Download of the Week: DropFolders
PrintI’m a sucker for automation at Maximum PC – If I can’t find some kind of application that will automatically perform all the time-sucking computer tasks that I like (or would like) to do, then I just haven’t done my job correctly. Now, was there only an app to automate the process of finding these apps… but I digress.
This week’s download of the week carries on in the spirit of “don’t lift a finger to accomplish a task” kinds of applications by giving you a super-quick way to transform videos from one format into another. There’s just one caveat—two, technically. You have to have Handbrake installed and, more importantly, you kind of have to know what you’re doing.
That’s because this week’s “Download of the Week,” an app called DropFolders, uses the power of the Handbrake command line interface to convert your videos without demanding any direction from you to do so. Huh? Yes, that’s right. DropFolders will automatically scan folders you specify for any new content. When something arrives, it gets processed according to whatever command-line arguments you’ve typed into the app. And, of course, said output file gets dumped into a directory you choose once the Handbrake is all done.
If you’re planning on shifting around a bunch of watched folders and arguments, then you’ll surely find DropFolders’ built-in presets functionality to be ever-so-useful. I, for one, would hate to have to keep a separate text file of all the command-line arguments that one could possibly dump into this app at any given moment. Nevertheless, DropFolders is an excellent tool for the power-converter—especially one who doesn’t want to have to fire up good ol’ Handbrake for each new video that comes in.
Download it here!
Technology journalist and former Maximum PC Editor David Murphy hasn’t converted a video in months. To balance that out, he’s watched thousands of Youtube cat videos in the meantime.
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johnnyathm1
October 08, 2010 at 2:38am
Good god Admins...I hate to complain, but you really have to do something about these spammers! Restrict the comments content or something...please! Its making it very difficult to enjoy the articles and communicate with the community. And please Kill theses accounts:
http://www.maximumpc.com/user/boots123
http://www.maximumpc.com/user/pisatrade
http://www.maximumpc.com/user/falas20
They are the same lame ass lossers that keep on Spamming this sight. Maybe you need to start logging IP's and BAN these guys...I dont have all the answers...I leave that up to you. I keep looking for a "Mark as spam button" and havent found one yet...Just do something.
TheMurph
October 08, 2010 at 8:29am
I will do what I can with my godlike powers of account banning... but other than that, your best bet is to email the MPC folk directly with your concerns. I'm not sure how much they check comments in every thread (especially my articles. ha ha!)
I kid. : )
But yes, email them directly.
johnnyathm1
October 08, 2010 at 10:17pm
I emailed them a lot, I eventually received this:
From: Jon Phillips [mailto:CENSOR.com]
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 5:30 PM
To: Garn, John C SGT USA 3rd STB HHC Signal Support; George Jones; Gordon Ung; Michael Brown; Nathan Edwards; Alex Castle; Amber Bouman; allan@maximumpc.com; Andrea Recio-Ang; Jose Urrutia; Ashley Kardel; MaxPC Tips; maxcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com; Future US Webmaster
Cc: Chris Doyle
Subject: RE: Spam Attacks
We are well aware of the problem, and are working toward fixes that go beyond the current model of community policing. One of the problems is the "mark as spam" button is so small, and people don't even know it's there, or exactly how it works. But we're on it, John. For the time being we all need to be aggressive in marking spam as spam. Thanks for your concern, your support, and your email.
________________________________________
From: Garn, John C SGT USA 3rd STB HHC Signal Support [CENSOR.mil]
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 11:10 PM
To: Jon Phillips; George Jones; Gordon Ung; Michael Brown; Nathan Edwards; Alex Castle; Amber Bouman; allan@maximumpc.com; Andrea Recio-Ang; Jose Urrutia; Ashley Kardel; MaxPC Tips; maxcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com; Future US Webmaster
Subject: Spam Attacks
Folks,
Is anything being done about the extensive spam that is showing up on your
web page at maximumpc.com ? It is really starting to make the whole
experience of coming to the site very unpleasant. Please let us, your
readers and fellow tech-geeks, know if you are aware of the problem and you
are intending to do something about it.
Respectfully,
SGT John Garn
Member: johnnyathm1
Geeked at birth
(I dont see a "Mark as spam button", do you? This was back in AUG...think its time to patch this puppy.)
dracx619
October 08, 2010 at 4:10am
how is it that sites like gizmodo and engadget dont have this problem and they are much larger tech sites? this is betond ridiculous that our facvorite nerds at max pc cant contain this huge annoying issue. captcha isn't working, the spam filter was completely annoying and more useless...log ips, continuously ban accounts, add a 'mark as spam' button, shouldnt be that difficult
Airheadq
October 08, 2010 at 9:46am
I think you just said it yourself. Articles here may get a few comments while other places have hundreds of comments. It's more noticeable if your "spam" isn't push all the way down. This is a popular place but not many people will comment, thus its has a bit more exposure than elsewhere.
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