Geeks

• Dropbox beta invites 

Back in March when we wrote about a new service in private beta called Dropbox, there were all kinds of people interested in it and wanting to get in on the private beta to try it out. We were able to give out 50 invites, but there were still many, many people who wanted an invite, but were unable to get one. Thanks to a tip from Cory, we found that Dropbox is currently getting ready to "open the gates" so to speak, and they will be allowing "tens of thousands" of users to start using the service. But more importantly, they want their blog readers to get a chance to get in on it too, even if they hadn't signed up previously. For a limited time they have provided a code just for their blog readers to use to sign-up.

You're a Dropbox blog reader, right?  They did post an interesting article today discussing some of the different ways that people are using the service like using it to synchronize chat logs across all computers of an account, using it as a "dropbox" for faxes, and they said one user even uses it as a security system - "one user set up his webcam to record video once motion is detected, with the resulting file being dumped into his Dropbox. He uses this combination as a security system of sorts when he's out of town." Interesting, isn't it?

So now here's the important part, where we tell you how to get your beta code. Just go here and then you'll be provided with the download, as well as your beta code which will be outsidethebox. The download is available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X 10.4 or above. [via CyberNet]

 

• Batch Image Resizer Fotosizer

Image Resizers are available in the dozens on the Internet, even batch image resizers are not uncommon anymore and it boils down to taste rather than functionality or speed when making a decision for or against a specific product. Fotosizer adds itself to the list of batch image resizers. It comes with a clean interface that displays thumbnails of every image that is loaded into the application.

Supported are to browse for files and folders or to drag and drop them into the program interface. The resizing options allow to change the resolution of each image by percentage or fixed width and a few preset dimensions can be selected to make them usable in iPhones, iPods or the PSP.

Other options that directly affect the resized image are the image quality and two checkboxes to maintain aspect ratio and preserve width and height by orientation.

 

Several output parameters can be defined as well. The output file format can be selected as well as the output folder and the filename of the new files. Several variations are available for that purpose, for example adding day,month and year information to the filename.

Several optional parameters are available that can rotate the images or apply a black and white or negative filter. [via gHacks]

 

• A better MAC Os Leopard theme for Firefox 3

 

  The features and performance of Firefox 3 have helped me fall in love with the browser all over again, but the "native" themes need some work. I've been keeping an eye out for a theme that is more along the lines of what Safari looks like on my Mac, and one developer has stepped up to the plate with two gorgeous alternatives: GrApple Delicious and GrApple Yummy.

At first glance the two themes look nearly the same (as seen below), but the differences lie in the details. GrApple Yummy is almost an exact clone of Safari, which is what I thought I was looking for. That was until I noticed that each individual tab does not include the site's icon, which I didn't even realize Safari lacked until this theme made me go back and double-check. I was very bummed because I loved the theme otherwise, but that's when I came across GrApple Delicious which does show the icons on each tab:

 

The only thing that is really different between the two themes (at least that I noticed) is the tab bar. In GrApple Yummy the tab bar hangs from the toolbar located above it just like in Safari, where as GrApple Delicious displays the tab bar in the typical old-school Firefox fashion. It doesn't really bother me which way the tab bar is oriented as long as I have my icons on each tab, and so I'm loving the GrApple Delicious theme.

And the oversized fonts in the location bar. gone! As you can see in the screenshot to the right the location bar is toned down a bit in both themes by using slightly smaller fonts.

Obviously these themes are targeted towards Mac OS X users, but they do surprisingly work on other operating systems. The only issue was that the menu (File, Edit, etc.) layout was a bit off from what it should be, but that can quickly be cured with an extension such as Personal Menu. If you want to install it on an operating system other than Mac OS X you'll need to do so from one of these two pages: GrApple Delicious or GrApple Yummy. [via CyberNet]

 

• Cheap and simple sunburn remedies that really work

Sunburn isn't just a painful nuisance - it can wreak havoc on healthy skin and put you at risk for getting skin cancer later in life. (In fact, two or more severe sunburns before age 18 greatly increase the chances, as skin has a sort of a "memory" of burns and tans year after year. [Honig, 2000] While the best treatment is prevention with an effective sunblock, sunscreen, or a proper physical barrier from the sun, things can sometimes go wrong.

 

So what do you do when you return home from an outing and you resemble a well-done lobster bake? Try one of these time-tested home remedies.. And give yourself a chance to heal:

• Vinegar - Paul Michael was the first to introduce me to this cure, in his 254 Uses for Vinegar piece. Apply vinegar (or a half-water, half-vinegar solution) with a spray bottle or dab on with a towel. Then cover the area with a tea towel for overnight relief. While a bit stinky, it does wonders to "cool" down the burn.
• Aspirin - Recommended for adult sunburn victims with a known tolerance to aspirin, this is the treatment I used most recently. Simply crush a couple of aspirin in a bowl or cup with the back of a spoon. By adding a small amount of water, you can create a "paste" which can be applied directly to the burn. (Be sure to crush the aspirin very well.)
• A variation on this is to add it to Maalox (the tummy stuff) instead of water and brush it on with a basting brush or a cotton ball. Since aspirin alone can cause burns, be certain you don't have an intolerance to it being applied topically, and don't let it sit on your skin any longer than overnight.
• Tea - Whip up a batch of tea (either from boiled tea bags or sun tea), and cool it in the fridge along with some ice. Spray directly on burned skin or dab with a soft, rag. It instantly cools and relieves the burn, so keep applying for best results!
• Milk - Apply gauze dipped in lukewarm milk to the burned area. Leave on for minimum of 20 minutes, and rinse the area when it starts to get a bit funky-smelling (or no more than an hour or so later.)
• Aloe Vera - Growing up, we always had an aloe plant in the home for minor burns and afflictions. Break off a piece of the plant, and squeeze it so that some of the goo (gel) drips out the end. You can rub this directly into the sunburn for the same kind of soothing relief you can get from those "after-burn" gels and over-the-counter commercial products (only better.) When the gel starts to dry, the area may become stiff, so keep applying or cleanse the area and apply with some new gel.  [via Wisebread]

 

IceRocket Tags: Fotosizer, Dropbox