While I could have jumped on this update as soon as it was announced by the LogMeIn crew, I wanted to go hands on with LogMeIn Ignition’s new features before passing final judgement of whether the new file sharing capabilities are simply cool or deservedly awesome. Using LogMeIn’s free client, all of your computers are accessible to your iPad and iPhone by simply logging in with your username and (strong) password. Similar to how you navigate between open pages in Safari, you can navigate between File Managers on different computers in LogMeIn Ignition to copy & move files between computers, to your iPad, or from your iPad. It works extremely well, and I was able to move files between two Windows boxes and my iPad while tethered to a 3G enabled device. You can open a variety of file types in LogMeIn (I tested .PDF, .TXT, and .RTF files), and once those files are on your iPad you can choose to open files in other applications if permitted (GoodReader is handy to have around for this). Even if LogMeIn Ignition can’t open the file, you should still be able to move and copy files between computers. Interestingly, you don’t even have to copy files to your iPad to open them - LogMeIn Ignition temporarily caches the file and enables you to keep the cache or discard it as needed. You’ll have to get used to navigating LogMeIn Ignitions’s File Manager, as tapping on folders highlights the folder for copying & moving while tapping on its blue arrow will reveal its contents. I think LogMeIn Ignition will refuse to copy certain folders based on size (if the total contents won’t fit on your iPad) or type (I couldn’t copy the entire C:\ to my iPad for example). Otherwise, navigating and using the available tools to manage your files was straightforward.
MacStories Product Review: XtremeMac InCharge Portable
Our iPhones and other portable gadgets require a lot of power to keep them running. The iPhone’s legendary battery life could still use a good boost if you’re consistently uploading Twitter pics and recording audio for those Macworld Expo interviews, and even that old BlackBerry you still keep around could use a lift. Back in the hotel, wouldn’t it be nice if you and a friend could share an outlet to charge your USB powered gadgets while cameras and other recording tools create a rat’s nest of wires to your Mac? XtremeMac’s InCharge Portable provides a duo of USB ports that are ready to charge your gadgets, but even better is the trick up its sleeve.
Panic Raises $56,224 For Charity In 24-Hours→
Panic Raises $56,224 For Charity In 24-Hours
The results: together, in 24 hours, we raised $56,224.00 (¥4562015) for Japan. We’re amazed. Thank you so much. It’s donation time!
Yesterday, Panic began a charitable drive where 100% of the proceeds from all software purchased within a 24-hour period would be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society and Portland’s Mercy Corps. On Twitter, Panic just announced that they raised $56,224 (¥4562015) towards the relief effort in Japan. What the Mac community can pull off in a relatively short period of time is simply amazing, and even more money is being raised in concurrent software charities.
Courier Updated With Facebook Support: We’re Giving Away 3 Copies
Courier is a smashing Mac app to have if you’re uploading files to Flickr, Youtube, or MobileMe, and some big changes have come along recently to those begging for Facebook support. With the latest update to version 1.1.2, Courier is bringing the ability to upload pictures to your Facebook Pages, and video to your Facebook accounts. With a simple drag and drop after adding your Facebook account, you can deliver files over the Internet in style. Right from the envelope’s stamp, you can easily select which album you’d like to upload photos to, then drag in a bundle of photos right before delivering them straight to your Facebook profile. Courier keeps getting better and better, and it was the first app I purchased on the Mac App Store. For $9.99, Courier is a beautiful app that allows you upload media to your favorite websites. To celebrate the latest inclusion for Facebook albums and video, we’re giving away three copies – just follow the rules below for your chance to win.
Google Launches Google TV Remote for iPhone
For the few of you who may own a Google TV enabled device (or a TV such as the Sony Internet TV), your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad can now power your futuristic format thanks to the new Google TV Remote app. It’s chock full of glorious soft buttons that could take the Logitech Harmony to task, and includes Voice Search so you can quickly search for content using your iPhone’s microphone. Multiple Google TV Remotes can work over the same network as well, meaning anyone who has an iOS (or Android) enabled device can browse the television right from their lap. The app is free to download from the App Store, and we’ve included a quick video of the Android version below: the experiences are very similar (the iPhone can’t push webpages to their Google TV, however).
MacStories Product Review: JOBY GorillaMobile Ori for iPad
For those still holding onto the original iPad, have you ever thought about stepping your game up when it comes watching a family movie or utilizing the iPad as a bookstand? That folio case you have isn’t going to elevate the iPad above those popcorn jaws, and you certainly aren’t going to get a stable viewing angle on a leather cover as you tap through a recipe book. Even with a slew of gadgets and arms, the iPad is only as flat as its case. JOBY will help your iPad avoid disaster with a product that’s quite transformative.
Mondo Solitaire: Deliciously Beautiful Solitaire For Mac
There isn’t too much you can say about solitaire on its own. It’s the card game your coworker plays instead of writing formulas for Excel spreadsheets on Windows, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn solitaire into something more than a time waster. Proof of concept: Mondo Solitaire from Ambrosia Software is solitaire done right. You aren’t just playing the same game of Klondike over and over - instead you’re offered over 300 variants of solitaire madness to choose from. If you include the beautiful game board that looks like it should bundled with Apple’s own Game Center, then you have yourself one premium handful of card games.
We Have Five Copies Of Zen Viewer HD For iPad Up For Grabs
File managers on the iPad need not be boring nor unintuitive. Zen Viewer HD for iPad wrangles documents and media into a stylish file viewer that plays back audio, movies, pictures, PDFs, and gives you the ability to organize documents. You also have the cloud at your fingertips, thanks to Dropbox, Box.net, and MobileMe integration so you can pull files from just about anywhere. Record audio on the fly, manage files and folders (easily get files into Zen Viewer HD by drag & drop while in Manage Mode), and compress & decompress files to save storage space on your iPad. If you want to carry your Windows or Mac files around with you, Zen Viewer shouldn’t disappoint. Currently on sale for $2.99 in the App Store (with some additional artist themes costing $.99 in app), who says managing files shouldn’t be both easy and beautiful? Your new iPad should have a proper system in place for handling all of the documents stored on your home system, so we’re giving away five copies past the break.
Disk Drill Out Of Beta, Adds S.M.A.R.T Disk Monitoring
While Disk Drill was in beta, we had it thoroughly reviewed as an excellent file recovery solution for the Mac, helping prevent disaster from unavoidable data loss thanks to power failure, hard drive crash, or accidental file deletion. Not only does the Recovery Vault watch what files you delete and keep a tab on them in case of recovery, you can also have Disk Drill scan external HFS/HFS+ or FAT drives and flash media to possibly undelete pictures, music, and documents. Disk Drill comes in free and Pro versions, with the free version supports files protected Recovery Vault, you’ll gain the ability to recovery anything thanks to a new deep scan algorithm in the Pro version, which will attempt to recover files that haven’t yet been overwritten by the operating system. Included in both versions is now a menubar utility that monitors your hard disk for errors, and will allow you to back up failing partitions to a disk image at the first sign of trouble.
Disk Drill is user friendly, and I recommend you check out our initial review before checking out the free version. The Pro version costs $89, but if you already own a competitor’s product that you’re unsatisfied with, you can send Disk Drill a proof of purchase for a 50% discount. Students and non-profit organizations also qualify for a 20% discount.