It’s October 2009 which means something very special for Linux fans: a 9.10 release of Ubuntu. Today we see the launch of “Karmic Koala” featuring a faster graphical boot sequence (no more scary text scrolls), a revamped audio framework that improves sound control across multiple applications, and a new Software Center that visually simplifies the Add/Remove Applications tool. These are just a few of the user-centric improvements meant to have a “transformative effect” on the OS experience and help bring “the world of open source closer to the user.” It’s available in desktop, server, and netbook editions now so get to it, before you know it you’ll be updating to Lucid Lynx. Desktop release: Mirror (32-bit) Mirror(64-bit)
It starts very simply. A virus, just one, latches on to one of your cells and fools that cell into making lots more. Lots, lots more, like a million new viruses. This animation shows you how viruses trick healthy cells to join the dark side.
Windows 7 adds loads of great shortcuts for switching between apps, moving windows around your screen, moving them to another monitor altogether, and much more. Here’s a quick-reference master list of the best new Windows 7 shortcuts.
Window Management Shortcuts
The full list of keyboard shortcuts includes:
*Win+Home: Clear all but the active window.
*Win+Space: All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop.
*Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window.
*Shift+Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window vertically.
*Win+Down arrow: Minimize the window/Restore the window if it’s maximized.
*Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the window to each side of the monitor.
*Shift+Win+Left/Right arrows: Move the window to the monitor on the left or right.
You can also interact with windows by dragging them with the mouse:
*Drag window to the top: Maximize
*Drag window left/right: Dock the window to fill half of the screen.
*Shake window back/forth: Minimize everything but the current window.
*Double-Click Top Window Border (edge): Maximize window vertically.
Taskbar Shortcuts
In Windows 7, using the Windows key along with the numbers 1-9 will let you interact with the applications pinned to the taskbar in those positions – for example, the Windows key + 4 combination would launch Outlook in this example, or Win+Alt+4 can be used to get quick access to the Outlook Jump List from the keyboard.
You can use any of these shortcut combinations to launch the applications in their respective position on the taskbar, or more:
*Win+number (1-9): Starts the application pinned to the taskbar in that position, or switches to that program.
*Shift+Win+number (1-9): Starts a new instance of the application pinned to the taskbar in that position.
*Ctrl+Win+number (1-9): Cycles through open windows for the application pinned to the taskbar in that position.
*Alt+Win+number (1-9): Opens the Jump List for the application pinned to the taskbar.
*Win+T: Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar.
*Win+B: Focuses the System Tray icons
For more Windows 7 shortcuts, check out lifehacker.
