Google Chrome Beta Missing Features, but Shows Potential

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Phil Poccia

Google Chrome Beta Screenshot
No browser has made me completely happy. Safari is my main browser, but I have tried just about every other browser out there for Mac. Which means I had to give the Google Chrome beta a test drive.

The first thing I noticed when using Chrome is the placement of the tabs on top, which provides more browsing room. I have longed for this feature since using it in the Safari 4 beta. Google’s take on the tab bar is far more intuitive then Apple’s implemention in the Safari 4 beta. Tabs run in separate process sandboxes in Chrome so one crashed tab will not bring down all the others.

The “Omnibox” combines the URL and search boxes into one. Search engines can be added to search a specific web site, such as Wikipedia or CNET.

Themes provide a way to drastically alter the look of Chrome. I didn’t care for any of the current themes, instead opting for the default look which is more “Mac-esque.”

As this is a beta, there a more then a few issues with Google Chrome. It is missing many features compared to its Windows brethren, including a lack of bookmark syncing between Chrome browsers, no bookmark manager (how is that even possible?), not being able to install extensions, only running in 32-bit mode, and not being able to pin tabs (this option sizes tabs so only favicons show).

The most recent builds of Chromium, the open source project behind Google Chrome, can install extensions and do bookmark syncing, but still lacks a bookmark manager. It is great to see extensions come to another browser besides Firefox. There are already a large amount of useful extensions that improve sites like Gmail, Google Wave, and Twitter.

Google rushed the Chrome beta so it would be out for Mac users this year, and it shows. This browser is very stable (I can’t remember the last time it crashed for me) and zippy enough for every day use, but feature-wise is barebones. It is available now for free.

Write Without Distractions With OmmWriter

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Phil Poccia

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.

Mind Map Easily with MindNode (touch)

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Phil Poccia

MindNode (touch) Screenshot

Mind mapping is a great way to organize ideas, create outlines, brainstorm, make to-do lists, and much more. MindNode is a program I use on my Mac to mind map because of its simplicity and ease of use. Thankfully, there is a version for the iPhone/iPod touch called MindNode (touch) which has these same qualities.

When first using this app, I was expecting it to be clunky and unintuitive. This is not the case though. It is quite easy to make new nodes. Since this app is not bloated, making alterations to nodes is painless. Nodes can be changed to any color you want and can be added or detached from other nodes.

A list view is available as an alternative way to display mind maps, which is a great view on the small iPhone/iPod touch screen when mind maps get large and have tons of nodes.

Importing and exporting can be done between MindNode Pro for Mac when both apps are open and on the same Wi-Fi network. This occurs very fast. The mind maps from the regular version of MindNode work in MindNode (touch), but the process of importing and exporting takes a step or two more compared to MindNode Pro. A browser interface can be used as well for importing and exporting. MindNode (touch) can e-mail mind maps in multiple formats including MindNode document, FreeMind document, PNG image, text outline, and OPML outline.

The biggest downside, according to the app’s page in iTunes, is that “due to the low memory of mobile device, working with mind maps with more than 150 nodes may appear slow and unstable in the current version.” Hopefully this will be fixed in a future version as mind maps can get large quickly.

MindNode (touch) is a joy to use. If you purchase the app, you get a coupon to get 20% off of MindNode Pro. MindNode (touch) 1.1 is now available for $7.99 in the
App Store (iTunes link).

Despite Flaws, the Magic Mouse is Solid

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Phil Poccia

Magic Mouse Top and Bottom

My most recent Apple purchase is the new Magic Mouse, which is radically different from its predecessor the Mighty Mouse (now called the Apple Mouse). I really enjoyed the Mighty Mouse, so the bar is set very high for my new toy.

Setting up the Magic Mouse did not give me any problems. No discs are included with the mouse, so after pairing it via Bluetooth I ran Software Update to download the Magic Mouse Software Update 1.0. This update can also be downloaded directly for Leopard (10.5.8 required) or Snow Leopard (10.6.1 required). Installing the software update makes the gestures work. After restarting, I chose “Mouse” under System Preferences for configuring. Choosing each option shows a video that displays how a Magic Mouse configuration will work for that particular feature. The Magic Mouse can be set as a one- or two-button mouse.

When I first started using the Magic Mouse, the biggest change to get used to is that the scroll ball inhabiting the Apple Mouse is gone. Apple has opted to instead make the entire top one plastic button, much of which is useable for gestures. The bottom is aluminum, with a removable cover for batteries. Apple claims the battery life is 4 months on 2 AA batteries (batteries are included). There is also a power switch as well as a light that shows that the mouse is on. The elegant and simple design is finished off with two plastic bars on the bottom for feet.

Many gestures are here, such as button click, 360 degree scrolling, screen zoom (done when coupled with the Control key), and two-finger swipe. These features worked great for me in Safari and iPhoto. Scrolling can be down with momentum, which scrolls based on the speed of your finger. It helps quickly move through long lists and web pages. Momentum scrolling feels much like the scrolling on the iPhone. Disappointingly, many gestures are missing for the Magic Mouse, such as pinch zoom and Exposé.

There are some other downsides. The Magic Mouse only comes in a Bluetooth model. The only way to get a USB mouse is to buy the Apple Mouse. Also, according to Apple , there are a few issues with the Magic Mouse and Boot Camp such as “up-down scrolling on the Apple Magic Mouse and brightness controls, volume controls, the Eject key, and the key combination Control-Alt-Delete on the Apple Wireless Keyboard (2009) may not work with Boot Camp.”

It took time getting used to the Magic Mouse. It is awkward at first because it doesn’t rest in your palm and you must get comfortable using the gestures on a rounded surface with a mouse that can move around on a desk. Gestures feel far more comfortable on a trackpad or the iPhone.

Apple has a notorious history designing mice. Criticism has especially been rampant since the original iMac’s “puck” design. The Magic Mouse will not quell everyone’s contempt for previous Apple mice, especially power users. The Magic Mouse nails its limited feature set well, though it takes time to get used to what this mouse has to offer. The Magic Mouse is now available bundled with desktop Macs or bought separately for $69.

Tweetie 2 is the Best Twitter iPhone/iPod touch App

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Phil Poccia

After downloading Twitterrific for iPhone, I thought it would be my Twitter app of choice. The interface is great and the app looks very appealing. Tweetie 2 has changed all this.

There are many great features within Tweetie 2. Multiple Twitter accounts can be logged into simultaneously. Tweets can be viewed offline by caching them or sending them to Instapaper.

Sometimes I want to just put down my thoughts before tweeting them. Drafts can be done within the app instead of using an app like Birdhouse. If you use Birdhouse, drafts can be sent from Tweetie 2 to Birdhouse.

My favorite feature is that Tweetie 2 can show nearby tweets on a list or map. It is great to see exactly where and who is tweeting near you. Seeing local tweets is more interesting to me. It feels like I have more a connection with people that live in my area versus them living far away.

There are a few downsides to the newest Tweetie. There are no push notifications, which mean constantly checking Tweetie 2 to see if new tweets have arrived. Alternatively, an iPhone app like Notifications (iTunes link) can be used to send push notifications when a new tweet appears for you. The appearance of Tweetie 2 is rather plain looking. It is not an eyesore, but more attention could have been made to make it look better. Also, Tweetie 2 is not available for Mac yet, which is unfortunate because it will be great to see how the Mac and iPhone versions work together.

Much has been made over the pricing of Tweetie 2. It costs $2.99 whether or not the previous version was purchased. What is controversial is that some people feel there should be free upgrades if the original Tweetie was bought. This view is rather troubling. Tons of hard work goes into developing apps and developers should be rewarded with pay if they want to charge for their software. Certain things probably should not be charged for, such as bug patches. Overall though, if there are feature upgrades that are worthy of payment, by all means consumer should pay for them if they want the features instead of feeling entitled to free upgrades for life.

The price of Tweetie 2 is not high. The developer, Loren Britcher of Atebits, is not forcing users to upgrade from the original Tweetie. Britcher was on a Macworld podcast talking about this issue and will be providing support for the first Tweetie “for the foreseeable future.”

Tweetie 2 is compatible with iPhone OS 3.0 and above is available now (iTunes link).

View Your Dropbox With The Native iPhone App

Posted on October 17, 2009 by Phil Poccia

Finally, after months of waiting, Dropbox has officially released an iPhone app. The wait was worth it.

For those who are unaware, Dropbox is the wildly popular software that lets you sync, store, and share files online, between computers, and mobile phones. Previously, the only way to access Dropbox on the iPhone was via a mobile website.

Dropbox is not slow like iDisk. Deleting files off the free Dropbox iPhone App (iTunes link) instantaneously removed them from my MacBook. It was unbelievable how fast it occurred. Adding or deleting files from my MacBook did not change any files in the Dropbox app unless I closed the app and opened it again or switched between windows within the app. Again, the changes happened very fast.

My Dropbox Screenshot

Any files marked as “Favorite” in the app are downloaded for offline viewing. This is great because my carrier coverage can sometimes be spotty and I may need my critical files at anytime.

Pictures can be shot from within the app or selected from your iPhone Photo library and uploaded to Dropbox. These photos will be put into a folder if you are in the “Pictures” folder when uploading the picture. It would have been nice to have any photos automatically put into the “Pictures” folder.

There are a few downsides to the Dropbox iPhone app. Folders cannot be added to organize files unless you are on your computer. Also, files cannot be reordered unless they are in the “Favorites” window. This is a 1.0 release, so presumably these shortcomings will be fixed.

Dropbox is a great iPhone app and has set a high bar for competing syncing software to measure up to. The iPhone app and the Dropbox service itself are both free. The free Dropbox account includes 2GB of storage. For $9.99 or $19.99 USD a month, you can upgrade to get 50GB or 100GB of Dropbox storage.

Take Your Finances Everywhere With Cha-Ching For iPhone

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Kevin Fordham

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.

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!

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.

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