Monday, March 24, 2008
Learn Programming Basics at Google Code University
11:41PM Kevin Purdy | Need to pick up a little AJAX knowledge to give your website a bit of polish? Have less than a robust knowledge of how databases work? Google Code University offers a heaping helping of computer science knowledge for free. Even better, the site includes a CS Curriculum Search, which can find programming topics within materials published by the world’s computer science schools. So if you only need a specific bit of PHP knowledge to move a project along, you might find just what you’re looking for without having to plunk down cash for a thick manual. Would-be hackers looking into Firefox extensions and basic JavaScript, this is a great place to start. Google Code University [via Geeks are Sexy] More »
Keep Real-Time File Snapshots with DocShield
11:00PM Kevin Purdy | Windows only: Free snapshot backup utility DocShield provides a similar service to previously-mentioned FileHamster, but with a lot more control over how often, and how big, those backups should be. Select individual files or groups of certain file types (like .jpg or .xls in the My Documents folder, for instance) on your home computer, networked systems, or even remote FTP servers, set DocShield to check at certain increments, and choose whether those backups are compressed or not. Better still, the program offers a utility to save a file and its versions onto a USB drive, along with a utility to read and re-save it. For those looking for a Time-Machine-like utility for Windows but don’t need entire systems backed up, DocShield is a helpful tool. DocShield is a free download for Windows systems only. DocShield [via FreewareGenius.com] More »
Top 10 Software Easter Eggs
6:45AM Gina Trapani | Sure we like our chocolate bunny ears, but around these parts the best easter eggs aren’t painted pink and stuffed with jelly beans—they’re the undocumented and unexpected fun features hidden deep inside various software apps. While new software Easter eggs don’t come around often, there’s still a basket full of classics we love. After the jump, get roundup of our favourite software Easter eggs. More »
Heat-Map Your Schedule to Boost Productivity
5:00AM Tamar Weinberg | Plan your days productively with personal development weblog APPD’s productivity heat map. When the wheel is red, you’re at your most productive; when it’s green, you’re unable to focus or be creative. The goal is to record your natural rhythm and learn how long you can sustain your focus until you need to take a breather. Knowing what your rhythm is allows you to plan the right tasks for the right times. I think a lot of personal planners miss this and people look at all chunks of time as being equal. All chunks of time are not equal! By applying this chart methodology to your everyday tasks, you can figure out when you’re most productive and ensure that you get the most done during the right times of the day. How Heatmapping Your Productivity Can Make You More Productive [APPD] More »
Simplify Your Work Travel
3:00AM Tamar Weinberg | If you work on the road often, a little preparation can go a long way. Weblog Lifehack.org offers 10 tips for mobile working, like checking your insurance to ensure that you have the proper coverage: Not all insurers cover travelers for even little things like lost laptops. Especially if you’re going for a nomadic lifestyle, make sure that your insurance covers all eventualities—like health care in a foreign country or coverage for a broken computer. Additional recommendations include downsizing your equipment to minimise losses and to make your baggage all the more lighter. Photo by Sentience. 10 Steps to Working on the Road [Lifehack.org] More »
Find Actually Good E-cards at SomeEcards
2:00AM Gina Trapani | What, you gave up on ever finding an e-card web site that isn’t totally cheesy and/or riddled with Flash ads and annoying jingles? Cheeky e-card site SomeEcards may change your mind. There you’ll find gems that read things like “Carpe diem before the glaciers drown us” and my two Easter favourites, “Please join us for Easter dinner unless you’ve already committed to Satan” and “Adorable candy will help distract us from the astounding horror of a man being nailed to a cross.” Not all of them are this good, but the few that are make it worth the visit. someecards.com [via ZiggyFigaro] More »
