Just realized I never blogged VirtualBox as its own item. Open source OS virtualization tool. Right now, I have it running on my Mac with both Ubuntu and Windows XP ready to go.
Very stable. Easy to install the guest OS’s. Win XP install broke at one point, but it also did in Parallels.
One nice feature, which should be automated, is the sharing of input devices. This requires a special, but easy, process - http://seogadget.co.uk/how-to-install-virtualbox-guest-additions/
I’ve been meaning to get back to blogging for some time. Just waiting for the right “bloggable” item to come along.
Right now, I’m working on a support portal for my faculty. Unfortunately, the CMS we use only like IE. I have WinXP virtualized through VirtualBox, but booting an entire OS can be a pain and time consuming.
I seemed to recall hearing about IE built to run on a Mac and a search quickly brought up ies4osx - http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/ . Quick install, with thorough directions available. Worked like a charm to get me up and running. WIll report further after more use.
Featured Mac Download: Time Machine Over the Network with iTimeMachine
More Time Machine functions. This time for over the air, so I could potentially set up my Mac to back up to a drive connected to my HTPC.
Great app which allows you to create your own droplets. I’ve created two so far, both for rotating an image, and they happen very quickly. Barely any hesitation other than the splash screen warning you about messing with the original of an image. Certainly faster than the PhotoShop droplets I’ve worked with in the past though the newer version of Pshop may have solved that issue without a requirement to load the full Pshop engine to do the work.
Yep is a PDF organizer that mimics the iPhoto interface. I ran into something like this, on the recommendation of a professor, for the PC but had started moving to the Mac. I had considered looking up the PC version and running it through Parallels, but have hesitated to do so. This great, because I can finally start to organize some information I have worked on previously to do the same thing. I still may end up using something like DevonThink to get all of my docs sorted out. But will give this a try before moving onto something that requires $s.
I’m loving Leopard so far. Worked out most of the kinks and have it running as smoothly as possible until HamachiX is updated to Leopard support. Time Machine is the last of the major upgrades I don’t have running, but I’m working on it soon. Maybe this week. Little apps like this can be invaluable. Won’t know until I work with Time Machine as to how often I’ll want the updates, but at least this gives you some great options.
The move to Canada has been an operation in information overflow. I started using KeePassX last summer, but it got lost in the shuffle. Now that Ana and I are both using the Mac for home items, I think we can go to keeping KeePassX on the desktop and all of our data inside.
I absolutely love it when an open-source project jumps on one of Microsoft’s big money makers. A project M$ can’t buy up or run out of business is the best form of competition that exists. And it is available for Mac as well. Don’t have a personal use for it at this time, but will keep it in mind for work efforts down the road.
Right now, I’m in the midst of cleaning up my Mac hard drive. I’m starting to wish I had held out for the larger drive, but that wasn’t the case and I have what I have at the moment. But this utility seems pretty handy if it isn’t a resource hog. Being able to quickly identify files based on size and location for cleanup/backup is a necessity.
Finally having a chance to catch up on some stuff today. A little free time before a hectic afternoon (and possibly evening). Playing with Celestia. Wondering if you could use it to create some short scenes for sci-fi. They also have ships and other items from a range of movies/tv shows. Star Trek for example - http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/fic_startrek.php