Mute Spotify ads on Macs with Smutefy

smutefy logo.pngSpotify is one of the best music applications on Mac but the only drawback of the free version are the ads. As the application becomes more popular, the ads have increased a lot but help is at hand from Smutefy which aims to reduce them intruding on your listening as much as possible.

Smutefy is a free small menu bar application that automatically detects and mutes Spotify ads. It doesn’t actually block the ads – it simply reduces the volume when an ad comes on so that you don’t hear it.

Firstly, you’ll need to make sure that you have both Growl and Soundflower installed for Smutefy to work. Smutefy doesn’t block Spotify Growl ad popups but it uses both Growl and Soundflower to monitor the application so that it can auto adjust the volume when an ad comes on.

smutefy menu bar.pngAll you have to do to activate Smutefy is double click on it in your Applications folder. Smutefy then places a small icon in your menu bar. When an ad is detected by the application, the icon will change color and mute the system sound until the ad finishes.

Smutefy works very effectively the only problem being that the first second of an advert isn’t muted but it kicks-in pretty quickly after that and all you hear is silence instead of adverts until the next track starts.

Smutefy is an ideal application for all those Spotify users that prefer silence over adverts.

Free indie games round-up

We’re almost halfway through 2010, so I thought I’d round up a few free indie games that have caught my eye this year. They weren’t all made this year, but are all free and I guarantee they are worth spending some time on! You can download them via the links below.

Puddle is a simple, but lovely to play physics-based puzzle game. It’s very short, especially for a 300mb download, but it looks and plays really well and I thought it was worth a go, even if a couple of Softonic users disagree!

BitWorld is a stylized pseudo 3D dungeon exploration game. Complete with story and amusing side characters, I was really impressed with the look and feel of BitWorld, which puts bouncy, blocky, pixelized characters into a murky 3D environment. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but totally charming!

Hero Core took me right back to the 80s, with its monochrome graphics and simple yet challenging gameplay. Fly your hero through the headquarters of your nemesis Cruiser Tetron to destroy him forever! It’s a firm but fair game – so expect to die a lot on your way to victory!

Attack of the Paper Zombies !!! is a bit of a weird concept. It’s a real time strategy survival game, where you have to protect your marines against hordes of zombies, and yet it’s presented as a drawing on paper! Despite the clash of styles, it’s a really playable strategy game with plenty of content to keep you involved.

Genetos didn’t come out this year, but is something I tragically overlooked before. It’s a 2D arcade shoot ’em up that takes your from the Space Invaders origins of the genre right up to what they call the ‘bullet hell’ of modern shooters. This is one of the most accomplished indie games I’ve played for a long time, and if you need an education about shoot ’em ups, everything you need to know you’ll find in this game – it’s all free!

Play FIFA Online for free!

FIFA fans, you are not dreaming. The amazing truth is that as of now you can play the awesome soccer sim online and for free on your PC.

FIFA Online is EA’s second foray into the realm of gratis gaming, following the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online last month. The new game is now in open beta phase, meaning it’s not quite the finished product, but it’s free for anyone to play.

I’ve been hammering away at FIFA Online all day and I have to say I’ve been blown away by it. Not only does it look and sound great but it’s got stacks of different game modes, online multiplayer, lots of social features, real teams and players, and it even challenges you to lead your country to glory at the 2010 World Cup.

It’s such a rich offering that I felt like writing a thank you letter to EA for this wonderful gift. Then I realized that, like the other millions of fans, I’ll end up showing my appreciation by constantly paying for the game tokens that are used to access new match modes, treat injured players, buy equipment for your team, and bribe referees. Actually, I’m not sure about that last one, but it’s a good idea.

FIFA Online