Foldershare out, Windows Live Sync in November 21, 2008
Posted by CLibra in Clippings, Internet, Microsoft, Software, Sync, Tools.1 comment so far
My favourite cross-platform syncing tool, Foldershare, is doomed to die soon.
In its place will spring Windows Live Sync, a tool promising the same great features, and then some.
Click the link below to read the full letter from Microsoft, as it also explains how to prepare for the upgrade, because your libraries will be lost by Windows Live Sync.
Let’s hope this new version’s really something, hey?
Soocial, the Plaxo killer? November 15, 2008
Posted by CLibra in Beta, Sync, Tools, Web 2.0, Websites.3 comments
I got accepted into the Soocial beta, and after having a nose around, I think it easily contends with Plaxo as a contact sync system.
Plaxo needs no introduction as one of the best contact synchronisers in its field, but after it was acquired by Comcast, the general opinion on the net is that users aren’t too happy about handing over their contact data.
How does Soocial excel Plaxo?
- The webapp is less browser-intensive as Plaxo’s. It resembles Address Book on OS X, and works faster than Plaxo’s own.
- Automatic backup comes as standard with Soocial, but is part of a premium package at Plaxo.
- Soocial implements a simple API, so users can extend it by developing clients to sync contacts wherever they want to.
- Your data is secure – connection is always encrypted, and Soocial stress how your data will be completely erased when you want it to be.
- It has a working sync to GMail; Plaxo’s has been broken for a long time. It also syncs to Highrise, which Plaxo doesn’t, and has a proper mobile sync (although no mobile access page as of yet).
- Soocial is dead set on contact synchronisation, whereas Plaxo has seemed to stray off into more of a social network.
There are some drawbacks that I can see though, compared to Plaxo. For example, it doesn’t yet cover calendar & task sync, and the list of services it syncs to isn’t as large a Plaxo’s. Still, if you’re interested in trying an alternative to Plaxo, check it out.
I have beta invites! Comment if you want them.
Geek Food: Cake in a Mug November 13, 2008
Posted by CLibra in Geeky, Recipe.add a comment
Fancy some geeky comfort food?
Just throw some stuff in a mug and you have a cake!
In all seriousness, I was skeptical about the idea of instant cake in a mug. Could a microwave really lead a cake to rise and develop? Well, err, yes it can.
This is perfect for times where the sweet cravings kick in but there’s not much about to satisfy it. It can be made in five minutes and is served hot straight out of the mug. Hit the jump for the tutorial on Wired.com.
Be sure to submit any good recipe variations!
3×3links, the online dial page November 7, 2008
Posted by CLibra in Extensions, Firefox, Software, Web 2.0, Websites.2 comments
Opera did it first, yes. And then there were the Firefox extensions (Auto Dial, Fast Dial, Speed Dial) which replicated the killer feature.
Fore those of you who haven’t come across it, a dial page is opens in blank tabs & the home page to provide links to oft-used websites, either manually entered or pulled from history or bookmarks, depending on the dial variation.
But there was never really any portability between them; working on both Windows & Mac, I couldn’t keep my changes current between my dial page. I’d change which websites I’d visit often, re-order them, make changes, only to find that I have to repeat again. And again.
The pages don’t have any sync functions, so they’re not really designed to be used across computers – however, there is a similar service offered online by 3×3links. You can set up a custom dial page online (all that’s needed is a Google Account), and then simply set it as the homepage on each computer you want to use it. If you want it to open in blank tabs, just set it up with the Firefox extension Tab Mix Plus, but the pages themselves can be used cross-browser. I find that using 3×3links is faster than the extensions as it doesn’t have the bloat, but a downside is that clearing browser cookies would mean you have to log in to the site again to access your dial page.
A similar service is provided by Flyapp, but I personally prefer the layout of 3×3links. Who knows, maybe this kind of start page will become as prominent as the likes of NetVibes and iGoogle.
[http://www.3x3links.com/]
Via [http://lifehacker.com/5074982/3x3links-is-a-speed+dial+style-start-page]
