Windows only: Add-on utility WriteSpace turns Microsoft Word 2007 into a distraction-free writing environment with the push of a button—making productive writing easy. Once installed, switching to distraction-free mode is simple—go to the View tab and click the WriteSpace button to immediately switch into full-screen mode with a slick animated effect. The writing area can be resized by moving your mouse to the left until the divider lights up, and dragging the window to your preferred size. You can always turn Word into a distraction-free editor without additional software, but this utility makes it dead simple. WriteSpace is free and open source, available for Windows only. Thanks, Aaron Parker!
WritespaceGoogle rolled out some changes to the HTML that runs Gmail in the last few days that rendered several of Better Gmail 2‘s features completely busted. (Yes, that’s the technical term). So I just posted a quick fix-it version 0.7.3.1, which includes changes from the very speedy and helpful Arend von Reinersdorff. (Arend is responsible for Better Gmail 2′s most popular features, Folders4Gmail and Hide Spam Count, and I know-because users flip out the moment they stop working. Thanks, Arend.) Sadly I had to remove several scripts which have not yet been updated to work with Gmail’s new markup, namely Add Row Highlights, Hide Chat, and Hide Invites Box. If you’re a CSS jockey willing to take a look at getting those styles working again, many people would be very grateful. Post a comment if you do. In the meantime, download the new fix-it version 0.7.3.1 from Better Gmail 2′s homepage or just by using the “Find Updates” button on Firefox’s Add-on manager. Thanks for your patience with the broken features the last couple of days.
Better Gmail 2 Fixes Now Available [Smarterware]According to Mozilla Links, Firefox 3.1—the next iteration of Firefox that we’ve all be waiting for—will be released as Firefox 3.5 instead. Why? The version bump aims to reflect more accurately the many changes introduced since the release of Firefox 3.0, the latest major release, last summer. These includes several changes to tabbed browsing, significant improvements to web standards compatibility, a deeply enhanced JavaScript engine, and several new privacy related [features]including an all new private mode that allows users to clear all their browsing activities at the end of a session.
Mozilla’s currently got a third beta in the works, and it will retain the 3.1 version number when it’s released; a fourth beta will be released before we get to see the official Firefox 3.5. [Mozilla Links]
Windows only: Free application DeskHedron brings multiple virtual desktops to Windows, complete with an impressive spinning 3D animation that switches between your desktops. Using the application is simple enough—just run the executable, use the tray icon to add or remove up to 9 virtual desktops, and then switch between the desktops with a hotkey. The default setup only has two virtual desktops, so switching between them looks like flipping the desktop over—add more virtual desktops and it looks a little like Compiz Fusion’s cube desktop. The software is still very basic, only works with a single monitor, and has no options to move windows from one cube to another—but unlike the similar, no longer free Yod’m 3D, this application is open source, and ready for any enterprising coder to improve it. DeskHedron is free and open source, available for Windows only. Readers looking for a more full-featured solution should check out the Vista Virtual Desktop Manager.
DeskHedron [via Shell Extension City]Web development and design site Nettuts goes in-depth with Texter, our very own text replacement application, detailing how Texter can streamline your email replies and coding to save bundles of time. The Nuttuts tutorial takes a great in-depth look at some advanced Texter usage and scripting, focusing on how Texter can save time with repetitive email and coding. Whether or not you’re a developer, the video above (and accompanying post) offer a great look at how you might be able to take advantage of Texter (or some other text replacement app) to save oodles of time at your keyboard. Got any advanced Texter tricks of your own? Share them in the comments.
How I Can Code Twice As Fast As You [Nettuts]
