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back in September of 2022

PhotoStyler

Earlier this week, I was trying to remember an application I saw that lets you import any image and instantly see previews of different designs and styles.

The reason I was thinking of this app is that I was trying to figure out a way to display a bunch of images in a unique way - instead of using some basic collage. On my own, I didn't remember the name of the app.

After many searches, I found the software: PhotoStyler by Neatberry. I never bought this application, but I had it on my watch list in 2017/2018. At the time, I thought it was a bit expensive at $29.99. My goal was to find out if it was included in various bundles and black friday deals at a lower price. That never happened, and I moved on to other apps.

Welcome Photo Styler
Welcome to PhotoStyler window appears whenever you open the App.

Abandonware?

There has been no update on the app PhotoStyler for a long time, and the app appears to be abandoned. It is not available on the App Store since it was abandoned. The application Created/Modified date is September 24, 2015.

Fortunately, I managed to find a Disk Image of the application and managed to install it under macOS Monterey (Version 12.6) without any issues. After it was installed, I got a warning about it being from an unknown developer. This was to be expected.

I can only use the application in Demo mode as I don't have a license key.

Sample Screen Shots

Photo Styler Presets

After you upload an image PhotoStyler works its magic and creates some designs for you. There are 189 possible presets. There are many that are not showing which I believe is related to the application not being updated in seven years.

Once you find the design you like. You simply double-click on the preview image to open up the editor.

Photo Styler Edit Window

Once you have the rough preset selected, you can change all sorts of aspects. You can replace the background, change colors, add lens flare and so much more.

After your done with your design, you can add it as a preset so that you can use it in future designs from PhotoStyler.

 

2Mauro's Cafe

If you're looking for a delicious and hearty breakfast or lunch, then you should definitely check out 2Mauro's Cafe! This local restaurant offers a variety of comfort foods, all made with the finest ingredients. From bacon to eggs to sandwiches, there's something to suit everyone at 2Mauro's Cafe. There are two locations in Ashland and Southborough, so it will be very easy for you to get what you're looking for!

To find out what 2Mauro's Cafe has to offer, check out the online menu.

2 Mauro Gluten Free

Four Things I Learned

Gluten-free bread is available at 2Mauro's Cafe, which is toasted in an oven.

There was a waitress at 2Mauro's Cafe who told us that she also eats gluten-free and appeared to be very knowledgeable about the gluten-free options available there.

The corned beef hash is gluten-free and very good - definitely a dish to try if you like corned beef. You can order the hash as a side dish or try the "Hashing it Out".

The Fruited Breakfast Sundae is gluten-free if you do not want granola included. Our server told us they were not able to confirm the granola's gluten-free status.

 

Hawaii's Coca Palms Resort

The Coca Palms Resort was a resort hotel in Kaua, Hawaii. It was a popular destination for Hollywood celebrities in the 1950s and 1960s. This property was used in a variety of movie scenes including Blue Hawaii featuring Elvis Presley, Miss Sadie Thompson, starring Rita Hayworth, and many others.

In 1992, Hurricane Iniki hit the resort hard, forcing it to close. In July 2014, several resort buildings caught fire.

In spite of several attempts to reopen the resort, foreclosures and lawsuits have prevented its reopening.

Coca Palms Guest Information and Guide

During our stay there in the late 1980s, we were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Coconut Palace Suite (CPS). It was a beautiful resort with lots of entertainment.

A PDF of the "Coca Palms Guest Information and Guide" from our trip in the 1980s has been provided. Download it here.

There was a video camera with us on that trip, so as soon as I locate the clip, I will make sure to add it to Media Monday and update this post with the link.

It appears you don't have a PDF plugin for this browser. No biggie... you can click here to download the PDF file.

 

QA Meme Collection

As it's been a while since I posted any QA Memes, I think it would be a good idea to update the QA Meme library with some fresh new MEMES in a timely manner.

The following are some of the images we have added to our QA Meme Graphic Library. Please make sure you visit the library to see one of the biggest collections of QA Memes on the internet.

/ Fall Season
https://www.cryan.com/qa/graphics//FallSeason.jpg

/ Release Day Battlefield
https://www.cryan.com/qa/graphics//ReleaseDayBattlefield.jpg

/ Release Ready
https://www.cryan.com/qa/graphics//ReleaseReady.jpg

 

1990s Commercials

Featured on this week's media are some commercials that I found on some VHS tapes that I have. These were from VHS recordings that were filmed in the early 1990s, so I don't know the exact dates since they were from various sources.

  • 0:00 Introductions
  • 0:09 KFC
  • 0:42 McDonalds - First Pay Check
  • 1:38 Bathroom Duck
  • 2:12 McCain - Crank up the Tunes
  • 2:45 Radio Shack - Calculators
  • 3:19 Dentyne
  • 3:53 Peter Pan Wipped Peanut Butter

 

Digitalize Cassette Tapes

My cassette collection is quite extensive. Some of these cassettes I bought and many of them are recordings that I have made myself from the radio.

To make the tapes last longer and not take up so much storage, I have been converting them to MP3 audio.

T D K Backup Audio

How I Get it Done

My Aiwa CA-DW480 CD Carry Component System outputs the audio to my Sony IC Recorder ICD-UX570 digital audio recorder. This recorder automatically adjusts the audio so that there won't be any audio clipping, etc.

Then, I upload the audio to my computer and rename it to the tape. If I don't know the tape or if it's not identified, I just put the brand of the tape.

In the end, when I am finished with the digital process, I put a red sticker with a date on the tape. I do this so that I will know when the tape was backed up and how long ago.

At some point, I will dispose of the tape.

Commercial Music Tapes

The reason why I digitize some of my commercial music collections is that they do not have all of them online. I was surprised to find out that many cassette tapes did not get converted to commercial mp3 files. This is especially true with commercial collection tapes.

 

YouWrite

YouWrite is an online application that allows you to choose a topic for a piece of content to be written. You can pick between Email, Paragraph, Social Media post, Title, Blog, and Essay for the piece of content to be written.

You can easily get content created for any project you're working on with this tool.

During the past few months, I have been using this tool for a variety of projects. The content has been extremely good and the delivery time has been quite impressive. Although I have run into some issues with paragraphs being unclear, I have always been able to regenerate the story to make it more clear.

Website Description

YouWrite is an AI-powered writing assistant available on You.com that can help you generate copy, no matter your level of experience. Whether you're struggling with writer's block or just looking for a way to improve your overall writing style, YouWrite can help. Simply input any word, phrase, or sentence into the app and watch as it transforms into new copy.

You Write
https://you.com/

 

Best Macintosh Apps

It's five years ago today that I purchased Keyboard Maestro. It's a great application that I use pretty much every single day.

I was reminded of other apps that I purchased years ago and still use regularly, so I created this list of the most useful apps that I purchased over 5 years ago.

5 Years Macintosh App

BBEdit - (BBEdit 6 - September 6, 2000) - BBEdit is the only application that I have ever used since System 9. I have been using it almost continuously since 1997. It is a fantastic tool for dealing with text related issues on the Macintosh.

OmniGraffle - (OmniGraffle 4 - November 8, 2005) - It was with OmniGraffle version 4 that I started my journey with OmniGraffle and later upgraded to OmniGraffle Pro 7. This application is a great tool for creating organizational charts and laying out images.

Transmit - (Transmit 3 - September 27, 2006) - The Transmit application is my go-to application when it comes to transferring files. I use it for both work and personal files. It is easy to set up bookmarks so that I can quickly go to where I need to go for my files.

Fission - (Fission - March 22, 2008) - My favorite way to edit an audio clip is to drag and drop it on the Fission icon in the dock, which makes it easy for me to do simple modifications such as enhancing the sound and splitting an audio clip.

Affinity - Affinity Designer (October 18, 2016) and Affinity Photo ( December 11, 2016) - With the advent of the Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer, I am no longer reliant upon Adobe Software to edit my images and create my creations. These applications are simple to use and make it easy for me to create the results I wish to achieve.

LaunchBar - (November 25, 2016) - From opening applications, to simple calculations, to finding information quickly - LaunchBar is a great way to make using MacOS easier. It allows us to open applications, to perform simple calculations, to search the internet quickly.

Image2icon - (December 1, 2016) - It is very important to me to have colorful folders. That is why I use Image2icon to create folders with images and symbols. This makes it much easier for me to quickly find the folder I am looking for. I use Image2icon any time I need to clean up my computer.

PhotoScape - (September 11, 2017) - My favorite image tool is Photoscape X. I use it frequently to resize images, fix some minor problems and more. It is one of the easiest and most useful tools I use.

Keyboard Maestro - (September 23, 2017) - With Keyboard Maestro, my words are incredibly powerful. I can use macros to show the correct date format in the application I'm using, insert common feedback snippets, and get the latest weather information. The application is really powerful, and once you learn what it can do, you'll be eager to use it.

 

The Bagel Table

There is an awesome bagels chain in Ashland called The Bagel Table. They have stores in Burlington, Natick, Wayland, Boston Landing, Ashland, and Chestnut Hill. We love going there every Friday for Bagel Friday because it's a popular spot for locals to shop for fresh bagels.

Bagel Table Ashland

Gluten Free Options

They have a special refrigerator stocked with gluten-free bagels from Something Sweet Without Wheat.

Currently, Bagel Table does not have a dedicated toaster for toasting Gluten Free bagels.

All gluten-free bagels can be topped with cream cheese available next to the register.

In addition to gluten-free donut holes, they also sell gluten-free donut cones. But my daughter did not like them and told me never to buy them again..

It seems that the Ashland store does run out of Gluten Free Everything bagels, so people are buying them.

 

NEVER Underestimate the Power of a Good Test Case

Software testing is a critical element of any software development process. The quality and effectiveness of your software have a lot to do with the quality and effectiveness of your tests. It is often believed that testing is something that can be done quickly, cheaply, and at no risk to the rest of the project. In reality, however, this is not always the case. Many organizations underestimate the power of a good test case because they don't see it as something they need to expend time or effort on ' or so they think. Consider these reasons why you should never underestimate the power of a good test case:

Never Test Case

You can write a bad test case, but you can't run a bad build.

If you're writing tests, you'll be creating or modifying your build pipeline to support the testing effort. You might consider the tests to be something like an extra feature that you can add to the build and then forget about, but that's not how it works. A bad test case will stop the build, just like a bad feature. And, just like a bad feature, there's no way to go back and run a bad test. You have to go back and rewrite the test or delete it, and if you forget to do one or the other, you'll be stuck with a bad test being marked as passed.

No one will remember your good code if there are no good tests.

No matter how good your code is, if there are no good tests, no one will remember it. If there are no tests, people will conclude (sometimes rightly so) that you are a developer who doesn't know what they're doing. If there are poor tests, people will conclude that you're a poor developer. Tests demonstrate that you know what you're doing and that you're doing it right. If you have a good test suite, you can refactor with confidence. If you are introducing a new feature, you can demonstrate that it works correctly. If you are fixing a bug, you can show that your fix works. Tests are proof that your code works. Even if your code is better than anyone else's, no one will know because there are no tests to prove it.

Good tests are your only real protection against regression.

If you don't have any tests, you don't have a good way to know whether you're breaking functionality or not. If you are fixing a bug or introducing a new feature, you don't have a good way of knowing if you've broken something or not. You don't have any idea whether your changes are causing any other functionality to fail. If it's good code, though, it's most likely that it's not.

Good tests help you to focus on what's most important.

The best way to know if your code is well-written and easy to maintain and extend is to have good tests. Good tests indicate that your code does what it's supposed to, so there is no need to worry about it. Good tests allow you to focus on the things that you should be focusing on. You don't have to worry about breaking existing functionality or introducing new bugs. You don't have to worry about if your code is easy to maintain or if it's scalable. Instead, you can focus on the things that matter. For example, you can focus on improving the design, architecture, and robustness of your code. You can focus on making your code extensible, reusable, modifiable, and maintainable. You can focus on making your code better without having to worry about breaking something or introducing a new bug.

Good tests lead to better design and architecture decisions.

Good tests ensure that your code is robust and extensible. Good tests ensure that your code is scalable and can grow as your project grows. Good tests ensure that your code is well-designed. These are all important aspects of a software project. When you are designing, architecting, and coding with good tests in mind, you are making better decisions than you would otherwise. You are making decisions that are informed by your tests, so you know that whatever you do, your tests will confirm that you've made the right decision.

A well-written test is the best piece of documentation you can have.

A well-written test is a first-hand account of your code of what it does and does not do. A well-written test is a record of your code's functionality and behaviors. A well-written test is a record of your code's design (even if it's a bad design). A well-written test is a record of your code's architectural decisions. If you were to write the documentation for your code, you would write down a summary of your code's functionality, an overview of your code's design, and an explanation of your code's architectural decisions. If you were to write actual documentation, you would also have to write down things like installation instructions, usage instructions, and troubleshooting instructions ' all things that your tests are better suited to do. A well-written test is the best piece of documentation you can have.

So, don't ever underestimate the power of a good test case!

There are several reasons why you should never underestimate the power of a good test case. These reasons include the following: - You can write a bad test case, but you can't run a bad build. - No one will remember you're good code if there are no good tests. - Good tests are your only real protection against regression. - Good tests help you to focus on what's most important. - Good tests lead to better design and architecture decisions. - A well-written test is the best piece of documentation you can have. Remember, though, that testing is a critical element of any software development process. The quality and effectiveness of your software have a lot to do with the quality and effectiveness of your tests. It is often believed that testing is something that can be done quickly, cheaply, and at no risk to the rest of the project. In reality, however, this is not always the case. Many organizations underestimate the power of a good test case because they don't see it as something they need to expend time or effort on ' or so they think.

 

Flip MinoHD

In 2008, the Flip MinoHD was an excellent choice for anyone looking for a user-friendly, high-quality camcorder. This pocket-sized powerhouse records up to 60 minutes of stunning HD video (1280x720p) and comes with a 2" LCD screen for easy playback and editing. Using the built-in software, you can also transfer your videos to your computer and share them online with friends and family.

For anyone searching for a camcorder with great results that is easy to use, the Flip MinoHD is an excellent choice. Whether you're shooting home movies or recording professional videos, it's sure to meet your needs thanks to its small size and impressive feature set.

I still have my Flip MinoHD and it works great. Every now and then, I use it. In 2019, I did a comparison of the iPhone XS Max vs Flip MinoHD.

Quick Documentation

The Flip MinoHD comes with a small quick start guide that explains how to use it. You can download the guide for your reference if you still own a Flip MinoHD.

It appears you don't have a PDF plugin for this browser. No biggie... you can click here to download the PDF file.

 

When telephone bots go wrong

I get a lot of automated phone calls. I enjoy these calls since they are fun to trick.

In this video, I am going to show you what happens if you have a telephone bot that fails! Note: As long as you don't ask any questions, the bots work fine.

 

iPhone Home page

Over the weekend, I discovered a screenshot of my iPhone 5s homepage from nine years ago. As a comparison, I put it side by side with my current iPhone XS Max.

9 Years iPhone

Some Things I Learned

 

Dribble

If you're looking for inspiration, there's no better place than Dribble. With millions of designers and artists from all over the world sharing their work, you're sure to find something that catches your eye. And if you need a little help getting started, check out our roundup of the best Dribble resources.

It is Dribble that allows me to think outside the box when it comes to traditional designs.

Website Description

Tens of millions of people look for design inspiration and feedback on Dribbble. We help players like you share small screenshots (shots) to show off your current projects, boost your portfolio, and love what you do'no matter what kind of creative professional you are.

Founded in 2009, we are a bootstrapped and profitable company helping design talent share, grow, and get hired by over 40,000 of today's most innovative brands around the world.

dribble
https://dribbble.com/shots/popular

 

6 Tips That Will Help You Get The Most Out of Affinity Photo

Creativity is a tricky beast to tame. But with the right tools, you can find inspiration in unexpected places. There are so many ways to get creative that you might struggle to keep track of them all. Affinity Photo is one of the most underrated photo editing tools on the market. Not only does it have some great new features for professional photographers and enthusiasts, but it also comes with a range of useful filters and options that can help you get more from your images. These tips will give you a brief overview of the best Affinity Photo features and how they can be used creatively in your work as a photographer or digital artist covering everything from angles to lighting effects, user-created filters, and more.

Affinity Photo Tips

Basics: Get to Know the Tools You Have

The first step towards getting the most out of Affinity Photo is to get to know its basic tools. This is true for every program you use for photo editing, but it's especially important for Affinity Photo because of its wide range of features. Many of these aren't immediately obvious, but they can make a huge difference to how you approach your images. Here are some tips on the basic tools and features you should be aware of when getting started with Affinity Photo. - Selection tools: These are important for everything, but especially for retouching. You'll want to use the selection tools to find and remove anything you don't want in your image. - Transform tools: These let you move and manipulate parts of your image. You can use them to adjust the perspective, size, rotate, and flip the image. - Layer tools: Every image you create in Affinity Photo will be composed of layers. These are very important and let you do things like changing the position of the layers, adding filters, and stacking images together. - Histogram: This shows the brightness levels in your image. It's important for retouching and color correction.

Don't Be Afraid to Go Vertical

If you're a portrait photographer, you'll be familiar with being asked to take a shot in landscape format. In fact, you may have been asked this countless times, always with the promise of better photos. But is there any truth to this? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that you should shoot portrait format if your subject is people or animals. This is because it makes them look more natural and less distorted. In landscape format, you tend to have a slimmer figure, which is okay for buildings and scenes, but not so great for people. You might also choose to shoot portrait format if you're trying to draw attention to specific areas of your image. For example, if you're taking pictures of fruit, you may want to shoot in landscape format. This way, the focus is on the shape of the fruit. If you want to draw attention to the fruit's color, however, you should shoot portrait format. This is because you're only focusing on the top and bottom of the fruit.

Change Your Point of View

A good tip for getting the most out of your images is to change your point of view. This simple shift can make a world of difference. You might be so focused on capturing the perfect shot that you forget to look around and experiment with different angles. This is great for your creativity. It can also be helpful in terms of making retouching easier. If you have a pesky object in the way of your shot, you can try shooting from a different angle so that it's out of the frame. Once you have the final image, you can always move the object back into place. This is especially helpful for things like power lines or other distracting elements. It can be much easier to remove them from your shot when you don't have to try to edit them out later.

Don't Be Afraid to Use Filters

There are many people who believe that photo filters are used only by novices and people who can't take good photos. This is not true at all. You can use filters to experiment with new effects and create artistic images. You can apply filters to your images when you want to try something new or are struggling with retouching. The filters in Affinity Photo aren't limited to the standard effects, either. You can use them to create a wide range of different styles. There are also unique tools and options that let you alter the intensity of the filters. You can create your own filters, as well. There are many different types of filters and effects you can use in Affinity Photo. One of the most popular is the Black and White filter. This can be used to create a classic and artistic look. Saturated filters can help you find bold and vibrant images. There are also many creative and artistic filters that you can use to add a touch of creativity to your photos.

Let There be Light

Light can make or break an image. It can either create a beautiful and engaging shot or a dull and unappealing image. You can use light creatively to make your images more interesting, though. If you throw shadows and create silhouettes, you can create dramatic and powerful images. Keep an eye on the light and experiment with different positions for your subject. If there's not enough light, you can use artificial lights to fill in the shadows and create a beautiful image. You can also try different color filters to change the mood of your images. Experiment with warm and cool tones to find the perfect color scheme for your photos. You can even try manipulating the light to create interesting effects. If you want to create a streak of light, you can use an object to reflect the light.

Take Advantage of Shapes and Patterns

If you're struggling to come up with new designs or are just looking for some creative inspiration, try using shapes and patterns in your photos. - Circles: These can be used to create striking and eye-catching images. When you use circular objects, you can create beautiful and artistic photos. You can use these in your shots and in retouching and create some interesting effects. - Squares: Squares are another shape that you can use to create stunning images. You can use these in your shots by framing your subject in a square. You can also use them to create interesting effects during retouching.

Wrapping Up

Affinity Photo is an incredibly powerful program for editing and designing images, but that doesn't mean you have to use all of its features. There are many things you can do to get the most out of Affinity Photo, from understanding its basic tools to experimenting with different angles and filters. With the right approach, you can use this program to create stunning images without any effort at all.

 

Uncle Chungs

Do you miss the taste of authentic Chinese food? Does the thought of General Tso's chicken make your mouth water, but worry about another disappointing takeout experience leave you afraid to try again? Are you tired of bland, Americanized Chinese food that has nothing to do with real Chinese cooking? If so, then we have good news for you! It is possible to get real Chinese food that is also free of gluten and MSG. Uncle Chung Framingham offers a line of authentic, gluten-free Chinese cooking.

Who is Uncle Chung?

Uncle Chungs is a Chinese-food restaurant located at 585 Cochituate Road, in Framingham (about 15 minutes away from downtown Boston). It's a small cozy space with seating for about 20 people. They have a separate gluten-free menu available on request. Their gluten-free menu has more than 10 options, including sweet and sour chicken, general Tso's chicken, orange chicken, kung pao chicken, spicy chicken and broccoli, sesame chicken, honey garlic shrimp, veggie lo mein, and fried rice. They also have gluten-free soy sauce for dipping your food. Each meal costs around $8 $10.

Authentic Gluten-Free Chinese Cooking

If you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, you know how difficult it can be to find good Chinese food. Almost all Chinese food is made with soy sauce, which is made with wheat. Many Chinese sauces also contain monosodium glutamate, or MSG, which is a chemical that many people have adverse reactions to. MSG was once thought to be dangerous, and while it has since been proven to be safe, many people still avoid it. Authentic Chinese food is usually made with gluten and MSG-free ingredients. It is also often made with real ingredients, such as real ginger, garlic, and sesame seeds, rather than with sodium benzoate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate, which are chemicals that are often put in American Chinese foods.

Why is Chinese Food Usually Off Limits for Those With Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance?

Chinese food is usually off limits for those with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance because of the soy sauce in most Chinese dishes, as well as the MSG in many Chinese sauces. However, gluten in Chinese foods can also cause problems for people who do not have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten. Real Chinese food, though, is usually gluten-free, as well as MSG-free. Chinese cooking is often done in a wok, which is a type of pan that can be used on a stovetop, in an oven, or even on a barbecue. The wok is a great tool for stir-frys, and the best woks are made of carbon steel. Carbon steel woks are non-reactive and do not cause the chemical reactions that non-stick pans do. They can also be seasoned and are an excellent, long-lasting tool for Chinese cooking.

How is Uncle Chungs Authentic Chinese Food Made?

Uncle Chungs foods are made with real, whole ingredients, as well as with gluten-free ingredients. The recipes are authentic Chinese recipes that have been tweaked to make them safe for those who cannot eat gluten. The recipes come from real Chinese chefs who have been trained in the art of Chinese cooking. Therefore, the recipes for authentic Chinese food are followed exactly, making the food much more than just gluten free.

Uncle Chungs Sweet and Sour Chicken

Uncle Changs sweet and sour chicken is a recipe that was created with people who cannot eat gluten in mind. The sauce has all the flavors of a sweet and sour sauce, with a slight addition of soy sauce, but without wheat. It is an excellent example of the kind of food that Uncle Chungs has to offer. This recipe starts with a marinade made of real ingredients. It uses real ginger, garlic, vinegar, and sesame seeds to give the chicken a sweet, spicy flavor that is reminiscent of the classic Chinese dish. The chicken is then cooked in a wok, using a sauce that is made with the same ingredients as the marinade, but with the addition of a small amount of soy sauce.

Final Words

Uncle Chungs Authentic Chinese Food may not be Chinese food as it is made in China, but it is Chinese food that has been tweaked to meet the needs of those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. It is made with real ingredients, and it is MSG-free. It is Chinese food, made by real Chinese chefs, for people who cannot eat gluten, and it is made to be enjoyed by all.

 

4 Tips for Quality Assurance Testing

2022 Q A Testing Tips

Quality assurance testing can be a challenging process. It requires a lot of attention to detail, and it's easy to miss something that could lead to bugs in the software or QA test plan later on. Since you want your final product to be as bug-free as possible, you need to test all parts of your software thoroughly. To do this, you need to create a comprehensive quality assurance testing strategy that focuses on different areas of the product. However, most QA strategies will have some similarities because they are based on best practices for this type of testing. If you're working with software, there are some tips for QA testing that you probably won't hear very often. These might seem like common sense, but they can make a big difference in your final results.

Always Test the User Experience

This may seem obvious, but it's easy to forget in the heat of the moment. You might focus on the bugs you need to fix or the functionality that's missing, but don't forget to check the experience as a whole. It's important to make sure that the design is intuitive and easy to use. This will make your product more usable, which in turn leads to higher conversion rates. For example, if you're creating an eCommerce site, you need to test the user experience from start to finish. This includes testing how easy your site is to browse, how easy it is to add items to the cart, and how straightforward the checkout process is. You also need to check that your site has a clear design and doesn't have any unnecessary distractions.

Automate as Much as You Can

If you're testing software, you should automate as much of the process as you can. This ensures that every test is consistent and gives you reliable results. It's also a lot easier to check that everything is working correctly if you're not manually doing it. You can automate several parts of your testing process. For example, you can use a software testing tool to check that your website is responsive. You can also use Selenium to automate your functional tests. This makes it easier to check that all parts of your software are functioning correctly. If you can't automate parts of your testing process, consider hiring someone to do it for you. For example, you can hire an expert to conduct automated usability tests. This frees up your team members to focus on other areas of the testing process.

Confirm Your Assumptions with usability testing

Usability testing is one of the best ways to confirm your testing assumptions. To do this, you need to create a plan for usability testing and recruit a few subjects. You can test using a usability lab or by bringing in some people off the street. You can also use usability testing to check if your design is intuitive. You can also use it to check if your product satisfies the user's goals. If you're creating a website, recruiting users to test your design is easy. All you need to do is post an ad online, and you'll have plenty of volunteers in no time. For example, if you're creating an online store, you can test how easy it is to find the products the user is looking for. You can also test how easy it is to add items to the cart and check out.

Make Sure You're Testing the Right Things

When you're creating a quality assurance strategy, you need to make sure that you're testing the right things. This means you should prioritize what you test and find ways to automate parts of the process. If you're testing software, for example, you should prioritize functional tests over visual tests. If you're testing a website, you can prioritize certain pages over others. For example, you might want to test the homepage, a checkout page, and a login page. You should also prioritize functionality over design. This means you should focus your attention on functionality like speed, load times, and functionality.

Summing up

It's important to remember that quality assurance testing is a process. It's a process that needs to be followed meticulously to ensure that you don't miss any critical bugs. You'll want to start your testing process with a good idea of what your software needs to do and how it operates. From there, you can create a thorough testing strategy that covers all the bases. Always test the user experience, confirm your assumptions with usability testing, and make sure you're testing the right things. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to a successful testing process.

 

MailStation

Email is a critical part of any business communication strategy, but it can be tough to keep up with all the different messages coming in and out. That's where MailStation came in!

MailStation was an email management tool that makes it easy to stay on top of your inbox. With MailStation, you could have seen all your messages in one place, sort and organize them however you like, and quickly find the ones you need. Plus, MailStation integrates with your existing email system so you can continue using the tools you're already familiar with.

There's no need to stress about managing your email anymore - let MailStation take care of it for you!

MailStation lets you have email without knowing how to use a computer! This was a great tool for older adults who found the use of a computer challenging,

Cidco MailStation

From 1999 to 2011, MailStaion sold millions of copies. Earthlink is the current provider and has stopped accepting new MailStation accounts since 2011.

You can find old MailStations being sold on eBay for about $25. I don't know what you would do with these.

Here is a brochure of the MailStation from 1999. (Download PDF) I probably got this from MacWorld or some other technology trade show.

It appears you don't have a PDF plugin for this browser. No biggie... you can click here to download the PDF file.

 

Asking for my Age

I keep getting calls asking my age. I decided to change it up a bit on a couple of calls I got this week.

Mondays are the days when I receive the most scam calls.

When will these people stop calling me?

What makes them think I'm 70 years old?

 

Taking Care of Your Most Valued Business Asset: You!

Personal Business Assets

The work of an entrepreneur means constantly trying to figure out ways to be better, faster, and stronger. It's essential for entrepreneurs to make time for self-care so they can maintain a good state of mind.

The term self-care is defined as a conscious act a person takes in order to promote their own physical, mental, and emotional health.

There are many benefits for entrepreneurs who take care of themselves. Self-care can help with stress relief, boost creativity and productivity, improve mental health and reduce the effect of burnout. But not all business owners are willing to take time out of their busy schedules for self-care. Some feel like they can multitask and put their mind on autopilot. This is not a healthy way of thinking, only serving to make time for self-care that much more difficult.

To help you get a better handle on self-care, we put together the following tips.

Sleep

It's common for entrepreneurs to get too few hours of sleep per night. Not getting enough sleep can cause serious issues with your mental and physical health. To get enough sleep, it's important to set a schedule, like going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Create a bedtime routine that would give you enough time for relaxation, and remember to limit your screen time before bed, usually turning off all your electronics one hour before bedtime.

Diet

It's also common for busy people to eat poorly, often going for whatever is fast and convenient. The long-term effects of this type of lifestyle exact a heavy toll on your health, however. Make it a point to eat more leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, which provide folate and iron, while spinach has antioxidants that may protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease.

Dark purple, red, blue, and orange fruits contain carotenoids, which are known to help prevent eye diseases like cataracts in aging adults. Fruit also provides fiber, which is great for lowering cholesterol levels, and it gives us vitamins C, A, B6, and E, all of which have powerful antioxidant properties that fight cancer cells.

Exercise

Exercise is not only important for your health but also for your mental well-being. Whether you want to escape from stress or just want to be able to control your emotions better, exercise is essential. Exercise is proven to increase focus and productivity as well as improve mood and creativity and relieve pain and tension.

It isn't necessary to have a gym membership, though there can be real value in having one, but regular exercise can simply be a daily walk or run at your local park or even around your neighborhood. Or you can look for ways to set up a workout space in your own home. Invest in resistance bands, dumbbells, a medicine ball, and a yoga mat.

Tap Into Business Tools

There are several benefits of forming an LLC if you're running a business With an LLC, you're not personally on the hook for business expenses. LLCs have simpler record-keeping rules and you get to decide how you're taxed. Not only can forming an LLC be good for business, but it can relieve stress as well. While you can do this work on your own, there are affordable services online that make business formation easier and quicker. These services will file all the necessary paperwork with your state and then provide you with the documents you need.

Online tools can also limit your work stress. For example, if you're communicating with remote freelancers or employees about ideas and you have a large PDF file with many images, you can edit a PDF by utilizing a free PDF editor tool to add text, sticky notes, highlights, drawings, and more to these files. This allows you to easily specify any suggestions or changes you might need without having to send lengthy emails.

It is easy to let the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business take over your health and well-being. However, for long-term gains, it's crucial to make self-care a priority. Focus on getting better sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly and using helpful online tools. The results will be worth the effort!

 

Random Paragraph Generator

Looking for a quick and easy way to generate random paragraphs? Look no further than the Free Random Paragraph Generator! This handy tool can create paragraphs of random text in a matter of seconds, with just a few clicks.

Whether you need some filler text for your website or blog, or you want to generate Lorem Ipsum-style placeholder text, the Free Random Paragraph Generator is the perfect tool for the job. Simply choose how many paragraphs you want to generate, and click 'Generate'. That's all there is to it!

Website Description

If you're looking for random paragraphs, you've come to the right place. When a random word or a random sentence isn't quite enough, the next logical step is to find a random paragraph. We created the Random Paragraph Generator with you in mind. The process is quite simple. Choose the number of random paragraphs you'd like to see and click the button. Your chosen number of paragraphs will instantly appear.

While it may not be obvious to everyone, there are a number of reasons creating random paragraphs can be useful. A few examples of how some people use this generator are listed in the following paragraphs.

Random Paragraph Generator
https://randomwordgenerator.com/paragraph.php

 

New iPhone 14 Max

This morning I preordered an iPhone 14 Max. It's been four years since I got a new iPhone. I am pretty excited about getting the latest iPhone.

I know there are some people that say that the iPhone 14 isn't that much different than the iPhone 13. It really doesn't matter to me what people say. Based on the specs of the iPhone 10 and the iPhone 14 - its really going to be an upgrade for me.

Things That I am Excited About

Always On Screen - I have my iPhone at my desk and it will be nice to use it as a clock and see other widgets at a glance.

48 Megapixels - I can't wait to see what 4x the resolution in ProRAW will do to some landscape photos - especially in the fall.

Telephoto - Taking telephoto pictures can change how I see everyday things. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to take a really good macro photo.

Depth Effect on Videos - This will be a cool effect to apply to videos taken after capture.

New Blog Posts!

Once I get the new phone, I'll blog about my experience with the new phone. The phone isn't expected to arrive until early October.

 

The Knack - Orleans Mass.

This week we were in Orleans, Massachusetts and we decided to try a local popular burger place:

The Knack Orleans

My daughter wanted to try The Knack, 5 Route 6A in Orleans, as we heard the food was very good - one local said it was the best burger on Cape Cod. Could it also be the best gluten Free Burger?

Pickle And Spice Burger
Pickle and Spice Burger made Gluten Free

Taste Results

My daughter loved the burger! She ate more of the burger than any other burger she had before- she has had a lot of them.

The only thing we don't know is if the french fries were gluten-free. She told me it didn't matter as the burger filled her up. Compared to other foods she had, the burger wasn't too spicy. It had a bite to it, which she liked since it wasn't just another burger.

We highly recommend The Knack as a place to go! If you go, try to park behind the restaurant as there is usually more space.

 

Engineer Sayings

Things that QA Engineers may hear when they discover a bug - usually late in the test cycle.

 

Lanes and Games

Lanes and Games in Cambridge, Massachusetts was the perfect place to have some fun with family and friends. Everyone can enjoy the games and activities they offer. There are bowling alleys, laser tag arenas, arcade games, and pools to choose from. There is something for everyone at Lanes and Games. You could grab a bite to eat at the full-service bar and restaurant while you play.

Lanes and Games closed on August 14, 2017.

Here's is a copy of the menu that I got many years ago:

It appears you don't have a PDF plugin for this browser. No biggie... you can click here to download the PDF file.

 

Manager Letter Video

I created this video based on the "Letter to my Manager" that was going around a few years ago. There are a few good points in this video about what employees want from their job - besides good pay.

 

Updated Content Topics for the fall blog posts

Greetings to all! With the fall season approaching, we wanted to let you know about a few changes to our blog content schedule.

Here's the schedule since September 1st:

  • Sunday - Open Content - Anything Goes!
  • Monday - Media Monday - Usually this is an entry to the YouTube Channel. Currently, the content has been focused on the scam calls that I get.
  • Tuesday - PDF - This is when I'll feature something new in my collection. I'll update the homepage with an image from the PDF blog post entry.
  • Wednesday - QA - General information on software testing.
  • Thursday - Gluten-Free - My 11-year old daughter has some great tips on finding gluten-free things in New England.
  • Friday - Macintosh - Tips and Tricks on using the Macintosh computer.
  • Saturday - Internet - Fun things around the Internet space.

I plan to post content by 11pm EST times on most days.

This schedule should stay the same through Halloween.

 

Moonshot Thinking Game

Moonshot thinking is a game that anyone can play. The object of the game is to come up with an innovative solution to a problem. The catch is that the problem must be one that has not been solved before.

To play, you first need to identify a challenge or opportunity that you want to solve. Once you have done this, it's time to start thinking about potential solutions. There are no wrong answers in moonshot thinking, so don't be afraid to let your imagination run wild!

Once you have come up with a few possible solutions, it's time to start evaluating them. What are the pros and cons of each option? Which ones are more feasible than others? Keep in mind that sometimes the most crazy-sounding ideas can actually be the ones that work best!

Finally, once you've decided on a solution, it's time to put it into action. Remember: moonshots require big thinking and bold actions! So go out there and make your idea happen!

Website Description

Moonshots! is a game designed to unlock your moonshot mindset and brainstorm radical solutions to the world's toughest problems. Inspired by the X Rapid Evaluation team's exercises for coming up with new moonshots, the game involves randomly matching different problems and technologies together and seeing what fresh, unconventional ideas the combinations spark.

The game has 100 problem cards and 100 technology cards, making for 10,000 different possible combinations. Each problem card maps to the United Nations Sustainable global goals that will need the Development Goals' brightest minds and imaginations to solve.

Moon Shot Thining Game
https://x.company/moonshots-game/

 

Jira Search using LaunchBar

If you're a fan of the popular macOS utility LaunchBar, you know that one of its best features is its ability to search for and launch just about anything on your Mac. But did you know that you can also create custom search templates in LaunchBar?

With a little bit of effort, you can create custom searches for just about anything, including websites, files on your computer, or even specific items within those files. In this blog post, we'll show you how to create a custom search template for LaunchBar.

In this example, we'll create a custom search for your company's Jira board. Simply paste in your ticket number and a new browser window will open to that Jira page.

How it Looks

Jira Launch Bar

How to Setup

First things first: open up LaunchBar's Index (you can do this by pressing Command-Space to bring up the bar, then type Option-Command-i).

Click on the "Custom Search Template". Then, click the "+" button at the bottom of the window. In the resulting dialog box, enter "Jira Board" as the action name and paste your board's URL into the "URL template" field. Finally, click "Save." Your new search action will now be available whenever you launch LaunchBar.

Note: The asterisk should be placed where you want the ticket to appear. Example: https://jira.company.com/browser/*

Completed

Custom Jira Search Example
Completed Example

 

Taco Bell

The Supreme Taco at Taco Bell is gluten-free. Did you know that?

My 11-year-old daughter loves this fast food item. There is no Big Mac from MacDonald's or a Whopper from Burger King for her, but Taco Bell offers Crunchy Supreme Tacos. Best of all it's gluten-free.

Taco Bell Gluten Free

Taco Bell Statement

Taco Bell officially does not recommend their restaurant for people with celiac disease. In the kitchen, there is cross-contamination.

There are some Taco Bell dishes that do not contain gluten ingredients, and there is a guide that explains how to eat Taco Bell while you are avoiding gluten. It is called href="https://www.tacobell.com/blog/how-to-avoid-gluten">How To Eat Taco Bell When You're Avoiding Gluten.

Our Experience

As a matter of fact, we have eaten at Taco Bell a number of times and my daughter has never had a reaction to eating the taco. She only complains that we don't eat there often enough.

This is definitely something worth considering if you or someone you know has celiac disease or is otherwise gluten-intolerant. The options are fairly limited when it comes to fast food, but Taco Bell seems to be doing a good job with its gluten-free offerings.

Upon ordering, you can request that the Supreme Taco is prepared with extra care.

 

About

It's a pleasure to welcome you to cryan.com's main blog page where you will find all kinds of informative blog posts that cover a variety of topics of interest. From technology to lifestyle and career advice, there is something for everyone.

We strive to provide our readers with the highest quality content available, so you can be sure that you're getting the most up-to-date, reliable information.

Schedule

FridayMacintosh
SaturdayInternet Tools
SundayOpen Topic
Monday Media Monday
TuesdayQA
WednesdayKeyboard Maestro
ThursdayClassic Macintosh

Other Posts

Coming Soon.