I wanted to take a moment and update you on my health situation. I’ve received so many great emails, tweets, and IM’s from so many of you that I was unable to answer them all. I thought I owed it to you to update you on how I’m getting along.
If you’ve wondered why you’ve not heard much from me of late it’s because I’ve just gone through the worse part of my treatments, a month of radiation and Chemo daily. It took more out of me then I’d ever have guessed. I was weak and helpless and thought I’d never get better. But it’s been a week since I’ve finished that and I am seeing an improvement. I am having a scan next week to see if they got the area they had to get and to make sure it hasn’t spread. I am hoping for a positive scan. I will then have another few rounds of just Chemo before they tell me I’m good to go.
I know I’ve missed being with you through my blog, podcast and twitter. I have even left a lot of email go by me since I’ve been down. But I will be back online soon and hopefully for a long time. I will miss Macworld this month more then you know. The ability to see all my old friends and meet new ones in the most amazing city in the world was something I looked forward to each year. I hope you will think of me at Macworld and let me know all about the new gear and the great times you’ve had there.
Finally I want to thank each one of you for you kind thoughts, warm wishes, and caring prayers. Without them I could not have made it this far. I will keep everyone informed of my situation as it unfolds and soon I hope to be back online and with my friends. Thank you..
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Written by Amanda Green.
To accommodate those who simply cannot get used to typing on a tablet screen, several companies have released blue tooth powered keyboard attachments for users to connect to their iPads. Most are designed as hardened hinged components that can be tucked under the tablet itself. This is due to the simple fact that in order for a user to operate a keyboard with their iPad, the tablet needs to be propped up. While most product designers solved this problem by building a drawer-like system, Belkin opted to instead integrate the keyboard into a traditional folio form. What results is an iPad 2 keyboard that also acts as a carrying case.
The difference, at least from a functional perspective, is like DS3 service compared to lower levels of connectivity. Sure other options connect you to a keyboard, just like DSL providers connect you to the same Internet, but you’re getting more than just the connection. You’re getting comfort through a more streamlined setup. Folding the Belkin folio into formation for using the keyboard feels much more cosmopolitan and correct than placing your iPad 2 into a clunky plastic frame full of hinges and slides. It feels especially fitting when you pack up your tablet and walk somewhere, as it takes the shape of a traditional portfolio and not an awkward appendage to your iPad.
But unlike regular iPad folio cases, this one is a bit thick. It’s for strictly functional purposes: in order for the fabric-and-firm board structure of the folio to support the relatively much heavier and more expensive iPad 2, there has to be more of it than usual. Then when you add the unavoidable thickness of the keys themselves, it’s clear how those used to traditional iPad cases would balk at the site of this seemingly clunky alternative.
As far as the keyboard itself is concerned, it’s a surprisingly sturdy set that adds defense to those who argue against the claim that the folded folio is too thick. As ergonomic as possible for a makeshift keyboard used on-the-go, it certainly doesn’t feel as though the keys are going to crap out anytime soon.
Bottom line: If you don’t mind the extra thickness or the $99.99 price tag, the Belkin Folio Keyboard is most definitely the ideal iPad 2 keyboard for those wishing to type on their tablet.
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Tags: Belkin
Written by Amanda Green:
When the iPhone 4S hit the shelves of retailers, one of the main reasons to upgrade was the promise of a voice-activated artificial intelligence service called Siri. While there are several other improvements with the device, such as a better camera, faster processor, and increased networking options, Siri has fell flat with many users and doesn’t seem like that big of a deal when you actually use it.
Siri was supposed to be the hallmark of the new iPhone 4s and the reason those who wouldn’t have upgraded chose to purchase a brand new $600 phone. While claims of being an automated personal assistant were abundant, the service has amounted to little more than a reverse phone lookup device. Instead of using Siri for voice activation, people are still relying on more traditional methods while performing mobile searches.
Siri has recently come under fire with women’s rights groups for not locating reproductive health centers around the country. Some are saying that this is a ploy by right wing activists in order to deny the rights of women. Think Progress claims that this happens because Siri’s search feature uses a privatized option instead of the open search structure that sites like Google employ. While Apple may not be behind this information lock, third party providers like Wolfram Alpha answer-engine may have a role in it.
While Apple isn’t doing that much to improve Siri, programmers and developers are taking the application into their own hands. Just like the Microsoft Kinect has seen a recent wave of hackers, so has Siri. While Microsoft somewhat encourages modifications, Apple has always been a strict master of their information materials and voids the warranty of anyone who decides to break into their phone’s internals.
The real improvements will start to come out of Siri when people start using it more. While it is not offered on the iPhone 4, when more people start to upgrade they will give the database of information more material to work with. It is highly unlikely that consumers will lose faith in Apple because of the lack of features in Siri, but it is a blow to the egos of their rabid fan base.
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Tags: apple hardware., ios, iphone, sirius
Contributed by Amanda Green
The holiday season is upon us, and for many that means trying to find the perfect gift for gadget enthusiasts or trying to find the perfect gift to put on our own lists as the tech lover in the family. While many will be asking for new laptops and smartphones this year, iPad and iPad 2 owners will be surely asking for accessories to complement the use they already enjoy with their tablets. Some will request designer iPad bags or cool Etsy cases, but for those serious about having fun on their iPad, they will surely request the ThinkGeek iCade.
Originally the iCade, an arcade cabinet, was an April Fools joke creation. However, as the pitch for the desktop gaming system went viral, ThinkGeek had no option but to create one for sale.
The arcade cabinet was designed so that users can set their iPad on it to visually mimic an old school video arcade machine. The cabinet comes equipped with retro buttons and joystick, and literally looks like a mini Pacman game once your iPad is sitting in it. Once you have the iCade, you can then download several apps that allow you to play classic games.
The best app to use while playing the iCade is Atari’s Greatest Hits as it lets you get adequate playing use out of the joystick. With the Atari Greatest Hits app you are able to “relive the Golden Age of gaming” and enjoy games that we haven’t seen in decades such as Missile Command, Asteroids, and Centipede. The Atari app is also already ready to play with the iCade so you don’t have to worry about syncing anything up. The iPad will immediately connect with the iCade controls through Bluetooth.
While the Atari Greatest Hits app allows iPad owners the ability to play over 100 games through their iCade, there are several other iOS developers that have started to create other gaming apps with iCade support. Additional apps that will have iCade support include Muffin Knight, Velocispider, Super Mega Worm, Space Inversion, and Sideways Racing.
The original sales price on the iCade was $99.99; however, it can be found online for as little as $79.99. The Atari’s Greatest Hits app allows users to get access to 100 games for $9.99. So for a grand total of $90.00, you can get a mini arcade system and games which isn’t too bad a price. Sure, it may seem like a rather absurd accessory to an iPad, but if you have a gamer in the house who is also an iPad enthusiast, you won’t find a better holiday gift.
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Those of you that have read my blog over the years and did not know how big of Tom Bihn fan I am, raise your hand. In my opinion, Tom Bihn is the top maker of quality luggage and gear bags in the country. Since 1972 Tom Bihn has been working out of their Seattle factory making bags by hand and making certain every bag you get from them is top quality.
I have been one of the lucky people over the past years to review many of their bags. Here is a list of some of my favorites:
Zephyr:
CheckPoint Flyer Breifcase:
Ristretto for the iPad (My Favorite):
Co-Pilot:
And the unique Field Journal Notebook:
Today we’re looking at their latest offering to the laptop/briefcase market, The Cadet. First the basics:
The Cadet is a minimalist briefcase designed to fit your laptop, a few files or magazines, power supplies, pens, notebooks, and other small accessories.
The Cadet is available is two sizes: 15/13 and 11/iPad. Both sizes feature a removable protective laptop sleeve (called the Cadet Cache) in sizes designed specifically to fit Apple laptops and the iPad: the 15/13 size fits both the 15″ and 13″ MacBook Pro, the 13″ MacBook, and the 13″ MacBook Air, while the 11/iPad size fits the 11″ MacBook Air and the iPad/iPad 2.
The Cadet is made with an exterior of 1050d U.S. ballistic nylon, which has twice the abrasion resistance of 1680 denier fabric, and an interior of ultra-lightweight Japanese Dyneema/nylon ripstop fabric, made for us in Japan. In between the exterior and the lining is .25″ / 8mm closed cell foam on the front, back and bottom – this gives the Cadet its shape and provides additional protection for your laptop (and if you choose to go au naturale, this foam will provide some protection for an unprotected laptop). The Cadet features #10 and #8 YKK splash-proof zippers with metal pulls.
The Cadet has three exterior access compartments, six interior organizer pockets (five on the 11/iPad size), and one exterior open-top pocket (on the back). The small, front horizontal zippered pocket of the Cadet is lined with Ultrasuede® and designed to fit an iPhone or iPhone simulacra. Like the other compartments of the Cadet, this pocket zips shut with a YKK Uretek splash-proof zipper.
Inside of the main compartment of the Cadet clips a Cadet Cache: a specially modified version of our popular Cache laptop sleeve. Using two Gatekeeper clips, the bottom edge of the Cadet Cache attaches to two vertical pieces of webbing sewn into the Cadet. When passing through a TSA checkpoint, you can easily slide your laptop/iPad (still in its protective Cadet Cache) out of the Cadet for X-ray inspection; your laptop remains protected and attached to the Cadet. Also inside the main compartment is a large open-top pocket: your files or magazines won’t come along for the ride when you slide the Cadet Cache out at the checkpoint.
Of course, the Cadet works well as briefcase for those who eschew laptops and just want to carry files or a book or two; you can buy it sans Cadet Cache and save $30.00. The retail price with the Cache is $170.00.
The Cadet is one of those bags that doesn’t claim to be the perfect answer to all your carrying needs, but when you spend time looking at the layout, the construction, the thought and the expansion capabilities built into the briefcase, you realize it’s all you’ll need for 90% of your day to day work. This is not a “minimalistic” offering from Tom Bihn, it’s a top class laptop, briefcase bag. The inside was as impressive of material and look and feel of any bag I’ve seen. It’s built to stand years and years of abuse, in fact, every one of the bags I’ve reviewed above are still all in great working condition.
Whenever I review a Tom Bihn bag I receive feedback about the pricing. They are not inexpensive laptop cases. They are hand sewn, hand stitched and locally made superior luggage. Whether you’re looking for a laptop bag, an iPad bag, a briefcase, or maybe something larger, Tom Bihn has the perfect option. The only problem is this, choose carefully, you’ll probably own the one you purchase for many, many years to come.
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For many years I’ve heard friends and colleagues in the Mac community talk in wonder about how far along speech recognition software has come on the Mac. It was years ago since I last tried it and after spending hours of training the software to recognize my voice, it still did a fair job at best. But when I was approached by Nuance software and asked to do a sponsored review of their Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac, I decided it was time to give speech recognition software another try.
I’ve been using Nuance’s great iOS apps, Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go! on my iPhone and loved them, so it was not surprising to me that Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 was amazingly simple to install, setup and begin using.
We all know how speech recognition software works, but Dragon Dictate 2.5 had a few tricks up it’s sleeve. First, I found that it came with a USB headset that made it fast and simple to begin using the software, but then I found that Nuance had free iPhone and iPad software that allowed you to dictate into your iOS device instead of being tethered to you Mac. You can also use any Bluetooth wireless mics that you can pair to your Mac. This made the dictation much more natural and convenient to use.
Needless to say, Dragon Dictate impressed me with it’s fast learning curve and besides the voice training, they also allowed me to enter in many of the text documents I’ve authored over the years so that it could learn my vocabulary along with my voice. Very smart. This combination of understanding your voice along with you vocabulary made Dragon Dictate almost perfect with my dictation tests, a huge leap over the last time I tried speech recognition software.
I’ve only played with Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 for a few days, but I am already shocked at the number of commands that this software understands. When you go into command mode, you can open applications on your Mac and work right off their menus to create, save and edit documents. You can use commands to press buttons that appear on your screen, and you can use commands to format you documents. It will take me weeks in order to fully realize the power behind the command mode.
Nuance has a Numbers mode built into Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 also. Entering long strings of numbers, such as inputting figures or product codes into a database can be accomplished more efficiently and more accurately using Numbers Mode. In this recognition mode, Dragon interprets your voice only as numbers or commands. I also have yet to try the Facebook and Twitter commands. This allows you to post status updates to Facebook or Twitter with a simple voice command, no matter what application is currently active on your screen.
There is just a lot to love about this new version of Dragon Dictate for Mac from Nuance. For owners of version 2.0, the update to 2.5 is free. There are also inexpensive update prices from older versions. The retail price of the full package including USB headset is $199, but Nuance is having a fall sale that cuts the price to $149. Between the integration with the iOS devices and the high-end output I’m seeing on my Mac, I can really recommend this software to anyone.
This post was sponsored by Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5.
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Tags: dictate, dragon, mac and cheese, macspeech, Software
I know it’s been a few weeks and I wanted to share with you the situation that I had to deal with and the results that came out of the surgery. I’ve always been honest and up-front with my real-life while doing my podcast and blog. That’s why I had to leave the MacReviewCast last month when I found out that I had a swollen pancreas that was blocking my bile duct.
Back on October 3rd I had a procedure done known as a Whipple surgery that removed the head of the pancreas and re-routed my digestive system substantially. We had hoped that this in of itself would take care of my problems and everything would be a matter of healing and moving on. Alas, it seems to be the beginning of another journey. The biopsy of the pancreas head showed I had a cancerous tumor in my pancreas and that there were cells that were found in my lymph nodes. The good news was that the tumor was totally removed, but I am still looking at radiation and chemotherapy to try to clean up any remaining cancer cells.
So as of this moment, I am feeling stronger daily from the surgery, and looking to be a long-term cancer survivor instead of another victim. My wife and I want to express how much the hundreds of emails and cards meant to us and how your good thoughts and prayers helped me get thru the surgery and now has helped us to look forward to the future. Thank you.
I will still be doing this blog and I appreciate any and all support you can give via emails and feedback. It’s great to have friends like you, the digital community is amazing.
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This is the second in my series on Learning OmniFocus. In my first blog post I blamed all this OmniFocus love in the Mac community on people like David Sparks that have been preaching the benefits of an OmniFocus workflow for over the last year. I finally relented and decided to jump in with both feet and learn the application and then make it fit into my workflow without changing the way I use my Mac and iOS devices.
To begin my journey I downloaded and installed the OmniFocus app on both my Macs. I then went through several screencasts and tutorials to get a general feel for the application. I sat down and mapped out how my current workflow lays out and then I decided on how I want OmniFocus to fit into that workflow. I understand it’s a little different then most people handle a new application on their Mac, but I realized that I’d never use OmniFocus for any length of time if it forced too radical of a change in my day to day operations.
It took me a bit of time and a bit of trial and error to lay out my folders and then my projects so it made sense to me when I entered an action. I am very comfortable working with folders and sub-folders on my Macs, (a leftover from my old Windows days), so once they were created and arranged, the act of adding and categorizing actions was simple.
The syncing process between the two Macs was seamless with using my MobileMe account. I may try another syncing alternative, but for now I’ll stick with MobileMe. So the next step was to add OmniFocus into my iOS workflow.
The iPad application is beautiful, functional and Apple natural in it’s basic build. Syncing is dead simple to set-up and allows me to just work without worrying about sharing my changes across the OmniFocus Eco-System. I can add an action quickly and then move it to the project that it belongs with. I can use the Forecast mode to see when actions are due from a Calendar mode, you can attach pictures, notes and audio recordings to your items. You can view your actions by context, flagged actions and a mapping feature to see how close you are to a store or business that helps you complete your tasks. To top it all off, the Styles preferences helps create themes and make your OmniFocus screens look exactly the way you want them to look. The iPad version of OmniFocus is a solid winner and it keeps getting better.
The iPhone version of OmniFocus is functional in as much as I have it with me at all times to check on actions, tasks and lists when I’m out and about. I can add simple actions and tasks and you can view Contexts, Maps, and Forecasts like the iPad version. It’s just limited by the physical size of the application and the layout is not as Apple-like as the iPad version. But, I have to say that I would hate to be without OmniFocus on the iPhone. It’s there when you need it and it does exactly what I need it to do. Of course syncing is simple to set up and just a bit more noticeable then on the iPad.
So now my OmniFocus Eco-System is set up. I deleted all the other to-do, task, and list apps from my Macs and my iOS devices. I am getting in the habit of thinking OmniFocus. We’ll see how that turns out in a couple weeks. Till then, I love the feedback from you. I’m reading and watching as many tutorials as I can and I’m taking away tips and tricks that fit in my Workflow.
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Tags: gtd, mac software, omnifocus, omnigroup, software. mac
As an old Saturday morning cartoon character I loved would say, “That’s all I can standz, I can standz no more”. That is exactly what happened to me this week when it came to my old friend David Sparks and his endless infatuation with Omnigroup’s GTD application, OmniFocus.
I’ve been listening to David’s podcasts and reading his blog and watching his screencasts on OmniFocus and as many times as I’ve wanted to sit down with OmniFocus and give it a try, I’ve always talked myself out of it. I am of the belief that most people using a GTD (Getting Things Done) application spend more time playing with the application then actually getting things done.
So what changed? I’ve found myself with a lot of downtime coming up over the next month and I really wanted to take this opportunity to organize and prioritize my business and personal life. Therefore, I decided to heed the call of David and many other Mac pundits and jump into the OmniFocus world of digital organization.
I am starting with installing OmniFocus on both my office and home Mac, getting the syncing set up and then setting up the preferences to make the application look and feel comfortable with non-conflicting shortcut keys and organizing project folders and contexts that fit my needs and my workflows. I will then install OmniFocus on my iPhone and see if I can implement this new organization mode whether in an office setting or out and about.
My first priority is learning what OmniFocus can do and how I want it to work for me, rather then making me work for the application. I am starting with David Spark’s set of three Omnifocus screencasts and Don McAllister’s Screencastsonline episodes. There are also some nice video tutorials on OmniGroup’s Web site.
I’d love to hear from you with other sources of information on how to customize and take advantage of OmniFocus. I also plan on blogging about my progress on learning and implementing OmniFocus into my everyday life. Hold my hand on this one, it may be a long journey.
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We talked about this service on my last MacReviewCast. Today BetaNews has an in-depth look at Minus online storage provider I wanted to share with you. It’s worth a look if you want to share large files for free.
“There are plenty of free online storage providers around, but most provide only one or two gigabytes of space in their basic accounts: not much, by modern standards.
Minus stands out, though, by offering a whole 10GB, free of charge. The service supports files up to 2GB in size; these can be private, shared individually through links, or entirely open to public view; and there are no transfer limits, very useful if you’ve large files you’d like to distribute and you’re worried about potential bandwidth costs. And these are just some of the plus points of the Minus service.
When you sign up, for instance, the company doesn’t require you to complete lengthy forms. You don’t even have to provide your email address, if you’d rather not. Just choose a user name and password, and you’re ready to go. You can then use the service directly from your browser, or via clients for Windows, Linux, the Mac,iPhone and Android, which essentially allow you to upload your chosen files with drag-and-drop simplicity.
The desktop client includes a screen grab tool, for instance: press your preferred hotkey, choose what you want to capture, and Minus will grab the image and upload it to your account, entirely automatically.
Minus isn’t going to replace Dropbox or Wuala any time soon, then. But if you just want a fair amount of online storage space, at no charge at all, then its easy sign up, straightforward operation and good range of clients will be hard to beat. And if that’s not quite enough, check back in a few months: the service is still new, but it’s developing rapidly, there’s a powerful API, and we’ve no doubt that other Minus tools and features will be appearing very soon.”
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Tags: cloud computing, online storage
If you have a need to publish a newsletter, or maybe you feel you have knowledge that you want to share, (For a price), with people around the world, then TinyLetter may be just what you’re looking for.
From Digital Inspiration:
You have several options to choose from but if you need a newsletter service that is really easy to setup, doesn’t cost a penny and, more important, one that gives you an option to charge email subscribers a recurring monthly fee for them to receive your interesting shares, check out TinyLetter.
Getting started with TinyLetter is simple. Pick a unique username, this will become the sign-up URL for your email newsletter – then sign-up with your email address and your newsletter is ready for people to subscribe.
TinyLetter offers a Gmail-like WYSIWYG editor for composing your email newsletter. Once you send an email blast to your newsletter subscribers, they can also reach out to you by replying to that newsletter but without knowing your actual email address. Basic stats such as how many how many times your newsletter was opened, are also available inside TinyLetter.
One of the most interesting feature of TinyLetter is subscription. You may set a fixed monthly fee for your newsletter and people will have to make the payment via PayPal before they can actually become a subscriber. Subscribers are directly taken to PayPal once they put their email address in the subscription form.
You can either receive subscription payment directly into your PayPal account, or if you do not have a business account with PayPal, TinyLetter can collect the money on your behalf which can then be transferred to your personal PayPal account.
Letter.ly is another paid newsletter service but it uses Amazon Payments instead of PayPal.
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Tags: news letter, TinyLetter
The Targus Versavu Keyboard and Case is specifically designed for the iPad 2. The styling of the case features a unique mechanism that frames the Apple logo and allows the iPad to rotate 360｡ from landscape to portrait mode. The form-fitted design securely holds the iPad in place while the hard-sided exterior provides a sturdy, protective cover. The Versavu Keyboard and Case includes a QWERTY, low-profile Bluetooth keyboard that provides tactile feedback to the user to improve typing accuracy and speed while maintaining a quiet typing experience. The keyboard is Bluetooth and can be charged inside of the case for an easy-to-sync, cable-free user experience. The Versavu case includes a scratch-resistant frame around the keyboard to prevent the iPad from touching the keys when the case is closed and ready for transport.
The Versavu Keyboard and Case also includes an easy to locate, built-in holster for a pen or stylus. Featuring a soft interior lining to protect the iPad, Versavu provides full access to all iPad functions so the device is fully operational inside of the case. The Versavu Keyboard and Case for the iPadｨ 2 provides an attractive and functional way to carry and use the iPad.
Built-in Stand
Case converts into a stand to hold the device upright for hands-free viewing of video, online books and more
360 degree Rotation
Making it simple to transition between landscape and portrait options, the 360-degree feature allows for more viewing versatility while keeping your device in the case.
Hard-shell design offers a molded exterior to protect fragile glass displays that are prone to damage when bent
ColorBlack/Gray Interior
Exterior Dimensions 12″ x 1.5″ x 8.5″
WarrantyLimited Lifetime Warranty
Weigh 1.4 lbs
I found the case to be very functional. I’ve had several keyboard cases with the iPad 1 and they were handy for my fat fingers typing compared to the ipad’s built in onscreen keyboard, but they were small, and the cases were quite bulky and heavy. This Targus Versavu case is smaller and lighter in weight. The keyboard size is still not like a full sized bluetooth keyboard, but it’s still very functional. I like this alternative to the older iPad 1 cases I’ve used and I think it’s worth a look for anyone that hates typing with the on screen ipad keyboard and wants a more tactile solutions. The price is not cheap, it lists for $99 and there are no alternative color selections at this time.
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Tags: bluetooth, case, ipad 2, keyboard, mac and cheese, Targus, versavu
Hi everyone Gazmaz from the UK with a review of an App that I have reviewed here previously, this version though is the Lite version, that can be found in the Mac App Store. AppDelete in it’s full version is not allowed in the Mac App store (under the current rules that Apple have for applications), so Reggie Ashworth the developer behind AppDelete created AppDelete Lite to go in the Apples App Store.
AppDelete can uninstall Apps, Widgets, Preference Panes, Plugins, Bundles, Screensavers, etc. If it can be uninstalled then AppDelete can take care of it for you.
Reggie’s web site states:
The main difference between AppDelete and AppDelete Lite is that AppDelete Lite cannot move the associated files that are found to the trash. The user must do this manually. Keep in mind that it only takes a moment to do this by clicking on the pathname links in the AppDelete Lite Info panel and revealing these items in Finder, and then moving them to the trash. The files found by AppDelete and AppDelete Lite are the same and there is no difference in the quality of uninstalling. Here are the other differences in AppDelete Lite.
And to continue with information from the AppDelete web site,
* Undo (not needed since files will deleted by the user but Undo and Put Back in Finder will work)
* Installing from Archive (you can still make an archive and reinstall it manually)
* AppDelete workflow (contextual menu item)
* Force Empty Trash
* Hidden mode
Again, the main issue here is the Mac App Store will not allow AppDelete to request a password, so some convenience features had to be removed. They might be added back in the future if the possibility becomes available. The good news is that AppDelete Lite is cheaper than AppDelete to make up for the differences.
So having used AppDelete I wondered just how much of a difference it would be using the two versions. I can assure you, for me, the ease of functionality that has been taken out by those restrictions in the Mac App Store does somewhat spoil this application. But if you are looking for an application that makes deleting apps simple and complete, then AppDelete hits the mark.
If you have several machines that you need it installed on, and you also want all updates to come through the Mac App Store then you should get AppDelete Lite.
Most of the items I deleted via AppDelete didn’t have lots of associated files, it was quite easy to delete the files by clicking on the links which took me straight to the file and then popping into trash. If you do find you’d like the extra functionality that the full version brings, then Reggie is offering an update to the full version via his web site at just the cost difference between the Lite and Full Version, so, well done Reggie for trying to work around the restrictions of Apple.
If you do update, you’ll have to update the software via the application itself, which most of Mac users know is not a problem.
All this showed me was that AppDelete is still a great App. The restrictions in the Mac App Store are possibly not allowing Apps into the hands of those most likely wanting those easy to use, do it all for me applications.
So Apple pull your finger out and let great developers like Reggie Ashworth get those applications into the Mac App Store so that everyone can enjoy the full functionality in one place.
AppDelete Lite in the Mac App Store is $3.99, and the full version from Reggie Ashworth’s web site is $7.99. The choice is yours, I know which I’d pick, but I already own it.
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Allison Sheridan of the NosillaCast podcast here, hosted at podfeet.com.
Every once in a while you find a software developer who consistently creates outstanding products. There’s a lot of great developers out there, don’t get me wrong, but one hit wonders are far more frequent than companies that relentlessly create quality products. One of those companies is Telestream, from telestream.net. I’ve reviewed many of their programs, most recently Wirecast 4 that allows me to create my live show and broadcast it to multiple services like Justin.tv, supports HD video, lower thirds, all kinds of cool features that give the impression I’m a professional.
This time I’m going to talk to you about their screencasting software ScreenFlow. Bart first talked about ScreenFlow back in 2008 on my show, I reviewed ScreenFlow 2 in 2009, and now we have ScreenFlow 3. I have to tell you, when I heard about ScreenFlow 3 coming out, I tried to think what they could do to make it better. You may know that I’m saddled with Windows at work, so all my screencasting there has to be done using Camtasia. It’s horrible. it’s clunky, it’s buggy, it loses data, it’s unpredictable, and it even gets voice and video out of sync, it takes FOREVER to encode on a workstation class machine, AND it costs $300. Other than that I’m really quite fond of it. Now consider ScreenFlow that’s beautiful and elegant, intuitive, and actually WORKS, and it’s only $99. If you’re a fan of ScreenFlow and have version 2, you’ll also be interested in this review since the upgrade cost is only $30 to go from version 2 to 3.
Like I said, I enjoy the ScreenFlow experience so much I was wondering what they could do to improve it. They’ve included a laundry list of new features. The first and possibly most important thing is that they’ve upgraded to support Lion features like autosave, version control and full screen capability. That by itself is worth the $30 but let’s see what else it can do.
I find it really useful on my videos using the craptastic Camtasia (when I can beat it into submission) to include annotations. Since this is screencasting software, it makes sense that you’d want to highlight an area, draw a box around it, or put a big giant arrow pointing to the thing you’re trying to explain on screen (a la ScreenSteps, right?) ScreenFlow 3 adds that capability. You can freehand draw lines with all kinds of endpoints and draw filled or transparent boxes or circles around items to grab the viewer’s attention. One thing I wish they’d included, and perhaps I just didn’t find it, would be the ability to create a highlight box – like a translucent yellow box. I couldn’t change the opacity of the boxes in the annotation.
However, there’s a callout function that does provide most of that functionality. In callouts you can either have your cursor surrounded by a circle to show exactly where you’re pointing, or you can draw a freehand rectangle. When you create a callout, it automatically makes the rest of the video darker so it highlights the callout area. I had trouble getting some of this function to work properly. One of the options is to blur the background, but it repeatedly blurred what was inside my callout as well. I’m certain that’s not the desired behavior, so it looks like I’ve uncovered a little bug.
Creating text boxes is super fun – if you have actual artistic talent you can use the tools they provide to add gradient fills to the text and the background of the callout, play with the fonts, and add outlines to the text. I say if you have actual artistic talent, because I managed to make a nasty looking text box with purple to green gradient on the text and a puke orange background. Art is definitely not in my talent set!
I was going to say that I wanted an enhancement to be able to add transitions to text boxes, but I kept poking at it and figured it out. If you hover over the text box in the timeline, and you’ll see a little gear, and sure enough you can add transitions. I should have assumed that Telestream wouldn’t leave me wanting!
There are a ton of enhancements to video editing that I didn’t even get a chance to test, like how you can now reorder, delete and resize the height of your tracks; group clips; insert gaps; and select and remove gaps.
They’ve also added audio quality controls like the ability to remove background noise and smooth volume levels. You can view the audio waveforms and increase the size visually so you can see what you’re doing. This lets you see where your audio peaks and then view those peaks as you modify the audio with the quality controls. I really enjoyed messing around with the audio (you know I’m an audio person, right?) I’m not sure I’d use some of the effects for the kind of work I do, but I was astonished at how well the “remove background noise” filter worked. The great thing about ScreenFlow is that you get pretty much instant gratification on all the effects, in just a few seconds you can listen to the change the filter or effect made, and they give you a cool animation on the audio waveform to entertain you for those few seconds.
You can publish from ScreenFlow directly to YouTube, Vimeo, Flash, or to your disk using some nice presets like the new one for viewing on the iPad. And if you want to ruin your life you can go into the custom settings and start fiddling around…like I do!
It’s time for the bottom line. I’ve tested out a fair number of video editors (even been playing with Final Cut Pro X this week) and by far ScreenFlow is my favorite. I wish I had ScreenFlow at work, that’s for sure. ScreenFlow is fairly priced at $100, lower than Camtasia for Mac (WAY lower than Camtasia for Windows). If you’ve got ScreenFlow 2, the $30 upgrade is more than worth it, even if it’s only to get autosave and versioning from Lion. I can without reservation recommend ScreenFlow from Telestream.net.
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Tags: screen capture mac, screenflow, shareware, software. mac, telestream
By Bastian Wolfle:
I was a huge Quicksilver Fan for a very long time but it started to behave stranger and stranger with every increment of OS X and with Lion it really got to a state where I felt it was time to move on. I wanted a small and quick replacement that was customizable, easy to learn and had a responsive developer. After trying a few, I ended up with Alfred. It is freely available from alfredapp.com. You might say “What? Free? So how do you think the developer will continue to be responsive and dedicated?” Put down your torches and listen further, you will be satisfied in a second.
Back to the beginning: After installing Alfred you basically have a single line input box that pops up when you press a customizable keystroke and you can start typing right away. So right now it is just an app launcher that allows for a few neat extras, like web-search integration, access to iTunes, dictionary access and so on. And it is blazingly fast and puts Spotlight to a shame.
If that is enough for you, get the free app and be happy. If you feel more like a power user (and if an app launcher gets you excited you probably are one), then you want the powerpack. And this is where you get to give the developers their well deserved money. While Alfred is in its pre 1.0 version, the powerpack costs 12 pounds (whatever that might be in the currency of your choice) and brings a lot of cool extra features.
For example, extendability using Apple or shell scripts, automator workflows or other crazy stuff. It also makes it possible to navigate the file system using your keyboard and drill down in folders without having to touch the mouse. With the extra result actions the powerpack brings you, you can then also copy these files, email them or even delete ‘em right away. It also adds an iTunes mini player that makes iTunes access even better. I really like the address book integration that can show you records in your address book right away and also enables you to email people from there. They have much more that you can find on the Alfred web site and I really recommend checking it out.
There is a free version of Alfred but no free powerpack trial as far as I know, but that isn’t really necessary. If you need the powerpack, you’ll know and you won’t regret it.
Apart from a few minor features, I don’t miss a thing from Quicksilver and I am very happy to use an app again that seems to be under steady development. Give Alfred a shot by going to www.alfredapp.com
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