BlakeBrannon.com

For years I have had my homepage set to blank. Mainly because I rarely go to the same website everytime I start my browser and trying to load a page that I don’t need to visit is a waist of time. There are a few tasks that I like to check daily as soon as I sit down at my computer: Check Google News, Apple, the weather, and a few blogger’s sites. I also look at my calendar and of course check my email. So where am I going with this???

Netvibes offers a Web 2.0 service that allows you to create a custom page. Netvibes was created using AJAX and has several integrated features that allow you to add weather, flickr, RSS feeds, notes, to-do’s, and icalendar feeds. It does take several seconds, about 8, to load up, but this depends on the amount of information you have.

To start using netvibes, all you need to do is visit www.netvibes.com. and start draging and dropping boxes around. If you want to be able to visit your homepage using any browser, anywhere in the world, you need to register a email address and password.

The only other way to describe netvibes is to show you or just dive in for yourself. Here are some shots of pages I created. All information is updated live.

If you pay attention, you’ve noticed there is a new “Chat” window on the right side of the webpage. This is the meebo IM client. Meebo is a web based IM that lets you log in AIM, MSN, Jabber, Yahoo!, IM networks from any computer with a browser and internet connection. It uses technologies such as AJAX to make it fell like you are using a desktop application. You can have a private chat with me, if I am logged in, directly on my webpage without reloading. It is still in the alpha stages of development but seems very stable. The only issue I have with it thus far is the fact that it won’t directly forward your IM to your desktop application, i.e. iChat. It also has a problem saving my username and password with Safari, but this issue is on the to-do list.

Jobs started off this year’s WWDC with another great keynote. He introduced the new Mac Pro, shown below, made fun of Vista, and introduced 10 features that Leopard will have.

Shown below is the new Mac Pro desktop computer. It fits inside the same chassis as the Power Mac G5 but has lots more space inside.

Leopard was the main announcement for the event. Apple highlighted several key features they will be adding to their already world class OS.

Read the rest of this entry »

Donelleschi Software has released an application called Sticky Windows that extends the “tab” experience to the desktop by allowing you to place tabs along side the desktop. Any window you have open in OS X can be placed as a tab just by dragging and dropping the window near the left, right, or bottom of the desktop.

If you need to bring up a tabbed window, click it once for it to appear and then click the tab again to re-tab it. If you want to remove a tab, click and drag the tab away from the edge.

Read the rest of this entry »

As August 7 draws closer, more and more rumors about new products are being released. These include a second generation iPod Nano, iTunes Movie features, and a new MacPro.

Paul did a good job explaining the new iTunes movie rentals as well as the new iPod Nano. Please check his web site for that information.

According to Apple Insider, the case will be similar to the current Power Mac case with only a few modifications. Below is a mocked rendering of the front and rear of the new case.

Read the rest of this entry »