scheduling

Apr 27 2009

Boot Up

Boot time can be a moment of truth for drives on the fritz. These free utilities can put you in a more confident position dealing with troublesome installs.

mu Boot UpAppleJack

This app could really save you in a pinch. It is a script that can be launched from the command line in single-user-mode to repair the disk, repair privileges, delete caches and more. Could be a lifesaver.

mu Boot UpBootCD

We’ve featured this one before on Freeloader Friday, but it is worth mentioning again. This application creates a burnable, bootable image of your OS X install. You select the utilities and applications to include.

mu Boot UpCarbon Copy Cloner

Listed as shareware, this is actually $5 donation-ware. And it is worth much more. CCC backs up and syncs disks, including permissions, hidden files and boot-ability. The app also features a scheduling feature.

The props this week go to the freeware programmers that make these drive-saving applications.

Brian

mu Boot UpDownloads provided by MacUpdate

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Apr 27 2009

Feed the Browser

If you’re into the Mozilla family, you’ll be happy to know you can access thousands of RSS feeds with free add-ins. If you on Safari or (eek) IE, there are options for you too.

NewsMonster

NewsMonster is a feature rich (if a little bloated) addition to Netscape/Mozilla. This add-in watches feeds and blogs with update scheduling. NewsMonster also supports PDA synching.

RSS Reader Panel

If smaller Mozilla beasts are more your style, you’ll be interested in this streamlined RSS reader. This Firefox extension allows you to scan RSS headlines. Like NewsMonster, this side panel can import an OPML of your feeds from your RSS reader.

Now for the rest of you, you’ll find similar in-the-browser options from web based services like Bloglines, Feedster or Kinja. These services include OPML import/export and automatic updates.

There you go. Get your news in your browser.

Brian

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Apr 27 2009

mini Radio Station

With your mini and iPod, no doubt the bulk of your music collection lives in iTunes. Set your music free and enjoy it throughout your house the old fashioned way using your stereos’ FM receiver. For a few more dollars, add a wireless remote that will work walls away from your Mac.

miniradiostation mini Radio Station

What you’ll need:

The first and most important piece to get in place is the transmitter. Griffin nailed it with the RocketFM. Like your iPod car transmitter, this USB audio device will transmit your Mac’s audio 30 feet through walls and floors. Your placement of the small and memorizingly-lit device will contribute a lot to the signal strength, as will the quality of your receiver. With a decent receiver, a centrally located RocketFM should broadcast throughout your average multi-story 2,500 square foot home.

rocketfm mini Radio Station

Set-up is a breeze. The software – a preference pane – isn’t even required for the unit to function, but allows you to switch the frequency to find a nice quiet spot on your dial. Unlike WiFi, additional receivers will not decrease the broadcast range. The zero latency of FM will have every radio in your house playing in sync.

The RocketFM is a great way to get music, podcasts and internet radio into your stereo. It worked flawlessly in my testing. But the transmitter is just the beginning. With an RF remote you can control iTunes from anywhere your radio can get the signal. So not only can you have your music playing all over the house, you can control it from wherever you are.

The last piece is to control iTunes on you mini from your PowerBook or desktop Mac. With freeware like TuneConnect you can search tracks, play pause and skip from another Mac on the network. Rather have the Mac control itself? Then iTaf (requires Tiger) will allow you to schedule your music and even start your mini.

Forget the tangles of speaker wire and the high cost of WiFi audio and turn your Mac into a mini radio station. Long live FM!

Brian

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