Monday, May 30, 2011

DevonThink, MarsEdit and Handy Calculator



The document manager DevonThink had a major update which mainly concerns the function of adding to the manager from a web browser. The publisher updated its extensions and the addition now passes through a window semi-transparent. We can change the title, add a few notes and keywords and choose the document format and the folder that will store the web page. Also on the program, a concept of workspace provided for the Office Pro edition which is to fully safeguard the status of the application to restore it later. DevonThink Pro Office 2.1 also improves compatibility with Outlook and Entourage while all options are entitled to a new home screen and numerous bug fixes. The Mac App Store has not yet been updated.

Also updated MarsEdit, the authoring tool for bloggers. Version 3.3 introduces a new full-screen mode that allows you to concentrate on writing an article; this full-screen mode creates its own space in Mac OS X Lion. MarsEdit now supports transformations from text editor and you can ask the system to read text from this window. A new option sets the font sizes of the main window while the fast mode of writing preferences is now entitled to a preview. MarsEdit 3.3 finally fixes its bugs.

MarsEdit
If you find the calculator's default Mac OS X a bit antiquated, Handy Calculator tries to provide an interface more elegant and practical. Like Apple's calculator, Handy Calculator is always in the foreground, but when it is no longer used, it becomes partially transparent. What display the content behind everything possible to return to the calculations if necessary? The calculations are done using the Mac keyboard, or the application's virtual keyboard is easier to manipulate the mouse. The result can then be copied using the usual shortcuts or clicking on the outcome directly.

Asus has a MacBook Air competitor



Battered lately, Asus goes on the offensive. On the occasion of the Computex trade show being held in Taipei, the manufacturer has unveiled several products, one of which is presented as a direct competitor to the MacBook Air.


The Asus UX21 includes several ingredients that made the success of Apple's ultraportable: ultrafine (maximum thickness 17 mm), battery incorporated into the computer-in 7 days due to hibernation, wake ultrafast All aluminum design, SSD by default, glass trackpad.

Unusually for a PC, Asus has done in minimalist terms of connectivity: a microphone port HDMI, USB 2.0 and another USB 3.0.


This machine will be launched in September may also give some indications about the MacBook Air 2011 which could be sold next month. The Asus UX21 is based on the platform Huron River. It has a low power processor Sandy Bridge. This is a i5-2557M clocked at 1.7 GHz. It remains to know its price...

Samsung: "No, we are not copying Apple"



"We did not copy Apple's designs. We have used many similar designs in recent years. And we think that Apple's claims should not be a legal problem. “This is the line of defense JK Shin, President of Samsung Mobile.


However, this did not stop him from suggesting that the legal battle being waged between the two groups could be extended to new fronts. Remember that last weekend, the Korean company has requested access to prototypes of the iPhone and iPad3 to ipad5 prepare his defense

In addition, as part of the interview given to the Wall Street Journal, Samsung has recognized that he would put the package on Android, especially on the shelves. This does not mean an abandonment of Bada. Finally, to gain market share in the highly competitive market shelves, the Korean company said it would not hesitate to be very aggressive on the pricing plan.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Amazon launches competitor to the Mac App Store



Amazon launches competitor to the Mac App Store. Like Downloads available from the Mac Store you can download the software for an apple branded computers. Among the applications available for sale can find Microsoft Office 2011, Toast, both absent for the moment the Mac App Store.

The software library includes 250 titles from Amazon is much less than that of Apple. It is more like that found in the Mac store shelves. Also on the menu: many games signed Feral Interactive, Aspyr, or Electronic Arts.


The user experience offered by Amazon is less polished than that suggested Apple. The company selling online provides a download manager. The user must take care against the facility. On the other hand, there is no mechanism for automatic updating like the Mac App Store.

As on the Mac App Store, you can re-download previously purchased software on the Mac Download Store. Amazon offers more flexibility for publishers; they can decide how many positions on which a license may be installed. To celebrate the promotion of its new service, Amazon is offering a coupon for $ 5 valid until June 1st.

For now, this service is available in the United States. It is in some sense for Amazon to becoming a major player in the world of digital music stores.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

XPS 15z: a MacBook Pro with Dell



Dell has unveiled its new notebook, the XPS 15z whose design has benefited from the experience gained with the deceased family Adamo, at the time inspired by the MacBook Air. This time the resemblance is rather to pick the side of the MacBook Pro. Engadget suggests that a test does not make a mistake; it presents these two machines together.
Contrary to what we thought, this notebook displays an identical weight (2.51 kg) than the laptop from Apple and it's barely thicker (2.41 cm 2.4 cm cons ...). On the form as there are similarities. A regular on the Mac does not confuse, but the PC user, seduced by the design of the MacBook Pro, may find his account.

This XPS 15z is made of aluminum and magnesium (around the keyboard), unlike the unibody construction and all aluminum Apple (hence a slightly softer touch of the hull). Speakers placed on either side of the keyboard (backlit, but without intensity adjustment) are similar to those furiously MacBook Pro, although Apple, through its micro-laser perforation was successful in producing much finer grids and discrete. Look familiar also on the distribution of ports or the charging battery (coarser him too). But everything seems more highlighted than at Apple. And the shiny metallic border was chic (and again ...) two years ago, at the time of iPhone 3G / S



The definition of the screen (glossy) is 1366x768 or 1920x1080 depending on the option. Apple offers the standard 1440x900 and 1680x1050 as an option. Engadget talks about a screen with beautiful images, but with very poor viewing angles. On the other physical details, the keyboard is held, the large multi-touch track pad, however, is sometimes more capricious in the detection of certain gestures.

This PC is equipped with basic version of a dual-core i5 (MacBook Pro 15 "are all now Core i7 Quad option absent from Dell) to 2.3 GHz, 6 GB RAM (4 only in Apple), a GeForce GT525M / 1 GB hard disk of 750 GB at 7200 rpm (a speed option from Apple) and three USB ports and Mini Display Port. No Blue-ray but a standard DVD burner.

The version tested by Engadget was equipped with the optional 2.7 GHz Core i7 Dual Core with 8 GB of RAM and 2 GB on the graphics card. This brings the price of $ 1000 to $ 1,534 ($ 1,800 for the first MacBook Pro 15 "Core i7 Quad 2 GHz). On the performance, the Core i7 Quad MacBook Pro puts forward, and it is the same independently. Instead of 8am advanced by Dell, Engadget has instead obtained between 4:30 to 3:40 ET continuous video playback and Wi-Fi enabled. On the same test, the MacBook Pro had held almost 7:30 ...


Conclusion of the site deal with this distant cousin of the MacBook Pro is a good choice given its price ($ 999 and as much in Euros), but there's nothing shocking. We also see that the price is certainly attractive compared to a MacBook Pro but the difference is not just about margins. It is also found in the performances of each other. Apple is paying more, but we found it in performance and battery life.

Dell said he learned a lot of design and marketing of its Adamo. It had made a break, offering a design that we would not have imagined possible in the Texas manufacturer. However, it was abandoned after two years. With hindsight, Dell believes it went too far, with a successful machine physically, but sold too expensive (even the MacBook Air was better positioned) as the company seeks a wider audience "The People liked the design, quality, design and finish, but they were frustrated that it is an expensive computer, because he did not perform as it was entitled to expect given its price "said Ed Boyd, vice president of experience design group.

This trade would still have been missed beneficial in that it has changed the habits and participated in house to give another image of Dell. The design is more honored; studies are conducted with customers on their expectations about their practices in computer and compared with earlier phones Smart phones. A collection of data utilized to determine the next machine. This may be a new approach for Dell, but almost opposite to that which Apple claims it to avoid asking their advice to clients.