A couple of months ago FileMaker released Bento as a public beta. I quickly downloaded it and gave it a go. I've got to admit I really wanted to use this product. I really wanted a decent database. Since this was from FileMaker, I figured that it would be a wonderful product. I truly wanted to believe.
After downloading it, the first thing I noticed is that the UI was pretty, but really didn't lead to anything. All the templates and demos looked a like It really didn't seem to solve any of my problems. FileMaker is too much and Bento seemed to little.
I kept coming back and messing with it and didn't really come up with any solutions that served my purposes. It seems like I'm missing something because the rest of the world seems to love this little app. I found it worthless.
What I would like to see it some examples of what others that love it have done. How did they put it to work? I use database like apps like Yep and OmniFocus so I'm not a complete stranger to the necessities of compiling data. I just don't see the benefits to Bento.
If you have used it and have an opinion, post a comment. Please share your experiences so I can revisit this app.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
SonicMood
I have to admit it. Admission is the first step to healing. I'm a MacZot and MacUpdate Promo junkie. Everyday I get my email tempting me with the next great app. I do pretty well fighting off the temptation to hit the PayPal purchase button and get my own personal copy that is until Feb. 13th.
That day MacZot was featuring one of the apps I've tried several times since it came out, but never purchased. SonicMood is like wind chimes for your computer. The app mixes a combination of chimes, musical instruments, and natural sounds to try to support the mood you are in or want to be in. In my case, the music seems to help me concentrate on the tasks at hand better and has made me more productive since I started using it. I would begin to do something, and eventually I would need to go to the net for something and my eyes would glaze over and hours would disappear like flower petals in the wind, leaving me more stressed and further behind. SonicMood seems to help me maintain my focus and allow me to get things done easier, faster, and better.
Everyone is different and I'm one of those people that needs sounds to block out the rest of my environment so I can concentrate. SonicMood does exactly that. There is not a predicative melody, so your brain can acknowledge that the sounds are there, but not concentrate on them. The app varies the delivery of the sounds associated with the theme and mood being played so it does not become stale and predictive. It is not like some I've heard that seem to have a specific starting and stopping point so the sounds just become a loop. You can leave the app playing all day at the volume level you wish, and it will always be new and stimulating. I wonder what I would have accomplished it I had jumped in earlier.
One of the things I like about the app is the author. He responds quickly to your emails, and his work seems to more of a labor of love as opposed to just a money making venture. One of the sounds I have liked in other apps like his was city sounds, so I made the suggestions and within a few hours I now have some urban and suburban sound samples to try. I'm so glad I finally jumped in and purchased his app.
I recommend this app highly and strongly suggest that you take a look. You can try SonicMood for thirty real days. That should give your plenty of time to get hooked and decide to buy your own copy. I'm glad I did and wish I hadn't waited so long.
That day MacZot was featuring one of the apps I've tried several times since it came out, but never purchased. SonicMood is like wind chimes for your computer. The app mixes a combination of chimes, musical instruments, and natural sounds to try to support the mood you are in or want to be in. In my case, the music seems to help me concentrate on the tasks at hand better and has made me more productive since I started using it. I would begin to do something, and eventually I would need to go to the net for something and my eyes would glaze over and hours would disappear like flower petals in the wind, leaving me more stressed and further behind. SonicMood seems to help me maintain my focus and allow me to get things done easier, faster, and better.
Everyone is different and I'm one of those people that needs sounds to block out the rest of my environment so I can concentrate. SonicMood does exactly that. There is not a predicative melody, so your brain can acknowledge that the sounds are there, but not concentrate on them. The app varies the delivery of the sounds associated with the theme and mood being played so it does not become stale and predictive. It is not like some I've heard that seem to have a specific starting and stopping point so the sounds just become a loop. You can leave the app playing all day at the volume level you wish, and it will always be new and stimulating. I wonder what I would have accomplished it I had jumped in earlier.
One of the things I like about the app is the author. He responds quickly to your emails, and his work seems to more of a labor of love as opposed to just a money making venture. One of the sounds I have liked in other apps like his was city sounds, so I made the suggestions and within a few hours I now have some urban and suburban sound samples to try. I'm so glad I finally jumped in and purchased his app.
I recommend this app highly and strongly suggest that you take a look. You can try SonicMood for thirty real days. That should give your plenty of time to get hooked and decide to buy your own copy. I'm glad I did and wish I hadn't waited so long.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
What's Next for the Democrats
The long knives are out. Hillary, the heir apparent isn't so apparent any more and that's fine by me. As I see it we are down to two candidates for president, Hillary McCain and Barack Obama. We can either choose "experience" or "change". Both Hillary and John McCain are cut from about the same cloth, even the conservatives are starting to realize that. The problem I have is that their time has passed. Their biggest debate will be how much of the Bush administration they will keep. The more they can keep the blame focused on Bush, the more they keep.
The country is broken and I think we need change. The President doesn't do it all. It's not a one person show. Barack Obama will surround himself with smart people. You say that Bush did that too? He may have, but Bush's mindset is far different from Barack Obama's. Both leaders have an agenda, but I want one for progress not one that supports military trials for fifteen year olds.
Bush's decisions are breathtaking. We were warned. In the presidential debates in 2000, Bush warned us that he thought that "freedom has it's limits". I think most people thought that the limits were larger than what the president thought.
We have a clear decision, it's either change and Barack Obama or more of the same and Hillary McCain.
The country is broken and I think we need change. The President doesn't do it all. It's not a one person show. Barack Obama will surround himself with smart people. You say that Bush did that too? He may have, but Bush's mindset is far different from Barack Obama's. Both leaders have an agenda, but I want one for progress not one that supports military trials for fifteen year olds.
Bush's decisions are breathtaking. We were warned. In the presidential debates in 2000, Bush warned us that he thought that "freedom has it's limits". I think most people thought that the limits were larger than what the president thought.
We have a clear decision, it's either change and Barack Obama or more of the same and Hillary McCain.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Mac Leopard Finally Ready To Roar
I was first in line in Kansas City on the day Leopard was released. I wait for a couple of hours to be first to get the new OS. At first I was amazed at all the new tricks the big cat could do, but then I found out he wasn't litter box trained.
One of the first things to go was the memory. Apps such as Plaxo sync started sucking up memory until my computer just froze. After that came the crashes. The new nimble feline as not so nimble. Leopard was nice, but I missed the rock solid feel of Tiger. I contemplated going back but didn't. Leopard forced me to do a complete erase and install and after a day or two of moving in I wasn't about to turn back.
The bright news is the big cat finally has game. 10.5.2 restored that rock solid feel to my computer. Gone are the memory issues and the crashes. Tiger was a great OS, but Leopard is finally better. For those holding out, now is the time to make the jump. Leopard is insanely great.
I may have been a beta tester since October, but it was well worth it. Leopard is ready to growl.
One of the first things to go was the memory. Apps such as Plaxo sync started sucking up memory until my computer just froze. After that came the crashes. The new nimble feline as not so nimble. Leopard was nice, but I missed the rock solid feel of Tiger. I contemplated going back but didn't. Leopard forced me to do a complete erase and install and after a day or two of moving in I wasn't about to turn back.
The bright news is the big cat finally has game. 10.5.2 restored that rock solid feel to my computer. Gone are the memory issues and the crashes. Tiger was a great OS, but Leopard is finally better. For those holding out, now is the time to make the jump. Leopard is insanely great.
I may have been a beta tester since October, but it was well worth it. Leopard is ready to growl.
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