Six Great Apps for Writing

                                                   Six Great Apps for Writing

    When you are writing anything that is longer than an email, basic text editors start to feel very limited. But a full word processing app like MS Word can overwhelm you with options - and price tag. Whether you're a full time writer, or you want to work on essays for school, minimal text editors can be a godsend. Here are our favourites.

1. Q10
This free, simple, and yet powerful Windows text editor is loved by many for how simple it is. Q10 works in full screen mode to take away any distractions. There is no menu bar and there are no formatting options on screen. It comes with a spell-checker, and you can enable a word and paragraph count at the bottom of the screen in a discreet strip.

You can make notes, set a timer (which also measures how many words you wrote in each period) and you can customise the background and text colours, as well as set a typing sound - the default is yellow text on a black background with typewriter sounds enabled.

The app is great for writing in a focused manner, with no distractions and, for that purpose, the typewriter sounds paired with cheap earphones work better than expensive noise cancelling headphones.

2. OmmWriter
People either love OmmWriter, or hate it. The app is available for Windows, Mac and iPad, with the desktop variants being 'pay what you want' (minimum Rs.250), while the iPad version costs Rs. 300.

OmmWriter - like Q10 - keeps the focus on the text, with simple, minimal backgrounds and no visible menu. Instead there are just some discreet buttons to one side, which fade out when you type. There are different backgrounds to choose from, and also ambient and keyboard sounds, all of which have been chosen to help you focus on the work.

3. Scrivener
Scrivener is a fairly expensive app that costs $40, but luckily, there's a 30-day free trial, so you can check it out on both Windows and the Mac to see if it feels right for you.

Q10 is our favourite pick for fast, distraction free writing, and Scrivener is a great tool for working on larger projects, where you'll want to outline ideas, and work on parts of the outline at different times.

It lets you generate a full story structure, create a visual outline, and then work on each section as you require. This lets you more easily structure a large work and you can keep research and synopsises tagged as well, so when you move a chapter, the relevant documents can move with it in the notes. Scrivener is obviously not as useful for day to day writing, but if you're sitting in office, dreaming about writing your novel, Scrivener could give you the inspiration you need - don't work on the novel on your employer's time though!

4. iA Writer
This Mac and iOS app costs Rs. 300 on both platforms (the Mac version is on sale) but having extensively used it on the iPad as well as Mac, we can say it's worth the price. The app is completely distraction free, letting you see only the text when you are typing, and the iOS version (iPhone + iPad universal) uses its own keyboard, which gives easier access to punctuation and the cursor.

iA Writer is super-fast on the iPad which is another big point in its favour. Even basic writing apps often show slight amounts of lag while typing, which can completely break the flow of your work. It also doesn't overwhelm you with features, so you can completely focus on getting your work done.

The app also comes with Markdown support and iCloud-backed document syncing between the Mac and iOS versions.

There are several other similar apps on iOS and Mac, and amongst those Bywordis our pick, if you are looking for a more feature-rich alternative to iA Writer.

5. Day One
Unlike the other apps on this list, Day One is a journal app. Available on the Mac App store at Rs. 620 and for iOS at Rs. 300, Day One is an elegant and easy to use app that lets you capture your daily thoughts.

It lets you take pictures, sync across devices, and saves weather and GPS information along with your entries. Two handy features are a password lock to prevent others with access to your device from prying at your posts, and a publish feature, which allows you to share select posts to a custom webpage.

Day One looks great, and saves your posts in an easy to browse timeline, while the actual writing happens in a clean, distraction free space. It's simple to use, and you can write long entries with basic formatting - after you're done, it's easy to go back to an entry and add pictures and other elements if you want to as well, or share posts if you like, instead of having to consider all these things while writing. If you are looking for a writing app that works as a good journal, Day One is definitely the best choice.

6. Write: Tablet Notepad/ Journal
If you're an Android user, then Google Docs or Documents to Go are probably the best bets for text editors. If you're looking for something a little more minimalist though, you can try out Write - an app for Android tablets. Write is available at Rs. 200 now, and has a clean interface which shows word count, a good search function so you can find the right notes easily, and it includes a spell-check - this means that you can turn off the default auto-correct. Very useful if your workplace requires British English, for instance.

Writer is an iA Writer-clone that is a free Android alternative to Write: Tablet Notepad/ Journal, but the app hasn't been updated in over two-and-a-half years and many have reported compatibility issues with their devices. We didn't have any problems running the app on our Moto E though.

Bonus
This app isn't really that useful - it's more of a curiosity. Hanx Writer, released by actor Tom Hanks, simulates a typewriter on your iPad, and lets you write documents complete with old-fashioned strikeouts instead of a delete key.

The resulting text is saved as a PDF file which you can mail to people, and the animations and sounds are all perfectly done, to make you feel like you really are using a real typewriter. 

Which is your favourite text editor, please tell us via the comments.

How to Send Large Files Over the Internet

Ever had to send a really large file to someone and realised how inconvenient it is? Most email service providers have puny file size limits on attachments. A limit of 25MB is quite small so whether you want to send high-resolution videos or other large files, you're going to have to rely on Web-based services. Here are some of the best solutions with generous file size limits on the free tier.

1. Send files quickly - no login required

Sometimes you might want to send just one large file and don't want to bother with signing up and setting up accounts to share files. In such cases, you can either use a service that uploads your file to a server or one that lets the recipient download the file directly from your computer.

These services are great for one-time use, but since the file is being uploaded from your browser, the upload could fail, which means you have to start over from scratch, which can be a frustrating experience over slow or unreliable connections. These are the ones we liked most:

WeTransfer

There are several services that let you upload files to a server and send a downloadable link, but WeTransfer stands out for two reasons - a generous 2GB size limit on single files and no sign up required. Here's how to use it.

1. Open WeTransfer's website and click Skip/ I Agree if presented with some prompts.

2. Now you'll see the option to add files (up to 2GB per file). Each file is stored only for 7 days, after which you'll have to upload it again.

3. Click Add files > select your files (you can select multiple files) > click Add more files (if needed) > Transfer > Copy link.

4. Send this link to whoever you want to share these files with.

5. WeTransfer also has an iOS app that allows you to send up to files up to 10GB for free. This might be useful if you want to send photos or videos, but since iOS doesn't have a file manager, you cannot send any other kind of data.

JustBeamIt

If you are concerned about privacy, you can send files via a peer-to-peer service such as JustBeamIt. The service doesn't store files on its servers and let others download files directly from your computer. For this to work, you will have to keep your browser window open till the recipient has downloaded the file.

JustBeamIt simply creates a download link which the recipient can use to download the file. This link works only once and is only active as long as the download is running. To share a file with another person, you will have to create a new link. This is how it works.

1. Go to JustBeamIt's website and drag and drop any file (or click the parachute icon and select files). You'll be presented with a link.

2. Send this link to the person you want to share files with. The recipient will see a webpage with a prompt to begin downloading. Click the file icon to start downloading.

There are no file size limits on JustBeamIt, and unlike the alternatives, it doesn't require you to install any apps on your computer either.

2. Cloud Storage Services

If you're using any cloud storage service such as Dropbox or Google Drive, sharing files via email is very easy. These services have generous file size limits and let recipients download files without a hassle too. While the signup and setup is relatively is simple, it can be too much effort if you aren't already a user and want to send something quickly. In such cases use alternatives mentioned here.

Our favourite is Dropbox because it is available as an app on almost all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android) and has a good Web interface too. Dropbox gives users 2GB of free storage. You can get more free space by referring others to Dropbox and sometimes by buying a new smartphone, or simply buy more storage if needed.

Dropbox allows you to upload up to 10GB per file when using the Web interface and has no limit on single file sizes when you upload using any of the apps. Once Dropbox is up and running on your machine, simply copy/ move the file you want to share to your Dropbox folder (or any of its sub-folders).

You can do this by clicking on the Dropbox icon on your system tray in Windows, or clicking on the Dropbox icon in the Menu Bar on a Mac and then clicking on the little folder on the top left. This will open the Dropbox folder in Explorer/ Finder. Simply copy the file you want to share to this folder.

Then right-click the link and select Share Dropbox link. This will copy a link to this file, that you can send to anyone you want to share this file with. This can be used to share absolutely any file of any type or size that your system is capable of storing.

If you are away from your computer and want to send someone a file that's on your Dropbox folder, this is how you can do it.

Here's how to use it.

1. Open Dropbox and login.

2. After that, select the file or folder you want to share > click the Share link button > click Get Link and send this link to those you want to share the file with.

Other services like Google Drive, Box and OneDrive work in similar ways, and can be used instead. Google Drive in notable because it lets you upload up to 1TB per file, but free storage is capped at 15GB. You might want to use Google Drive if you need to send files larger than Dropbox's limit.

Send large files via email

As mentioned earlier, email attachments are too limiting if you intend to send large files. However, popular email services have cloud integration as well, so you can send large files almost as if they were attachments.

Gmail

The world's most popular email service, Gmail, has a rather strict 25MB limit on attachments. It does offer an easy way to attach larger files. Follow these steps if you wish to do so:

1. This method doesn't work if you're using Gmail's basic HTML view. Make sure you are using Gmail's default view before trying this.

2. Click the Compose button on the top-left > hover your mouse over the + icon in the compose window > click Insert from Drive > upload your file to Google Drive. This way you can upload files larger than 25MB.

3. If you're already using a different cloud service, then you might not want to have some files stored on Google Drive. To quickly attach these files when using Gmail, try a Chrome extension called Cloudy.

4. Go to compose a mail > click the Cloudy button on the top-right > select the cloud service you use. Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, OneDrive, Github, photos fromFacebook, Instagram, Flickr, and Picasa are supported. Add the file and send.

Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail also has a default attachment limit of 25MB. However, Yahoo does support sending larger files via Flickr (for images) or Dropbox (for everything else).

1. Sign in > click Compose to start writing a new email.

2. Click the down arrow next to the paper clip icon for attachments and select Share via Flickr or Share via Dropbox.

3. You'll be prompted to authorise Yahoo Mail's access to Flickr/ Dropbox. This is a one-time activity which happens the first time you use either service via Yahoo Mail.

4. Once the authorisation is complete, you can pick the file(s) you want to share. These files can then be opened by anyone, even if they aren't Flickr/ Dropbox users.

Outlook.com
Outlook.com users can also send large files easily, but by default they can attach only 20MB per email. Here's how to attach bigger files:

1. Log in > click Compose.

2. Click the down arrow next to the Insert button at the top and select Share via OneDrive.

This lets you attach files from your OneDrive account. All you need to do is upload files to OneDrive via your computer, mobile device, or the OneDrive Web interface, and select them when prompted by Outlook.com.

If you use any other method to share large files, let us know via the comments. 

The best calendar app for iPhone

SUNRISE

Sunrise does everything you’d expect from a calendar app — recurring events, alerts, birthdays, Google Maps directions, and more. It’s the little things that make Sunrise truly special, though: its weather indicators, photo avatars for event attendees, smart icons that change to reflect your events, its integration with popular services like SongKick and TripIt to show upcoming concerts and trips. With Foursquare integration, you can even see a history of all the places you’ve been. Evernote integration lets you see your reminders inside your calendar.

Sunrise is intimately connected to the web unlike any other calendar app, and has been adding new integrations on an almost weekly basis. You can add "Interesting Calendars" for free like World Cup games, national holidays, and sports team schedules. Sunrise’s Facebook integration is also best-in-class, which is important if your friends and family send invitations to Facebook events. This also means you won’t have to fill out a separate birthdays calendar, since Sunrise imports them (and even lets you text a friend or write on their wall directly).

Additionally, Sunrise has free companion apps for iPad and desktop — and the latter trumps Google Calendar in almost every way. There are some rough edges here, however. Sunrise has no real week or month view (it only has a three-day view and a simplistic month view). There’s also no search, though I’m told that feature is coming imminently. In total, however Sunrise manages to pack a huge feature set into a very handsome, minimal, and free package. This combination is exceedingly rare.

Seagate Wireless Plus 2TB review: Stream your digital media library on the move

 A lot of us are leading mobile-oriented lifestyles, but it may not always be possible for you to lug around your entire digital library with you while on the move. The capacities offered by smartphones and tablets reaches 128GB tops, with majority of the smartphones coming in 16GB and 32GB capacities. You really have to think hard before adding that heavy movie file on your cellphone. But with the Seagate Wireless Plus drive, you get an option to carry around your digital library inside a 2TB hard drive and you can access content on this drive wirelessly. Seagate is currently in its third generation of wireless hard drives, and we are seeing some changes, although not really drastic ones.

Build and Design

On first glance, the Seagate Wireless Plus drive looks quite similar to the last generation Wireless Plus drive. This is thanks to the similar grey brush metal finish and similar placement of the power/Wi-fi and Seagate logo. But there are some changes that have come about with the newer model. For starters, Seagate has done away with the GoFlex type adapter it had with the previous generation drive. Despite the plastic build, we found the drive to be quite sturdy. Barring the power button on one edge and the USB 3.0 interface, other edges are clean.

Seagate Wireless Plus external drive houses a Samsung Spinpoint 2TB drive with a 5400RPM rotational speed and 32MB cache

Features

Seagate Wireless Plus comes in 2TB capacity giving an unformatted space of 1.83GB. It comes with a USB 3.0 interface. It houses a 2TB Samsung Spinpoint M9T having a rotational speed of 5400RPM and cache of 32MB. Apart from the in-built Wi-fi adapter, the Wireless Plus comes with an in-built battery which enables wireless streaming without connecting the drive to a power source. While in the previous generation Wireless Plus drive, you had a dedicated DC-in for charging the drive, the current generation only charges using the USB 3.0 cable. Seagate bundles in a separate 10W adapter if you want to charge it externally, but it still has to be done via the USB 3.0 port.

Seagate Wireless Plus 2TB has two indicators – red indicates less than 20pc battery life and green indicates full charge

Seagate Wireless Plus is accompanied by the Seagate media app which is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Windows Store as well as Amazon Appstore. You will need to download it on your mobile devices. The Wireless Plus forms its own hotspot and will be visible in the wireless settings of your mobile device. You need to connect to the Wireless Plus to be able to stream content.

Screenshot showing the simple layout of the Seagate Media App and the slideshow feature while browsing photos

The Seagate media app interface is quite user-friendly and you can see your content categorised according to its type (videos, photos, music, documents) or you can access the entire drive as well. You can also stay connected to the internet by selecting your local router while you are still connected to the Wireless Plus drive. As it is connecting to the net, it will momentarily disconnect from the drive, till a connection is established with your local network.

Test Setup (for transfer speed test)

Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K

Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4

RAM: 2 x 4GB GSkill RipjawsX

OS Drive: Intel SSD, 80GB

Source Drive: Corsair Neutron GTX, 240GB SSD

PSU: Cooler Master 800W Silent Pro Gold

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit

Microsoft Lumia 730 Design, Pricing, and Specs Tipped in New Leak

Microsoft's rumoured selfie-focused smartphone, believed to be dubbed Lumia 730, which was also reportedly shown off at an internal company meeting by Stephen Elop, has been leaked by a Vietnamese retailer.

WMpoweruser, citing a Vietnamese publication, claims that the anticipated Lumia 730 will be available by the end of this month in that country and will be priced at VND 5,000,000 (Rs. 14,500 roughly).

According to the leaked specifications, the unannounced Lumia 730 will feature a 4.7-inch HD display and will come with dual-SIM support. Under the hood, the anticipated selfie-focused handset will likely be powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor alongside Adreno 305 GPU and 1GB of RAM.

Further, the Vietnamese retailer claims that the rumoured Lumia 730 will sport a 6.7-megapixel rear camera and as previously reported, will feature a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The smartphone is also likely to boast of a Carl Zeiss lens, though the report has not specified for which of the two cameras. Other features include 8GB of inbuilt storage and no physical button for the camera.

The retailer has also leaked an image that appears to be promotional material for the rumoured Lumia 730. The leaked image shows a handset in orange colour; however, only the rear camera is visible - with no Carl Zeiss branding.

Last week, the alleged Lumia 730 was leaked in a Green colour variant. One of the leaked images showed the handset running an unannounced 'Lumia Debian Red' version of Windows Phone, which is speculated to be the company's version of the Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 that is expected to be available to the general public later this year.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it had begun rolling-out the Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 in its preview form for developers, and brought Cortana in 'alpha' form to India.

Notably, Sony, cashing-in on the growing 'selfie' trend, launched the Xperia C3last month alongside its dual-SIM variant, the Xperia C3 Dual, with a global roll-out due in August.