Is your Internet slowing to a crawl? Two years ago, we provided survival tips and tweaks for conquering that slow connection. More »
So according to Meg who puts together the Top 100 Australian Blogs Index, Lifehacker Australia is coming in at #121. w00t! That’s not as impressive as Gizmodo AU’s #11 but hey it’s a start. :) More »
A couple of weeks ago, I detailed how I built a Hackintosh Mac on the cheap from start to finish. The build benchmarked incredibly well, and I’ve been using it as my main PC every day since. A few days ago, I decided it was time to upgrade my Hackintosh to Mac OS X 10.5.1, the first update for Leopard. Here’s how it works. More »
Windows only: Freeware application DVD43 decrypts DVDs and CDs, removing most copy protections schemes so you can interact with the media using whatever ripping or copying application you please (similar to the shareware alternative AnyDVD). DVD43 runs in your system tray, detects when you’ve inserted a new DVD, and automatically removes the encryption (the smiley face turns green when it succeeds). I’ve always had a lot of luck using DVD Shrink to rip and copy DVDs, but if you’ve ever run into problems working with encrypted DVDs on your PC, DVD43 is worth a try. DVD43 is freeware, Windows only.
DVD43 [via FreewareGenius]Still looking for the perfect gift for your office gift exchange? Web site LinuxInsider suggests giving the gift of free software this Christmas. Just grab a cheap USB thumb drive (you can find a 1GB drive for as little as 10 bucks these days), head somewhere like PortableApps, and grab some free portable software. Alternately, if you really wanted to go above and beyond, you could build a full PC on a stick. Not only might it make the perfect gift for a friend in need of some portable storage, but it could also be the perfect opportunity to introduce your loved ones to great open source apps like Firefox.
Nothing Says Holiday Cheer Like Free Software [LinuxInsider]Mac OS X only: Install and run Internet Explorer for Windows 5, 6, or 7 on your Mac with free, open source application ies4osx. Getting ies4osx up and running takes a little effort on your part and an installation of previously mentioned Darwine, but the download site has detailed step-by-step instructions for getting it up and running (it’s not that hard). Once installed, you can run Internet Explorer on your Mac to satisfy all of your web development needs or just your weird curiosity. ies4osx is free, Mac OS X only.
ies4osx [via MacApper]If you or your loved one suffers from the heartbreak of packrat-itis—an affliction presenting symptoms like large piles of paper and tchotchkes strewn about your home—the Think Simple Now weblog suggests several tips for curing what ails you. Give each item a home – If you don’t know where something belongs, it can easily become part of the clutter in your house. You have to think about where to put it, and it will always conveniently find its way to the top of the nearest surface or the first drawer in sight.
I find that tip especially true when you first move into a new place—the sooner you find a place for everything, the easier it is to put everything in its place and make your home streamlined and uncluttered. If you’ve ever dealt with a nasty case of packrat-itis, let’s hear how you dealt with it in the comments.
How to Cure PackRat-itis [Think Simple Now]Google is experimenting with Digg-style voting in search results, letting users vote up results they like, bury results they don’t, and suggest a better page. Still doesn’t beat my favourite Google Experiment, navigating results by keyword. [via] More »
It’s great that your iPhone has a data plan and a killer mobile browser, but when you’re sitting at the airport waiting to catch a plane with your laptop right next to you, wouldn’t it be nice to use your full-on desktop browser? Out of the box your iPhone won’t allow you to tether your EDGE data connection to another computer wirelessly, but with a little ingenuity on your part you’ll be browsing the net on your laptop through your iPhone’s data service in no time. More »
Near-sighted blogger Matt Haughey stopped paying $500 for new eyeglasses and started shopping online for specs at much lower prices—around $50 or so. Over at the 43 Folders weblog, he explains what measurements you need, how to choose from the wide variety of glasses sold online, and what to expect from the whole experience. Anyone else had success or failure with online eyeglasses purchases? Let us know in the comments.
Adventures in $40 eyeglasses [43 Folders]
