Windows only: Add any program on your system to your Windows Control Panel with YourCPL, a two-file utility that lets you put some of your more handy system tools into one place. YourCPL is actually two files, a text configuration file and a system-tweak you place in your "System" or "System32" folder. Add the paths to your programs in the configuration text, and they'll show up in Control Panel (but only on the first screen if you're using "Classic View.") YourCPL obviously requires a little digging to get in place, but you won't have to worry about borking your registry to do so—if you mess up, no harm, no foul. YourCPL is a free download and works with all versions of Windows.

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One of the best things about KDE 4, the newest release of the mainstream Linux desktop manager, is something it doesn't do—force you to adapt to its way of running a computer desktop. Sure, the desktop environment boasts new 3-D effects, a polished theme, and improved functionality. But what KDE 4 does best is give users the ability to almost completely re-design their desktops, putting their programs, icons, and useful widgets wherever they see fit, on as many desktops as they want, to create their ideal workspace. I spent some time exploring the features of the less-than-week-old system, the results of which are after the jump.

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Windows tip: An Ask MetaFilter thread has a simple-yet-excellent tip for setting up quick methods for opening files based on file type by adding custom menu items to the right-click context menu. Say, for example, that you want your JPG images to open with the Windows image viewer by default, but that you want quicker access to editing the file than what you get through the Right-click -> Open with menu. Here's what you can do: Open the Control Panel, then go to Folder Options -> File Types, choose the file type you want to create a custom command for (like JPG), then click the Advanced button. Name your action (for example, "Edit with Paint.NET"), choose the application you want to open the file with when you perform this action, and click OK. Next time you right-click on this file-type, your action will be easily accessible near the top of your context menu.