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Shaun Inman Fever

Ray Aguilera — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:09:33 -0600

The biggest challenge of the Web is finding information you want. For a while, bookmarks sufficed, giving users an easy way to quickly return to their favorite sites. As bookmark lists grew, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) became the preferred tool of Internet power-users. An RSS reader makes it easy to track a large number of sites, but eventually, you’re subscribed to so many feeds that finding the good stuff becomes a challenge. Enter Fever, a Web-based RSS reader that tries to solve this info overload by sorting your news by importance.

Fever is Web-based--but it’s strictly BYOS (bring your own server). If you’re comfortable setting up blogging software like Movable Type or WordPress, installing Fever is a snap. Unfortunately, there’s no trial period or live demo, so you can’t really try before you buy.

Fever's Hot List is a great feature, but it can quickly get overrun by one or two high-traffic topics.

Fever’s killer feature is the Hot List, where stories are ranked by importance, rather than listed in chronological order. You’re asked to separate your feeds into Sparks or Kindling. Sparks are the sites that you read frequently. Kindling are sites that are less important, such as blogs that repost lots of links on your favorite topics. The Kindling concept encourages large numbers of subscriptions, which can improve your Hot List, without cluttering up your main view. Stories that get a lot of mentions across all your feeds rise quickly on the Hot List--a clever way of helping you find the most important news stories, and it works quite well with larger numbers of feeds.

Our biggest problem with Fever is the lack of granularity. We subscribe to tons of tech-related RSS feeds, but we’re also interested in other topics. But since the tech feeds outnumber the others, our Hot List is mostly tech news. You can use Fever as a traditional feed reader, grouping feeds into folders, but the Hot List feature does not apply to specific folders. Another solution could be setting up multiple profiles geared to different interests, each with its own Hot List, but Fever is strictly a single-user affair.

Mozilla's Mystery App Coming Soon

J Keirn-Swanson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:22:30 -0500

While Apple retains the right to deny apps that they claim duplicate core features (the supposed excuse for the Google Voice blanket rejection), there are any number of apps that do just that. Try searching browsers in the app store for proof.

So with an announcement from Mozilla's CEO John Lilly that the open source giant plans to "release an app to the iPhone App Store in the next few weeks," that he claims will "surprise people," speculation began. Theories centered around two strong contenders.

Tech blogger Om Malik has one theory. He interviewed Lilly when the comment was made, then later discussed Weave with Lilly and Jay Sullivan, VP of Mozilla Mobile. Weave, a Firefox extension that syncs bookmarks, cookies, passwords, and other elements of your Firefox experience to multiple machines, allows you access to the same data from different locations. Malik believes Mozilla's new app will allow iPhone users to access this information while on the go. Would this app play nice with Safari? Other apps do offer an "Open in Safari" option, so that seems the least controversial route.

Others, such as Kevin Tofel at jkOnTheRun, suspect that Mozilla plans to present an iPhone version of Fennec, their mobile browser already supported on Windows Mobile. It's no secret that Mozilla wants to get in on the mobile game in a big way and getting on the iPhone would be a feather in the browser's cap. Tofel goes on to indulge his speculation with fantasies involving a mobile version of Flash built in to Fennec that would bring the entirety of the Web to the iPhone at last.

While the first theory would hardly qualify as a surprising move, Tofel's at least has the level of improbability to it that might qualify. Whether or not Apple approves such an app is a completely different matter. Mozilla has stated previously that Firefox won't be on the iPhone and Apple has all but declared Flash on the iPhone a non-starter. Time will tell in this matter. In this case, a few weeks. Feel free to indulge your own speculation or debunking in the comments.

Tweetie 2

Zack Stern — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:49:07 -0500

Tap the remaining-characters countdown ticker to toggle between the keyboard and often-used tools.

Features spring out of Tweetie 2's diminutive, clean interface like items from Felix the Cat's bag of tricks. No matter how you use Twitter, Tweetie 2 lets you use it better.

Tweetie 2's basic features never feel bogged down by its deep extras. The tool quickly downloads and uploads messages over Wi-Fi or a phone network, and navigation within the app equally feels snappy. You'll begin composing messages with a tap or two, even bringing up a directory to add contact names and recent hash tags.

Pictures load previews within messages, but you can expand them with a tap.

More advanced tools embed pictures and videos through your choice of host services, shorten URLs, and add a Google geotag. However you use Tweetie 2, your favorite options will always be nearby.

And Tweetie 2 excels at reading messages. You can see previews or full versions of embedded photos within the app. Great search tools show trending topics, specific queries, or even a map of local messages. You can follow web links, including YouTube videos, and return to Tweetie 2 without going to the Home Screen. Or suppose you want to read a link or see a video later, Tweetie 2 interfaces with Instapaper and Read It Later. Just tap a button to keep a running list, and view it on your Mac or PC another time.

Get a new perspective on your neighbors or an out-of-town trip with a live map of nearby messages.

Tweetie 2 neatly interfaces with Apple's tools, too. Surf across a cool website in iPhone Safari? A slick system sends those URLs directly to a new Tweetie 2 message after you click a special bookmark. And you can save Twitter profiles into Address Book under a new or existing contact.

Chrome for Mac in My Stocking?

J Keirn-Swanson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:23:30 -0500

If you have a tolerance for a buggy build of a browser that crashes or freezes regularly, you can have Google Chrome on your Mac. If you want a stable, proper release, unfortunately you'll need a PC (or run Parallels, ugh). For everyday users, there's been little Mac love. That's soon to change.

According to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, himself late of the Apple Board of Directors, there's a good chance we'll be seeing a Mac release shortly before Christmas, ahead of the scheduled release date of some time in 2010. At a recent conference in New York, Schmidt said, "A lot of very sophisticated people are using Macs now and we need to get a version of Chrome out for that, which we'll have in a couple of months."

Source: Engadget

Google's official Chrome page and Chrome blog mention nothing about an updated schedule of development, making the announcement something less than official. And while vague CEO promises aren't anything to base your life around, Schmidt's recent history as having a foot in both camps give his words a little more heft than just any CEO's.

While Chrome's percent of market share isn't exactly worth bragging about and its minimalist design and lack of extensions don't currently make the browser much of a challenger to any of the big three, Chrome does boast impressive speeds in launching and page loading. Plus, the browser's isolation of each tab into separate processes is a worthy security feature, so much so that Chrome was the last browser standing at this year's CanSecWest conference during the Pwn2Own event.

Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot

Ray Aguilera — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:32:35 -0500

The MiFi puts the Net in your pocket.

Depending on where you live and work, it can seem like the Internet is everywhere. But sadly, a good Wi-Fi signal can be lacking when you need it most--and the days of open home–Wi-Fi networks are mostly gone, as even your mom has figured out how to lock down her network. But with Verizon’s MiFi in your pocket, you can access the Internet from just about anywhere.

At 3.5- by 2.3-inches, the MiFi is about the size of a credit card. It’s less than a half-inch thick and weighs 2 ounces, so it’s easy to carry everywhere. It’s essentially a Wi-Fi access point that connects to Verizon’s 3G network, and it has a few other tricks up its sleeve. Since it’s wireless and rechargeable, it doesn’t require a physical connection to your machine and works fine from inside your bag or a pocket. When used with a single computer, the MiFi’s battery lasts about 4 hours. You can easily share your Wi-Fi with up to five other devices, though battery life will take a hit with the increased data traffic.

The MiFi puts the Internet in your pocket--as long as there's a strong 3G wireless data signal.

Using the MiFi is as simple as turning it on. The default network ID and password are on the bottom of the device, and you can edit settings via browser-based configuration pages. For road warriors, the MiFi can be tethered to your notebook computer, giving you an endless supply of Internet for as long as your laptop has power. The only drawback to this setup is that you can’t directly share your connection with additional devices while it’s tethered--although Mac users savvy enough to set up Internet Sharing can easily get around that limitation by creating their own network. Shhh--don’t tell Verizon you heard it from us.

As you can imagine, instant Internet anywhere is infinitely useful. That said, your experience will vary widely depending on how congested the 3G network around you is. Downtown San Francisco is notorious for being a miserable 3G black hole, due to the concentration of 3G devices. One recent afternoon, our download speeds varied anywhere from 134 to 786kbps. After a short hop across the bay, we were consistently getting download speeds around 1100kbps as we sat on the shore of Oakland’s Lake Merritt and finished this review in the sunshine. The volatility of Verizon’s 3G network certainly isn’t the MiFi’s fault, but it’s worth considering how and where you might use it prior to buying in.

iPhone Helper Apps for Insanely Specific Scenarios

Leslie Ayers — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:06:00 -0500

Every day, life presents any number of problems that need solving—from settling bets to knowing which fish are OK to eat to remembering where the soupspoon goes in a formal table setting. Your iPhone or iPod touch can act as a digital Swiss Army knife, offering up the right tool to get you through almost any dilemma. We review and rate a collection of handy helper apps and ass-saving accessories that are sure to boost your rep as the consummate boy scout, always prepared for anything.

For Anyone Who's Ever Asked, "How?"

Howcast.com's free iPhone app puts the site's eclectic collection of how-to videos in your pocket

Think of all the things you’ve always wanted to know how to do: fold origami, set a formal dinner table, pick a lock…or maybe have sex in a car? Amazingly enough, you can learn how to do all of these things—and many more—with Howcast’s free iPhone app. This excellent freebie puts an iPhone “wrapper” on the mind-blowing array of how-to video content available on Howcast.com.

Click here to read a full review of this app

Search for topics in the search bar or tap on Most Recent or Featured to see a list of how-to videos on Howcast.

Howcast How-To Videos
Howcast Media
www.howcast.com
Free

Six More Ways to Skin a Cat (Not Literally, OK?)

These apps offer more practical solutions to real-life problems

Heads, You Win; Tails, You Win

Need to settle a bet but don’t have a coin to toss? If you spend a buck on My CoinFlip, you’ll never be without a way to force your friends to choose between two options. The app features 11 different types of coins, including a variety of euro coins.

The Vatican euro offers a nice option for your Catholic friends.

My CoinFlip 1.2.3
Sandro Stricker
www.software.sandrostricker.de
$0.99

Wait, How Many Spider Rolls Did We Order?

Ordering sushi for large parties can be an exercise in chaos—especially after a few sake rounds. Sushi Boat! presents a list of common sushi offerings—nigiri, sashimi, and maki—so you can you pass your phone around to capture a digital account of your order. When everyone’s weighed in, tap My Order to see the tally, which can then be read to the server by whoever’s most coherent.

Handy translations ensure you won't order hamachi (yellowtail) when you want maguro (tuna).

Sushi Boat! 1.0
Impresario Digital
www.impresariodigital.com
$0.99

Automatic Name That Tune

Can’t put a name to the tune that’s playing over a public speaker system or at a party? Shazam can ID the song, artist, and album—then let you buy it directly from the iTunes Store. Just tap Tag Now and hold up your iPhone so it can “hear” the music.

Shazam effortlessly recognized Len's "Steal My Sunshine," after only hearing the first couple seconds of the song, which is a bunch of talking.

Shazam 1.5
Shazam Entertainment Ltd.
www.shazam.com
Free

Wash and Wear

LaundryPal is exactly what college kids whose moms coddled them and newly divorced bachelors need: It deciphers the often mystifying care symbols found on clothes labels, ensuring that you don’t machine-wash a hand-wash or dry-clean-only item. Even better, it includes a laundry how-to, as well as tips in each symbol section (Wash, Tumble Dry, Iron, and Bleach, Dry Clean, and Dry). If only it could fold your laundry too!

The Do Not Dry symbol is presumably interchangeable with the symbol for Do Not Tumble Dry. Otherwise there will be a lot of laundry noobs walking around wearing wet—albeit clean—clothes!

LaundryPal 1.2
Hip Fire
www.hipfire.com
$0.99

You Go Green, Girl!

We debated including this, worried that the manly men out there would balk at the app’s title. This iPhone version of Sophie Uliano’s best-seller Gorgeously Green provides you with the core info from the eco-conscious lifestyle guide. What tipped the scale in the app’s favor was ultrahandy lists and tips, such as which types of fish are OK to eat, how to decode the numbers on plastic bottles, which produce you should always buy organic, and more.

Which produce should you always buy organic? The GG Survival Guide's got your back.

Gorgeously Green Survival Guide 1.2
Optima Drama
www.gorgeouslygreen.com
$0.99

Unlike Mace, It Doesn't Require a Permit

Panic Alarm is a personal alarm that can’t immobilize an attacker the way mace or pepper spray can, but could very well be all you need to scare off a would-be perp. The app consists of a large Alarm button that appears on launch, which, when tapped (or if you shake your device), sets off a very loud alarm. You can also set the app to call an emergency contact after the alarm sounds for a certain period before it’s turned off.

In the settings, designate a contact to call if the alarm goes off for a specified period without being turned off.

Panic Alarm 1.0
Adduce Studios
www.adduce.se
$0.99

djay 3

Roberto Baldwin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:27:06 -0500

Spin the Beats on the Cheap (click to embiggen)

There are two camps in the world of DJing--analog purists and the cutting edge digital folks. While the purists will hold on to their vinyl like a child clutching its favorite toy, the digital folks are out there looking for the best way to rock the house while attempting to stay out of the poor house. With all the software and hardware aimed at digital DJs, it's easy to get fooled into thinking you need a few thousand dollars in equipment to bring the noise. The latest update to djay by Algoriddim will give you the power to rock the beats without breaking the bank.

For the beginner, djay is a painless entry into the world of DJing. For veterans, it's a wonderful addition to your arsenal that doesn't skimp on features. For $50, you're given a surprisingly powerful piece of software. Djay interacts with your existing iTunes library, offering instant access to any DRM-free music you have on your machine. The interface looks like a typical DJ setup with two turntables and a mixer. Drag songs from the music library in the app onto the turntables and they become virtual records complete with album art (if available) while the track name appears above the album with the time elapsed and time left. Helpful if you're in a dark room trying to figure out what song is on each virtual deck.

Fans of multi-touch will appreciate the quick gestures to fade between songs and the digital scratching. While virtual scratching has a ways to go before it replaces the feel and control of scratching a vinyl record, djay does a commendable job recreating the feeling via multi-touch on the track pad. As tracks are added to the mix, the app quickly displays the BPM to help you determine whether the song will work in the mix, or if you need to speed up, or slow down the track for a seamless mix. The Sync button will help match the BPMs of the two songs, or you can adjust it manually.

The new audio engine handles scratches, variable speed, and reverse admirably even going so far as to replicate the braking sound of a turntable that has been stopped while the needle is still in a groove. The smooth slow-down of the song will spark memories in those of us old enough to remember vinyl. The software ships with audio effects and an EQ to get the sound just right.

If you're tired of mixing and need a break, you can use the Automix feature, build a playlist and let the application take care of the mixes while you cruise the party.

Djay 3 will be available from algoriddim on September 29.

Bare Bones Software BBEdit 9

Arvind Srinivasan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:20:34 -0500

If BBEdit is bare bones, then Fat Albert is supermodel skinny. The versatile text editor can do so many things, we think it may contain some sort of alien technology. Bare Bones Software’s latest update, BBEdit 9, may well be the ultimate toolbox for coding on a Mac.

When we say text editor, of course, we are talking about a hugely different category from the word processors that “normal people” use. You won’t find fancy fonts, templates, or glitzy charts; instead, you will find color-coding, line numbers, and pure, unadulterated, text (exciting stuff, right?). Back in the olden days, programmers swore by vi or Emacs, but GUI’d text editors have introduced so much functionality that you wonder sometimes whether you’re writing the code or the app is. BBEdit’s feature set is enormous, and some might call the app the gold standard of text editing.

BBEdit does everything--it’s difficult to pick out a killer feature, besides the sheer level of control you get over, well, the features. If you, for example, write more HTML than anything else, you can customize the color scheme of the code, create a custom set of text clippings that you can insert via keyboard shortcuts, and write scripts (in almost any scripting language) that manipulate your code in any way, shape, or form. But HTML is just an example. The same functionality (and more) is available for almost any language you can program in. You can build profiles for each language, essentially facilitating different programming environments, all within the same text editor. Better yet, if your language isn’t supported out of the box, BBEdit has provided an SDK to developers, and there are a ton of language modules available for free.

BBEdit can tame your code demons easily.

We harp on the coding, because, really, that’s what BBEdit is designed for. Don’t expect to write your novel in it, a task much better suited to Pages or MS Word. BBEdit’s advanced features are all code-centric. BBEdit offers full read/write capabilities to FTP/SFTP servers and has a Preview In Browser button to check quick code tweaks, not only on your Mac, but in Windows browsers via VMware. It has built-in commands to compile and run code in Terminal, as well as check for syntax errors within the editor itself. It’s incredibly easy to organize and manage projects, as you can group several files and create a project file for easy access.

BBEdit also offers some other text gymnastics that are pretty great. One of our favorites is multifile Find and Replace. This is useful if you want to change a block of text, hyperlinks, or function names across different files, all at once. Under the same umbrella, version tracking is an easy affair, as you can compare documents handily with a simple command. You can also put to-do tracking in your documents, to maintain records of ongoing changes--or merely write obnoxious remarks in colleagues’ code. Autocomplete rounds out the big-ticket items, with a drop-down menu for every word or character that you type. While it sounded great in theory, the execution often disappointed. Not only was it slow (making it useless unless you just want to look up a variable or function name), but also, when it auto-closed HTML tags, it messed up, with <li becoming the syntactically incorrect <<li> </li>.