I Love Free Software

SongSmith: Music Maker and Song Creation Software
Find Post Office Location with USPS Mobile For Android
Chat in Twitter with Bonfire Chrome Extension
Private SMS And Call App To Block Calls And SMS On Android
Create Facebook Cover With Covercanvas
Social Networking for Movie Lovers: Go Watch It
Learn to Type and Improve Typing Speed with Type Fu
Kingsoft Android Office Reader App To Read MS Office Files On Android
5 Free Android Audio Books Apps
PassMyWill to Create Online Will

SongSmith: Music Maker and Song Creation Software

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 04:00 AM PST

Songsmith is a music maker software, where you can write, sing and create a song all by yourself. For those that like to sing, want to put songs together, but don't play an instrument or know how to write music, there are a number of software options available. Songsmith, from Microsoft Research, is one of those options. With this software installed, all you need is a microphone to create your own songs.

Easy Download and Installation of this music maker

The installation download for this program is pretty big at close to 100MB, but since it's on the Microsoft servers, that download goes pretty quickly with a fast internet connection. Installation is straightforward, but you have no control over whether or not icons are created (they aren't). This means that if you want desktop or quick launch icons, you'll have to create yourself.

Easy to Use and Intuitive User Interface

The program is almost completely wizard-driven, which makes the learning curve very shallow. All of the options have tooltips, which makes understanding what function they perform quite easy. The program comes with a good-sized selection of music types to choose your background instrumentals. Some of these options include rock, classic rock, classic pop, classic California pop, reggae, and salsa. The popular musical styles of today are well represented with a number of hip hop and R&B choices, as well.

Once you choose the musical style, you can choose the tempo. After that, it's time to start singing and recording. The program has a meter near the bottom of the window to let you know if you're singing loud enough, or too loud. You also have visual cues letting you know when each bar begins and ends. This helps you keep tempo with the background instrumentals.

After you've finished recording your song, it's time to mix it. The program allows you to raise, and lower levels of the instruments and your voice getting them to exactly where you want them.

The Drawbacks

The drawbacks I saw with this program aren't numerous, but they are rather significant. The biggest drawback is that this program is trialware, not freeware. Microsoft gives you six hours of actual program usage before you're required to buy it, or it becomes non-functional. The six hours are only counted as actual program usage time, however. This means that if you minimize the program, or bring a different program to the forefront, the timer stops. Even Songsmith is trialware it is fully functional. According to the website you don't gain any functionality from the program by buying it like with many other pieces of trialware software. The price to purchase this software varies by where you live. Those in the United States may buy it for $29.95.

The other drawback to this software is limited export capabilities. Songs that you create are saved in a Songsmith proprietary format. If you want to export them for use in media players, you have two options, Windows Media Audio format (WMA) and WAV, both of which take up quite a bit more space than a Mpeg Layer 3 (MP3) file.

There are also other background instrumentals that you can purchase for the program to increase the types of music you can make with the program. There are three extender packs available. Individually they cost $29, but if you buy all three together, the price is $69 US.

Songsmith is very easy to use and doesn't take long at all to get up to speed. If you're going to spend money on a software package to make music with, you're better off looking elsewhere, like to FruityLoops, in my opinion.

SongSmith: Music Maker and Song Creation Software was originally published at I Love Free Software

Find Post Office Location with USPS Mobile For Android

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST

USPS Mobile is a free Android app to find the nearest post office on Android device. Android Market introduced this app to find post office of US on Android device. This post office locator app to find post office is the awesome app that comes up with great options to search US post offices in an easy way. Also, the app is very fast and provides accurate results of the searched locations for US Post offices. This post office locator app provides an easy and user-friendly interface to find post office, nearest to your current location in US.

USPS Mobile app is an easy to use app and works through a simple internet connection on your Android phone. The app provides you multiple options, which includes, searching of location, search ZIP Codes, find post office, track your delivery status and much more. To find a ZIP Code, just enter your address, city name, state and the app will show you the exact area ZIP code including the code of the city you entered in the address details. You can find post office by ZIP Code by address, ZIP Code by city and cities in a ZIP Code. You can even find automated post office centers and nearby collection boxes in US.

You can check out Tiny Compass location finder Android app reviewed by us.

Some Key Features Of USPS Mobile App To Find Post Office:

Search for your nearest post office in US on Android.
This post office locator app uses your GPS to find your current location.
The interface provided by the app is simple, and all the options are easy to use.
You can find post office locations, automated postal centers and collection boxes.

You can track the delivery status by entering the tracking number in the app.
It also allows you to search for city name via ZIP Code.
The app allows you to check the post office location on Google Map by entering the city name

Search for ZIP Codes by entering your address or by entering your city name in the app.
The app even displays the exact address of the nearby post office searched.

Also, check out Glympse, location tracker app for Android reviewed by us.

How To Install USPS Mobile App To Find Post Office:

Scan the QR Code below.

Search for USPS Mobile in Android Market, incase you don't have a Barcode Scanner.
Tap on "Install", to install the app from Android Market.

The free USPS Mobile app to find post office location will be installed. Just install this great app today on your Android phone and make it like a post office locator device. Find post office of US in an easy way with this intelligent app on Android.

Find Post Office Location with USPS Mobile For Android was originally published at I Love Free Software

Chat in Twitter with Bonfire Chrome Extension

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST

Bonfire is a Google Chrome Extension which helps you to chat in Twitter. Normally in Twitter you do not have any option, to chat, you can only tweet. With the help, of Bonfire you can chat in Twitter as well, just like any other social networking site. Since it is an extension of Google Chrome, it comes free of cost and can easily be applied in Twitter.

Lets look at some features of this chat in Twitter extension:

The most important feature of Bonfire is that it lets you chat in Twitter.
It is easy to download and install in your browser.
It creates a chat box to show all your online friends.
Also, it will let you know about alerts on your Twitter account, if the alerts option is enabled.

How to install and use Bonfire?

At first, you need to go to the website for downloading Bonfire.

Once you click on download Bonfire for Twitter, you will be asked whether you want to download Bonfire.

If you click ok it will download and install Bonfire on your Google Chrome browser.
It will also show a notification to that effect.

Once it is installed you need to check out whether the chat box has arrived in Twitter or not.
For this, you have to log in to your Twitter account.
Once you log in to Twitter if you want apply the Bonfire app you have to allow it to be added to your Twitter account. You need to accept the request.

If you have done up to this step, you will find that a new chat box has arrived in Twitter which you had never seen before. This is the Bonfire.

Bonfire is a useful application and can come in handy to chat on twitter. So go ahead and give it a try. I’m sure you will like this extension.

Chat in Twitter with Bonfire Chrome Extension was originally published at I Love Free Software

Private SMS And Call App To Block Calls And SMS On Android

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST

Private SMS & Call app is a free Android app to manage messages and calls on Android. This is a great and intelligent app in Android Market to block your unwanted SMS and Calls on Android phone. This Android SMS and call blocker app is smart enough to recognize the number and block calls and messages from that number. The interface provided by the app has simple options and is very easy to use. This SMS and call blocker app provides multiple options to block calls and block SMS in an organized way.

Private SMS and Call app for Android work in a simple way on Android. This call blocker app just block’s numbers in its blacklist. For blocking the call and SMS from any number, you just need to select a number from your contact list, call logs, number from any message or enter the number manually in the app. Save the selected number, in the app. Then you can select from multiple app options which includes block calls only, block SMS only or block both calls and SMS. Select the appropriate option and the app will work accordingly. For e.g. if you have selected to block calls, from the number added in blacklist, then the app will simply reject the call from that number, whenever it is landed on your Android phone.

You can even save any number as private number in the app. Making the number private through the app, will allow the app to receive the SMS separately in the app, separate from inbox. This app will make your conversation private from the numbers added as private numbers in the list. One can view that SMS, only when he/she knows the password of the app.

You can check out Easy Filter app to block unwanted calls and unwanted SMS on Android reviewed by us.

Some Key Features Of Private SMS And Call To Block Calls And SMS On Android:

You can block calls from any number, which you don't want to land on your Android phone.
Block SMS from any number, which you don't want to receive on your Android phone.
Select the numbers from your contact list, call logs, number from any message or enter the number manually in the app to add it in blacklist.

You can even block unknown numbers, block numbers by prefix and block messages by keywords.
View your blocked calls and SMS in call logs of the app.
You can apply different themes on the app background.
The app is a password protected app.
It provides the option of fake password. When you enter the fake password, the app displays a to-do list on Android.
You can even make a backup of SPC Messages, SPC contacts and SPC settings. Also, you can restore them from within the app.
Make your conversation private, by selecting any number in private list from the app.

Also, check out SMS Locker app for Android to make your SMS password protected reviewed by us.

How To Install Private SMS And Call App on Android:

Scan the QR Code below.

Search for Private SMS & Call app in Android Market, incase you don't have a Barcode Scanner.
Tap on "Install", to install the app from Android Market.

The free Private SMS & Call app to block calls and block SMS will be automatically installed. Install, this SMS and call blocker app today on your smart phone and block the unwanted SMS and call on your Android phone. Ignore those pesky messages and calls, which you receive, on a regular basis. Also, make your SMS private, so that no one can access your conversation on your Android phone.

Private SMS And Call App To Block Calls And SMS On Android was originally published at I Love Free Software

Create Facebook Cover With Covercanvas

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST

Covercanvas is a free Facebook application which allows you to create a fully customized Facebook cover. This is an easy to use Facebook application, which allows you to create a Facebook cover in a blink. Make your custom Facebook cover with Covercanvas and let your friends wonder how did you do that. This Facebook application includes Custom covers and static covers. Create custom covers with photos and the name, just name or just with photos.

Static covers include covers which cannot be customized like covers related to movies, arts, flags, celebrity, etc. In custom covers, it includes several styles, for covers you simply need to click on any style available. It will show you the preview how actually it looks. If you are all right with the cover, then simply click on "Make My Cover" button. This Facebook app is all right, but the thing, which I didn’t like, and rather made me upset was that, this app chooses any random profile pictures of you to make a Facebook cover. You do not get a say in deciding which pictures go on the cover.

Don't forget to check out Facebook app to sell items on Facebook.

Key Features of Covercanvas To Create Facebook Cover

Create Facebook cover.
Includes custom covers and static covers.
Create custom covers with your name and photos, with just your name or with just your photos.
Several stunning cover styles are available.
Easy to use.
Remix the photos with a single click.

Also, check out Picasa Facebook uploader.

Please note: You should enable the Timeline feature on your Facebook account before trying Covercanvas.

How To Use Covercanvas To create Facebook Cover

Go on to the homepage of Covercanvas and click "Get started" button.
Now login to Covercanvas with your Facebook account.
Click " Allow" button in request permission Window.
Now you will come across the main screen of Covercanvas.
Choose any of the 3 options under custom covers according to your preferences.

Select any style for your cover page from the styles available at the top.

Click on "Remix photos" button for remixing the photos.
Now if, you are satisfied with your cover page then simply click on "Make My Cover" button.
This will direct you to your Facebook account.
Place your mouse on your old cover, you will see an option of "Change cover" with drop down menu.
Click the drop down menu and Select "Choose from photos" option and select the cover that you created from your photos.

Now you need to click on "Save Changes" button.

That's it your Facebook is changed.

Covercanvas is a free Facebook application which allows you to create stunning Facebook covers like never before. Try this out.

Create Facebook Cover With Covercanvas was originally published at I Love Free Software

Social Networking for Movie Lovers: Go Watch It

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 10:00 AM PST

Go Watch It is a free web service where you can search movie related information, and even share that information with your Facebook friends. Are you a movie lover that wants to be informed as soon as the newest movies are available? How about knowing what your friends are watching and letting them know what you're watching? If this is you, Go Watch It might be perfect for you.

Nothing to Download, It's Web-Based

One of the best things about Go Watch It is that there's nothing to download. Everything is based on the web. All the platform entails is a quick registration, activate your account from the email sent to the account you specify, and you're ready to go.

Find Movies to Watch and Where to Watch Them

The Watch It platform is multi-use. You can use it to find out when that new movie you've heard rumors about will be released for viewing in theaters (In my case it was Ender's Game: no information yet), or when it can be rented from Redbox or Netflix. Want to watch it online? The Watch It platform searches a number of streaming sites for the movies you want to watch, including Netflix, Vudu, iTunes, Amazon, and Movies on Demand.

Of course, in order to watch the movies you search for online, you'll need to, either have a subscription to the service, or pay a fee. The fees required for each movie is listed with the name of services where your movie is available. However, watching trailers for those movies is free.

Hook Up with Friends from Facebook

Want to share your movie queue with your friends? Connect your Watch It account with your Facebook account, and you can share your searches, viewed movies, and your queued movies with your friends.

Movie Alerts through Watch It

If the movie you want to watch isn't immediately available, Watch It will create a Movie Alert for it. When your movie comes available, the platform will send an email to your mailbox informing you that your movie is now available for rental or viewing. These alerts can be scheduled in your preferences. There are four levels of frequency you can set for your alerts. These are daily, weekly, per movie, or never. This can be helpful if the movie you're searching for doesn't show what service(s) it will be available on.

Go Watch It is definitely worth checking out if you're really into movies. I'll be playing with it quite a bit over the next few weeks.

Social Networking for Movie Lovers: Go Watch It was originally published at I Love Free Software

Learn to Type and Improve Typing Speed with Type Fu

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST

Type Fu is a website which provides a tutorial application for all those users who want to learn to type. It is absolutely free, and you do not have to pay anything for availing this service. It is readily available, and you can always practice typing on this site in order to improve your typing speed. It is obvious that the quality of your typing will improve if you take this tutorial.

Lets look at some features of this typing website:

It provides the visual table for giving you support while typing.
It analyzes your typing speed and gives results on WPM (Words Per Minute).
You can also know how much accurate you are while typing at high speeds.
You can know how many seconds or minutes you have taken to complete each entry.
You can always shift from words to numbers and letters on this tutorial.
There are various difficulty levels in this tutorial.
It also has a speed chart for showing your overall development and improvement at different levels.

There is also an accuracy chart where you can find out your level of accuracy at a different point of time.

You can also find out the most mistyped letters or words and thus can work on those mistyped letters or words to rectify the mistake.
There is no installation required for this website application.

How will you use the tutorial?

First you need to go to the website to proceed.
There you need to click on enter to begin the tutorial.
Once you start the tutorial you need to type the letters as shown in the center of your screen. Once you complete an entire line the results of your typing will be shown.
You can retry typing the same line by pressing r.
If you want to proceed to the next line, then you have to press enter.
Your difficulty level will increase as you proceed.
You can shift from letters to words, proverbs, or numbers by clicking on the appropriate option in the lessons menu.

Type Fu is very useful and is very helpful for beginners to learn the method of typing. Go ahead and give it a try.

Learn to Type and Improve Typing Speed with Type Fu was originally published at I Love Free Software

Kingsoft Android Office Reader App To Read MS Office Files On Android

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST

Kingsoft Office Reader is a free Android app to view and read MS Office documents on Android device. This Android Office app is available only on the website of Kingsoft Office. Also, this Android Office app is the apt solution for the user who have their work mainly on MS Office. They can view their office files and documents on Android with this Kingsoft Office Reader app for Android.

In addition, this Android office app provides multiple options to view and read your office document in an easy way. The app contains all the tools to read an office document. Kingsoft Office Reader app includes MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint to read office documents on Android device. Just download any office file from your Email, Dropbox or from any web page and view it right on your Android device. The interface provided by this Android office app is very easy and simple to understand. Also, the app response is really fast and clear.

You can check Kingsoft Office app to manage MS office files on Android reviewed by us.

Some Key Features Of Kingsoft Android Office Reader App:

You can view and read any office document file with this Android office reader app.
Provides multiple options to view and read any office document.
The interface provided by the app is highly user-friendly and simple.
The app allows you to access MS PowerPoint, MS Word and MS Excel documents on Android.

You can browse any office file or document from SD card or from your device.
It allows to create a duplicate copy of any browsed file.
You can email the file from within the app.
Delete, any file saved, from within the app.
Provides all the mandatory options separately in toolbar.

Also, check out GetJar to find 100 plus premium Android app for free reviewed by us.

How To Install Kingsoft Android Office Reader App:

Go to the Kingsoft website or click the link given at the end.
Scan the QR code on the website to download and install the Kingsoft Office Reader setup.
Then go to the settings option on Android.
Under settings, go to Application option.
In Application menu, check the box in front of "Unknown sources" option to enable it.
Now open the SD card folder of your Android phone. In case you are not able to access SD card, then you can install ES File Explorer app to help you with that.
Now you will be able to install the Kingsoft Android Office Reader app from the setup that was downloaded.

The free Kingsoft Android Office reader app will be installed. Click here to download Kingsoft Office reader from the website Of Kingsoft Office. Just view your office documents anywhere and anytime on your Android.

Kingsoft Android Office Reader App To Read MS Office Files On Android was originally published at I Love Free Software

5 Free Android Audio Books Apps

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST

Here, are top 5 free Android audio books apps. The concept of Audio books started creating buzz around the 90's when Compact Disks came to the market and people started listening to books on their audio systems. The biggest advantage of audio books is that they are perfect for busy people who do not have time to sit and read books. Lets get into each Android audio books app.

MortPlayer Audio Books (Beta)

MortPlayer Audio Books has a great future potential. This Android audio book app is still in beta version but has received the best rating in its category on Android Market. This audio books app offers the best listening experience. The audio book player is excellent and looks like premium music players like PowerAMP and WinAMP. This one is the best player in audio books app. However, there is no online store in the app where we can purchase or download audiobooks.

MortPlayer supports almost all audiobook formats. This Android app for audio books works on the main directory and subdirectory on a phone's SDcard which generally is "sdcard/audiobooks". Other features of this Android audio books app include theme support, home screen widgets, equalizer and bass boost (only in Gingerbread).

iPhone users can check out our featured on Audio Books for iPhone.

Audible

Audible.com, the popular premium audio books store, presents its own audio books app as Audible to download and to listen audio books. This audio books app is the most downloaded Audio Book app on Android market with more than 15K downloads. You need to register yourself with audible.com, in order to access the features of this Android app. Audible is a complete solution for listening to audio books. More than 100,000 audio books can be accessed through this app.

Audible app for Android also lets you share your hearings on Facebook and Twitter. Moreover, you can listen to audio books while they are being downloaded.

OverDrive Media Console

OverDrive Media Console is a library based app for downloading and listening audio book. You can download audio books, download eBooks directly from the online library to your Android device. More than 15 thousand public, school and college libraries are included in OverDrive Media Console. Linking of the library card with this app is needed in order to get the maximum out of this app. Audio Book playback is easy, and control are basic.

Feel free to browse around more Android Apps reviewed by us.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks is one of the best Android audio books app for listening audiobooks for free. This audio books app gives you access to more than 2800 free audiobooks. The play controls are basic and resemble with music player for Android phones. New version of this Android audio books app includes sleep timer function which stops playing the audio books after the specified time. Automatic bookmarking helps to keep track of the reading. The reading will start from the moment you left before.

Audiobook Player 2

Audiobook Player 2 is a simple Android audio books playing application for Android users. This audio books app is ad-supported, and the ad-free version costs around $4.5. Audiobook Player is developed to give night-time audiobook listening pleasure. The Android audio books app has a simple user interface and is extremely easy to use.

5 Free Android Audio Books Apps was originally published at I Love Free Software

PassMyWill to Create Online Will

Posted: 28 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST

PassMyWill is an online service that lets you create online will, and sends it to your friends and relatives when you are dead. You can use this online will service to email your account information and passwords to your friends and relatives after your death. You can store information like bank account details, social network details, and other important info; that you want your family to know after your death. You can choose as many recipients as you want for your digital will.

Before we proceed further, let me answer the question that how does PassMyWill detects that you are dead. For that, PassMyWill monitors your social networks (Facebook and Twitter) to monitor your account activity. If you haven't posted anything for a long time, then PassMyWill sends you a confirmation email to check if you are still alive. If you don't respond to that email, then it assumes that you are dead, and it shares your info with family and friends whom you have added. Of course, this method is not fool-proof; but I am not sure what other method could be used by such a service:)

Don't forget to check out free online password manager.

Also, PassMyWill has a safeguard built-in to ensure that information can be used by only the ones with whom you intended to. For that, PassMyWill asks you to create an encryption key. This key is used to encrypt all your info. When you die, the recipients of your info are asked to provide the encryption key, and only then they'll be able to see your info. To help them guess encryption key, you can add a message text; like, you can say "My Encryption key is my SSN". They will be able to see this message, and this would help them in guessing. Of course, don't make the encryption key and message too easy to guess, like, "My encryption key is my contact number" :)

Also, check out free password managers for Google Chrome.

Features of PassMyWill:

Totally Free
Quite easy to use; all the info is setup in just 4 steps.
Unlimited number of recipients can be added. At least 3 recipients need to be added.
No limitation on the type of information that can be shared. However, you cannot upload any file to be shared after your death.

How to Create Will with PassMyWill:

Go to PassMyWill.com. Sign up to create a free account.
Provide your name. Then add email addresses of the recipients with whom you want to share the info after your death.

After that comes the part where you have to specify your encryption key, and a message to accompany that. The message is supposed to be just a hint about encryption key, don't mention any password here.

Next comes the most important part: Assets. Here, you can provide information that you want to share with your family and friends after your death. It lets you specify the service name, and then corresponding info. For example, you can choose service as Facebook, and specify its username and password. Similarly, you can add any service you want, and provide info for that. Apart from that, it also shows a Notes box, where you can put any additional info.

After that, it gives you option to connect with your Facebook and Twitter account. It uses these to predict with a better accuracy if you are dead or alive :)

That's it. Now your eWill is ready, and you can die in peace ;)

This service is quite easy to use and very interesting. Of course, the fact that it cannot determine in a fool proof manner whether you are dead or not makes me a little cautious about using this service. I might use it as an intermediate step to direct my loved ones to my will. For example, my message could be "My passwords are present in the gift box that my wife gave on our first anniversary". This would ensure that even if the service wrongly detects that I am dead, I really don't lose anything.

So, what do you think of this eWill service? Let us know in comments.

PassMyWill to Create Online Will was originally published at I Love Free Software

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