PR guy Steve Rubel uses his Gmail account to interact with all his favourite social networking apps (like Twitter and Facebook.) Using email settings and some feed trickery, Rubel doesn't have to go to those sites to get or post updates—it all happens in his inbox. The other day we posted about Fuser, the single inbox for your social networking messages, but Rubel's method uses the inbox you're already in every day to manage your online presence.
Turn Gmail (or any E-mail Account) Into a Social Network Hub

In an attempt to catch up to Google, Microsoft will be rolling out improvements to their Live.com web search engine over the coming weeks.

I've been saving this one for "unproductivity Friday" but I've been squeeing about it for a couple of days now.... We're finally getting the game which will put Nintendo's Wii to the use which all Star Wars nerds have been dreaming off since the console came out... Lightsaber duelling.
I dont' buy a lot of games, and I certainly don't buy games "sight unseen" but I'll be making an exception for this one. :)

LucasArts unleashes the Force on the Wii

Sure we love our Tab Mix Plus, but there's a ton of tabbed browsing features baked right into Firefox that don't necessitate the extra baggage of an extension. Power web surfers need close control of the dozens of tabs they chew through in a day. From extensive keyboard shortcuts to configuration tweaks to mouse manipulation, today we've got our top 10 favourite Firefox extension-free tabbed browsing tips.

Windows/Mac/Linux (Firefox): Map addresses, get directions, manage locations, and preview Google Earth KML files in your sidebar with Firefox extension Mini Map Sidebar. When you're browsing the web and you stumble onto an address you'd like mapped, just pull up the Mini Map Sidebar by clicking the status bar icon, then just drag and drop the address into the sidebar drop box. If you do a lot of mapping with either Google Maps or Yahoo Maps (it works with both), this is a nice little extension. Mini Map Sidebar is a free download, works wherever Firefox does.
Mini Map Sidebar

You thought your rig with Vista, XP and Linux was badass? Try installing 145 operating systems on one PC.

Linux users: You can embed a screensaver as the destop background with two terminal commands. Tech blogger Prashanth Ellina demonstrates how you can create a "video wallpaper" by temporarily removing the nautilus desktop and replacing it with an xscreensaver. An embedded screensaver is light on memory usage, but won't play nice with Compiz Fusion.

Find and download high quality album artwork for your music library with web application iTunes Album Art Grabber. How high quality? you ask. We're talking up to 1425x1425 pixels—so huge. The site is still working out some kinks, but—provided the bugs are taken care of—anyone who's spent time agonising over a music library complete with full album artwork will find the high resolutions and simple, pop-up free web site an excellent resource for adding super high quality artwork to their digital music. Share where you grab high quality album art for your tunes in the comments.

Josh's iTunes Album Art Grabber

Keep your pockets lined with the AARP's guide to avoiding money traps. Not just for the 50+ set, these tips can be applied broadly to all working folk. The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) simplifies commonly misunderstand financial concepts like the 401K match, variable annuities, investment fees and home equity.
AU - some of this is US-centric, like the 401K stuff, but there are other more general pieces of advice suitable for Aussies too. Avoid These Money Traps