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The Big Mean Folder Machine turns 2.0
Oh, Big Mean Folder Machine 1.5, we hardly knew ye! You joined the Mac world in October of 2008, and now you're gone, replaced by your new and younger sibling. Big Mean Folder Machine 2.0, from publicspace.net, is the newest version of the great Mac file manipulation application. BMFM 2.0 continues the tradition of allowing you to split files from different folders into new folders based on a set of criteria, or merge files from multiple folders into a new folder while taking care of naming conflicts. So what's new with 2? Publicspace.net has redesigned the user interface, built in an automatic update engine, and streamlined BMFM for better performance. The application also does an even better job of resolving file name conflicts. The Big Mean Folder Machine's droplet capability, which lets you take custom folder merges or splits and save them as for future use as standalone apps, has also been improved.This is a free update for owners of previous versions of Big Mean Folder Machine, or you can purchase the program for €14.95 (about US$21.25) from publicspace.net. If you haven't used BMFM before and you're intrigued by what it can do, a free trial is available for download.
The Big Mean Folder Machine 1.5 kicks it up a notch
The Big Mean Folder Machine is a useful tool from publicspace.net (developers of the indispensable A Better Finder Rename 8) that takes the drudgery out of either splitting files into multiple folders or merging files from different folders.Why would you want to do either of these tasks? Let's say you're trying to back up 30 GB of photographs to DVD. You can either start dragging files to a folder and keep checking with Get Info to see if the folder size is less than the writable size of a DVD, or you can just have BMFM automagically split the group of files into folders that are perfectly sized for DVD burning. Or let's say that you want to take individual folders for former clients and turn them all into one big "Former Client Archive" folder. It's easy to merge all of the files in those different folders into one big archive folder. The Big Mean Folder Machine takes care of file name conflicts in that case.Version 1.5 adds the ability to create deeper hierarchy levels (dependent on the number of files per level) and restores MP3/AAC functionality. A trial version limited to 100 files is available for download, or you can buy the application for $14.99.
Finally: folders for videos on your PS3
One of the lesser known tricks of PS3 firmware 2.00 is the ability to organize videos into folders, a request that many have had since the system's launch. So how do you use this magical feature? Simple. Press Triangle on any video, and edit the Album Information. Press Square from the XMB, and you'll be able to sort by a variety of options. One is the ability to sort by Albums, which will let you finally have a clean way of organizing your videos. Excellent.
Mac 101: Spring-loaded folders
Dragging a file from one folder to another is one of the Great Innovations of Modern Times. It's like the web, or sporks. But sometimes it's a hassle: what if you want to drag a file to a folder...inside another folder? Dum dum dummm...In comes another Great Innovation of Modern Times: the spring-loaded folder. This allows you to drag a file to another folder through a folder hierarchy. Makes no sense? Give it a try: Click and hold a file to drag it. Move the file over a folder and wait a few seconds. The folder opens. Still holding the file, drag it over another folder. That folder opens. Repeat as necessary. Release the file when you're in the folder you want, and all the excess folders close out. You can make the process even quicker by hitting the spacebar key when you're hovering the file over the folder, instead of waiting those few second for the folder to spring-load itself.Nifty, eh?[Update:] Two more great tips from readers in the comments (they could do this job for me): From serenity: "Another simple one is that you can change the time it takes for the folder to "spring" in the Finder preferences." Hit Cmd+Comma to open Finder Preferences. And another from aptenergy: "Also, if you drag your item out of a folder that's been spring loaded, it will automatically close." Thanks guys!
Martian SlingShot 2.0 adds iTunes music and playlist sync
Scott blogged Martian SlingShot, a Bonjour-enabled network syncing utility for your Macs, back in January, and a recent 2.0 update has brought iTunes music and playlist syncing to the table. In addition to being able to 'publish' and 'subscribe' to folders between multiple Macs on a local network (also known as a 'live backup'), SlingShot can now keep iTunes libraries and playlists in sync, watching for changes and copying over files when new additions are found.A 30-day demo is available that allows you to publish or subscribe to one folder or playlist. Fortunately, Martian Technology LLC allows you to purchase one license for $29.99 USD on all the Macs you own, while business licensing is available upon request.
BackityMac update brings CD/DVD backup
We mentioned BackityMac 1.0 a couple of weeks ago, and since then it's had a minor .1 update with a big new feature: backing up to CDs/DVDs. As icing on the cake, BackityMac can also span disk images that are too big for the media you're using, putting that 'size matters' issues to rest.BackityMac 1.1 is donationware, a Universal Binary and available from Whimsplucky Software.[via Hawk Wings]
Automator action for encrypting/decrypting files
Interested in beefing up security on some of your files or folders, but wary of the consequences if FileVault takes on a mind of its own? This Encrypt and Decrypt Files Automator action might be right up your alley, as it allows you to perform these actions with an algorithm and password. Perfect for fitting into the workflows of even the most security-conscious Mac OS X Tiger users.The action is free and can be had over at Automator World.
Delibar - the missing link of social bookmarking?
I love the concept of social bookmarking sites like del.icio.us and Shadows. When we found Safarilicious I immediately used it to upload all 1050 of my bookmarks to del.icio.us, and I use it to help organize bookmarks for all sorts of projects I'm working on with friends.My one complaint about these services is that, aside from Flock "getting it" and actually building support for del.icio.us (and Shadows) right into their browser, social bookmarking feels very one-way in its interactivity: there hasn't been any way to access them as easily as your favorite browser's bookmarks menu (and no, Cocoalicious doesn't quite get there). Further, the problem is compounded if you're like me and you either want or have to work in more than one browser.Fortunately, I just found the utility that solves these problems and brings all your socializing bookmarks back home to your desktop: Delibar. Fitting into the "do one thing, and do it well" category that we at TUAW love so much, Delibar (as you can see) is a free menubar app that serves as a "universal bookmarks menu" for all your del.icio.us bookmarks, sorted into folders by the tags you've assigned. This, my friends, is exactly what I've been looking for. To the del.icio.us crew, if you're listening: you need to help this guy out in one way or another. If I may be so bold: you guys should have offered something like this the day that you flipped the switch on your services. To the developer of Delibar: thank you! Finally, to you TUAW readers: I highly recommend you check out this most useful of utilities, and I urge you to donate if you wind up finding it even half as useful as I have.
