Well the time of year when the Mac application deals abound is just about upon us. This year I’m supporting MacSanta Deals

According to the Tidbits article I read. . .

While the details aren’t available on the MacSanta Web site yet, in email earlier today, coordinator Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba revealed the 2007 details. Starting December 1st, five different developers will each offer one product each day at 20 percent off normal pricing during the 24-hour period. Five programs, each purchasable separately, will be offered each day through December 24th.

When heard Paul Kafasis is coordinating this set of MacGifts, that’s all the clue I needed to know I would support it.

This sounds like the kind of site that will both provide us with some goodies while distributing most of the money to the third party developers. Yes, that is speculation on my part, but I’ll bet I’m right.

Check it out and add the MacSanta Deal RSS feed to your reader, so you won’t miss a thing.

 

 Podcast Video [00:03:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this short Screencast I show a hidden Easter Egg in both Tiger and Leopard that I call “The Blob.” If you want to subscribe to the Typical Mac User Blip.tv Video feed you can do so here.

WARNING: This tip uses “Terminal commands” to execute the Easter Egg. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I cannot be responsible anyone doing this and having any issues.

If you want to download this screencast for you iPod or iPhone, you will find those files here

By David Sparks at Macsparky.com 

My geekiness has sunk to new levels.  I actually spent $29 on a program that lets me play with icons.  This doesn’t really make any sense considering OS X allows you to do this without any fancy software but I can’t help it.  The new CandyBar 3 is a guilty pleasure.  It lets you tweak your Mac icons (all of them) and your dock to your heart’s content.  The new version also incorporates a library function (formerly sold as a separate product – Pixadex) so you can easily browse your icon collection.  The new version is Leopard only and . . . well . . . all Leopardy with large icons and Quick Look.  I specialize in collecting Tiki icons and this allows me to keep them all together.  CandyBar 3 also accepts packages of icons called “iContainers” which makes importing and replacing a snap.  And guess what?  There are even more Tiki iContainers.  I will post a more thorough review one of these days but for now head on over to Panic Software and check it out.  Aloha!

You heard me talk about PDF Pen from SmileOnMyMac.

Looks like MacUpdate Promo has this application available for $29.95 (40% off the retail price $49.95).

That’s a deal worth looking at. I have been using this application for the past 3 weeks and it’s been wonderful for business and just everyday use and annotation of PDF’s.

Of course you can still get 20% off on all SmileOnMyMac applications by using the TMUP discount.

 

 Standard Podcast [26:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

DIGG this Podcast

Tom Bihn

Listen to all Friends In Tech shows and read our blogCall the Listener Hotline 951-281-6332

Show Notes

Mac 101: The Finder

Finder Views

List view

Column View

Coverflow View

Quick Look

My pick for today is the Macworld Conference & Expo. By the way it was pointed out to me that its’ not MacWorld but Macworld Conference & Expo.

I’m so excited that going into my third year as a switcher mac user, I am going to attend the premier conference for innovation and how my life as a Macgeek will change in 2008. The Macworld Conference & Expo offers an extensive list of conference sessions that are meant to teach, energize and help you grow as a user of Apple products.

In 2008 the Macworld Conference & Expo is Jan 14-18, 2008. As always it will be held in San Francisco at the West and South Halls of the Moscone Center.

With over 400 exhibitors from the Apple community, extensive sessions on all things Mac, I’m sure I will encounter things I did not expect ,and come home with new insights to share with all of you.

I hope to be able to get a press pass so that I can interview some of the exhibitors, and people who add so much to the mac community. If you haven’t signed up and want to attend register today and come say hello to me.

Of course Macworld Conference & Expo is about “The Keynote.” However, it’s also about the community and how we are all part of it.

 

 Standard Podcast [00:52:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Call the Listener Hotline 951-281-6332

Tonight’s show is brought to you by:

Tom Bihn

Ambrosia Software

Tonight’s co-host is Chef JoAnna from Chef JoAnna.com and CuisineConnection.com . We spoke about her expertise with Microsoft Office for Mac, MacGeek cooking gadgets and some great holiday cooking tips.

This show is a member of Friends In Tech

Show Notes:

Chef JoAnna.com

CuisineConnection.com

Cuisine Cooking Connection Store

Quadra 605

iBook G4

Leopard

barcamp

chefsline

Microsoft Office for Macs

AppleWorks

iCal

Address Book

Microsoft Office 2008

Silicone Spatulas

FoodLoops

Microplane

Bumper Exchange

Microsoft Office for Mac

Super Suite Deal from Microsoft on Office for Mac

Connoisseur

Could not sleep after a relaxing Thanksgiving, so I decided to check out what the Apple On Line Store has for us on Black Friday.

Apple On Line Store did not come on line until 12:44AM. Forty three minutes later than expected.

Deals

• $101.00 off some iMacs and Macbooks
• Save $11.00 on iPod Shuffles and iPod Nanos
• Save up to $31.00 off iPod Classics
• Save $21.00 Apple’s Bluetooh headset
• Lot’s of other savings on accessories

Ok, so I can’t really afford a personal assistant, today however I did find out about “I Want Sandy”

The busier I am the more I need remeinders and things to get organized. “I Want Sandy” lets me send messages to “her” so that she can remind me to get things done.

Using the service is as simple as sending an email. There’s nothing to download, install, or configure. “Sandy” lives in your address book alongside everyone else you know and email.

For example I can send “Sandy” an email with following messages

• Remind me about my Sax lessons on Tuesday, 8-9pm @weekly
• Remember Mary’s friends name is Christie
• Need to add an item to a task list? Just email it to “Sandy” and it will be added. If you add the “@weekly” tag and you can get a weekly reminder.

and I get back a reminder via, email, Twitter, and even SMS (via the iPhone). When I send “Sandy” about appointments, to-dos, and contacts, the replies come with attachments you can click to add to your calendar, to-do list, or address book. You can even integrate “Sandy” your calendar so that everything you shows up there automatically.

“Sandy” is still training me, but I think I might keep her around.

By: David Sparks Associate Editor

Is it just me or does it seem like you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting another new Mac task list application. Don’t get me wrong. This is great. Just a year ago most of us were looking at the lackluster task support in iCal and scratching our heads. Now there are a variety of options using OS X and Web 2.0.

Picking a task management application, however, is a very personal thing. One size most definitely does not fit all. I have one friend who has a habit of writing two things on an index card every morning. It works for him. I, on the other hand, am completely nuts. I manage about 30 different work projects with deadlines stretched over years, several staff members, and my various other family, social, and Mac commitments with a byzantine set of tasks that, at last count, tops over 400. There is no way I could keep all of these plates in the air without some very serious help. Enter OmniFocus.

I got in the OmniFocus alpha early and quickly came to rely on it. Scheduled for a 1.0 release on January 8, 2008, the application is in fine shape. I’m going to give it a full review when the 1.0 releases but for now take my word that if you are looking for an application to do the heavy lifting, give the beta a trial run. If you get hooked, they are reducing the $79 license fee to $39 before it releases. I’m not saying this is the solution for everyone, but it certainly is worth a look.

To see more of my rambling, stop on by MacSparky.com .