Apple Mac HQ

If you’ve been reading the blog for more than a few months, no doubt you heard me talk about MacHeist before. The folks behind MacHeist released a boxless “retail bundle” recently. Basically it’s like the other MacHeist software bundles but without the hoopla involved; missions, locked applications, etc.

The bundle includes 12 applications and will set you back $49 USD. The bundle will be on sale for a “limited time”, but no word on exactly how long it will last. Here’s a list of the applications included:

Awaken
Cha-Ching
CoverSutra
DEVONthink Personal
iClip
Overflow
Wallet
WriteRoom
XSlimmer
Enigmo
Bugdom 2
Nanosaur 2

I purchased the last MacHeist bundle but I’m going to skip this one. While there is no denying the value of the bundle, there just doesn’t seem to be that “must have” or killer app to take it over the top. Both the previous MacHeist bundle contained that one applications that pretty much sealed the deal to purchase it. While that killer application will vary from user to user, an application like TextMate or Pixelmator can really bring in the buyers.

The bundle is on sale now and you can buy it HERE.

Popularity: 27% [?]

One category of software that I’ve come to rely on recently is money management software. A few years ago I was single and had to keep track of only one bank account, one credit card, one checkbook, and one person. Since I’ve gotten married, I found a definite need to keep track not only of how much money we have, but where it’s going, and when it’s leaving our bank account. I’m going to review two popular Mac money management applications and hopefully this review will help you decide which is right for you. Throughout this review if you see a picture that appears small, clicking on the picture will bring up a larger one.

For the last half of 2007, I used a product called iBank. As I came to rely on iBank more and more, I also began to notice its strengths and weaknesses. I relied on iBank so much, that I named it one of the applications I couldn’t live without in 2007. iBank was missing one feature that would make it complete (more on that later), and because of that I decided to look at another application.

Included in the MacHeist bundle was an application that initially I didn’t think much about, Cha-Ching. Cha-Ching is billed as a “fun and easy to use money manager with a slick interface”. Since I was using iBank, I didn’t really have a need for Cha-Ching. As I began to make a budget for 2008 however, I decided to give Cha-Ching a try.

Application Information
In this comparison I’m using Cha-Ching 1.2.2 and iBank 2.3.12. Pricing for Cha-Ching is $40, while iBank will set you back $50. You can download a transaction limited demo of each application from the developers websites. In addition to the current release, each developer is working on a beta version of the next version of their software.

Supported Accounts
Both Cha-Ching and iBank support checking, savings, credit card accounts. In addition to those, iBank also supports an investment account and even liability and asset accounts. Each program uses a simple add account dialog box to setup a new account. Edge: iBank

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 71% [?]

As the time for purchasing the MacHeist software bundle nears an end, the bundle keeps getting better. The fourteenth and final application will be unlocked if the charitable donation hits $300,000. To reach the goal, there needs to be around 27,000 bundles sold.

The final application added to the bundle is VectorDesigner. VectorDesigner is a new application which recently won the Macworld Expo Best of Show award. VectorDesigner has everything you need to create fancy vector graphics such as posters, brochures, stickers, logos, web design, t-shirt and more. It features a wide range of tools: smart shapes such as rectangles, ovals, rounded rectangles, polygons, stars, bezier creation and editing and even conversion from raster to bezier. VectorDesigner is a Cocoa application that has iSight integration, iPhoto integration, and a Flickr browser. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to Adobe Illustrator, VectorDesigner might be the ticket.

If you haven’t bought the software bundle, you have about two and a half days left. If you want to help me get a free bonus application, use this link when purchasing the MacHeist bundle.

Popularity: 13% [?]

The MacHeist software bundle keeps getting better and better. The bundle started with 10 applications and has now grown to 13. Speed Download was added to the bundle a few days after the bundle was released. Sometime yesterday two more applications were added to the bundle to bring the total number of applications to 13.

The two new applications added to the bundle are actually games. The first is Wingnuts 2. Wingnuts 2 is a arcade style plane/blimps/tanks/ships/etc shooter game. It looks a little like the arcade game 1943. Wingnuts 2 was an Apple Design Award runner-up in 2006.

The other game added to the software bundle is Tiki Magic Mini Golf. As the name would suggest, it’s a mini golf game.

Both the games look like fun so I’m excited to play them when I get a chance. If you haven’t bought the software bundle, you have just under one week left. If you want to help me get a free bonus application, use this link when purchasing the MacHeist bundle.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Details about the MacHeist 2 application bundle were released tonight. The application bundle will be on sale for the next 15 days. 25% of the bundle purchase price will be donated to 10 different charties. The applications included in the $49 software bundle are:

• 1password
• CoverSutra
• Cha-Ching
• iStopMotion
• Awaken
• TaskPaper
• AppZapper
• CSSEdit (Unlocked after 5,000 bundles sold)
• Snapz Pro X (Unlocked after a currently unannounced bundles sold)
• Pixelmator is believed to be the 10th application but it has yet to be announced.

Right now I’ll likely skip the application bundle. Of the applications currently announced, only CSSEdit is truly appealing to me. The other applications might be nice to have, but I certainly wouldn’t buy them on their own. If Pixelmator is in fact the 10th application though, my credit card will be out. In fact, if the 10th application is only slightly of interest I’ll buy the bundle anyways. With my $10 bundle discount, the price will only be $39. $39 for the above applications is certainly a deal!

Update: Pixelmator has been confirmed as the 10th application.  I’m buyin’.

Popularity: 8% [?]

According to TUAW, the Core Image based graphic editor Pixelmator will be part of the upcoming MacHeist software bundle. This is pretty significant since the price of Pixelmator alone is $59. On January 9th, the remainder of the applications included in the bundle will be revealed. The bundle price will be the same as last year ($49).

If you’re unfamiliar with Pixelmator, it’s a graphic editor based on the Core Image technology built into OS X. Pixelmator is a layer based image editor that includes over 100 filters, graphics tablet support, and more. If you can’t afford Photoshop or don’t want to take the time to learn it, Pixelmator might be the alternative you are looking for.

MacHeist is a little more difficult to explain. MacHeist is like a multi-day internet scavenger hunt. Every week or so for the past month, MacHeist has posted various “missions” for you to solve. The missions often involve some real world sleuthing (Chicago was one city involved) in addition to some clever puzzles that need solving in order to complete the mission. At the end of the mission you receive a code to unlock the “loot”. The loot is in the form of a discount on the software bundle and some nice shareware applications. Among the free shareware applications so far included in the loot, Podcast Maker, Wallet, Mousepose, Runic, and more.

I’ve gone through some of the MacHeist missions and they are pretty creative. If you want to solve them by yourself, you’re going to have to set aside some time. I have gone through some of the steps, but usually get help from the forum to solve the mission. If the recent announcement that Pixelmator will be included in the bundle is true, I’ll be lining up to buy the bundle when it’s released. I hope MacHeist 2 is a success for both the developers and the MacHeist folks.

Popularity: 19% [?]