JetBlue Auctions Off Flights Starting at Five Cents [Travel]
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Power User's Guide to Google Chrome [Google Chrome]
Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/386801509/the-power-users-guide-to-google-chrome
Now that you've been enjoying Google Chrome's headliner features and speed for almost a week now, it's time to dig into the less obvious functionality and options you don't already know about. Become a keyboard shortcut master, take a peek under the hood, and customize its behavior and skin with some of the best shortcuts, bookmarklets, themes, add-ons, and subtle functionality in Google Chrome.
What, you don't like Google Chrome? Here, have the power user's guide to Firefox 3.
Mousing Around Chrome
Despite its marketing as a minimalistic browser that forgoes all the extras, Chrome's interface actually sports quite a few useful features. Here are a few that will speed up your browsing with the mouse even more:
- Click and hold (or right-click) the Back or Forward button to go directly to a page far behind or forward in your browsing history.
When you've got a URL on your clipboard, right-click Chrome's address bar to Paste and go to your destination (and save yourself an extra tap on the Enter key).
- Click and drag any textarea corner to resize it to your liking; great for blog comments, web email, or forums with textareas that aren't big enough to accommodate your masterpiece.
- Ctrl+Mousewheel to zoom in or out of pages in Chrome.
- Drag and drop downloa! ds o ut of Chrome's status bar and onto your desktop to save them there, or into any Explorer window to save them there. (You already know you can drag and drop a Chrome tab out into a new window, or back into an existing Chrome window to dock it there.)
Chrome's Keyboard Shortcuts
If you're not much for the mouse, you're in luck: Google Chrome has lots of built-in keyboard shortcuts, many of which mirror Firefox's—so you don't have to retrain your fingers. Here are a few of our favorites:
- (Chrome only) Ctrl+B toggles the bookmarks bar on and off.
- (Chrome only) Shift+Escape opens Google Chrome's Task Manager.
- Ctrl+L to move your cursor to the address bar.
- Ctrl+K moves your cursor to the address bar to enter a Google search.
- Ctrl+T opens a new tab.
- Ctrl+N opens a new window.
- Ctrl+Shift+T opens the last closed tab.
- (Chrome only) Ctrl+Shift+N opens a new window in "Incognito Mode."
- Ctrl+Tab cycles through open tabs; Ctrl+Shift+Tab reverse cycles through open tabs.
- Ctrl+J opens the Downloads tab.
- Ctrl+W closes the current tab.
- Ctrl+R refreshes the current page.
- Ctrl+H opens the History tab.
- Alt+Home loads your homepage.
- Ctrl+1 through 9 switches to a particular open tab position.
- Ctrl++, Ctrl+-, Ctrl+0 Enlarges, reduces, and restores default text sizes, respectively.
Tweak Your Options
Hit up Chrome's Options dialog (click on the wrench, and choose Options) to customize Chrome's behavior even more.
- Set multiple tab as your home page. While Chrome's default thumbnail page of your most visited sites is pretty cool, you might want to just skip that step and set the browser to open certain tabs every time. Like Firefox, Chrome can set several tabs as your homepage. In the Options' dialog Basics area, under "Open the following pages," enter the URLs.
- Open the last session's tabs automatically. Also like Firefox, Chrome can automatically restore the tabs from your last browser session. In that same Options area as above, just select "Restore the pages that were open last."
- Add the home button to your toolbar. Chrome's toolbar is pretty sparse by design, but once you've set your homepage(s), you might want to get to them in one click. In the Options dialog's Basics tab, you can also check off "Show Home button on the toolbar."
- Set your default Downloads save location. Also in Options—but under the "Minor Tweaks" tab—you can set Chrome's default download location to something other than the "My Documents" folder.
Master Chrome's Startup Switches
Like all good open source software, Chrome comes with a long list of "startup switches"—that is, parameters you can use when you launch the program to customize its behavior. While most of the switches are only useful to developers, a handful let power users do some handy stuff.
Quick primer: To use a startup switch, create a new Chrome shortcut on your desktop (or elsewhere). Right-click it and choose Properties. In the Target field, add the switch in question immediately following the path to chrome.exe. For example, your target using a -disable-java switch might look like:
Here are some things you can do wi! th Chrom e's startup switches.
Tweak the number of suggestions the address bar offers. Increase or reduce the number of suggestions in the address bar drop-down using the -omnibox-popup-count switch. For example, to increase it to 10 suggestions, use -omnibox-popup-count=10. [via The How-To Geek]
Create and maintain multiple user profiles. Since Chrome learns so much from your usage patterns, you might want to create more than one user personality based on the task at hand. For example, you can set up a "work Chrome" and a "play Chrome" user profile (like you can with Firefox's user profiles). While Chrome doesn't offer a handy utility to create new profiles like Firefox does, all it takes is creating a new user directory, and then using Chrome's --user-data-dir startup switch to point it there. The Digital Inspiration blog runs down how to create and use multiple profiles in Chrome.
Speed up browsing by disabling functionality. When you want to surf Flash-free, Java-free, or even Javascript-free (even though that's not really the point of Chrome, but whatever), there's a list of -disable Chrome startup switches that can block plug-ins, content, or features you don't want, like:
-disable-dev-tools
-disable-hang-monitor
-disable-images
-disable-java
-disable-javascript
-disable-logging
-disable-metrics
-disable-metrics-reporting
-disable-plugins
-disable-popup-blocking
-disable-prompt-on-repost
Always start Chrome in a maximized window. Take advantage of all that screen real estate you've got with! Chrome. Using the -start-maximized startup switch, the browser will fill your screen on launch, automatically.
Themes
Dress up Google Chrome to your liking by downloading a Chrome theme and saving its default.dll file into the application's Themes directory.
For Windows XP users, by default that folder is:
In Windows Vista it's:
(Note if Google Chrome updates, you may have to change the version number in this path.)
Reveal Chrome's Secret Diagnostic Info
While Chrome doesn't have Firefox's super-handy about:config area, it does have several about: pages that show you all sorts of interesting information about what's going on behind the scenes. Check out Google Chrome's full list of hidden about: pages here.
Get Extras: Bookmarklets, AutoHotkey Scripts, and More Chrome-Related Downloads
While Google Chrome doesn't support extensions (yet), several macros, bookmarklets, and other third-party extras can make working with Chrome easier. Here's a quick list.
- Block ads in Google Chrome with Privoxy. Using free web proxy and ad-blocking software Privoxy, you can block distracting advertisements in Google Chrome.
- Create Custom Chrome keyboard shortcuts with AutoHotKey. O! ur favor ite Windows macro scripting language, AutoHotKey, can make browsing with Chrome via the keyboard even easier. Here's a full Chrome shortcut AHK file that adds nine keyboard shortcuts (including the much-needed "Paste and go" shortcut).
- Preview a web site's RSS feeds, or print a page in one click with bookmarklets. Without toolbars or extensions, plain old bookmarklets come in very hand. Here's a bookmarklet that auto-detects and previews a web site's feed. Here's one that will print the current page. (You can also just hit the Ctrl+P keyboard shortcut).
- Open pages from Firefox in Chrome. If you're browsing in both Firefox and Chrome and like to use Chrome for certain pages, the Open in Google Chrome Firefox extension does just that. With it installed, set certain links to open in Chrome, or select a link and choose "Open in Chrome" manually from the context menu.
- Run Chrome from your thumb drive. When you're in IT lockdown or traveling from computer to computer (but want to keep your Chrome settings), you want the portable, standalone version of Chrome (free download).
- Anonymize your Chrome surfing. Chrome Anonymizer scrambles your unique ID and makes it impossible for anyone to track what you're doing in Chrome.
Shuck off Google's Branding and Go Open Source with Chromium
Switch to the more frequently updated and open source version of the Chrome browser, called Chromium. Google expert Phillip Lennsen explains:
Do you want Google Chrome without Google's branding and with an open source license (BSD license)? Check out Chromium, the open source project created for Google Chrome. You can install the latest snapshots for Windows or download the code and build it in Windows, Mac, Linux.
To install Chromium in Windows, go to the most recent directory from this page (it should be at the top) and download mini_installer.exe. Note that these snapshots could be less stable than the version available at google.com/chrome and you may need to manually update Chromium.
Speaking of updating, you can keep on top of frequent Chromium builds using the Chrome Nightly Builds Updater utility.
Look Forward to What's Coming
Word on the street is that Chrome is coming for Mac and Linux users, as are extensions—plus it'll be in Google's upcoming mobile phone operating system, Android. (Linux users, if you can't want for Chrome and don't want to build Chromium yourself, here's how to run Google Chrome in Ubuntu with WINE.)
What are your favorite Google Chrome tips and tricks? Shout 'em out in the comments.
Gina Trapani, the editor of Lifehacker, likes her Chrome tricked out just so. Her weekly feature, Geek to Live, appears every Monday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Geek to Live feed to get new installments in your newsreader.
A First Look at OpenOffice.org 3.0 [Screenshot Tour]
Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/387037848/a-first-look-at-openofficeorg-30
Free, alternative office suite OpenOffice.org's latest version 3.0 is now available for download by testers. OpenOffice.org 3.0 Release Candidate 1 offers several new features and improvements from its last major release, including better Mac support and collaboration capabilities. Let's take a look at the notable fso you can decide if it's worth taking another look at OpenOffice.org as an alternative to Microsoft Office.
The most immediately noticeable change is the splash screen called the Start Center when you lauch OpenOffice.org. From the Start Center, you select which portion of OpenOffice.org you want to use. The Start Center is shown above in the opening screenshot.
Mac OS X users will be pleased with 3.0, because support for OS X is even more robust. OpenOffice.org 3.0 works right out of the box with minimal fuss. Another bonus for OS X users: features that were dropped from the Mac version of Microsoft Office such as the spreadsheet Solver and VBA support are included in the Mac version of OpenOffice.org.
OpenOffice.org already supports the upcoming OpenDocument Format 1.2, allowing you to save your documents in ODF for a bit of future proofing. OpenDocument Format is supported by organizations and governments in more than 60 countries.
For Microsoft Office files you currently have on hand, OpenOffice.org will import and read them, but it cannot save them back into Microsoft Office format if y! ou make changes. Be forewarned that while the importer won't change the words or turn your English sonnet into a Japanese haiku, it is an imperfect beast and won't be gentle with your formatting options.
In the past, the crop and other drawing tools weren't very polished or intuitive to use. The tools have been revised and simple things like cropping a picture within a presentation slideshow or document has become much easier as the layout and functionality of the tools more closely mimics standard interfaces the user has already encountered.
Spreadsheet collaboration is now possible among multiple editors with the Workbook Sharing feature. The spreadsheet has also been expanded, users can now have up to 1024 columns of data compared to the 256 available to previous OpenOffice.org users.
In the same vein of collaboration, note taking on Writer documents is now much more usable. Different editors get different colors to help keep the note taking and editing process more streamlined. The author note location shifted from the document text itself to the margin, similar to Microsoft Word, greatly improving readability.
The improved chart engine is not exclusive to OpenOffice.org 3.0 RC1, it is new since the last major release of OpenOffice.org, which now renders charts more quickly and with greater options than be! fore.
OpenOffice.org 3.0 offers enhanced support for PDF files, allowing you greater control over security, printing, and editing options. You can set passwords for opening and editing, restrict permissions on the file, select how the file can be printed and at what resolution, and control who can alter your documents.
Like other great open source projects such as Firefox, Open Office has support for extensions to allow you to tweak the software as you see fit. The Open Office Extension Repository is filled with everything from dictionaries to templates to file import wizards to code formatting tools.
Do you use OpenOffice.org in your day-to-day work? Are the new features in 3.0 RC1 enough to pique your interest? Grab the install files for your respective OS, below.
Rip Full DVDs to your Hard Drive without the Nasty DRM [DVDs]
The obsolete dinosaur of proprietary media players, RealNetworks, introduces a new DVD-copying tool today called RealDVD. The upshot: For $30, RealDVD can make simple, DRMed backups of an entire DVD—menus, special features, and all—on your hard drive. RealDVD has gotten a lot of attention for this application, but fact is, you can already do all of this for free with the right tools. If you don't feel like dropping $30 to get RealDVD's functionality, let's take a look at how you can get the same functionality for free.
We've shown you how to turn your PC into a DVD ripping monster,so if you want more details, check out that post.
Rip Full DVDs to Your Hard Drive
First, to rip DVDs to your hard drive—menus, special features, and all the rest—you've got two great options:
These apps provide simple tools to rip an entire DVD to your hard drive. The main difference between the two is that DVD Shrink can compress the rip so it takes up about half the space on your hard drive (around 4GB rather than 8GB for standard DVDs, for example). If you want to make ripping DVDs to your hard drive a dead-simple, one-click affair, check out our DVD Shrink helper application, DVD Rip.
Play Back Ripped DVDs
When you rip a DVD to your hard drive using one of the tools above, you're left with a folder on your comput! er with other folders inside with names like VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS inside—meaning there's no obvious double-click-me-to-play file. Instead, you need to learn to play back these DVD folders. We've shown you how to play ripped DVDs with VLC (our favorite open source media player), but it's a bit of a pain. If you really want to make it easy (and browse your ripped DVDs with cover art), check out DVD Play, our VLC helper application for playing back DVD rips (watch the video below to see it in action).
Burn Ripped DVDs Back to a DVD
What's the Difference?
The main reason RealDVD is getting so much attention is that it's the first "legal" application to rip your DVDs in this fashion. The New York Times article makes the legality of RealDVD appear questionable—at least relative to its already free counterparts (DRM is its attempt to circumvent legal issues, but whether or not that will work is up in the air)—so the only major difference I can see is that RealDVD wraps all of the features of the above programs into one attractive tool. But at a $30 pricetag for a tool that adds DRM to your rips, the free alternatives seem like a better option for most. Also, if full menus don't matter to you, popular tools like HandBrake can rip videos to popular file formats.
Still, we're curious: Are you interested in buying something like RealDVD? Would the DRM hold you back? Share your thoughts in the comment! s.
< div>RealDVD [via NYT]Verayo RFID Chips Use "Electronic DNA" to Make Them "Unclonable" [RFID]
The company has an academic paper explaining how their tags work, for those of us more programming literate. Each 64 bit challenge-response duo is random and generated on demand. Pairs are then uploaded to a main database for authentication purposes. According to Verayo, even if information is copied onto a new chip, it'll have a different challenge and response. One possible point of attack already identified—if someone breaks into the main database and harvests all existing challenge-response information, what happens then? [Verayo via Slashdot]
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