Protected Screen

Easily allows you to secure your computer when away. You enter a password to unlock your computer, and it’s a very fast lock/unlock kinda thing. If you have a privacy problem, why not get this? Only thing that is kind of annoying, at least with me, is that it’s kind of a CPU hogger, and for the task that it does, it shouldn’t really be hogging…

Download Protected Screen here.

How to survive using your keyboard only. Screw that mouse :)

How to survive using your keyboard only. Screw that mouse

By pressing ctrl + F2, you open access to your menu bar, which is navigated with arrows, enter, or letters (for a shortcut, type the first letter of the menu item you want to access.

Pressing ctrl + F3 opens up your access to your dock, which can be navigated in the same way as the menu bar.

NOTE: If those actions are not working, then press ctrl + F1 to activate/deactivate this function.

You could really do anything without touching a mouse! So if your mighty mouse runs out of battery and there are no spare batteries…. How convenient!

Don’t forget those simple shortcuts too, like ‘Command () + Shift + A‘ that opens your applications folder (only works when on Finder, Safari for example, gives you autofill preferences…)

Other shortcuts you must know are:

Empty trash: Command () + Shift + Delete
Quit application: Command () + Q
Close current window: Command () + W

UPDATE: oli4 reminded me with his comment; to see a directory of shortcuts, go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts

UPDATE #2: Learned a new shortcut! When on Safari, select a word you don’t know and press ctrl + Command () + D and you will get a quick definition show up as a tool tip kind of thing!

Mind you pimp in Pimp My Mac is not meant to hold that definition

Why don’t you post more shortcuts for others’ convenience in the comments?

Skitch – Grab it while it’s still in beta!

This is SO cool!

Head on over to skitch.com, make an account and page (which you can share your creations on), and download the application!

Great interface, easily take screenshots or photos and edit them with the type tool or draw tool. It really is a quick, simple adobe photoshop. You can easily email your creations or upload them to your skitch page. Or save them on your computer.

Get Skitch here.

Microsoft: EPIC FAIL

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How to: Restore windows and tabs on Safari

One of the great things about other web browsers, such as Firefox and Camino, is that they have many functions that Safari does not have. I’m sorry, I meant, did not have. With Safari 3, many new functions have been introduced, one of which is provided by browsers like the previously mentioned.

I of course am talking about, restoring one’s last workplace. All you need to do is go to the history tab in the menu bar, and click on Reopen All Windows From Last Session.

Simple as that! The nice thing about it, you don’t always have a window popping up to ask you if you want to restore or not, like Camino, instead, you just use that menu tool when you need it.

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New application: Password protect your files!

Passworded Folders is a new utility that allows you to easily secure your private items from prying eyes!

When you log on for the first time, you will be asked to create a user for this application.

You can create as many users as you want, so if you’re sharing your computer with another person, you both can use this application to keep your files private. After you make a user account, you will have a hidden and secured file for yourself. When you open Passworded Folders, you will be able to log on and see what is in this folder. To secure and make your files private, just drag and drop on to your secured folder.

Download Passworded Folders here.

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FMenu 3.0 – Facebook from your menubar!

I downloaded this internet utility right when I saw it, having a facebook myself!

You can view all of your events, messages, posts, requests, updates, groups, and much, much more, all from your menu bar! You are even able to make direct searches and open people’s profiles on Facebook. This version even supports Growl for updates.

Definitely a useful application, if you have a facebook. Get FMenu here.

Hotbox 1.0

This lil’ piece of freeware is one of the most popular downloads on the Apple site.

Basically, it allows you to turn pretty much anything you want to full screen mode. Luckily for us Mac users, iLife and other built-in applications let us do this, such as iPhoto, Quicktime, and DVD player. However, there are other things which you can’t normally use in full screen mode. But with Hotbox, you can do it with anything, internet videos, flash clips, you name it. Simply select the portion of the screen you want to use in full screen mode, and voila!

Download Hotbox 1.0 over here.

If you find such a feature useful for web browsers, then why not check out Shiira?

Media Snap: Freeware for downloading YouTube videos

Another way to download YouTube videos

Media Snap is a tiny piece of freeware that allows you to download video or just audio alone from YouTube. Just punch in the URL and it will retrieve the video for you in Quicktime movie format. Did I mention it’s free?

Download Media Snap here.

Back with an iPhone…

Yep, haven’t blogged in ages. Luckily for me, I’m still getting hits with my older, popular posts
I’ll have you know that during my time of absence, I not only have found many great applications, but I also bought on iPhone! Unlocked and jailbreak’d it myself (1337 hax0r..duh). I’ve been thinking, should I start giving some iPhone tips and tricks? What do you all think?

Cheers