Transfer Files from the Command Line with transfer.sh

Oct 09, 2014 GMT

Need to share a file without leaving the convenience of the terminal? The transfer.sh service got you covered. Using the good old curl tool, you can share and download shared files using a handful of simple commands. To upload the foo.txt file, run the curl --upload-file ./foo.txt https://transfer.sh/foo.txt command. When the upload is completed, the service returns the download link which you can pass to other users. Downloading the share file is as easy as running the curl https://transfer.sh/SbhMe/foo.txt command (where SbhMe is a unique identifier of the shared file). All shared files automatically expire after two weeks, so there is no need to worry about removing them manually.If...

Prettify Wikipedia with WikiWand

Sep 29, 2014 GMT

Wikipedia is undeniably an excellent online reference, but its interface looks not only dated but also not particularly user-friendly. The WikiWand service provides an alternative Wikipedia interface which is both polished and streamlined. The new interface sports an optimized layout that features a collapsible table of contents. WikiWand adds pop-ups to links in the currently viewed article, so you can preview them without leaving the page. The interface also sports significantly improved typography which not only improves the overall appearance, but also makes text more readable. Photos are displayed in a lightbox complete with a thumbnail bar for browsing images. ...

sncli: Command-Line Client for Simple Note

Sep 26, 2014 GMT

One of the things that make Simple Note such a convenient note-taking solution is the choice of client tools that let you access and edit notes on a variety of platforms and devices. But if you take a closer look at the  list of available applications and utilities, you'll notice that it doesn't include any command-line tools. That doesn't mean, though, that CLI tools for Simple Note don't exist, and sncli is here to prove that. Written in Python, sncli boasts comprehensive functionality, including two-way sync, sorting, searching, editing, pinning, tag editing, and much more. The tool supports Vim-like key bindings and fully-customizable colors. ...

Host Images with Fotoo Hosting

Aug 31, 2014 GMT

Previously, I wrote about a simple PHP script for uploading and hosting images, but if it's too limited for your needs, you might want to take a look at the Fotoo hosting app. It packs an impressive array of useful features in a single PHP. Highlights include support for various graphics formats (JPEG, PNG, SVG, XCF, and even animated GIF), support for multiple-file uploads, automatic generation of short URLs, the ability to mark specific photos as private, a user-friendly interface for browsing hosted photos, and much more. As you would expect, Fotoo Hosting is easy to deploy. Grab the latest index.php and config.example.php files from the...

Email Articles with Fetch

Aug 30, 2014 GMT

Services like Pocket and Framabag offer a convenient way of saving articles, but a Fetch provides a different way of saving stories for later perusal. Send a link to a special email address, and the application duly sends you a distilled text from the provided page. To use the hosted version of the application, email the link you want to your own address with CC to fetch@to.andyjiang.com. Naturally, you can use Fetch not only to save articles for personal use, but also send them to other recipients. Obviously, Fetch won't replace a dedicated readt-it-later service, but it can come in handy when you need to save or share an article for reading later with a minimum of fuss. The...

Block Ads on Unrooted Android Devices

Aug 28, 2014 GMT

Until recently, if you wanted to enjoy an ad-free browsing experience on Android, you basically had two choices: 1) root your device and install the AdAway app, or 2) use alternative browsers like Firefox or Tint equipped with appropriate ad blocking add-ons. Now, you have a third option: the makers of the popular AdBlock Plus extension has released a namesake app for Android. The AdBlock Plus app is not available through the Google Play Store, so you need to install it from the project's website. Once deployed, the app automatically picks the best filtering list, but before it can perform its ad blocking magic, you need to configure the...

Extension Watch: Add a PDF Viewer to Chromium

Aug 27, 2014 GMT

If you try to open a PDF link in Chromium, you'll quickly discover that the browser downloads the source file instead of opening it in a built-in PDF viewer. This happens because Chromium lacks the closed-source PDF module found in Google Chrome. Fortunately, there is a simple fix to this problem. The PDF Viewer extension adds a PDF.js viewer to Chromium which allows you to view PDF files without leaving the convenience of your favorite browser. The extension is based on the PDF.js open source viewer supported by Mozilla. The viewer provides all basic functionality, including navigation actions, page zoom, text selection, search feature, etc.