Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Mimic Vista’s File Rename Feature in XP
1:00PM Adam Pash | Dear Lifehacker, The only Vista feature (honestly) I hoped that XP could have is a very simple one. In Explorer if you hit F2 to rename a file Vista automatically selects the file name WITHOUT the extension, something that does not happen in XP. I cannot begin to describe how frustrating it is to hit F2+Shift+< -
Firefox 3 Beta 3 Now Available
11:36AM Gina Trapani | All platforms: Mozilla has just published the latest iteration of Firefox 3, Beta 3. Intended for testers and early adopters who are willing to live on the edge, Firefox 3 has fewer memory issues than its predecessor, but most likely your most important extensions aren’t yet compatible with it. Our previously posted Firefox 3 Beta 1 screenshot tour doesn’t include Beta 3 changes, but this in-depth review of Beta 3 does show off Firefox 3’s newest look, buttons, dialogs, and features. Update: Here’s a summary of the improvements over Beta 2: More »Tuesday Most Productive Day of the Week, Execs Say
11:09AM Gina Trapani | Corporate executives estimate that employees are most productive on Tuesdays, a new survey shows. On Monday office workers have too many meetings and email to catch up on, but people knock down the most items from their to-do lists on Tuesday. Hump day and Thursday are pretty productive, but come Friday weekend plans and early dashes for the door make for less stuff getting done. Has today been your most productive day of the week? Let us know in the comments. Second Day of the Week Remains Most Productive, Survey Shows [Accountemps via HR World] More »
Get Optimally Wired with Caffeine
10:00AM Adam Pash | It’s no secret that people the world over use caffeine as a work stimulant, but weblog Developing Intelligence suggests that you may not be getting the most form your caffeine high. For example, the author suggests playing to your cognitive strengths when caffeinated. Caffeine may increase the speed with which you work, may decrease attentional lapses, and may even benefit recall – but is less likely to benefit more complex cognitive functions, and may even hurt others. Plan accordingly (and preferably prior to consuming caffeine!) The post even explains the optimal caffeine consumption (think small, frequent doses), so if you already count on caffeine to get through the day, check out the rest of this post to see how to do it best. On the other hand, if you’re ready to kick your caffeine habit to the curb, your fellow readers can help. Caffeine: A User’s Guide to Getting Optimally Wired [Developing Intelligence] More »Reduce Screen Time with 52 Nights Unplugged
9:00AM Gina Trapani | Writer and self-described internet addict Ariel Meadow Stallings wants to be “more present in the present,” and for her that means reducing the amount of time she spends in front of the computer/TV/phone screen. To do just that, she’s started a new, year-long project called 52 Nights Unplugged. The rule is simple: once a week, for one night, she doesn’t do anything involving a screen. This means no computer, no cell phone, no movies. I plan to focus instead on the other things I like doing like writing letters, crafting, organizing, dancing, going for walks, cooking and making tea, writing in my paper journal. I might also try picking up some new things to like such as watercolors, scrapbooking, mail art, dance classes, attending lit readings, etc. Maybe I’ll even work on another book, writing ideas by hand. (BY HAND!) Regardless, one night a week I’m going to unplug. More »
Google adds movie time search function
8:55AM Sarah Stokely | Google already made it easy to search for the current time anywhere in the world, or to track incoming flights, and now they’re helping us search for local movie times too. You just need to type the name of the movie and your city.
For example, type in “Juno Sydney”, and this is what you get:
Gotta love the simplicity – and being able to skip the cinema websites full of annoying Flash ads! If you’re wanting even more Google tricks, check out our Top 10 Obscure Google Search tricks.
Update: Looks like this feature’s been around a while for the US – but I think it’s the ability to search for movies in .au that’s new.
More » Android
8:42AM Sarah Stokely | The world’s big mobile phone pow-pow, the GSMA is on in Europe right now, and the prototypes of Google’s Android phone are the hit of the show. Wired was there to take lots of photos and video. One vendor (Qualcomm) expects they’ll have a shipping hardware platform in the second half of this year. Meanwhile will we even have the iPhone by then? More »Navman 2007 map upgrades now available
8:17AM Sarah Stokely | According to a piece in the SMH today, Navman users who have been waiting for the 2007 map updates can get them from today. Looks like new models have already received the update, but the N40i model was lagging behind.
The form to fill out to register for 2007 map upgrade is here. The form says you’ll be notified when the maps are available to purchase, but it’s my understanding that customers who bought a new N40i which was supposed to include the 2007 maps will receive the maps as a free upgrade. (A promotion run in September last year offered the maps upgrades as part of the purchase of an N40i).
Note that the form is for the F20, F40, N40i, N60i or iCN
720. If you own any other Navman model, the form refers you to the phoneline 1300 NAVMAN.
More » 
Shoot Close-Up Like a Pro with Macro Photography
8:00AM Adam Pash | Take beautiful, detailed close-ups with your compact digital camera with DIY weblog Curbly’s guide to macro photography. Macro mode is an excellent but underused (for most of as, at least) feature available to most compact digital cameras that focuses sharply on a small, close-up area, leaving the background nicely blurred. A good introduction to macro photography can open a whole new world to your point-and-click, so if you’ve never gone macro before, get ready to go on a snapping binge. Macro Photography – It’s the Little Things That Count [Curbly] More »
