At Work On a Mac

Once in a while, I run into software that just amazes me. Read this blog and you will see how often it happens . VirtualBox, a Sun Microsystems initiative—now under the Oracle Empire—is just plain old outstanding. It comes in a free version and in an enterprise version (OSE).

I like Parallels when it comes to maintaining virtualization environments on the Mac but I have to admit that I will keep my install of VirtualBox. It is simply too elegant of a solution to overshadow its well deserved disk space and small footprint. It installs quickly and has a straightforward interface loaded with all virtualization essentials. I especially like the fact that you can export an install in Open Virtualization Format and import of course. Portability of entire environments with their dependancies and OS.

Coupled with the JumpBox service of “bottled IT”, you obtain a one computer IT department to deploy and test CRMs, Blogs, Project Managers, mixed environments, Software Development, Mail and other vital enterprise services. The JumpBox + VirtualBox combination should help smaller companies explore open source solutions to common business operation requirements.

Local network experiments or Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) hosting solutions run in virtual machines (instances) supporting an amazing number of OSs and their automatic updating. A sys admin in a box with root credentials still available. You can keep running the service from your virtualization or eventually deploy it on its dedicated server or better yet in the cloud.

I just installed Windows 7 because I wanted an installation I was familiar with and did not want to enter yet in a JumpBox 15 day trial. I will when we get a green light for newco! Still have to install Windows drivers, Flash, Firefox and Malwarebytes and… run updates but still it is always interesting to be running Windows on my Mac. Hey Windows users, you could run OS X on your PC with VirtualBox! Oh well, so much for that.

François Reeves Productivity JumpBox, VirtualBox, virtualization on a Mac

I’m trying out Little Snitch 2 by Objective Development the makers of award winning LaunchBar. I have to admit I really like it as it made me realise how little we know about our own outbound traffic. Skype for example, constantly sends information to your contacts—to report on their status, I guess. Other applications “speak” to a url to find out if an upgrade is available. All this at your expense…

It sort of follows-up on my previous post on security. While most traffic activity is benign, Little Snitch gives you additional means of knowing if all is well on your network. The demo version can be reactivated every 3 hours. You can get the application for about 29.95 Euros. Enjoy the LEDs.

François Reeves Productivity Internet Access Monitoring, Little Snitch, Network Monitoring

You think you’re safe because you’re using a Mac? Think again. When you consider all possible types of computer security exploits and the fact that we spend most of our computing time online, you have to wonder at why is Apple so stealth about the issue?

But the Windows environment is so much more vulnerable. True, but it is also getting more attention from security software manufacturers and protection updates are superior in frequency and number. So are the threats you would say. But what about cross platform threats coming from iTunes, PDFs and SWFs and Windows installs made possible by bootcamp and Parallels?

And what about online threats emerging from email, web browsing and… social networks! Recently, we’ve seen links to social networks being actively distributed in spam messages. Eventually, social networks may, to a great extent, replace email in spreading malware. We hear from the very serious Kaspersky Lab experts. While social networks threats are still in their infancy remember that the browser executes lines of codes…

Kaspersky goes on to add:

Many Mac OS users have a false sense of security. They are convinced that there are simply no threats that target their operating system. At the same time, Apple Computers admits that malware for Macs does exist. In the latest update for OS X 10.6.4, Apple quietly added a new signature to its antivirus scanner to protect computers against Backdoor.OSX.Reshe.a

Source: SECUREVIEW

And here’s a discussion on MAC OS X security threats.

In Snow Leopard, Apple made a notable effort to protect the system against malware with the introduction of XProtect which it updates once in a while through Software Update. Apple’s approach on the issue is to not make a fuss about any threats to the system. While this behaviour might induce a false sense of security among Mac users, it is highly recommended to double up on protection and get additional software. According to critics, the Apple approach is far from effective. The finder is not protected when it loads a CD, DVD or a USB key… While there are currently only 2 major Mac trojans there are variations of them and at least 2 go undetected by XProtect according to Intego…

When you consider that cybercriminals want to get at your personal data i.e. banking credentials, you realise the most potent threats seem to be browser based! In any case consider MacScan, Norton and Virus Barrier for paying software and as always an Open Source alternative for Unix email scanning: CLAMAV. There is also an impressive free browser security scan from Qualys.

François Reeves Productivity anti-malware, anti-virus, malware, virus, worm, xprotect

Recently, I had to produce a quick logo that would scale and adapt to all sorts of applications and resolutions. I know I’m not a logo designer (check out logoholic) but that’s besides the point as this was just a way to illustrate the gist of a future identity for a start-up. When it gets a budget, it will be done properly. No matter what, I knew not to open my pixel inspired, raster king software a.k.a. Pixelmator that can now export to Flickr, Facebook and Picasa right from the menu—by the way… No this was a job for vector man.

The process made me realise how little alternatives there are on the Mac for such endeavour. Sure you can get the almighty Abobe Illustrator but hardly a candidate for amateur exploration… Enters X11, open source vector initiative—inkscape. Just outstanding in power as long as you have enabled the X11 option really a xQuartz environment (since 10.5 release) to your OSX and are able to call up this Unix level graphic/client-server environment.

Another alternative, fairly priced at +/- $70 is Vector Designer. That’s the one I ended up using as I preferred the simplicity of its interface. While my logo might not win any awards, it does not crack or pixellate when it is stretched for impact or shrunk for business cards! ADDED: LogoDesign Studio Pro.

François Reeves Productivity raster, Vector, vector base alternative, vector software for mac

Search engine optimisation is a science— it requires a lot of work, thinking and… proper tools! I am impressed with the level of detail in SEO PowerSuite (LinkAssistant, Rank Tracker, SEO SpyGlass and WebSite Auditor). The free version is really a demo to convince you to buy it for $99 (Euros over here). You will find SEO SpyGlass very useful in analysing competition for your web site. I like SpyGlass’ suggestion of analysing three competitors and comparing reports to see how they succeeded in ranking better than you. There are hundreds of factors (page rank, page load time, keywords, titles, back links, location, HTML validity, content refresh rate, sitemap and robot files, etc.) contributing to top result indexing. SEO Engine Optimisation will certainly provide a good starting point to improve the most meaningful factors.

François Reeves Productivity search engine, seo

What if your Time Machine died on you? What if you were looking for a faster way to restore your hard disk or deploy a configuration over the network? There is DeployStudio for that. Very useful utility for system admins with a Mac attitude. It can be configured over as a server running on your network but you will most likely appreciate having it in the following configuration—as an external drive connected via USB2 or Firewire, ready to restore any disk even those with triple partitions (OSX, Linux, Windows). Roll over Time Machine.

François Reeves Productivity hard disk image, Mac hard disk image over network, Mac Imaging

Gamers rejoice, you will be able to have a more fluid experience of Team Fortress 2. Apple has just released a Snow Leopard Graphic Update to solve issues with TF2, Portal, Aperture 3 and StarCraft II. Also remember that you can always go to your System Preferences pane, click on Software Update and have a look at Installed Software to see how current you are…

François Reeves Productivity Aperture 3, gaming, graphic, Portal, StarCraft, Team Fortress 2

It’s been a while since I contributed to this Mac blog. Summer is ending—it’s time to get back to work. There are many alternatives to capturing your screen’s content—Quicktime, SnapZ and others—but none to rival ifunia when it comes to downloading video from YouTube. You simply add a url and voilà! It can handle multiple urls and is a free application. Enjoy.

François Reeves Productivity ifunia, multiple url video download, youtube download

Every month at the local Mac User Group I give demos of cool software and every now and then, I stumble upon a gem that becomes a hit with the crowd (and myself). This is one of them. Skitch is a screenshot app on steroid. It’s easy to use, the interface doesn’t get in the way and and works quite well.

The only big drawback as far as I’m concerned is the fact that you need to create an account on their site to use it. It does come with a benefit: you can host your screenshots for free on their (beta) service. Still, making it optional would have been nice.

In any case, this app is hard to describe. A screenshot app doesn’t quite sound exciting but their video makes a good job of explaining it all.

Jonathan Grenier Software app, Mac, macosx, screenshot, Software

Wow, Apple launched the iPad. I was traveling but managed to watch it “live” (blog) on Gizmodo in GMT+1, thanks to Jonathan. It’s fun to let the dust settle after such an important product announcement. Personally, I never liked previous tablets that have surfaced every blue moon over many years. I always thought they provided an awkward user-experience, had poor graphics and were pointless (no pun). Not anymore.

I know there is plenty of criticism, all from people who have not used the product as it will only be available in a month or so. The gist of the critics are: no Flash, no phone, no multitasking, no OSX, no HDMI, no camera, no battery replacement and overpriced Flash memory storage options. The Apple bashing runs havoc in the forums, PC people thinking Steve Jobs has delivered yet another promised land sermon to his followers. You know you’re on to something when you’re being attacked rather than ignored. You know you’re on to something when a Macromedia Flash incompatible device (iPhone) is overselling all other smartphones.

I’ll tell you why I will be buying one. Because I’m addicted to my iPhone and this is an iPhone on steroïds. Besides, because it uses the Apple App Store, I will most likely be able to set up a VoIP softphone on it… More choice.

There’s a fundamental difference between wanting a device to do everything (especially things it was not intended for) and owning a device by design, because it fills needs. I read email almost in real time. This device will improve this user-experience or at least widen the reading opportunities.

I watch (read) movies in bed. This device will improve this experience.

I read books and magazines. This will make them more accessible. It is an extension of the paper reading experience. Not a replacement.

I read and edit spreadsheets. This device will allow me to take this necessity to different, new locations and settings.

It is not a laptop. It is not a phone. It is certainly not a PC tablet running Windows. It is an iPad: a reading device like no other.

François Reeves Productivity iPad