Category Archives: Mac Software

Write Without Distractions With OmmWriter

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OmmWriter Review Screenshot

I enjoy using a minimalist Mac that limits distractions.  I do not like having many icons in the taskbar or tons of applications open.  Internet browsing, e-mail, instant messaging, and Twitter distract me incredibly easily.  OmmWriter helps block out diversions like this while writing.

OmmWriter, from the digital creative agency Herraiz Soto & Co., is a full screen text editor like WriteRoom, though that’s where the similarities end.  OmmWriter is very different compared to other writing applications.  It is an application that is a unique experience.  It draws me in and helps me focus with calming audio.  Yes, audio.  There are seven tracks to choose from, including flowing water and birds.  There are also seven different sounds for keyboard key hits.  All audio can be muted if you find them distracting.

The uniqueness doesn’t end there.  There are also three background images to choose from which are simple and beautiful.  It would have been nice to choose background images from my iPhoto library.

There are not many settings to choose from.  There are three different fonts and text sizes.  Having too many configurations can be distracting, which is not what OmmWriter is about.  OmmWriter is about sitting down and writing while ignoring anything else going on in the world.

I am very excited about where the future lies for OmmWriter.  It has the potential to be a special application.  Currently in beta, it is freeware that is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 or higher and is available now.

MacHeist Giving Away More Free Apps

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MacHeist nanoBundle.png

It must be nearing the holiday season because the software bundles are coming. This time however, the bundle is totally free. The folks at MacHeist are giving away a “nanoBundle” for absolutely nothing. So what are they giving away?

The first 5 applications are available free of charge right now. Mariner Write will be unlocked when 500,000 nanoBundles are downloaded. If share a quick status update on Facebook, you can also get VirusBarrier X5 for free.

The free nanoBundle ends in just 1 day, so get your free applications quickly. Visit MacHeist for more information.

Software Pick Of The Month: Video Monkey

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Of all the Apple gear in my house, perhaps the least appreciated (but very much loved) is my Apple TV. I use it several times a week to watch podcasts, TV shows I record, and videos I download. To get some of the videos I download into a format compatible with the Apple TV, I use a great tool called VisualHub. Unfortunately, VisualHub was abandoned by the developer nearly a year ago. VisualHub’s developer was kind enough to open source his code however. From the ashes of VisualHub, a new application has risen, Video Monkey.

If you’re familiar with VisualHub, the Video Monkey UI will be easy to pick up. You begin by dragging your source file into the middle of the application. You then choose an output type from a large list of presets. Next choose encoding speeds, quality, and a few other options. If you want to send the encoded file into iTunes, just check the appropriate checkbox. Once the encoding options are set, just click the start button in the top left corner.

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I used the first version of Video Monkey shortly after it came out, but I hadn’t used it again until recently because the encoding time said it would take nearly two hours to encode a 30 minute video. The current version, 0.5, has seen huge improvements since that initial release (version 0.1). That being said, the application does have a few bugs. While the list of presets include about 20 options, the only ones I could set are those related to iTunes (Apple TV, iPhone, etc). I also received a javascript error while I was changing the output presets.

One feature I didn’t know about until today was the metadata feature. I encoded a TV show and the output file included the name of the episode along with a Poster for the show! After a little poking around on the Video Monkey website, I found a detailed blog post from the developer explaining how the metadata feature works.

Unlike VisualHub, Video Monkey is a free application. The most recent upgrade brought Snow Leopard support, which the last release of VisualHub lacks. If you are looking for a replacement for VisualHub, Video Monkey is likely it.

Library Books Helps Keep Track of Your Library Accounts

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My need to go to the library has decreased over the years because of the Internet, though I still go there frequently. When I do go to the library, a freeware application by Harold Chu called LIbrary Books makes managing my account easy.

Library Books is a application that resides in the menu bar and provides quick, helpful knowledge without making me go to my library’s web site. After entering in login credentials, the menu bar icon changes color depending on if books are due or holds have come in. It also shows the number of books currently checked out. Libraries from around the world are compatible with Library Books.

Library Books can be set to automatically update every few hours. It also supports multiple library accounts and can go directly go to my account page on the library’s web site.  Library Books can also add due dates that are automatically synced into iCal.  Optional alarms serve as due date reminders.

There is one issue to be aware of for MobileMe subscribers. iPhone OS 3.1 syncs subscription calendars to the iPhone and iPod touch. The calendar will not sync any events through MobileMe. The Library Books’ subscribed calendar will show events on the iPhone or iPod touch when syncing through iTunes.

Currently on version 2.5, Library Books 3.0 promises to show Growl notifications when holds have arrived. The only Growl notifications currently in 2.5 are for due dates. The minimum OS requirements are 10.4, but I can verify it works with 10.5 and the beta is compatible with 10.6. There is also a plan to bring a version to the App Store for iPhone and iPod touch users.

Software Pick Of The Month: Nambu

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When I first started using Twitter, I used the website and text messages. Later on I started using Hahlo when I accessed Twitter on my iPhone, and Twitterrific when using my Macbook Pro. I’ve recently stopped using Twitterrific on my Mac and have started using a new Twitter client named Nambu.

Nambu has changed the way I interact with Twitter. You can see a picture of Nambu in use below.

nambu_ui.png

What’s so great about Nambu?

  • It’s free
  • Multiple account support
  • Easily view DM’s, @replies, and Favorites
  • Threaded @replies
  • Ability to group people to more easily view tweets
  • Link organization
  • Tr.im support
  • And more!

What I like so much about Nambu is that you can easily slice up your Twitter stream nearly any way you like. If you are only following a few people, Nambu may be overkill. If you have multiple accounts, are following many people, or have a very active stream, you should really give Nambu a try.

Take Your Finances Everywhere With Cha-Ching For iPhone

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I’ve been using Cha-Ching on the Mac for about a year now. While Cha-Ching is not perfect, it fits the majority of my money management needs. When I heard Midnight Apps was developing Cha-Ching for iPhone, I was very excited about the possibilities. After beta testing the application for a month or so, Cha-Ching for iPhone (iTunes link) has finally hit the App Store.

While Cha-Ching for iPhone is a completely stand alone application, the real power of the application lies in the integration it has with the desktop application. My review will concentrate more with the total Cha-Ching package (iPhone and Mac) than just the iPhone application by itself.

Once you have data in the desktop application or the iPhone application, you can begin using them together. To sync your data open both the iPhone application and desktop application. Go to Settings in the iPhone application and then hit Sync. Once you touch Sync, you’ll get the below screen telling you how to proceed with the sync on your Mac.

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Currently everything is synced between both applications except for Budgets. Why? The budgeting function is being overhauled in the desktop application so right now they aren’t compatible. The budgeting function is a critical feature of any money management application so I hope the feature will be working within the next few beta releases of the desktop application.

Entering transactions on the iPhone application is a breeze. After hitting the New Transaction button, choose from a payee or add a new one. Once the payee is chosen, just enter in the amount and choose Income or Expense and click done. It takes just 3 taps to enter a new transaction!

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Cha-Ching for iPhone allows you to schedule transactions, create new accounts, add notes to transactions, password protect the application, is location aware, and much more. Cha-Ching for iPhone currently costs $2.99 and requires iPhone software 2.2.1.

The verdict: Cha-Ching for iPhone is a winner. The application itself is gorgeous, intuitive, and features killer syncing with the desktop application. The ease of use is incredible. In fact, I actually prefer to enter transactions on the iPhone vs. the desktop application because the iPhone application is that easy to use. Currently the only downside is the lack of budget support with the desktop application. The budget feature is currently being worked on so it’s only a matter of time before that downside is erased. In short, Cha-Ching is the preferred method to track my family finances.

MacHeist 3 Bundle Contents Revealed

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macheist3.png

If you’re familiar with MacHeist, you probably know that the whole point of the event is to sell lots and lots of software bundles for an insanely low price. Each bundle as a few killer applications that for most people, make the decision to purchase the bundle a no brainier. Oh wait, you don’t know what MacHeist is? Visit the MacHeist website for details.

Without further waiting, here are the contents of the MacHeist 3 bundle:

The bundle is cheaper this year, only $39 USD. The entire bundle retails for over $550 so if you find one or two applications you want, the bundle is probably worth it. Me? I’m not sure yet. I have many applications that are similar to those offered in the bundle. For the time being I’m going to wait and see if anything is added to sweeten the deal.