Stefan vd Blog

What's New this Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Today i release the first Turn Off the Lights Chrome extension update for 2012. But this time it's a special update with few new features. Here below a overview:

Ambilight
This new feature add a ambilight effect to the current playing video.
Current it support only HTML5 <video> and YouTube. And you can change the blue color to a other color.

Turn Off the Lights (Chrome): Ambilight (fix color)

Spotlight
This is a improvement of the old Spotlight feature, this time it show a real circle around the mouse (and not a square block).

Turn Off the Lights (Chrome): Mouse Spotlight

Superman
This is the codename i give for my extension feature. When you turn the lights off in a news website. Then the page is full dark, just like normal. But with this, you can click through the dark element on a link in the current open page. And the lights stay off.

All the above features will coming soon to all other browser.

Enjoy this extension?
Support my continued development by making a small contribution.
And don't forget to star my extension to 5 stars.

I just recently watched Timati & P. Diddy, DJ Antoine, Dirty Money - I'm On You (DJ Antoine vs Mad Mark RMX) Official Video

What's New in December

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

All my "Turn Off the Lights" browser extension receive this month the follow great features:

1. Select custom area to dim the lights
With this new option, you can select self a custom area to focus a element on the website.

2. Autoplay for multi HTML5 video
Now if you got more then 1 <video> element on the webpage. It detect automatic what video is playing, to turn the light off. And the light go only back on if there is no any other video is playing.

3. Eye Protection
You can add now a time when the webpage light go automatic off. Example at night you can turn my lights of on 21:00h until 23:45h.

4. Custom background
Change the default black color to you own favorite background image.

5. Option page got a new YouTube preview, and receive 2 custom option to show on front of my extension.

Show "Add" button from YouTube
Show "like bar" from YouTube

Enjoy this extension?

Support my continued development by making a small contribution.

2 Years Old

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Happy Birthday!
The "Turn Off the Lights" Chrome extension is 2 year old. It's now 2 year ago that i create this project and it got already more then 1 million users.

Turn Off the Lights (Chrome)
Created on 15 december 2009

Thanks to you!
Beta tester and users feedback!

Spotlight

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

What is that amazing Spotlight feature in the "Turn Off the Lights" extension, Check it out!

More tutorial video is coming about this extension.

Custom Background

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:27:00 +0000

I use the "Turn Off the Lights" extension, can i choose a background image then the default black color? Yes, Check it out!

More tutorial video is coming about this extension.

Stefan vd Logo

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:39:00 +0000

My website got this November a small style change and better logo. Also on all my YouTube videos will receive this new begin intro.

Hope you all like it :)

Chrome Help Support

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:25:00 +0000

On 2 February 2010 i join the Google Help Forum. I help daily the Chrome users that got problem with theire Google Chrome browser. Example like Install/Uninstall issues; Webpage Display Issues; Apps, Extensions, and Themes; How do I...? and many more of discussion categories.

Today i am annouce as Top Contributor for the Google Chrome Help Forum.
I will watch, and reply on the forum with my knowledge and expertise as Google Qualified Developer to other users.

Got a question or problem with Google Chrome:
Google Chrome Help Forum

Translate, Share and Win!

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0000

If you help to translate my "Turn Off the Lights" extension to a other or fix a language. And share the link to all you friends. Then it's possible to win a Amazon $10 Gifcard (1 winner) or Google Adword $50 Giftcard (2 winners).

What must i do to win this?
Help to translate my extension, or check the other translation.
Share this to many of you friends using Facebook, Twitter or Google +.

"Help to translate this, share it, and you can win a price!"
Getlocalization: Turn Off the Lights

The most shared post will win this. And may choose a price item. Others winner will be selected random.

UPDATE:
The winner of this contest are: keeper, brad.burbank and arabuli.
More contest coming soon...

Turn Off the Lights Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:52:00 +0000

Have you check the "Turn Off the Lights" introduction video? Check it out!

Later more tutorial video is coming about this extension.

World Languages

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:23:00 +0000

"Turn Off the Lights" has already been translated to English, Dutch and German! Could you help us to translate it to more languages? You can easy log in with you Facebook username.

Getlocalization: turnoffthelights

How faster you have translated this new translation, how faster you receive all the new amazing features!

I just recently watched ATB Heartbeat RMX and liked it.

Google Desktop Will Be Discontinued

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:16:00 +0000

Today, as you heard or not. The Google Desktop will be not supported anymore.
It's hard for me, that Google Desktop will be discontinued. I have build great Google Gadgets and help most users.

As of September 14, Google Desktop will no longer be available for download, and existing installations will not be updated to include new features or fixes.

This is now the current top 5 of the most popular Stefan Google Gadgets:

Fast Shutdown
Power Off
Windows Dock
Office
System Manager

FAQ
But what with my Google Desktop Gadgets (.gg)?
All my Google Gadgets are still available on the Google code project Stefan vd.
Also the Google Desktop software and SDK is on that website.

You can still use my Google Gadget and if you got question go to my Support page.

Will the Gadget be converted?
Most gadget are already converted to a other platform. Example like the "Date Today" Chrome Extension.
But the other gadget can not be converted. Because it use a other framework (API) and that can not be used in example a iGoogle Gadget.

An update on Turn Off the Lights

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Today i publish 2 great new features for my Turn Off the Lights extension. This customize your look and way on the internet.

Background Image
With this feature you can now use you own background image for the 'lights off', then the color picker.

It's very easy to set this up, just go to the extension option page. Then click on the background image and paste you URL of the image inside the textbox. If you are done, you see a small preview how it looks like in the YouTube video site.

Feature: Background Image

Whitelist for Eye Protection
This is something what everybody wanted, turn automatic the lights off for the websites i choose.

Type the website in the textbox, click on the add button. And it will be added on the list for automatic turn the lights off when visited that site. Also you can easy remove the site by select the URL and click on the remove button.

Feature: Eye Protection List

This both features are available now for Google Chrome, Safari, Opera and Firefox extension. If you got question you contact me on this Extension Support form.

I just recently watched Alexandra Stan - Get Back (ASAP) (Official Video)

Cloud Lamp

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Today i'm happy to annouce to the Windows users, the "Turn Off the Lights" Internet Explorer extension.
This extension dims everything in the background, so you can enjoy the video you’re watching without any distractions.

Highlights few features that this Cloud Lamp got:
✓ the fade in and out effects when you click on the lamp button
✓ it receive always the latest update
✓ it detect the API for you website, to focus a element
✓ and it support the most popular video sites

What is so special about this?
This first extension that run the code online from the internet, know as the cloud. It receive the latest update, so you users doesn't have to been worry. Because you already got the latest version.

Found a bug?
Just contact me using the Stefan vd Contact form.

Download Now for Windows Internet Explorer 9
Turn Off the Lights IE Extension

I just recently watched Basto - Gregory's Theme (Official Video)

5 Years!

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Tue, 31 May 2011 11:00:00 +0000

The Stefan vd website and blog is today 5 years old!
And Stefan is the world knowed deverloper for browser extensions, gadgets and 3D builder.

There is more to come this year for all my users.
Stay tuned!

Flash autoplay

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Sun, 01 May 2011 11:13:00 +0000

Today all version of the "Turn Off the Lights" extension for the Chrome, Safari, Opera and Firefox got a new feature inside.

Flash autoplay
If you turn the option "autoplay" on in my option page, and you play a flash video on YouTube.
It automatic turn the lights off, but when you click on the pause button. And turn the lights back on when click on the play button.

The new feature is just like the HTML5 video, but now for YouTube flash video :-)

Enjoy Turn Off the Lights!

Finally the Fox

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Sun, 01 May 2011 11:12:00 +0000

Finally it's here, the Turn Off the Lights Firefox addon version 2. It got now all the features like the Google Chrome extension.

Highlights few features that the users wanted:

✓ the option "autoplay", this will turn the lights automatic off when you click on the play button

✓ option "Flash Detection", search for the flash object and focus it (great for flash games)

✓ option to change the opacity level of the element

✓ option to change the color of the element
✓ and support more video sites

Download the Turn Off the Lights Firefox version 2

And if you got a problem with a video not focus? Go to this website and report it here.

Who use this?

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:45:00 +0000

This is the last post in our ‘Turn Off the Lights thursdays’ series. Every Thursday for the next few months we'll highlight something new you can do in my Chrome extension. From time to time, we’ll also share the great comments from the Turn Off the Lights users here also!

My extension got three kind of users group:
1. Video Watcher
Watch mostly dailly video, music video, tutorials about a subject...

And the users make advance of the option 'autoplay', show youtube video title and the context menu.

2. Web Reader
Read daily the news page on the internet. And watch the latest video news (live or just posted).

And the users use the autmatic lights off when page loaded and disable (maybe) also the fade in/out effects.

3. Image Searcher
That are users who want to focus on there own images of his album (example on Picasa or Flickr).

Few comments of the TOTL users + my respons
I'm a business user, can i use this. Or must i buy a license?
It's free to use for eduction, business and for all other users.
For business user, a donation will be great.
Can i help you?
Yes, my making a donation and report a bug if you find one.

Enjoy Turn Off the Lights!

Protect my Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:03:00 +0000

This is the third post in our ‘Turn Off the Lights thursdays’ series. Every Thursday for the next few months we'll highlight something new you can do in my Chrome extension. From time to time, we’ll also share the great comments from the Turn Off the Lights users here also!

If you want to protect you eyes agains the white light of the website. Then you can use also this extension. Because there is a option to automatic turn the lights off of the current webpage. And you can also disable the fade in/out effects.

Shortcut
A faster and easy way to turn the lights on or off. Just by pressing the follow key:
ctrl + shift + L

Opacity bar
If you turn this option on. And you click on the lamp icon, a opacity bar right bellow wil be display on the current webpage. Here you can change directly you dark element and it save automatic the latest change you make.

Mouse Spotlight
This option show you the mouse in a small white rectangle, so you can easy click on the hyperlink of that webpage. (Default is this option off, but you can enable it in my option page)

Enjoy Turn Off the Lights!

Great Video Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:45:00 +0000

This is the second post in our ‘Turn Off the Lights thursdays’ series. Every Thursday for the next few months we'll highlight something new you can do in my Chrome extension. From time to time, we’ll also share the great comments from the Turn Off the Lights users here also!

When you watch to a video on YouTube (or other video services), you see always ads on the video panel. And mostly it bother the view of the video. But there is a great solution by preventing display the ads, Adblock Plus. This extension makes browsing the web less taxing on both your computer and your sanity.

Use now
Adblock Plus + Turn Off the Lights = Great Video Experience!
Install today the Adblock Plus extension.

Enjoy Turn Off the Lights!

New Option page

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:15:00 +0000

This is the first post in our ‘Turn Off the Lights thursdays’ series. Every Thursday for the next few months we'll highlight something new you can do in my Chrome extension. From time to time, we’ll also share the great comments from the Turn Off the Lights users here also!

For our first ‘Turn Off the Lights Thursdays’ post, i’d like to highlight the new interface of the option page of my extension. Now it's easy to find the setting you need to change. And on the Basic tab you see a YouTube preview page. So you can see what YouTube option you have turn on.

FAQ's:
Where is the save button in the option page?
The save button is removed, now it will save automatic the change you make on a item.Where can i disable The fade in/out effects?
In the second tab of my option page named as "Visual Effects".Does the TOTL API still work?
Yes sure, and you can still insert the code on you website:http://code.google.com/p/turnoffthelights/wiki/APIwebsite

Enjoy Turn Off the Lights!

That's Opera

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:45:00 +0000

My Opera TOTL extension is now on the same finish line as the Chrome and Safari extension.

Turn Off the Lights version 2.0 for Opera

Few new features it got in this version:

Mouse Spotlight: Option to show the mouse in a rectangle when you the lights is off.
The intelligent video detection: Detect and focus all flash, object, embed and applet.
Shortcut key ctrl + shift + L
and much more...

If you find a bug or got question, report it on this link.

I just recently watched ARASH - Broken Angel

TOTL Chrome/Safari v2 Now Available!

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:05:00 +0000

Few new features it got in this version:

Mouse Spotlight: Option to show the mouse in a rectangle when you the lights is off.
The intelligent video detection: Detect and focus all flash, object, embed and applet.
Option to hide the TOTL browser button
Shortcut key ctrl + shift + L
and much more...

Note: i'm working hard to bring this features also to Opera and FireFox extension.
I just recently watched Inna - Sun Is Up & Skepta - Amnesia

Translators

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:57:00 +0000

Look for translators for the "Turn Off the Lights" extension!
Do you speak & write: Arabic (ar), Catalan (ca), Danish (da), Hindi (hi), Croatian (hr), Indonesian (id), Korean (ko), Lithuanian (lt), Latvian (lv), Norwegian (nb), Slovak (sk), Slovenian (sl), Serbian (sr), Swedish (sv), Thais (th).

If yes, then contact me using this form. (nickname, full name or anonymous will be added on the translators page)
Stefan vd Extensions Support

Cloud = Cr-48

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:23:00 +0000

The Cr-48 is the test notebook from Google, where you can test self the new Google Chrome OS. To get this device you must enter the Pilot program. And you must live in the United States, are at least 18 years old.

Few features of the Cr-48:

Fast boot, in about 10 seconds and resuming from sleep instantly
Got inside a WiFi and 3G
12-inch LCD display
Full-size keyboard and oversized touchpad
8 hours battery of active usage and a week of standby time

If you are a foreigner, example life in Europe. Then you can not get this Cr-48 notebook.

So foreigner (Chrome users outside USA). Vote YES on this page:
Google Chrome Help Forum: Yes for cr48 also available for international users

Chrome users, click here to YES. to send the cr48 also international (all country)!

Hope that Google will ears this and bring the cloud to you. :-)

December is Magic for FireFox

noreply@blogger.com (Stefan Van Damme) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Since last october i created a vote page, for what browser you want also my "Turn Off the Lights" extension. And two weeks later, the result were clear. So today i announce you finally the "Turn Off the Lights" extension is available for FireFox.

With one click on the lamp button, the page will be fading to dark. And automatic focus to the video. Click again, the page will return back as normal.

Few great features in this FireFox extension:
✓ Turn the lights back on, by clicking on it
✓ Fade in and out effect just like the Chrome and Safari extension
✓ Support multiple video sites: YouTube, HTML5 video,... and more
✓ Support multiple image sites: Google Images Search,... and more

Download the FireFox version of my TOTL extension.

Note: More features coming soon, so follow my Blog or Google Buzz to be up to date.

I just recently watched Peter Luts Feat. Jerique - Can't Fight This Feeling (Official)