I've just downloaded a beta of a new CD burning application for the Mac. Its called Disco and has just been released on public beta. Pre-Release is $14, and it looks like final price will be around $30.
Disco is a very pretty application, sitting in a simple window where files can be simply dragged and dropped. It also uses a smoke effect when it does some things.
This "smoke" doesn't work on my mini, so not too sure what it really looks like, but the idea sounds cool (or hot!).
This would seem to have a very good chance of knocking TOAST off the top spot, as Disco is really simple to use, and is designed to be as easy to use as possible. It spans multiple discs and the simple interface hides some powerful options, well worth a look at...
I stopped off at Mac Expo last week, just to see what was on offer.
1 Freebie! A Shure T-Shirt stating that my ear phones cost more than my iPod. Fact, they didn't because I would not pay nearly £300 for a set of in ear phones that only just beat my £40 sennheiser cams!
Stopped off at a free presentation on music mixing with the mac, OK but nothing startling.
Stopped to listen and talk with the nice folks from Apple. I spoke with one of their main motion guys on a piece I am putting together for Sanctum (will post later). Got some interesting hints on future products. The main being that if I needed to upgrade today then I would have to use the pro machines to get the most out of motion, but if Apple happen to upgrade say the macbook or mini with the next intel integrated graphics card, I could be happy with that platform. IF they happened to do such a thing, if it happened to be sometime next spring, you never know....! I think I may just wait and see.
However I will need to order my Final Cut Studio Pro upgrade before the end of the month, as I can use my Motion license to get the complete suite for £140!
This was the corner where I was accosted by GREENPEACE. Well they gave me a leaflet about having a green apple, and offered a nice organic looking apple to me as well.
Link to their campaign. It seems that they were ejected from their stand latter that day.. I must admit they were all over the show handing out leaflets when asked about their t-shirts, but I didn't find them offensive..... Link to an article..
So all in all an OK show, but nothing I could not have missed. Didn't buy a thing, which is good training for me and my wallet!
I've been using ecto to post most of the entries on the Blog, and it was about time that I posted about how good this program is.
ecto is developed by Adriaan and Alex over at http://ecto.kung-foo.tv/. The tool is simple in its approach with a lot of power hidden away. It integrates with most hosted services, and suits me the best on the mac.
The main thing I love is the simple way to drag and drop images into a post, resize them and then simply post. Inserting direct from iPhoto is supported, with links to iTunes and amazon there as well. Like all good software it simply works. It is not expensive, and you can even get discount to purchase a mac and a windows license together if you want to....
If you are blogging, and are not using the tool, look at ecto, download the trial. Give it a go. I am sure you won't want to go back......
Version three is due sometime soon, back an interim intel version is available.....
Having spent more time than usual at my computer, I have been playing the Xbox360 more than usual.
One thing strikes me about playing online, is how easily a small community forms just around your gamer tag. You sign in, find a game and play.
I mainly play GRAW, a 1st person squad based game where you basically have to shoot the enemy. I like being a sniper, sitting around spying out the movement and then picking one off is great fun, especially when someone comments on how many times you shot them and they never saw you once! Of-coarse I usually die more often that I kill!
Morality aside (I may write something up on gaming vs violence later), the fascinating thing is how easily these gamers adopt you into their world. One moment you play a few rounds with someone, leave the game, and next thing you know a friend invite is sitting in your messages. You hop on-line and bang, someone wants to play. Its a little like being selected for the team by your mates, without the angst!
What is interesting is the spectrum of people you play with/against, the only real absence is women (no real surprise there!). You can be grouped with Americans (the normal human type), Americans (the tourist type), Builders, Computer Geeks, Doctors, etc. Very little church chat going on, I wonder why?
The community is very open and fluid, playing a stupid game where you need the help of your team mates is addictive. You interact with literally 100's of people a night, and the only time I've ever been ejected was by some french guys who didn't seem to like me being English! I know this because of their chatter about me before ejecting me. It never seems to amaze me how most Europeans will assume you can't understand their language and say the most interesting things to your face!
Any back on subject. Looking at WEB 2.0, and more specifically Church 2.0, I wonder if the church is missing a point here. Most virtual churches I've seen are too focused on the church aspect and leave out the community aspect of their offering. I don't mean it doesn't exist, but where are the Church 2.0 apps that let people drop in and chat, with a nice virtual coffee? Church of Fools let you wander around the most, with a space to sit and chat. What about a sensible chat room that works, built right inside the church app, not just sitting to one side? A place to drop in and simply chat? Wrapped around a place with virtual prayer and virtual service, but still a place to chat.
Does one exist and I missed it (too much time on the xbox?)
So come on us emergent types, lets look at a real virtual church community. Let me know.....
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