Apple and Mac OS X - productivity and design solutions
When I reviewed Pacifist for the first time, now some five or six years ago, it was pretty much a one-trick app. No more. Pacifist is a must-have for extracting files from installers and zip files, as well as for system forensics/troubleshooting. In that area, Pacifist is just as indispensable as DiskWarrior.
The Powerchimp 4A is an AA and AAA battery charger rolled into one. You can charge the device off several power sources and you can charge devices with it, but that’s not all. The Powerchimp A4 is eco-friendly, and has a nice design.
Imagine a blank slate on which you can write your thoughts and ideas and work on them further, regardless of whether it's a note, a brief or a book you're trying to compose. You'll need an app that supports your stream of thoughts without intruding. Ullysses III is such an app.
Besides making what are probably the best wireless headsets for Unified Communications (UC) on the market, Plantronics also has a range of products that are wired and more targeted at desktop users, and even gamers. The Blackwire range sits in-between the desktop and UC market. These are wired headsets with a built-in battery for Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone. I tested the Blackwire C720, a stereo version that works on the Mac as well as the PC.
Astute Graphics recently released two new Adobe Illustrator plug-ins: WidthScribe and ColliderScribe. WidthScribe enables variation of multiple width strokes, while ColliderScribe is a toolset that enables you to position shapes accurately, placing any object precisely next to another when it touches or comes close.
Imagine taking a snapshot of a poster with your iPhone and then be able to OCR the text on it. Or scan a book without pressing it hard onto the flatbed glass plate, breaking its back in the process, and still being able to OCR by compensating for the curvature. Or OCR a screenshot… Prizmo 2 promises all that and more, but does it perform?
MailTags 3 allows you to organise mail, based on the “Process, Organize, Monitor” principle. MailTags 3.2 just got a lot smarter and interactive by including Smart Mailboxes and Notifications.
Not all music players are good enough for audiophiles. iTunes is a disaster when you’re a serious listener of classical music. Amarra is better, just like Fidelia. But in a league of its own is Audirvana Plus, a program that started life as an open source project. Audirvana Plus has some features not found in other apps that result in an unsurpassed listening experience.
Audioquest’s DragonFly is based on a 24-bit ESS Sabre DAC chip. DragonFly accepts audio and music files ranging from MP3s and CD-standard 16-bit/44kHz to native 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution, regardless of music file format. It is a ridiculously small but heavy USB stick, but the sound it can produce competes with audiophile devices.
Firetask is a task management program built around the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. It’s easy to use and simple, and has a gorgeous interface. It’s a great tool to keep open all the time. Firetask leaves me hungry for more integration, though.
