ITechLog » Mac http://itechlog.com Your source to IT solutions, interesting technology news and code snipets. Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:42:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc The future of gaming is OpenGL http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2010/03/11/the-future-of-gaming-is-opengl/ http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2010/03/11/the-future-of-gaming-is-opengl/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:18:48 +0000 Alex Costa http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2010/03/11/the-future-of-gaming-is-opengl/ As a Linux user and Open Source enthusiast I always want to see people moving away from the proprietary stuff and into the Open Source world, but sometimes it’s easier to keep them where they are (stuck to Windows), specially when it comes to gaming. I am not a gamer, and would rather spend my time on other more fulfilling tasks like testing a ClearOS installation, but when it comes to helping people migrate from Windows to Linux, there’s always that dreaded question  “Will my games work?”  The answer could easily be “yes very well, better than before!”  but in reality a majority of the games won’t. Why? The proprietary monster that is Microsoft has allured programmers, graphic card manufacturers and the common citizen into the idea that DirectX is the best, and it could not e further from the truth. While DirectX only runs on Windows, OpenGL offers equal or better results and runs on every platform. 

But don’t let me talk to you about this, as I said I am not a gamer, let those who know what they are talking about tell you. This great article will help you understand Why should you use OpenGL and not DirectX (Wolfire Blog), and you may also enjoy reading this article Commercial Gaming coming to Linux?  from the Linux Magazine.

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]]> http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2010/03/11/the-future-of-gaming-is-opengl/feed/ 0 Offline Blogging Tools http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2009/05/12/offline-blogging-tools/ http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2009/05/12/offline-blogging-tools/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 15:35:44 +0000 Alex Costa http://itechlog.com/?p=719 Keyboard

Offline Blogging Tools let you comfortably write and effortlessly publish new entries to your blog.  I personally like the easy to use Scribefire, a Firefox addon, but there are many others our there.  Here is a shortlist…

Scribefire

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

This is an addon for Firefox so you need to be using Firefox (clearly)

BlogDesk

Platform: Windows

BlogDesk is totaly free of charge and optimized for the blog systems WordPress, MovableType, Drupal, Serendipity and ExpressionEngine.

BlogGTK

Platform: Linux

BloGTK is a weblog client that allows you to post to your weblog from GNOME without the need for a separate browser window. BloGTK allows you to connect with many weblog systems such as Blogger, Movable Type, WordPress, and more.

Windows Live Writer (by Microsoft)

Platform: Windows

WLW is a desktop application for publishing to blogs and works with almost any blog provider in the world including Windows Live Spaces, Blogger, WordPress and more.

Qumana

Platform: Mac, Windows

Great for bloggers on the move. Qumana features include easy text formatting and image insertion, simple Technorati tagging, advertising insertion with Q Ads and more.

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]]> http://itechlog.com/itechlog-news/2009/05/12/offline-blogging-tools/feed/ 0 Is Mac Safer? http://itechlog.com/apple/2009/01/31/is-mac-safer/ http://itechlog.com/apple/2009/01/31/is-mac-safer/#comments Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:45:30 +0000 Alex Costa http://itechlog.com/apple/2009/01/31/is-mac-safer/ I was reading this article on ZDNET.com “Is Mac still the safer bet?” by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. This is a question that I have been asked many times also, “Is Mac safer than windows?” Although many times it sounded more like an affirmation than a question.

I wouldn’t say it’s safer, it’s just not as targeted. Once Mac becomes a target, the cyber criminals will have a lot of fun because of the lack of attention to security Mac users have. To switch platform with the sole reason of not having to think about security is very lame.

The Microsoft operating system is targeted  for its many vulnerabilities including the end users, who have now started to take security really seriously. Mac users have to step up on their care for security. Most problems I find with Mac users are:

  •  Very simple (Unsecure) passwords
  •  Blind trust in any program that is available for Macs (because its safe right!)
  •  Addiction to desktop gadgets (because its safe right!)
  •  Keychain unconditional love – store all and any passwords (this combined with my first point can be a disaster)
  •  Will join any wireless network availabe (I am safe it’s a Mac)
  •  Last but not least… they are  annoying. ;)

I do not intend to have a go at Apple/Mac and its users, but the lack of security awareness I have seen , specially the new ones recently switched from Windows, is scary. If a well developed targeted malware or virus were to be released now it would be a global disaster.

So my answer to the question is: “The operating system hasn’t been target untill then no one will know how much safer it is. Mac users brace yourselves!”

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]]> http://itechlog.com/apple/2009/01/31/is-mac-safer/feed/ 2 Synergy – share mouse and keyboard cross platform http://itechlog.com/easy-tips/2009/01/28/synergy-share-mouse-and-keyboard-cross-platform/ http://itechlog.com/easy-tips/2009/01/28/synergy-share-mouse-and-keyboard-cross-platform/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:47:08 +0000 Alex Costa http://itechlog.com/easy-tips/2009/01/28/synergy-share-mouse-and-keyboard-cross-platform/ Synergy lets you easily share a single mouse and keyboard between
multiple computers with different operating systems, each with its
own display, without special hardware. It’s intended for users
with multiple computers on their desk since each system uses its
own monitor(s). 

Redirecting the mouse and keyboard is as simple as moving the mouse
off the edge of your screen. Synergy also merges the clipboards of
all the systems into one, allowing cut-and-paste between systems.
Furthermore, it synchronizes screen savers so they all start and stop
together and, if screen locking is enabled, only one screen requires
a password to unlock them all.

You can get synergy working on computers running different Operating Systems, the sharing is done via your local network and hosts are linked via the hostname or IP address. Setup is very intuitive. To install just follow these steps.

For Windows download it from http://synergy2.sourceforge.net

For Macs you can use the SynergyOSx or QuickSynergy

For Linux you can use QuickSynergy

Watch this video with an idea of what is possible with Synergy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id3GHAruhAk

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]]> http://itechlog.com/easy-tips/2009/01/28/synergy-share-mouse-and-keyboard-cross-platform/feed/ 0 Old Novell Ad (I am a Linux) http://itechlog.com/linux/2009/01/14/old-novell-ad-i-am-a-linux/ http://itechlog.com/linux/2009/01/14/old-novell-ad-i-am-a-linux/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:58:48 +0000 Alex Costa http://itechlog.com/?p=180 This is an Old Novell Ad, a nice addition to the Mac/PC ads war.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eTguZ5OzJ4

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]]> http://itechlog.com/linux/2009/01/14/old-novell-ad-i-am-a-linux/feed/ 0 The MacBook Wheel revealed by Onion News Network http://itechlog.com/apple/2009/01/10/the-macbook-wheel-revealed-by-onion-news-network/ http://itechlog.com/apple/2009/01/10/the-macbook-wheel-revealed-by-onion-news-network/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:47:31 +0000 Alex Costa http://itechlog.com/?p=175

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0Gzq-QEt0s

If this was real, Mac users would love it… just because it’s from Apple!

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