Weblog Daily Gyan points out a simple about:config tweak that disables the installation delay for new Firefox extensions. As you may know, Firefox tries to protect you from malicious attacks by setting up a delay before allowing you to install a new extension. But if you’re confident in your browsing habits and you want to avoid the wait, just enter about:config in your address bar, then paste security.dialog_enable_delay into the filter box. Double-click that preference and change the value to 0. If you’re aware of the risk but still don’t feel like waiting every time you install a new extension, this is a nice time-saver. How To Disable Extension Install Delay in Firefox. [Daily Gyan]
Anyone who’s tried saving a Word document as a web page knows you get way more than you bargained for in the HTML and CSS department in the result. The Productivity Portfolio blog offers two alternatives when you want to zip a .DOC to a .HTML file in a jiffy without all the cruft: Using the online Word HTML Cleaner at Textism (files up to 20K only), or sending yourself the document via Gmail and hitting the “View as HTML” link. Handy. Word HTML File Conversion Tips and Resources [Productivity Portfolio]
Online collaboration service PalBee integrates video conferencing and whiteboard sharing so you can meet up with co-workers over the internet. PalBee supports one free hour at a time for up to five collaborators, and it can record the session as its happening for later review—the results of which can be embedded on any web page (similar to the video above). Naturally, since PalBee is web-based, it works on all platforms as long as you’ve got a webcam. PalBee is currently completely free to use, though pay plans are likely to emerge. PalBee [via Web Worker Daily]
It may be the year 2008, but a whole lot of sucktacular software still rears its ugly head on PCs everywhere, even when better-behaved options are freely available. Whether it’s molasses-slow bloatware, shameless adware, anemic default apps, or “Your trial period has expired!” nagware, it’s time to replace stinky Windows software with its superior (but lesser-known) alternative. Last week we asked what software you should never install on your PC, and over 200 comments later, you compiled quite a list. Today we’re going to take a walk down the Crapware Hall of Shame, point and laugh at the worst offenders, and highlight some better choices. Photo by chelseagirl.
Today web-based office suite maker Zoho adds pivot tables and VB macros to their online spreadsheet product. You may not use Zoho’s online office suite because you’re lazy and already have a Google Account, but Zoho keeps kicking Google Doc arse in the features department.
Next time you agree to meet someone for coffee or lunch “sometime soon” head over to collaborative scheduling webapp Presdo. In Presdo’s single entry box enter the event, your cohorts’ names, and a time (vague times like “afternoon” or “next week” work too)—like “Powwow with Adam, Kevin, and Tamar next week”. Presdo will create an event where you can enter a description, pick a location and shoot off an invitation email to whomever is joining you. You can suggest times and dates, and your invitees can choose which ones work for them. Check out Presdo’s two main screens in action.
Linux only: Any Linux user clutching a mouse with more than the standard two buttons and a scroll wheel doesn’t have it easy trying to match the same kind of configuration options given by the manufacturer’s setup software, which is almost always Windows or Mac-only. The Flow of Consciousness blog walks through installing btnx, a program that can assign nearly any mouse click to a huge variety of actions. Got a Logitech with left and right buttons? Feel free to set them to switch workspaces or even rotate a four-sided desktop cube. The tutorial requires a fair bit of command line work, as the package isn’t available in most respositories, but the Ubuntu-related instructions can be adapted to most any distribution. btnx is a free download for Linux systems only. HOWTO Install btnx for better mouse control in Ubuntu Hardy [The Flow of Consciousness via Ubuntu Unleased]
Windows only: If you still have trouble getting to the functions you need in Office 2007′s Ribbon interface, give Microsoft’s new experimental Search Commands add-in a try. Search Commands adds a tab and search box to the ribbon that finds buttons as you type into it. After the jump, see a screenshot of Search Commands in action.
Most any savvy computer user is probably pretty handy with a free compression and archiving tool (like, say, 7-Zip), but not everyone they send files to will be. The Confessions of a Freeware Junkie blog points out that IExpress.exe, a built-in utility you simply type into the “Run” menu in Windows XP or “Start Search” in Vista, can create self-extracting archives to be emailed to anyone using Windows. Just choose “Extract files only” while clicking through the wizard interface, choose the files to be zipped up, and the end user only has to double-click to get them. IExpress also works as an easy way to convert batch files into executables. Need more info on IExpress? Check out Microsoft’s help page on the tool. Did you know? Windows has a built-in tool to create self-extracting archives via ‘Iexpress.exe’ [Confessions of a Freeware Junkie]
