This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen

Filed under: Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look, App ReviewThe Internet Movie Database (IMDb), an Amazon.com company, has just released a free iPhone app [iTunes Link] that puts the power of the huge repository of movie facts, fables, and trivia into the palm of your hand.

I use IMDb regularly, so when I saw that the app had been released, I downloaded it immediately. Upon launching, the app will ask if you wish to let it use your location -- this is used to display show times and movies for local theaters. While IMDb doesn't exactly have a beautiful interface, it's perfect for navigating the huge amount of information that is available.

The first page of the app displays three major areas: Movies, TV, and People. There's also an Application area, which is used only to display information about the App. Movies is subdivided into Showtimes, Coming Soon, US

Box Office Results, MOVIEmeter, and the Top 250 Movies. Tapping Coming Soon brings up details about upcoming movies releases, including trailers that can be viewed on the phone. I...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen

 
We’re sure many Mac users have seen the Utilities folder inside of the Applications folder and wondered what the applications contained inside can do. Maybe they can control the weather? Or maybe they give you super powers? The reality is bit less exciting, but still incredibly useful to even the newest Mac user. In fact, they're so useful that the folder even has its own shortcut key combination. You can easily get to the Utilities folder in any Finder window by pressing Command+Shift+U.
Activity Monitor
Have you ever wanted to monitor your processor, memory, disk or network usage, all in one fell swoop? Sure, there are already applications that do all of this, like iStat Menus, but why not use the one already installed on your system? Activity Monitor is built right into every Mac running OS X, and provides you with all of this information, and more, in one place.

When you launch it, you can instantly see all of...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen








...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen

Section: iPod + iTunes, iPod Accessories, Docks & Speakers, iPhone, iPhone Accessories, ReviewsProvides: iPod cradle
Developer: Konnet
Minimum Requirements: iPod or iPhone and USB cable
Price: $30
Availability: Now Is your iPhone or iPod’s USB cable leaving you with a frown on your face? It’s just not as supportive as you might need, and that’s understandable. What you need

is some support! Konnet has a potential solution for you with their very colorful iCrado. So what exactly is it?  It’s an iPod cradle. Nothing more, nothing less. It holds your iPod and little else. Thankfully, it does this with a touch of style. The cradle comes in a number of different colors; that number being ten. I think it’s safe to say they have enough colors to match something on your desk. They probably could have gotten away with white, black and aluminum, but hey, some people like to express their personalities with iPod cradles. The iCrado is made out of a solid piece of aluminum. Apparently, every accessory company with Apple related products took a big hint from Apple and decided that the phrase “solid piece of aluminum” just wasn’t something they could afford to pass up.  That’s good, though.  I like aluminum, and why have two pieces when you can have one solid piece of aluminum.  See, even I’m saying it now. Okay, so what you might not realize from the product images is that the iCrado isn’t a complete product.  I might even go so far as to say it’s actually a USB cable holder.  It’s like Viagra for your current iPod cable.  The cradle essentially holds the original iPod cable (the more recent ones with the shorter/lockless dock connector) in the full upright position.  After it’s inserted into the cradle, it can be used as intended.  Your iPhone or iPod can dock and rest easy. Obviously, there are some good and bad things about this dock.  Let’s start with the good.  It’s colorful!  You can choose form eight colors, and honestly, I’m betting that’s a big draw for a number of users.  You probably won’t be finding this many color choices from other companies.  Secondly, it works with many cases.  Most iPod/iPhone docks and cradles don’t work with cases.  This will also be a big selling point since you don’t have to take your iDevice out of its case to sync it with your computer.  So you don’t have to set it down and plug the cable in while it sits on your desk.  Now to the bad.  Basically, this cradle is just a colorful piece of aluminum.  It can’t be used without a cable, though you have to already have one to get any use out of your iDevice right now.  So, I suppose you might think this is an efficient way of doing things, and you might be right.  But I’m left feeling like this product didn’t try hard enough.  Sure, it will dock my iPhone, but not without a little help.  For $20 more, I can get an Apple dock that doesn’t need my cable, and actually has extra features like the remote functionality.  But again, you can’t use that with a case on. This cradle has me torn.  Part of me loves that it’s simple and makes efficient use of the cable you already have.  Another part of me dislikes that it doesn’t come with its own connection.  After all, it’s not really a complete product, and if you only have an older cable, you’ll need to buy a new one.  The pros have to outweigh the cons here for you.  So, if you like colorful docks, won’t give up your case and don’t mind it using your current cable, this is certainly the dock for you.  If not, I’d highly recommend you take a look at my favorite dock for the iPhone, the Podium, which won my previous iDevice cradle showdown. Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen








...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen

Section: iPhone, iPhone Accessories, iPhone SDK & Apps, ReviewsA few weeks ago, I took a look at some hard shell cases for the iPhones 3G and 3GS. Those tend to be the pretty ones, since it’s easier to be fashionable when you’re not worried about bending. But there are many people out there who’d rather protect their $200 to $300 phone than show it off like a well-coifed purse poodle. It’s to

you kings and queens of the road that I dedicate this review. Grip Two Toned Vector We start with Belkin and their Grip Two Toned Vector ($29.99). This is a simple silicon case that wraps around your iPhone, leaving only the screen and top face exposed. The mic, speaker and dock port are open at the bottom, as are the silencer switch, camera and headphone jack. The power and volume buttons are covered, but raised bumps in the case let you know where they are and allow for decent control. Of all these, only the silencer was difficult to use while in this case. The case’s fit is nice; easy on and easy off, while resting snugly when in place. The lips don’t splay over the edge, and although the frame doesn’t sit in a perfect rectangle at first, you can adjust it. There is no option for a belt clip or lanyard, but the silicon construction provides for a secure, comfortable grip. The back pattern is a bit like Eddie Van Halen’s guitar: solid caviar (black) with randomly crisscrossing stripes (light blue, hot pink or clear). These work best over the white phone, as the striping of the black/clear model especially was totally lost against my black iPhone. But again, you’re not looking for design here, you’re looking for protection against scratches and bumps, and the Grip Two Toned Vector delivers. Grip Ergo I’m not as big, however, on Belkin’s Grip Ergo ($29.99). The fit is the same, the functionality is the same, and the protection is perhaps a bit better against bumps and short drops, but the design is toointrusive. The raised textured pattern slopes in at the center of the back, which makes the phone comfortable to hold when using both hands. If you text a lot or play a lot of games, this is good. For general use, though, as when talking, it adds extra bulk that makes the phone uncomfortable to hold…and I have fairly large hands; I can’t imagine what those with smaller hands would think of this. Port and button access is the same as with the Grip model, right down to the difficulty in getting to the silencer switch. Color options are equally limited, coming only in caviar, indigo and chili pepper (red). I like what Belkin is doing here?making cases to accommodate the multiple uses of the iPhone?but I mostly hold my phone with one hand, not two, even when texting. I’m willing to sacrifice design for the sake of protection, but not basic functionality. Silicrylic We move on now to Incipio for one of the more unique options in this roundup: the Silicrylic ($24.99). This case?available in white, clear, black, olive green, burnt orange, lavender, magenta and blue?combines a silicone case with a polycarbonate shell that snaps over the back and around the corners. As a result, you get an excellent blend of hard shell protection with soft shell comfort and grip. The necessary ports are predictably open, but unlike with Belkin’s models, the silencer switch hole is wide enough to allow easy access. Also, the lip around the edge is nicely beveled, making it very easy to type at the edges of the screen. No belt clip or lanyard is offered, but the Silicrylic does come with a screen protector, polishing cloth and plastic stand to hold the phone up in its horizontal orientation. Plus, the polycarbonate case (which can also be purchased separately) is available in clear or black, so you can create your own look. Combine all of this, and you’ve got a case that does a great job with protection, functionality and design; a combo that’s not easy to pull off. Solo, Solo FX, and Solo FX SE iSkin comes close, too, with the variations in their Solo line (Solo - $29.99; Solo FX - $32.99; Solo FX SE - $34.99). These cases all border on hard shell, but there is some bendability and shock absorption to them. The variations are both accessory and color/design oriented. Solo gets you four solid color options and a clear screen protector. Solo FX offers five color options, a mirror effect screen protector and a circular design pattern. Solo FX SE drops the color options to three, but includes both screen protector options and a subtle embossed pattern. The color of all the variations is translucent, looking good over both black and white iPhones, and the Microban antibacterial construction offers a solid grip and decent protection. This is a fun case that, depending upon the color, can be either feminine or masculine. Ports are easy to access, although I found the covered power button to be a bit less responsive than with the other models in this review. The best part, though, is that you can spend an extra $15 to get the revoClip. This belt clip helps to keep your phone out of your pocket or purse, providing easy access for when a call comes in. The whole package can run you up to $48, but it’s as complete a solution as you’re going to find. revo2 Our final entry was a favorite of mine back with my first gen iPhone, and it’s still one of the best options out there for complete protection. iSkin’s revo2 ($39.99) has too many features to cover in a roundup review, so I’ll just tear through this. It comes in four colors: black, blue, red and white, all of which have a black face. It has a honeycomb micro-texture shell that provides a solid grip and reduces sliding, and is coated with a “dust-reducing treatment.” It comes with not only an adhesive anti-glare screen protector, but also a clear plastic shell that snaps over your screen for when the iPhone is not in use, and can snap onto the back when it is in use. The revo2 completely covers your iPhone, including flaps for the dock port and headphone jack (I had some trouble getting the headphone flap to stay in place). Only the camera, silencer and speaker/mic are permanently open. However, the camera opening isn’t quite wide enough, and I found it hard to find the volume buttons under the case. On the bright side, as with the Solo, the revo2 is compatible with iSkin’s revoClip. This is a great looking case no matter what color you buy, and it offers fantastic protection and a comfortable grip. I just wish the fit had been a little better, and that power/volume buttons were raised higher for easier access. Conclusion There’s not a bad case in this bunch. Only Belkin’s Grip Ergo didn’t appeal to me, yet it may be the best model here if you use your iPhone for typing and gaming more so than speaking. The revo2 provides the best protection, but I still prefer Incipio’s Silicrylic and iSkin’s Solo cases for overall use. If you throw in the revoClip, I’ll declare the Solo this roundup’s winner. Belkin’s Grip Two Toned Vector - 4/5 Belkin’s Grip Ergo - 3/5 Incipio’s Silicrylic - 5/5 iSkin’s Solo, Solo FX and Solo FX SE - 5/5 iSkin’s revo2 - 4/5 See other iPhone 3G/S case reviews: Uniea iPhone case roundup iPhone 3G/S hard shell case showdown Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen

Filed under: Software, AppleScriptTotal Apps has published a nice guest post from Sal Soghoian, Apple's Production Manager for Automator, intended for teachers. He describes how educators have a limited amount of instruction time with the kids, and even less for maintenance tasks like making sure the proper software is installed, that students are on the proper web page, and so on.

Sal wants to help, and points out a number of links useful to anyone (not just teachers) who wants to automate these repetitive and often time-consuming tasks. Best of all, he shares a link to The Teacher's Helpers (scroll down a bit), which is a free collection of Automator actions specifically written to assist teachers with Macs in their classrooms.

If you've been put off by AppleScript, give Automator a try. Its drag-and-drop interface is much easier to use.TUAWSal Soghoian talks Automator use in education originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple

Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST....
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen

“PathFinder is a file browser that combines

the familiar Finder interface with the powerful utilities and innovative features. Just a small selection of the Path Finder 5 feature set: – Dual pane file browser – Tabs to quickly manage multiple locations on your hard drive in one window – Reorder how your files are listed to suit your personal preferences – View invisible files and navigate inside of Mac OS X packages quickly and easily – Access your frequently used folders, files, and applications with the Shelf, and save multiple Shelf setups to suit different activities – Pause drag-and-drop operations by putting files into the Drop Stack for future use – Create and convert disk images – Access the OS X command line – Much, much more!” To get Path Finder for $30 (regularly $39.95), use the coupon code TWEET30 when checking out. The app can only be purchased from within the app itself. OFFER EXPIRES NOVEMBER 30th ...
Continue Reading Original Article on Source Site

This is a dynamically fed article and is not authored by Mac Zen