All platforms: Add tasks, set appointments and keep on top of your schedule with Mozilla Sunbird and Lightning, the free calendar managers that function as a stand-alone client or extension to the Thunderbird e-mail program. Version 0.7 of Sunbird/Lightning touts a redesign of the user interface and task-adding dialog, along with user-requested functions like adding tasks in different timezones, more customizable recurring events and an improved “Today” glance panel. Sunbird and Lightning store information in a SQLite format, but can also work with iCal data or Google Calendar through an extension. Both are free downloads and work on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
Sunbird/Lightning [via MozillaZine]Mac OS X only: To-do lists are a great way to keep your mind and projects organized, but messing with your program or web-based list’s features defeats the purpose. Enter TaskPaper, a seriously simple task manager from the developers of the distraction-free word processor Writeroom. TaskPaper, now in a finished 1.0 version, keeps it simple with text-based lists that can be modified by TextEdit or any other editor. The interface keeps the focus on projects, tasks and checking them off, but tabbed windows and context browsing allow for bigger-picture views. TaskPaper is available as a free trial for Mac OS X 10.4 or later, but a licence will set you back $18.95. If you’re looking to get serious with to-do lists, check out Gina’s guide to the art of the doable to-do list, or get even more streamlined with paper lists.
TaskPaper [via 43 Folders]Linux only: Automate frequent tasks and avoid unnecessary program hunting with Nautilus-actions, a free extension that adds file-specific options to the right-click menu. Those with a little script know-how can easily hack together their own automators, but some of the freely available actions include resizing and emailing pictures, file conversion and renaming and even a helpful “shredder”—the kind that erases and overwrites a file 10 times to make it unrecoverable.
Mac OS X only: Freeware flash card application Genius helps you memorise information by testing your knowledge using what it calls a “spaced repetition” method, which adjusts how often a card is repeated based on your performance over time. The application has a strong following, meaning you can download tonnes of user-submitted flash card sets covering everything from language to marine biology. Genius is freeware, Mac OS X only. If you plan on making your own flash cards for Genius, be sure you read about how to make effective flash cards first.
GeniusWindows only: The recently released Winamp 5.5 brings a new interface, album art, remote music sharing, and more to the classic media player—meaning it’s come a long way since the heyday of Napster. New Winamp features you may be unaware of and impressed by include:Winamp Remote: Stream your music over the internet through your browser and to game consoles, including the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360. Syncing with iPods and other portable media devices: Winamp can (and has been able to for a while) sync your music to iPods and almost any portable media device you can throw at it, and the new version syncs album art, as well. Winamp Toolbar: Control your music playback from the comfort of your browser, similar to previously mentioned FoxyTunes. Auto-Tag files: Winamps Auto-Tagger automatically updates your music metadata.
It’s no surprise that Winamp had such a presence in today’s Media Player Show and Tell. Since, admittedly, I’ve been out of the Winamp game for a while, I’d love to hear what features keep the die-hard Winamp fans coming back for more, so let’s hear your Winamp raves in the comments.
WinampAll platforms: The Opera web browser’s new Link function synchronises users’ bookmarks, “Speed Dials” sites and customises toolbars across desktop and mobile browsers. The del.icio.us-like function is built into the just-released betas of Opera 9.5 for the desktop and Opera Mini 4, but users of the non-Java Opera Mobile—or any browser, for that matter—can head to link.opera.com to store their favorites. Opera Link requires a free sign-up, while the new Opera betas are a free download for Windows, Mac, Linux and cell phones.
Opera Link [via TechCrunch]All platforms: Pen drive-sized operating system Damn Small Linux—the savior of old PCs, non-booting systems and efficiency-minded users everywhere—released its 4.0 version this week. Notable changes include:New drag-and-drop capabilities in the file manager Improved Wi-Fi support (through ndiswrapper, madwifi, and other modules) New GUI interfaces for changing system preferences, managing printers and other tasks Kernel upgrade to 2.4.31, which means better power management and device support
Damn Small Linux is a free download that fits inside less than 50MB, so it’s easily booted from a CD, a USB drive, or an ancient PC with only 8MB of memory. Hit the link below, choose your download mirror and download the dsl-4.0.iso from inside the “current” folder.
Damn Small Linux [via Download Squad]Windows/Mac/Linux: Open source image editing suite GIMP version 2.4 is now available and features a host of new goodies and long-awaited improvements. Chief among the new features are scaling for all kinds of brushes, intuitive selection and crop tools, a new object alignment guide and advanced tools like perspective cloning and lens distortion filters, but there are many more. GIMP is free, available already in some Linux repositories and for download for Windows and Mac users. For help getting started with GIMP, check out these intermediate video tutorials.
GIMP – Downloads [via OSNews]Mac OS X only: The keyboard shortcut loving Mac owner’s favourite app, Quicksilver, has received a minor update, presumably in preparation for the upcoming release of Leopard. Aside from the version update (it’s B52 from B51, despite what Quicksilver’s homepage says at the time of this writing), the most significant difference I’ve noticed is what appears to be a very slight refresh of the preferences, triggers, catalog, and plug-ins manager (I saw a spinner when I switched tabs that’s new to me). But there actually is a little more.
Windows only: Sharpen your fast and accurate typing skills with freeware application RapidTyping. Type as quickly as possible in an underwater simulation while avoiding mistakes. The fish that swim by while you’re being quizzed may be a little distracting, but you can disable the animation. As each lesson ends, you’ll get statistics charts with characters-per-minute, words-per-minute, and percentage of accuracy, and you’ll be able to move to the next level where you’re faced with tougher challenges (and more sea creatures). RapidTyping is a free download for Windows only.
RapidTyping
