Searching date ranges on Google

Here's a handy trick to make searching the Internet with Google Search even easier. You an narrow your search results to a particular span of time by adding a simple command. This can make it easier to do a Google Search and find the results that you want.
-You can do a simple Google Search and narrow it down using a simple trick.
- Enter the search terms that you want to look up.
- To specify a year range, type the year beginning the range, followed by two periods, followed by the year ending of the range.
- For example, to find facts about Ernest Hemingway from the forties and fifties, just type Ernest Hemingway 1940..1959.

<embed src="http://www.box.net//static/flash/box_explorer.swf?widget_hash=il4ld205ix&v=0&cl=0&s=0" width="460" height="345" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed>

Making disposable email addresses

In this episode, we show you your first killer Google trick , the ability to create disposable email addresses in Gmail. These are variations on your regular email address that you can use as email aliases when signing up for a website or newsletter. Once you're fed up, you can easily filter out mail sent to that alias.
-You can subtly alter your Gmail address so that you can sign up to a website or newsletter but always have the option of deleting it.
- Gmail doesn't recognize periods as characters, so you can add . anywhere in your Gmail address to create an alias.
- Mail sent to this address will arrive in your inbox, but can be filtered out whenever you want.

The Best Ways To Customize The Welcome Screen In Windows 7

Mass-license versions of Windows have long offered companies and large organizations the possibility to customize their log-in and welcome screens. It’s a small thing, but it imposes a sense of professionalism.

Logon Screen For Windows 7

Logon Screen is one of the simplest, most down to earth application to change your log-on and welcome screens. Or rather, to customize your log-on and welcome screens’ background. Simply use the Logon Screen application to select the desired image, and off you go. Images will be automatically resized to fit your welcome screen.

The most peculiar thing about Logon Screen is how well it integrates with Windows 7 itself. Most of these kind of applications are portable, but Logon Screen looks like it belongs; as if it was always a part of Windows 7.

Notably, Logon Screen will also install an extension for the right-click menu (as seen above). Changing your welcome screen will be just as easy as changing your desktop wallpaper, like it should be.

 

Windows 7 Logon Screen Tweaker

If you want to do more than just change your wallpaper, Windows 7 Logon Screen Tweaker is your best choice. It adds a batch of advanced features without ditching the user friendly interface. At any point, you can review what your log-in screen is going to look like.

Some of these “tools” allow you to change the button set, remove the Ease of Access button and change the default log-in sound. Windows 6 Logon Screen Tweaker will also remove the Windows branding and the shutdown button. If you’re prone to showing off (but are on a tight budget), you can change this Windows branding to make it seem you’re using a different OS version. Of course, this will not affect your Windows functionality.

Feel free to play around. If you mess something up, you can use Windows 7 Logon Screen Tweaker to restore everything to its original state.

 

Logon WorkShop

If we are going from simple to more advanced software alternatives, Logon WorkShop certainly fits the part. The main windows allows you to switch between different ‘logon skins’. You can export and import these profiles so you can easily apply them to different computers or even company-wide.

Of course, you can also create new skins. Logon Workshop offers the most customizability by far; you can change almost anything, including the background, look and position of the user picture, text, and every button on the screen. The screenshot below shows but one of the different configuration panels.

Undoubtedly, the interface will look too complicated and cluttered for many users, but you don’t need to use all this advanced functionality. If you want, you can just change the welcome screen background and be done with it. If you do decide to play a little with the application, and something goes south, just restore your computer to the default skin, or create a new one.

WWD Screencast: Toggl, a Time-Tracking App

I think the most important attributes of a time tracking app are that it should be incredibly simple to use and available everywhere. Fortunately, Toggl scores on both those counts. It’s very simple, although it has some powerful features, like tagging of tasks and collaboration with team members, that make it useful. It also has desktop clients available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and mobile apps for iPhone and Android, so you can track your time wherever you are. I made a quick screencast to show you how just fast and easy it is to use:

A basic Toggl account is free. Pro users get access to more features, including integration with other apps like Basecamp and tracking of billable hours. Pricing for Pro accounts ranges from $5 per month for a single user, up to $79 per month for 40 users.

Portable Apps suit

Convenient

Now you can carry your favorite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you. Use them on any Windows computer. All without leaving any personal data behind.

Open Platform & Open Source

PortableApps.com provides a truly open platform that works with any hardware you like (USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive, etc). The entire platform is open source built around an open format that any hardware or software provider can use.

Free

The PortableApps.com Suite and Platform is free. It contains no spyware. There are no advertisements. It isn't a limited or trial version. There is no additional hardware or software to buy. You don't even have to give out your email address. It's 100% free to use, free to copy and free to share.

Online Video downloader

Most of the tools that let you download videos from the internet are cluttered with banners and pop-ups. DownloadTube is a bit different since it has a clean interface in addition to a simple functionality. Just enter the URL of an FLV file and select the format you want to download video for. Options include Windows, Mac, Flash, Mobile, audio only and MP4.

Click here to visit the site

Gmail Labs

Enable Labs features in Gmail
- Click on the Settings link in the top-right corner of your Gmail window.
- Click on the last tab titled Labs to see a listing of some of the things the Gmail team are working on and experimenting with.
Your account at a glance
Centered at the bottom of the Gmail window is a handy information pane. Here you can see:
- How much space your Gmail account is taking up and what percentage of your quota you're using
- Last account activity: This is a good way to make sure your account hasn't been compromised (i.e. someone else has your login and password). You'll see the IP address of the computer that last accessed your Gmail account along with how long ago it did so.
- Clicking on the Details link beside the Last account activity message gives a more detailed look at who's accessing your account. You can also see your own current IP address to see if it matches up with the activity log. You can check to see if you've forgotten to sign out of your account on another computer and if so, you can force that computer to sign out of the account.