faster.better.smarter

Since I set up iChat to work with my Google Talk account recently, I have been using iChat more. Today I ran across an app that was recommended to me some time ago, but that I never tried because, frankly, I never used iChat. Well today I downloaded Chax, a plugin for iChat, that allows a number of new features. First on my list is tabbed chat window, which is great because you don’t end up with a screen full of chat windows. Growl integration is alo a nice feature. It’s definitely worth installing and best of all its free! Oh, but unfortunately, its not yet compatible with Leopard.

Chax

I have been neglecting my Facebook account lately. That is, until yesterday when facebook and RIM released a Facebook app for the blackberry. You can download it here. I really like it so far, though it could integrate a little more with blackberry’s applications. Enjoy!

Play Hourly Newscasts is a great AppleScript that detects when there is a new version of four different podcasts from news networks and plays it in between your normal music listening. Obviously, this is Mac only as Windows doesn’t support AppleScript. Very good way of listening to music and keeping with the news at the same time.

Download it and others at Doug’s AppleScripts.

Pocketmod is a great web app that allows you to select 8 panels from several categories and they get printed on a regular sheet of typing paper. The you fold the paper into a little booklet. Use it for a day or a week and then toss it (after capturing the data into a more permanent place) and then use another. This is great for someone who likes to have a their quick to-do lists and the ability to catch notes quickly.

1. Pick the 8 panels that you want on your little notebook.

2. Drag the panels into the area that you want them.

3. Then print and fold your planner.

I have also run across some plugins for Pocketmod that allow you to import your Stikkit account or Remember the Milk todos. I’ve never used those, so proceed at your own risk.

There are a handful of things that I have launch at startup on my MacBook. I had my favorites that booted up on XP as well, but these little jewels are the tools that I use all day.

1. Meterologist - I have tried several different weather tools on the mac but this is the one that I like the most. It’s nice and compact, but unfolds to offer an extended forecast for the next several days and a radar image of the current conditions.

2. Mailplane - I looked at this a while back and thought it was interesting but not necessarily great. Recently I ran across it again on Simple Help and gave it a second look. Boy was I wrong about this little program. It allows you use gmail as your default email app in a stand alone browser. It manages multiple email accounts for easy switching. Mailplane offers drag and drop uploading and a default folder for attachment downloads. Tight integration with iPhoto’s send photo option and the ability to take a screenshot and immediately email it to someone make this my email client of choice. Oh and did I mention that if you use google apps for your domain that it will handle those accounts as well?

3. Last FM - This is a far cry from a productivity tool, but I leave it runing all the time. It updates my Last.fm account so that my friends can see what I’m listening to lately and the service can recommend new music for me. It also uploads all of my iPod songs when I plug it in. Also allows easy access to Last.fm streaming music.

4. Skitch - I found Skitch while listening to Macbreak Weekly. This is a fantastic little app that gives you a variety of screenshot tools. I can’t describe it all here, but you should download it and try it out.

5. Quicksilver - If you are using a Mac and you haven’t already installed Quicksilver, you should stop what you are doing right now, download it and then come back and read this later. This app is an app launcher, a quick email tool, a way to access bookmarks, and so much more. When I sit down at a Mac I have to think about how to use rather than just use it.

6. Alarm Clock - There are several programs out there that let you use your Mac as an alarm, but this one fre, flexible, and full featured. It allows you to set a one time or repeating alarm. It uses your iTunes library for the alarm source. Also it has an ascending alarm feature that lets you wake up gently, rather than jerked awake by your rock and roll wake up call.

7. Plaxo - Plaxo is a webservice that synchronizes your data across multiple platforms. It syncs contacts, calendars, tasks, and notes, with iCal, Addressbook, Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Outlook, Outlook Express, and certain mobile phones. It also has a mobile version that you can access on your phone’s browser. The day this service has a client for the blackberry, I will be more that willing to shell out 50 bucks a year for this service.

Check all these out, they are sure to please. I also have a few invitations to Mailplane, if you are interested please leave a comment. First come first serve!

I have always setup Mail.app with my email account so that when I click on a mailto link, it will actually allow me to send an email. Now that I have Webmailer, I can set gmail as the default email client. Of course, the Google Toolbar will already do this, but this allows me to click on an email address in a pdf or word doc and Firefox opens gmail in a new tab. Also works with other webmail accounts. A great find and well worth checking out.

Simple Help is great site with lots of useful tips