Well unfortunately, I would say the answer is yes. When I bought my first Macbook I was told in order to remove an app, all you need to do is move it to the Trash and delete. Sure, you can do that. But, what about the other files and folders the app may have put elsewhere on your hard drive? In most cases, an app may store files and folders in your Library/Preferences folder, or your Library/Applications Support folder etc. So, what can we do to save having to search for these extra files to remove them manually? We can install something like AppCleaner (which is freeware).

This is one of a handful of apps that not only remove the app you want to delete, but also search for the extra bits and bobs it would have otherwise left behind. With this particular app, there are three ways to accomplish the task. Firstly, you can just load the app and click on the Applications icon at the top of it's window. It will then switch (by the use of a neat cube rotation animation) to a list of the apps in your Applications folder.

Each one has a tick box next to it. Tick the box of the app you want to remove and click the Search button, and let AppCleaner work it's magic. It will, within seconds, list the app location and other related files locations too.

Again we have tick boxes next to each and, by default, they are all automatically ticked at this point.  If you want to remove everything, just click the Delete button, and it will all be moved to Trash.  The second way is to load the AppCleaner, and drag the app you wish to remove to the AppCleaners window.  It will then start it's search as before.  The third way is even easier.  Just drag the app you want to remove to the AppCleaner's icon.  The AppCleaner will then load and automatically search for all the files and folders and go straight to the list of things to delete.  If you are someone who likes to try a lot of new apps out, perhaps you might like to have the AppCleaner icon on your dock, so it is easy to drag apps to (so long as you are careful what you drag to it of course). This isn't all the AppCleaner does.  It can also remove downloaded widgets you have installed...

... and it can even remove plugins-

Let's go back to the tick boxes next to those extra files and folders it finds for your selected app.  This is a great little feature, as there might be times you actually want to keep the app, but want to revert back to it's default settings.  All you need to do then is un-tick the apps tick box, but leave the rest of the files ticked.  It will then send everything to the trash except your app, so when you load the app next time, it's as though you are loading it for the first time. Of course all this comes with a warning: be VERY careful what you are selecting to remove.  Basic rule, if you don't know what an app, or plugin does, leave it alone- it might be important to the smooth operation of your computer.

There are other app uninstaller's (I use AppZapper, which is not FREE, but I have used this for years - Ed) out there, but this one has never removed anything it shouldn't have, and has served me very well since I moved to Mac.

Tags: AppCleaner, AppZapper, Mac uninstallers

There is a new app available in the iTunes App Store, called Stanza. This is a completely free app, which allows you to browse it's online database of public domain books, download, and read them, all in one app. The books themselves are free too, so you have hundreds of titles to read through one application, all without paying a penny. The description of the app also mentions the use of a desktop app (which is in Beta at the moment). However, it is not needed if you just want to read your books on your iPhone/Touch. I have tried the desktop app (available to download here), and it is quite good. There is an option to export files to the iPhone/Touch, but it basically converts it for you to read the story via Safari on your device, rather than the Stanza app. Still, you could always have a copy on your computer and a copy downloaded directly onto your iPhone/Touch using the Stanza app. Personally I'm quite happy having a sole copy on my iPod Touch.

With regards to the previously mentioned apps by AppEngines, I would still recommend these to people who want their books individually listed on their device home page.
Note: For anyone interested in reading free public domain books on their computer (of course you could always make a donation), the best resource I have found is Project Gutenberg.

Tags: AppEngines, eBooks, Stanza

Do you use Apple's own Mail app for checking your emails? Pretty good isn't it? But do you load the app automatically at login by adding it to your login items? More to the question, have you ever tried hiding it at login by ticking the 'Hide' box next to it's name? Successful? I thought not. This is a well known bug that has survived from Tiger. No matter what you try, it simply will not hide. It has been reported to Apple long ago, and so far they just seem to be ignoring the problem. Do any Apple staff use Mail? Surely it's not too much to ask for the app to load up automatically and check mail while being hidden, is it?

Of course, the one thing we can all do as Mail users is provide feedback to Apple regarding this. Perhaps the more we complain, the more likely they are to do something about it. Until then, there are a number of free apps we can use to help get around the problem (note: not all apps listed will run on Tiger, but all run on Leopard) -

1) Launch And Hide Mail. Once downloaded, you can put this app anywhere you like (I would still put it in the Applications folder myself). Then you go into your login items (under Accounts in Preferences) and add this app them. It doesn't need to be hidden, and you don't need to add the Mail app itself to your login items, as this app will launch it and hide it for you. When you login next time (assuming you have already ran the app once to confirm with Leopard that it's ok to run), you may see the Mail app window for a split second or two, then disappear. This app is very good for the job, but it's a shame the Mail app window is on screen as long as it is (a few split seconds is still too long in my book).

2) Google Notifier. Obviously, this is one just for users of Googlemail (or Gmail as it's known outside the UK). It's a pretty good app which runs on the menu bar, and checks for new mail in your Google inbox. It does NOT check the inbox of the Mail app itself, so with this app running at login, you don't actually need to have the Mail app in your login items at all to check for new emails. There may be other services (Yahoo!, AOL, etc) that might provide a similar desktop app for their dedicated emails, and they will do exactly the same as this one- checking the inbox at the server rather than your Mail app. There are two disadvantages to this approach. Firstly, if it tells you there is new mail, you will then have to load the Mail app and wait a few seconds while it checks your inbox and downloads the email itself. Secondly, if you move or delete the email, the Google notifier will still display the same number of unread emails until it is time for it to check the inbox at the server again. There are other menu based email checkers that will display the number of unread emails from the Mail app itself (available here). However, the ones I have found actually need to have the Mail app up and running, so to be honest I fail to see the use of them.

3) Dashboard Kickstart and MailWidget. This way has a very nice advantage. Downloading and adding Dashboard Kickstart to your login items will start your Dashboard up next time you login, and hide it again straight away. Now normally the first time you access Dashboard, there is a delay as it loads up all your various widgets. With this app automatically loading it up in the background, when you do access Dashboard for the first time now, the widgets should be already running. The second part to this would be to download the MailWidget and install it on your Dashboard. Selecting your email account in the widget will allow it to check your mail without needing the Mail app to be running. So instead of trying to hide Mail, we are essentially running and hiding the Dashboard at login instead, with it's own mail checker doing the job. Disadvantages are a delay again in the number of unread emails updating once you have actually read them in Mail, and the fact that some users just don't want Dashboard running at login, as it will use up some RAM.

4) MailFX. This is my personal favourite, and I use it on my own Macbook Pro. It comes as an installer (the app is certified by Softpedia for no spyware, adware, or viruses) as it needs to imbed a menu of it's own in the Mail app itself. Basically, it creates effects for when you have new mail. I have mine set to a semi-transparrent icon appearing at the top right of my screen with a nice lady informing me. You can pick from different icons, positions on screen, and voices/sounds. It's very good. However, it also (kind of) fixes the problem of Mail not hiding at login. Once MailFX is installed (keep the install app as you can use the same one to uninstall if you don't like it), just add the Mail app to your login items and tick its hide box. Reboot, and you will (unfortunately) still see, for a split millisecond, the Mail app window before it vanishes. However, it is gone so fast you will barely notice. The advantage is it is your Mail app itself that is now listed in the login items, and the hide box does now (sort of) work. Plus you have the bonus of a nice notifier when you get your new mail. The only disadvantage I can see is if you are bothered about that split millisecond of seeing the Mail window (which I personally can live with).

So, there you have it. Of course none of these are ideal solutions. The ideal solution would be for Apple to fix the Mail app themselves, but we seem to be waiting an awfully long time for this to happen. Until then, these will have to do.

Tags: Mac OSX Mail

Following on from Will's earlier review of Apple's Wireless Slim Keyboard, I decided it was time to upgrade my external keyboard to one of these new and sleeker keyboards. Whilst I liked the Wireless Keyboard, I wanted a full size keyboard, and not the smaller styled one, so I went out and bought the full sized USB version. Like the Wireless version, this keyboard is stunning, and like Will said, why aren't all keyboards this sleek. The only gripe I have with this keyboard, is the 2 USB ports located on either side of the rear of the keyboard are set to far in to allow a USB pen drive to be plugged in without the use of an extension cable , but apart from this it is worth every penny. As to which keyboard to opt for is purely down to personal preference.

In addition to the slim keyboard I decided to add the Macessity SlimKey Stand to my setup.

The SlimKey Stand is the younger brother of the LowKey Stand, with the only difference being the SlimKey does not have its older brothers powered USB hub. Due to the lack of CE certification, the LowKey is not available in the UK and rest of Europe, and for this reason I had no choice but to opt for the SlimKey. That said, the SlimKey does not disappoint, as it allows me to slide my new slim keyboard under my 23" Cinema display, keeping my desk area clean and tidy. Being able to regain desk space has proved invaluable, as i can now sit my Canon EOS D400 on the desk whilst transferring images, and if/when necessary use pen and paper to make handwritten notes, without needing to move things around.

The SlimKey like the LowKey is a simple design, made of a single piece of steel with a small leg which is located in the center of the stand. This leg is designed to provide the extra support needed to ensure that the stand does not buckle under the weight of the largest TFT screens. The stand itself is also fairly heavy, and it is this weight that has made the UK price higher than expected. There is some good news however, the developer Macessity has decided to switch to using Aluminum for its new stands, and so with reduced weight should come reduced shipping costs, and thus reduced consumer price.

All-in-all the SlimKey makes the perfect companion to any of Apple's slim keyboards, and despite its costs, it is ideal for anyone looking to tidy their desk/working space, but the USB'd LowKey would have been even better.

Tags: Macessity SlimKey Stand

INITIAL THOUGHTS

OK OK lets not get into a mass debate about Apple and its bleeding cutting edge design as there’s bound to be a company out there with more bleeding slash cutting edge designed products available (not sure of all this slashing and cutting analogy - kids may be reading this before the watershed – Ed) but the Apple Bluetooth keyboard is sharp.

I decided a while back to use my MacBook with a larger screen, so needed another keyboard and a wireless one was the preferred option. Let those radiowaves carry all those lovely ones and noughts through the ether rather than cluttering up my desk flying up and down some old copper based wiring spaghetti.

I have to be a little honest here and say the keyboard was ordered without really knowing the product but that it was a wireless keyboard from Apple – that be trust that be.

The box duly arrived and my initials thoughts before opening it were wondering if the box only contained the paperwork and surely no keyboard could fit inside this small enclosure. Apple keeping tree felling to a minimum. Saving the planet for our children. Respect for the planet. (Do get on with it –Ed) Sorry about that, I have a thing about packaging.

On removing the keyboard I was open mouthed, I had in my hand a real touchy feely thing, a surrealist dream, a Miro moment, a keyboard for the fingers but would it play to my tune. Yes it would.

How come keyboards of the past are so large, yes all keyboards should now plough this keyboards furrow and lose weight. Just running fingers across all surfaces and this keyboard becomes sculpture

CONTROLS AND OTHER BITS

• Keyboard On and Bluetoothed - Press aluminium button at the end of tube until led comes on and disappears when bluetoothed
• Keyboard Off and UnBluetoothed - Press aluminium button at the end of tube for a couple of seconds until led comes on and then goes off.
• Runs with the insertion of three AA batteries
• Has keys with letters and numbers on
  

CONCLUSION

"Step across the line and touch the art." "Sharpen your pencil with this blade."

Tags: Apple Wireless Slim Keyboard

For those of us in the UK, we all know about traffic jams, but now with the help of UK Traffic Reports the iPhone webapp from Ross McKillop, avoiding jams with the aid of your iPhone is possible. This webapp works very well over Edge, and the other day I was traveling by coach from London to home when we got stuck in a major jam, and whilst everyone including the driver was wondering what the hold-up was, a quick check of UK Traffic Reports told me that there had be an accident on the M3 and that there were major delays. Whilst there are other ways of checking traffic reports this clever little webapp works very quickly. The only criticism I have is that you need to know which county you are in to find the traffic information, where as searching by road would make getting the traffic reports much quicker and easier, but all-in-all this is a very useful webapp than should be bookmarked on all UK iPhones.

Tags: iPhone, UK Traffic Reports for iPhone

Initial Thoughts

Old clichés make the world go round and I sense another one coming in from the east and although I could go on forever down this clichéd road I had best stop or the editor will slice with gusto at all the hard work put into this typewriting lark. Ok I digress. Small is beautiful as many of the less well endowed of we the male gender would say, but in this case it is true. What am I talking about but the Digifocus speakers for the iPod.

These small pair of speakers joined at the hip, measure just 950mm by 350mm by 350mm or thereabouts, with the iPod connector on the top. I use them with my video 30GB iPod and very nice they look together.

I have been using them for a while now, mainly at work and although they will never be a substitute for your quote sound-dock unquote, they should find a place in team speakers as their undoubted convenience build and dare I say it, sound quality from one so small, warrant them a place in the line-up.

The package comes in a partially opaque plastic box and includes the speakers, a usb power lead and another wire so that the Digifocus can be used as external speakers connected to a computer or other mp3 player.

The kit man, if we wish to continue down this sporting route, has packed the box extremely neatly and nothing rattles about when the box is closed and kicked around a bit.

Place your iPod on the top, plug in the wire if a usb slot is handy and switch on. If a usb slot is not handy you will still hear your music (The speakers include one AA battery) but that added bonus of charging up the iPod has been taken away from you.

Controls and other bits
Well there is an on – off switch and a volume control. A power socket and the input for a lead to connect to the external speaker output of a PC. I have to be honest (All your reviews should be honest – Ed) and say I am extremely impressed by the build of these speakers with brushed aluminium front and back and a very nice black (other colours available) and very tactile covering over the rest of the surfaces. The speakers weigh a bit as well, always a good sign. (Where’s your scientific evidence for that old wives tale? – Ed)

Conclusion
In my opinion the sound quality is good from something so small. Alright your pants are not ever going to vibrate off due to the pounding bass line from level42’s mark king (Who’s he? – Ed). But that’s not the point. These speakers allow me to listen to music when others maybe around, without getting right up their noses or even sideways into their ears.

Tags: Digifocus Mini Sound System