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Thursday, December 15, 2016



When you're your own boss, or when you're rushing on a report that's due tomorrow, distraction can be your worst enemy. These distractions may involve replying to text messages or social media IMs, and emails moments after they're sent, checking your Facebook news feed, or simply just chatting with your colleague about a trending showbiz personality, keeping your mind focused on your work can be very challenging.

There are lots of productivity apps you can find on the Web that can help you boost your productivity at work; however, they tend to be locked to specific operating systems, which makes it annoying to find the right tools. Online websites, however, works on a wide variety of computers, making them highly useful regardless of the device you are using.

Below are five websites that will help you get rid of those distractions and to help you achieve your task goals on time.

Magic Work Cycle


The concept of the Magic Work Cycle is this simple -- people work better and more efficiently if they go for thirty minutes of work followed by thirty minutes of play. This means you work for half and hour solid without allowing non-critical distractions to stop you, then spend another half hour doing zero work or whatsoever. This gives you more time to respond to emails and texts, check your social media accounts, or even fit in a small game.

The Magic Work Cycle website lets you time these thirty-minutes bursts automatically. When one cycle is over, a sound plays, and the next cycle begins immediately afterward. This is a great way to prevent you from getting burnouts because of working on straight hours. However, if you disagree with the idea of a 30-30 cycle, or if it doesn't fit your workflow, you can always change the times for each cycle by adjusting the appropriate sliders, between one minute to two hours.

Coffitivity


Coffitivity is a brilliant app that plays that ambient coffee shop noise to get your creative juices flowing. Several studies have shown that "coffee shop buzz is good for your creativity and productivity," thanks to providing "just the right amount" of background noise.

It's a pretty realistic recreation of a coffee shop's vibe, complete with clinking cups and background chatter. The website comes with three long audio tracks recorded from within a cafe; a softer morning tone, a more bustling lunchtime rush, and the "scholarly sounds" of a University campus cafe. You'll get all of that coffee shop buzz without having to fight for a seat or buy lattes all day.

If you're particularly enjoying the sounds, Coffitivity also comes with a premium plan at $9 a year. This offers three more cafe audio scenes: Paris, Brazil, and Texas.

stickK


stickK works in a simple way -- first, you need to tell it what goal you would like to achieve. Then, you have the option of assigning a trusted referee, such as a friend or family member, to make sure you're on the right track in achieving your goal. If you even want to dare yourself, you can even instruct stickK to take money from your bank account and donate it to charity should you fail to reach your set goal. This can either go to a randomly assigned charity or a charity that supports a cause you're against, such as a rival political party. Most of the time, assigning a monetary penalty for failing a task increases its success rate by three times. So, if you're really desperate in achieving your goal, no but's and if's, then this might be what you need.

ZenPen


A word processor can also be a good tool in blocking out all other distractions on your computer screen. If this is what you need, then you can try ZenPen. It may look like a simple word processor at a glance, but when you click on the fullscreen button on the left, ZenPen will cover the entire screen with the page. This means you can type away without looking at browser tabs or apps calling for your attention.

Aside from blocking out other visual distractions, ZenPen also has other neat features for you. There's a word counter if you're trying to hit a goal, an option to invert the colors for a black page with white text, and the ability to save what you typed on it.

Habitica


Do you enjoy doing endless quests and jobs in video games, but once you need to get your real work done your video game productivity fails you? Maybe what you need is to turn the projects you have in the real world into a game. This is what Habitica (formerly known as HabitRPG) does, where performing real-world tasks and habits helps you earn in-game rewards.

All you need is to tell Habitica what you'd like to get accomplished. Perhaps it's something you'd like to do everyday, like a draw picture or something with a set deadline (finish an assignment due in two weeks). Habitica then keeps track of which tasks you've set for what timeframes. If you complete a challenge that you've set for yourself, you can log on and check the box to tell Habitica you accomplished it. Habitica then rewards you with money and experience to help you improve your character. If the deadline passes and you didn't check the box, your character takes damage.


Perhaps the best features of Habitica are the groups. Like-minded people with a common goal in mind can band together in a group. People can cheer one another, make friends and chat, and even set goals for the entire community to try to complete individually.

Friday, November 4, 2016

3 Simple Ways on how you Can Manage your Files Better in Dropbox



As a reliable cloud-based productivity tool, Dropbox provides offline storage and access to your stuff anywhere you can run on a browser. However, one of the visible problems with file dumping is that they can get cluttered or disorganized, if you are not very careful.

Below are some simple tips on how you can re-organize your Dropbox and transform it from a pile of stuff into an organized repository.

Resource vs. Clutter

There is big difference if you're going to compare a pile of stuff and a resource. For example, some people have piles of stuff on their desks and they would say they need it all because it contain important information in there somewhere.
Of course, this is considered inefficient and not ideal. A pile of stuff is not called a resource if you can't or don't have access to it. A simple analogy of this -- a library is a resource, while a pile of receipts, software manuals, transcripts, printouts, and cables scattered around your desk is considered a mess.

When it comes to the digital age, this is a major thing to deal with when clutter creeps into computers, as well as offline storage clouds.

Minimize Clutter
First thing you need to do is to free up space. Go through every file on your Dropbox and delete anything that's outdated, irrelevant, or duplicated. Well, this is pretty easy if you only have few files stored.

A quick method to do this is to sort the files in each folder by "Modified" by clicking on the column head. By doing this, it would be easier for you to identify which files or documents are relevant by noting how often you access them. If a file has been untouched for two years or more, then it's safe to say that you don't need them anymore.

You can also use a third-party management app like JoliCloud to help you get better access and make it easier for you to arrange your files. Simply log in with your Facebook account or use your Google ID for access.


Once you're logged in, you can add your other cloud storage accounts to make it an all-in-one solution for your cloud management.


Here's an expert tip when it comes to file management -- there is a hidden feature in Dropbox that stores the history or previous versions of your files. To access this, right-click on any file and there is an option for you to select Previous versions of that file. This option is useful especially if you accidentally overwrite a file copying it over a previous version while moving things around.


You can also make folders and group your files according to type. If you already have existing folders in your Dropbox account, consider making new Main folders, and then drag and drop your existing folders into them. See to it that you keep all folders in a single screen, since scrolling up and down wastes time. As for videos, audios, graphics, etc., make sure you title the main folders appropriately.

If in case you have hundreds of files in many folders, it is best to use tools that will help you accomplish this task in a quicker and a more efficient manner.

Search for Duplicates
The Unclouded app for Android is a very good solution if you need to locate for duplicate files. The app allows you to log into your cloud space (and that's any cloud space, like Dropbox but also Google Drive, Onedrive, Box and Mega) and get a lot of stats and info that are unavailable to you as a standard Dropbox user, file sizes for instance.

Clearly one of the most important thing about reducing space usage is by searching for and removing duplicates. Windows and Mac users can use a desktop app called Easy Duplicate Finder (EDF) to find duplicate files. It allows you to log into your Dropbox account and select folders you wish to include and exclude. Using this app, you can let it search your folders, and it will give you a report of which files are duplicates.


Share and Unshare Alike

Disconnecting shared files is another method you can try to clean things up on your Dropbox. Though it may not look that obvious, but your file space on Dropbox is composed of both files you have personally uploaded and files in other people's spaces, which are shared with you. To check how much space you have tied up in shares, click on your Account Name (with your image), then go to Settings, and then click the Account tab. It will show you a list of how your files are arranged and how much you have shared.


To check the sharing properties of individual files, right-click on it, and then choose Sharing. Click the drop-down arrow next to your name, then click Remove my access to disconnect from the files, which will then free up your Dropbox some space.

You can also check the files you share (you might want to revoke access for security purposes) by clicking on the Sharing link and Links items on the left menu pane.



Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Neat iOS Apps That Can Give You More Content Streaming Ideas



There are those moments when you just want to curl up on your couch with your warm blanket and your favorite fall TV series, especially during the cold weather. If you're someone who can get addicted to streaming shows, music, and videos, then you will gladly appreciate using a few more apps than your regular Netflix and Hulu subscription. If you notice that you're running out of things to stream since 'tis the season of staying indoors, check out these apps to help you fill the gaps where your current subscriptions might be missing some of the content you're looking for.

1. Sling


Sling TV is a streaming service owned by DISH. This app allows you to watch live TV anytime and anywhere with a WiFi connection. The service has three options including Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue which provide different channels based on your interests. Service fees range from $20-$40 per month and include up to 50 channels. This is a great options for sports streamers as the Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue packages offer you access to live programming from ESPN.

2. HBO Go & HBO Now


There are various differences between HBO Go and HBO Now, the most important one being that HBO Now is available to customers who do not have access to HBO through another subscription. The key similarity is that both the HBO Go and HBO Now apps give you access to HBO's hit TV shows, movies, and original series. The two apps function similarly to Netflix, but also allow you to view new episodes as they are released on the regular HBO channel that is usually available only to TV service subscribers.

HBO Now is available without a television subscription for $14.99/month. HBO Go can be added to your regular service for a cost that varies depending on your current television service provider.

3. Amazon Movies, Music, and TV


Did you know that subscribing to Amazon Prime gives you movies, music, and TV for free? If you're not aware of this and you are a current Prime member, then you should probably go check out the free movies and TV series that you can avail with your membership. Most of these movies and shows available on the Amazon TV and Movie app will be free for Prime members, while some programs may cost no more than about $4.

Aside from Amazon Movies and TV, you also might want to check out Amazon Music as well. The service is $7.99 for Prime members (which is regularly $9.99 for non-Prime members), which could let you save up to two bucks each month depending on what you're currently paying for streaming with another service.

4. Crackle


Created by Sony, Crackle TV is a free streaming service that features popular TV series and movies. You can also download the app to stream from your iOS device. Similar tp Netflix, you will get recommendations for additional shows you might like based on the content you've streamed, the ability to save your favorite shows, and the ability to pause and resume content across multiple devices. You can also set up alerts to be notified when Crackle has network premieres. The selection seems to be a bit more limited than most streaming sites, but it's free, so you could really use it to get more sources for content that can be streamed, especially if you notice that you can't find a show or a movie that you like from those apps that you are currently paying for.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Weird Businesses You Can Surprisingly Venture Into



There are tons of kinds of small businesses existing that serves a wide variety of markets. Who would ever think that a weird business like selling in threes, cuddle sessions or a mobile wedding chapel could actually make a profit? Well, you may want to check some of these weird small businesses and see for yourself that you don't have to be conventional in order to make some profitable income.

Cuddling Service


There are times when all you need is the comfort of another person. There's nothing like a good hug or a warm cuddle, but what if you don't have the option of doing it with another person? So, here comes Cuddle Party in the scene.

Cuddle Party is a "playful social event designed for adults to explore communication, boundaries, and affection." These events are safe spaces where attendees can go to meet and talk to new people as well as to practice consent and asking for what they want, and of course, to just cuddle. Cuddling with strangers may sound absurd, but there's value in their mission to teach boundaries, consent, affection, communication, and non-sexual touch. The company was founded in 2004 and is a federally recognized non-profit organization.

Check out their website www.cuddleparty.com if you're interested to know more about this service.

Mystery Marketplace


Are you someone who is interested in something new but don't know what exactly to get? You can find the solution in the SomethingStore. This retailer offers customers who love surprises the opportunity to purchase a brand new (never used or refurbished) mystery item, or "something" for $10.

According to the SomethingStore's site, your "something" may be a cool shiny gadget, a rare book, a handmade necklace, a reverse clock, box of gourmet chocolates, portable tennis set, etc. Anything goes, as long as it's legal to trade in the United States and it's worth at least $10. Since it started last 2007, this weird business has sold over 200,000 brand-new somethings.

Socks in Threes


No matter how boring and risky it can be, doing the laundry is a part of life. Why risky? Because somewhere in the journey from the hamper to the dresser, you could possibly lose one of your favorite socks, leaving it useless.

With Throx, you can minimize the chances of handling another lonely leftover sock. The company helps customers fight the infamous "sock monster" by selling socks in threes, not pairs. That way, when you lose one, you've still got a backup sock to keep the other company, so you can keep wearing your favorite pair and doing your laundry worry-free.

Throx's socks are one-size-fits-all and range in price depending on the design, though most cost around $10.

Mobile Wedding Chapel


Are you in a tight budget but want to get married as quickly as possible? Whether you're sober or drunk, The Wedding Wagon is the perfect thing you're looking for. This unique mobile company founded in Las Vegas provides a full wedding ceremony for just $129.

You have the option to choose when and where you want to get married, and the wedding wagon will meet you there with a minister, a witness, and a fully decked-out mobile chapel. For an extra hundred bucks, The Wedding Wagon will even arrange to meet you at some truly beautiful venues.

Furniture for Slobs


Do you have a spit-up-prone baby or a territorial pet cat that sprays on every single furniture he sees? If you do, then we understand what you're going through when it comes to your home furniture. Well, you might be interested to know that there's a company devoted entirely to helping people like you.

Slobproof, a Maryland-based furniture and design company, builds custom chairs, sofas, and ottomans with specially engineered fabric that withstand spills and other messes without staining. Debbie Wiener, founder and CEO of Slobproof, said her design style marries the "common sense of a Jewish mother with the muscle of a professional wrestler."


Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Can't Unfollow or Unfriend People on Social Media? Mute Them!



Tired of your friends, family, or colleague who keeps making non-stop posts about what they ate for lunch or how they look when they woke up? The problem is, you simply can't unfollow or unfriend them without them knowing that you did. Sometimes, it's easier to mute them, and you can check their page every now and then if you want to keep up appearances.

Check out these guides on how you can mute people on social media without completely getting rid of them.

Twitter

For some, they can still find it easy to be annoying in 140 characters or less. Good thing you can now mute them and they won't even find out. They'll still be able to interact with you and respond to your tweets, so you don't have to worry about offending them.


All you need to do is to tap one of their tweets, and then hit the options menu (three circles next to the like button). Hit the Mute option there and you're done.

Facebook

This is one of the most common social media sites where you would really like to delete people from your news feed but you can't.

If you're getting spammed or you've had enough selfie posts of someone in particular, you can tap on a recent update and choose to receive less updates from that person. You can pick from the list (as shown below) depending on what you feel what's right for you. This method is nicer than completely deleting them from your Friends list, and it saves the hassle in case you bump into them in person.


Eventually, their posts will stop coming in to your news feed if you keep hiding their content.

LinkedIn

Even though we all know that LinkedIn is a professional social media site, there's always somebody who doesn't understand where to draw the line when it comes to self-promotion. You can mute or advert a conversation easily by clicking the arrow in the upper-right corner beside the Follow button. You can choose to hide that particular update or conversation, and it will stop cropping up in your news feed every two minutes.


Deleting people in this site is not a very good thing to do if you want to stay professional and use the site for networking or business purposes.

Google+

Google+ can be considered as a much hated social media platform even though it has a number of loyal users -- a number of them are also annoying. To mute a page or person, click on their name, then click the arrow down button at the bottom. Choose the option to mute the annoying/offending page and they'll never know you did that to them.