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Google Docs Adds Fullscreen Mode
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 10:00 PM on July 18, 2008
Google Documents has added a fullscreen editing mode to the "View" menu on individual documents, a convenience previously available only through a Greasemonkey script. Combined with Firefox 3's serious fullscreen capabilities and GDocs' fixed-width page view, it lets you turn the online office suite into a no-distraction writing environment—provided you can resist popping open another tab with Ctrl+T. It's worth noting that Zoho Writer has a similar "Maximize editor" function, but it's not as severe as Google Docs' nothing-but-white implementation.
Do-it-yourselfer leevonk wanted a simple way to carry and amplify an iPod—and did it by constructing an iPod "boombox" out of Tupperware, old computer speakers, and styrofoam. In short you need small computer speakers which are either battery-powered, or don't require a wall outlet. Fit them into dollar store Tupperware (which has all the right holes cut out with a dremel) and drop the iPod in. Styrofoam keeps the whole kit snug. The end result isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it's sure to be a conversation starter at the picnic or beach.
Microsoft will begun pushing out version 4.0 of Windows Search, the OS-wide indexing system for Vista and XP users, via 
Most everyone seems to love the iPhone, but the same can't be said for Apple's MobileMe service, which has performed so badly at launch that the company even issued an uncharacteristic apology. If MobileMe is driving you nuts, or you just don't fancy the annual service fee, blogger Beau Giles 
Lots of publishers and developers are pushing their content onto the iPhone, but not everything necessarily takes advantage of the format. Travel publisher Lonely Planet's audio phrasebooks are a logical inclusion however, including both written and pronounced versions of common phrases in 10 different language versions. The phrasebooks are selling for $12.99, but as an Olympic promotion you can download the Mandarin version for free until August 24. [
Free, open-source boot disk utility Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) automatically and completely deletes the content of every hard disk it can find on your computer when you run it. Sure you can fire up DBAN for emergency system wipes next time the feds come knocking on your door, but it's also a useful tool for protecting yourself from identity theft when you're prepping your computer for recycling or sale. The bootable DBAN can run from CDs, DVDs, thumb drives, and floppy disks. If you're just looking to securely delete single files and folders (as opposed to entire drives), check out 
At some point, anyone who's interested in personal growth and productivity has to ask him or herself: What the heck am I doing with my life, anyway? It's a big scary question, one that's easily avoided by checking out the coolest new Firefox extension instead. But if you've decided to tackle the beast, reader William Mize recommends a free ebook entitled What Do You Want to Do With Your Life?. The 136 page PDF is a workbook for creating your life plan. Mize says:
Windows only: If working with minimized thumbnails sounds more convenient than multiple Alt+Tab clicks or taskbar hunting, Microsoft's Scalable Fabric tool might be right up your alley. The system tray utility lets you set a kind of force field around your desktop—whether that's one screen or two—and any windows you drag to an area outside your chosen area get minimized to thumbnails on the screen's edge. That can be pretty convenient if you're rocking two monitors or have a good deal of screen space. The app allows for colour customisations to tell your work apart at a glance, and while the sound and animations are a little dated, the basic concept seems to work solidly. Scalable Fabric is a free download for Windows systems only, and requires the .NET 1.1 framework.
Alex at the Google Operating System blog 
YouTorrent, the BitTorrent search aggregator with a 
