Macgasm

If you’ve ever needed a reminder to slow down during your work day then this mouse is for you. Having a coffee mug mouse, filled with a hot beverage in it is reminder enough to keep the sudden movements to a minimum. Failure to do so, will result in scalding hot burns.

A creation by Louise Wictoria Klinker, as part of her SlowWeb series, encourages people to slow down and take a breather every now and then while they’re navigating the information super highway.

So, let those around you know that you’re going to be taking some time to yourself, just because information is instant these days, it doesn’t mean our lives are.

Web Gallery

This tip comes in quite handy when you find yourself managing multiple address book groups that start to overlap. For instance, my address book contains groups for the Macgasm team, the iPhone reviewers, and the editor team. Some contacts are in more than one group, but it’s hard to remember just what groups they belong to at any given moment.

The fix is quite simple–select a contact you want to track down, and then hold down the option key. The groups will light up where your contact is residing.

Today, the good folks over at FileMaker have announced that they are releasing five free student-centric templates for Bento. When a student downloads the 30-day free trial, they will receive these new templates called the “Student Survival Kit.”

Here are the new templates:

• Lecture Notes: Enter searchable notes and even include video, audio and file attachments for each lecture.
• Group Projects: Manage tasks and deadlines for multiple group members to keep everyone on schedule.
• Event Planner: Organize parties, class meetings, club fundraisers, and sports events, with ease.
• Course Tracker: Track classes, credits earned, grades, pre-requisites and more.
• Job Search: Track resumes sent, upcoming interviews, hiring manager names and important emails for every potential job.

These templates will, of course, work with Bento for the iPhone and Bento for the iPad. Bento is also integrated with Apple apps like iPhoto, Address Book and iCal, so you can manipulate your data with minimal hassle.

So, what do you think about these new templates? Does this make you want to buy Bento? Will this make your college life easier? Comment on this post, or hit me up on Twitter.

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By: Christoph Niemann

Mac users can relax a little knowing that Google’s finally gotten around to taking Chrome out of Beta, and bestowing on Mac fans the same goodness that Windows users have seen for a while now–4,500 extensions of goodness.

They’ve also implemented a full-screen mode (command+shift+F), some bookmark management, as well as the ability to synchronize your browser preferences across multiple systems.

The synchronization additions are worth the switch alone. The worst part of owning multiple computers is having to constantly setup your systems to act the same from one machine to the next. If more companies offered application synchronization options I’d be a very happy geek.

Hat tip to @4fthawaiian for bringing this to our attention.
Article Via Google Mac Blog

For those of you who use Elgato’s EyeTV with your Mac as a DVR media solution, get ready for an update to allow streaming to your iPad. For the uninitiated, Elgato’s products turns your Mac into a home DVR media center. You can schedule shows to record just like you would on your TiVo, or Cable/Satellite DVR. EyeTV however gives you the capability to convert your shows for your iPod or iPhone. Well now with an update you can do the same with your iPad.

Jonny Evans of 9to5Mac explains some of the new features:

“EyeTV’s one-click export buttons in the toolbar can be configured to export to iPad-optimized format (as well as iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV). Recordings exported to iPad format from EyeTV are displayed with elegant cover art and program details, including series and episode descriptions, movie summaries and more.”

I like how Elgato is taking it up a notch by adding in the cover art and detailed information for the show’s that are recorded. It’s attention to detail like this that makes the app that more appealing. They could have simply giving you the converted recording, much like TiVo does, but instead they make themselves stand out from the crowd.

This app is also a universal app that will work on the iPhone as well. The app is priced at $4.99, or it is a free upgrade if you already own the app. Evans goes on to explain how EyeTV incorporates the New Zealand program guide, and Mac processor support:

“The software also incorporates support for the IceTV electronic program guide service in New Zealand. The software is the last version that will support PowerPC Macs. Future software updates will require an Intel Mac.”

I’m not surprised to see that Elgato is stopping support for the PowerPC Macs.  Apple has stopped support for the PowerPC Macs with its release of Snow Leopard.  So, if you don’t own the Elgato EyeTV system, and would like to purchase it, the system will run you about $199.95 from Elgato’s site.  You can also download the iPad/iPhone streaming app from the iTunes Store for $4.99 by clicking here.

Photo Credit: EyeTV Image Gallery

Article Via 9to5Mac

I’m based in the UK and the “Big Wait” is almost over. The iPad’s international arrival has been a bit of a drag, over a month to be specific, with speculations floating around that they simply oversold to the USA. Reports indicate that they are shifting 2ooK units a week, which means someone is buying them. However, it looks as though this Friday the wait will finally come to an end—”While supplies last”, of course.

The image above is a capture from my inbox and it shows Apple is keen to get the doors open for what looks to be some serious shopping ahead. This feels like an event, like something you need to experience, and even though I was a ‘safer’ and ordered mine online the minute it was available to pre-order, I somehow feel I will be left out if I don’t go and experience the chaos. I wonder if this is the magic that Harry Potter fans felt at the midnight launches.

The opening of the store is 10am typically, but I wonder if they figure since some people may be camping out (is anyone camping out?), that it makes sense to start selling earlier. Also the email says there will be staff in store to help you get set up if you need to, which is great. For me, once I open that box it will be very difficult for anyone to get it out of my hands.

Have you pre-ordered your iPad? Are you confident it will arrive on Friday? Are you camping out at your local Apple store? Do you think they will be sold out by noon?

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Apple’s Geniuses are a pretty busy bunch. When was the last time you took a step into an Apple store and realized that the store was empty? It’s busy in there, and that means employees are busy. So, you can imagine the pressure that’s on them to perform, and meet the in store demand of customers. A quick look around a typical mall would suggest that the Apple store is easily one of the busiest stores around.

But, are Apple stores so busy that they’ve been neglecting to provide proper compensation to employees who’ve missed their breaks? According to a class-action lawsuit filed by a group of hourly-paid Apple Geniuses (in 2005), Apple denied to pay them promptly for missed breaks. If true, Apple would be in violation of California law and forced to compensate their employees.

Having known a fair number of individuals who’ve worked in a retail environment, and one who spent some time at an Apple store, my first inclination is that missed break periods are the norm. Having witnessed the retail world first hand, pressure to not call in sick, pressure to up sell, and pressure to overperform may be part of the job description, but it’s sold to employees through pressure tactics that are often unfair. Expectations rarely meet the compensation levels employees are paid.

It’s important to note that the lawsuit was filed in 2005, and that could mean that most of the problems highlighted in the case have since been fixed or even become a thing of the past. According to an Apple Store alumni, a lot of the conditions claimed in the lawsuit just didn’t happen while she was employed at an Apple store between 2008 and 2009. She notes that it wasn’t uncommon for employees to have their breaks pushed back if the store was busy, but that they eventually got their breaks. Half-hour and full-hour breaks were unpaid, and those who were entitled to 15 minute breaks were compensated in full through direct deposit with each related paycheque.

Things may have been different in 2005, but it seems like Apple’s since taken steps to correct the issues that are currently alleged in the class-action lawsuit.

We’ll be sure to keep our eye on this as it develops.

Article Via TheLoop