Mind-NOX | tools

Send websites and docs to iBooks

face — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:24:57 +0000

With iTunes 9.2 and iOS 4, the iBooks 1.1 app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch can store and view PDF files, together with EPUB files.

If you want to quickly add a document or a web page to your ‘Books’ collection in iTunes, all you need to do is to create an alias of iTunes and drag it to ~/Library/PDF Services. Now, when you’re browsing the web or viewing documents and you decide that you want to read them later on a portable Apple device just hit Print, click the PDF button on the bottom left corner of the window and choose iTunes. iTunes will launch and receive the PDF. Next, sync your device and you’re ready to go.

via Send websites and docs to iBooks – Mac OS X Hints.

PowerPoint Makes Us Stupid

face — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:31:14 +0000

“PowerPoint makes us stupid,” Gen. James N. Mattis of the Marine Corps, the Joint Forces commander, said this month at a military conference in North Carolina. (He spoke without PowerPoint.) Brig. Gen. H. R. McMaster, who banned PowerPoint presentations when he led the successful effort to secure the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar in 2005, followed up at the same conference by likening PowerPoint to an internal threat.

via Enemy Lurks in Briefings on Afghan War – PowerPoint – NYTimes.com.

Whitespace

face — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:37:03 +0000

Most modern programming languages do not consider white space characters (spaces, tabs and newlines) syntax, ignoring them, as if they weren’t there. We consider this to be a gross injustice to these perfectly friendly members of the character set. Should they be ignored, just because they are invisible? Whitespace is a language that seeks to redress the balance. Any non whitespace characters are ignored; only spaces, tabs and newlines are considered syntax.

via Whitespace.

Mobile Usability

face — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:35:55 +0000

Mobile use is one of the biggest challenges now facing many websites. Its also important for some intranets, particularly in companies with many traveling employees.

via Mobile Usability Jakob Nielsens Alertbox.

The challenge has been around since the PalmPilot + application specific tools.

I suspect the success rate for doing “phone” tasks or “address book” tasks is much higher than the “web” tasks.

A custom application (which is all that a “Mobile Site” is, really) is going to provide a better experience.

Simple example? Google Maps – can’t use it on a “mobile” browser. The custom application for my phone works quite well.

Nanoparticles Explored for Preventing Cell Damage

face — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:39:31 +0000

In a nanocrystalline form, cerium oxide is a powerful antioxidant because its latticework crystal structure has many vacancies that can capture oxygen, and the material has a large surface area. Self showed that nanoceria mimic the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD), an antioxidant that can stop the deadly chain reactions caused by ROS.

Nanoceria are also able to regenerate their antioxidant abilities. “Due to this catalytic property,” explains Seal, “repeated dosing with nanoceria may not be needed, as it is with certain antioxidant vitamins.”

via Nanoparticles Explored for Preventing Cell Damage – US News and World Report.

WhirCat

face — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:25:35 +0000

I got tired of trying to choose between UDAP and Rdb Notes for keeping track of work-related things.

Welcome to WhirCat

Mega Drop-Down Navigation Menus Work Well

face — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:52:50 +0000

Goto considered harmful?

Summary:Â Big, two-dimensional drop-down panels group navigation options to eliminate scrolling and use typography, icons, and tooltips to explain the users choices.

via Mega Drop-Down Navigation Menus Work Well Jakob Nielsens Alertbox.

Preeeeee

face — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:12:43 +0000

It may be time to upgrade in August.

R, the Software, Finds Fans in Data Analysts – NYTimes.com

face — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:49:07 +0000

To some people R is just the 18th letter of the alphabet. To others, itâ€™s the rating on racy movies, a measure of an atticâ€™s insulation or what pirates in movies say.

via R, the Software, Finds Fans in Data Analysts – NYTimes.com.

Open source software makes the Times.

The Cornell Note-Taking System

face — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:59:34 +0000

Forty years ago, Walter Pauk (1989) developed what is known as the Cornell notetaking technique to help Cornell University students better organize their notes. Today, Pauk’s notetaking technique is probably the most widely used system throughout the United States.

via The Cornell Note-Taking System.

Cornell Notetaking – Blank Sheets

face — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:58:26 +0000

It’s hard to believe that this little tool designed to help you take better notes has been around since October of 2005, but it has. I’ve received loads of feedback from students, parents, and teachers singing the praises of the notetaking method and the generator that makes taking notes a little easier.

via Cornell Notetaking Method Custom PDF Generator.