Maccast Members 156 - Stuff I Use

Opening

• I realized that I don’t talk about the things that I use with my Macs and devices.
• This changes over time and it’s probably worth me doing a show on occasion just to talk about the cool products, software, and stuff I’m currently into or using.
• I’d also love to hear from you on any cool stuff that you’ve discovered. It can be hardware, software, accessories, a web site. Whatever.

OS X Software

• Byword - USD $9.99
  • I now do almost all my writing in Markdown
  • Dave Sparks turned me on to this editor and I love it
  • Simple clean interface that looks the same across all my devices and Macs
  • iCloud and Dropbox integration
    • Had issues with iCloud sync after my camping trip.
  • Can also preview from the app and export to RTF, HTML, PDF, Word, etc.
• Marked - USD $3.99
  • This gives me a live converted preview of the Markdown files using a template that I can choose
  • Also how I like to export my MD files into other formats.
• Tower - USD $59.00
  • Git client for OS X
  • Being a web developer this is invaluable to be.
  • I could use the command line, but the Tower app provides a great GUI
  • I move to it from the GitHub app because I needed more advanced features. Specifically the ability to easily perform ‘Rebases’
  • I can manage multiple repos, it has all the stuff you need. fetch, push, pull, commits, merge, rebase, stashing.
  • It integrates with remote Git repos (gitHub, Beanstalk, and Bitbucket support)
• Sublime Text 2 - USD $70
  • I switch to this as my main code/text editor when Textmate was not going to get a new version
  • It has all the functionality you’d want.
    • Projects
    • code highlighting and code completion
    • Awesome searching in a file or across files and projects
  • My favorite is easy multiple selections, but then also the ability to edit those selections simultaneously
    • Saves a ton of time when I want to say mass edit a class name in an HTML file.
  • Quick keyboard command to go to a symbol, line, or search location
  • A command palette, works like Quicksilver, to perform tasks. Say adjusting the syntax or perform a file diff.
  • Extensible. Has tons of add-ons. Modify color schemes, add functionality, etc.
• LogmeIn Free - Free
  • Combined with LogMeIn for iOS
  • Remote control access to my Macs at home
  • Takes care of all the hassles of managing dynamic IPs on my machine.
  • iOS app works great, has great gestures support. I’ve even managed Macs from an iPhone no problem.
  • Can also access remote files and pull them down to your iOS devices. Separate UI for that.
  • I have also set up VNC and SSH access
    • I use iSSH - USD $9.99, for that access. Can shave my SSH keys.
    • I also bought Prompt - USD $7.99, but have not used it yet.
• Bartender - USD $15.00
  • I think I mentioned this on a Maccast, but worth mentioning again in case you’ve missed it.
  • Let’s up place menubar items into a sub-menubar.
  • You can also hide menubar items completely
  • Set up keyboard shortcuts to show or hide items and toggle the bartender menubar on or off.
  • Really cleans up the menubar.
  • I needed it because when I moved to lower resolution displays, like projectors, I was losing menubar item access.

iOS Apps

• Tayasui Sketches - Free/USD $2.99
  • I am a sucker for sketching and drawing apps on the iPad
  • I own and have tried them all. Paper by 53, Procreate, ArtRage, Sketchbook Pro
  • What I love about Tayasui Sketches is it seems to combine my favorite parts of each of these apps into one app
  • Simplicity of the Paper interface and tools. Also the cool design.
  • Complex texture and rendering of the Artrage brushes
  • The simple tool adjustment controls of Procreate
  • With the $2.99 upgrade you get moderately advanced tool controls. Not like Sketchbook Pro or ArtRage, but I rarely need that much control
  • Sharing has a cool “envelope” metaphor and UI.
• 123D Design - Free
  • A way to get started with simple 3D design modeling
  • Has all the tools and primitives you could need
  • Using it on an iPad makes it easier to manipulate objects in a 3D space
• Snapseed - Free
  • For editing and color adjusting photos on my iOS devices this is my preferred tool.
  • All your basic controls. Crop, straighten, brightness, contrast, saturation, automatic adjustment
  • Uses the power of the touch interface. slide your finger up or down to select your mode and then left to right to apply the adjustment or effect.
  • The real power is in the selective adjustment. Control points sample and allow you to pinch to create a masked selection. Then you can apply brightness, contrast, and saturation adjustments in specific parts of the photo.
    • Pull details out of shadow areas or adjust a sky without impacting the grass or trees.
  • Great effect filters with preset that you can also tweak.
  • cool frames and borders.

  • Import JPG and RAW, export to camera roll or share on social media.

    Hardware and Accessories

• Ten One Magnus
  • I actually got this in a speaker bag at Macworld I think
  • Sat on my shelf for a while and I just started using it.
  • It’s a small base for an iPad2, iPad 3rd or 4th generation
  • Machine-crafted from aluminum, with magnets to hold the iPad. Minimalistic design.
  • I use it as a second informational display on my desk
    • Tweetbot
    • Status Board
    • Apple Remote app for iTunes
  • The main disadvantage is that it’s landscape only. Also, it’s a fixed angle.
  • Can’t use with cases. I only use a Smart Cover (need to remove), so not an issue for me.
  • USD $49.95