Google doesn’t offer a drag-and-drop method of reordering the tabs on your personalised iGoogle page, but you can manually move the tabs using an XML backup tool provided on the settings page. The basic trick should be pretty simple to anyone who’s edited web code before, but Google Blogoscoped has a thorough explanation of what you’re looking for and what to move. It’s also worth a spin just to grab a copy of your iGoogle XML data, which you can restore at any time if that new experimental gadget takes over your whole page (which has been known to happen on occasion). Tip: How to Reorder iGoogle Tabs [Google Blogoscoped]
The Google Operating System points out an overlooked but seriously worthy iGoogle gadget that can display entire up-to-date web pages inside a tab on Google’s start page service. You might have seen this trick deep inside our Show Us Your iGoogle gallery, but it deserves its own spotlight here. You’ll want to create a new tab for each web page you want to embed, and make sure that tab is selected before clicking the “Add to Google” link on creator Michael Bolin’s page. Best of all, dynamic web apps seem to work fine inside the tabs, giving you access to Gmail, Google Reader, Remember the Milk, or any other of your favourites, right from your point of browser entry. Got your own embedded page timesavers on your start page, Google or otherwise? Share your sites in the comments. Your Page Here (an iGoogle gadget) [via Google Operating System]
As seen in our iGoogle show and tell in June, personalised Google start pages can be both useful and highly customised. The folks at Google have opened the door to far more customisation and choice with the launch of an iGoogle Themes directory, as well as a guide for designing your own theme. A few new themes are already present in the directory, but many more are likely just around the corner. Those unsatisfied with the picks so far can always check out the iGoogle Skins gadget for a little DIY theming.
iGoogle Themes Directory [via Google Blogoscoped]At this point in the Personalised Homepage Wars of 2007, you’ve probably compared the major contenders and either chosen a victor or gone an alternate route. Yet semi-recent newcomer Symbaloo is bravely charging into the fray, and it’s got a bit of ammunition to use. Most noticeably, the layout is designed for maximum customisation, letting you arrange links to searches, RSS feeds and external sites however you’d like. Like iGoogle and others, you can create multiple desktop spaces, and each default box gives you a seemingly non-biased choice among search providers. And while not entirely efficient, the “news” desktop’s photo-based spread of top stories is pretty snazzy. Have you stopped even considering a start page switch at this point, or are you still open to suggestions? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments. Thanks Pieter!
SymbalooMulti-platform browser Opera has released v9.50 Alpha which extends its support for BitTorrent by adding a uTorrent compatible Peer Exchange feature. This will hopefully speed up transfers and reduce tracker load I’ll emphasise again that it’s an ALPHA release – and I’m not an alpha girl at all – in fact I’m even a reluctant Beta user – so I’m not going there. Play wisely, and make sure you’re backed up. :) The Windows version is downloadable here. The Linux versions are here.
“With proprietary operating systems increasingly designed to restrict and control the user, with digital ‘restrictions’ management, their users are subjugated even more now than before. If you don’t want chains on you hand and foot, your only escape is to switch to a free operating system.”—Richard Stallman
Search engine Youlicit calculates the popularity of search results based on user votes rather than web site links. Call it a social bookmark tool if you will: search by URL or key phrase, and related sites ranked by Youlicit users appear. To get in on the voting yourself, install a Firefox extension for recommending sites (registration required) almost like StumbleUpon. Even though it’s still in beta, Youlicit did well in initial tests, listing Hackszine.com, 43Folders.com and lifehack.org as Lifehacker’s related sites.
YoulicitGet more mileage out of your stored food with proper storage techniques from Gomestic, a domestic hacks site. For instance, if you store your fruits and vegetables separately, they won’t ripen as fast because they’re not sharing ethylene, a gas that speeds ripening. Oh, and if you use your own packaging (zip lock bags, vacuum sealed) instead of the store packaging for your meat, it will definitely last longer in the freezer – and with less freezer burn. What are your best food storage tips? Let’s hear them in the comments.
How to Store Your Food So It Lasts Longer [Gomestic]DIY web site Instructables details how to make a secret—albeit very small—hiding place for your valuables by installing a fake wall outlet. The execution could use some tweaking (surely the faceplate should be a bit more secure, like this fake outlet designed for the task), but in all it’s a fun idea for hiding your mini valuables. If you’re a fan of the secret hollow book, this might be worth a try.
Your Own Secret Hidden Safe! For Under $2 [Instructables]Microsoft’s Flash competitor Silverlight goes 1.0 today, announces Linux support. Have we got a viable Flash replacement here, or another Microsoft me-too application?
