Thursday, October 30, 2008
Design
Artsy Up Your Pictures With Poladroid
11:30PM Lifehacker US Edition | Mac only: Want your candid photos to look a little more retro chic but don’t want to spend a fortune tracking down whats left of the world’s Polaroid film stock and lug the signature boxy, plastic cameras around? Then try Poladroid, a seemingly pointless but actually useful — and really fun — application. More »
Work
Use A Mind Map To Organise Your Week
11:00PM Kevin Purdy | For freelancers or anyone juggling multiple tasks—not necessarily multiple projects—Raj Dash at the FreelanceSwitch blog recommends using mind-mapping software to create a weekly organizational planner that can be crafted to fit your exact needs. In his case, that’s a Sunday-to-Saturday diagram, with each day stacked with coloured tasks (green for billable work, pink for research for another task, etc.) and each day exported to a spreadsheet to total up the day’s billables and work output. Raj’s example is do-able with most mind-mapping (or design) programs, including the multi-platform, no-cost FreeMind, and makes what you’re doing and what you’ve done a visual affair. Got your own task-scheduling map to share? Post it in the comments. Managing Multiple Freelance Gigs With Mind Maps [FreelanceSwitch] More »
Organise
Read It Later Integrates With Google Reader, Non-Firefox Browsers
10:30PM Kevin Purdy | Windows/Mac/Linux (Firefox): Previously featured bookmarking extension Read It Later has added a host of new features in a recent update, including a couple that open up the service to non-Firefox browsers. The most obvious features are a check-to-save tool that adds the add-on’s signature checkmarks to Google Reader items, as well as an option to use the pageview-counting PostRank service to rank your to-read items. Those using non-Firefox browsers can now get an account and bookmarklets from the Read It Later List site, and enable an option in the Firefox add-on to have everything you mark for later reading saved as an offline copy. Wondering what all the fuss is about a seemingly simple bookmark tool? Check out Gina’s screenshot tour of the award-winning add-on. Read It Later is a free download and works wherever Firefox does. Read It Later [Mozilla Add-Ons] More »
Work
AppTimer Measures Program Start-Ups To The Millisecond
10:00PM Kevin Purdy | Windows only: You’re nearly at wit’s end with certain laggy, hard-drive-crushing apps on your system and ready to make a switch—but are they really any faster at starting up and getting going than the alternatives? AppTimer, a stand-alone utility, runs your programs for you and measures how long it takes them to get to an idle, ready state. It’s a relatively simple program, but it puts out seriously detailed logs, and you can change the means by which you measure a program’s ready state, how many times to run it, and how to close it. In other words, it looks like I’ll be using a new tool come the next round of browser speed tests. AppTimer is a free download for Windows systems only. AppTimer [PassMark Software via the How-To Geek] More »
Organise
3:20PM Angus Kidman | Dear Lifehacker, I have a question that I’d like to ask other Lifehackers: how are people dealing with overseas trips as the Australian dollar continues its steady decline? I purchased flights to the US in April for an insanely good price ($1400 return, inclusive of all taxes) during Virgin Australia’s sale launch. However my trip isn’t until late January 2009 and I’ll be there until early March. I was planning a fairly grandiose tour of the US via train and enjoying a number of activities but as the AU dollar has continued to shrink so has my ability to do everything I initially wanted. I was sensible enough not to pay for things I didn’t have the cash for so I’m not out of pocket just yet. So the question I want to ask Lifehackers is what tricks and tips have they got to make sure a vacation period can still be fun whilst at the same time allowing for considerable cost hikes as the AU dollar continues to tank. Thanks, Daniel
While I’m sure our readers will offer plenty of other hints, I reckon the secret to getting the most from an overseas holiday is to book early and pay for stuff in advance whenever possible. Accommodation and travel booked ahead of time is often cheaper than last-minute; attractions and tours aren’t always, but it’s rare if not impossible to come up with something that’s more expensive because you book it in advance. More to the point, if you book something and pay for it on the spot (put it on your credit card and then pay it off immediately), then you know you can afford it at that moment, and you don’t have to worry about it selling out. The cost might go up or down depending on what the exchange rate does, but if you figure it’s reasonable value, then what difference does it really make? But that’s enough from me: let’s hear what others have to say in the comments. More »
Dear Lifehacker: How Can You Budget For Overseas Travel As The Dollar Declines?
3:20PM Angus Kidman | Dear Lifehacker, I have a question that I’d like to ask other Lifehackers: how are people dealing with overseas trips as the Australian dollar continues its steady decline? I purchased flights to the US in April for an insanely good price ($1400 return, inclusive of all taxes) during Virgin Australia’s sale launch. However my trip isn’t until late January 2009 and I’ll be there until early March. I was planning a fairly grandiose tour of the US via train and enjoying a number of activities but as the AU dollar has continued to shrink so has my ability to do everything I initially wanted. I was sensible enough not to pay for things I didn’t have the cash for so I’m not out of pocket just yet. So the question I want to ask Lifehackers is what tricks and tips have they got to make sure a vacation period can still be fun whilst at the same time allowing for considerable cost hikes as the AU dollar continues to tank. Thanks, Daniel
While I’m sure our readers will offer plenty of other hints, I reckon the secret to getting the most from an overseas holiday is to book early and pay for stuff in advance whenever possible. Accommodation and travel booked ahead of time is often cheaper than last-minute; attractions and tours aren’t always, but it’s rare if not impossible to come up with something that’s more expensive because you book it in advance. More to the point, if you book something and pay for it on the spot (put it on your credit card and then pay it off immediately), then you know you can afford it at that moment, and you don’t have to worry about it selling out. The cost might go up or down depending on what the exchange rate does, but if you figure it’s reasonable value, then what difference does it really make? But that’s enough from me: let’s hear what others have to say in the comments. More »
Work
Email To Embed Office And PDF Documents With Docstoc
2:58PM Lifehacker US Edition | Now you can create embeddable online versions of documents just by clicking send if you have an account with Docstoc. The service allows you to share Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat PDF files through a browser using Flash, which can also be embedded on third-party web sites. Sign up for a free DocStoc account with your email, use that address to send one or more files as attachments to uploads@docstoc.com, and you’ll get an email back with links to your documents online which you can forward or embed. Most importantly, it works with anything that can send an email — you could even forward an attached document from your mobile device. Docstoc [via TechCrunch] More »
Communicate
1:45PM Angus Kidman | Apple’s iTunes Store has played an important role in promoting the idea of applications for smart phones, and now its market rivals are following suit. BlackBerry developer RIM has outlined plans for the BlackBerry Application Storefront, which will go live in March 2009. While many of the applications are likely to be paid-for affairs (something that can also be said of iTunes apps), RIM is allowing developers to set their own prices, so free applications should also appear with a bit of luck. As someone who’s a much bigger fan of the BlackBerry Bold than any touch screen phone, I’m really hoping to see some cool new programs when this finally goes live. What would you like to see available on the BlackBerry? More »
RIM Readies Blackberry App Store
1:45PM Angus Kidman | Apple’s iTunes Store has played an important role in promoting the idea of applications for smart phones, and now its market rivals are following suit. BlackBerry developer RIM has outlined plans for the BlackBerry Application Storefront, which will go live in March 2009. While many of the applications are likely to be paid-for affairs (something that can also be said of iTunes apps), RIM is allowing developers to set their own prices, so free applications should also appear with a bit of luck. As someone who’s a much bigger fan of the BlackBerry Bold than any touch screen phone, I’m really hoping to see some cool new programs when this finally goes live. What would you like to see available on the BlackBerry? More »
Communicate
12:00PM Angus Kidman | Most 3G broadband options we discuss here at Lifehacker are designed to be used on a single PC and on the road, but at current prices 3G can also make sense as your main broadband connection, presuming you have a strong 3G signal in your home or office. 3 wants to tap into that market with its freshly-launched $129 3G Wi-Fi Router, which can connect up to 4 users wirelessly to 3’s 3G service once a 3G key is plugged in. Telstra has a similar offering, but 3’s relatively cheap connection plans make it a possible contender if you’re in the 3 reception area. Would you be tempted by a 3G router, or would you prefer to stick with a wired link? Tell all in the comments.
Three
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3 Joins 3G Wireless Router Market
12:00PM Angus Kidman | Most 3G broadband options we discuss here at Lifehacker are designed to be used on a single PC and on the road, but at current prices 3G can also make sense as your main broadband connection, presuming you have a strong 3G signal in your home or office. 3 wants to tap into that market with its freshly-launched $129 3G Wi-Fi Router, which can connect up to 4 users wirelessly to 3’s 3G service once a 3G key is plugged in. Telstra has a similar offering, but 3’s relatively cheap connection plans make it a possible contender if you’re in the 3 reception area. Would you be tempted by a 3G router, or would you prefer to stick with a wired link? Tell all in the comments.
Three
More »
Communicate
10:37AM Angus Kidman | Following the recent issues with its domain name (now fortunately resolved), annual Aussie Linux get-together linux.conf.au has extended its early-bird registration period to November 10. If you can’t make it to Hobart in January, don’t stress — Lifehacker AU will be there, gathering Linux tips and ideas.
linux.conf.au
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Linux.conf.au Extends Registration Dates
10:37AM Angus Kidman | Following the recent issues with its domain name (now fortunately resolved), annual Aussie Linux get-together linux.conf.au has extended its early-bird registration period to November 10. If you can’t make it to Hobart in January, don’t stress — Lifehacker AU will be there, gathering Linux tips and ideas.
linux.conf.au
More »
Work
