Kevin Purdy
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Posts by Kevin Purdy
Firefox 4 Beta 5 Now Available with Default Hardware Acceleration, Menu Redesign [Updates]
September 7, 2010 - 6:30 pm
Tags: Beta, Clips, Featured Download, Firefox 4 beta 5, Graphics, Hardware, hardware acceleration, in brief, Updates, Web browsers
Posted in Downloads, Firefox, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | No comments
Windows/Mac/Linux: Firefox 4 Beta 5 is out tonight, and it firms up a few things that have been slowly taking shape in previous betas of the browser. Most significantly, it enables by default the (Windows-only) hardware acceleration that had been available through a deep settings switch previously. New to the build, however, are a robust audio API (demonstrated at YouTube), a return to two-column menus, this time with multiple shades, and a new feature, HTTP Strict Transport Security, that allows sites to demand a browser make a secure and encrypted HTTPS connection. Grab the just-out beta and tell us what you think in the comments. [The Mozilla Blog via CNET] More »
How to Update Your Insecure Passwords and Make Them Easy to Use [Security]
September 7, 2010 - 9:00 am
Tags: Chrome, Fix your passwords, Internet Explorer, lastpass, Password Recovery, Safari, Safety, Security
Posted in Email, Feature, Firefox, Passwords, Top | No comments
You know how important strong passwords are, but you've got a huge backlog of passwords—some you can't remember, others you've been using for years. Here's how to securely update, create, and manage your passwords on any computer. More »
Mute Your Mac from an iOS Device [Mac OS X Tip]
September 7, 2010 - 8:00 am
Tags: Automation, ios, iPhone, Mac OS X Tip, MacBook, Remote Control, Scripts, volume
Posted in Mac, Mac OS X | No comments
Your Mac or MacBook’s in the next room, and the speakers are still up. You know this because its dings and squawks wake you up. You can silence your Mac from any iOS device in one click with this setup. More »
Nike+ Now Available with GPS Tracking (and Without the Shoe Chip Requirement) [Downloads]
September 7, 2010 - 7:00 am
Tags: exercise, Featured iOS Download, fitness, GPS, ios, iPhone, nike+, Running, Tracking
Posted in Downloads | No comments
iOS only: Nike+, the popular run tracking system that utilizes an iPhone/iPod touch and a sensor chip placed in your shoe, has released a new version that doesn’t require a single-use chip, and also provides GPS mapping for social exercise management. More »
Change Up Your Study Spaces for Better Recall [Mind Hacks]
September 7, 2010 - 6:00 am
Tags: college, Memory, Mind Hacks, Research, School, Study Tips
Posted in Top, learning | No comments
It seems like age-old advice to find a quiet, clean space and stick with it to do real studying. But cognitive scientists are finding that varying your environment while trying to learn helps you retain knowledge. More »
Mozilla Collections Updates with Easier Add-On Organizing and Sharing [Firefox Extensions]
September 7, 2010 - 5:00 am
Tags: add-ons, Clips, Collections, Extensions, Firefox Extensions, Mozilla
Posted in Firefox | No comments
Mozilla’s updated their Collections tool for sharing and packaging add-ons, making it easier to add an extension to your Collection from the main Add-ons site, offering more detailed permissions for sharing your Collections, and a simple “Favorite” system for creating instant collections. More »
Access Gmail’s Priority Inbox on Your Mobile Device [Gmail]
September 7, 2010 - 4:00 am
Tags: Android, Fb, Gmail, inbox, iPhone, Mobile, mobile apps, Priority inbox, Smartphones, tweet
Posted in Email | No comments
Want access to Gmail’s fancy new Priority Inbox sorting on your portable browser? You can view the messages you’ve trained Gmail to consider Priority through a simple email search bookmarked for later. More »
Get an Early Gmail Update on Your Android Phone [Updates]
September 7, 2010 - 2:30 am
Tags: Android, Beta, Beta Beat, Featured Android Download, Gmail, tweet, Updates
Posted in Downloads | No comments
Google’s updating its Gmail app for Android, adding a floating header/reply bar for usability and some real overall speed improvements. An unofficial beta of that better version is in the wild, and phones running Froyo (2.2) can try it out. More »
Enjoy Your Labor Day; We’re Back Tomorrow [Announcements]
September 6, 2010 - 4:30 am
Tags: in brief
Posted in Announcements | No comments
Lifehacker’s staff is taking it a bit easier today, as it’s Labor Day observance in the U.S. There will still be some posts going up, including a wealth of DIY projects for your extra day off, but we’re spacing things out and moving a bit slower. We’ll be back on the blog game tomorrow. Happy Labor Day, folks! More »
Live Up Your Extra Day Off with These DIY Projects [DIY]
September 6, 2010 - 4:30 am
Tags: Weekend project
Posted in DIY, Top | No comments
Got some spare time on your extra day off? Why not put it to good use in your kitchen, backyard, or entertainment center? Here’s a few great projects you can pull off in your spare time today. More »