My Mac’s Menu Bar & Dock

There are many tools one can use to make their computer more powerful.  I primarily use a MacBook Pro laptop (February 2008 Revision) for day to day use.  I thought it might be useful to make a post about what I have running in my MenuBar and stuck in my Dock.  I’ll expand later on particular applications and why I use them.  Don’t worry, I’ll do the same thing for my Windows workstation in my office, and possibly even on my iPad and BlackBerry for fun.

Menu Bar

From Left to Right:

Dropbox: Dropbox is a folder syncronization application developed by a team of MIT students.

VMWare Fusion: Virtualization application that allows me to run Microsoft Windows and Linux in a virtualized environment while Max OS X is running.

VZ Access Manager: Verizon Wireless’ Tethering Application (used with my BlackBerry).

Microsoft Live Mesh: Another folder synchronization application with more flexibility, but less device support, than Dropbox.  (That’s why I have both)

Air Display: Application that allows me to use my iPad as a second monitor via WiFi.  Made by the wonderful people at Avatron.

Tweetie: Twitter Application (I’m @zeronome)

MobileMe Sync: Built in OS X application.  (I do not pay for MobileMe, but use the program to talk with my Google account to sync Calendar and Conatacts down to iCal and Address Book).

VPN: Built in OS X Virtual Private Network application that allows me to tunnel into my home network for secure access.

iChat: Built in OS X Jabber client I use for Google Talk and Facebook Chat.

Time Machine: Built in OS X backup application.  I have it backing up to a local 1TB external USB Harddrive.

Skype: I realized that Skype was not running when I captured this screen shot.  Skype is a video conference/chat application

Dock

(Click to Enlarge)

From Left to Right:

Finder: Built in OS X Application

VMWare Fusion: Virtualization application that allows me to run Microsoft Windows and Linux in a virtualized environment while Max OS X is running.

Safari: Built in OS X Web Browser

Mozilla Firefox: Alternative Web Browser

Google Chrome: Another alternative Web Browser

Filezilla: FTP Client

Colloquy: IRC Client (Internet Relay Chat)

FaceTime: OS X Video Chat client (Snow Leopard supported only)

Skype: I realized that Skype was not running when I captured this screen shot.  Skype is a video conference/chat application.

iChat: Built in OS X Jabber client I use for Google Talk and Facebook Chat.

Tweetie: Twitter Application (I’m @zeronome)

Audacity: Open Source audio editing application.

Toast Titanium: CD/DVD Authoring application.

VLC: Media player with many, many codecs.

iTunes: Apple’s official music and iOS app store.

Pandora: Amazing Adobe AIR application for streaming Internet music based on the music Genome project.

TextEdit: Built in OS X basic text editor

Text Wrangler: OS X alternative to Notepad++ for the mac.  Great for coding web pages.

Microsoft Word 2008: Official Microsoft Office application.  The word processor if you work in an Enterprise (especially a Windows environment).

Microsoft Excel 2008: Official Microsoft Office application.  The calculations/spreadsheet application if you work in an Enterprise (especially a Windows environment).

Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection: Official Microsoft Office application.  Allows access to Windows-based machines running Terminal Services.

Team Viewer 5: Great remote access application I use to access family’s computers in a pinch.

Chicken of the VNC: Great VNC (Virtual Network Computing) application for the mac.  Used as an alternative to Remote Desktop, and in some other implementations.

Copernicus: Screencasting application for the mac.  It allows me to record what is happening on my screen in video format.

Grab: Built in screen capture application.  Similar to Copernicus except it is capturing single images.

VZ Access Manager: Verizon Wireless’ Tethering Application (used with my BlackBerry).

Please let me know if this is useful or if you have any questions about some of the applications that I use the most.  There are others, but this is what I see on my desktop everyday.

Skype | Video Conference for the rest of us

#mce_temp_url#

My earlier post about the Microsoft LifeCam was based around us setting my Great-Aunt up with Skype so she could see and talk more with her family.  Tonight while waiting for mom to come home, we Skyped Gwen.  While I helped Gwen type her Christmas Card over LogMeIn Rustyn chatted with her.  I think he had fun, what do you think?

It should go without saying, but for those unfamiliar with Skype, it is a great solution to being able to getting to see them and share memories.  They offer high-quality video one-to-one video chatting.  The newest release of Skype also allow for group chat between multiple people.  This is to be a premium service that will be charged after the 28 day trial.

My brother-in-law was living in Connecticut when we bought home, and they’ve never been here. They did get a tour as my wife told them all about it while I walked around with my laptop. Check out our LifeCam writeup, it would make a good Christmas present.

A return to analog goodness

A transfer to another location for a business is never the easiest thing, especially when you have a remote office accessing data at the office that is moving.  ZNET helped a company move to their new location, and part of the migration was getting dial tone to each office.  It was a great refresher since leaving Azstar Communications.  The DSL, phone, fax, and credit card machine were all moved over, and are running happy in their new home. It was a nice break from the norm to get to get out my punch down tool out, and do some cabling.  Remember ZNET Networks when you need voice and data cabling.  Check out their phone cabling, isn’t it pretty?

Microsoft H5D LifeCam Cinema

Ever since I got a MacBook Pro I haven’t had to worry about a webcam for Skype or some random need  to capture video quickly.  The built-in iSight camera does a great job for what I needed.  When my Aunt moved into an assisted living facility, I decided it would be neat if we could get her to use Skype to chat with us.  We tested it out for the first time last weekend, and it turned out great.  Click here to see the call in action She enjoyed it, and we plan on doing it in the future.  While preparing these plans I looked around for a nice webcam for my workstation.  I found the H5D which had nice reviews so I picked one up at TigerDirect.  The reason I pulled the trigger on it was the compatibility with both Windows and OS X.  The video on my blog shows it running on my MacBook Pro.  The picture quality was great (720P), and I would recommend this unit to someone wanting a better quality Skype call than a less-expensive webcam would get you.  I also bought a Logitech C250 for $19.99, also at TigerDirect, and while it works fine with her Windows 7 laptop, the video quality is definitely much more grainy than the LifeCam.

Unlock your files with Unlocker

Mostly likely you have been presented with the lovely Windows error message stating that Access is denied and you cannot delete some file.  Enter Unlocker 1.9 to solve the mysterious locked files holding strong to your computer’s hard drive.  Once installed Unlocker is as simple as right-clicking on that file and running the Unlocker program.  It will free up that file and even help you delete it.  It is a nice little tool to have for those pesky and stubborn files on your Windows-based computer.

Click here to download Unlocker 1.9

Frontier Communications 6Mb DSL

The only wired-broadband internet solution in Round Valley, St. Johns, Alpine, and Nuturoso area is Frontier Communications (@frontiercorp on twitter & http://www.frontier.com).  They recently added 6Mb DSL as an option for customers.  I upgraded my connection, and have been playing with it for a day or two.  I wish I could say that I was fully impressed and satisfied in the connection, but it has been less that consistent.  I’m hoping it is “early-adopter” issues, and they will iron things out.  Below are screenshots from Frontier’s office speed test as well as my modem provisioning.  I’ll update when I’ve had it for a week or two and let you know.  Also, I’m trying to get a hold of the new wireless ISP coming into the area called Wi-Power.


Update (11/09/10): My experience has been less than stable, some would say sub-par, with my “upgrade” of DSL.  My modem shows that I am provisioned at the proper speed, and I can run a speed test to the Show Low office, but once I try and do something real online it fails epically.  I have been keeping track of my speeds with my iPad with SpeedTest.net‘s iPhone App.  Here is what I’m seeing realistically.

After multiple tickets with Frontier, and numerous calls with tech support I just visited the office in Show Low, Arizona.  The technician/CSR gave me some pretty solid information, and another tech was at my house later that day.  They found I am possibly too far away from the local office where the DSL equipment is located.  I am 11,000+ feet, and they told me that is too far out.  They have submitted a ticket with their Engineers, and we’ll see what comes of it.

Update (11/10/10): I got a call from Frontier.  They have determined that the distance is a major factor and they are looking into an Adrenaline line to boost my signal at my location.  They are moving me back to the 3Mb service until this gets worked out, and are crediting me a free month of DSL for all the issues.  Sounds promising.

PrtScr | Print Screen Utility

PrtScr is a great Print Screen utility for anyone who needs to be able to capture something on their computer monitor/s. It works great with multi-monitor setups as well.  ZNET Networks uses PrtScr for capturing screens of errors or programs needing attention so they can be sent to the customer.  It is the easiest application to capture the proper portion of the screen needed.  Watch the video for a demo of how it works, and then click below to download it.

Download PrtScr

ZNET’s Newest Employee, Linus the Goat

The Apache County Fair was this week, and on Saturday they auctioned off the steers, lambs, pigs, and goats that youth have trained over the course of the year.  We decided to purchase a goat that would be donated to the Round Valley Rodeo Club Extravaganza (http://www.wonderfulwesterns.com).  We hope it will enjoy its new home, and help the youth of the Round Valley and surrounding communities continue the tradition of rodeo in our area.  Thank you Mylea McBride for taking care of Linus this year!