Archive for the ‘Free Software’ Category

How to Get Noise-free Star Photos with Starry Landscape Stacker – PetaPixel (blog)

After doing an astrophotography shoot and zooming in on the stars, and you may find digital noise spoiling the scene. Removal in Lightroom can result in less color in the cosmos, but using a piece of software called Starry Landscape Stacker software canmake the final output much better.

In this 23-minute video tutorial byLonely Speck, Starry Landscape Stacker is put to the test.

By taking multiple exposures of the night sky, it is possible for the software to track the stars (accounting for the rotation of the Earth) and determine what is and isnt digital noise.This makesfor much cleaner and higher quality star shots after removal.

The software will select every star it can find, creating a mask of them. Its possible to adjust thismask by clicking on any stars that have been missed (or hot pixels that have beenmisinterpreted).

Itll also select the entire area of sky. You can, once more, fine-tune this to ensure the foreground and sky are entirely separated.

Then just click to continue, andStarry Landscape Stacker will output a TIFF file of glorious stars, without drastically reducednoise. You can see a comparison here the softwares output is on the left, compared with one of the original frames on the right:

Starry Landscape Stacker is available for macOS only and costs $35.

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How to Get Noise-free Star Photos with Starry Landscape Stacker - PetaPixel (blog)

Best Android antivirus 2017 – Tech Advisor (registration)

We look at the best antivirus apps available right now: what is the best security app for mobile? Read on to find out.

By Christopher Minasians | 03 Jul 2017

Like Windows before it, the 'open' and widely popular Android system from Google has a weak security system that makes it prone to infection from dangerous malware (more than it affects iOS users). We reveal the best antivirus apps for both Android and iOS.

If you're looking for antivirus for your PC, visit best antivirus 2017.

The idea of installing security software on a smartphone might seem like overkill, but there are plenty of good reasons to consider doing so.

Anyone fraudsters included can submit apps to the Google Play Store without pre-approval, and apps can also be downloaded and installed from a wide range of other sources.

That means Android users face a greater element of risk than those with iPhones or Windows Phone handsets, who can only install apps that have been properly pre-vetted for safety.

Nevertheless, every user is at potential risk from malware and physing emails and ads - so no matter the platform you're on, it's good to have a mobile antivirus program installed.

The more open nature of the Android operating system makes it more susceptible to the kind of malware that we've grown accustomed to dealing with on Windows PCs. Although the scale of the Android malware problem isn't yet as bad as it is on Windows PCs, it remains a threat all the same.

The security software test lab Av-Test, has millions of different pieces of Android malware in itsdatabase malware that is typically used to steal your valuable personal data from your phone without your knowledge.

Anti-theft

Yet, even if you're careful about what apps you install or which websites you visit, there are other strong motives for installing a security suite. Such security apps routinely include anti-theft features, for example.

Contrary to the name, they won't prevent theft but they may allow you to lock or wipe the data from your stolen handset. Some even include features that allow you to take photos or audio recordings of the thieves.

If you've merely left the phone lying in a bar or restaurant, the anti-theft features can be used to locate your handset, and display a message on the lost phone's screen, providing instructions on how to contact you, in order to return the handset.

Call blocking

Another useful feature commonly found in security suites is call blocking. If your mobile is constantly plagued by nuisance calls or spam texts, you might be able to block the callers so that they don't interrupt your day. But this won't work when you're being plagued by pre-recorded calls hawking PPI refunds and the like, when the caller number is Unknown or Withheld.

Some apps include schedulers in their call-blocking facilities, so you can divert all calls from the office to voicemail at evenings and weekends, for example.

App managers

Some suites also include app managers that allow you to password protect access to the web browser invaluable for parents who routinely hand their phone over to children to play games and worry that they might stumble into something they shouldn't, or run up horrendous bills by purchasing apps.

Backup facilities

Less useful are the backup facilities found in many of these suites. Some merely back up contacts, which certainappsalready support the feature when you sign in with your Google or Apple account, while others only offer a tiny amount of space to store your photos and files.

Price: 9.99

Available with a 14 day free trial, BitDefender Mobile Security scored a full 100 percent in both real-time malware and discovery of malware on Android platforms during AV-Tests May 2017 test.

It has anti-theft features, works with wearable devices, gives you web security alongside a privacy advisor and most importantly has a very effective malware scanner.

However, you won't be able to block calls, backup data or have any parental controls.

BitDefender is our pick of the best Windows antivirus and best Mac antivirus.

Price: Free trial from the Play Store

The app has a grace period of ten days, where you will be able to trial the full functionalities before purchasing it.

AhnLab V3 is well received and offers anti-malware, call blocking, privacy features (such as a history cleaner for your browser), a speed booster (to increase the responsiveness of your phone), a way of hiding photos from your gallery and offers anti-theft features.

In Av-Test's benchmarks, the app scores a solid 100 percent score 99.8 in 'detection of the latest Android malware in real-time' and 'detection of the latest Android malware discovered in the last 4 weeks'.

AhnLab V3 has a small footprint on your device, while providing the necessary security.

However, it doesn't feature a backup of personal data, parental controls nor a message filter for spam messages.

Price: Free version available

Third in our overall antivirus charts is Kaspersky, which offers great mobile antivirus too. It scored just below 100 percent in AV-Test, at 99.8%.

It offers a huge range of features in addition to the antivirus itself, including has find my phone, anti-theft, anti-phishing, call blocker and a web filter too.

A free version is available with limited features, and the premium version is 9.99 for the whole package.

Price: 24.99

The app comes with a free 30 day trial period. After the trial has expired you will still be protected, but won't benefit from its premium features.

The app scores a full 100 percent in both real-time malware and discovery in its Av-Test benchmarks.

It features a call blocker, safe browsing and a means of backing up personal data. However, it doesn't have parental controls or a message filter.

Price: Free version available

Another Android antivirus that very nearly scored top marks in AV-Test's benchmarks is McAfee, which doesn't quite have as big a range of features as Kaspersky, but does offer solid antivirus and anti-theft protection.

There's also a battery optimiser built in to help you boost the performance of your phone, and there's support for Android Wear.

There are also privacy settings that can be tailored on an app-by-app basis.

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Best Android antivirus 2017 - Tech Advisor (registration)

The Newest Version Of 2017 EzPaycheck Payroll Software Easily Processes After Fact Payroll – Benzinga

EzPaycheck 2017 payroll software has released the an update for after fact payroll processing. Download and test drive 2017 version at no risk or obligation at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) July 04, 2017

Halfpricesoft.com has updated ezPaycheck2017 payroll software for customers switching to the product, mid year. After fact payroll that has been processed by accountants who record information done by their clients, payroll processed by an outside source, or paychecks processed using another software is now easily handled by ezPaycheck.

"Businesses who start using ezPaycheck 2017 payroll software can add after fact payroll easily," said Dr. Ge, the founder of halfpricesoft.com.

The new edition can also support multiple accounts and up to 500 employees with no extra charge. Business owners can relax in knowing that the software will enable them to process paychecks easily when they hire more employees or grow their businesses in a different state.

Small businesses and nonprofits will appreciate the unique features in the latest release of ezPaycheck payroll software:

Customers seeking a way to simplify payroll processing with more accuracy can go online to http://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp and download the payroll software. The download includes the full version of the paycheck software along with a sample database. The sample database allows new customers to try all of ezPaycheck's exciting features, including the intuitive graphical interface, without wasting time entering data.

Halfpricesoft.com invites new customers to start the no obligation 30-day test drive today at: http://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp.

About Halfpricesoft.com Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting and exceeding the software requirements of small businesses around the world. Offering payroll software, employee attendance tracking software, check writing/printing software, W2 software, 1099 software and ezACH deposit software. It continues to grow in the philosophy that small business owners deserve affordable, user friendly, and totally risk-free software.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Payroll-Software/Paycheck-Software/prweb14460457.htm

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The Newest Version Of 2017 EzPaycheck Payroll Software Easily Processes After Fact Payroll - Benzinga

Free software marks end of Tally in Plus Two commerce … – Times of India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the state higher secondary directorate introducing free software-based curriculum for higher secondary commerce stream as well, proprietary software products have almost made a final exit from the school and higher secondary education. The department had earlier shown doors to proprietary software products for education in Class I to X and also in computer science and humanity streams in Plus One and Plus Two. But since the proprietary software Tally was used for teaching accounting in commerce stream students, the particular stream was using Windows and Tally for their studies. "We had earlier asked Tally people to customise their product in such a fashion that we can use it in free software-based operating system. But they were not interested in the same. It was then we started scouting for a free software-based accounting software and chose one that fit for our requirement," said IT@School director Anvar Sadath. The search ended at GNUKhata, a free software based accounting software which is user friendly as Tally. According to a directive issued by the state higher secondary directorate, the commerce students can start using the free software and other class 12 students may use either the proprietary or free software for the year. In August 2008, government had instructed all institutions under general education department to strictly use free software alone in all future teaching and training activities and a government order in this regard is in effect. But in the commerce section (computerised accounting system), there was the Tally package in use, which is operational only on a Microsoft Windows platform. This practise often resulted in deployment of pirated software in schools which was not only illegal but also created a Cyber Security threat.

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Free software marks end of Tally in Plus Two commerce ... - Times of India

Nine Most Privacy-Loving Laptops You Can Buy Today Got Stamped By FSF – Fossbytes

Who knows the meaning of the word freedom more than Richard Stallman? His Free Software Foundation certifies devices under a program called Respects Your Freedom (RYF). And if we look at the list of accepted devices, the lineup is mostly ruled by a single hardware maker, Technoethical based in Romania.

In an announcement made last week, FSF has certified 15 devices including laptops, Wireless cards, Bluetooth adapters, printers, etc. RYF was first materialized in 2012 and till now the number of devices to get a green signal can count on our fingers.

The list now has a total of six laptops which can tap their back, as FSF thinks they wont cause a dent in peoples personal lives and allow them to control every bit.

These devices from Technoethical are actually refurbished Lenovo Thinkpads running GNU/Linux-libre and Libreboot (a free software boot system) to show a true sense to freedom to the buyer.

New Technoethical laptops in the list:

Other laptops:

Many of these devices might seem outdated in terms of looks and specifications, but they adhere to the freedom standards set forth by the FSF.

Unfortunately, hardware manufacturers have until now relied on close cooperation with proprietary software companies that demanded control over their users, the Foundation argues.

As citizens and their customers, we need to promote our desires for a new class of hardware hardware that anyone can support because it respects your freedom.

You can check out the complete list of devices here. It also includes the devices from other brands accepted in the past.

Got something to add? Drop your thoughts and feedback.

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Nine Most Privacy-Loving Laptops You Can Buy Today Got Stamped By FSF - Fossbytes