Shouts of Nothingness

Ok enough google..would like to have a local search engine..?(vis Google Desktop Search) but something that is light on your system and easy to use..Welcome to X Friend.
Your Open Source search companion

#x-friend is your search engine for desktop, searches at no charge.

#x-friend’s search functionality includes full text search and meta data search. Search results will be displayed within seconds and can be categorized by file type, date, size etc.

#Additionally, x-friend searches the internet, product catalogues, internet news (RSS-feeds), emails and other search services.

Ok here’s a screenshot of X Friend in action..

X Friend rums on Java hence Platform independent.You can run it on your Mac,PC,linux,Solaris….or any platform that supports Java.All searches are browser based.
I’ll shed more light by quoting X Friend’s objectives:

# Platform independency due to the usage of Java or “managed code”
# Browser based application development
# Flexible architectures: whether a system such as x-friend runs on a desktop computer or a server or even uses P2P-technology should not matter to the basic system.
# Flexible synchronization functionality to synchronize data/index-information
# Usage of Semantic Web technology (RDF, Ontology) to store (meta-)data that allow an automated processing
# Search as a central functionality
# Easy navigation and information finding: dynamic directories/paths via meta-data-usage

More:

Just a short list of important features to get an idea of its mightiness:

* Easy to handle user interface for local and Internet searches
* Support of all important browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla/Firefox, Safari, etc.)
* Indexing of (Searching in) files, prictures, RSS-news-feeds, mails, etc.
* Support of: MS-Office-files, PDF, RTF, HTML, XML, TXT, CVS, etc.
* Usage of meta-information for digital-photos (EXIF-header) and MP3s (ID-Tag), etc.
* Categorizing files due to meta-information (date, sender, type, etc.) within directories/Paths
* Shopping- and Internetsearch integrated
* Powerful query-language with wildcards (*,?) and AND/OR-connectors
* Mozilla integration
* Runs everywhere due to pure Java-Code (at least Windows, Linux, Macintosh)
* Easy installation with a Java Installer.
* Secure. SSL encryption integrated. External access only possible with username/password
* Language support for German and English. Language neutral due to internal Unicode-usage
* P2P-functionality once user accounts are generated.
* External x-friends can be integrated into your user interface
* No spyware. No adware. No transmission of data or search terms.
* Free of charge. No functional limitations. No timing limitations.

Whats more interesting is the fact is that you can have your own client server system.Layman terms you can have a P2P (peer to peer) search functionality.Meaning you can search your friend’s computer for information that would be useful to you.No this is nothing about invasion of privacy!..if you dont mind sharing your knowledgebase with your buddies then switch to X Friend and have a happy and productive search life.This is an optional feature only and can be disabled.So switch now to X Friend.

Tip: I have X Friend running on my work and home PC so that i can search both for anything i need!…now that’s what i call convenience

Try it!

Perhaps the most common reason why people find it difficult to use Graphic gizmos like Adobe Photoshop is because the difficulty…no..not in using the program but in the following the tutorials/help.If you can identify yourself with this category then Russell Brown’s Tips tricks and tutorials page is the place for you to let loose your inhibitions.

This is site provides quick time movies for all Photoshop techniques which makes things much much easier.So head on to Russell Brown’s

And remember….

“Beware, these QuickTime movies are large and will take time to download if you’re on a slow connection. Also, if you are viewing them using Internet Explorer, the movies may take several minutes to appear. For best results, Dr. Brown recommends that you use the Firefox browser. These tutorials have been provided to you as a free service from Adobe Systems and Russell Brown himself. Please do not redistribute this content without the written permission of Russell Brown. This content should never be sold!”

Well time’s set for the release of Windows 2006 or Windows Vista sometime late next year!Its got eyecandy that makes one think of Mac OS and “enhanced” security and user unterface improvements.It remains to be seen what’s in stock for the average user.However if your interested you can read Cnet’s review of the upcoming windows here