I use tools like Google Keep and Evernote from time to time to manage my pile of recipies, data and "knowledge" (what ever that'd be ;)). However, I don't feel really comfortable and looked for alternatives. There are certain plugins for ownCloud, however, these are basically text-editors at best... Never liked that idea. So I came around Paperwork: http://paperwork.rocks/.
Truth beeing told: It is still in development. It is as bleeding edge as it gets. Sharp as a knife. And yes - I forgot to do backups of my (until then not used) database and lost a lot of data on an simple update... (Yep, the reason why I introduced you to automysqlbackup some days ago...).
But at the moment, it is working very well and I like it very much. I think it will become an really great tool :)!
Tag: Google
[Google Music] Or: How do I get all my music online?
I appreciate art and I love music. And I just can't get enough of it: I really love to listen to my collection on "near all devices": On the Netbook while doing work at the University, on the Tablet while sitting on the couch or on my Phone - while running or commuting. That said, there is always the little and persistent problem of synchronizing data.
Google solved that problem by starting "Google Music": You can upload 20.000 Songs from your collection and listen to them - again and again - for free. Awesome!
But before you rush out and start getting your uplink glowing - let me share two "words of advice":
1.) Clean your collection and tags. Yeah, you saw that comming and you hate it. Everyone does. But it is the only way to get fun out of your collection. Don't try to upload and correct that stuff later. It just won't work and will frustrate you. So do yourself a favor and work out that little errors and problems. Get in some cover pictures, too. MP3tag ( http://www.mp3tag.de/ ) was my tool of choice and works awesome. While using the latest WinAMP to convert Audiofiles from foreign Formats to MP3 - and to look for "a little too strange songs" via the Autotagger - you will get these files ordered in reasonable time.
2.) Your only way to upload your music to Google is by using the Music Manager Tool. It seems straight forward and easy - but it is kind of buggy. Look out for "not uploaded" files by checking files from your HDD against your Google Music Account. Music Manager tends to "overlook" files and can't be pushed to upload certain missing files by adding another folder with the same, missing files. The only thing that is working out is browising to C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Google\MusicManager and deleting the files there [Win 7 Path]. Especially the Database / db File. After restarting Music Manager, the tool will reindex your files and upload missing ones. If "Johnfail" wouldn't had found this Workaround, I would still be sitting ducks. Here is the original post: http://johnfail.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/more-google-music-upload-failure/
Thanks a lot :)!
Other than that - enjoy your music! 🙂
[Security Spotlight] The worst idea in a brave new world: The all-new Boxcryptor 2.0
Some things make life easier. Think about your data. And the way you used to share it. USB Sticks, DVD, CD-Rom, Harddisks - are a thing of the past. Many people use services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Box and similar on a daily routine. Some of those did not think about data security - and just dropped everything into the cloud: From bank data to keys and passwords and such... Others did think about those problems and tried to secure their important files via means as encryption like TrueCrypt. But that did come at a cost: Loss of usability: You just cannot open a file on your Android Smartphone on the fly. And occasionally, somehow the TrueCrypt drive would be uploaded as copy a second time to the Dropbox. Really nasty.
But then, Secomba came up with their product: BoxCryptor. A neat little piece of software, mounting an "Cloud Folder" as local harddrive and enc- and decrypting files on the fly, while you are accessing these files via the mentioned local mount. Secomba was not reinventing the wheel at that time, they were just using EncFS, already known in the Unix World. And that was really good, as you could just use the BoxCryptor files in Unix via the means of EncFS. The Apps, developed for iPhone, Android and the Chrome Browser did work perfectly. All in all: I would recommend these tools and am using them on a daily base. And I would recommend you the same.
BUT:
Use the old, deprecated BoxCryptor CLASSIC stuff.
Hu? Yeah! You read right. Use old, deprecated, soon-to-be stuff. Or use the new BoxCryptor without the cool features... Ok. Well I should explain why I distrust Secomba, the corporation which earned Awards from Golem, heise, Forbes, c't and so on and on: Secomba, as every corporation tries to make a living from their software, and that is absolutly fine with me. Secomba did create BoxCryptor a new, labelling the "old" Version BoxCryptor Classic, creating the new one with corporations and secure file sharing, i.e. Teamworking in mind. And by doing that, they had to introduce a new feature: Centralized Storage of your BoxCryptor Keys. On their own server. Yes, that is right. You upload the keys to your files, bound to your Secomba Account to their servers, if you choose to use the new mode. You can, however, disagree with that and use it like in classic mode - BUT the new BoxCryptor seems to be incompatible with EncFS, and - even better: You cannot use new BoxCryptor on more than 2 Devices - you have to pay for more... Well, that was another feature that did work on the classic free version - but not anymore.
These are all reasons why I would recommend using BoxCryptor Classic for your cloud files security - but discourage the use of the new BoxCryptor 2.0 - even without using the "Save-my-Keys-to-the-Cloud" function - because in my opinion, it is just a devolution of an excellent tool.
And one last word to the "Share Secure Online Function": If you really would like to share a file securely via the net: Send a TrueCrypt drive or host your own local server. Seriously, if you are a CIO, could you advise your people to upload encrypted data - and the passwords - to a server or service - not under your control? If you would answer this rhetorical question with "Yes" - then beg my pardon - but I do not want to work with you and your corporation anymore.
As the link to the (still security patched and updated!) BoxCryptor Classic is a bit hidden under the new and shiny BoxCrytor 2.0 stuff... There you go: https://www.boxcryptor.com/de/boxcryptor-classic