Ionut Alex Chitu a the Google Operating System blog points out that Google is migrating users over to using Google Updater by redirecting them if they want to download new Google software. Google Updater is part of Google Pack. He points out that mostly the Updater lets Google promote new software to you, and they are making it difficult to find the direct links if you prefer to download that way. He helpfully found a few direct links:
Got any other tips for streamlining or minimising the Google footprint on your puter? Share in comments please.
Google Updater, the new Installer for Google Software [Google Operating System]
Facebook has added a feature which lets you populate your Facebook page with your data from Flickr, Delicious, Picasa and Yelp – without needing an extra application to do it.
To import activity from other sites into your Mini-Feed (and into your friends’ News Feeds), hit the Import button on the top left of your Mini-Feed. You’ll get the option to chose which service to import from (see photo above).
The tool also lets you get information from Yelp – and Digg integration is on the way too.
A new way to share with friends [Facebook blog via CNET]
Windows only (for now): Freeware application Syncplicity instantaneously syncs and backs up files in monitored folders on your Windows computer. Currently in a free beta period (they aren’t specific about pricing post-beta), Syncplicity offers unlimited storage, web access, and a real-time sync between your computers. Several tools like Syncplicity are on the horizon, like the subscription-based SugarSync and the still closed-beta Dropbox (both of which are Windows and Mac), but if you’re looking for a similar solution that you can use for free right now, this might be a winner. Syncplicity is freeware, Windows only (until Q3 of ’08). Thanks Karl! Syncplicity
The Unclutterer blog has advice for parents whose adult kids moved across the country but left stuff behind: do a virtual clutter-clearing using a photo-sharing service like Flickr. Photograph all of your child’s items as you place them into boxes. Then, upload all of the images to a Flickr account and send your child the URL. Your child can go through the pictures online and decide the fate of the stuff. I suggest that there only be two options for the stuff: “Send to me” and “Don’t send to me.” Let your child know that you will make the decision to donate, sell, or trash the things in the “don’t send to me” pile.
On Flickr it would be really easy to sort the items, too—your kid can just tag ‘em “send” or “trash.” Now to get Mum hip to the Flickr… Using Flickr to get rid of your adult child’s clutter in your home [Unclutterer]
Firefox only (Windows/Mac/Linux): Avoid inadvertently stumbling onto a Not-Safe-for-Work (NSFW) web site on-the-job with the No-NSFW Firefox extension. The extension works by checking all outbound links from a web page against a user-submitted database of NSFW links and web sites. If someone has flagged a page as NSFW, you’ll see a NSFW icon in the bottom right of your browser. Safe-for-Work sites display SFW, and sites that have have not been rated by users appear as Unrated. In my tests the extension is still looking for some users to do the legwork, but it’s a smart and simple idea that could help you avoid drawing the wrong kind of attention at work. Thanks Pratham! No-NSFW
Happy tax day, Americans! (Ugh.) If you haven’t prepared your income tax return, all is not lost—you can file this form to get a six month extension, and take care of it when more accountants are less booked. See also what happened when we pit a human accountant versus TurboTax on our very own return.
If you liked the idea of making VoIP calls on your iPod touch or iPhone, but all you’ve got in your go-bag is a Sony PSP, DIY web site Instructables steps through how to run the popular VoIP application Skype on your PSP. This PSP hack feature isn’t new by any means, but the Instructable is detailed and easy to follow along with. We don’t have a PSP to test this at Lifehacker HQ, so if you’ve setup Skype calling on your PSP, share your experience in the comments. How to use Skype to make PSP as PSP phone [Instructables]
Previously mentioned job search engine Indeed adds new search criteria for all listings: salary. Enter the position you’re interested in with a yearly salary requirement—like web developer $70,000—and Indeed returns listings that match. Most job listings don’t mention salary, so Indeed estimates the pay for each by using similar postings that do. Not a perfect system, but still a nice way to avoid wasting time on jobs that are completely out of your payscale. See also how you can compare salaries for a position in a given zip code with Indeed. Job search by salary [Blog Indeed]
Windows only: Freeware application Unhider re-displays invisible applications in the wake of a system error—like a Windows Explorer crash—after which some of your application windows remain hidden. If you’ve been using Windows for any amount of time, you’ve probably experienced a situation similar to this. Rather than begrudgingly quitting the application you’re unable to access and losing the work you’ve done, fire up Unhider and it’ll make your window visible again. It’s not an app you’re likely to use everyday, but you’ll be glad you have it when the time comes. Unhider is freeware, Windows only. Unhider [via FreewareGenius]
The iPhone and iPod touch are almost indistinguishable devices except for one major difference—you can make calls from your iPhone, and you can’t from your iPod touch. For the privilege of making phone calls with your iPhone, you have to pay $100 more upfront to Apple for the device itself, plus a minimum of $60/month to AT&T for the next two years (and that’s only if you’re in the US – AU editor) Let’s say you didn’t need that kind of firepower from your iPod touch, but that you would like to use it make a phone call every now and then. You can, and today I’m going to show you how to make VoIP phone calls from your iPod touch or iPhone using a freeware application called SIP-VoIP.
