Do you have pictures you publish online that you want to protect from someone else using it? There are plenty of software options for watermarking images. But, what if you want to occasionally watermark an image or you are at someone else’s computer without the right the software?

PicMarkr offers a free online solution for watermarking your pictures.

Quick facts about PicMarkr

• Upload pictures from your computer
• Or grab pictures from your Flickr account
• Supports batch processing 5 from computer, 10 from Flickr
• You can add simple text watermark or an image watermark or tiled watermark
• Very simple to use & FREE!

I really like it’s integration with Flickr and it will be nice to see support for other photo sharing sites as well like PhotoBucket, ImageShack, etc. This will be pretty good for a casual user but if you would like to watermark every image you use in your website or blog, you might be better off with a desktop tool than an online one.

Here is an image I watermarked with PicMarkr. Not too shabby, eh?

What tool do you use for watermarking your pictures?

Hello newcomer, did I say welcome to ShanKri-la yet? Before you move on, just wanted to thank you for visiting and we hope you come back and see us again!

Using bookmarks to get to the sites i daily use has become the thing of the past for me. It is after I started using HomepageStartup for my startup page needs. It allowed me to have my links that I use often in separate tabs based on their function.

Symbaloo does the same and more in a really cool interface. Symbaloo has redefined startup pages where they have integrated search and most frequent links you would use in a predefined tab.

Symbaloo Quick Facts

• A drag and drop ajaxy web interface where you can rearrange your links as you please.
• Add pre-defined bookmarks, searches, RSS feeds or define your own
• In a default desktop, Symbaloo has pre-defined modules and there are empty spots for you to add more modules.
• The center of the interface sports a search box which can search the web from regular to weather to dictionary lookup.
• You have the option to use and empty desktop or he default desktop for a new tab
• When you click on a box to add a link, you could select from one of the pre-defined links or enter your own
• While entering your own, Symbaloo shows you the favicon if they already have one for a website like PayPal or lets you choose one from their iconset.
• The News desktop has to get a special mention as it is rather unique. You can see news in a pciture view where it takes up different squares depending on the size of the picture and on mouse over you get an excerpt of the news.
• Once you see the way to delete, you are going to love it. Just drag a module to the center console and it turns into a trash bin.
• Symbaloo also supports RSS feeds & widgets and I haven’t explored this yet.

Should I try it?

In short, Symbaloo has taken a fresh approach and enters charging into a not so new niche. One awesome thing about Symbaloo is that you can try it and customize it to your hearts content without ever creating an account. But, if you don’t want to lose all the work you put in or want to use it from multiple computers, you could create yourself a login.

I did find the adding bookmarks part a little slow in the Ajaxy interface, but it has gotten significantly faster in just these 2 days. It probably shows that they are constantly improving the performance with increased load as it gains traction. Another issue I see is that, Symbaloo has switched my account to ‘Nederland’, as you can see in the above screenshot, which is where I believe this startup is from. Even if I change the language option (English - US, UK), French, Spanish & Nederland, it doesn’t take effect. I am sure it’ll be an easy fix if I contact them.

Symbaloo is not just eye candy but it is a great blend where function meets flashy design.

Now that you know what’s in store for you, what do you think of this service? Would you make this your start page in your browser?

I was just going through my Google Reader starred items and found these gems that I wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

• Caution: Online MD5 Cracker Tool - Ryan of CybetNet News
  MD5 is a popular encoding used widely for encrypting passwords. It is scary to find out that these MD5 encryptions could be hacked. Find out how safe your passwords are.
• Flickr upload tool turns 3.0, goes open-source - Stephen at Webware
  Flickr upload tool is a favorite of many Flickr users and it has gone open source with version 3.0. At the same time, Flickr Pro users can now see statistics about who views their pictures. If you get DSL through Yahoo/AT&T, you’ll get it for free too.
• The ‘TakeTV’ Video Player - RT at UnTwisted Vortex
  RT tells you about this tiny USB drive looking TV player. Read on if you’d like TV on the go.
• Easiest way to type accents - Martin at gHacks
  If you type a lot of accent characters in your writing, you have to check out this free utility which would make your life much easier.
• Top 10 New and Improved Apps of 2007 - Gina at Lifehacker
  I love this list of top 10 apps of 2007 which lists a lot of my favorite apps. I am not a Mac user so my number would be something else. Oops did I spoil your surprise?
• PuTTY Tray - Can PuTTY Get Any Snazzier? - My post at Techie Buzz
  If you are a Linux user or even if you just use PuTTY to connect to web host, check this neat improvemnt to PuTTY.

Hope you liked these links and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Are you in our TopSpots? See our sidebar for more details!

I am sure you have heard of, if not used Netflix for renting movies online if you live in the United States. The most attractive thing that made Netflix popular was the fact that you can keep a movie as long as you want without paying late fees. In fact, the sooner you send it the better value you get from your subscription.

PaperSpine.com has brought that wildly popular idea to books. I am not sure if they are the first one to try it but this is the first time I have heard of such a service for books. That probably says something about me.

PaperSpine (beta) is an online subscription-based book renting service. You subscribe to a plan and start renting books without incurring late fees.

PaperSpine Quick Facts

• Pick out the books you want to read and prioritize your queue
• You will receive books in your queue based on availability
• You can receive 2, 3 or 5 books at a time depending on your subscription plan
• After you have read the book, return it in the pre-paid mail bag.
• Paperspine (beta) is open for registration and you need a credit card to join
• Currently over 150,000 titles in stock and will improve over time
• Find books by author, title, keyword or ISBN number
• Different categories, genres and picks also help you find a book you like.

Should I use it?

Personally, I have not found the time to read books lately and one of the main reasons is I spend way too much time on the Internet, blogging or not. But, if I were to find that extra time to sit down by the fireplace with a paperback with cup of hot cocoa, I would absolutely subscribe to PaperSpine. One could argue that you get the same stuff from your local library for free. The convenience of receiving books in your mailbox will absolutely be attractive to a lot of people including myself.

I see a great future for PaperSpine as they build their infrastructure and address similar roadblocks faced by Netflix when they started out like minimizing turnaround times, having enough popular books in stock so people don’t wait forever to get a New Bestseller, etc. With movies, people could watch in a matter of hours and send it back. But, a book will take much longer for a reader to finish and send it back. It will be interesting to hear how PaperSpine plans to address that.

Can Netflix Jump In?

Netflix has already mastered the delivery system and already has the infrastructure. What if they started offering books as well as a part of their subscription model?

West Coast = Fast Delivery?

Right now, they have listed their contact address in Washington (the state) and my guess is that people in the West Coast or neighboring states are going to be happy campers to start with. Assuming their warehouse is listed close to the listed address.

I want to hear what you think of this service? Would you rather skip your local library or even purchasing books for a service such as this one? Also, what kind of turnaround time will be ok with you? 3 days? 5 days? 7 days?

[via KillerStartups]

Google Docs & Spreadsheets have started to make me think different about I use and organize documents. I keep track of some of my spreadsheets online at Google Docs just because I can access it from anywhere with a browser and update it.

I still missed at times when I found it easier to work from my desktop with OpenOffice that using Google Docs web application.

DocSyncer (beta) is here to take care of that missing piece for me and you if you have ever felt that way. DocSyncer works by automatically finding and syncing your documents to Google Docs and your DocSyncer account.

Quick Facts about DocSyncer

• DocSyncer monitors changes to documents and sync the updated files as well
• Install DocSyncer in as many computers as you want and have them synced at Google Docs
• Log in to DocSyncer from any computer to continue your work you left at half way in another computer.
• You can see all previous versions of a document as well
• Uses 128-bit SSL & AES encryption while syncing your docs for security
• With Google Docs Mobile Edition, you can even get to your documents in your computer from your cell phone.
• Launch Google Docs from your computer just like you open them in Microsoft Office
• You can open files in your My Account tab in your browser locally in your computer
• Custom folders work a little bit where you can turn off which folders inside Desktop or My Documents you don’t want to sync.
• You can also change your Google Docs account from inside DocSyncer.

Should I Use It

It sure looks like a promising way to streamline my personal document management. One thing that I don’t like right now is that if I update a document, it uploads it to Google Docs as a new document. But, they say a fix is coming soon to make it a version of an existing document. And I think it is a very important one at that before people start using it widely.

I am also looking forward to the promised features like the ability to email documents from anywhere to your DocSyncer account and have it in your desktop when you come home. Plus, the only folders they sync right now is My Documents and the Desktop folder and more control is in the offing.

Private Beta

I had signed up for a private beta and at first look the service looks very promising. Although, I am going tohold my horses until the service matures with the upcoming features before using it mainstream. You can sign up to get notifed of the launch or even an invite to the private beta.

I have been meaning to test drive a service such as FolderShare for a while and I will post about my experience with it compared to this and their differences in a future post.

Until then, I would like to hear from you what you think about this service and if you think it is something that you would like to use.

I love traveling. And I am fond of reading travel guides before and while traveling. I like to get the background about the places I am visiting and try to find the best bang for the buck in the limited time I am at a place. I have used Fodor’s guides and TripAdvisor forums in all my previous trips.

Recently, I came across Schmap before my trip to Las Vegas. In their words,

Schmap’s series of digital travel guides integrates dynamic maps with useful background reading, suggested tours, photos from the traveling public and reviews by local correspondents (for sights and attractions, hotels, restaurants, bars, parks, theaters, galleries, museums and more) to profile 200 destinations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The thing I liked the most about Schmap is that it is available online as well as offline as a desktop application and have all that information in my laptop and use it during the trip.

Schmap Quick Facts

• Schmap’s online guides offers interactive Ajax-powered dynamic maps and guide content
• Schmap’s online also has reviews of places and slideshows. You can navigate by interests, needs or neighborhood.
• Schmap 2.0 is the desktop application that offers you trip planning convenience.
• You can take virtual tours, custom print full-color guides and publish itineraries.
• You could also download Schmap Megapacks and download a bunch of guides in one shot.
  World MegaPack - 200 guides; Europe MegaPack - 95 guides; America MegaPack - 94 guides
• Schmap also offers fully customizable mashups that you can publish to the web with a single click - Schmapplets.
• Syndicate content via filly customizable map widgets
• Shmapplets, in short, is way for you to share travel recommendations, trip itineraries, reviews, etc with friends and family.
• If you are in a travel related business, you can add Schampplets as an interactive mapping element and share information with your readers or clientele.

When you are getting ready for a trip next time, give Schmap a whirl or you could just download the desktop version and take virtual tours of faraway places.

ScratchBack is an online ‘tipping’ system where you can ‘tip’ a publisher and get a link back in return. You can sign-up for a free account and create a widget like the one you see on this blog sidebar.

I like the whole concept behind this widget. You have probably seen ‘Buy me a beer’ pitch in a lot of blogs asking for a donation or a tip indirectly. I never liked that as that would be like pressuring you to contribute something because you read my post. I write for the fun of it and because of the want of sharing the good stuff I come across.

With ScratchBack, you can tip if you’d like to but you get something back in return as well. You get a link back (Google friendly nofollow links). You get a link back to your site as well as when someone hovers over your link, it displays a message of your choice.

ScratchBack works in 2 ways:

• Bump me: I have set it up with this option right now. You can get your link in for a mere $4.00 $2.00 (I am experimenting with the numbers). As I understand it, a link remains in the top spots until the 6th person tips and they get bumped in.
• Don’t Bump: You have the option to set it so it doesn’t bump links automatically. This way you can ensure that a link is visible for a week or a month and you can suggest a tip accordingly. I might go with this model once the idea catches up here.

While ScratchBack is in beta, they are giving out 90% payout after the Paypal fees. They started out with 50-50 cut but the publishers have swayed their mind. So, if you are a publisher this is a great time to get in.

The widget comes in different colors and for a limited time the ScratchBack team is in fact offering custom widget designs for free! Or if you are graphic-savvy, you can download the widget artwork, make changes and give it to them to upload it just for you!

Also, they have just lowered the publisher payout amount to $10 from $25.

Go ahead and try it on your own blog or website. I would love to hear what you think about this snazzy little widget.