Someone is reading this blog somewhere. Thanks.
I’ve got a question: Does anyone know how to get WPA to work on a Titanium Powerbook with an Airport card? Is it even possible? Leave answers in the comments section or e-mail me at iyaztech@gmail.com.
Tag Archives: Mac
Steve Jobs to double click “.exe” file at WWDC.
Get ready for this headline in a couple of months. Some are fearing that Apple’s endorsement of Parallels as a way to run Windows on their Mac shows that Apple will not have a product similar to it. However, just because Apple thinks something is a cool product, that does not mean that they will refuse to create their own product. I think I had seen Steve Jobs show off the iPod with Bose accessories and other boombox-style systems before the Apple Hi-Fi.
My wife had told me of the scenario she expects at WWDC. Steve Jobs goes online to show off either a built-in bit torrent system or a new version of Safari. He decides to download a file. The file appears on the desktop. Steve laments that the file is an “.exe” file. “Well, maybe I’ll just click it anyway,” he says. The audience erupts as the Mac OS 10.5 can run Windows programs without Windows.
Leopard would not compete with Parallels. Parallels allows you to run Windows on top of Mac OS X. Leopard would allow you to run Windows programs like X11 programs. I would expect this WINE-like functionality to be available only on the Intel version of OS X.
Finder needs work
Recently, a couple of faked screenshots of Mac OS 10.5, Leopard, were making the rounds on the Internet. Included in the fake shots was a new tabbed Finder interface.
When I switched from Windows to Mac, Finder was one of the things I hated most about OS X. It was too simple and underpowered. You have to open two Finder windows to do anything. There are few ways to customize Finder (besides putting a ton of items in your toolbar and your sidebar). There is no “Advanced” view that gives you more functionality. (As an aside, I find it quite irritating that you can only save items to locations listed in your sidebar using a drop down menu instead of a sheet).
One of the better Finder replacements is Path Finder. Unfortunately, it does not completely replace the Finder because OS X does not truly give you an option to use a replacement program for Finder. You would have two programs running. A few months ago, there was news that Apple was looking for a new Finder team. I e-mailed them and the guys at CocoaTech (makers of Path Finder) and implored them to bring the Path Finder people to Apple to replace the Finder. More likely than not, Apple will just copy Path Finder without payment just as they copied Konfabulator (later Yahoo Widgets Engine). Apple apologists will say what a great innovation, while others (like me) will say Apple stole a great idea.
Tabbed file browsing is not a complete answer. Split view panes, as can be found in Windows with Explorer, are necessary for moving files. Additionally, Apple has the awful folder replace function. Instead of integrating the contents of two folders who share the same name, Mac OS X replaces the folder with the newer one (after warning you that it will do this). There is not even an option to integrate the folder contents.
I am not asking for Finder to become Path Finder. I just want a program that can act like Windows Explorer or Finder that gives you advanced options. Hide it from the newbies and give some power to the users.
Google and Microsoft
Google has its new Spreadsheet web-application and it’s ruffling feathers at Microsoft. People are saying that this is Google firing a shot across Microsoft’s bow (I didn’t know that they had boats, but whatever). So, Google’s got their Spreadsheet and it’s supposed to be a competitor of MS Office’s Excel (and of course Writely is a competitor to MS Word). Well, here I am (a Microsoft shareholder and former Google shareholder) giving my opinion.
In general, webapps are a great idea. You can access your programs anywhere, from any computer, from any operating system. It’s a wonderful idea – however, there is a problem. These webapps depend on online connectivity. It does not matter that these webapps are almost good enough to replace the expensive Microsoft Office. Feel free to be paranoid that your files are saved on Google’s servers. With the U.S. Government breathing down the necks of ISPs, do you really want your data on Google’s servers? You could just keep it on your local hard drive and avoid this entire problem. If the NSA wants my hard drive, they have to get MY hard drive that is in my laptop or desktop. Why make it easier for the government to grab your data?
It does not matter if Google goes ahead with their Spreadsheet. If Microsoft wants to destroy a product, they can. Case in point: Netscape. How did Microsoft destroy Netscape? Internet Explorer was free. It was the underdog – it was the rebel browser for a while. If Google has its free Spreadsheet program and it starts eating away at Microsoft’s market share, then Microsoft will make Office incredibly cheap. MS may not make it free – would you pay $2 per license for the full functioning MS Excel versus the free Google Spreadsheet that is close to (but not exactly) MS Excel? Microsoft knows how to beat their competition to death.
At worst, Microsoft and Google will become the biggest company in the world. Micro-Google could exist one day. Their market capitalization would be amazing. The fun thing about tech companies is that they are smart. Microsoft and Google could one day become ONE company. Google could own the web and Microsoft could own the desktop (save for the 5% Mac contingency – which I am a part of). Either way, these webapps cannot replace local applications just yet. So if anyone from Microsoft is reading, just relax – everything will be fine. [BTW, Microsoft’s Windows CE or Mobile or whatever it’s called – their PocketPC OS is terrific – just make it work with Macs]. If anyone from Google is reading – you have an excellent search engine – think about joining with Microsoft. There’s no need to compete if you’re part of the same company. Plus, even if you decide to stay on your own, the world appreciates that there’s a company out there that forces Microsoft to have a better product. Good luck, msft and goog.
Witch: Alt-Tab for Mac
When I switched from Windows to Mac, I was pleased with the performance of OS X. I tried Expose and Command-Tab to cycle through windows. However, Expose only shows you open windows (minimized windows are hidden). Command-Tab only lets you go through the open applications. Once again, minimized applications are not brought to the forefront. I got around this by hiding the applications instead of minimizing windows. (And I am aware of the Command-` function to cycle through open windows of one application).
Nonetheless, there was no true Windows-like alt-tab (cycle through every damn window, minimized or not) function built into Mac OS X. So I stumbled onto a piece of software called Witch. It lets you cycle through every open window – plus, you can map it to alt-tab (or option-tab if you want to call it that). Plus, I’m a keyboard junkie. I hate taking my hands off the keyboard to use the mouse to find things in Expose. Witch gives me back some of the functionality I have become used to in Windows.
It works very well. I highly suggest it for people who switch from Windows to Mac. I’m also aware that Witch can do more than just alt-tab, so if you’re curious about its functionality check out Macworld’s Article here.