Software

Smart playlists are one of those often overlooked and underutilized features of iTunes. Dean Cheesman has an article outlining how to put your smart playlists on steroids and beef up your music management system. He gives a bunch of screenshots (like the one above) of example playlists and explains the logic behind them. You can tell he's spent a lot of time thinking about some of these.

We all know that when it comes to designing and printing labels, it can be a huge pain. Most of us probably don't do it often enough that we have a system down, so we inevitably have to Google around for template sheets, figure out what program to use for designing, get our printing situation all figured out, etc. It can be a daunting situation when all you want is a few simple labels.

Enter autofillPDF-Labels 1.0 from our friends at Worldlabel.com. These spiffy (and free) PDF label templates take a lot of the annoyance of label making out of the equation. As long as you have Adobe Acrobat (also free), you simply open the file, fill out a single label, and the rest are filled in automatically for you. We love little time saving shortcuts like this.

Now go label everything you own!

Related: Worldlabel Label Templates

Hey everyone! Look at this cool piece of software for Macs that allows you to create models from virtual lego-like building blocks. Now you can build that awesome Star Destroyer without having to fork over your life savings for the real thing. Anyone know of a similar piece of software for Windows?

Alright folks, the moment all you graphic designers, dabblers, photoshophiles, and avatar-makers have been waiting for!

DIY:happy does not have a logo. Some folks think we do (the little TV-looking thing), but we don't. However, we'd like one! We'd even be willing to throw in some incentives, because we're nice and fabulous like that.

Here are the regulations (not rules, for all the Libertarians):

1. The logo has to be a good size. Nothing too small... it has to be made in all kinds of sizes, and we wouldn't want to distort your masterpiece by resizing it, right?

2. It has to be a-okay for us to print it!

3. We'd rather not having anything offensive, mean, rude, terrible, or violence-insighting. 

4. Those things said, anything goes.

 DIY:happy loves you. So, whomever wins the contest will win:

• A $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE, care of the wonderful LadyAda. Good for anything in her online store (linked here), which is a cornucopia of DIY electronics kits, components, and all kinds of fun stuff for hobbyists, electronic engineers, and weekend DIY fans!
• Buttons with the logo YOU designed on them! Good for a resume, especially for designers!
• Every button you sell will have your signature at the bottom, so you don't have to convince anyone. Just point at your sig.
• You'll get three free buttons, as a sample of your work!

The suspense is over, let the games begin!

SUBMIT TO: Kristi@diyhappy.com or TIPS@diyhappy.com!

Projected End Date: September 13th at 11:59 PM (CST).

 UPDATE: 14 SUBMISSIONS AS OF 10:00PM, 08-11-07.

I admit that every once in a while I get mad at my macbook. Sometimes because it still only has 512mb of RAM, other times because everyone else got cool stuff like bigger hard drives and free iPods with theirs but since I bought it the week it came out I got nothin, other times because I actually have to use my Apple Care because something broke. But there is one thing that I will no longer hold against my notebook because now it can actually run KisMAC. Before this, my only feasible option for packet sniffing was to run Knoppix STD on my old Dell laptop that didn't even have a functioning battery.  Now my options have increased since someone took the time to get KisMAC to work with the AirportExtreme card in macbooks. If you've read this far I'm assuming your're interested... here it is. (via)

Have you recently been plagued with the little Windows Genuine Advantage pop-ups telling you your copy of Windows is not legit? Whether or not it is, you can get rid of these annoying notifications fairly easily. The quickest and most effective way, of course, is to install Linux or buy a Mac (Apple is a company that, unlike Microsoft, doesn't treat its customers like potential criminals). But, if you must stick with Windows, try these instructions, but don't say I never tried. Of course, YMMV.

Technorati Tags: wga, microsoft

Color Jack is an online color management application that will help you come up with complimentary (or clashing) color schemes for your website or art project. Color Jack packs a surprising amount of features into its simple looking interface - but I have to say it is a bit clunky in this, its beta stage. Still, a little help from Color Jack and you can stay away from atrocious color combos. [via and via]

Technorati Tags: color, design

Need an official looking seal for your latest forged documents? Try out this online seal generator. Type in some text, choose a picture and a border and you're done. You can even order a magnet or sticker with your seal on it - but why do that when you could make your own?

Wow, it's hard to believe we've been blogging since 1906. Here's to another 100 years!

Technorati Tags: art, forgery

We've all seen portable installations of Windows and Linux that can be run off of a thumbdrive, but how about Mac OS? Here is a guide to creating your own mini-Mac operating system that can be run off of a 128MB flash drive in Mac OS, OS X, Windows, or Linux. Show how big of a geek you really are by busting out some classic mac apps on your computer.

This project uses all open source and free software and will run Apple System 7.0.1.

Mac-on-Stick.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, usb, flash, diy, portable

The free penguin project provides open-source sewing patterns for making your own stuffed Tux the Penguin. They also provide downloads and directions for making Tux buttons, plan wallpapers, and other information. All plans are released, like Linux, under the GPL (GNU General Public License), meaning you have rights to download, use, modify, and redistribute the plans to anyone you choose.