MacPinoy

Oovoo anyone?

Found from Mac Megasite:

ooVoo, an innovator in the way people communicate online, today announced the launch of a Mac version of its high quality video chat solution. The ooVoo Mac release is one of the most advanced and feature rich video communication programs available to Mac users and allows people to connect with both Mac and PC users anywhere in the world for free. The ooVoo software can be downloaded from http://www.ooVoo.com today.

ooVoo, a recent winner of the CNET Webware 100 Award, is changing the way friends, family and co-workers communicate online in a more meaningful way. Mac users will now be able to connect face-to-face with up to six people at once regardless of whether they are Mac or PC users. ooVoo Mac’s easy-to-use features include the ability to send and receive video messages, exchange files and text chat messages as well as import contacts from other programs.

Is it really that clear? I’d love to find out.

Plus, according to its website, it offers free calls to any landline or mobile phone in the U.S.

Update: Mac users cannot avail of the free phone call feature, which is anyway only available until middle of May. I wonder why they are singling out Mac users?

I can’t bypass the DVD region codes!

I have ripped several region 1 DVDs and the time has come to rip a couple of local region 3 DVDs. And whatever I do, I can’t seem to bypass the region code checking.

Mac the Ripper pops the following messages:

VLC gives me the following error message:

Handbrake can’t open the file.

I’ve also been giving Fairmount a try, which claims that it will replace the original DVD on the desktop by a decrypted disc image of this DVD. It still doesn’t work.

There is also a program somewhere called Region X, but according to the Macworld forums, it is no longer supported and has some problems with Leopard.

Looks like if I truly want to rip Region 3 DVDs, I have to purchase a new DVD drive.

Ripping DVDs for a long trip

I am booked for a 5-day stay in London and now in the midst of preparing for a long 18-hour plane ride. I have several podcasts loaded, an audible book ready, and am now in the process of ripping a few DVDs to watch on the place and in the hotel. The question is: which DVDs should I rip?

As I write this, Mac The Ripper is ripping “The Shawshank Redepmtion” onto my external drive. I am also thinking of ripping “Apocalypse Now Redux,” a DVD that I bought a long time ago in Singapore but never got to watch (I did see the original though). Maybe I’ll also rip the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

That’s the beauty of Mac The Ripper. Aside from backing up the DVDs, I can watch several movies while on a trip without adding to my luggage load.

WSJ: Paypal will not block Safari

The Wall Street Journal reports that Paypal will not block Safari:

We just spoke to PayPal. It seems we in the media are reading too much into this. It will block people using old browsers and old operating systems, but contrary to many reports it will not block Apple’s Safari browser.

The second statement is telling.  Any news item that bashes the notion that Macs are inherently more secure tends to be over-hyped by the media. 

Will Paypal block Safari?

I picked this piece of news from Pinoytechblog, which in turn was quoting Computerworld.

So is it true that Paypal will block Safari?

So does that mean the Safari is inherently less secure?

continue reading »

Is Psystar a hoax?

Well, according to Zdnet it is.

Macheist reveals new software bundle

The last Macheist bundle was a great bargain. For a ridiculous price of $49, I got 14 appliations and among that lineup, I knew I would at least be a frequent user Pixelmator, 1Password, and Awaken. I really did not care much for the criticisms (see here, here, and here). These software developers are big boys now. They know what they are getting into.

But would I signup for the latest bundle? I doubt it I will. Not because of the controversies behind it, but because I don’t find anything compelling in the new batch. Of all, DEVONThink looks interesting, but I already have Yojimbo to manage my paperwork and my files.

Journler and Marsedit

I am now testing the interface between Journler and Marsedit. If it works then I can write my journal in one application and then, if I so choose to post it in a blog, I can also do so and make some tweaks and edits to the post.

The interface, though, is not automatic nor seamless. I still have to do some editing, albeit very minor. Still, it is something I can live with.”

Here’s how a post in Journler initially appears in Marsedit:

Writing My Thoughts

I really need to write down my thoughts. For one, I feel I am getting old and my memory is beginning to be spotty. Will I end up senile in my twilight years?

The web post that may be realize this was something that came from the Daily Writing Tips site. Though the author advises a notebook, it may be better for me to keep one using my Macbook Pro. The capability to tag and search for entries, not to mention at least some assurance of confidentiality, is better in a computer. Moreover, I can pound away on the keys with the fire of passion, and then reread and modify it with the coldness of rationality, just so that I could ensure that my entry captures the spirit.

Right now I am pounding away using Journler but since it will, with the coming 2.6 version, be a paid-product, I may also switch to another software. And right now, Circus Ponies’ Notebook is looking mighty interesting. I wish I could relook at it, but my trial period has long expired. I had originally considered Notebook but, at that time, it was hard to beat Journler’s price (free).

Funny, I originally thought this would be a private entry until I realized that I could also post this at several of my weblog sites.

But what do I do if I am suddenly struck with flashes of brillance? I don’t have my computer with me all the time. I guess I will use my Nokia E61i then. At least, with its Bluetooth capability, I can easily export it into Journler.

Playing with Lightroom 2.0

I installed Lightroom 2.0 and I would say that it does look promising. I am glad that I held off purchasing Aperture.

First, you can’t use your existing Lightroom catalog with the new beta version, which actually does make sense. At least the new beta version won’t screw up your catalog file, although I wonder if Adobe will provide the capability to merge both catalogs.

Next, I tried the “Retouch” tool, which allows for localized corrections. The beauty of this tool (and what I see as the advantage over Aperture’s dodge-and-burn plugin) is that it is non-destructive. Here is the base image where I planned to retouch.

The lady at the kiosk is barely visible. With the retouch tool, I was able to boost the exposure, revealing more of the kiosk owner serving hot lunch to the tired, weary messenger.

And what about the new “post-crop” vignette feature?

Here’s the uncropped picture:

And here is the cropped picture: