Posts from — May 2008

While I would prefer decorating my cubicle with things that make me forget about the fact that I’m at work, my bosses prefer decorations that keep me focused and productive. So I decided to apply some of the principals of Feng Shui to my cubicle in an effort to create a more harmonious and organized environment.

Here are some tips on how to Feng Shui your cubicle/office:

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Not everyone can be a office master, and getting fired happens to the best of us. So for those of you who recently caught the boot, do yourself a favor by getting off the couch and checking out this great article on surviving unemployment.

I recently discovered Adobe’s new online image-retouching tool, Photoshop Express, and it is a delight. While it doesn’t include most of the heavy duty image-editing tools included in Photoshop, it has everything you need to jazz up your photos. The whole thing is very easy to use and intuitive, you can even access photos from your facebook account for quick retouching.

While those fortunate enough to work from home certainly have more privacy than the rest of us stuck in cubicle land, they are still subject to interruption from uncontrollable forces such as hyperactive children, attention hungry wives/husbands , and the constant lure of taking naps. While these distractions will never disappear, the “House on the table” by Soojin Hyun will at least give you the perceived feeling of having complete privacy for once. The design combines a desk with four walls, a vaulted ceiling, bookshelves, interior lighting, and look-out portals. Unfortunately only your upper body is hidden within the workspace, although I suppose that could easily be fixed by lining file cabinets along the bottom of the workstation.

Source: Yanko Design via Tree Hugger

The iPhone is finally facing some viable competition, as HTC recently unveiled their new Touch Diamond touchscreen phone. It measures slightly smaller and lighter than the iPhone at 4 by 2 by .45 inches, and weighing in at 3.9 ounces. Contrary to the current iPhone it comes with full compatibility for corporate exchange serves, and Microsofts Mobile Office Suite. With a 2.8 inch screen diagonally, full VGA resolution, 4GB internal memory, and the expected handful of functions like messaging, music, photos, and web access, this little puppy might just bump the iPhone on my wish list.

Source

While I have never considered my office a “fun” place to hang out, I have always been pretty happy with some of the perks offered, like the daily free catered lunch, ping pong tables, and the old school video game machines. However I still can’t help but feel insanely jealous of the people working at companies like Pixar or Apple just on account of the workspaces provided there. I mean…seriously? For more pics of awesome workspace decorations head over to Office Snapshots.

The temptation to buy one of the sleek looking iMacs is becoming unbearable, and not just because I love how they look, but also because I keep finding all these accessories that would make it even better.  This time its the Lowkey Stand from Macessity, which is specifically designed hide Apple’s slim keyboard, and help de-clutter your desk.

Dell recently announced that they will be releasing a eco-inspired computer with a bamboo casing.  The computer will be 81% smaller than an average desktop, it will use 70% less power, and will made in part with recycled materials like old bottles, milk jugs, and detergent cases.  Price is expected to range from $500 to $700.

Earth2Tech via Green Blog

The Highwire LED DeskLight might just be the sexiest desk lamp I have ever laid my eyes on. Aside from being visually stunning, it is also extremely efficient as it is able to retain 70% of its original light output after a staggering 50,000 hours. In addition, the lamp has some interesting features, it does not include infrared rays so it emits less heat, and it is equipped with a slow start and stop mechanism, which allows the light to gradually brighten when turned on. Furthermore, it is able to match the color of your
computer display, which supposedly gives you a less distorted view of the display. Don’t get too excited though (well..as excited as you could possible get for a lamp), with a price tag starting at $630, I was forced to end my own love affair with the lamp, since i don’t think i could allow myself to buy a lamp that costs more than the rest of my office furniture combined.

Despite have some serious organization skills when it comes to my Outlook inbox, the absurd amount of emails I get every day still causes me to lose track of important emails and attachments from time to time. Consequently, I was excited to try out the new Outlook plug-in called Xobni (”inbox” in reverse), which essentially makes it much easier to keep tabs on incoming messages, attached files, and contact information. Aside from featuring threaded conversations, an improved search function, and quick attachment discovery, the plug-in extracts contact information from emails, and gives you email analytic tools. Check out the video below, or go download the free beta here.