featured desktop

The Shinjuku Streets Desktop

Flickr user I am Triet combined a gorgeous tilt-shift photo of a rainy street in Shinjuku with a few simple Windows tweaks to create a desktop that's clean, elegant, and still open enough that you can get plenty of work done without having to move windows around to see information on the desktop.
If you want to get the same look with your Windows 7 desktop, here's what you'll need:

• The wallpaper from Artescritorio.com
• RocketDock for the application dock at the bottom of the screen (I am Triet doesn't remember which icon pack he used, but reader hybridr6 found it! It's called Icon Pack 2 and it's available at DeviantArt. Thanks!)
• Rainmeter, a system monitor and customization utility for Windows
• The MagazineLike theme pack for Rainmeter
• The Feena Casual font

This setup is pretty simple, and the Rainmeter widgets all sit together neatly in one part of the desktop. Still, if you need a little help with the setup, we have an excellent tutorial on setting up Rainmeter that can help.
If you have a Mac or are running Linux, you can approximate some of the same effects using GeekTool or Conky, respectively.

 

 Work space 1-

The Wall-Fitted Workspace

When choosing the right desk we tend to think in terms of rectangles, but not all workspaces are perfect quadrilaterals. Such is the case with reader and Flickr user owenjonesdesign, who still managed to make things work with a desk that fits perfectly against his oddly-shaped wall.
To be fair, the desk looks to be custom, but if you've got an oddly-shaped wall you don't have to fit a regular desk. Create or acquire a custom-fit surface and you can use an standard legs. It'll make good use of your space and look pretty nice, too.
If you have a workspace of your own to show off, throw the pictures on your Flickr account and add it to the Lifehacker Workspace Show and Tell Pool. Include some details about your setup and why it works for you.

Any Do For android !

Any.DO Is a Crazy Intuitive, Gesture-Based To-Do App for Android

Android: Android has a lot of great to-do apps, but few of them are as easy to use as Any.DO. You can add tasks by voice, manage them with simple gestures, and even use its predictive features to instantly add common tasks to your to-do list.
The biggest problem with to-do list apps is that you often spend more time managing your to-dos than you do actually doing them. Any.DO makes adding and managing tasks a breeze, so you can get to work faster. Adding a task is as simple as typing in a word or two (it cam predict common tasks like "Go Grocery Shopping", so you only need to type a few letters) or using voice commands. You can then drag and drop tasks to a different day, swipe to complete, and even shake the phone to clear all completed tasks (probably the first time I've ever used a shake gesture and didn't think it was gimmicky).
It also has a few more advanced features, like sharing, reminders, folders, and priorities. Right now, it can only sync with Google Tasks, but the app's Market page notes that synchronization with other services—like Remember the Milk, Producteev, Springpad, Outlook, and more—are on the roadmap for future versions. If you're still unhappy with your current to-do app, I can't recommend it highly enough.
Any.DO is a free download for Android only.

Any.DO | Android Market

ios 5 update for iphone 4

iOS 5.0.1 Update Now Available to Install and Improve Your Battery Life, Add Multitasking Gestures to iPad

Today Apple released their first update to iOS 5 ahead of expectations. Among the usual bug fixes, this update brings aid to the dwindling battery life experienced by many owners of the iPhone 4S. Users of the beta have reported that the improvements have been ideal and they can make it through the day no problem. If you weren't lucky enough to test it out early, go run Software Update on your iPhone (Settings > General > Software Update) and get it right now. It took a few minutes for our phones to realize an update was available so be patient and don't worry—it's there. iPad 1 users will also be glad to know that the update brings back multitasking gestures—something that previously required a little hacking to enable.

Google’s CEO Hates Gmail

Larry Page is a busy man. The Google CEO wants his company moving quickly and decisively. That, in turn, means eliminating the plodding exchanges fostered by Gmail.com. Who invented that thing, anyway?
"He does not much like e-mail," the New York Times says of Page today, "even his own Gmail, saying the tedious back-and-forth takes too long to solve problems... He has put his personal imprint on the corporate culture, from discouraging excessive use of e-mail to embracing quick, unilateral decision-making."
But, hey, maybe we're setting up a straw man here. Gmail has always been one communication tool among many, alongside Gchat, phone calls, and face to face meetings. No one ever suggested Gmail was built to solve all communications needs, right? Actually, "Gmail solves all of my communication needs" is a direct quote from the Gmail launch press release. It was attributed to one Larry Page. Apparently he's walking that one back!

Keep It Evergreen

“We are but an island in an ocean;
This is our home, third from the sun.
Let it be evergreen.
To keep it ever green,
I would lay my life down.
God, keep it evergreen.”
–”The Earth Anthem” by The Turtles

Enough has been done to educate the world about the significance of environment. It’s time we do something in the actual sense. The Ads4good application helps people to do their bit for the environment. Rajagopalan Nats is one of those who is using his blogging platform in fighting for the environment.
Rajagopalan Nats | An electrical engineer by profession, Rajagopalan is also a freelance blogger who has two insightful blogs, while Just outis a newsblog where he provides his own insights on popular news, and raises important environmental issues, Web Browser is a useful tool for those wishing to explore new and interesting websites.
Little initiatives make a great deal of difference.

Social Change Makers

Animals Have Rights, As We Do

May 20, 2010 | 3 comments

Needless to throw light on how animals are being treated by us. Of many threats endangering the helpless animals, MAN is the deadliest of all. And yet we call ourselves soulful living things. Of very few people who do not consider animals machines, Vishal Marathe,  also once a part of Save The Tiger Campaign, is one.
Vishal Marathe | A die-hard Chelsea Football Club fan from Thane is a SEO executive. His blog Chelsea FC Blog has all updates of Chelsea club matches. From  match scores to videos to a detailed commentary of how terrific Chelsea club played, you will find everything on this blog.
Animals Have Equal Rights

“I love animals and to see the way animals are treated is very disturbing. They have as much right to live happily as we do. Our tigers are on the verge of extinction and we can’t afford to let our wildlife in further danger, ” says Vishal. “With Ads4Good widget, I can make some difference”.

True, a nation which has been gifted with rich wildlife cannot and should not  take this gift for granted.

Social Change Makers

“Poverty is the root-cause of all problems,” says Ads4Good Social Changemaker

April 27, 2010 | 1 comment

This week Ads4Good has a young student who considers Poverty as the root cause of the numerous problems the country is facing today. True, lack of basic requirements result in all other issues; thus leading to stagnation of progress and growth.
Here’s featuring someone who is helping to uplift lives of as many people he can with the Ads4Good widget.
Arun Gupta | A student (B.Tech) and a freelancer who designs & develops websites. Passionate about Internet & Web Technologies, he started his Blog Technofreak to pen down his insights on technology. Technofreak is all about technologies related to PCs, Mobiles, Troubleshooting, and technology Tips and Tricks.

Arun who is a student had always wanted to contribute something for the poor.

I had this wish of doing something good for the underprivileged of the society. But being a student I could not do anything substantial for them. Surprisingly, Ads4Good happened and I grabbed it. I am glad, I can now serve the society,

shares Arun who is supporting Poverty Relief.

Social Change Makers

Jugaadbhai On Jugaad For Environment

April 21, 2010 | Be first to comment

While Aircell is advocating “Save Our Tigers” and Idea Cellular advising to save paper, Ads4Good is doing the little effort it can by donating the money generated from the commercial ads of Ads4Good widget to help save the environment.
Joining us in the effort is the Jugaadbhai.Com, a website with a concept as interesting as its name.
Jugaadbhai.Com | A place everyone would want to log on to find creative and innovative solutions to problems. JugaadBhai.com is a simple concept where they show different ‘Jugaads’ done by people through Pictures and Videos. Also, their Samay Pass/Online Khel sections are two segments full of fun.
From Jugaadbhai,

“Our Environment quickly needs a Jugaad It’s high time each one of us get down to doing our part to save the world we live in.  With Ads4Good widget we are trying to do our bit in saving the degrading environment and also encourage people who visit our site to be sensitive towards the environment. “

True, it is high time we take our environment seriously. And if you still don’t agree, watch the video below.

Social Change Makers

Love Your Planet

April 15, 2010 | Be first to comment

Facts are this, the island nations of the world are slowly sinking. The polar ice caps are melting. Global temperatures are increasing, water resources are depleting and climatic conditions are as volatile as the stock market. And in such scathing situation, it is upon us to not let our lovely world die.
Few of us take long to get into action, and few know how they can make a difference. Julia is one of those who knows what her help means.
Julia Scissor | An environmental activist and polyglot chose to add the Ads4Good widget on her blog to help save the environment.  Her blog Crazy Quilt is a personal space which she uses to pen down her experiences. In her words it’s her “Thought-Dump”.

“The environment is a cause I am passionate about and it’s close to my heart. I have been actively involved with various environmental issues. For us to be alive, our environment has to live. Margaret Mead had once said- We Won’t have a society if we destroy the environment. Today the statement holds so true,” says Julia

Indeed, for us to survive the environment around us has to be healthy.  Will you join Julia to protect the environment?

Social Change Makers

Helping Narrow The Gap

April 6, 2010 | Be first to comment

“It pains me to see people so poor, and pains me even more to see children being deprived of education due to poverty and forced to work. Both Poverty Alleviation and Education are interdependent. One cannot be solved without solving the other,” says Biswajit Dhar.

The picture below truly justifies Biswajit’s logic.

(source: roomtoread)

The recent stats say about 1.4 billion people live below the poverty line. 640 million people around the world have no proper home to live in and 1 in every 2 child is poor. And one of the major cause is of it is the lack of Education.
In a world where the inequality gaps are widening to the extent where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer; doing even the minutest help would help narrow this gap. With Ads4Good Widget on both his blogs, Biswajit is making a difference.
Your help would count too.
Biswajit Dhar | Biswajit is a Delhi  based full time call centre executive with a passion for photography. His blog, Delhi Street Photography (supports Poverty Alleviation), is a personal space which he uses to live his passion- capturing the mundane yet eventful lives of people and places with the lens. His other blog Rhymes and Frames, where he supports Education of  the underprivileged, is a collection of poems.

Social Change Makers

The Power Of Education

March 19, 2010 | Be first to comment

About 750 million people in the world do not know to read and write. And of this most belong to the continent Africa, accounting to about more than 60% of illiterate population. Also, Africa is one of the least developed (poorest) countries. Need we say more?
It is apparent that education and development have a direct relation. And do develop a nation and eventually the world, there need to be more people able to read, write and think on their own. This is what Pascal Nunes aims to do with adding Ads4Good Ads Widget on his blog- NunesPascal.Com.
Pascal Nunes |  Pascal who loves travelling and Photography is a tech geek passionate about clearing obstacles people face as using computers to perform tasks. His Games section on his blog has few very old and interesting computer games.
In simple words Pascal sums up the power education carries with it.

“Education is an enabler. It is the leverage that many need to fight poverty, social evils, etc. When you educate a child, you educate the generation that come after him/her.”

With the fund raised out of Ads4Good Ads Pascal surely will manage to educate more than one child, And You?

Social Change Makers

“Education Can Uplift Lives”- Jithin Krishnan

March 16, 2010 | 4 comments

To many it would come as a surprise to learn the myriad ways Jithin Krishnan, a student at Asian College of Journalism, has taken to to extend help to the society. Yes, it is surprising and also inspiring when a student indulges himself in an act of responsibility.
Jithin Krishnan | Besides being a blogger, Jithin is also the Vice President in charge of Public Relations at Make A Difference (MAD), a youth volunteer organization which works to educate the lesser-fortunate children across India. A reflection of his work can been seen at the MAD blog- http://makeadiff.in/blog/
Someone of that kind surely could not have missed out on any chance of doing good to those in need in any way possible. Jithin turned out amongst first few to add the Ads4Good widget on his blog-The Jinxability Blog- to help support education of children.

“In my last three years of work at MAD, I have come to realize the importance of education and that it is the strongest element to uplift lives in the truest way.”

Truly books are the windows through which souls look out.
Jithin’s efforts and vigilance to grab every single opportunity to add value to other’s life make one question- whoever said the youth today is irresponsible?

• Gmail

 

How to Set Up Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts (Properly) on iOS

The iPhone is a fantastic phone, but if you're a heavy user of Google services, it can be a little confusing to set up your Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts to sync with iOS. The default method's no good. Here's the better way to do it.
You can get all your Google services syncing (complete with push sync—that is, messages push to your phone as soon as you receive them) with iOS by setting up just one account. The trick is to choose Microsoft Exchange at the prompt instead of Gmail. This will give you access not only to your Gmail, but your calendars and contacts, and they will all sync directly to your phone—when you add a contact in Gmail or edit an event on Google Calendar, you'll see it show up on your phone without having to sync anything. To set it up:

Full size

1. Open up the Settings app on your iOS device and go to the "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" section. Hit "Add Account".
2. From there, choose Microsoft Exchange as the type of account (again, don't choose Gmail).
3. Type in your Gmail address under Email. Leave the Domain field blank and enter your full Gmail address under Username (including the @gmail.com, @googlemail.com, or other suffix). Type in your password and give it any description you like. Mine's just called "Gmail".
4. Press the Next button at the top of the screen. It should pop up a message saying Unable to Verify Certificate—if it does, just hit cancel. Then, type m.google.com in the new "Server" box that shows up at the top of the screen. Then tap Next.

From there, you should be all set. You can turn on Mail, Contact, and Calendar syncing from the account settings page that shows up. Note that pressing the trash can icon in the Mail app will archive a message, not delete it completely. If you want to delete it, you can hit the folder icon and choose Trash from the menu to move it to the trash.