Mac|Life all RSS Feed

Cisco Lands On iPhone With Security App

J.R. Bookwalter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:49 -0600

If you take your Internet security seriously, now there’s an app for that.

Launching today in Apple’s App Store, Cisco’s SIO To Go is a free iPhone app that allows users to get customized alerts on new and breaking security threats as well as additional information for safe web browsing.

SIO To Go pulls its information from Cisco’s SIO (Security Intelligence Operations) system, which collects real-time data from 700,000 sensors located at Internet service providers, customer sites and other points around the world. This collective data lets Cisco engineers track Internet and spam attacks effectively.

The iPhone app allows users to check if a certain website may be compromised, including applicable links within those sites, such as videos or podcasts. SIO To Go is also effective at spotting new malware signatures, complete with bulletins on how to handle such threats.

But Cisco is quick to point out, SIO To Go isn’t for everyone. Security marketing director Michael Weir explains that the app was written for professionals and security hobbyists, not the average Joe. “I can make it applicable to my needs and the security needs of my [enterprise] network,” Weir concludes.

10 Creative Gifts for Designers

Roberto Baldwin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:55:00 -0600

The designer is more than just a person with a computer. The designer creates almost everything you see no matter where you go. That billboard on the way to work, a designer created that. The can that holds your favorite beverage, a designer created that as well. Your favorite book, your favorite album, your favorite video game, a designer created the visual aspect of all those items. With that in mind, it can be difficult to figure out what to give a designer for the holidays. Do they want crayons? Do they want a crate of pens? Well they probably want those too, but we have compiled a list of 10 items that we believe will bring a smile to the designer in your life.

Wacom Intuos4 tablet

A mouse is great for selecting items. When it comes to drawing though, nothing beats the real-pen feel of a tablet and pen. The Intuos4 features 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity force. Try getting that sort of sensitivity from your favorite HD pencil. The tablet's pen fits into a weighted pen holder that houses up to 10 pen nibs. For painters who pine for the days of old, the pen's orientation dictates the angle of the pen brush in popular graphics programs. Throw in an OLED display and a radial menu and you have the best tablet to help designers create the best designs.

Pantone Color chart

Designers can stare at the screen all day. It won't help them figure out if the colors they're using will match their client's curtains. Thanks to the power of Pantone, designers can have actual swatches at their desk that'll help them please that client who can't seem to be able to determine the difference between green and teal. Pantone color guides are available for CYMK, spot color, web and other color environments. Matching colors, it's a magical world.

Epson Artisan 810

Designers need quality prints. They also need a copy machine, a fax machine, and the ability to scan. Fortunately, Epson has the Artisan 810 all-in-one printer to help designers accomplish all of their print, fax and scanning tasks without have a mess of wires and peripherals all over their desk. The Artisan delivers stellar prints quickly on a variety of paper stocks. Add Wi-Fi connectivity, a slick touchscreen interface and cram all of that inside a stark black device and you have an all-in-one any designer would be proud to place on their table next to their T-square.

Adobe CS4

We can talk about Adobe substitutions until we're blue in the face. The fact of the matter is, there's a reason that Adobe has the creative market wrapped up. With every update they've enhanced their core products, while finding ways to help the designer work faster and smarter. There is no gift you can drop on a designers desk that'll get them more excited than a brand new CS4 box set. Whether the designer is web based, a print designer, or a motion graphics magician, Adobe has a suite for them. If you really want to make someones year, drop the Master Collection on them. They'll explode with glee.

Adobe Font Folio

Eventually every designer falls in love with typography. The elegant beauty of the Q, the rigid base of the M. It's an art form that designers utilize to convey a message with only a word and style. With that in mind, it's important for a designer to have a large supply of quality fonts at their disposal at all times. Sure you could download free fonts from the Web with their tendency to be corrupt. Or you can get the designer in your life a Font collection like the one from Adobe. They'll have 2,200 glorious fonts that'll keep them happy and may inspire them to suck you into the Bodoni versus Time New Roman debate. You have been warned.

X-Acto knives

Just because a majority of design takes place on computer doesn't mean that a designer shouldn't have a well stocked arsenal of X-Acto knives. When a designer has a project that needs a bleed or a die cut, the X-Acto knife is their weapon of choice. To the average person, a box of knives seems like overkill, even a bit diabolical. But to a designer, it's mana from ultra-sharp blade heaven. Just be sure they have plenty of Band-Aids and Neosporin available.

Helvetica: The Movie

It's a move about a font. Before you roll your eyes and mumble about designers being obsessed about fonts and color, it's a great movie about a font. The feature-length documentary examines the most prevalent font in the world. The film will not only delight designers, it's also surprisingly entertaining for non-designers. So prepare the popcorn and Whoppers and get comfy, the Helvetica DVD will be documentary fun for the whole family.

The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color

This quintessential book on color theory was originally published in German. Thankfully we can get Johannes Itten's masterpiece on color and how it affects us in English. This hardcover edition of the book will open designer's eyes on the emotional impact of color and objective color principals with the help of color reproductions in the book. Designers will never look at color the same way again after reading this book, and that's a good thing.

Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph

Illustration programs with their fancy stroke weight options have all but made the Rapidograph a quaint reminder of days gone by. That doesn't mean that designers don't still crave the ability to create precise lines with these technical pens. These stainless steel-nibbed beauties are forged in the mines of Mordor. Okay, they're not forged in the mythical land of Mordor, but their craftsmanship is exquisite. If you know a designer that still goes old school with their art and is tired of the not-quite-black and messy quality of the typical Sharpie, give them a Rapidograph set.

LaCie blue eye pro

Monitor calibration is critical for designers working with photographs and photographers. It can mean the difference between a glorious sunset and a muddy mess of orange and red. The LaCie blue eye pro calibration solution creates a hardware-to-software solution that is compatible with Apple's ColorSync software and all the major design applications. The kit comes with the colorimeter and a sweet ambient light diffuser/protective shell. It's like having a tent over your monitor. If the designer in your life is serious about color calibration, check out the blue eye pro.

10 Essential Gamer Gifts that Promote Fragging

Florence Ion — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:48:28 -0600

Calling all gamers! Whether you’re a die-hard Mac addict, have a separate Windows PC for all of your hardcore first person shooting, or prefer owning any or all of the three major consoles out on the market today, we’ve got something for the gamer on your list.

The Razer Naga is a mouse made specifically for Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming and comes equipped with a variety of features to make raiding in your favorite MMO title less of a hassle. The multi-button thumb grid allows you to program it either as the number pad or the numbers at the top of the keyboard, making every command in the game available with just a thumb click. The Naga also comes with add-ons for World of Warcraft and Warhammer—both of which are readily available on the Mac platform.   

The MPro 120 pocket projector from 3M uses an advanced liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) electronic imager and touts super enhanced image quality with full color. The long battery life and VGA output will ensure that this projector is fueled and ready to go right “out-of-the-box” so you can play your Wii anywhere there’s a blank wall.

They never said that table top gamers weren’t Mac users, right? The RPG Table 1.1 application for Mac OS X allows you to map out your own campaigns, create minis, chart the corridors that your characters will explore and keep track of the score for each round. You can even add notes to each object on your map and refer to it when you and your game partners come at a crossroads.

Last night on Earth: The Zombie Game is a full featured board game will teach you and your friends how to master the skills of survival during a zombie horde takeover. This fast-paced game of, well, luck with throwing dice pits you and your friends against each other as you battle against the race for survival. Pit up to two teams of zombies against four other different characters, each complete with their own background profile and custom game piece. The game seats 2-6 players and takes up roughly 90 minutes of game night.

No other game company has been able to compete with Microsoft’s own Xbox game controller. This USB connected peripheral has vibration feedback, a flexible cord and is ergonomic. For Mac users who want to play a fast paced first person shooter on their new Mac Pro or iMac, download

The Steelseries 5L mousepad is made out of plastic, though the surface feels as soft as cloth. It’s suitable for all sorts of mouse sensitivities, though it’s especially optimized for laser mice. Even if you’re not a gamer you’ll feel the different with Apple’s standard Mighty Mouse.

The Logitech G35 comes equipped with 7.1 surround sound, which will make even the easiest puzzle game sound extremely detailed, especially because it’s powered by Dolby. It also comes with three interchangeable headband cushions so that every head in your household enjoys the comfort of the G35’s surround sound. Additionally, there are also on-ear audio controls and three customizable “G-keys” for one-touch commands. And, if you’ve got a tendency to really get into character, the G35 also allows you to morph your voice into a Troll, Mutant, Alien, Giant, Cyborg or Space Squirrel—whatever that is.  

With big releases like Peggle, Zuma and Plants vs. Zombies, it’s no wonder that Pop Cap has become a household name. Now, the popular casual gaming company has released its own “Mac Pack”, featuring the following titles: Bejeweled 2, Bookworm, Feeding Frenzy, Iggle Pop and Zuma. This MacPack costs about $50, so you get five games for 50% off.  

You probably never thought that an ergonomic universal remote actually existed, but Logitech makes one with a full-color touch screen that allows you to control your electronics, even when they’re out of sight. The Harmony 900 comes with a full-color touch screen with easy, one-touch access to any and all of your electronic entertainment, and RF wireless capability. So, why bother having a ton of remotes to deal with when you can just have one? The Harmony 900 will replace any and all remote controls, and for the gamer this is the perfect way to sync up all of his consoles.

  For all that it does, the Wii sensor bar doesn’t get much love these days. Instead of leaving it on top of the television to collect dust, why not outfit it with Darth Vader’s lightsaber? LucasFilm has released an officially licensed Darth Vader Wii Sensor Bar holder figure that snuggly holds on to your Wii sensor bar without compromising performance.

     

Threadless Has Pretty Threads For Your iPhone

J.R. Bookwalter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:06:14 -0600

What do you get when you match original art from the Threadless.com community with a sleek, smooth-to-the-touch case for your iPhone from Griffin? One awesome case!

With two retail outlets in Chicago and another office in Boulder, Colorado, Threadless.com has been helping artists expand their creations onto wearable products for almost ten years. The online design community picks the best user-submitted designs and the winners have their work put up for sale.

It all began when founder and CSO Jake Nickell won a T-shirt design competition for an event in London, which inspired he and friend Jacob DeHart to form the company. “We’re always looking for new opportunities for artists,” proclaims Nickell in a Flash video on their website. “Griffin came to us with this idea about making iPhone cases that would have artwork on it. We made it happen, and it’s awesome.”

Griffin Technology is a familiar name in the gadget world for its wide variety of iPod and iPhone accessories. “In the iPhone space, we’ve seen a lot of collaborations that were more about just getting a certain name or a certain logo and gluing or stamping it onto the back of a case,” explains Griffin president Mark Rowan. “We really want to start from a deeper level, get the outside design influence, have them talking to our designers and coming up with something that’s really unique for the channel partners.”

The first two designs available are “Birds of a Feather” by Ross Zietz and “Clouds Within the Thunder” by Joe Van Wetering (shown here). “This design came to fruition after I defeated Zeus in a bar fight,” says Chicago-based Van Wetering of his winning creation. “With my bare hands.” He’s been a Threadless member since 2004 and has 8 printed tees.

You can visit the Threadless site to buy the matching T-shirt or case (compatible with both 3G and 3GS models only), download iPhone wallpaper and learn more about the artists. Budding artists can also join in the fun to be considered for future releases. As Threadless puts it: “You never know, your design could be next!”

Want To Be an AppStore Star? AppCircle May Be For You!

Matthew Tilmann — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:47:56 -0600

Looking for your app to get noticed and become the next major player? Flurry's AppCircle may be the tool to do just that.

According to VentureBeat, analytics company Flurry, has released AppCircle, whose ultimate goal is to help iPhone and iPod Touch apps get noticed. But Flurry would also like a piece of the app pie. The thinking is that with Flurry doing their part to help get the app noticed, it will help to generate more sales on that platform anyway.

Developers can use Flurry's analytics for free, just by putting a piece of code in their iPhone/iPod Touch apps. Flurry then obtains lots of data about what users do, how much time is spent with an app, what other apps are used, and how much money users spend on apps. Flurry is also tracking Android-users in the same way.

If users go on to purchase a recommended app, then Flurry is able to know about it. The company is then able to take their cut of the purchase and the app developer keeps the rest.

The payment process works as follows. A user pays the retail price for an app on the app store. The developer gets 70 percent of the gross sale, while Apple gets the other 30 percent. Then the developer shares either 50 cents or 30 percent of the app gross (whichever amount is higher) with Flurry. Flurry halves that between itself and the host app. Finally, Apple gives 5 percent to Flurry through Linkshare. When all is said and done, Flurry only winds up with 20 percent of the gross in the end, and they do not receive anything unless a transaction occurs.

Many developers are already trying out the feature, including major players like Viacom and Namco.

Flip Goes Wireless For Next-Gen Camcorder

J.R. Bookwalter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:26:04 -0600

Pocket-lint.com is reporting that Cisco will be adding Wi-Fi to its popular, pocketable Flip digital camcorders as early as the first part of 2010.

According to a Cisco representative, the new model will feature “a large screen that slides to reveal the record and men buttons underneath,” allowing users to see what is going on when they are recording video. However, the new, larger screen won’t be touch-enabled, not surprising given the low-cost nature of the cameras.

Such a move would be the first to leverage Cisco’s networking technology since they acquired Flip creator Pure Digital earlier this year in a multi-million dollar deal.

The concept behind adding Wi-Fi is to enable owners of the next-gen models to record video footage and then upload it right from the camera over either private or public Wi-Fi networks, which is becoming increasingly common with point-and-shoot digital still cameras.

Powered Wheelchair Users Now Have an App for That

Matthew Tilmann — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:17:35 -0600

Dynamic Controls unveiled a unique app at Rehacare in Germany, which will enable powered wheelchair users to utilize many features through their iPhone and iPod Touch.

According to 9 to 5 Mac, the company has managed to integrate an iPhone into its power wheelchair electronics, which allow users to use the wheelchairs as normal while still gaining access to a variety of information and control system access of their chair while using the app.

The app solution connects a user's iPhone or iPod touch to the wheelchair system to display chair information in real time, as well as speed information in kph or mph and gives a compass heading. A cradle mount is also available.

Charlotte Walshe, Dynamic Controls CEO said, "We recognized the iPhone has revolutionized the way people communicate and saw the opportunity to develop this solution for wheelchair users, taking full advantage of Apple's 'Works with iPod/Made for iPhone' developer program."

The technology works with iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPod touch V2.0 and 3.0.

No Relief For AT&T In Opening Salvo With Verizon

J.R. Bookwalter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:13:55 -0600

Sadly for Apple’s domestic partner, AT&T, the first round in a legal battle with Verizon Wireless over their “There’s a map for that” ads is a defeat. A Federal judge in Atlanta declined to grant AT&T a temporary restraining order in an effort to force Verizon to stop showing the ads.

The series of ads almost appear aimed directly at the complaints of iPhone users against AT&T, showing two maps of the United States with seemingly poor 3G coverage in blue from AT&T, while the majority of the country is blanketed in red showing coverage from Verizon.

AT&T responded with a lawsuit in Federal district court earlier this month, going on the offensive in an effort to paint the Verizon ads as misleading. According to AT&T, the ads imply that mobile phone users outside of the blue areas won’t have any data or voice coverage at all. They don’t dispute the validity of the map’s depiction of the actual 3G coverage, but the reality is that any connection made outside of the blue 3G area will use the company’s slower EDGE or GPRS network.

For their part, they suggest that the advertisements simply point out that AT&T is not investing enough in upgrading its network to handle the increase in traffic from data-hungry smartphones like the iPhone. At any rate, Verizon has tweaked their ads slightly to make it clear they are referring to 3G coverage and not the slower 2.5G service. Verizon claims five times more 3G coverage, which their maps seem to bear out.

“While we are disappointed with the court’s decision on our request for a temporary restraining order,” says AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel, “we still feel strongly that Verizon’s ads mislead customers into thinking that AT&T doesn’t offer wireless service in large portions of the country, which is clearly not the case.”

In a sweeping 53-page rebuttal to the court earlier this week, Verizon claimed that AT&T is not suing because the claims are false, but because it doesn’t want to face the truth about its network.