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How to quickly create an encrypted archive in OS X

To make sending multiple files by e-mail or other means easier, Apple includes a quick Finder contextual menu option to zip a selection of files and folders into an archive, which not only will ensure that the files stay together, but can also greatly reduce their size for the file transfer. While convenient, Apple does not provide a means to encrypt or secure the contents of the ZIP archive with a password; however, there is a way to do this if needed.

To place a file or folder into a ZIP file that is encrypted, you will need to use … Read more

Simple PDF conversion program

Office Convert PDF to JPG JPEG TIFF Free is the freeware version of a program for converting your PDF files into a number or image formats to fit your needs.

The functional interface is simple and easy to understand, with buttons that even novice users will recognize. Our tests took less than a minute to complete for each conversion. There were no complicated or confusing steps and there weren't any errors. Office Convert PDF to JPG JPEG TIFF Free offers four different output file types: JPEG, BMP, GIF, and TIF. There isn't much to the features and functions … Read more

Adobe: Next Photoshop won't support Windows XP

Apparently 11 years was long enough.

Microsoft released Windows XP in 2001, and Adobe said today that the current CS6 version of Photoshop will be the last one to support the operating system.

"The Photoshop team would like to provide advanced notice that Photoshop CS6 (13.0) will be the last major version of Photoshop to support Windows XP," Adobe Product Manager Tom Hogarty said in a blog post.

The reason, he said, is that modern performance-sensitive software requires modern hardware graphics interfaces that Windows XP lacks, in particular a way to tap into the power of graphics … Read more

Samsung's image doing just fine after Apple verdict, poll finds

While it's easy to look at the overwhelmingly pro-Apple verdict handed down by a San Jose, Calif. jury last month as damaging to Samsung's image, a new survey suggests that's not the case.

According to the results of a new survey put out by polling firm YouGov, Samsung has had a big comeback in the past two weeks, and actually managed to surpass Apple in the firm's proprietary "buzz score" rating among both early technology adopters and those in the 18-34 age group.

The methodology behind the numbers asks people if they have "… Read more

Nokia culpa: Phony Lumia 920 video prompts ethics probe

Nokia committed a major gaffe in promoting its Lumia 920, and now the company says it's trying to figure out why.

Last week, the company unveiled its new Windows 8 Phone handsets, with the Lumia 920 starring as its flagship device. Touting the phone's optical image stabilization (OIS), Nokia released a promotional clip supposedly comparing video shot by the 920 using OIS with video shot by a phone without OIS.

But after The Verge noticed an odd reflection in the clip, Nokia fessed up that the OIS-flavored video was actually shot by a normal video camera and not … Read more

PDF to Excel Converter makes the job easy

You have many options for converting PDF files into Excel documents, depending on what software you already have, what the PDF contains, and what you expect as a finished product: everything from free Web-based tools to expensive pro tools and enterprise-level packages. Blue Label Software's PDF to Excel Converter falls somewhere in the middle, offering lots of speed and convenience, but at a significant cost, compared to the freeware.

PDF to Excel Converter's user interface is a nicely rendered variation on a common layout for tools of this type, with a tree view in a sidebar to the … Read more

True Image 2013 adds sync support, but with mixed results

Acronis has long been a popular destination for backup solutions. True Image 2013 adds mobile device support for its cloud storage to attract more users.

For people who are new to backing up their computers, True Image 2013 brings an approachable interface with short, helpful descriptions that acquaint users with the primary functions. The cartoon sketches might seem childish at first glance, but regardless, the friendly attitude offers assurance that the partitioning and backup process isn't as intimidating as one might think.

The new version retains all the standard and advanced features from 2012 -- you can still create … Read more

Get TwistedBrush Pro Studio art software (Win) for free

Given the recent spate of seemingly instant sellouts and the risk of boring everyone with "yet another tablet/TV/flash drive," I'm going to broaden my focus here a bit and share the occasional niche deal.

Today, for example, I bring you something that won't appeal to everyone, but will definitely satisfy creative types. Today only, BitsDuJour has Pixarra's TwistedBrush Pro Studio 17 (Win) absolutely free. It normally sells for $79.

Update: If that link brings up a different program, use this one instead.

TwistedBrush Pro Studio is a sophisticated paint/image-editing program that gives … Read more

Creative photo editing

Alexey Ivanov's Photofunia is a photo-editing tool that makes image editing a no-brainer. It takes only seconds to put your face (or anything you like) on a billboard, a stamp, or in a Warhol-like work of pop art (our favorite effects). In other words: special effects created in no time.

The well-designed interface is so easy-to-use that most won't even need the Help file. We loved the fact that Photofunia is able to access your picture gallery or new images. Simply select the image and the app automatically finds the faces in any image. You can easily insert … Read more

Offbeat photo apps to make something unique on your iPhone

Photo taking apps are a dime a dozen in the App Store, but if you look a little deeper, you can make some really cool projects as long as you use some creativity.

Instead of simply giving your photos a retro look like many of the popular camera apps, there are a number of options that turn your images into a creative project in which you can use your imagination to come up with something unique.

This week's collection of apps are all about doing something different with your images on your iPhone. The first quickly turns your photos … Read more