Category → Technology
Dropbox is awesome
Dropbox is an online file-storage system that has changed the way I transfer stuff around. It is awesome.
Here’s how it works, you download Dropbox on your computer, and it creates a special dropbox folder. This folder exists on your local computer, but it is mirrored in “the cloud.” So far so good, it’s an online backup of your files.
If you use install Dropbox than one computer, your Dropbox folder is automagically synchronized. For example, I use it on my laptop at home as well as an iMac at work. When I put files in my dropbox, they automatically show up on the work computer as well.
There is no limit on the number of computers that can be connected to a single Dropbox account, so you can have all of your computers mirroring your files. I currently have it installed on a Macbook, a G5 Tower, a Windows XP box, a Xubuntu box, and an iMac at work.
Syncing happens automatically over your LAN and internet connection. It’s gotta be the most elegant cloud storage system I’ve used, since it’s in the background and you don’t even notice it doing anything. Pure magic.
Dropbox allows you to share individual files and folders within your dropbox with other users. For example, I have a folder that is automatically shared with my wife’s Macbook. So if I want to copy a video to her computer, I just drag it into that folder and it will show up in her dropbox. The neat thing about this is that it works seamlessly from anywhere. I’ve used it to copy episodes of TV shows to her while she was on the other side of the country. Very cool.
Dropbox is a clean install, no spyware, no crap. If you don’t like it, you can just uninstall it. But I’ve yet to see a person who starts using dropbox stop using it.
Other features:
- Works on any OS: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iPhone, web-based client
- Can host files like a web-server
- Make simple online photo albums
It’s a free download. The basic account is free, and it gives you 2 gigs of disk space. If you follow this link: http://hackingthemainframe.com/dropbox you’ll receive an extra 256MB in your account, and so will I.
Replacing Pam’s Keyboard
I replaced Pam’s Macbook keyboard recently. It had an accident involving Xavi and some yogurt. A few of the keys on the left-hand side of the keyboard wouldn’t work. Also, after numerous yogurt and spaghetti-sauce spills, the whole thing was starting to look a bit yellow.
Xavi helped with the keyboard swap, and we followed the ifixit guide for the upper case replacement. He was more interested in the magnetic screwdriver and the bubblewrap than the actual keyboard, though.
Here’s a photo comparing the old and the new keyboards. I think they’re actually made from a different kind of plastic as well. The top case including keyboard and trackpad were about $50 on eBay, and it took maybe 10 minutes to swap them. Would have been quicker if Xavier didn’t keep picking up all the screws with his magnet.
Quicktime Panorama
We’re still trying to figure out these Quicktime VR panoramas (aka QTVR). Here’s our first attempt:
iChat AV
Trying out the multiple video chat thing with Dustin and Jason. If
you have iChat, add me to your buddie list — AIM username “dozefrogs.” We gotta try having 5 or 6 people in a video conference.
I think the sleek and smooth way this really easy app works is a killer-app of sorts. Show this in action to your average person, and their reaction will be “wow, I gotta have it.”
The Old Soul – River of Daughters
Not that I’ve listened to it yet, but you can grab The Old Soul – River of Daughters for free on iTunes. It’s the “free single of the week.”
WoW 1.10 details, weather effects and more!
1UP has an interview with Blizzard’s Jeff Kaplan detailing the upcoming 1.10 patch for World of Warcraft. They have movies and pictures of the highly awaited Weather Effects-system!
Group Shot
Neat little windows program that can take the best portions of a bunch of groups shots and automagically make a composite for you: Microsoft Research Group Shot
Power Users Tool List
Scott Hanselman’s 2005 Ultimate Developer and Power Users Tool List
Not sure if having neat Windows tools qualifies as a “power user” but there are several great links here.
Startup sound in the library
Startup sound in the library
Original: http://www.prangstgrup.com/startupsound/
Also, I’m really liking this youtube stuff for posting videos. Sure, they’re not great quality, but they’re in Flash, so they play on almost every browser/computer.
Speed up Safari
Safari comes with a Macromedia Flash player built-in. Unfortunately, it isn’t nearly as fast as Macromedia’s Flash Player 8.
Try this 3 step process with Safari:
1. Find a heavy Flash-based website. Reload it a few times with Safari.
2. Download the new Flash player from the Macromedia site, and install it.
3. Go back to the Flash-based website. See the difference?
