2007 August | Mac Sage

TubeTV To Download and Convert YouTube Video

by patrick

YouTube has become the place to go for video on the web. However, if you want to download and reuse video from YouTube, you usually run up against two issues: 1) How to download the file; and 2) How to get the file into a format that is usable.

There are several web-based ways to download and convert YouTube video, but this little application is the best I’ve found so far. TubeTV gives you a browser-like window to search YouTube (and other popular video sites), and then “grab” the video and convert it according to the settings you specify in the Preferences.

This process saves a file to your local drive that is ready to be viewed. I haven’t found anything else that works so well and makes it so simple.

See this article on hacking Apple TV to enable SSH.

Check it out: TubeTV

iPhone Hack To Use Other Carriers

by patrick

George Hotz (17 years old) has figured out a way to hack Apple’s iPhone to release it from having to use the AT&T network. It involves cracking the iPhone case and using a soldiering gun and some special software. Although I’m sure AT&T is not elated with this news, I wonder how many folks will be willing to crack open a $500 device and mess with a soldiering gun.

Also mentioned is a SIM chip from Australia, though the release date on the chip is not yet announced.

Check it out article: iPhone Hack

See an interview with Hotz here: Hotz interview

Check out Hotz’s blog: George Hotz Blog

iPhone Update

by patrick

Just released, an iPhone firmware update via iTunes.

Get it while it’s hot!

Info Link here: iPhone Firmware Update

Web Development On A Shoestring

by patrick

For new, small or developing business, website design and development can be a daunting, if not expensive, endeavor. While there are more “web designers” out there than you can shake a stick at, finding the right one at the right price can be difficult.

One option, for the more technically intrepid, is to create your own site based on templates. If you have some knowledge of HTML and have the time, this option can save you money. The trick is to find a well-designed template that closely approximates your vision for your website. There are several free design template directories on the web, but finding the good designs can be a lengthy process. The following are a few of the better opensource design template directories that I’ve come across:

TemplateNavigator: A big catalogue of free website and flash templates.
OSWD: Huge collection of free web design templates.
CSS Tinderbox: Basic design templates that get you well on your way.
OpenWebDesign: A huge and active community that shares free web design templates.
Open Designs: A non-profit design community that reviews each design submitted before allowing it on their site.
Free CSS Templates: Another large and frequently updated design template catalogue.

These 6 sites should provide you with some good starting point templates. Take your time and review several designs before making your choice. Your website will only be as good as the foundation upon which you’ve built it. These templates should get you up and running, letting you decide later when to bring in a consultant or web developer.

New iMacs, iLife and iWork!

by patrick

The news from Apple is that they’re now shipping the new glossy-screened, 2.0GHz or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and the 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor iMacs. These are impressive machines at a good price. The 20″ models are $1,999 (2.0GHz) and $1,499 (2.4GHz), and the 24″ models are $1,799 (2.4GHz) and $2,299 (2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme). Take a look at these puppies at Apple’s Site.

Also shipping are iLife ‘08 and iWork ‘08. Apple has a great video overview of the new features of both of these software packages, and I recommend viewing them to see the full impact of this major software upgrade.

For iLife’08, the new features and performance enhancements of iPhoto (e.g., “Events” organization, power new editing tools) and re-designed interface for iMovie alone are worth the upgrade price ($79 retail, $39 educational). The new features of iWeb are also impressive.

In iWork’08, Pages sports a new layout mode, some new graphics tools, and some well-designed new templates. Keynote has some great new text effects and transitions, some new image-handling tools, action builds, and more. Also with iWork’08 comes a new software package called Numbers’08, Apple’s Excel killer.

Check out: iLife’08
Check out: iWork’08