Get more space for websites on Firefox

When I’m using a web browser it’s because I want to surf the web. Pretty obvious, isn’t it? Apparently it is not as obvious as I thought. Almost all browsers have thousands of useful features allowing you to get contextual information, see where you’ve been before or what other users think about the site you’re browsing. That’s not my case. If I go to Gmail, I want to see Gmail. Not what others think about Gmail, not the last webpage I’ve been or other things, just Gmail.

In order to maximise the browsing space, you can do a couple of tricks on Firefox:

• Hide your Menu Bar (you can access it by pressing ALT at any time if you need it). Just go to View -> Toolbars -> Navigation Bar

• Hide your tabs and have more control with Tree Style Tab.
• Hide your status bar with autoHideStatusbar

Now you’ve plenty of pace for your websites :)

Using Windows Live Writer on Linux ( Ubuntu )

I’m quite sure I’m not the only one who uses Windows Live Writer. It’s a wonderful tool and I’ve talked about it two years ago so I’m not going to say the same twice. Then, why am I talking about it? Easy, after a long time using Windows as my primary operating system, I switched to Ubuntu.

As you can imagine, Microsoft doesn’t develop a version of Windows Live Writer for Linux and I don’t know any tool for doing the same. Don’t get this wrong, there are a few of applications for blog posting, but every single one of them has an important drawback. Some don’t let you upload pictures, others doesn’t have spell checker or you have to type the HTML. Others simply doesn’t allow you to work with multiple accounts, or they let you manage different blogs, but only WordPress based, and so on…

Solution? Keep using Windows Live Writer. I’ve VirtualBox with Windows XP SP3 and I run it in seamless mode. I know it sounds a little bit strange using a virtual machine just for one program… but that wouldn’t be true. Just face it, sooner or later everyone needs to use some “only-windows” application. Did you ever tried to update your iPod Touch on a Linux box? Forget it, as far as I know it’s impossible… you need iTunes and wine is good, but no so great.

How to jailbreak an iPod Touch 2G (firmware3.1.2)

I’ve jailbreaked my iPod Touch 2G (firmware 3.1.2) using the blackra1n method. It is extremely simple and you won’t lose your apps; you just have to click a button.

1. Download BalckRa1n (Windows or Mac).
2. Open iTunes and plug in your iPod.
3. Open BlackRa1n (if you’re using Windows, run it as Administrator).
4. Click on “make it ra1n”.

 

Now you have on your iPod a new application called “blackra1n”:

You can use it to install Cydia and Rock, two package managers you can use to install applications on your iPod :)

So... now you’ve your iPod jailbreaked with everything you need. It was easy, wasn’t it? :)

Let’s play karaoke!

SingStar is probably the most famous karaoke game. However, it only runs on PlayStation 2 or PlayStation 3, which aren’t really cheap.

If you’re one of the millions of karaoke fans who don’t have a PlayStation, don’t worry, there is hope for you: UltraStar. It can runs on Windows, Linux and (if you’re lucky enough) MacOS X.

• Windows: You’re best shot is called UltraStar Deluxe (formerly UltraStar New Generation). They’ve a binary ready to use :)
• Linux: I recommend you Performous. It’s probably the most advanced SingStar clon :D
• MacOS X: May the force be with you. As far as I know, there’s no official support for Mac. However, you can follow the compiling instructions (good, luck) or try one of the compilations made by users (it should work on 10.4 and 10.5). If you’re using Snow Leopard I’m afraid you’ll have to wait :(

Once you’ve UltraStar working, you’ll need something to sing... otherwise the game will be really boring :P The easier way to get songs is using the “SingStar Spain”community website. There’re English websites, but due to copyright issues, they only have the TXT file used by UltraStart, so you’ll need to find the images, the music and the video by yourself.

If your Spanish is not good, don’t panic, you can use the Google Translator. It’s not perfect, but you’ll be able to manage around the web ;)

18 buttons mouse, is it too much?

Have you heard anything about the OpenOffice Mouse? Basically it's a mouse with 18 button and they say it'll be the most useful mouse ever.

OpenOffice Mouse

I've a keyboard (surprised? :P), but it's not a plain keyboard, it's a multimedia one, which means that it has a few extra keys to control a media player, and some other things. I've to admit that its 13 extra buttons are useful but they're always pissing me off. My keyboard is not the only one I've to use, I've a laptop and I've to use computers on campus and so on. The problem is that normally those keyboards also have multimedia keys... but in different places.

As a result I have to look to the keyboard and look for the appropriate key. In other words, I'm losing the advantage of having a fast access.

I'm just wondering, are this fancy mice really useful? Can they simplify our interaction, or are they just another well intentioned tool with a poor design? According to their web site the buttons will do different things depending on the application. As an engineer I can see why, as a user I'll throw it away when the “Copy” button (in OpenOffice) will try to do something else on my desktop.

Apple has a very different approach, Magic Mouse. It has no buttons at all. All its surface is a multi-touchpad.

Apple Magic Mouse

Honestly, which one would you prefer?

Will it be possible to resurrect this blog?

Yes, at least that's what I hope ;) It has been a long time since my last post, thousands of things have happened but you don't wanna read them and I've not time... so it would be pointless for me to write a long post :P

Let's say that I've been graduated and I'm now undertaking a master on Human Computer Interaction at the University of York (I know, I know, I look awful, but that's how I am).

I didn't know but this master is bombing my mind with hundred of new ideas every single day... so I will try to post hear every couple of days with my impressions. It will be more like a place for me to clarify my own ideas rather than a useful resource for you to find answers, but hey! It's my blog :P

As always, I'll be more than pleasant to hear from you so... don't hesitate, comment!

That's all for now, be happy ;)

Going back to Portsmouth

In less than twelve hours I’ll be at the airport going back to Portsmouth. My intention was to attend to the graduation ball this Saturday, unfortunately my +1 ran away at the last minute and I forgot to collect my ticket, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to attend to it, but I’ll try ;)

Even if I won’t be able to achieve my intention, I’ll be with my family in my graduation ceremony this 22th. As you can imagine, I don’t wanna miss my own graduation :P

Wish me luck!