Google’s recently launched Wikipedia competitor Knol has just updated its search functionality (yeah, you’d think that’s one area Google would have covered off right from the start). While the full set of Google keywords isn’t yet supported, you can now do searches for exact phrases and OR options, select which parts of a given article to search through, and sort results on a variety of parameters. [Knol via Google Operating System]
Apple releases their second iPhone 2.0 software update through iTunes today. The release notes only say it includes only “bug fixes” (any fixes at this point are welcome, but faster typing and better connectivity are the high hopes), and AppleInsider reports no new settings appear on your phone. If you install it, be prepared for it to undo your jailbreak. [via]
If you’ve tried to leave a comment here over the past couple of days, you’ve probably encountered a whole bunch of issues. Our apologies: there’s some problems with the back-end system here at the moment, but our technical team is working to get them fixed as quickly as possible. Should all be fixed now.
Firefox only (Windows/Mac/Linux): The AutoPager Firefox extension automatically loads the next page of a site inline when you reach the end of the current page for infinite scrolling of content. By default AutoPager works with a ton of sites, including the New York Times, Digg, and, of course, Google. At first blush AutoPager is a little difficult to understand, but just set it as Always Enabled by clicking the AE link on supported sites and it’ll take care of the rest. If you want to add your own custom autopaging to unsupported sites, the site wizard feature makes it easy (first pick the Next link, then pick only the content you want loaded (in Lifehacker, for example, the posts). AutoPager is free, works wherever Firefox does. For similar functionality, check out previously mentioned Repagination. (Of course, bear in mind that infinite scrolling could have a nasty impact on your download limits.)
Windows only: Free application Executor is an application launcher very similar in look and feel to Lifehacker reader’s favourite application launcher, Launchy. In fact, after a bit of testing Executor might have just snagged Launchy’s place as the app launcher of choice on my Windows machine. One of the major differences between the two is Executor’s emphasis on keywords. Although it does text search for just about anything, Executor gives priority to user-assigned keywords for launching apps, documents, and folders. What’s more, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to any keyword for quick launches without even invoking Executor. Keyword functionality aside, Executor is also very fast and lightweight, eating just over 10MB of RAM in Task Manager. But that’s not all that makes it great.
Browse any of a number of popular magazines for free—from Macworld and PC World to Cosmopolitan and Men’s Health—at web site Mygazines. The site contains user-uploaded scans of these magazines, and flipping through magazines displayed in Mygazine’s Flash interface is nearly as simple as browsing an actual magazine. It’s sort of like the previously mentioned Zinio on iPhone hack except you don’t need to pretend your browser is an iPhone to use it. You may not want to get too used to Mygazines, though, as Yahoo News reports that publishers are looking for ways to shut it down.
Mygazines [via Yahoo News]The basics of how email works hasn’t changed much since its invention, but even forty years later, there are still tiny features and enhancements that can make dealing with large volumes of email easier. Your email client already provides message attachments, filtering, HTML email, auto-fill contacts, spell-checking, folders or labels, keyboard shortcuts, search, and an advanced spam filter. What else do you need? Well, as people rely on email as a primary means of communication, and everyday users deal with a mounting level of new messages per day, even more advanced features can help all of us keep our inbox under control. In honour of Mozilla Thunderbird 3′s latest alpha release, let’s take a look at some email innovations—some concept, some already available in various clients and plug-ins—that you want in your inbox.
Linux only: MPlayer is a versatile, sturdy media player with an ability to handle nearly as many files as VLC Media Player, but its integration into Firefox leaves a bit to be desired in the interface department. Free browser plug-in Gecko Media Player has looks that integrate nicely into a GNOME desktop, plays anything in the browser that can play in MPlayer, and is simple to install or set up. If you’re an Ubuntu user, you’ve already got a gecko-mediaplayer package available; those on other Linux distros without a package can compile from source. Gecko Media Player is a free download for Linux systems only. geck-mediaplayer [via FOSSwire]
If you’ve ever wanted more control over incoming phone calls at home or at the office, setting up a PBX system could be the solution, and Geek.com’s John Rogers has a tutorial for you. He explains what a PBX is: A PBX or “Private Branch Exchange” is like a miniature phone company/switch in your own office/house. The PBX is responsible for making sure calls are routed properly. Situation: when Joe wants to dial Suzy in the office down the hall or downstairs in the TV room, he just picks up the phone in his room/office and dials a local extension just a few digits long. [...]Also, if Joe has four teenaged kids, instead of answering their calls and acting as the house receptionist, he can just set up a menu that allows callers to dial the person they want and then needs not be disturbed.
Windows only: Free Windows utility Tiny Watcher tattles on your system and what’s been changed on it without having to stay open and use resources in the background. After running a system scan once at installation, Tiny Watcher checks the registry and system folders to see what’s changed since it was last run, as well as offering options to “Remove,” “Disable,” and search the web for information on system processes and common Windows changes. You have to be really cautious, of course, before deleting or disabling things you don’t fully understand, but it’s a great way of checking just when and why that mysterious folder at your hard drive root was created, without digging through logs or keeping a monitor open. Tiny Watcher is a free download for Windows systems only. Tiny Watcher [Donation Coders via gHacks]
