Macgasm

Omnigraffle for iPad (link opens iTunes) is a $49.99 app that allows you to create sophisticated charts, diagrams, and visuals.

When you first open Omnigraffle for iPad, you are greeted with an introductory document that shows you the basics of how to operate the program.  If you need additional assistance, OmniGroup offers a video tutorial and a help document (accessible from within the app).

Welcome Document

The best way to learn the application, however, is by jumping in and using it.

Your document opens as a blank canvas.  You can create objects for your diagram two ways.  First, you can choose the pencil icon and create free-form drawings or standard shapes.

New Document Object Drawing Choices

Or, you can click the Stencils icon and choose objects from there, dragging them to your screen.

Stencil Shape Chooser

You can double click on any object and type on it or inside of it.  Objects are easily connected together using the connections stencil.  Simply drag a connector to the canvas and touch the ends of the connector to each object you want connected.

Stencil Connection Options

Every object on the canvas is editable.  You can change its size merely by dragging the box corners. You can change the exterior line, the fill (color and kind), the font, etc.

Font Picker Selection Tool

If you want to edit multiple objects at the same time, you can do that by selecting them by dragging over them with your finger, or by going into the canvas menu and selecting objects by type.  This is really handy when you decide you want to change a group of similar objects in a batch edit.

Select Objects by Type View

Omnigraffle allows you to use layers as well.  You can isolate layers so you can edit each one separately.  You can also hide a layer (or layers) from view or lock them so no more edits can be made.

Layer Turned Off

Once you are satisfied with your diagram, you can export it via email as an Omnigraffle document or as a PDF and/or save it to your photo library.

Document Options

Although there is a little bit of a learning curve using Omnigraffle (if you’ve never used a program like this before), all-in-all it is quite intuitive and fun to use.  You can add your own images into the program and manipulate objects to your heart’s content.  I love how configurable everything in the program is–the only limitation is your imagination.

Canvas with Photo Background

I had no problems with the program and came across no bugs (major or minor).  The program automatically saves your work as you do it, so you don’t have to worry about losing anything.

What’s Macgasmic:  I love this application and can see its potential for creating professional-quality diagrams for business and/or education.  I have Omnigraffle for my Mac, but, in all honesty, I haven’t used it as much as I thought I would.  That is partly because of the complex UI of the Mac app.  The iPad version is so simple and nicely intuitive.  Diagramming just seems to work better when you can touch and move the objects with your fingers rather than using a mouse and a cursor.  And isn’t that part of the appeal of the iPad–allowing the user to interact with technology in a new, more intuitive way? Another cool feature of the Omnigraffle for iPad is you can import third-party and custom stencils, and documents created on Omnigraffle for Mac can be used on the iPad (though OmniGroup warns that “performance may vary depending on document size and complexity.”

What’s Not:  Obviously the price ($49.99) is awfully high for an iPad app, especially when the majority of iPad apps are priced no more than $10.  However, I will say that OmniGroup has created an exceptional application, and, unlike several $10 apps in the store right now (Pages, Keynote, etc.), I found no major glitches or disappointments in Omnigraffle.  Another thing to keep in mind is that the Mac version of Omnigraffle retails for $99.95 and up.  If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of the Mac version, but want an excellent diagramming program, Omnigraffle for iPad is a good value.  Perhaps OmniGroup will consider lowering the price in the future to make this app more accessible. That said, if you’re willing to shell out $500 or more for an iPad, $50 doesn’t seem all that unreasonable for an outstanding, professional-quality application.

I’ve already created two diagrams that I plan to export as PDFs and use in class presentations next fall, and I plan to create many more.  With its ease of use and beautiful results, Omnigraffle for iPad has become one of the most useful applications on my iPad.

Image Credit Gizmodo - Click image for their article

Gizmodo has posted the warrant that was used to confiscate four personal computers and two servers from Jason Chen’s house. This was in response to the whole iPhone 4th Gen leak debacle.

Gizmodo is now claiming that the search warrant is invalid, here is what they had to say:

According to Gaby Darbyshire, COO of Gawker Media LLC, the search warrant to remove these computers was invalid under section 1524(g) of the California Penal Code.

Frankly, I don’t feel the least bit of sorrow for the folks over at Gizmodo and Gawker Media. If you play with fire, you’re going to get burned. They have spent the last couple of weeks doing very unsavory things that may have crossed the line into illegal. In any case, they’re getting a taste of their own medicine. The poor Apple Engineer that lost the phone has it much worse than the Gizmodo team does, and he only made an honest mistake.

If you want to know more, you can read Chen’s account of the night:

Article Via TechCrunch
Photo Credit: mskogly

To all you iPad pessimists out there who demand logic to be spoonfed to you as to why an iPad is functional for you: Here’s another product that creates a new use for the iPad.

I’ll admit that I didn’t see my value in the device until last week when it hit me how I could absolutely revolutionize the industry I operate in with the iPad, and inventions like the iBracket just keep giving me more functional purposes.

The iBracket is a simple metal (wood and plastic soon too) frame for the iPad that makes it a kiosk for museums, galleries, waiting rooms, etc. Though the price is pretty steep at $349, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than getting a custom made touch screen kiosk. You just slide the iPad in, hook it up to the speakers, and mount it.

I can even see people using this as a security system. Wifi to a camera at the front door? See pessimists?! Possibilities are endless, you just need to think…

If you’re anything like me, you want to control how everything around you looks. I have a very difficult time buying stuff because I can’t settle on something. The last time I picked up a sleeve it took me an hour or two to decide, as well as a secondary trip back to the store.

Snupped has been trying to solve this by letting you create your own sleeves piecemeal. Snupped has predesigned sleeves as well as sleeve that’ll meet all your Mac needs. They’re measured out for the entire Mac line, so you don’t have to worry about having your device fit the sleeve.

They have 39 pre-designed patterns for the outside of your sleeve and another 13 fabric patterns for the inside. You can also attach handles if you’d prefer to have them available.

We spent a week with a laptop and iPhone sleeve.

These sleeves are built with enough padding so that you don’t have to worry about dinging your devices. I’m not confident that you’ll be able to drop your laptop without serious consequences, but it’ll certainly protect you from most day to day wear and tear.

My only real concern is that they’re all a little bit girly. I’d love to see some more masculine options–polkadots just don’t seem to do it for me.

The laptops sleeves start at about $29.90

If you’re as curious as we are about how Steam for the Mac is going to look, you can stop your quest for app footage. Some guy on YouTube called 2befine has put together some footage (and crappy music), and you can watch the video below. The quality isn’t all that great, but, if you can stomach most screencast videos, this one shouldn’t be too bad.

The screencast doesn’t show off anything revolutionary, but if you’re a gamer like most of us here at Macgasm, you’re thrilled to see anything from Steam running on a Mac.  Originally, the ideal was to ship Steam in April, but it seems like the fine folks at Valve are running a little bit behind. Sadly, Valve is fairly well known for slipping on release dates. We’re not sure how far the release date has slipped, but once there’s word from Valve we’ll be sure to update you.

Again, we apologize for the crappy music. You may want to turn off those speakers before hitting play.

Personally, I wasn’t sure how well the Wall Street Journal subscription would do on the iPad. I’m completely surprised that they received an astounding amount of subscriptions. You have to wonder, will affect the online-only and the print version of the WSJ? Are more people buying this to test it out? Or are they looking for the best alternative?

Currently the paid subscription for the WSJ app is locked at $17.29 per month. The price is more than double that of the online version and almost 6 times more than that of a newspaper delivered to your front step. Obviously, it’s a surprising statistic when you’re analyzing the best option for your future purchase. What’s more surprising is that the app has recorded nearly 3,200 subscriptions in the near month that it’s been active.

It’s now known that nearly 30,000 people downloaded the free version of the application. From their subscription for free, they were offered a deal to switch over to the paid version of the application. Of that 30k, it’s unknown (at this time) how many of them are part of the 3,200 paid subscribers.

While the 3,200 customers will bring in nearly $60,000 700,000 for the year (if they keep their accounts active), you have to wonder how much of a boost the WSJ will get once the app and the iPad is available internationally.

Update: We made a glaring mathematical mistake above. Thanks to all those who pointed it out.

For a more in depth look at what the paid iPad app has to offer, you can check out the YouTube video below:

[via Business Insider]
Picture from WSJ.com

If you’re familiar with the Final Fantasy franchise, you’ll know that Square-Enix is well known for making incredibly immersive role-playing games. Well, good news: A brand new RPG from Square-Enix for your iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad has hit the app store, and it is titled Chaos Rings.

This game takes the classic RPG gameplay that we’re all familiar with, and it brings the three dimensional goodness right to your handheld device. The game is $12.99, but you get four different scenarios with multiple different endings. You’ll have hours upon hours of gameplay from the most trusted developer in the genre of role-playing games. This is truly a great deal.

Chaos Rings does not have an iPad-optimized interface as of yet, but it plays perfectly in the normal and pixel-doubled mode on your iPad. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw an iPad update in the near future from Square-Enix. They’re known for staying on the cutting edge.

If you want more great RPG content on your Apple device, you need to go out and buy Chaos Rings. Support the developers that make great content, and you’ll be rewarded with more of it.

Photo Credit: SashaW

In 1998, when the first iMac was introduced, Apple was the first major computer company to ship consumer-grade computers without a floppy disk drive. There was an uproar in 1998 when the floppy drive was not included, but other computer companies soon followed suit. Over a decade later, Sony has announced that it will no longer be producing the outdated media by March 2011.

Macworld is reporting that there were roughly twelve million floppy disks sold last year in Japan, and Sony sold around 70% of them. This move will hopefully force users of legacy hardware to move forward with better technology.

Article Via Macworld
Photo Credit: rachaeldawn