Saturday, February 21, 2009
Communicate
8:59PM Angus Kidman | While Australian users of Twitter can send updates via SMS if they’re prepared to pay for a text to the UK, there’s currently no option for receiving updates the same way. However, in a post discussing a recent deal allowing Twitter updates to be by Canadian users, Twitter also promises that Australia is in the running for a similar service:
Stay tuned for more support all over the globe as we make progress. And fear not Australia–you’re on the list too!
How long it will take is anyone’s guess. No doubt the big issue is that Aussies receive texts at no charge, unlike US plans where the recipient typically pays (so if a deal does go ahead, it will almost certainly be single-network and very possibly tied to a particular plan).
For Whom The Bell Texts [Twitter Blog]
More »
Twitter Promises Two-Way SMS For Australia
8:59PM Angus Kidman | While Australian users of Twitter can send updates via SMS if they’re prepared to pay for a text to the UK, there’s currently no option for receiving updates the same way. However, in a post discussing a recent deal allowing Twitter updates to be by Canadian users, Twitter also promises that Australia is in the running for a similar service:
Stay tuned for more support all over the globe as we make progress. And fear not Australia–you’re on the list too!
How long it will take is anyone’s guess. No doubt the big issue is that Aussies receive texts at no charge, unlike US plans where the recipient typically pays (so if a deal does go ahead, it will almost certainly be single-network and very possibly tied to a particular plan).
For Whom The Bell Texts [Twitter Blog]
More » 
Fix
Freeraser Securely Deletes Your Files On The Go
7:00AM Jason Fitzpatrick | Windows only: Freeraser takes a novel and portable approach to secure file deletion by placing a virtual bio-hazard barrel on your desktop. All files dropped in the barrel are sentenced to random, secure overwriting. Many secure deletion programs integrate into the system shell, but Freeraser is free from the entanglements of installation and administrative privilege. After running the stand alone application, a temporary trash can is placed on your desktop. You can adjust its size and transparency in the options menu—I have it set to one of the larger sizes in the screenshot. Files dragged into it are deleted, and their location on the disk securely erased. You can specify three levels of secure deletion: fast will do one overwrite of random data, forced will do three rounds of DoD approved overwrites, and Ultimate will do a 35 round Gutmann Pass—which if you read our guide to secure file deletion you know is some serious, if reassuring, overkill. Freeraser is freeware, Windows only. Freeraser [via The Portable Freeware Collection] More »
Design
The Ultimate City Desktop
4:00AM Lifehacker US Edition | Reader clubikimakuri’s desktop combines a dark theme with a beautiful fractal wallpaper and functional desktop widgets for a striking desktop effect. More »
Work
Kill Tools Terminates Windows Processes With Ease
2:00AM Lifehacker US Edition | Exclusive Lifehacker download for Windows only: Kill Tools terminates running processes from the keyboard with a set of hotkey-triggered kill functions that can kill windows by name, title, or more. Once launched, Kill Tools can be triggered by using one of the built-in shortcut keys—you can kill the current window, everything but the current window, close other windows similar to the current window (useful for closing everything but the active Explorer window), or invoke a pop up a dialog that will let you kill windows by name or title—plenty of control for controlling running processes. More »
Fix
Belt-Clip Your Mobile Phone For Better Battery Life
1:10AM Kevin Purdy | Former Valleywag consigliere Paul Boutin offers up a handful of great, low-tech fixes to your high-tech gadget issues. One of them involves getting your mobile phone away from your warm pocket to boost its battery life. If you’re planning to be away from your charger for a stretch, Boutin finds evidence that keeping your phone on a belt clip, away from your body oven, or in a hotel fridge overnight, can actually get you a bit more juice. “Cellphone batteries do indeed last a bit longer if kept cool,” says Isidor Buchanan, editor of the Battery University Web site. The 98.6-degree body heat of a human, transmitted through a cloth pocket to a mobile phone inside, is enough to speed up chemical processes inside the phone’s battery. That makes it run down faster. To keep the phone cooler, carry it in your purse or on your belt. More »
Organise
