Macworld Reviews and First Looks

NoobProof 1.1 and WaterRoof 2.0

Mac OS X’s built-in firewall works well, but Apple offers very few options for configuration. Hanynet’s NoobProof and WaterRoof are utilities that provide just such customization.

Review: Canon Vixia HV30 high-definition camcorderIn a world where consumer Mini DV camcorders are being phased out, the HV30 is easily a top choice. The camcorder’s impressive feature set and superb video quality should cater to both advanced and amateur video makers.
Review: Now Up-to-Date & Contact 5.3 personal info managerNow Up-to-Date & Contact 5.3.2 is the same package it was two years ago—which makes it a very good cross-platform calendar and contact management application that is easy to use and that can support multiple users.

Latest Reviews and First Looks

NoobProof 1.1 and WaterRoof 2.0
Mac OS X’s built-in firewall works well, but Apple offers very few options for configuration. Hanynet’s NoobProof and WaterRoof are utilities that provide just such customization.
Review: Canon Vixia HV30 high-definition camcorder
In a world where consumer Mini DV camcorders are being phased out, the HV30 is easily a top choice. The camcorder’s impressive feature set and superb video quality should cater to both advanced and amateur video makers.
Review: Now Up-to-Date & Contact 5.3 personal info manager
Now Up-to-Date & Contact 5.3.2 is the same package it was two years ago—which makes it a very good cross-platform calendar and contact management application that is easy to use and that can support multiple users.
Tidy Up! 1.4.2
Hyperbolic Software’s Tidy Up! is a powerful solution to for finding and removing duplicate files.
Review: Contactizer Pro 3.6 info manager software
IContactizer Pro 3.6.1 is a single application that includes integrated features for managing contacts, tasks, calendars, e-mail communication, syncing, and projects. It's a nice-looking and largely intuitive program that includes nearly all of Address Book and iCal's features. It also comes with some unique extras not found in Apple's offerings.
Lingon 2.1
For years, the way to schedule tasks in Unix was through a scheduler known as cron. While cron is still supported in OS X, the approved method of scheduling tasks is a program known as launchd. Unfortunately, writing a launchd task is much more complex than writing a cron task. Enter Lingon. Using a simple GUI, Lingon lets you easily create launchd tasks.
The Summer of Mac Gems
This summer, the Mac Gems blog will feature a low-cost or free Mac program every day until the middle of August. Some programs will be simple, some will be niche programs, and some will just be programs that have been waiting too long for coverage. The one thing they have in common is that all are Mac Gems.
Wheeled/rolling laptop bags
Looking for a wheeled laptop bag to take the load off your back? Dan Frakes takes a look at four candidates in this week's Mobile Mac.
Ultralingua 7.0.1
Ultralingua is a nice alternative to OS X's Dictionary program for wordsmiths, word-puzzle fans, or those learning a language.
iPod touch case roundup: Clear, cool cases
Roman Loyola takes a look a four iPod touch cases that use clear hard plastic to protect your iPod touch.
Fable: The Lost Chapters
Fable: The Lost Chapters has been a long time coming to the Mac, perhaps too long. But action RPG fans who haven’t yet played it will be rewarded with dozens of hours of entertaining fun.
iStat menus 1.3
iStat menus adds a series of menus to your OS X menu bar so you can gauge your Mac's system activity.
Review: Papers 1.8 document organizer software
Papers 1.8 goes beyond the basics of traditional document organizing via a plug-in architecture that supports importing, exporting, and searching references and papers from specific scientific and scholarly databases.
Review: LaCie d2 Quadra Hard Disk
As an external hard drive, LaCie's d2 Quadra Hard Disk is versatile in terms of connection support, generous in terms of software bundles, and solid in terms of performance. If you’re in the market for an external hard drive, the d2 Quadra Hard Disk definitely deserves your consideration.
Review: ChronoSync 3.3.6 synchronization software
ChronoSync 3.3.6 is a full-featured synchronization program. It's easy enough for a novice to use immediately, but has enough geeky options to satisfy the most demanding propellerhead.
Review: FoldersSynchronizer X 3.6 file synchronization utility
FoldersSynchronizer X 3.6's small, unassuming, single-window interface belies a full-featured and reasonably capable file synchronization utility.
Review: Daylite 3.7 productivity manager software
Marketcircle's Daylite 3.7.3 is a scheduler, to-do list, notes utility, project manager, and sales tracker all rolled into one that supports up to 50 users on individually licensed Macs. It's large and flexible, with many components that you can use immediately or grow into.
iPhone and iPod Case Roundup: exercise edition
In this week's case roundup, Dan Pourhadi looks at a couple cases for taking your iPhone and iPod classic with you when you work out.
PhoneView 2.0.2
Updated (and twice-renamed) utility makes it easy to use your iPhone for data storage and to access and edit normally-unreachable files.
Review: Polk I-Sonic ES2 iPod speaker system
If you've ever wanted to buy a song you heard on the radio, Polk's I-Sonic ES2, when combined with a recent iPod, makes doing so easy thanks to iTunes Tagging.