reading

Apr 27 2009

Enhance your OS

This week’s tools will allow you to view PDF’s in your browser, tweak colors in iCal and swap out that spinning beach ball…

PDF Browser Plugin

This broswer plugin, installed in your “Internet Plugins” folder in your Library allows Internet Explorer or any other compatible browser (Netscape, Chimera) to display PDF files. It’s simple and works.

iCalibrate

Having a hard time reading text in your iCal? This utility allows you to tweak the text colors for each calendar color. Now you can make your text more readable, or go extreme and push the limits of the Apple System Color Picker.

Beachball

Feelings of loath are quickly associated with whatever animated icon Apple’s programers put in the OS to placate users while the Mac thinks. Now you can rotate your “wait cursor” whenever you feel like it.

Beachball is a straightforward and self-proclaimed “idiot proof” method for changing cursors. It comes with 10 different cursors and even a couple new arrows. The application comes with information on creating your own cursors that you can import into Beachball.

So, if nothing else, this week’s features should break up some of the monotony in your OS. Have a colorful week.

Brian

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Apr 27 2009

iPhone Apps the Apple Way

We love Apple, or we wouldn’t be reading (or writing) this. But, its true, Apple’s actions in the last few weeks have caused us all to wonder if “too good to be true” is about to turn into “too good to last”.

Some of it is the pressure of being a public company in agreement with a nasty telecom partner needing to appease the shareholders. But why kill third party apps? Why hobble the iPod Touch?

I think what we’ve all failed to grasp is the new paradigm. We live in a Web 2.0 world and the browser is the killer app, or even the new OS. Binaries are so yesterday, and I think once you have a look below at the power of iPhone web apps you might end up agreeing with me.

iPhone App Alternatives

Google Calendar for iPhone

Can’t edit or add appointments on your iPod Touch? Google Calendar has a fresh new iPhone interface and allows browsing, adding and editing of entries.
iphonegcal iPhone Apps the Apple Way
Of course you can subscribe to your Google Cal’s in iCal as well.

Zoho Office for iPhone

It’s almost as good as it sounds. View documents, spreadsheets and more from your iPhone.
iphonezoho iPhone Apps the Apple Way
Right now, you can only edit text documents, but Zoho is working on that. If Zoho isn’t your style, users have reported that Google Docs works on iPhone, kinda.

Browse files and control applications on your Mac with Telekinesis

Control iTunes, check out your iSight and trigger scripts on your Mac from your iPhone. If you want to access your Mac from beyond your network, you may need to do some foolin around with your network setup.

Chat with Meebo

Meebo is a multi-protocol browser-based chat solution. And it works on iPhone.
iphonemeebo iPhone Apps the Apple Way
With an optimized interface, you can chat away with contacts on several chat networks.

iGmail

Missing Mail on the Touch? This Open Source project can help. While you can access Gmail directly, this application provides you with an iPhone-tastic interface.
iphoneigmail iPhone Apps the Apple Way
Ideally you’ll install this on your own server, though you can use the project’s demo server too.

Tadalist for iPhone

No todo list? You can access web-based task managers like Remember the Milk but if you want to enjoy an optimized interface, check out Tadalist.
iphonetadalist iPhone Apps the Apple Way

Note:The screenshots here were created using an excellent Open Source tool called iPhoney from our friends at Market Circle. Its a great way to test iPhone web applications on your Mac.

By virtue of its grown-up browser, the iPhone (though closed) represents one of the most flexible platforms for running Web 2.0 apps. Am I drinking the Kool Aid? Maybe, but it tastes pretty good.

Brian

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Apr 27 2009

iPod Freeware

Got an iPod? I wish I did. Be warned, I havenít had a chance to test these like I do my other picks. Of course, I’d rather have no iPod than a fake one.

mu iPod FreewarePodWriter

This OS X app lets you compose and synchronize notes to your iPod similar to the way notes work on a palm. This one is still in beta, so use caution!

mu iPod FreewarePod2Go

News, weather, movies, stocks, driving directions and more, synchronized to your iPod. You can even use this app to sync MacMercís RSS feed to you iPod for offline reading.

mu iPod FreewareiPodEject

This utility lets you eject your iPod from the menu bar. A very handy menu item for you iPoders.

mu iPod FreewarePodMonkey

With a name like that, you know itís going to be fun. PodMonkey lets you browse your iPod, music and all, from the Finder.

mu iPod FreewareText Reader

This free application ìreadsî text files into an audio format you can listen to on your iPod. Think of all the MacMerc stories you could listen to!

Well, thatís all the envy I can handle. If any of this stuff nukes your Pod, let me know and Iíll make note of it. After all, Iím sure one of my fabulous readers is packing one up right now for meÖ

Come back next week for more,

Brian

mu iPod FreewareDownloads provided by MacUpdate

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