MakeUseOf » multitasking

3 Ways To Stop Multitasking & Stay Focused To Be More Efficient & Productive [Windows]

Tina Sieber — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:01:06 +0000

At MakeUseOf we have written countless articles on how to multitask. As it turns out, however, multitasking messes with your brain. Research shows that people who multitask a lot are “more susceptible to interference from irrelevant environmental stimuli and from irrelevant representations in memory” (Ophir 2009).

In other words, people who multitask are much more easily distracted. The implications are that multitasking makes you become less efficient and less productive. In this article I will show you ways to eliminate distractions and gain back your focus when working on the computer. The applications listed here are compatible with Windows, unless stated otherwise. If you are on a Mac, please see these articles for similar tools: Focus On Quality By Doing Less On Your Mac and 6 Apps To Help You Focus & Be Productive.

Focus On Only One Active Window

A great way to increase focus when you have multiple windows open, is to maximize the window you are presently working, while making the Windows taskbar auto-hide. This eliminates many distractions originating from running software. To go even further, turn off notifications for emails and IMs, e.g. set Skype to Do Not Disturb.

Assuming you all know how to maximize a window, let me show you how to auto-hide the taskbar in Windows 7. Right-click the taskbar and select > Properties. A window will open. In the > Taskbar tab, check > Auto-hide the taskbar.

An alternative to maximizing your active window is to darken inactive windows. This can be achieved using a tool called Jedi-Concentrate, which was previously profiled in our Directory. Unfortunately, it was developed for Windows XP and doesn’t work properly in Windows 7. You should give it a try nonetheless.

Execute the app, click the window you want to work in, followed by either one of these keyboard shortcuts and click the same shortcut to return to normal view:

F12
[WINDOWS] + [J]
[CTRL] + [/]

The last keyboard shortcut didn’t work for me, the second one was bumpy, triggering various behaviors, occasionally also including the intended one, and the first one is a shortcut also used in Google Chrome. Generally, I recommend to stick with F12, unless you work in Chrome. Sometimes the app stopped darkening the windows, but still darkened the wallpaper. In that case, just re-execute it.

If you are using AutoHotKey, an alternative for you would be Ghoster.

Use Text Editors Without Distractions

Writing is an activity that does not mix well with distractions. Common text editors are riddled with colorful buttons and interesting features. But what if all you have to do is get your thoughts down on the screen? There is a multitude of minimalist text editors out there that eliminate all of these distractions.

One of them is OmmWriter. Not only does it create a serene writing atmosphere on your screen, it also plays calming music, which will help you focus and get into the writing mood.

OmmWriter comes in two versions: Dana I and Dana II. “Dana II has additional audio and visual experience and is available for purchase.” Jackson previously wrote an article about OmmWriter for the Mac. It is now available for Windows. Also have a look at the following articles for other alternatives:

Most distractions can be found when you browse the Internet. If you have to use your browser, you can at least block some distracting content using the Decreased Productivity addon for Google Chrome. We have profiled this addon in our Directory.

Limit Or Block Distracting Websites

If you are naturally drawn to your Facebook profile or Google Mail account, simply block these websites for a limited amount of time. There are dozens of apps that can do this. One that works with multiple browsers, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari is Focal Filter. You can add any website to your block list and block block sites for as long as you wish. Note that the program requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0.

We have profiled FocalFilter in the MakeUseOf Directory. Also have a look at these similar tools: ColdTurkey, xMinutesAt, BinarySwtichEclipse, and ToVisitOrNot.

More suitable tools with one solution for any browser or operating system can be found in Yaara’s article Addicted To Google Plus? Here Are 4 Ways To Block Addictive Websites & Get Back To Work. (KeepMeOut, MinutesPlease, StayFocusd, LeechBlock)

Do you wonder how much time you lose to distractions on a daily basis? Check out 5 Tools to Track How Much Time you Waste while Online.

Do you consider yourself a chronic multitasker? What are some of your best tricks to stay focused?

Image credits: mmaxer

How To Enable The New Multi-Touch Gestures On The iPad [iOS 4.3+]

Yaara Lancet — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:31:34 +0000

With iOS 5, Apple decided to publicly introduce the multi-touch gestures. These gestures were included in the betas of iOS 4.3, but never made it to the public release. These are 4-5 fingers gestures that allow you to perform several useful tasks such as reveal the multitasking bar, switch between applications and return to the home screen.

There’s one catch, though. These gestures are only available on the iPad 2. If you have an original iPad, even if you upgrade to iOS 5, you’re out of luck. If you don’t want to upgrade to iOS 5 yet, you can forget about it too, even on an iPad 2. So how do you get your hands on these awesome gestures despite these drawbacks? You could jailbreak, but some people might not wish to do that. What then?

Here are two methods for getting the multitasking gestures without jailbreaking, one for iOS 4.3.X (iPad 1 or 2) and one for iOS 5 (iPad 2).

Method 1: iBackupBot for iOS 4.3.X

I found this handy cheat in the iCopyBot blog. For this method you’d need to download iBackupBot (this is a paid app, but you can use the trial version if you only plan to use it for this) and a Windows machine. There is a version of iBackupBot for Mac, but I haven’t tried it since I have no machine to try it on. If you try it and it works, do tell us about it.

Start by plugging in your iPad, running iTunes, and creating a regular backup by right clicking your iPad’s name and choosing Back Up.

Once that’s done, close iTunes and run iBackupBot. The program will recognize your device (although it might call it an iPod), and will list your backups in the left window pane. Find the last backup you’ve just performed and click on it. In the right pane, sort the files by Path, and find Library/Preferences/com.apple.springboard.plist.

Double click the file to edit it. At this point, iBackupBot may remind you that this is a trial version and will prompt you to buy the full version. You’re invited to do so, of course, but for this purpose, just click Cancel and the editor will open anyway.

Inside the tag, enter the following text:

SBUseSystemGestures

When you’re done, click the disc icon to save changes and close the editor.

In the main window, click the arrow icon to restore this backup to your iPad.

Your iPad will start to restore, which might take a while. You’ll get a handy progress bar to watch, though.

When the restore process is done, your iPad will restart. When it loads again, you will have the gestures!

Method 2: redsn0w For iOS 5

For this method, you’ll require a modified version of redsn0w which enables the multi-touch gestures. This version was modified by a member of the modmyi forum and is available in a Windows version and a Mac version. This method should be identical whether you’re on a Windows or Mac machine, but I only tried it on Windows.

Start by downloading the relevant version of redsn0w. You’ll then need to plug in your iPad, close iTunes and turn your iPad off. Do this by long-pressing the power button until the “Slide to power off” slider appears, and then slide it to turn the iPad off. Now you can run redsn0w.

In the first menu, choose “Jailbreak and install Cydia”. Don’t worry, you won’t be jailbreaking nor installing Cydia.

Make sure your iPad is plugged in and turned off, otherwise this next step will not work.

Now you need to put your iPad into DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. You can try following the directions in redsn0w, but it’s hard to keep up with the exact timing.

If this didn’t work for you the first time, just go back and do the following actions:

Hold the power button for 3 seconds.
Without releasing the power button, hold the home button for 10 seconds.
Without letting go of the home button, release the power button and keep holding the home button for another 15 seconds.

Your iPad should now be in DFU mode. If your iPad is unresponsive but nothing seems to happen in redsn0w, try unplugging your iPad and plugging it in again. redsn0w will take it from there.

After several progress bars go by, you’ll get to this screen. By default, “Install Cydia” is selected. Unselect this option and select “Enable multitasking gestures”. Then click next.

This shouldn’t take long, and after a little while your iPad will start showing white lines of text, and you’ll see this window on your computer.

That’s it. You’re done. Your iPad will reboot and when it loads again, multi-touch gestures will be on!

Conclusion

If you’ve used one of these methods, you can now enjoy the exciting and fun-filled multi-touch gestures! Try swiping upwards with 4 fingers to get the multitasking bar, for example. You can also pinch with 5 fingers while in any app to exit it, or swipe left and right with 4 fingers to browse between apps. These modifications should also turn on AirPlay Mirroring on iPad 1.

If you get tired of these gestures, you can turn them off in the Settings at any time, but I doubt that you will!

What do you think of multi-touch gestures? Are they worth the trouble for iPad 1 owners? Let us know in the comments!

SecondShell – A Must-have App For A Multitasker with A Small Monitor

Saikat Basu — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:31:26 +0000

I am always a bit wary of anything that goes to work on the Windows Shell. Tweaking the normal way Windows is supposed to function always comes with a bit of risk. But making Windows better is always a great temptation.

Improving Windows with a tweak to the Shell is easier (and safer) now with a bunch of screen control software applications that do it with a click.

So it is with SecondShell (ver.1.0.7) ““ a tiny little freeware that brings productive enhancements to the Windows shell.

SecondShell’s 372KB downloads in a blink. The fact that it is a portable screen control software which will not mess with your registry while installing and uninstalling should set the mind at ease. Like most portable software it operates from the system tray at your beck and call.

SecondShell works on Windows XP and Vista. Windows 7 is not mentioned, but it’s worth a tryout. SecondShell is really meant to work well for netbook and laptop users with limited screen estate. Its main calling card for these devices is mentioned in the first two features listed below.

Get More Screen Space With A Click

The usual way to get more horizontal or vertical space in a window is to move the edges with the mouse. SecondShell saves you the effort with shortcut keys. A combination of CTRL+ALT and the arrow keys maximizes a window horizontally or vertically. You can toggle between the views.

It’s useful when you need to keep a window open but not at full screen. Think of how you work with Excel for example and you will get an idea.

Get More Screen Space With Smooth Moves

SecondShell makes it very easy to drag a window to a new location or resize a window for better viewing. With the shell enhancement you can click anywhere on the window to drag it around with the mouse or resize it to your custom size. Using the Alt key and Left mouse button combo drags it. Using the Alt key and Right mouse button resizes it.

Moving windows around without reaching for the title bars or dragging the corners to resize them makes everything faster. You will appreciate it if you work in a graphic app like Photoshop with a bunch of image files in their independent windows.

Get Rid of Them With A Click

There’s no need to reach for the crossed close button or the minimize button. The same job can be done by clicking anywhere in the titlebar. Right click to minimize, left click to close. This feature feels like the right thing to hide away a window before your boss gets a chance to figure out what you are up to.

Get Back The Middle Mouse Button

The Caps Lock can be toggled and used as a middle mouse button if you don’t need it that often. The middle mouse button has productive uses, for instance, in browsing and for some games. So if you want a tradeoff, you can go into SecondShell’s secondshell.ini config file and change the setting.

When you need the Caps lock again, you can do it with a SHIFT+Caps Lock or suspend SecondShell.

Get A Lot More Done With Your Own Application Hotkeys

SecondShell helps you to define 10 application shortcuts in the config file. The config file can be opened with any text editor. Explanations are lucidly provided. You will see default hotkeys for Notepad and Microsoft Calculator mentioned.

After modifying the config file don’t forget to reload SecondShell.

SecondShell is a neat little application that adds a dash of productivity to the simpler tasks we do. As a Shell enhancer it is not an overwhelming software. Even before using the freeware, you can guess that from the functions that come up with a right click on the system tray icon.

If you like simple portable apps that enhance Windows, you should give SecondShell a try.

VirtualBox’s Seamless Mode: Combine Two Operating Systems Into One Desktop

Justin Pot — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:31:56 +0000

Installing two operating systems at the same time isn’t just possible; it can also be downright slick. Whether you’re a Mac user looking to occasionally use a given Windows application or someone looking for a risk-free way to try out different Linux versions, VirtualBox is the go-to freeware platform for virtualization. This program allows you to run any operating system in a contained, emulated environment.

What most people don’t know, however, is that this same program allows you to seamlessly combine your native and guest operating systems, allowing you to work with windows from both systems side-by-side. Heck, you can even copy and past text between any two platforms. Combine OSX and Windows, or Windows and Ubuntu, or Ubuntu and Fedora: the possibilities are endless.

Installing Two Operating Systems With VirtualBox

If you’ve never used VirtualBox before, or any sort of virtualization software at all, some preliminary reading may be in order. If you want to create a virtual Windows environment, check out Jorge’s article on installing Windows 7 on a virtual machine in Virtualbox. These instructions are quite specific to Windows 7, but can be easily applied to any version of Windows. Alternatively, you could make a VirtualBox-ready clone of your existing Windows operating system, courtesy of an article by Varun.

If testing various Linux distributions is more your thing, Jorge also has you covered: he wrote all about test driving Linux operating systems with VirtualBox. This is actually a great deal simpler than running Windows, as you can download pre-built packages.

Want a virtual OSX? I’m sorry to say that Apple’s licensing forbids this, though if OSX is your native platform you can easily install VirtualBox to test other operating systems.

It’s also possible, in theory, that some legally-questionable BitTorrent trackers have VirtualBox images you can use to boot OSX. But these are illegal, and VirtualBox’s seamless mode won’t work with these anyway. Don’t check them out, and don’t share links to them in the comments below.

Installing Guest Additions

So you’ve got your guest operating system of choice up and running, but notice that it’s anything but seamless at this point? It’s time to install the Guest Additions. These operating system tweaks make it possible to move your mouse from the guest OS to your native OS without missing a beat.

Installing these additions is simple: on the window of the VirtualBox instance containing you Guest OS click “Devices,” followed by “Install Guest Additions.” Then follow the on-screen instructions within your Guest OS to complete the installation.

For those running a guest Linux Operating System: if you downloaded a pre-built VirtualBox image, it’s likely you already have the Guest Additions installed. If you suspect this isn’t the case, however, the above method should work wonderfully for you as well.

Seamless Mode!

Now that you’ve got the Guest Additions up and running it’s time for the real fun: trying out seamless mode. Click “Machine,” then “Seamless Mode.”

After you do this your host operating system and your virtual operating system should seem to combine. You’ll have a taskbar from each and programs from each will be visible over your native operating system’s desktop. If this hasn’t worked, try pressing “Seamless Mode” again – this will usually do the trick.

As you can see above, this is a great way to play Ubuntu and Window’s versions of solitaire at the same time. If you’re looking for more practical ideas, however there are a few. Using Ubuntu’s version of Firefox is a great way to ensure your native Windows system is completely secure. If you’re a Linux user, seamless mode is a great way to use your Windows-only applications whilst still feeling at home within Ubuntu.

Any application supported by your guest OS can be installed on a virtual machine, provided you’ve allowed for enough hard drive space to support them all.

Conclusion

Seamless mode is a slick, underexplored feature of VirtualBox. It’s fit into my workflow on a regular basis, and can work wonders for anyone who needs to run two systems at once for any reason.

What do you guys think? Is this a cool and useful feature, or merely a gimmick? Do you have any advice for using it and getting it all set up? Can you think of any specific use you’d have for this functionality? Let us know in the comments below!

3 Dual Monitor User Types That Make Good Use Of Their Setup

Tim Lenahan — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:31:01 +0000

In past articles I have hit on ways to set up your work on multiple monitors to make them more productive (here and here). This article, although seemingly similar, will major on types of people that make use of multiple monitors and how and those various dual monitor uses.

As we have explored already, different people use their monitor setups in different ways. We must also realize that different user types fall into specific, and often occupational, categories.

1. The Office Worker

In my opinion, office managers should at least test whether or not dual monitors will increase productivity enough to actually save money. You ask how an office worker may use a second monitor in order to save time and be more productive? Well, there are several ways, including keeping communications (such as email and phone notes) on one monitor while keeping work on the other.

Could this be done using ALT-TAB or multiple virtual desktops? Perhaps. The idea is to see whether or not a second monitor would increase overall productivity. I think it would. However do you think it would be worth the investment monetarily?

If an office worker can convince his or her manager or boss that certain dual monitor uses will save them money, they deserve the monitors!

2. Social Media Type

Watching people such as Chris Pirillo use his monitors shows us just how useful such a setup could be to those who use social media extensively. If you know anything about live.pirillo.com you’ll know he is big on live streaming, chatting with visitors, and recording YouTube content. According to an article he wrote, he uses one for his work and email and the other for widgets (chatting, IM, feeds). Social media types really need to keep up on what is going on, sometimes in multiple places. Dual monitors can help organize everything.

Personally, I think I fit somewhere in here (I’m no Chris Pirillo, however I AM a corny dork in much the same way he is). I like having my keep-up-with-things on my top monitor (with a music player of some sort in the background) while having what I’m currently working on or reading on my laptop screen so I can see it better.

3. The Designer

From what I hear, many of the programs that designers make use of happen to take up a lot of screen real estate. I also hear that having the project open in one window and the controls open in the other makes work a bit easier. Also, there’s also the trick of keeping the preview of the project open in the second window (using a program such as XRefresh can make this easier).

I know so you don’t have to tell me that there are more user types. Those will have to make up another post:)

Until then, for your amusement I have included a BONUS dual monitor user type that does NOT make good use of his monitor setup:

The Wannabe

Have you ever heard someone say that they have a dual monitor setup in their office or home just because it’s cool to have one? OK, I’ll hand it to them that it IS cool. I suppose if you’re looking for bragging rights then having multiple monitors can give them to you but if that’s the ONLY reason… you’re probably a wannabe!

You all know the wannabe type, right? They like to brag about this or that just so you know they are cool. In my world, if you have to tell people you’re cool and why, then you’re probably not. Cool doesn’t have anything to do with the amount of screen real estate you have. It comes from the type of person you are. My advice, don’t waste the money, it won’t work.

I need readers to weigh in if you fit into any of these categories of dual monitor uses (even the wannabes!) and let me know how you use your screen real estate in your specific occupation. This is because I obviously do not have experience in every job field out there. So, help us out a bit, will you?

Image credits: MorgueFile.com

Conveniently Twitter While Browsing In Firefox With Echofon’s Brilliant Plugin

Karl L. Gechlik — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:30:05 +0000

Do you find yourself constantly switching back and forth between your work and Twitter? Does it kill your time and productivity?

What if there was a way to check your tweets from a pop-out window within your browser? What if it showed you a constantly updated counter of how many unread tweets you have? What if it gave you a way to insert the site you are looking at into your tweets and all without having to leave your browser.

I bet that would help you out immensely! And you know what? We found a plug-in that lets you use Twitter in Firefox. Let’s check it out and see if it’s right for you.

The tool I’m featuring to use Twitter in Firefox is the Echofon plugin. Jackson mentioned it in his article Going Twitter Crazy With Echofon For Mac, Firefox and iPhone + Echofon Pro Giveaway! Start off by browsing on over to Echofon’s website.

Once you’re at their homepage, click on the button that says Install Now. But note that you need to be running Firefox 3.0 or higher. If you are not running the latest and greatest Firefox version, take this time to update it. Once you install the plugin, you will need to let it restart your browser. Then you will have a new icon in your Firefox taskbar.

The icon is grayed out until you configure the settings. Right-click on the icon and choose Preferences.

You will need to click the button that says Add account.

Fill in your username and password and then click OK. You will see the icon light up if your credentials are correct. An unread tweet count will appear as you can see in the image below. I have 29 unread tweets ““ not bad!

Now if you click on the icon, you will get a pop-up window where you can read your Twitter timeline in the Friends tab. This is exactly the same as you would see on the Twitter homepage. There are two other tabs titled Mentions and Messages.

Clicking on the Mentions tab shows all tweets that mention you:

And the Messages tab shows direct messages to you and only you:

And last but certainly not least, you will see a little strange “chain” icon next to the friends button on the Echofon pop-out window. Take a closer look in the screenshot below:

See the icon indicated by the arrow?. This magic button insets a link to the current page in your Firefox browser’s window. That is, the current tab. This is awesome and the only way it could be improved is to automatically use a URL shortening service like bit.ly or one of the others we covered here. But I digress”¦ I am running this plug-in and it has made my life a lot easier - for sure!

Download Echofon’s plugin to use Twitter in Firefox here.

What Twitter client do you use? Do you know any better Firefox Twitter plugin?

6 MORE Ways To Set Up Dual Monitors To Be More Productive

Tim Lenahan — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:31:55 +0000

As I mentioned in my last article about dual monitors and productivity, having more than one monitor really helps manage all of those programs and tasks you’ve got going on. Since that article, I have written an article or so about how to set up dual monitors.

I have now gotten rid of my old CRT monitor and replaced it with a 19″ wide-screen flat panel which I have set on a wall-mounted shelf directly above my laptop. Before I had the monitor next to my laptop but I figured I’d try it above and I am so glad I did! This way I have my laptop at a very comfortable distance to do my work and reading on.

With my larger flat panel above and set back from my laptop, I can use it for more glancing up at. If I had a third monitor, I’d probably try it beside my current setup but have it adjusted vertically as Kamakazi suggested in the comments section of the last post on this topic.

This here is my home office workspace. As you can see, I now have my second monitor above and set back from my laptop. You can also see that I keep my coffee on a lower level than my computer stuff to keep from damaging too much in the case of a spill.

Since working for a while with a dual monitor setup, I have found several more ways to set up dual monitors to be more productive. NOTE: many of the suggestions came from readers’ comments in previous posts so I have given credit to those readers (thanks for the tips and keep ‘em coming!).

1. Referencing

I LOVE using my second monitor for referencing stuff! For instance, when I am working on a Bible message (whether it’s a devotional for dinner at the local Rescue Mission or teen Sunday school at my local church), it really saves time if I can type on my laptop (monitor 1) and glance up to my 19″ Dell wide-screen (monitor 2) where I keep e-sword open. This way I can have the passage I am working on open for referencing and copying/pasting from without switching back and forth.

I also use my second monitor for referencing when I am blogging. I type on my laptop while having a browser open on my widescreen for researching/referencing, taking screenshots and finding photography to use in posts. Any way you look at it, having something to reference without your work leaving your view really does help keep you on track.

Also works good when writing for MakeUseOf to have the writing guidelines open in my second monitor so I can reference them. This would apply to any writing assignment you might have.

2. Picture (Or Any Multi-Media) Opening & Viewing

In Windows, at least, if you open a picture in Windows Photo Gallery (or similar) in the second monitor, it should do the same the next time you open a picture in the same program. This is cool because while you are searching and browsing for a picture, and it pops open in the second monitor instead of in your way, the whole experience is a lot more productive. It also helps when others are looking over your shoulder. You can browse and double-click and everyone else can see all of your pretty pictures.

3. Reminders

If you have a to-do list or something, just keep it open on your second monitor so you won’t forget about all of your tasks. You can then mark them “done” as you go through them. You can also use an RSS reader, like Netvibes Wasabi, and that way you can keep track of articles coming up that you need to remember to read later (just mark them as “read later”). I’m sure you can find more ways to use your second monitor to help your memory!

4. Remote Desktop

(thanks etescartz and Jeremy)

If you use a service such as LogMeIn or do any kind of remote desktop work, a second monitor is a life saver. Keep one monitor as your remote desktop and use the other for support notes, ticketing programs, or even troubleshooting. I’m not really sure how ANY remote support staff can get along without dual monitors.

5. Desktop Gadgets

(thanks Matt Dana)

I doesn’t matter if you are running Windows or a Mac, but if your OS supports desktop gadgets/widgets, a second monitor could keep those gadgets/widgets front and center. You can even run a web-top application like Schmedley in a browser window in the second monitor and achieve a similar effect. So, whether you want to keep an eye on weather, some RSS feed, the time, a to-do list, or whatever, desktop gadgets/widgets can help you get things done and if a second monitor can help you not have to search for the desktop, even more power to you!

6. Troubleshooting

(thanks youthworker)

I mentioned troubleshooting under number 4 when talking about remote desktop work, but I think it deserves a mention all of its own. If you are trying to figure out how to do something, and you are needing help files or some other kind of support (like a Google search or some type of support forum), having the issue open in one monitor and having the help files, web-search, or support forums open in the second will save a LOT of time and a LOT of frustration! Think about it, troubleshooting is frustrating enough, right?

There you have it! There are even MORE productive ways to set up dual monitors than I could have come up with on my own (thanks readers!). And like I said earlier, if you can come up even more ways to be productive with dual monitors OR you have more suggestions as to how to orient monitors to be more productive, let us know!

Move Your Mouse Between Monitors Quickly With Multi Monitor Mouse

Tim Lenahan — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:31:51 +0000

I’ve been working with a dual monitor setup for a bit now and I am loving it! In past articles I have been sharing some of what I have learned so far. I wrote about 6 ways to use multiple monitors to make you more productive. Since then I have found several more ways (maybe a future article?). I have also written about several programs that help manage multiple monitors. As I find more free alternatives I’ll probably share them.

In this article I would like to share a small, free piece of software that helps get your mouse quickly from one monitor to another. It’s called “Multi Monitor Mouse” and the name describes it well. Let’s go a bit more into it.

You can download and install Multi Monitor Mouse easily. Once you have downloaded and installed it, you are free to open the program and set it up the way you would like. There are two basic methods which you can control the mouse toggling with, either via your keyboard or via your mouse. Either option will move your mouse from one monitor to the other. Personally, I find the mouse controls VERY annoying but the keyboard shortcut is VERY helpful.

There are several options as to where the mouse will appear on the other monitor when you toggle. I prefer the “Frame Relative” option which will make the pointer appear in a similar spot where it was on the original monitor. You can choose to have it appear in the center of the monitor. The third option is to have it appear in the middle when you toggle BUT it will return to the original spot when you toggle back to the original monitor.

Toggling with the keyboard is very easy. Just hold the ALT key and hit the “`” key. I had fun demonstrating this so I took a picture with my camera phone to share with you all.

When I first found this program, I was questioning the point to it. Normally all you have to do is move your mouse over (or up as is my case) to have it appear in the second monitor. After using it for a while I quickly caught on to how it saves time. With the larger screen real-estate afforded by more than one monitor, it does take more time to drag that thing all over the universe. Now I can search for photos, or grab a screenshot, and open the containing folder, open the image editing program of choice (mine being Fireworks) in my second monitor, and just hit my key-combo to pop my mouse up there.

I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I would suggest trying it out, messing around with it for a while, have some fun with it and I think you’ll see the benefits.

How about you? Do you prefer another program to help move your mouse faster? Do you prefer the mouse shortcuts in Multi Monitor Mouse rather than the keyboard shortcuts?

6 iPhone Internet Radio Apps For Every Type Of Listener

Nancy Messieh — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:31:15 +0000

When it comes to combining the iPhone and Internet radio, it can be a daunting task, considering how many apps there are to choose from. We’ve put together a list for you, that might make the choice a bit easier, depending on what kind of listener you are.

iPhone and Internet Radio – Want Variety?

If you’re looking for a big variety of radio stations to choose from, then CBS Radio will meet your needs. Almost identical to the Yahoo! Music App, the CBS Radio app features the widest variety of genres and radio stations, from both AOL Radio, Yahoo! Music as well as local stations from almost 30 cities across the US.

The CBS Radio app allows you to add stations to favourites as you are listening to them, by clicking on the star icon. When a song is playing, the title, singer, and album artwork are displayed. You can skip up to 6 songs per hour while listening to any given radio station.

Other features include sharing the radio station you are listening to by sending your friends form emails with a link to the radio station, or buying the currently playing song on iTunes.

Your listening is interrupted every now and then by several audio adverts in a row.

Want To Discover New Music?

If you want to discover new music based on your taste, or listen to user-generated playlists, you should download FineTune.

The app requires registration on FineTune‘s website, but that certainly has its advantages. You can create your own playlists on the FineTune website, clunky as it may be, and then easily access them from your iPhone.

You can also use FineTune to discover new music by listening to Artist Radio stations. Choose one specific singer or band, and FineTune will play similar music for you. You can add artists to your favourites on the FineTune website but that feature is lacking on the iPhone app. The variety of pre-set radio stations on FineTune is limited to the standard genres, but they are listed under some pretty cheesy names.

If you’re not sure what to listen to, FineTune has a list of Featured Artists, from mainstream to obscure, from the 50s to present day, along with a list of the popular artists on FineTune.

The Now Playing window displays the names of the song and singer, the album title and album artwork. While listening to any given radio station you can skip up to 5 songs per hour.

Want A Specific Station?

Do you have a specific radio station that you want to listen to? Then use FStream.

As long as you have the URL used to access the online radio station using an external desktop app like Winamp or iTunes, FStream can play that station for you on your iPhone. Adding radio stations can be done directly through the app, but is easier done using their web management tool.

No registration is required, as the app makes use of your iPhone’s IP address. Web management can be accessed by clicking on the ‘More’ tab, where FStream will give you the the link to go to for managing your favourite stations, and the choice to use password protection.

When adding a station to your favourites, there is a space to fill in the format and bitrate, but it is not necessary to fill that information in. The now playing tab displays the song title and singer.

A unique feature that sets FStream apart from the rest is the ability to record the audio in either WAV or AIFF format. You can play recordings on your iPhone or download them through your FStream web management page.

Want Podcasts?

Want to listen to podcasts on the fly? Use Stitcher Radio.

Stitcher allows you to tune into the latest podcasts from around the web, from news and business to science and technology, as well as live public radio stations from around the US. You can add podcast episodes to your favourites or bookmark podcast episodes while they are playing.

The latter seems to be a little bit redundant taking into consideration the favourites feature. Using the favourites feature is more beneficial, as you can receive email alerts once a new episode has been added.

Each category consists of a playlist of the latest episodes from various popular podcasts. Once a podcast episode has finished, Stitcher will automatically start playing the next episode on the list, which means, for example, you can listen to the latest news podcasts from NPR, CNN, Fox, and Slate, to name a few, all in one playlist.

You can also pause podcasts or skip to the next episode in the playlist, as well as rewind and fast forward within a podcast, but you have to use the seeker, so it’s not entirely accurate. If you close Stitcher while listening to a podcast, opening it up again will take you back to the exact spot where you left off in the episode.

You can also sync your mobile listening with your desktop experience, listening to podcasts both on the go, or at your computer on their website. Stitcher also features social integration, where you can share the name and link to the podcast episode you are listening to on Twitter, Facebook or by email, and users don’t need to be registered members to tune in.

A good way to familiarise yourself with the many features that Stitcher has to offer is to listen to their very own Tips podcast, which can be found under the Featured Podcasts.

Stitcher requires registration, and has unobtrusive ads at the bottom of the screen.

Want To Multi-Task?

Want to multitask on your phone while listening to the radio? Download iRadioSuite

iRadioSuite has many features you wouldn’t expect to find in a free app. The list of genres consists of 80s music, Alternative, Rock, Country, Christmas tunes, Soft Rock and office friendly music, and Top 40 songs.

While a song is playing, iRadioSuite allows you to pause the music, and rewind up to 10 minutes on any station. While a song is playing, you can add the station to your favourites, visit the station’s website in an integrated browser, and buy the song on iTunes, tag it, or send the track info by email. Emailing track information opens up the mail app, with the singer and song title filled into the body of the email.

The Now Playing window displays the song title, singer, and the station’s logo.

What makes iRadioSuite an exceptional app is its ability to play radio stations in the background. While listening to a station, click on the button marked ‘background play,’ and when prompted it will open a window in Safari. The music will fade out, and back in again, and once you’ve hit the home button, you can multitask on your iphone, while the music plays, to your hearts content.

If you want to stop the music, simply open up the app again.

For all of its features, iRadioSuite is surprisingly and blissfully ad-free.

Want To Create A Playlist?

Want to listen to a specific song on the go? Download Boombox.

Boombox’s interface is designed like, well a boombox, and is built on the framework of social music website, Blip.fm. Using the free version of Boombox allows you to search for and listen to songs on your iPhone, as well as, create playlists, unlike FineTune which only allows you to create playlists at your computer. You can create local playlists to listen to on your iPhone, but if you want direct integration with your Blip.fm account, you will have to purchase the paid app.

Searching for a song gives you the option to buy it on iTunes, add it to your playlist, or listen to it immediately. You can only create one playlist at a time. The playlist can be edited by clicking on the list icon in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Do you have a favourite iPhone radio app? If so, let us know about it in the comments.

How To Automate Repetitive Tasks on PC with DoItAgain

Karl L. Gechlik — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:00:32 +0000

I wear many hats throughout the day and have lots and lots of repetitive tasks that I do. Photoshop has it’s own built in macro maker (or keyboard and mouse recorder and playback if you will). So for years, I have been recording macros and playing them back to do the same task over and over such as resizing a group of images for the web. I simply show it my actions and when I play it back it can do the same thing repeatedly. This helps me so I can walk away from my computer and do other things. I always said it would be great to have this ability to automate repetitive tasks inside windows so I can use it with any application or several applications at the same time.

Start off by visiting this site and download DoItAgain for Windows XP, Vista or even Windows Seven. Once you download the MSI installer, run it and let it do its thing. When your installation is complete, go ahead and launch the program.

You will see a screen that looks like the one I am showing below. Go ahead and hit that Create a New Task button to -”“ Create a new task. This is how you will teach the application to automate repetitive tasks.

Once you hit the magic button, everything you will do will be recorded.

So for instance, every day I need to open Firefox, browse over to my MakeUseOf wiki page to check what is going on for the day. So I created a task for it. I hit the button, opened Firefox, browsed to my page, logged in and then clicked on the link I needed to click on. Then I hit the Scroll Lock key to finish it off. Then you name your action.

I named mine “Open MakeUseOf Wiki’. Then it appears in your list of tasks. You can see mine below.

To execute the task, simply double-click on it in your list. It will wait a few seconds and then magically the task you created will play out. I was amazed.

So next up, I created a task to backup my computer. I started recording and then I hit the start menu typed in “ntbackup”, hit Enter and followed the wizards prompts to backup my documents. When I was done, I had this:

Double clicking on my backup task does this:

The possibilities are endless and only limited by your own imagination and need. They do say necessity is the mother of all inventions!

Let’s take a look at the programs options:

See the set pause time length? That will make your tasks start without a pause or less of a pause. You can play with them and set it up optimally for your machine and tasks. Whereas I changed the end key to the actual End key instead of Scroll Lock.

We would love to hear what you created with DoItAgain or another free Macro Maker. Please let us in on your macro magic so we can all benefit! Hit us up in the comments.