Torrenting is a very controversial topic nowadays, especially with music piracy. For some people, like myself, I strongly believe torrenting should be allowed. One example where torrenting is helpful is for students. There are times when a student does not want to put out several thousand dollars for a program like Final Cut Studio. I’m aware that there are student discounts on software like Photoshop, but many companies still don’t offer them for higher-end applications. On the other hand, many people prefer to get movies from torrent, which is very understandable with movie ticket prices these days. I’ve put together some helpful tips on how to use a torrenting program, uTorrent (PC & Mac) to decrease the time it takes for a torrent to download.
Change Priority For Multiple Torrent Files
By having the ability to change priority on a file basis, you can not only speed up your torrents, but get only the files that you need (e.g. just the video file or serial number).
In uTorrent, go to the Files tab and select the files that you need and right-click.
Change the priority to High Priority.
Next select the files you don’t need (like .nfo, .txt, sample.avi, etc..) and change the priority to Don’t Download.
Surprisingly, when you limit the download rate instead of using unlimited speed, the download time will decrease significantly. Same thing with the upload rates, in part because the more you’re uploading the more peers will connect, therefore causing more connections.
Go take the Verizon online speed test when you aren’t downloading anything.
After the tests are complete, you should get two numbers: the Download rate and the Upload rate.
Next you need to convert the rate from Mbps to KB/s via Google (e.g. 1.8 Mbps to KB/s).
Now you use that for your download rate/upload rate in the uTorrent preferences.
Global Connections limits the number of people worldwide to connect to the torrent you’re downloading.
To change this number, go to uTorrent > Preferences.
Under the BitTorrent tab, increase your Global limit number (e.g. 1000) and the Per Torrent limit (e.g. 300).
If you don’t know what number to put in either of those fields, just experiment until you notice faster download speeds.
Under the same BitTorrent tab, make two other changes: Queues (Transfers: 3; Downloads: 2) and Outgoing Encryption (Enable).
Those settings will increase your speed because you are limiting the number of active downloads and outgoing encryption, which gives you more overall connections.
Most torrent networks use the TCP port 6881 and above. Due to the amount of internet usage that BitTorrent accounts for, many internet service providers (e.g. Verizon, Comcast, Bellsouth) want to limit the connection on those ports (6881-6999).
Therefore, it can help to make your TCP port somewhere above 10,000.
Go to uTorrent > Preferences and go to the Network tab. Under the Incoming TCP port field click the Randomize Now button until you see a TCP Port that is above 10,000.
If you are using a router, make sure you have the “Automatically map port” field checked.
If you need access to your router’s settings, go to Network in System Preferences to find the address. Then type in your router address in a web browser. Contact your internet service provider if you have trouble changing your router settings.
A couple months ago, I switched over to Firefox completely after using Safari as my main browser. Now that I have found the right plugins and tweaked the settings, using Firefox has helped me browse the web smarter. Being a web developer, I’m constantly looking for lots of information on various websites, forums, and personal blogs. I’ve been so accustomed to having to click on the “next page” or the “1, 2, 3” links on the bottom of the page that it never really bothered me. All I can say, is that after installing the AutoPager plugin, I’ve been able to browse through sites much faster and save myself time.
Installing AutoPager
Download Firefox if you don’t already have it installed.
Get the AutoPager plugin from the Firefox website or from the “Get Add-ons” menu inside of Firefox (Tools > Add-ons).
AutoPager will work instantaneously after you restart Firefox.
Tweaking AutoPager To Work On Every Site
I have noticed on some sites it can be hard for AutoPager to detect the “next page” or the “1, 2” links.
In order to make custom settings on a per-site basis, all you have to do is go to Tools > Auto Pager > AutoPager.
A sidebar will appear on the left of the screen.
In the URL Pattern field make sure the correct website address is filled in.
Then for the Link XPath and Content XPath, simply click the yellow spy-glass icon in the AutoPager sidebar. This will automatically detect the links.
Just to be sure, click the “Test Site” button that looks like a stack of papers.
If the site continues to the next page as you scroll down—success!
If not, then use the Pickup Link and Pickup Content buttons to select the links manually.
Just hover over the parts of the page that have links and/or content, click once and they will show up in the sidebar.
When you’re done making changes, click the Green checkmark icon to save the changes.
Ever since I have been using VMware Fusion, I never really thought about managing the disk space. Primarily because most of my documents and applications were stored on my Mac and not in the virtual machine partition. Therefore, when it did come time for installing applications in VMware, there were installation problems. It takes a little bit of work, but after following these instructions of which my tutorial is based on, you should be all set.
After saving your configuration, you will see the GParted intro screen.
Choose the first option, “GParted Live” (Default settings).
In the next pop-up screen, choose “Don’t touch keymap” and hit Return.
Hit Return when asked “Which language do you prefer?” (English is default).
Hit Return when asked “Which mode do you prefer?”.
In the GParted screen that appears, use your arrow keys (because the mouse does not always work) and arrow over to “Resize/Move”.
Now drag the slider with your mouse (if it does not work with your mouse, enter numbers for the boxes). Then hit Tab until the “Resize/Move” button is selected below.
Now hit Tab once until the Undo button is selected, then arrow over to the right and select Apply and hit Return.
In the small pop-up window hit Tab until Apply is selected, then hit Return to apply the drive size changes.
You should see a window that shows the current status.
After it is done, close the window and close GParted by hovering your mouse over the Exit button and then click it when you see the black hand.
Now use your down arrow keys and choose Shutdown and hit Return.
As it shuts down you may receive a message window, choose Yes and hit Return to finish the shutdown.
If Windows starts up by accident, just shut it down from the main screen.
Last year I purchased Roxio Toast because I needed a customized DVD burning software for my family video project. What drew me to Toast, was the ability to fit more onto a DVD disc without sacrificing quality. After spending more time with it, I have come up with several helpful ways to use Toast to its full potential.
Importing DVD’s For Use With iPod or iMovie
To import DVD’s into Toast, go to the Convert menu (AppleTV/iPhone icon).
Once, you have inserted the DVD of your choice, choose how you want to export it.
Located in the bottom left corner is a small gear icon which shows you the export options.
If you want to export the DVD for use on your iPod or iPhone, select the corresponding name under the Device drop-down.
If you want to export the DVD for use in iMovie, select “DV” from the Device drop-down menu.
One of the key problems with iMovie is that you have to go through iDVD to burn your iMovie project onto a DVD. With Toast, you just drag your iMovie project and it takes care of the rest.
To start, locate your iMovie project in Finder.
Then, drag it into the DVD-Video section under the Video menu.
If you wish to add a menu-style you can, but you don’t have to because the disc will automatically start playing the movie.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, so I’ve had plenty of time to work on some projects of my own. One has been trying to completely edit and re-organize my photo library. I have been using a mixture of iPhoto, Bridge, and Photoshop for most of photo editing needs until now. I’ve transitioned into one mainstream way of editing my photos via Adobe Lightroom. It makes things so much easier for me to quickly catalog and edit all of my pictures in one screen.
Change Lightroom’s View Mode For Easier Editing
When I edit photos, I prefer to have no distractions at all. That includes Gmail notifications in my menubar, extra panels in Lightroom, and the Mac dock. This way I can get maximum screen real estate.
Go to Window > Screen Mode > Full Screen and Hide Panels.
If want to show a panel that is hidden in one of the screen modes, just click on one of the arrows for that panel.
After making the move from iPhoto to Lightroom, I wanted to figure out an easier way to catalog similar pictures. Instead of making a folder for similar images, I can create a virtual stack of them. This way when I’m looking through 5,000 pictures, it takes up less space in the library window.
Select images in the library that are of the same thing or very similar in form.
Right-click and choose Stacking > Group into Stack.
Since I’ve probably used this about fifty times now, it makes it easier to add a keyboard shortcut for this command. Read my article on making keyboard shortcuts if you want to know how.
If you get a pop-up that says “Could not create stack”, right-click on the images you want to stack and choose “Show in Finder”. Now move them to the same folder.
Then synchronize Lightroom so the changes appear. Go to Library > Synchronize Folder… and it will sync the library with the selected images.
Keyboard Shortcuts To Be More Efficient In Lightroom
As you know, I love using keyboard shortcuts when possible. Not only does it improve your proficiency with the application, but it also makes editing images a breeze. I’m only giving just a few because these ones are the ones I use the most.
When you are in in any screen and want to quickly get back to your library, hit the ‘G’ key.
To move to the Develop panel, hit the ‘D’ key.
To quickly adjust the screen mode, hit the ‘F’ key and shuffle through the different modes.
To rate pictures for faster searching later on, just hit the number (1-5) on your keyboard.
To add a color label to your photos, just hit the number (6-9) to on your keyboard.
To quickly compare two selected images, tap the ‘C’ key.
To rotate an image 90° clockwise, hit ⌘ (Command) and “]” and to rotate an image 90° counter-clockwise hit ⌘ (Command) and “[“.
Use SlideShowPro To Make Your Own Professionally Designed Web Galleries
Ever since I got back from recent vacation, I’ve been looking for an online service to share my pictures on. Most of the ones I looked at had either limited storage (Picasa) or a generally basic interface. SmugMug was nice, but not quite at my level of customization. Then I thought I’ll just host my own gallery with my website because it’s easier, faster, and cheaper thanks to SlideShowPro.
