can get a tree view of a site, la Explorer's folders pane, or a one-dir-only view, la Explorer's directory view. It is also possible to filter files and show all files, or only HTML documents or image files. The browsing area also allows to show for each file its size and the date of last modification.

A NEW COLOR PICKER

KompoZer has a new extended colorpicker, more conformant to what most users are used to. Set a color from its red blue and green components, or its hue saturation and brightness. Or just use your mouse to pick up the color you want.

TABS!

One of Mozilla Firefox's killer features is now available in KompoZer! Have one window only on your screen and edit several documents at once, each document having its own Undo/Redo stack! Just glance at the tabs to know if a document needs to be saved or not!

CSS EDITOR

Create stylesheets easily and manage the styles attached to your documents. You can see your style settings applied '"live" to the document you're editing.

A DASH OF STYLE(S)

With KompoZer, right-click on any element in the hierarchical toolbar at the bottom of the window and set directly its style properties.

CUSTOMIZABLE TOOLBARS

Just customize your toolbar and show only the buttons you want/need.

FORMS

Take advantage from a XUL-based UI to edit all your forms, and edit all your form elements.

CLEANER MARKUP

KompoZer contains some machinery to get rid of most of those annoying <br>. Combined with the ability to call W3C's HTML validator from within KompoZer you'll make valid, clean documents.

XFN

When you create a new link to an external resource, or when you edit an existing link, you can now add XHTML Friends Network information to say that the owner of that resource is someone you know and trust.

VISIBLE MARKS

In a complex page layout, you often need to see visible carriage returns and block borders. KompoZer can now do that for you. And of course, everything is controlled by a CSS stylesheet so you can customize those marks and replace them by your own.

TABLE/CELL RESIZING RULERS

On the left and top side of the opened tab you will find the convenient table resizing rulers which will help you easily adjust the size of rows and columns in any table in the web page you design.

AUTOMATED SPELLCHECKER

The integrated in-line spellchecker will underline all misspelled words as you type to ensure correct spelling throughout the entire web page.

The con for the software? Well, every open-source software has it. (Even Premium softwares too E.g. Windows Vista!!! ;) ) Bugs and Error Handling!

Still, if you are looking to use some software that you can use commercially without worrying about piracy, Open-source has an answer for you!

Happy Coding!! :) :) :)

Yours, Akshit :)

How to make android AVM load faster

Well, Me n my Big Bro were just cruising through the colorful flying thoughts going from our minds, I just said, I wanna try Android programming. "Well.... Go n Try!!!" He just replied casually as he usually do. Because he knows me well, all my dreams go till 2-3 weeks. But this time, I got serious,

Well... Got all the required stuffs. Downloaded ADT pack from Android's developer's site, got O'Reilly's "Head First Android Programming" book. (Personally speaking, I like Head First series when it comes to learn new things.) With all the so-called WEAPONS!! I started ADT and coded my first "Hello World" App in android, configured AVT's.

Now came the turn of android programmer's biggest nightmare! The Emulator started to load! 

Ok! I was knowing it will take time. I went here n there, had water, then had my lunch, n then stroll at balcony! After Half an hour... Still the same Android Screen!!!!

I shutted it down, browsed Google for the problem, found that my configuration was toooooo...... low for the AVD.

Well, my system's configuration (Don't Laugh Please after reading.. It hurts!!)

Mother Board: Intel 945

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz

RAM: 2 GB DDR2

OS: Ubuntu 12.04

I found people crying for the same issues with even Quad-Core processors! Well, finally, I found the solution at this link in an answer by Shrikant!

In order to make your AVD fast to load and so your app, just expand it's heap memory!

Here's how I did.

1. Go to "Window --> Android Virtual Device Manager"

2. Select your already made AVD and click on "Edit..."

3. You will get the "Edit Android Virtual Device" window. In that screen, change the "VM Heap" size (as highlighted) to larger value. 512 recommended, you can choose more if you have bigger RAM's on your PC. Click OK and close AVD Manager window.

That's it!!! Even on the outdated PC's like me, It worked well, and on my system, AVD now gets loaded in a minute!

Will share more hidden tips as soon as I get them through

Till then, Happy Android Programming!

Yours, Akshit :)

BYOD in schools?

I was just checking out my mails and found a news from TechGig that schools are now encouraging students to bring their gadgets to schools (Click here to read news).

Earlier, I was in e-learning company that brought top technologies to the classroom. I have went to schools that made students to bring laptops to classes. Imagine a classroom where the bulky school-bags will be transformed to tab-bags, pencils will be converted to just fingers on the touch screens. "How to handle the tab" will be added as a course-ware in the schools.

But again, is this change worth doing? I just remembered an advertisement of iPad that has actually shown the things we will miss when we use tabs and gadgets in our daily lives.

 

(Video credits to original uploaders @ youtube.com)

But, do you think that in many developing countries like India, parents can afford their kids to buy a tablet for their kids as apart of their curriculum. The gadgets may release the load from the child's shoulders but will increase the expenses of a common man. Tab purchase, Internet charges for homework, School charges for WiFi, educational course-wares, etc. Although no-bags-to-school may have become reality from dream to Indian students, but providing the facilities to their kids may become a nightmare for the common-man of India.

This is not just one issue. A tab or any smart gadget is actually power-packed device which is too loaded to be handled by the kids. The world is already suffering from cyber crimes like phishing, hacks and even child-pornographies. Giving gadgets to the kids is just like you handed a loaded gun at the hands of a monkey. You never know, where they will use that.

Personally I feel that the gadgets are not a kid-thing until they are mature enough to understand the ethical use of it. This initiative by certain Rich-Cream schools like DPS, GD Goenka, Millennium Schools, etc. may give a less-productive and more-destructive results. We are on the risks for our future e-enabled generations.

Technology: Free OR Paid Version??

Last night I was randomly writing about all the things which we get from our life. The things which are free and actually priceless. Same is for Technology! We are using many paid things while using technology. But knowingly, unknowingly we use many essential technologies which are free and and the base of each and everything. Some of the best technologies we get for free:

• C/C++: One of the oldest programming language. It is considered as the base of today's computer. Major Operating Systems like Microsoft's Windows, Apple's Mac OS and Linux have many main parts made in C/C++. Still today, while programming for some core components in windows, we need to make the code in C/C++.
• Java: The most secure language ever made is an Open Source language. It is also the favourite language of more than 50% of the programmers and coders. :)
• Linux (Ubuntu): One of the most secure Operating System. Personally speaking, I love Ubuntu. It shows the real power of contribution to the cyber world. Also, it gives a new version almost every 6 months. Much better, secure and lighter than Microsoft's heavy paid Windows.
• Android: The fastest growing mobile operating system is Open Source. It also resulted in steep drop of mobile and tabs prices in all over the world. Now, companies like Datawind claim their Android powered tabs to be as cheap as Rs. 1,500!
• Open Source Market: You can get open source Application replacement of ANY costly software available in the market. Thanks to Open Source programmers! Though they are not so user friendly when compared to paid ones, but when it comes to costs (if you oppose piracy, obviously) you have to manage with them.

There are many such examples which can prove that technologies, when given for free, can create wonders...

So, I just have a question in my mind, whether the software should be made by taking the usage in mind or the profit?

Before closing this blog page, just imagine once, the world where you just have to pay for your hardware... Rest all.. is customized according to you, for you, by you! And you get it all, for free. From A to Z...

If you read this, please write your comments  and do let me know your thoughts on the same, whether it should be free? Or not??

Have a Great Day!

Bringing change. Necessary or useless?

Image from: http://teacherstraining.com.au

We always use to complain that the current system is not going good. Not good? Are you sure? Ok? Then let's change it... But when it gets changed, Everyone feels a severe pain. No one wants to change the system actually. Everyone just like to complain about it.

Image from: educomp.com

Giving an example: I work in a company which has actually changed the way of teaching and learning. Moreover, the place where I was placed is a school with a unique style of teaching methodologies. The teachers get a really good way to teach the students. Or I should say in a realistic and creative manner. It was the best plan I have ever seen. But, I must say, teachers were not at all happy with that. The activities through which the teachers have to teach the children are actually very creative and make a nice relationship of teacher and student. But for teachers, it is a headache.

image from: http://jetsetlife.tv

Moving back to history, when computers were introduced in India, everyone in the country opposed the idea of using computers. Reason: Fear of replacement of the people from job. But today, India is one of the biggest IT hub in the world.

image from: masterfile.com

So, where are we missing? Why is it so that people need a change, but when the change is given, they complain about it and believe that earlier one was far better. Is it really so or just our human nature?

I think that we humans actually feel dumb in front of new technology; or change, and lack of proper understanding on how it can help us makes us feel uncomfortable with the new change.

Second reason may be the human nature of un-satisfaction. we are never satisfied with what we actually have. Everything looks beautiful just till the time we don't have it. As soon as we get it, we just say it was not as expected.

The only solution to this problem is proper training and a practical manual (Who read the manual books???) when we actually bring the change. If you thinking to have change, first get a full-on training of it, analyze it on how can it may help you in the current situation. Then, just go for it like you never had the earlier option.

Changes are necessary to bring another change. A thing that does not change is a dead thing. So guys, if you felt anytime that we just threw an option of change while reading this blog post, just think over it again... analyze it, and bring it on baby! You will feel better only when you immerse in it.

Anything without a change is useless!

(Just my random thoughts!!)