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Aug 20 2010

Xtand and LogMeIn Ignition

I give credit to my buddy Brent Flink ( @indivisual ) for showing me LogMeIn and it’s super cool (and somewhat overpriced at $29.99 US) iPhone/iPad app LogMeIn Ignition.

LogMeIn is a web-based VNC service that allows you to install its free software on your Mac (or PC) and not only access, but control that computer from a supported web browser. Unfortunately, though Mobile Safari on the iPad and iPhone is one of those supported browsers, when you try to control the cursor within LogMeIn’s web-based VNC, you only end up controlling the view of the screen in the browser.

So, in order to control your Mac at home from your iPad in a coffee shop, you first need to have signed up for a FREE LogMeIn account, installed and activated the software on your Mac. Then you can share your Mac through LogMeIn. Now, when you launch LogMeIn Ignition on your iPad or iPhone, you can control your home computer from the road.

My favorite thing I’ve done with LogMeIn is use it to help me send files to clients that I couldn’t keep with me on my iPhone or iPad. While controlling my home Mac, I save the file to my Dropbox folder. This sets Dropbox to work making that file available to me online via the FREE Dropbox App on my iPad or iPhone. I still don’t actually have the file on those devices, but I can get a link to where it has been stored online by Dropbox that I can paste in an email on my iPhone and send it to my client. Problem solved.

No Flash? No problem—click here!»

My little joke at the start of the video below made use of a very cool iPhone stand called the Xtand.1 It’s a nice iMac-like stand that will hold the iPhone 3G, 3GS or 4. It sells for about $39.99 US2

As I mentioned at the end of the video, there is another service called TeamViewer that offers many of the same features of LogMeIn but offers FREE lite versions of its apps for iPhone and iPad …though its full-featured apps sell for $99.99 US for the iPhone version and $139.99 US for the iPad version. Suddenly, $29.99 US doesn’t seem so bad to me.

  1. I’m actually not sure if I’m supposed to pronounce it “EKS-tand” or “ztand”…clearly I chose “EKS-tand” [↩]
  2. the one I used in the video is available for $35.99 CDN if you can get to MacStation in Abbotsford before they sell it icon biggrin Xtand and LogMeIn Ignition [↩]

By RickMacMerc • apps, Featured, gadgets, iPad, iPhone, MacMerc.TV, Mini Video, News • 3 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aug 16 2010

DJay from Algoriddim

DJay from Algoriddim is very cool DJ software for your Mac. It sells for $49.99 US and has an iPhone App that allows you to control it remotely over wifi for $4.99 US (djay Remote – algoriddim).

The app itself features iTunes integration (it will grab you iTunes Library and playlist—any of the music you have can then be analyzed for its tempo for easy matching), Automixing 1 (DJay will grab song after song out of your iTunes playlists and mix them while you get your dance on), Tempo Matching (put any two songs together and DJay will slow down or speed up to match the tempos), as well as Scratching, Mixing and Looping.

In the mini video below, I use my nonexistent DJ’ing skillz to mix the 2 versions of “Still Alive” off The Orange Box (Original Soundtrack) into a duet between GLaDOS and @JonathanCoulton. For those musically challenged folks like myself, I recommend songs that already match.

Today’s Mac Awesomeness selection comes from a tweet posted by @leohayden2 Be sure to check out the video below and leave a comment.

Djay for Mac and ITunes is awesome, but using your IPhone wirelessly to control it via the djay app is off the charts On 5:54 AM Aug 15th 2010 from Twitter for iPhone
No Flash? No problem—click here!»

  1. Note: Real DJ’ing is an art form performed by talented musicians. The true sound of a brilliant mix cannot be automated. [↩]
  2. he doesn’t even know I’ve given him a shout out like this, so if you see this and you know him, let him know for me, okay? [↩]

By RickMacMerc • apps, Featured, iPhone, MacMerc.TV, Mini Video, News, Pro Audio • 2 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aug 13 2010

BookBook from Twelve South

The BookBook from Twelve South offers cushioned leathery protection in a stealthy disguise. With sizes for 13, 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pros, the BookBook comes in Vibrant Red and Classic Black. Details include zipper tabs that look like bookmarks and the texture of the edge pieces show embossed ridges that simulate  book pages.

I’ve had a couple of days to wander around with the BookBook and I love it. As I said in the video, I was able to mark my table at Starbucks and not only did no one take the table, no one took my MacBook Pro.1 The protection offered is comparable to a higher end padded sleeve but I’d say it’s definitely superior to a Neoprene sleeve.

One suggestion I’d make is that you remove the MacBook Pro from the BookBook if you’re doing and processor-intensive work for an extended period of time—cases like this will decrease the airflow to the cooling vents and that is something you’d want to avoid.

Prices range from $79.99 US to $99.99 US depending on the size. iPad cases are coming soon.

I love creative cases like this and products that take tired, predictable product types and do something clever with them. Have you seen anything you think qualifies as Mac/iPhone/iPod/iPad awesomeness? Post a comment and let me know about it—I’ll give you credit on camera for the tip.

No Flash? No problem—click here!»

  1. I would NOT recommend leaving your MacBook Pro unattended no matter how clever the case [↩]

By RickMacMerc • Featured, gadgets, MacMerc.TV, Mini Video • 1 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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