Smack that Apple screen for a whole new view
I always found it somewhat satisfying to smack an old television in hopes of getting a clearer picture. It didn't always work, but at least I felt like I was getting my point across.
A Mac developer has figured out a way to bring back that method of hands-on picture adjustment. Erling Ellingsen, who works for a software company called Medallia, posted details on how to set up a MacBook Pro to switch between two desktop environments with a gentle slap.
Many people these days like to use two displays at their workstations to keep more information at their fingertips. Coders, like Ellingsen, often like the ability to write the code on one screen and run testing tools on the other. But it's hard enough to lug around a powerful laptop, let along two LCD screens.
Many laptops sold these days contain a motion sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in the event of a fall. If the sensor detects a sudden accleration, it can park the hard drive in order to prevent data loss. Ellingsen has figured out a way to use that motion sensor to allow him to tap the side of the screen and bring up different desktop environments.
He posted a video showing how easily it can be--once you figure out how to install the software needed to make this work, at least. Detailed instructions are posted on his blog. Be advised, you probably don't want to smack your new MacBook Pro as hard as you did the good old 19-inch RCA floor model.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
