i-Dose

I found this software today - it looks interesting. Who would’ve thought: virtual drugs?

i-Dose is a brainsync app that creates brainwave pulses inside your head to simulate different effects of drugs.

It works. It doesn’t feel exactly like the real thing, but it does creates a “heightened“ sensation. Maybe it will be good for addicts to kick their habit.

Rant on Mac Softwares

Mac users are very different from PC users, they want an application with a good looking interface, there's nothing wrong with that except that many of these pretty apps are not really useful or practical. From my observation, many Mac developers have very pretty websites with great marketing but what it comes down to in the end is a piece of software that looks good and promises so much yet disappoints just as much.

Many of the applications were sold on their looks with basically the same functions as their competitors, only in a different variation when it comes to workflow. The so-called "Getting Things Done" softwares are flooding the Mac platform, there are just as many utilities trying to improve the basic OSX functionality. PathFinder is a good software, it is a super-finder loaded with many useful functions but when you started using it you find yourself wondering if it really does speed up your productivity. The latest version took more than 5 seconds to load, I can open the Finder instantly, why bother?

There are many document managers that capitalizes on tagging, made popular by iTune, but seriously who would tag every files on the Mac? In the end, I find myself going back to good old Finder and Spotlight. Utilities that strive to improve OSX must be efficient, if it is overladen with functions and slows down then it is not worth using.

Another concern is memory footprint, some utilities consumes a fair bit of memory while performing simple computing chores. Bumptop, a PC desktop utilities which was just launched for the Mac uses over 80mb of ram and keeps increasing when you add more stuff to the desktop. It is a fun desktop toy that is marketed as a productivity tool. I wouldn't want to waste my memory to play with icons on my desktop.

QuickSilver used to be a 'must-have' utility for many Mac users, LaunchBar had taken it's place, it works the same way but is more up to date. I was using it for a day and started liking it then I realized I can do the same thing in Spotlight. LaunchBar is more responsive because it only indexes filenames, Spotlight looks inside the content of pdf, rtf, html, doc, etc. You need to name your files properly to use LaunchBar. Using it to launch apps is pointless as you have the dock, If you need short-cut keys to launch files/apps, there is a free utility: Spark. Also, it can't index emails, and if you indexes a few thousands items it starts slowing down.

Visual word processors are some of the best apps on Mac. Curio being the most capable of them, but there are incentive in simpler ones like Circus Ponies Notebook and NoteTaker. Notebook and NoteTaker were derived from the same source code but over the years they had taken different paths. Both have the same casual look of a notepad but their workflows are very different. Notebook is more casual and allows more freedom in the layout of content, NoteTaker has more features but is restrictive on the layout. After testing both, I found NoteTaker to be more stable compared to NoteBook. What a shame, Notebook's simplicity is a joy for this kind of app, but it is just not stable enough for productive use. NoteTaker is more complex and is loaded with too many features. It comes with many Java plugins for extending it's capability and some of them are actually very good. It can competes with MacJournal, another worthy writing app. For formal writing style, stick to MacJournal or NoteTaker. For Casual notes and brainstorming use Curio or NoteBook.

DevonThink

There's a lot to be said about DevonThink, it's an amazing software, not just on the Mac but on all platforms.

DevonThink is not an average document manager, although it is marketed as such. It competes with softwares like Yojimbo, Together, Eaglefiler and Soho Notes, but it is not really meant to be a shoebox application. The new 2.0 version attempts to add features to compete with those document managers but seriously, people who really use DevonThink rely on it's AI engine not the superficial functions like tagging or smart folders. Most of the document managers use Spotlight and smart folders (which are built-in functions of Leopard) in a container for managing the files, DevonThink is unique in the sense that it learns and adapt to the user.

Regardless, most users will still upgrade to 2.0 because of it's ability to open more than 1 database at the same time. Also the improved importing speed and new functions to split files are worth the upgrade.

File-splitting is important in DevonThink, you can't just throw an ebook into the database and hope that it will learn and helps you in your research. An ebook needs to be split into pages to exploit the potential of this software. Not only will it helps returning better searches, it will also find similarities between pages in a book for you.

DevonThink is a killer application that can persuade Windows user to switch their OS to Mac. It's sibling software: DevonAgent is a powerful sidekick to compliment this app. I just wish that they had implemented the "mind-map" features of DevonAgent into DevonThink, it will make the app even more remarkable. DevonThink Pro Office has a built-in server to create a search engine, it's a very useful feature to share your database with others. However, for some strange reason DevonAgent is not able to search into DevonThink's search engine. Users have complaint about it for years, the developer seems to crippled this function intentionally.

DevonThink comes with a lot of "extras": scripts, widgets, droplets, automators, etc. The widgets are not good enough for practical use but the scripts are very useful. Some people think of the scripts as an act of a lazy developer unable to implement functions directly into the app, but when you start using them you will understand why they did it this way. I can use the automator scripts to do a batch convert of PDFs using OSX Quartz filter, or to convert PDFs to text. The scripts make better use of OSX's native functions than most Mac apps.

Why OSX is better than Windows

I am only comparing the OS, not the hardware as both Mac and PC are very similar these days. They both can run Windows and OSX. Running OSX on PC is a hack, but it can be done.

1. Spotlight - This is the google built into OSX that is faster in indexing and searching than Windows. The search results are more relevant as it is sorted by your personal usage. Very similar to Google where the most popular links are displayed first. Its always there on the top right corner, Spotlight is basically all you need to find things. Type in a numeral calculation and it searches in the calculator for an answer. Unlike Windows, Spotlight indexes pdf: if you have thousands of ebooks in pdf, Spotlight basically built a database of knowledge that can be retrieve with a few keywords. Since pdf is native to OSX (you don't need Adobe reader) the searched keywords are highlighted on the pdf pages, making researching so much easier. Spotlight makes OSX the first choice for researchers and writers.


2. OSX's eco-system - Unlike Windows, OSX's services are exposed for all the applications. This allows different apps to network and share information. Data can be pass from one app to another which creates very unique workflow. Type in an appointment in iCal and you can have that info access in a third party app, or select a portion of a website and it clips to the Dashboard. These are simple examples, the ability to network applications and synchronizes the data is the most under utilized feature of OSX.


3. GUI - Windows in it's 7th incarnation looks very good but it still retained that Microsoft utilitarian look. Apple always has an edge when it comes to design, just like an iPhone, OSX is slick and polished. Microsoft called OSX a toy-OS a few years ago, but developed Windows 7 with that 'toy-like' quality. OSX is a very animated OS, the core animation is not just for cosmetic reason, it serves a very important usability function that escapes most people. The hardware accelerated GUI feature was part of OSX for many years, Windows only started using it in Vista. Unlike Windows, this acceleration runs on Mac with low-end graphics card with no onboard ram (intel GMA950 inside Mac mini).


4. Dashboard - This is the component that started the widget craze. However, the idea surfaced many years ago on Windows 98 with their active desktop. The anti-trust case against Microsoft required the browsers to be uninstalled from Windows, which MS defended by the argument that the browser is tied to the OS. Which is probably true, since webpages were allowed to 'float' on the active desktop creating the first pseudo-widget. Apple picked up the idea and refined it, Dashboard is a much better implementation of widget than Window. Instead of nesting it in a dock on the desktop, Dashboard creates an overlay like ajaxed websites giving the user a whole screen to fill the widgets. On Windows, accessing info on widgets mean minimizing all apps, which is not efficient. With OSX, moving the mouse to a corner or a shortcut key will have the widgets appear instantaneously. The idea is simple but extremely effective and useful.


5. Applications - There are more apps on PC than Mac, but it's not a question of quality vs quantity here because there are just as many useless apps on Mac. However if you look at exclusive Mac apps, that is: apps developed specifically for Mac, you see a difference between OSX and Windows. Mac softwares follow Apple's philosophy, being refine and elegant. On Windows, as long as it works, is good enough. On OSX, the software is well thought out, the implementation is simplified for the end-user. For the PC user, they look like apps for dummies, but really, isn't the computer the one that's supposed to adapt to us, not the other way around? Even the apps bundled with OSX like iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, etc are all high quality apps compared to the ones that came with Windows. There's always this little touches in Apple's products that makes all the difference.


6. Core units - These are the equivalent of Window's directX. The core animation, core image, core GL, core audio, etc are hidden gems in OSX. Very few apps tapped into it's capability. Mac audio softwares though, made full use of the audio units for real-time filter effects.


7. Dictionary - Having a dictionary and thesaurus built into OSX seems like a little extra incentive for Mac users, but if you know how to make use of it, this is a feature that you can't live without. A dictionary integrated into an OS provides a system-wide availability of spell-check and definition of words including 3rd party apps. Type a word into spotlight and it will gives you the definition, highlight a word in any apps and use the dictionary shortcut key, a box will popup with the definition. This function alone will make Mac the choice of writers.


8. Automator - This is a treasure hidden inside OSX. It is rarely utilized by Mac users but I know a lot of apps use it for manipulating files and images in the background. It is very similar to the Recorder implemented in Windows 3.1 - back then it's a killer feature that no one used, and today it doesn't exist on Windows any more. Apple knew the importance of this macro recorder and had created an automation system that can reduce manual computing chores. It relies on services and scripts native to OSX and from third party apps to create a step-by-step workflow. You can for example: split a PDF into pages, resize them and convert them to JPGs. Doing it manually will takes hours, with Automator it can be done in seconds. You can also record your actions while using the Mac and replay them back, this method can reduce the manual repetitive chores you have to perform on the Mac. The potential of Automator is incredible if one knows how to take advantage of it, there's an infinite amount of combinations to create unique workflows.

Netbook

Netbook is getting popular, it will not supplant notebook as it has a different purpose. The main reason for its existence is portability. Notebook computers have been around for 2 decades, but the truth is, they are heavy and bulky. Netbook is actually a cheap version of Toshiba's Libretto, which costs almost 10 times more than a netbook a few years ago.

Seeing that netbook is all about portability, the main criteria for choosing one is definitely the size and weight. Current trend indicates the opposite, they are getting bigger. Asus first started making a 7 inches netbook running Linux OS. It grew to a 8.9 inches WinXP machine, then followed by 10 inches and now there are 12 inches ones coming out. A Mac mini is 12 inches so now it can be designated as a netbook?

By making bigger netbook with higher performance hardware doesn't make sense. One can buy a sub-notebook at 13 inches size that can outperformed any atom chips based netbook. 9 inches netbook are the best size for portability, the form factor is the same as a hard cover book. If the netbook is so heavy and bulky that you won't take it with you everywhere, then it defeats the purpose of buying one in the first place.

Notebook computers are getting bigger as well, from the standard 15 inches growing to 17 inches a few years ago and now there are 21 inches ones meant to replace desktop. This is funny, notebook will replace desktop and netbook will replace notebook.

The main 2 criteria for choosing a netbook is first: size and weight, secondly: battery. A small and light-weight computer allows you to do computing anywhere but is limited by the battery. The atom-chip inside a netbook allows one to surf net, write emails, browse photos, read pdfs, listen to music and other light computing task. No one should expect a netbook to do 3d rendering, playing demanding games or editing videos, etc. The cpu and screen size are not adequate.

The popularity of netbook since the beginning is all because of its small and lightweight form-factor, giving us the ability to carry a real computer (iphone is not a real computer) everywhere. Netbook is meant to supplement a notebook or desktop computer, you can't expect it to replace them. Netbook makers on the other hand are trying to squeeze dual-core atoms and high performance 3d graphic chips in them. They are trying to get netbook to perform like notebook at a price, bigger size and weight and drain on battery, which defeats the reason why people buy netbook in the first place.

Best little known Mac Apps and Games

Most Mac users have Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite installed on their system, few explores the lesser known applications and tools. Many of these softwares can improve your productivity and are not bloated with useless features. Here are a list of them that I recommend:

Apps

• MacJournal - A word processor can be an overkill these days, especially for writing blogs and notes. MacJournal is powerful enough for most people for their writing needs. It can post to most the blog sites and archived them in categories on your Mac. The new version supports embedded media so you can add images, sound, video, pdf, etc onto the page. After trying a few blogging apps, I decided to use this for all my blogs. It is the only one with a mature and well-developed interface, others are lacking especially in formating text functionality.
• DevonThink - The Mac platform is full of good looking apps that promises much but ends up being superficial. Many of the document managers are just 'Super Finder', using OSX's built-in features like smart folders, tagging and Spotlight to create a new variation of workflow. Most uses a database library to store the contents which poses a risk factor if it gets corrupted. I tried a dozen of them and they are either unstable or just couldn't justify their worth. Eagle-filer, Together, Soho Notes, Yep, Leap, Yojimbo, etc, I ended up going back to plain old finder with Spotlight as my navigator. If you structured the folders in proper hierarchy and keep files in tidy order, you can use smart folders to gather them easily or use Spotlight to find them. Devonthink is the only doc manager with an advantage, it uses AI to classify the imported documents. The recommendation here is only for researchers who need to work with references, as this could very well be the only app that can do the job. For home users, just stick to Finder and Spotlight.
• Curio - They should give this the Mac App of the year award. Its a feature-rich software with so much functionalities that it can be a little overwhelming. After familiarizing with it, you will still be in awe of what it can do. It is best described as a creative management software. It is a brainstorming, journaling, mind-mapping, document manager with a scrapbook interface. It can also replace Powerpoint for doing presentation. Circus Ponies Notebook is the closest competitor to this app, but looks like a dwarf next to Curio. Notebook is prone to crash, Curio - a mammoth software with so much complexities has never crash on me once. This is the definitive creative swiss army knife, no other software presents so much in one package for managing ideas.
• iVideo - This app is advertised as the iPhoto for video, however you don't need to import those huge videos into the library, the files can be left where they were which makes it similar to Google's Picassa. You can rate and categorize the videos just like iTune, it suports video playback but you are better off setting VLC as the default player.
• ViJournal - This Journal app is a traditional diary that lets you write and sort the entry in a calendar based system. It is suitable for personal use but it also supports online blogging websites. I use this as a personal diary that is secured with encryption so Spotlight will not find anything in it.
• Times/Newsfire/Newslife - These are the best news-reader for Mac. Times uses CSS to format the RSS into a newpaper-format that is easy on the eyes and very appealing. It is the best looking news-reader out there, very unique in the approach but sometimes it crashes when you mess around with the layout, also some RSS newsfeeds doesn’t seems to work on this app. Despite these problems, it is still the best RSS reader for the Mac. Newslife is the ‘conventional’ news reader that has some unique features like displaying news as a photo calendar. It is a stable and well-developed app and the best choice if you want a good news Reader. Newsfire is a freeware, perhaps the best freeware RSS reader for Mac. It looks clean and tidy, easy to use and did I mentioned it's free? This app has a multi-tasking bug: when it is grabbing RSS news, the app will freeze and you will see that spinning beachball for a few seconds. If you can live with that and don’t want to pay for a newsreader, then try Newsfire.
• Hear - This is a software DSP for Mac. It improves the sound quality and creates 3d effect on the audio. Once it's turned on, all the audio on your Mac will be affected by it (games, movies, music, etc). It takes some calibration to get it to output high quality sound. On the default setting, music tends to sound noisy. Movies however, will sound so good, you won't watch another one without having this thing turned on.
• Shovebox - This is an app I can't live without. It stays constantly on the finder bar ready for me to drop webpages, texts, pictures and other stuff into it. You can basically drop anything that interest you on a website: pictures, pdf, links, highlighted text or the entire webpage. The idea behind this app is allowing you to easily save things you like, then organize them when you are free.
• Prizmo - This strange software can be very handy if you have the need for it. It uses digital camera as a scanner, with a built-in OCR program. It also supports the web-cam on Macbooks for capturing images.
• Pixelmator - The best Photoshop clone on Mac. It looks better than PS, faster and cheaper. The interface is very similar to PS but uses OSX's core animation to great effect. The filter is also very fast, thanks to the implementation of core animation acceleration. The only drawback is that it lacks a few PS features. (You wont be able to draw a curve box for example) For most users though, it is more than enough for their graphic needs.
• VLC - On the Mac, all you need for watching movies is VLC with Perian and Flip4Mac codecs. It is faster than Quicktime player.
• Mind Node - The best mind-mapping software on the Mac. There are more features packed ones out there but they are not as intuitive as this one. It is simple, and easy to use. It doesn't provide complex tools or functions and that is its appeal, keeping it simple and straight forward.
• Stellarium - This is a freeware and one of the nicest looking astronomy software I have seen.
• CleanMyMac - A utility that will clean up the mess on your Mac. It cleans up caches and useless files, it will dramatically increase your free hard disk space. What it does is, it scans universal binary and removed files meant for PowerPC Mac if you are using an Intel Mac. It also removes languages files if you don't need them. In a single click, I gained a few gigabyte of space back. It also tracks the apps you had on the hard disk, when you removed them, their associated files will also be erased.
• Visual Thesaurus - This is one of the best Java app that runs on Mac. The software has an organic feel that distinguished it from the rest, I can play with this app forever and learn new words at the same time. It provides a 3d view of words networked like a mind-map. From a simple word, you can relate it to obscure words that will always surprise you. This app should be use in schools, it is helpful not only to writers but can be use as an idea generator.

Now for entertaining softwares, these are the fun and addictive ones. They don't require high end Macs to run and are mostly from independent game developers.

Games

• World of Goo - A physics based game with very good gameplay and graphics. Even Nintendo were calling it a perfect game.


• Osmos - Another physics game but in a surreal world. This game has very good ambient music and will have you thinking about natural laws of physics. It is like the game flOw or the early stages of Spore.


• 4 Elements - The best looking and exciting match-3 game. If you like Jewel Quest or Bejeweled, this one will have you addicted.


• Peggle Nights - A game that will have you staying all night playing. It is that addictive, don't believe me try it. The presentation is like a gameshow, watching that little silver ball bounce on the pegs. It is strangely hypnotic.


• Plants vs Zombies - This is the best tower defense game. It is funny and will consume a lot of your time just trying stages after stages which never seems to end.


• Fate - If you like Diablo 2, you will love this one. It's a pure clone of Diablo but with better graphics.


• Pure Hidden - A hidden objects game. This one is for all the Mac graphics people. What's better than playing an artsy and stylish graphic game on Mac?


• Kitty Spangles Solitaire - Yes it looks cartoony and kiddy but it’s the most polished solitaire on any platform. The graphic uses OpenGL and is the cleanest and most Apple-ish Solitaire there is. This is the only card game you need for your Mac.

Avatar - the movie

Avatar is an impressive movie while watching in the cinema. In retrospect, the movie was not really as great as I thought. I wonder what it will feel like watching the DVD on a 2D TV set? Without the 3D effect, this movie looks like a high quality video game's cutscene. Yes, the CG characters were done very well, but still they looks like video game characters.

The story is like Dances with wolves with a bit of green propaganda and Iraq war thrown in. The only scene in the story that thrills me was Jake telling the Navi that he was not one of them, he was an avatar whose real self was somewhere else. He was sent to give them the message so they will believe. This angered the Navi, and they tied him up, maybe trying to kill him? Was James Cameron telling us that Jesus was an avatar, that his real self was somewhere else, that Christ was downloaded into Jesus physical body to bring us a message so we will believe?