RSS Feeds
|
US Edition
Babblebaby
|
Defamer
|
Gizmodo
|
Kotaku
|
Lifehacker
The key to staying productive is to efficiently manage your energy, not your time, says author Tony Schwartz. By removing distractions and focusing on our physical well-being, we'd get a lot more work done and we'd feel better about it too.
Windows only: Sick of accidentally hitting the Caps Lock key when you never intentionally use it? You can disable the Caps Lock key entirely with a free Windows utility called SharpKeys. The How-To Geek explains that instead of having to edit the Windows registry yourself to disable and remap keys, SharpKeys does it for you with a convenient interface. You can even add key combinations that map to functions and applications, like Print or your default email client. SharpKeys is a free download for Windows XP and Vista.
This week's best posts include:
If you liked the previously mentioned DIY IKEA charging station but wanted a more energy-efficient solution, another user at howto web site Instructables details how to add individual switches to each charging unit. When you're done, you've got a clean, self-contained charging station that saves energy by selectively switching on and off each charger so you're only sucking up power when you need it. For a quick glimpse at the original, check out the video after the jump.
Your spreadsheet contains a huge table of data you want to slice and dice on the fly? You need the AutoFilter feature, which works like a database query builder—or for the non-bitheads, iTunes Smart Playlists. Select the criteria of the data you want to see, and AutoFilter will show you only the rows that match without actually changing any of the data (like sorting it would). The Productivity Portfolio weblog explains in detail, with helpful screenshots.
Telephony geek Brian Aker controls his entire home phone system using the free, open source Asterisk software which does some crazy stuff, like IM's him whenever the phone rings, sets custom MP3 hold music, and—my favorite—forwards annoying telemarketing calls to the very loud sound of monkeys screaming. Hit the play button to hear Brian's recent five minute presentation at the Ignite Seattle tech event. Thanks, Brady!
It's a phone, it's an iPod, it surfs the web, and it finds the closest restaurant serving fried calamari. If you hack it, you can install killer third-party applications. But in addition to all of that, the iPhone is also a killer remote control. You could spend hundreds of dollars on a multimedia remote with a touchscreen interface, glorious album art, and all of the fixings, but if you've already got an iPhone, you really don't need to. Today I'll show you a number of ways you can use the iPhone to remote control everything from iTunes playback to your Windows or Mac desktops.
Writing things down helps you remember them, claims The Positivity Blog. That's because our memories alone are usually not dependable, and external systems are needed. Write things down so that you can think clearly, define your goals, track your... Read More »
Sleeping and flying to some people might seem to be an impossible feat; however, search directory Mahalo's got a good list of tips that can help you grab those elusive z's. For example: booking the right seat plays a huge part in getting your best sleep, as does avoiding alcohol (yes, really) and wearing loose clothing. I've found that wearing headphones with comforting music and bringing my own snuggly to cuddle with does the trick...that and reading anything by Tom Clancy (kidding, kind of). What's your secret sleep tip on a plane? Let's hear your ideas in the comments.
Runner Baron VC says things he learned while running apply to life in general:
Focus on Small Victories, the War will Follow: If you're going to stick to a program you need to know your limits. The classic "good pain" versus "bad pain" is one. If you don't listen to your body right (and that includes being too lenient) you make mistakes. [...]
