So this is a short how to video on how to quickly and easily change colors of images, icons or pictures by using photo editing software like Photoshop or Gimp. I use this quick trick to change the color of images I use for my desktop, but it can come in handy for a variety of projects.
Productivity
How To Customize your Safari Toolbar.
Have you recently upgraded to Safari 4 and discovered your toolbar options have changed? No problem! Recreate your toolbar with this short how to.
Why I love the SD Card Slot
One of my favorite things about my new Macbook Pro is the presence of the SD Card Slot, the new addition to the Macbook Pro lineup. As someone who uses their digital camera frequently for both images and video, there is nothing easier than slipping the slim card into the side of my Mac for quick uploads of my digital media onto my computer and the internet. In fact, it is so easy to upload my digital content onto my computer now, I actually credit it with the increase in my productivity.
Before the SD slot, I would have to do one of the following. (1) I would have to connect my camera to my Mac via a cable and then upload my images through Image Capture or (2) I would have to attach my USB SD Card Reader to my Mac and then insert my SD card to upload my media that way. Either way, I had to use another device to transfer my media, and although it wasn’t a difficult task, it certainly wasn’t something I was willing to do frequently, and I would actually hold off on uploading my pictures and videos because I didn’t feel like making a mess and pulling out extra cables for a small transfer.
Those days are over! Now, not only can I easily connect and transfer data from my digital camera, but because my cell phone uses micro SD, I can easily transfer media to and from my cell phone’s memory card (a task I could only previously accomplish by using the USB SD Card reader. It feels great not having the constraints of extra cables, not just at home, but especially on the road- I have definitely lightened my load!
It’s actually kind of sad that I am so pleased that Apple finally added something as simple as SD Card Slots to their notebook line. For a company that is so quick to boast that their machines are made for entertainment and creativity, they were really lacking a very simple and very popular element on their Macbooks. It took Apple until 2009 to add an SD slot to their machines, and yet my father’s 5 year old Toshiba PC has multiple card slots, including SD.
Well, despite the late arrival, the SD Card Slot is certainly an amazing and useful addition to the new Macbook Pro line. I think this small element is so necessary to so many Mac users and I know we all appreciate it! As a Blogger and YouTube(r) the SD Slot will have such a positive affect on my output, giving me the ability to publish my content sooner rather than later!
{Image via here}
Required Reading.
I am really excited today for three reasons, but let me give you a little back story first. Whenever I go to the mall, I always search the magazine sections in book stores and in large stores like Target to locate my favorite magazines. Unfortunately, most stores don’t carry all of the tech magazines that I like to read. So, after yet another unsuccessful trip to Target this weekend to find the new MacLife, I decided that I needed to get my reading from the source. So, I finally went ahead and subscribed to MacLife, Macworld, and Wired Magazines! I am really pleased with my decision because MacLife specifically also provides you with digital copies of the magazine, so you can just take it with you on your computer! No more scouring news stands and bookstores for me!
How to Safely remove a Hard Shell Case.
So, I have seen a bunch of reviews and videos about how difficult it is to remove the Incase and Speck hard shell cases and so I decided to make this video tutorial on an easy method of removal. It shouldn’t take anyone 10, 20, 30 minutes to remove a hard shell. As you can see it takes me 2-3 minutes to remove the case and I do not damage the macbook in the process.
Clean your dirty yellow Macbook!
Since I am in the process of refreshing my old white Macbook to factory-like conditions, I have decided to attempt to clean the dirty hand rest. As many of you might already know, the white Macbook’s hand rest yellows and collects dirt over time, and there have been many suggestions out their on how to keep the hand rest clean, so I decided to try it out myself. To be fair, my hand rest is not as dirty as it was once. About 6 months after I bought it, the hand rest was so yellow that I sent it to Apple to have them repair it. They said it was a defect in the hand rest, that it shouldn’t yellow, and they replaced it. It has since been over 2 1/2 years and as you can see in the video, the hand rest is not too bad. However, I really want it to look perfect so I went out and bought the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser because I heard that was the best way to clean the white Macbook.
Now, I would just like to clarify before you watch this video, if you are going to try this at home, it is better to start slow and clean a small area first. This will only work on the hand rest, so don’t try this on the screen or on the track pad or on the glossy casing of your Macbook. I ended up cleaning my hand rest, my keyboard and the frame of my screen (basically any place where that same white matte material is used). When it comes to cleaning the keys, make sure to be very gentle, because I have heard how strong these Erasers are and they could take your lettering off if you are scrubbing to harshly.
DIY Laptop Lap Desk.
When it comes to using my Macbook, I am definitely someone who works AFD, ‘away from desk.’ I follow the theory that a laptop was made to be taken elsewhere and therefor should not be subject to the confines of a desk 24 hours a day. I especially like to use my laptop in bed so that I can surf the net while watching tv, surrounded by pillows and blankets! That is why is it imperative that I use a lap desk. If you are a notebook computer user, you are well aware that sitting your computer down on a pillow or on a comforter can cause the air vents to clog with dust and particles as a pillow doesn’t necessarily get the best ventilation, so having a small lap desk to keep your computer on while working is a necessity. Although you could go out and spend $20-$100 dollars on various styles of lap desks, I prefer to make my own, and so I am going to share with you my tips on how to make a DIY Laptop Lap Desk. Making your own lap desk is easy, but best of all, it is customizable and the directions can be tailored to your specific crafting level.
To make your own DIY Laptop Lap Desk, you will need the following (all of which can be found at a local craft store):
1 Unfinished wooden tray table
1 Piece of sandpaper
1+ bottles of Acrylic crafting paint
2 Pieces of Scrapbook paper (Optional)
1 Jar of Mod Podge (Optional)
1 Can of Acrylic spray sealant
A few foam brushes
Optional Items
Depending on your crafting skill level, you may choose to paint your tray one solid color, multiple colors, or paper mache the desk portion of the tray using scrapbook paper and mod podge. You should think about how you would like your tray to look and what you think you are capable of doing before you begin so that you select the proper paint colors and materials. Using the paper mache tools can be simple, even for a first timer, as long as you take your time and follow the directions properly. This option can also help you to create an even more unique tray table through the use of pretty patterned papers.
Process
Step 1: Prepare your workspace
Before you begin, make sure you have a good amount of space on a table or desk to work on. Remember you will be using paint and glue for this project so you may want to put down newspaper or a disposable table cloth to keep your area clean.
Step 2: Prepare the tray
The first thing you need to do is use the sandpaper to clean up the wooden tray. You want to make the wood as smooth as possible and remove any bumps or splintering sections so that you can apply your paint evenly. This will also prevent you from hurting yourself on a wooden splinter as you work or worse, as you use the desk in the future. After you are done sandpapering the tray, make sure you remove any wooden dust particles from the tray AND your work space- you don’t want the paint on your tray to pick up wood dust as you work.
Step 3: Prepare your materials
If you choose to use just paint for your project, make sure you have a protected surface off to the side to put your paint on. This surface can be as simple as a piece of cardboard or as advanced as a painters palette, but you will need something to dip your foam brush into that is NOT directly into the bottle of paint.
If you choose to paint AND paper mache, this is the point where you should size out your paper to fit the interior of your tray. Take your time, mark, and slowly cut your paper to fit the flat desk portion of your tray before you begin. Remember, the rule of thumb is to measure twice and cut once!
Step 4: Paint
Depending on your level of skill, you may choose to paint the sides of your tray different colors, or simply paint it one solid color. Take your time and make sure to work off of a palette of some sort, and most of all make sure you are using one foam brush per color and cleaning the brushes off in between layers of paint. You will most likely need only 2 layers of paint, but you can apply more or less layers depending on the color you are using and the color result you are looking for. It is best to let the paint dry a little between layers so that you can get an accurate idea of the outcome color of each layer.
If you choose to work with the Mod Podge and scrapbook paper to paper mache the desk portion of your tray, you will want to avoid applying paint to the desk area. If you do get some paint on the desk, don’t worry, it will not hurt your project, and it is common to get paint on the edges of the desk as you paint the interior sides of the tray.
Step 5: Applying the Paper Mache
If you have chosen to work with the paper mache supplies to create a unique desk area, you should wait until the paint has dried on the tray before you begin. Once it is dry you will use another clean foam brush to apply the mod podge to the desk area. To do this, you may dip your foam brush directly inside the bottle of mod podge, but be careful as the mod podge is a glue and you may get run off as you take your brush out of the jar. Slowly and carefully apply an even layer of glue to the wood. You don’t want to apply to little of the glue that your paper won’t solidly stick to it, but you also do not want to apply so much glue that the layer will soak through your paper. Use your best judgement and apply a nice even layer.
Step 6: Apply the paper
After you have applied a nice even layer of glue to the desk, you must quickly put down your paper. I suggest starting from one edge of the tray and working to the next, laying the paper down and smoothing it to the surface of the desk. It is important to note, the paper may appear to have bubbles underneath it or what appears to be “veins” but if you have applied an even layer and have slowly applied the paper and smoothed it down as you went, you will be fine. Depending on the thickness of your chosen paper, as it gets wet during the application it will crinkle the way wet paper does, however, if you have made sure to smooth it down it will dry flat.
Step 7: Apply glue to the top of the paper
Once the paper has been applied to the desk of the tray, you must also add a layer of glue to the top of the paper. Much like you applied it to the desk, you will apply another even layer on top of the paper to seal it. Again, when you do this the paper may appear to crinkle more and more “air bubbles” or “veins” may appear on the paper, but these will disappear as the tray dries as long as you have applied an even layer of glue and made sure to carefully smooth down the paper in step 6.
Step 8: Let it dry
It is best to let the tray dry overnight before you move onto the final part of the project. This way you will give the glue plenty of time to harden and you will see that most, if not all, of the bubbles have dried flat.
Step 9: Apply the spray sealant
After you have given your project time to dry overnight, you may now apply the spray sealant. Make sure you take your project outside to do this, as the fumes of the spray can be harmful indoors and you need proper ventilation. Following the directions on the spray can, apply an even coat to the tray. If your tray has legs make sure to keep those open and have your tray standing so that the whole tray is being sealed. Let the first layer dry for about 10-15 minutes, and if you choose, apply a second coat.
Step 10: Let it dry
After you have applied the spray sealant to the tray, leave it in a nice, well ventilated spot to dry overnight (like in your garage or out on a deck. The spray sealant may say it dries in just a few minutes or hours, but it is best to let the tray dry overnight again before use so that you have aired it out properly and let it set.
Ladies on the Go.
It’s not just the men who get to have all the fun when it comes to tech! The working woman too requires the right gadgets and gear to keep her going, even when her work takes her on the move. So what exactly does a stylish woman use when she is out and about with her tech? Let this simple guide show you the right tools to keep productive on the go!
Getting the IT Bag, as in, information technology.
The Executive Treatment
Violet May’s Kydd Laptop Tote is the perfect bag for the 1st class look. With an embossed snakeskin finish and a colorful yet studry interior perfect for your laptop and accessories, this chic power tote can go from the boardroom, to business dinners and seals the deal every time! Price: $841.50 US.
The Minimalist
If all you are looking for out of a great laptop brief is a slim and minimalist design, look no further than Toffee’s Brief bag. The perfect size for your laptop inside and a few exterior pockets is all you need to get the job done, anywhere! Price: $139.95 US.
The Carry-All
Need to carry your laptop, documents, gadgets and accessories with you at all times? Then Knomo’s Toyah bag is just for you. This slim, yet expandable, brief has room for your laptop, cables, documents, gadgets and much more without sacrificing on style or quality! Price: $235 US.
Backing up is easy to do.
Stylish
Who knew an external hard drive could be considered stylish until now? With the LaCie Little Disk, you get the power and portability of a high quality external hard drive mixed with the elegance of a glossy enclosure and an all-in-one body design. To think, people avoid backing up! Price: $89.99 US for 250GB model.
Light as Air
So, you bought that ultra-portable laptop and now you’re worried your external hard drive is weighing you down? Not so with Iomega’s eGo Helium. Designed to compliment the slim design of a Macbook Air, this portable drive is sleek and powerful, just like your Mac! Price: $109.99 US for 320GB model.
Faithful Companion
If all you are looking for is a good design and a dependable drive, Western Digital’s My Passport Essential is all you need. This small but sturdy drive comes in a myriad of colors and drive capacities, and since it is made by Western Digital you know you are getting the best money can buy; peace of mind! Price: $99 US for 250 GB model.
The Must-Have Accessories.
Digital Camera
Although their are many digital cameras on the market right now, the best reviews and one of the best designs is Canon’s PowerShot SD780 IS. With 12.1 mega pixels, HD video quality and all the best features available today, this camera has it all! Price: $279.99 US.
Portable Power
Everyone could use a little extra power now and again, especially while they are on the road with little access to outlet power. While you could choose to buy a backup power source for each of your gadgets, that could get costly, not to mention cumbersome to carry, very quickly. So, if you have multiple gadgets to power up, go with the HyperMac external battery. This small battery can power your laptop and gadgets all at once, no need for separate batteries! Price: $199.95 for 10 extra hours of power.
Power Protection
Although you may be lucky enough to be working on the road at a location with outlet power, more often than not you will find yourself in the position of having too few accessible outlets. If you need to plug in your laptop, phone, ipod, and anything else, it might be good to have the outlet space for it, as well as surge protection. That’s where Belkin’s Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger comes in handy. It gives you extra outlet space, surge protection and 2 USB charging ports for your cell phone or ipods! Price: $24.99 US.
Wifi Anywhere
It is always great to be working with a high speed internet connection, but sometimes you just want the option to go wireless. So, with Apple’s Airport Express Base Station, all you need is a high speed internet connection and a power outlet, and viola, instant wifi! Price: $99 US.
Hyper Drive.
One of the big drawbacks to having a laptop is the lack of a continuous power source to keep your machine running for hours and hours. Despite the improved technology in laptop battery life, our portable machines are still only able to push out maybe 3-5 hours of battery on a charge, which is a good amount, but too often it is not enough. Well, if you to suffer from this problem, there might be a solution: the HyperMac External Macbook Power source. Coming in 4 different models, this compact power source is the size of an external hard drive (the smallest model) and can power your laptop for an extra 9-13 hours (smallest model) or up to 32 hours (the largest model). These guys come at a heavy price tag though, $199 for the small model and up to $499 for the largest. I guess this is worth it for some people, and I am seriously thinking about the small model for my own use. I don’t need 32 hours of backup power, but an extra 10 would be pretty nice!
Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger.
This weekend I finally bought the Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger! I found it on sale at Circuit City for $20.99 down from the usually $24.99 so I thought I should get it while it was on the cheap. I have been scoping this out for a while because not only is it a mini portable surge protector, it also includes 2 USB outlets and a USB to Mini USB cable for charging devices. I don’t have a wall charger for my iPods, so this is perfect for me! Plus it covers up to $75,000 in damages if it is defective, which is pretty spectacular. I have been using it for the past few days and I, of course, love it. There is not much more to say other than it has a 360 degree rotating head that comes in handy. Oh, but one small flaw that I discovered– when I tried to charge my iPod and my cell phone via the USB ports, the charge flow was interrupted and kept cutting in and out. I haven’t tried to charge two things simultaneously again, but if it keeps happening that is a major flaw because there is no reason to have two USB ports if it doesn’t actually charge two things at once. Other than that, I love the fact that it is a portable surge protector that also acts as a charger for my USB devices especially my iPods.
{This has been reposted from blackalligator.blogspot.com}