quirks

Apr 27 2009

Watch your USB for Free

When Apple had the insight to replace its proprietary ADB connectors with USB, the Mac community rejoiced – and rightly so. USB has brought a slew of 3rd party peripherals to the platform. USB has also brought some interesting new quirks. Fortunately there is a great piece of freeware that will put your hot-swappable world in order.

USB Monitor is a simple utility that identifies USB devices as they are plugged, unplugged or otherwise activated. This utility provides a great way to monitor your devices without having to launch your Apple System Profiler.

The install the application you move it to your hard drive and double click its icon. After that the system extra works in the background, waiting for some USB action.

USB Monitor can be downloaded here and is free.

Brian

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Oct 8 2008

RTM Notifier, an Adobe AIR app to help you keep track of To Do lists

RTM Notifier 20081007 220706 RTM Notifier, an Adobe AIR app to help you keep track of To Do listsRTM Notifier is a simple, clean Adobe AIR app that runs in the background and keeps up to date with your Remember The Milk account and the tasks organized therein, notifying you when they come due.

The developer, while not a Mac user, is asking for comments from the Mac community on how well the app runs. I’ve found the application to be fairly straightforward and functional, but it has a few design and usability quirks that might keep me from chosing it over loading Remember The Milk in my web browser.

I have found Todo RTM Notifier, an Adobe AIR app to help you keep track of To Do lists to be a really good Remember The Milk app for iPhone and iPod touch users. Well worth the USD$9.99 in my opinion.

[ Via RefreshingApps.com ]

Note:

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Jul 25 2008

iLugger

blue w500 20080725 192738 iLuggerUsually iMacs are not portable computers, but now, thanks to the iLugger Backpack they are. The iLugger is a sturdy backpack fitted for either the 17″, 20″ or 24″ iMacs with room for accessories such as a keyboard or mouse. Despite the way people are bound to look at you if you wear this on the street, the iLugger claims to provide a practical solution for people who need to transport an iMac.

There are obvious quirks to carrying a desktop computer on your back considering that the iMac, though thin and sleek, is not designed to be lightweight. At about 20 pounds, this is a heavy load to carry on your back and I would have appreciated more padding and more comfortable straps to accommodate the load.

Overall, the iLugger does what it claims to do and that is simply to make the iMac portable. Though, I do not agree with the claims of the iLugger making the iMac into a portable computer, because the fact is that 20 pounds is 20 pounds regardless of whether or not its in a backpack.

I was asked to do some durability and functionality testing on the iLugger, here are some interesting issues about it you might want to know;

  • The actual bag is very durable, I was not able to get it to tear. To find its tear point, I stuck a knife into the back. And only after a lot of jabbing, I was able to make a small whole.
  • The backpack straps are poorly designed, and poorly constructed. They run diagonally from a few inches below the top of the iLugger to its bottom.
  • The iLugger is too lightly padded and the poorly designed straps make the load feel even heavier.
  • The clips for connecting the removable backpack straps to the case are made of plastic and, during testing, one broke and then popped out while the case was on my back. Imagine this happening while your iMac was inside!
  • The shoulder strap is also poorly padded and I found it next to impossible to carry the iLugger with an iMac inside for more than 20 minutes. I found my neck began to ache.

Overall I was not very impressed with the iLugger. Though a good idea, it has been poorly executed.

Product Info:
Name: iLugger 17/20 Inch iMac Carrying Case
Price: USD$129.99

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