Google has refreshed the design of the recent 4.5 release of Google Desktop. To my mind now it’s better, faster and more personalized. In later versions of Google Desktop gadgets are floating on the desktop and the Sidebar has a definitely new look.

The new Sidebar is transparent, so it fits seamlessly with your desktop environment. Gadgets that fought for attention now look right at home, and content-heavy gadgets get new frames and icons that make it easier to tell them apart. All of this leads to a better place to find your email, news, feeds, stock prices, weather and other essential information. And this version is compatible with all of the latest software including Microsoft Vista, Office 2007 and Mozilla Firefox 2.0.

via googledesktop

You can download and try the new Sidebar in Google Desktop now right from here.

First we had the podsafe music network, Podshow now we have this. Music which is from unsigned bands which is licensed especially for podcasting. But the trend is growing. Most music producers are happy with the idea that in order to sell music you have to give lots away. It seems that the days of bloated greedy record companies are numbered. And not very big numbers either…

File sharing and MP3 network MP34U is trying hard to be an alternative to the traditional music business and succeeding to a certain extent. You’ve got signed and unsigned bands side by side, ratings and chart positions, well known and less well known artists. The “sources” look for and find the best free and legal MP3s out there on the Net. These countless billions (well lots anyway) are then voted on, and you get the results. So you know that the stuff which rises to the top is popular. It might even be good, the odds are with you on that one.

Visit the asylum here.

I found a really cool resource on the web, which if you are a fan of old blues masters is actually something of a gold mine. Lots of the recordings of the old blues musicians have fallen into the public domain, being really old and all that. The problem with media that has fallen into the public domain is that it is pretty hard to find.

Luckily there is a new kind of movement on the Net where clever and resourceful people find out stuff which is public domain now and collect it together. This is one such resource.

Here you can find such brilliant old stuff as Leadbelly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?”, Blind Willie Johnson singing “Praise God I’m Satisfied”, and Lottie Kimbough with “Wayward Girl Blues”. Oh yeah and I really love Memphis Minnie’s “Where is My Good Man At?”. Very cool.

Join the fun at PublicDomain4U.

If you spend long periods of time at your computer, you have a pretty good chance of developing a repetitive strain injury over time.This can show in ways such as a backpain, sore fingers or eyestrain. So whats the way to avoid all this or help yourself out if you’re already affected? Spend less time at your computer! Too much to ask for? Then at least take regular breaks!

Try out RSIGuard to help you achieve this, it schedules regular reminders for you to take a break. It can show exercises and stretches, which can optionally be disabled. In fact everything about this program is very configurable.It also has tracking and reporting of statistics to help you know how you’re doing. If you find yourself ignoring the breaks you can make them harder or even impossible to ignore.

I highly recommend this program as i think its designed well and does what it does well. Although being reminded to take a break can be a little irritating at times, but isn’t that the whole point? (but not as irritating as developing aches and pains, so it’s worth it in the long run).

Check it out here for more info and a trial

You know what’s really weird about the concept of backing up the entire Internet? Where on earth would you put it all?

I don’t know how it works, but over at www.archive.org they have a thing called the Internet Wayback Machine. You can put in a URL and it will take you back to what that page looked like in 1996. It must be vestigial logs from the hosting sites or something, I don’t see how it can work, but it does. I can verify I went back to a lot of my old websites that are LONG gone and there they were, graphics and all.

That’s not even possible, is it?

Mind boggling. Go boggle your own mind at The Internet Wayback Machine.

At the end of last week my Skype-client have told me that there’s a new BETA version (for Windows users) available… I was too busy that time to download and look at it but now time have come! So, what’s inside Skype 3.0 (Beta version)? First of all there are lots on new and very interesting functions (like skypecasts (which were available in the 2.6 Beta already), public chats etc.).

So, lets start with those skypecasts:

In Skype 3.0, you can browse the current Skypecasts straight in Skype on the Live tab. When you decide to join or host one, the Skypecast itself will run within a separate tab where you have all the host or participant controls to ask for mike, see who’s the host and do all those other things you need to do in a Skypecast. So there won’t be no more of those clunky pop-up browser windows. To join Skypecast just click the link and talk (or just listen to the conversation). Every Skypecast have all ‘statistic’ you need to know (subject, who’s hosting it, number of participants right now). One more thing about the host: one who organized the whole talk have more rights and can vary a few things, for ex. They can cut somebody short so you won’t be able to talk, just listening to the conversation. Also he can set a chat time (how long the conversation will take place). There’s a 5 hours limit (maximum). For that time chat will be available even if there’s no one is talking. After that chat will be deleted (only if there’s no one inside, if there’s at least one person it still will ‘live’). (more…)

It finally happens! Sun Microsystems Inc. said on Monday that it will make its Java software available for free by giving it to the open-source community. Though company will continue to sell and support standardized versions of the product.

The main cause of that action is to make that ‘sunny’ software more widely available (company still is striving to return to consistent profitability). Several key components of Java are already available for free download and the rest will be released in 2007. ‘Altogether it will put some 6 million lines of Java code into the public domain, making it one of the largest such grants to date’. That what Reuters have told us : )

As you’re all know Java software lets developers write one set of code for programs that work on different types of computers and operating systems. (more…)

Every now and then we all need to slow down and take a step back from the hustle and bustle of daily living to appreciate the world we live in. That is why this screensaver with breathtaking views of the earth is really something!

EarthView is a dynamic desktop wallpaper and screen saver, which displays beautiful views of the earth with daylight and night shadows. It produces high quality images for every screen resolution – even beyond 1600×1200. The program supports map and globe views, urban areas, city lights, geo-political boundaries and much more. Many options allow total customization of all view parameters.

EarthView supports four different beautiful maps of the earth, starting at 10 km resolution, which means that at 100% zoom level, 1 pixel on your screen equals 10 kilometers on earth. If you purchase the full version, you’ll get the possibility to download even more detailed versions of some maps, which have higher resolution. This means, they have much more detail, so you can zoom in even further! The demo version comes with just 1 map but you can download others online.

An updated version has just been released with these latest changes:

• New: date and time display in local format
• Fix: updated city database

One downside is the fact that it is overpriced. The full version costs like $25 and you may be wondering why you should cough up that much when there are other screensavers with similar features that are free. Well, you can go for the trial version just to check out the breathtaking pictures. If you feel it’s worth it to you, you can buy it, if not just enjoy the demo version.

MORE INFO AND FREE DOWNLOAD OF DEMO VERSION

I recently came across a freeware on the Internet that allows one to have a great gaming experience. It’s called Xpadder.

Xpadder simulates keypresses and mouse movements using a gamepad. This allows you to use your controller to play PC games with poor or no joystick support (including DOS games in a Windows DOS box and Shockwave/Java internet games).

Some of its features include

• Full keyboard and mouse emulation
• Supports up to 16 controllers at the same time for multiplayer gaming
• Rumble (force feedback) and advanced fine-tuning options
• Extensive database of over 170 controllers, adapters and drivers
• Multiple profile management
• Designed for all controllers (gamepads, joysticks, steering wheels, etc.

The new version is set to be released at the end of the month with even greater features…

One really great thing about Xpadder is that unlike others that you just download their programs and you are left on your own to deal with issues arising from its use, the Xpadder website has a forum where you can get all your questions answered and receive news on updates.

CLICK HERE for more info and free download!

If you want to change the way you play games and pull some really cool pranks on your friends, MorphVOX may come in handy. MorphVOX Junior is free voice changer software that will modify your voice to match your personality. You can sound like a man, woman, or little folk. Built-in voices and sound effects make this voice changer so convenient to use.

It is optimized for online games, but is also great for prank calling friends via instant messaging and VoIP. And it’s just about voices; it can send out car screeches and drum rolls with a push of a key, mouse or joystick button.

MorphVOX is a voice changing application for adding fun to online communication. If as a regular gamer, you have spent many hours grooming your online character to look a certain way, you now have the opportunity to change your voice to match. 

Get a whole new chatting experience, IM voice chatters, change your voice to disguise your age, gender or identity. The cool thing about it is you can change your voice with the available themed voices or create your own. Additional voice changing packs, sound effects, and skins can be easily added. 

MorphVOX is available in two versions, MorphVOX JUNIOR [free] and the Full featured MORPHVOX which you must pay for. 

MORE INFO AND FREE DOWNLOAD!