Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Install Google Gadgets and Web Widgets in Linux
11:30PM Kevin Purdy | Linux only: Previously-posted Linux widget engine Screenlets can convert and run Google Gadgets and other web-based widgets on the desktop in its latest version, adding thousands of mini-apps to its menu. You’ll need to add Screenlets’ Launchpad repository to your sources and install the latest version, which the Screenlets home page (and the Tombuntu blog) helpfully walks you through. Once you’re up and running with Screenlets, simply hit “Install,” choose “Web Widget,” and you’ll get a link to each supported database’s catalogue page, as well as basic instructions on installing. With more than 45,000 to choose from in Google’s database alone, there’s likely a great and useful widget waiting to find your Linux desktop. Screenlets [via Tombuntu] More »
Best GTD Application?
1:42PM Adam Pash | In the past few years, David Allen’s Getting Things Done methodology has boosted the productivity of many a convert. The more popular GTD got—especially with the tech crowd—the more desktop and web applications sprung up with the express purpose of managing the GTD process. We’ve highlighted most of these GTD apps at one time or another, but for this week’s Hive Five, we want to know what your favourite is. Hit the jump for details on how to nominate your pick of the GTD litter. More »
Flickr Adds Video
12:46PM Gina Trapani | Photo-sharing site Flickr throws its hat into the ring with YouTube and Google Video and becomes a photo and video sharing site today. Flickr Pro members (only) can now upload up to 90-second video clips to the site, and everyone, pro member or not, can view and comment on the clips. The reason for the 90-second limit? The Flickr Video Help pages explain: More »Randy Pausch’s Time Management Tricks
11:00AM Gina Trapani | According to his doctors, computer science professor Randy Pausch has three to six months to live due to cancer, and in this video lecture he shares his tips for making the most of your time, “the most precious commodity you have.” This is a lengthy talk but it’s chock full of lifehackeresque tips, like emptying your inbox, creating a manageable filing system, using the 80/20 rule to focus your efforts on the stuff that matters most, and planning your day, week, and year. Skip the long-winded introductions and start at about 12:00 to get right to the good stuff. Follow along with the talk slides here. Thanks, Erik! More »
Reconfigure Windows with TweakNow
10:00AM Gina Trapani | Windows only: Windows utility TweakNow puts a friendly interface on the most common registry settings on your PC, complete with an Undo button. Tweak your Start menu, Control Panel, Desktop, user acounts, and other settings using TweakNow, which shields you from the decidedly not-fun and risky undertaking that is editing the registry by hand. This looks particularly useful for locking down a PC for the kids—for instance, you can use it to disable access to the Control Panel and desktop context menus. TweakNow is a free download for non-commercial use, Windows only. Tweak Now! [via DownloadSquad] More »
Stick to Your Budget with “Reverse Credit”
9:00AM Gina Trapani | One way to save up for large purchases is to buy yourself gift cards in small increments in advance, says a reader at personal finance blog Get Rich Slowly. So if you’re saving up for an iPhone, for instance, buy yourself a $20 gift card to the Apple store every few weeks. Editor J.D. Roth writes: You can use “reverse credit” to save for more than just large items. You might use it to budget for your morning coffee, for example. If you want to limit your spending at Starbucks, put a fixed amount ($20 maybe) on a card at the beginning of the month. When that card is drained, you know you’ve spent your coffee budget. At the start of next month, put another $20 on the card. As J.D. points out, this method is similar to “envelope budgeting”, the classic method your grandparents used to put money aside for specific purposes. Use “Reverse Credit” to Stick to Your Budget [Get Rich Slowly] More »On the road
8:11AM Sarah Stokely | So the Lifehacker road trip hits the road in about 1 hour. Two days on the road – two days without the internets! So I should be back on board by Friday. In the meantime, Anna will be moderating comments, so play nicely and see you on the other side. :) More » 
Firefox 3 Beta 5 Easter Egg
8:06AM Gina Trapani | Intrepid testers using Firefox 3 beta 5: type about:robots into the address bar to get a fun page of robotic references. Also, check out our Complete Field Guide to Testing Firefox 3. [via] More »
Excel Gantt Chart Redux
7:58AM Gina Trapani | Reader Tom saw our previously posted Excel Gantt chart template and said he had a better one to offer. Why a spreadsheet? Tom says: I do most of my project planning in MS Project which is great, especially for adjusting for defined working hours and dependencies, but printing directly out of MS Project is really confusing for a lot of stakeholders to read at meetings. There are way too many details and the actual Gantt bar usually gets cut off or on another page, making it not very clear or informative. More »
