Microsoft today released a new version of Windows Live Writer 1.0 (beta 2). This WYSIWYG blog editing software is a vast improvement over the previous version and a must-have upgrade.
There's an inline spell checker, support for HTML tables and a reminder option that will make sure you don't post stuff without adding appropriate titles and categories / tags.
Two-way update and sync between your desktop and the web is the ultimate golden ticket; it gives you offline access, local backup and the rich desktop experience while dealing with data stored in the cloud. With GCalDaemon running, you can view and update your Google Calendar from any desktop calendar program - even if you're offline. Additionally, you can access your Gmail contacts list in a desktop email program or address book like Thunderbird or Outlook Express.
Get the lowdown on how to set up GCalDaemon after the jump.
java -version at the command line. No Java? Download it from here and install it. Then grab GCalDaemon and run its installer.
C:\Program Files\GCalDaemon\conf\gcal-daemon.cfg by default.
Note that when I say "two-way sync," I mean you can update your calendar in Rainlendar/iCal/Sunbird and the changes get reflected online in Google Calendar within 10 minutes tops. Also, you can set up GCalDaemon to work in "sometimes-offline" mode for laptops that aren't permanently connected to the internets. Your data is available when you're offline, but you can still make changes that will sync when you get back on. Also, you can sync multiple calendars at once with GCalDaemon.
Wait...That's not all GCalDaemon can do.
For those of you who POP your mail into Thunderbird, Outlook Express, or any other desktop mail client, you can access your Gmail Contact list within those programs' address books, too. GCalDaemon runs a local LDAP server (central contact store) which most modern address book apps can subscribe to (similar to IMAP for email messages.)
Again, GCalDaemon's own detailed, screenshot-laden documentation for setting up LDAP is available.But wait! That's not all!
GCalDaemon has more extra-crazy features up its sleeve which are beyond the scope of this article, like remote-controlling your computer via Gmail and converting RSS feeds into iCal so you can read your news in your calendar application. Neat!
In the mood for some custom fortune cookie fun? unFortunate - Cookies Not Included. is a fun, new fortune cookie generator.
Make them fortunate "Wherever you go, there you are" or unfortunate "Bad luck and misfortune will plague your pathetic life for all eternity" and then you can even print them out or send to a friend via email.
Technorati tags: Fun
Wise Bread: 10 Frugalfying Ways to $1 million. Easy lifestyle changes you can make that, invested over time, will get you to that magic number.
FreelanceSwitch: How to Write a Popular Post. If you’re a blog writer, it’s good to be able to write a post that really takes off.
Lifehack: Disconnected Productivity - 9-step Program to Cure Email Addiction. I have to confess to email addiction. I’m using this program that I outlined to cure myself.
Quicksilver, the Swiss Army Knife of productivity apps, can do just about everything except file your taxes and bake you warm delicious cookies.
Lifehacker’s Adam Pash calls it the “the best productivity application on the market today,” aptly summarizing its power:
Sounds fantastic, but there’s gotta be a catch, right?
Yep, it’s Mac only.
Before you start shaking your fists and hurling rocks through Steve Jobs’ window, check out Scott Hanselman’s list of Quicksilver-like launchers for the PC. Scott’s done a great job summarizing each app with a review and shot. His list includes:
While none of these apps perfectly replicate all of Quicksilver’s functions, Scott recommends Colibri for the closest experience.
In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages.
So, Blackle is here. Having said that, I am switching to my favorite color for this blog - Black it is. Read more on this.
CSSType is an excellent tool to visually check the text as it will be displayed in the browser. The web safe typography on screen for pixel perfectionists...
InstantStorm is a Windows freeware tool for creating Flash based screensavers with many advanced features. All you have to do is to choose a SWF file, set screensaver parameters and compile an executable installer. All 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows are fully supported, including Windows 95 and Windows Vista. And the best of all—there are no nag screens or other annoying stuff. Unlike many other tools, InstantStorm allows you to fully customize your screensaver's about box, installer and uninstaller including all texts.
Recuva (pronounced "recover") is a freeware Windows utility to restore files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer.
This includes files emptied from the Recycle bin as well as images and other files that have been deleted by user error from digital camera memory cards or MP3 players. It will even bring back files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses!
| Position | Blog | Subscribers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engadget | 601.000 |
| 2 | Boing Boing | 416.000 |
| 3 | TechCrunch | 377.000 |
| 4 | Simply Recipes | 221.000 |
| 5 | Xataka | 149.000 |
| 6 | Interesting Thing of the Day | 127.000 |
| 7 | Mashable | 110.000 |
| 8 | 43 Folders | 108.000 |
| 9 | Dumb Little Man | 74.600 |
| 10 | 37 Signals | 68.063 |
| 11 | John Battele’s Search Blog | 67.893 |
| 12 | Freakonomics | 66.574 |
| 13 | Daily Kos | 64.214 |
| 14 | Coding Horror | 53.142 |
| 15 | Crunch Gear | 51.892 |
| 16 | Micro Persuasion | 41.750 |
| 17 | Church of the Customer | 41.081 |
| 18 | Life Hack | 35.632 |
| 19 | Microsiervos | 35.571 |
| 20 | Genbeta | 34.678 |
| 21 | Coolest Gadgets | 28.984 |
| 22 | Black Rim Glasses | 25.187 |
| 23 | Watch Search Engine | 23.347 |
| 24 | ProBlogger | 22.517 |
| 25 | Get Rich Slowly | 21.947 |
A Shortcut to Google talk on your desktop will have a target address like this :
"d:\installs\Google Talk\googletalk.exe"
All you got to do is make another shortcut and make the target as
"d:\installs\Google Talk\googletalk.exe” /nomutex
The /nomutex is the key here and now run multiple googletalk.
To keep yourself healthy at work, be sure to:
If you're already experiencing problems with RSI, don't take it lightly. Take active measures to curtail the problem, and if the problems persist, don't hesitate to see a doctor. If the mouse is your biggest problem, consider switching hands and mouse goofy.
Beyond the keyboard and mouse, I try to keep my desktop as clear as possible with the exception of one pen, one legal notepad, and a digital timer. Your needs, of course, may vary, but as far as organization and usability goes, I try to operate under one simple idea:
It's best to keep the things you use a lot within reach at all times, the things you use regularly within striking distance, and the things you use rarely out of the way.
With that maxim in mind, desktop organization is a fairly personal topic, since we all organize our worlds in different ways and use entirely different tools to get things done. However, we have looked at this territory a couple of times if you're interested in other takes:
The Google Personalized Homepage is now iGoogle, and it's sporting new features to boot.
The big one is Gadget Maker, which lets users create and share custom content using one of seven available templates, including: Daily Me, best described as Twitter in module form; Framed Photo, for sharing a batch of photos with friends and family; and Personal List, which could be a favorites list, to-do list or whatever. In addition, the gadget directory now includes a My Community area for sharing these Gadget Maker gadgets with other users. So after you whip together, say, your Framed Photo gadget, you send it to grandma, Uncle Bill and anyone else in your circle (specifically, anyone in your Gmail contacts list), and then they can add to their own iGoogle. Thus your photos become their photos (for viewing, that is).
iGoogle has also gone global, making its previously U.S.-only themes available worldwide and making iGoogle itself available in 26 languages for 40-plus countries.
