Latest news with #CoolTools
Fast Company
02-08-2025
- Fast Company
This free Adobe tool offers Photoshop-strength background removal
Sometimes, the simplest photo feats are the most satisfying of all. Me? I've lost count of the number of times I've needed to remove the background from an image for one reason or another. Maybe it's a perfect portrait of my kids or a moderately acceptable photo of my own plus-sized potato head—but then whatever's in the background falls somewhere between 'messy' and just plain 'meh.' Whatever the case may be, removing the background of an image is one of the simplest and most effective ways to edit a photo and take total control of how it looks. But it isn't always easy to figure out how to make that happen—quickly, cleanly, and without all sorts of time-wasting hassles. The tool I've found for you today changes that once and for all. Unearth all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. A spiffy new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday! Buh-bye, background I've tried all sorts of image background removers over the years. Some of 'em are actually quite decent, but almost all of 'em have some sort of asterisk—a limit in how often you can use 'em without paying, a restriction in how large of a file you can download when you're done, or some other sort of constraint that keeps 'em from being completely ideal. Today's tool is a rare exception. It's a simple stand-alone image background remover that's completely free, entirely web-based, and—as far as I can tell as of this moment, at least—without any meaningful restrictions around how and how often you use it. ➜ The service is a relatively new (and certainly new to me!) element of the online Adobe Express service for image editing. ⌚ It takes literally 10 seconds to get going and pull off your first image transformation. ✅ You just pull up this page in any browser, on any device you're using, and either click or tap the photo uploading box or just drag and drop an image from your device into that area. All it takes is a single click—or a drag and drop—to get going with Adobe's web-based background remover. [Screengrab: Adobe Express] In 10 seconds or less, the site will spit back a perfectly crisp version of your photo with the background completely erased—no rough edges, no awkward remnants, and no effort whatsoever from you to make it happen. A handful of seconds, and bam: Adobe's web tool has the background stripped out of your image and the file ready to be saved. [Screengrab: Adobe Express] Here's the before and after of my sample image, for a closer comparison. What's especially impressive—though slightly tough to see at this size—is that in the original image, the edges of the Android figure were actually slightly blurry. But the tool still got it exactly right, on the first try, and made it look pixel-perfect without the background present. My original image, at left, and the background-free version, at right. [Screengrab: Adobe Express] The only catch I've found with the tool so far is that after your first time using it, the site will prompt you to sign in for any subsequent requests. That's because its goal seems to be to get you in the habit of using Adobe's broader Adobe Express image editing suite—which actually is free and can be quite useful in its base form but also includes an optional $10-a-month premium plan that the company ultimately wants you to embrace. But you definitely don't have to do that to keep using the background remover for free as often as you like. You'll just have to sign in once—using any email address, Google account, or existing Adobe ID—and then you can keep on erasing image backgrounds quickly, easily, and effectively whenever the need arises. Keep that link handy, my fellow image-infatuated iguana. If you're anything like me, your future self will thank you. The Adobe image background remover runs entirely on the web. You can opt to download the Adobe Express Android or iOS app to find a similar function, but the real beauty of this tool is its simplicity and the lack of any required installations. The tool is completely free to use. And it follows Adobe's standard privacy policy, which doesn't contain anything especially unusual or eyebrow-raising (and doesn't claim any rights to save, share, or do anything shady with your stuff). Keep the discoveries coming with my free Cool Tools newsletter. You'll get an instant introduction to an incredible audio tool and a new off-the-beaten-path treasure in your inbox every Wednesday!
Fast Company
24-07-2025
- Fast Company
This free site is like Google Maps for local food discovery
As my family settles into a whole new city and community, I've been eagerly exploring a variety of sites and services for discovering new gems and getting to know our area. And while our recent cross-country move is what inspired me to seek out such tools, I've quickly realized these same resources could be every bit as useful in any scenario—whether you're visiting a new locale or even just looking for fresh inspiration in your existing everyday terrain. Today, I want to introduce you to an especially cool tool I encountered for exploring eating options around you—'cause really, what's more important than finding fantastic froyo and magnificent meatballs? Prepare your appetite, my friend. It's time for a tasty new treat. Be the first to find all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. One useful new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday! A food-finding supertool If you're anything like me, when you want to find a place to grab some grub, you probably turn to Google Maps—or maybe something like Yelp, or even Reddit. Those are all fine places to find places, but when it comes to cuisine, a site called TasteAtlas is a next-level resource for surfacing spectacular stuff. ➜ TasteAtlas calls itself a 'world food atlas,' and that's a pretty accurate description for what the site aims to do: It highlights exceptional local food in a variety of places around the world, with an emphasis on unique dishes specific to different regions. It lets you browse by the type of cuisine you're contemplating—or, more useful yet, by the exact area you're exploring. And it provides you with all sorts of powerful options for narrowing things down and finding exactly what tickles your fancy. ⌚ TasteAtlas is completely web-based, and it'll take you all of two minutes to start using. If you just want to browse around, the site's home page has lots of interesting lists and ideas for getting going. But the most useful parts of the site are its location-specific sections, where you'll find endless advice about restaurants and other nearby food establishments in your exact area. And you've got a few fun ways to dig into those details . . . 1️⃣ First, you can use the TasteAtlas Map to see and dive deeper into local dishes from different parts of the world. 2️⃣ Second, you can use the 'Destinations' tab at the top of the site to hop right to different areas. advertisement 3️⃣ And third, you can use the 'Near Me' option beneath the search box on the home page to grant the site access to your location and allow it to serve up specific human-curated recommendations for wherever you are. You can also type a location into the search box, if you'd rather. However you get there, once you're viewing info for a specific area, you'll be facing the finest part of TasteAtlas—and that's the site's sprawling suggestions for both local places and local products worth your while to try. TasteAtlas doesn't dive deep into every single city in the world, as you'd imagine, but it has an impressive array of places and possibilities to ponder. So even if it isn't in your specific corner of the globe, you'll hopefully still find something intriguing to chew over—whether that's a worthwhile option close by or something to order online, or maybe even try the next time you travel. Now, who's hungry?! TasteAtlas is completely web-based and available in any browser, on any device. There are some apps under the same name in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, but they don't appear to be officially associated with the site, and I wouldn't suggest using 'em. The site is completely free, with some minimal and not at all obtrusive ads sprinkled in throughout the experience. You don't have to provide any personal info to use the service, and the company behind the site says it doesn't sell, share, or do anything shady with the limited amount of info it does see. Hungry for more tasty tech goodness? Check out my free Cool Tools newsletter for an instant introduction to an incredible audio app—and a new off-the-beaten-path gem every Wednesday!
Fast Company
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Fast Company
This accuracy-obsessed weather app does one thing oh so well
Whether weather is always on your radar or merely a passing front of occasional interest, having an on-demand eye on the world around you is one of the most powerful slices of sorcery you can set your sights on today. And this week, I want to introduce you to a worthwhile new weather app I recently encountered that's decidedly different from the others. It isn't meant to replace whatever weather app you're already using, whether that's the one that came preinstalled on your phone or another favorite you've found over time (maybe even one that serves up the forecast with a hilarious side of sass?). Rather, it serves one super-specific purpose—and serves it impressively well. And it might just be worth your while to keep around as a complement to whatever other weather wesource resource you're using. Be the first to find all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence Your personal precipitation station Most weather apps aim to do it all—to be your one-stop spot for every manner of weather info you could possibly wonder about. This week's Cool Tool is more of a specialist. It does just one extremely specific weather-related thing, but good golly, does it do it well. ➜ The app is called Precip. Any guesses about its purpose? If you said it knits you sweaters whilst preparing delightfully steamy stews, (a) excellent guess—but (b) unfortunately, that isn't correct. Precip, as perhaps might've been your next guess following sweaters 'n' stew, measures the rain and other precipitation around you. It isn't offering up a forecast like most weather apps, in other words. It's actually telling you how much moisture came down in any given area—over any time period you want. And it lets you zoom into a narrow area for supremely detailed and precise info, too, even going down as far as to a specific address. There's just one asterisk: Precip's data is limited to the U.S. and Canada, at least for the time being. (Sorry, international pals!) ⌚ If you're in one of those areas, though, it'll take you all of a single minute to start using: For the best and most robust experience, you'll want to snag the mobile app—available on Android as well as on iOS. You can also check rainfall totals by zip code on the Precip website, but you won't be able to zoom in any further to exact locations or to access any of the more advanced data. In the apps, you can search by city, zip code, or street address, and you can see rain totals from the past 12, 24, or 48 hours. You can also save specific locations and then easily track their rain totals over time. Precip offers even more info as a part of its premium subscription, for 20 bucks a year and up. But the app's free version is plenty powerful, and odds are, it'll be all you need. (That version also doesn't even seem to have any ads present, as far as I've seen so far.)
Fast Company
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fast Company
This free website is like GasBuddy for parking
Parking in a city can be a problem. It's not just about finding parking—it's about finding the right parking. Sometimes, there's a $10 parking spot only a block away from a garage that charges $50! So how do you know the best place to park—especially if you're new to an area, as I was a few years ago, or if you're traveling and aren't familiar with a city? For me, the answer is a smart and completely free user-submitted database of parking spots and rates. It'll help you understand the best place to park. And I've personally used it for years. Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. You'll be the first to find all sorts of simple tech treasures! Your inside eye on parking prices First things first, the elephant in the room: Yes, Google Maps can technically navigate you to a place to park. But, like most other mapping services, it often makes it hard to find all the available garages and lots in any given area. And even if you do manage to find them, it doesn't show you any meaningful info about how much they charge. ➜ So rather than driving in circles and eyeing prices, look at a service called Parkopedia before you head into a city where parking might be a challenge. All you have to do is plug a city, address, or street name into the box on the Parkopedia home page. Then, tell it when you'll be arriving and when you'll be leaving. (Parking prices function by time of day, and day of the week, after all.) You'll get a convenient map with parking rates. Scroll around, and you can find the best parking options. When I tell Parkopedia that I'll arrive in Boston in the late afternoon, for example, I see that there's an underground parking lot I can park in for $9—instead of the $42 spot a block away! That's the secret. Like GasBuddy and so many other apps, Parkopedia depends on user-submitted data, so it may not always be perfect—and it may be better in some cities than others. But Parkopedia is available all over the world and has data for many, many places.
Fast Company
04-06-2025
- General
- Fast Company
Is that website actually down? This essential web tool will tell you
Everyone's always talking about new tools, but some of the best tools are the classic ones—incredibly useful things that have been around for ages. These are the tools that have stood the test of time and are just as handy today as they were 20 years ago. They're also the kinds of things you won't hear about from most people or publications. And it's easy to see why: They're not the hot new thing. They're just quietly helpful for anyone in the know. So today, let's take a look at one of those web-wide classics. It's the ideal way to tell, in an instant, whether a website is actually down or not. I've used it for nearly two decades, and I still rely on it regularly. Psst: If you love these types of tools as much as I do, check out my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. You'll be the first to find all sorts of simple tech treasures! Is it down for everyone—or just for me? Sometimes, no matter what you do, a website just won't load. The question is obvious: Wait, is the website actually down for everyone? Or will it just not load for me for some reason? It's an important question to ask. Sometimes, the problem may very well be with your computer, phone, or internet connection. Other times, the website may indeed be completely down for everyone. And these days? It can even be somewhere in between: A website might go down only for people in your region but be accessible elsewhere at the same time. ➜ The way to get to the bottom of whatever's going on is with a simple little site called Down for Everyone or Just Me. To use it, just pull up the site in your browser of choice—on your phone, computer, or any other web-connected contraption. Then, plug in a website address—an address like or a social media service, the name of an app, or anything else that doesn't appear to be working right. You'll learn whether the website appears to be down for everyone—or just for you. And it's not only a one-way interaction, either: You can also report what you're seeing. And you can see what problems other people have reported recently, too. It really is that simple—no accounts, no paid subscriptions, and nothing but a few ads on a single page. It'll help you troubleshoot website connection problems in a snap, exactly as it has since the internet's early era.
