Sunday, October 10, 2010

MakeUseOf.com: “Latest Hilarious Picks [MakeUseOf Geeky Fun]” plus 5 more

MakeUseOf.com: “Latest Hilarious Picks [MakeUseOf Geeky Fun]” plus 5 more

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Latest Hilarious Picks [MakeUseOf Geeky Fun]

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 08:27 PM PDT

 

Check out the top picks from MakeUseOf Geeky Fun during the last week.

  1. Where is That Damn Bar !!! (Pic)
  2. Mark Zuckerberg Raps: "I'll be C.E.O Yo!" (Video)
  3. What Your Facebook Profile Photo Tells About You (Pic)
  4. How The Internet Works (Pic)
  5. Singing With Headphones On (Pic)
  6. Superman's social network nightmare (Pic)

If you would like to keep up with all latest Geeky Fun additions, please subscribe to the Geeky Fun feed here. You can also subscribe and get the latest additions via email.


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Cool Websites and Tools [October 9th]

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 07:31 PM PDT

Check out some of the latest MakeUseOf discoveries. All listed websites are FREE or come with a decent free account option. You can make use of them without spending a dime. If you want to have similar cool websites round-ups delivered to your email daily email subscribe here.

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RapGenius – For me, rap songs are hard to follow. Even when I look up the lyrics online, there are times when I simply do not understand the phrases and language used in the songs. If you face the same situation, then you should pay a visit to Rap Genius. Read more: RapGenius: Check Rap Song Meanings Online

 

Skloog – With the demise of XMarks, many power-users are searching for the next tool that can sync their bookmarks across all browsers. While there are several alternatives available, one other promising tool that we can add to the list is Skloog. This tool lets you save your pages and existing bookmarks for easy access whenever and wherever you are online. Read more: Skloog: Save & Organize All Your Bookmarks As Web Shortcuts Online

 

 

SwatchSpot – If you are a web designer, you will know how important colors are when it comes to designing a website. And choosing the right color combination isn't easy. SwatchSpot is a simple and useful online tool that can help you with that. It generates random color swatches so that you can check the combination and see if the colors look good together. Read more: SwatchSpot: Online Random Color Swatch Generator

 

 

Teevox – If you love watching TV shows on Hulu or movies on Netflix on your computer, but hate using the keyboard to control features like pause and forward then you'll love this iPhone/iPod touch app called Teevox. Teevox can help you to use your iPhone or iPod touch to remotely control the TV on your computer. Read more: Teevox: Control TV On Your Computer With iPhone

 

 

Stylebot – Web designers and people learning web design will know how handy an extension like Firebug is when one needs to check the styles and modify the appearance of a website. Stylebot is a similar tool for Chrome that offers a clean and simple interface to help you quickly analyze and modify CSS on a webpage, and also customize it by applying various styles to it. Read more: Stylebot: A Chrome Extension To Analyze & Modify CSS

 

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These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed.


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4 Ways to Supercharge Double-Click Action in Firefox

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 06:31 PM PDT

double click firefoxDouble-clicking (and double tapping) is one of the preferred mouse (or touch pad) actions for me. It’s quick and easy and helps to get things done faster. Sadly, double-clicking is really under-utilized in Firefox.

The only thing you can do by double-clicking in Firefox is highlighting the word right next to the cursor. Besides that (which is a less-known behavior), if you double-click the 2-3 pixel wide bar just beneath tabs, it opens a new empty tab in the foreground.

So is there any way to get more out of double-click action in Firefox? Yes, there are several ways to actually.

1. Close The Current Tab By Double Click

Close Tab by Double Click is a simple lightweight Firefox addon that does just one thing: lets you close a current tab with two clicks of your mouse.

Note: The only thing to add here is that with this addon, if you have only one tab, the double click will close the current Firefox window (which will often make you start Firefox again). This can be changed in your browser about:config settings.

Just type :

browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab

and change the value to false:

double click firefox

Here’s a less-known addon that can do the same thing but it also has an option to close the tab on three clicks (which, I imagine, can be quite handy as well):

doubleclick firefox

2. Show Context Menu On Double Click

DoubleClick ContextMenu is sure to be appreciated by Opera fans who are considering Firefox as their default browser. It prompts Firefox to show an Opera-like context menu when you double click on text:

doubleclick firefox

3. Reload The Current Tab On Double Click

Reload Tab On Double-Click does exactly what you would expect it to do: it reloads the current tab when you double-click on it (and it does “full” / no-cache / hard reload if you hold SHIFT when double-clicking):

SHIFT + double click = reload the page skipping the browser cache.

Note: be sure you remember you have this addon installed. In some cases, it can result in loss of data (with almost completed forms, etc).

4. Open Links In A New Tab By Double-Clicking On Them

DblClicker is a multi-feature Firefox addon that enables double-click action to open links, namely:

  • Double-click a link to open it in a new tab.
  • Double-click a link in your bookmarks to open it in a new tab.
  • Double-click a link in your browser history to open in new tab.

In all cases the new tab will open in the background (which is quite handy).

doubleclick firefox

That being said, if you prefer to open links in new tabs, having this add-on installed (or at least trying it out) is a must for you!

There are quite a few options that you can set in the addon settings:

  • Auto-hide history and bookmarks toolbars after clicking a link there;
  • Set Double-click tab action:
    • Default: Duplicate Tab
    • Close Tab
    • None: to avoid conflicts when using other tab clicking extensions.
  • New tab options: whether it open in the background or foreground:

double click firefox

Are there any other FireFox double click actions you are aware of? Please share them in the comments!


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Hot Tech Deals [Oct 9th]

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 01:15 PM PDT

If you’re in the market for a new computer, laptop, mobile phone, games and other accessories; don’t waste your time searching online. We’ve taken the liberty of locating the best tech deals and unifying them into a single post for your convenience.

For more fresh hot deals, visit our Hot Tech Deals page, which is constantly updated.

Keep reading to find out today’s Hot Tech Deals.

  1. Dell UltraSharp U3011 30in IPS LCD Monitor (2560×1600!) $1349 Free Shipping via code PKPRQ3PRMQRF0P

  2. Nokia N97 Mini 8GB Smartphone (Unlocked, Quad-Band GSM) w/ Car Nav Kit $249.99 Free Shipping via code 2QRBFQ$WTG4ZV7

  3. PNY VCGGTX260CXPB Geforce GTX260 Core 216 896MB HDCP Video Card w/ Call of Duty Game $124.99AR Free Shipping

  4. LG E2350V-SN 23in LED-Backlit LCD Monitor + Logitech G15 Keyboard $238.88 Free Shipping

  5. Toshiba 500GB 2.5in Internal SATA Laptop Hard Drive $49.99 Free Shipping

  6. Kodak EasyShare C142 10MP 3X Optical Zoom Digital Camera $44.99 Free Shipping via code 9BK?6LQLGJ?JLC

  7. OtterBox Cases Exclusive Coupon – 10% off + Free Shipping (iPhone 4 Defender Case $44.95) via code tb1010y

Image credit: Modified from Svengraph’s icon set

 

 

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5 Things You Need To Do After Installing Boxee

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 12:31 PM PDT

boxeeThe upcoming Boxee Box has the tech world buzzing. Will this startup, armed with the power of open source, be able to compete with Google and Apple's offerings in the TV marketplace? I think so, mostly because of the many amazing things you can make Boxee do.

Don’t believe me? Try it out. You don’t need to buy the box to use the service: you can install it on any Windows, Mac or Linux machine and then plug that into your television (or just use on your computer as is!)


It's easy to think of Boxee as a one-trick pony: a neat way to bring the likes of Hulu to your television. There's more than that though: Boxee can compile videos from your social networks, aggregate your podcasts and even serve as a decent launcher for your favorite games.

One of those apps I can't live without, I think that Boxee is the best media center around. To really get the most out of the application, though, you need to set it up well. Here are five tips to get you started.

Enable Twitter/Facebook/Buzz

This is just awesome: every video shared by your social media contacts is aggregated on Boxee. Head over to Boxee.tv and log in. Click the Services button and you can authorize Boxee to access your social networks.

boxee

Sign in to all your services here and they'll integrate really nicely into Boxee. Then, when you get to your TV, you'll be able to browse all the videos your friends are sharing. This could be footage of your newborn cousin, or an insane panda shared by an Egyptian colleague. (thanks, Nancy!) Point is, you can watch these videos from the comfort of your couch instead of at your desk at work.

boxee tv

To me this is a valuable way to keep work and play separate: I only watch web videos while at home. It's nice to have quick access to these videos from my couch.

RSS Feeds

While you're logged into Boxee, you might as well add some RSS feeds. Click the Feeds button and you can very quickly add your favorite podcasts:

boxee tv

Any RSS feed can go here, so be creative. If there's a show Boxee doesn't have an app for you can add it this way, as I did with Homestar Runner (although they sadly don't update much these days). It's also how I get my all-important weekly fix of The Bugle (which someone really needs to develop a Boxee App for, but I digress).

You'll find your feed in the RSS app, once you add them. If you don't have this app already, find it by opening the Apps section, then browsing to the App Library. Search for “RSS” and you'll quickly find the feed.

Explore The Apps

boxee tv

While you're looking at the App Library, I highly suggest you explore. You'll find a great app for keeping track of the weather, another one for watching Funny Or Die videos and channels for many of the web's hottest shows. Heck, there's even a Justin.TV app you could use to watch sports not broadcast in your country. Browse the app library and I promise you'll find something you like.

Add The Master Repository

But if not, consider adding FuzzTheD's excellent master repository. This can quickly give you access to plenty of apps not found in the App Library. Doing this is really easy; just open the Apps section on Boxee, then bring up the left panel. At the bottom of the left panel you'll see this button:

boxee box

Click it, and you'll see an option to add a repository. Add dir.fuzzthed.com and you're in business: you now have access to an alternative collection of apps. Some of these may well find their way into the library eventually, but it's fun to be able to stay on the cutting edge. Let me know what kind of jewels you find here in the comments below.

Set Up Games & ROMs

boxee

While you're playing around with that repository, you might as well add the Launcher app and turn Boxee into the ulitmate ROM and game launcher. I find this rounds out my television nicely, giving me access to my favorite retro games. It works really well with Multi-emulator Mednaen.

Got Any More?

Can you guys think of any more must-do tweaks to Boxee? I'd love to hear them below. Go ahead and share them and you just might find yourself mentioned in an upcoming MakeUseOf post.


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4+ Free XMarks Alternatives To Sync Your Bookmarks

Posted: 09 Oct 2010 10:31 AM PDT

sync bookmarksWith XMarks hovering between closing their doors to the public on January 11, 2011, or making the change towards becoming a paid service, you're probably going to want to export your bookmarks and find a new way to sync your bookmarks elsewhere. XMarks offered a quick and painless way to sync your bookmarks across browsers and computers, running quietly in the background, and was one of the only truly cross-platform, cross-browser options out there that worked like a charm.

There are a few XMarks alternatives out there, that you can use as a replacement to XMarks. None of them are identical to XMarks but rather, have similar options or achieve the same end result.


The first step when making the move from XMarks to another service is to export your bookmarks. Log into your account, go to tools, and select 'export bookmarks to HTML,' and make a note of where your bookmarks file is saved.

xmarks alternative

Google Bookmarks (Firefox & Chrome, Multi-platform)

One option when moving away from XMarks would be to use Google Bookmarks. It has the same end result – saving your bookmarks in the cloud, but using a more direct approach. Rather than working in the background quietly syncing your bookmarks, you manually add your bookmarks to your Google account rather than save them locally. With the use of the Gmarks add-on, the process is quick and easy for Firefox users.

xmarks alternative

Chrome users have this feature built into their browser allowing them to sync their bookmarks automatically to their Google accounts. Import your XMarks bookmarks by logging into your Google Bookmarks account and click on the ‘Import Bookmarks‘ link in the left-hand sidebar.

xmarks alternative

Firefox Sync (Firefox, Multi-platform)

Firefox users can install the add-on Firefox Sync which allows you to not only sync bookmarks but also your settings, passwords and other customisations. If you're using Firefox 4 Beta, you don't need to install the add-on as the feature is native to the browser. If you’re using an earlier version, the setup process is quick and easy. Sign up for a free account by choosing a username, password, and providing your email address.

organizing bookmarks

You will then be prompted to enter a secret phrase of at least 12 characters, and choose your sync settings.

Repeat the process on each machine you want to sync and your bookmarks, and access all your Firefox data from all of your computers. You can also make use of this feature on the go, using the free iPhone app, Firefox Home (iTunes link), the Maemo app for the N900, or any compatible mobile phone.

Sync2It (Internet Explorer/Safari, Windows/Mac)

Windows and Mac users can make the switch to Sync2It, which works in exactly the same way as XMarks. It will work in the background, automatically backing up and syncing your bookmarks on any computers where you have the program installed. If you're on your Mac, it will automatically sync your Safari bookmarks, and on a PC, it will automatically sync your Internet Explorer bookmarks.

The Mac version of Sync2It sits in your taskbar, and the only option you have when using it is to force a sync. The Windows version, on the other hand, allows you to access your bookmarks from the taskbar. Sync2It also allows you to subscribe to other user’s public collections listed on their site.

It has to be said, in comparison to XMarks, the web-based version of Sync2It is sorely lacking and navigation is anything but easy. To access your links online, click on 'View' in the sidebar menu.

Delicious Or Diigo (Firefox & Chrome, Multi-Platform)

Like Google Bookmarks, there are many other online bookmarking services with toolbars, bookmarklets and add-ons that make it easy to add your bookmarks to your online account, and effectively sync them across different computers, regardless of your OS or browser or choice.

Check out this in depth review of Diigo, which might also convince you not to use Delicious at all.  Diigo doesn't sync your bookmarks per se, but rather saves them online, and by having the Diigo toolbar installed on each machine, you will achieve the same effect. Diigo makes it easy to import your bookmarks in one click.

If you'd rather give Delicious another go, there are a variety of add-ons that make it easy to access your bookmarks from within your browser including a Firefox add-on and a Chrome add-on.

To import your bookmarks to Delicious, log into your Delicious account, go to your settings and select ‘Import bookmarks.’

sync bookmarks

What service are you going to use to replace XMarks? Let us know in the comments.


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