Friday, June 6, 2008

Photoscape Fixes and Enhances Your Pictures

11:30PM Lifehacker US Edition | Windows only: Freeware image editor Photoscape offers a large array of features packaged with a simple and intuitive user interface. View and organize your photos in Photoscape, correct red eye and white balance, crop, add text and frames, and more all from the basic editor. Photoscape also has a batch editor for quickly processing large volumes of pictures, a file renamer, RAW to JPEG processor, screen capture tool, image splitter for printing pictures across multiple sheets, and the ability to create animated GIFs.

Cut Out Conversational Placeholders for Better Persuasion

11:00PM Kevin Purdy | Some of us, uh, speak with a lot of, you know, hesitating phrases that are usually, well, unintentional, or a result of being, like, nervous. If that sounds like you, New Scientist magazine has some solid evidence that you need to work on getting them out of your system: Researchers asked 118 undergraduates to read a transcript of a testimonial about a scanner. In one version, the speaker used hesitations like “I mean” and “ummm”; in the other, he used none … When hesitant language was used, people were less easily convinced that this was a scanner worth buying – even when it was a better scanner at a lower price. Style was especially important, the researchers found, when time was limited. More »

Snipe Multiple eBay Auctions with JBidwatcher

10:00PM Kevin Purdy | Windows/Mac/Linux (All platforms with Java): JBidwatcher, a cross-platform, open-source eBay sniper application, is now available in a well-tended 2.0 beta release, with a few new tweaks and a better-looking interface for every platform. JBidwatcher has won praises from commenters in particular for its “multisnipe” function—choose multiple auctions for the same type of item, set a maximum price you want to win with, and JBidwatcher will jump in at the last minute on a possible win and stop bidding on the others. Whether you’re going to be away from your desk or just want the convenience of having an app do your auction bidding, this app is a good bet. JBidwatcher is a free download for any platform running the Java Runtime Environment. JBidwatcher [via JBidwatcher] More »

Handling those job interview clangers

9:24PM Angus Kidman | Job descriptions can change dramatically in the space of a couple of years, but the techniques interviewers use to trip up candidates tend to stay the same. A feature at BBC News identifies five common challenges — from getting caught lying to asking to impersonate a dinosaur — and offers suggestions from recruiters on how to deal with them. Even if you’ve never heard of the people mentioned in the article (all contestants on the UK version of The Apprentice), you can’t help but feel for them. What’s the worst question you’ve ever faced in a job interview? More »

IM Can Reduce Workplace Interruptions, Study Shows

9:00PM Lifehacker US Edition | We all know instant messaging has great potential to lead down the path of non-productivity, but researchers at Ohio State University and University of California have found it can be a productivity booster—if used efficiently. Co-author of the study Kelly Garret explains: “It is not the case that people are engaging in extensive conversations or trying to resolve complex problems over this very limited medium. Instead, people are using the technology to solicit answers to quick questions from colleagues and coordinate their conversations at more convenient times.” We’ve showed you how to firewall your attention at the office, including using your instant messenger client to signal your availability. We’ve also discussed previous studies about instant messaging increasing productivity. What is your experience with instant messaging at work? Does IM help you get things done more than hinder you? Instant Messaging Proves Useful In Reducing Workplace Interruption [Science Daily] More »

Something for the weekend: Computers off

5:44PM Angus Kidman | There’s been a lot of blather this week about environmental issues, tying in with World Environment Day — but for PC owners, enabling power management remains the most straightforward way of making a difference. The Computers Off campaign has detailed guides for enabling the power management options on a variety of OSes. More »

Lifetick adds shine to goal management

1:12PM Angus Kidman | Aussie-developed Lifetick applies a shiny Web 2.0 interface to setting and managing goals, both long and short-term. Sure, it feels a bit Oprah Winfrey at times (the first stage is setting Core Values and Goals), but having an online system does make it easier to measure your progress towards long-cherished ideas. You can tinker with the site for free in a reduced functionality mode, though the full version costs US$20 a year. More »

How can you save money on broadband?

1:01PM Angus Kidman | Arguing continues over the best way to build the National Broadband Network. The Competitive Carriers’ Coalition (everyone except Telstra, basically) has issued research suggesting that if Telstra gets to build the NBN, the cost to consumers will be 15% higher, a claim Telstra has rejected. The NBN issue will take a while to play out, but in the meantime, we all want our broadband as cheaply as possible. What strategies do you use to ensure a good-value broadband deal? Let us know in the comments. More »

Gmail Gets 13 Experimental New Features Tonight

10:01AM Gina Trapani | Starting at 6PM Pacific Time tonight, Google will start rolling out Gmail Labs, an experimental area of new Gmail features that will be familiar and very welcome to users of the Better Gmail Firefox extension. Once your Gmail account is Labs-enabled, you’ll get a Labs tab in the Settings area of your account where you can enable 13 new experimental Gmail features, including signature tweaks, mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and even a game. After the jump, get an exclusive sneak preview at the new Gmail Labs experimental features, with screenshots. More »

NextAction Keeps You Focused on What’s Next

8:00AM Adam Pash | Windows only: Between instant messages, email alerts, and talkative coworkers, distractions abound at your workplace. Freeware application NextAction provides a floating window to keep your current next action in sight to help you jump right back into what you were working on before you were interrupted. It’s a simple single-use application, but it’s also packed with smart functionality—like always-on-top transparency, keyboard shortcuts, and a global hotkey—that make it smarter than a simple Notepad doing the same thing. NextAction is freeware, Windows only. If you’ve got your own method of keeping track of what you’re doing in the midst of distractions, let’s hear it in the comments. NextAction [via Web Worker Daily] More »