For users with more than one system at their desk, managing multiple keyboards and mice can take up space and slow down workflow. But with Synergy, a single keyboard and mouse can be shared across multiple systems on different platforms. A user with three systems -- running Windows, Mac OS X and a Linux distribution, for instance -- could use a single mouse and keyboard to control all three.
By simply moving the mouse cursor to the edge of one screen, the cursor would continue onto another monitor, shifting control to that system – all that’s needed is a shared network connection. Synergy is open source and can be downloaded for free.
It’s not an app, but an actual, physical egg timer. Used in combination with the pomodoro technique, a low-tech device such as an egg timer may be one of the greatest productivity tools around. Named after the Italian word for tomato (the inventor owned a tomato-shaped timer), the pomodoro technique is a simple process for organizing workflow and reducing mental stagnation.
Here’s how it works:
1. Make a list of tasks to be completed.
3. Work on a task until time is up.
4. Take a three- to five-minute break.
5. Repeat.
*A 15- to 30-minute break should be taken after four work cycles.
The technique’s beauty is in its simplicity. It may not work for everyone, but for some, the technique can increase focus and productivity. Want to give it a whirl? Several egg timers can be found on Amazon.com for less than $10. (And if you wanted to try it the new-school way, you could probably set a timer on your fancy smartphone.)
Everything is a lightweight application for Windows that substitutes for the operating system’s existing search functionality. Windows search has historically been a hit-or-miss endeavor, but Everything simplifies and speeds up the search process, returning near-instant and highly effective results.
On a fast system, millions of files can be indexed by the program in less than one minute, and then searching can begin. The program is named for what the user sees when searching begins, as all the system’s files are initially visible in the search results. As the user begins typing their search terms, results are filtered out and, if successful, what’s left is the file being searched for. With an effective search engine, the tedium of organizing files can become a thing of the past. Everything is free and works with Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 and 7.