dragonfly-logo

Spooktacular Wallpapers

hauntedmansion

With Halloween right around the corner,I thought I would pull together a collection of desktop wallpapers for you to use to decorate your computer screens. Enjoy your treats.

Here are some spooky and fun desktop wallpapers collected from across the web to help you get into the Halloween spirit.

American Greetings

Ticked-Off Kitty

Continue Reading→

Microsoft’s YouTube Channel Gets Hacked

Microsoft’s YouTube channel has been usurped by a malicious user.  All of the official videos, including recent ad campaigns, have been removed from the account. In their place are short clips soliciting advertisers. (note: as of this writing these short videos have now been removed, and the account appears to be back in the proper hands).

Although there are no details yet, several sources are speculating how this user gained access to the account. Based on a cryptic message left on the channel, some have postulated the user established the channel back in the early days of YouTube, as a … Continue Reading→

Gmail Set to Launch New User Interface to Help Battle Information Overload

Things to look forward to in the new interface:

  • An action bar that uses icons instead of text labels
  • A completely new interface for conversations
  • Profile pictures next to contacts
  • A flexible layout that adapts to any window size (will be useful when viewing on smartphones and tablets
  • Display density options like in Google Docs
  • Re-sizable chat/labels sections
  • New high-definition themes
  • An updated search box that includes advanced options.

The video was unintentionally made public and has now been taken down but a mirror copy exists (linked to above).  Screenshots can be seen at “Google Operating System- Unofficial News and … Continue Reading→

Social Media Etiquette

Etiquette

The Internet affords us a myriad of tools to connect and share all types of  information — inane to useful.  Almost as fast as we can think a thought or observe an event; we can share it online.  But should we share every little thing?  How often to you pause to consider future implications of what you are about to share?  Do you consciously manage your online image?

This video by FGSquared gives some great common sense advice.

Continue Reading→

Give Your Digital Photos a Nostalgic Retro Effect

AFTER

I love learning new Photoshop techniques. Lately I’ve been spending some time scanning old family photos to help preserve them. Once I have them digitized, I can go in and restore them to their original, or sometimes better than original, state.  After spending so much time looking at old instamatic snap shots and Polaroids, I find myself  in a nostalgic mood of late.  So I was happy to run across a tutorial on how to give a retro feel to my modern digital images.… Continue Reading→

Drag Gmail Attachments to Your Desktop

Drag and Drop Gmail Attachments

Have you checked out this handy little time-saver feature for Gmail?  It only works for users of Google Chrome 5+.  If you want to save a Gmail attachment to your desktop or to a folder already opened in your file manager, simply click on the icon displayed next to the attachment or on the “Download” link and drag it to the desktop, Windows Explorer, or other file manager.  You can also drag the “Download all attachments” link to save all the attachments on a single message to a ZIP file.

Currently this feature only works with Google Chrome, but will … Continue Reading→

Creativity Block Busters

Today I'm spot lighting a site called "PHUN" that can help you get those creative juices flowing.  Sometimes all we need to break through a creativity block is to provide our brains with some out-of-the-ordinary visual or auditory stimuli.  This site offers several fun ways to engage your brain.

My favorite is playing with the colored balls. (Click the "Balls" link) Move your cursor over each dot and watch them magically split into four smaller dots ad infinitum. 

Warning: It can be addictive!

Screenshot:

 

While you are there you'll find several other fun visual "games" like the Fractal Tree:… Continue Reading→

Exploring Online Graphic Tools: Peacock by Aviary

Can’t afford one of the high dollar Adobe Creative Suite packages?  Looking for free or affordable alternatives to help unleash your inner masterpieces?  For artists on a tight budget or for those of us who are constantly exploring new ways to flex our creative muscles; Aviaryprovides a powerful suite of browser-based design tools that deserve a closer look.

Today I’m focusing on one of Aviary’s Tools called “Peacock”. Peacock is a hub (node) based effect/pattern generating
application. It runs entirely inside your browser, so it’s
cross platform compatible.  Peacock does so many amazing things that Aviary calls it their “Visual … Continue Reading→