Create a Customized Tab on the Office 2010 Ribbon
Mar/100
Some MS Office users were put off a bit by the Ribbon feature in 2007 for being cumbersome and confusing. Today we look at a cool new feature in Office 2010 that allows you to create your own custom tabs with specific commands for easier document creation.
Create a Customized Tab
In our example we’re using Word, but you can create a custom tab in the other Office apps as well. To do so, right-click on the Ribbon and select Customize the Ribbon.
The Word Options screen opens up and from here you can manage a lot of customization options.
We want to create a new customized tab, so click on the New Tab button.
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Now give it a name…
Now just drag the commands you want to add from the left column over to your new custom group.
You have every command available to choose from. You can select specific groups or all commands from the dropdown menu on the left.
That is all there is to it…now you have your own customized tab with the commands you use most often to help you work more efficiently. In this example We didn’t add a whole lot of commands, but you can customize it with as many as you need. You can also create other tabs with different sets of commands too.
When you create a customized tab in one application, it’s only going to be in that app. For example if you create on in Word, it’s not going to show in Excel as commands differ between apps. If you want a custom tab in another Office app you’ll need to create one for it.
Another very cool thing you can do is export the customizations to use on another machine or pass them to a coworker. To export the customizations, go to the Customize Ribbon section and at the bottom of the right field click Import/Export then Export all customizations. Then save the file to a location on your hard drive.
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To import the settings to another machine, go into Ribbon Customizations and select Import customizations file… then browse the the file you exported.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[20-28-54]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/851cc1227a202854.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[20-28-54]")
You’ll be prompted to confirm you want to import he customizations…
![sshot-2010-03-04-[20-31-25]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/dd7fd8f0d0203125.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[20-31-25]")
After confirming the choice now you’ll see the customization show up on the other machine. This is very handy if you work on several machines throughout the day and want to easily bring your customized tabs with you.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[20-31-56]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/b507d96639203156.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[20-31-56]")
If you find yourself using a lot of specific commands throughout the day, creating your own customized tab will help access them more quickly. If you want to test out Office 2010 it’s currently in Public Beta and can be downloaded for free.
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Create a Customized Tab on the Office 2010 Ribbon
Install XP Mode with VirtualBox Using the VMLite Plugin
Mar/100
Would you like to run XP Mode, but prefer Sun’s VirtualBox for virtualization?? Thanks to the free VMLite plugin, you can quickly and easily run XP Mode in or alongside VirtualBox.
Yesterday we showed you one method to install XP Mode in VirtualBox, unfortunately in that situation you lose XP’s activation, and it isn’t possible to reactivate it. Today we show you a tried and true method for running XP mode in VirtualBox and integrating it seamlessly with Windows 7.
Note: You need to have Windows 7 Professional or above to use XP Mode in this manner.
Install XP Mode
Make sure you’re logged in with Administrator rights for the entire process. The first thing you’ll want to do is install XP Mode on your system (link below). You don’t need to install Windows Virtual PC.
Go through and install XP Mode using the defaults.
Install VirtualBox
Next you’ll need to install VirtualBox 3.1.2 or higher if it isn’t installed already. If you have an older version of VirtualBox installed, make sure to update it.
During setup you’re notified that your network connection will be reset.
Check the box next to Always trust software from “Sun Microsystems, Inc.” then click Install.
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Setup only takes a couple of minutes, and does not require a reboot…which is always nice.
Install VMLite XP Mode Plugin
The next thing we’ll need to install is the VMLite XP Mode Plugin. Again Installation is simple following the install wizard.
During the install like with VirtualBox you’ll be asked to install the device software.
After it’s installed go to the Start menu and run VMLite Wizard as Administrator.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[18-04-11]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/38912bae2c180411.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[18-04-11]")
Select the location of the XP Mode Package which by default should be in C:Program FilesWindows XP Mode.
Accept the EULA…and notice that it’s meant for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.
Next, name the machine, choose the install folder, and type in a password.
Select if you want Automatic Updates turned on or not.
Wait while the process completes then click Finish.
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The VMLite XP Mode will set up to run the first time.
That is all there is to this section. You can run XP Mode from within the VMLite Workstation right away.
XP Mode is fully activated already, and the Guest Additions are already installed, so there’s nothing else you need to do!? XP Mode is the whole way ready to use.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[22-37-37]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/87c19eb2c7223737.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[22-37-37]")
Integration with VirtualBox
Since we installed the VMLite Plugin, when you open VirtualBox you’ll see it listed as one of your machines and you can start it up from here.
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Here we see VMLite XP Mode running in Sun VirtualBox.
Integrate with Windows 7
To integrate it with Windows 7 click on Machine Seamless Mode…
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Here you can see the XP menu and Taskbar will be placed on top of Windows 7. From here you can access what you need from XP Mode.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[18-28-56]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/4a1d6336eb182856.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[18-28-56]")
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Here we see XP running on Virtual Box in Seamless Mode. We have the old XP WordPad sitting next to the new Windows 7 version of WordPad.
![sshot-2010-03-03-[22-47-22]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/813caf39f6247221.png.png "sshot-2010-03-03-[22-47-22]")
This works so seamlessly you forget if your working in XP or Windows 7. In this example we have Windows Home Server Console running in Windows 7, while installing MSE from IE 6 in XP Mode.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[22-49-00]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ec48f0e07b224900.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[22-49-00]")
At the top of the screen you will still have access to the VMs controls.
![sshot-2010-03-04-[18-34-42]](http://semibeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/c1732663e8183442.png.png "sshot-2010-03-04-[18-34-42]")
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You can click the button to exit Seamless Mode, or simply hit the right “CTRL+L”
Conclusion
This is a very slick way to run XP Mode in VirtualBox on any machine that doesn’t have Hardware Virtualization. This method also doesn’t lose the XP Mode activation and is actually extremely easy to set up.
If you prefer VMware (like we do), Check out how to run XP Mode on machines without Hardware Virtualization capability, and also how to create an XP Mode for Vista and Windows 7 Home Premium.
Links
Download VMLite XP Mode Plugin for VirtualBox (Site Registration Required)
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Install XP Mode with VirtualBox Using the VMLite Plugin
Edit Text in a Webpage with Internet Explorer 8
Mar/100
Internet Explorer is often decried as the worst browser for web developers, but IE8 actually offers a very nice set of developer tools.? Here we’ll look at a unique way to use them to edit the text on any webpage.
How to edit text in a webpage
IE8’s developer tools make it easy to make changes to a webpage and view them directly.? Simply browse to the webpage of your choice, and press the F12 key on your keyboard.? Alternately, you can click the Tools button, and select Developer tools from the list.
This opens the developer tools.? To do our editing, we want to select the mouse button on the toolbar “Select Element by Click” tool.
Now, click on any spot of the webpage in IE8 that you want to edit.? Here, let’s edit the footer of Google.com.? Notice it places a blue box around any element you hover over to make it easy to choose exactly what you want to edit.
In the developer tools window, the element you selected before is now highlighted.? Click the plus button beside that entry if the text you want to edit is not visible.
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Now, click the text you wish to change, and enter what you wish in the box.? For fun, we changed the copyright to say “©2010 Microsoft”.
Go back to IE to see the changes on the page!
You can also change a link on a page this way:
Or you can even change the text on a button:
Here’s our edited Google.com:
This may be fun for playing a trick on someone or simply for a funny screenshot, but it can be very useful, too.? You could test how changes in fontsize would change how a website looks, or see how a button would look with a different label.? It can also be useful when taking screenshots.? For instance, if I want to show a friend how to do something in Gmail but don’t want to reveal my email address, I could edit the text on the top right before I took the screenshot.? Here I changed my Gmail address to test@yahoo.com.
Please note that the changes will disappear when you reload the page.? You can save your changes from the developer tools window, though, and reopen the page from your computer if you wish.
We have found this trick very helpful at times, and it can be very fun too!? Enjoy it, and let us know how you used it to help you!
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Is That a Zune HD in your Pocket? No, It’s the MSI MT-V660! – Anything But iPod (blog)
Dec/090
 TFTS (blog) |
Is That a Zune HD in your Pocket? No, It's the MSI MT-V660!
Anything But iPod (blog) You'd have to be blind—or really not care that much—to not notice the similarities between MSI's new MT-V660 and the Zune HD. The MT-V660, which is powered … MSI media player clones Zune HD MSI MT-V660 PMP looks to Zune HD for design inspiration MSI's New MT-V660 PMP Spotted |
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Is That a Zune HD in your Pocket? No, It’s the MSI MT-V660! – Anything But iPod (blog)
New stem cell treatment could cure blindness
Nov/090
Trials could soon begin of a controversial new treatment using stem cells to treat a form of incurable blindness, if a license is granted the scie…
Original post:
New stem cell treatment could cure blindness
Blind boy uses his ears to ’see’
Oct/090
Seven-year-old Lucas Murray is completely blind but is nonetheless able to see through a type of echolocation, a technique involving the use of cl…
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Blind boy uses his ears to ’see’
Absolutely hideous new Xbox 360 controller spotted online
Sep/090
We’re not opposed to colors splashed on our favorite accessories, but a new Xbox 360 controller spotted online at EB Games is making us change your minds. Discovered by Chip Chick, this black and red abomination combines the sleek design of Microsoft’s controller with a design only a color-blind person would find appealing. If its lack of style* isn’t enough, the controller — which is bundled with a charger — will set gamers back $70. We’ll stick with our solid colors, thank you very much.
*If you happen to enjoy the controller’s design, we apologize … for your lack of taste. Ba-Zing!
[Via Gizmodo]
Absolutely hideous new Xbox 360 controller spotted online originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Absolutely hideous new Xbox 360 controller spotted online
DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate
Jun/090
Every so often, we stumble upon a new piece of technology designed to assist deaf and / or blind individuals, but we’ve yet to see a creation so complete as this.
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DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate
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Insert Special Characters & Coding in Online Forms in Firefox
Mar/100
If you are active in forums or comment areas on different websites then you most likely use some type of special characters, HTML, or other code throughout the day. Now you can easily insert commonly used “items” with the SKeys extension for Firefox.
Your New Special Text Edit Bar
After installing the extension you will see the new toolbar that has been added to your browser. These are the kinds of text that can be added to online comment areas, forums, or other website areas that allow their use:
All that you will need to do is click on the appropriate special character or code to insert it into the website text area.
The first two toolbar items are each singular in their function and insert the following types of text.
A look at the special characters available for your use.
The wiki code menu.
The HTML menu…
And the BB code menu.
Here is a quick sample using the HTML menu…much better than doing it manually. This should definitely help speed things up throughout the day. Our only disappointment during testing was not being able to add additional items (i.e. characters, tags) to the toolbar at this time.
Conclusion
While a new toolbar may not be for everyone this extension can certainly prove useful when you need to quickly add special characters or coding in website text areas.
Links
Download the SKeys extension (Mozilla Add-ons)
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Insert Special Characters & Coding in Online Forms in Firefox