Linux users: You can embed a screensaver as the destop background with two terminal commands. Tech blogger Prashanth Ellina demonstrates how you can create a “video wallpaper” by temporarily removing the nautilus desktop and replacing it with an xscreensaver. An embedded screensaver is light on memory usage, but won’t play nice with Compiz Fusion. More »
Modifying a special user page on Wikipedia can make your browsing session more informative with dynamic tooltips that preload relevant bits when you mouse over article links. There’s no bookmarklet, extension or third party web site required: simply add some code to your monobook.js (a special Wikipedia user page you must be logged in to access), and voila! You’ve got killer tooltips wherever you log in to browse the ‘pedia. Thanks, JackHynes!
Tools/Navigation Popups [Wikipedia]US – Microsoft’s offering Office 2007 to students for $US60 starting next Wednesday. Valid student ID and email address required. AU – Microsoft hasn’t let us know whether this offer is happening in Australia too – we will keep you posted. More »
Yahoo launches new webapp MapMixer, which blends an existing map image with Yahoo Maps. Handy for overlaying a static public transportation system, campus or hiking trails map onto a fancy-pants dynamic Ajax map, MapMixer’s essentially an easy-peasy mashup maker for anyone with a map digital image (or a scanner). Just upload your image and fit it onto Yahoo Maps. Here’s an example of a MapMixer map in action: More »
The previously posted Mac-like Google Reader theme has been updated to accommodate GReader’s new search box. Slick. More »
Wired’s How to Wiki has some tips for public speaking by blogger, writer and Boing Boing editor Cory Doctorow. There were a few tips I really liked including:
6. Don’t use the conference’s Net connection for your demo. It’s embarrassing to stand on stage whining, “Everyone please stop using the Net!†Turn your demo into screenshots, bring an EVDO card for your own high-speed connection, or use desktop vitualization like VMWare to bring the whole server with you.
7. Don’t rely on the event’s A/V setup, either. To play an audio clip, try holding your mike up to your laptop’s speaker or purchase your own USB audio interface. Be sure to bring your own audio cables and power strip, ” Just in case”.
8. Use your Q&A time wisely. Field the big-picture queries while you’re onstage and deal with the minutiae offline.
I don’t think it went far enough though. The last conference I went to banned the use of Powerpoint completely. Here, here.
Rock the Podium [Wired]
The ExtremeTech blog has a walkthrough for removing a liquid CPU cooler from your PC. The article also links to a roundup the author did of three liquid cooler systems. He promises that his walkthrough will get that liquid cooler out of your PC without spilling a drop of coolant. Sadly my PC is not overclocked, liquid cooled or in any other way pimped, so I’ll have to take his word for it.
How To: Remove an Internal/External Liquid CPU Cooler More »
The Agency Byte blog has a post on ‘scope creep’ – why it happens and what you can do about it.
“Scope creep begins at the moment when your client asks for something outside of the scope of work for which you’ve contracted (you do have a contract, right?). Naturally, they’re asking for this thing to be included at no extra cost. Actually, they’re probably not asking. They’re probably acting like it’s always been understood that this thing will be included. Duh.”
Defining Project Boundaries (and Keeping Your Client Within Them) [via Freelance Switch] More »
If you’re an Adobe user, Blog Freelance Switch has a nice rundown of the various new products and ‘premium editions’ they have on offer.
“If you are confused about Adobe’s new offerings, you aren’t alone. Currently, one can not only purchase Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web and Design Premium, but also both variants in a Standard edition, plus Production Premium and the all-inclusive Master Collection.”
“The real question at hand is should you upgrade (if you already have CS/CS2) or purchase Creative Suite 3.”
This review walks you through some of the new features and different product bundles to help decide what to buy and whether you need the latest versions. It uses a lot of screenshots to illustrate how things have changed within new versions of old favourites like Photoshop, which is helpful.
Adobe versus Adobe [Freelance Switch] More »
Just in time for the Twenty20 World Championship, the official Google blog has announced a new tool which simplifies the search for cricket results:
Just type [cricket]in a Google search box and you’ll see a brief score of all the current cricket matches. A single click will also give you access to a detailed cricket score card.
If you’re a diehard India fan, then type [cricket india]or [cricket score India England]to get results for Indian matches. Of course, feel free to replace India with the country of your choice for country-specific results.
Get your cricket scores here [Official Google Blog]
The Rugby World Cup kicked off in France on the weekend, and The Australian has reported that Vodafone has launched its own mini-channel on its mobile phone and subscription TV networks, devoted to the series.
Vodafone kicks off rugby channel [The Australian] More »
