Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on June 09, 2008 by CyberNet.

Microsoft/Mac Monday

It has now been over a month since Ryan and I purchased our first ever Mac computers. After about a week we gave you our first impressions and mentioned a few things that we liked and other things that were taking some time to get used to. Now that we’ve had some more time to get familiar with our new purchases, we decided to give you an update.

When we gave our first impressions at the end of April, we mentioned that there were lots of things that were taking time to get used to. We’ve managed to get used to just about everything, but there are still things that are taking some time, and we also found that there are some Windows only applications we really miss.

Applications we miss…

While we’ve come across some applications that are great on the Mac’s, there are three programs we used on a daily basis in Windows that we really miss. The Mac alternatives are available, but they jut aren’t up to the quality of these applications:

• Windows Photo Gallery
• Windows Live Writer
• Microsoft Office 2007

We tend to take a lot of pictures and it was always nice to manage and go through them in Windows Photo Gallery. I’ve already mentioned my complaints with iPhoto and while it’s nice, it just doesn’t compare to Windows Photo Gallery.

Windows Live Writer is another application we used every single day. At this point we’re bouncing between blogging clients for the Mac to try and find one that can offer us a majority of what Windows Live Writer did. It seems like Ecto will be the best solution for us, but we’ve come across a handful of bugs that make it frustrating to use at times.

We’ve heard people say on occasion that they felt as though Microsoft did a better job with Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac but we beg to differ. Microsoft Office 2007 is simply amazing and I’d love if they would have been able to come up with something similar for Macs. After trying both Office and iWork (by Apple), we found that while iWork’s interface is much better than Office for Mac, they don’t have nearly the set of features that Office does. If you’re a power user (like we are) and you like to build complex spreadsheets, you’ll find the drawbacks pretty quickly while using iWork.

Gadgets, Feedreader, Time Machine, and more…

While we used gadgets in the Vista gadget sidebar, we have found that we use gadgets on the Mac more. The overall quality of gadgets that are available seem to be superior from what Vista currently has available, and we like the set-up for using them on a Mac better as well.

Another important aspect to our daily computer experience is the feed reader. We go through hundreds of news items on a daily basis and previously we were using a desktop feed reader called FeedDemon. When we got the Macs we had to decide if we wanted to use something web-based like Google Reader or start using NetNewsWire. We went with the later and found that while it’s simple and doesn’t have as many features as FeedDemon, we like it better. It opens quick, looks good, and flows with the operating system.

One thing we haven’t had to take advantage of yet, but will be nice if we have to is Time Machine back-ups. Time Machine is something we use, it’s simple to set-up, and we’re grateful to have it. While we haven’t had to use it yet,it’s nice to know that we can do a full system restore from it if need be which is reassuring knowing our past history with hard drive failures.

iChat, Transitions, and Keyboard…

iChat comes with all Mac computers and while we did a comparison of iChat and Windows Live Messenger previously, one thing I forgot to mention was a feature called Bonjour. It’s built right-in to iChat and works with computers only on your network. It allows anybody who has the feature enabled to talk with others on the same network.

For example, both Ryan and I have Bonjour enabled and because we’re on the same network, we can talk to each other without being logged in to any other account. We just started using this during the day when we want to send links back and forth to each other but don’t want to be interrupted by other friends. Alternatively you could create a separate account, but this works out nicely because setting it up is as easy as checking one box. It immediately picked-up the people on the network.

One of the biggest things we’ve noticed that Apple focuses a lot on is transitions – like transitioning into Expose’ and Spaces. Everything is always a very smooth transition and it really enhances the user experience.

Keyboard, Screen, and the Power Cord…

The backlit keyboard on our MacBook Pro’s is great, especially for when you’re working in a room that doesn’t have a whole lot of lighting. Just in general, the keyboard has a nice feel to it. We have also gotten used to the two-finger scrolling which is actually really nice too. Now when we end-up using a Windows Laptop, we go to use two fingers to scroll and it just doesn’t feel right not to have it. The two-finger tap for right clicking is also nice, although we still do miss not having a right-click mouse button.

One feature that doesn’t get mentioned very often but enhances the experience is the auto-dim feature on the screen. It auto-adjusts based upon how bright the room is in which helps you conserve on battery power. You can still manually adjust it if you’d like, which is nice as well.

Who would have thought that a power cord could be so nice? It’s magnetic which means you don’t have to worry about your computer getting yanked around if someone happens to step or trip over the cord. It’s a nice touch.

What we’re still getting used to…

We’ve managed to get used to a lot of the little things that were annoying in the beginning like using the command key for shortcuts instead of the control key, but there are still a few things that are taking time. Our big complaints:

• No memory card slot
• Only 2 USB Ports

Both of the things listed above were features we had on our last laptops and so not having them is disappointing. We’ve grown accustomed to four USB ports and surprisingly used them all. Now there are only two because Apple felt the need to put an excessive amount of FireWire ports on the computer that many things don’t support. Even our iPhone came with only a USB cable.

We also miss just pressing the Windows key to perform a search, although overall, the spotlight interface is a little nicer than that of the Windows Start Menu.

Wrapping it up…

All in all, getting used to a Mac computer wasn’t as difficult as we thought it would be. After the first week or so, most of the things we were struggling to get used to weren’t an issue anymore. And because we can either use Boot Camp or Parallels (of course there are other options as well) to use Windows, we don’t have one complaint about making the switch to Apple computers.

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on December 06, 2007 by CyberNet.

Tutorial Thursday

Have you ever had two or more computers that you wanted to synchronize files between that weren’t all located on the same network? Maybe you have one computer at work and another one at home, and you want some of your more important documents or reports accessible from both locations. No problem!

Back in 2005 Microsoft purchased a service called FolderShare, which is used to keep files on multiple computers all in sync with each other. And we’re not talking just Windows computers, but Mac’s, too! There aren’t many free tools out there that are capable of syncing files on multiple platforms, so this is definitely something to treasure.

–Why FolderShare–

There are a lot of reasons why you should use FolderShare if you have more than one computer, but here are my favorites:

• None of the files are hosted on FolderShare, which means you don’t have to worry much about privacy. It’s just like sending a file to someone over an instant messenger, except it is automatic.
• Files up to 2GB can be shared.
• There is no limit of any kind on how many files you can transfer.
• Any files, regardless of filetype, can be transferred.
• The web management screen works in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera.
• Sync files, share folders with friends, or access all of your files almost as if you were using an FTP.
• It’s fast! Files will often be synchronized to your other computers within minutes.

Note: After you download and install FolderShare it will have you setup an account within the program.

–Syncing Files Between Computers–

One of the best features about FolderShare is its ability to sync files (even large ones) between multiple computers. You can set it up so that the folders are automatically synchronized, or only when you tell it to. It’s simple to setup:

1. Go to the My FolderShare page and select the Sync My Folders option:
   
2. Click the Specify folders to sync option, pick one of the available devices from the left side of the screen, and browse for the folder that you want to sync. Click Next after selecting the folder.
   
3. Now select another computer from the Available Devices column located on the left side of the screen. The folder that you just selected in Step 2 should be one of the options immediately available, but you may choose the Specify Folder option if you want to select a different destination to sync to.
   
4. Choose whether you want the files to be automatically synced, or just synced when you tell it to. Then hit Next:
   
5. That’s it! Now you’re files will be synced between computers faster than you know it.

–Sharing Files with Friends–

Not only can FolderShare keep your files in sync, but it can also help share files between friends. You can create a folder, or select an existing one, and share the contents with your friends. Each time you change the folder’s contents FolderShare will update the files on all of your friends’ computers.

Here’s how that works:

1. Go to the My FolderShare page and select the Share With Friends option:
   
2. Select the device that you want to share files from on the left side of the screen, and then choose the Specify a folder option:
   
3. Browse your computer to find the folder that you want to share. All system folders and folders you don’t have access to will be blocked from sharing. Just fill in the bubble next to the folder that you want to share and click Next:
   
4. Your folder will be validated to make sure it exists, and that you have the correct permissions to share it. Then you’ll be prompted to add the email address of your friends. They’ll need to create a FolderShare account and install the software if they have not already done so.

Now you and your friends can share all of the files that you want, without the need to email them to each other. Just drop them in the shared folder and let FolderShare take care of the rest.

–Web Downloads–

FolderShare can also act as a web-based FTP, and it doesn’t require any additional action other than installing the FolderShare application. Once that is setup you’ll have access to all of the files on the computer that you have permission to. If you need to download a bunch of files, however, it could take quite awhile. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Go to the My FolderShare page and select the Access My Files option:
   
2. Select the device that you want to get files from on the left side of the screen, and then browse for the file that you want to download:
   
3. Clicking on any of the files will download them straight from the remote computer to yours.

–Overview–

As you can see FolderShare is an extremely versatile application that should be used by anyone who finds themselves away from their computer(s). I’ve used this service for a long time, and when the service was down for a few days in November I found out how much I really missed it. Other than that one time the service has always been available when I needed it, so it is also reliable.

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on September 02, 2006 by CyberNet.

Weekend Warrior

The CouchSurfing Project is a free Internet based service that has over 100,000 users in over 205 countries. Members of the project can offer their couch to other members for a free stay while they are traveling. There’s nothing better than free accommodations while you’re traveling!

Lots of people have found the service very helpful and it shows with their active user community.  Back in June of this year they experienced computer problems which resulted in their database being lost. Originally they announced that would be the end of the project, however they decided to rebuild and they were able to re-launch the “CouchSurfing 2.0″ project not long after the crash.

–How Does It Work? –

First of all, their official missions statement says

“CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding.”

For them it’s not about just helping people find an affordable place to stay– it’s about making the world “a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives.  CouchSurfing gives a great example of how this might work. 

• You become a member of CouchSurfing.com. Create a profile and fill it out as much as possible, including photos. Be sure to link to any friends you might already have in the network.
• Consider joining some discussion groups in your areas of interests or engage in the chat. You meet some friendly people online and share in some interesting discussions.
• You decide you want to spend two weeks traveling around Europe. You get a ticket arriving in Amsterdam and departing from Florence.
• You log on to CouchSurfing.com and do a search for members within 20 km/miles of Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Zurich and Florence- your new travel itinerary.
• You contact interesting prospects from the list and explain the sort of travel/stay you’re interested in. Use the “Request to CouchSurf with…” button to include specific details.
• You get several offers for places to stay. You decide that you want to spend a few days in each city.
• You confirm with your hosts, adjust your travel plans, and excitedly fly off to Amsterdam.
• Martin picks you up at the airport and takes you back to his flat in the Rembrandtplein section of Amsterdam. The two of you walk around the neighborhood and meet some of his friends at a lively cafe for dinner. You stay up late sharing stories and getting to know each other. Martin recommends some interesting places you might like to explore around the city. When he returns from work the next evening, he takes you to his favorite pub and you tell him about your adventures. The two of you laugh and connect; you make new friends at the pub, and you’re grinning the whole walk home along the canals.
• As an example of a good surfer, you do as much as you can to give back to your hosts. This includes doing simple things like, for example, washing the dishes, making dinner or helping out in some way. Maybe you have a special skill you’re willing to share?
• You say good-bye and move on to Brussels, Frankfurt, and then Zurich. In each location you’ve met some great people and gotten to experience being a part of the culture through your connection with your host. You go places you would have never read about in a guidebook, meet interesting locals, and spend time bonding with your host. You’re actually experiencing those “deep and meaningful connections” you’ve read about on the site, and you’re making friends for life.
• You decide to stay a little longer in Florence and your host, Donia, has agreed to let you spend a week with her.
• You spend the week talking with Donia about politics, travel, art, your hometown, and a whole lot of other things. She lets you borrow her bicycle and gives you a map she’s marked with some fun places to check out. On the weekend she takes you on a side trip to visit some relatives in a small Tuscan village. You learn to make awesome marinara sauce, you take a hike through picturesque rolling hills and her uncle, a craftsman, gives you a handmade leather belt. You’re amazed at the time you’re having! Back in Florence, Donia takes you to her favorite gelato place and you know it’s the best thing you’ve ever tasted.
• By the time you leave on the bus for the airport, you feel that you’ve gotten a good feel for the local life in each of the places you’ve traveled. You’ve made many new friends and you hope Martin, Donia and others will visit you. You can’t wait for your turn to show them the great things about your culture.
• When you arrive home you are so excited about CouchSurfing you go immediately to the participate tab and start helping CouchSurfing community advance the mission of the project.

.If I were to use this type of service, there’s no doubt I’d be thinking about simple security and safety.  CouchSurfing has a method in place to keep members safe.  First, no money is exchanged.  This service is meant to be free. Another security feature put in place to ensure safety is the “personal references.”  It will keep track of your personal references– the feedback that is given between hosts and surfers, as well as surfers and hosts after a stay.

–Possible Problems With The Service–

Some of the problems pointed out are that sometimes it is being used as a “dating service” rather than a method for someone to find hospitality in unfamiliar surroundings. While some use it as a dating service, others have found it as a great method to make new friends in new parts of the world while traveling.

–Other Information/Summary–

I haven’t tried the service myself and quite honestly I don’t know that I would ever have a need for it. However, there are plenty of people that are willing and wanting to snatch up a good couch for a quick, affordable stay.  CouchSurfing makes traveling for the penny pincher, and the adventurist affordable!

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on April 20, 2007 by CyberNet.

Funny Friday

The title says it all! Funny tech related one-liners from around the web…

1. A TV can insult your intelligence, but nothing rubs it in like a computer.
2. To err is human, but to really screw things up requires a computer.
3. Programmer: An ingenious device that converts caffeine into code.
4. If you can’t beat your computer at chess, try kickboxing.
5. A picture may be worth a thousand words but it uses up a thousand times more memory!
6. If debugging is the process of removing bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in?
7. Read my chips: No new upgrades!
8. My software never has bugs. It just develops random features.
9. If at first you don’t succeed, call it version 1.0.
10. To err is human… to really foul up requires the root password.
11. Unix is user-friendly. It’s just very selective about who its friends are.
12. Supercomputer: what it sounded like before you bought it.

Sources: Mutedfaith.com, im-c.com, geek24.com

Reasons Mac OS X is delayed

Aside from the one-liners, there may be other reasons that Mac OS X Leopard is delayed… Source:Joy of Tech

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on June 13, 2007 by CyberNet.

Web Browser Wednesday

The new Safari on Windows is boasted as one of the fastest browsers available for the Windows operating system. Well, that might be a little biased considering that it is according to Safari’s homepage, but I’ve tinkered with it over the past day and it is among the fastest browsers that I’ve used. It also has some shortcomings though…

First and foremost there have been a number of security concerns with Safari on Windows, which is something I definitely expected. Apple released Safari saying that their “engineers designed Safari to be secure from day one.” We all know that talk is cheap, and the vulnerabilities are something that I expected since Apple doesn’t make Windows software very frequently. Not only that, but this is also a pre-release application, so they have time to correct things before anyone can really start criticizing.

All browsers have their security woes, so in this review I’m going to set that aside and look strictly at the features. I’m going to give a bulleted list of the things that Safari includes, and then I’ll provide a short screencast where I’ll point out some of the cool features as well as the things that it lacks.

–The Features–

Here are the more notable features in Safari (for Windows) that you should be aware of, as specified on the Safari homepage.

• Performance – As the Safari homepage points out, this browser is very good at loading Websites quickly. I was able to notice a significant reduction in page load times as I was browsing the Web, but that’s not the only kind of performance that is important. The Safari site fails to say what the memory usage is like for the browser, and I’ll be the first to say it’s horrible. At any given time, it is twice what Firefox, Opera, or even Internet Explorer is using up even when visiting the same sites.
• Interface – Ahh, this is something I don’t really know that I can touch on. Apple made sure that they gave people the feeling that they are using a Mac computer by preventing the Windows operating system from controlling any aspect of the appearance. I think it is safe to conclude that people will be able to easily see when you’re using Safari on a Windows computer. It sticks out like a sore thumb.
• Bookmarks – This is something that I cover more in the screencast, but overall this is one of the biggest downfalls in Safari. I’m a right-click/drag-and-drop freak and the Bookmarks Bar hardly allows for any of that. You can’t arrange your bookmarks by dragging them around in that bar, instead you have to use the Bookmark Collections which is a hassle. Oh, and did I mention that there is no Bookmarks sidebar for you to use?
• Searching – The searching in Safari is almost its best feature. They have done a great job of making the results stand out, and that is something I very much appreciate.
• Tabbed Browsing – Come on, all of the cool browsers have tabbed browsing these days. The only thing cool about Safari’s is that you can drag a tab off of the tab bar and it will open in a new window.
• SnapBack – This is pretty nice as well since many of us perform a lot of searches. After doing a search and clicking on a result there will be a little orange icon in the upper-right search box in Safari. That will always be there as a means to take you back to the initial search that you performed.
• AutoFill Forms – Meh, it’s a form filler and nothing more.
• RSS Reader – The built-in RSS reader is a nice cross between the Live Bookmarks that Firefox has and a full RSS feed reader. It even has a cool slider that instantly lets you adjust the length of the articles being displayed. It’s important to note, however, that they do not let you configure an external feed reader for subscribing to the feeds though.
• Resizable Text Fields – This seems to be the hot new thing since Netscape 9 Beta also has this feature. All it does is let you resize text boxes on a site, such as the one we have below for commenting.
• Private Browsing – With Private Browsing enabled, Safari won’t store your Google searches, your cookies, the history of sites you’ve visited, your download history, or information from online forms you’ve filled out. With the increasing concern over privacy, this is a feature some users will appreciate.
• Security – I think I said enough about this up top.

So that’s how I feel about the features Safari has in it that is supposed to make it the browser for you to use. Some of them are cool, but a lot of them have already been seen in existing browsers which makes them far from spectacular.

–The Screencast–

Latest take a more hands-on look at how I feel about the features in Safari:

–The Overview–

As you can see, Safari has several cool features that I would like to see available in other browsers. There is nothing in it that makes it better than Firefox, Opera, or even Internet Explorer in my opinion, so there will probably be few people actually using it. The only way that it will benefit me is allowing me to easily test my site to make sure it renders properly in the Safari browser.

Download the Safari 3 Preview

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com