I like applications that make my life easier. Anything that helps me avoid post production for example is usually something I’ll fall in love with if I can apply it to my work. If you noticed in the last screencast, I was able to better display screen shortcuts sans what Screenflow offered me. While Screenflow is certainly an excellent tool, its specific text tools were not geared towards my application. Instead, I was using something called Mouseposé, which is a must have if you ever do screencasts. Many of you probably already know about it, or even have it. I just came across this wonderful tool, and would like to share my walkthrough with all the other new screencasters out there.
Find the Best Deals on your iPhone in Gazaro. Review and Giveaway.
Some call me a deal hunter. Others call me Bargain Finder the Barbarian. I’m a savvy connoisseur at purchasing things at great deals; a savant at money spending. Part time window shopper, part time wishful thinker, I might not be exactly rolling in cash, but I always do my best to spend my cash wisely when I find something I want - usually for the cheapest price available. On the iPhone, it’s more difficult to look up prices, because I can’t utilize my Google Shopping, camelcamelcamel extensions, and other promo sites I often have in tabs gobbling up Google Chrome.
The timing was well placed, as at that very realization I received an email in my inbox which eventually turned me onto what is probably my new favorite toy, since it integrates everything I’d ever want on my desktop when researching product prices and trends. Strap your wallets no more you high spending goons and goonettes, because I’m about to take you on an adventure through the world of Gazaro.
HipChat, Business Communication’s Must Have
Business communication is incredibly important whether you’re working with clients or you’re discussing the latest coffee spill from your board meeting. While some may rely on e-mail to keep up to tabs, let’s not forget that this is a relatively archaic way of chatting.
The folks over at HipChat have presented to us a wonderful new chat application built on Adobe Air that is designed for teams, groups, business, collaborators, and people who want to have a focused medium for tracking and recording their conversations. While the words “Adobe Air” might scare you, we wouldn’t be reviewing this if it wasn’t seriously cool, and as it takes two people to chat, I present to you today another DoubleStory feature.
Zooom/2, Freestyle Window Management [VideoStories]
MacStories has covered a few window management apps, including Cinch, MercuryMover, and SizeUp. Today, we’re going to bring you yet another window manager, this time for those who can’t keep their hands off their clickers.
Zooom/2, despite its name, is a handy window manager that makes moving and resizing windows just a tad easier. It isn’t revolutionary, but it’s definitely worth taking a look at.
Instead of grabbing the corner of a window, you are given the option to move, resize, and maximize/minimize by holding a couple of modifier keys from anywhere in your target window. The demo is a little confusing though, since the default settings conflict with the instructions (just something to be aware of), and you’ll want to enable “Require mouse click to activate” to follow along. Other than this minor caveat, learning the app only takes 30 seconds to learn - and you’ll be happy you went through the demo.
Otherwise, I think this is a pretty cool app, but it’s a bit buggy. Magnetics didn’t always work like I wanted them too, so I left it off. The ignore list initially confused me, because I thought checking an item disabled that particular feature, rather than enabling it. Overall I think it’s pretty solid, it’s 64-bit compatible for Snow Leopard, and it features what the developer describes as “clean code” (although I thought hiding the dock icon required some kind of hack). Anyway, check out the video for a quick demonstration on it’s feature. Trust me, this one is short!
DoubleStory: Mailroom, Gmail at your Fingers. Review and Giveaway.
Like Mailplane for the Mac, Mailroom alleviates some of the pain of using a Gmail account on the iPhone or iPod Touch. Using a long, complex password I created in 1Password, it’s a pain in the butt to manually log into Gmail with my credentials each time. Especially when you have multiple accounts. While 1Password does make an iPhone app (that I do have), it’s still not a simple process to log in.
Mailroom allows me to save all of my Gmail credentials in the app, but what makes that different from Apple’s own mail? Federico and I have decided to team up for this review, so you’re going to get a little something special today - a MacStories double team if you will.
Ghostly, Mood Music Monotony
I’m a big fan of things like Last.FM, thesixtyone, and other services that can turn me to new music or help me get into (or out of) certain moods. Ghostly Discovery is a free application that allows me to get into the mood of things. Or at least tries to. On one hand it’s an application that I really want to love. On the other, it’s hard not to look past some obvious pitfalls.
Let’s take a look shall we?
myPhotos, The Photo Collective
Trillian is Now: A Great Alternative to Adium
You know, I have to be quite honest when I say that Adium was never meant for me. Some people love the customization, others love that it’s open source, but the big green duck was never cute enough to enthrall me in its myriad of customization options. While I wish Apple would step up their game and bring things such as Facebook to iChat (which in my opinion, is the most pleasurable to use), there really hasn’t been a major alternative to Adium on the Mac.
Well this is certainly changing, and new Mac users coming from Windows will be happy to know that Trillian has finally arrived in alpha.
Filemailer, The Pros Alternative to Email Attachments
Writing for MacStories, I often send a lot of .zip and photo heavy e-mail attachments to others. Unfortunately, there really isn’t a better way to privately send data (okay, Dropbox), but for those looking to increase their attachment prowess, I’d say it’s time to quit dickin’ around in Gmail and get with the program.
The Filemailer program.