MOBODOJO » Cool Tools

[UPDATED] Trackpad Magic for Windows

Tyler Regas — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:55 +0000

Ok, I’m not much of a Windows guy, but I am a gamer. That alone generally requires that I have a Windows system somewhere. For me that’s Windows Vista Ultimate in Apple’s Boot Camp beta for Mac OS X. While its been good with games like Half-Life 2 it won’t run GameTap. Feh! Anyway, if you love Apple portables, there’s a function you’re missing in Windows: turn off the trackpad when you plug in a mouse. Sure, there are trackpad/trackstick duos which offers the ability to turn off either or both, but it requires going into a control panel.

Well, pal Chris has whipped up a gizmo for Windows which will disable your built-in trackpad when you plug in a mouse and return its function when you take it out again. So far this is a really early version and its only been tested on Windows XP. It is, however, freeware, so go pick up a copy, try it, and let Chris know!

UPDATE: TrackPad Magic has been updated for Windows 7 x86 and x64 editions and is available at Chris’ new site, PocketLim. Check it out!

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RIM Introduces BlackBerry App World

Tyler Regas — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:54:46 +0000

RIM has joined the fray with their new BlackBerry App World application for BlackBerry devices. Much like the already available mobile application stores for Apple’s iPhone and T-Mobile’s G1 Android handset, the BB App World application offers users the ability to look for, purchase, and download programs for their BlackBerry. Right now App World only supports handsets with version 4.2 of the BlackBerry software and it must have a trackball or SurePress touchscreen (ala Storm), but its free and already has a ton of apps available, including (sadly) a fart sounds app. Nicely, the App World application uses PayPal for processing purchases, and its fully integrated. I’ll be reviewing software from the App World store as soon as I lay my hands on some.

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OmniGroup Makes Four OSX Apps Free

Tyler Regas — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:03:43 +0000

In case there weren’t enough free web browsers available for Mac OS X now (right now there’s Safari, Firefox, Camino, Opera, Shiira, and Flock, and if your want to go all out there’s ELinks, Lynx, and Lynxlet for your CLI folks) OmniGroup has announced that they are making four of their previously commercial apps free, including the fantastic OmniWeb browser. OmniWeb and iCab were the last real commercial web browser holdouts on the market, especially after Google “helped” Opera make its browser free (Hint: it involved money).

Its interesting timing, mind you, considering that Apple just made version 4.0 of its Safari browser available in beta form. OmniWeb remains, however, one of the more unique and powerful browsers to be based on Apple’s WebKit. Instead of tabs, OmniWeb uses a sidebar which holds thumbnail shots of the pages you have open. Its also good to have on hand in case you’re testing the Safari 4 beta, since it continues to use WebKit 3.x which doesn’t have the issues WebKit 4 does. The other apps Omnigroup has released for free are OmniDazzle, a mouse pointer toy, OmniDiskSweeper, a drive cleaning tool which is very nice, and OmniObjectMeter, a tool for developers.

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Dell Trots Out Wasabi Zink Printer

Tyler Regas — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:47:34 +0000

You may or may not have heard of Zink. For a while there, Zink was considered to be an easy addition to the list of top vaporware companies. Well, you can put away your betting cards as Dell has just popped out with their new Zink-powered Wasabi PZ310 photo printer. Zink technology is inkless, meaning that it prints using special paper and a patented process. Right now the prints are quite small, about 1/3rd smaller than standard sized prints, but it won’t be long before prints get larger. Prices are also rather nice. You can get your Wasabi in black, blue, or pink for US$119 (after savings of US$30). Paper runs US$11.99 for 24 sheets, US$19.99 for 48, and the unit holds 12 sheets. Reviews on the Dell site are already all over the board with one owner noting that it doesn’t work with a range of mobile phones, including the iPhone. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes.

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SonyEricsson BT Car Speakerphone Coming Soon

Tyler Regas — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:18:14 +0000

Several States in the US have laws requiring that drivers use hands-free systems in order to use mobile phones while operating vehicles. Unexpectedly, lots of companies who make Bluetooth headsets have been profiting from these laws, but now a bevy of Bluetooth speakerphone systems have started hitting the streets. SonyEricsson has jumped into this market with their sweet new AB900. Its a slick little device. Not only does it support standard speakerphone operations through its built-in speaker, but it also supports A2DP and can pass that stereo data through to your car stereo. When a call comes in, it pauses the music and lets you take the call. When the call ends, the music starts up again. Now, it seems to require a music-oriented handset, like SonyEricsson’s Walkman line, but it will likely work with Apple’s iPhone, as well. While there’s no pricing details just yet, the older HCB-150 device recently dropped US$50 to US$149, so I’m betting we can expect a tag of US$199. The SonyEricsson AB900 should hit store shelves in a couple more months.

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Amazon Updates Kindle To Version 2

Tyler Regas — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:08:48 +0000

Amazon made a splash with its Kindle ebook reader. Its hit feature was its ability to leverage Amazon’s extensive publisher relationships to provide a seamless, wireless ebook store, and that feature gets an upgrade to EVDO in the Kindle 2. Overall, the new Kindle 2 gets upgrades in the looks, size, and speed departments. Its very thin, has a better display, has more storage, and has “20% faster page turns”, whatever that means. Its available starting February 24th for US$359. Interestingly enough, Amazon promises to automatically upgrade your order from a Kindle 1 to a Kindle 2 if you haven’t already received your previously ordered Kindle 1. Take a look…

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More Palm Pre Features Unveiled

Tyler Regas — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:07:26 +0000

If you are just dying for more dirt on the upcoming Palm Pre featuring Palm’s sweet new webOS, PreCentral has a new video showing off some previously unseen features. Two indicated features are Palm’s take on the Unlock Swipe. Its kind of hard to catch as its right in the beginning of the video, but just watch and you’ll see it. Apparently, you can also snap a photo by pressing the spacebar, though I’m not sure thats really a feature as opposed to something most people would just expect. Lets hope the Pre comes sooner rather than later, though word is that it will drop at the very end of the quarter.

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LogMeIn Pimps Ignition For iPhone

Tyler Regas — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:42:30 +0000

Keeping up the run on super sweet remote tools for systems admins, LogMeIn has announced their new Ignition for iPhone app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. This little app will allow you to connect to a range of Windows and Mac OS X systems and I presume just about anything LogMeIn supports. Its available now on the Apple App Store for US$29.99. Below is a screenshot showing a Mac desktop with the iPhone in landscape mode. The interface controls are shown in the bar along the bottom edge.

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Bjango Offering iStat for iPhone

Tyler Regas — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:03:54 +0000

If you’re an IT person, you have a fondness for monitoring servers. If you have an iPhone (or most any phone, really) then you’re likely missing the ability to monitor anything unless you’ve invested in some high-dollar software (if I’m missing something cheap, please let me know). Bjango has opted to change that, at least for iPhone users, with the release of iStat for iPhone. Unlike the desktop version which gives nerdy types a huge amount of ultra-geeky info about their computers, iStat for iPhone allows you to monitor Mac OS X servers from your iPhone. You pay US$1.99 for the iPhone app and install the free server component to as many systems as you like. Wow. I haven’t been able to play with it yet, but I will soon and give you guys a run down of what it can do.

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Introducing The Duck Bill Money Clip

Tyler Regas — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:09:41 +0000

There are ideas which are so simple that it boggles the mind why others didn’t think of it before. In some cases, the idea was simple enough to be thought of before, but it took someone else to come along and redesign it in such a way as to make it better. Now, I’ll be honest. There’s not much one can do to make the venerable money clip better, but the guys over at Duck Bill Design have managed to make some improvements to the grip clip. They were also kind enough to send over a handful of samples, two of which have the Mobodojo name on them. Very cool.

The new clips are very nice and really well made. The bend is cambered instead of curved to prevent weakening of the bend, an issue with old money clips. They come in plain, matte, and shiny and can be laser engraved or hand engraved. Prices start at US$36 and are available now. Here, now, are some tips for using a money clip:

Keep you small bills on the outside unless you want to look like a rich ass
Make sure to have your ID or drivers license, bank, ATM, business, and AAA cards or any other cards you may need on a daily basis stuck inside the money
Carry your money in your front pocket for added security
Women can also use money clips in their purses instead of fiddling with a wallet