Windows 7 Life Theme
Windows 7 users that have been keeping an eye on Softpedia already know that Microsoft has been releasing a steady flow of personalization content. The latest Windows 7 theme made available by the Redmond company is titled Life, and comes courtesy of the Discovery channel and BBC.
The theme pack in question is available for download, as many others, free of charge via the Windows Personalization Gallery, the company’s central hub for offering themes designed to allow customers to customize their Windows 7 desktops.
“Bizarre, beautiful nature from Discovery Channel,” the short description of the Life theme, which will leave users with a feeling that the images should have been accompanied by more information, reads. Of course, the same is not the case with many themes on the Windows Personalization Gallery, but this specific example feels like it needs the added touch of the Bing wallpaper hotspots.
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Super Slim Backpacks for Cool Laptop Owners
We know what a drag carrying your laptop around can become if you don’t have the right bag for it. Regular one-side bags are kind of old-fashioned and give you a geeky look most of the time. Plus, they don’t come anything close to doctors’ recommendation, because they can really hurt your back and even cause scoliosis.
So, a better alternative would be a backpack. They are so popular nowadays that they can be found in every shape or size imaginable. Even Yoda-shaped ones are available, if you are a Star Wars fan. However, each good thing has its downfalls. When carrying an oversized backpack, besides hurting your back, you can really knock people over when turning. Actually, I heard it was voted as one of the ten most annoying things that people usually do in public, next to talking too loud on your cell phone or forgetting to take a shower. Read more
Is Your Keyboard Bugged?
No, not that sort of bug, we’re talking about the type that gives you nasty infections. If your keyboard is anything like mine it’s probably crawling with gems, but that doesn’t matter, they’re my germs and we’ve got used to each other. One place where germs are unacceptable is in hospitals, where doctors can carry all sorts of nasties around with them, tap in your details on a keyboard, and then the next person to use it picks them up on their fingers, you get the picture. Read more
Free Office SharePoint Designer 2007
Microsoft has made Office SharePoint Designer 2007 available as a free download as of April 2, 2009. The Redmond company explained that customer feedback catalyzed the move, rather than alternative reasons such as the global economic crisis. By making SharePoint Designer 2007 a free download, the software giant is attempting to mirror the perspective that customers had of the tool, with the vast majority regarding the solution as a natural extension of SharePoint, rather than a standalone product.
“Today we are excited to share with you some news about SharePoint Designer 2007. Starting now (April 2, 2009), SharePoint Designer 2007 will be available as a free download! We want more of you customizing SharePoint and feel that this [is] a good way to put the tool in the hands of more people,” revealed a member of the SharePoint Designer Team. Read more
Light Work for Cyclists
Speaking in my capacity as a regular (though not particularly energetic) cyclist, and survivor of more than my fair share of near-misses at the hands of stupid car drivers, I was pleased to see this recently patented device on the Core 77 Website. Basically it’s for all of us patient two-wheelers, who don’t run red lights (well, not very often, anyway…) who have to wait at ‘on-demand’ traffic lights for a car to turn up in order to trigger the buried sensor. This gadget fools the inductive sensor into thinking there’s half a ton of tin waiting for the lights to change, rather than just on your bike. It works by creating a brief but strong magnetic field, triggered by a button on the handlebars. Read more
All Google Gadgets Available for Free on Blogs
Bloggers are constantly looking to attract more readers. Of course, content is almost always everything, but spicing up texts or images with some interesting gadgets can definitely increase the popularity of the majority of weblogs. After a testing period, Google has finally launched the Google Gadgets for blogs. All the fun applications that have ever been built by Google engineers or third party developers, and which are in Google’s database, are available for all bloggers.
People can choose whatever application they like from the Gadgets Directory, integrated in the layout of blogs. Users who have an older version of the dashboard, which displays the “templates” button, have to update it to the “layout” button. From there, in a few easy steps, everyone can upload various applications to make their blog more interesting and useful to readers. Gadgets automatically adjust to the width of the sidebar. Their height, measured in pixels, can be adjusted to make the applications more or less prominent on the webpage, according to personal preferences. Read more
Live Search Gets Wallpapers
Microsoft is constantly evolving the products and services under the Windows Live brand umbrella, and one of the main focuses of the company is, of course, Live Search. Chris Rayner, Senior Product Manager, and Zach Gutt, Senior Program Manager Live Search User Experience team, revealed that the redesigned Live Search homepage would from now on feature background images. The Redmond company will ensure that the Live Search “wallpapers” will alternate frequently, but this process won’t be random, and it won’t happen on every refresh. Additionally, the Live Search backgrounds will have hotspots implemented, offering users a search item in accordance with elements contained in the image. Read more
Sony Ericsson W350i
The new Sony Ericsson W350i is a mid-level ranged mobile phone that adds to the Walkman series portfolio. As it has been a long time since a famous handset manufacturer launched a flip phone, W350i brings back the Sony Ericsson’s T series feeling. Revamped and improved, W350i’s design has that special retro look that will certainly make it as an ‘eye-catcher’ device. The public targeted is definitely going to love it, while those that are looking for a camera-phone or business-oriented device will probably hate it. In the end, it’s all about personal preferences.
Announced in January 2008, Sony Ericsson W350i was launched on the market in May 2008. The flip phone is available in four different color versions: Graphic white, Ice blue, Electric black and Hypnotic black. Those interested in a good-looking mid-level handset can acquire it for around $230 USD. Read more
Where can I download Free Fonts
Free fonts are amongst the most popular downloads for entry level and professional graphic designers and typographers. They can provide a way for designers to express themselves uniquely without having to create a new font themselves or spend a lot of money purchasing a high priced professionally designed font for use only once or twice.
Aside from downloadable free fonts, there are numerous fonts that are available by default on all modern computers. Microsoft bundles a set of commonly used fonts with their Windows operating systems, as does Apple with OS X and many of the purveyors of Linux distros.
However, for more unique fonts, downloadable is the only way to go. Some of the most popular sites for free downloadable fonts include the following: Read more
Mold Your Mouse Into Any Shape You Want
Is your mouse not ergonomic enough? If you answered yes then here’s the mouse for you. The Lite-On Technology Moldable Mouse is made from lightweight moldable clay covered by a nylon and polyurethane fabric. You mold it into the shape you want, slap on the buttons and scroll pad (which communicate with the device via radio) and you’re good to go. The design was even good enough to win a Red Dot Design Award. I know I really need one — I think I’m getting crappy tunnel from my non-ergonomic mouse. This would be great for people like me or anyone that was born with a lobster claw instead of an arm. And if you were born with a lobster claw instead of an arm I want to eat it. Read more
