Review: MacID
About ten years ago, a number of PC laptops were starting to include fingerprint readers (the kind where you have to slide your finger across a small strip to read) to log into Windows and perform other tasks. Most of the time, these didn't work very well and I think I only saw a handful of people actually use them. I sort of dismissed fingerprint readers until Touch ID made an appearance with the iPhone 5S and it feels like a must-have capability. Curiously, Apple hasn't included this with any Macs. Originally marketed as a way to unlock a nearby Mac with an iPhone, MacID has grown to include some other capabilities. Is Kane Cheshire's app worth using or is it merely a gimmick?
Review: Edovia Screens for Mac
Virtual Network Computing, or VNC, is a very specialized product category. While it’s used for Apple’s own Screen Sharing client, often invoked through Finder windows or iCloud’s own Back to My Mac features, Apple’s client is rather basic. Sometimes you’ll need to connect and control computers that aren’t on your own local corner of the network, or you’ll want some added flexibility once you do. Enter Edovia’s Screens, a $35 Mac app that offers quite a bit more functionality…
Review: Overmacs PhotoSweeper
If you’re like me, your digital photo library may span years—even decades. Although programs like iPhoto, Aperture, and Lightroom try to help with keeping photos organized, multiple cameras types, accidental extra imports, and even simple file duplications are bound to happen. While some tools are included in these programs for sorting and finding duplicates, PhotoSweeper by Overmacs is a $10 utility that hopes to make the process even easier…
Review: Avatron Software Air Display 2
I often have my iPad sitting on my desk displaying something when I’m not using it—usually it’s some sort of entertainment media, a weather map, or stock quotes. Still, there are times when I feel like it’s just displaying something to justify its presence on my desk. Avatron Software hopes to give your iPad (or iPhone, Android device, Mac, or Windows PC) another use by becoming a second display for your computer. Air Display is a tool aimed at anyone that could temporarily use some extra screen space…
Review: Realmac Software Ember
In the days that Macs featured rainbow-colored Apple logos, there was a handy tool that lived in the Apple Menu—the Scrapbook. The idea was that you could use it as a place for images, text, sounds, and other content that you could later paste in documents. Unfortunately, with the transition to OS X, Scrapbook didn’t make the cut. Realmac Software has sort of resurrected the idea with Ember, a $50 Mac app and free iOS app combo…