Make your own Fun with FunFacer

As you may guess by the site name, FunFacer is a website for creating photo montages with which you can create funny images, caricatures, or even compile a simple game, all using your own pictures to be uploaded to the site.

First, you will need to register on the site and upload a photo of the face where we can differentiate it from the front. Then you will have to cut the picture by adjusting to the different frames offered to you and add extras, if you want add-ons like a hair or facial expressions.

Then, you will be able to choose one of the available frameworks. There are two categories: funny pictures and funny games. The new frames are added almost on the daily basis.

You can share your artwork with your friends through Facebook or blog, embedding generated code to your website or sending the provided link through email.

Site is still in beta, but very soot there will be customizable flash games, animations and e-cards.

Access website and have some fun: http://www.funfacer.com/

Using Skype Web Camera as Home Security Monitor

Skype is great as is. It helps you to cut home phone bills, while establishing quality video communication with far away correspondents. As for every popular platform, there are tons of free and commercial applications available, enhancing the standard Skype capabilities. Review the listing of 74 freeware utilities and free services at RateItAll:

http://www.rateitall.com/t-2868750-free-software-for-skype-users.aspx

The following trick will require neither extra software, nor other online services. Just applying the embedded Skype functions unusual way, you can get the security observation camera capabilities.

You probably have webcam on your home computer, so the necessary hardware is already installed. What else you need for these arrangements?

1. Computers - both with broadband - 'Home' and 'Away'.
2. Skype software installed version 2.5 or later version on both computers.
3. SkypeIDs - one for each computer. We recommend creating a separate ID for the security cam purposes. You will need to change the default settings, so that might be undesirable for your main account.

Procedure

1. Install Skype: Install Skype 2.5 or later version on the Home and Away computers. (Get the latest Skype at the website http://www.skype.com).
2. Check Webcam. Ensure a webcam installed on the “home” computer correctly, and pointed at the subject/area you want to monitor.
3. Enable Skype Video: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Video (BETA), enable Skype Video.

-        Turn On: Enable Skype Video

-        Turn On: When I’m calling, and activate the “start my video automatically” function (see image)

4. Enable Skype to auto-pickup Incoming Calls: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Advanced > Call, and activate the "Automatically answer incoming calls" function.

5. Setup Privacy: On the Home computer, go to Skype > Tools > Options > Privacy, and limit the people who can call in.
   
   Now, you can call the Home computer from Away location through Skype. The Skype program in the Home computer will pick up the call automatically, to start the video session. Just remember that the Home computer needs to remain on, while you are not at home. And, the webcam needs to be pointed to the location that you want to monitor.

By this point you might have this in mind: You want to have the Skype security cam always on. But, you still want to be able to receive other Skype incoming calls.

No problem. You can activate multiple Skype accounts or sessions at the same time on a Windows XP machine. See the instructions here. You can set up a new Skype account dedicated to working with the security application, and you can have your personal Skype account open to other incoming calls at the same time.

Important note: please keep your Skype ids for video security/observation limited to those Skype users you know. See below on how to limit calls in.

But if you would like to make the security observation more automatic, you can find a different solution online. Using freeware Yawcam utility, you can turn the camera triggered by the motions nearby, converting webcam to motion sensing security camera. Software can be downloaded from the developers’ website: http://www.yawcam.com/

Sources and Additional Information:

http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/r-skype-voip/z-reference-skype-security.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Remote-Security-w-Skype/

http://solsie.com/2008/04/tip-set-up-a-free-security-nanny-camera-with-skype/

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-use-skype-as-a-covert-snooper/

Create funny collages online with Funny Photo Editor

Do you want MORE fun with your photos?

Want to create cool photo montages, but have no idea how to use those complicated photo editing software (like Photoshop, Gimp, etc.)? Just start using Funny Photo! and get ready for fun! Funny Photo! lets you create cool, funny, and attractive collages with your own photos with simplicity of a simple mouse click.

There are multiple competitive free service on the market like this, so authors should bring something new and fresh to get the respectable market share. And it seems that this new site has indeed something significant to offer to its users.

The service is based on the Online Photo! Enhancement Platform, a web-based image editing solution letting you enhance your photos and have fun with them – easily, anytime, anywhere. The developers’ site offers several image editing tools and services, based on the Platform, that you can use for free, online or offline, and Funny Pho.to is just one of the offerings.

Visit the main page of the editor and check the proposed templates: http://funny.pho.to/. Together with simple and straightforward framing templates, site offers more sophisticated algorithms, like face recognition, adding multiple images to a single collage, and images with animated effects.

Here are several samples of what I did with my own profile picture:

Among other services, offered by the authors are:

-        http://makeup.pho.to/

Make a person in your photo look like a model in a glossy magazine! Apply eye and skin makeup, whiten teeth, remove imperfections, and add a special touch to your photo with a dreamy soft focus effect. All enhancements are made automatically - just upload a photo and enjoy the magic change!

-        http://enhance.pho.to/

Want to make a quick enhancement to your photo? Go no further. Correct all common digital photography problems with one click. Just upload your photo and get an enhanced image in seconds. The service corrects color and saturation in your image, performs denoising and sharpening, and removes red eye in photos of people. Use it for free and share results easily!

-        http://editor.pho.to/

Advanced online free photo editor. Enjoy easy and efficient image enhancement. Correct photos, apply artistic effects, and more!

-        http://cartoon.pho.to/

Make a caricature by changing facial expressions in photos of people with one click! Make a sad person smile, or make a most cool-headed one wear a surprised expression. No face control here - all kinds of faces are welcomed! :)

-        http://avatar.pho.to/

Create a cool static or animated avatar from your photo in seconds!

The service is integrated with Facebook, and you can access the widget through the following link: http://www.facebook.com/tos.php?api_key=70831944d6dabfaa918d436d61c46ff7&next=http%3A%2F%2Fapps.facebook.com%2Ffunny_pho_to_widget%2F&v=1.0&canvas

Cool thing about the site is that you can actively enhance the site performance by offering your own templates. Create and upload your own fun template for Funny Photo!


After moderation it will appear in the list of Funny Photo! Effects.

Service is fast and really simple.

If you enjoyed the post, you can check other free fun photo image editors from my previous publications:

-        JPGfun

-        PiZap

-        Photo505

-        FunPhotoBox

-        Dumpr

-        Photofunia

-        Deefunia