Samuel Gibbs

As an Apple lover and a user of a plethora of gadgets, games, and other fun things, Samuel’s used, talked, ‘casted and written about them all. As a British scientist turned journalist, he often has a slightly jaded view of the world and, of course, loves to moan about the weather.

Articles by Samuel Gibbs

Daily Mac App: Social Weather
The weather might not be your first priority of the day, but if you ever get caught out of the house in the pouring rain, a good forecast could have helped. Social Weather is great free weather app that gives you detailed up-to-the-minute forecasts with hour-by-hour weather for most major cities around the world. Social Weather allows you to save your favorite locations and flick between forecasts. It offers both at-a-glance weather information including the temperature, wind speed and direction, and the humidity. Selecting a city gives you a 10-day forecast with icons displaying the weather type. The background also changes to reflect the current conditions, so if it's sunny you'll get a glorious blue background with the sun shining. If it's cloudy and raining, the background changes to grey with clouds moving across the sky. It's well done, not too distracting and gets the information across quickly while still looking pretty. Social Weather has optional Facebook integration, which allows you to see what the weather is like for your friends around the world. It's a nice feature that lets you gloat about the good weather you're having while your friends are sitting in the rain, and you can post directly to your friends' walls from the app. Social Weather is free from the Mac App Store.
Daily Mac App: Preflight
Sometimes super simple tasks work best when performed using super simple applications. List making might be one of them. Preflight is a free list-making app that's about as simple as they come. Type your list item in the "new item" box and hit return. Job done. If you want to delete an item from your list, select it and hit backspace. You can rearrange your list through drag-and-drop. The beauty of Preflight is that it's quick to load, create a list and does what it needs to do. However, if you need a bit more complexity, check out one of the myriad of to-do list apps that we've covered on the Daily Mac App including Wunderlist, Producteev and iProcrastinate.
U-bop gSHELL SuperSlim for iPad 2 offers thin Smart Cover-compatible protection
The U-bop gSHELL SuperSlim is another thin TPU Smart Cover-compatible case that comes in several colors, including the semi-transparent "smoke," which recently hit the TUAW test bench. Coverage The gSHELL has decent coverage for a thin TPU case, covering everywhere you would expect with enough access to the device not to hinder use. The headphones port, the dock connector port, microphone, camera and side switch are all freely accessible, while the power and volume buttons are accessed directly through the case. As with all thin TPU cases, scratch resistance is good, but impact protection is limited to very light bumps, while the rubber stretches over the front edge of the screen locking the iPad tightly into the case. Thickness and material The gSHELL is nice and thin at about 1mm thick meaning it's not going to add much weight or bulk to your slim slate, but will give it a grippy yet smooth texture to help you keep a hold of it. Small manufacturing edges and imperfections are visible on the edge of this inexpensive case, but they aren't sharp and don't get in the way too much. U-bop have the gSHELL in a few variants including the Smart Cover-compatible variety which we tested, but if you're looking for just a TPU case for your iPad that covers all edges they've got your covered. %Gallery-134976% Verdict The U-bop gSHELL SuperSlim is a decent, low cost TPU case that feels solid and fits the iPad 2 well. If you've got a Smart Cover and want to keep scratches to that gorgeous aluminium at bay then this thin TPU case will do the trick without emptying your wallet.
Daily Mac App: Clean
Let's face it, cleaning your desktop can be a right chore. Clean makes it easy by automating the process for those who simply can't face it. Some of us are more prone to desktop clutter than others. I have seen some horrors in my time, desktops were you simply can't see the wallpaper for the side-to-side mess of icons. How does anyone find anything in that mess? Like other cleaning tasks, sometimes you simply can't face weeding through all the files, separating important from rubbish and that's where Clean comes in. It's a tiny app that you can either set up to clear out your desktop on a daily, weekly or monthly rotation, or fire it up manually when it all gets too much. Clean will move all the files on your desktop to a user-specified folder and will organize them by day or month. You can tell it to ignore files with labels, which means you can keep files on your desktop that you really want to stay by just applying a label to them in Finder. By moving, not trashing your files, Clean gives you the opportunity to evaluate whether you really need those files. If you haven't accessed them for a couple of months for instance, perhaps it's time to trash them and reclaim some hard disk space. Yes you can do all this manually, and no Clean doesn't do anything revolutionary, but it's a free app that gets the job done for those that have a mess of files on their desktop and can't face sorting them manually.
iTalkonline Smart ProGel Skin loves your Smart Cover, protects your iPad 2 in TPU
The iTalkonline Smart ProGel Skin case is another TPU Smart Cover-compatible back cover for the iPad 2 that comes in a plethora of colors and configurations. Coverage The Smart ProGel is a basic TPU skin, but covers all edges and the back admirably. Decent sized cut-outs offer easy access to the dock connector port, headphones port, speaker, microphone and camera. The volume buttons and the power button are covered by the case but are still easily usable through the TPU. The case also creates a small front lip where it rolls over on to the glass of the iPad, holding it tightly and allowing you to put it flat on a table without fear for the screen. Thickness and material The case itself is about 1mm thick and is finished in that typically smooth yet "grippy" texture of TPU. The sides of the case have small manufacturing edges, but they aren't sharp and don't interfere with your grip on the iPad. The TPU itself is well suited to protecting your iPad from scratches and small bumps, but isn't going to protect it much from decent height drops, just like any other thin case in this class. The case we tested had complete back coverage, but the ProGel Skin is also available with a circular cut out to highlight the Apple logo, which might be more of use with the many colored variants available. %Gallery-134969% Verdict The iTalkonline Smart ProGel Skin case is inexpensive, gets the job done and works great with your Smart Cover. If you're looking for something that'll protect the back of your iPad 2 from scratches, but won't break the bank, then iTalkonline has you covered for about US$16 plus shipping.
Speck SmartShell iPad 2 companion case with magnetic strip enhances the Smart Cover
Today's Smart Cover-compatible iPad 2 backplate, the SmartShell, is courtesy of Palo Alto-based Speck and has a neat trick up its sleeve. Coverage Like many of the other backplate-type cases, the SmartShell covers the back and edges well. It has good sized cut outs for the ports, mic, buttons, camera and speaker, as well as a cut out in the side to allow you to lift up the Smart Cover a little more easily. It has all the important things covered, but that opening in the side could be a potential vulnerability. Thickness and material The case is made of polycarbonate and is available in six different colors including clear and looks pretty good once on the iPad. The majority of the case is just 1.2mm thick, meaning it's one of the thinner polycarbonate offerings available. At the edges, where the case meets the front of the iPad the plastic gets thicker and creates a noticeable edge around the smooth tapering of the iPad 2. Unfortunately there are also some sharp edges to the case, which feels cheap and makes the iPad uncomfortable to hold. This might be a one-off with our clear review unit, but it appeared to be a lack of finishing during manufacture, which we haven't seen with other polycarbonate cases in this class. Features The SmartShell has a nifty trick up its sleeve that we haven't seen in other backshell cases and that's a magnetic metal strip on the back side of the case that holds the Smart Cover in place then folded around the back. This is the kind of thing Apple should have built into the iPad 2 itself, as it removes the annoying flop of the Smart Cover when it's open and works wonderfully in the SmartShell. %Gallery-134782% Verdict The Speck SmartShell has good coverage, is pretty thin and comes in a decent set of colors to match your Smart Cover. The magnetic strip on the back is great and improves the Smart Cover no end. It's a shame then that the clear polycarbonate isn't as well finished as we would have liked, and those sharp edges that make the iPad 2 uncomfortable to hold aren't what we're looking for. Your mileage may vary and indeed the "matte soft-touch" finish of the colored cases may be different. For the clear cases we hope this is a one-off production error, but the rest of our review unit seems perfect so we can only conclude that it's cheap manufacture is to blame. If you can get one out in a store and check the edges, or buy it from an online retailer with a solid return policy, then the Speck SmartShell is definitely worth a look and will set you back around US$25-35 plus shipping.
Daily Mac App: DropCopy
Mac OS X Lion introduced AirDrop, which offers zero-configuration, Wi-Fi file sharing between Lion users. DropCopy offered a similar service when we wrote about it in 2007. Today, DropCopy still deserves a place on your Mac, as it does a few things that AirDrop doesn't. For one, DropCopy can auto-accept file transfers. Meaning, your recipient needn't be in front of his/her machine to initiate or accept a transfer. That's handy if you want some files to be waiting at a remote work station upon your arrival. DropCopy also passes the contents of one machine's Clipboard to another, creating a handy -- albeit makeshift -- inter-machine link. The way it works is similar to AirDrop. Just drag-and-drop your file onto the Dropzone and it'll show all the possible destinations. Participating machines must be running DropCopy on the same network. Simple. If AirDrop just doesn't cut it for you because you're on a non-Lion Mac, you must send files to a non-Lion Mac, or you need to send files across a wired network, DropCopy is the answer. It's available in a free 3-machine limited version or a Pro version for US$4.99 from the Mac App Store.
SwitchEasy CoverBuddy iPad 2 Smart Cover-compatible backplate case
We had a look at a TPU-based Smart Cover-compatible backplate in the last in this series of reviews. Today we're going to be looking at one of the polycarbonate variety, the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy. Coverage The CoverBuddy has pretty good coverage for a polycarbonate case with all edges and corners covered. There are cut outs for all the important bits, the buttons, switch, ports, camera and mic, and of course a strip down the side for the Smart Cover to attach. The cut outs themselves are quite large, meaning you can get easy access to the bits and pieces, but it could also mean that they're left exposed. It's always a trade-off with a case and I think SwitchEasy have made the best of it here. Instead of a flat opening, the speaker on the back has a grill to let the sound out while still providing a modicum of protection. The case clips on with thin overlaps on the iPad 2's bezel that hold it in place, meaning it doesn't protrude onto the front of the screen at all. It's a good fit and does the job admirably. Thickness and material Being polycarbonate the CoverBuddy is slightly thicker than some of the TPU offerings we've seen before, but it is by no means thick at 1.8mm thin. The polycarbonate itself can be covered in either a rubberised coating or a scratch-resistant UV coat, depending on color of which there are 11 to choose from including UltraClear as shown above (check the gallery below for the Tan version). The UV coating feels especially nice in the hand and is smooth yet not slippery. The CoverBuddy is certainly well made and feels a cut above some of the rest with nicely rounded corners and good finishing at every edge, but as with all these thin cases, don't expect it to do much if you drop your iPad from any decent height. %Gallery-134887% Verdict The SwitchEasy CoverBuddy doesn't do much other than cover the back of your iPad 2 while letting your Smart Cover attach to the side, but in that respect it does it very well. It's unobtrusive, form fitting and the UltraClear case is especially good with a great finish. If you're looking for a good quality simple polycarbonate backplate for your iPad 2, the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy deserves to be near the top of your list for about US$25 plus shipping.
Cool Bananas SmartShell complements your Smart Cover in TPU
The Cool Bananas SmartShell Case for the iPad 2 is a TPU Smart Cover-compatible back cover for the iPad 2 that's available in five different colors. Coverage The SmartShell provides good all-round coverage including complete bottom, top and side edge protection. There are, of course, the usual cut outs to allow for access to the power button, microphone, headphones port, camera, volume buttons and switch as well as the speaker and dock connecter port on the bottom edge. The SmartShell covers over the bezel on the front of the iPad 2 with a small lip that extends onto the glass boarder of the screen by about 1mm meaning you can lay it flat on the deck without touching the glass. Thickness and material Cool Bananas have chosen to use TPU for the SmartShell, which is just over 1mm thick and has a textured feel to the back that reminds us of new car seat leather -- a not unpleasant feel to the back of your iPad. The TPU is well manufactured with smooth edges and feels tough and durable. While it's not going to absorb much impact energy, it will certainly keep scratches at bay and provide you with a decent non-slippery feel. %Gallery-134783% Verdict The Cool Bananas SmartShell Case is a simple TPU skin that covers all the right areas, feels great in the hand and comes in enough colors, including transparent, to complement your Smart Cover. If you're looking for a TPU skin as a companion to your Smart Cover, the SmartShell deserves to be up near the top of your list and will set you back approximately US$26 plus shipping and handling.
Proporta Hard Shell Back Cover Smart Cover-compatible iPad 2 case
Next up on the TUAW test bench is the Smart Cover-compatible Hard Shell Back Cover for the iPad 2 by Proporta, which is available in white or black to complement and protect your beloved tablet. Coverage The Hard Shell takes a more open approach to most of the back cases we've seen for the iPad 2. It covers all four corners, the bottom and the opposite side to where the Smart Cover attaches, but leaves the top of the iPad 2 totally exposed. This has the effect of giving great access to the headphones port, microphone and power button, but won't offer much protection if you happen to drop your iPad 2 on its top edge. Cut outs in the back for the camera, side for the volume buttons and switch, as well as the bottom for the dock connecter port and the speaker provide decent access. The bottom edge of the iPad isn't totally covered either with a thin strip of aluminium visible where the case doesn't quite cover the entire bottom edge. It's safe to say, if you're looking for all edges coverage, you can stop reading now. Thickness and material The Hard Shell is made out of polycarbonate with a rubberised coating, giving it a smooth yet grippy texture. The case itself is about 1.5mm thick and doesn't weigh much, so won't add much to the bulk or mass of the iPad 2. The polycarbonate will protect your tablet from scratches to the back for all the surfaces covered, but will offer minimal impact or drop protection, just like most of the cases in this class. %Gallery-134780% Verdict The Proporta Hard Shell Back Cover fits the iPad 2 well and feels nice to the touch, but doesn't cover enough of the edges for decent protection. It adds very little to the bulk of the iPad, so if you're looking for something to literally just cover the back when placed on a table, this back plate will do the job. There are better offerings out there for US$34 of your cold hard cash, but its lifetime warranty might entice you.
Daily Mac App: CPU LED
Recently I've become a bit obsessed with CPU usage. Not because my 2011 MacBook Pro is underpowered -- far from it with its Quad-core Core i7. My concern is that the CPU generates an absolute bucket load of heat. CPU LED is a fantastic little menu bar tool for keeping an eye on your CPU load. It sits there with a small, customisable graphic that updates dynamically to display CPU load at a glance. It'll display each core or virtualised core separately or create an average for the whole CPU, depending on your preferences. There are loads of indicators to choose from, including Apple symbols, smilies, bars, colored circles and 3D chips. If you can't find something to your taste you can easily load your own icons. While CPU LED is a free download from the Mac App Store, there are two add-ons available as in-app purchases. The first is a Memory LED, which is available for US$0.99 and does what CPU LED does but for RAM, so you can keep an eye on your RAM usage and see when your system is paging to and from your disk. The second is Disk LED, which will set you back $1.99 (also available as a separate purchase). Disk LED monitors your disk activity and allows you to check their health status on-the-fly. While programs like iStat Menus are more configurable and comprehensive, CPU LED gives you at-a-glance information on your CPU at all times, is lightweight and most importantly, it's free. So if you're at all concerned about your CPU load and you've got space to spare in your menu bar, give CPU LED a whirl. You might like it.
iSkin solo Smart: an iPad 2 Smart Cover-compatible case
Today we'll be looking at the first in a series of reviews following up on our iPad 2 Smart Cover-compatible backplate roundup. If you want a case to cover the back of your iPad 2 that still allows you to use your Apple Smart Cover, then these are the cases for you. On the chopping block today is the iSkin solo Smart, which is a clear Smart Cover-compatible iPad 2 backplate case that covers more than most. Coverage The solo Smart not only covers the back of the iPad 2 like most Smart Cover-compatible cases, but also covers all edges and a front lip of the bottom of the iPad, stopping just short of the Home Button. This means that the iSkin provides some of the best coverage available for an ultra-thin backplate, covering the top, bottom and sides of the iPad well with cut outs for the speaker on the bottom, the microphone on the top, the side switch and the camera on the back. The dock port and headphones port are covered by built-in dust cover plugs (as you can see in the gallery below), while the volume and power buttons are covered by a thinner flexible layer allowing you to push them through the case without issue. Thickness and material The iSkin solo Smart is made from a pretty thin layer of TPU, measuring approximately one millimetre thick. TPU is a rubbery material and so the case might afford some impact absorption, but at that thinness, don't bank on it saving your precious tablet from dents and cracks resulting from drops of any decent height. It's good for preventing scratches though and provides increased grip over the smooth aluminium of the iPad 2. Features The iSkin solo Smart does one thing none of the others on the TUAW testing bench manage and that's lock the Smart Cover into place. The left-hand side edge has an inlay of polycarbonate that clips over the top of the Smart Cover's magnetic attachment edge holding it securely in place, while still allowing it to fold and move as it normally would. %Gallery-134779% Verdict The iSkin solo Smart covers all sides and edges, doesn't add much to the weight or thickness of the iPad 2 and will certainly prevent scratches and minor bumps. It covers the ports with pop-out plugs, which in my opinion is a bit overkill and hinders usage, but if you don't sync your iPad or listen to it through headphones much then why not have them covered up? The same could be said for the Smart Cover lock-in mechanism. I would prefer the option to remove the Smart Cover when not using it, which isn't easy with the solo Smart on. But if you never remove the Smart Cover, the iSkin works well. If you're looking for good coverage from a thin TPU case that's compatible with your Apple Smart Cover, then the iSkin solo Smart gets the job done admirably for around US$50.
Daily Mac App: iProcrastinate
Most of us have a love-hate affair with task management apps. We hate the fact that we have to use them, but love the fact that some of them really help us get stuff done. iProcrastinate, a free task manager for the Mac aims to fall into the love category. iProcrastinate helps you avoid its namesake by making creating and completing tasks super simple. You've got your standard to do-style tasks with colorful check boxes and stars for more important tasks. There's a rating system for how urgent a particular task is, but there's also the ability to mark a task as in progress, which a lot of simpler task managers don't provide. Each task can be sorted into "Subjects" that act as collections, so you can categorise your tasks. The tasks themselves can be divided into steps, which allows you to create an overall task and still detail what needs to be done and check it off as you go -- something really useful for packing a suitcase for instance. Repeating tasks are available if there's a certain job that needs doing once a week, month or year and you want it pop-up automatically. You can also set dates for your tasks, so if you know you have to do a certain task next Monday, you can go ahead and program it in before you forget. iProcrastinate also allows you to sync your tasks via Dropbox or via Bonjour over a local network, while there's a US$0.99 iProcrastinate iPhone app that lets you take your task management on the road. iProcrastinate for the Mac is a nice, simple and easy to use task manager that's got some nice features to boot. If you haven't already got your heart set on something like Producteev or Wunderlist, then give it a try for free -- you might just like it.
Graft Concepts Leverage protects your iPhone 4 with ease and style
We've seen a lot of iPhone 4 cases here at TUAW. Most thin polycarbonate or TPU cases are pretty much the same -- brute force them on to cover the back and sides. Graft Concepts have taken the thin-polycarbonate case form factor and added something a little different with a top locking latch. Thanks to the Graft Concepts team, we got our hands on a pre-production black and chrome version of their slick looking iPhone 4 case to put through its paces. Design The Leverage takes the form of a bumper-style case, which wraps around the side edges of the iPhone with cut outs for the ports and buttons. It is a single piece of rubberized polycarbonate that joins at the top, locked together by a fancy chrome latch with integrated power button push-through. The latch design makes it easy to get your iPhone in and out of the case, while still holding the case firmly and securely on your iPhone. It looks great just as a bumper, but the Leverage comes with an optional backplate insert that you can combine with the bumper to form a full case with a single cut out for the camera and flash. This modular design gives you the best of both worlds, and depending on your mood or how much protection you want to give your phone, it's really quick and easy to remove or replace the backplate. Protection The combined case gives pretty good all round protection, covering all edges and the back. The case also covers the front edge of the phone meaning that you can place it flat on the screen and the case will keep the glass off the deck. The plastic construction will also offer some impact protection, but I wouldn't fancy dropping it from too high as with most relatively thin cases. The case adds about 1-2 mm thickness to your iPhone, so it's not bulky by any stretch of the imagination. It's also quite grippy to hold, but thankfully doesn't suffer from too much pocket torsion when you're trying to pull it out of your jeans pocket. %Gallery-134226% Verdict Bearing in mind its pre-production nature, we like the chromed locking latch (that's also available in a matte finish), which gives it something a bit different in the design stakes and functions well in practice. It provides decent protection and we like that you can swap between just a bumper and a full back case in about 5 seconds. If you're looking for a case for your iPhone 4 in either GSM or CDMA flavors, then the US$60 Leverage is just a little bit different. If the production case matches the quality of the version we tested, the Leverage will be a great choice.
Daily Mac App: Go2Shell
Here on the Daily Mac App we love apps that do one thing really well. Today's app is no exception. Go2Shell is a tiny little 0.3MB app available for free from the Mac App Store that has the potential to speed up your work-flow if it involves Terminal. Go2Shell simply launches a Terminal session with the current folder you're navigating in Finder, or the folder that Go2Shell is located in, open for work. It even supports iTerm, iTerm 2 and xterm if you're not a fan of Apple's own-brand Terminal. It's so simple, it's almost beautiful and if you happen to have to modify files in Terminal, or any other similar task, Go2Shell could be just ticket to save you time. The best way to use Go2Shell is to drag it onto your Finder toolbar and from there launch it whenever you're in the desired directory. If you need something a little more advanced you should check out one of our previous Daily Mac Apps, DTerm, which gives you hotkey access, and a floating entry form into the Terminal session. Go2Shell is a great free download from the Mac App Store that does one thing and one thing well. So if you're a Terminal guru (even the app's preferences are accessed through the command line) then give Go2Shell a whirl. You might like it.
Daily Mac App: gfxCardStatus
Some newer MacBook Pros have been packing dual graphics cards for a while now, with the ability to dynamically switch between them -- integrated for battery life and discrete for performance. It's often tricky to know which card is currently in use as the switch between the two is seamless. That's where gfxCardStatus comes to the rescue. Sitting up in your menu bar, gfxCardStatus shows you at a glance which card is currently active, but more than that, it actually allows you to manually switch between the GPUs. A drop down menu provides you with three options: Integrated Only; Discrete Only; and Dynamic Switching, which is the system default that lets OS X decide which graphics card is required. If you want to save as much battery power as possible, leaving it on integrated only will ensure that the power hungry discrete GPU doesn't fire up. On the other hand if you want maximum performance all the time, then discrete only will make sure the most powerful GPU is fired up. For most situations OS X does a decent job of managing power considerations, but if you want a little more control, gfxCardStatus will let you set up GPU power schemes to define which chip is used depending on power source. gfxCardStatus is one of those little apps that's both useful and doesn't get in your way. You won't need it a lot, but if you're on battery power and you want to keep working for as long as possible, the little menu bar app can be a life saver. It's freely available (donations accepted) to download from the developer's site and is Lion-ready.
Daily Mac App: Adium
Instant messaging is an essential part of modern communications. On the Mac, we're blessed with the excellent iChat, but Apple's built-in IM solution doesn't connect to every protocol, so that's when we turn to Adium. Adium is a great long-standing piece of open-source Mac software. The reason it's so good is that it connects to almost every IM protocol under the sun. Gtalk, Facebook IM, Live Messenger, Yahoo, AIM, Jabber, IRC, you name it, Adium will let you chat using it. The Swiss Army Knife of chat clients, Adium not only lets you connect and chat, but does it in a very customizable, yet Mac-like way. You've got Growl support, plugins, a menu bar icon, sounds, notifications and alerts for every action and a highly recognizable icon, even if it doesn't scream "chat" to you at first glance. Setting up Adium couldn't be easier. Select the desired protocol, plug in your login details and you're good to go. Your buddy list is downloaded from the respective sites and blended together in one list. You can sort by protocol or create your own groupings. Cross-protocol chat isn't possible for those that don't have interoperability, but that's no fault of the chat client. Adium is purely text-based, there are no built-in options for video or audio chat at the moment, but you can send files for protocols that support file transfer. Adium is available for free from the Adium team's site, and works great on almost all versions of OS X including Lion. If you've got friends spread across a plethora of IM protocols, let Adium simplify things and get you chatting to them all from one great client.
Daily Mac App: SiteSucker
Back in the pre-ubiquitous internet days, services like AvantGo allowed you to cache and store websites for offline viewing. These days there's little need for that kind of thing, simply because we're very rarely offline. Having said that, there are times when a solid internet connection just isn't available and it would be nice to keep on working, reading or browsing sites. That's where a program like SiteSucker comes in. SiteSucker, as the name suggests, sucks down a localized version of site of your choice to your Mac's hard drive for viewing offline. Simply type in the URL of the site you want and press "Download," SiteSucker will do the rest, scanning, downloading and processing the site into an offline viewable form for when you haven't got an internet connection on hand. The number of levels deep SiteSucker will scan and download can be user defined, so if you're looking for a small skim of the site, a one or two level archive will do. If you want a more in depth, browsable localised site something more like a four to six level download will probably be best. You can also set limits on the number of files downloaded, the minimum and maximum file size as well as a minimum image size to download. File type limits can also be imposed as can paths to include or exclude, and whether or not to limit it to the original site's server. Once you've got your site downloaded, it's just a case of opening it up in Safari or any other browser of your choice from your disk. If you've ever wanted to keep an offline version of a site for tinkering, browsing or analysis, SiteSucker gets the job done fast, efficiently and automatically, all for the great price of free from the Mac App Store.
Daily Mac App: ClamXav
Antivirus on a Mac might be a touchy subject, but if you'd like the reassurance of a virus scanner that's not intrusive and can be called on-demand, then the free ClamXav is a great choice. While you may or may not need a virus scanner on a Mac, there's no harm in having one that you can run as and when, perhaps if you're sending a file to a Windows using colleague for instance. Just because a potentially infected file goes totally unnoticed on your Mac, doesn't mean it's not going to wreak havoc on your poor unsuspecting friend's Windows box. ClamXav is the Mac GUI variant of the open source ClamAV project, and has recently entered the Mac App Store, making it even easier to get on-demand protection. Thanks to the ClamAV antivirus engine, ClamXav will detect both Mac and Windows threats and remove them quickly and easily. You get a Services menu option, which allows you to scan files as and when, be it that PDF you just downloaded or your entire disc. You can define file exclusions and even save your favorite scan locations for frequent scanning tasks. Virus definition updates are of course free, and you can get ClamXav to update when you first start the program or on a set schedule. While ClamXav may not be the fastest scanner on the block, it's free, gets the job done, and most importantly, won't bog your system down. If you ever share files with Windows users, or just want to make sure you're not going to fall foul of a Mac malware uprising if it ever comes into being, then ClamXav is a great occasional use scanner.
Papers 2 and Papers for the iPad: the ultimate journal reading combination
It's that time of year again: time to head back to college, grab those books and kickstart the academic term. This year, why not cut out paper from your scientific journal research workflow with the ultimate in journal management and reading for the Mac and iPad? Management Papers 2 takes journal management to the max on your Mac. Across academia and industry, Endnote is pretty much the gold standard as far as referencing goes. Yes, there are apps like Bookends, Refworks and BibTex, as well as a plethora of others including the new cross-platform offering from Mendeley, but none of them, including Thomson Reuters' offering, come close to Papers 2 when it comes to actually managing those hundreds of PDF files, importing them, sorting them, reading them, and most importantly, searching them. Papers 2 creates a database of references, grabbing their metadata from Pubmed, Google Scholar and directly from science repositories like Science Direct, and attaching the PDF files. If you have a PDF, but no citation to import, you can just import the PDF into Papers 2 by simple drag and drop. From there Papers 2 can scan your file for a match, but if it can't find it automatically, it's just a case of manually editing the reference and hitting "Match." That'll kick you into a search form where you can just drag to select text and search for the reference with it, whether it's the title, author or journal, it'll scan the science directories for the matching reference and bind all the metadata accordingly.

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