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WoW Insider QuickTake: Nostromo n52
The Nostromo n52 Speedpad was listed by several readers as an essential WoW tool, so we're putting it to the test. I'll be using the n52 for the next week's play, and will return with an updated take on the peripheral; here's a quick first look at it. For some reason the n52 Speedpad seems popular with rogues; to get a feel for its functionality, in the first day of play I've tested it with a druid performing every role from tanking to group healer as well as soloing.Setting up the n52 was easy, although substantial changes were made to its default WASD-style setup. With fifteen buttons as well as a directional pad, scroll wheel and orange thumb button, the most obvious mapping seemed to be to assign the numbers 0-9 to buttons 1-10, with the other keys reserved for shift, information panes such as map and bags, and jump.By spending some time tinkering with both the n52 Profile Editor and WoW's keybindings, the pad was ready to prove its worth in real combat.
Breakfast Topic: Best macros
Macros are a useful way to create custom commands, from witty sayings to more complex spell invocations. Many of the addons available obviate the need for macros by providing a lot of automated speech and the like, but there is still the occasional need for a quick and dirty macro.What macros do you use? Which are your favourites?Personally, I started out experimenting with macros when I was a very young Druid, with a /say macro that would tell targets of fly-by buffings who was responsible. I came to my senses quickly -- it was a remarkably spammy macro and I cringe when I see it still in my macro list. I've also used the macro functionality to change spell icons, as some of my different characters share the same icon for separate actions, a confusing situation. However, I've never found a 'killer' macro, though I'm happy to be converted.
Pimp your Camino
Safari isn't the only browser that can pimp it these days, as it looks like Camino has its own custom parts shop now. Pimp My Camino (started by John Hicks; he who set up Pimp my Safari) keeps track of the plugins, addons, haxies and scripts (and more!) for Mozilla's fantastic Camino browser.I don't know how long Pimp My Camino has been around, but they already have a whole slew of stuff like CamiScript (applescripts for saving sessions, grabbing site feed URLs, etc.) and CamiTools (a feature-packed pref pane), ready and ripe for you to blow an entire afternoon tinkering with.
Breakfast Topic: Favourite Addons
We've talked about addons before, and even invited you to show yours off in our flickr pool, but here's another chance to discuss an ever-changing topic. Given the problems upcoming in 1.10, now might be an especially appropriate time to reconsider your mod choices.So, what are your favourite mods and why? Anything you can't live without?My first foray into UI addons came fairly soon after I started playing WoW, with Cosmos. I then moved on to the Insomniax all-in-one package, and still use a custom variant on that, with Titan Bar and the Auctioneer set as must-haves. I'm also a big user of BibToolbars to keep my windows clean and organised, and MonkeyQuest to track those ever-important quests. [Suggested by Mark Sisley]
Freeverse offers free automation plug-ins for Sound Studio 3
Freeverse has announced a free set of automation plug-ins for Sound Studio 3, their fantastic, easy-to-use audio editing application which we've blogged before. Dubbed "Monbots" (short for Monkey Bots), these are but the first three in what Freeverse promises to be a series of handy automation plug-ins and tools.The first monbot, Clean & Convert, is an audio scrubber for tidying up any misbehaving or noisy audio. The second, called Mastering Console, offers a set of tools and effects for (you guessed it) mastering audio, while Bookend Audio allows you to easily add intro and outro audio to a file or group of files. A fourth monbot, capable of stitching multiple pieces of audio together into one file, is aptly called Stitch and is listed as coming soon.It looks like the monbots are free, so all you need is a copy of Sound Studio 3 which sells for a mere $79.95.
Prevent disenchanting mishaps
As an enchanter, I've had the odd mis-click, especially when disenchanting a lot of items at once. Despite a confirmation box when replacing enchants, there isn't one when disenchanting goods, which can be a source of immense frustration. Some players have reported getting accidentally DEd items back after petitioning GMs, but it's much better if you can avoid all that in the first place.That's where this addon comes in -- Safe Disenchanter lets you set a rarity threshold and will then ask you to confirm any disenchants above that level. Fantastic.If you're in the disenchanting business, you've probably already got Enchantrix, Disenchant Predictor or something similar -- but if not, they're also must-haves when wondering whether to DE or sell an item.[via WatchingWoW.com]
