Possibly producing productivity..

Planning and/or brainstorming is a multi-faceted landscape of ideas and techniques of what the best and most efficient method is. Many just simply make lists, and some kick it up a notch to visual, flowing lists, such as mind-mapping, as I've  previously written about.  But as for list making, there is a well developed web app called WorkFlowy, that's been around for a while now that has recently begun to release updates making it compatible to editing with several mobile devices, most importantly, Android and IOS devices, as well as adding in a collaboration feature.

It does require you to create an account to use it, but for obvious reasons as list privacy and saving. There is a  good short demo video, that shows its ability to expand and change focus on which list and sub-list you are looking at.

This ability to make extensive lists with a nested stub-structure is the same reason I appreciate FreeMind, but instead of the lines and web of connections its a little less flashy with a simple note list type of format. Now its big selling point is the mobile editing update, and that it is purely web-based. So check out WorkFlowy and step up your organization and productivity, especially if you are a student and school starts next week (like me), if it hasn't already.

Embarrass Your Distractable Self

Being productive is more often then not done on a computer nowadays, no matter walk of life or job one has, at some point in the day, you try to get things done on a computer.  In our connected times of online working, banking, socializing and the like, most, if not all of that time is spent in a browser, utilizing tabs to maximize multi-tasking and minimize desktop clutter.

Now with all things looking in our favor for digital online productivity, the only think any human still lacks is discipline. To combat this quirk of the selfish nature in the human condition, check out TaskForce. I first saw this little web app up on the 10k Apart app contest site last year (check out the site archives for other cool apps).

The idea is simple and relatively effective.  You start by entering your name in under 1 minute, as task #1, then enter a new task and a time limit and let the clock tick while you knock it out. Once completed check it as "Done!" to keep yourself on a high percentage of productivity, paired with a nice smiley emoticon. If you start to slack and miss deadlines, your percentage falls, as well as the emoticon becoming less jolly. And if you have any sense of pride and dignity, once seeing how distracted and inefficient you are, you hopefully show some gumption and get your crap done, and get off Facebook.

Finding Keys Fast

Needing to repair a crapped up Windows install or planning on upgrading to a newer OS?  Starting with a clean slate every now and again can be a great way to add some pep back into your machine, or just to get a fresh start after a virus issue, which even after cleaned off can have lasting damage that can take significant effort to reverse. 

Well there are many tips to make such a process faster and less tedious that I could dish out, but I'll save them for a later date and focus today on your product keys.  Product keys can be a pain to deal with, especially if it's the OS or Office suite that came with the machine that you have misplaced, or any software for that matter needing a key. (FYI, if you don't have the discs, don't fret. You can use any disc of the same product version and just put in your key, be it a friends or one you torrent (at your own risk of course)).

There are many keyfinder options that you can find out there that can do the trick, both free and paid.  Magic Jelly Bean Keyfinder is one good one for free, that finds Windows OS and Office keys among a few others, and can also scan a non bootable Windows install if you pull out the drive and attach it externally to another machine.  It does require an install though.  The paid version, called Recover Keys, has even more programs it will pull they keys from. 

Another free one for Windows and office is WinKeyfinder. When using any of the options, once the program is run and keys are recovered, you can export them to a text file, copy to a USB drive and have them available to input with your fresh install.