Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

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  • D/\SH
    Owner - Staff
    • Feb 07
    • 32484

    Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

    Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day
    Requirements: PDF Reader
    Overview: Acknowledgments
    Introduction
    Chapter 1 Free Up Mental RAM
    Image
    Hack 1: Email Your Future Self 2
    Hack 2: Manage a todo.txt File at the Command Line
    The Command Line Interface 5
    Why Plain Text? 6
    Install todo.sh 6
    Using todo.sh 8
    Create a Sortable, Searchable todo.txt 8
    List Tasks with todo.sh 10
    Prioritize Tasks 10
    More Uses for todo.txt
    Hack 3: Develop Your (Digital) Photographic Memory
    Tag Your Photos on Flickr 12
    Upload Photos to Flickr from Your Camera Phone 13
    Your Photo Reference
    Hack 4: Install Your Personal Wikipedia
    What You Need 16
    What to Do 16
    You’re Ready to Go 18
    Brief Wikitext Primer
    Hack 5: Keep an Instiki Wiki Hyperlinked Notebook
    Installing Instiki 20
    You’re Ready to Go 22
    Securing and Accessing Your Wiki
    Hack 6: Take Great Notes 25
    Method 1: Symbolize Next Actions 26
    Method 2: Split Your Page into Quadrants 26
    Method 3: Record and Summarize 26
    Create Your Own Custom Note Paper

    Chapter 2 Firewall Your Attention

    Hack 7: Limit Access to Time-Wasting Web Sites 30Install the Invisibility Cloak 31
    Set Which Sites Should Wear the Cloak 32
    Customize the Script
    Hack 8: Permanently Block Time-Wasting Web Sites 35
    Windows 36
    Mac OS X 36
    The Result 36
    Hack 9: Reduce Email Interruptions 37Shut Down Your Email Program 37
    Set Your Client to Check for Messages Once an Hour 38
    Hack 10: Split Your Work Among Multiple Desktops 39
    Windows XP 39
    Mac OS X 41
    Hack 11: Build a No-fly Zone 42
    Set Yourself up to Get into the Zone 42
    Make Yourself Inaccessible 42
    Work at Quieter Times and in Zoned-Off Spaces 43
    Hack 12: Filter Low-Priority Email Messages 43
    Filter Low-Priority Messages 44
    Filter CC’ed Messages 45
    Hack 13: Clear Your Desktop 46
    Windows 46
    Mac OS X 47
    Hack 14: Make Your House a Usable Home 48
    Create a Place for Incoming Stuff 48
    Put Items You Need to Remember in Your Path 49
    Stow Away Stuff You Don’t Use; Put Stuff You Do
    Within Easy Reach 49
    Strategically Place Items to Make Tasks Easy 49
    Make Task-Based Centers 50
    Leave Writing Material Everywhere 50
    Set up an Inbox 50
    Collaborate with Housemates 50
    Hack 15: Sentence Stuff to Death Row 51
    Hack 16: Drown out Sound with Pink Noise 51
    Mac OS X 52
    Windows 52
    Hack 17: Keep Software from Stealing Focus 52
    References

    Chapter 3 Automate Repetitive Tasks

    Hack 18: Automatically Back up Your Files 56
    What You’ll Need 56
    Configure the Backup System 57
    Off-Site Backup 61
    Hack 19: Automatically Defragment Your Hard Drive 62
    Hack 20: Automatically Empty Your Digital Junk Drawer 65
    Hack 21: Automatically Download Music, Movies, and More
    Install and Run Wget 69
    Mirror an Entire Web Site 70
    Resume Partial Downloads on an Intermittent Connection 71
    Automatically Download New Music from the Web 72
    Automate wget Downloads on Windows 72
    Hack 22: Automatically Email Yourself File Backups 73
    Set up the Email Script 73
    More on Emailing Yourself Backups 75
    Hack 23: Automatically Reboot and Launch Applications 76
    Automatically Reboot Your Computer 76
    Automatically Launch Software or Documents 77
    Automatically Start a Web Browsing Session 78
    Hack 24: Automatically Log Your Progress in a Spreadsheet 79
    References

    Chapter 4 Streamline Common Tasks

    Hack 25: Search the Web in Three Keystrokes 84
    Hack 26: Quick-Launch Software Applications 85
    Windows: Essential, Built-In Keyboard Shortcuts 86
    Windows: Define Your Own Keyword Shortcuts 87
    Mac OS X: Quicksilver Keyboard Commander 89
    Hack 27: Save Time with Text Substitution 90
    AutoHotkey Hotstring 90
    Personalize the Script 92
    Hack 28: Text Message Efficiently 95
    What You Can Do with SMS 95
    Quick Start Guide for SMS Beginners 96
    Save Your Thumbs 96
    SMS from Your Computer 96
    Hack 29: Batch Resize Photos 97
    Contents xiii
    Hack 30: Send and Receive Money on Your Cell Phone 98
    PayPal Mobile 99
    Send Money to an Email Address 100
    PayPal Alternative 101
    Hack 31: Bypass Free Site Registration with BugMeNot 101
    Hack 32: Speed up Web Pages on a Slow Internet Connection 103
    Configure Your Web Browser for a Slow Connection 103
    Block and Disable Bandwidth Hogs 105
    Use Tabs to Load Pages While You Work 105
    Work Offline Wherever Possible 106
    Hack 33: Securely Save Web Site Passwords

    Chapter 5 Get Your Data to Go

    Hack 34: Carry Your Life on a Flash Drive 110
    Portable Applications 110
    Useful Data to Store on Your Thumb Drive 112
    Secure Your Drive 112
    Using Your Thumb Drive 114
    Hack 35: Run a Home Web Server 114
    Step 1: Disable Other Servers or Firewall Software 115
    Step 2: Install Apache HTTP Server 115
    Step 3: Configure Apache to Share Documents 117
    Step 4: Password-Protect Your Web Site Documents 118
    Hack 36: Remote Control Your Home Computer 120
    Step 1: Install the VNC Server 122
    Step 2: Install the VNC Client 123
    More Tips 123
    Hack 37: Give Your Home Computer a Web Address 124
    Step 1: Set Up Your DynDNS Account 125
    Step 2: Set up Your Computer to Update DynDNS 125
    Step 3: Give Your New Domain a Spin 126
    DynDNS Options 126
    Hack 38: Search the Web from Your Phone 126
    Get Help 129
    Test Drive SMS Search on the Web 129
    Pre-Schedule Search Result SMS Alerts 129
    Hack 39: Optimize Your Laptop 130
    Extend Your Battery Life 130
    Save Your Keyboard and Screen 131
    Keep It Cool 131
    Set Yourself up to Work Offline 131
    Secure Your Data 132
    Carry with Care 132
    Back Up 132
    xiv Contents
    Pack Helpful Extras 132
    Find a Hotspot 133
    Hack 40: Back up Data to Your iPod 133
    Encrypt Your Data 134
    Take Your Software with You on the iPod 135
    Hack 41: Turn Your Cell Phone into a Modem 135
    What You’ll Need 135
    Configure Your Cell Phone as a Modem 136
    Keep an Eye on the Meter 138
    Hack 42: Use Gmail as an Internet Hard Drive 138
    Windows: Gmail Drive Extension 138
    Mac OS X: gDisk

    Chapter 6 Control Your Email

    Hack 43: Craft Effective Messages 142
    Composing New Messages 142
    Replying to a Message 146
    Hack 44: Highlight Messages Sent Directly to You 148
    Color Me Blue 149
    All Other Email Programs: Create a Not-to-Me Filter 149
    Hack 45: Use Disposable Email Addresses 150
    Web-Based Public Email Addresses 150
    Multi-Domain Email Addresses 150
    Hack 46: Decrease Your Email Response Time 151
    Respond in Batches 151
    The One-Minute Rule 152
    Respond to Task Requests — Even When It’s Not Done 152
    Don’t Leave It in Your Inbox 153
    Hack 47: Empty Your Inbox (and Keep It Empty) 153
    The Trusted Trio 153
    What to Do 154
    Keep It Empty 155
    The Catch 155
    Hack 48: Master Message Search 156
    Search Criteria 156
    Saved Search Folders 159
    Hack 49: Future-Proof Your Email Address 160
    DON’Ts 160
    DO’s 161
    Bottom Line 161
    Hack 50: Script Repetitive Responses 162
    Hack 51: Encrypt Private Email 164
    How PGP Email Encryption Works 165
    Configure PGP in Thunderbird 165
    References

    Chapter 7 Organize Your Stuff

    Hack 52: Organize My Documents 170
    AWord About the Windows XP Default Home Directory 172
    Beyond the Big 6 173
    Hack 53: Instantly Retrieve Files from Your Hard Drive 173
    Google Desktop Installation 174
    Configuration 174
    Files Google Desktop Indexes 175
    Search Operators 176
    Hack 54: Overhaul Your Filing Cabinet 178
    Give Your Paperwork a Spacious Place to Live 178
    Limit One File Folder Per Hanging Folder 178
    Choose a Simple, Logical Naming Scheme 179
    Use a Label Maker 179
    Purge and Archive 179
    Hack 55: Choose Secure, Memorable Passwords 180
    Don’t Use the Same Password for Everything 180
    Remember 100 Different Passwords with One Rule Set 180
    Hack 56: Securely Track Your Passwords 182
    One Master Password to Rule All 182
    Find and Use Your Passwords with KeePass 185
    Hack 57: Tag Your Bookmarks 186
    Getting Started with del.icio.us 186
    Add a Bookmark 187
    Tags, Not Folders 187
    Navigating del.icio.us by URL 188
    Other del.icio.us Features 189
    Hack 58: Encrypt Your Data 189
    Set up the Encrypted Volume Location 190
    Store and Retrieve Files from the Encrypted Volume 191
    Hack 59: Design Your Own Planner 193
    Why Build Your Own Planner? 194
    How to Assemble Your D*I*Y Planner 194
    D*I*Y Planner Templates and Sizes 194
    References

    Chapter 8 Kickstart Your Productivity

    Hack 60: Make Your To-Do’s Doable 198
    Finish Thinking Before You Start Doing 198
    Chunk up Your Tasks into Five-Minute Actions 199
    Get Physical 200
    Include as Much Information as Possible 200
    Essential Elements of a To-Do Task 200
    Purge Your List 200
    Keep an Auxiliary Someday/Maybe List 201
    xvi Contents
    Hack 61: Set up a Morning Dash 201
    Get One Thing Done First 201
    Park on a Downward Slope 202
    Hack 62: Map Your Time 202
    Your Ideal Time Map 203
    Sub-Maps 204
    Your Actual Time Map 204
    Hack 63: Quick-Log Your Work Day 204
    How to Keep Your Work Log 205
    Hack 64: Dash Through Tasks with a Timer 209
    Choose Your Timer 210
    Adjust Your Dash 210
    Employing Constraints 210
    Timer Software Applications 211
    Hack 65: Control Your Workday 211
    Get Your Priorities Straight 212
    Stop up Your Time Sinks 213
    Make Post-Work Appointments 213
    Wrap-up Alerts 213
    Hack 66: Turn Tasks into Gameplay7 213
    Make It to the Next Level 214
    Earn Points 214
    Collaborate, Compete, and Reward 214
    Bribe Yourself 215
    Time Yourself 215
    Hack 67: Schedule Think Time 215
    What You Need for Think Time 216
    Creating Think Time 216
    References

    Chapter 9 Master the Web

    Hack 68: Google Like a Pro 220
    Exact Phrase with Quotations 221
    Include and Exclude Words with + and – 221
    Search Within a Site 221
    Search Certain Types of Files 222
    Calculations 222
    Synonyms 223
    Combine Criteria and Operators 223
    Hack 69: Subscribe to Web Sites with RSS 224
    How to Subscribe to Web Site Feeds 224
    Other Popular Feedreaders 226
    Dynamic Feeds 226
    Hack 70: Quick Search Dependable Engines 227
    Download Bookmark Set 228
    Lifehacker Quick Searches 229
    Hack 71: Extend Your Web Browser 230
    How to Install a Firefox Extension 230
    Recommended Firefox Extensions 232
    Hack 72: Get 10 Must-Have Bookmarklets 234
    Hack 73: Get Your Data on a Map 236Hack 74: Set Multiple Sites as
    Your Homepage 238
    Multi-Tab Homepage 238
    Bookmark Sets of Tabs 239
    Open a Set of Tabs 239
    Hack 75: Access Unavailable Web Sites via Google 240
    Hack 76: Take Your Browser Configuration with You 241
    Hack 77: Find out About a Web Site 243
    View Site Traffic and Related Information with Alexa 243
    See What Others Are Saying About a Site in Technorati 244
    View Past Versions of a Site in the Internet Archive 244
    See What Sites Link to a Site with Google and Yahoo! 244
    Hack 78: Have a Say in What Google Says About You 245
    But I Already Have a Web Site 245
    Get Your Domain 245
    Author Your Nameplate 246
    Find a Web Host 246
    Link up Your Name Site 247
    Hack 79: Capture Web Clippings with Google Notebook 247
    Hack 80: Clear Your Web Browsing Tracks 249
    Internet Explorer 6 (Windows XP) 249
    Internet Explorer 7 (Windows Vista) 251
    Mozilla Firefox 251
    References

    Chapter 10 Tune Your Computer

    Hack 81: Save Your PC from Malware 254
    Symptoms 254
    Malware Removal and Prevention Tools 255
    How to Clean an Infected System 255
    Virus Protection 257
    Web Browser Hijacking 258
    Hack 82: Clean up Your Startup 259
    Start Menu (Easy) 259
    System Configuration Utility (Medium) 260
    AutoRuns (Advanced) 261
    xviii Contents
    Hack 83: Undo System Configuration Changes 262
    Create or Restore a Saved Point with System Restore 263
    When System Restore Takes Snapshots 263
    Limit System Restore’s Disk Usage 264
    Hack 84: Truly Delete Data from Your Hard Drive 265
    Windows 265
    Mac OS X 266
    Hack 85: Firewall Your Computer 267
    Does Your Computer Need a Firewall? 267
    ZoneAlarm Software Firewall 268
    Control What Programs Can Connect to the Internet 268
    Hack 86: Free up Hard Drive Space 270
    Visualize Disk Hogs 270
    Clean Your Entire System with CCleaner 272
    Hack 87: Resurrect Deleted Files 272
    How to Restore Deleted Files 272
    Hack 88: Recover Files from an Unbootable PC 274
    What You Need 274
    Prepare Your Knoppix Disk 275
    Set Your Computer to Boot from the CD or DVD Drive 275
    Start Knoppix 276
    Rescue Your Data
    Download Instructions:
    http://rapidshare.com/files/57255035/Lifehacker_88..rar
    Attached Files
  • TAR
    Staff Team HTC
    • Apr 04
    • 450

    #2
    Re: Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

    this looks interesting d/\sh. did u just upload this or take a look at all of it

    Comment

    • slam2003
      Member
      • Mar 11
      • 25

      #3
      Re: Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

      yea it does look like imma have a mogul from hell after this

      Comment

      • D/\SH
        Owner - Staff
        • Feb 07
        • 32484

        #4
        Re: Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

        Originally posted by tarblueriver
        this looks interesting d/\sh. did u just upload this or take a look at all of it
        i actually read hthrough this at work in a couple night span and found it very interesting.

        Originally posted by slam2003
        yea it does look like imma have a mogul from hell after this
        what do you mean by that lol

        Comment

        • TAR
          Staff Team HTC
          • Apr 04
          • 450

          #5
          Re: Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

          Originally posted by D/\SH
          i actually read hthrough this at work in a couple night span and found it very interesting.


          what do you mean by that lol
          o ok. just was seeing..thx

          Comment

          • tables
            Member
            • Apr 06
            • 1

            #6
            Re: Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

            Dude THANK YOU!!!!! lifehacker.com is a personal favorite, and I've been wanting to read this for a while now.
            www.smartphonejunkie.com

            Comment

            • D/\SH
              Owner - Staff
              • Feb 07
              • 32484

              #7
              Re: Lifehacker 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day

              Originally posted by tables
              Dude THANK YOU!!!!! lifehacker.com is a personal favorite, and I've been wanting to read this for a while now.
              the best part is i have his phone number and get to talk to him whenever i want. me and him go way back and if you remember his video he did when he was the first to have the iphone interface and the iphone style music manager is when i met him.

              Comment

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