Macgasm

I wish I had the ability to do everything I wanted from any window on the Mac. I know it sounds a little grandiose, but why can’t we delete a file while a save file dialog is open? I know it seems counter intuitive at first thought, but it would save a lot of time if you had the ability.

On that note, saving files in general is a giant pain in the rear these days. Click here, click there, click again, and again, and then click save.

Well, you no longer have to do that. Default Folder X makes navigating folders in the finder a breeze. It’s all about saving time this week, and this application takes the cake. It lets you get things done immediately, and not in 40 seconds time

Do what you want in a save/open dialog

Have you ever noticed a file sitting in a folder that you want to delete, while saving another file? I know I have, well until default folder x let it happen, finder couldn’t care less what you wanted to do. That’s the beauty of this application. It gives you additional functionality that you’ve thought about on a couple of occasions, without ever being able to use.

Get directory assistance

Another really cool thing is that you can drill down into folders without having to click your way through them. You just mouse over the menubar icon and then start scrolling over the menu. You’ll drill down a lot quicker than you did in the Finder.

You can also save default folder locations for applications. If you put all your photoshop files in a folder titled graphics, and all your essays in a school folder, you can now ensure that these applications open the right folder while saving. Huge time saver.

Get information on a file

The “get info” option in the finder is pretty snazzy, but you can now also get file information while you’re saving. It’s a great way to make sure you don’t accidentally save over something you shouldn’t.

This application is full of handy tricks that save you time and effort. Between this application, and Path Finder, you’ll never have another need for the Finder. I’d love it if Apple bought up both applications then added the functionality to the Finder. It might help us actually get work done on our laptops.

Image Credit: Kasaa

I love finding amazing applications that I can actually use on a daily basis. Everyone knows my love for Evernote, but now I have a new love. That’s right! You heard it here. iDeskCal brings your calendar to your desktop, and it also allows you to add events and tasks without even having to go into iCal. Best of all, it integrates fully with iCal. This great little utility is customizable, and it has a beautiful yet simple interface. For $12.99 USD, this app is a steal. Try it now for 14 days, and see how you like it. I don’t know why any one wouldn’t buy this, though. It is the most useful calendar application I have found thus far.

More Info: http://hashbangind.com

[download in HD]

RIIIIING! RIIIIING! RIIIIING! Waking up to a tech support call is the worst possible way to start out my day. After wasting an entire Sunday dicking around with someone’s wireless printer, I have now decided that it isn’t worth my time or effort to fix the computer of anyone I am not dating or married to currently. That said, I have come up with a solution that I believe will leave everyone satisfied.

When a friend or family member calls me with a tech support question, my policy is now to write down their problem on my steno pad. Then, I’ll find the support website and phone numbers for the manufacturer of the malfunctioning device. After that, I’ll call back my loved one, and give them the contact information where they can find help. They get their problem fixed, and I keep my sanity. They might have to put in some more work, but that really isn’t my responsibility. Give a man a fish, etc.

Photo Credit: Evil Erin, stuartpilbrow

You know those schematics that are still kicking around. The ones da Vinci did showing all kinds of crazy stuff; stuff that was both a head of its time, and full fledged crazy at the same time? Well now you have the luxury of seeing what a Macintosh and an iPhone look like in a steampunked da Vinci kind of way. Some Pretty amazing stuff from the iSteam guys. Here’s the iPhone and the Mac.  You can get them as tee-shirts.

Thanks to Dion Briggs for sending this one in!

Image Credit: fa73

[Download This Episode]

In this episode, we talk about syncing iCal and Address Book with Google.

[01.7 MB] [0:05:10] [Hosted by: Josh Schnell & Grant Brunner] [Subscribe]

I love me some automation as you know. Making computers work for us, instead of having to work to use a computer is my main objective. Making things easier in life is the whole reason I use computers, supposedly. Getting to inbox zero is hard enough on the best of days, and after yesterdays recommendation of Mail Act-On you should be well on your way to getting stuff out of your inbox, and filed away nicely. Keeping the mail theme going for one more day on the site is probably a good idea. Lets GTD.

Most people use email like it’s a running log of tasks that need doing, and until that task is done, we’ll leave the email in our inbox, usually marked as unread. It’s not really conducive to getting things done. It might work for you if you get three or four emails a day, but if you ramp that up to a hundred or two hundred, you’ll be bogged down in no time. Mail Tags helps with this, a lot. If you’re using Mail Act-on now, you’ll be able to take this whole thing one step further now.

You’ll now be able to add tags to all your emails, assign emails to ical’s todo list (as well as OmniFocus, DEVONthink, etc), and use smart folders and tags together. All things you should be doing to get information out of your email and into your task management programs. You can also assign keywords you both outgoing and incoming mail. That means you’ll now have the ability to tag you project files as they’re being created, and not have to do it on the fly. These are all things that will be letting to get organized and keep track of tasks that need to be done with your email. It’s really handy. You should give it a go.

Photo Credit:mrmole

Tip Via: Mason Taylor

Who doesn’t like a jolt in the morning to get the day started. Some of us try doing it the el natural way, but a large majority of us turn to caffeinated based products. Heck, most of us line up at Starbucks every morning. Well, your trip to Starbucks just got a little bit easier–if you live in the US.

You know those credit card things they’ve been pushing on everyone, that will give you some saving on some of those flavour shots, and soy milk alternatives? Well, you can now just flash your iPhone app, and they’ll scan it to get the information. It saves having to lug around some stupid piece of plastic in your wallet. One more card in there’s gonna turn me into Costanza.

Now, here comes a little rant.

How is it that in 2009 we still have products only working in the US? The fact that the iPhone is a global product, and that apps can be pushed around the world is a huge indicator that software developers need to be thinking on a global scale. It’s pretty annoying to find out that we’re good enough to buy their coffee products, but not use their iPhone app to make our experience a little bit better. It’s a huge missed opportunity for Starbucks, and you’d think that they’d understand that considering they’re “globalization” experts, and the implications it might have if they only release an application for US customers. I started off excited to try this thing out, but then I was met with a “Only Works with US cards” notice. Now I’m just annoyed and adding one more company to my crap list. It started with Media Streamers, and now it’s moved on to Coffee Retailers. Anyone else want to crap on international customers, my list has room for a couple more?

Photo Credit: chrisdejabet

There are plenty of news stories regarding AT&T’s new FemToCell product that is being rolled out in Charlotte, North Carolina. But I have a few questions.

First off, if AT&T’s network service is so bad, why is it that I have to pay an additional ‘fee’ just to improve their crappy network when they should be paying me to host this damn thing? What if I lived in New York or San Francisco and was still getting horrible service, despite AT&T rolling out the 850 MHz spectrum, why would I want to pay additionally to improve that service?

The other fact that bothers me is that the FemToCell uses YOUR existing broadband connection to make calls. Wait, you mean that you have to pay for this product, pay for your broadband connection just for a company to somehow manage to have you foot the bill for the service. This is absolutely ridiculous. The FemToCell converter covers a 5000 square foot range. Unless you own a huge house, that will cover you and your neighbors, and yet you’re footing the bill.

The final thing that just irritates me more than anything… What if you have a cap on your service, the usage of your own broadband to facilitate your cell phone is going to eat at your cap. Now, if you have AT&T’s UVerse or AT&T DSL this may not be the case, that hasn’t been mentioned at all. But in other cases, like Comcast users who only have a 250GB cap. Yes I realize many never hit that limit, but I’m sure that there are more than a few who have and do on a regular basis.

I realize that this is geared towards iPhone users, who are traditionally heavier users of 3G data than other AT&T phone users, but the other users still benefit off of your dime. What I would like to see from AT&T is the ability for those iPhone users who purchase a FemToCell device to be allowed to tether their iPhone for free. This alone would justify the $150 charge for the FemToCell device. Then if an iPhone users is on the road and needs to get on internet with their laptop, they would be allowed to do so. Short of this, I’m calling this an idiotic way for AT&T to be able to gouge their customers even more without providing any of the backbone.

Maybe it’s just me but I believe as though this is a bunch of crap from a company who has repeatedly provided horrible access and has not lived up to their end of the bargain for those users who have invested in iPhones and are stuck on AT&T for the duration of their contract. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a great idea for those who really cannot get cell phone coverage, and it would be great if you’re in an area where Cell phone coverage is not available, yet you have broadband. But overall it just seems like AT&T is raping customers more than before. Particularly, since many are paying in excess of $100 a month for bad service.