Sep 5, 2012

Encrypting files, in Dropbox and elsewhere

Online/cloud storage -- i.e. keeping your files with an online storage company that allows you to access them from anywhere -- is here to stay. The best known example is Dropbox. The newer kid on the block is Google Drive, which has similar functionality. If you already have your entire world set up with Dropbox, there is no overwhelming reason to switch. However, if you are just starting with online/cloud storage and you have a Google or Gmail account anyway for your other needs, Google Drive is great because it is integrated with all Google apps.

If you are staying with Dropbox and you are worried about security breaches (honestly -- a security breach at this day and age is unforgivable), there are simple ways for you to keep sensitive files -- just encrypt them.

If you want the gold standard in file encryption and are not bothered by less-than-friendly user interface, use TrueCrypt  (good how-to link).

If you want a simpler and friendlier program, there are two good choices:
1. Use encrypted zip file -- see link for details.
or
2. Use BoxCryptor -- see link for details.

Sep 1, 2012

Link directly to a specific time within a YouTube video, and other YouTube tricks

Start time

When providing a link to a YouTube video, there is a simple way to have the link open the video at a specific time within the video. Take the YouTube address (URL), e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxxHvWwQBw
and add the following to the end of this link, e.g.
&t=0m40s

Now, when you click on the link 
the video starts at 0 minutes, 40 seconds, instead of at the beginning.

Next question -- how do you make it stop after playing a certain time? I do not know of a way to do that with a simple URL parameter such as &t.

Related videos 

When a YouTube video finished, YouTube provides a number of videos it believes are related to yours. Unfortunately, you have no control over this list and it may very well include inappropriate content. To disable this screen, add   &rel=0   to the end of the URL, e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxxHvWwQBw&rel=0

Fill entire browser window

If you want a YouTube video to fill the entire browser window, replace the /watch?v=  part of the video's URL with /v/  e.g. 
http://www.youtube.com/v/jJxxHvWwQBw

Of course, you can combine all these tricks: