tools

If you like the looks of wooden computers or gadgets but don't want to pay the price, this may be worth the investment for the DIY types out there.

Sears' "Craftsman CompuCarve" can carve complicated patterns in sylvan objects, according to SlashGear, kind of "a printer for wood" that even comes with its own software. (We seem to have a 3D scanner-printer fixation today, for some reason.)

Unfortunately, it's not the cheapest thing in the world, at $1,899. But think of all the money you'll be saving on your next TV alone. … Read more

Power Downloader knows that regular maintenance for his PC is crucial to his continued success as an Internet superhero. If his computer is not in top working condition when on the tail of some infamous spammer, it can mean the difference between life and death. While the stakes might be higher for Power Downloader, he also knows that everyone should perform routine maintenance if they want their computer to continue working properly.

Though there are several programs available to fix specific problems, Power Downloader decided that a one-program solution might be the most convenient way to keep his system in tip-top shape. After some quick research at Download.com, Power found Advanced WindowsCare Personal edition.… Read more

Yesterday Blogger launched a new service called Blogger in Draft. It's essentially the same old Blogger interface with a few new features the team is in the midst of developing. Think of it like an open beta test. The first new feature is a built-in video uploader tool. Users can add AVI, MPEG, Quicktime, Windows Media, and Real video files with sizes up to 100MB. The service will then convert it into a playable Web video with an interface identical to Google's own video player, complete with Blogger branding.

What's interesting about this new feature is that … Read more

SAN MATEO, Calif.--I'm standing on the race track at the Power Tool Drag Races here at Maker Faire, and while I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get killed, I'm not certain.

That's largely because I'm surrounded by little racing machines adorned with what look like very, very sharp saw blades. I assume they will stay on the track as planned, but you never know.

A few years ago, I went to these races when they used to hold them in San Francisco and gasped along with several hundred other racing fans when … Read more

CollabNet said on Tuesday that it has acquired code management software SourceForge Enterprise Edition from VA Software for an undisclosed amount.

VA Software will continue to own and operate the SourceForge.net Web site which hosts thousands of open-source projects. In exchange for selling its source code management software, VA Software will get an equity stake in CollabNet.

CollabNet offers a hosted service for collaborative software development based on software that's similar to SourceForge Enterprise Edition. But the majority companies who use Sourceforge software have an on-site installation, said CollabNet CEO Bill Portelli.

This summer, the combined companies plan … Read more

Microsoft is hard at work on a new consumer-targeted screen-sharing and collaboration tool, code-named Tahiti. Microsoft's landing page describes it as an "easy way to share documents and screen views with small groups of friends or coworkers; anytime, anywhere."

Each group member is assigned a mouse pointer and an editing color when working the group works together on Office documents. There's also a feature called 'handouts,' which is a storage space for documents or files you want to share with the group. The tool has no integrated voice or chat features, but Microsoft will likely add … Read more

This morning I came across yet another online utility for Twitter called TwitThis. It's the equivalent of the Digg and Reddit buttons we have below our posts, and allows users (like you) to bookmark things you like and share them with other Twitter users. It also turns Twitter into a social-bookmarking service, letting you share links with other Twitter users in real time.

The system uses TinyURL, a URL shortening service, to tighten up ungainly lengths so they'll fit within Twitter's stringent 140-character limit. They also provide a bookmarklet, and a plugin for WordPress users to add … Read more

Under the Radar's start-up group kicked off this morning with presentations from Longjump, Proto Software and Teqlo. The general theme of this group was building business solutions with easy-to-use mash-up tools. For small businesses, it's a little bit like buying lumber verses chopping down a tree.

Longjump is a subscription-based marketplace of customizable Web-based apps. Each app can be built-up and edited with drag and drop creation, and custom tailored for small groups. Longjump also provides tools and utilities to upload and integrate the data you already have. Longjump breaks down applications by category, and users can comment … Read more

Zoho, makers of more than a dozen office and productivity tools, have announced a new meeting app called Zoho Meeting. It's currently in private beta and will be available to all Zoho users next month.

Zoho Meeting is screen-sharing without the need to install an application, as we've seen with Vyew, Yugma, and others. It also integrates Zoho Chat, allowing participants to talk without the need for a separate phone solution, although an integrated VoIP solution is said to be coming soon. What may be the standout feature is the ability to record, save, and share meetings for … Read more