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Ever since the release of the Mac App Store, I’ve been waiting for one specific category to take off: News apps. More specifically, innovative and free news apps.
This expectation isn’t some fanciful dream but something that arose out of a clear precedent: the iOS App Store. Today we’ll briefly discuss what the iOS App Store has in this area that the Mac App Store is desperately lacking and whether or not we can expect this void to continue in the future.
We’re at the beginning of a brand new year, which means there’s no better time to look ahead and start planning your upcoming hardware purchases. If you’re like me, you’ve got a few pieces of aging hardware that you’ve been putting off updating and it’s just about time to give in and make a trip to the Apple Store.
In today’s poll, we want to know which Apple product is at the top of your list. Is it time to finally give in and pick up the MacBook Air that you’ve been drooling over or are you tired of working on a tiny screen and ready to switch to a 27″ iMac?
After you leave your vote, tell us about your purchase timeline in the comment area below. For instance, if you’re going to pick up a new iPad, will you wait for the iPad 3 or grab an iPad 2 sometime in the next few months?
Our featured sponsor this week is Chronicle Mini, the best free way to keep up on your bills from your menu bar.
Chronicle Mini is an amazing little app that sits in your menu bar and helps you stay on top of your reoccurring bills. In just a few clicks you can set up a new bill (say a mortgage payment or a cell phone bill), create a reminder in iCal and set the bill to repeat on the first of every month. When it comes time to pay the bill, Chronicle Mini can take you right to the appropriate website and upon payment will change the status of the bill to completed.
This app is incredibly helpful and is so simple that anyone can use it. Given that it’s completely free, there’s absolutely no reason not to download it. You can use Chronicle Mini perfectly as a standalone app, or if you really want to master your bills, it will work in conjunction with the full version of Chronicle.
Go Get It!
Go grab your free copy of Chronicle Mini from the Mac App Store today and never forget another bill payment again!
These days news articles about Apple are anything but scarce. Every day there is a fresh new crop of speculation, rumors and discussion regarding the future Apple’s product line and how it will continue to shape the way that we interact with technology.
However, the media hype is largely centered on the exciting and revolutionary products: iOS and its supporting devices. Google “iPad 3″ or “iPhone 5″ and you’ll find no shortage of juicy gossip. If the media gives attention to any Mac, it’s likely going to be the MacBook Air. But what about our favorite desktop machine? Where will the iMac go in 2012?
Site-specific browsers (SSBs) are web browsers that allow you to focus on specific sites. The benefit is that you can easily turn web applications like Gmail and Facebook into a neatly wrapped app that sits in your dock. This separates these apps out from your normal browser and allows you to run them independently.
Today, we want to know which SSB you prefer. Is the the tried and true Fluid browser or its popular alternative Mozilla Prism? Both offer similar functionality and easily allow you to create standalone applications for web apps. Or perhaps you prefer Raven, the newcomer in the SSB game. Raven has some unique tricks up its sleeve and is quite unlike any other app. Instead of creating standalone dock apps, Raven uses a sidebar with dedicated shortcuts and custom controls for all your favorite sites. There’s even a free AppStorm Raven app!
Cast your vote in the poll on the right and then leave a comment below explaining your answer. Have you tried all three apps? Which SSB do you prefer? Why do you think it’s better than the competition? We want to know!
Our featured sponsor this week is MailTab Pro for Gmail, the best way to check Gmail from your menu bar.
If you’re hunting for a quick and slick way to keep an eye on your Gmail account, look no further than MailTab Pro. It’s never more than a single click away and it gives you full access to Gmail’s features. Check, search and send email all right from the menu bar.
You can choose between the desktop and mobile interfaces, use the integrated fullscreen mode or even reduce the opacity and operate in stealth mode. MailTab Pro for Gmail gives you Growl notifications and even has full Google Talk support!
Go Get It!
MailTab Pro for Gmail is currently on sale for $1.99 (50% off), so be sure to grab your copy from the Mac App Store before this deal is over!
When you purchased your Mac, you probably wanted the best web browser offered, whether it be Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, or some other worthy candidate. After all, quality hardware should also contain quality software. There has been much controversy on what truly is the best browser available for a Mac. Some say that Chrome is, and always will be, the best ever.
Others believe that it’s easier to stay with the default browser because it offers more functionality to the OS. While this is true and I’m not going to attempt to change those believers’ opinions, there is more to the situation than just that. For instance, Chrome does offer more than plugins than Safari does extensions, but this doesn’t necessarily make the latter a weak and functionless application, it just makes it a bit less desirable.
If you’re interested in finding out what browser truly holds the best functionality, speed and other elements then please join in after the break for some information that should fulfill your desires.
“It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.”
- Steve Jobs
According to Walter Isaacson, these words were spoken by Steve Jobs regarding a new television that Apple is working on (reportedly not a set-top box like the Apple TV but a real television). Over the past couple of months the rumor mill has been overflowing with speculation and supposed proof surrounding this mysterious device.
The only thing that we know for certain at this point is that we currently have no way of knowing which rumors are true, which are pure fabrication and which are somewhere in between.
One of the most interesting points of speculation surrounding the Apple television (iTV?) is the timeline. Some say that the device is something that Apple is planning for the distant future, perhaps when the cost of displays comes down. Others see a 2012 release as imminent.
What do you think? Is this thing real? If so, will we get our hands on it in 2012? Cast your vote in the poll and explain your answer in the comment section below.
Our featured sponsor this week is 
