And there lies the first (and probably) last legal advice you’ll ever read at MacSparky.com.
Scapple Beta
Literature and Latte (The Scrivener Developers) are about to release a new application, Scapple, which looks to be a sort of brainstorming tool (that will work with Scriviner). I’m just starting to play with the beta and you can too.
Music Concierge – Songza
I recommended Songza on the Mac Power Users a month ago and I’ve received several emails thanking me for it. It is a free music service that will select music for you based on the time of day. I prefer their music selections over Pandora and I use it all the time.
Access the Downloads Folder By Key Combination
One of my favorite tips in the 60 Tips Book is a list of all the keyboard shortcuts you can use in the OS X Save/Open Dialog box. For example, ⌘+D goes to the desktop.
I just learned a new one from Dark Sky’s Jack Turner.
⌥+⌘+L goes to the downloads folder.
Hazel Tutorial
Andreas Zeitler from Mac OS X Screencasts just released a 1-hour Hazel tutorial for 10 Euros. If you’re flumoxed by Haze, now is your chance.
Home Screens – Myke Hurley
Today is the first anniversary of the 70 Decibels Network, which hosts some of my favorite podcasts. In honor of this celebration, this week I’m featuring Myke Hurley’s home screen. Myke (Twitter) is the co-founder of 70 Decibels, the host of CMD+Space, and an all around swell guy.
So Myke, show us your home screen.
What are some of favorite apps?
I consider Tweebot to be the best app ever created on iOS. I use it multiple times a day, basically living inside the app when I’m away from home. Even when at home I use Tweetbot on my iPad as my main client. I basically have my iPad set up as a second screen at home. Day One has also become a new favourite of mine, it’s easily one of the most beautfiully designed apps I’ve used and the recent addition of being able to add photos has made the it important enough to replace the phone app in my dock! I’m also a massive fan of Instacast. In my opinion it’s the only way people should listen to Podcasts on iOS. And trust me, I’ve tried every app available.
Which app is your guilty pleasure?
I think Instagram has become a guilty pleasure of mine. It has recently made it’s way to my homescreen as I have been using it more and more every day. I enjoy posting silly pictures of not very important things and I like to see similar updates from my friends.
Other guilty pleasures of mine are games. I have a folder on another screen full of games like Jetpack Joyride, Peggle and Angry Birds (among others). I am always on the lookout for other games to add to this list.
What is the app you are still missing?
I am a Podcaster in my free time, and I’m still on the lookout for an app that will allow me to record, edit, add shownotes and post by FTP to a podcast host—all in one. Garageband can do some of this stuff, but not all of it. Basically, the only person that would be able to create an app like this would be a Podcast producer, as they’ll know exactly all of the steps needed. But it’s such a niche market, that I doubt I’ll ever see it.
How many times a day do you use your iPhone/iPad?
I think I could easily lose count with my iPhone. At my day job I have to use a Windows PC and I have very limited access to what I can install. So my iPhone remains as my connection to the online world. It’s where I’ll check twitter, listen to music or podcasts, read RSS and check email. All day, every day. I dont use my iPad as much as I tend to leave it at home, but it will be in constant use during the evening.
What is your favorite feature of the iPhone/iPad?
The apps available for iOS are what stops me thinking about switching to a competing platform (for any of the reasons there may be). The developers on the iOS platform churn out absolutely top quality apps, that are lovingly designed and often solve problems I didn’t even know I had
If you were in charge at Apple, what would you add or change?
I think I would extend the background capabilities of third-party apps. It would be great if I could have Reeder update itself, or Instacast download all my new shows, without me needing to prompt it. I think it’s about time Apple gave a little more capability to devs and trust that they will implement these features efficiently, practically and transparently.
Anything else you’d like to share?
In case anyone is interested, my background image is from the colour edition of the comic Scott Pilgrim vs the World. The image is of the character Ramona Flowers
Thanks Myke.
iGrand Piano for iPad
IK Multimedia has a new iPad app that includes some fantastic Piano samples (237 MB worth). I’ll be putting these through their paces this weekend on my MIDI keyboard as I continue my life-long assault on the music of Thelonious Monk.
Dragon Dictate for Mac 3
Speech recognition is one of those rare categories of software where the Mac has been playing catch-up for many years. Mac wielding dictators rejoiced when MacSpeech Dictate began using the Dragon engine and made huge strides toward reliable speech recognition on the Mac. A few years later, Nuance, the parent company that owns the Dragon speech recognition engine acquired MacSpeech Dictate and things got even better. Since then, there have been a series of releases of Dragon Dictate for the Mac by Nuance. This product has been chasing the tail of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the more mature Windows PC dictation product. With each succeeding release of Dragon Dictate for Mac, the gap between the two narrows.
I am a frequent dictator and after using the latest release, Dragon Dictate 3 for the Mac for a week, I can report there is much to like about this newest release. The engine is more accurate and faster. This newest version can also transcribe dictation made with a recording device, like your iPhone. The tutorial is also better, helping new users get familiar with the idea of talking to their computers. One feature, that actually appeared in later updates to version 2, is the ability to use your iPhone with Dragon’s Microphone application as a wireless dictation microphone. The link is over WiFi (not Bluetooth) and the resulting dictation is very accurate. I’ve done many laps around my office talking into my iPhone this way.
I’m a busy guy and the ability to create text by simply speaking to my Mac is one of my secrets. This latest version is much closer to the PC version than its predecessor and I find it extraordinarily useful.
One area where Dragon Dictate still needs to catch up to its PC counterpart is application integration. I think the engineers at Nuance are still struggling to fully integrate speech recognition and control to the Mac operating system. I’ve seen some people make it dance but it is hardly intuitive and still needs work. My favorite workflow for this application is to simply open the Dragon Notepad from the application and start talking. Dictating straight into Dragon’s notepad puts the application in its element and gives you the best chance for the most accurate recognition. From there, I can copy and paste the text to Byword, Apple Mail, Scrivener, or whatever else suits my fancy.
In the past I have recommended Dragon Express, the $50 variant in the app store. Unfortunately, Nuance has yet to update that application for Mountain Lion. if you’re going to dictate in Mountain Lion, you’ll need this newest version of Dragon Dictate. I remember spending $200 on this software thinking about how much money that was. However, with a little discipline, you’ll find that you recover it very quickly with the increased productivity that comes from talking to your Mac.
Cleartones Organic
I wrote about these last year. There is a new set of quality ring tones at Clear Tones and I’ve already installed them. I love my R2D2 ringtone on the weekends but when I’m at the day job, it’s Clear Tones for me.
FotoMagico 4
There is a nice update to my favorite slideshow program for the Mac. Every time I put one of these together for a friend’s wedding, I make the paid photographer look really bad.