Posted by admin on May 27, 2009 in
Blackberry Devices,
Uncategorized Since this bog is dedicated to my apple addiction, and the traffic is really hopping for the free Blackberry Storm Mac Themes, I decided I would create a blog dedicated to the storm and my themes. The blog is located at http://www.myblackberrystorm.in
I will be merging the user database, so your login will work there as well as here.
I will also start posting any blackberry storm news I come across as well as software reviews.
I hope to see you there.
…Thomas
Tags: 9530, blackberry, storm, themes
Posted by admin on Mar 24, 2009 in
Uncategorized I am currently working on 2 new Storm themes… XP and Vista. I seem to be in a OS based theme design mood, but hey, I’m having fun.
One thing that I have changed. You now must be a member to download my themes, or even see the OTA links page. Joining is free and easy. Just click the register link on the right sidebar.
I appreciate your comments and suggestions.
Tags: 9530, bb storm, storm
Posted by admin on Mar 21, 2009 in
Blackberry Devices 
Since I just released my iMac-Blue theme, it was easy to change the backgrounds to use the standard Leopard image. This theme is identical to the iMac-Blue theme except for the background. It has been tested in the Simulator, but I have not had time to try it on my device yet.
You can download the OTA on the OTA links page.
Tags: 9530, blackberry storm, blackberry themes, storm, themes, verizon
Posted by admin on Mar 21, 2009 in
Blackberry Devices I just released the OTA download for the new iMac-Blue. If you downloaded my iMac Blackberry Storm theme, This is the “official” release made with the official release of Plazmic CDk 4.7.
Fixes:
- Medium Sound Profile Icon
- Application Center Icon
- Background download is no longer required.
- Banner Backgrounds are no longer too short in landscape view
You can get the OTA download on the new OTA Downloads Page.
Tags: 9530, bb themes, blackberry, blackberry storm, blackberry themes, storm, verizon
Posted by admin on Mar 14, 2009 in
Software Reviews 
I downloaded and installed the Safari 4 beta, and have been using it for about 24 hours now. While the favorite sites page (see image above) is really cool, I am feeling a bit like Safari 4 is not quite as good as Firefox 3. There are just things, I cannot seem to get used to. For one, there is no really great 1Password toolbar. It’s a button, and a bit harder to use then the firefox version. Second, the evernote toolbar is nowhere to be found. Some other issues I cannot seem to get used to:
- When clicking a download, the download dialog doesn’t popup. I cannot even find a button to pop it up.
- The tabs are at the very top of the window, and are not as easy to identify as firefox.
- Not a good selection of buttons you can add to the toolbar, like Print, Downloads, New Tab, New Window, etc.
Now maybe there are settings to fix all my issues, I have looked extensively in the preferences, but haven’t found much to fix my problems. I did however find a setting to stop automatically extracting archives after downloading.
So, Apple… Keep trying. If you want more of the Browser Pie, fashion Safari to be more like Firefox. In the meantime, I will keep using Firefox.
Visit http://www.apple.com/safari/ to download the beta.
One more reason to NOT use safari… While trying to add the link to download the safari beta, the browser froze and wouldn’t let me add the link. Firefox works 100% with Wordpress. I’m sticking with Firefox.
Tags: beta, browser, firefox, safari
Posted by admin on Feb 22, 2009 in
Blackberry Devices Update: OTA link available on the BB Storm Page. Go here to download the theme. This update is 1.1 and is compiled with the Official Release of the CDK.
Finally some storm themes are making there way around the internet. This is all due to a leaked Plazmic CDK for the blackberry OS 4.7. The Plazmic CDK is the content developers kit for the Blackberry OS. It includes a composer to build animations, and a theme builder.
The version of plazmic has quite a few bugs, but some can be worked around. I have begun working on a Mac based theme myself.
After a few more changes to my theme, I will make it available to all via an OTA link.
Some Problems I encountered.
First, the beta of the CDK is missing 2 images. The Application Center, and the Medium Sound Profile. There is no workaround for this. The original icons are used.
Second, the home screen background, even though its correct in the theme designer, is the default screen. The fix is to download the correct screen, and use it as your home screen.
This theme will be available in both the blue background, from leopard server, and the default leopard background (purple stars).
Stay tuned to get this theme for free for your blackberry storm.
Update: Added more pictures. Man I wish Plazmic would get released!
Main screen
More icons from main screen
Applications menu
Games folder
Lock Screen
Sound Profile Selection
Tags: blackberry, free, plazmic, storm, themes
Posted by admin on Feb 2, 2009 in
Rants, Opinions, and Thoughts 
Despite the “I’m a mac, I’m a PC” tv commercials, I was searching for why the mac is better then the PC.
First, the Mac community. You can scour the net and find a million and one mac sites. You can find sites dedicated to old hardware, new hardware, iPhones, iPods, etc. Well where are all the PC hardware sites, other the hardware review sites? What about PC sites for older outdated computers?
Second, Less Risk. Even though there are the 2 or 3 trojans going around for the mac, they exist in pirated software. So in my book you cannot really count them. I don’t have any additional security installed other then what comes with Leopard. Well I take that back. I do have clamAV installed to scan downloads, and other files that “could” be infected. But for the most part, the mac is really safe. It may not stay that way forever, but I hope it does.
Third, Ease of Use. While switching from windows to the mac is a daunting task, really it’s easier to use the OS X software. Shoot even MacOS8 and 9 are easier to use then windows. All the applications’s “workflow” are mostly the same. Not so in Windows. You are at the mercy of the developer of the application. I have seen Windows programs that do not have any menus, just buttons. And not just buttons, but buttons with no labels.
Fourth, Vista just plain sucks. I had to go there… But I ran Vista business for quite a while, and it was always causing problems. When you open explorer to view files and folders, it would take forever to load, the UAC was just plain annoying. Now the machine that I had Vista Business on, is now running Windows 7 Beta, and it runs great.
Fifth, The Packaging. Let’s face it, Apple wants the superb user experience to start when they open the box. Even the boxes that they package their keyboard in is plain elegant.
Sixth, It just Works. While I have had a few software problems since I got the 24″ Aluminum iMac, Most of the programs just work great. Even an app that stops responding closes easily with 2 clicks. In windows, you have to end the task several times, and if its explorer not responding, you loose the desktop and task bar until the OS rebuilds them.
Here is how Apple words why you will love a mac:
If you spend more time trying to get your computer to work and less time doing what you want, it’s time to get a Mac. Because Apple makes both the software and the hardware, everything works together, just as it should. That’s why people who get a Mac love a Mac. And why you will, too.
Tags: apple, iPhone, ipod, mac, touch
Posted by admin on Dec 17, 2008 in
Software Reviews If you are switching from the windows world, you may have noticed that extracting common zip files requires a little more effort in OS X.
OS X comes with a app called BOMArchiveHelper.app, but the unarchiver is an even better choice since it supports several common archive formats. But I found the interface to the Unarchiver a bit clunky and my double clicks usually resulted in archives being extracted where I didn’t intend for them to go.
So in my ongoing quest to find programs for the mac that operate in a way I am more used to, I found a great solution for the unarchiving task. Enter Zipeg…
Zipeg is available for both Mac and Windows, the mac version is a universal binary so it works on both intel and power pc macs. The interface is a lot more like the winzip interface I am used to , and no more misplaced archive extractions.
Give Zipeg a try, Oh did I mention it’s FREE?
http://www.zipeg.com
Tags: unarchiver, winzip, zip
Apple released 10.5.6 OS X update on tuesday, and the support forums are buzzing with reports of failed updates, lockups, and freezes. It’s no doubt the apple support technicians will be busy for quite a few days trying to sort out all the issues. Here is the summary of the update from Apples support site:
The Mac OS X 10.5.6 Update is recommended for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard versions 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, 10.5.3, 10.5.4, and 10.5.5. It includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.
Several reports of Time machine issues have been reported as well, users claiming that they can no longer access the backups due to permissions errors…
The Unofficial Apple Weblog suggests using the combo update, instead of the software update tool as a possible workaround to the problems. Although I have successfully updated both my iMac and my MacBook using the software update, I suggest using the Combo updater as well, all make sure you repair the permissions in the disk utility program, and make a full backup prior to use the standalone updater.
The update can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_6_Combo_Update
Good Luck!
Tags: 10.5.6, os x, update problems
Posted by admin on Dec 6, 2008 in
Rants, Opinions, and Thoughts As I look around my computer room/studio I see a bunch of old technology. I have a 500mhz gateway 2000 computer, 800Mhz white label (home built), an older laptop, tons of keyboards, mice, trackballs, the list goes on. I also have 3 Macintosh G3 iMacs. 1 slot loading, and 2 tray loaders.
What do I do with all this “stuff”?
Well really the only thing to do with the old PC’s is to put linux on them, and donate them to the senior center, but what about the macs?
Well with a little memory upgrade, a new larger hard drive, and some OS X (tiger) installs, these are still usable computers. Which brings me to why I wanted to even write about this subject.
Old macs are still alive and well, and being used! G3’s, G4’s are still in somewhat demand.
Go take a look or listen to the RetroMacCast. Their social networking site has people buzzing about their mac collection. Oh and while you are there, be sure and take a look at my page.
Tags: g3, g4, old technology, os x tiger, technology