Software : Download of the day: Launchy

Download of the day: Launchy
IN DEPTH: 10 best iPhone keyboard apps for iOS 8
Downloads: The 6 best free finance apps
Samsung Galaxy S6 might finally ditch all that TouchWiz crapware

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Find and open any program, file or folder with ease using Launchy.

Why you need it

Very often, getting work done efficiently is reliant on being able to quickly find the programs and files you need to complete the task at hand. But with an ever-expanding contingent of installed programs and saved documents to sift through, that's often easier said than done.

What you need is Launchy. This simple little app opens up when you hit Alt + Space and allows you to quickly search for the program you need – or the file, folder or bookmark, in fact. Launchy displays a list of matches that is automatically populated as you type, so it's not actually necessary to type the full name of the program before it appears. Highlight it and hit enter and Launchy loads it up, ready for use.

It's very straightforward and easy to use, but should you want to do more then there are plenty of useful plugins to extend its functionality further. There's Killy, which kills processes instead of launching them, Mathy Resurrected, which adds an advanced calculator to Launchy, plus more.

Key features

Works on: PC
Versions: Free (although a donation is suggested)
Find anything: Launchy indexes your Start Menu programs and can find your files and documents quickly and simply, making it a breeze to launch pretty much anything
Auto-populated list: Search results appear as you type, so you can find what you're looking for before you've even finished typing
Extra features: Launchy features plenty of community-made plugins that can add more features to it for free

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IN DEPTH: 10 best iPhone keyboard apps for iOS 8

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Best iPhone keyboard apps #1-5

For years, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners have cast the green eye of envy in the direction of Android users, whose relatively more open operating system allowed for all manner of customization, including the ability to swap out software keyboards at the tap of a button.

With the release of iOS 8, Apple has finally enabled third-party developers to do the same. Aside from a few notable limitations (no access to built-in dictation among them), iPhone users now have the freedom of choice, but how do you find the right fit?

We tapped away at ten of the best third-party keyboard apps to find out what each has to offer, and our fingers still had enough energy left to type up our thoughts on which ones are worthy of the download.

SwiftKey

One of the most beloved Android keyboards finally comes to iOS, delivering the same great autocorrection and predictive typing capabilities in a long list of languages, not to mention the ability to type in up to two dialects at once for bilingual types.

Our biggest complaint is the absence of audible feedback: there's no satisfying click when tapping the keys, an option that can be turned on or off on the Android Lollipop version. Also, theme junkies are likely to be disappointed by the lack of choices, since there's currently no way to buy others.

Download this if... You're making the switch from Android

Avoid this if... You like a lot of custom themes or noisy keys

Verdict: 4/5

TextExpander 3

TextExpander has saved us thousands of keystrokes on OS X Yosemite by abbreviating commonly typed words into easy-to-remember shortcuts that expand like magic when entered. The iOS version does the same for frequently entered greetings, email signatures and more, tapping into Dropbox to keep snippets synced with the desktop.

One of our favorite TextExpander 3 features: the keyboard properly displays upper and lowercase letters, something Apple's built-in keyboard still hasn't managed to do after all these years. The keys are a little on the small side for our thick fingers, but otherwise this a flexible keyboard app worthy of a look.

Download this if... You want to save keystrokes with shortcuts

Avoid this if... You're on Windows or don't like smaller keys

Verdict: 3/5

Swype

And rightfully so: there's exhaustive support for tons of languages (including emoji for six of them), a variety of keyboard layouts (QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY) and the ability to add or remove words from a personal dictionary.

Swype is also among the more customizable keyboard apps with five included themes, and a wide range of other colorful options available via in-app purchase. Of course, predictive typing is a given, and should you choose to tap on the keys instead, you'll get that satisfying click - along with the option to disable it in settings, should you prefer.

Download this if... You believe "hunt and peck" are three dirty words

Avoid this if... You'd rather type than swipe

Verdict: 3.5/5

Themeboard

It's hard to imagine any other keyboard app offering such an exhaustive selection of digits to fit nearly every taste or style, and we weren't able to find a lemon in the group. A built-in Emoji Bar makes Themeboard even more useful without having to switch to a dedicated emoji keyboard when the need arises.

Themeboard hasn't overlooked the details, like three-speed quick delete which accelerates the longer the key is held down, and the ability to import shortcuts from Apple's own keyboard. With so many choices, there's bound to be something for everyone here.

Download this if... You love variety and choice.

Avoid this if... You already spend too much on in-app purchases.

Verdict: 3/5

Clips

Clipped content can include text or images, and the Clips keyboard can even be used to filter which type of data gets pasted. For example, copied web links can be pasted as just a URL or as plain text with the title of the linked page, making Clips a pretty functional little utility for all your clipboard needs.

With a $1.99 in-app upgrade to the Pro version, Clips can even sync an unlimited amount of clipboard content across multiple iOS devices. And yes, before you ask, Clips also includes an actual keyboard, although the app is probably best used by switching between your favorite set of keys as needed.

Download this if... Your friends call you "Cut & Paste."

Avoid this if... You liked iOS better without copy & paste.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Best iPhone keyboard apps #6 - 10

Fleksy

There are currently five Fleksy Extensions, with three available free. GIF Keyboard allows users to swipe up on the top row to send animated image files to friends, while Cursor Control adds the ability to long press on the spacebar to move the cursor left or right.

Users can also type with one hand (a good option for iPhone 6 owners), add a row of numbers above the keyboard or make keys pop like the rainbow. The app also offers more than 30 themes (some based on hit movies like Frozen), more than 800 emoji, and rich support for languages and autocorrect.

Download this if... You want to type one-handed on an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Avoid this if... Your life is already complicated enough.

Verdict: 4/5

Hanx Writer

With names like Hanx Prime Select, Hanx 707 and Hanx Golden Touch, Hanx Writer may seem like a clever gimmick to pay for a thespian's summer cottage, but for those who first learned to type on an old manual typewriter, it's a whole lot of fun and definitely stands out in a crowded market.

Besides, how many keyboard apps include an honest-to-goodness word processor that rekindles memories of a bygone era at the same time? Sure, the keys may be a little cramped even on a spacious iPhone 6 Plus display, but this adorable app is priceless.

Download this if... You love nostalgia, and/or Tom Hanks.

Avoid this if... Retro really isn't your thing.

Verdict: 3.5/5

TouchPal

First up we've got TouchPal Curve technology, which is the developers' fancy way of saying users can slide their finger across letters to form complete words. Slide up for numbers, down for symbols and left to backspace over a whole word at once.

But TouchPal is about more than just gestures: Award-winning predictive typing, plenty of color themes, rich emoji and language support round out the package, and where else can you customize a keyboard with gaudy fonts like Marker Felt?

Download this if... You want the complete package in one free app.

Avoid this if... You need more than six core languages.

Verdict: 4.5/5

GIF Keyboard

One of the more bizarre third-party keyboard apps we've run across, GIF Keyboard allows iOS device owners to search millions of GIFs across the internet, then send them using any app you'd like, right from the keyboard.

GIF Keyboard supports all of the most popular messaging and social networking apps including iMessage, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp, and GIF files you discover while using the Safari mobile browser can even be saved to the keyboard using the Share extension. Users can even create entire collections of your favorites, and sync them across devices.

Download this if... You just can't get enough GIF in your life.

Avoid this if... The mere mention of the word "GIF" sends chills down your spine.

Verdict: 2/5

Minuum

What really makes Minuum unique is a slick one-handed mode that can be used by righties or lefties alike, along with the ability to temporarily collapse the keyboard into a surprisingly usable "mini" mode with the flick of a finger. It's a pretty slick feature that makes Minuum stand out in the crowd. On the downside, this is the only keyboard app on this list that doesn't feature native iPad support.

Of course, the usual complement of swipe gestures, keyboard sounds, punctuation shortcuts and automatic capitalization are also on hand, and if you're the kind of user who would prefer not to be bothered by autocorrect, Minuum also offers the ability to turn it off completely.

Download this if... You want the maximum available typing space.

Avoid this if... You have an aversion to paying for quality keyboard apps.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Downloads: The 6 best free finance apps

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The tired old finance software of the past has been replaced with the finance software of the present. Gone are the tricky interfaces hindered by the need to perform difficult calculations by yourself. In their place we have slick programs that are genuinely helpful when working out what you are spending your hard earned cash on.

If, like me, keeping track of finances is most important at the end of the month when money is tight, these apps will be for you. Helping keep you flush with cash from payday to payday, the following apps are just what you need.

OpenOffice Calc

OpenOffice has become known for its excellent work when it comes to free, open source rivals to Microsoft's Office suite and Apple's iWork products. OpenOffice Calc is no different, offering Excel level spreadsheets for free.

OpenOffice Calc

The main benefit of OpenOffice Calc is its versatility: the software is just as comfortable pulling in a tonne of enterprise data as it is charting your weekly food shop spend, so if your needs change, OpenOffice Calc can deliver.

While OpenOffice Calc does have plenty of high-end features, it is also accessible to anyone who has ever used Excel, as the user experience is very similar. Documents can also be exported in Excel or Numbers formats, so there will never be an incompatibility situation.

AceMoney Lite

Developed by MechCAD, AceMoney Lite is a professional grade money management app that allows you to track your spending and see where your money goes, track investment performance, work with up to 150 currencies while automatically syncing their exchange rate from the Internet, and track the deadline for bills, among a myriad of useful functions.

AceMoney Lite

According to MechCAD, "AceMoney Lite makes organising personal finances and home budgets a breeze", and from my experience this is certainly true. AceMoney accurately tracked my investments and where my money was going, helpfully breaking the latter down into different categories (which helpfully come bundled with the software).

AceMoney Lite is free for up to two accounts. If you need more, there is a paid-for version available on MechCAD's website.

Bargain Price Refueling

Anyone who drives a car knows that fuel is expensive, however economical you are.That's where Bargain Price Refueling comes in, offering a comparison of all your local petrol stations at the click of a button.

Bargain Price Refueling

Collecting data from thousands of petrol stations, Bargain Price Refueling offers both numerical and graphical representations of how much each petrol station charges for the two main fuels—petrol and diesel—with legacy costs included.

If you like to get the best deal when driving, and make your money go further, Bargain Price Refueling is for you.

GnuCash

Designed to be used by small businesses, accountants and more advanced users, GnuCash is a powerfule account managing program designed for Windows, Linux and OS X. It has a range of different features that make it a strong contender for the go-to finance app on any platform.

GnuCash

With the ability to track stocks and investments, support double entry accounting and manage scheduled transactions, GnuCash works well for household finances as the interface is simple and easy to grasp. Searching for a specific payment is also made simple in GnuCash, enabling the user to search through thousands of transactions instantly.

RQ Money

RQ Money is billed by its developers as being one of the best financial aids out there. Built as a very light program with speed in mind, RQ Money offers the features of the high end programs with less of the clutter. Even better, it's completely portable – there's no need for installation, and it's small enough to fit on a USB stick, meaning you can use it wherever you go.

RQ Money

The interface is helpfully designed to be easily accessible for those who don't know the ins and outs of accounting too intricately, while also providing a full suite of features that will keep even the pros happy.

Another strength of the program is that there is no need to installhuge amounts of software just to get it to work. In fact, just unzip the downloadable folder and you're away: quick, simple and easy.

Checkbook

Balancing a chequebook is a long and laborious process that can take up many unnecessary hours. Luckily, Checkbook from Dataware solves this problem. Just like a physical chequebook, the user inputs their outgoing cheques into the simple interface and at the end of the month Checkbook will balance the books for you, saving hours of time and stress.

Checkbook

The simple interface is incredibly user friendly and the programme is designed to be far simpler than the more complex clients on the list, choosing to focus in on one issue rather than providing a solution for them all. So if you're looking for a simple solution to a specific problem, give Checkbook a try.

Samsung Galaxy S6 might finally ditch all that TouchWiz crapware

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Buying a new Samsung phone can be really exciting, but that excitement is also usually tempered by the realization that your brand new phone has dozens and dozens of bloaty crapware apps stuck on it forever.

Samsung is by all accounts losing ground to Apple at landslide rates, though, and it's reportedly considering drastic measures to improve its user experience going forward - including ditching all that TouchWiz baggage on the Galaxy S6.

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Samsung began this process with the Galaxy S5, but the Galaxy S6 will be the most bloat-free of any Samsung phone in a long time, reports SamMobile.

The company may even be eyeing Google's Nexus phones and tablets as a model for how to slim down the Android experience.

Apps now optional

Some users definitely take advantage of the apps and settings that come pre-loaded on Samsung phones, and they'll likely still be available as downloadables, but they reportedly won't come out of the box on the S6.

The more popular TouchWiz apps, like S Health, will probably even remain on the device, but overall the experience will be pretty slimmed down.

Samsung is expected to debut the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S Edge at MWC 2015 in March.

The best laptops of 2015 are right around the corner

Yahuui Blog

Friday, January 30, 2015