TvDB Organizes Your TV and Movie Files, Finds Related Videos
Last Updated on Tuesday, 3 January 2012 10:54 Written by Alan Monday, 16 January 2012 07:00
If you watch, and more importantly collect, TV shows then you are probably looking for an easy way to keep track of your collection. As with all collections, having a database to manage it is the most logical way to go. TvDB is a free app that will keep track of all of your TV shows, including cartoons and anime. It does more than just keep track of your TV shows. It also gives you such extras as plot synopsis, cast, episode guide, cover art, and related videos.
Once you have downloaded and installed the app, you can open it and begin by entering a TV show title into the search box. You will find a series of tabs to the right that allow you to view specific information on that TV show. There is an Episode tab, Cast tab, Posters tab, and more. You can mark a series or episode as watched or unwatched. All of the information comes from the Free TvDB database online and is downloaded into the app. Some of the latest features include:
- automatic data download (info / cast / images) from thetvdb.com
- multi-language series info (up to 23 languages)
- poster and fanart galleries (automatically downloaded!)
- keep track of the series you have watched
- proxy support
- automatic database backup
- export database to txt, csv and xml format
… and more!
TvDB is currently in version 1.6. This latest version added the ability to export your database as a txt, csv, or xml file, and also changed the background color. You can download TvDB for free from MyPortableSoftware. It’s a great way to combine TV with a database to make your life a little more manageable. It’s compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, and requires .NET Framework 2.0.
Laplink PCmover Updates for Windows 8
Last Updated on Wednesday, 4 January 2012 09:58 Written by Alan Wednesday, 4 January 2012 09:58
We are getting very close to Windows 8. Microsoft plans to show off the Beta at CES next week during CEO Steve Ballmer’s keynote address. A public Beta is expected sometime in February. Now it seems that software makers are starting to get on the ball with updating their products for the future operating system. Today Laplink announced that they would be releasing their PCmover software with new enhancements that make it compatible with for forthcoming Windows 8 Beta.
PCmover is an app designed to automatically move files, settings, user accounts, applications, and a lot more from one PC to another or even one OS to another. The maker, Laplink, announced that it will be releasing a new version that is compatible with Windows 8 tomorrow, January 5th. The new program isn’t actually called PCmover, but is based on it, and will be called Windows 8 Beta Assistant.
The new program will make life a lot easier for IT pros and users who just want to test the new Windows 8 Beta by upgrading from Windows 7. The app will be available beginning January 5th and you can use it for an unlimited number of moves to Windows 8 for no charge until July of 2012.
Windows 8 Comes to Windows 7 Explorer with Better Explorer
Last Updated on Monday, 19 December 2011 07:20 Written by Alan Monday, 2 January 2012 07:00
You may have at least seen screenshots of the next version of Windows Explorer, even if you haven’t tried out the Windows 8 Developer Preview. The next version of Windows Explorer will have the ribbon interface that was debuted in Microsoft Office and, while many users didn’t initially like it, has become popular over the past couple of years. It’s something that may initially seem too different, but once you get some experience with it you will find it much more useful.
Better Explorer brings the ribbon interface, and several other features, to Windows as a replacement for Windows Explorer. Other features include tabs and extra jumplist options. The program doesn’t replace Windows Explorer, and it’s not an add-on, but it’s a completely separate stand-alone program. It’s an open-source project hosted over at Codeplex.
Features of the latest version, include:
The main goals of this project are:
- Adding tab functionality together with use of standard explorer browser control (Implemented)
- Adding additional features like:
- Changing Library icons (conditional tab for Libraries) (In progress)
- File operation with files and folders(Implemented)
- Synchronized command promt
- Change of folder icons (conditional tab for folders)
- Extended Jump list support (Windows 7)(Implemented)
- Extended search conditional tab like extended search pane in Vista (Windows 7)(In progress)
The program is compatible with Windows 7 and is still in Alpha release, but is very stable. If you want more functionality out of Windows Explorer than it currently has, and you like the ribbon interface for Windows 8 and the current Office, then you may want to try this out. It’s a free download, but appears to only work with Windows 7.
Download: Codeplex Better Explorer
