Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with crossplatform

Does cross-platform, self-contained photo management exist?

pbh — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:27:40 -0800

I'm a single user looking for an easier way to browse my photos. It looks like I need a photo management tool like iPhoto, F-Spot, et al. The catch: if possible, I would like whatever solution I end up with to be cross-platform and self-contained (because I'm scared of entering all of my information into a proprietary database that I can't get my data out of later). Unfortunately, I seem to have outgrown using folders to organize my photos. I'm looking to organize on the order of thousands of photos, but I probably don't need the sort of workflow tools that a real professional photojournalist/photographer would need. I'd really like something that can show thumbnails of various sizes, let me browse fluidly by date, and has some basic tagging and set functionality, but I probably don't need much more than that.

My big requirement is that I'd like this thing to make use of EXIF or similar in order to avoid having some database that I can never get my data out of again. Ideally, I would like it to be cross-platform, though if it's not, that's not a huge problem. I'm using Ubuntu Linux, though I'm also curious if there is something that uses EXIF for organization on another platform.

Photo management questions seem fairly common on AskMeFi, e.g., photo management over a shared network, digital photo storage management, and so on, but I didn't see anything that answered this particular question.

Is there any decent photo management software that doesn't tie you into a proprietary database / data format that you can't get away from or export later?

cross-platform archive encryption?

sero_venientibus_ossa — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:21:36 -0800

Is there any way to encrypt an archive so that everyone (PC and Mac, maybe Linux) can open it without installing additional software? I'm using a mac... I was using rar to create the archives but I guess some people with PCs couldn't figure out what to do with them. I could make an encrypted zip archive with stuffit, but i don't know if windows users can unzip it natively. Also, I guess mac users that don't have stuffit installed would be out of luck.

Basically I just want to share some documents online and restrict them to a certain group. I'd like to do it without using .htaccess as well.

Can an Apple-geared print server be set up and used in a Windows-only world?

potch — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:36:40 -0800

Can I configure and use an HP wp100 AirPort print server in an all PC environment? If so, how? I'm currently in a stint as the resident tech guru at a public middle school. My current project is a mobile computer lab, which consists of cart of laptops, and a PoE access point for use in the rooms. My staff has requested that a common printer be added to the cart. I'm looking through my current supplies, and found an HP wp100 wireless print server, unopened. I know Airport is 802.11b equivalent, so once configured, it should work wonderfully. However, I don't have access to Macs to configure the device, and all of HP's product guides speak Apple-only.

More info:

-My school has let its Mac labs become defunct, and the few Macs we have, I don't have administrative rights to.
-If it involves some nitty-gritty down on command lines, I'm completely comfortable in both Mac and PC environments.
-The printer is a Dell Laser 1700, and I have full and free access to any print drivers necessary.
-It's a public school, so I'm trying to do this on the cheap, meaning existing parts. My superior isn't afraid to sign off on a purchase order, but I need to be able to prove we can't do it with what we've got.

What's a good portable hard drive to go between Mac and PC?

estelahe — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 19:32:08 -0800

What is a good mac- and PC-compatible portable hard drive? I'm looking for a portable hard drive (doesn't have to be any bigger than 40 or 50G) to transfer files to and from work. At work I'm almost exclusively on a PC, but at home I have a Mac. Is there a hard drive out there that won't give me big cross-platform headaches?

Cross-platform chat software that runs without installation on a PC?

stonerose — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 14:17:43 -0800

I'm looking for a good, cross-platform chat client that I can run on a Mac, and my S.O. can run on a Win2K box on which he's not allowed to install software? e.g., something he can run from a USB drive? We're currently using google talk, but want something with more functionality.

Save me from Arial.

docgonzo — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:07:20 -0800

How can I use my own fonts in a PowerPoint presentation? I am presenting my honours thesis Monday. To cut down on delays between presenters, we are required to submit a powerpoint file (for PC) tomorrow. I'm on a Mac. I want to use custom fonts, not just the common -- and ugly -- fonts shared between Mac/PC. Google is quite clear you cannot embed fonts in Mac for use in a PC slideshow. (And you can only embed TrueType on PC! Gah!)

Anyway around this?

Cross platform video-chat software.

Wild_Eep — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:45:14 -0800

I have a Mac (10.4.5), my Dad has a PC (XP Home). We both have cable modems. We want to video chat. What apps can we use together? Bonus points if I can continue to use iChatAV. I've been playing around with my firewire-equipped camcorder this week, and got a one-way video conference going with my Mom some 75 miles away. (She's got a PowerBook). Now my Dad wants to join in the fun and see the grandchildren.

What apps exist for us which are cross platform and decent quality? I've read conflicting reports about AIM for PCs having poor video quality with iChat, when it works at all.

Yes, yes, I know I should just convince Mom to get an iSight, but is there hope for Dad?

Microsoft Access on a Mac

lesingesavant — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:31:32 -0800

Is there any program that runs natively on OS X that would allow me to work with a Microsoft Access database? Or am I doomed to run SoftPC? Specifically, I need to be able write queries to an already-existing, and quite large, Access database. Transferring to another database program like MySQL is not an option.