Candlelight Be Damned, LED Forks Are Here

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/hYR7hx_FrBQ/

It's the Valentine month, and love is in the air. Planning out gifts, romantic dinners, cards…awesome fun! Care to sparkle the evening a bit? Dine in elegance in exquisite settings with gourmet food, candlelights and good old charm! Perhaps lightWARE cutlery will illuminate the ambience; after all it's a heady combination of silver, crystal and LED lights.

With a silver head and engraved crystal body, the least you expect from a cutlery is to emit soft colorful lighting. At the tip is a removable silver cap that hosts the LED and a watch size battery. Giving the adage "Silver Spoon" a totally luminous meaning, I reckon this will be a hit during the dating season!

Designer: David Veldkamp

David Veldkamp

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D-FileMU Renames Your Files on the Go [File Management]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/tcF7t3RuaMw/d+filemu-renames-your-files-on-the-go

Windows only: D-FileMU is an ultra-compact and portable file renaming application that sports a spartan, but effective, user interface and up to seventeen ways to organize your files.

If the enormous command-center-style dashboard interface of previously reviewed Bulk Rename Utility is overwhelming and way more than you need, D-FileMU provides a simple—and soothingly blue—alternative to all that extra chrome. All the basic file renaming tools are present in D-FileMU, but laid out in a step by step way that allows you to selectively activate them. After choosing the actions you want to perform—completely replacing the name, appending it, removing select characters, etc.—you can choose the files to act on one-by-one, or by file extension. In a basic test where one thousand image files were completely renamed, D-FileMU performed the task in a matter of seconds, keeping it on par with other, bulkier renaming tools I use. D-FileMU is freeware, Windows only.

D-FileMU [via MakeUseOf]

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Roll Your Own LogMeIn Pro with Free Apps [Remote Desktop]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/XBwDPPMLDGI/roll-your-own-logmein-pro-with-free-apps

LogMeIn Pro offers fans of the well-liked remote desktop software some key features over the free version, including file syncing and remote printing. With some free apps, you can cover most of the difference.

The Daily Cup of Tech blog recommends a few free apps that boost a free LogMeIn connection to nearly pro-level features. Key among them is the use of Dropbox, the free, multi-platform, password-syncing, Hive-Five-winning app. The basic idea is that if you need to manipulate a file you've got locally with another remote computer, simply drop your file into your Dropbox bin, and it'll arrive there in a few moments.

For printing from one computer to another, Tim Fehlman suggests using a Windows PDF printing solution, like the http://lifehacker.com/software//create-a-pdf-from-any-document-032880.phpCutePDF Writer and doPDF options we've written about before. Another good pick is the previously mentioned Yuuguu for screen sharing, as its a very simple connection (PIN and username) and works with both Macs and PCs.

The only no-go with Cup of Tech's free substition plan is remote audio streaming—something that only a fraction of the user base would likel! y want, but still a nifty feature. Any suggestions from our remote-savvy readers on getting all your remote system's audio through your local speakers?

Expanding Your LogMeIn Free's Abilities [Daily Cup of Tech]

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Skype 4.0 Finalizes Video Chat, Bandwidth Improvements [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/gmCwr1zmYs8/skype-40-finalizes-video-chat-bandwidth-improvements

Windows only: Skype 4.0 is officially out, and it features all the really big video windows and Outlook and problem-reporting tools from last year's betas. It also beefs up Skype's handling of bandwidth.

The biggest jump noticeable, at least for users of the official 3.8 version, is the window real estate given to video chat and IM chats, and the general overhaul given to the app's skin and look. Skype's standard two-pane video chat has been traded in for a picture-in-picture layout, but that can be changed by dragging out your own video thumbnail.

Skype also touts a new audio engine and network manager, Silk, that uses half the bandwidth to provide audio and tries to save it from stuttering when Skype notices your connection slowing down in the background. The video engine purportedly does the same type of save-the-call moves when your bandwidth drops off.

Skype 4.0 is a free download for Windows systems only. Skype hounds, are you noticing better audio quality and fewer glitch-outs? Liking the new look of video chat? Tell us in the comments. Screenshot from Skype.

Skype 4.0 for Windows [via Download.com]

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Make Homemade Vanilla Extract [Cooking]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/ixqF5Uo2LeM/make-homemade-vanilla-extract

Making your homemade vanilla extract might seem like overkill—why not just shell out the small ransom for a tiny bottle? But brewing your own is surprisingly simple, and yields customized, better-tasting results.

Photo by Bill HR.

Over at the culinary blog Chocolate and Zucchini, they have a detailed but simple guide to making your own extract. It's not more complicated than putting sliced vanilla beans into a jar with a high-proof alcohol like vodka or rum.

Using a sharp knife, slice the beans open lengthwise to expose the seeds. Tuck the beans in the jar and fill with liquor. Close the jar, shake it a few times, and place it in a cool, dark cabinet; you may have to whisper a few words of reassurance if the jar is, understandably, a little frightened.Let the jar rest in there for 8 weeks, shaking it again once or twice a week, or whenever you remember to. The mixture will get darker and darker over time.

The best part about the entire process is, so long as you throw a few more beans in occasionally and top off the alcohol as needed, you've got a perpetual source of rich and fresh vanilla extract. For a more extensive take on customizing the brew and getting the best results, check out VanillaReview.com's picture-packed guide.

Homemade Vanilla Extract [Chocolate and Zucchini]

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