Posts Tagged: OSX

Hacks / Noticed / Research / Software — 1 Comment
20
Feb 09

BibTex and Word Documents

Via Academic Productivity, I’ve been looking for this forever:

BibTex4Word is an add-in for Microsoft Word that allows the citation of references from a BibTex database. BibTex4Word will insert a bibliography into your document using your choice formatting style.

It is intended for three types of user:

1. LateX users who need to use Microsoft Word. BibTex4Word allows you to use your existing BibTex database and favourite bibliography style.

2. Word users who can’t afford a commercial bibliography package but need to insert citations and bibliographies into their documents. Everything you need to manage references is available free.

3. Word users who have a commercial bibliography package but who don’t like it. BibTex4Word is lightweight, transparent and doesn’t mess up your documents. It is also free.

I’m completely married to Bibdesk as my reference manager, but the lack of Word integration has always caused headaches.  I’m very excited to have found an answer.

Hacks / Software — 5 Comments
22
Dec 08

Announcing Freedom v0.4

I’m pleased to release Freedom v0.4, a major update to the Freedom software.  This new version is a fresh rewrite, incorporating the ability to access local networks, an extended time period, and many significant bug fixes.  Particularly, Freedom’s authentication mechanism has changed (fixing the password-timeout bug) and Freedom will now appropriately handle suspends and sleeps.

Freedom v0.4 remains Mac only, and it is tested through OS 10.5.6.  This new version was paid for (thank you!) by those who have donated in the past.  I strongly recommend that all users upgrade as soon as possible.

Download Freedom directly (.dmg)

Freedom’s website.

If you run into any problems/have suggestions please leave them in the comments.  I do not plan on developing a Windows version, sorry.

Previous posts about Freedom:

Productive Unit Structures: Introducing Freedom
New Version of Freedom: v0.3
Freedom in the Telegraph

Hacks / Software — 103 Comments
18
Apr 08

Productive Unit Structures: Introducing Freedom

A few years ago, I used to judge the quality of a coffeeshop by the speed of its wireless network. Now that I’m working on my dissertation, I find myself desperately searching out places where I can be network-free. In this college town, it is difficult to find a work or study place where you can avoid clouds of wireless internet.

In an attempt to resist the encroachment of network into the spaces of productivity, I’ve created Freedom. Freedom is a Mac application that disables your computer’s networking capabilities for a selected time interval. Some of you may turn off your network when you need to be productive; I’ve done that, but always found myself popping the network on at my next break (and losing 20 minutes to YouTube/Wikipedia/etc). Freedom takes this approach a step further, locking you out of your network for your selected time interval; Freedom enforces freedom.

To download freedom, visit the project’s page.   After you download, simply mount the disk, and drag Freedom.app to your application folder. To run Freedom, double-click the application, provide your password and time interval, and Freedom will do all the rest.

Once Freedom’s time interval completes, it will display a friendly message and enable your network interfaces. A reboot is the only circumvention of the time limits you choose. The hassle of rebooting means you’re less likely to cheat, and you’ll be more productive. Simply closing the application will not return your network interfaces. When first getting used to Freedom, I suggest using the software for short periods of time.

For those who may worry, Freedom is non-destructive. It uses simple POSIX functions for the management of network interfaces. Therefore, if you’re a sysadmin, you can circumvent Freedom. However, for the rest of us, Freedom is technical enough to enforce downtime. With Freedom, you can be network-free to write, code, design, arrange or just GTD.

NOTICE: For Freedom support, please go to Freedom’s new website, http://macfreedom.com