5 Productivity Suggestions

I came across the article “5 Simple Techniques to Boost Your Productivity” today and thought it was worth sharing. The recommendations in the article can be summarized as:

1. The Pomodoro Technique – break your workday into 25-minute blocks
2. The Two-Minute Rule – write down all the tasks you want to do, then tackle those that can be accomplished in 2 minutes or less first
3. Take an Exercise Break – exercise to stimulate your thinking
4. Block Digital Distractions – turn off distracting Apps (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and their notifications
5. Autofocus – write out your todo list, pick the one you are most excited or passionate about

If that short list intrigues you, read the full article. It will only take 10 minutes or so.

macOS New app release – NeoFinder 7.4.1

Product Announcements  – Norbert M. Doerner of New York, NY & Bonn, Germany has released NeoFinder 7.4.1, a smaller update for the Digital Asset Manager NeoFinder Mac 7.x. The new version adds more image file support (Canon compressed .cr3, Phase One EIP, Sigma X3F, Clip Studio “.clip”) , and nine more data columns for the List View. Also included are numerous improvements, also for macOS 10.14.

All new features and enhancements of NeoFinder 7.4.1:
* NeoFinder can now catalog thumbnails of Canon compressed RAW “.cr3” files
* NeoFinder can now catalog thumbnails SVG files
* NeoFinder now has nine new columns in List View: Camera Maker, Lens Name, IPTC Persons, ISRC, XMP Caption Writer, XMP Byline, Audio Channels, Audio Sample rate, and Audio Bitrate
* NeoFinder can now catalog Clip Studio “.clip” files
* NeoFinder can now catalog RAW files of Sigma .X3F format
* Preliminary support to catalog thumbnails of Phase One Capture One “.eip” RAW files
* You can now search for EXIF camera name, lens name, and maker name in the Find Editor and of course using the Label menu in the Inspector
* You can now also search for “has no XMP” and “has ISRC” in the Find Editor
* The improved Multi-Editor is now also available for Finder Tags and XMP People fields
* More Label menus in the Inspector for ISRC, FileCheck, EXIF values, XMP Keywords
* NeoFinder now catalogs the iTunes Producer description files “metadata.xml”
* NeoFinder now catalogs EXIF data contained in XMP records, in case the original file has none, or these cannot be processed
* Improved Export as Text and XML by having separate Height, Width, and Duration fields for Media-Info. That is helpful for Stock Photographers
* NeoFinder will now remember the sort order along with the sort type in the Sort menu for Icon View and others
* You can now prevent NeoFinder from sorting keywords alphabetically when displaying and saving them
* The contextual menu for one catalog is much better organised now
* Catalogs now save the date and time they were last Updated (not just modified!)
* Can now properly sort the List View by Path
* The “NoChangePlease” hidden settings is now honoured by the Wikipedia Inspector and the Map
* Fixes a problem with some Find Editor settings
* Fixes a problem with incorrect badge number displays for Album Groups in macOS 10.14
* Fixes a problem with Album and Smart Folders names containing a “.” in their name
* Fixes a problem reading certain audio files larger than 4 GB
* Fixes a problem cataloging certain JPG files created by a scanner (containing empty ISO arrays in their EXIF section)
* Fixes more visual problems in macOS 10.14
* Fixes a problem writing Finder Comments when leaving the text field in the Inspector with the Tab key
* Fixes a memory problem when cataloging very large numbers of compressed Fuji RAW files (.RAF)
* Fixes a problem with the CDFinder 2.x Importer
* Many small fixes and improvements

* NeoFinder 7.4.1 requires Mac OS X 10.8 or later

* NeoFinder 7.4.1 is a free update to all NeoFinder 7.x users

* NeoFinder 7.x is a paid upgrade to licensed users of NeoFinder 6.x and the old CDFinder, upgrade price starting at 19 Euros

* New licenses start at 29 Euros for a NeoFinder Private License

NeoFinder Highlights:
* Cataloging – NeoFinder catalogs metadata of songs, movies, fonts, and photos, including the MP3-Tags of several audio file formats, EXIF, GPS, and IPTC data of photos. NeoFinder also edits Adobe XMP data, including keywords, persons, and ratings. All these are arranged clearly in the user interface, and can be extensively searched. For numerous photo and video formats, fonts, text files, and even audio files, NeoFinder generates thumbnails during cataloging, displaying them in all list and icon views.

* Managing Metadata – The built-in XMP metadata editor with presets can edit and add keywords, ratings, persons, descriptions, copyright information, and more to photos and videos.

* Networking – Store your catalog database on a server for access from all Macs in the network, and with the sidekick product abeMeda (was CDWinder for Windows) even from Microsoft Windows.

* Mobile – Keep your NeoFinder database with you on your iPhone or iPad with the separate NeoFinder for iOS app.

* Integration – Offering a tight connection to major productivity tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Roxio Toast, FileMaker Pro, Apples Spotlight and Finder, and the extensive support of drag&drop into other applications, NeoFinder can support many workflow scenarios. The AppleScript support in NeoFinder allows custom integrations of all kinds.

* Geotagging – Only NeoFinder offers the integrated GeoFinder, which searches for photos taken near a spot, or the KMZ export for coordinates and photo thumbnails as a way to give geolocated photos to friends. NeoFinder can even geotag photos itself, no other software needed. And only NeoFinder displays important facts about any geolocation in the truly unique Wikipedia Inspector.

Since the initial release of CDFinder 1.0 in 1996, more than 88,000 customers in 102 countries around the world are using CDFinder and now NeoFinder to organize their digital library, and manage their data archive and backups, including NASA, IKEA, BBC, Mattel, Rand McNally, Pfizer, Random House, Oracle, and Warner Bros.
Language Support: German, English, French, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Japanese

System Requirements:
* Mac OS X v10.8 – macOS 10.14. Previous CDFinder and NeoFinder versions for older Mac OS versions are still available.
* Separate app for iOS (iPhone and iPad) is available

Pricing and Availability:
The price for new users starts at 29,00 (EUR). Multiple user packs are available for network users. NewFinder can be purchased through the website. Cross-grades for users of similar applications (Cinematica, DiskLibrary, FileFinder, CatFinder, Canto Cumulus, Disk Tracker, DiskCatalogMaker, Atomic View, iView Media Pro, Extensis Portfolio, and others) are available. A free NeoFinder demo version can be downloaded from the NeoFinder website.

macOS New App Release – Color Ray

Product Announcements – 64BitApps of Craiova, Romania, the software company that brought Mac users apps such as Icon Plus, PDF Plus, and ImageSize, announces the release of Color Ray, a Mac app that allows users to visually enhance their photos by combining artistic color effects like Black & White, Sepia, Sketch and Oil Painting.

Users will be able to edit both the background and foreground layers of their photo which allows them to color a certain area and turn the rest of the photo to black & white for a dramatic effect. Color Ray also allows users to keep a certain area of the photo sharp while blurring the rest in order to create a depth of field effect.

Color Ray uses an adjustable brush so that users can select the foreground area of their photo with precision and it also features an Eraser Mode that helps users fine-tune their photos. Users can save their photo in various file formats which include JPG, JPE, JP2, JPX, PNG, BMP, GIF, TIFF and also the newer formats HEIC and HEIF.

Pricing and Availability:
Color Ray is priced at $4.99 (USD) and can be purchased from the Mac App Store and from 64BitApps online. More information about this app can be found at 64BitApps.

Apps & Sites for the Best Coffee

(See my other Coffee related posts) – I saw the article “5 Apps and Sites for Coffee Lovers and That Perfect Brew” this morning and thought it was interesting enough to share. So what were the recommended Apps?:

1. BrewTime (Android, iOS) – Free – how to brew the perfect cup
2. Omnicalculator’s Coffee Kick (Web) – Free – when and how much coffee should you drink
3. Home Grounds (Web) – Free – brewing technique, coffee beans, brewing gear, and coffee recipes
4. Barista Institute’s Recipes (Web) – Free – recipes
5. Coffee Geek (Web) – Free – coffee related encyclopedia

This article is not the definitive ‘how to’ for brewed coffee, but it does provide some good ideas.

macOS New App Release – GIPHY extension for Apple Mail

– Mailbutler GmbH of Berlin, Germany, provider of the leading email enhancing software, released a GIPHY extension for Apple Mail. The free, easy-to-install plugin allows users to search for, preview and add GIFs from the GIPHY library, which serves up more than 1 billion GIFs on a daily basis, to their emails. With the pressure to stand out in a crowded inbox, Mailbutler’s GIPHY extension makes it easy for anyone to create fun, meaningful content that instantly connects with the recipient.

“In today’s world full of distractions, it’s increasingly difficult to capture a reader’s attention. Whether you want to create a dynamic email newsletter, or just wish to have some fun with your colleagues, you can add your personal touch through a GIF when words are just not enough,” said Tobias Knobl, CEO and co-founder of Mailbutler.

A study concerned with Dell’s email campaign confirms the overwhelmingly positive impact GIFs can have on email marketing. It showed that emails with GIFs are 6% more likely to be opened and 42% more likely to gain clicks for an email’s embedded links. Emails with GIFs also experienced a 103% increase in conversion rate and a 109% increase in revenue for Dell.

With Mailbutler’s GIPHY extension, users no longer need to exhaust themselves googling for instructions or downloading and converting files to make them compatible with their email provider. The extension brings them a possibility to simply access the entire GIPHY library and add GIFs with one click within their inbox, thus creating more engaging content and ultimately increasing conversion rates and revenue for the company.

The Timelessness of July 4th

I think that GP Cox has done an excellent job in his post on July 4th and wanted to share it,

Pacific Paratrooper

SEEMS WE DON’T SAY IT ENOUGH – SO, I’M TRYING TO FIX THAT RIGHT HERE – GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

A 1940’s CELEBRATION WRAPPED AROUND A 1776 WAR SONG

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!

HARK, hark the sound of war is heard,
And we must all attend;
Take up our arms and go with speed,
Our country to defend.

Our parent state has turned our foe,
Which fills our land with pain;
Her gallant ships, manned out for war,
Come thundering o’er the main.

There’s Charleton, Howe and Clinton too,
And many thousand more,
May cross the sea, but all in vain,
Our rights we’ll ne’er give o’er.

Our pleasant homes they do invade,
Our property devour;
And all because we won’t submit
To their despotic power.

Then let us go against our foe,
We’d better die than yield

We and our sons are…

View original post 375 more words

Coffee: Which type of filter do you use? There is a difference!

(See my other Coffee and Food  related posts) – The University of California, Davis Coffee Center has been investigating the best ways to brew coffee. In March of 2019 the article “Flat vs. Cone: Basket Shape is as Important as Grind Size in Drip Brew Coffee” was published in 25 Magazine.

A very well designed [see the article for details] experiment was designed to evaluate flat versus cone shaped filters. The quick take from the article:

1. filter shape does affect the taste of coffee
2. grind size does not affect the taste of coffee
3. there is a taste difference between light and dark roasts

With light roast:

1. flat bottom filters “yielded flavor attributes with more dried fruit, sweet, and floral flavor intensities“
2. cone filters “yielded more citrus, berry, and sour“

With dark roast:

1. flat bottom filters “yield more pronounced chocolate, cocoa, and woody flavors“
2. cone filters “yield much more intense bitterness“

Which filter type is best? That is really up to the consumer because we each have our own taste preferences.

Are​ 8 Glasses of Water Per Day Needed?

(See my other Health and Food related posts) – I came across the article “How Much Water Do I Really Need to Drink?” today and thought it was worth sharing.

We have been told for a while now that we should all drink 8 glasses of water every day. First to consider is what dehydration is:

1. exercise- and heat-induced mild dehydration  – loss of 1-3% of body weight – impact brain function and reduce endurance
2. further loss – memory and attention are impaired
3. If you feel thirsty, your body is telling you to drink
4. headaches, muscle cramping, a dry or sticky mouth, or infrequent urination – approaching dangerous levels of dehydration

These are warning signs those of us in Central Texas have to be aware of. The high temperatures we endure in the summer months (June through September) can easily cause dehydration if outside.

Water consumption guide:

1. In 1945 84 ounces of water per day recommended, but there appears to be no scientific basis in that number
2. The Institute of Medicine provides more guidance and recommends women to drink a total of 91-oz (10 glasses) of fluids a day and men a total of 125-oz (15 glasses).
3. research findings have estimated an increase in energy expenditure by approximately 96 calories a day with the consumption of 68-oz of room-temperature water
4. Those daily recommendations include fluid from ALL sources including coffee and tea (without sugar or milk)
5. staying hydrated improves health
6. staying hydrated can help with weight loss

The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors: age, sex, body mass, environment conditions, level of activity, health status, and pregnancy status. And how do you tell when you are well-hydrated? The best way, according to the Mayo Clinic, is to check your urine. If it’s pale yellow, you’re hydrated. If it’s darker yellow, you’re not. And if it’s crystal clear, you’re probably overhydrated.

If this has been of interest to you I suggest you read the article for yourself.

 

macOS New app Release – ChronoSync 4.9.3

Product Announcements – Econ Technologies of Casselberry, Florida has released ChronoSync 4.9.3. The Econ Development Team took a deep-dive into the entire ChronoSync App quashing numerous bugs as well as identifying and applying many efficiencies.

As a result of this effort, several rare crashes and some unusual memory usage patterns were resolved. Specific reliability improvements are found in Backblaze B2 cloud backup, SFTP syncs, and backups, resolving aliases when syncing and executing scheduled items. The app even more efficiently stores, loads and saves the Scheduler Database!

Duilio Proni, President of Econ Technologies, Inc. said: “Our engineers had to work closely with our customers to track down some of these problems as in many cases, we only had one or a few trouble-reports to analyze.” He went on to say, “We have a great customer base and without their feedback, I’m not sure some of these issues would have been isolated and resolved!”

Owners of ChronoSync can install the update immediately for free! If you don’t already own ChronoSync, download today and start the 15-day free trial to learn how ChronoSync is your best long-term backup investment for Mac.

ChronoSync, the multipurpose Mac App for local and cloud backup, bootable backup and folder synchronizing is designed to work on macOS version 10.11 and newer. Full working trial licenses are available or purchase ChronoSync for $49.99 (USD). ChronoSync’s companion app, ChronoAgent, allows any Mac to accept direct, secure connections from any ChronoSync Mac or any InterConneX iOS device to access or transfer data! Full working trial licenses are available or purchase ChronoAgent for $14.99. ChronoMonitor is an iPhone app that monitorsMacs running ChronoSync or ChronoAgent. ChronoMonitor is available in the Apple App Store for $3.99.

Flag Day

Today, June 14, is Flag Day. in the US. Per the NationalDayCalendar site:

This day commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777.

On National Flag Day, Americans show respect for the U.S. Flag and what it represents.  Representing independence and unity, the Star Spangled Banner has become a powerful symbol of Americanism and is flown proudly. 

While Betsy Ross has been given credit for stitching together the first American flag, there isn’t any sound evidence supporting the story.  At the same time, there isn’t any to disprove it, either. Part of the conflict is that there were several designs being considered at the same time, many flag makers and more than one claim to the first. During Ross’s Revolutionary time, several standards were carried bearing red and white stripes and varying symbols where the blue field and stars now reside.

Another who laid claim to the first design was Francis Hopkinson. His request for compensation for his design was denied because others contributed to the design final design. 

Since 1777, the design of the flag has been officially modified 26 times.  For 47 years, the 48-star flag was in effect.  In 1959, the 49-star version became official on July 4.  President Eisenhower ordered the 50-star flag on August 21, 1959.

Seventeen-year-old Robert G. Heft of Ohio designed the 50-star American flag.  His was one f the more than 1,500 designs that were submitted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Many people have died protecting our country.  On National Flag Day, raise the flag and fly it proudly. Use #NationalFlagDay to post on social media.