Twelve million American workers shop online during work-related conference calls, according to a recent poll. We can’t say we blame you, but if you’re interested, here are a few tips to help you focus during that next call. [via]
Booting Linux from an external drive with the applications and settings of your choice has never been easier after this week’s release of Puppy Linux 3.0. Like Damn Small Linux, Puppy is small enough to fit on a USB thumb drive, and like Knoppix , you can boot it from CD. Puppy can also add your favourite open source applications to the desktop and save multiple user profiles back to your writable CD or thumb drive, too. Let’s take a look at how you can take your operating system, apps, data and user settings to go with Puppy Linux.
Windows/Mac/Linux: Mozilla’s new stripped-down browser WebRunner offers distraction-free access to specific web applications (like Gmail), and integrates them into the desktop with an easy launch shortcut:
WebRunner is based on a concept called Site Specific Browsers (SSB). An SSB is an application with an embedded browser designed to work exclusively with a single web application. It’s doesn’t have the menus, toolbars and accoutrements of a normal web browser. Some people have called it a “distraction free browser” because none of the typical browser chrome is used.
Windows user Sean has a unique trick for hiding a folder in Windows—literally. By giving a file folder a blank name and blank icon, unless you’re specifically looking for it, the folder’s existence isn’t immediately apparent. Hit the play button to see how it works. While this might be good for low security items (embarrassing pics, perhaps?), if you want true privacy (versus security through obscurity), go with something like TrueCrypt.
Hide Folders In Windows [Metacafe]Next time you’re trying to make a convincing argument, close a sale, win a debate or simply get someone else to do something you want them too, check out blogger Scott H. Young’s four insights into what makes people tick. While these are pretty oversimplified to explain all human behavior, they’re all still true in some respect:
Rule One: People Mostly Care About Themselves
Rule Two: People are Motivated by Selfish Altruism
Rule Three: People Don’t Think Much
Rule Four: Conformity is the Norm
Out of all these rules, selfish altruism rang the most true to me, especially here on Lifehacker with all the advice and tips flying back and forth between editors and commenters. Any rules you’d add to this list? Shout ‘em out in the comments.
Four Rules to Understand What Makes People Tick [lifehack.org]
