FLVR:
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. (more…)
I received this book for review on a whim. I assumed it would give interesting and insightful ideas for blogging - not! While the book gave 100 ideas for blogging, they were for personal lifestyle blogs designed to invoke comment and conversation. That’s fine for some, but I simply didn’t care for the touch-feely personal ideas the author had.
(more…)
When Apple changed it’s name to Apple Inc., it wasn’t only celebrating it’s victory over Apple Records and the Beatles, it was branding itself as more than a product; rather a philosophy. Apple enthusiasts have been talking the Apple way and “Think Different” for a long time, of course. Apple products are well known for being easy to use and understand.
Apple came out with the iPod and for the first time successfully extended its brand of computers. The Newton was a failure because it was too complex to understand and too difficult to use. At the time, I thought the iPod was a joke. I had a Nomad Jukebox which easily worked with Mac and PC, had replaceable rechargeable batteries, and easily fit into existing CD cases. The iPod was overpriced, less powerful, and less compatible. I was wrong because it wasn’t about how functional it was, but how people felt about it. It was the same concept of the disposable camera: more expensive than buying film but easy to use.
With the iPhone, I still believe it is an inferior product. (more…)
“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.
(more…)
The Blue Pixel Guide to Travel Photography: Perfect Photos Every Time
Have you ever bought something that says “one size fits all” and it fits? Yeah, me too. Something that attempts to appear to everyone in reality appeals to no one. This book was designated by Peachpit as “beginner/intermediate” but I found most of it too difficult for me as a budding photographer and those things I did learn from the book probably would have frustrated an intermediate user. When I think “beginner”, I want to be walked through the very basics. Schloss started the book expecting that you had a small arsenal of photography equipment. This book isn’t for someone who has a $300 digital camera, but someone who has a much more advanced digital camera, light meters, multiple lenses and a bunch of other stuff I didn’t understand.
This book is geared towards someone who already has a photography kit and wants to learn tips and tricks on how to travel with their equipment. For example, Schloss mentions you should ship your clothes to your destination and then carry your camera equipment on the plane. Clothes can easily be replaced, camera equipment can’t. This advice is not for someone that is bringing the family digital camera on a trip to Grand Canyon.
(more…)
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.
(more…)
I am looking forward to talking about remote control software and giving a demonstration of Timbuktu Pro at the LAUG meeting next Wednesday April 4th. I’ll also be giving away a two-license pack of Timbuktu Pro (a $200 value) courtesy of Motorola as one of the door prizes. LAUG board member Matt Kappenman is reviewing Timbuktu for the LAUG and will post his thoughts here as well.
Although I will be demonstrating Timbuktu, I will also be discussing what remote control software is in general and how it can be useful for you. Basically, if you have more then one Mac in your house, have friends or family members with Macs, or have a computer at work and at home, you probably could save time, stress and money with remote control software (and don’t almost all of use fall into at least one of those categories?)
In addition to Timbuktu Pro, there are numerous other remote control products that work with Macs. Below you can find links to all the various products. I’ll talk about many of these on Wednesday. After the meeting you can come back here rather then try to remember all those URLs.
Mac-Compatible Remote Control products
Timbuktu Pro
Desktop Transporter
SpyMe
AstroShare
CoPilot
MacHelpMate
Apple Remote Desktop
Chicken of the VNC (client)
Vine VNC Server
Some say lightening can never strike the same place twice. The Missing Manual series proves that wrong. David Pogue and the O’Reilly gang constantly hit the mark and spark creativity and knowledge in a variety of programs.
IPhoto 6 covers absolutely every aspect of digital photography on your Mac, leaving few stones unturned. In order to make sure you get the great photos you need and minimized the editing needed in iPhoto, Derrick Story and David Pogue make sure you buy the right digital camera for your needs and tells you the basics of lighting and composition. After reading that chapter, I looked at my own iPhoto library and understand why I liked certain shots and why others ended up on the digital darkroom floor.
After explaining how to buy a camera and create great photos, the authors take you through the steps of using iPhoto in logical order: importing, managing, outputting and of course backing up. More technical manuals need to do this. Instead of taking you through the features, they take you through the workflow.
The writing was typical of the series: clear, understandable with plenty of screen shots to explain the concepts. While I consider myself an expert on iPhoto, the book was full of subtle tips and tricks to shave hours off my digital photo management.
(more…)
Did you know that “Mork and Mindy” was a spinoff from the hit TV show “Happy Days”. While Mork only appeared in one episode, that was enough to make it a hit. Sometimes spinoffs are great. “Mork and Mindy” was hilarious. Then you have other spinoffs that are pale imitations of the original. Does anyone remember Joanie Loves Chachi? Probably not. Windows Vista for Starters is a spin-off from the highly respected “Missing Manual” series. Unfortunately, it’s more of a “Joanie Loves Chachi” of the computer book world. Skip this spinoff book and head straight for the original : “Windows Vista, The Missing Manual.
First off, there was an extremely funny error that hopefully will be corrected later on. On page 11 in the book, under “Mouse and Keyboard Essentials” you find the opening statement of “This book gives you three kinds of instructions that require you to use the Mac’s Mouse.” Unfortunately, this was an early warning sign about the quality of the book (though “Windows Vista the Missing Manua”l has another funny Mac reference).
(more…)
Summary: A fine companion for the beginner or intermediate Final Cut Pro 5 user.
The Book:
Final Cut Pro (FCP) is a complex swiss army knife of an edit program and can be very intimidating to a beginner. There seems to be way too many layers, windows and other sharp objects on which to cut yourself. But once you appreciate its potential, you will put imovie in your old cigar box of treasures and only bring it out to share with the grandkids.
(more…)