I have been using computers for about 25 years, and have owned a variety of different platforms. Over the last 15 years I’ve owned nothing but PCs running DOS, then Windows. I had never owned an Apple product (and never thought I would), and really didn’t know much about them. In high school I learned Pascal on an Apple IIe, then wrote for the school paper using one of the very early Macs. Several years ago I worked for a magazine publisher and there were many Macs there that the designers and editors used. I was around Macs then and picked up a little, but was never really that intrigued.

About 2 years ago I saw an iPod and was completely blown away. I had heard about them but never really thought that it was something I would want…. until I held one. So I bought one the next day and have been thrilled with it ever since. After my iPod experience I became interested in Apple and started following Apple news and products. Then I saw a Jobs keynote where he showed the iMac, Front Row and Dashboard and I must say I was more than a bit intrigued. It looked like such a beautiful platform that really focused on style and elegance. For several months to follow I read a lot about Apple and the Mac and listened to the Maccast.
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I’ve had a number of friends recently switch to Mac. They may have known how to use their Windows PCs well enough, but they weren’t what some may call “power users.” Having switched to the Mac, they’re finding themselves actually enjoying the use of their new computer, and wanting to know more. One of the first things I show them is some simple tips for browsing the web with Mac OS X’s built-in browser, Safari.

In our last Back to Basics, we explored how adding contacts to Address Book can add additional functionality to Safari.

This time, let’s look at some more basic features of the modern browsers that can dramatically improve your every day browsing.
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Manufacturer: Belkin
Price: $79.99US
iPod Compatibility: 1G/2G nano, iPod mini, 4G and 5G iPod
More Information: Wirelessly Control Your iPod with the Belkin SportCommand™ for iPod®

On Monday, Belkin announced a rugged wireless remote for the iPod. The target market is for outdoor sports enthusiasts, regardless of the weather. The idea is that you expose the remote to the elements, while keeping your iPod safe in a bag or in your jacket.

The controls themselves are made out of a durable fabric that attaches with Velcro™ to a flexible armband that you wear on the outside of your winter jacket or outer gear. The basic buttons are there—PLAY/PAUSE, FF/REW, and Volume UP/DOWN. They look chunky and tactile, so you can easily skip to the next track with your gloves on.

Just below the controls is a screw-tight piece where the battery resides. I read from a large image of the SportCommand that there’s an indicator light for battery level, but it wasn’t readily apparent where that indicator is on the front of the device. The remotes wireless bits are probably stored inside that same compartment.

The SportCommand remote velcros to the armband, which looks rugged as well.

The press release doesn’t show the other side of the equation, that is, the part that connects to your iPod. Also, the SportCommand is simply a remote, you’ll still have to run your headphones from wherever you’ve stashed your iPod to your ears.

If you play hard in in-climate weather, and you don’t want to pay to have your iPod built into your jacket, the $79.99US Belkin SportCommand for iPod looks like a great solution.

You can find more information about the SportCommand here.

How many times have you launched something like Illustrator and been frustrated by the hundreds of tools thrown in front of you, when all you need is a simple application for creating a quick logo, map or other drawing? Or perhaps you are new to the world of design and you need to create something, but do not have the budget to spend on every single app on your shopping list. Until now, there has not really been a viable alternative, so Freeverse steps up to the mark with their ‘Lineform’ application.

Many of my comments in this review may seem to sound negative, but I need to put you straight on this right away. When I say that Lineform offers a simplistic interface, or takes the easy route to giving me the tools to do the job in hand, this is really a positive. For many years now I have used Freehand instead of Illustrator because the interface makes it a lot simpler to find your way around. Lineform is very similar to this, the interface is very clean and allows you to get on with what you are trying to achieve. When you need more powerful tools, they are on tap too, but without being over-complicated (unlike some very expensive apps).
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Apple now has 3 new “Get a Mac” ads up on their web site. These are the ads that, until recently, seemed to only be playing in some Apple retail stores. The ads are titled “Counselor”, “Self Pity” and “Better Results”. The “Better Results” ad is the much anticipated and talked about ad featuring Brazilian super model Gisele Bundchen. I don’t know if these are airing on TV yet, but my guess is if they didn’t start airing last week we will probably see them starting today.
[ View Apple Get a Mac Site ]

The idea behind a new program ScreenRecycler is that most Mac users have some old computer sitting right next to their main computer on their desk that is gathering dust. ScreenRecycler is intended to let you use that machine as a second monitor for your main computer.
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A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Live from Podcast Expo 2006 in Ontario, CA. A special episode recorded in the Orange County Podcasters booth on the show floor of the Podcasting and Portable Media Expo. Victor Cajiao (Typical Mac User) and myself took the opportunity to sit down with some great podcasters who also happen to be Mac users. We spoke with Fr. Roderick (Catholic Insider), Rob Walch (Podcast 411), John Chambers (One Minute Tip) and Chris Christensen (The Amateur Traveler). We discuss how they became Mac users, what some of their early systems were, how they use Macs in life and in podcasting, plus a whole lot more. It was a lot of fun talking with these guys and I hope you have as much fun listening to this as we did recording it.

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Links
The Catholic Insider
Podcast 411
One Minute Tip
The Amateur Traveler
Rouge Amoeba Fission
Revolution in the Valley (Amazon)
Folklore.org
Mac Folklore Radio

I often ask myself, just how many items can someone review and still give a fresh and interesting evaluation that readers will be willing to read. This was more difficult to answer than I first thought, but I came to two conclusions. Firstly, it helps if the product is useful and well thought out and secondly, it pays dividends to actually use the product.

The Danger Mouse from MacMice fits nicely into both of my realizations and I am sitting here right now writing this review whilst actually using the product. I feel instantly at home with it for many reasons and all of these reasons fit into the ‘well thought out’ category.
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While those in the professional Mac community often enjoy industry-standard content creation tools provided by powerful programs like Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Motion, and Logic Pro— there are also many Mac users in the educational arena who have long reaped the benefits of easy to use, intuitive and powerful educational software made by Apple.

Apple has long prided itself in the educational community, offering solutions for both educators and students alike for over 25 years. Because of their continued effort to produce fun yet powerful software like the iLife suite of applications, it’s no surprise that recently a group of 10 year-olds from schools in New South Wales, Australia have been producing some extraordinary material.

Recently The MacCast received a letter by Paul Meldrum, Senior Education Officer of the Catholic Schools Office, in Broken Bay. Paul wanted to write and let us in on the incredible work of the students of New South Wales.
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A podcast about all things Macintosh. For Mac geeks, by Mac geeks. Show 160. Mac OS X 10.4.8 update, Aperture 1.5 released. iTunes 7.0.1 Update released. Intel shipping “Quads” staring in November. Another Apple preview, .Mac Webmail. New Jersey’s new iTunes tax? Apple and SecureWorks now working together. New iMacs have 802.11n capable chips. Hide System updates you don’t need. Transferring Outlook info to Mac using O2M. Will NAND flash memory bring us new laptops? OS 10.4.8 adds click wheel zooming. MacCast needs some Wiki love.

New music, Pandemonium by Ocean Street.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking. — Airplane! (1980)

Shownotes: HTML or OPML
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