Click Here Technology Columns

Secret to App story: $1875 per day

2009-07-02T11:39:00.001-05:00

Want to learn how to make your iPhone app appear in Apple's top 100? Or learn about one app's success story. Read this article on TheAppleBlog

How bandwidth caps hurt your Mac and what Apple can do about it

2009-06-29T11:28:00.001-05:00

Interesting article I wrote on bandwidth caps and specifically what Apple can do about it.

Book Review: Facebook Me!

2009-06-21T22:36:00.002-05:00

We all know that Facebook is the hottest thing since maybe Friendster (anyone remember that?) or MySpace (does anyone go there anymore?), and unfortunately, Facebook constantly reinvents itself.

Whether you are logging on to Facebook for the first time, or are a pro, "Facebook Me!" will teach you some valuable tips and tricks on how to maximize your usage. The author takes the novice user through ever aspect of Facebook including a heavy emphasis on privacy and security. In particular, Awl's book will survive most Facebook interface changes because he focuses on the core values of why you are on Facebook and what you hope to accomplish. He handles such tricky issues as friending your boss and coworkers as well as to how to deal with friends who send you invites to every application known to man.

Awl gives great advice to new users on how to follow proper social mores on Facebook as well as how to prevent getting viruses on it. Experienced users will benefit from Awl's suggestions on topics such as how often and what to say in status updates and most important, how to check Facebook from work. Business owners in particular will benefit from this book's excellent explanation of pages, groups, and advertising on Facebook.

The book is extremely well organized so more experienced users can focus on the subject that interest them the most. A detailed table of contents helps readers hone in on their particular topics of interest and excellent use of color screen shots helps everyone visualize his descriptions. Although Facebook will surely redesign it's interface and the pictures will then look different, the concepts of keeping up with friends and acquaintances are at the core of Facebook. Awl's book is about how to use Facebook effectively, not merely a "how to" guide.

Pros: Well organized, detailed, perfect for novices and experienced users
Cons: Still doesn't tell me whether I should friend my Mom or not

Five out of Five Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

First Look: iPhone 3GS

2009-06-19T10:09:00.003-05:00

So the day finally arrived. I had to have something new. This was one of the only times I have waited in line for technology. But was it worth it.

Like previous years, it seems, AT&T was disorganized and confused. Multiple lines, frustrated customers, and some walking out empty handed.

I started camping out at 2:30am and was the fourth in line for my local store in Lawrence, KS.

Two of the people in line were "pre-orders" which meant they would get to go into the store at 7am. Other people had to wait until 8am or until after all pre-orders were fulfilled. Everyone was pleasant and polite from about 2:30am until 6:00am.

The first woman in line got there at 11:00pm on Thursday after she got off work. Two high schoolers before me were pre-orders and had their mom in tow.

At 7:00am the pre-order folks started being allowed in the door.

A small disagreement ensued when the store manager said that the rest of us would have to wait until 9am. Never argue with a group of iPhone users who can quickly pull up AT&T's website on their phones, showing that the opening time for the general public was 8:00am!

Around 7:30 the pre-work pre-order crowd started arriving and were aghast and quite ornery that they couldn't just walk in and pick up an iPhone. Never have I been to an AT&T store or Apple store when I could just walk in and be helped; you need to meet with a "host" or "concierge", give them your name and wait in line. One gentleman started getting physical, but quickly realized forcing his way in would probably cause him to loose his iPhone.

Around 8:00am we walked in and I met with the guy with whom I confirmed upgrade eligibility yesterday - except he was wrong, or we miscommunicated. The reduced-price upgrade is per line not per account. A second line on a family plan is almost never eligible, because in their mind it's only a $10 phone. Huh? I pay $225 a month to AT&T and they say my account doesn't generate enough revenue for 2 iPhone 3GSes. Arrrgh. Being the gentleman, I let the spouse get the iPhone and I was quite irate, but realized I was helpless. I wasn't going to pay another $200 dollars. I don't know why, but the iPhone 3GS sounds way too much like the Apple IIGs

Read about the rest of my experience over at TheAppleBlog

Dave is now Writing for The Apple Blog

2009-06-04T21:40:00.003-05:00

I'm honored and excited to be writing for one of the top Apple Blogs on the web. Please continue to read my writings at The Apple Blog I'll continue to post links here to my TAB writings as well as do writings for some other blogs.

Thanks to my loyal readers for encouraging me and giving me great ideas!

Book Review: The Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide by Chuck Toporek

2009-05-31T15:37:00.003-05:00

The Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide is designed to be a quick overview of the "gotta know" features of OS X. This is not a how-to guide or a step-by-step book; it is what we call in the biz "quick and dirty," give me what I need to know as quickly as possible. This book answers the typical questions an intermediate to advanced user needs to know when switching over to or supporting Leopard. There is no fluff in this book and very few pictures or illustrations. This is not a beginners book, but an ideal book for support technicians or people who don't want to have to contact a support technician. The book assumes a strong background in Mac fundamentals.

Primarly, Toperoek takes you through key functions of the UI such as the Finder, Dock, System Preferences, and the Leopard apps that had signficant changes. He briefly describes each function in Leopard and all the options related to it. This book helps you answer the question of "How do I" and "What does this function do?" Short, sweet and to the point. It's includes the 20% of the Leopard functions you'll use 80% of the time If you ever wanted to know the keyboard shortcut to any command in Leopard, it's in this book. The index is almost as powerful as Apple's Spotlight function and quickly allows you to hone on the questions you need answered.

A short review for a short 200 page half-sized book, but like the magna carta it is short yet very valuable!

Pros: Excellent overview of key Leopard functions geared towards intermediate and advanced users
Cons: No tutorials or pictures, but the technical Illuminati don't need such things.

5 out of 5 dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Hardware Review: Pogo Stylus

2009-04-18T22:56:00.000-05:00

The iPhone, as many people know, is an absolute masterpiece of form and function. However, all these functions are useless if you can’t actually touch your phone. Dirty or gloved hands render the iPhone completely useless. The Pogo stylus bridges that gap, allowing you to use a stylus to control your iPhone.

When the iPhone’s touch sensitivity works, it works great! However the first week I owned my iPhone I realized how vulnerable my phone was. I got a flat tire and began to change the tire when I ran into some trouble removing one of the lug nuts and decided to call roadside assistance. Oops. My hands were greasy and grimy and I simply couldn’t control my iPhone. Without paper towels or anything I was in major trouble. From then on I carried a disposable phone in the car with me! Similarly, in the winter, my iPhone also wasn’t terribly useful with gloves hands. Again, my expensive smart phone was dumbed down by a thin piece of leather. While this hasn’t happened to me, I’ve seen women with long sculpted fingernails look about as stumped as Edward Scissorhands with an iPhone. Why deny them the ability to use an iPhone?

Unlike other smart phones, you cannot use a regular stylus since the iPhone relies on the electrical impulses of your fingertips or other body parts. The Pogo is a stylus designed specifically for touch screens. The bottom of the stylus has spongy material designed to activate touch screens. The Pogo stylus was not as responsive as my stylus was on my old Palm Pilot, but the Pogo was still extremely useful. The material at the bottom was soft and won’t scratch the iPhone, and in fact, helped clean mine a bit. I was even able to use it with my GPS, keeping my hands warm on the cold days.

The Pogo package comes with a clip to help keep the Pogo Stylus connected to your iPhone without creating bulk. Unfortunately the clip did not work with my external iPhone case, but people who keep their iPhone naked will have no problem using the Pogo Stylus. At $14.95 the purchase of a Pogo Stylus is about the best investment in protecting the usability of your iPhone. You may not need it today, but at some point you’ll need your iPhone and your hands will be dirty, wet, or otherwise inaccessible. That Pogo stylus will allow you to make the call! I keep one in the glove compartment and another in my laptop bag.

Pros: Allows iPhone use in situations you can’t directly touch the screen

Cons: Clip doesn’t work if the iPhone has a case

Five out of Five Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review: Mac Migration: The Small Business Guide to Switching to the Mac by Jason Rich

2009-04-04T20:50:00.002-05:00

As an avid reader of Entrepreneur magazine, I had very high hopes for this book. More and more businesses are switching from Mac to PC and need a guide focused on how to get typical business functions done on the Mac. The book completely skips the iLife suite and takes the reader from the decision to buy a Mac over to the key tools a business owner needs in order to run a business on their Mac. Unfortunately, the book is incomplete, inconsistent and needs to check its facts.

The first few chapters of the book helps the reader decide which Mac to buy and how to set it up, then takes the reader through the built-in contact management functions and then onto the Microsoft Office suite and,finally, backups. This is not a how-to guide but rather an overview of the considerations to make when switching to the Mac and whether your business will be able to make that switch. By the time you have actually made the switch, the book will be of little value to you. Business owners on the fence about switching to the Mac will find comfort that it can be done and there are tools out there to help them do the job.

The author focuses too much on his personal preferences and has a recommended suite of hardware and software to buy, giving the reader few options if they wish to deviate from the path. For example, he devotes 60 pages to Microsoft Office but barely mentions iWork or Open Office which are both extremely viable alternatives for the average company switching to the Mac. Similarly, the penultimate chapter of the book mentions that every business should own the full $299 version of Adobe Acrobat when much of its functionality is already built into Leopard. The other programs he mentions are extremely expensive and often unnecessary for even advanced business owners. Why does he recommend Photoshop CS3 to a business user? This chapter could convince a business that it is too expensive to switch to the Mac.

The final chapter of the book is all about backups and Rich does an excellent job of explaining the various backup options the average business owner should consider. He goes through not only the Apple options, but third party hardware and software as well. Alongside with backups, Rich then covers (in the Appendix) something every Mac user should have: a full record keeping worksheet of all the important information about your Mac and the hardware and software that goes along with it.

Unfortunately, Rich is just plain wrong on some of his facts. Each chapter had a few minor facts wrong that would not impact the average business owner, but still reduces Rich's credibility as an expert and an author. The explanation of how to install software assumes that the software will begin installing as soon as you put in the CD, when in reality most programs that come on optical media require you to double click something to begin the install process. Rich also explains grey-market hacked Apple clones, which should never be used in a business. Rich even admits they haven't been tested nor are they probably legal, so I'm not sure why a business book would mention them. Entrepreneur Press is not used to editing technical books and it shows.

Pros: Cuts right to the chase regarding those aspects of the Mac most interesting to business owners
Cons: Extremely biased and doesn't empower the reader to make their own choices

2 out of 5 dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Software and Book Review: iPhone the Missing Manual, iPhone Book App

2009-03-01T15:06:00.000-06:00

Software and Book Review: iPhone the Missing Manual, iPhone Book App

I fondly remember the Seinfeld episode in which Kramer was developing a coffee table book...about coffee tables, so when I read about an iPhone book on the iPhone, I simply had to review it. Not that there is anything wrong with that, no of course not!

As an application, "iPhone the Missing Manual" was difficult to navigate at first. Instead of scrolling up and down to move from page to page, you swipe from left to right in order to move to the next page, much like turning a page of a book. Once I understood this design element, navigating was fine. Ideally, the program should have had a initial welcome screen explaining how to move around within the program. The text of the book was extremely clear to read and quickly rendered when turning pages. Other text programs I've used in the past had annoying delays going from page to page. However, the initial opening of the app the very first time I launched it had an abnormal delay of up to a minute, and I thought the app was hung.

While reading the book, I was able to quickly leave the program, check a function, and reenter without crashing. In addition, the URLs listed in the book were live and could be double clicked and opened in Safari. The table of contents was live and clicking on an entry took you to that portion in the book. The only major function lacking from a true print book was an index. The book also didn't tell you when it was at the end, which was annoying. The applications come with limited preferences to allow you to modify the colors and fonts of the book. The biggest problem with the book as an iPhone app was that it was inexplicably missing a search function.

David Pogue's writings in the entire Missing Manual series are always easy to understand and comprehensive in analysis. I reviewed the earlier edition of iPhone Missing Manual and Pogue did an excellent job of covering the new functions of the 3G iPhone as well as Mobile Me and the App store. Peppered throughout the book are handy tips that even advanced iPhone users may not know. Pogue adds quite a bit of information on how to use your iPhone in a corporate environment and connect to corporate resources as well as help you to convince your IT department to let you get an iPhone. Also expanded was the syncing and general troubleshooting section, though trying to troubleshoot your iPhone via an iPhone app might prove difficult.

Pros: Unique product for learning how to use your iPhone anytime anywhere
Cons: Slow and confusing upon first use, no search function

Four out of Five DogCows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review: The iPhone Book Second Edition

2009-02-22T14:43:00.002-06:00

Sometimes sequels are better than the original and sometimes they are worse. Then there is the genre of movies that shouldn't have been made in the first place, much less a sequel. The iPhone Book falls into the latter category. Kelby and White again fail to deliver a useful iPhone book for the money. For the price, the average iPhone/iTouch user would be better off with another book. The information in The iPhone Book is technically accurate and helpful, but there is simply not enough of it. Much of the space in the book is filled with iPhone screenshots and "too much information" about the author's personal lives and not enough iPhone facts.

Similar to the original version, each iPhone concept is devoted one entire page, no matter how complex or simple the subject. Turning on vibrate mode on your iPhone is given the same space as iTunes library syncing as setting up email accounts. If the superfluous white space and screen shots were taken out, the book would probably be about 1/4 it's current size. The target user for this book is someone who probably wouldn't normally buy a computer book. With the pictures and white space it's a quick and easy read and allows the reader to pick up the book without having to remember where they left off. The reader will have a basic understanding of the critical aspects of the iPhone in a very short period of time.

Overall, the book is easy to read, but would only be helpful to the absolute beginner new iPhone or iTouch users. Again, this review is short because the book is so short!

Pros: Quick to read and easy to understand
Cons: Not enough helpful information and explanations

2 out of 5 Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review: Cool Mac Apps

2009-02-15T14:23:00.000-06:00

Robin Williams (the writer and graphic designer, not the actor) has rightly earned her crown as Queen of the Mac. Her writings on Macintosh software is simply outstanding. While "Cool Mac Apps" isn't her best work, it's still a great book and compliments other books on how to use Leopard. In fact, this book should be seen as a companion to her other books on Leopard, most notably her "Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Peachpit Learning Series." "Cool Mac Apps" expects a basic understanding of how to use the Mac and the Leopard operating system.

The book assumes you have iLife '08 and Leopard installed, and while focusing on iLife, it still covers such Leopard applications as iCal, Mail, Address Book, Safari, iChat and Time Machine. I would have suggested calling this an iLife book, but with the addition of some of the more practical applications that don't fit into the iLife series, that wouldn't make much sense either.

Overall the book is a competent overview of iLife and other Leopard applications. The book was lacking in some of Robin Williams' trademark design. In fact, this book read like most other books on computers. The writing was a bit dense and lacking in full color photos and white space that increases readability. Dare I saw the book was a bit boring? The writing in individual chapters consisted mostly of features, menu commands and preferences and was lacking in practical applications or exercises.

After reading this book, don't expect to become an expert in any of these subjects, but if you feel you want to "dabble" a bit more and don't want to buy a whole book on iPhoto or iDVD, this may be a good book for you. This might be a good "in-between" book to help a reader determine if they want to explore iLife further. I would recommend this book to a Mac beginner who understands the basics of their new Mac, but wonders what all those programs that came with the computer can do.

Pros: Broad coverage of programs that come with new Macs
Cons: Lacks readability and practical application

2 out of 5 dogcows
Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Software Review: Stellar Phoenix Macintosh

2009-02-08T12:47:00.001-06:00

It is said that there are two types of hard drives: those that have failed and those that are going to fail. It is simple math: your hard drive will fail, it's just a matter of time. Obviously good backups are your first line of defense. Your second line of defense is a data recovery program like Stellar Phoenix. I reviewed their 1.0 product a few years back and the program was extremely rough around the edges and not ready for the general public. The 3.0 version of the software is a welcome revision, but the program still isn't a truly "Mac friendly" product, often using unix-style prompts rather then standard Mac dialog boxes. The program retails for $129 and has a 30 day money back guarantee.

Stellar is a primarily a PC based software manufacturer and it shows. Their user interface doesn't look like a Mac program. It follows few, if any MacOS design conventions. In particular, their help system uses Windows icons and the Windows help interface. Their marketing material also shows a fundamental lack of Macintosh background. They refer to repair situations that only occur on older systems running OS 9. In addition, they refer to "Lacie" [sic] drives, when they apparently means external hard drives. Why they are using the generic term "LaCie" to refer to external hard drives is unclear, but I'm sure Maxtor, Seagate, and Other World Computing are annoyed by it.

As stated earlier, the interface of the program doesn't follow Mac conventions and is quite confusing. You are faced with three choices for recovery: "Hard Drive", "iPod", or "Recover Photos, Music & Video Files." However, the options are basically the same whichever one you choose, which is confusing. Once you choose one of the recovery types you have to decide between "Formatted media/Lost File Recovery" and "Search Lost/Deleted Volumes." The documentation doesn't make clear the difference. The choices also don't warn you it doesn't recover from FAT32 or NTFS volumes, which many external hard drive and flash drives use. Other programs warn you of this fact, Stellar simply says no data found, which can be misleading at times.

Unfortunately, because development is done outside the US, the program documentation and interface suffers from the typical grammatical confusion that occurs after something is translated from its native language to English. Similarly, technical support is not US based and when I had problems I was unable to effectively communicate with them and have my questions adequately addressed. Do not count on being able to contact technical support if you purchase this product.

In spite of the language barriers and the interface, if you are able to figure things out on your own, the product seems to perform well. Obviously testing data recovery properly is difficult because most recovery attempts change the reliability of future recovery attempts. Nonetheless, I recently had an opportunity to try it both as the first program for recovery and the second program, and Stellar Phoenix effectively recovered data consistent with other programs in the same price range. However, unlike other applications in its price range, Stellar Phoenix does not have a bootable DVD version. You must install Stellar on a computer before you can use it. This greatly limits Stellar's ability to recover in emergency situations. Most other programs cost less and offer more options than Stellar.

Overall, the program does work, although the documentation and interface is quite confusing. This would not be the first nor the primary tool I would recommend to use in a crisis to recover files off a hard drive. If other options fail you, Stellar is worth at least a try with their free evaluation and 30 day money back guarantee.

Pros: Works decently and is another tool to try for data recovery
Cons: Poor interface, documentation and support.

3 out of 5 dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Software Review: Executive Sync

2009-02-01T11:31:00.002-06:00

Software Review Executive Sync

At one point in history, the word "executive" tended to stand for some type of higher-end product, or a product with special features that separated it from the merely ordinary. Unfortunately, today, when we hear "executive" we think of corruption, bribes, and incompetence. Executive Sync tends to use the newer, less appealing meaning of the word. However at $29.99, it won't wipe out your 401(k) unlike those other "Executives."

Executive Sync promises to sync files "to servers running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and more" as well as "keep your work or personal files up-to-date between home, office, and on the road." It does...but not really. I had inaccurately assumed the product was similar to Sugar Sync or Drop Box: I specify the computers I want synced and this happens in the background. I was wrong.

Executive Sync runs only on a Mac and the way it syncs is by mounting volumes from Windows, Linux and other operating systems. If you want to sync with a Windows machine, you must network your Mac to the PC and Executive Sync treats the Windows machine just like another disk. SMB file sharing is not a simple task for the average user. More importantly, in order to sync files you must be currently networked to the system you want to sync files with. Unlike other programs that sync through the Internet, Executive Sync requires you to remember to sync the files before you leave the office. Not sure how handy that is "on the road." In theory, you could set up a complex VPN so you could connect to your home or office computer from the road, but that is technology that costs significant money and I doubt the average person has any type of setup like that. If they did, they would have probably write their own software to sync files.

Inaccurate marketing aside, Executive Sync does synchronize files between two folders mounted on your Mac. The program was able to find subtle differences between two folders and keep them in check. It does not do this automatically. You must manually start the program and run the sync. While there is a scheduling option, the scheduling only allows you to make sure the files are in sync at the time of scheduling. If the files are out of sync, you won't be notified until the program runs again. Not only does this make it less convenient, but the program is quite slow. I synchronized two folders on my MacPro with about 40 GB of files and it took almost four hours. While running, the program was a processor hog and I couldn't do much else.

The final nail in the coffin of Executive Sync is the fact there is virtually no tech support for the product. It is distributed by Smith Micro, which has no technical support information for the product. When you click the link for tech support, it simply takes you back to the product information page. The product is not listed in their tech support forums or contact pages. The help section of Executive Sync is acceptable, but can never replace technical support if you have an issue that goes beyond what is covered in the help.

Ultimately, the product does the basics of what it says: synchronizes files between two folders. The user interface was straightforward and easy to understand and the installer was the standard drop into the application folder. The program lets you pick which folders you want synchronized and allows you to save the settings. However, the marketing is misleading as to the scope of what the product does and the inability to get technical support on the product makes it a program that is best to avoid when so many other higher quality options exist with more features.

Pros: Does accurately synchronize folders
Cons: Misleading marketing, extremely slow, no tech support

1 out of 5 dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review: Mac OS X Leopard Killer Tips

2009-01-25T09:41:00.003-06:00

Mac OS X Leopard Killer Tips by Scott Kelby and Dave Gales

New Rider Press, like many other publishers, has different book series around a certain theme. The "Killer Tips" obviously aren't about how to kill someone, but rather tips so sweet and juicy, you'd pursue them at all costs. In difficult publishing or photo editing programs, these tips can often make or break a deadline for you. The ability to save a few keystrokes everyday on a file that takes a few minutes to load saves time and therefore money. They describe killer tips as the sideboxes of most manuals that give you neat workarounds or "did ya know" type blurbs. They are also the tips that bloggers include often in their feeds.

With OS X, killer tips simply aren't as necessary. I've read most of this series in relation to the operating system. Each iteration of the MacOS makes usage easier and more straightforward and thus tips aren't as important. The tips in this version are less killer than they were in Tiger and much less than Panther. Even though all the cats of OS X are dangerous in the wild, they are becoming easier to understand and domesticate in each successive version. My review of Leopard Tips is harsher than Tiger Tips because there is simply less to cover and there is much more filler in this book that is inappropriate. The "sexy side" of Leopard weren't really tips, but more observations and the "cheap trick" section was fifteen pages of practical jokes you can play on people running Leopard Excuse me? Tips on how to create fake dialogs to scare users and how to corrupt their video so they buy a new monitor is more like a little knowledge being dangerous. Such "tips" ensures no IT department will want their users to keep this book at their desk.

Save for the "cheap tricks", a vast majority of the tips covered are so obvious even to the non-technical end user, that I'm surprised they authors weren't too embarrassed to include them. Do most users really need to be told that you can hide the dock? Also, this is either a pro or a con, but the last few chapters cover each iLife component. Personally, I don't use iDVD, iMovie, or GarageBand so maybe those tips are worth the price of admission. When you do the math, the actual Leopard tips are about 80% of the book; much less than previous versions.

As they state in the intro , this book is not really for beginners. If it isn't for beginners, why do they include such basic tips as having iChat's status be your current song? Yawn. However, even a broken clock is right twice a day, and there were a few cool tips in the book, in particular located in the Spotlight section. I learned a few cool shortcuts to writing searches, which might save me some time. I also found out how to make printers auto-quit after launching a print job. You click on their icon in the dock and choose auto quit. Oh no, now you may have no reason to buy the book. Of course, if it really annoyed me, I would have Googled and quickly found the tip.

While the book is accurate, it is generally too advanced for a beginner and too basic for an intermediate user. The book might be good for a new Leopard user, and possibly for a seasoned Mac user that simply wants to know some cool things in Leopard and doesn't want to try to self explore. However, that's a stretch. I really can't find too many people who would get value from the book and the "cheap tricks" chapter, well that cheapens the book's value to negative numbers.

Pros: Has a few good tips
Cons: Not enough tips for most people to justify the purchase. "Cheap tricks" are inappropriate.

1 out of Five DogCows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Hardware Review: A tale of two iPod battery extenders

2009-01-18T13:19:00.002-06:00

A tale of two iPod battery extenders

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I had the best phone on the market but not enough time to use it before my battery ran out. My iPhone 3G works great, but eats battery way too quick. When my hometown got 3G, if I didn't charge up at some point, I couldn't make it a single work day without running dry.

Two different type of chargers recently came on the market with clear benefits and drawbacks to each. The odds are that one of these will greatly help you extend the usefulness of your iPhone 3G.

First, is the Richard Solo 1800 battery backup for the iPhone ($69.95 at www.richardsolo.com). Richard Solo was started by Richard Thalheimer, the founder of Sharper Image. I tried their previous version without much success and thus declined to review it. The 1800 is a complete redesign of their previous model. The 1800 has a much longer battery life than earlier models, and some very serious thought went into the overall 1800 package. The unit includes a car charger as well as a wall charger. Either charger can charge both the 1800 and the iPhone at the same time. If that wasn't enough (but wait, there's more), the 1800 has a built-in flashlight and laser pointer. Yes, freakin' lasers (hat tip to Dr. Evil).

All these great accessories wouldn't do much good if it failed in it's primary mission of charging the iPhone 3G. Fortunately, it does a great job of quickly and effectively charging the battery. However, it has one major drawback in that it is very difficult to both charge and use the phone at the same time. The 1800 is about the size and thickness of the current iPod Nanos and sticks out from the bottom of the iPhone. This means it's nearly impossible to charge the phone while in your pocket. Richard Solo includes a connector to keep the battery firmly connected to the iPhone while in use, but it wasn't firm enough to keep the battery securely connected to the iPhone on a regular basis. I use it in my office sometimes while keeping the iPhone on the desk in speakerphone mode.

Even with the 1800's awkward design, it is still a great product and I use it frequently. It fits effective along with my iPhone car mount so I use the Richard Solo charger to charge both the 1800 and my iPhone. While talking on the phone with the 1800 connected is difficult, it's perfectly usable while using the iPhone for watching videos or simply surfing. In particular, I was easily able to leave both connected in the seat pocket of the airplane and let it pick up a charge while I had to turn off my electronic devices. It will charge most iPhones and iPods. However, one key disappointment with the 1800 is that it has no battery level indicator meaning I didn't know how much charge was left in the 1800 as it charged my phone.

Using a completely different design concept is the Mophie Juice Pack ($99.95 at www.mophie.com). The juice pack combines a basic external case along with a battery extender. When attached, the juice pack adds about an inch of thickness to the bottom of the iPhone and makes the overall unit slightly thicker. Nothing too bulky. Unfortunately, you can't use the iPhone with any other external case while using the Mophie no hard case and no silcone cases. The only type of protector that works with the Juice Pack are the plastic screen or case overlays. The Juice Pack is designed to be the exclusive external case for the iPhone.

When I tested the Juice Pack, I refused to take my iPhone out of my home. I was simply too afraid to carry around a partially naked iPhone. Who carries around an iPhone without some kind of protection? Apparently so, because after I used the Juice Pack for a day in my home and ventured out with my Otterbox securely protecting my iPhone, I found a vast majority of people I saw have no protection whatsoever. Naked, exposed and vulnerable iPhones out in the wild. If your iPhone is traveling naked, then the Mophie is absolutely perfect for you. Not only do you get extended battery life, but you get protection for your iPhone. While Mophie claims you can charge the iPhone and juice pack at the same time, I could not replicate these results; when my iPhone was plugged into the Mophie and the Mophie was plugged into the wall, only the Mophie charged, not the phone. Similar to the Richard Solo, the Mophie comes with it's own USB charger and power adapter. Because the Juice Pack is designed to act as a external case, it is device specific and thus you can't use an iPhone 3G juice pack for your iTouch.

Trying to compare the capacity in the real world between the Mophie and Richard Solo was impossible for me. I couldn't use the Richard Solo all day because it didn't fit into my lifestyle and I was too afraid to keep my iPhone only partially protected all day with the Mophie. After a few hours of use on a nearly drained iPhone, my Mophie was down about 30 and I couldn't tell with the Richard Solo, but both devices fully charged my Phone.

Which do I recommend? For those that don't use protection because it's too bulky (I could make some analogies here, but that will be major TMI), the Juice Pack is a decent external iPhone protector that extends your battery life, and probably the life of your phone. If you don't have an external case, the Mophie pack is clearly the better choice. If you are looking for the Red Bull quick-pick me up recharge, than the Richard Solo 1800 is great for you. Not only do you get the power boost, but the accessories are pretty cool as well. The Richard Solo is $30 cheaper to boot. However, you can't use those worthless Sharper Image Gift cards to purchase the Richard Solo!

Richard Solo 1800
Pros: Multiple chargers, other useful functions of battery pack
Cons: For ergonomic reasons, generally can't use the charger while using the phone

3 out of 5 dogcows

Mophie Juice Pack for the 3G
Pros: External case, slim design, battery indicators
Cons: Requires removal of any other external case

3 out of 5 dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Hardware Review: ProClip USA iPhone holder for your car

2009-01-04T11:46:00.000-06:00

My iPhone is one of my most indispensable tools. I use it everywhere and anywhere, especially in my car. Fortunately I have a Bluetooth speakerphone built into my GPS, so I can safely answer calls while driving. The only problem is that I often can't find the darn phone when I get in the car...until I got a ProClip.

Previously, my phone would be in my pocket, or my briefcase, or various other places. I tried the cupholder, but got nervous about my coffee spilling. I tried the glove compartment, but then it got knocked around. Most car accessories weren't designed for the iPhone 3G or required rather hideous stick-on devices for the windshield or dashboard. Even with those, the stability was marginal at best. Their key fault was that all cars are not designed the same, so something that works well in one car, won't work well in another vehicle.

ProClip is truly unique,and solves this problem. The clip consists of two parts. The first part is custom designed for your car; the "vehicle mount". I had to specify the exact make and model for the car: 2003 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The vehicle mount differs from car to car. Some go near the radio, some near a vent, some in the middle console. The experts at ProClip determine the most stable place to mount your device. Often times it requires a little bit of prying. I was wary about that at first, but it was very easy. It wasn't any harder than putting my iPhone in a hard case. Just place the tool at the predetermined spots in car and slip in the ProClip. I've had more trouble assembling a hard shell iPhone case then I did a ProClip.

The second part is the actual container for the iPhone; the "device holder". Unlike other iPhone holders, the ProClip has an adjustable model that allows you to keep your silicone or hard shell around your iPhone while the device was held in the ProClip. Again, I was skeptical about the ProClip. There was nothing to hold the iPhone in place except for groves in the plastic. However, after going over some serious bumps and even purposefully knocking the clip around, the iPhone remained stable and secure. Wow. There are other models that aren't adjustable forcing you to use your iPhone 3G naked as well as models that include chargers and pass-through connectors.

Unfortunately, with my car, the mount couldn't be in a worse place. It is extremely close to the radio and is in front of the volume button so I have to reach around the unit to change the volume. The closeness to the radio increases exponentially my problems with GSM buzz. Also, since I have a GPS on the dash, the placement of the phone partially obscures my view of the GPS and gets in the way when I want to program destinations. If I didn't have the GPS, the iPhone is in the perfect position for turn by turn direction viewing. If the placement in front of the radio wasn't bad enough, the ProClip also sits right in front of the heating vent, which means that on cold winter days I can't use that vent unless I want a blast of hot air to turn my iPhone into a toasty brick of plastic goo.

These mount problems are very vehicle specific. My spouse's 2008 Camry allows for a mount much further away from the radio and air vents. The website shows pictures exactly where the clip would mount on your vehicle. An associate of mine has the same car I do and has a ProClip mount. He never listens to the radio, has no GPS, and doesn't mind loosing one of the vents. In other words, my situation is unique.

ProClip is not a inexpensive solution. Vehicle mounts average $35 and the device holders are $30-$50. Also there is a 15% restocking fee should you need to return the item. That policy is a bit disappointing consider how personal and specific these vehicle mounts are.

In spite of these faults, I still use my ProClip unless I have a particularly bad GPS buzz problem or it's a really cold day. I enjoy knowing exactly where my iPhone is and I can easily see callers while I'm driving. When my GPS doesn't have my client's address, my iPhone is always able to find it.

Pros: Custom designed holder for your iPhone and your vehicle. Keep your iPhone in reach without messy suction cups or mounting tape
Cons: Very vehicle specific and often requires you to compromise other vehicle functions. Unfair restocking fee.

3 out of 5 Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review: On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders

2009-01-04T11:31:00.001-06:00

Book Review: On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders
by Michael A. Banks.

I remember my first CompuServe experience back in the early 80s. We were living in Ohio and my uncle worked in Columbus for some computer company. He had his own computer, which was absolutely amazing to me. I was in middle school at the time and remember being allowed to use the TRS-80 in the administrative offices. The computers were cool and I was hooked. I could chat with girls who didn't take one look at me and walk away.

"On the Way to the Web" brought back a lot of memories about the early days of the Internet and on-line services. I'm not sure people who weren't involved in on-line computing during the 80s and 90s would have that same nostalgic smile. If hearing the words eWorld or AppleLink doesn't ring any bells then you probably wouldn't enjoy this book. Banks assumes you know these services and their place in online history, and more importantly, how their development was parallel to the development of the greater Internet. Having lived through this dramatic time in history I still found myself confused on the relationship between these services and the Internet.

The first few chapters are amazing, and effectively captured the headiness of those early days during the 1970s when TCP/IP was not preordained to be the preferred way of computers talking to each other. After commercial online services entered the scene, Banks focuses primarily on those services and their lineage. While online services were clearly important to get us where we are today, he tells the history in a dry and matter-of-fact manner without explaining what else was going on at the time. The level of detail he went into about how these services was over the top. The book is hard to follow because the author tells too many stories at once. I constantly had to refer to the appendix to review the timeline. I expected more about the people involved, rather than the competing companies and their online strategies.

Overall the book was an enjoyable trip down memory lane, but fails to explain how we got from the origins of the Internet to where we are today.

Pros: Nice historical overview of the Internet
Cons: Hard to follow

Two out of Five dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Software Review: iSale 5

2008-12-09T11:58:00.000-06:00

With the economy slowing down, more and more people are looking to sell their stuff on eBay. Putting items on eBay one at a time is a pain. Serious sellers use software to prepare and optimize their auctions. iSale is one of the best apps for creating and maintaining eBay auctions and is a clear leader in taking advantages of all the nooks and crannies of the Macintosh Operating System. They are a two-time Apple Design Award winner and their credentials shine through in iSale 5.0.

Some of the new features in 5.0 aren't terribly compelling. For example, iSale 5.0 allows you to post your auctions on social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube. However, if you are posting on eBay, you probably already tried to sell your items via your social network, thus I don't see much usefulness in this feature. Expanded in 5.0 for users running Leopard is the integration with iCal. You can be notified when your auctions are going to end so you can start bugging buyers to pay you.Of course, like with any new release, there are more templates and backgrounds for your auction, which is nice, but not really worth the price of admission. People don't buy items based on how cool the template is.

The killer feature that makes 5.0 a must-have upgrade is the Research Assistant. If you sell on eBay, you probably already check for other auctions similar to yours as well as Google your item for facts to include in your auction. iSale 5.0 automates this function. Search for an item and it will scan a preset list of websites including currently running auctions on eBay. When you see an auction similar to yours, click "create auction" and iSale copies the pictures and text from the listing...even the category. Of course you'll have to worry about copyright issues, but you can easily tweak things to comply. If you only want to use part of the text from a website, the Research Assistant allows you to easily copy and past the text from within the program or save it into a clipping file for later. I easily modified the Research Assistant to include eBay completed auctions and Google groups so I can see what the going price was for something and possibly copy info as necessary.

My one complaint about iSale is it is a processor and memory hog. Even on my MacPro 2 Ghz CPU with 4 Gig of RAM, iSale seems sluggish. It would often take 70-120% of processor cycles and over a gig of RAM usage for just a few auction items. All these features come at a price and if I sell enough on eBay, maybe I can even upgrade the computer!

Equinux has a great trial version. They'll let you download the program and try three auctions for free. No reason not to try it and see if you like it.

Overall iSale remains a great program to sell items on eBay and the 5.0 upgrade's research Assistant is well worth the upgrade price of $25.00 New iSale users will have to pay $39.95 for a single pack of $49.95 for a five user pack.

Pros: Existing selling features combined with the Research Assistant make selling quick and easy
Cons: Memory and processor hog.

Four out of Five Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Hardware Review: Otterbox Defender iPhone case for the 3G

2008-11-16T10:09:00.001-06:00

Otterbox Defender iPhone case for the 3G

When I had a bit of an accident with my last iPhone a month after purchase, I was determined to find the ultimate case. I wanted a case that was comfortable and functional yet protected my iPhone as much as possible. A quest! A quest not with trusty steed and map, but with my trusty Macbook and search engine. I wrote a list of exactly what I wanted: protect every single exposed port, silicone on the outside to prevent slippage, hard shell protection in case of impact, protect the screen without reducing the ability to tap, and finally still fit in my pocket and iPhone accessories. That case is the Otterbox Defender.

What is an Otterbox Defender? I remember seeing something about them at the MacWorld press room, but if you've seen one iPhone case you'e seen them all. Boy was I wrong! My quest came to an end once I installed the Otterbox Defender. This is clearly the 800 pound gorilla of iPhone protection and function. The Otterbox Defender consists of two main parts. First is the silicone overshell that protects ALL the ports, and I mean all: the volume, the headphone jack, the docking port, the ring silencer; everything. When the silicone shell is on, not a single port of your iPhone is exposed, though it's very easy to operate the buttons through the silicone (or to flip open the protector.).

The other part of the Otterbox Defender is a hard shell case underneath the easily removable silicone. The hard shell includes a screen protector built in, so you don't have to worry about those annoying bubbles underneath those stick-on screen protectors. The shell even covers the speakers at the bottom and the front with a slight bit of cloth (remember none of the iPhone case is exposed). Honestly, I noticed maybe a 5% reduction in sound quality when it is in the hard case. However, the slight sacrifice in sound quality is far outweighed by knowing my $300 investment is protected. The camera shutter also has a plastic overlay to protect it while still allowing you to take pictures. The pictures are every so slightly less clear with the plastic overlay, however cleanup in iPhoto restored them to near perfect quality and people couldn't tell the difference between photos were taken with the case on and with the case off.

I used the case for over a month now, trying to weigh the pros and cons of the case. Besides a slight reduction in voice and picture quality, the case is just about perfect and I'm hard pressed to find any cons. Sure maybe maybe a transparent aluminum or the ability of the iPhone to accept a Shields Up voice command would clearly be the ideal solution, but in the 21st century the Otterbox is the best balance of protection and function on the market.

Finally, the Otterbox staff was an absolutely a pleasure to deal with. When I had a delivery problem, I didn't have the run around typically found with large companies. Otterbox is based in Fort Collins, Colorado and is neighbors with one of the world's greatest microbreweries, Coopersmiths, and gosh darn it, I think that just makes them happier people! I'm biased though.

The Otterbox Defender is available for $49.95 retail at www.otterbox.com and is hands down the ultimate iPhone case.

Pros: Protects every single nook and cranny of your iPhone and provides the best of hard shell and silicone protection, while leaving all functions of your iPhone intact
Cons: Slightly noticeable reduction in voice and picture quality

Five out of Five dogcows.

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Electronics and Water Don't Mix: What to do

2008-09-21T18:55:00.002-05:00

Liquids and electronics never get along well . Most people know never to use a hair dryer in the bath, or plug in a appliance with wet hands and of course, never drop a cell phone in the toilet. Nonetheless, at some point in your life you will likely spill your favorite beverage on your computer. Here are some tips to minimize damage if such an accident happens.

Your first instinct will be to run and get paper towels to clean up the spill. That is not the best solution. As long as your hands are dry and water did not get near a power plug, go ahead and immediately unplug the computer from the wall or turn off your surge protector. Most of the damage done by liquid is when the components "short" out. If power is cut quickly, the damage might be minimal or not at all. For laptop users, you need to go through the additional step of removing the battery, since the computer can run on battery power as well. Sometimes removing a laptop battery can be tricky , so it's a good idea to know how to do it now. For desktop users, usually the damage is only to the part liquid was spilled on such as the keyboard or mouse. However, because laptops are all in one, spilling liquid on them has the potential to damage all the stuff inside the computer.

After power is cut, go ahead and clean up the spill. Be sure to "blot" and not rub as rubbing could push the water further. Paper towels do a great job of this. If it's a sticky liquid such as soda pop or orange juice, your task is much more difficult. Water dries out, but sugar stays and can melt when the computer heats up. Yuck! Sometimes rubbing alcohol will help clean off some of the non-liquid remains, so you can try that if you wish.

Your next task is to dry the wet part out best you can. There are many tales on the Internet about the best way to do that. I don't like using a hair dryer because the heat could damage components unless you are very careful. The best solution is to use a desiccant pack which are often found in boxes of shoes or in pockets of new clothes. Put whatever you want to dry out in an air-proof container with the desiccant. A sealed garbage bag works nicely. If you can't go out and get a desiccant pack, use good old fashioned rice (that's why restaurants put rice in the salt shakers -- to draw out moisture). Wait at least a few days before using the device because you want to make sure it is completely dried out. In the summer when humidity is high, give it another day or so. Don't try and use the computer too early. Not only do you risk damage to the device, but you risk damage to yourself!

If your device still doesn't work, you are probably looking at replacement. Again, laptops usually require the whole unit need to be replaced. You might want to contact your insurance agent. Sometimes accidental damage like this is covered under your homeowners or business insurance policy. You can usually "schedule" your electronics on your insurance policy for just a few bucks a year and usually have to pay no deductible for replacement -- check with your agent for details. Additionally, if the item is less than 90 days old, you can often make a purchase protection claim on your credit card. Don't rely on your extended warranty; unless clearly stated, extended warranties don't cover accidents!

Hopefully, you will not need any of this advice for along time (if ever) but if an accident occurs, you will be ready to do everything you can to save your computer from a watery (or soda-poppy) grave!

This article appears in the Kaw Valley Senior Monthly

Software Review: Mercury Mover

2008-09-14T18:07:00.000-05:00

MercuryMover is a program designed for fast typists who hate using the mouse. For these people, clicking the mouse to access a menu or function is as obscene a gesture as showing one's middle digit in public! I too avoid removing my fingers from the keyboard and use either my Macbook trackpad or my Contour Rollermouse. MercuryMover allows you to move or re-size windows without having to move your hands off the keyboard, and implements the idea well.

MercuryMover runs as a System Preference, making it easy to install and remove. I run a fairly complex suite of applications and ran into no compatibility problems. The special modifier keys to move or re-size windows are fully customizable, so if there is a conflict with an existing program, the MercuryMover keys can be rerouted. By default, the program is set to use the control, option ,and arrow keys to initiate a re-size or move. After pressing the hotkeys, use the arrows or "jump" modifiers to move the windows one pixel or one screen at a time.

On a practical level, this program isn't going to change your life. The program shines when you want to have tiled or cascading windows open and need to move or re-size the windows. For example, I had iCal and Excel open as I was transcribing billing statements for client sessions I stored in iCal. In addition, I was remote controlling my desktop computer and MercuryMover allowed me to accurately re-size windows, which is a problem in a remote session due to "lag time" between mouse clicks.

Unfortunately, you can configure every key but the key to dismiss MercuryMover from the screen (it is set to escape and can't be changed). As a keystroke economist, I'd want the key to close MercuryMover closer to the modifier keys such as control and option. Fortunately, you can simply click somewhere and MercuryMover gracefully flashes off the screen.

My major concern about the program is price. I firmly believe in the shareware pricing model and know that developers should earn a decent wage. However $19.00 seems like a large sum of money for a simple shortcut application. I wouldn't be able to justify the purchase of this program based on the price, it simply isn't worth $19.00 to save mouse-clicks to move and re-size windows and the price is out of step with other keyboard shortcut programs of this type.

Pros: Quickly re-sizes and moves windows without using the mouse
Cons: Limited configurability, price

Three out of Five DogCows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Software Review: SugarSync

2008-08-31T22:52:00.001-05:00

Ever need a file and realize that you aren't on the right computer or device to access it? The file is on the desktop, but alas, you are on the laptop. What if you are at a public place and need the file? Do you want to open up your whole computer to the Internet, or just want to share a small portion of your files?

What SugarSync does is very similar to some of the functions of MobileMe. You specify folders on multiple computers you want synced and whenever something changes in those folders, the software pushes down the changes. Obviously this function only works for people who have MobileMe subscriptions and who have Macs configured with their MobileMe account. SugarSync opens this ability to both Macs and PCs that don't have MobileMe subscriptions.

SugarSync is file syncing "for the rest of us" as Steve would say. Installation is a breeze. Install the program and it expertly figures out how to get to the web without reconfiguring routers or firewalls (some Windows third party firewalls might need to give SugarSync permission to work). For $2.49 a month or $25 a year, you get 10 gigabytes of storage space in their "cloud". You can install the software on as many machines as you would like to sync with because pricing is based on file size. Upgrades to add additional space are allowed. Once installed, file updates are nearly instant. Within a few seconds of putting your files in a folder configured for sync, the file is on a secure website and it automatically synced to all the machines you specify.

The program is officially still in "beta development and testing" for the Mac, but I've had no problems using it. I heavily rely on the program to sync service orders which are scanned on my PC and then read on my Mac. In particular, I like the fact it allows other to access these files (with a password) without giving them any file sharing privileges on my Mac. Unlike file sharing or MobileMe, SugarSync keeps the last five versions of files, so if a collaborator makes a mistake, you can access the previous version. I have been using the program for six months without a hint of trouble. Even if you don't sync between two devices, simply using SugarSync to back up 10 gig of information from your computer to their website for off site backup is well worth the $25 a year.

There are a few minor bugs, such as the inability to delete a machine you are currently syncing with, but I found the support quick and responsive when I had programs. You get to specify icons for the computers you are syncing with, but are given a limited selection of icons for that. Custom icons would be great, but that is a feature request, not a bug.

Other programs do this type of syncing but not quite the way SugarSync does. SugarSync's closest competition is DropBox, which currently works under the same website synchronization concept, but is in development and only allows 2 gig of backup space on their website. DropBox is "by invitation only" so can't easily be reviewed at this point. FolderShare by Microsoft does syncing between computers, but doesn't have the robust version tracking and website backup that SugarSync has.

However, for me, the greatest features is the iPhone interface, which all its competitors lack. The SugarSync website is optimized for the iPhone browser, making it a breeze to read documents synced with them. In addition, they recently developed a full iPhone app for SugarSync, though I currently find the SugarSync website easier to use on the iPhone than their app (the app was release the last week in August).

Pros: Quick reliable backup and synchronization of files on Macs and/or PCs without paying for a MobileMe subscription
Cons: Minor customizations quirks that don't effect usability, could be knocked out of position once DropBox gets out of beta

Five out of Five Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Software Review: BusySync

2008-06-22T22:41:00.001-05:00

BusySync was one of the top rated products from MacWorld 2008. I immediately got a review copy and have been happily using it ever since. Though I had some initial setup problems, the product has worked so well that I simply forgot to review it. A program that works in the background and does what it says it will do is quite a refreshing surprise!

BusySync has two major functions. First, it allows you to sync with Google calendars. Google has functions that allow users to share calendars with the optional ability to edit someone else's calender. However, getting Google to sync with your iCal is key. That's where BusySync comes in. Purchase and install BusySync with a one time charge of $25, and you'll be able to sync your Google calenders with iCal on your Mac. On initial view, this sounds very ho-hum. You may not even use Google calendar, so why care? Ah, becuase Google is Google and everyone syncs with Google. For example, if you have a Mac at home and a PC using Outlook at work, Google can act as an intermediary to sync your iCal with Outlook. If you don't have an iPhone with Mobile Me, send a text message to Google and it will put an appointment on your Google calendar, and then BusySync will transfer it to your Mac.

But wait? Doesn't Mobile Me allow you to share calendars? Why even mess with Google? Ah, Mobile Me allows what they call "calendar sharing", but like at most museums, you may look, but not touch. If you share a calender with someone via iCal, they can't change the information. Sometimes that is good. The Lawrence Apple Users' Group 2.0 has a shared iCal. We want members to know about events, but not change them. However between myself and my spouse we need the ability to change events and have it appear on each other's calendar. Friends call and move the dinner party from Monday to Wednesday, I want the ability to change both of our calendars (and if you don't trust your spouse on your calendar, well can't help with that). In addition, I use BusySync and Google to control an associate's service call calender. I can put service calls on his calendar, and if he changes the time because a customer is running late, the changes show up on my iCal. I allow him to subscribe to my iCal via Mobile Me, because I don't want him to change my calendar, only view it.

The other function of BusySync is the ability to sync between iCal without paying the yearly Mobile Me fee. If you are sticking with Mobile Me because of the ability to sync calendars between multiple computers or multiple people, save that $99 a year (Shh, don't let Steve hear that). Some people work with sensitive data and don't like the fact that Apple can see their schedule. BusySync running under Leopard allows SSH syncing between computers, so the data travelling across the Internet is secure.

When I setup BusySync, I had some initial problems. Google did not like the amount of appointments I had. I was trying to sync five years worth of data and it was too much data to send to my Google calendar at once and Google thought I might be spamming myself. After some very helpful suggestions from the developer, I archived my old appointments and let Google pick up just the new ones. That's one great thing about artisan software: you speak directly with the developer. I didn't have to wait on hold with off-shore tech support only to have them tell me to reformat my Mac. Sometimes I notice that if I change the time of a recurring appointment, the next time BusySync works it's magic, it shows both the changed time and the recurring appointment. This somewhat makes sense, and it's easy to see and fix. BusySync logs all of the changes it makes, so tracking down problems is easy.

BusySync realizes that it's working with important data--all the appointments in your life. It makes up to five backup copies of your calendar, so if it or you make a mistake, there is a easy way to restore. I wish Apple's SyncServices did that. More than once I've had a weird sync and all my data get corrupt. If I didn't have TimeMachine, I'd be in a world of hurt! Thanks BusySync.

Also thank you to BusySync for not just responsive tech support, but an extensive, detailed, and updated online help system. Syncing is complex and BusySync has numerous diagrams to illustrate this difficult concept. I had some trouble figuring out my overall sync strategy and BusySync's website made it crystal clear. Can we say that about MobileMe?

My only major complaint is the fact that you can't have more than one Google account configured within BusySync. I have work and personal Google accounts and I'd like both to sync to my iCal. The workaround is to have my personal and work Google calendars talk with each other, and then I sync both to my iCal. Also on my wishlist is the ability to specify how many days of syncing I want on a calendar. I would like to BusySync to allow me to only sync the past 30 days (or any number I choose), similar to how you sync your computer with your iPhone. BusySync's syncing is all or none. Either you sync all items or you sync no items. This lack of flexibility prevents me from giving the program a perfect five dogcow rating--and a gentle nudge for features to include in the next version.

PROS: Does a great job of syncing calenders between computers, and between google without yearly fees. Software is stable and reliable with great tech support.
CONS: Locks you into one google account and "all or none" syncing

Four out of Five DogCows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Hardware Review: AM OneClean Duopack ™

2008-06-08T22:29:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately, I'm a member of the eat-at-your-desk club. I know the kitchen is just a few steps away, but until I get an iPhone, the idea of not being able to surf the net or Facebook is just too much to bare. Of course, some of you might actually be doing work during your lunch hour, so your excuse is better than mine. At least eating at my desk makes sure the dog always keeps me company: just hoping for the occasional crumb.

Even if you don't eat at your desk, the keyboard is a wonderful petri dish of anything and everything that your fingers touch. Yuck. If you want to get really grossed out, think about those shared keyboards on corporate computers, or the IT person that goes from keyboard to keyboard spreading whatever they have along with half the company. Freaked out yet? You really should be. Do Google comparisons of your keyboard and a toilet seat.

Not to fear, AM One Clean Duopack Cleaner is here. While I've heard of using Lysol or other cleaners, these aren't made for computers and could potentially do damage. AM Cleaner was especially designed to disinfect computer keyboards. Not only does the solution disinfect, but the cleaner sponge is specifically designed to get into the nooks and crannies of the keyboards because there is stuff hiding in there. The keyboard cleaner did a great job removing the grime and junk after my extended lack of cleaning.

The kit also includes a screen cleaner which does a great job, though it works horribly on the glossy Macbook (and newer iMac) screens. I have yet to find a good cleaner for those screens! That is the major flaw of the product and makes it unacceptable for users of glossy screens. If you own one of these Macs, buy the keyboard cleaner and wait for a product designed for glossy screens.

What makes these products designed for the Mac? Style of course! Instead of looking like a spray bottle and sponge, the kits match the colors and texture of the current Mac model line: brushed metal for the Pro and newer iMac line and glossy plastic for the Macbook and white iMacs. The sponge and cleaner are integrated into a stylish holder that looks like it was provided by Apple itself. People won't accuse you of being a germaphobe with this handy device on your desk.

Next time you eat at your desk or IT says "move" and uses their magic fingers on the keyboard, pull out your AM cleaner and do your part to protect your health.

PROS: Cleans icky keyboards with style
Cons: Makes glossy screens look icky

Three out of Five Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual

2008-05-04T20:34:00.001-05:00

Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual

My review of Leopard: The Missing Manual won't be nearly as complete as David Pogue's typical brilliance. How can someone write about the Mona Lisa? You must actually experience it to fully understand it. (Ohh...now I just made my trip to France tax-deductible). As always, Pogue's Missing Manuals contain the nitty-gritty of every available function and possible combination. I compared the excellent Tiger edition with the Leopard edition side by side to see what changed.

The 300 extra functions in Leopard only added about 50 pages to the book, which is larger than a phone book and more complete! The Leopard edition had less handholding for Windows users, which is ironic because Boot Camp attracts more Windows users. Cut from the Tiger version of this book were among other things .Mac and iSync integration as well as some terminal tips and tricks.

Missing Manuals are well known for covering each and every function of the subject they cover and of course this version does not disappoint. Do you want to know the in-and-outs of Bluetooth on your Mac? No Problem. Screen Sharing? It's got it. Every single function of Leopard is covered. The book is designed as a reference guide, not a tutorial

This is not the book for basic user who just wants to send emails and surf. There will be too much information and the almost 900 pages will be intimidating. This is for the person that wants to eek every last ounce of performance and function from the computer. They squeeze the toothpaste to the very bottom and use double coupons for items on sale. Novices may also be turned off by no coverage of iLife.

Pros: It's all there. Every function, every System Preference. You name it, it's got it along with Pogue's style of easy to understand explanations

Cons: Consult a doctor before lifting this book, it's heavy. Might scare off novices.

Five out of Five DogCows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right