Category: [c] Software we like

Amazing Lightroom–must have for Trips

Sawadee Khrap

Adobe’s Lightroom is a must have program for any photographer – or traveler who takes photos for that matter.Capture  And if your camera doesn’t have a built in Geo Tracker – then you can use your smart phone to record the tracklog and have Lightroom sync the photos.

I used GPS Essentials (free) with my Galaxy II to record my trip today and took 84 images with the Canon D7 (no GPS) around Pattaya Beach and Walking Street – loaded the images and tracklog into Lightroom and above is the results – in blue is my route and each of the photos have been set to the correct location automatically. – and very accurate too.

The route, shown in blue, also shows the car route I used to get there and back ( no images tagged).   I store the tracklog in the same directory as the original images, so I now have a permanent record of the trip.

Here is a      *******  SLIDESHOW *******  of some of the images taken during the walk.

I am going to plan more excursions and will use this system to record each trip – and put a copy, like above, in each slideshow –

GREAT – try it, for the traveler it’s invaluable.

Ciao

A must-have for Photoshop users

Sawadee Khrap

tumasoftPresetViewerHere is a “MUST HAVE” program for Photoshop users.  TumaSoft Preset Vewier.  I have a tremendous collection of brushes, shapes, patterns, clipart, and styles and I have been finding it almost impossible to remember what I have  – each time I have to sift through the entire collection by loading them in Photoshop one by one and viewing as little icon images -   what a bitch

Come to the rescue TumaSoft.   Their viewer allows me to view off-line, in extremely large size all my collection before I load them into Photoshop.  I can also create new collections, export brushes as PNG images, search my clipart, etc.  A great program.   If your serious about Photoshop you owe it to yourself to check out this helper.  I bought the version pictured above but they also have a Adobe AIR version.

UPDATE:  Support and service was there – they also allowed me to upgrade (w/o additional charge) to Breeze.  Breeze was released just before CS6 came out so it doesn’t know specific CS6 brushes, update later for this – [ Preset Viewer 2.1 was released before CS5 so has a limited brush capability for the new ones.]   I think Breeze’s GUI is more attractive and easier to work with – Get this one.

Ciao

Extabit– Great Service

Sawadee Khrap

It’s not very often that I want to promote a paid subscription account  BUT  EXTABIT  File Storage Site is an exception.  I joined as a Premium Account Member and everything started out OK – but shortly after my u-d/l speed dropped to almost NIL – I sent them a request for service and this was their reply:

The UL/DL speed is slow due to the Extabit.com popularity growth . The whole team is working hard on improving the situation.  We are very sorry for all the inconveniences caused and as compensation we  offer you 1 month of free premium account usage (if it’s ok with you, then let us know)

And by God, a few days later I was back up to speed – now that’s service and looking after your customers.  Check them out.

Ciao

Lytro — Light Field Camera

Sawadee Khrap

Thanks Brian for letting me know about this new technology.  Check out this website for Lytro Cameras.  Looks great – but how much will it cost ???.  I have mine reserved, love the ability to take a photo in low-light and at fast speed – we will see. Just click on the area you would like to see in focus – anywhere in the photo – Amazing

Ciao

Thai2English website

Sawadee Krap

Here is one of the most useful web-sites I have found, especially since I am having so much trouble speaking and learning Thai.

Thai2English

Of course a better way is to purchase the program and have it on the computer all the time – no Internet needed and much, much faster.  But if you only occasionally need to look-up the Thai meaning or translate Thai into English – then the online version will do just fine.   Check it out.   http://www.thai2english.com/online/

Ciao

Sysinternals – must have for your computer

Sawadee Khrap

MS-SysinternalsProcessExplorer

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some utilities that you must have.  FREE from Microsoft, they really let you see what is happening in your computer.  SYSinternals

Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out. Process Explorer shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded. 

The Process Explorer display consists of two sub-windows. The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you’ll see the handles that the process selected in the top window has opened; if Process Explorer is in DLL mode you’ll see the DLLs and memory-mapped files that the process has loaded. Process Explorer also has a powerful search capability that will quickly show you which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs loaded.

And also get  Autoruns for Windows v9.51 – to be able to see exactly what is loaded in your system.

Ciao

Some Windows Tips

Sawadee Khrap

HpDellNividia

Did you purchase a Dell or HP Notebook ?

Having motherboard problems ?  Read this article:

Dell and HP balk at replacing bad Nvidia chip

or   More reasons to postpone that upgrade to IE 8

WindowSecertsIf you are not a Windows Secrets subscriber yet – you should be – This is a great subscription to have coming. lots of great tips, articles and suggestions.

 

Try it  – It’s FREE version will alert you to what’s in the paid subscription.

Ciao

 

Eye Candy

Sawadee Khrap

Want to check out the lovely Thai boys before you plan your visit – or to make contact before your trip to have somone meet you at the airport – or just enjoy some lovely eye-candy.

You need to check out “CamFrog”.Camfrog  

Great free web-cam program that is a major hit in Thailand.  I got the Pro version to allow more than one cam picture on the screen at the same time and coupled it with “WebCamMax” to control the camera picture.  What a great combination and what great eye candy – has me addicted.  

Nu with The Sims2 and me with CamFrog.  Love it.

Log on and check out the Thailand region – at least 800 boys playing at almost any time – Although CamFrog is based in Dallas, Texas, their main servers but now many more local servers are in Thailand  – makes this the web cam program of choice for gay Thailand.

Check it out and let me know how you like it – get the Pro version to really appreciate the action.

Ciao

Chakka Massage – And did you heard this one?

Sawadee Khrap

CRW_6002I’d like to introduce a friend of ours new massage parlor in Chiang Mai.  Khun Montree Jino (Tree) just opened his new facility  “Chakka Massage” at 13 Soi 1 Sotsuksas Rd.  Phone 053–214–201.  I’ve known Tree for almost 2 years and have Copy of 69had many of his expert massages.  I suffer from a herniated disc in my lower back and Tree’s massages have helped me manage the pain.

I highly recommend him and I am very glad to put an announcement here for his new massage parlor.

CRW_6012Offerings:  by appointment only

  • Aroma Oil Massage
  • Thai Traditional Massage
  • Honey Milk Massage
  • Cumcumber Clay Wrap
  • Mud Clay Wrap
  • Body Scrub
  • Facial Scrub

Pricing ranges from 450 Baht to 1200 Baht.  That’s $12 to $30 US

At the present time his staff consists only of masseurs, future plans include staffing several masseuse.   Every masseur is licensed and personally trained by Tree.  Quality at reasonable prices. Be sure and give it a try when you are in Chiang Mai.

 

 And I almost forgot that I heard a great story at the last Expats meeting.

“A guy was lying in his hospital bed and realized he wasn’t going to last much longer. So he pulled his wife closer to him and whispered in her ear. 

 “Honey, I have something to tell you.  I have been having an affair with your sister for quite some time, but want to you to know that I am very sorry for it.  Will you forgive me.”

And his wife said “Now, Now, I’ve known about it for quite some time and now I forgive you, just lay back quietly and let the poison work.”

Sooooooooooooooo   take heed watch your step.

Ciao

FireFox add-ons

Sawadee Khrap

I have been using Mozilla FireFox for some time now – compared to Microsoft Internet Explorer, it is a sure winner.  Here are several Add-ons I really like:

  • ColorfulTabs – tabs across the top are each in their own color – neat
  • MeasureIt – Draw out a ruler for height & width of any element on screen
  • SwitchProxy – manage several proxy tool
  • VideoDownLoader – Down-loads videos from YouTube, Google, – – – –

And

  • NoScript – Control over Java, JavaScript, and other plugins –

And NoScript is the best of the bunch – It has really blocked some ugly attempts to reek havoc on my machine – and the latest version is really improved –

If you use FireFox – check them out – really nice.

Ciao

 

 

 

R U Using PhotoShop – CS2, CS3 ????

Sawadee Khrap

I just found the best site for excellent PhotoShop actions.  Here you can find  *Free* actions for all kinds of exotic frames and designs, puzzles, Rubik’s-cubes, borders, 3D, boxes and so on.  And they also offer professional commercial versions with almost unlimited modification capabilities.  The best site I’ve found.

PanosFXLOGO

 Check them out !     I’ve been learning how to use them so haven’t been posting lately –  look for some new interesting images in the future.  I intend toi put them to use.

Ciao

Skype calls

Sawadee Khrap

Just got off a 45 min call to my Nephew in San Francisco using Skype – great quality sound – just like he was right next to me – and FREE.  I am really impressed.  Now I have Skype and Yahoo Messenger on most of the time, but I do run in invisible mode as I am not directly in front of the computer all the time.  Send me a chat and I’ll go online –

Get it – You’ll love it

Ciao

Frank