After a flurry of bad news about tracker shutdowns, here’s an open signup update for a change. LearnBits (LB) a well known E-Learning torrent tracker has opened public registrations after several months. If memory serves correct, last time we posted about LB was back in 2008. Since then, we’ve been hit with a large number of invite requests (even on months old articles) for this tracker, depicting the high demand it has in the BitTorrent community. This limited open registration period should...

Filed under: Software, Productivity

As part of our Back to School series last year, I covered some of my favorite writing tools. Many of the writing applications I've mentioned there and elsewhere have full-screen, distraction-free editing modes, ala WriteRoom, which gets plenty of mention here at TUAW. The full-screen editing feature now seems to be a standard, and most apps that offer the option do a fine job of implementing it. Therefore, if one was to write an app along the lines of WriteRoom, it would have to do something out of the ordinary to get any traction. Ommwriter, a new single-purpose writing app, does just that.

The whole idea behind Ommwriter is to provide a zen-like atmosphere, not just a blank screen. While conforming well to standard text controls in OS X, it creates an interface that's quite pleasing to the eye. The ears are not left wanting, though, and the app provides a choice of several background soundscapes to help block out distractions. You only have 3 fonts to choose from, and they cannot be intermingled. There's no access to the menubar, just a series of rather elegant controls to the side of the resizable writing area. The background is gray, with optional faded landscape scenery. It's quite pretty, and is quite conducive to concentration ... and writing, of course.

Continue reading Ommwriter, an extra helping of zen for writers

TUAWOmmwriter, an extra helping of zen for writers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Typically, laptop is designed with lightweight and portability in mind and users can easily get expansion functions through docking station which could be useful when it is needed for desktop use. If you are looking for an elegant design docking station that offers sufficient expansion capabilities, then the newly released DeskBook Pro could be your [...]

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You may have heard of thought-control mechanism using a special-made wearable headset with sensors that used to sense human brain activity and enable control without actual physical movement or interaction. While the technology is still very new and advanced but believe it or not, there are already a team of researchers that are working on [...]

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Filed under: Apple, iPhone

Apple is looking for yet another engineer to help make the iPhone even better. A new job listing found on Apple's website was posted looking for a full-time software engineer to be a part of the Maps application team. The position description explains that Apple wants to take their Maps application to "the next level" and states that they've "only just started."

From the listing:

We want to take Maps to the next level, rethink how users use Maps and change the way people find things. We want to do this in a seamless, highly interactive and enjoyable way. We've only just started.

It's pretty clear that Apple is feeling the heat from the increasing number of GPS and augmented reality applications available from third-party developers and even the advancements that Google has made on their Android platform. This job application definitely shows that Apple is certainly not resting and that work is continuing on the iPhone OS and the applications it offers. While this listing is far more specific than usual, it could be a sign of great things to come.

[via Macrumors]

TUAWApple taking their Maps app to 'the next level' originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is probably old news but since we’ve been covering the whole SceneTorrents saga from the beginning, here goes. Earlier we posted about the shutdown of elite private tracker SceneTorrents. ScT shut down without much explanation giving birth to a number of rumors some of which we highlighted in our previous post. Most of these have been speculation and/or unverified claims. For those who missed it, here’s ScT’s official announcement regarding the shut down. We cannot independently verify the...

Filed under: Hardware, Peripherals, Reviews, Road Tested

Back in August of this year, my local TUAW blogging buddy Erica Sadun posted some information about the Verizon MiFi portable broadband router. The MiFi device, created by Novatel Wireless, is a tiny Wi-Fi router with a built-in EVDO 3G modem. Essentially, what this means is that anywhere you go with the device, you become a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 4 other users. Erica found that the Verizon version of this box is quite useful, but is dependent on both the 3G signal quality and the user's desire to pay extra for broadband.

For me, the decision to get the Sprint version of this product was a no-brainer. I have used a Sierra Wireless 595U USB broadband modem for the past two years, and I frankly couldn't do my business without it. I travel a lot, and I don't trust public Wi-Fi services. The Sprint Mobile Broadband service and USB dongle have made it possible for me to work at fairly fast speeds in airports and have kept me from spending money on the ridiculously-priced Wi-Fi service that more upscale hotels charge US$10 - 15 dollars a day for. I was even able, with an earlier version of Sprint's SmartView software, to share my connection with students in some of my Business Analysis classes (this capability disappeared a while ago). The USB dongle also made it possible for me to download drivers and look up troubleshooting information when working with consulting clients who were having network issues.

Read along as I take you on a quick review of Sprint's version of the MiFi, and whether or not you might want to consider it for a Christmas present.

Continue reading Road Tested: Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 from Sprint

TUAWRoad Tested: Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 from Sprint originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Mac Pro

Hardmac has provided the Mac universe with an interesting rumor -- that a future Mac Pro, expected in early 2010, will sport dual Intel Xeon Core i9 "Gulftown" CPUs. The website cites a Polish website, PCLab, as showing test results of the CPU at about 50% faster than the corresponding quad-core Xeon processor. Intel's new 6-core CPU features 32 nm engraving, which results in less power consumption in idle (50% less) and fully-loaded (10% less) modes. PCLab had posted a detailed review of the new CPU, but pulled it when asked by Intel to remove the data.

Many Mac pundits have been wondering what Apple would do to differentiate the new iMac Core i7 and the Mac Pro models. The six-core CPU would give the engineers in Cupertino a growth path that results in a top-of-the-line 12-core Mac Pro that incidentally uses less power. Of course, applications will need to be properly coded to take advantage of the multiple cores, something that many Mac developers are already doing.

[via Hardmac]

TUAWRumor: 6-core Intel Core i9 CPU on the way to a Mac Pro near you originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insomnia or sleeping disorder is quite a common condition encountered by many working adults particularly city folks who face a lot of pressure or stress at work. Hence, there are many devices invented to assist these people to have quality sleep and reduce tension in life. WakeMate, is another sleeping aid device that is created [...]

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Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review

One of the top Twitter clients for iPhone has been refreshed: Tweetie 2.1 is now available in the App Store [iTunes link]. Our friend Christina previewed the new features in 2.1 for Mashable last week, and the updated version delivers with support for Twitter lists, the Retweet capability, spam reporting, and geotagging of tweets (opt-in and optional, so don't worry that Tweetie is going to supercharge your stalkers without telling you). The full list of changes and features is on the app's iTunes page, and it's impressive.

Among the many improvements and tweaks is a crucial bug fix for an issue that had caused many 2.0 users (myself included) to gnash our teeth in frustration: the older version had a lot of problems saving state, causing old updates to appear again and, in the worst-case situation, old tweets to be sent repeatedly. It was aggravating, and it kept me from using Tweetie 2 as my full-time iPhone Twitter client -- but now it's gone.

Tweetie 2 is US$2.99, whether or not you own a copy of Tweetie 1 (it's considered a whole new app). If you're a busy Twitter user on your iPhone or iPod touch, you really ought to give it a try.

[via MacNN]

TUAWTweetie 2.1 for iPhone ships with lists, retweet and geolocation support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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