Kolz Blog

Just released an update to the previously-posted About This Site Bookmarks Firefox extension, which now has support for highlighted text, as well as page title, URL, and domain variables. In a nutshell, About This Site has evolved into a variable-enabled bookmark tool; using it you can replace 2 dozen popular bookmarklets including GmailThis and post to del.icio.us. If you've already got About This Site installed, run the update from Firefox Add-ons area. (Updating users: be sure to hit the "Reset to default bookmarks" button to load up the updated list.) Do add any feedback or bug reports to the original post comment thread. Have fun cleaning out your bookmarklet folder! — Gina Trapani

Lifehacker Code: About This Site add-on (Firefox)

Two weeks ago I published a tutorial on how to aggregate all the feeds you generate at different places all over the web into one master feed. As an example, I merged my Lifehacker posts, del.icio.us bookmarks and Flickr photos, and bemoaned the fact that there is no easy way to edit each headline title to include the source. Happily, Pipes-lovin' reader Michele was able to do just that. Using the Regex module, he was able to add the blog name, "Flickr photo" and "del.icio.us" to the beginning of each title, so you can easily see where each item's coming from. Here's my new and improved Gina around the web pipe. Feel free to clone and edit your own using it as a starting point. Thanks, Michele!

Splicing your feeds with Yahoo! Pipes [Michele Campeotto]

Weblog J2s site has put together a hardware list capable of running Vista in all its Aero glory for just over $500. This setup should run Vista and pretty much any regular application you need (it won't necessarily be ready to do anything but light gaming, but hey - we're not all gamers). All you need to do is put it together. Luckily, we've covered almost every step of building a PC here at Lifehacker, from installing your motherboard, CPU and RAM to your hard drives, PCI cards, and power supply. Granted, taking the DIY route with PCs is sometimes a touchy subject, since you can always get cheap PCs from suppliers like Dell for bargain prices, but if you're keen on doing it yourself, building can be a great way to get to better know your system (I know I learned a helluva lot when I built my first PC a few years back). Also, the cost of Vista isn't included in the $500 price (Home Premium is linked in the article for $115) - which is always another point to keep in mind if you choose to build rather than buy. If anyone out there has put together their own Vista build, I'd love to hear about it in the comments. — Adam Pash

How to Build an inexpensive Vista PC (Aero Enabled) [J2s site]

Google Maps has just rolled out an exciting new traffic feature, that provides traffic data for major interstates and freeways.

If your route shows red, you're looking at a stop-and-go commute; yellow, you could be a little late for dinner; green, you've got smooth sailing.

Glad they've made it so technical. Gray, then, means info unavailable? The Traffic data comes courtesy of a new Traffic button next to the Map, Satellite, and Hybrid buttons on the top row of the map. Of course, it's not that traffic info is new to the internet - hell, even Google Maps Mobile has had traffic details since last August - but if Google Maps is your go-to internet map, it's great to see traffic info baked-in. Thanks Sugar Daddy! — Adam Pash

Stuck in traffic? [Official Google Blog]

by Gina Trapani When it comes to heavy duty download jobs, Firefox's default Downloads manager just doesn't cut the mustard. If you often need closer control of multiple, large downloads, you need the DownThemAll! Firefox add-on. This extra-strength download manager can speed up, queue for later, and batch download sets of files from the web based on patterns you define in one click. Today we'll use DownThemAll to grab all the MP3's from a web page as well as an entire set of Flickr photos in one click. Sound fun? Let's get this downloading party started.

Using filters: Download all the MP3's on a page

When you right click and choose DownThemAll from the context menu on a web page, dTa presents a list of possible downloads from that page - every single link that exists there, whether it's to another web page or a piece of media, like an image, video or MP3. The power in dTa is the Filters area, where you define a pattern that selects the files you want to download from the often long and crowded list. So if you were at Lifehacker's sibling site, Idolator, which features MP3 downloads regularly, you might just want to suck down all the music from the front page in one click. Here's how to do so:

1. Define your filter. In DownThemAll's Preferences area, go to the Filters tab. There you'll see several pre-defined file filters (like Archives (zip, rar) and Videos (mpeg, avi, wmv.)) In the Extensions column, there's a regular expression which defines the file filter. Add one for MP3 files. The Caption can be "*.mp3" and the Filtered Extensions should be /\/[^\/\?]+\.mp3$/, as shown: Hit OK to save your new filter.
2. Select all the MP3's with your filter. Then, on the front page of Idolator or your favorite MP3 blog, right click and choose DownThemAll. Click on the MP3 filter checkbox to select only the music files linked on the page for download- just 12 out of 97, in this case - as shown: Be sure to select the destination directory on your hard drive as well in the Save files in: area.
3. Custom rename files. Another cool feature of dTa is the ability to set the downloaded filenames using different variables, like date and time and order number. In the Renaming mask dropdown, choose the pattern the downloaded file names should use. Hit the little paper clip note button to see the Renaming tags reference table, as shown:
4. Queue or start your download. From there, hit up the Start button to begin sucking down the tracks from the web. Alternately, if you don't want to use the bandwidth now, hit the Queue button (a kind of light download bookmarking tool) to set up the files in dTa for kicking off later on.

Advanced filtering: Download the original images from an entire Flickr set

Another interesting use of DownThemAll is to save all the images on a web page to your hard drive. This comes in especially handy if you want to grab a whole album or gallery of photos, like a Flickr set. The only problem is that when you're viewing a Flickr set page, you can only see the image thumbnails; but with a little help from our friend Greasemonkey, you can download the original, large images from Flickr in one click. Here's how.

1. Install the Link Original Image user script. Since DownThemAll only detects the links present on the current web page, you have to expose the links to the original Flickr images on a set page to download them. That's exactly what the Flickr - Link Original Image Greasmonkey user script does. Install that critter (provided you're running Greasemonkey) and voila! When you look at pages of Flickr photos, links to the original images will be present, as shown:
2. Filter original image links. Now, invoke the DownThemAll file selection box, and check off the Images filter, which will select all of the set original images (which are also, coincidentally, all named something_o.xx, and could be filtered that way.) Then start or queue your download. [via Vikingo's pub]

One-click access to dTa settings

Once you've got a set of dTa preferences set up that you want to reuse over and over again - say, if you want to download several Flickr sets on different pages - you want to use dTaOneClick!, also available on your right-click context menu. From the help:

dTaOneClick! will start downloading all the links/pictures of the current webpage that will match the filters used in the last dTa! session. Downloads will be saved in the last setted destination path and will be renamed using the last setted [sic] renaming mask.

The one thing you can't do with dTa that you can with my beloved command line wget is schedule regular, recurring downloads (like all the MP3's from Idolator every day at noon). However, DownThemAll's graphical interface and Firefox integration is a lot easier to deal with than command line parameters. How do you use DownThemAll, or another download manager? Let us know in the comments. Gina Trapani, the editor of Lifehacker, loves a good list of completed downloads. Her semi-weekly feature, Geek to Live, appears every Wednesday and Friday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Geek to Live feed to get new installments in your newsreader.

Blogger Ben Murphy devised a way to get e-mail "pushed" to his plain old non-smartphone mobile using Gmail's filtering and forwarding features. Basically, you set up a keyword filter, then instruct Gmail to forward the filtered messages to your phone via SMS. There are caveats here, of course, like length restrictions and the need for the sender to utilize the necessary keyword. But, as Murphy describes, this could come in very handy for things like driving directions, low-balance warnings from your bank, and even grocery lists. What other uses can you think of? Tell us in the comments. Of course, don't forget about Gmail Mobile for cell phones, which brings your entire Gmail account straight to your cell. — Rick Broida

Hackberry, not Blackberry, using Gmail & any cel phone [ceramic owl mug]

Blogger Kurt Shintaku figured out how to install Windows Vista from a USB flash drive, a potentially huge time-saver for anyone needing to deploy the OS on multiple machines. You'll need a Windows Vista DVD, of course, and a 4GB flash drive. The latter will set you back a few bucks; the author recommends an Apacer model that sells for a very reasonable $56.99. (And as he points out, it also makes for a great ReadyBoost drive.) Insert the drive, access the command line and type in a handful of partition/format commands. Copy the Vista DVD to the drive and you're all set. Then just boot your PC to the drive and you'll be able to install Vista in 5-10 minutes. Smokin'! — Rick Broida

HOWTO: Install Windows Vista from a high-speed USB 2.0 Flash Drive [Kurt Shintaku's Blog]

Windows Vista only: Tweak Vista's Flip 3D preview function with SmartFlip. The utility replaces Flip 3D's "deck of cards"-style flipping with a rotating, circular preview. Because this gives you a full, rather than obscured, view of each thumbnail, it's easier to find the window you want. What's more, SmartFlip can show you only the windows for particular application, such as Word. You can run the utility with its own hotkey(s) or configure it to replace Flip 3D's Windows-Tab launcher. You can also modify a wealth of settings, including rotation speed, window opacity, etc. For my money, this is a smarter Flip 3D than Flip 3D, which to me always seemed like a novelty. SmartFlip requires Vista (which, in turn, requires enough horsepower to run Aero). It's a free program. Thanks, Donnie! — Rick Broida

SmartFlip

As part of BBP’s acceptance to be interviewed (Michael’s and Jason’s) by Cranking Widgets, we required Mr. Widget, himself, to turn the tables and submit his answers to us. His blog is an excellent source for GTD and especially, del.icio.us stuff, which is how I came across it. His post inspired me to once again take up del.icio.us for my bookmarking needs. Brett has come to be a good friend to both Jason and I. We all share so much in common with one another, even outside the realm of GTD Bloggers. We are all fathers of two kids (Brett’s second is on the way), and all of the kids are one boy and one girl. So, it is with GREAT pleasure that I let Brett answer his own questions…in his own words. - Michael For those who aren’t familiar with you, would you give a brief personal introduction? My name is Brett. I’m a computer programmer and native of Southern California, where I live with my wonderful wife and son. We’re expecting the arrival of our daughter in June of this year. I’m a Christian, collector of tattoos, coffee enthusiast and home roaster, lover of music and that guy who always wants to write a program to fix some piddly problem. I love Apple computers and open source software. When I’m not sitting at a computer I like to spend time with my family, read books on a variety of topics and look for new/better/faster ways to be productive. With regards to GTD, I’m very new to the whole thing. I first caught wind of it in late October, 2006 and have been immersing myself in it ever since. I started The Cranking Widgets Blog about a week after I’d read the book (while in the midst of my second reading) as a way for me to have a one-sided conversation with myself about GTD and productivity in general. I must say, I had no idea there was such a vibrant community behind GTD and I’m pleased as punch to be a part of it. How did you get started with GTD? Was there a particular event/experience that led you to want to be more organized/productive in general? Actually, it stemmed from two things. First, I was constantly forgetting things. Commitments I’d made to my wife or my employer, due dates for projects - even things like picking up a gallon of milk on the way home. No matter how hard I tried, my “rate of failure” with regard to thinks like this was unbelievable. I knew I needed to get organized and making the occasional, incomplete ‘todo’ list hadn’t cut the mustard in the past, so I was sure it wouldn’t be any more effective this time around. The second (and more directly related) event that got me looking at GTD was finding the Hipster PDA. Truth be told, I’m not even sure where I first came across it - probably during a wasted afternoon perusing del.icio.us or something. Anyway, I was intrigued by the idea. Even though I work with “technology”, I’d never been one to want to mechanize every aspect of my life. The “traditional” PDA was always a bit of a enigma to me. I understood the notion of making our lives easier by way of new inventions and gadgets, but it all seemed to be too much. There wasn’t any simplicity left. So after reading up on the hPDA and the surrounding GTD methodology, I ordered the book. I read about 80% of it the day it showed up and never looked back. Oh, and my wife will tell you that she’s glad I don’t forget the milk anymore. In your opinion, what’s the biggest pitfall of GTD for people just starting out? For me, it was being able to translate this huge cloud of random musings floating through my head into a concrete list of projects with well-defined outcomes. For example, I’ve lately become interested in learning more about tea. So, in my project list, I had “Learn about tea”. I’d stare at that “project” during my review and wonder “How will I know when this is done?”. It perplexed me until I realized that learning how to accurately define a project is an art in itself. Like being able to take a thought like “I should learn to be a better cook” and translate that into a project like “make biscuits from scratch” (which could then be followed by another project like “learn how to make beef wellington”, repeat until professional chef). That was a huge hurdle for me, at least. What’s the thing you like the least about “canonical” GTD? Man, I wish I’d considered how difficult of a question this was when I wrote it. Honestly, after pouring over this question for no less than an hour, I really can’t think of anything. Not to say that the system is “perfect” or lacking in any defect - perhaps I’m just too green to have spotted anything. Ask me again in a few months. Which aspect of GTD did you find the most difficult to implement? which was the easiest? Truth be told, I’m still not to the point where I reliably do my weekly review. My own laziness is partially to blame, as well as the fluidity of my work/home schedule. I’ve definitely improved in this area, but it’s something I know needs work. Hard-landscaping it hasn’t proven to be very effective, mostly due to the constant “firefighter” mode I’m usually in at work. Getting a couple hours uninterrupted at the office is something of a pipe dream. On the other hand, I find the requisite “mental sweep” (and capture in general) comes very easily to me. Since I pretty much always have blank index cards on my person (or within a few feet of where I am), I’m always ready to jot down an idea or a task/project. I still can’t honestly say that my head is 100% empty, 100% of the time - but I’m certainly getting there. How did you deal with any frustrations when you first started with GTD? Do you have any “inspirational” items that encouraged you to stick with it? I guess I just told myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day. As much as starting out with GTD can immediately alleviate stress and whatnot, it’s definitely requires discipline and hard work to get your system right and to totally trust it once the honeymoon phase is over. I’ve heard it said that it can take 2 years of solid GTD practice before you can say it’s truly “part of you”. I don’t think I’m anywhere close to that yet, but the small victories I experience when checking things off of my list and seeing my in-basket empty certainly help me in mustering the strength to press ahead. [Read more]

A company called Network Physics has an excellent tutorial on getting started with VMware, the mega-popular (but confusing for novices) virtual-PC environment. It opens with a real-world example of what the software does:

Imagine a movie studio set built to replicate a living room as realistically as possible. The set is built inside a larger building that may have lots of other things going on. But when on the set, it looks just like a real living room. To anyone inside the room, they don't know it is a just a movie set. To those in the rest of the building, they can see both the set and everything else going on. VMware is the same thing, except with computers.

Nice. The rest of the tutorial breaks down the entire process of registering, installing, configuring and operating VMware, all with the same plain-English ease, and with loads of screenshots. For anyone with even a passing interest in learning the program, this is required reading. — Rick Broida

How-to install VMware Server 1.0.1 on Windows XP SP2 [Network Physics]

Have you ever had a major setback? No. I didn’t think so. Me neither. But in the unlikely event you do or in the more likely event that you know someone who has or will, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward have created a well researched guidebook. Firing Back: How Great Leaders Rebounded After Career Disasters strives to help us through the approaches that have worked for some and those that have backfired on others.

Leaders should not be measured by how they bask in the gratification of their accomplishments. Rather, they should be measured by how they respond when fate deflates the joys of hard-earned triumphs. How well do they pick themselves up and get back in the race.

The most important thing is to put your defeat into the proper context. This is often difficult to do in a culture that sees failure as a very bad thing and finds it difficult to even discuss. They write, “It is, in fact, wrong to consider adversity a diversion off one’s path toward greatness. The subsequent resilience from calamities has been revealed as vital to the character formation and differentiation of heroic figures…. It is the ability to bounce back from adversity—to prove your mettle once more by getting back into the game—that separates the lasting great from the fleeting greats.” They have developed a five-step strategy for rescuing and restoring your career and reputation—a leader’s most valuable asset—after a devastating professional setback. 1. Fight not Flight. This doesn’t mean to come out swinging, but to face the reality of the situation. “To stand up to the reality of the situation and not to flee from it or shirk the battles that lie ahead in restoring the reputation and career of the leader." Being able to pick your battles is an important component here. In the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan opined in an article entitled, Ford Without Tears these comments about the comeback and legacy of Gerald Ford.

He seemed lacking in vanity. There is no evidence that he was obsessed with his legacy. He didn't worry and fret about whether history would fully capture and proclaim his excellence, and because of this he didn't always have to run around proving he was right. He just did his best and kept walking. What a grown-up thing to do. Former, current and future presidents would do well to ponder this approach. History would treat them more kindly. The legacy of a man who spends his time worrying about his legacy is always: He worried about his legacy.

2. Recruit Others into Battle. This assumes you haven’t burnt your bridges. Build strong relationships now. You need to take responsibility for innocent close colleagues who suffer collateral damage with you and then leverage your support networks to reaffirm your credibility through the voices of others. Support from friends and family “can be very influential in reducing the levels of stress felt by the individual suffering from career setback and in encouraging coping behaviors. 3. Rebuild Heroic Stature. Explain the true nature of the adversity. Provide a rational explanation of the context behind any injustice or provide authentic contrition over any missteps you made. 4. Prove Your Heroic Mettle. Regain trust by demonstrating that the setback has not destroyed your professional expertise and character strength. Actions speak louder than words. 5. Discover a New Heroic Mission. Don’t merely define yourself by your past success or failure. Rather, define a new leadership vision and a new path for personal meaning in your work. You may find that you transcend past triumphs. In all of this they caution:

Indeed, for many people, the failure to come back successfully is caused by an exclusive focus on the immediate problems of dealing with downfall—often practical and financial constraints that consume the person’s energy and will. While these are indeed important constraints and require attention, they are focused on adjusting to the downfall rather than preparing for the rebound, and an all-consuming focus on these issues can lead to a spiraling down from which the person never fully recovers. No one can truly define success or failure for us—only we can define them for ourselves.

Of Related Interest: Second Acts: Presidential Lives and Legacies After the White House

• Hack Attack: Top 10 Ubuntu apps and tweaks
• Ubuntu Tip: How to mount a Windows NTFS partition
• How to install Photoshop on Ubuntu
• Install and run Ubuntu without disturbing Windows
• Compare Linux distros side by side
• How to install anything in Ubuntu
• Thirteen things to do after you install Ubuntu
• Introduction to the Unix command line
• The Windows-to-Linux roadmap
• 5 ways to run Windows software on a Linux system

Ever since Adam posted his (sort of) cordless workspace, I planned get my own rat's nest of dusty, under-the-desk wires in check. Once I snagged myself one of those swanky cord trays Adam recommended, I found I had too many plugs and wires than I could get off the ground in the tray alone. With a laptop, desktop, scanner, printer, subwoofer, monitor, USB hub, 2 external hard drives and router all with plugs in need of an outlet, the cord tray just didn't have enough room for 2 power strips. Turns out that a single, separate 12-outlet strip mounted behind the wire tray would do the trick. After the jump, check out some (bad) photos of my new, cordless setup. Here's the cord tray, which sells for 13 bucks at IKEA. You mount this under your desk, at the back. (DIYer's, you could rig one of these up on the cheap for sure): Then I threw in a big, heavy duty workspace power strip. I used the 4 foot, 12 outlet power strip by Prime which is awesome for a few reasons: the plugs are spaced out very far, so it prevents big fat boxy plugs from blocking the outlet next to it; it's long and skinny and has mounting gear that can secure it to the back of a desk easily. My IKEA Jerker desk is just under 4 feet wide, but I was able to mount the Prime strip to the back of the desk's kickboard using simple twisted wire threaded through the desk joints and around the screw holes at each end of the strip. Here's what the strip, which I picked up for 25 bucks at Fry's, looks like: Here's what under my desk looked like before the project began. I used to turn my tower just so I didn't have to look at the mess: And the after picture. (Because I want to be just like Adam when I grow up, I added a little printer table underneath, too): Here's the messy view from underneath, with the cord tray and power strip working in concert: How do you keep your cords under control? Tell us about it in the comments. — Gina Trapani

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We got a good eyeful of the iriver clix 2 at CES, but those dagnab Koreans are already doing the unboxing honors, and the little dynamo is looking just a fresh as ever. No real in-box surprises, but first impressions are looking good: that 2.2-inch AMOLED display seems to be a real charmer, and you can't go far wrong with 30fps video and software updates aplenty. You can pick up the 4GB player in Korea now for 199,000 KRW (about $212), or wait until March to see this thing in the States for some undisclosed price. An 8GB version will follow in April. [Via I4U; thanks Seweryn] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

In a fairly decent attempt to cram as many product releases and news briefs into the waning days of February, Sony is still firing at will with swank home entertainment must-haves, the latest of which is a 1,280 x 720p front projector. Toting the ever-expanding Bravia logo, the 3LCD VPL-AW15 is meant for those who envision their HD in a bigger light than mere rear-projection sets can muster, and while Sony's being overly greedy about the nitty gritty we all desire, we do know a bit about its specifications. You'll find a brightness of 1,100 lumens, a whopping 12,000:1 contrast ratio, Advanced Iris 2 technology, and a presumably mid-range (albeit unconfirmed) pricetag. Sadly, that's about all Sony's leaking right now, but we do know that the firm is slapping the Bravia tag on in place of the now-axed Cineza label, making us wonder what's really left to get the Bravia touch. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Windows/Mac/Unix (Firefox): Firefox extension Tab Groups lets you organize your Firefox tabs into - you guessed it - more tabs! Just create and name your high level tab groups, then organize your existing tabs into new groups or move them between groups with a simple drag and drop. Tab Groups is a very new extension (still in alpha, in fact), but the core functionality is already there and so far it's worked wonders for me. There are, however, a few kinks that require the proper setup for Tab Groups to work. Namely, Tab Groups doesn't currently work with the Tab Mix Plus session restore - but it works perfectly with Firefox 2's built-in Session Manager. There are a couple of other limitations you might want to check out before you dive in head first, but none of them posed a major problem to me - especially since I'm so excited to get the tab grouping functionality. If you're used to having 20+ tabs open at a time, this kind of organization tool can come in very handy, especially if you're limited by a small monitor. — Adam Pash

Tab Groups [via CyberNet News]

Web site Neowin.net posts step-by-step instructions for extending the length of time you can run Vista without activation from 30 to 120 days. All it takes is entering in a simple command (slmgr -rearm) at a command prompt with administrative privileges. The average user might not get all that much out of this sort of thing, but one thing's certain: if I end up doing as many clean installations of Vista for testing purposes and plain old brute force Windows repair as I did with XP, I know I'll be using this one. — Adam Pash

Official Way to Use Vista without Activation 120 Days [via Hackszine]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Peripherals

Not everyone is equipped with the skills (and time) necessary to craft their own flashlight-based cellphone charger, so Sony's looking out for those who'd rather throw down a few bills than handle a soldering iron. Looking to grab business from individuals packing a gazillion or so gadgets that receive energy via USB, the Energy LINK USB adapter provides a no frills alternative to charging and powering your device on-the-go. Aside from doubling as a recharging middleman, it comes with two rechargeable Cycle Energy batteries -- which purportedly "bridge the gap" between alkaline and NiMH cells -- to provide portable charging and power. The included batteries can be fully recharged in around three hours, but there's no word on just how much charging / powering abilities it possesses once powered up. Still, for those needing a simple charging option or a makeshift USB power supply in times of emergency, Sony's $35 Energy LINK should do the trick when it lands this summer. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Displays, HDTV In addition to new micro-displays and the Internet Video Link streaming device, Sony also announced seven BRAVIA LCD sets today. There are two 1080p-capable displays in 40- and 46-inch sizes (KDL-46V3000 and KDL-40V3000), three 720p sets in 26, 40, and 46 inches (KDL-26S3000, KDL-40S3000, and KDL-46S3000), and a pair of 32-inch models (KDL-32S3000 and KDL-32XBR4). The V-series 1080p sets can accept 1080/60p and 24p signals via their HDMI or component inputs, and have the advanced Bravia EX engine for higher-quality upconversion. The 32-inch XBR model has three of the 1080/60p/24p HDMI inputs, and uses Sony's Motionflow 120Hz motion compensation, which creates unique frames to help eliminate blurring and motion artifacts. All the sets have 10-bit color for more capable color gradients, Bravia's video processing engine, and Theatre Sync for control connection between compatible devices. The displays also utilize Sony's XMB Xross Media Bar interface. The XBR and S-series models will be available this spring, while the other sets will come out in the summer -- pricing has not been announced for any of these models. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Home Entertainment Sony looks to be bringing its HD-ready A/V receivers into slightly more affordable territory, today introducing four new models that all come in under the $500 mark. The top-end of the lot is the 7.1 channel STR-DG910 receiver, which will give you 110 watts of power per channel and HDMI pass-through with full 1080p resolution. Moving down the line, the $400 STR-DG810 and $300 STR-DG710 (pictured here) also support full 1080p HDMI pass-through, but take things back to 6.1 channels and 110 watts and 105 watts per channel, respectively. Otherwise, the three receivers pack many of the same features, including Sony's new Digital Media Port, support for XM Connect-and-Play, and Sony's BRAVIA Theater Sync, which'll ensure that they play nice with compatible Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. Rounding out the lineup, the low-end STR-DG510 offers 6.1 channels with 100 watts apiece and will only pass-through HDMI signals at 1080i resolution, although it'll also only set you back $200. Look for all four receivers to roll out in March and April. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: HDTV, Peripherals, Networking

Sony announced last month that they would be releasing products including their new Internet Video Link capabilities, which will allow users to stream free standard and high-definition content through their broadband connections directly to the television, bypassing any set-top boxes or computers. Providers will include AOL, Yahoo!, Sony Pictures, and Sony BMG music, along with user generated videos and RSS feeds. Now we've got more detail on the IVL box, along with a glimpse at the first sets to support it. Apparently the unit will display its wares in Sony's XMB Xross Media Bar format, as seen on the company's PSP and PS3 consoles. The IVL module will be sold separately for $300 starting in July, and it attaches to the back of a "majority" of Sony's 2007 BRAVIA sets -- currently including the new KDL-46S3000, KDL-40S3000, KDL-32S3000, KDL-26S3000, KDL-46V3000, KDL-40V3000 and KDL-32XBR4 LCDs, and the KDF-37E3000, KDF-50E3000 and KDF-46E3000 micro-displays. Looks like a regular ol' USB plug will do the honors, and the IVL saps power from the TV while sipping internet off of an Ethernet plug, so added cable clutter will be fairly minimal. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

I'm not saying procrastination doesn't fly its flag on plenty of occasions, but I don't think it's always the cause ...

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Sony's feeling good enough about its new 3LCD rear-projection line to lose the WEGA moniker and brand these things BRAVIA. Improvements include new cabinets that are about 22 percent slimmer than the last generation, support for the BRAVIA Internet Video Link for peeping AOL, Yahoo! and other internet video content, and the BRAVIA Engine EX for prettier pictures. Leading the pack is the 50-inch, 1080p KDF-50E3000, which along with its 46-inch KDF-46E3000 1080p sibling manages dual HDMI inputs that support 1080/60p and 24p directly to cut out flicker and artifacts, along with a trio of component ins and a PC HDMI plug. The 50-incher measures 12.6-inches deep, while the 45-incher a mere 11.9-inches, so the lines are really starting to blur between these rear projection units and actual flat-panels. The 37-inch KDF-37H1000 steps the resolution down to 1280 x 720, but still supports the same respectable number of inputs as the E3000 displays, and manages to be 10-inches slimmer than its Sony CRT equivalent. The KDF-50E3000 and KDF-46E3000 won't be shipping until July, and we're in the dark as to pricing, but the KDF-37H1000 will arrive in May for about $1,300. The Internet Video Link module will be appearing in July for about $300. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Firefox only (for now): Clip, save, share and organize just about anything on a web page, including video, with Clipmarks 2.0. The new version of this insanely useful browser plug-in adds several features, most notably the option to clip videos from Google, Metacafe, YouTube and other sites. You can post clips directly to your blog or send clips via e-mail, all without saving them first. Version 2.0 also lets you clip words or sentences in addition to paragraphs and pages, and it has consolidated its four-button toolbar into a single button. If you've never tried Clipmarks, give it a look. It's far more versatile than Google Notebook, and the new features are just icing on the cake. Clipmarks 2.0 requires Firefox, though an IE version is coming soon. It's a freebie. — Rick Broida

Clipmarks 2.0

In a previous blog entry, I introduced Chapter 3 of the Getting Things Done book by David Allen. We looked at Horizontal and Vertical focus with respect to our projects and I explained the difference between these two methods of project planning and review. We are now going to look at the three planning models that [...]

We can all point to clear evidence showing that elite performers - in all areas - possess innate strengths that give them an edge over the rest of the crowd. For example, Shaquille O’Neal’s body gives him an edge in professional basketball, and composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven obviously had musical talents that set them apart from generations of artists. But is “talent” really the core ingredient of expertise and elite performance? An interview entitled, The Expert on Experts, from Fast Company’s November 2006 issue, illuminates “expertise” in a different light, and suggests that my examples above are extreme exceptions to the typical evolution of expertise. The interview’s subject is K. Anders Ericsson, professor of psychology at Florida State University and author of the 918-page Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. Ericsson says:

“With the exception of some sports, no characteristic of the brain or body constrains an individual from reaching an expert level….Elite performers aren’t genetically superior. They spontaneously do things differently from those individuals who stagnate. They have different practice histories. Elite performers engage in what we call deliberate practice - an effortful activity designed to improve target performance….. In general, elite performers utilize some technique that isn’t well known or widely practiced.”

I was recently reminded of this Fast Company article when reading Brad Gilbert’s book, I’ve Got Your Back: Coaching Top Performers from Center Court to the Corner Office. Gilbert is a former top-ten tennis pro who later coached #1 players, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. As a youngster, Gilbert was always a good player but he never stood out as a future star. He received a tennis scholarship to a junior college, eventually transferred to Pepperdine University, joined the ATP tour, and slowly worked his way from #180 in the world to his peak ranking of #4. It was this paragraph from Gilbert’s book that struck me:

“I guess a couple of things made me different from other up-and-comers on the tour. Sure, I had resilience and foot speed. But other guys had those traits. What set me apart, maybe, was my eye for the game, my memory of how people played it, and my drive to pay attention. Almost every other guy on the tour, when he was finished with his match, couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there - to go back to the hotel room to watch TV, or go pound a few beers. Call me nutty (and a few people did), but I loved to hang out at the venue: watching matches or practice, shooting the breeze with guys in the locker room or training area. And whenever I was watching tennis, I was taking notes. I kept a little black book on every guy I played, and every guy I saw playing…. if you know the other guy’s weaknesses, you have a huge leg up.”

Later in the book, when Gilbert explains how he helped Andre Agassi improve from a #30 world-ranking to #1, the “black book” technique is featured once again. Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner (authors of the interesting book, Freakonomics) wrote this about Ericsson’s expertise book in The New York Times Magazine:

“The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance makes a rather startling assertion: the trait we commonly call talent is highly overrated. Or, put another way, expert performers - whether in memory or surgery, ballet or computer programming - are nearly always made, not born. And yes, practice does make perfect.”

I find it amazing - and thrilling - that good performers can become elite performers through “deliberate practice” and “utilizing some technique that isn’t widely known or widely practiced.” And I find it fascinating that, since natural talent isn’t the central reason for superior performance and any of us can become an elite performer in an area that deeply interests us, we aren’t all among the “elite” in something. Clearly, everyone has a choice: to become an expert or elite performer in an area of our choosing, or to be a generalist. (And while “generalist” implies mediocrity and dulled impact, we can always turn to Benjamin Franklin and Babe Didrikson Zaharias, two “expert generalists,” for stunning counter examples…)

If you're still wondering whether or not that obscure - but essential - app you love runs on Vista, check out the IeXwiki's Vista software compatibility directory. The directory has three categories of software: "Works," "Has Problems That Can Be Solved," and "Major Incompatibility Issues." Of course this is a user-edited wiki page, so don't take it as the final word, but more like a starting point for researching possible upgrade snags. Speaking of, I'd like to thank the fine developers at Samurize for releasing Vista-friendly version 1.6.3 so I could get my text calendar and todo list displayed on my Vista desktop. — Gina Trapani

Windows Vista RTM Software Compatibility List [IeXwiki via Daily Cup of Tech]

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays It's just a few short months since Samsung last claimed the title of world's thinnest LCD, but the company now seems to be facing a challenge from within, with subsidiary Samsung SDI announcing its bested its parent company's shortly-held record by a few millimeters. For those keeping score, Samsung SDI's LCD comes in at a mere 0.74 millimeters thick, which is more than enough to push Samsung Electronics' 0.82 mm thick LCD down to second place. Of course, the new record holder's still in prototype form, meaning it's still a ways off from actually finding its way into a cellphone, with the company only going so far as to say that it'll make an appearance in its "next-generation phones." Closer to reality, however, is Samsung's comparatively thicker 1.9 mm LCD, which the company says will soon be going into mass production before winding its way into its Ultra Edition II handsets this spring. [Via Mobile Whack] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

For those of you who start to glaze over when we sing the praises of the command line but secretly harbor ninja-like shell mastery ambitions, LinuxCommand.org's got an introduction to the command line for your perusal. The tutorial is aimed at readers on a Linux desktop, but you can always fire up Cygwin, boot into Knoppix or Damn Small Linux to start your learnin' without building a whole other machine. Lessons include file manipulation, permissions, output redirection and job management. Doesn't that sound fun? Don't forget to check out my introduction to Cygwin series, part 1, 2, and 3, too. — Gina Trapani

Learning the Shell [LinuxCommand.org via kottke.org]

Blogger Steve Rubel details how he uses Gmail as his center of operation for almost all of his work. His post describes:

• How to turn Gmail into a massive personal database (Gmail + the Google Toolbar)
• How to get real-time news updates in Gmail (Gmail+ Google Talk + Twitter)
• How to automatically store your bookmarks in Gmail (Gmail + del.icio.us + Yahoo Alerts)
• How to manage Calendar and To-Dos in Gmail (Gmail + Backpack + GCal + GTalk + iMified)
• How to blog from Gmail (Gmail + Wordpress/TypePad/Blogger + IMified)

Rubel's methods are certainly inventive, and though they lack the speed of similar offline tools, they are spot-on if you do a lot of work from different computers. Though it's hard to imagine doing all of this from Gmail (sometimes it's best not to try to make an apple out of an orange), it can make life easier to integrate tools when you can, and Rubel offers several interesting ways to squeeze more functionality out of Gmail. — Adam Pash

Turn Gmail Into Your Personal Nerve Center [Micro Persuasion]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment Looks like the Apple TV took a little longer to put the spit and polish on than Apple initially thought. According to Apple PR Director of Mac products Lynn Fox, "Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we now expect to begin shipments mid-March." Odd, being that Apple first showed this thing off last Fall -- and bummer for everybody waiting for their product. But you'd rather have it right than have it all crappy-wrong-first-gen, no? That was the silver lining for Vista's delayed launch, anyway. P.S. -For those who just got a pang of sadness on what you're missing out on, maybe these pics of the Apple TV we took at Macworld 2007 will cheer you up.

Gallery: First Apple TV pics! Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!