That’s why we’ve looked through all the options and picked the top 20 for you. These charging pads are both effective and easy to use. Check them out and find the perfect one for your needs.

3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

Keep all your devices charged and organized in one place with the Satechi 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand. It features wireless charging technology to power up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro simultaneously, ensuring they are charged and ready whenever you are.

This stand offers the ultimate solution for convenient, wireless charging. It is designed to be cable-free, ensuring a clean and tidy desk. The snap-on magnetic connection is user-friendly and allows your iPhone to be viewed in both portrait and landscape modes.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $119.99

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Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

The Satechi Magnetic 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand is a unique blend of power and convenience. It combines the capabilities of dual wireless charging with the added benefit of hands-free magnetic attachment. Specifically designed for iPhone 12/13 and AirPods Pro, this stand is equipped with a built-in magnetic charger and a dedicated wireless charging pad, ensuring both your devices are powered effortlessly.

What sets this charging stand apart is its thoughtful design. Not only does it have a built-in magnetic wireless charger for the iPhone 12 (7.5W) and a designated pad for AirPods Pro (5W), but it also boasts features like an LED indicator light to signal charging, a handy USB-C port, and non-slip padding at the base. This ensures the stand remains stable. Moreover, its sleek design, accentuated with space gray aluminum finishes, adds a touch of elegance to any space.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $59.99

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Aluminum Wireless Charger

The Aluminum Wireless Charger by Satechi offers a seamless and efficient wireless charging experience. Elevate the way you power up your devices with this charger that eliminates the need for constantly plugging and unplugging charging cables. Simply position your device on the pad, and let the magic happen. It’s designed to provide a hassle-free charging solution for those who value convenience and efficiency in their daily tech interactions.

One of the standout features of this charger is its elegant design. Crafted with precision, the charger comes in a variety of colors including Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. This ensures that it not only functions efficiently but also complements your workspace or bedside table with its aesthetic appeal.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $9.99

View on Satechi

ArcField Flex Wireless Charger

The ArcField™ Wireless Charger by Spigen is a flexible wireless charger with a ‘Designed for SAMSUNG’ certification. It offers up to 15W of wireless charging, primarily for Samsung devices.

This charger’s main feature is its adaptability, eliminating the need for cables. Simply set your device on it to charge. While it’s particularly compatible with the Samsung Galaxy series, it also provides a straightforward and sleek charging solution. It balances both design and function, charging your device efficiently.

Brand: Spigen

Price: $79.99

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Base

The Base by NOMAD is a MagSafe Compatible Charger, offering a new approach to charging your devices. It has strong magnets and quick charging features, ensuring efficient power delivery. Its design combines simplicity with practicality, using a metal frame and a glass panel for a clean look.

A key aspect of Base is its magnetic alignment, matching the MagSafe magnets in iPhones. This ensures easy device placement for charging, whether during work or rest. For non-MagSafe devices, just place them in the center of Base. Weighing over 1 pound (536g), the charger stays put, allowing for smooth device pick-up. Its raised magnetic charging section adds to its user-friendly design. Overall, Base showcases NOMAD’s dedication to thoughtful design and functionality.

Brand: Nomad

Price: $110

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MagSafe Mount

The MagSafe Mount provides a stable base for your MagSafe Charger, ensuring your iPhone charges securely. Made of zinc, it holds the MagSafe Charger in place, preventing it from lifting when you pick up your iPhone. It’s specifically shaped to fit the MagSafe charging cable, combining the efficiency of MagSafe with a well-balanced base for optimal home charging.

Constructed from sturdy zinc alloy with a sloped design, the MagSafe Mount makes it easy to lift your iPhone. It’s a durable addition to any desk or nightstand.

Brand: Nomad

Price: $27

View on Nomad

Drop Wireless Charger

The Drop Wireless Charger powers AirPods up to 5W, iPhones up to 7.5W, and other Qi-compatible devices up to 10W. It’s crafted with a weighted aluminum base and home textile, ensuring a blend of functionality and aesthetics.

For added convenience, the non-slip silicone tread keeps your device securely in place during charging. The charger also features foreign object detection and thermal protection, ensuring safe charging. It offers hassle-free charging through cases up to 3mm and comes with a 6.5ft USB-A to USB-C cable for easy connectivity.

Brand: Native Union

Price: $49.99

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Essential Leather Designed 10W Wireless Charger

The Essential® Leather Designed 10W Wireless Charger offers a sleek and classy look with compact durability. Its slim design allows for fast charging capability without overheating and the modern look and leather detail makes it fit in any room. It’s so good, you’ll wish it was you laying on it instead of your phone.

Brand: Spigen

Price: $49.99

View on Spigen

Forté for iPhone

Forté for iPhone is a contemporary wireless charging stand designed exclusively for the Apple MagSafe Charger. By integrating your MagSafe Charger into Forté, you gain a smart solution to dock your iPhone 12 or newer models. This allows for efficient wireless charging at an impressive 15 Watts. The stand’s design ensures your phone can be held both vertically and horizontally, facilitating hands-free usage.

Additionally, the platform can tilt up to 70-degrees, making it an ideal viewing angle or even a charging base for your AirPods. For those on the move, the MagSafe charger can be effortlessly removed for travel purposes.

Brand: Twelve South

Price: $39.99

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HiRise 3 Deluxe

HiRise 3 Deluxe is a luxurious, space-saving 3-in-1 wireless charger designed for your three most essential devices. Place your iPhone on the vertical charger to easily view notifications. The stand also features an Apple Watch Fast Charger, allowing you to power up in Nightstand mode.

Additionally, there’s a soft vegan leather charging base suitable for charging AirPods or even a second phone. The stand, with its aluminum post and vegan leather-wrapped base, is crafted to exude a sense of quiet luxury. It guarantees the fastest charging performance with the 15W MagSafe Charger for iPhone and the Apple Watch Fast Charger.

Brand: Twelve South

Price: $149.99

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Rise Dock

Elevating the MagSafe experience, the Rise Dock is a weighted metal stand designed to enhance the performance and convenience of MagSafe. It allows users to mount their MagSafe Charger, providing full portrait or landscape mode access to the iPhone 12/13/14 while charging. The dock is crafted to offer an unhindered view of the device, ensuring users can enjoy seamless vertical or horizontal access.

The premium weighted non-slip base ensures the iPhone remains in place, and the design is built to last with solid zinc alloy & Tarpaulin panel. The dock also offers effortless one-hand detachment, allowing users to simply grab & go.

Brand: Native Union

Price: $59.99

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Snap 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger

The Snap 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger offers a hands-free, snap-to-charge experience for the iPhone 12/13/14 anad 15, integrated with a magnetic wireless stand. This modern and minimalist design enhances daily charging, providing a dedicated wireless tray specifically shaped for AirPods or AirPods Pro. Users can easily snap their iPhone onto the stand and place their AirPods or AirPods Pro in the tray. The charger supports iPhone charging up to 7.5W and AirPods or AirPods Pro up to 5W.

Additionally, the adjustable angle ensures versatile viewing, and the weighted base allows for effortless one-hand detachment.

Brand: Native Union

Price: $79.99

View on Native Union

Stand

The Stand is a well-crafted charger compatible with MagSafe technology. Its sturdy metal frame paired with a sleek glass panel is both functional and visually appealing. The magnetic feature ensures easy connection for efficient charging, and its weight keeps it stable.

Beyond just charging, The Stand has a 21º tilt, allowing you to view your device in both vertical and horizontal positions. This is convenient for checking notifications or reading, and the raised charging point makes picking up your device straightforward.

Brand: Nomad

Price: $80

View on Nomad

Trio Wireless Charger With Magnetic Pad

The Satechi Trio Wireless Charger With Magnetic Pad is designed to simplify the wireless charging experience by providing a centralized location for all your essential devices. This charger boasts faster-charging technology combined with intelligent safety features, ensuring your devices are powered efficiently. It is capable of simultaneously charging a Qi-enabled smartphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro.

The design is not only sleek and modern but also offers convenience for users on the move. It’s compatible with smartphone cases up to 5mm thick and supports the Apple Watch in its Nightstand mode. However, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t work with phone cases that have metal plates or credit card holders.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $119.99

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Anker 315 Wireless Charger

The Anker 315 Wireless Charger (Pad) provides a straightforward charging method for phones and earbuds. Just position your device on the pad to start charging. With its slim design, the charger is only 8.5mm thick, resembling a coaster. It’s compatible with many phone models, including recent iPhone and Samsung devices, and various wireless earbuds.

The charger incorporates Anker’s specific safety features to ensure it adheres to all necessary standards and safeguards your devices. Inside the box, you’ll receive the Anker 315 Wireless Charger (Pad), a 4ft / 1.21m Micro USB cable, an instruction guide, and an 18-month warranty.

Brand: Anker

Price: $14.99

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Apple MagSafe Charger

The Apple MagSafe Charger revolutionizes wireless charging with its unique magnetic attachment feature. Designed primarily for the iPhone 12 series and later, it offers rapid wireless charging up to 15W. The charger’s magnets align perfectly with your device, ensuring efficient energy transfer and a secure fit.

In addition to its MagSafe capabilities, this charger is also compatible with Qi charging standards. This means you can wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 or later, as well as AirPods models equipped with a wireless charging case, just as you would with any other Qi-certified charger. However, it’s worth noting that the magnetic alignment experience is exclusive to the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15. The package includes a USB-C integrated cable that measures 1 meter in length.

Brand: Apple

Price: $33.00

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FDGAO Wireless Charger

The FDGAO Wireless Charger is a practical tool for charging various devices. It has a 20W charging capacity and works with devices like the Huawei Mate40 Pro+5G/Mate40 RS. It can also charge the iPhone 14/15/13/12 series, Samsung S23/S22/S21/S20/Note 20, and devices from LG and Sony at 15W. Other devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy 10/9/8 and Nokia/Google phones, can be charged at 10W. The iPhone 11 series, X, XS, 8, and SE can use its 7.5W docks. It also has a 5W charging mode for Airpods 3/2/Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds.

This charger is designed for ease of use. It can charge through cases up to 6mm thick, except those with metal or magnets. It’s slim and has a non-slip rubber finish, making it easy to carry and use anywhere. The charger has a green light to show it’s powered on and a faint blue light to show it’s charging, so you can easily see its status without it being disruptive.

Brand: FDGAO

Price: $14.99

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NANAMI Wireless Charger

The NANAMI Wireless Charger is a Qi Certified stand with 2-Coil technology, allowing faster charging than many standard chargers. It’s compatible with devices like the iPhone 15 series and Samsung Galaxy S23 series. The ergonomic “Sailing Design” lets you position your phone vertically or horizontally, enabling use during charging.

It works with most phone cases, but for the iPhone 12/13 series, cases should be 3mm thick or less. The charger has an LED status indicator, and NANAMI offers a one-year warranty for it.

Brand: NANAMI

Price: $18.99

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TOZO W1

The TOZO W1 Wireless Charger combines a simple design with practical functionality. Its thinness of 5mm and width of 100mm make it easy to carry, suitable for both travel and everyday use. This charger offers a 10W fast charging feature, reducing the need for multiple cables and plugs.

The W1 charger has QI certification, ensuring it works with various devices and charges them safely. It has built-in protections against over-voltage, over-temperature, and other potential issues, providing a reliable charging experience. The LED indicator lights on the charger show the charging status. The W1 works with many iOS and Android devices, including the iPhone 15 series, Samsung Galaxy S22 series, and certain TOZO earbuds.

Brand: TOZO

Price: $12.99

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Yootech Wireless Charger

The Yootech Wireless Charger offers multiple charging options for various devices. It has a 7.5W mode for newer iPhones, a 10W mode for select Samsung Galaxy models, and a 5W mode for basic wireless charging devices like some Google Pixel phones. For optimal results, a QC 2.0/3.0 adapter (not included) is recommended.

Designed to fit AirPods with a wireless charging case, the Yootech charger ensures stability with rubber rings. It features safety measures, including temperature control and surge protection, and is made from fire-resistant material with a UL Certificate. The package includes the charging pad, a 3.3ft USB Type C cable, and a manual. Yootech also provides responsive customer support.

Brand: Yootech

Price: $13.99

View on Amazon

The post 20 Best iPhone Wireless Charging Pads and Stands to Buy appeared first on Hongkiat.

There are tools available that can transform your photos and movie clips into engaging videos. In this post, I’ve selected the best video creation tools that are feature-rich and user-friendly. Let’s take a look.

Read Also:  10 Sites to Download Free High Quality Stock Videos

Prezi

Prezi is more than just a presentation software; it’s also a versatile tool for making videos. Using a third-party screen recorder, you can easily turn your Prezi presentations into engaging videos.

With Prezi, you can place your ideas on a zoomable canvas, making your presentations interactive and fun. Customization is easy; you can change font sizes, add audio clips, and even tweak the angles. The software comes with a variety of ready-to-use templates, allowing you to make awesome videos in no time. Plus, you can import your existing PowerPoint slides and transform them into videos.

Pricing Plans

Standard Plan: $5/month

• Who It’s For: Perfect for personal use.
• Features: This plan allows you to create and share videos, presentations, and infographics. You also get advanced privacy settings and can work on an unlimited number of projects.

Plus Plan: $12/month

• Who It’s For: Ideal for those who are experts in visual communication.
• Features: The Plus Plan includes everything in the Standard plan, plus additional features like PowerPoint import, access to premium images, PDF export options, and video downloads. You even get a desktop app and can use Prezi offline.

Premium Plan: $16/month

• Who It’s For: Tailored for business professionals.
• Features: The Premium Plan offers all the benefits of the Plus Plan, along with powerful analytics and advanced online training courses.

Visit Prezi

Promo

Formerly known as Slidely Show, Promo is a user-friendly tool for creating slideshow videos from your photos, short clips, and other media. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Promo makes video creation simple and quick.

Promo allows you to combine photos, short videos, and even snapshots into slideshow videos with ease. You can organize your media items in a sequence, add real-time effects, background music, and text messages to create a captivating video within minutes. The platform offers features for customizing colors and fonts, and even allows you to replace or edit footage. With the live-preview option, you can see your edits and changes in real-time before saving. Plus, you have the freedom to make and save as many drafts as you like.

Pricing Plans

Annual Basic Plan: $29/$59 per month

• Key Feature: Comes with 36 premium clips per year.
• Who It’s For: Ideal for individuals or small businesses that need a few premium clips for their projects.

Annual Standard Plan: $59/$119 per month

• Key Feature: Offers unlimited premium clips.
• Who It’s For: Perfect for frequent video creators in need of limitless premium content.

Annual Pro Plan: $199/$399 per month

• Key Feature: Provides reseller rights and the ability to manage multiple brands.
• Who It’s For: Designed for agencies and large businesses looking to manage multiple branding efforts.

Visit Promo

Vimeo Video Editor

Looking for a video tool that simplifies the creation process? Vimeo Video Editor has got you covered. With this tool, you can shoot video clips, add photos, include audio or voice recordings, and even mix in additional videos to create a compelling movie effortlessly.

Vimeo Video Editor’s built-in functionalities take away the hassle of manual editing. The editor automatically selects the best clips, adds transitions, and enhances your footage. You can choose a style or theme for your video, and the editor will add effects, pan-and-zoom options, and much more, all automatically. You can also add a soundtrack from Vimeo’s own library or upload one from your personal playlist. Plus, tweak color and style settings to make sure your video aligns with your brand identity.

Pricing Plans

Starter Plan: $20/month per seat or $12/month per seat (Annual Billing)

• Features: This plan allows you to share and collaborate on up to 60 videos. It includes features like screen recording, video sharing & embedding, password protection, as well as review and collaboration tools.
• Who It’s For: Ideal for individuals or small teams looking for basic video editing and sharing features.

Standard Plan: $33/month per seat or $20/month per seat (Annual Billing)

• Features: The Standard plan includes everything in the Starter plan, plus additional features like 120 videos, brand kits, custom fonts, an AI script generator, a teleprompter, text-based video editing, and basic marketing integrations.
• Who It’s For: Perfect for medium-sized businesses or professionals who need advanced editing and branding options.

Advanced Plan: $108/month per seat or $65/month per seat (Annual Billing)

• Features: In addition to everything in the Standard plan, this offers features like 500 videos, virtual events & webinars, simulcasting, live Q&A, attendee registration, and more.
• Who It’s For: Designed for large enterprises that require extensive video creation and interactive features.

Enterprise Plan: Custom Pricing

• Features: The Enterprise plan includes everything in the Advanced plan plus options for more team members, custom permissions, advanced marketing integrations, live Q&A moderation, backup streams, and dedicated support.
• Who It’s For: Tailored for very large enterprises with specific, complex needs.

Visit Vimeo Video Editor

Animoto

If you’re in the market for a slideshow video maker, Animoto is worth considering. Similar to Vimeo, Animoto allows you to combine pictures and video clips into captivating slideshow videos. Although you can’t capture photos or videos directly through the app, Animoto compensates with an impressive media library, featuring over 2,000 commercially licensed audio tracks and more than 100 styling options.

Animoto offers pre-built storyboards to kickstart your video creation process. You can add short voice-overs, customize text, and adjust the layout to meet your specific needs. The best part? You can create high-definition videos and download them in MP4 format if you’re using one of their premium plans.

Related: 10 Free Tools For Digital Storytelling

Pricing Plans

Free Plan

• Features: Create unlimited videos, but with Animoto branding.
• Who It’s For: Ideal for those who want to try out the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Basic Plan: $8/month

• Features: You get unbranded videos in HD 1080p quality and unlimited downloads.
• Who It’s For: Suitable for individuals who need basic, high-quality video creation features without any branding.

Professional Plan: $15/month

• Features: The Professional plan includes everything in the Basic plan, plus you get a custom logo, access to 3,000 music tracks, and over 1 million Getty Images.
• Who It’s For: Designed for professionals who require advanced customization and branding options.

Teams Plan: $39/month

• Features: The Teams plan encompasses all Professional features and adds up to 3 users, access to 100 million+ Premium Getty Images, the ability to manage 10 brands, and additional team tools.
• Who It’s For: Perfect for small teams who need collaborative features and advanced media options.

Visit Animoto

Kizoa

If you love photo blogging or creating GIFs, Kizoa could be the perfect video creation tool for you. This user-friendly platform allows you to combine photos – including GIFs, audio clips, and a variety of transitions and visual effects – to craft your own videos. You can also choose from pre-designed templates to make the process even easier.

Kizoa gives you the freedom to either use its array of tools to build your video from scratch or to take advantage of pre-designed templates. Features include cutting long videos into short clips, adding transitions and special effects, and incorporating music, audio clips, and text to your projects.

Pricing Plans

Basic: Free

• Features: Create 1-minute videos in Full HD 1080p quality with a Kizoa logo. You get 1 GB of storage and access to 3 million+ free photos and 1 million+ free videos.
• Who It’s For: Ideal for beginners who want to explore the platform’s basic features without any cost.

Starter: €29.9 (One-Time Payment)

• Features: Create up to 10-minute videos, Full HD 1080p, no Kizoa logo, 10 GB storage, and priority customer support. You also get access to 3 million+ free photos and 1 million+ free videos.
• Who It’s For: Suitable for individuals who want more features and no branding on their videos.

Creator: €49.9 (One-Time Payment)

• Features: Create up to 20-minute videos, Full HD 1080p, 100 GB storage, and the ability to burn your projects to DVD. Priority customer support and no Kizoa logo.
• Who It’s For: Designed for content creators who require extended video duration and storage space.

Professional: €99.9 (One-Time Payment)

• Features: Create videos with no time limit, Full HD 1080p, unlimited storage, and add your own logo. You also get the option to burn to DVD and priority customer support.
• Who It’s For: Perfect for professionals who need unlimited storage and customization options.

Business: €299.9 (One-Time Payment)

• Features: Create unlimited videos in 4K 2160p quality. Includes commercial use license, unlimited storage, and the ability to burn to DVD and add your own logo.
• Who It’s For: Tailored for businesses that require high-quality videos for commercial use.

Visit Kizoa

Flixpress

Flixpress offers a high-quality video creation experience without breaking the bank – starting at less than $1 per month. Designed to cater to both professional and personal needs, this tool enables easy sharing of videos on social media. It features an array of pre-built templates, some of which are free while others come with the paid plans.

Flixpress stands toe-to-toe with other video tools, offering various objects, photos, and audio libraries to unleash your creativity. You’re not restricted to using built-in media; you can also upload and integrate your own photos, videos, and audio clips. The videos you create can be saved in popular formats like MP4, MOV, or WMV.

Pricing Plans

Free Plan: $0

• Features: 1-day storage, 2-minute monthly video allowance, 360p resolution, access to 15 templates, Flixpress branding, and no commercial rights.
• Who It’s For: Ideal for those who want to try out the service before investing in it.

Personal Plan: $0.83/month (annually) or $3.49/month (monthly)

• Features: 30-day storage, 10-minute monthly video allowance, 1080p resolution, 54 templates, no branding, but no commercial rights either.
• Who It’s For: Great for personal use or small projects that don’t require commercial rights.

Expert Plan: $9.99/month (quarterly) or $19.99/month (monthly)

• Features: 60-day storage, 30-minute monthly video allowance, 1080p resolution, 103 templates, no branding, and YouTube monetization rights.
• Who It’s For: Suitable for YouTubers or video creators who need more minutes and want to monetize their content.

Professional Plan: $49.99/month (quarterly) or $69.99/month (monthly)

• Features: 90-day storage, 60-minute monthly video allowance, 1080p resolution, full access to the template library, custom branding, and resale rights.
• Who It’s For: Perfect for professionals or businesses looking for the complete package, including custom branding and resale rights.

Visit Flixpress

Movavi Video Suite

Movavi Video Suite is an all-in-one video creation software packed with a plethora of powerful features. If you’re looking to create professional-grade movies, slideshows, or even record videos using a webcam or screen capture, Movavi offers an extensive, yet user-friendly, solution.

Despite its extensive functionality, Movavi is designed for ease of use. You can cut and join video clips while preserving their quality, add various video effects, filters, music, and titles to make your project stand out. Importantly, Movavi supports over 180 media formats, and even allows you to burn your creations directly onto DVDs.

Related: 10 Vital Tips & Tricks to Using Movavi Video Editor

Pricing Plan

1-Year Subscription: $94.95

Included Apps:

• Video Editor: Craft your videos with a variety of editing tools.
• Video Converter: Easily convert videos into different formats.
• Screen Recorder: Capture your screen for tutorials, demos, or other content.

Who It’s For: Ideal for both beginners and professionals looking for a comprehensive video creation solution.

Visit Movavi

The post 7 Best Video Tools for Novice Users (2023) appeared first on Hongkiat.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need expensive equipment to create time-lapse content. In fact, your smartphone, coupled with the right app, can produce mesmerizing results. Here are 5 top-notch time-lapse apps available for both Android and iOS.

Our Top Pick

Here are some of our favorite time lapse mobile apps for iOS and Android phones.

Time-Lapse Camera (Android)

A newer entrant to the Google Play Store, the Time Lapse Camera efficiently records time-lapse videos at no cost. It boasts two primary modes: Photo Lapse and Video Lapse.

Photo Lapse Feature

In the Photo Lapse mode, the app captures images at specified intervals and merges them to produce a video. This mode excels at capturing scenes with gradual changes, like blooming flowers or sunsets. Notably, Photo Lapse comes with no restrictions on video length.

Video Lapse Feature

Video Lapse, also known as hyperlapse, has the app record video continuously at a reduced frame rate while ensuring stabilization. For this mode, a consistent camera movement is essential for creating a smooth time-lapse shot.

It’s ideal for exploring varied locations, capturing your experiences in a sped-up time-lapse video. Video Lapse has an impressive maximum limit of 24 hours.

Additionally, the app lets users incorporate audio, use flash when necessary, and view top time-lapse videos from the community. All in all, Time Lapse Camera provides a compelling mix of control and advanced features without any charges.

However, it’s worth noting that the developer mentioned, “Currently, the app is entirely free“. This suggests that future updates might introduce ads or pricing.

Download Time-Lapse Camera

Hyperlapse by Instagram (iOS)

Regarded as one of the premier hyperlapse video recording apps on iOS, Hyperlapse from Instagram stands out with its exemplary stabilization features. This app allows for the recording of seamless time-lapse videos, even during activities like biking or running. Whether you’re capturing the serene transition of a sunset or navigating through bustling urban streets, this app effortlessly documents day-long time-lapse sequences.

One of the notable features is the ability of the app to accelerate your time-lapse videos by up to 12 times. It also bestows complete control over the frame rate, letting users adjust it as per their requirements without consuming extra storage.

Regardless of the chosen frame rate, the output remains a smooth and stabilized time-lapse video.

Download Hyperlapse

Microsoft HyperLapse Mobile (Android)

From the tech giant Microsoft comes a formidable hyperlapse application that beautifully marries simplicity with a robust set of features. Notably, this app grants users the flexibility to either import pre-existing videos from local storage or Google Photos or to capture fresh time-lapse content directly within the app.

One standout trait of this application is its capacity to accelerate videos to a staggering 32x of their original playback speed, with output resolution options of either 720p or 1080p.

The user experience is delightfully straightforward, as the app autonomously manages most of the processes. This leaves users to simply select their desired video playback speed and perhaps tinker with a few output settings. Another remarkable feature is its adeptness at video stabilization. In fact, if desired, the app can even serve solely as a video stabilizer by maintaining the video speed at its original rate.

However, it’s worth noting that Microsoft HyperLapse Mobile is primarily a hyperlapse tool, and hence, it’s best suited for short video clips. This is evident from its 20-minute cap on maximum video duration. Moreover, the automatic management of frame rates by the application results in comparatively larger video file sizes. A potential downside for some users might be the mandatory watermark that the app appends at the conclusion of every video, with no native option to omit it.

Download Microsoft HyperLapse

Time Lapse Camera & Video (Android)

Emerging in the app market, Time Lapse Camera & Video boasts a combination of extensive customization options and dependable functionalities. It seamlessly accommodates both image and video time lapse recording, and impressively, places no constraints on the duration of the videos you can create.

One of its standout features is the scheduling option for recording. This makes it particularly apt for capturing scenes that are contingent on specific timings, like nocturnal illuminations.

User control stands central in this app. It allows complete authority over both recording and playback frame rates. This means even if your recording frame rate seems swift, you have the luxury to decelerate the playback frame rate subsequently, ensuring an optimal viewing experience.

For flexibility, users have the ability to pause recordings when there isn’t anything of interest to capture. However, it’s worth noting that this app does incorporate ads, and unlike many of its counterparts, it doesn’t provide an in-app option to eliminate these advertisements.

Download Time Lapse Camera & Video

iMotion (iOS)

iMotion emerges as an all-encompassing time lapse solution tailored for iOS users, facilitating both time lapse and stop-motion video recordings. With this app, users are given the privilege to dictate frame rate, with a ceiling set at 10fps, and to select between 720p and 1080p resolutions. Moreover, it confers the power to manipulate the playback frame rate, thereby optimizing video outputs.

An intriguing aspect of iMotion is its capability to playback time lapse videos in reverse. This opens up creative avenues; for instance, presenting a sunset as if it were a sunrise.

Integrated compatibility with the Apple Watch accentuates its versatility. This feature enables users to preview and control videos directly from their wrist. Voice-activated recordings and remote initiation through an auxiliary app elevate its utility further. Bolstering its appeal, iMotion imposes no constraints on the length of the videos, deeming it an apt choice for both hyperlapse and time lapse endeavors.

Post-production, users can infuse videos with various effects, finetune the white balance, and deploy filters to enhance the overall appeal. A standout trait of this app is its auto-save feature during recordings. However, it’s pertinent to note that the complete suite of functionalities can only be unlocked by purchasing the full version at a price tag of $3.99.

Download iMotion

More Time Lapse Mobile Apps:

• Lapse It: Enables capturing photos using the full sensor. Create time lapses from both pre-uploaded and fresh videos. [Download: Android | iOS]
• PicPac Stop Motion & TimeLapse: A dual-purpose app supporting time lapse and hyperlapse videos with unique sound activation capabilities. [Download: Android]
• Time Lapse by Sukros: Specialized in producing Time Lapse videos, it boasts 4k resolution support on compatible devices. [Download: Android]
• TimeLapse: Offers 4k resolution video shooting and captures time lapse photos in the RAW format. [Download: iOS]
• OSnap!: A well-endowed time lapse app that houses customized settings ideal for hyperlapse and daily portrait captures. [Download: iOS]
• Framelapse: An all-inclusive time lapse app, notable for its integrated time lapse calculator. [Download: Android]
• iTimeLapse Pro: This paid app accentuates tools dedicated to editing time lapse videos post-capture. [Download: iOS]

Wrapping Up

For those venturing into the world of time lapse and hyperlapse videos, the aforementioned applications will cater amply to your needs. If hyperlapse videos pique your interest, consider the offerings from industry giants like Microsoft or Instagram. Both come with an intuitive interface and guarantee splendid stability during movement.

Alternatively, for enthusiasts craving greater control over their videos, an integrated solution like Time Lapse Camera emerges as a prime pick.

The post Best Time Lapse Apps For Your Smartphone appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this guide, we will introduce you to the causes of this error and some viable solutions to regain access to your files and data. Try it now and see if the ‘file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error persists.

1. Reasons Behind the ‘File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error

Before we explore solutions for addressing the “File or directory is corrupted and unreadable” issue, it’s essential to understand why this problem occurs.

• Disk Errors: Disk errors or bad sectors on your storage device can lead to data corruption and trigger this error.
• Virus or Malware Attack: Viruses and malware can infect and damage files and directories, making them unreadable.
• File System Issues: If there are problems with the file system structure, such as a corrupted Master File Table (MFT) on NTFS drives, it can result in data becoming corrupted and unreadable.
• Faulty Hardware: Hardware issues, like a failing hard drive or malfunctioning USB drive, can cause data to be written or read incorrectly, leading to corruption.

This understanding not only helps us find the right solutions more quickly but also enables us to take preventative measures to avoid similar issues in the future.

2. How to Fix ‘The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’

There are a few ways to tackle this error. In the following content, we will explain how to first try a quick fix. If that doesn’t work, we will attempt to format the drive (without losing its data). If all else fails, we will resort to using a Windows tool.

Quick Fixes for the ‘File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error

Before delving into advanced troubleshooting methods, let’s begin with some quick fixes:

• Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, a simple reboot can often resolve temporary glitches.
• Disable Antivirus Software: Your antivirus software can block access to an external drive if it suspects a threat. To fix the ‘file is corrupted and unreadable’ error, you can try turning off or uninstalling the firewall and antivirus software.
• Relocate Your Files: If you’re trying to open a file or folder from an external drive and encounter an error, copying the file or folder to your internal drive may help

Format Your Drive without Losing Data

Formatting can quickly resolve the error ‘file is corrupted and unreadable’ by wiping the file system and starting fresh. However, it will also erases all data on the device. If you didn’t have a backup, your files may be gone forever.

Don’t worry! Before formatting, you can backup all files or consider using a professional data recovery tool. We recommend using Tenorshare 4DDiG Data Recovery to get back lost data from inaccessibale drives. This powerful tool is easy to use and allows you to retrieve over than 2000 types of files, including photos, videos, audio, documents, and more from your drive.

Download 4DDiG Data Recovery

Follow these steps to restore your files with ease:

1. First, install and open 4DDiG Data Recovery on your computer. On its main screen, you’ll see various partitions, external drives, and folders available. You can pick any drive or even navigate to a specific folder you want to scan. Once you’ve selected the location, just click the “Start” button.



2. 4DDiG will start scanning your chosen drive thoroughly to find lost or existing data. As it discovers files, it lists them in the File View. You have the option to pause or stop the process if needed, but it’s usually best to let it finish for better results.



3. That’s it! Once the scanning is complete, all the recovered data will appear on the screen. Simply choose the files you want to save and click the “Recover” button.

Now, you can fix the error ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ without losing any data.

1. Press Windows + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer.
2. Find the problematic drive and right-click on it. Then, select ‘Format…’ from the context menu.



3. In the Format window, you can choose the file system (usually NTFS for Windows drives) and allocation unit size (default is fine for most cases). Then, check the box next to Quick Format.



4. Once you’ve configured the options, click the ‘Start’ button.

Use Windows’ Command Prompt

As mentioned earlier, file system issues are one of the main culprits behind the error ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.’ In such cases, the Windows’ Command Prompt tool can come in handy.

1. Press Windows + S keys and enter cmd into the search bar. Then, select ‘Run as administrator’ to launch it.



2. Type the following command and hit the Enter key: chkdsk X: /f (Replace X with the drive letter of the disk you want to check and repair.)



3. After CHKDSK completes, it will display a summary of the scan results. If it found and repaired any issues, it will be noted in the report.

Alternatively, if you are not very familiar with the command line, there is another easy way to check and fix file system errors on your disk.

1. Open the File Explorer by pressing Windows + E on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’ in the left sidebar. Then, right-click on the inaccessible drive and pick ‘Properties.’



3. Head to the ‘Tools’ tab at the top. Under the ‘Error checking’ section, click the ‘Check’ button.

3. What if the ‘File is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error Occurs on Drive C?

The ‘file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error can occur not only when accessing data on external disks but also on your local drive, such as Drive C.

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are two more ways to address this common Windows error: using Windows Startup Repair and reinstalling the OS itself.

Use Windows Startup Repair

Typically, if Drive C, which is your system drive, becomes corrupted, your computer should cease to function correctly. However, if your computer continues to operate after receiving the error ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable,’ You may need to consider using Windows Startup Repair.

Here is how you do it:

1. Press Windows + I on your keyboard and then click on ‘Update & Security.’



2. Go to the ‘Recovery’ tab. Next, hit the ‘Restart Now’ button under ‘Advanced Startup.’



3. Once your computer restarts in the advanced startup mode, you’ll see some choices. Then, click on the‘Troubleshoot’ option.



4. Select ‘Advanced Options.’



5. Look for the ‘Startup Repair’ option and click on it. Now, windows will start repairing your system.

Reinstall or Downgrade your Windows OS

In the Microsoft Support Community, we find some users seeking solutions to problems such as ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable Windows 11.’ The latest versions of Windows OS often have minor bugs and are vulnerable to attacks.

By reinstalling or downgrading the system, all hidden issues can be effectively resolved, but you may face the risk of data loss.

Read Also:  Recover Lost Data on PC and Mac with Stellar

4. How to Prevent the Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable Error?

• Regular Backups: Maintain regular backups of your important files and data.
• Use Reliable Storage: Always use reliable storage devices and media. Low-quality or failing hardware can contribute to data corruption.
• Safe Removal: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” or “Eject” option when disconnecting external drives or devices.
• Update Software: Keep your operating system and software up-to-date. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can prevent such errors.

Bottom Line

With these solutions, you no longer need to worry about the error ‘the file directory is corrupted and unreadable.’ Some of these methods may put you at risk of data loss, such as reinstalling the operating system and formatting the disk. Fortunately, with 4DDiG Data Recovery, you can recover any lost files in the blink of an eye.

The post How to Fix the ‘The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error appeared first on Hongkiat.

If the built-in search feature doesn’t meet your needs, you can customize your Windows by installing excellent third-party Windows search tools. Below, we’ve listed 10 of the best alternatives to the Windows Search feature.

1. WinFindr

WinFindr is a free, user-friendly tool for Windows that allows you to search for files, folders, and registry data. You can employ various types of search keywords, including wildcards and advanced search patterns, all simultaneously. The tool even enables you to use “negative” terms to exclude specific results from your search. Once you’ve located what you’re seeking, you can effortlessly save the results in text, CSV, or HTML formats.

The software is both fast and lightweight, ensuring that it won’t slow down your computer. It is available in two convenient formats: a portable version that is just 2MB in size and a version that operates within the Windows Command Prompt.

Notable Features:

• Permits simultaneous searches for multiple file types
• Supports multiple search terms and wildcards
• Fast, lightweight, and portable
• Offers Windows dark mode and customization options
• Completely free to use

Download WinFindr

2. Everything

One of my personal favorite, Everything, is an astonishingly light, fast, and easy-to-use search tool for Windows. While it may not be packed with a myriad of features, it excels at quickly finding files and folders.

This tool allows you to search for files and folders solely by their names. This limitation enables it to be incredibly fast, as it can index your PC’s data in just a few seconds – about 8-10 seconds in my experience.

The results are updated in real-time as you begin typing, with no delay in their display. It also offers other convenient features, such as the ability to sort data by various criteria, search for specific file types, open files directly from its interface, and bookmark files or folders for quick access later.

Notable Features:

• Easy to use
• Fast results
• Displays a complete index in one location

Download Everything

3. Listary

Listary is essentially a file explorer assistant focused on enhancing your productivity. When you are inside Windows File Explorer, simply start typing what you’re looking for, and results will appear in real-time. You can also press the Ctrl key twice to bring up the search bar from anywhere and begin your search.

You can create keywords to search directly within online websites, such as using "fb" to search directly on Facebook. Other features include keyboard shortcuts, the ability to add filters, create executable commands, and assign shortcuts to them, access recent files, and view complete file history.

Additionally, it offers various themes to customize its interface. The free version of Listary is available only for personal use. To use it in a business environment or gain more control, you should upgrade to the pro version.

Moreover, Listary is capable of listing Windows settings and programs in the search results, a feature I haven’t found in any other tools on this list.

Notable Features:

• Direct typing in File Explorer.
• Fast indexing and results.
• Ability to search the internet.
• Indexes Windows settings and native programs.

Download Listary

4. UltraSearch

UltraSearch scans MFT (Master File Table) of your drive partition to look for data instead of indexing everything in your PC. This allows it to let you immediately start a search without having the need to index data first. It may not be able to track file changes in real-time, but you can always rescan MFT to manually update data.

Apart from MFT based search, you can use filters, create search patterns, use data type to look for files and sort the results using different factors. UltraSearch also has an interesting "Content search" feature that lets you search for content inside the files. This feature is a little slow in working but invaluable.

Notable features:

• Scans MFT and doesn’t require indexing.
• Search content of files.

Download UltraSearch

5. SearchMyFiles by Nirsoft

Nirsoft is known for highly customizable tools, and SearchMyFiles is one of its most customizable search tools, offering full control over your search. I wouldn’t say it’s the best alternative to the built-in Windows search, mainly because it takes a few seconds to set up your search, and the results also take some time to appear.

However, its customization tools make it perfect for finding hard-to-pinpoint files. You can use features such as wildcards, excludable folders, file extension exclusion, adjustable file size, subfolder depth, file attributes, and timestamps for when the file was created, modified, or accessed to find the exact file you’re looking for.

It also has a reliable content search feature that allows you to search the contents of files. You can specify the type of content the file may contain using text, binary, or wildcard options.

Notable Features:

• Highly customizable search filters.
• Search for text and binary content inside files.

Download SearchMyFiles

6. MasterSeeker

MasterSeeker is another easy-to-use Windows search tool that is also incredibly fast. In my experience, it was quick to index all of my data, taking only about 3 seconds to index all the drives.

At the top of the interface, you have three search fields: Filename, Directory, and File Size. The Filename field allows you to search for files or folders by their names. The Directory field enables you to select the directory in which you want to search, and the File Size field allows you to search for files based on their size.

I particularly appreciated the “search by file size” feature, which enables you to quickly input a file size to look for matching files. You can also filter results using symbols like >, <, =, or ~.

Notable Features:

• Quick indexing.
• Reliable file size-based search.

Download MasterSeeker

7. Quick Search

Quick Search features a sleek interface that is very intuitive to use. It swiftly indexes all data and displays it in columns such as documents, photos, videos, shortcuts, and music, among others. Additionally, it offers a convenient preview section that displays a preview of each file you select.

When you search for content, the application highlights your search keywords in the results and also displays recommended related searches on the Internet (powered by Bing). I must say, Quick Search boasts the best interface among all the apps on this list; it’s sleek, interactive, and simply works.

Notable Features:

• Organizes data into categories by default.
• Allows data preview.
• Highlights keywords in search results.
• Displays related searches from Bing.

Download Quick Search

8. DocFetcher

An open-source Windows search alternative that focuses solely on indexing and finding content within files. For the sake of privacy, it allows you to specify which parts of the hard drive should be indexed, unlike other tools that index the entire hard drive.

Once the files have been indexed, you can swiftly search for any type of content within them. Unfortunately, DocFetcher does not provide real-time results for its searches, so you will need to click the “Search” button each time.

Notable Features:

• A comprehensive search tool for finding content within files.
• Indexes only the specified directories.

Download DocFetcher

9. Searchmonkey

Another open-source search tool, similar to DocFetcher, Searchmonkey allows you to select a specific directory to index rather than indexing everything. Its interface is both fast and user-friendly, arguably surpassing that of DocFetcher.

You can search both the indexed file names and the content within those files. However, I find its content search capabilities to be more reliable than its file-finding features.

Simply specify the directory you wish to search and the content you’re looking for. Searchmonkey will quickly locate all relevant files and display a preview of their content directly in its interface. The keywords you searched for will be highlighted in red.

Notable Features:

• Indexes only the specified directory.
• Easy to use and fast.
• Searches for content within files.
• Previews content with keywords highlighted.

Download Searchmonkey

10. FileSleek

Although FileSleek is a paid tool, it offers a powerful free version suitable for personal use. FileSleek can find both files and folders as well as content within those files.

You can search multiple directories simultaneously, filter data by pattern, name, or type, preview results, search for specific keywords, filter by time, filter by size, and much more.

To find content within files, you can use either regular expressions or advanced expressions with operators like +, -, and, OR, and so on. The paid version offers additional features such as the ability to open results in multiple tabs, export data, and sync your data across devices, among others.

Notable Features:

• Search multiple directories simultaneously.
• Powerful filters for precise searching.
• Advanced expressions for content search.

Download FileSleek

Bonus: FileSearchy

FileSearchy allows you to quickly search for data on your PC, as well as within files. Although its capabilities are limited to document formats when searching for content, it excels in speed. In addition to searching by name, you can also filter files by date and size.

The software offers other useful search customization features, such as the ability to use wildcards, conduct multi-keyword searches, perform exact word searches, and execute case-sensitive searches. It also highlights the keywords in the search results and maintains a complete history of your searches for easy reference.

Notable Features:

• Search within file content.
• Conduct multi-keyword searches.
• Highlight keywords in search results.
• Maintain a complete history of searches.

Download FileSearchy

Time to Search Like a Pro

If your sole need is to search for files and folders quickly, then Everything is definitely a reliable option. However, if you aim to be more productive, Listray is unbeatable due to its in-depth search capabilities and reliable features. I also found Quick Search by GlarySoft to be pleasing; give it a try if you’re undecided.

The post 10 Best Windows Search Alternatives appeared first on Hongkiat.

Whether you can’t use PayPal service or don’t want to use it, there are many reliable alternatives to PayPal for making online transactions. Below I have evaluated 5 of the best PayPal alternatives that make online money transfers easier.

1. Wise

Wise, formally known as TransferWise, is my choice for international transactions owing to its amazingly low fee and mid-market exchange rates.

For any transaction, TransferWise simply charges 1% of the total amount transferred with the minimum being $3, it’s almost 1/3 of the fee that PayPal charges.

Best of all, it uses a mid-market exchange rate for conversion, therefore you are sure to get the best rates without Wise’s fee.

Another great feature is that the transferred amount is directly deposited into the receiver’s bank account. The sender can pay through both bank accounts or a debit/credit card (debit/credit card fee may incur depending on the bank).

Apart from personal transactions, TransferWise also offers a neat solution for businesses with its Borderless accounts feature.

The fee is the same as personal transactions but without the minimum transaction fee. You’ll get a comprehensive dashboard to manage all your transactions in multiple currencies and even make automatic payments.

The payment processing time is really fast as well. Although it says it could take 2-4 days, I have never seen a delay over one day.’

Wise’s transaction fees and charges

1% fee on all transactions with a minimum $3 fee on all personal transactions.

What we like:

What we don’t like

More Wise-related links:

• Help page
• Sign Up
• Contact TW
• TW Currency Converter

2. Skrill

Skrill is very similar to PayPal in working. You attach a bank account or debit/card to your Skrill account and send/receive money. The service only charges 1.9% fee for a transfer between Skrill wallets.

It’s still quite less than PayPal and there are no dedicated rates for different countries/currencies.

However, the problem comes with international money transfers where the accounts use different currencies. Skrill charges a 3.99% fee on the currency conversion, so the international transfer can cost nearly 6% of the total amount.

Things get even worse if your bank currency isn’t supported by Skrill (40 currencies are supported). Money conversion will be involved receiving money and withdrawing it to your bank account. And your bank may even add some fee . All this could lead to up to 12-15% fee on just receiving/sending money.

If you are living in Europe, then you can also get a free Skrill Prepaid Mastercard to directly use the money in Skrill wallet wherever Mastercard is accepted. Although not as widely accepted as PayPal, but many online stores accept payment via Skrill. This includes GoDaddy, Shutterstock, Skype, Playing Asia, and others.

Skrill’s transaction fees and charges

1.9% fixed fee on transactions with each currency conversion in the process costing a 3.99% fee.

What we like:

What we don’t like

More Skrill-related links:

• Support
• Pricing
• Sign up

3. Transfast

Transfast is very similar to TransferWise as it lets you direct deposit to the bank account of the receiver. However, only US residents can use the service to send money worldwide.

It supports online transactions in the USA and 50 other countries. Some of the unsupported PayPal countries are also supported.

Transfast charges a fixed $4.99 on every transaction and charges no fee over $1000 transfers. Transfers to some countries are also free, such as India or Nigeria.

Unfortunately, it uses its own exchange rates for currency conversion that depends on the currency itself. However, the exchange rate is quite competitive. You can check it on the Transfast calculator.

Transfast’s transaction fees and charges

$4.99 fixed fee on transactions and no fees for transactions above $1000. It has competitive exchange rates that you can calculate on its pricing page.

What we like:

What we don’t like

More Transfast-related links:

• FAQ
• Contact Transfast
• Sign Up
• Transaction fees

4. Payoneer

Payoneer is quite different from PayPal, but it is still a great online transaction method. Payoneer works through a Payoneer Mastercard that is sent to your home for free with a yearly maintenance fee of $25 (charged at the end of the year). You can use the card anywhere where Mastercard is accepted.

Payoneer is mainly created to help you receive payments from US companies like Wish, Fiverr, PayPal and over 3500 more. You can then withdraw the payment using an ATM or spend it right from the Mastercard.

There is no fee for sending and receiving payments from other Payoneer card users. And there is a 2% withdrawal fee when you withdraw the money in your local currency.

However, if you are receiving money from a company, they may charge a fee of their own (check the company page for this).

Related post: How to Request Payment via Payoneer

Payoneer’s transaction fees and charges

Free transactions between two Payoneer accounts. 2% fee on withdrawing money via ATM.

What we like:

What we don’t like

More Payoneer-related links:

• FAQ
• Pricing
• Sign up
• Contact Payoneer

5. Xpress Money

Xpress Money is a good option for cheap money transfer between 165+ countries. Understanding the fee structure can be a little difficult, but their Currency Converter can do all the calculations for you.

The fee depends on where you are sending the amount, but usually, it’s anywhere between 1-2% of the total amount. On top of that, if the amount is big enough, there will be no fee (depending on the sent currency). For example, the transactions are free for AUD currency if it’s above AUD 300.

Of course, they do have their exchange rate, but the rates are very competitive and even better than Transfast. You can send money from both nearby agents and online accounts. However, the online account is only limited to a few countries, such as the USA, Australia, and the United Kingdom, etc.

Xpress Money also offers multiple ways to receive the amount. You can get a cash pick from the agent (over 200,000 agents worldwide), receive it in a bank account, or even get it delivered to your doorstep for free (supported countries only).

Depending on receiving method it could take anywhere between 2-5 days to receive money. Although for cash pick-ups, I always received the amount the next day.

Xpress Money’s transaction fees

The fee depends on the currency you are sending, but usually it’s between 1-2%. The transactions also become free after a specific threshold. You can check its currency converter (link above) for the exact fee estimate and currency exchange rate.

What we like:

What we don’t like:

The post 5 PayPal Alternatives for Online Transactions appeared first on Hongkiat.

Here are some of the best productivity Chrome extensions I want to share with you today. Let’s check each of these extensions in detail and see how they can make you more productive at work.

Grammarly for Chrome

Grammarly Chrome extension provides spelling and grammar checks on everything you do in the browser in real-time. From emails and cloud documents to social media posts, it analyzes everything you write in the browser and gives color-coded feedback.

Apart from spelling and grammar, the Grammarly Chrome extension highlights problems with punctuation, clarity, and writing style and suggests improvements.

1Password

Just as the name says, , if you have the 1Password desktop app installed, the 1Password Chrome extension helps you manage all your passwords right in your browser. It also helps generate strong passwords, save newly created login password information, and filling passwords wherever needed, all done right on your browser.

StayFocusd

The online world is filled with distractive websites that are huge productivity killers. StayFocusd helps you stay productive by allotting a specific time to distracting websites, after which they will become inaccessible.

It also makes it very hard to cheat the system by forcing you to complete annoying tasks if you want to disable the extension.

OneTab

If you love multitasking, then most probably you will have dozens of tabs opened at a time, which can make things quite confusing. OneTab sorts all the opened tabs in a list so you could easily view them. All the websites are also taken down to save memory.

Auto Text Expander

Text expanding apps are one of the best tools to boost productivity. Likewise, this text expansion Chrome extension allows you to get this feature in Chrome. Simply create shortcuts and abbreviations for commonly used phrases/sentences and quickly use them when needed.

Save to Pocket

If you don’t have time to read an online article, you can use Save to Pocket extension to save it to read it later. You can create a full articles feed to view later in your leisure time. The saved articles are also viewable offline and without distractive content.

Momentum

Momentum is your all-in-one new tab replacement that will show you your to-dos in an inspiration interface. You can create to-dos and daily goals that will be shown to you whenever you will open a new tab. Along with that, it shows weather and inspiration quotes and pictures to keep you motivated.

Sortd for Gmail

If you are a Gmail user, then Sortd might be the best thing that ever happens to you. It is basically a smart skin for Gmail that completely changes your Gmail interface to a more productive one.

It shows all the emails in the left column and in the middle there are columns to add to-dos and important emails. Sortd for Gmail works similar to Trello interface.

Mercury Reader

Usually, web pages are filled with distractive content such as ads, recommendations, widgets, social media share buttons and more. This extra content can distract you away from the original content.

Mercury Reader gets rid of all this content with a single click and only shows what’s important.

Note Board

Note Board is a comprehensive note-taking extension that gives you customizable cork boards to pin your notes over. I am using Note Board for over a year now and it does a great job of keeping my ideas and to-dos organized. Its advanced features include the ability to drag and drop content, add reminders and create permanent popup notes that are always on top to keep in view.

Strict Workflow

Strict Workflow uses Pomodoro technique to keep you focused. It will block all types of distracting content (customizable) for 25min so you could focus on work and then give you 5min break where you can access such content. It’s a good extension to keep a balance between work and fun time.

Google Dictionary

Google Dictionary allows you to quickly search for the definition of words without opening a new tab to search it. Just double-click on the word and its definition along with synonyms will be shown in a bubble above. You can also save this data to view later for practicing purposes.

SearchPreview

Another handy extension to help with your internet search. SearchPreview will show thumbnails of website content in the search results so you would know what you will see when you’ll click, and it also shows related links to searches (all were helpful in my experience). It works with all popular search engines, including Google Search, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo.

Buffer

A great extension for social media fanatics. Buffer lets you share your post over multiple social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ with a single click.

It also shows responses received on each share and you can schedule posts as well.

Adblock Plus

Ads can be really distractive and could hinder your productivity. Adblock Plus is one of the best extensions to get rid of all types of ads and easily customize where ads should be allowed to show. Although do keep in mind that ads power the free internet we use, so you should enable ads on websites you care about.

Noisli

Noisli lets you concentrate on work by continuously playing favorite white noise of your choice, like rain, air, thunder or similar sounds. If you are in a loud environment with irregular sounds or in a very quiet environment, then Noisli will surely help you focus better.

Open Screenshot

Open Screenshot allows you to quickly take customizable screenshots to save them or share them quickly. You can annotate the screenshots with arrows. text, lines, and blur sensitive areas. It also offers unlimited cloud storage for screenshots.

Magic Actions for YouTube

If your work depends on YouTube, then this is a must have an extension for you. Magic Actions adds dozens of features to YouTube to enhance your experience.

Features include, an auto apply HD resolution, adjust volume with mouse scroll, use theater mode, take screenshots, enlarge thumbnails, see user info, stop autoplay, hide extra content and much more.

MightyText

We all know how dealing with two devices can be a productivity killer, and MightyText solves that problem. You will need MightyText Android app for this to work, but it’s an amazing extension. MightyText allows you to see all your phone notifications on your PC and you can even reply to them right from your PC.

Free Download Manager

This is a replacement for the built-in Chrome download manager that is much more advanced and easier to use. Free Download Manager will let you organize your downloads using categorize to easily view them. It adds resume, pause, restart and recycles ability to downloads. Best of all, it is able to detect all images, audio files and videos on a web page and let you download them in bulk.

SpeakIt!

Reading content can be a little tiring for the eyes and your brain, and this is where SpeakIt! comes in handy. It will read the content for you so you could relax or do something else while the content is being read to you. You just need to select the content that you want to listen and SpeakIt! will read it for you.

Openvid Screen Recorder

An astonishingly easy tool to quickly shoot a video and share it with anyone using a shareable link. Openvid Screen Recorder allows you to record your desktop activity, window activity or record a video from your webcam and gives a shareable link to share with anyone.

Session Buddy

Session Buddy offers all the tools to manage your current session in different ways. It allows you to save opened tabs to restore later in time, automatically recover crashed tabs (if the browser fails), organize tabs by categories, use search to find tabs, share opened tabs and quickly open multiple tabs.

Remember Form

It can be a quite time consuming to refill an online form if it crashes in the middle due to network error or PC breakdown. Remember Form records all the form entries you make in a form and lets you recover them in case the form crashes for any reason.

Black Menu for Google

If you love Google services, then Black Menu for Google is a must have extension for you. The extension allows you to access most of the popular Google services right from the extension interface without leaving your current page. You can also interact with the services and complete basic tasks, such as view and reply to emails in Gmail. Some of the services include Gmail, YouTube, Google Search, Google+, Google Maps, Google Translate and more.

Reading Time

A very helpful extension to help you manage your time and think ahead. Reading Time shows an estimated reading time of an online article so you would know how much time you will consume reading it. The time is calculated based on many different factors and usually, it’s very close to the actual reading time.

Spreed

Spreed gives you a special interface for reading content faster and trains you to read faster. When you will add a web page to Spreed, it will show the content one word at a time at a faster speed. You can adjust how many words should be shown at a time and the next word switch speed. This will help you quickly read the content and improve your reading speed with time.

Calculator

As the name suggests, Calculator lets you access a scientific calculator (not too advanced though) just by clicking on the extension button. With this you don’t need to depend on Google Search calculator or your operating system’s calculator. Simply click on the extension and an easy to use calculator will show up. It’s perfect for people who depend much on calculations while working.

smartUp Gestures

smartUp Gestures allows you to create mouse gestures and shortcuts to quickly complete most of the browser functions. There are many types of gestures, including mouse gestures, mouse wheel gestures, context menu shortcuts, drag gestures, rocker gesture and more. The extension is highly customizable, from design to function.

Autofill

Chrome has a reliable Autofill feature, but it doesn’t offer enough power. Autofill extension is a replacement for Chrome’s Autofill feature that will automatically fill all entries of forms as soon as the form loads. Additionally, it works on almost all types of forms where Chrome’s Autofill fails and it can even autofill checkboxes and buttons.

Summary

So these were some of the best Chrome extensions to help you be more productive while working. Almost all of these extensions are completely free to use, but few may have advanced features locked behind a paywall. Which one of these productive Chrome extensions will you use? Let us know in the comments.

The post 30 Chrome Extensions for Better Productivity appeared first on Hongkiat.

For that matter, we bring you a list of sites that care of these simple tasks. And best of all, they are free! While most of these sites are not full-fledge online photo editors, some of them do go as far as customized cropping and even capable of doing bulk-image editing.

Now, give Photoshop a rest and try out any of these photo resizing tools listed as follows.

PicResize

PicResize allows you to resize pictures based on the preset percentage of the actual image or a custom size. You can also add special effects, crop images, and rotate images.

ImageResize

Similar to PicResize, this tools also lets you resize the image based on the percentage or custom size.

LunaPic Resizer

LunaPic is a popular image editor with hundreds of editing tools in its arsenal. Its image resizer is also very good and lets you resize the image using both custom parameters and grab-and-drag feature.

Social Image Resizer Tool

This image resizer is dedicated to resizing images for social media websites, including Facebook, Google, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also provide a custom size if needed.

BeFunky

It offers a Flash-based image editor with resizing tool that lets you use a select percentage or pixel for resizing.

PicGhost

You can edit up to 40 images at a time and use both custom and preset ranges to resize images. It can even resize according to the size of an example image.

Reduce Images

A handy quick tool to both compress and resize an image.

Quick Thumbnail

As the name suggests, Quick Thumbnail lets you quickly resize, add a filter, and add a watermark to a picture and download it. I also really liked its preset resize ratio, specifically created for different web apps and monitors.

ResizeImage.net

Apart from resizing based on percentage and custom size, it can also fill the background with a single color or make it transparent to prevent distortion.

B.I.R.M.E

B.I.R.M.E (Batch Image Resizing Made Easy) lets you batch resize images and crop them. You can also customize the border and image quality.

Bulk Resize Photos

An interactive image resizer tool that offers bulk image resizing along with multiple resizing methods.

Image Optimizer

Another simple tool to optimize the quality of image and resize it using custom width and height pixels.

IMGonline

IMGonline should work better in the hands of an advanced user, but it works fine for novice users as well. Apart from basic resizing it also lets you control interpolation, DPI, and EXIF data.

JPEG Optimizer

Yet another simple tool that lets you both resize and compress images. However, you can only scale images based on width.

Raw.Pics.io

This is basically a converter for RAW images to a standard format like JPG or PNG. Although converting, it also lets you resize them to your preferred size.

Picasion

You can control size, rotation, quality, and effects of the image, but Picasion only allows a maximum size of 1300px width.

Universal Web Services

Upload image, select width, select height, and click on “Submit”. Your resized image will be automatically downloaded. This is pretty much it when it comes to this tool’s function. A truly simple image resizer tool.

The post Resize and Crop Images Online: 10+ Free Tools appeared first on Hongkiat.

These search engines dig deep into online records to look for people using different parameters. If you are looking for someone special or just want to say thank you to the guy who saved you from that bully in high school, you can take advantage of any of the below-mentioned people search engines.

1. Peek You

Peek You uses a similar approach as Pipl when it comes to searching for the database, but it might not be as easy to use. It shows extensive information about a given name or username that might be a little difficult to absorb for novice users.

Peek You offers extensive information, including emails, social profiles, public records, web search results, and people-search-engines for the name you entered.

You will have to comb through all of this information to find the exact match. It is one of the best tools if you want to see the web presence and people-search-engines of people.

2. ZabaSearch

The US-only people search engine, ZabaSearch is a great search engine if you are looking for someone in the USA. It will show their phone number, state, and address to track them.

With ZabaSearch, you can run extensive background checks to see anyone’s public records and social presence. There is also an option to send messages directly from the website to people to ask if they are the one you are looking for.

3. Whitepages

WhitePages shows complete profiles of people living in the USA so you could run background checks or find someone specific. Age and location filters make it easy to pinpoint the right person, and then you can view their profile for more information.

Whitepages has a simple interface and offers a number of features. The information you can get includes family members, public records, contact details, and other business-oriented information.

4. Beenverified

BeenVerified offers comprehensive information on names, emails, phone numbers, and even properties, but you will have to get paid membership if you want all the information. If you need to run background checks frequently, then BeenVerified might be worth a try.

The most unique feature about BeenVerified is that it can give you detailed information about people in a specific area. All the basic information about people is free, but it can also create a complete profile of selected people for paid members.

5. Address Search

As the name suggests, Address Search lets you do lookups on email addresses and street addresses of people. Limited to only the USA, it will show you email and location of people using the name or other information provided.

Address Search gives you free information on millions of email and mailing addresses. However, it hides both email and street addresses partially to respect people’s privacy. Nevertheless, you can send an email through the website to the person you’re trying to find.

6. Lullar

Lullar is a people search engine specifically made for finding profiles of people on different social media. Some of the social websites include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, and Pinterest, etc.

Lullar is the perfect platform if you need to see someone’s presence on multiple social networks. You can provide the name, email, or username of anyone, and it will run a search on popular social media platforms for matching people.

7. Yasni

Yasni might be a little overwhelming, but it can be extremely helpful if you manage to pinpoint it. When you search for someone, it will show the usual information for that name. Additionally, you can also look for people based on their working background.

Yasni helps you find people based on professional background. It will show locations and work/title backgrounds at the top so that you can pinpoint the person you’re looking for. This makes it astonishingly easy get specific information about the person you’re interested in.

8. Find People Search

Find People Search will show the exact address, phone number, and email address of the person you’re searching for, specifically in the US. You can also send them an email, delete their information and set up notifications for more information on the person.

A very easy to use people search engine that offers a good amount of contact information about people. You simply need to provide your name or email address and select the US state where they reside. You can also get a notification when the information is updated for a specific person.

9. TruthFinder

TruthFinder lets you search people’s public record including social media, online photos, police record, civil judgement, contact information and other things. Using a score connection, you can enter a person’s first and last name and their city to look up their information.

Through detailed search directories of the TruthFinder, people were successfully able to find their long-lost friend, neighbours, relatives, and acquaintances.

This service, however, only works for US and its different states only.

10. PeopleFinder

PeopleFinder has a simple interface that allows you to search anyone through their name, phone number, or home address. You can look up people’s police records, social media accounts, personal assets, and contact information etc.

With over a billion public records, in their database, you can search for anyone within the United States territory. Moreover, the service claims that they’ll never alert the person you’ve searched for so you can do your background check anonymously.

11. Spokeo

Spokeo has a database of millions of consumer, property, and historical records as well as business and court records. The tool is pretty straightforward and you can use it to look for anyone’s contact, social media, wealth, or other information.

The tool collects its data from hundreds of different sources and cater to thousands of of search queries every day. For some basic search you don’t have to sign up, but for advanced features you need to create an account.

12. Instant Checkmate

One-click search the public record for anyone living in the United States, CheckMate lets you search your own information or that of your relative or friend’s. They establish a secure connection so you can conduct the search anonymously.

With this search engine, you can find anyone’s criminal and police record, court documents, real age and other particulars required for a background check in just a few clicks.

13. Intelius

Intelius is a search engine to access information on anyone be it a potential employee or an old friend. The information you can look up through this tool includes social media accounts, phone numbers, addresses, criminal records, background checks and more.

Intelius has a database of 20 billion public records gained from different reliable sources. Moreover, they claim that all searches you make will remain private without anyone knowing that you searched for them.

14. Anywho

AnyWho offers yellow pages and people search on one platform. You can look for people through their first/last name or city or residence in the United States. There’s also an option to search people by common last names.

You’ll find the interface to be minimal and simple, plus there are search tips on the site to help you expand your search and get the ideal results.

15. 411COM

411COM is a people search engine that also lets you do a reverse phone search, reverse address search, and business search. You can enter a name and city/zip code and it will give you quick results.

In the search results, you’ll get the person’s age, home and phone number, background report, public records, license and permits, and other information. Your identity remains hidden but you can only search people while located in the United States.

Bonus: Google Search

Google Search isn’t actually a people search engine, but it could be the most customizable one. Though Google will show tons of unrelated information, you can take advantage of Google advanced search to pinpoint your search.

Google has data on all the websites and can offer a huge amount of information about anyone or any contact detail. You can customize the search according to your specific requirements. Check out our guide to use Google Search better to understand how you can effectively search for people online.

Bonus: Facebook Friend Browser

You can take advantage of the Facebook Friend Browser to quickly look for people using different parameters. By default, Facebook shows all the people who you have any connection with, but you can also manually search for people. If they have a Facebook profile, then finding them shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Being the biggest social network with 1.79 billion active users, there is a good chance the person you are looking for also has an account on Facebook. There is a search form on Facebook where you can enter the name, hometown, current city, school or occupation, and other profile-related information to find the exact match.

The post 15 People Search Engines to Find Old Friends appeared first on Hongkiat.

Good news! There are plenty of infographic tools that let you make colorful charts and pictures quickly and easily. Here’s our list of more than 20 tools to help you create awesome infographics fast.

Read Also:  40 Free Infographic Templates to Download

1. Canva

Canva provides useful tools for designers, including one for infographics. There are loads of templates and more than a million stock photos you can use. Plus, you can even add your own pictures.

2. DocHipo

DocHipo lets you make eye-catching infographics quickly.

Choose from a big collection of well-made infographic designs. After picking a design, you can change it the way you want with a simple editor. Change the color, write your message, and add cool drawings, stickers, moving pictures, or other design things to make a great infographic.

When your design is done, you can download it in different formats like JPG, PNG, PDF, MP4, or GIF and use them when you’re not online. Or, share them on your favorite social sites straight from DocHipo.

3. Piktochart

Piktochart is known for its great tools to make lively charts and maps. You can make moving charts with symbols, text boxes, styles, and your own photos and videos.

4. Creately

Creately is a picture-making tool with useful features to make more than 50 different types of pictures. Plus, you can work with others to make the best images.

5. Visually

Visually doesn’t have infographic tools of its own. Instead, it puts you in touch with top designers who can help you with infographics for a good price.

6. Medialoot

Medialoot offers many tools for designers. You can download them one by one or get them all with a monthly payment. They have lots of icons, fonts, mockups, and graphic tools you can use.

7. Adioma

Adioma is a clever infographics tool that makes lively infographics from the data you give. It uses smart AI that gets better the more you use it.

8. Graphs.net

On Graphs.net, artists share their infographics so others can use them at no cost. You can look for graphs by kind, group, or how popular they are.

9. Timeline JS

TimelineJS is a free and simple tool that lets you make lively and nice-looking timelines using just a Google spreadsheet. With it, you can show events and happenings in the order they took place.

10. Infogr.am

Infogr.am makes adding your data simple with several ways to do it, including the option to connect to live data. You can pick from over 35 chart designs to make amazing infographics.

11. Cacoo

Cacoo is a full diagram tool that lets you make Flowcharts, UML Diagrams, Network Pictures, and Sketches that interact.

12. Kartograph.org

Kartograph is a top free tool for making drawn and interactive maps. It uses Python and JavaScript to help you make the maps you need.

13. Kinzaa

Kinzaa offers a simple guide to help you make infographic resumes and interactive pages for websites.

14. Visme

Visme lets you make interactive infographics using pictures, widgets, shapes, and symbols. There are also pop-ups and moving features to make your infographic look great.

15. Google Data Studio

Google provides this useful tool for showing data to make interesting boards and reports with pictures and charts. It also lets users get data from other Google services, like Google AdSense.

16. Easel.ly

Easel.ly has nearly a million free photos and infographic designs for making infographics at no cost. You can also ask their designers for help or watch webinars to get ideas.

17. Vizydrop

Vizydrop is no longer available.

Vizydrop is a free tool that shows data automatically and suggests interactive charts based on your data type, filling in the data by itself. You can add data from different places, and Vizydrop lets you change the data however you want.

18. ArcGIS Infographics Add-on

This is an add-on for the map-making tool ArcGIS used on computers. This add-on lets you put infographics directly on the maps so anyone can understand them better.

19. Edraw

Edraw is a tool for making infographics on Windows and Mac. It lets you make nice charts and maps. You can change everything you want and also draw using its tools.

20. Mind the Graph

Mind the Graph has tools for drawing for lessons and projects including science pictures, charts, and graphs. You can make infographics yourself or ask for help when you need it.

21. Icograms

Icograms is still being tested, but it has some really advanced tools for making infographics. You can draw diagrams, maps, and charts with ready-made designs and symbols, or use your own pictures. The infographics also look really sharp with perfect pixels.

22. Icon Archive

Icons are key for making an infographic, and Icon Archive has one of the biggest collections of icons. You can find both free and ones you have to pay for here.

Other Infographic Tools

Here are more tools that might be useful when making infographics.

• Tagxedo – Tagxedo is a tool that makes word clouds automatically. It gives you different options (like themes and fonts) to show your data as fun word clouds.
• StatPlanet – Show your data with moving graphs and maps using StatPlanet. When you add your data, it makes infographics with maps, timelines, charts, and graphs.
• Gliffy – Gliffy lets you draw flowcharts, Venn diagrams, mind maps, organization charts, network pictures, sketches, and technical drawings. You can also work with your team on them online.
• Charte.ca – Charts are key parts of infographics, and you can make them easily with Charte.ca. It lets you use moving parts and deep tools for navigation to make the best moving charts.

The post 20+ Tools to Create Your Own Infographics appeared first on Hongkiat.

As ideal as it may be, it is still not supported by many image editors and online submission forms. I personally have to deal with WEBP images often in my work, and so I have found many ways to save WEBP images to JPG or PNG with each having its own advantage. In this post, I am going to share my findings with you.

1. Edit image URL

This is probably the best manual method to save WEBP images as PNG or JPG. WEBP images saved online are available in both WEBP and JPG/PNG formats, as some of the browsers like Firefox and Safari don’t support WEBP. So in those browsers, the JPG or PNG image is loaded instead. With a simple URL tweak, you can load the JPG or PNG format instead of the WEBP. Here’s how:

1. Right-click on the WEBP image and select Copy image address from the menu



2. Now paste this address in a new tab and remove the last 3 characters from the URL. Therefore, remove -rw at the end of the URL. When you’ll hit enter the image will be loaded in JPG/PNG format.
3. You can then right-click on the image and select Save image as to save the image.

2. Use "Save Image As PNG" Chrome extension

On Google Chrome, you can use a handy extension called Save Image As PNG that adds an option in the context menu to download WEBP images as PNG.

Note: Opera users can also use this extension by installing the Download Chrome Extension. This extension will allow you to install most Chrome extensions in Opera, including Save Image As PNG.

1. Install the Save Image As PNG extension from Google Play Store.
2. Right-click on the WEBP image and select the new option Save Image As PNG. That’s it, now you can save the image in PNG format.

Unfortunately, this extension will only let you save images in PNG format. If you want to save in JPG format, you’ll have to convert the PNG format to JPG format using an image converter or use a different method in this list.

3. Use an unsupported browser

Currently, WEBP format is only supported by Google Chrome and Opera. And as I said before, on websites both the WEBP and JPG/PNG formats are uploaded for an image to ensure all the browsers can open it. You can simply use an unsupported browser to load the image and it will be loaded in JPG or PNG format.

You can use any browser you like, including Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. Save the image as you normally do and you will see it will be in JPG or PNG format.

4. Spoof user agent

Following up to the above method, you don’t necessarily have to switch browsers to download WEBP images in JPG/PNG format. You can simply spoof user agent of your Chrome or Opera browser so the website will think you are browsing from an unsupported browser and load JPG or PNG image instead of WEBP.

For this purpose, I’ll recommend you to use the extension User-Agent Switcher for Chrome as it’s quick and easy.

1. Install the extension and click on its icon in the address bar.
2. You’ll see a list of supported user agents. Select any unsupported browser such as Safari or Firefox.



3. Now refresh the page with the WEBP image and it will load in JPG/PNG format. You can then download it using the standard Save image as option.

5. Use an online image converter

In case you already have WEBP images on your PC, you can convert them in JPG or PNG format as well. This will also be useful if you don’t want to follow extra steps in the above methods, but instead download all the WEBP images and then convert in bulk.

For quick conversions without any need of an extra software, an online converter is a good option. For that, Zamzar is a reliable image converter that supports WEBP conversion and is free to use. However, you can only convert 10 images concurrently.

1. On Zamzar website, click on Choose Files in Step 1 and select up to 10 WEBP images.



2. Select JPG or PNG from the drop-down menu.



3. Now provide your email address and click on Convert to finish the process.

The images will upload and the converted images will be sent to you via email. You can repeat the process to convert as many images as you like. If Zamzar doesn’t interest you, then you can also use cloudconvert. It offers fast on-site conversion, but it’s only limited to 25 conversions/day for free (registered users).

6. Use a desktop image converter

If an online conversion isn’t your thing, then a desktop image converter app would be a great solution. Although there are many, but I personally like XnConverter as it is completely free and comes with a plethora of features.

XnConverter is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and lets you convert unlimited images in bulk. Let’s see how you can use it to convert WEBP images to JPG or PNG:

1. Download and install XnConverter and launch it.
2. In the Input tab, click on Add files and select as many images as you like.



3. Move to Output tab and you will see dozens of options to tweak. Although, you can tweak as you prefer, but just selecting your desired output format (JPG/PNG) should be enough as well. You can also click on Settings below the format to further adjust output quality.



4. Now click on Convert and all the images will be converted and saved in the specified location.

Summary

All of the above methods will help your save WEBP images in JPG or PNG format without any problem. For quick downloads, I prefer using Save Image As PNG Chrome extension in my Opera browser. Although many times I receive WEBP files as email attachments, and XnConverter does a fine job of quickly converting them to JPG.

The post How to Save .WEBP Images as JPG and PNG (6 Ways) appeared first on Hongkiat.

Well, my worries are pretty much over as I find out about a whole bunch of coupon websites that offer the best shopping deals and bargains for online shopping. You can find great deals on your favorite items and get opportunities to grab limited-time offers.

Here’s a list of some of the best shopping deals sites that I’ve come up with, so you too can enjoy a greater online shopping experience.

SlickDeals

SlickDeals is one of the biggest community-driven shopping deals sites that offers a huge range of active deals. All the offers are added by the huge community of SlickDeals and then voted to reach the front page of the website. The best ones are hand-picked by editors to be "Featured", and the rest stay on their first page.

Most of the deals here are related to electronics and software subscriptions. Although you may also find deals on home products, beauty products, kitchenware, and more.

You may even find free products such as free samples, subscriptions and limited time free premium plans, and there are comments on each deal to see what the buyers reviews.

What’s so special?

• Community-driven deals website.
• Good for finding deals on tech-related items.

Green Man Gaming

It is the hub for all the gamers to find great deals on videos games. They work with over 500 developers to bring the best deals to you, including Nintendo, Steam, Rockstar, and Uplay, etc.

There is a listing of currently trending titles and those that are coming soon. You can filter offers based on consoles and find deals based on popularity.

Resident Evil 7, WWE 2K17, For Honor, Dishonored 2 and The Elder Scrolls Online are just a few of the titles currently on sale. You can find deals on both full games and in-game items.

What’s so special?

• Find awesome deals on video games.
• Pre-order game titles.

Offers

Offers creates a great balance between online deals and coupons. You can find hundreds of great deals and coupons that are usually related to clothing and food items near your locale. You can check out the staff pick section to find every day’s best offers for trending stuff.

They also have a very interesting "Free" section where you can find items or services available for free. You can find free food samples near your location, premium software, electronics and items that come free with a specific purchase .

Although, Offers usually focuses on food and clothing, but you can also find deals on electronics, software, home products, travel and automotive.

What’s so special?

• Get great deals on clothing and food in your area.
• A section for reliable free deals.

Bizrate

Similar to other websites in this list, Bizrate shows handy weekly deals and promotions on its main page that you will surely love. However, this is not what Bizrate is known for. It is actually a deal-finding tool that lets you look for the best deal on your favorite product.

You can search for what you want in the search bar above, and it will show results from all the popular online stores in one place.

You will find a robust filtering system on the left side to filter results by price, seller or brand. Interestingly, Bizrate automatically finds common features of the product you are looking for and lets you search for the product based on specific features.

What’s so special?

• Search for the best deals on different stores.
• Efficient filtering feature.

DealDump

DealDump basically gathers best deals from top shopping deals websites and shows them in an easy to gulp interface. Though, you can simply go to the official site to get the deals, but what DealDump offers are multiple ways to quickly find the right deal.

On top, it shows a list of deals that were clicked the most in the last 24 hours. This section will make it easier to see which deals are most popular among the best shopping deals websites.

Some of the shopping deals websites include Slickdeals, Dealnews, Amazon, fat wallet, TechBargains, Newegg and more. You can also use keywords, categories, price and total discount percentage on items to search for the best deal.

What’s so special?

• Get deals from multiple shopping deals websites in one place.
• Multiple ways to find the best deals.
• Handy filtering system.

RetailMeNot

RetailMeNot has one of the biggest and most updated databases of coupons that will help you save big on your favourite stores. It has coupons from over 50,000 popular online stores that are updated on daily bases.

On the homepage, you can see daily best deals and top trending deals. Most of the deals will require you to provide a special coupon code, but some may have different requirements as well.

The best way to find good deals here is to enter the name of your favourite store in the search bar and RetailMeNot will show coupons available for it. Many of the coupons offer flat discounts on any purchase, so going through RetailMeNot before making a purchase is a good way to save money.

What’s so special?

• Find coupons for 50000 online stores.
• Get deal recommendations.

GottaDeal

GottaDeal is another popular community-driven website like SlickDeals that has many gems worth checking out. All of the deals here are added and voted by forum members to get on the first page.

The editors also pick the best deals for you. You can join GottaDeal forums to vote or add best deals you find online.

In my experience, most of the deals were related to home products, clothing, accessories, and kitchenware. However, you many also get your hands on some good tech deals if you are lucky.

What’s so special?

• Community-driven deals website.
• Deals are frequently updated.

Here are a few more…

Here are some more great shopping deals websites that I have compiled for you. All of them feature different ways of giving you great bargains and deals available online:

• DealPlus
• DealCatcher
• TechBargains
• Dealighted
• Groupon
• Ben’s Bargains
• Brad’s Deals
• PriceGrabber
• Micro Center
• Newegg
• eDealinfo
• Woot
• OzBargain
• OverStock

Which websites do you like for finding the best shopping deals? Do share with us in the comments.

The post Best Coupon Sites for Shopping Deals and Bargains appeared first on Hongkiat.

There are many third-party maintenance tools available that will automatically complete important maintenance tasks for you saving you from PC problems and ensuring that your PC is always gives optimum performance. Below I have listed 10 types of PC maintenance tools that you should gift to your PC.

1. PC cleaning tools

Cleaning your PC of all the files like cache, temporary files, logs, and fragments, etc. ensures that your PC stays fast and junk free. These files can take up a lot of space if not treated in time (in GBs) and may also cause software errors and system slow down.

CCleaner is one of the most popular PC cleaning tools that is light, highly customizable and does an amazing job of cleaning junk files. You have full control over which data you would like to delete, so you never have to worry about deleting anything important.

Other cleaning tools to consider:

• SlimCleaner
• BleachBit
• FileCleaner

2. Defragmentation tools

If you are using a hard disk drive (HDD) for storage and not a solid state drive (SSD), then read this; otherwise, skip to the next tool.

In hard drives, data is written in random fragments that are scattered every time you access a file. This causes fragmentation and makes it difficult for the access arm on the hard drive to find the required data quickly. So every time you open a new file, it will take some extra time to find and open the file; i.e., slower system.

A defragmentation tool will put all the data in sequence to make it easier for the hard drive to quickly access it; leading to faster file startups. You should defrag your hard drive once in a while to keep the PC running at optimum speed.

Although Windows PCs have a built-in defragmentation tool, but a third-party defragmentation tool like Defraggler offers more control. Defraggler allows you to defrag specific files and folder and even programs. You can also defrag empty space to protect against future fragmentation.

More defragmentation tools:

• Smart Defrag
• Auslogics Disk Defrag

3. Automatic driver updates

Keeping your hardware drivers updated is the best way to ensure your connected devices work properly without any loss in performance. However, it can be really hard to track and update drivers manually. A driver update program will automatically search for latest drivers for your PC and keep it updated and free of corrupt drivers.

Driver Booster by IObit is my personal favorite for this purpose that keeps the drivers updated and fixes corrupted drivers. It also has special support for Windows 10 drivers, if you are using Windows 10.

Other driver updaters:

• DriverPack
• Driver Talent

4. Uninstaller apps

Apart from the data in the main directory, programs also create registry entries and other files in the system for different purposes. The Windows built-in uninstaller only uninstalls a program from its main directory and nothing more.

The other data stays in your system for no reason and accumulates over time if you don’t delete it, leading to slowdowns and storage waste. You can use an uninstaller app like IObit Uninstaller that will delete all the connected data and ensure nothing is left behind.

I am using IObit Uninstaller for over a year now and it hasn’t disappointed me yet. It can uninstall programs in bulk and remove all the traces.

More uninstaller apps:

• Revo Uninstaller
• Wise Program Uninstaller
• Geek Uninstaller

5. Antivirus and Malware removal programs

Malware and viruses are always developing and a new virus threat arises every day. Antivirus software are there to fight them and ensure your PC stays safe.

Though there are many antivirus programs available, but Avast has a reliable free antivirus program. It has real-time protection feature with powerful scanning and network protection.

Other antivirus programs:

• BitDefender
• F-Secure Anti-Virus
• Malwarebytes

6. CPU and GPU temperature monitoring tools

PC overheating is a really serious issue and it can lead to data corruption and even permanent damage to PC components. CPU and GPU are the main heating components and keeping a tab on their temperature will help you keep them cool when needed.

A PC temperature monitoring tool like HWMonitor will show current temperature of your CPU and GPU and their peak temperature as well.

Other CPU and GPU temperature monitoring tools:

• Open Hardware Monitor
• HWiNFO
• Real Temp

7. Disk space analysis tools

Understanding what is on your PC will help you keep your PC clean and free from unrequired data. Disk space analysis tools (interlink my article "Disk space analysis tools" when it’s published) scan your PC and show you all your data in an easy to gulp manner.

I personally love WinDirStat disk analysis tool for this purpose. It’s a really simple tool that creates a handy data tree to show all types of data on your PC and makes it easy to see which type of data is taking most space. It also makes it easy to navigate and manage data right inside its interface.

Other Disk space analysis tools:

• HDGraph
• DiskSavvy

8. Hard drive health monitoring tools

Hard drives have limited life and they can be easily damaged or get corrupted over time. You need to keep a tab on your hard drive’s health to save your data and be prepared for the inevitable.

CrystalDiskInfo is the tool of my choice for hard drive health monitoring that is extremely easy to use and offers comprehensive information. It sums up hard drive health and lets you know if it’s working fine or if there are any problems. It also shows information like hardware type, temperature, and specification.

Other Hard drive health monitoring tools:

• PassMark DiskCheckup
• Hard Disk Sentinel
• HDDScan

9. System Information Tools

System Information Tools provide all the information about your PC software and hardware components. Such as speed and type of CPU, GPU, RAM, Motherboard, and hard drive, etc.

These tools may not actively help in PC maintenance, but they are very handy to have when your PC faces a problem or need to make changes to the hardware of the PC. For example, you may need to provide your PC specification to a technician who is trying to help you with a PC problem.

Windows also has built-in system information tool that is honestly quite comprehensive. However, if you need even more details with easy navigation and export features, then Speccy is a great tool. It shows extensive information about your PC, including information about network, operating system and connected devices.

I also really like its real-time data tracking that shows changes in value in real-time, such as temperature.

Others system information tools:

• System Information for Windows
• Free PC Audit
• Belarc Advisor

10. All-in-one Utilities

The above tools are great at their job, but there are some really cool all-in-one utilities that offer multiple PC utility software in a single package to automatically optimize performance and fix problems. Of course, they are usually jack of all trades but masters of none, but they are definitely worth a look.

I have used Glary Utilities in the past and it has some really cool tools. Most of the tools I have mentioned above are available in Glary utility suit along with some extra tools like startup manager, explorer, security checker and more. It also has a built-in performance booster to speed up the PC.

Other All-in-one utilities:

• Advanced SystemCare
• Auslogics
• WinUtilities

Bonus

You can also get a registry cleaner to keep things tidy. Although registry cleaners don’t help too much with speeding up the PC and modern operating systems can manage registry quite well, but they are still worth having at desperate times.

If you don’t clean your registry at all, then over time there is a chance the registry may get corrupted and lead to slow downs or software errors. If you face such a problem and can’t seem to find the solution, then try cleaning the registry to see if it helps.

I like Wise Registry Cleaner for this purpose as it makes it easy to clean the registry and also has a feature to defrag registry. After I cleaned and defragged the registry of my old PC with Wise Registry Cleaner, I noticed a huge performance boost. So there’s a chance you may find it useful too.

Ending thoughts

All of the aforementioned tools are either free or have a free version that is comprehensive enough to be used at home without problems. So you should have no problem maintaining your PC for free. If you know any other reliable tools to maintain a PC, do share with us in the comments.

The post 10 Tools to Improve Windows PC Performance appeared first on Hongkiat.

However, as a buyer, if you know what kind of fraudulent scenarios you can face and how to deal with them, you may be able to avoid them. Take a look at these PayPal scams that target buyers and tips to avoid them.

Sending money as Friends and Family

For completing the payment, the seller may ask you to send the payment as “Friends and Family”. They may further add that this will help them avoid transaction fee and may even entice you with a discount for saving their cost of the fee.

What happens behind the scene

The Friends and Family method is only available for the transaction between your close friends and family members who you trust and are not intending to sell any goods. Therefore, PayPal’s Purchase Protection policy doesn’t apply to this transaction.

If you use this method to buy goods then the seller can refuse from sending the goods to you after receiving the payment. You can’t put a dispute on such payments and contacting PayPal will also not be fruitful.

How to protect yourself

Understand that PayPal Friends and Family payment methods is only made for money transfer between trusted friends and family member where there is no intention of adding a dispute. A payment made for purchasing something must be done as a business transaction so PayPal could protect you if anything goes wrong.

Simply decline such requests and tell the seller that you need protection from PayPal and you’ll only make the payment as a business transaction.

Seller issuing a fake invoice

For bulk purchases, the seller might tell you that they will send a PayPal invoice and you should make a payment according to it. Afterwards, you will receive an email from PayPal with a link to an invoice for the total amount.

You’ll have to log in with your PayPal credentials to make the payment (even if you are already logged in). Usually, nothing happens when you log in, or maybe an error would show up.

What happens behind the scene

The invoice the seller has sent to you is fake, and it’s not the PayPal’s official address from which you received the email. When you’ll click on the link in the email, it will redirect you to a fake webpage with a fake PayPal login field.

If you will log in, your credentials will be sent to the scammer and your account will get hacked.

How to protect yourself

You need to be a little careful about invoices from untrusted sources. First, make sure the address from which you received the email is “support@paypal.com”. Similar to the scam #1 in this post, make sure the invoice website is “www.paypal.com” and not a spoof one. More details on fake emails are at the end of this post.

Offers payment via PayPal but switches to different method later

The seller may confirm that they accept PayPal payments. However, when you are ready to complete the payment, the seller will ask you to use a different method such as Western Union or Wire Transfer. They will probably talk about the low fee or may even give you discount for using a different method.

What happens behind the scene

PayPal offers protection to the buyer and ensures you get the goods you are expecting. Most other payment methods don’t offer such protection, and once the money is sent it can’t be recovered.

So, the seller may try to trick you into using a different method for a better deal and then they won’t send you the goods at all. Using the method of their choice, you won’t be able to file any claim and you’ll lose the money.

How to protect yourself

Protection is probably the main reason why you are using PayPal for the transaction. Stick to the original terms and tell the seller you’ll only make the payment via PayPal. No matter how sweet the deal is, it’s not worth the risk of losing all your money.

Some additional info…

Although above are the most common scams, but you should know that fake emails are frequently used for PayPal scams. There are hundreds of ways scammers can use fake emails to cheat PayPal users. This includes launching phishing attacks, sending fake money emails, sending fake email to win a prize, and many other.

However, following basic email scam prevention rules should help prevent such scams. Below are some clues that can help detect fake PayPal email scams:

• The email will not be from support@paypal.com.
• It will ask for confidential information, such as bank details, PayPal login details, full name, your security question’s answer, and other similar information that could be exploited.
• PayPal will never ask you to install or download anything.
• They will not use your name to address you. PayPal knows your name and will always address you with it.
• The email content creates a sense of urgency. For example, “Click now to get $50 coupon” or “We have noticed suspicious activity in your account, click the link below to confirm”.

PayPal also has an extensive guide on how to identify fake PayPal emails and websites. You can refer to it for more details.

The post Avoid Common PayPal Scams: Tips for Buyers appeared first on Hongkiat.

I’m using Opera browser to demonstrate how to do this, but the tweaks below can also be done in other popular browsers. You have to search for the options yourself and may also have to get help from third-party browser extensions.

Good To Know: Do keep in mind that a resource-friendly browser is snappier and also loads web pages faster. If you are looking for faster browsing, the tips below will be helpful.

1. Disable images

I always keep images disabled while browsing, and there are many good reasons to do so. Images are heavy and use loads of internet data; most of them are only for attraction, they reserve huge space on web pages (more scrolling) and I also personally find most images to be distracting.

Focusing on the resources side, an image heavy page is usually of 2-5 MBs. By disabling images, you can make that webpage use only 200-300 KB. Of course, this will lead to using fewer internet data and also speed up page loading time.

Both Opera and Chrome have this setting built-in, but you may have to use a third-party extension in other browsers.

In Opera:

1. go to “Settings” from the main Opera menu and move to “Websites” section
2. Here, under the “Images” heading, select the option “Do not show any images".
3. You can also click on the “Manage exceptions” button below to whitelist websites you want to see images on.

2. Make plug-in content “Click to play”

Embedded videos, widgets, and other flash-based content you see on webpages are all plug-in content. These contents are heavy on both PC and internet resources — and they are not always useful.

Set plug-in content to “Click to play”, and no plug-in content will be loaded automatically on web pages; a simply click on it will play it. This option is available in almost all browsers.

In Opera:

1. Go to “Websites” section in the “Settings“.
2. Select the option “Click to play” under “Plug-ins” heading. Now you will see a play button on web pages with plug-in content.

3. Compress Internet data

Opera has a built-in data compression system that will compress unencrypted webpages (HTTP) to decrease their size. Thus the webpages will eat less internet bandwidth and also load faster.

From the main Opera menu at the top left corner, select “Opera Turbo” to turn on this feature. In Chrome and Firefox, you can use the extension Data Saver for Chrome and Google DataSaver for Firefox.

Note: While using this feature your unencrypted data goes through the service provider’s servers (Opera or Google in this case). Privacy-conscious people may not be comfortable with this approach.

4. Disable JavaScript

All the cool things you see on websites, such as drop-down menus, smooth image transitions, moving text, content revealing as you scroll, changing text and everything that makes you go wow are thanks to JavaScript.

However, these cool things also eat up a lot of resources. You can disable JavaScript to sacrifice all these cool functions. While this isn’t a recommended option for daily browsing, your browser will use less resources.

To disable JavaScript in Opera:

1. Go to “Websites” section in the “Settings”
2. Under “JavaScript” heading, select “Do not allow any site to run JavaScript".

Most other browsers also have this option baked into settings.

Disabling this might not affect your experience but it could possibly even break the site you are visiting. It all depends on how much JavaScript the site uses.

5. Block ads

Ads power the free Internet we get to enjoy today, but when you have to budget the resources your browser can have access to, ads are probably top on the list of things that have to go. You can use the popular Adblock Plus extension that supports most popular browsers.

In Opera you can take advantage of the built-in ad blocker that is lighter than any other third-party ad blocker. Go to “Basic” section in Opera “Settings” and enable “Block ads” option.

Just like other ad blockers, you can create custom block lists and whitelist website.

Blocking ads is a great way to save resources, but do remember to whitelist websites you care about as they depend on the ad revenue to offer their services.

6. Block cookies

I’m not recommending that you disable all types of cookies as cookies allow websites to identify you when you revisit them and help you easily login or continue where you left off.

However, blocking third-party cookies can be good as they are usually used by third-party websites to track your activity for analysis and advertising purposes. You can disable third-party cookies in all popular browsers.

In Opera, move to “Basic” section in the “Settings” and select the option “Block third-party cookies” under “Cookies” heading.

Of course, you can also completely disable cookies from the same options, but it will surely affect your browsing experience.

7. Use Opera battery saver [Opera Only]

Opera has a built in battery saver mode that puts less pressure on the CPU and makes other tweaks such as pausing theme animations, reducing background tabs activity and pausing unused plugins to increase laptop battery life up to 50%.

This mode will not save RAM or Internet resources, but making less use of CPU is a good thing as well. In my normal Opera usage without battery saver mode, my CPU spikes to as high as 36%, but with battery saver the highest spike was 14%.

Also, the spikes were less frequent while in Battery saver mode compared to normal mode.

To enable Opera Battery saver, go to “Basic” section of Opera “Settings” and check the checkbox next to “Enable battery saver“.

If you have a laptop, Opera offers different trigger options to automatically enable battery saver function.

8. Disable hardware acceleration

When hardware acceleration is enabled, your browser will take advantage of your PC GPU to play browser-based games, videos and other heavy media content. Of course this means that hardware acceleration will put pressure on the GPU (video card).

Hardware acceleration should be disabled if you think your PC GPU should be used for more "important" things (like PC games) than the content inside the browser.

All popular browsers support this feature, in Opera you will find this option in the “Browser” section of the “Settings“. Under System, disable "Use hardware acceleration when available" to save PC resources. Enable it if you want to speed up the browser.

9. Delete unrequired extensions

Extensions use a lot of PC and internet resources as they continuously work in the background to provide their services and also exchange data. Try to keep only the important extensions in your browser and remove all the unrequired ones.

I also recommend you disable the extensions that you use infrequently. Whenever you need service of such an extension, just enable it, use it and then disable it again.

10. Ditch your VPN for built-in VPN [Opera]

If you use a VPN service to browse anonymously and access blocked websites, then Opera’s free built-in VPN might entice you.

VPN software are usually heavy on your PC resources and slow down browsing by a lot; and not to mention the monthly fee you have to pay. Opera’s built-in VPN is extremely light, has very small impact on browsing speed and it is completely free without any strings attached. If you will use Opera’s VPN, you are saving resources and money!

Go to “Privacy & security” section in Opera “Settings” and check the checkbox next to “Enable VPN” to enable it.

Now you will see a “VPN” at the start of the address bar that you can click on to enable/disable VPN and choose virtual locations.

This tip will only be useful for you if you are already using another VPN service. If you don’t use a VPN service (and don’t know its caveats), then enabling Opera VPN will actually lead to slowing down your browsing a bit and putting more pressure on your PC.

A good practice

Along with all the above tips, you should also make a habit of cleaning browser data every now and then to keep your browser light. Too much browsing data will make your browser slow and heavy on the PC. All browsers have options to clear browsing data.

In Opera, you can move to “Privacy & security” section in “Settings” and click on “Clear browsing data” button under “Privacy” heading.

You will see all the data that you can delete, just check the checkbox next to what you would like to delete and click on the “Clear browsing data” button below to delete it.

I don’t recommend you delete passwords and form data as it is important for automatically logging into websites and filling forms.

Is your browser lighter now?

After following all the tips above, your browser should be light as a feather. These tweaks do lead to sacrifices in features, but in most cases it should not affect your browsing too much and you should be able to browse smoothly. Do let us know in the comments which tips you followed and how they worked out for you.

The post How to Create a Resource-Friendly Browser (Using Opera) appeared first on Hongkiat.