productivity

Apple's iPad Mini said to be made by Pegatron, Foxconn

As chatter continues about the possibility of Apple's iPad Mini, Taiwan's Economic Daily News wrote today that much of the device's production is said to be done by the assembler Pegatron rather than Foxconn, suggesting that the device is already in production or just about to be.

Engadget picked up this information, saying the Taiwanese paper reported that Pegatron scored 50 percent to 60 percent of production orders on the iPad Mini. Up until now, Foxconn was the only iPad assembler Apple used. The Economic Daily News also wrote that between the two manufacturers, up to 5 … Read more

An awesome-sounding headphone amplifier Kickstarter project

It was just a few weeks ago when my buddy Tyll Hertsens was raving about Colin Shaw's Sicphones amplifier Kickstarter project. Hertsens never steers me wrong, so I contacted Shaw, and a few days later I received the amp. Hertsens was right. This design uses a newly available SemiSouth silicon carbide transistor, and the amp sounds amazing. If Shaw makes his Kickstarter goal he'll be able to sell amp kits for as little as $229, and assembled amps for $279! DIY-ers can spring for just $35 and get the Sicphones amplifier PC board, assembly instructions, and parts source … Read more

How to create reference charts for Google Web Fonts

If you've spent any time customizing the appearance of a document in Google Drive, you've probably noticed the vast selection of fonts. Additionally, if you downloaded the fonts to your computer, in addition to the ones that came preinstalled, you might have trouble finding exactly what you're looking for without knowing the name of the font.

For times like this, a reference chart is a superhandy way to save time when looking for a particular font. Luckily, you can make a couple of these charts with just a few steps, as pointed out by the Digital Inspiration blog.… Read more

Get a one-year Boomerang for Gmail subscription for $39.99

If you're anything like me, your inbox doubles as a kind of to-do list. You mark important messages as unread so you remember to attend to them later.

Just one problem: As more e-mail arrives, those unread messages get pushed farther down the list, until they're eventually out of sight -- and out of mind.

What you need is something akin to a snooze button, a way to delay important messages to a later time or date so they reappear when you're ready to attend to them.

Something like Boomerang for Gmail, a browser add-on that gives … Read more

Add notes to Gmail messages in Chrome

When your e-mail inbox starts filling up it, it becomes more difficult to keep track of what you need to do for each message you've received. Maybe you need to get verification on a work contract, add a reminder to call Grandma Betty about one of her famous recipes, or follow up with someone once you have more information. Unfortunately, Gmail doesn't offer a solid feature to add notes like these.

You might be thinking: what about drafts? The issue with creating a draft is the possibility of sending said draft. This could cause issues with personal or … Read more

Etsy cracks down on skulls, drugs, lighter fluid for sale

Just when it seemed like Etsy was the perfect place to pick up some human bones, poison, or drug paraphernalia, the online artisan e-commerce site announced it was banning these products and more.

It actually seems a bit laughable that Etsy had to earnestly state that it was forbidding these items, which include all smokeable products, human remains or body parts, hazardous materials, motor vehicles, and drugs -- but it did.

Here's what Etsy policy manager Lauren Engelhardt wrote in a blog post last week:

The Policy Team at Etsy is continually working to ensure that our rules balance … Read more

Steam download service moving beyond games

Video game publisher/developer Valve created the Steam distribution platform to offer easy downloads and installation for Windows and Mac games. The Steam app and online store work for both Valve's own games, including Half-Life and Portal, and games from other publishers, including both hits such as Skyrim and indie games like Torchlight. Now, the company plans to add nongaming apps, starting in September.

In a brief online statement, the company says: "The Software titles coming to Steam range from creativity to productivity. Many of the launch titles will take advantage of popular Steamworks features, such as easy … Read more

iPad Mini display production slated for August, says analyst

The gears could start to turn as early as this month for the production of a smaller iPad.

Production of the 7.85-inch display slated for use on a smaller version of the iPad should begin in August, an analyst told CNET.

"We expect panel production to start in August, with production ramping up to high volumes (more than a million units per month) in the fourth quarter," said Paul Semenza, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, in response to an e-mail query.

Semenza said this is DisplaySearch's "understanding of the activity for the 7.85 [inch] … Read more

Seven smart tricks to stay focused on schoolwork and projects

Whether you're a freshman noob, a gray-haired grad student, or even a long-term member of the professional elite, you most likely have trouble focusing on your tasks at times. Modern tech is lovely, but it's also a nonstop parade of distractions that can tear down the resolve of the strongest wills. Here are some tricks to help you overcome electronic distractions as you study or work.

Wear headphones. This is especially true if you have to work around other people, but even if you're on your own, this helps you focus (as long as you have the … Read more