July 4th, 2008
Similar to the Character Map application for Windows, CharacterPal is a Dashboard widget that helps you input foreign symbols. For instance, do you remember how to make this Apple logo appear on your keyboard?
(!!!)
‘Course you know! It’s Option + Shift + K! But if by some incidence you forgot how todo this, CharacterPal can always help you remember. Now you won’t have any problems knowing how to make the Apple logo appear using keyboard presses.
Tags: Apple logo, CharacterPal, Keyboard, Option Shift KShare This
By Jayvee -- 0 comments
July 3rd, 2008
I just got an iPod Touch last week. I bought it because I was working on a project and I needed the iPod Touch for the project. I’ve seen and played with the iPod Touch when it first came out but I didn’t “live” with it.
I guess I didn’t appreciate the iPod Touch as much as I do now. It’s really like a mini-computer that fits at the palm of your hand.
In the week that I’ve had my touch, I barely used the music features of it. I used mostly the internet features of the touch. From surfing, chat all the way to checking email. The Touch made it so convenient for me.
Although I didn’t use the music features a lot, I did use the video features. It was also a great coincidence that I got iTunes GCs as a present from my dad. I loved the fact that I could rent a movie on iTunes, start watching it on my Mac, transfer it to my iPod Touch, watch it there some more and transfer it back to my Mac if needed. This feature really came in handy during my hospital visit.
What really got me was the ton of apps I could install on my Touch. My favorite is TouchPad Pro. It allows you to control your Mac via VNC. While there’s a lag, it’s good as a remote control. It needs some work but it’s really a great tool.
The apps really got me excited for the launching of the App store. I can’t wait to see the apps that will be available.
Now after living with an iPod Touch, I can’t see my life without it. I realized I don’t need the huge storage space that the Classic has. I need the features of the Touch more.
Share This
By Juan -- 0 comments
July 1st, 2008
The first year I brought my Mac to camp to handle graphic presentation, I was still a bit of a newbie. I knew the basics of what my software could do, but I hadn’t really learned the details and I certainly hadn’t upgraded any of my software. The great thing, of course, was that even a newbie on a Mac looks really good compared to proficient on a PC.
If you are doing graphic presentation of any sort and want to do it well, you definitely need Dual Monitor support. All of the current Mac laptops offer dual monitor support, as does the current iMac line. If you are lucky enough to have a Mac pro, you can actually handle up to 8 monitors, but we won’t be getting into anything that complex.
Assuming you have dual monitor support, one of the easiest "tricks" to set the stage for great presentations is simply change your desktop. If you have ever been to a presentation and somehow the presentation crashes or they have to transition to another presentation, you have probably seen pictures of their kids, a ton of icons, and whatever other junk they keep on their desktop. Because I do so many presentations, I don’t keep any icons on my extended desktop. I also tend to keep my extended desktop black. If something fails and I have to show the desktop, all they see if a black screen, not my killer Napolean Dynamite Mac desktop.
One of the great things about Mac, is that you can set a different background for your primary desktop and your extended desktop. This means you can keep your custom desktop and not give up that personalized Mac feel while still maintaining the professional presentation you are going for.
Another great thing about Mac is the built in random image on your desktop feature (I am sure it has a cooler name than that). A couple years ago for camp, we had a bunch of pictures that we wanted to use as a default background slideshow. Instead of building a video file and have to put it up all the time, I simply set my extended desktop background to be the folder of all the images and clicked the change pictures check box. Set it to every 5 seconds and the OS does the rest. I had a perpetual slide show and whenever I transitioned to a video or other image, it automatically switched.
—–
There are a ton of little tips and tricks I will share over the next few days. Some involve extra software or advanced features. Others are simple things like today’s tip that simply involve knowing your computer and what you are trying to accomplish. I am hoping that through writing these I will learn something new as well through the comments. What do you do to prepare your computer for presentations?
Share This
By Chris Marsden -- 0 comments
June 30th, 2008
Last week I was at camp in the middle of nowhere. We do a ton of multimedia things with the kids, which I was dying to tell you about. Some thunder and lightening later, and my plans and free time changed and my internet went bye-bye. So stay tuned for some great tips and tricks and a few free resources as well.
Thunder and lightening and no internet equals no publishing of posts. 130 campers stuck inside due to thunder and lightening equals no free time to actually write them.
Share This
By Chris Marsden -- 0 comments
June 29th, 2008
AppleInsider has a report that Apple is set to release an app that will allow users to control their iTunes library from their iPhone or iPod Touch.
The report says that this app developed by Apple will allow people to control nearby Macs or PCs through this application. A similar thing would be VNC on your iPhone or iPod Touch (view discussion here).
This is an app that I’d really want to install. I want to be able to use my iPod Touch as a remote control for my Mac. This would be great not only for iTunes and media but if they could make it work for Keynote and Powerpoint as well. Work as in not just VNC but actually make an interface that will make it easy to control presentations through the iPod Touch or iPhone. Now that would be awesome.
I’m excited for July 11. I want to see what great apps will be available. This can really give us a glimpse as to the future of the iPhone and iPod Touch platform.
Share This
By Juan -- 0 comments
June 23rd, 2008
I remember the day my first Mac arrived in the mail (there is actually a long story that goes with that day). I will never forget it. But once I got past the basic how-to’s and got it set up, open, and running, it was still just email, calendar, internet and address book. It was cool and shiny, but it was still just a computer.
Over time, however, it has transformed itself from being just a computer to being a great tool. Everything from productivity to media can be done on my Mac, you just have to know how.
Between the iPod and the iPhone, Mac is getting a lot of well deserved attention for the first time in years. People are switching to Mac in record numbers and their sales figures make them no longer just a niche system, but an actual competitor in the computer market.
But the thing that makes a Mac different than just another computer that gets you to the same internet and email is your familiarity with the system. Knowing how to use all the nifty little gadgets that are available to you make a huge difference.
One of the things I was excited about when I started blogging for The After Mac was sharing some of the tips and tricks I have picked up that have turned my Mac into such a vital part of my getting things done. More than just a software review, but an actual tutorial of how to use the built in tools you Mac has available to you as well as detailed instructions for advanced techniques on advanced software.
This week I am at camp and one of my jobs is media. We are making montage videos and slideshows everyday. It is a great way for the kids to share their fun moments with each other. And I have to say, having my Mac has made that process a ton simpler than my pre-Mac days. But knowing my Mac and some of the software available has moved it from simpler, to downright automatic.
One of the questions I am regularly asked, working in a music school, is what is the secret to being a great guitar player (fill in your instrument) and how long until I am good? Well, how good do you want to be and home much time are you willing to practice?
So this week I am making movies and slideshows for camp, but I am going to share with you the secrets of how I do it. The key, though, is how good do you want to be and are you willing to practice? Don’t just watch the tutorials, get involved. Make a slideshow, even if you are the only one who will see it. Shoot some video and edit it together. Mess up, delete it all, and try again.
I fell in love with my Mac the minute I finally got it out of the box (although, honestly, even the packaging was pretty sweet), but the love I have for my Mac comes from knowing it. Everyday I use it I find it more and more a part of what I do. And that makes me love it even more.
Share This
By Chris Marsden -- 0 comments
June 23rd, 2008
That’s what this report from Appleinsider says. For those in markets/territories where the iPhone will be available through prepaid plans, the handset will cost somewhere around $600. That’s quite a hefty amount for a phone but given the iPhone’s features, this sounds about right.
This price range is somewhat near the prepaid handset price that this report indicates here in the Philippines. According to that report a prepaid iPhone can be purchased for 25,000 pesos or roughly $570. Globe Telecoms is the carrier that Apple has chosen to bring the iPhone to the Philippines.
The Philippines is one country wherein prepaid subscribers out number those with post paid plans. Why? It’s because even though we’re a poor country, mobile communications is a big thing for us. It’s not rare that you see even minimum-wage earners spend a lot of their income on mobile phones. Given that most people can’t afford cars, the mobile phone has become the status symbol.
It’s not uncommon for people to spend $600 on phones here. When the Sony Ericsson P990 first came out people forked more than $600 for the privilege to own one. Even if it did turn out to be a crappy phone.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone does cost around this much for prepaid plans. In fact I’d rather pay the upfront cost rather than be tied to a high post paid plan.
How about you? Are you willing to pay this much for the iPhone or would you rather be locked in with a plan for 2 years?
Share This
By Juan -- 1 comment
June 23rd, 2008
I saw the link to Fluid from this entry over at MacRumors.com. I got intrigued and checked it out. Fluid is an application that creates small applications from web sites you frequently visit. Think of it as a web browser specifically for that web site or web app.
Fluid works this way. You enter the url of the web site or web app you visit often. My first test was Digg. After inputting the url you type in the name you want to give it. Guess what I named mine? Digg. What a surprise?!? Then you can set the location where you want to save the tiny app that Fluid will make. The default is in the Applications folder. That’s where I saved mine. You can set the icon you want to use, either by using the web site’s favicon or selecting another icon altogether. Click create and there you go. It creates the tiny app for you.
Now every time I want to browse Digg, I just use the tiny application that Fluid created. By default all links in Digg’s domain get opened in the Digg app that Fluid created. Links outside of that get opened in your web browser. Cool..
The tiny app created by Fluid is referred to as Site Specific Browsers or SSBs. It’s really just that a browser specifically for that web site. This is good for web sites/apps that you visit a lot such as Gmail, Digg, YouTube etc. It keeps them contained in their own environment. Thus allowing you to use your normal web browser for well… web browsing.
Fluid is a nifty little app. I’ll be exploring it more and see if it’s worth keeping. It’s a free download here. Be sure to check out the entire site and read about Fluid.
Share This
By Juan -- 1 comment
June 19th, 2008
Yep, that’s how much songs have been sold through iTunes. It’s changed the way we buy and listen to music. At least I know it has for me. This is according to a recent report at MarketWatch.
Just the other day I found myself the happy recipient of several iTunes gift cards from my dad. I asked him to get it on his recent trip to San Francisco. iTunes gift cards aren’t readily available here in Manila so I asked him to get me some.
Over the past few years, I haven’t bought a single CD, except for the ones given to me as gifts. All of my music has come from iTunes. I’m not an audiophile so I don’t really notice the quality difference. I think the quality of the songs at iTunes is good enough. What got to me really was the convenience. It was just so easy to shop and buy music. I know there are other online music places there but iTunes works well for me.
I’ve also really got addicted to renting movies. The selections have been improving and it’s really easy to rent. A few clicks and you’re on the way to watching a movie. I love it. In fact I just finished downloading “Semi Pro”. I’ll be watching it this weekend.
So with 5 billion songs sold so far and a lot of TV shows, movies, etc. Has iTunes changed the way you get entertainment? Share your thoughts with us.
Share This
By Juan -- 0 comments
June 18th, 2008
So now I’m jealous. I know a lot of people don’t have Apple stores at all, but as I’ve read about the details of the new Australian Apple Store, I realized that all the stores here in Florida are little Mall stores, whereas, it seems, that a lot of the other Apple Stores around the world are much bigger and infinitely cooler than a little shop at the mall.
The Australia store is supposed to be the second largest in the world. It will also contain (according to the Apple press release) the world’s largest genius bar.
The shop has the glass cube look that so many of the Apple Stores have, but is actually a facade built on to the outside of an existing office building.
This definitely furthers my thought of developing some sort of Apple Travel Agency. Private tours of the greatest Apple stores in the world.
[imagine the following in the movie announcer voice]
While visiting the Apple Cube in New York City, you can stop off and visit some other architectural wonders. While not quite as impressive as an Apple Store, the Empire State Building provides impressive views of the City. Apple has long stood for freedom from Windows, while just down the road you can visit the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of Freedom from tyranny and oppression.
Other Apple tours are available with stop off visits to the Golden Gate bridge, the Green Monster, or the Great Barrier Reef.
I wonder if people would pay for a tour like this? I wonder if Steve announcing it in a Keynote would change people’s willingness to pay for a tour like this?
Oh Well.
For now I will have to settle for visiting my little mall Apple Stores here in town. And when my wife and I finally make it to NYC for a stop off on Broadway, some great food, and some sightseeing, I’ll convince her that a few hours in the Apple Store is just as important as visiting the Statue of Liberty. And if I’m lucky, she’ll even let me buy something. "Yeah, that’s my new Mac Book Air. I bought it in New York at the Apple Store there."
BTW… Apple Insider has some great photos of the new Sydney, Australia store and you can read the official press release here.
Tags: Apple Store
Share This
By Chris Marsden -- 1 comment
Recent Comments