corewerkz

Google just released a Safari plug-in that makes your Google Docs available offline — when you don’t have an Internet connection. The setup process is effortless, here’s a quick-start guide:

Using Safari, go to the Google Gears web site and install. After installation, you’ll notice some new menu items on the docs.google.com site:

Click the “Offline” link and you’ll see this pop-up:

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Popularity: 9% [?]

It seems like everyday something new is added to one of Google’s services. Since I use Google Maps daily, it’s there where I’ve been noticing some really cool additions:

- Less than two year ago, Google Maps added the ability to monitor Live Traffic conditions.

- About six months ago, construction sites and traffic accidents were added.

- A few month ago, they added “estimated traffic at a specific time/day.”

Now, you can type in the phone number of a person or business you want to Google Map search! Not every person is in there, but just about every business I tried, including mine, is there.

Try it for yourself: Google Map Search of 818-358-8541 (my business)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Just checking the traffic from Burbank to Venice today when I noticed that Google has expanded their “traffic” view to include traffic accidents and construction warnings, including a description of the accident or construction taking place!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Paranoid? Try Tor (free!), it bounces all your Internet activity around a network of thousands of other servers/proxies (people like you), making it impossible to track your location or activity.

Tor works on Tiger and Leopard, but it’s best if you’re using Firefox (because Tor includes a one-click enabler plug-in for Firefox). Tor installation is a breeze as the installer package actually installs and configures four smaller programs:

1) Vidalia – GUI for Tor
2) Tor – a system for using the Internet anonymously
3) Privoxy – a filtering web proxy that integrates well with Tor
4) Torbutton – a 1-click way for Firefox users to enable or disable the browser’s use of Tor

I tried both the Stable and Unstable Mac versions and they both installed correctly. According to the instructions, I should have been good to go (except they forget to tell you to “Open Vidalia”). I opened Vidalia, opened Firefox, enabled Tor within Firefox, and I was anonymous.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Fresh Apps is a brief summary of the top applications I’ve discovered over the past week.

March 2008, Week 3

Mac Applications

• Miro :: Free & Open-Source
Stand alone application to search, watch, and download just about any video from the internet; including video podcasts, youtube, and google video.

• Screen Recycler :: Shareware ($25)
Use spare networked computer monitors as additional “virtual” displays for your computer; integrates perfectly with Display system preferences to allow screen resolution adjustments, very low latency especially on ethernet connection, includes free VNC viewer.

• Docker :: Donationware ($15 Suggested)
Quickly change all Dock related preferences; including changing icon sizes, toggling 2D/3D style dock, changing the “open application” indicator, changing position, toggling effects, and changing colors; Great for newbies.

• Inquisitor :: Freeware
Enhances Safari’s google search field with auto-complete and website suggesting – didn’t think I’d like, but I love it! A must have if you use Safari.

iPhone Applications

• SpringDial :: Freeware / installer.app
Native application which allows one-touch dialing from springboard (the home screen) to specific contacts; even displays picture of contact as icon.

• Poof :: Freeware / installer.app
Native application to hide any icon from the springboard since Customize doesn’t do it with firmware 1.1.3.

Popularity: 2% [?]