Going with the flow via Google TiSP beta?
I couldn’t believe my eyes this morning when I went to Google and seen a link stating “New! Get FREE breakthrough broadband with Google TiSP (BETA)” So I followed the link and found it to be a system for FREE wi-fi via the toilet. This is obviously somone’s joke but is it Google’s? I strongly doubt this is a real page made by Google. I am not sure whether their homepage was defaced or if this is just some sort of prank from our friends at Google. Regardless I took some screenshots as this page may not be up for long. See the screenshots below.
Link : Via Google http://www.google.com/tisp/
DIY Tip: Make your own magnetic acrylic Rubik’s cube
If you love the Rubik’s cube then why not make your own? Instructables has the low down on a low budget DIY acrylic see through magnetic Rubik’s cube project.
What you need: 27 3/4″ clear acrylic cubes are drilled with 108 3/16″ holes, fitted with 108 D32 neodymium disc magnets with proper polarities facing out from each, and assembled into a size-matched magnetic version of the original Rubik’s Cube.
The article explains how to plan the polarity of your magnets to ensure proper functionality. I thought this was very cool and really want to try it out. If anyone has already made one of these please let me know in the comments or send your photos to tips@timmatheson.com
Listen to a movie online
Need a quick way to drown out distracting noise and get more work done? Then head on over to listen to a movie and select a movie from one of the various titles they have to offer. The service allows you to listen to the audio of any movie they provide for free. As an additional tip you could use some headphones to listen to movies and potentially drown out distracting co-workers, instant messages, and annoying telemarketers that can disrupt your productive day. I personally love this service and it some what takes me back to the days where books on tape were cool.
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Check your site is compatible for all browsers with Browsercam.com
Browsercam.com offers a “not-free” service to check how your site preforms on different platforms using different browsers. This is possible using several machines running different operating systems which accept VNC connections. After signing up for service you can use VNC to control virtually any operating system + browser configuration you can think of. This is a great tool for developers to use to ensure usability across different systems and a wide variety of users. The internet today is far more advanced than it was 10 years ago. The internet of today demands your site to comply with your users personal preference in operating system and browser configuration of their machine. Sites that fail to do so typically fail tremendously when deployed by severing revenue from unsupported machine configuration. As a web designer, I find this tool to be very interesting and am pondering it’s use. In the past I have just installed various browsers, ran several operating systems on one machine, or used a friends machine with a different browser and operating system. This can be a lot of work depending on your hardware configuration and access to multiple machines. I recommend at least checking out Browser.com is this sounds like something you could use.
Browsercam.com
Find great pre packaged AJAX solutions at MiniAjax.com
Miniajax.com has rounded up some useful Ajax Scripts for anyone wanting a quick and easy Ajax solution for their website. There are things like ClickHeat, a tool for heat mapping your websites click traffic. There are also some great form tools and image slideshow scripts. This site is a must for anyone wanting to get started with AJAX. Check it out at miniajax.com.
Make Windows XP do the Aero Flip 3d effect (Windows)
I love the Windows Vista Aero Flip3D feature, but unfortunately I have to stick with Windows XP for software reasons. TopDesk is a great little tool that will give you the features of Aero Flip3D on Windows XP and more. TopDesk features several different rotate modes, flip styles, color customization, window labels, and more. There is also a feature to quickly show the desktop by placing all your windows at the bottom edge of the screen (F11). You can ALT+Tab to view a vertical view of all open windows.
Keyboard Shorcut tips
- ALT+TAB = Flip, Grid, Spatial (Depending on settings)
- F11 = Minimize your Windows (toggle) works great.
- Tip : Use the mouse wheel to scroll through windows when in tile mode.
Got a favorite piece of software you think would go great with TopDesk? Send me a Tip to tips@timmatheson.com
Test your CSS typography designs with Typetester
If you’re a web designer or frequently use CSS in your projects then you will love typetester.com. Typetester allows you to try out different CSS typography settings on one page with a simple interface. You can adjust size, leading, word-space, color, background, font etc. all on one page. Typetester also allows you to use your own text or the predefined place holder text. This is a must for anyone who wants to compare a CSS design before deploying it on a client or personal web site. This is definitely one of my personal favorite Web 2.0 applications.
HowTo Roundup
- Screenshot Tour: The keyboard shortcut goodness of Microsoft Office 2007
- Security Tip: Better passwords with a CueCat (Windows)
- HowTo Tell if a DVD or CD disc is blank
- HowTo fix a laptop power cable with Repair4laptop.org
- Make an Auto Accident Survival Kit
- How to conserve water with a milk jug
- Hack your AC adapter
- 10 ways to get comped by Casinos
- How to get charges lifted from your cellphone bill
- HowTo Oil a pan with a paper towel
Better browsing with Wiiminder for Wii’s Opera Browser
Wiiminder is a browser add-on (sort of) for the Wii’s internet channel Opera powered browser. Wiiminder allows you to have tagged bookmarks, tabbed browsing, and even choose which page the browser starts out on. To use Wiiminder it’s as simple as pointing the Wii browser to Wiiminder (just type it and go). We broke down and bought a Wii on Ebay a while back and while we are happy with the game play, some of the other features are not quite they way would like for them to be. The main thing I dislike is the internet channel featuring the Opera powered internet browser. I have had it crash on me I don’t know how many times and it is nothing like a real browser. It is great for watching YouTube.com videos or Google Videos while you lounge on the couch I will give it that. Wiiminder has made the experience a little less painful however I will not even attempt to compare it to a real browser and keyboard it’s just not the same.
Link
How to create Firefox extensions
I recommend a lot of FireFox extensions here on Tim Matheson, but what if you could make your own FireFox extension and never download one again? Roachfiend.com has a great article titled “How to create Firefox extensions” and thats just what it teaches you. Imagine that.
Link Via Roachfiend.com
GTD: Getting Things Done Explained
If you are new to David Allen’s Getting Things Done system or just wondering what the heck it is, then check out WikiPedia’s definition of Getting Things Done. The page explains (in detail) what the Getting Things Done system is all about. This should get you on the right track and on your way to GTD zen. If you are still interested in David Allen’s methods check out his book at Amazon.com.
How to Retrieve Keys Locked Inside a Car
OK for most people the solution to this is obvious but for some making a spare key hasn’t made their top priority list of things todo. If you find yourself locked out of your vehicle try these tips for retrieving your keys from a locked vehicle. The most common method and for me the most successful is the wire coat hanger. The trick to the coat hanger method is getting it in the door at the correct angle so you can maneuver it to either pull the door handle or push the unlock button.
Keeping your GMail Inbox size under control
Amit Agarwal has wrote a great tutorial on how to keep your Gmail Inbox size under control. I cant count how many times I have gone over my limit. Loosing email is no fun so if your a Gmailer this is a great read.
Doing things properly with Tracks
Tracks is a new Web 2.0 GTD application (Ruby on Rails required) that will get you on the right track. I personally use tracks as my GTD application and am quite fond of it. I find Tracks to be easy enough to use not to slow or even halt productivity like some GTD applications.
Tracks is a web-based application to help you implement David Allen’s Getting Things Done™ methodology.
Link Via Rousette.org.uk
Download of the day: GTDGmail (Firefox)
If you are using David Allen’s GTD system for organizing your life and have a Gmail account you will definately want to checkout GTDGmail for Firefox. GTDGmail lets you label projects, next actions, references, and more; it also enables you to do GTD searches, easily add new emails to projects, and compose actions and references. This is a must for all you GTD fans.
Clean like a maid!
Curbly blog has a great article on how to clean like a maid. The article walks you through the methods used by former housekeeper Ivy. Great read if your like me and love a clean house but hate to clean. Ivy mentions cleaning a 1200 square foot home in 45 mins. Now that my friend’s is cleaning GTD style.
The mantra of the company I worked for was top to bottom, left to right. This way you could easily walk into any room and know exactly where to get started.
Stuff I like: Laser Tripwire from WildPlanet.com
Need to secure an area of your home or office? Why not setup a lazer perimeter in the to be secured area? Lazer Tripwire is a gadget that sounds a 5 minute 48db alarm when the lazer perimeter is breached. For just $24.95 I think it’s a reasonable gadget to have in your geek tool arsenal. You can buy the Lazer Tripwire here.
Hack Attack: automate installation of software with Install Pad
I recently tried using install pad on a computer repair project. I did the mundane routine of re-installing Windows only this time I did something a little different. I used Install Pad to install most every piece of software while I did more important things. Install pad is packed with loads of automation goodies like silent install mode, path to install options, and more. If you haven’t already checked it out you can download it here. This software is free and fits in perfectly with my Automation section.
Get out of a social nightmare with The Popularity Dialer
If you need to get out of a potentially painstaking conversation with someone or just need an excuse to get out of the house The Popularity Dialer might have the solution you need. The Popularity Dialer allows you to select one of five prerecorded calls to have sent to your phone at a specified time. The recording will play and you could place it on speaker phone to make your excuse more believable. The system allows one call per hour to be placed to a single telephone number to avoid pranksters from running a denial of service attack on your phone. You can also add your number to the do not call list to opt out from any calls from the service. The service includes a popularity call,female popularity call, affirmation call, return to the office call and a cousin in need call.