Do you deal with PDF files frequently? Don’t want to deal with Adobe products (Adobe Reader), but need more power than Apple’s built-in Preview? Smile Software’s (formerly Smile on My Mac) PDFpen ($59.95) and PDFpenPro ($99.95) may be the perfect application for you.

I’ve been using their TextExpander software for a few years now and was excited to try another one of their signature programs.

I’ve been happily and successfully using Apple’s Preview for almost all of my PDF needs for many years now. I’ve always been able to open, view, combine and rearrange multiple PDFs with ease. However, there are a few features that I have never been able accomplish with Preview.

As an educator, I often deal with many PDF files that are related to a specific unit or topic. I can easily combine multiple PDF’s into one document, but once the number of pages becomes unwieldy it’s difficult to organize the document and maneuver through it. PDFpenPro solves this problem by allowing me to create a table of contents. Adding items to the table of contents is as easy as highlighting the text that I want to use as the table of contents entry and then hitting a keyboard shortcut to add the entry. PDFpenPro also gives me the option to make the entry a “child” (sub-entry) or an “aunt” (promoting the entry to a higher level). The table of contents then holds these entries as clickable items to move directly to that section of the document. When I’ve combined a large number of PDF files, I can also use PDFpenPro’s page numbering feature to either add regular page numbering or Bates numbering (often used in legal documents) to all pages within the newly combined document.

If a PDF has a text layer, then PDFpenPro allows a number of changes to be made to the document. You can select text and have it changed to editable text so that you can change the text to whatever you’d like. You can highlight and redact text as well. Redacting text means to obscure part of the text by either erasing it completely or blocking it from view. This particular function is probably not one that I need in my line of work, but others may find it useful when blocking names or other identifying information for privacy reasons.
PDFpenPro also enhances on Preview’s ability to annotate PDFs. You can add comments, URL links, text boxes, lines, arrows, and other drawing features right on top of the original PDF. It is my understanding that this annotated PDF is then readable by others even if they do not own a PDFpen product. All the recipient needs to do is open the file in Adobe Reader and all annotations are viewable.

One of the most frequently advertised features of PDFpen and PDFpenPro is the built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) engine. You can set up the program to ask to OCR when you open a scanned document or you can import a document directly from your scanner into the application.

For those who are often required to fill-in PDF forms, PDFpenPro allows you to fill in, save, and even overlay your signature. Doing this is as easy as having a JPG or a PNG of your signature and then dragging it into the file. This can then be changed to a transparent image so that you can place it anywhere in your document. Your signature can then be placed in the PDFpen Library so that you can have fast and easy access to it. Place other frequently used items in this Library as well.

PDFpen and PDFpenPro have too many features to completely cover in this review. My bullet-list of other favorite features are as follows:
Save to Evernote
Save webpages as multipage PDF’s (Pro only)
Cropping, repositioning, and editing images
Create interactive, cross-platform PDF’s (Pro only)

To see a full list of features and compare it to other PDF manipulation software, please see the following links.

PDFpenPro features: http://www.smilesoftware.com/PDFpenPro/features.html
Feature Comparisons with other software: http://www.smilesoftware.com/PDFpen/compare.html

PDFpenPro is just what I need to take my PDFs to the next level. If it sounds like something you’d like to try, you can download a free trial of either program from their website at http://smilesoftware.com/. If you feel overwhelmed and feel the need for a tutorial, Don McAllister from ScreenCastsOnline has recorded several short screencasts covering different aspects of the programs. You can view those at http://smilesoftware.com/PDFpen/screencast/

Log Leech won’t necessarily explain these logs but will help you at least find those nuggets of information locked in the haystack. Once installed the program will take all the log entries and sort them attractively by program (and associated icon) as well as by date. You can then use the icon to hone in on the specific information you want.

When problems develop with your Mac and you aren’t sure what could be the program, a look at Log Leech might help you find the answers. More than once opening Log Leech revealed the reason problems were occurring that I couldn’t easily find by looking at the console. Console lumps all your program information together. You can’t always see what you need when you are faced with an overwhelming screen of random code.

Log Leech take the copious amounts of trivial information in the console and organizes it into an easy to use and read fashion. The Console App reminds me of DOS and the Unix world while Log Leech reminds me of a Mac.

Pros: Great for reading logs and deriving information from
Cons: Apple will buy this app and include it in the OS if they are smart

5 out of 5 Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
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Office Time for the Mac and iOS makes sure none of those valuable dollars and cents slip through your fingers, and more importantly helps you bill that to a third party.

Office Time for the Mac starts off as a general time tracking program. You can set a series of projects and categories to figure out exactly what you are doing and whom you are doing it for. For example, if you are working on a website project, you might put the website as the project name, coding as the category and then put in notes about exactly what you are coding. You can even specify what your billable rate is. With this level of detail available, you’ll be able to tell the client exactly how the bill was derived and where their money is going.

For professional management, you can use advanced reporting such as graphs and spreadsheets to determine where you time and money are going. In particular I used the program to make detailed reports of exactly how much I spend on different types of projects to know if I should hire additional administrative or technical staff. Office Time also allows exporting for more advanced analysis.

In order to prevent you from missing out on any missed time, Office Time uses a menu bar icon to quickly log a specific project and begin tracking the information. Switching tasks is as easy as choosing from the menu. Should you walk away from the computer or get distracted (dog barking, phone call etc), Office Time will recognize no activity and offer to remove that time from billing or place it in another category (which typically isn’t something you can bill).

Since so many of us are on the road and may not be at our main computer, Office Time also has a separate iOS application that works great on both the iPhone and iPad (full screen on the iPad). The iOS application will sync on demand when both your main computer and iOS device are on the same wireless network. Over the air syncing on wifi or 3G would be great, but I fully understand why these limitations exist.

No stone was left unturned in the design of this program. Since expenses often go along with billed time, Office Time for both MacOS and iOS includes expense tracking that can be directly integrated with the projects and categories. You can sync the information with iCal so you can visually see your projects and where your time is going.

Best of all, from right in the program, you can set custom invoicing to send our your bills, or export the data into your favorite accounting program. The program is not for accounting so it won’t track whether you’ve been paid or if an item is past due, but you can still get your invoices out quickly. International users will appreciate the ability to track in multiple currencies. If you don’t know what an invoice is and you bill your time, this program is a great place to start.

Now, you have absolutely no excuse not to track your time and billables. Except, of course, your own laziness. At least with Office Time, you can’t blame your tools but only your actual productivity. Office Time will save you time and help you bill it better than any program I’ve seen.

4.5 out of 5 dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
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Logo Design Studio Pro is a great program for those of us who have very little design skills. In fact, its name only scratches the surface of what this handy little program can do.

Apple came out with iPhoto for those of us who needed basic, powerful and intuitive ways of managing our photos and then took that iEthic to movies, DVDs, music and more. Unfortunately design was left out of the picture. Sure iWork can help you create and manage presentations, but graphic design is not its strong suite.

Logo Design Pro might as well be called iDesign because it takes the ideals of the iLife suite and brings it to graphic design. The foundation of the program is Logo Design. A series of templates don’t just give you ideas of logos based on your industry and what you do, but include a series of tasteful graphics and “taglines” for your business.

Being a extreme novice (I hate the word “dummy”), I was still able to great some pretty nice logos in just a few minutes. Moreover I was able to create designs for a wide variety of settings, including a Keynote presentations (see how well this works with iLife!). Open an existing template, add some of the included art objects, some fonts and color and there you have it!

The designs created by the program are “vector” based which means they can be shrunk and enlarged without any loss of resolution or quality. This is the accessible equivalent of FreeHand and Illustrator and for those that remember, MacDraw.

Even if you have a logo, you’ll still love this program. Presentations, web graphics, and flyers can all be enhanced with the tools this program gives you. Import your logo and jazz it up a bit with some graphics and wrapped text. Create a business card on the fly or just enhance a iWork or Microsoft Word document with some easy pizzazz.

My only major complaint with the program was skimpy documentation and included help (the help is virtually identical to the included program guide). The help didn’t conform to the typical Apple design and actually used icons from Windows help. Uggh.

Pros: Easy to use, powerful, and very intuitive
Cons: Skimpy help

Five out of Five Dogcows

5 out of 5 dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
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Macware’s Disk Tools Pro is an excellent all-around utility for maintaining, optimizing and protecting your Macintosh hard drive. The suite of modules is an excellent addition to the market and possibly your own hard drive, especially older ones.

The primary focus of the program is to test the integrity of your hard drive’s structure and data integrity. Unlike Apple’s Disk Utility and other programs, Disk Tools Pro will proactively monitor your S.M.A.R.T. status and disk space and will allow you to schedule a battery of tests and procedures.

For hard drive testing, some functions such as optimization, volume repair, and scan/reassigning (they call this repair but that is really inaccurate) of bad sectors can be on a boot volume, but may be limited in scope. Full testing and repair requires the drive to be dismounted, which obviously can’t be done on a boot volume. Others tests such as preference file testing, file analysis, backup, broken alias/symbolic link files, and benchmarking can all be done on the primary drive.

Where Disk Tools Pro shines is its ability to schedule most of its tasks, so you can easily backup or clone a drive on a set schedule or do regular maintenance during off times. Another great feature of this program is the fact it works on older systems running 10.3.9 as well as Apple’s latest systems as of this writing.

Overall the suite has a clean and easy to use interface with sufficient animation and graphics to explain its functions without being confusing or too technical. Each function is presented in either a “cover flow” style fashion or easily accessible from a menu.

The price for all these features is steep at $79.99 and most of functions of this suite can be found in other shareware or freeware programs, but the convenience of having it all in one place and having scheduling is of great value.

Pros: Comprehensive utility suite in a well designed package compatible with older systems
Cons: Cost

4 out of 5 dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
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When Google suffered a major outage recently and temporarily lost customer files, I, like others, saw the signs of a storm coming. Cloud Pull helps you weather the storm and keep your cloud-based information backed up. It is a simple program that is simply indispensable.

Cloud Pull by Golden Hills Software is available directly from the developer and from the App Store and will backup both your Google Documents and your Google Calender for up to 10 different Google Accounts. It’s like Time Machine for Google. At any interval you select (every hour up to every day) Google Pull will download all your Google Documents and Google Calendar and keep them on your computer for a minimum of 30 days and indefinitely if you wish. Not only does it backup the current version but it also backs up any revisions. The folder structure is identical to that within your Google account, respecting which items appear in home and which are hidden.

Once downloaded to your Mac, you can then restore them directly from the off-line database Cloud Pull utilizes. This was great for when I was working offline on a plane. I had my entire Google Document collection available to me. Because Google Pull supports multiple accounts, you can have your browser open to one account while still reviewing documents in another account. It even supports QuickView so you can easily find the document you need. If you work offline with your documents, the program can’t put the document back into Google, however. You’ll have to upload the file to Google manually or copy and paste your changes. This isn’t the end of the world, but something to consider when you restore a document via Cloud Pull.

The UI is straightforward and includes a menu icon that uses green indicators to show your accounts are safely backed up and used a red indicator and exclamation point to warn you of problems. Usually it’s a temporary glitch, but I appreciate the early warning system and how similar it is to Apple’s Time Machine.

At $24.99, the program is a bit pricey, and of course you can manually download your Google Documents to back them up, but Cloud Pull makes it automatic so you are much less likely to lose data. While Cloud Pull doesn’t back up your Gmail, this can easily be done via a third party email client and contact synchronization is built into Address Book. Cloud Pull fills a gap for those of us wanting easy backups of the “office style” documents we create on the web. If you use Google Documents for serious work, then you owe it to yourself to get this program. $24.99 is a small price to pay for piece of mind for when the cloud leads you astray.

Pros: Backups up your Google Documents and Calenders automatically and protecting your information in the cloud.
Cons: Can’t restore files back to Google

Five out of Five Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Yojimbo is a database of any information you can throw at it and is most often compared to programs like Evernote or MacJournal. Yojimbo 3.0 is $38.99 and requires 10.5.7 and will run on both Intel and Power PC systems.

Of all the information-gathering apps, Yojimbo is the clear leader in Mac integration and featuring a Mac interface. BareBones, the developer of Yojimbo, has a long and rich history on the Mac platform and their expertise shines in this app. While information can be added via the standard typing or drag and drop method, Yojimbo also provides hot keys for entries as well as adds itself to the service menu. I was able to keep track of various bookmarks and URLs, right from the menu bar by right clicking. What’s the Japanese word for “sweet?”

For me, tracking bookmarks was the killer feature that brought me back to using Yojimbo. I was a previous Yojimbo user, but started using other programs which offered synchronization via the web. With the uncertainty of cloud-based bookmark services, I realized the importance of keeping key information directly on my computer. Synchronization is nice and I’ll continue to use it, but I want to keep a local copy of my data under my exclusive control. I’m concerned not only about free services going away, but I also grow increasingly concerned about keeping confidential data on the web. Yojimbo supports syncing between computers via Apple’s MobileMe service, but the data is not accessible directly via the me.com website.

Similar to other information managers, Yojimbo uses the collection, label and tag model to allow quick finding and classification of information within its database. An individual piece of information can be listed in multiple folders and be tagged and labelled in multiple ways. Yojimbo handles most data formats such as text, images, PDFs, sounds, and bookmarks. Alternatively, instead of storing a bookmark, Yojimbo can actually make a web archive of the file which is great for offline viewing on an airplane. Two data formats unique to the Yojimbo are serial numbers and passwords. These are securely stored in the program. I’ll continue to use my Mac’s keychain for my most secure passwords, but I did like storing serial numbers in this program within Yojimbo’s structure for quick search and retrieval.

Comparing Yojimbo to other products, Yojimbo’s differentiation as mentioned earlier is Mac integration and Mac UI elements. The program simply feels more Mac-like than other programs I’ve tried. Additionally, Yojimbo effectively uses the Mac’s function keys to bring up the Quick Input menu or to activate Yojimbo’s dock interface for dragging or direct searching. Other programs have this, they just don’t do it as well. New in version 3.0 is the ability to scan directly into the program, making it great for keeping recipes and hard copies of receipts and serial numbers.

I was disappointed with the iPad version of Yojimbo (sold separately via the iTunes App Store). The synchronization is only from the Mac to the iPad and must be manually initiated over a local wifi connection. Information cannot be added or modified on the iPad, only viewed. Given the separate pricing, I’d suggest avoiding the iPad app until two-way synchronization is added. Another disappointment was the lack of a built-in backup function. Even the help menu doesn’t explain how to back up Yojimbo. To find that out, you have to search Bare Bones’ FAQs. Considering the importance of information stored inside the program, failure to include an easy backup option is a glaring error.

For version 2.0 users, the only new features is the ability to scan directly into Yojimbo as well as support for the iPad app (again sold separately). Fortunately if you are a 2.0 user, BareBones will give you 3.0 for free! That’s a welcome change from most other companies’ policies.

For those users needing an information manager that takes full advantage of their Mac’s unique capabilities, and who don’t need access to that information on devices other than a Mac, Yojimbo is a great and obvious choice. The inability to add information via an iOS device is a severely limiting factor for many users, but I hope Bare Bones will change their approach to ubiquity of information access. Considering the large number of Evernote buyers on the App Store’s first day, the writing is on the wall.

Pros: Full integration with the Mac’s capabilities and functions, quick and easy data entry anywhere you are on your Mac
Cons: Lack of easy backups, inability to add information via an iOS device.

3 out of 5

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
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The program has two basic components. First is DrivePulse. Drive Pulse runs as a background app constantly checking all your hard drives for basic problems relating to drive and file integrity. This early warning system is optional and doesn’t work well when someone isn’t an administrator of their computer. For users who absolutely rely on their computer, DrivePulse will help detect small problems before they become big problems. In particular, the fact it can monitor your locally attached Time Machine backup really helps prevent data loss.

The main program includes a suite of utilities that goes way beyond the basic initialization, repair, secure erase and partitioning that Apple’s Disk Utility offers. Although most of these functions have to be run off another computer or mounted via a DVD, Drive Genius has it’s proprietary “DriveSlim” function that can help shrink a drive that is overrun with unnecessary language files (called “localizations”) as well as remove bloated code that won’t run on the selected system (primarily intel vs. non-intel systems). Many functions cannot be performed off a booted volume and you may have to download a bootable DVD for an extra fee if the shipped version of Drive Genius doesn’t support your computer. While the fee is only $5.00, it is nonetheless annoying.

Typical of most drive programs, Drive Genius includes functions to benchmark, clone, defrag and edit sectors. Most of Drive Genius’s function could be cobbled together with third party and Apple’s utilities, but with Drive Genius you get centralized support and a easy to follow pdf manual. All utilities are presented in an extremely stylized and Mac-like interface that is most reminiscent of Apple’s Cover Flow combined with multi-colored graphs. The program’s key functions are 64-bit, making it much more efficient for longer operations. According to ProSoft, Apple’s own Geniuses use Drive Genius as part of a ProCare yearly tuneup.

Pros: Extensive suite of utilities attractively presented and easy to use
Cons: Many functions require booting off a DVD or external drive, may have to pay extra fee for bootable DVD image.

4 out of 5 Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
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Quickbooks is the industry standard for financial management. Even if you don’t use Quickbooks, your accountant probably does and you’ll find the widest range of support and services when you use Quickbooks to run your business. It is, as they say, the 800-pound gorilla you have to deal with in the financial world. When people are considering making the switch from PC to Mac, being able to transfer their Quickbooks information is a key concern. Every year, Intuit promises more compatibility with the Windows version of Quickbooks and promises to bring more of the Windows features to the Mac platform.

Unfortunately, Intuit woefully under-delivers on their promise. The last time I considered using Quickbooks on the Mac was 2006. Back then it wasn’t compatible with my bank or my credit card company, yet the Windows counterpart was. Like many other Mac users, I run Quickbooks on my Mac via a Windows virtual machine. Not having to boot up Windows every time I want to enter invoices would be a welcome change. All said and done, I’m still going to have to keep Windows on my Mac…sigh.

According to Intuit, the key “new” feature of 2010 compared to previous versions is the ability to accept credit cards directly from within Quickbooks using Intuit’s merchant services solution. If you already do this on the PC, then the switch will be easy. Otherwise, you need to setup an account with Intuit, which may have higher rates then you get from your bank. Another new feature is a setup guide and wizard, but most people would probably use an accountant or bookkeeper for such things, so this feature is of limited value.

The good news for Quickbooks 2010 is that it accurately talks with my credit card company to download information. Additionally, while it did import the raw data correctly from my PC Quickbooks 2008, it did not important my custom reports nor my custom invoices that I paid my accountant to create. In spite of the claimed “improved” compatibility with the Windows counterpart Quickbooks for the Mac failed to deliver. To be fair, Intuit claims that I should be running Quickbooks 2010 for Windows and I would have seen more reports transfer over. On a practical level, if you already paid for Quickbooks 2010 for the PC, you are much less likely to switch to a Mac.

Additionally, contact syncing with the address book simply didn’t work at all. Tech support was most unhelpful, but did seem to indicate that if you already have contacts in your address book, Quickbooks isn’t smart enough to figure out to merge the contact info. This is important because most people using Quickbooks likely already have their customers as contacts in their Mac address book.

Typical of Quickbooks is the inclusion of a variety of glitches, crashes and anomalies Mac users have come to expect from an Intuit product. I waited to do the review hoping that each new update to the program would fix some of these problems. With each update, some bugs were fixed while others were introduced. I’ve always been wary of Quickbooks updates since the famous debacle in December of 2007 where an update destroyed the desktop files of unsuspecting Mac users.

if you are starting as a new business, the wizards will help get you off to a good start. New users won’t have to worry about importing from Windows and won’t encounter the transfer problems with older versions Existing Mac or Windows Quickbooks users will find little value in upgrading to this newer version and should save their money for something else.

Pros: The most Mac compatible version of Quickbooks to date
Cons: Not reliable and inconsistent compatibility and feature parity with PC version.

2 out of 5 Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave™ or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here.
RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

I fondly remember the Seinfeld episode in which Kramer was developing a coffee table book…about coffee tables, so when I read about an iPhone book on the iPhone, I simply had to review it. Not that there is anything wrong with that, no of course not!

As an application, “iPhone the Missing Manual” was difficult to navigate at first. Instead of scrolling up and down to move from page to page, you swipe from left to right in order to move to the next page, much like turning a page of a book. Once I understood this design element, navigating was fine. Ideally, the program should have had a initial welcome screen explaining how to move around within the program. The text of the book was extremely clear to read and quickly rendered when turning pages. Other text programs I’ve used in the past had annoying delays going from page to page. However, the initial opening of the app the very first time I launched it had an abnormal delay of up to a minute, and I thought the app was hung.

While reading the book, I was able to quickly leave the program, check a function, and reenter without crashing. In addition, the URLs listed in the book were live and could be double clicked and opened in Safari. The table of contents was live and clicking on an entry took you to that portion in the book. The only major function lacking from a true print book was an index. The book also didn’t tell you when it was at the end, which was annoying. The applications come with limited preferences to allow you to modify the colors and fonts of the book. The biggest problem with the book as an iPhone app was that it was inexplicably missing a search function.

David Pogue’s writings in the entire Missing Manual series are always easy to understand and comprehensive in analysis. I reviewed the earlier edition of iPhone Missing Manual and Pogue did an excellent job of covering the new functions of the 3G iPhone as well as Mobile Me and the App store. Peppered throughout the book are handy tips that even advanced iPhone users may not know. Pogue adds quite a bit of information on how to use your iPhone in a corporate environment and connect to corporate resources as well as help you to convince your IT department to let you get an iPhone. Also expanded was the syncing and general troubleshooting section, though trying to troubleshoot your iPhone via an iPhone app might prove difficult.

Pros: Unique product for learning how to use your iPhone anytime anywhere
Cons: Slow and confusing upon first use, no search function

Four out of Five DogCows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

First up is an app that actually spans the Mac and the iPhone. I’ve been using June Clould’s Delivery Status widget for years to keep track of Amazon.com, USPS , Fedex and UPS packages and now they’ve released a companion iPhone app for $2.99. This allows you to check packages via the iPhone when you’re on the go, but if you’ve ever tried to type in the 16 digit tracking codes with the iPhone (remember, no cut and paste) it tends to sour the experience. Well, June Cloud’s got you covered. Once you setup and account you can then sync your tracking data between the desktop widget and the iPhone and never have to type in those crazy numbers to your iPhone again!

Check out their site (junecloud.com) for all the details and I hope you’ve enjoyed the first installment of Random App!

Stellar is a primarily a PC based software manufacturer and it shows. Their user interface doesn’t look like a Mac program. It follows few, if any MacOS design conventions. In particular, their help system uses Windows icons and the Windows help interface. Their marketing material also shows a fundamental lack of Macintosh background. They refer to repair situations that only occur on older systems running OS 9. In addition, they refer to “Lacie” [sic] drives, when they apparently means external hard drives. Why they are using the generic term “LaCie” to refer to external hard drives is unclear, but I’m sure Maxtor, Seagate, and Other World Computing are annoyed by it.

As stated earlier, the interface of the program doesn’t follow Mac conventions and is quite confusing. You are faced with three choices for recovery: “Hard Drive”, “iPod”, or “Recover Photos, Music & Video Files.” However, the options are basically the same whichever one you choose, which is confusing. Once you choose one of the recovery types you have to decide between “Formatted media/Lost File Recovery” and “Search Lost/Deleted Volumes.” The documentation doesn’t make clear the difference. The choices also don’t warn you it doesn’t recover from FAT32 or NTFS volumes, which many external hard drive and flash drives use. Other programs warn you of this fact, Stellar simply says no data found, which can be misleading at times.

Unfortunately, because development is done outside the US, the program documentation and interface suffers from the typical grammatical confusion that occurs after something is translated from its native language to English. Similarly, technical support is not US based and when I had problems I was unable to effectively communicate with them and have my questions adequately addressed. Do not count on being able to contact technical support if you purchase this product.

In spite of the language barriers and the interface, if you are able to figure things out on your own, the product seems to perform well. Obviously testing data recovery properly is difficult because most recovery attempts change the reliability of future recovery attempts. Nonetheless, I recently had an opportunity to try it both as the first program for recovery and the second program, and Stellar Phoenix effectively recovered data consistent with other programs in the same price range. However, unlike other applications in its price range, Stellar Phoenix does not have a bootable DVD version. You must install Stellar on a computer before you can use it. This greatly limits Stellar’s ability to recover in emergency situations. Most other programs cost less and offer more options than Stellar.

Overall, the program does work, although the documentation and interface is quite confusing. This would not be the first nor the primary tool I would recommend to use in a crisis to recover files off a hard drive. If other options fail you, Stellar is worth at least a try with their free evaluation and 30 day money back guarantee.

Pros: Works decently and is another tool to try for data recovery
Cons: Poor interface, documentation and support.

3 out of 5 dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Executive Sync promises to sync files “to servers running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and more” as well as “keep your work or personal files up-to-date between home, office, and on the road.” It does…but not really. I had inaccurately assumed the product was similar to Sugar Sync or Drop Box: I specify the computers I want synced and this happens in the background. I was wrong.

Executive Sync runs only on a Mac and the way it syncs is by mounting volumes from Windows, Linux and other operating systems. If you want to sync with a Windows machine, you must network your Mac to the PC and Executive Sync treats the Windows machine just like another disk. SMB file sharing is not a simple task for the average user. More importantly, in order to sync files you must be currently networked to the system you want to sync files with. Unlike other programs that sync through the Internet, Executive Sync requires you to remember to sync the files before you leave the office. Not sure how handy that is “on the road.” In theory, you could set up a complex VPN so you could connect to your home or office computer from the road, but that is technology that costs significant money and I doubt the average person has any type of setup like that. If they did, they would have probably write their own software to sync files.

Inaccurate marketing aside, Executive Sync does synchronize files between two folders mounted on your Mac. The program was able to find subtle differences between two folders and keep them in check. It does not do this automatically. You must manually start the program and run the sync. While there is a scheduling option, the scheduling only allows you to make sure the files are in sync at the time of scheduling. If the files are out of sync, you won’t be notified until the program runs again. Not only does this make it less convenient, but the program is quite slow. I synchronized two folders on my MacPro with about 40 GB of files and it took almost four hours. While running, the program was a processor hog and I couldn’t do much else.

The final nail in the coffin of Executive Sync is the fact there is virtually no tech support for the product. It is distributed by Smith Micro, which has no technical support information for the product. When you click the link for tech support, it simply takes you back to the product information page. The product is not listed in their tech support forums or contact pages. The help section of Executive Sync is acceptable, but can never replace technical support if you have an issue that goes beyond what is covered in the help.

Ultimately, the product does the basics of what it says: synchronizes files between two folders. The user interface was straightforward and easy to understand and the installer was the standard drop into the application folder. The program lets you pick which folders you want synchronized and allows you to save the settings. However, the marketing is misleading as to the scope of what the product does and the inability to get technical support on the product makes it a program that is best to avoid when so many other higher quality options exist with more features.

Pros: Does accurately synchronize folders
Cons: Misleading marketing, extremely slow, no tech support

1 out of 5 dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

With the economy slowing down, more and more people are looking to sell their stuff on eBay. Putting items on eBay one at a time is a pain. Serious sellers use software to prepare and optimize their auctions. iSale is one of the best apps for creating and maintaining eBay auctions and is a clear leader in taking advantages of all the nooks and crannies of the Macintosh Operating System. They are a two-time Apple Design Award winner and their credentials shine through in iSale 5.0.

Some of the new features in 5.0 aren’t terribly compelling. For example, iSale 5.0 allows you to post your auctions on social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube. However, if you are posting on eBay, you probably already tried to sell your items via your social network, thus I don’t see much usefulness in this feature. Expanded in 5.0 for users running Leopard is the integration with iCal. You can be notified when your auctions are going to end so you can start bugging buyers to pay you.Of course, like with any new release, there are more templates and backgrounds for your auction, which is nice, but not really worth the price of admission. People don’t buy items based on how cool the template is.

The killer feature that makes 5.0 a must-have upgrade is the Research Assistant. If you sell on eBay, you probably already check for other auctions similar to yours as well as Google your item for facts to include in your auction. iSale 5.0 automates this function. Search for an item and it will scan a preset list of websites including currently running auctions on eBay. When you see an auction similar to yours, click “create auction” and iSale copies the pictures and text from the listing…even the category. Of course you’ll have to worry about copyright issues, but you can easily tweak things to comply. If you only want to use part of the text from a website, the Research Assistant allows you to easily copy and past the text from within the program or save it into a clipping file for later. I easily modified the Research Assistant to include eBay completed auctions and Google groups so I can see what the going price was for something and possibly copy info as necessary.

My one complaint about iSale is it is a processor and memory hog. Even on my MacPro 2 Ghz CPU with 4 Gig of RAM, iSale seems sluggish. It would often take 70-120% of processor cycles and over a gig of RAM usage for just a few auction items. All these features come at a price and if I sell enough on eBay, maybe I can even upgrade the computer!

Equinux has a great trial version. They’ll let you download the program and try three auctions for free. No reason not to try it and see if you like it.

Overall iSale remains a great program to sell items on eBay and the 5.0 upgrade’s research Assistant is well worth the upgrade price of $25.00 New iSale users will have to pay $39.95 for a single pack of $49.95 for a five user pack.

Pros: Existing selling features combined with the Research Assistant make selling quick and easy
Cons: Memory and processor hog.

Four out of Five Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Fast forward to 2008 and utility programs are easy to find. A few Google searches and you’ll find a utility to do anything you can imagine on your Mac. Actually, you might be overwhelmed with the number of programs out there. You can read reviews, of course, which are always helpful, or you can buy something like Spring Cleaning which combines a bunch of utilities into one neat package.

Spring Cleaning combines over 30 little programs into one mega-utility. Spring Cleaning won’t repair your computer if it has a problem, but it will help you maintain your computer. This program isn’t designed for newbies. There isn’t a one-touch cleanup setting, but rather numerous subtle ways of tweaking your system such as slimming down universal apps or cleaning out certain caches. If you aren’t sure what those things are, then this program won’t be of much use. The documentation tells you what each program does, but doesn’t explain why you’d want to use it. Nonetheless, I recommend this Spring Cleaning for anyone running low on hard disk space. A majority of the utilities allow you to find errant files on your hard drive to reclaim space.

As an advanced Mac user, I have utilities that duplicate most of these functions, but then of course I have to remember which program I use for what function. Spring Cleaning is elegant in the way all these programs can be accessed easily. I also like the fact that the Spring Cleaning functions have scheduling and “undo” for many of the features. The handiest utility in my book is the “Quick Compare”. I’ve found few shareware utilities that match its ease of use and simplicity. It does one thing very well: compare the contents of two folders and merge them together, which is perfect when you are trying to sync a laptop and desktop.

Overall, Spring Cleaning gets its value in its ease of use and one stop shopping for intermediate Mac users. Even advanced technicians will enjoy having all major utilities in one application.

Pros: Over 30 different utilities put together in one package, scheduling and undo function
Cons: Skimpy documentation. Functions can be found in other programs in the shareware or freeware realm

8 out of 10 rating

MercuryMover is a program designed for fast typists who hate using the mouse. For these people, clicking the mouse to access a menu or function is as obscene a gesture as showing one’s middle digit in public! I too avoid removing my fingers from the keyboard and use either my Macbook trackpad or my Contour Rollermouse. MercuryMover allows you to move or re-size windows without having to move your hands off the keyboard, and implements the idea well.

MercuryMover runs as a System Preference, making it easy to install and remove. I run a fairly complex suite of applications and ran into no compatibility problems. The special modifier keys to move or re-size windows are fully customizable, so if there is a conflict with an existing program, the MercuryMover keys can be rerouted. By default, the program is set to use the control, option ,and arrow keys to initiate a re-size or move. After pressing the hotkeys, use the arrows or “jump” modifiers to move the windows one pixel or one screen at a time.

On a practical level, this program isn’t going to change your life. The program shines when you want to have tiled or cascading windows open and need to move or re-size the windows. For example, I had iCal and Excel open as I was transcribing billing statements for client sessions I stored in iCal. In addition, I was remote controlling my desktop computer and MercuryMover allowed me to accurately re-size windows, which is a problem in a remote session due to “lag time” between mouse clicks.

Unfortunately, you can configure every key but the key to dismiss MercuryMover from the screen (it is set to escape and can’t be changed). As a keystroke economist, I’d want the key to close MercuryMover closer to the modifier keys such as control and option. Fortunately, you can simply click somewhere and MercuryMover gracefully flashes off the screen.

My major concern about the program is price. I firmly believe in the shareware pricing model and know that developers should earn a decent wage. However $19.00 seems like a large sum of money for a simple shortcut application. I wouldn’t be able to justify the purchase of this program based on the price, it simply isn’t worth $19.00 to save mouse-clicks to move and re-size windows and the price is out of step with other keyboard shortcut programs of this type.

Pros: Quickly re-sizes and moves windows without using the mouse
Cons: Limited configurability, price

Three out of Five DogCows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Ever need a file and realize that you aren’t on the right computer or device to access it? The file is on the desktop, but alas, you are on the laptop. What if you are at a public place and need the file? Do you want to open up your whole computer to the Internet, or just want to share a small portion of your files?

What SugarSync does is very similar to some of the functions of MobileMe. You specify folders on multiple computers you want synced and whenever something changes in those folders, the software pushes down the changes. Obviously this function only works for people who have MobileMe subscriptions and who have Macs configured with their MobileMe account. SugarSync opens this ability to both Macs and PCs that don’t have MobileMe subscriptions.

SugarSync is file syncing “for the rest of us” as Steve would say. Installation is a breeze. Install the program and it expertly figures out how to get to the web without reconfiguring routers or firewalls (some Windows third party firewalls might need to give SugarSync permission to work). For $2.49 a month or $25 a year, you get 10 gigabytes of storage space in their “cloud”. You can install the software on as many machines as you would like to sync with because pricing is based on file size. Upgrades to add additional space are allowed. Once installed, file updates are nearly instant. Within a few seconds of putting your files in a folder configured for sync, the file is on a secure website and it automatically synced to all the machines you specify.

The program is officially still in “beta development and testing” for the Mac, but I’ve had no problems using it. I heavily rely on the program to sync service orders which are scanned on my PC and then read on my Mac. In particular, I like the fact it allows other to access these files (with a password) without giving them any file sharing privileges on my Mac. Unlike file sharing or MobileMe, SugarSync keeps the last five versions of files, so if a collaborator makes a mistake, you can access the previous version. I have been using the program for six months without a hint of trouble. Even if you don’t sync between two devices, simply using SugarSync to back up 10 gig of information from your computer to their website for off site backup is well worth the $25 a year.

There are a few minor bugs, such as the inability to delete a machine you are currently syncing with, but I found the support quick and responsive when I had programs. You get to specify icons for the computers you are syncing with, but are given a limited selection of icons for that. Custom icons would be great, but that is a feature request, not a bug.

Other programs do this type of syncing but not quite the way SugarSync does. SugarSync’s closest competition is DropBox, which currently works under the same website synchronization concept, but is in development and only allows 2 gig of backup space on their website. DropBox is “by invitation only” so can’t easily be reviewed at this point. FolderShare by Microsoft does syncing between computers, but doesn’t have the robust version tracking and website backup that SugarSync has.

However, for me, the greatest features is the iPhone interface, which all its competitors lack. The SugarSync website is optimized for the iPhone browser, making it a breeze to read documents synced with them. In addition, they recently developed a full iPhone app for SugarSync, though I currently find the SugarSync website easier to use on the iPhone than their app (the app was release the last week in August).

Pros: Quick reliable backup and synchronization of files on Macs and/or PCs without paying for a MobileMe subscription
Cons: Minor customizations quirks that don’t effect usability, could be knocked out of position once DropBox gets out of beta

Five out of Five Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

BusySync was one of the top rated products from MacWorld 2008. I immediately got a review copy and have been happily using it ever since. Though I had some initial setup problems, the product has worked so well that I simply forgot to review it. A program that works in the background and does what it says it will do is quite a refreshing surprise!

BusySync has two major functions. First, it allows you to sync with Google calendars. Google has functions that allow users to share calendars with the optional ability to edit someone else’s calender. However, getting Google to sync with your iCal is key. That’s where BusySync comes in. Purchase and install BusySync with a one time charge of $25, and you’ll be able to sync your Google calenders with iCal on your Mac. On initial view, this sounds very ho-hum. You may not even use Google calendar, so why care? Ah, becuase Google is Google and everyone syncs with Google. For example, if you have a Mac at home and a PC using Outlook at work, Google can act as an intermediary to sync your iCal with Outlook. If you don’t have an iPhone with Mobile Me, send a text message to Google and it will put an appointment on your Google calendar, and then BusySync will transfer it to your Mac.

But wait? Doesn’t Mobile Me allow you to share calendars? Why even mess with Google? Ah, Mobile Me allows what they call “calendar sharing”, but like at most museums, you may look, but not touch. If you share a calender with someone via iCal, they can’t change the information. Sometimes that is good. The Lawrence Apple Users’ Group 2.0 has a shared iCal. We want members to know about events, but not change them. However between myself and my spouse we need the ability to change events and have it appear on each other’s calendar. Friends call and move the dinner party from Monday to Wednesday, I want the ability to change both of our calendars (and if you don’t trust your spouse on your calendar, well can’t help with that). In addition, I use BusySync and Google to control an associate’s service call calender. I can put service calls on his calendar, and if he changes the time because a customer is running late, the changes show up on my iCal. I allow him to subscribe to my iCal via Mobile Me, because I don’t want him to change my calendar, only view it.

The other function of BusySync is the ability to sync between iCal without paying the yearly Mobile Me fee. If you are sticking with Mobile Me because of the ability to sync calendars between multiple computers or multiple people, save that $99 a year (Shh, don’t let Steve hear that). Some people work with sensitive data and don’t like the fact that Apple can see their schedule. BusySync running under Leopard allows SSH syncing between computers, so the data travelling across the Internet is secure.

When I setup BusySync, I had some initial problems. Google did not like the amount of appointments I had. I was trying to sync five years worth of data and it was too much data to send to my Google calendar at once and Google thought I might be spamming myself. After some very helpful suggestions from the developer, I archived my old appointments and let Google pick up just the new ones. That’s one great thing about artisan software: you speak directly with the developer. I didn’t have to wait on hold with off-shore tech support only to have them tell me to reformat my Mac. Sometimes I notice that if I change the time of a recurring appointment, the next time BusySync works it’s magic, it shows both the changed time and the recurring appointment. This somewhat makes sense, and it’s easy to see and fix. BusySync logs all of the changes it makes, so tracking down problems is easy.

BusySync realizes that it’s working with important data–all the appointments in your life. It makes up to five backup copies of your calendar, so if it or you make a mistake, there is a easy way to restore. I wish Apple’s SyncServices did that. More than once I’ve had a weird sync and all my data get corrupt. If I didn’t have TimeMachine, I’d be in a world of hurt! Thanks BusySync.

Also thank you to BusySync for not just responsive tech support, but an extensive, detailed, and updated online help system. Syncing is complex and BusySync has numerous diagrams to illustrate this difficult concept. I had some trouble figuring out my overall sync strategy and BusySync’s website made it crystal clear. Can we say that about MobileMe?

My only major complaint is the fact that you can’t have more than one Google account configured within BusySync. I have work and personal Google accounts and I’d like both to sync to my iCal. The workaround is to have my personal and work Google calendars talk with each other, and then I sync both to my iCal. Also on my wishlist is the ability to specify how many days of syncing I want on a calendar. I would like to BusySync to allow me to only sync the past 30 days (or any number I choose), similar to how you sync your computer with your iPhone. BusySync’s syncing is all or none. Either you sync all items or you sync no items. This lack of flexibility prevents me from giving the program a perfect five dogcow rating–and a gentle nudge for features to include in the next version.

PROS: Does a great job of syncing calenders between computers, and between google without yearly fees. Software is stable and reliable with great tech support.
CONS: Locks you into one google account and “all or none” syncing

Four out of Five DogCows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

When I first saw the Pzizz booth at Macworld 2007, I wasn’t really impressed with the product. I got a demo, tried it, wasn’t interested and moved on. The produce sounded too new age: help you sleep and help you be more alert. Isn’t that like when Unilver bought Ben and Jerry’s and Slimfast the same day? Yawn, literally. Then they sponsored a full naptime area at MacWorld 2008 and I decided to give the product another try after meeting with the developer and getting some tips on usage.

The concept of Pzizz is fairly sound – if you pardon the pun. The brain reacts to sounds in certain ways and you can gently nudge your brain into certain patterns. This isn’t anything like subliminal messages or hypnosis. You won’t suddenly bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken on command.

The program has two basic modules: energizer and sleep. You can tweak the length of time of the modules, the sound levels, and the voice levels, but for starting out the default levels are fine. When you export the mp3 modules Pzizz customizes the soundtrack on both a random and predictable levels. The general concept remains the same in each export: a gentle announcer walks you through relaxation techniques and gives you positive encouragement. Each time he might put the phrases in different order. In fact, I’ve noticed sometimes the modules bump against each other which can be a bit distracting as he won’t finish his sentences.

I suffer terribly from insomnia and would prefer a natural solution solution instead of popping a pharmaceutical with side effects. I don’t have any particular medical condition, I’m just way too busy and wired to go to sleep at night sometimes. After meeting with the developer of the product, he said there are a few key things to do to get the maximum benefit out of the product.

First, he suggests trying the energizer module during the day. Just export a 20 minute energizer session and close your eyes and let the sounds wash over you. Don’t even worry about feeling energized. Just listen with your eyes closed and relaxed position where you are at the maximum comfort you can be in. Try not to sit upright while using it.

Second, don’t try to figure it out. Just listen to the sounds with your eyes closed and headphones in. Ignore the narrator if you want. He says it works better with headphones than with speakers. The sounds must be in stereo format to the get the full effect of the product. My Etymotic earphones worked very well in this setting. They allowed me to move my head and I wasn’t distracted by any band over my head.

My results were surprisingly good. I didn’t feel particularly “energized” after the energizer module, but I did feel less stressed. The sleep module worked much better for me. Even if you ignore the binaural science behind the product, putting on a set of headphones and tuning out the world for an hour makes a heck of a lot of sense. I tried another binaural beat product and didn’t like it. Because Pzizz is different each time, you don’t get bored with it. The unique soundtrack gives you something to listen to. It’s hard to listen to the soundtrack and think about the problems of the day. I thought I’d get annoyed by the narrator, but his chatter kept me from creating my own.

I found it worked much better using the headphones. It annoyed my bedmate a bit, but it was better than my constant tossing and turning because I couldn’t get to sleep. Occasionally I’d fall asleep with the headphones on, but more often I’d be at some point in the 60 minute soundtrack and I’d pull off the headphones and shuffle and then fall sleep. I can honestly say after about 4 months of using it, I haven’t heard the end of the soundtrack: I’ve fallen asleep before the end. That’s pretty amazing for me considering I often see my bedroom clock hit 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am…you get the idea. Yes, I know I shouldn’t have it viewable from my bed, but I still get up and peak. The times I had trouble sleeping and my shuffle wasn’t fully charged, I’d notice the difference. I didn’t use it every night…probably less than once or twice a week. If I couldn’t sleep after about 30 minutes of being in bed, I’d put on the headphones instead of using the computer or reading a book. Again,the mere fact I chose to listen to Pzizz instead of doing another thought provoking activity in and of itself promotes good sleep habits.

I highly recommend Pzizz to anyone who has problems sleeping. Be sure to follow the suggestions on how to properly use it and don’t expect miracles. What you will get is a way to help you sleep in a drug-free natural way. As the narrator tells me, it’s important to have a ritual before you sleep and if you have trouble sleeping make Pzizz part of it.

Pros: Helps you relax and get to sleep, drug and side effect free, not having talk to your bed partner?
Cons: Requires some planning, not having to talk to your bed partner?

Five out of Five Dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Serene Saver 2 HD

While at Macworld, I usually pick one product I simply can’t wait to try until I get home. When I saw Serene Saver, I knew it would be the product I’d try that very night. The booth’s location was in the “low rent district” as I like to call it. These are small kiosks usually staffed by the writer of the software. There aren’t sales people or flashy presentations because there isn’t any room. The quality of the product needs to stand on it’s own and Serene Saver doesn’t disappoint. Of course, when I saw “Serene Saver”, I immediately remembered the Seinfeld episode of a similar name. Ironically, that episode was inspired by “The Net” which was filmed at a Macworld Expo I was at.

The program really has three components. First, there are “live” backgrounds. Instead of static images, the program has stunning scenes that loop on the full desktop complete with sound. Your desktop could be a gentle moving waterfall, or the swaying of grass in a meadow. Of course, some of the scenes I don’t like. I never quite get why there is a carnival scene, but to each his own. Unfortunately I haven’t seen my desktop in about four years because it’s always hidden by my active work. In addition, I’m usually listening to music, so the background music isn’t always helpful. The program is configurable so that you can have the live backgrounds without the sound. Fortunately, the live backgrounds really encourage me to move my current work to the side, turn off the dance music and chill out.

The most useful aspect of the program is the way it request you to take a “Automatic Serenity” break. I work so fast sometimes I think my keyboard starts smoking like it did in Superman. These breaks can be configured to occur on a regular interval or up to four specific times during the day. The program chimes and gently reminds you it’s time to take a break. You can snooze the break if you wish, though each time I do I feel guilty. When you take the break, your current work goes into the background and the live background comes to the foreground. I love it…I really try to sit there for a few minutes and do the “Serenity Now” meditation ala Frank Costanza. If you are a type-A person like me, you can press escape and get back to work before the break is over.

Of course, the background scenes act as a screen saver, but that’s really a tiny aspect of the program, notwithstanding the fact that screen savers are considered superfluous in these days of LCDs and Energy Saver monitors.

My only major concern with the program is it does take up quite a bit of CPU cycles. I do notice a slight slowdown while running the program, especially with the “sharper image” mode. Obviously this was more noticeable on my slower laptop I brought with me to Macworld. My MacPro had no problem with the processor hit of the program. Fortunately you can download the free demo and see how your computer holds up to the extra work. Who knows, maybe it’s a feature, as it might force you to work a bit slower.

I don’t expect to reach some higher plane of existence with this program, but it’s indispensable to anyone who gets lost in their work and loses focus on the day. Depending on my day, I set the Serenity breaks to remind me to take a lunch or simply to stop working on a project and move on to the next. Heck, I’ve set the Serene desktop to show while I’m waiting on hold with tech support. Annoying tasks are more tolerable when you are viewing a peaceful nature scene.

I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to maintain focus and balance during a hectic workday.

Pros: Keeps you remembering that you work to live, not live to work. Great visual and auditory cues to take a break and gives your keyboard a rest.

Cons: Some scenes a bit goofy and it does slow down less powerful computers.

If all you do is check email and surf the web on the computer, you may not need a Serene break. However, if you tend to keep your nose to the grindstone, wonder where your day has gone, and feel your blood pressure rise throughout the day, Serene Saver helps make the fact your stuck in front of a computer for 4, 6, 8 , 10 hours at a time more tolerable.

Four out of Five DogCows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Color Decoder 1.0 by Stray Cat Technology

“Colors” are not just the theme of a mediocre 1980s gang movie starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall. We mammals perceive the world in color, including our computer screens. However, a significant portion of the population experience color vision deficiency (popularly and somewhat inaccurately known as “color blindness”) where certain shades of color are unable to be properly perceived. Given that this is a fairly common phenomenon, and given how important color is in the Apple user interface, it seems rather surprising that Apple has neglected to handle color vision deficiency in their otherwise thorough Universal Access preferences. Luckily, Stray Cat Technologies has stepped up to fill this gap with their initial software release of Color Decoder.

Color Decoder is a simple application that does one thing – it tells you what color the screen is displaying underneath the mouse pointer. Color Decoder does this one of three ways; via a pop-up bubble the displays the color name, by speaking the color name out loud using Apple’s voice technology, or by flashing all pixels on the screen that share that specific color. Any of these three methods of color notification can be used by themselves or combined, so for example you could have the computer speak the color’s name and display it’s name in a bubble, but skip the flashing, or vice-versa. These preferences are controlled from a small palette on the screen which is the application’s entire user interface. Color Decoder’s recognition system can be turned off or on entirely via a hot key in case you only need it on occasions. The only other user interface option is the ability to turn on a magnifying glass to see exactly where the mouse pointer is pointing, which can be very useful when trying to find a single colored pixel in a huge image.

In actual use, Color Decoder works exactly as advertised. After launching, the palette opens where you can select your settings (you can hide this window once you have things set up as you wish). I tried out all three of the methods for communicating color in turn. The color name display only is a very minimalist method of showing the color, and is very useful when you have images on the screen where color is important, especially things like charts, graphs and other documents which use color to communicate data. The “flash colors” feature works well on images that are more complex with many colors mixed together such as gradients, weather radar displays and similar items. For most daily use, naming colors, supplemented by flashing colors works well. Magnification is usually not needed, although it is nice when you are looking at very complex images where there may only be a few pixels you need to track down or see (in these cases, the flashing feature is excellent as well).

I wasn’t as excited with the speak color name feature, where Color Decoder uses Apple’s speech synthesis to actually say the color names out loud. I can see this be very useful to someone with severe vision deficiency, but in actual use, having this feature on resulted in a continuous stuttering stream of half-spoken color names as I moved the mouse around the screen. I think this feature would be much more useful if there was a longer delay between mouse movements and the color being spoken, or even better if you could assign a separate hot key to speak color names on demand without having to leave the feature on all the time.

This minor quibble aside, I found Color Decoder to be a very functional and useful piece of software. Those with color vision deficiency will absolutely want to check this program out, but I would also recommend that anyone who works with color on a regular basis give Color Decoder a test drive. It fills an important hole in Apple’s OS and makes using a Mac easier for a large segment of the population, in a clean and elegant way.

Plusses: A great way for those with color vision deficiency to recognize and differentiate colors on the Mac; useful for designers and other users to find all examples of a particular color on a busy screen

Minuses: The spoken color feature could use some polishing

Summary: Color Decoder fills a gaping hole in Apple’s otherwise fairly complete Universal Access accessibility preferences and is definitely worth a download for those with color vision deficiency or who work with colors.

Color Decoder by Stray Cat Technology.
Price: $21.95; fully-functional demo version works for 1 week
Requires MacOS 10.5 or higher

Palm’s treatment of the Mac reminds me of that girl in high school who suddenly showed interest in me the time choosing lab partners came around…and then dumped me at the end of science class. Palm’s market share grew because of loyal Mac users. We were dedicated to the Palm and shunned it’s pale imitation: Windows CE and then Windows Mobile. However, Palm later joined the dark side, began making Windows Mobile devices and left us in the dust. Development of Palm software for the Mac stalled out and Palm left it to Apple to pick up the slack. Just like I was left stood up the week after science class was over. Whatever.

Fortunately, iSync works OK to do basic syncing of Palms with the Mac, so Palm can choose it’s own lab partner—the Mac is fine on its own. It fact, we created a better Palm: the iPhone. Of course that girl in grade school we dated..the Newton. I hope she doesn’t show up at the 20 year class reunion. She never did understand what I said anyways, so she’ll probably get the date wrong. iSync gets the job done, but some of us want more.

While iSync will move contacts and dates, MissingSync does so much more. iSync is your best friend’s sister that will be your date to the prom so you don’t go alone, while MissingSync is the supermodel of Palm synchronization. While it does move contacts and dates, it retains more of that information from address book and iCal such as work addresses and calendar groups. Not only that, but for Treo users it will backup your call log and SMS messages, and then synchronize the information with your address book. In my line of work, it’s great because I can easily determine every call and message to a particular client. The killer feature for me is it’s ability to synchronize with Yojimbo by Barebones.

Just like that supermodel, MissingSync is high maintenance, flaky and unreliable. Maybe I was stood up because my lab partner was using Missing Sync and didn’t realize the date? MissingSync randomly won’t sync some of my contacts and randomly changes the notes synchronization. I was given excuse after excuse by tech support. Eventually I bought a new Mac and got a new phone–and it still didn’t work reliably. Best (or worst) of all, if you want to speak to a human it will cost you $60. Oh, it gets better. That $60 gives you the right to a “call-back”–you specify a time window and they call you. Funny, that supermodel also required me to buy her something before she would give me the time of day. I’m sorry, but spending for $60 for support of a $40 program just seems wrong. If the program were reliable, that would be one thing, but it isn’t!

In general, MissingSync’s ability to synchronize so much more data than iSync or Palm’s hotsync manager make it a compromise that still leaves you ahead in the end–even when you combine the support costs. Yeah, all being said and done, it’s better dating a supermodel than your best friends’s sister, but not by as much as you think. Markspace will need to improve the quality of its product and tech support policies to persuade casual Palm users to use their product rather than iSync.

Pros: Transfers much more data to your Palm than iSync or Palm’s software
Cons: Flaky, temperamental, and poor tech support policies.

Two out of Five DogCows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Granted, Dockstar’s paltry price of $9.95 is well worth it and then some. Don’t you hate it when software developers charge too much for the product! This product is definitely right-priced.

So what does Dockstar do? It changes to the Mail icon scheme to allow for specialty badges to let you know which email accounts have new messages. So instead of the red seal indicating how many new messages Mail has retrieved, you can have a purple star for one account, and pink heart for another. Instantly you can see which account has a new message. I think if they added green clovers, then they’d have to name the product Lucky Charms –and that pot of gold will be suppled by the Nigerian prince who died and needs to transfer money to your account. Oh, then they’d get sued for copyright violation, so Dockstar might be a good name after all.

Short review for a simple product that does one thing and does it very well

Pros: Use the Mail app icon to instantly determine which accounts have new messages
Cons: No Blue Moons or Purple Horseshoes.

Five out of Five dogcows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

MacBackup is one of the backup programs sold at most Apple stores in spite of the fact it competes with Apple’s own Backup software. Even though Retrospect was the industry leader, it’s showing it’s age since it was bought by EMC and never made the transition to the Intel Platform. Ironically, though, neither did MacBackup. It still runs in Rosetta, which concerns me regarding its long term viability on the Mac platform. A backup is only as good as your ability to restore it. If you can’t read your backups, then they are no good. That happened to me with my old FastBack backups!

Unfortunately, MacBackup uses a proprietary backup format. In my book, that automatically marks it down one peg. If my computer dies, I don’t want to have to use any particular software program to do the restore. I want it to be software independent! However, most backup programs do that, so let’s not single out MacBackup.

MacBackup is extremely easy for non-technical people. The Easy Backup function lets you choose from Photos or Music and Movies. That’s a bit too easy. Advanced includes the Address Book, Mail and Settings, Documents, Folders and Files, System Settings, and Other Items. For it to recognize your mail, it must be either Entourage or Apple Mail. It didn’t pick up the fact I used Eudora, but hey who uses Eudora today? The searching for Photos, Music and Movies was very slow, as it had to search my entire hard drive. An option just to backup iPhoto would have made more sense, but some users don’t always store things in the proper places, so that’s both a bug and a feature in my book. One of the unique features of MacBackup is it’s ability to backup to an FTP server. This is great for someone who might have a server at another location, or even use space on their ISP’s server. FTP allows easy offsite backups which is always a good thing. Like all good backup programs, you can schedule backups on a repeating schedule.

Restoring files was just as easy as backing them up. Straightfoward, easy and generally worked. The Advanced function allowed you to choose which files to restore and where. That’s important, because as stated earlier, if you can’t restore, you are out of luck. If you do use MacBackup, be sure to make a copy of the program anywhere you store the backups, because you won’t be able to restore without it.

The interface of the program was rough as it was clearly a Windows program rewritten for the Mac. Not a fatal flaw but a chip in the armor. That may also explain general buginess of the program. Buttons didn’t always draw properly, forcing you to resize windows or quit the programs. Sometimes a function would take a few times before it would work – annoying at the very least. The latest update, version 1.2, was a bug fix that came out in April of 2006. No updates have been provided since then and it’s still not Universal, which could cause issues on Intel based Macs.

Generally the program is better than not backing up at all, and considering it’s sold at the Apple store, it’s an easy purchase for people who don’t use .mac. For the $30 price tag, it’s easy on the pocketbook as well. Cheaper and easier to use than most of it’s competitors but serious users might want to spend the extra money and get a program that is a bit more reliable and supported by its developer.

Pros: Generally easy to use, support for FTP backups
Cons: Unreliable interface, not updated for Intel Macs, backup format can’t be read by other programs.

2 out of 5 dogcows
5 out of 5 dog cows

This article used with permission by the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group. The original article written by David Greenbaum aka DoctorDave� or incorrectly Dr. Dave can be found here. RSS Feed for Dave’s writings

Overflow was in the bottom of my stack of things to review from Macworld, which only proves why I’m an ideal candidate for it. I loved Dragstrip and, though developed separately, does exactly what Dragstrip did. (You might remember that Dragstrip provided a dock like structure in OS 9).

Instead of having one dock at the bottom of the screen, Overflow creates a palette of icons that allows you to subdivide your aliases into categories. For example. I have a category of Disk Utilities that includes Apple’s Disk Utility, CD burning software, etc. Instead of having to navigate three of four folders deep in my hard drive to find an application, I simply can press the hot key for Overflow (F1 by default) and then click the category and then icon (or press command and the arrows to quickly shift between categories). Also, like the dock, you can drag and drop items onto a particular alias. The drag and drop feature is great when you want to open a document in a different app for a change (opening a pdf in Acrobat instead of preview). Similar to the dock, you can add individual documents that you use often.

While the program allows you to configure the size and color of the icons, it doesn’t allow keyboard combos as a hotkey–only one individual key. For example, on my Macbook, I have to press the function key before I can use F1. I’d rather map it to option and command (which was my dragstrip quickey), but I can’t. Not a major complaint, more of an annoyance. Weird because Apple allows keyboard combinations in Expose and with all my other programs, I’m slowly running out of hotkeys

I highly recommend the program, and with a $14.95 price tag it’s hard not to resist. Much less expensive than those Dock Addict’s Anonymous meetings. Overflow has quickly proven itself an indispensable productivity tool.
Pros: Efficiently manages all your dock items in easy to use categories
Cons: Limited options for hotkeys

Five out of Five dogcows

Sometimes a product comes along that is so simple and so straightforward that there is very little to say about it. What do you say about a screwdriver–it drives screws and does it well. No FAQ needed! FLVR does one thing and one thing only: saving videos from web sites that normally prevent you from doing so, such as Myspace and Youtube. However it does this one thing better than anyone else currently out there.

After installing FLVR, there is an icon on your Safari toolbar of a movie camera. To save a recent video file, just click the movie camera and select any video recently viewed in Safari. Could it be any easier? In preferences you can specify where to save the file and its format, but it works fine without any tweaks. Now you can transfer those Youtube videos to your iPod and pretend you have an iPhone. Fool your friends!

When I read about the beta, I eagerly tried it. They developers were smart and allowed beta testers to buy the program for only $8.00. Now the program costs $15.00, still a bargain for what it does. My only complaint besides the name (which derives from the .flv extension of certain video files), is that it only works with Safari. It would be nice if it worked with Firefox, but that’s like saying you’d turn down the iPhone because it only comes in black!

Overall elegantly simple and powerful.

Pros: Works great for saving videos
Cons: Very small: only works in Safari.

Five out of Five dogcows
5 out of 5 dog cows

“Reach out, reach out and touch someone. Reach out, call up and just say hi. Reach out, reach out and touch someone. Wherever you are, you’re never too far.” Sure, I’m dating myself, but that jingle has always been stuck in my head. This was the slogan of the old AT&T of 1979. Of course, since that time, AT&T was broken up, and then merged together yet again. Instant Messaging and Texting have replaced picking up the phone. However the desire to reach across the miles still remains, and anyone who has tried to provide or receive technical support over the phone knows how inadequate voice can be to communicate technical problems.

Remote control software has existed for years and programs such as Timbuktu Pro and VNC are almost as old as the AT&T jingle. The problem with those applications, though, is that you need to install a program to run them, configure it for access, and possibly configure your router and firewall to allow the program to pass through. These programs are not designed for the casual remote user because they require the person you are “reaching out to” to install and configure the software in advance. That’s great for consultants or helpdesks, but what if you just want to help a friend configure their email or help them do a mail merge?

MacHelpMate allows an easy download to provide remote assistance to your friends, among a laundry list of other great features to remotely fix a computer. It works great, but it’s designed for consultants and costs about $600 a year. For that price, have your friend fly you out to help. CoPilot, by Fog Creek Software, is unique because it requires a simple download in order to help a friend out and it costs $5.00 for a 24 hour “day pass”. Best of all, CoPilot allows your friend to pay for it. Your friend is already getting free advice, so make them pay the cost of a venti mocha in order to help you out. With gas prices the way they are today, it’s cheaper to help remotely than drive half way across town.

The software is a bit slow and depends on the speed of the Internet connection, but it really does work. I’ve tried it numerous times, both from Mac to Mac and Mac to PC. PC to PC allows the fastest connection and more features, though really don’t PC users need lots of help? All your friend needs to do is click on a link in an email. That will download the “host” application and you’ll need to download a “helper” application for your end. Double click the applications on both ends and you are magically in control of their computer. When done, you and your friend can trash the applications knowing that nobody can secretly get into your computer later. I particularly like this option, since almost any other remote control option requires you to leave software on your computr–which can expose your computer to threats by hackers.

For computer professionals, Copilot offers a monthly subscription option that starts at 200 minutes for $20.00 a month. They don’t lock you into a subscription either, you can change your mind later and either upgrade or downgrade your plan as your needs change. I wonder if they offer a cell phone plan? Darn, still have that jingle on my brain! Seriously though, this company sets the bar incredibly high for customer service. Check out the owner’s blog on customer service and Fog Creek’s hassle free return policy: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/customerservice.html

CoPilot is the perfect software to instantly help your friends and family remotely at little or no cost to you. Support professionals will love the fact you can save money with a subscription that doesn’t lock you into a yearly fee. Best of all, if it doesn’t work, they’ll refund your money.

Pros: Works instantly without a subscription or configuration at the remote end
Cons: Could be faster

Four out of Five Dog Cows

This Review also appears as a Click Here Technology Column, written by Dave Greenbaum

Everytime stamp prices go up, people are on lookout for not just less expensive, but easier options for mailing. Businesses that make large mailings are particularly susceptible to mailing cost increases as those pennies really add up. Tack on charges of postage meter and your bottom line takes a big hit. Worse yet, postage meters still require you to create mailing labels and type addresses on envelopes. There is a better solution for small business and home users–printing real life postage at home.

Windows computers have a variety of options to print postage. Macintoshes have very few. The Postal Service lets you print some mailing labels via their website, but the website often is incompatible with the Mac and won’t print the things people use the most of: envelopes and stamps.

Endicia is the only software for the Mac currently that allows you to print labels, envelopes and stamps on your Mac. The USPS website allows labels, the Dymo label printer will print stamps and nothing but Endicia allows you to print labels, stamps and envelopes.

Endicia could rest on it’s laurels, realizing that you basically have no choice but to use their product However, Endicia is a great product in and of itself. Personally, before I used Endicia, I used Stamps.com on Windows. While the Windows Stamps.com was great it was…well, a Windows program and that says it in a nutshell.

Being your own post office requires a bit of paperwork. This isn’t like setting up a word processing program. You need to sign up with an Endicia account, fill out some online paperwork, give them a credit card to print postage, and then you actually download and install the software. It takes about 15 minutes to set up the paperwork and you have to have a Internet connection anytime you want to print stamps. The cost of the service is $15.95 per month or $174.95 a year, not including the one month free trial. You are not locked into a long term commitment when you pay the $15.95 a month. To print postage, you must keep money in your Endicia account. The money doesn’t expire so long as you are a subscriber, but you must contribute a minimum of $10 at any one time.

The software will print on standard envelopes at no additional charge, but to print stamps you need to purchase the paper from them. A pack of 125 stamps is $3.95 plus shipping. You can print one stamp at a time, a whole sheet of of 25 or anything in between. What the software does not allow you to do is print stamps for a particular amount. For example, I have some old 23-cent stamps I sued for a postcard mailing. I can’t print 16 cent stamps so that I can combine the two stamps to print a letter. The software generally only allows you to print postage in denominations commonly used for mailing. It’s an annoyance, but I suspect it has something to do with postal regulations.

Setting up printing addresses and postage on envelopes was a bit tricky. It was hard to get my printer (HP Laserjet 5m) to align right, but I had the same problem when I try to print envelopes in Word. Fortunately, you can run test prints and not be charged. If you do make an error, you sometimes have to ship the actual envelope back to the post office for credit. Again, that’s postal rules not Endicia. When printing labels for packages going Priority Mail or Parcel Post you get a discount on the tracking number…a savings of about a dollar.

The universal binary software was easy to use and conformed to key Mac user interface guidelines.. It integrates 100% with the OS X Address Book allowing you to print a envelope or label to anyone in the book. Users of Entourage or Palm will have to import their contacts into the OS X Address Book in order to find them within Endicia, though you could always cut and paste individual contacts from your alternative personal information manager. In addition, a search function is integrates into most functions of the program allowing you to easily find an address or determine when you mailed something.

In addition, the software can be programed to integrate with Filemaker Pro and is scriptable via Applescript or XML. Not being a programmer, I have no idea what that means, but it sure sounds good.

Due to the monthly cost, the program is not for an occasional home user. The target market is obviously an Ebay user or small businesses that do shipping every week. Because I run a computer consulting firm from my home being able to quickly send invoices, pay bills and send in rebate forms saves me money because it saves me time. I don’t understand why anyone would pay for a postage meter when this is so easy to use.

Endicia makes printing labels, envelopes and stamps as easy as printing your emails while taking advantage of the Mac user interface and features

Pros: Easy to use and works great, just like your Mac
Cons: Have to purchase blank stamps from Endicia, can’t print custom postage amounts

Four out of Five dogcows

5 out of 5 dog cows

Before we get to far into this review I think we should talk a little about what exactly Timbuktu Pro does. Timbuktu Pro is basically a remote computing application that allows a person to control one computer from another machine all within a very Mac-like interface. Additionally the program allows drag ‘n drop file sharing, voice and text chat functionality as well as the ability to use it in cross platform environments.

Since this app is an extremely powerful and feature rich remote computing environment I decided to focus my review on what is, in my opinion, easiest way to get set up and running.

Setup

Remote Control

Once connected you can just move your mouse inside the Timbuktu window and your mouse and keyboard with begin to operate the remote machine like you were sitting down in front of it. All of the functionality you would normally get from your remote machine, including system performance, is at your finger tips the only hold up being the speed at which your internet connection refreshes the remote screen. I’ve been testing out exporting files from Final Cut Pro remotely so that I can start exports and renders in the evening without having to stop by the office and let me say it has been a real time saver for me.

File Sharing

Gripes

Wrap Up

After using Timbuktu Pro for the last couple of weeks I think this application is a must have for anyone who needs to access files on remote computers. The application provided me piece of mind knowing that when I’m on the road I have full access to my workstation at the office. It also brings the freedom of being able to check in on processes running on my G5 at work from the comfort of my living room couch, which as a guy who manages the computers at the office is a much needed reassurance. Due to it’s day to day ease of use, full feature set, relatively new Skype integration and compatibility with Windows machines I can’t think of a better solution for remote control on the mac.

Pros: Extremely powerful remote computing environment with easy file sharing and integration with the Mac OS.

Cons: A bit complication to set up, could maybe use a walk through process when setting up new computers or installations.

Five out of Five Dog Cows

If anyone has any further question I invite you to listen to the podcast from the April meeting in which Mike Silverman provides more details about remote control on the mac, including Timbuktu Pro.

Personally, I am a Keynote junkie. I think I�m going to put in my will that my eulogy be done in Keynote. While I�ve used PowerPoint in the past, once Keynote was released I�ve never gone back.

Unfortunately, because I use the program so much, I (and my audience) get quite bored with the standard backgrounds included by Apple. I�ve gotten so bored that I�ll occasionally import backgrounds from PowerPoint, but that�s so PC! Sure I could design my backgrounds, however I have absolutely no design skills. If I was a good designer, I probably wouldn�t be using Keynote so much in the first place.

When I read about PowerSlides I knew I found the product that would save people from seeing the standard chalkboard background I used for practically every presentation. The product can be used for either Keynote or PowerPoint and retails for $39.99.

PowerSlides includes a series of 500 backgrounds, fonts and 50 template sets designed for primarily for presentations. However, because the backgrounds are jpg files, I�ve used them for everything from desktop backgrounds on my Mac to matting for my iPhotos. I�ve even put many of the jpegs in rotation on my screen saver because they are so visually stunning.

The template sets are the key reason to buy PowerSlides. Template sets combine the backgrounds, fonts and visual elements in create a complete package for your presentations . After field testing many of these templates, viewers were impressed with something different for a change! Exit surveys from my presentation indicated a higher level of satisfaction. Not only were the templates different but some include design elements that help move the presentation along. For example, one template called �Apple-Progessive� uses a picture of an apple being munched upon as a visual cue of where you are in your presentation. You start with a full apple and each slide shows more bites out of the apple, until you get to the end where there is but a core left. Other visual clues include a running man moving along towards a finish line or a seedling growing into a full flower.

PowerSlides is an ideal investment for anyone that uses PowerPoint or Keynote to make presentations on a regular basis (user groups especially). Not only will your presentations appear fresh and unique, but PowerSlides unique visual elements can be used to keep your audience engaged and involved.

Just imagine if Al Gore had used PowerSlides during �An Inconvienent Truth�?

Pros: Does exactly what it says and more
Cons: None

Five out of Five Dog Cows
5 out of 5 dog cows

While I subscribe to tons of podcasts there are still a few radio programs that I’d love to have on my iPod that haven’t gotten hip to podcasting. Radiolover fills that gap nicely. To start recording go to your favorite radio station’s website, copy the address of their streaming audio URL and enter that into Radiolover. Once you’ve entered the URL you are free to setup up a schedule of when you want to record that station and how it integrates with iTunes. The best part of the app is that once the recording is complete Radiolover automatically moves the file(s) over to iTunes and will set their name, genre and add them to a playlist of your choosing.

Personally I’ve been using the app for a few months now to record NPR shows that are not offered as podcasts yet. To do so I utilize the WBEZ Chicago’s streaming radio station as my local NPR station does not offer MP3 streaming. If you do run into a radio station that streams their content via Windows Media or Real Player instead of MP3, BitCartel makes another app, iRecordMusic for just that purpose. While iRecordMusic has many of the same features, in fact more features then Radiolover, I enjoy Radiolover’s simple clean interface for scheduling recordings.

Overall I give this app 4 out of 5 dog cows. My only complaint is that the program does not auto-launch when it needs to record. However, using iCal to schedule the recordings as well as Radiolover allows for seemless-timeshifting-audio-joy.

My review begins with a very simple question: “How can I easily put up my own website with photos so my friends and family can see them?” This issue was raised and discussed in a previous meeting of the Lawrence Mac User Group and I thought it presented a good focus for my software review. The goal is to describe the process of getting a group of photos from the camera to the web. While there are a great many options and tools available on the market to do this we want to find out if Apple’s most recent solution is worth buying. Especially if you already have an older version that you are using. Before I detail my personal experience using these two applications to build my photos website I’ll give you a brief review of the latest version of iPhoto and the new iWeb.

What’s New in iPhoto 06?

There are many new features in this version of iPhoto and I would have to say that most of them are solid improvements that will make organizing and editing much easier. The first thing you might notice when opening up iPhoto 06 is that it feels faster than any prior version. The iLife developers have worked hard to improve the performance and it can now hold up to 250,000 images. I don’t have anywhere near that many photos but who’s to say how many pictures we’ll all be sitting on in five years. Digital cameras are making it easier than ever to shoot without restraint. The interface has also been updated to more closely match the current style of iTunes. Nothing too major has been redone but the style is a little more slick and professional looking.

iPhoto 6 introduces a Full Screen Editing button. Clicking on it will and iPhoto�s interface�along with your desktop and any other windows�will completely disappear, replaced by a solid black field in which your image will be displayed as large as possible. In full-screen editing mode, you can edit your photo without the distraction of other interface elements or colors. After doing extensive editing work in last year’s version of iPhoto I have to say that I like this mode very much. It gets everything else out of the way and puts the one picture your editing front and center. Pushing the full screen button again instantly returns you to normal iPhoto view. Along with the full screen editing mode is the new Compare button. It allows you to display images side by side. This is really useful when you’ve shot many versions of the same subject and want to decide which picture you like the best. Along with the editing panel is the new Effects pane. This allows for the easy one-click addition of simple effects like black-and-white, sepia tone and edge effects like blurs. The Effects pane and the Editing pane are both in the new black, slightly transparent, floating window style which Apple has been using lately.

Photocasting is a new feature which allows an easy way to instantly share your photos libraries with others. You need to have a .Mac subscription to make it work. It works by selecting an album and clicking the Photocast button on the toolbar.
Your photo album will then be uploaded to .Mac’s servers and then emailing out a notice to your friends with the website address. So far it doesn’t sound at all different than posting your own website but there’s more. Other users can subscribe to your site using their copies of iPhoto. Whenever you change the photos your users will automatically see the updates as well.

The book making function has been enhanced to produce higher resolution results. Newly designed books can be viewed full screen with all of it’s effects. Custom greeting cards and calendars that can now be ordered along with the photo books. The calendars tie into iCal to display all of your important dates and appointments automatically. Other notable improvments include the ability to export photos as 16-bit TIFF files. Borderless printing can now be done if you have a printer that supports it. A new preference can be used to store photos in locations other than iPhoto’s internal library. iPhoto now allows for ColorSync tagging when importing images.

What is iWeb and how does it work?

iWeb is Apple’s new entry level desktop Web publishing application. It allows you to build simple but good looking websites. These sites can contain audio Podcast’s, text blogging, short video clips or still photographs. The big selling point is that all of this can be don’t with absolutely no HTML coding at all. The entire website can be designed and modified in a drag and drop style. When opening iWeb (or automatically importing images from iPhoto) you will be prompted to select one of several predesigned templates. Most of the Apple templates are nice and I certainly expect the number of choices to grow with each new version of the application. If none of the templates suit your taste then you can select a blank page. Once you’ve selected a template you can fill it up with content pulled directly from a floating palatte called the “Media Browser.” It’s a simple process to drag images from the Photos pane, movies from the Movies pane, and audio of any kind, including podcasts, from the Audio pane. You can also drag and drop items from your desktop if you like.

The entire iWeb application functions in one main window. The workspace called the Canvas is in the middle. Here you can choose a template and proceed to fill it with all of your stuff. With iWeb�s 12 included templates, your Web pages are pre-formatted for blogs, podcasts and movie clips. To the left, an iTunes like list called the Site Organizer, lists all of your pages in order. On the bottom is a toolbar that contains text and image controls. You essentially start out with an Apple template (or a blank page) but can end up with something that looks totally different. On a photo page for example, you can have a solid color background, a texture or your own photo of choice. Pictures and titles can have various levels of opacity. Thumbnails of your pictures can have different kinds of borders. Titles and captions can have different fonts and colors. All of these options and many more are all accessed through the single floating window called the Web�s Inspector. Through the Inspector we can make all of the changes I mentioned above as well as alter the page dimensions text attributes such as size, and line spacing; set margins, word wraps, and lists; add drop shadows and reflections to your boxes and images; and designate links. The Inspector can add password-protection to your site and even track how much space is used on your iDisk.

While there are a great many things you can alter in Apple’s pre-designed templates, some thing remain beyond your control. The navigation menu can’t be moved. At present these is also no way to create submenus. You have to manually create links to all of your individual albums�this isn’t hard, but it takes a little time. I hope they add this feature in the next version of the program. The very first version of iWeb had a problem of optimising each image file as a .PNG file rather than the more standard .JPEG. This created the side effect of web pages ballooning in size and being slower to navigate online due to PNG’s being larger than JPEGs. However, the iWeb 1.1 update seems to have corrected that issue.

The web publishing route of choice for iWeb is a .Mac account. Using this system, it’s method of one click publishing “just works” as advertised. However, if you do not have a .Mac account and prefere to publish to another domain through an FTP server then you have to take a few more steps. It involves using the “Publish To A Folder” command, then navigating to your user folder/Sites, find the files you want to copy, and upload them via FTP. If you happen to have a .Mac account and little interest in learning HTML web coding skills then iWeb might be a good tool for you. It will allow you to design a good looking Web site with all of your own content. However, for those with experience using more powerful layout apps like Dreamweaver or Adobe Golive then iWeb will seem inflexible and far too basic to design large complex sites.

My Experience Designing a Website

I should mention that I have a membership to Apple’s $100. per year .Mac (pronounced dot Mac) service and have been using iPhoto 5 to import, edit, organize and upload my images to my Homepage space. While the process has been relatively easy, I’ve always felt a lack of control over the design of my website. Most of Apple’s website templates are pretty lame and haven’t been updated in a long time. The Homepage templates also suffer from not being customizable. In preparation for an art show that I was going to be put on during September and October I built a simple online portfolio using iPhoto 5 and .Mac’s Homepage feature. Due to my distaste for most of Apple’s templates I almost always use the simple black pages for my photos. I have also found that brightly colored artwork tends to be viewed best against a neutral background anyway. Once I got my hands on iWeb I went about recreating that simple black website but with a refreshed look.

I started by building a new photo album of the picture I already had in iPhoto. I also used my Kodak Easyshare (5 megapixel) digital camera to shoot some new pictures of my show after it had gone up at a local coffee shop. Getting the pictures into iPhoto is as easy as plugging in the USB cable that came with the camera. If you happen to be pulling your images from another source like a scanner then you would use the software that came with your scanner and then use iPhoto’s “Import to Library” command under the File menu. There can be as many or as few images as you like. iPhoto offers of the option of deleting the pictures off your camera once it’s done, or leaving them alone. It also lets you name the incoming batch of images for searching later. Once our pictures are imported it’s easy to sort them into albums or folders. I made great use of the new “Full Screen” editing mode offered by iPhoto 06 during this process. Being able to blow those pictures up to their largest possible size for editing greatly improved my ability to see what I was doing. Once I had my photos titled and edited I pushed the iWeb button and off they went.

iWeb automatically opened up to receive the incoming photos and asked me to select a template to work with. For obviouse reasons I went with the clean and simple black page template. Using iWeb turned out to be easy and painless for me. I found a surprising amount of flexibility in moving objects around and using the Inspector Palette. I could have adding colors, frames, fancy text, shadows, password protection, hyperlinks and a wide variety of other elements to my pages. For now though I opted to keep it simple. The Site Organizer lets you move the order of different pages around and create entirely new sites. iWeb also offers image editing tools using the very same floating Editing pane that shows up in iPhoto. After dragging the photos around to an order that I liked and grouping the pages up I proceeded to publish my website by simply pushing the “Publish” button. Although for this particular project I decided to use a super simple and plain site design I am planning on reposting my very popular photo website in the near future. For that project I’ll employ more color and flair for my web pages. I’m looking forward to it already.

And that is my review. Although not nearly as comprehensive as some of the professional reviews done on iLife, I tried to touch on most of the new features and highlight how I used them to actually get some work done. I hope that some of the information I’ve detailed here will interest you to take a closer look at this amazing package. Using any one of the included applications in iLife 07 can enhance your ability to manage and share your digital memories.

iPhoto
Pros: Faster scrolling and performance. Full screen editing mode. New book, greeting card and calendar designs.
Cons: Runs a little sluggish on my three year old iBook (darn!). I recommend running it on a newer system or having lots of ram.
Rating: 4 out of a possible 5

iWeb
Pros: Built in templates and web publishing are a huge improvement over the old .Mac Homepage service. Finished sites can look professional and slick. Handles video clips, blogs, Podcasts. Lots of options to tweak pages to your taste.
Cons: Inability to create and save reusable templates. Publishing to FTP not easy enough.
Rating: 3 out of a possible 5 (which isn’t bad for a version 1 product). Expect a new version of iWeb in January ’07 to add new features and address shortcomings.

If you would like to view the website I designed for this project the url is:

http://web.mac.com/alexanderodood

Jeremiah Zentz
eternalvibe radio

http://72.128.59.121:8000/listen.m3u

“Dinosaur” Mac applications are not “abandonware” or useless. All the applications I will discuss are professional applications that are still supported and developed, and have many thousands of loyal users. Each one of them is still a real-world solution. Still, they all have seen their moment in the sun pass, as the changing nature of the Mac market, new competitors, OS upgrades, and the cruel passage of time have knocked many of these grand old applications from their former pre-eminence. Among these grandfathers of Macdom are Qualcomm’s Eudora, Extensis’s Portfolio, Bare Bones’ BBEdit, Netopia’s Timbuktu, and EMC’s Retrospect.

Each of these products is still actively developed. All of them run on OS X, and several are already Universal Binaries, running natively on Intel Macs. They all have engineers fixing bugs and working on new versions, and each product can be purchased right now. Every one of these applications was once the undisputed champion (and in some cases founder) of entire Mac software genres with life-spans well over a decade and heritages dating back to the old “classic” MacOS days.

Although these Mac applications all do different tasks, ranging from remote control to data backup, they all share many features in common (scaly skin, anyone?) “Dinosaur” apps generally feature very “old-school” user interfaces that pre-date OS X, have very powerful but complex feature sets, can be intimidating for beginners, and enjoy a rabidly loyal (if declining) user base. These apps also tend to be priced somewhat higher then their competitors, often as a legacy of the “old days” when they could claim a premium price as the founder of a new market segment.

Qualcomm’s Eudora is one of the grandfathers of email on the Mac. The first version came out in the early 1990s and Eudora has evolved through many revisions since. Geeks love it for its very powerful customization features; you can literally tweak hundreds of obscure options. Eudora is also very fast and has a powerful filtering mechanism. Yet Eudora is missing many modern email features. It doesn’t handle HTML email, has poor built-in SPAM filtering, and doesn’t take advantage of any modern MacOS features such as Spotlight. In spite of these flaws, Eudora still has a loyal cadre of users who are sticking with this mature product in the hope of upgrades to come. In an era when the capable Mail.app is free with every copy of the OS, Eudora has some major work ahead of it in order to stay relevant in the modern age.

The Mac has always been the favorite of creative users such as photographers and designers. Extensis’s media asset application, Portfolio, was one of the first products of its type, allowing users to catalog their collection of digital assets such as photos, illustrations, and clip art. Stuffed with an amazing and powerful suite of image categorizations tools and output options, Portfolio has managed to maintain a loyal user base and continue with a steady upgrade cycle through the years. Extensis will have to maintain this innovation in the future, as (in a common scenario for all the applications covered here) Apple has muscled in on their user base, with programs like Aperture, designed specifically for pro photographers. Still, Extensis is fighting back, with new features and a Universal version that may keep this dinosaur alive even as the mammals take over.

BBEdit is a humble text editor, beloved by programmers, scripters, and HTML jockeys everywhere. It has the level of power you expect in professional application and a feature list to match. BBEdit is renown for its extensive library of text manipulation tools and support for many common scripting and programing languages, but it has faced some serious competition in recent years from both a new generation of powerful OS X shareware applications such as TextMate and free editors. In addition, like many of it dinosaur peers, BBEdit’s user interface is very “old school” and doesn’t take advantage of much of the modern look and feel of OS X. Still, BBEdit has fought back, with aggressive support for some new OS X technologies, and Bare Bones has created a stripped-down free version (called Text Wrangler) to both head off the more inexpensive competition and addict a new generation of text fiends. BBEdit’s future looks good, and its legion of fans will likely be happy for years to come.

Netopia’s Timbuktu was the very first application that let you take control of a faraway Mac from the comfort of your local desktop. Over the years, Timbuktu has gathered a loyal base of users including system administrators, consultants, and road warriors. Although Timbuktu has been kept up-to-date (the latest version is a universal binary and features optional integration with the popular Skype application) it has faced some new and stiff competition over the years, and its powerful features are wrapped in a somewhat dated user interface. In a familiar refrain, Apple itself has taken a bite out of Timbuktu by offering its own remote control program, and several smaller, more inexpensive competitors (including the free open-source VNC) are busy scurrying around Timbuktu’s large scaly feet. Timbuktu has kept fresh by adding new speed and security features that its competitors have not matched, and has hung on to a solid user base, but as Apple and others continue to make remote controlling another computer ubiquitous, Timbuktu will need to evolve right along with them.

Backing up has always been a necessity of computing, and EMC’s Retrospect is one of the longest-lived Mac backup applications. It remains the only enterprise-class Mac backup option, and its ability to do cumulative backups to a wide variety of media types is unparalleled. Still (and stop if this sounds familiar) they are threatened by both a slew of new OS X-only competitors, and Apple themselves has added backup to the MacOS, reducing Retrospect’s market even further. Retrospect also suffers from a very complex user interface, and has been somewhat slow to support new OS technology, such as modern file metadata. Nonetheless, Retrospect is pretty secure for a big old reptile, given that its enterprise-level support (such as being apple to back up to tape drives) is not matched by any other native Mac software. With a Universal version on its way, this dinosaur should be roaming the Earth for a while to come.

There are more dinosaur applications around then these five. Roxio’s Toast used to be the only way to burn optical media on a Mac, something that the Finder and most Apple applications can now do themselves. Extensis’s Fusion (previously Suitcase) was an essential font manager, until the OS began to come with built-in font management. Equilibrium’s DeBebelizer once was the only way to convert graphics between different formats, a function now handled by Preview. As we’ve seen, no matter what ecosystem a dino has evolved in, several things are working against it, including competition for mindshare and marketshare from Apple and others, as well as expensive price points and dated user interfaces. Nonetheless, all these dinosaurs, unlike their biological counterparts, are likely to survive. Loyal user bases and ongoing engineering efforts will likely keep all of these applications going for years to come as they hopefully find new users in the fast-changing world of the Macintosh.

I’ve learned a lot about the new OS which I cannot share with you, due to Apple’s legal requirements, but there is still plenty of new information on the OS which Apple has made public. You will definitely want to go to Apple’s web site to see the demoes and read about all the new features in detail, but I will share my initial thoughts on a�few of the highlights.

The big “cool” new feature is built-in, automatic backup, called “Time Machine.” Time Machine lets you restore your entire system, or an individual file from any point in the past, through a really cool interface which looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. The only requirement is that you have an extra hard disk to back up to, such as an external firewire drive. If you went to the LAUG meeting last month, you learned about how important backing up is, but also how confusing it can be. If Time Machine works as advertised, backing up will be automatic and easy, and millions of Mac users will be able to rest a bit easier. And no, as hard as Apple engineers worked, Time Machine can only go into the past, you can’t yet travel into the future!

A couple other cool new features and improvements are a major upgrade to iChat which gives those with video cameras many new options to share presentations and videos, and a much faster and more advanced Spotlight. Apple also has built in virtual desktops, which will allow you to “switch” from one desktop to another as you move between applications. In effect this gives you a monitor that is four times bigger then its physical size!

However, in my opinion, some of Apple’s new stuff for Leopard isn’t quite as exciting as Time Machine. In fact, I was very disappointed that Apple made no improvements to the Finder, which is one of the weakest part of the Mac. Apple also added some fairly silly features to Mail without apparently fixing Mail’s many flaws. You can now have to do lists in Mail and send attractive HTML email messages easily, but there’s no sign that Mail’s horrible Spam filtering or clumsy user interface has seen any improvements.

Still, I am eagerly looking forward to seeing Leopard become more polished as it heads towards release. The new OS is certainly a step forward from Tiger in many areas and anyone using a Mac can look forward to it when it ships next Spring. ��

I really love this quote from the developers site;

For Mac users who enjoy the simplicity of a typewriter, but live in the digital world.”

The software is still in beta but it looks to be another great app from Hog Bay Software. I’m not going to give the software a “dog-cow” rating as it is still in beta, but it looks to be a great app. I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July weekend!

Via: Binary Bonsai

Every once in a while a product comes along that does one thing, and does it really well. The only question is “do you need it” With modern LCD screens and sleep/energy save modes, screen savers are virtually unnecessary. That�s really the point of Aquazone, it has no practical value, but it is very cool.

Before we got our little dog Tova, we had a fish tank for a number of years. I do miss some of the relaxing aspects of watching fish swim around and interact. Fish are generally low maintance and considered by many a key stress reducer. I think of this screen saver program as a virtual tamagotchi or a aquatic version of the Sims. You can do everything you would do with a normal fish tank: add and remove fish, feed them, tap on the glass (or the keyboard in this case). Even better, you can mix fresh water and salt water, no worries about two male Betas in the same tank Fortunately you don�t have to clean the tank and you don�t get algae. If you want fish not included in the tank, you can buy some more at www.aquazoneshop.com.

If you ( or someone you know) enjoys fish and want to buy something fun and rather frivolous, this is a great program. If you aren�t into fish, probably not worth buying

Pros: Does exactly what is says, creates a virtual fish tank
Cons: Probably a productivity waster at the office, gotta love fish to enjoy the program.

4 out of 5 dog cows

Why is this relevant? CheckIt is just about everything you want rolled up in one package (technically 2 since it�s on 2 cds). If I were on a desert island and I was only allowed one utility program, it would be CheckIt.

First, Checkit includes Tech Tool Platinum. Tech Tool is the best all around utility for the Mac. If something isn�t working right on your Mac, odds are Tech Tool will find it. It incorporates all the functions of the old Norton such as disk defrag/speed disk and repair, data recovery, along with checking each and every aspect of your hardware�ram, motherboard, hard drive, and so forth This is the program every Mac user should own and keep in their laptop bag for emergencies on the road.

But wait, that�s only the tip of the iceberg! Buy Tech Tool as part of CheckIt and pay about $90.Buy Tech Tool from Micromat and it�s the same price. However Checkit includes a suite of other programs.

Included in the CheckIt Suite is the Spring Cleaning Suite. Sweet. There are about 25 different programs that let you clean up every aspect of your hard drive. For example, you can search for duplicate files, eliminate broken aliases, find the largest files. If you want to clean up your hard drive of unneeded junk and save yourself from having to upgrade, Spring Cleaning is the program to run. Personally, I used the quick compare to compare a backup of my iTunes folder and make sure my external and internal music libraries were synced up. I also freed up about 10% of my laptop�s hard drive by letting it eliminate a variety of unneeded and duplicate files. Since laptop hard drives are expensive, getting rid of waste is a big savings. If you were to buy just Spring Cleaning it would be $50.

And if that weren�t enough, they through in Retrospect which is considered an industry standard for backing up your Mac. Though many people can use the backup software included with a .Mac account, Retrospect makes backups as well as restores easier. In addition, you can restore your files to a computer that doesn�t have .Mac or Internet access. This product by itself costs $90.

Checkit Suite is probably the best bargain ever for Macintosh software. It helps you backup your computer, clean up the hard drive, as well as protect and diagnose practically any problem. Operators are standing by and quantities won�t last, so call today. Oh, I think I�m getting that confused with the Bassomatic again!

Pros: Perfect suite that includes every aspect of managing and protecting your computer.
Cons: Can�t think of a one.

5 out of 5 dog cows

NetNewsWire uses a technology called RSS (short for Really Simple Syndication) to work its magic. RSS feeds are simply special URLs that get updated whenever a particular web page is changed. NetNewsWire keeps track of these feeds automatically and lets you know when new information gets posted to a web site on your watch list. After initially telling NetNewsWire what sites to track (a process as simple as clicking a link in your web browser) the rest is automatic. When web sites are updated, NetNewsWire lets you know and if you are interested in reading the new posting, you can simply click a headline to view the new information. In practice,this is as intuitive and easy as reading email.

In fact, if you have ever used email, you’ll find NetNewsWire very familiar. It has a beautiful and easy-to-use interface, laid out similar to most popular email programs, with a list of sites you are watching on the left side (where an email application shows all the mailboxes). Clicking on any site name will show you a list of postings, with new posts showing up in bold, once again similar to how email works. Click any subject to view the full web page. NetNewsWire will actually display the web page itself, using the same technology Apple’s own Safari uses. NetNewsWire will check for updated web sites on a schedule you set and once you start using it,it will really change how you use the web. NetNewsWire lets you become lazy, in a good way. News and web sites come to you, automatically. Surfing the web becomes both more efficient and more fun.

If you only used NetNewsWire to keep track of favorite web sites, it would be well worth the shareware fee. However, as you become a more experienced user, you will likely find that many of NetNewsWire�s extra features really make your internet experience even better. NetNewsWire can keep track of podcasts (which are actually just a special kind of RSS feed) and send them to iTunes. A very useful synchronization function uses .Mac to automatically sync your preferences and subscription list between two or more computers. You can also create �smart lists� of web sites to track, which works similar to smart playlists in iTunes.

NetNewsWire is one of the finest shareware applications written for the Mac. Apple�s own RSS reader, built in to Safari, pales in comparison. You pretty much cannot go wrong with NetNewsWire; it will save you time and make your web experience much better. The software comes with a 30-day fully-functional demo period so you can try it yourself, and then wonder how you lived without it.

Pro: An elegant,well-written application that will change how you use your computer.
Con: None
$24.95

http://ranchero.com/

5 out of 5 dog cows

When I evaluated all the programs out there after deciding to put a bunch of stuff on eBay, eLister is the program I decided to use. Without a fancy interface or lots of extra features, it does one thing,and one thing very well: quickly creating auctions to be uploaded to eBay. The program loads extremely fast and is very reliable. In addition,this is the only program that works in Classic (though support is being discontinued). I use it on a beige G3 in the basement specifically dedicated to eBay auction posting, a great repurposing of an older machine.

This program is for someone who takes� their eBay seriously, not for someone who only lists an item or two a month. You need to post an average of at least two items a week to take advantage of the key features.

Like many other programs, eLister allows you to avoid having to check the same options each time on every auction. The program lets you create defaults quickly and easy for your typical auctions such as: auction duration (number of days), minimum bid, payment types and shipping locations. In addition, eLister includes a live estimate of what my eBay fees will be as well as sounds indicating whether an option I choose will increase or decrease the listing fee. Unlike its competitors, almost every option I would care to set of ran auction fits on one screen. I can quickly and easily see what features are available and how much they cost.

The best feature by far is the ability to customize the menus. I can quickly select the eBay product categories I use most from the �favorites� menu. The �insert� menu allows you to add �clippings� that let you insert text that you specify. Personally I have ones specify what �sold as is” means or �DOA Warranty� depending on the features of the item. Again, this program is great for someone who sells the same thing over and over again and doesn�t want lots of repetitive steps. I rarely have to choose an item category that wasn�t in my menus, saving me valuable time in posting items. I simply write a sentence or two description and then everything else can be chosen from menus.

While the program excels at listing auctions, that�s pretty much all it does. You can�t track or leave feedback, take pictures of your items, nor follow the status of your auctions and bids. You can preview what your auction looks like in eBay, but that function is poorly implemented and doesn�t work well.

From a technical standpoint, this program is brilliant in its simplicity. Unlike other programs, each auction is saved as a separate file. Most other programs use a database format, which requires you to sort through all your previous auction listings. As your get more listings, the programs get slower and become harder to backup. Since eLister keeps each auction in a separate document, I can do standard Finder functions to backup, move, duplicate and rename my auctions.

When I�ve had problems in the past with the program, the developer was quick to respond, usually within hours. Also,this was the only company
to give us an extended demo of the software, and I appreciate their support of the user group movement.

My biggest, and only, concern is that this program is what I like to call �pumpkinware.� After 3 or 6 months, the program expires and you have to pay to continue using it. This is a fair business model because the developer quickly responds to changes in ebay�s system. Other eBay programs you buy once and are supposed to get updates anytime eBay changes their system. In the past, some companies have been slower to respond and instead of changing their software, force you to buy an upgrade!

ELister is for a serious, committed eBay seller that posts an average of one item a week or more. A frequent seller will appreciate the simple and straightforward options in the program. Casual users of eBay should consider another program.

Pros: Simply the best listing program for power eBay sellers
Cons: Casual users won�t benefit from the program, has no other features besides listing.

5 out of 5 dog cows

I do a lot of work on my Mac. I also collect a lot of information that�s sitting in a lot of different places and formats. Tidbits from websites, emails and saved IM sessions. This info includes design ideas and tips, advice on finding a good doctor, online, receipts, passwords, schedules, etc. I�ve been struggling to develop a good system to keep all this stuff organized and useful, but my struggle ended when I installed StickyBrain from Chronos.

The focus of StickyBrain�s function is to be a powerful information collecting and organizing assistant. StickyBrain organizes notes in a mail-like interface. Folders and subfolders can be arranged in a side drawer any way the user sees fit, while notes are listed in the top pane and their content displayed below. Notes can easily be opened in their own window by double-clicking.

It comes pre-packages with a wide selection of notes. This helped to introduce the possibilities of StickyBrain�s purpose � it�s not another note app for those random phone numbers and address you collect.

Moving beyond basic notes and folders, StickyBrain�s true versatility shines in its ability to easily collect information from almost any other app in OS X and send it back out to almost any other app.

StickyBrain is your universal note manager. Use it to store all of the miscellaneous information that doesn�t fit neatly anywhere else. Throw all your notes and other information into it, then use the powerful note viewer to retrieve anything with just one click. Imagine life with all your digital notes � from reminders and alarms to pictures, URLs and text � instantly organized and searchable! You can increase productivity, save time, and gain unprecedented control over your information.

Try the free 30-Day full-featured demo and see if StickyBrain 3 is useful. If you decide that it�s right for you pay the $39 fee and never look back.

Pros: Full featured notes application with excellent Mac OS and other application integration. And you gotta love the intuitive way it lets you keep track of all the minutiae.

Cons: Interface is a bit overwhelming at first. Product Requirements: Mac OS X 10.3 or later.

5 out of 5 dog cows

Software developer Extensis has stepped into this void with their application Portfolio which is designed for the professional � or pack-rat amateur who has moved beyond iPhoto. Portfolio is not a replacement for the consumer features of iPhoto. It doesn’t include any editing functions (as a pro or semi-pro, you use Photoshop or something similar, right?), or the ability to order prints, or automatic easy web sharing with dot.Mac. What Portfolio does offer is the ability to easily classify tens of thousands of files in a wide variety of graphics formats, to share these files with others, and to quickly search and find files based on numerous criteria, including custom tags.

Portfolio is very fast, even with several thousand files. As a test, I imported about 2000 digital photos and about 3000 other graphics files, and the searching and moving among the various folders was much faster then iPhoto. Searching for a needle in this digital haystack is quite easy. You can of course tag files based on their type or subject, but Portfolio also tracks files based on several dozen other criteria, making it easy to create customized searches and find the exact file you are looking for. Portfolio also contains support for advanced functions such as integration with third-party SQL databases, workflow automation, file format conversion,and Adobe�s Digital Negative file format.

When it comes time to share your database – either with other members of your team or potential clients — Portfolio gives you several options. At the simplest, you can export selected items to a web site, and Portfolio provides several nice templates and more flexibility in this task then iPhoto’s built-in reliance on dot.Mac. For a more sophisticated approach, you can publish a live version of your entire library or selected items to the web in real-time using a companion program, Portfolio Server, which does cost extra.

Finally,you can burn your library to a CD or DVD both for backup or to share with others. Extensis provides a free read-only version of Portfolio (useable on both Mac and Windows) to make sharing and distribution of your images easier.

Portfolio is not perfect. The user interface has some glitches and in many areas is non-intuitive, and it is missing many consumer-level features like the ability to order prints and do basic photo-editing. However, if you are a professional designer, photographer or artist with thousands of files to keep track of, Portfolio may be just what you need. Portfolio 7, published by Extensis (www.extensis.com) $200.00, Requires a G4 processor and MacOS X 10.3 or higher.

Pros: A powerful and full-featured professional image management application
Cons: Rough interface in spots, missing some beginner features.

4 out of 5 dogcows

For this column, I first tried a program called Spamnix.I didn�t end up writing about Spamnix because I either couldn�t get it to work or couldn�t figure it out. Either way it didn�t work for me. Then I tried Spamfire and fell in love. Yes,I truly love this program. Spamfire runs with practically any email program because it puts itself between your email program and your ISP. Instead of having your email program retrieve the email from your ISP, Spamfire instead gets your mail and then your email program gets it from Spamfire.

Doing so prevents the spam from ever reaching your inbox.For me, it has the added bonus of sorting my spam while I�m on the road. I can leave Spamfire running and when I check my email via my cell phone or a website, no spam is wasting my time because Spamfire has already removed it from my mail server.

Spamfire scores each email based on Bayesian principles and it’s own proprietary filter system, which you can choose to pay for yearly updates. I noticed practically no difference in the amount of spam sorted after I paid for the updates. I�m not sure I�ll pay for them in the future. Spamfire sorts all your email in one of three basic categories: Good email, borderline email, and Spam. Spam is then subdivided into definite and probable. This allows you to quickly check the borderline and probable categories for any good emails that slipped through. I’ll check the definite folder every so often, and the probably and borderline once a day. Spamfire can either hold, delete, or pass along to the email program. I have mine set to trash anything it marks as spam and hold anything that is borderline. I like the fact it keeps me in complete control of how to deal with the mail, because in the beginning I didn’t let it trash anything until it got more accurate in determining what I personally considered spam. Most junk filters, like the one built into OS X mail, don�t give you that level of control. It’s either junk or not junk and life, like email, isn’t that black and white all the time. As I have used the program over the past few months, it has gotten much better at identifying the difference between spam and good emails, although when I started buying and selling on ebay, it got confused and some of the good emails got mistakenly marked as spam.

Right now, I get zero good emails marked as spam and maybe a spam message slips through every other week. Spamfire also has a revengefunction (with a screw icon believe it or not). It allows you to report phishing attempts to ebay or paypal and general spam to the FTC and the ISP. It�s a nice idea,but probably doesn�t do much good. My major complaint about Spamfire is it seems to take a lot of processor cycles. In activity monitor,it�s usually sucking up the most CPU time. I also think their system of paying for filters is a bit confusing. I bought an upgrade from an old version, and the upgrade didn�t come with filters, but the full version did. In the long run, I paid more for an upgrade and filters than I
would have for a full version. Tech support has been intermittent, sometimes I got responses, sometimes I didn�t.

Overall, anyone that is having a problem with spam should strongly consider the program as a way to regain control over their inbox. Price is $39.95 LAUGmembers $24.95 by going to : http://www.matterform.com/mugoffer/

Pros: Outstanding method to keep spam from my inbox.
Cons: Confusing costs and purchase options.

4 out of 5 dogcows

I eventually gave up,installed it on my laptop, and was able to test the program. From reports on eBay, the registration process for the program is a nightmare and the program is not transferable from computer to computer and my questions about this to tech support were never answered.

ISale has consistently won design awards as for quality programming and implementation of Tiger�s functions.The interface is extremely intuitive and user friendly. It allows you to easily upload your pictures to your .mac account or to use eBay�s listing service. No eBay experience is required to use the program.

iSale considers itself part of the iLife suite. It integrates with iPhoto and shares many of the common interface elements. To add a auction,you simply click the Plus icon in the auctions column. Adding pictures to your auction is a breeze! You don�t need to know anything about webhosting. You can pick a photo from your iPhoto library, drag an existing picture into your auction, or even hold it in front of your iSight camera and take a picture. In addition, if you have a .Mac account, iSale will put your pictures onto your iDisk saving you money from eBay�s picture hosting service.

iSale�s preview function is excellent and the preview you get is a identical representation of what your auction would look like. This is great for new users to check that they didn�t make a mistake or forget anything. However, the preview doesn�t show you the fact iSale includes its icon on every auction. A paid user should not have to deal with a vendor�s ad in their auction, and I thought it was sneaky not to include it in the auction preview.

Managing draft auctions, current auctions, and completed auctions uses the familiar iLife interface and smart folders. You have an auction �Library� and then individual play lists�some created by iSale, and others you can custom create. For example, iSale automatically sorts which posted auctions resulted in sold and unsold items.

When the auction is complete, iSale allows you to enter information to track the auction and the buyer. You can indicate whether the buyer has paid, whether the item is shipping, and whether feedback was left. I was disappointed there wasn�t enough in the post auction features. Windows eBay programs generally let you leave feedback from within the program. Sellers generally leave the same feedback for everyone and iSale should have done the extra effort and added that in.

While there isn�t a backup function, you can export an auction. Considering how well rounded the program is, I would expect them to include an easy backup function.

I wouldn�t recommend this program if you are relying on eBay as more than an occasional hobby. The slick interface slowed me down and there wasn�t an easy way to backup individual auctions.

ISale is a good purchase for someone who wants to test the waters in making ebay into a hobby Starting eBayer�s should simply use eBay�s free website to post items. Once you start posting enough items that you get bored of typing the same information over and over again,that�s the time to move to iSale. ISale is great for the non-technical end user (as some books might call a �Dummy�), because it handles all the behind the scenes aspect of posting an auction.

If you can type a letter in Appleworks, you have all the skills necessary to use iSale. And if you need any support…just say �nein�to this pro- gram (that�s German for no).

Pros: Very user friendly, no eBay skills required, handles almost every aspect of an eBay sale. Great for most eBay hobbyists.
Cons: Very user unfriendly support. Not for someone who posts just a few items a year or for someone who posts a few items a day.

4 out of 5 dog cows

For those that war-dial, the program can also log the connections, thought that option is off by default. Finally,iStumbler can also help you determine and manage your Bonjour (the technology formerly known as Rendezvous) network.

Personally, I use it a lot when I�m in a cybercafe. Knowing the signal strength and noise ratios at a particular spot lets me find that sweet spot where I can both use my laptop on the internet, and effectively keep from spilling it on my Pismo.

In my work as a consultant,I find knowing the channel the base stations
are operating on is critical. Moving your network to a different channel often fixes networking problems and conflicts. Same is true with the chipset. Some routers don�t get along with certain wireless access card, and being able to track down those conflicts really helps. The interface is clear and easy to read. I used to use MacStumbler, but that program started showing it�s age and wasn�t as easy to read as iStumbler with it�s modern brushed metal interface.

The cost of the product is a $10 donation. The author describes it as �subscriptionware� you pay to help the product development continue. The product is not crippled in anyway but not having paid the fee, which is nice of shareware writers. IStumber can be downloaded at istumbler.net.

When you first open Pages you are overwhelmed with these really cool templates. There are all kinds of professionally-designed files for home and school use, such as �Family Newsletter,� �Education Newsletter,� �Club Newsletter,�and such.

It also has stationary, resumes and other useful setups. It�s supposed to be able to read Microsoft Word documents but I�ve found the Word import can often make documents look unlike their Word originals. Of course,that�s probably more to blame on Word, because many of the Word.doc files I receive from PC users seem to be in a cryptic formula that can sometimes only be formatted correctly on a Windows-based Word application. But that is a whole �nuther issue.

My reason for purchasing Pages was to be able to make a newsletter for a club I�m involved with. I opened up the first club newsletter template and �lo and behold, it was a template for a British car club, which is the very type of club I was wanting to publish a newsletter for. At first all seemed to go well. I would take out the filler text and put in my own. I added my own pictures. It worked great. As one page would get filled up, it would flow into a new page. This happened with each page until I ended up with my eight page document.

Pages kept adding the pages, which was ok in concept, but the problem arose when a change was later made to an article and the CPU would work and work to make the text flow over however many pages I had created. A change on page 1 would reflow the text all the way through page eight. Moving one picture would result in a 15 second delay! Then you would want to change that and another 15 seconds. I was rapidly becoming exhausted with the wait. And I was running on a
relatively- fast G4 (1.33Ghz processor). I couldn�t understand how it could be slow since I used to run Quark on an PowerMac 8100 without any speed concerns at all.

Soon after the initial version of Pages was released, someone figured out that there were problems navigating through a long project and added a pane that has thumbnails of each page. You can click on them and it will take you to that page. When the page is selected, it is highlighted yellow. It was after that pane was introduced that I realized my 8 page document selected all at once as if it was one page. Try to delete page 4, for example, and the whole document would go with it. It was then I learned how to tame Pages.

I made a new document and added one new page at a time. Starting from a blank page and adding my elements that I cut and pasted from my monster eight page, page,I now had 8 separate pages. And with that,things got faster and easier and much simpler to use. However the strange end-of-page marker takes some getting used to. At this point in the maturity-level of Pages, it�s kind of like a puppy, eager to please but wetting the floor along the way. I think of myself as a power-user and when I became so frustrated by a simple thing like moving text around, I wonder how a less savvy user might be put-off by some of these frustrations. Either way,I�d give Pages a positive rating. For the money it has some flash and dazzle, but hopefully will grow up soon.

While the application may have many features that the newer user might enjoy it also has some great under the hood features such as automatic RSS and podcast feed creation. This allows a user to create their own blog and podcast and syndicate the information and mp3s via any RSS reader and iTunes.

Rapidweaver’s only requirements are a Mac running 10.3 (Panther) or 10.4 (Tiger), an Internet connection, and some place to host the website. The program will host your site on your .Mac account, or on any FTP (File Transfer Protocol) enabled server you choose.

The application is available for download at realmacsoftware.com for $34.95.

4 out of 5 dog cows

• Daily, Weekly and Monthly CRON jobs
• Repairs Permissions
• Updates Prebindings
• Clears system and browser caches.

Of course it doesn�t do �it all� but I�ve found that running this simple little utility solves just about any problem that I�ve run into.