Tip of the day

Flicking between applications on the Windows Task bar: Windows-Tab.

Nate made one for CNET.co.uk a while back...

I'm not sure how sites allow Firefox to automatically detect the search plug-in. If I find out, I'll post it on here and maybe the CNET web-boffins could use it for Nate's search engine?

If you want to try protecting your security on the web, I hope you know to look for the "https" in your address bar. This means that the data flowing between you and the server is SSL secured. (and it's a no-brainer that you should never perform a financial transaction without an SSL connection).

What you might not realise is that some sites have an SSL server that isn't presented to you by default. An easy way to find out is to simply edit the address line in your browser by inserting an "s" after the "http". If it works, you'll get a secure connection, if not you'll get an error, but at least you tried.

Want to use an instant messenger, but you're on some computer that doesn't belong to you and you can't install the right client software?

Then head over to Meebo.com. This is multi-protocol IM client that works on a web page in your browser. No need to install any software at all!

Also, from my tip yesterday about forcing a secure http connection, Meebo is one of the sites that offer this. So make sure you use https://www.meebo.com when you go there.

Use a mac but need to use BSD/Linux. Try Kju. It can run windows at near native speeds in OS X intel and even works on G4/G5 PC's, albeit at much slower speeds.

Make your own "Safely Remove Hardware" shortcut (Windows)

Hopefully you know that when you're using things like external drives that you should click the "Remove safely" icon from your system tray, before you unplug them. You do know that don't you?

Well, thanks for the immortal kookyness of Windows, sometimes that icon isn't available in the system tray. So what the heck are you meant to do in that case? Well, you do it yourself!

Create a shortcut, anywhere you like to the following DLL file:

A good place to put the shortcut is either in your QuickLaunch bar or somewhere off of the Start menu.

You can even choose your own icon. Here's the properties screen of mine: Clicky

Need a scanner but you're on the move?
Just use your digital camera, James Bond style! Digital cameras have such a high resolution these days that most documents you snap will be easily readable.

I actually do this all the time now for my document management. It's so much quicker than scanning.

If you're really fussed about not having any lens distortions, you can easily correct and crop in a photo editing package such as Photoshop or GIMP.

Ive been using this site for a while now and it always stands me in good stead.

RecipeMatcher

Me and my girlfriend find it helps keep a track on what we have in the cupboards also as you can build up an list and deduct stuff as you use it in the suggested recipes.