• online documents

    Etherpad Tracks Group Editing or Coding with Colors


    Etherpad, a collaborative-minded text editor forged by a group of ex-Google employees, focuses on making documents live and easy to collaborate on. That means that, at this point, the interface is pretty much straight text on numbered lines, but two or more people can work on a document in real time using a single URL to share, with different colors highlighting their work, a chat function for explanation, and revision-minded saving. For JavaScript coders and teams, there's also a syntax highlighting function, and, well, that's about it. If you, like many Lifehacker readers, dig the advanced but back-to-basics style of Notepad++, Etherpad might be right up your alley. No sign-up required.
    Etherpad [via TechCrunch]

    4:00 AM on Thu Nov 20 2008
    By Kevin Purdy
    9 views, Comment

  • Law

    Employees Sue to be Paid for Time Spent Booting Up

    If your manager tracks your time based on when you log in and out of your machine at work, then are you missing out on pay for the time you're waiting for your machine to boot up and shut down? That's what a series of lawsuits by employees from the likes of AT&T, UnitedHealth and Cigna demand.
    Add those minutes up over a week, and hourly employees are losing some serious pay, argues plaintiffs' lawyer Mark Thierman, a Las Vegas solo practitioner who has filed a handful of computer-booting lawsuits in recent years.
    More »

    6:30 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Jackson West
    6,566 views, 59 comments

    Most discussed SulekhEpaphus: Companies should switch to Ubuntu, much faster boot times than XP more »

  • How To

    Create "Speakers" from Earbuds and Paper Cups

    It's hump day and I was looking for a quick, fun project to try out. So I figured I try something easy I found over at the Make Magazine blog earlier this week—a set of speakers made from paper cups and a pair of earbud headphones originally created by artist Dmitry Zagga (in no small amount of jest). The PaperCup speakers are based on the principle of a megaphone: Energy from sound waves from the earbuds would normally disperse in all directions. Instead, the cups focus the sound waves in a particular direction, making it louder for those in front. While pretty self-explanatory, I figured I'd whip up a how to, especially since the folks at my local coffee shop were happy to provide the materials for free. More »

    5:30 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Jackson West
    8,395 views, 16 comments

    Most discussed grant0: And boom! Recessionphones! more »

  • NetFlix

    Official Netflix Streaming on Xbox 360 Isn't Bad, But You Can Do Better

    I've been streaming Netflix Watch Instantly videos to my Xbox 360 for months now using Windows Media Center and a free program called vmcNetflix, but now that the New Xbox Experience released this morning also supports Netflix streaming, users have two different options for streaming movies to their Xbox. The question is, which option is better? The obvious answer is that the official offering is the hands-down winner, but having used the alternative for the past few months, Netflix on the New Xbox Experience left me cold. Here's why. More »

    4:30 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Adam Pash
    5,008 views, 19 comments

    Most discussed ThickSkinned: Let's see, slower, buggy, requires Vista to work, and has poorer picture quality. Why is vmcNetflix your favorite? Isn't that like more »

  • Shopping

    Save Time with the Help of a Free Personal Shopper

    If you feel shoppping for clothes is a chore and an expensive waste of time, think about using a personal shopper. Get rid of the mistaken idea you may have that personal shoppers are people employed by rich celebrities to dress them (those are called "stylists"). Most large department stores offer a shopping service. Simply call and ask for a personal shopper, provide measurements and a list of items you're looking for and make an appointment. They'll help you select items based on your budget and needs, and will offer an objective perspective on questions of fit and fashion.
    The personal shoppers and clerks know the latest trends much better than I do, and they always seem to find things that flatter my body better than I find when I’m left to search a store on my own.
    More »

    4:00 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Jackson West
    2,589 views, 10 comments

    Most discussed magnoliasouth: Yeah, but how much? I'm betting it isn't free. more »

  • Featured Windows Download

    Merge MP3 Combines Audio Files in Drag-and-Drop Interface

    Windows only: If you are looking for ways to merge a bunch of MP3 files into one larger file, and don't like the command line solution I wrote about earlier this week, try Merge MP3. The application is tiny, the interface familiar, and it will allow you to drag-and-drop MP3 files onto a playlist, change the order, preview the audio, and then mix them all down to a single MP3 files along with APIC images and ID3 meta-data. Perfect for creating a mix or joining files from an audiobook you've ripped from multiple CDs. Merge MP3 is a free download for Windows.
    Merge MP3

    3:30 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Jackson West
    1,549 views, 12 comments

    Most discussed gpzbc: When would you need to merge mp3 files? more »

  • Screenshot Tour

    Gmail Updates Its Look, Adds Themes

    Google's beloved web-based email client has always been ripe for third-party design customization (we've always been partial to the Gmail Redesigned skin in Better Gmail, for example), but now Gmail is officially riding the interface customization train by offering 30-some new themes to spice up your inbox. Keep reading for a screenshot tour of the cool new offerings. More »

    1:38 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Adam Pash
    34,178 views, 101 comments

    Most discussed It_Figures: Feh. Themes tab? I'm still waiting for native https. :P These look neat. Maybe I'll be able to use one or more »

  • Tech Support

    Let Me Google That For You Passive-Aggressively Helps your Friends

    If you're a power searcher, or other people think you are, and you're getting tired of constant requests for answers to questions that a quick Google search would provide, try Let me google that for you. Enter a search term, click the Google Search button, and a link appears that you can copy, paste and send to your friend. When they click the link, an animation displays the complicated process of searching Google for information, and then directs the user to the actual search results page from Google. Snarky? Yes. However, the time the user is forced to study the search term you used, they might pick up a trick or two in keyword syntax, search operators, literal strings and the like. After all, give a man an answer, and he'll come back tomorrow asking for more. Teach a man to search Google, and you'll have to offer tech support when he ends up downloading malware while cruising shadier purveyors of adult entertainment and file sharing software.
    Let me google that for you [via Laughing Squid]

    1:30 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Jackson West
    6,945 views, 39 comments

    Most discussed aperson: This, IMHO, is the best use for the site: [letmegooglethatforyou.com] more »

  • Featured Mac Download

    Vocito Brings GrandCentral to Your Desktop

    Mac OS X only: Free, open-source application Vocito puts Google's one-phone-number-to-rule-them-all application GrandCentral on your desktop, integrating directly with your Address Book contacts. The most obvious way to place a call once you launch Vocito and enter your GrandCentral login is to click the new menu bar item, search for the contact you want to call, and place your call—but it's by no means the only way. Beyond Address Book integration, Vocito also works with Quicksilver (awesome), Automator, and AppleScript. We haven't seen a lot of movement from GrandCentral since Google acquired it last year, so it's exciting to see even a little action from them. Vocito is a free download, Mac OS X only.
    Vocito [Google Code via CNET]

    12:50 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Adam Pash
    2,667 views, 24 comments

    Most discussed TITECH: Hey there, I have a GrandCentral account. I signed up for the waiting list and a month later I got an more »

  • People Search

    Pipl Updates, Offers Better Organized Stalking

    Previously mentioned people search engine Pipl has updated with a slightly tweaked look and better, more organized results. In a quick comparison between recently featured 123people and Pipl, the results at Pipl thoroughly outdid 123people on accuracy when I searched for myself, including much more accurate results for real email addresses belonging to me. Just enter anyone's name and the city where they live and let Pipl dig up their online profiles, email addresses, photos, and more. With the abundance of people search tools available on the internet, it's easier than ever to track down anyone online. If you've already got a favorite place to stalk, let's hear about it in the comments.
    Pipl

    12:00 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Adam Pash
    5,666 views, 13 comments

    Most discussed zF23: Compared some results between 123people.com and this, and 123people found a lot more stuff. more »

  • Windows Tip

    How to Declutter Your Windows Context Menu

    Windows tip: Whether you use them or not, many applications install superfluous entries to your Windows right-click context menu resulting in a cluttered mess. The How-To Geek weblog details how to clean up your messy Windows context menu using a variety of methods, from manual registry hacks to using the simple, previously mentioned ShellExView. If you steer clear of the right-click because it's become such a cluttered mess, do yourself a favor by cleaning it and customizing it to fit your needs.
    How to Clean Up Your Messy Windows Context Menu [the How-To Geek]

    11:30 AM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Adam Pash
    4,210 views, 13 comments

    Most discussed CGA: MMM+ sure is nice but sadly it doesn't play well with Vista. more »

  • Featured Windows Download

    Xobni Incorporates with Your Facebook Profile, Yahoo Mail, and Skype

    Windows only: Previously mentioned free Microsoft Outlook plug-in Xobni is a must-have for anyone looking to get more from Outlook, and today the plug-in gets even better. That's because Xobni now integrates Facebook, Yahoo Mail, Skype, and Hoover company profiles directly in the Xobni sidebar (you can see each new feature in action in the video above). If you use even one of these services, the new integration is very convenient. If you've given the new tool a try, share your thoughts in the comments.
    Xobni [via Xobni Blog]

    9:43 AM on Wed Nov 19 2008
    By Adam Pash
    2,829 views, 32 comments

    Most discussed thelord: I never quite understood what the purpose of Xobni is. Sure, if you're using Outlook 2003 it can search through more »

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