What do you use?

Monitoring hard disk reliability: SMARTReporter

FTP - CyberDuck

Setting alarms: Pester



RSS reader: NetNewsWire. The free Lite version works for me.



Monitoring outgoing network connections: Little Snitch



Audio editing and digitising analog audio: Amadeus Pro



Conversion to/from various video formats: iSquint, MPEG Streamclip



Capture audio from any source: Audio Hijack



Making your photos into comics: Comic Life



Manage large numbers of PDFs, similarly to the way iPhoto manages photos:

Yep



Resurrect an old scanner that doesn't have a manufacturer-supplied OS X

driver: VueScan



cix OLR: Vienna



Bit torrent: Transmission



Handle archives of various kinds: The Unarchiver, UnRarX, Forklift



Text editing: Textmate



Astronomy: Stellarium



For examining SQLite databases, as used by several Apple applications &

Vienna: SQLite Database Browser



Launching applications: QuickSilver. Less useful IMHO now that Spotlight

works the way it should.



Windows: Parallels or VMWare - take your pick. Parallels works for me so I

haven't felt the need to look at VMWare.



Charting & diagramming: OmniGraffle



Mind mapping: Novamind



If you have a USB web cam not supported natively by Mac OS X: macam



If you're into getting things done: iGTD



Converting just about any graphic format: GraphicConverter



VNC client: Chicken of the VNC



Reading Windows CHM files: Chmox



Booklet printing: CocoaBooklet



DVD ripping: Handbrake, Mac the Ripper



For keeping an eye on disk usage: GrandPerspective



Finding wireless networks: MacStumbler

Slate throws Apple a $100B idea, suggests iBank

In an interesting -- not to say wildly speculative -- essay, Slate Magazine's Karim Bardeesy says that Apple should take some of its $28 billion and start a bank.

During Wednesday's conference call, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer made it clear that the company was looking to keep its cash right where it is. Anecdotal evidence suggests that now might not exactly be the best time to get one's feet wet in high finance, but Bardeesy does make a few interesting points.

First, if Apple takes $15 billion of its own cash, at 'regulated reserve ratios,' Apple could offer $100 billion in loans. Couple that with the company's tech savvy and trustworthy brand, Bardeesy says, and you're looking at an opportunity to 'revolutionize the industry.'

Second, Bardeesy suggests creating an internet-only bank, taking deposits from everyday people -- via an iPhone fund transfer app, of course. He says the rise of Internet banks isn't unprecedented: just look at how popular they were in Iceland! (Ignore for now those banks' participation in the total collapse of Iceland's banking system.)

And how about a slice of that sweet, sweet government bailout? Apple can have some -- if it's a bank. 'Goodie side benefits to banking status include access to some of that TARP money and a steady revenue stream to smooth out any bumps in retail demand for other Apple products,' he writes. Contradictorily, in his final sentence, Bardeesy chides the banking industry for 'pocketing taxpayer billions while sending nary a penny [his] way.' You can't have it both ways, buddy.

In sum, Bardeesy admits that 'Apple has prided itself on sticking to its knitting and not indulging in diversionary acquisitions or enterprises.' He claims, however, that 'an exception can be made when economy and country are at stake and profits are on the table.'

Can it? Really?

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Are they stupid? Microsoft says that 77 percent of Mac users use Office

Microsoft says that 77 percent of Mac users use Office: Despite Apple's entry in the field, Microsoft remains the undisputed king of the office suite

Highly recommended: Securing your laptop and iPhone web traffic with Hotspot Shield

Securing your iPhone web traffic with Hotspot Shield: "

Filed under: iPhone

Have you ever wondered whether the wifi data you send and receive with your iPhone or iPod touch at the local coffee shop or airport is secure? Well, I bet if you hadn't wondered that before, you are now. It's easy to forget that inside that cute little handheld device live the guts of an actual computer, and likely a lot of personal data. Depending on your surfing habits, you could be sending and receiving personal information in a non-secure way over public wifi.

If you're concerned about your data's safety, consider using Anchorfree's Hotspot Shield free VPN service. Hotspot Shield has been a great way to lock down your laptop's wifi for a long time now, and just recently they have released instructions on how to take advantage of their service on an iPhone / iPod touch. Pleasantly, the service does not require that a program be downloaded to your device, but rather takes advantage of the iPhone and iPod touch's built-in VPN functionality.

My only gripe with Hotspot Shield is that it can sometimes be challenging to get the VPN to successfully connect. Anchorfree recommends performing a quick reboot of your device to get your connection going, but in my experience even that can be a hit-or-miss scenario. But it's still better than letting that creepy guy that keeps hitting on the barista peruse my http requests. 'Cause I'm not paranoid, but I'm sure that's what he's doing.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Hackers Update Mac Porn RSPlug Trojan Horse

Hackers Update Mac Porn RSPlug Trojan Horse: "

(Photo: otzberg/flickr)

Mac users are being warned to beware of a new scam by hackers to plant a Trojan horse. RS.Plug.D is a more flexible update of the RS.Plug.A threat discovered in 2007, a security software vendor claimed Tuesday.

Like the original, the new version relies on Mac users to visit malicious porn sites, according to Intego. Unlike RS.Plug.A, this trojan software opens a security hole enabling hackers to repeatedly download files to your system.

When on a suspect porn site, visits will be shown an error message: ‘Video ActiveX Object Error,’ followed by a message that the browser is unable to view the video file and a request to start a download.



ActiveX is usually linked to Windows-related files, not Macs. Despite that, the Web page downloads a file (often named ‘cleanlive.dmg’) from a remote site. Once downloaded, the file automatically launches a trojan that contacts the remote site again.

To avoid downloading the Trojan file, you must quit your browser, according to the company. Simply choosing ‘Cancel’ returns you to the original ‘error’ message.

Mac users can disable the Trojan by using an anti-virus application.

"

(Via Cult of Mac.)

Please sign this petition now...

New Apple laptops only released today and there's already a patch! :)

Apple MacBook/MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2 - Addresses a responsiveness issue. (Updater): "

Apple MacBook/MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2

About MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2
This update contains software bug fixes for precision aluminum unibody enclosure MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers introduced in October 2008.

The update improves compatibility with external displays and includes a variety of software fixes. This update is recommended for all users of these systems.

REQUIREMENTS

Mac OS X 10.5.1

DEVELOPER

Apple

DOWNLOADS

6438

DOWNLOAD NOW (45.5'MB)

More information

"

(Via MacUpdate - Mac OS X.)