BlogExpress

Overview

BlogExpress is a full-featured .NET application for content syndication (as also called a news aggregator or a blog reader).

BlogExpress is so easy to use. Lockergnome praises it as “BlogExpress stands out as an invaluable tool for those getting started with RSS. “ It is carefully designed for high usability. Information readability is one of our primary goals for building this application. Proudly, the result comes out such that you can grab information displayed in BlogExpress faster than other leading content syndication applications in the market.

Additionally, BlogExpress has a built-in Web Tab feature in which you can use it to view any Web pages directly without leaving BlogExpress for a Web browser. This feature saves you some seconds for each link you click to view. Those seconds in a long run are hours of your time that you get back from using BlogExpress.

For a blog writer, you can open a Web Tab to post to your server-based blog tool (such as Movable Type, Blogger.com, BlogSpot.com or AOL Journal). No need for a separate Web browser window to clutter your desktop anymore!

In sum, BlogExpress help you manage more information from the Web with less time!

Key Features

BlogExpress:

• supports all versions of RSS (0.90, 0.91, 0.92, 0.93, 0.94, 1.0, and 2.0) and Atom 0.3,
• is complied with usability guidelines for designing highly usable software,
• is designed for high readability,
• summarizes new items for fast glance,
• lets a user categorize subscriptions hierarchically,
• fast synchronizes many feeds simultaneously (multi-threaded),
• supports rapid synchronization with conditional GET that synchronizes only updated feeds,
• supports unlimited feed subscriptions,
• can import and export OPML for subscriptions,
• can export subscriptions to HTML,
• has the built-in Web Tab function for fast viewing Web pages,
• supports unlimited Web Tabs,
• can detect unsolicited banners from intrusive Web Sites,
• supports drag-and-drop subscription from a Web page,
• supports drag-and-drop Web operations,
• is configurable to display the tree pane in the left or right side,
• sends emails directly from Web Tabs,
• supports off-line blog reading,
• supports a proxy server,
• supports automatic synchronization,
• can be hidden in the tray bar,
• and more. Please experience it yourself!

System Requirements

BlogExpress requires Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Runtime. The Runtime is bundled with most new computers running Microsoft Windows XP. However, if the Runtime is not available in your computer, you can download it from Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft .NET Framework Redistributable 1.1 (download page)

Another way to get the Runtime is to use Windows Update. If you are using Internet Explorer now, select the menu “Tools” then “Windows Update”. Afterward, follow the instructions shown in the browser to update your computer. We recommend you to select every update items available to you in the update page. Those will make your computer more secure.

Awards and User Testimonials

With nearly a hundred thousand downloads so far, BlogExpress received a number of compliments from around the Internet. You may check some of them out from Google search with the keyword BlogExpress.

We gratefully thank them, and we’re proud of their compliments.

License

We are working on releasing BlogExpress under an open source license.

Download

BlogExpress 1.56.2 BlogExpressSetup.msi

Release: Aug 23, 2004

FeedSpring

Overview

FeedSpring is a FREE feed generator program. It can help bloggers and Web publishers effortlessly create unlimited RSS feeds. Just simply type RSS information into required and optional fields in forms, FeedSpring will automatically generate an RSS feed file for you. With usable and eye-pleasing interface, you can manage RSS channel and item information effectively.

Simply provide the created RSS feeds as text links or graphic links on your Web site. Then, let your users copy the feed links into any feed reader software (e.g., BlogExpress). They will shortly receive your updated news feeds.

FeedSpring currently supports only RSS 2.0. Other RSS formats will soon be available. The current release runs on MS Windows. Versions for Linux, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X will also be provided in the near future.

System Requirements

• PC with Pentium 233 MHz or higher processor
• Microsoft Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista

License

FeedSpring is free software released under the open source GNU General Public License (GNU GPL). Any derivatives of this software, must also be released under the GPL.

Download

FeedSpring 0.93b: FeedSpringSetup.exe

Source: FeedSpring.zip

Release: May 21, 2005

WinGlance

Overview

WinGlance is the award-winning visualizable Alt-Tab replacement task switching utility with extra abilities of instant window closing and duration and memory information viewing.

Ideally for multitasking-minded Windows XP users, this handy, easy-to-use, and visually appealing productivity tools lets users switch from one open window to another, with only a click at the full-screen neatly-arranged window-snapshot list.

The list can be activated by simply pressing Alt-Tab or pointing a mouse over lower right corner of a screen. Moreover, to get a lot more work done in less time, users can easily switch to a recent window or other windows by pressing keyboard shortcuts.

Flexibly, all default key combinations and mouse gesture can be reconfigurable. With WinGlance, You Can:

• visualize all open windows on your computer,
• keep track of what you are working on with your computer,
• visually search for a window that is covered by other windows,
• view all Web browser windows you are currently navigating through,
• view and close all pop-up windows that silently appear on your screen,
• view running duration, virtual memory usage, and total memory usage of each window,
• and much more …

Flexible Configurations

Configure WinGlance in any settings you like!

• Keyboard Shortcuts: to assign any key combinations to use WinGlance.
• Mouse Gesture: to disable/enable mouse gesture; to specify mouse gesture location.
• Exclusion List: to exclude any particular windows from WinGlance.
• Advanced: to group snapshots by applications; and to enable WinGlance to restore minimized windows before taking snapshots.

Key Features

• Simply activate a snapshot-window list with a mouse cursor pointing to the lower right screen corner or pressing Alt-Tab combination key only once
• Full-screen window showing window snapshots of all running applications
• Chronically arranged or application-typically arranged
• Automatically resized window snapshots
• Unlimited window snapshots of all running applications
• Instant information (running duration, virtual memory usage, and total memory usage of each window)
• On-the-fly window closing
• Fast, reliable, handy, and easy to use
• Intuitively friendly user interface
• Flexible configurations
• Low memory usage
• Free life-time upgrade
• Pure C programming with Win32 API guaranteed for fast running with this high graphic quality
• 95% less occurrences of incomplete window snapshots (black snapshots) than PowerToy Task-Switcher
• Unlike PowerToy Task-Switcher, no duplicated window snapshots of MS Project and MS PowerPoint

Keyboard Shortcuts

There is no need no more to stick your finger on the Alt key all the time when switching windows!

With WinGlance, you can use shortcut keys to navigate snapshot list comfortably.

• Alt-Tab – to start WinGlance (can be reconfigured)
• Tab, Arrow keys, PageUp/PageDown, Home, End – to navigate through snapshots
• Space or Enter – to activate a selected snapshot
• Win-Z – to switch to a recent window (can be reconfigured)
• Win-A – to switch to another window (can be reconfigured)
• F5 – to refresh the snapshot list
• Esc – to close the snapshot list

System Requirements

• Microsoft Windows XP (all editions) or Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Current Limitations

We have nothing to hide:

• It can’t take snapshots of applications that use proprietary methods or undocumented ways to display their contents. This is due to WinGlance using only documented methods to interface with those applications to prevent any unexpected errors that may occur in their screens. (There are not many of such applications existed, however.)
• It can’t take snapshots of floating palettes of applications such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. However, the main window will show. (PowerToy Alt-Tab also can’t show them.)
• It can’t take snapshots of two or more open MS Excel windows. However, the minimized ones will show. (Even PowerToy Alt-Tab can’t display them correctly, anyway.)
• Occasionally, it can’t take snapshots of two or more open MS PowerPoint and MS Project. However, the minimized ones will show. These applications use proprietary methods to display their contents, and we’ve tried to cope with them. Nevertheless, our methods can’t be perfect. (PowerToy Alt-Tab is no better than ours.)
• Yet, MSN Messenger is another Microsoft product that uses a proprietary display method. WinGlance will handle windows of MSN Messenger fine as long as you won’t minimize them. You can close them to the traybar and there is no problem, however.
• When using WinGlance to close MS Word, MS Excel, (and other random proprietary Microsoft applications, heaven knows…), those applications sometimes won’t signify WinGlance that they’ve already closed. Therefore, WinGlance will wait for a couple seconds then ask if you want to return to WinGlance. Just click ‘Yes’ and it will be all right.

License

With Windows Vista and Mac OS X everywhere nowadays, a new version of WinGlance and its source code will be released under an open source license soon.

FreeBSD

Our work to add Thai supports into FreeBSD is presently at an early state. Currently, we maintain the following ports.

• misc/thailocale
• devel/libthai

KnowledgeVolution

KnowledgeVolution

Description

KnowledgeVolution is an enterprise-class Knowledge Management System (KMS). It is a web-based application developed using Ruby on Rails. KnowledgeVolution is built through empirical research. We observe and create a system that let people share their tacit knowledge in their workplace and across workplaces effortlessly. We believe that sharing knowledge shouldn’t be an additional job but a part of regular and enjoyable things to do at work.

Sponsors

The development of KnowledgeVolution is possible due to the supports from The Knowledge Management Institute, Thailand, The Thailand Research Funds, The Thai Health Promotion Foundation, and The Prince of Songkla University. We are deeply grateful for their sponsorships. KnowledgeVolution is a project of UsableLabs.

Sites Powered by KnowledgeVolution

• GotoKnow.org
• Learners.in.th
• Researchers.in.th
• Share.psu.ac.th

KnowledgeVolution.org

We maintain KnowledgeVolution.org, which contains the development information of KnowledgeVolution. Please visit the site for further information.

PlanetMatter

Overview

Wait no more for a usable system to create a centralized hub, so-called a planet site, of news feeds from selected Web sites, PlanetMatter provides a better choice to aggregate RSS and ATOM feeds of blogs, company news, databases, calendars, articles, and more!

Lastest news items are instantly aggregated and sequentially laid out in one page for readability. Moreover, “full-text” search facility effectively retrieves more related news items according to search terms (keywords).

Features

PlanetMatter comes with complete feed management features such as

• Add, pause, delete, edit feeds
• Import feeds to OPML or text
• Edit planet site configuration information
• and much more!

Installation

PlanetMatter is relatively easy to install. Please read the INSTALL file for details.

System Requirements

The current version of PlanetMatter requires Apache, Python, MySQL, and a couple of Python modules that can be freely obtained over the Internet. Please read the INSTALL file in the distribution for details.

License

PlanetMatter is free software released under the open source GNU General Public License (GNU GPL). Any derivatives of this software, must also be released under the GPL. Developers who are interested in helping the development of PlanetMatter, please contact: info at usablelabs.com

Source

PlanetMatter is source-based software developed using the Python programming language. The source is in the distribution.

Release History

Please see the NEWS file in the distribution for release history.

Download

Tarball: planetmatter-2006_03_23_r02.tar.gz

Release: March 23, 2006

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