Software, Productivity, and To-Do List Hacks from an ISV

Recently I was given the opportunity to review WordPress MU 2.8: Beginner’s Guide by Lesley A. Harrison .  I just recently received the book, but the publisher was kind enough to allow me to post a sample chapter from the book that details how to create your first WordPress plugin.  I expect to work my way through the book in the next few weeks at which time I will provide my own personal thoughts.

In the mean time here is some information from the publisher, followed by a link to download a sample chapter from the book.

“WordPress MU enables you to build a complete, professional blog network. Each user gets their own blog, and can choose their favorite templates and plug-ins, and develop their own content. WordPress MU powers some of the largest blog networks in the world, including the mighty WordPress.com – home to thousands of bloggers.
This book will take you through the setup of a WordPress MU-powered blogging network, using a real, working blog network as an example, so that you can follow the creation process step-by-step. Your blogging network will be complete with professional features such as friends lists, status feeds, groups, forums, photo galleries, and more, to build your own WordPress.com – a place where users can quickly come and create a blog for themselves.
The book starts with a clean install of WordPress MU, and as you work through the book, you will build the blog network, and add on more and more features, all seamlessly integrated to achieve a professional, custom-built look.”

Please download the sample chapter below and let me know what you think:

Hello, just wanted to let you know that Smart To-Do List version 1.4 is now available for download.  This version includes some minor bug fixes as well as a couple new features.  Your to do lists are now autosaved periodically instead of only on exit.  One other new feature is a quick entry box:

This quick entry box allows you to add multiple tasks quickly.  This is especially useful if you would like to copy and paste a list that you received in an email or a list from a website.

You can access the Quick Task Entry window from the Tools menu or by typing q in the To-Do / Command box and pressing enter.

Don’t forget that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, if you need help creating that Thanksgiving To Do List.  There are also some Christmas To Do List templates available as well.

Have a BIG goal that you would like to achieve?  How about password protecting that goal.  For instance, if you’d like to retire at the age of 45, you could make one of your online passwords Retire45.  If you need to lose 20 pounds your password could be LOSeTwenty.  I’m sure you get the idea.

I learned from an article I read recently on the Income.com blog that one great way to achieve goals is with incremental success.  Using this technique to create your passwords is one small method to help incrementally achieve your goals by providing a constant reminder.  According to the author, John Reese:

In order for you to accomplish anything in life you have to learn the power of INCREMENTAL SUCCESS.  Let me explain how it works…

It doesn’t matter what you want to accomplish… making a million dollars, losing 50 pounds, learning to speak French, etc.  In order for you to accomplish what it is that you want you MUST achieve your goal incrementally.

This post was inspired by a comment (by commenter azpat) that I read on a Lifehacker.com post.  Thank you for the inspiration.

Over the past month or so I’ve had the opportunity to try out the Peek email device.  This device is billed as the first email only gadget and retails for only $49.95.  The best part is that there is no contract to sign.  Service is a flat $19.95 a month and you can stop it whenever you’d like.

I have to tell you that I have been thoroughly impressed with this simple, elegant, and useful device.

As you can see from the images below the Peek is slightly shorter than the iPhone and thinner as well.

Setting up the device couldn’t be easier.  I simply entered my Gmail account name and password and that was all that I needed to do start receiving emails.

The number of things you can accomplish with the Peek is pretty impressive.  Here are some examples:

• Send text messages, just type the 10-digit number in instead of the email address.
• Download all of your contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or AOL.
• Check the weather by sending an email to weather@getpeek.net with your zip code in the subject line.
• Use Ping.fm to update basically any social network.  This would work from any email account, but having this power at your finger tips at all times is great.  In case you didn’t know, Ping.fm will assign you a custom email address that you can email with special prefixes to post to various social networks.  For example, you can update Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, create a post on your Wordpress blog and many others.  For a complete list please visit Ping.fm.

The discussion board for the Peek is awesome and full of energetic users.  Here is a link to a constantly updated list of services that can be used from the Peek: http://boards.getpeek.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=465&page=1#Item_0

I believe if you already have a device like the iPhone or a Blackberry, this isn’t for you.  The purpose of this device is to strip away the costs and complexity of these other devices.  The Peek does the one thing it was meant to do and it does it well, email.

One last thing, the latest Peek device has been introduced and will be available soon, the Peek Pronto.  This device will allow you to have unlimited text messages (same as the original), push email support (with Microsoft Exchange), up to 5 email accounts, and the ability to view PDFs and .doc (Microsoft Word) files.  This device is currently listed on pre-order at Amazon for $79.95.