Mac|Life - Utilities

Parrot AR.Drone Launches Best Pilot in the World Competition

Andrew Groen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:43:49 +0000

Over a year and a half after its announcement, the Parrot AR.Drone is still making headlines. This time they're announcing an all-new competition for AR Drone pilots everywhere with the chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for the championship.

The company also announced a similar competition last month, the results of which have yet to be announced as it is still on-going.

This particular contest is similar in nature. Hopeful pilots video tape themselves undertaking a set of challenges, and then upload those to Youtube with specific tags. Parrot then selects a group of about 15 winners who receive a variety of prizes including iPad's, and other goodies. The grand prize winners will get the chance to fly out to Las Vegas to compete at CES 2012.

Skilled pilots can follow this link to check out the homepage for the contest to see the instructions and the set of prizes available.

We're not completely sure what the challenges will look like, but we can only hope they involve NBA player Steve Nash beating little kids as in the Parrot ad below:

Siber Systems GoodSync Pro Review

Ray Aguilera — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:00:47 +0000

Reliably keeps your files in sync

With the Mac’s drag-and-drop interface, you’d think duplicating files would be a snap. And if all you’re doing is a simple, one-time copy job, it is. But OS X doesn’t offer much help if you want to regularly keep files in sync. Sure, Time Machine handles backups, but even that has its limits. You might want to work on your local machine for speed’s sake, but then regularly copy your work over to a network drive, for example. Or maybe you have a set of working files that needs to be dumped to a USB stick at the end of every work day. GoodSync can handle both of those situations easily--and it can be used in place of Time Machine if Apple’s simple backup doesn’t quite meet your needs.

Don't let the complicated-looking interface scare you away. It's easier than it looks, even if you're not a power user.

At its core, GoodSync copies files from Point A to Point B. It doesn’t sound like much, but when Point A is your office machine and Point B is your Mac at home, the power of GoodSync quickly becomes apparent. You’re not limited to folders on a single machine or network, either. GoodSync is compatible with FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV servers, as well as Amazon’s pay-as-you-go S3 file storage (aws.amazon.com/s3). So no matter what your hardware configuration is, cross-platform GoodSync helps you build your own file-synchronization setup.

GoodSync’s interface feels a bit overwhelming at first, but after some brief study, the configuration screens will have you building bidirectional (for keeping two file sets in step) or one-way syncs (for backing up to a second location). We wish the Mac application had built-in help, but the web-based manual is thorough, if a little technical.

Follow this article's author, Ray Aguilera, on Twitter.

Review Synopsis

Score:

3.5 Good

Updated: WireTap Studio 1.0.6

Ambrosia Software — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:09:22 +0000

WireTap Studio is a professional audio recording, editing, and management solution, allowing you to manage and manipulate your audio with ease. Discretely record from a specific application, record all of your Mac system audio simultaneously, or even record from any hardware/line-in device of your choice.

After recording, edit your clips with WireTap Studio's revolutionary and completely lossless editor. Lossless master recording technology enables you to edit your recorded audio without any loss of quality or content. Come back days, months, or even years later and undo the changes you've made. You can even take a file you mistakenly recorded at a lower quality and increase the quality at any time, without the need to re-record.

Even better, patent-pending LivePreview™ technology enables you to preview your audio before you capture it, saving you lots of time and stress. No longer will you need to record multiple bitrates and formats and then compare them side by side. Change the bitrate, compression format, or even add Audio Unit effects, and hear the changes in real time - before you record.

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS X 10.4 or later, QuickTime 7.0 or later, 1GHz G4 or faster, or any Intel Mac

To download a copy of WireTap Studio 1.0.6 (25.6MB), click here.

Utilities: Full Software List

The Software Vault — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:43:33 +0000

Here's a list of all the demos, trials, freeware, shareware, and donationware in the Utilities section of the Software Vault. Check back often to see what's new and what's been updated.

Just click on any software title for more information and a download link.

Sponsors:

Dragster 1.0.5 shareware - A handy application that takes the drag out of file transfers.

EasyEnvelopes Widget 1.0.7 freeware - Create picture-perfect envelopes every time with this widget.

Seek 1.1.3 shareware - Search for anything, anywhere.

iToner 1.0.6 shareware - Unlimited custom ringtones for your iPhone!

Klix 1.0 demo - Recover photographs from damaged or uncooperative media cards and cameras.

MacScan 2.5 demo - Surf safely with this Internet-security utility.

ShredIt X 5.7 demo - Easily shreds any file so that its data can never be recovered.

Snapz Pro X 2.1.2 demo - A powerful, versatile, and easy to use screen capture solution for Mac OS X.

StuffIt Standard Mac 11.0.2 trial - Solve all your basic compression needs quickly and easily.

WireTap Studio 1.0.4 shareware - If you can hear it, WireTap Studio can record it.

Editors' Picks:

1Passwd 2.4.11 demo - Create strong, safe passwords and manage them with ease.

A Better Finder Rename 7.8.5 shareware - Easily rename multiple files in a matter of seconds.

AlarmClockPro 8.0 trial - This iTunes and Web-enabled alarm clock enhances the quality and serenity of your daily life.

Amnesty Generator 1.3 freeware - Run your favorite web widgets in your Dashboard or Sidebar.

Amnesty Singles 1.2.1 trial - Turn any Dashboard widget into a standalone application.

AOL Instant Messenger 4.7 freeware - Keep in touch with friends with IM and swap files while you're at it.

AppZapper 1.8 shareware - Quickly and completely delete applications along with all their related support files.

The Atomic Mac 6.7.0 trial - An extremely complete software periodic table of the elements for your Mac.

Awaken 3.1 trial - This digital alarm clock will wake you with tunes from your iTunes library or with any of its built-in alarms.

BBAutoComplete 1.5 freeware - The most versatile word and phrase auto-completion tool available. Killer for coders.

BetterZip 1.5 trial - Sometimes you only want to extract exactly those files you really need.

Birthday Buzzer 1.1.1 demo - Don't be a dope and forget yet another birthday.

BurnAgain DVD 1.2 demo - Multi-session disc burning reinvented.

Burnz 1.1.32u trial - Burn discs faster and more efficiently than the Finder could ever dream of doing.

Captain FTP 5.0 trial - Be the captain of the FTP seas with this powerful FTP client.

CDFinder 5.0.1 trial - Organize your disk and data archive and keep track of your digital media assets.

Charmas 2.0 shareware - Get out of the font jungle with this app.

ChronoSync 3.3.5 demo - Efficiently synchronize files and folders from one disk location to another.

CLIX 1.8.0a freeware - Harness the power of Unix - all of Unix.

Compress Files 2.4 demo - An easy-to-use tool for compressing, archiving, and encrypting files while omitting Mac-specific invisible files.

DasBoot 1.0.2 freeware - Create a bootable diagnostic drive from an iPod, flash drive, other device.

DashQuit 2.1 freeware - Take better control of your Dashboard widgets.

DetoxDiskz 1.0u trial - Protect your files when moving them among Windows, Unix, and Linux file systems.

First-Generation iPod nano Template freeware - Create your own iPod armor.

FinanceToGo 1.5 demo - Professional and intuitive finance management for homes, small businesses and accountants.

FontDoctor 7.3 demo - Got font problems? Not anymore.

FontNuke 1.10 freeware - Clear troublesome font-cache files quickly and easily.

Font Tools 7.0 demo - Good typography becomes easier with aid of this program.

Health Tracker 3.1.0 trial - A simple yet powerful program which helps you keep track of and graph any health related measurement.

HoudahSpot 1.4.8 demo - Quickly create and store powerful search queries.

HyperImage 1.0 trial - Do you download lots of images from the web? HyperImage is made for you.

iClip 4 demo - Here's a multi-level, easy-to-use, scrapbook and clipboard expander.

iGet 2.5.5 demo - This modern file-transfer tool supports all the file features that Mac users expect.

iGetter 2.6.1 shareware - Look ahead for better downloading from the internet.

iList Data 3.5 demo - A powerful, single-user database for the Macintosh.

I nterarchy 8.5.3 trial - Gain control over most every Internet file-transfer function, plus work with remote servers.

iScrapbook 1.1.1 trial - Professional scrapbooking software so simple that a monkey could use it.

JABMenu 1.2 shareware - A system-wide menu provides an easy way to access your Address Book data.

Keep It Together 1.3.8 trial - Keep your stuff together, and find it again instantly.

Macintosh Explorer 4.5 trial - One thing Windows does right is its Windows Explorer file management. Here it is for the Mac.

MailSteward 7.6.1 demo - MailSteward will archive all of your email in a database for easy retrieval.

Martian LifeBoat 1.0.1 demo - Backing up to external media just got a lot easier.

MemoBlock 4.7 donationware - This notepad utility incldes styling, alarms, iPod integration, and more.

Monolingual 1.3.7 freeware - If you don't speak Urdu (or many other languages), why should it take up space on your hard drive?

MS Messenger 6.0.3 freeware - For Mac users who want to communicate instantly with family, friends and colleagues from one convenient place.

NetSpeedometer 2007 donationware - Graphically monitor the speed of your internet connection.

NetworkLocation 1.1 trial - NetworkLocation adds a whole new dimension to using OS X locations.

OnyX 1.3.1 (Jaguar/Puma) donationware - Maintain, optimize, and personalize your Mac.

OnyX 1.5.3 (Panther) donationware - Maintain, optimize, and personalize your Mac.

OnyX 1.7.9 (Tiger) donationware - Maintain, optimize, and personalize your Mac.

PageSender 4.0.1 trial - Fax or e-mail anything you can print with this full-featured fax software.

PasswordVault Lite 5.2 trial - This password manager offers auto-filling of Web forms, detailed reports, and much more.

Peek-a-Boo 2.6.4 shareware - Monitor all your system's activities, plus adjust process priorities.

Power Manager 3.6.2 demo - Automate when your Mac is on, off, awake, asleep, and secured.

Preferential Treatment 1.1.7 freeware - Track down and easily eliminate corrupted preferences files.

Process Wizard 1.1 beta freeware - Track and change the priority of all your system processes.

Remote Buddy 1.1 demo - Make better use of your Mac's remote control with this neat application.

Savvy Clipboard 2.1 shareware - Add easy-to-use multiple-clipboard capability to your Mac.

SecuritySpy 1.4.1 demo - If you want to set up a multi-camera security system, this is the software you need.

Speed Download 4.1.12 trial - Take control of all your download and file-transfer tasks quickly and efficiently.

Springy 1.2.2 shareware - Manage all your compressed-file archives with ease and elegance.

SuperDuper 2.1.4 freeware - You do back up regularly, right? This backup utility is so easy, your excuses are no longer valid.

TextExpander 1.4.2 demo - This customizable typing timesaver expands abbreviations as you type.

Think 1.1 trial - The world is full of distractions, and so is your Mac. Think helps you concentrate on the task at hand.

TimeCache 6.1.8 trial - TimeCache simplifies the tracking, reporting, and billing of time spent on projects.

TrashCache 1.6.8 shareware - Manage your trash with this safe and sane utility.

Vela Clock 2.1.1 demo - Though your Mac has a clock, it doesn't have a clock even remotely like this.

Virtual TimeClock Pro 5.3 trial - Effortlessly track your employee's hours and overtime.

World Clock Deluxe 4.4.9 shareware - Regularly work with people across the world? Have family or friends living in other countries or time zones? Often travel abroad? You can make your life easier.

Xupport 3.4.1 demo - Take total control of OS X with this handy utility.

You Control 1.5 trial - Take custom control of how you use your Mac.

You Control: Fonts 1.2 demo - Fonts can drive you crazy; this app will restore your sanity.

Yummy FTP 1.6 trial - This fast, flexible, and reliable file transfer utility is wrapped in an intuitive user interface.

Zipeg 1.4.0.645 freeware - A freeware alternative for StuffIt and similar compression utilities.

Updated: iToner 1.0.6

Ambrosia Software — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:41:15 +0000

iToner enables you to quickly transfer custom ringtones for your iPhone - without modifying, hacking or having to reset your iPhone. Simply drag and drop your MP3, AAC, WAVE, or AIFF audio files on iToner's window, click the Sync button, and you're done.

Your iPhone allows you to assign different ringtones for your different contacts. With iToner, now you can have a Barry White ringtone for when your girlfriend calls, Frank Zappa for when your college buddies ring you up, or the theme from Jaws for when your boss is calling.

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4.10 or later, iPhone

To download a copy of iToner 1.0.6 (7.2MB), click here.

Updated: EasyEnvelopes Widget 1.0.7

Ambrosia Software — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:28:55 +0000

EasyEnvelopes is a widget for Dashboard, so it is instantly available no matter what application you are using. EasyEnvelopes allows you to create picture-perfect envelopes every time. You can use whatever typefaces you choose for your mailing and return addresses, control the color of the text, and even use a graphic for a return address for just the right look. EasyEnvelopes will also optionally print USPS postal bar codes for both 5 digit and 9 digit zip codes.

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4 or later

To download a free copy of EasyEnvelopes Widget 1.0.7 (736KB), click here.

Updated: iSeek 1.1.3

Ambrosia Software — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:25:54 +0000

iSeek is a handy little program for Mac OS X that allows you to instantly search for anything you seek, no matter what program you are running. iSeek puts a familiar search field in your menu bar, needing just a click or keystroke to start your search.

Look up a word definition in the dictionary, or a synonym in the thesaurus, or even famous quotes that reference the word. Search for information on Google, in popular news sites such as the BBC News, MacNN.com, or even search for software on MacUpdate.com or VersionTracker.com

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later.

To download a demo copy of iSeek 1.1.3 (5.8MB), click here.

Updated: Xupport 3.4.1

Applicorn — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:26:31 +0000

Xupport is a multipurpose system utility for Mac OS X. It provides many features to configure hidden Mac OS X and Unix options, to increase system security and performance, to maintain and backup Mac OS X, and to dig deeper into the world of Unix.

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later

To download a demo copy of Xupport 3.4.1 (2.9MB), click here.

Updated: Snapz Pro X 2.1.2

Ambrosia Software — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:45:56 +0000

Whether you're writing online manuals that require visual examples, or simply recording video of your flight simulator dogfighting skills, Snapz Pro X is a great utility for capturing moving or still pictures on Mac OS X.

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.3.9 or later

To download a copy of Snapz Pro X 2.1.2 (14.7MB), click here.

Updated: VelaClock Deluxe 2.1.1

Vela Design Group — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:14:45 +0000

More than a clock, VelaClock displays the current level of natural light (daylight, twilight, or night), sun and moon rise/set times, moon phase information, local times and country flags for cities throughout the world. VelaClock takes advantage of the Dashboard feature in Apple's Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger". No internet connection is required.

VelaClock is a unique widget in that it is completely self-contained. Many widgets are light weight front-ends to web services; such widgets require an internet connection. By contrast, VelaClock is designed to function without an internet connection, and so is particularly useful for laptop users away from their home or office. Astronomical calculations are performed by an internal code module.

VelaClock supports the new 2007 Daylight Saving Time rules. VelaClock uses its own set of time zone and Daylight Saving Time rules (separate from Mac OS X). To ensure that your Mac is able to display the correct time please refer to "About Daylight Saving Time changes in 2007" from Apple's support website.

REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4 or later

To download a demo copy of VelaClock Deluxe 2.1.1 (1.6MB), click here.