It blows me away how much technology continues to increase and constantly out due itself. Just when I think I have seen the coolest and greatest thing out there I get slapped with something brand new from the minds of people way smarter and cooler than me! The iPod Nano was probably one of the last things that really made me stop and say “Wow”.
I remember when CDs first came out. Until that time I had only known cassette tapes and the idea of a laser reading information off a disk blew me away. My parents got a CD player boom box that sat on our living room cabinet. About six months later I got my first CD, “Use Your Illusion I” by Guns and Roses. Oh yes my friends, it was all kinds of awesome. I would sit there in the living room with headphones on while my little sisters watched Barney videos and rock out to GnR for hours! The sound quality was insanely clear and I knew that the world was changing.
Maybe I watch a little bit too much science fiction but I love to hop in a time machine. Not only would I tell past me to save his allowance and put it all in Yahoo!, Google and Apple stock but I would let him know about the future. I would take his Guns and Roses CD and break it into about eight pieces. I would then explain that every song in his CD collection, every song he has ever heard or could think about hearing would fit on a device about the size of that shard of plastic! Not only would it hold an insane amount of music but the quality would be killer.
It might further impress past me that this device was not just for the rich and powerful of the world. They will give these things out for opening a new bank account in the future and everyone who works out with have them on.
Apple always manages to impress me like that. I was amazed by the original iPod, the video iPod and now the iPod Nano with video. I strolled by the Apple store when these bad boys came out and had to go inside and play with one. The small device cranks out crystal clear video as well as audio. The new iPod Nano also comes in a variety of cool colors. No more are you limited to black or white when it comes to your iPod; you can get a wide range of colors to fit your unique sense of style. To continue with this theme both come with free laser engraving from Apple.
The new iPod Nano comes in either 8GB or 16 GB versions. The 8GB version can store about 2,00 songs or 8 hours of video and it’s bigger brother can hold about 4,000 songs or 16 hours of video. The smaller will set you back $149 while the larger will run you $179.
Apple is the king at mixing functionality and style together flawlessly. The new iPod Nano is a perfect example of what they doing right and why they are the king of the tech hill.
If you’re looking for innovation in the tech world the first place you need to look is your local Apple store and check out the new iMac. Ever since Apple came out with the iMac in 1998 they have been revolutionizing the way we look at desktop computers. While the mindless legions have come to accept the standard configuration of the PC through years of indoctrination Apple strived to focus on a combination of style and performance.
The iMac has been redone again for October of 2009 and released with much fanfare. With product offerings like this it’s no wonder Apple gains new converts every day, continues to blow away sales estimates and has a stock price that just won’t come back to Earth. The new incarnation of the iMac is better looking, more powerful, and surprisingly better for the environment than past versions and definitely any PC out there.
Let’s break it down; shall we?
Looks
The iMac is famous for it’s all in one design. That’s right: no cords, wires or anything between you and your computer. The hard drive, graphics cards, processor and everything else you need to make a computer do what it does is all included in the back of the screen.
While the iMac looks killer there is always functionality behind the fashion. The wireless keyboard and mouse are not only sleek and smooth looking but also super practical. You don’t have to worry about being close to the computer all the time. If you work better kicking back and relaxing then go for it. Unlike PC wireless keyboards and mice there are no wired bases to plug in.
When it comes to looks the first you thing you will notice is the screen resolution on this bad boy! The screen comes in either 21.5 or 27-inch versions with edge to edge viewing areas. The 16:9 wide screen is perfect for watching HD movies and shows with crazy high resolution. The 21-inch version offers 1920 by 1080 and the 27 inch version comes with an unheard of 2560 by 1440 resolution. Basically you’re going to be set for HD for next couple of years.
Power
The new iMac isn’t just eye candy either; it’s got some serious power under that screen. The iMac comes available with quad core Intel Core i5 or i7 “Nehalem”. With less distance for info having to travel between the cores the speed and performance is super enhanced on this desktop. Combined with the new Snow Leopard and insane graphics cards this power will allow you fly through movies, games and applications with no hiccups.
Green
I don’t usually consider the environmental impact of the computers I buy; I guess that puts me on Al Gore’s hit list or something. The new iMac would make our Nobel prize winning ex-Vice President happy though with it’s slew of features that minimize the impact on the environment. The Apple desktop offers efficient power supply with state of the art power management. Basically, when you don’t need the extra juice it shuts it off. The low power needs of the iMac even give it an Energy Star 5.0 qualification.
The entire system is designed around keeping the amount of toxic materials to a minimum. Harmful BFRs and PVCs have been eliminated from the iMac’s construction while mercury has been removed from the back lighting and arsenic from monitor. The iMac’s glass display and aluminum casing can be recycled as well. Apple will also recycle your old computer when you purchase their new all in one iMac.
So if you’re in the market for a new desktop computer the iMac offers a whole lot. It’s the perfect combo of looks and performance and is even good for the environment. The 21.5 inch version starts at $1199 and the 27 inch one starts at $1699. While you’re going to pay more than a standard desktop PC you definitely get a lot more. If you care about performance, looks and simplicity then it’s worth the extra cash.
Go and check one out at the Apple store, online or at your buddy’s house or I’ll sic Al Gore and his granola goons on you!
If you’ve had an app for the iPhone has been rejected recently then you might want to talk to Adam White and have it listed on his new website highlighting rejected apps, apprejections.com.
Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch are some of the most popular tech gadgets in the world and a large part of that popularity is due to the wide range of applications available. Apple has over 100,000 apps available that pretty much cover just about anything you can think of, and even some stuff that you would never bother to think of!
Ranging from free to expensive, these apps are a giant force behind the wave of Apple sales that have swept most of the civilized world. Much to the chagrin of app developers though Apple has final say on what can and cannot be put on the devices. They have developed a strict review process that dictates what programs get approved for sale or free download through the app store.
This has made many app developers a little pissy. Many have been put off by what they see as Apple’s interference with their freedoms as developers. High profile programmers have abandoned iPhone projects in favor of other platforms that are not as tightly controlled. While I agree that there should not be restrictions placed on the creativity of developers and that interference is inherently wrong, there is something to be said for Apple’s level of control.
Apple is running a business not trying to give software designers around the world a platform to show off their skills. They have to make sure that the apps provided to the growing legions of users are useful and serve some sort of purpose. Furthermore, these are our phones we’re talking about. If you download a bad piece of software you could be hit with anything from slowed performance to a total system meltdown. Imagine that on your phone!
Sure now you would have a great excuse why you don’t call your mom as often as she’d like but imagine the headaches. “Oh sorry I missed that important conference call today, see I downloaded a Girls of Hooters calendar app and the next thing I know my phone was calling 1-900 numbers in China. . .”
However, Adam White claims that the Apple has a “secret, undocumented, unquestionable, random process for deciding which applications to ‘allow’ onto the deck.” The process by which Apple allows apps to be included in their system has even raised eyebrows at the FCC. They are checking into Apple to make sure they are not engaged in monopolistic or unfair business practices by blocking potential competitors like Google from producing apps.
So what is a tech fan supposed to do?
Well some developers are focusing more on other platforms like the Google Android or Black Berry phones. These apparently have more of an open source type format and allow a lot more leeway when it comes to what is allowable.
If you’re not ready to part with your iPhone just yet, and quite honestly you’d be nuts to, there are other options. Some of the hardcore out there have turned to hacking their phones. These “jailbreak” phones can run any apps you can get your mitts on and also aren’t tied to the AT&T network.
I guess some people will do anything to get away from Ma Bell, no matter what Owen Wilson says.
If you have a jailbroken iPhone, that is one that has been modified to be used on other networks and run non-Apple approved apps, you need to watch yourself. Besides the fact that you have put yourself on Apple’s hit list, which means that when they run the world you’ll be the first thrown into the forced work camps, you’re opening your phone and life to a whole lot of madness.
I get it; not everyone loves AT&T. They overextended their network and underestimated the iPhone response so their network may not be all that great. I also get that many people want the freedom to choose any app they want and not be told by Apple which ones are appropriate and which one’s aren’t. There is no way you’d let Dell tell what software you could put on your computer, so I get that it can rub people the wrong way. But to go through the process of hacking your iPhone is a little beyond me.
Just ask hacker turned iPhone app developer Ashley Towns. Ashley made one of the first worms, a destructive program like a virus, for the iPhone. The worm called “ikee” infected jailbroken iPhone only and replaced the wallpaper with a picture of Australian pop singer Rick Astley. While he meant it as only a prank the worm and news of the vulnerability exploded around the world and soon his small prank was water cooler conversation for tech nerds around the world.
Ikee’s basic premise and structure was later used by another hacker who made “duh”, another worm. This one though wasn’t so tongue and cheek as Towns’ and was able to hijack banking information from jailbroken phones. Later a Dutch hacker made a worm that held iPhones hostage and in order to get control of your phone back you had to pay 5 GBP (Pounds)! Can you imagine? Like monthly service fees aren’t bad enough!
With all of the potential damage that can be done by hackers and their worms to jailbroken iPhones why would you bother? While Apple may be a bit elitist and not exactly fair when it comes to what apps they allow into their system in the end they are doing it partially to maintain the integrity of the system. Without these kinds of controls and just letting any developer crank any software they want for the iPhone and iPod Touch your phone would be under constant attack.
Not only would service outages be the norm but violation of your personal data, your bank account, your Face Book, your email and everything else you love your iPhone would be constant. Part of the reason we all love Apple is because of their reputation for safety and reliability. All of that would be thrown out of the window.
So I say if you’re willing to hack your phone to get at the apps you want then you run the risk of having it hacked again by shady developers out there.
But it’s not all bad news. Ashley Towns was tracked down by some journalists and after admitting what he did was offered an iPhone developer’s job with a major Australian development firm.
Apple’s iPhone is more than just another cell phone; as millions of people have discovered. The sky rocketing sales of the smart phone show that the device is more than just a fad or flash in the tech pan. The iPhone combines style, functionality and a new level of technology never before seen in a phone configuration. The iPhone has helped convert many non-believers into the Apple faithful and for good reason.
The iPhone has a laundry list of features that make it the best smart phone out there and that have sent its competitors back to the drawing board to crank out imitators to the crown. Yet, the most impressive aspect of this new platform is the applications. There are tens of thousands of apps out there covering anything and everything you could ever think of. With more coming out everyday it’s hard to stay on top of what is worth your time installing and what should be passed up. While Apple is great at many things searching for and finding new apps is not the easiest thing to do in their App Store.
I could write an encyclopedia about all the apps out there but instead of devoting my life to that I have decided to narrow it down a bit. I’m the type of dude that has got his mind on his money and his money on his mind. It’s no surprise then that I’m all about apps that help me keep my money in check and are finance related. Here’s a list of my favorite, most popular and arguably the best money apps available on the iPhone.
Mint: The Mint app, from (you guessed it) Mint.com, takes all of your financial data and complies it in one place. You can look at your checking, savings, mortgage, credit card and investment balances all at once. It gives you a complete overview of where you stand finically all in one app. This is killer if you’re all about simplicity and ease of use; which I am!
ATM Hunter: I try not to carry cash all that often because if I have it I tend to spend it. Therefore, when I find myself in need of paper currency it’s nice to know where I can access some funds quickly. I can use the ol’ iPhone to search out my bank’s locations or I can hit up this bad boy. If you travel a lot or are planning to be somewhere you don’t know know the lay of the land then this app is great. It would be cooler if it told you what ATMs you are more likely to get robbed at though.
Bank of America / Wells Fargo Banking Apps: I’m going to go ahead and lump these two together. I am a WF account holder so I use theirs all the time. I was sitting in my chiropractor’s office and realized that I hadn’t paid my mortgage and it was due the next day. Before you can say “PCs suck” I had signed in, checked my checking balance and paid the mortgage. A confirmation email came through on my Gmail app and I was all set. Most large banks have these now but these two are the biggest. If you’re a customer and an iPhone owner why wouldn’t you use this?
Tip Tap: This app allows for people to calculate tip with the click of a button. This is one of the most popular apps out there so I had to include it, but honestly I don’t get it. As long as you don’t take the slow bus to school or wear a helmet when you leave the house you should be able to figure out tip on a meal. If it takes you longer to figure how much 20% (come on your cheap skate) of your Denny’s bill is than to pull out your iPhone and open and use this app then you have problems my friend.
E*Trade Mobile: E*Trade made their name and formed their business around the “retail”, or amateur, investor. Day traders could jump into the markets all on their own with low commissions and sophisticated trading software. Now they have extended this to iPhone users. Trading on the go has never been so easy.
TheStreet.com: If you don’t know who Jim Cramer is then you must have been living under a rock for the last 5 years. Jim is the bald headed psycho of the financial world who brings you CNBC’s “Mad Money” every night. He also is an owner and contributor to online finance news service TheStreet.com. With this app you get quotes, news articles and columnist’s opinions on all of your stocks.
Bloomberg Mobile: I use this in conjunction with TheStreet.com’s app to round out my financial data needs. Bloomberg brings in political news that has an effect on the markets and offers a more global perspective than others. I dig their style and scope. If you’re serious about finance this app is a must.
Pay Pal: If you’ve ever used this payment system for sending money to someone or paying for an Ebay purchase then setting up the app is a must. Pay Pal allows you to buy and sell goods all over the world with unprecedented security and peace of mind. There is nothing like having all of that in your pocket.
Daily Finance: A lot of people like this app but I have my investment apps bases covered. I played with it one day and it does all that you need: charts, news quotes, portfolio tracking and what not. I think it’s so popular because it’s free, easy to use and the app that is shown on the new iPhone commercial when they mention money apps. That goes a long way in getting people to download it.
Quicken Online: I don’t use Quicken on my personal computer but I know a lot of people that do. The couple that have iPhones have downloaded and gave this app a whirl and they love it. You can sync the two through the online function so any budget, transaction history or anything else you have cooking.
The iPhone app world is awash in tens of thousands of apps. Many of them are great while some are pointless. It seems like every programmer out there is trying to make his name or a quick buck coming up with the next fad. Money and the obsession of keeping track of your Benjamins will never go out of style though. If you want to stay on top of your finance and out of the bread lines then check out these apps.
I’m not really a read the manual kind of guy. It has nothing to do with being a typical man who doesn’t want to follow the directions. I just find that half of the joy of a new toy is playing with until you figure it out. I refuse to deprive myself of this fun “courting” period with a new gadget so I often don’t get to maximize its full use for little bit.
The iPhone is a pretty intuitive machine. Apple’s blend of style and technology was meant to be an easy to use smart phone. If my mom can figure hers out then you know it had to be an easy learning curve. By the time I figured out my iPhone I started getting into the new apps and all of the fun that has to offer. So in the process I guess I missed some easy tips and tricks that can greatly increase the functionality of the iPhone. You may know these and think I’m slow for even blogging about them but a lot of people probably don’t know about them. While some of these may or may not be new to you it never hurts to review some basic shortcuts.
In no particular order here are some iPhone tips and tricks you should be using on a daily basis:
Scroll to the Top: If you’ve been looking at a long web page and need to get back to the top and don’t want to wear out your already tender finger muscles then just give a simple tap on the status bar at the top of your screen and it takes you right to the top.
Screenshots: If you want to take a screenshot on your phone press the home and sleep buttons at the same time. You’ll hear a click and the screen will go white for a sec. The screenshot will then appear in your photos section.
Saving a photo from Safari: If surfing the www and you come across a picture of that prudish girl in high school who apparently let her college boyfriend take some pictures that “no one else would ever see” simply press and hold on the pic until you are presented with the option to save it. Now you can easily email it to all of your friends and let the hilarity ensue.
Fun with ear buds: This is a pretty easy one but if you don’t use the ear buds a lot then you might not know it. The iPhone ear buds have a small microphone where the wires split and this little box can also control your phone. Press it once to fire up the ol’ iPod, press it again o pause and press it twice to skip to the next song. This allows you to easily control the flow of music without taking the iPhone out of your pocket or arm band holder.
Easy Email Delete: This is one I just learned and absolutely love! When reading emails instead of deleting them the old fashion way simply swipe across the email (like you are crossing something off a list) and the red delete button will appear. Pretty sweet, right?
There are some of my favorite tips and tricks for the iPhone. What’s yours?
Tech giant Apple has taken on some serious legal maneuvering to quash clones of its uber-popular Mac and laptops. A California judge recently agree with Apple that computer maker Pystar was infringing on their rights, violating copyrights and a whole bunch of other stuff by making Mac clones.
While Pystar had only been able to sell 728 of these computers Apple came down like a ton of bricks to stop them dead in their tracks and make an example of them. Just in case you think about bogarting Apple’s technology you might want to consider the legal costs and $2.1 million payment Pystar is going to have to dish out for the “damage” they did to the Apple brand.
Apple is notorious for keeping Stalin-like control over its patents and proprietary technology. They develop their own hardware and software in house and only allow third party developers the honor of cranking out products after closely monitored review processes.
This has most recently reared its ugly head with iPhone app developers either walking away from projects or voicing their displeasure with the Apple approval process. While Apple dominates the smart phone market with its iPhone and over 100,000 plus apps up and coming platforms like Google’s Android and the business go-to Black Berry are luring developers away. Fearing a mass exodus Apple has offered some clarity into their review process, however many developers scoff at progress updates as significant progress.
While getting pissed off that your brand new fart sound-making app is being delayed by Apple is one thing, jacking their hardware and software technology is something completely different. Pystar’s computers are basically bad knockoffs of Macs and Macbooks that come preloaded with Apple’s operating systems. They use a lot of fancy technological footwork to install the operating systems and circumvent copyright laws and Apple’s own defense mechanisms.
In reaction to the California lawsuit Pystar filed their own lawsuit in Florida over the Snow Leopard issue. Apple has struck back by saying that the second lawsuit should be dismissed or rolled into the first. Apple’s stance is that they “should not be required to file a new lawsuit to stop Pystar from infringing Apple’s intellectual property each time Apple releases a new version of Mac OS X.”
What is most shocking about all of this is that this company only sold 728 machines in all of 2009. While they projected to sell 470,000 this year and as many as 12 million in 2011 their sales fell drastically short of that. While I do think Apple has every right to stop people from stealing their technology it seems like a huge reaction to a company that took a year to sell as many computers that they sell in 40 minutes!
Apple does need to defend their technology but at some point if they want to become as ubiquitous as PCs they need to open up hardware and software development to more third party developers. If this means loosening the reigns and accepting less control over the process then that’s what they may have to do.
For the time being though don’t expect any big changes coming from Apple. They are kings of the mountain and aren’t going to give anyone a shot at the crown any time soon.
Apple computers accounted for 48% of the U.S. PC retail sales revenue this year, up from 33.44% last year! This number is even more mind blowing when you consider Windows based PCs account for such a huge majority of the units sold out there. While Apple only makes up a small percentage of the units sold they are accounting for almost half of the revenue created.
This can be attributed to many aspects of the current computer market. First, Windows based PCs are made by so many different competitors that prices are extremely low. One manufacturer can’t afford to break ranks and charge a higher price than the others. PCs like this have become more of a commodity in the market place and while prices are low the very nature of this arrangement makes them flawed when compared to Apple.
Apple keeps, and always has kept, a close eye on it’s software and hardware technology. Back in the early days of PCs they refused to open up their platforms to many outside developers while IBM type PCs did. Software and hardware developers flocked to the Windows based PCs because they were easily allowed to make software for it. Apple on the other hand makes their own hardware and software in house. The MacOS X system is developed and produced by Apple. As opposed to a company like HP or Dell that puts together the hardware and then buys the software from Microsoft Apple does it all.
This, combined with lower overall market share, has kept Apple computers from being the main targets of viruses, worms and other malware. Since windows based PCs represent a wider swath of the market and their systems are more open they are more easily attacked. Apple has developed a well earned reputation for reliability and resistance to viruses based on this that they have turned into one of their biggest selling points.
Yes, you’re going to pay more for an Apple computer than a Windows based PC. The Apple iMac series starts at $1199 while you can get a comparable PC for around $500. This helps explains why Apple gets such a huge chunk of computer sales revenue. There is just a lot more money there and combined with growing popularity this means Apple’s slice of the pie is getting bigger.
But it’s like anything else in life; you get what you pay for. Yes, a Lexus costs more than a Hyundai and for good reason. Personally speaking I’d rather put a little more money in up front for a quality product than have to pay later for fixing my computer, upgrading the operating system and protecting myself from viruses.
Now with the explosion in iPod and iPhone sales Apple is getting a record number of new customers. They are finally realizing that Apple products are the best when it comes to combining technology, style and performance.
So here’s to Apple. I hope Bill Gates and Steve Balmer choke on this one a little bit!
A lot of moaning and groaning has been directed at Apple in relation to their App store. The system that helps deliver over 100,000 apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch has come under fire by customers, competitors, developers and even the government for limiting access of Apple customers to applications they want. While at the end of the day Apple owns and controls the app store and they can do whatever they want, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.
Lucky for Apple I’ve sat down and dedicated some time to solving these problems for them. Feel free to send royalties and/or job offers any time you’re ready for my genius Apple!
Higher Quality, Less Quantity: Apple hits us over the head all the time with the fact that they have 100,000 plus apps in the app store. Yeah, it’s an awesome stat and solicits “ohhs” and “ahhs” from everyone but at the end of the day the app store is filled with a lot of crap. There are many killer apps out there but there also tons of useless and pointless ones too. Maybe if they cut down on the apps available and raised their standards of quality a little more or instituted some sort of minimum download rate then we wouldn’t be awash in a world of apps and could find the best ones easier.
Taking Care of Business: TCB, it’s not just a cool rock song from the 80’s or a sweet abbreviation your boss uses anymore. Apple needs to up its focus on business related apps to further trump the Black Berry. I am tired of hearing people talk about their “Crack Berry” and how they have to have it for work. Apple needs to deliver the deathblow and encourage developers to develop more enterprise related apps or do the heavy lifting themselves.
Be Nice to the Developers: Apple needs to stop acting like developers are lucky to be working on their platform and listen to their complaints. Apple has already opened up their review process a bit to keep mass defections from happening but if they want to stop software engineers from exclusively working on other platforms they need to embrace the developers. Yes, you can’t give them everything they want but involving them more in the process and treating them like stakeholders as opposed to servants would be a good first step.
More Transparency: The updated Apple review process is better than before but still needs work. Now developers know what stage of review their work is in but that’s about it. Apple needs to let developers see under the hood a little bit more and let them feel good that when they put in serious work they will have a good shot at getting it approved.
Ditch Ma Bell: A lot of people don’t like AT&T as it is and having them involved in the app process is only making things worse. They let Apple know that the Google Voice app couldn’t be approved and that no VOIP apps will be able to run on their 3G network. This has raised some eyebrows over at the FCC and may lead to government intervention where none really should be. For that and thousand other reasons Apple needs to open up the iPhone to other carriers.
Secrets Don’t Make Friends: Apple is notorious for it’s CIA-like secret keeping. This usually applies to new product launches and strategic future plans but when applied to the app store it spells trouble. Apple doesn’t tell users or developers anything they don’t have to and this effects the overall experience. Let us in Apple! Who hurt you so bad in the past. . .?
Admit When You’re Wrong: Apple has been caught before rejecting perfectly good apps while letting crap (baby shaking app) slip through the app review process. When they get nailed by the media or disgruntled developers with good contacts they approve the app and never say anything. Hey, you’re human and everyone makes mistakes; that’s why pencils have erasers. Just fess up and say you’ve learned your lesson and move on. But the problem is they haven’t learned anything and the problems continue.
Better Navigation: One of the biggest issues I have with the app store is finding the one I want. I usually have to hear about one second hand and then go hunting for it. Even when I know something about it, actually finding the app actually takes some work. The app store needs revamped navigation and advanced search features to help us find stuff a little more easily.
Don’t Forget the End User: Apple needs to program one of their super computers to better understand the human consumer, or hire someone to do it. They just don’t seem to get what people are looking for when it comes to apps. While developers often pick up on it they are usually faced with a 50/50 chance of getting their work approved leaving the consumer in the dark. Talk to some people, do a focus group and find out what your customers are looking for before Google or Black Berry does.
Hearing Footsteps? Maybe the problem that is the driving issues behind all other problems listed here is that Apple doesn’t fear competition from anyone else. While Google’s Android phones and Black Berrys have their appeal and are getting apps they are nowhere near what Apple offers. Competition often pushes development and without the fear that someone is going to snatch the crown off their pretty little heads Apple doesn’t have the motivation to radically change. Yeah, it works out great for their bottom line but at the end of the day if you stop innovating and pushing the envelope someone else will.
Making your life easier should be everyone’s goal. Now, I’m not talking about renouncing material goods and wandering the Earth like Cain from “Kung Fu” or his inspired protégé Jules from “Pulp Fiction”. I mean the more ways we can find to decrease our headaches and get stuff done quicker and more efficiently the better for us all. I’m a huge fan of working smarter than working harder; hey that’s just how I do it.
Besides constantly scheming ways to make things run smoother and more efficient in my life, I am also a huge Apple fan. Shocking I know, considering the blog and all! So without further ado I’m going to break down the must have and more importantly free software any Mac fanatic should have to stream line their life.
Quicksilver: While technically this program is known as an application launcher it really can streamline your Mac use. You can access any file or application with basically a single keystroke. Quicksilver takes your hard drive and turns it into a giant catalog that you can easily browse and manipulate. It takes repetitive acts and makes them easier and quicker to access. You can access your files and applications without having them bog down your desktop. This is perfect if you’re taking notes in class or during a meeting and can’t stop and wait for something to load.
GIMP: No I’m not sticking with the Pulp Fiction references; I’m talking about the open source (free) photo-editing tool. If you need or want to do some photo editing but don’t feel like coughing up the doe for Photoshop then this is the way to go. GIMP is a serious editor and can take a little time to learn but it will definitely get the job done. Why pay for a program or go through the trouble of illegally downloading it when you can grab this bad boy for free? Now you can get rid of that red eye or edit out your ex-boyfriend from your Match.com photos for free.
Chax: This add on for iChat helps to clean up your messaging program and keep it all clean and nice looking. I allows for more and better customization of iChat than the program by itself. One of the best features is the notification aspect in the dock. It’s hard to miss an incoming IM with this bad boy running in the background.
Adium: Let’s face it; not everyone has figured out that iChat kicks butt and should be the only messaging program out there. If you have people on MSN or Google Talk in your life you can funnel them all into one chat program along with your iChat buddies. Sometimes we have to cater to the slow amongst us.
iAlertU: This has to be the most novel and awesome of all of these programs. We’ve all been somewhere public like the University Commons, library or the local Starbucks and had to get up for some reason. You might have to go to the ladies’ room, grab another drink or desperately try to get that hot girl’s number before she walks out of your life forever. We don’t want to get up because we can’t leave our expensive and awesome pieces of technology out there for any jack ass to walk away with. Download and arm iAlertU and if anyone moves your laptop it will start to make loud alarm noises and even take a picture of the perpetrator with its camera!
These are a few of my favorite things in the world of free Mac software. I promise they will make your life a little easier and solve a problem or two for you. There are tons out there and this is by no means a definitive list but if you don’t have these on your laptop you’re missing out!
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