Capture Me
Cost: Free
Download: http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/captureme/downloads/

Screen Mimic
Cost: $65
Download: http://www.decimus.net/files/Screen%20Mimic.zip
Demo version has a 30sec recording limit and also places a watermark over the final movie, right in the middle of the video.
The target frame rate for recording is configurable and there are multiple export options as well.

Screenflick
Cost: $25
Download: http://www.araelium.com/screenflick/downloads/Screenflick.dmg
Demo version will put a watermark on the video.
It can report upto 60 frames per second and has options to control the the audio input (system audio or mic input or both; a kernel extension is required to be installed)

iShowU HD
Cost: $29.95 USD
Download: http://store.shinywhitebox.com/ishowuhd/ishowuhd/download.php
Demo version puts a watermark in the middle of the video.
Options are available to select the screen size and audio input. Recording quality looks poor.

ScreenFlow
Cost: $99
Download: http://dynamic.telestream.net/downloads/download-screenflow.asp?prodid=screenflow
Demo version puts a watermark in the middle of the screen.

(This is the one I used for my demo)

More softwares are listed on Pure-mac.

Recently, while migrating to Mac OS X, I realized that I was unable to write to my disk from Mac at all. It all worked fine on Windows XP.

After some bit of digging around, I found out the file system incompatibilities across these OSes. Following is the information of interest:

By default, the new external hard-drives are pre-formatted in NFTS filesystem format. This works like a charm on Windows but becomes non-writable in Mac as NTFS is not supported on it . FAT32, however, is compatible across these OSes.

I could not find out any way to convert the NTFS drive to FAT32 without loosing data (I remember that Partition Magic used to do that but could not get that software anywhere).

After a little more digging, I found out about NTFS-3G, an open source cross-platform implementation of the NTFS file system with read-write support. NTFS-3G uses the FUSE, so it can run unmodified on many different OSes.

The latest version is available for download here. After installing this, I can now read & write to my external hard-drive from Mac OS X.

I have been using a Lenovo T60p Laptop with Windows XP for almost 3 years. Before which I used a another IBM Thinkpad for 3 years, with a dual boot option for Windows XP and Fedora 4. Even before that I used to work on various flavors of Microsoft and Linux OSes.

This is my first time, full-time, with a Macintosh and its been good so far. My new Apple MacBook Pro 15″ is running on my company’s image of Mac OS X 10.5.8. It has 4 GB of DDR3 memory and a 2.53 GHz of Intel Dual Core processor.

Installing apps on a Mac is really simple. Just download/copy the .dmg file of the application that you want to install, double click on it and following the application specific on-screen wizard. The new app gets installed in a newly mounted partition under the list of devices.

The application is now installed on the system and is ready to use. If you want the application to be there on your disc along with the rest of them, just copy the installed file (folders in some cases) to the Applications directory.

I have already installed a bunch of softwares that I use like Firefox for the web, Microsoft Office (including Entourage for emails) [:-O $299 O-:], Adium for chat, SQL Developer for accessing Oracle DB, MAMP, DivX Player & VLC player for playing media, Grisbi for my personal finance, a couple of games etc. I am yet to install a soft phone app, video capture utility, a development IDE and a bunch of other stuff.

So far, I have not stumbled upon any application that I used on MS Windows and wouldn’t work (or does not have a substitute) on Mac OS X. The experience has undoubtedly better, both in terms of the hard-ware and the soft-ware. It’ll, however, take some time to get used to the much smoother and responsive multi-touch trackpad. And also to Entourage for my emails (I havn’t been able to find a view that lists all my follow-up/flagged emails across folders in a single view).

So far so good.

The Disconnect

They could have asked me for a lift and I would have happily pulled over to pick them up. But very few people actually ask for a lift because they are afraid of being turned down. Nobody likes being dejected. This even hurts the ego.

On the other hand, I could have taken the first step by pulling over and asking if anyone wanted a drop somewhere on the way. I did not do that as I was not sure if people were waiting for public transport or their office provided one; ‘coz in the later case they would have just turned me down. Also, very rarely do we see someone stopping by himself to offer lift; and if someone does, are we not skeptical about it?

The Problem

This disconnect is the problem. Its a kind of communication gap as I did not know who is interested in taking a lift and they did not know that I was willing to help.

The Solution

I realized that the onus has be on me to bridge this gap to offer a lift. If I had a sticker on my windscreen that had “ASK ME FOR A LIFT” printed on it in a brightly colored, readable-from-20meters font, they would know my intent.

But this still requires them to know what this A.M.F.A.L is all about and what it really means to them.

Ask-me-for-a-lift.com!!

Is there a way to use the power of the virtual world to bridge this gap and use the power of networking to spread the word?
What if there is a portal that explains the cause, lets people register to offer lift, download and print stickers for their cars, provide commuters the timings and routes of volunteers they could use and send them a thank you message later?

I think this would really help spread the word and add more volunteers. The portal could also display a count of total lifts offered & kilometers of shared travel till date.

Problem with car pooling

The idea is a slight modification of car-pooling which is very restrictive in nature. It requires the poolers to leave from the same place (or the same route), have the same destination and have the same timings… daily! What if the guy who gets his car goes on a leave or gets a little late?
A.M.F.A.L should not have any such restrictions and obligations.

The challenges

1. Design the stickers in a way that they are prominent and readable from a distance.
2. Stickers should have a design recall.
3. Should it be stickers at all? What if someone does not want to or is unable to offer lift one day?
4. Should it be danglers? Where to hang them on the car and still make them prominently visible?
5. Spread the word about the portal.
6. Build and maintain the portal

The bigger challenges

There are bigger concerns in terms of security.

1. What if the sticker is being used by someone with not-so-good intentions?
2. What if the people asking for a lift have some nasty thoughts?
3. Can these unwanted incidents be avoided altogether?
4. Can this public interest portal be safeguarded from such incidents, if any?

Suggenstions? Comments? Thoughs? Feedback? Critique? Willing to help?… Please drop a note below.

So here I am back again, this time on BlueHost.com.

Unfortunately, I could not take the backup of my blog from HostMonster.com, in the format that could have been used to import on this new provider. So I’ll have to start afresh.

Hope you enjoy reading my posts like before.

Congratulations! Your nominated add-on, Sensex Ticker, has been reviewed by a Mozilla Add-ons

editor who approved your add-on to be public.

Your most recent version (0.21) has also been made public.

You can view your public add-on now at: http://addons.mozilla.org/addon/6487

Review Information:
Reviewer: Prasad Sunkari
Comments: Your addon looks good.  Thanks and keep up the good work!<br />
<br />
Also, please note that the windows thumbnail cache (Thumbs.db) got included in the xpi, and it should be avoided in the future.<br />

Well, well well!!!

It had been incubating in the “Editors Review” stage for the past 4 months, and finally its out of its “experimental” status. What this means is that users will now be able to search, download, install and review the addon without having to logon to the AMO site.

There are a couple of features in the pipeline which are waiting to be released. Existing users of the extension will not have to reinstall the newer version of the addon, it’ll automatically be updated from AMO.

Keep your feedback & reviews pouring in.

The first distinct feature in Chrome is that the tabs are above the address bar (unlike all other tabbed browsers where the addressbar is above the tabs), asserting the fact that each tab is a different process(a new instance of the browser) all together.

Now, there are quite a few features in Chrome that’ll come in handy for HTML, CSS and Javascript debugging. (This does not mean that none of them are available for other browsers.)

1. The Chrome DOM Inspector

The HTML DOM (Document Object Model) can be viewed in a neatly formatted tree structure. (Right-Click anywhere on the webpage and click on the “Inspect Element” option in the context menu. )

This is not a new thing. Mozilla has a DOM Inspector which is shipped as an optional component of the Firefox installation. But there are quite a few features of the Google Chrome Inspector that are not available in the Mozilla version. 

The CSS style description on the right 

The Chrome Inspector looks like it took a lot of inspiration from Firebug (a firefox addon, now also available for IE and other browsers). Though Chrome is still not there in terms of features of Firebug, but its a good starting point for a promising future of better tools for web page debugging.

2. Javascript Runtime Console

Another, vastly used feature available in Firebug. The javascript runtime console provides a command line interface to execute javascript commands in the memory space of the current web page. This helps in case you want to inject javscript commands of get debug output for javascript variables and classes.

This feature is more powerful in conjunction with the visual “Add Breakpoint” to a script feature in Firebug, which is missing in Chrome. (There is a Javascript Debugger available which is also a command line tool unlike the visual and intutive method of adding a breakpoint in Firebug)

To invoke the console, right-click on the webpage > Inspect Element; then click on the Show Console button, second from bottom left of the inspector window. Or click “Esc” while the focus in on the inspector window.

Or click on “Control the current page” icon on the right of the address bar. Inside the menu go to Developer > Javascript Console

3. Javascript Debugger

To invoke, go to “Control the current page” > Develoer > “Debug Javascript”.

The available commands while the page is running:

• break [location] <condition>
• break_info [breakpoint #]
• clear <breakpoint #>
• help [command]
• print <expression>
• scripts

Commands available while the page is paused:

• args
• break [location] <condition>
• break_info [breakpoint #]
• backtrace [from frame #] [to frame #]
• clear <breakpoint #>
• continue
• frame <frame #>
• help [command]
• locals
• next
• print <expression>
• scripts
• source [from line] | [<from line> <num lines>]
• step
• stepout

Some developers should find it easy to debug using the commadline debugger, while others might not. I searched for some documentation on how to use it in Chrome, but could not find any relevant resource.

4. Memory Usage

This feature in Chrome allows you to view the (not-so) detailed memory statistics of each webpage. Though it does not report the complete profiling info, this stat can be used to check for memory leaks in a JS script.

To invoke the Memory Usage Stats in Chrome, Right Click on the top blue window panel and click on Task manager. Click of stats for nerds inside the task manager window. (Or simply type “about:memory” in the addressbar)

You can keep hitting F5 (refresh) on this tab to check if there is an increase in the memory usage for any webpage.

Read this web developer FAQ for a complete list of features in Chrome.

My responses inline in RED.

Hello Kapil, Kapil: Hello Mr. iPhone Vendor, I have been waiting for this email for quite some time. I was expecting Vodafone to launch the iPhone on 15th Aug.

Thank you for registering for your Apple iPhone 3GTM with us. Kapil: Well, the pleasure is all mine.

We are delighted to announce that the iPhone 3G will be available in India from August 22, 2008 It will be available in 8GB & 16GB models, priced at Rs 31,000 and Rs 36,100 respectively. Kapil: WHAT!!!! Are you serious? I read this somewhere some time ago, but I refused to believe this for obvious reasons. This is more than thrice what it costs in US and other countries. Are you trying to promote piracy? This is bull shit. This is it. I don’t want it. I’d rater buy another laptop at this price along with a decent cellphone. Or maybe go for the HTC touch Diamond.

Be the first to get the iPhone

We have received a large number of registrations. As there are limited stocks, make sure that you get yours first, by paying an advance of Rs 10,000 to confirm your booking. Kapil: HA HA! You wish. Do publish the number of registrations vs the number of buyers of the phone at this revolutionary price!

Where can you make this advance payment?

The iPhone 3G will be available at select Vodafone Stores. All you need to do is drop in at any select Vodafone Store between August 20 and 21 and make the advance payment by cash or credit card. Don´t forget to show the iPhone booking SMS, which you would have received from us, when you visit the Vodafone Store to pay the advance. To find a Vodafone Store near you, click here

Get an appointment now. No queues for you.

Once you pay the advance, we will immediately give you an appointment date and time, starting August 22 when you can come and experience a full demonstration and collect your iPhone, all ready to use with your contacts and settings, by paying the balance amount. Kapil: Queues, is it? None for me??? Wow that’s great! I am so lucky.. no queues for me.

Hurry! Limited stocks.

Remember, the sooner you confirm your booking, the earlier you´ll get your iPhone. We have limited stocks and it will be on first come, first serve basis. Kapil: Limited Stocks?? Don’t worry, you wont run out of the stock

Buy a Vodafone connection now!

As you are not a Vodafone customer, you will need a Vodafone connection for your iPhone 3G. We recommend that when you come to confirm your booking, please do get yourself a Vodafone connection too. Remember to carry a passport sized picture, photo ID proof and address proof as these are required for activating your Vodafone SIM card. Kapil: Thanks very much. Though I am an Airtel customer, I wont buy it from as well at this price.

Happy to help

If you have any queries, log on to www.vodafone.in/iphone or call us on 9886098860 and we´ll be happy to help.

Hurry and be one of the first to make the iPhone 3G your own. Kapil: Pilot, start the engines of my private helicopter NOW. We gotta hurry. I’ll take a bath and go to the loo later.

Regards

C P Joshi

AVP – Customer Service Kapil: No hard feelings against you, Mr. AVP. Kapil Chhabra Any takers for the iPhone at this price?

Interestingly this is being managed on YouTube servers and not on AdSense and hence some analytical features like channles have a limited availability. A new custom channel “Video Units” is automatically created and earnings are reported under the AdSense for Content section.

Following is a sample Video Unit. (Disclaimer: I do not urge you to click on the ads inside this unit. This is solely for demonstration purpose)

Available formats for the Video Units are show in the following image. The above Video Unit is a 500×510 layout.

Read this article on TechCrunch (or here) to learn about AdSense for Feeds which has been launched after more than two months of testing.

Seems like the toggle view button on the top right (which gets wrapped on some resolutions) is not handled correctly and obviously is not tested properly(if at all).

The designer of the page is fond of the word “New”. There is a “New” prefixed to almost everything on the page including the “Just Added..” text as well.

There is a lot of clutter of links along with a lot of space wasted below it.

The spacing on the bottom links is weird. A small reordering of these can make it look neat.

Time to have a re-look at the CSS and HTML files? Or time to hire a few QA engineers?