It appears Apple has been busy developing new uses for the Click Wheel and other touch sensitive devices. ZDNet's Apple Core blog is carrying a story about an Apple patent application that indicates that Apple may be looking to incorporate the click wheel into future keyboard designs. The wheel would be placed where the numeric keypad is today. I am not yet ready to give up my keypad. When working with spreadsheets the keypad is the fastest way to enter numbers. Isn't that why is was added to the keyboard in the first place?
Month: April 2007
People with diabetes use iPods.
Amy Tenderich, author of the Diabetes Mine web log, wrote an open letter to Steve Jobs requesting his help in getting diabetes device manufacturers to incorporate more industrial design in their products. Diabetes test and monitoring devices tend to be bulky and ugly. The kind of thing you'd expect Microsoft to design.
Some of the Mac focused web logs and tech news sites have picked up the story and open discussion is underway. This is what I think Amy expected. In her follow up post she interviews a Stanford Postdoctoral Fellow, Joel Goldsmith, who worked at Medtronic and provides some insight into how out of touch the device makers are.
Mr Goldsmith says:
What's funny is that these companies tend to think that people with diabetes are somehow not the same people as those buying iPods and Nintendos and Razor phones. Why would they feel any less strongly about design issues? If they have to live with these devices 24⁄7, why wouldn't they feel even stronger about it?
Some in the community have suggested that hearing aids might be a better place to start. I disagree. My boss wears a hearing aid and no one notices until he tells them. My assortment of lancets, test strips, needles, and a meter is always noticed.
[digg=http://digg.com/health/People_with_diabetes_use_iPods]
Macness introduces gSync - synchronise iCal with Google Calendar
gSync - synchronise iCal with Google Calendar
With gSync its easy to securely synchronise your Apple iCal calendars with your Google Calendars. This means you can update calendars across all your Macs, keeping everyone (including wifes, husbands and significant others) in ‘sync’ with your calendar.Synchronisation works both ways...e.g. if you make a change in your Google Calendar, it will show up in your Apple iCal and vice versa.gSync uses Apple’s powerful SyncServices technology (used by iSync, iPhone, and iPods), which means a more complete solution for when you require to update all your Apple devices and software (that supports it).
Also, gSync connects directly with Google Calendar (no 3rd party servers) keeping your data private between you and Google.
Features (planned for v1.0 release)* Autosync: define when and at what intervals to update calendars
* Flexibility: use multiple iCal & Google Calendars
* 2 way sync: bi-directional synchronisation
* Privacy: sync directly to Google (no third party server)
* Safety: backup & restore
* Apple SyncServices: gSync is based on Apple’s SyncServices allowing us to integrate with anything that uses this (e.g. iPhone, iSync, etc...)Download
Currently we are only offering a BETA download of gSync.
WARNING If you are an existing gSync user you will have to manually remove your existing gSync by following instructions here. For those in a rush: just run the gSyncClearTool included with
gSyncWARNING: gSync is still BETA software we highly recommend that you back up your iCal and Google Calendars before trying it out. Note that we believe that gSync, due to its design, will not corrupt data, but it;s possible to ‘mess up’ which is why you should back up.
Please read Commercial demo license before you download.Download gSync_0.9.3_rc1.dmg (requires Mac OSX 10.4)
FAQWhere’s the documentation? or even Application icon ?
Having a 1st and 2nd careers (and being programmers) we are focusing on achieving stability first before putting on the ‘window dressing’. Rest assured that v1.0 and past releases will have all the creature comforts one would expect from a commercial (or should I say Open Source project, because people have high expectations of free software nowadays!) release.
In addition, we have a very nice designer having a go at designing something useful and wonderful...and we wouldn’t want any of you getting attached to the existing interface now
When will there be a stable release?
Macness won’t make a commercial release if software is not stable and does its primary purpose robustly. We think we have a few more BETA releases before we make a v1.0 release....our target date is April 1st 2007 for v1.0 (but sometimes software is done in its own time)
How do I uninstall gSync?
Review the instructions found here
What is the difference between gSync and SpanningSync?
The main difference is that gSync connects *directly* to Google, whereas SpanningSync uses a 3rd party server between you and Google.
Purchase
An unlimited license for gSync release v1.0 will be available for $20.00 when we release v1.0.
