Swinsian¹ is a native music jukebox app for the Mac. It displays songs in customizable columns with a browser just like iTunes did before it became a music store, video player, iOS app organizer, social network, and streaming service.

With Swinsian you can make smart playlists. You can edit tags on multiple tracks at once. You can shuffle songs. There is a 31 band Graphic Equalizer, and real-time search. Swinsian even syncs your music with classic iPods, and streams my music over AirPlay. In short Swinsian is everything you expect from “Classic iTunes” running on a modern Mac.

In addition to being a great iTunes replacement, Swinsian has some powerful features for managing a large music library.

FLAC

Unlike Apple Music/iTunes Swinsian plays FLAC. “Digital audio compressed by FLAC’s algorithm can typically be reduced to between 50 and 70 percent of its original size and decompresses to an identical copy of the original audio data.” FLAC is free software, with royalty-free licensing that is best used for making archival copies of your CD music collection. Swinsian supports FLAC metadata tagging, album art, and fast seeking. It even plays back FLAC albums ripped as a single file with an accompanying cue file.

Watched Folders

Swinsian’s Watched folders allow you to manage music stored outside of your Swinsian library. A Watched folder can be any directory on your computer, removable storage, or local network share. With Watched folders, you get to choose which songs get automatically copied to your Swinsian Library, and which songs play from their watched location.

With Watched folders:

• Store your music collection on a local server and access the songs as if they were saved in your local Swinsian library.
• Keep half your music on your computer and the other half on external USB storage and access it from the same Swinsian library.
• Watch a Dropbox folder you share with your family, and Swinsian will copy/move new tracks into your library automatically as songs are added or modified.
• Import new songs and playlists from Apple Music each time Swinsian is opened.

If your music collection is too large to fit on a single volume but you want to manage it all from one library, there is no better remedy than Swinsian’s Watched Folders.

Metadata

One of the reasons I own all of my music and store it locally, is that I am very particular about the metadata I associate with it. I don’t want Apple Music changing my music’s metadata automatically without my consent.

Swinsian makes managing your music’s metadata easy with helpful tools like an always visible Tack Inspector, and multitrack Find and Replace with Regex support. Tags can be edited on music stored locally or in a remote Watched Folder. For albums ripped with cue sheets, Swinsian will attempt to update the cue file. Album art can be embedded or stored as an accompanying folder/cover image file.

Swinsian makes finding duplicates easy by giving you control on how closely to match a track’s title, artist, album, duration, and file size. Finally your library statistics including your favorite artists, tracks, genres, and albums sorted my play count are all available from a glance using Swinsian.

Perfect?

Swinsian isn’t perfect, and development has slowed in recent years. The latest Mac OS features like Dark Mode are not yet implemented. As of today Swinsian is an Intel app and requires Rosetta 2 to run on Apple Silicon Macs.

Despite its setbacks I still consider Swinsian a Mac-Assed Mac app due to a thoughtful feature set and adherence to Apple human interface guidelines. If like me you value your music collection and want a way to access it beyond the limited confines of your MacBook SSD, then Swinsian is for you. Please consider purchasing a copy today, if not for yourself, then as a way to support Swinsian’s continued development and ensure I never have to launch Apple Music ever again.

Video games were a big part of my adolescence. And although my memories of playing these games as a child will never die, far too often the chance to replay these games is tied to obsolete hardware that is both hard to come by and difficult to preserve.

Not true for source ports!

Source ports are projects derived from a original game’s source code, designed to extend the game’s capabilities while providing compatibility with modern hardware like Apple Silicon.

For example, id Software released Quake III: Arena in 1999. In 2005, after the game and engine’s commercial life was over, they released the source code freely under an open source license. Shortly thereafter the ioquake3 project was born and has been maintained ever since.

In this case, Quake III: Arena is the game, and ioquake3 is the source port. Although the original executables for Quake III: Arena have long since stopped working on modern Macs, source ports like ioquake3 have seen constant maintenance so they allow you to continue to play on modern Macs.

Mac Source Ports is a new website by Tom Kidd, designed to make playing popular source ports on modern Macs easier. He does this by curating a growing list of popular source ports, optimizing them for Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and signing/notarizing the code when necessary to provide a near seamless Macintosh gaming experience.

In some cases source port projects make their own builds and we link to those here as well, but oftentimes the projects don’t have the resources to do it themselves. Code signing is relatively new and sort of tedious, notarization requires a paid account which not everyone is interested in obtaining, and not everyone even has a Mac in the first place. Windows machines are everywhere and Linux can be installed on anything but you have to buy a Mac to have macOS. And every so often Apple changes things, like the recent shift to Apple Silicon, so even people who do have a Mac have to buy new stuff.

Right now the number of source ports is small, just a single page of first person shooters based on game engines developed by id Software and 3D Realms. But Tom hopes to expand the Mac Source Ports collection soon.

I’m getting to it, provided it has source code and an actively maintained source port. If the source port is already doing the work of making the signed and notarized builds, I’ll link to them here, otherwise I’ll see if I can figure out how to do it myself. If a game doesn’t have an actively maintained source port it might require more work. If it doesn’t have source code available I can’t do anything with it (so, for example Quake 4 never released source code so I can’t do anything with it).

Tom takes the hard work out of source ports by maintaining, compiling, signing, and notarizing the available source code. But in order to play the game, source ports need data files like character models, maps, sounds, and background music. Because these data files are copyrighted they cannot be distributed as part of the game’s original source code. Players must acquire these data files elsewhere; either from a physical copy of the game or by purchasing the game from an online retailer like GOG or Steam.

It is because of copyright laws that source ports cannot be distributed in the Mac App Store.

For example, I can’t put the full game of Quake on the Mac App Store because I don’t have the rights to do so. I could conceivably try to put a port of vkQuake on there without data files but anything you put on the App Store has to go through a vetting process and it’s not clear whether the staff has the ability to go through the process of acquiring the game data and running through the process themselves. And it’s unlikely I could call it vkQuake, so I’d have to name it something else and use a different icon which would confuse people.

Thankfully Mac Source Ports makes installing the data files easy, with installation instructions for every game in the collection. Tom is even working on way to extract the data files from a Windows installer without the use of a PC.

Quake, Doom, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein are some of my favorite video games of all time. I have been playing popular source ports like ioquake3, dhewm3, and iortcw since there inception. But compiling all of my favorite source ports for Apple Silicon is beyond my abilities. I am glad to see that Tom Kidd, who has a long history of porting id Software’s back catalog to iOS, turn his expertise towards Macintosh gaming. Here’s hoping the future of Mac Source Ports looks bright in 2022 and includes many more popular source ports like OpenRA, DevilutionX, and Super Mario 64 PC Port just to name a few. Everyone with a Apple Silicon Mac, who likes playing video games should buy Tom Kidd a coffee!

I made the switch from an iPhone 7 to Android last month. Not for a particular handset, but features like a headphone jack, expandable storage, USB Type-C, and a 128 GBs of storage Apple does not make available on a iPhone; let alone a phone that costs under $229.

I am not an iOS power user. I don’t use Apple services like iCloud, Photos, Apple Music, or Shortcuts. Many of the third-party services I do use, like Slack, Outlook, Nike+, Instapaper, Foobar2000, and Brave offer native Android apps that are just as good if not better than their iOS equivalents. While Twitter, Reddit, RSS feeds, podcasts, and weather are available on Android, I will always miss the polish of my favorite third-party iOS apps; Twitterrific, Apollo, Unread, Castro, and Dark Sky.

There is however one Apple service I thought I would have to leave behind after making the switch to Android. Like many of you, I have been using iMessage — Apple’s blue bubble messaging service — since it debuted in October, 2011. I feared my move to Android meant missing messages from friends and family during the pandemic. Luckily I found an alternative to Apple’s proprietary messaging app that works on Android.

AirMessage brings the blue bubble messages of Apple’s proprietary iMessage communication protocol to my Android phone. It does this with an easy to install Android app, and a service running on my always-on, Internet connected Mac mini. I have been using AirMessage alongside my iPhone 7 for over a month now, and I have not missed a single iMessage. The best part is friends and family who have become accustom to my blue bubble messages over the last eight years don’t know I am using an Android phone.

One downside of AirMessage is that the service requires an always-on Internet connected Mac. AirMessage can not send or receive new iMessages if my Mac mini is shut down or put to sleep. AirMessage requires access to the Internet and a port forwarded through my router’s firewall. Even though my Mac mini stores my entire iMessage archive, AirMessage’s conversation history is limited to correspondence sent through my Android phone..

Since all of your messages are first routed through your Mac computer, it may simply be best to think of AirMessage as of extension of this computer.

And because AirMessage is an extension of Messages for Mac, it does not include include all of the modern features of Messages for iOS; including somescreen  effects, stickers, Memoji and iMessage apps.

AirMessage is not a service I would recommend to long time Android user’s, but a crutch to allow long time iPhone users like myself  the chance to try out Android without missing out on the iMessages from the people who matter most.

I first heard about OutRun from Bradley Chambers, writing for 9to5Mac.

OutRun is exactly what you’d want from a simple iPhone run tracker. It fits in nicely with a great iOS 13 design, is 100% private, and syncs with Apple Health. The syncing with Apple Health is optional as well. Settings wise, you can change your energy unit, weight unit, GPS accuracy settings, create data backups, and enable syncing. There is no friends list, ads to dismiss, or subscriptions to sign up for bonus features. It has one simple goal, and that is to track your runs.

I have run with a dedicated GPS watch in the past, but these days I only take my iPhone with me on most workouts. Apple offers a great running app for Apple Watch, but when it comes to iPhone-only runners like myself we are forced to download third-party apps that come with their own accounts, privacy policies, advertisements, and social networks. I don’t want any of that stuff when I run, and I don’t want to pay $199 for an Apple Watch and the privilege of keeping my workout data safe. All I want to do is run, and have my iPhone announce my progress while I am out on the road and track my miles after the race.

I have been using OutRun for five days and it does a good job of tracking my miles average speed, location, and time. I trust OutRun and Apple Health to keep my workout data safe, but in order for me to adopt OutRun as my full time running app, I need it to do more for me while I am running.

• Spoken notifications for elapsed time, distance, and current pace every kilometer. The Nike Run Club app does this, and as a legally blind runner I rely on these regular audible notifications to keep my eyes on the road.
• Split tracking so that after the race is finished I can see how I performed every kilometer along the way.
• Auto pause for when I stop running, because obstacles and intersections shouldn’t get in my way of my goal pace during workouts.

OutRun is still a 1.0, so there is plenty or time for improvement. I can’t wait to contribute to this app again when the developer has added more of my desired features. Maybe we will see a version 2.0 in time for fall marathon season?

I read this post on Daring Fireball last year and I wanted to comment on it: Charlie:

I simply hate people relying on brittle client-side javascript when there are other alternatives. In the same way as I wouldn’t rely on some unknown minicab firm as the sole way of getting me to the airport for a wedding flight, I don’t like relying on a non-guaranteed technology as the sole way of delivering a web app. For me it’s a matter of elegance and simplicity over unnecessary complexity.

Charlie proceeds to spend the rest of her rainy day reloading her favorite websites with JavaScript disabled and documenting their reduced functionality. For me this sort of activity does not occur once in a rainy day. For years I have filtered the JavaScript my browser receives by way of NoScript a JavaScriptJavaFlash blocker for Firefox and SeaMonkey. NoScript works by whitelisting domains I visit where JavaScript should be enabled. I can temporarily whitelist a domain to get things working on a website I visit temporarily, or permanently block domains like doubleclick.net I never want to receive JavaScript from. Today most websites not only fail to function without their own JavaScript enabled, but they fail to function without linked JavaScript libraries from third-party domains enabled. If your website needs resources from someone else’s domain to work, you are doing the web wrong. With NoScript I often find myself temporarily whitelisting third-party domains at random to get the web to work. In summary my browsing experience goes something like this: – Visit website

• Load JavaScript from the domain of the website I am visiting
• Make temporary exceptions for third-party domains where essential JavaScript is hosted
• Block everything else
• NoScript saves my selections for me the next time I visit the site

NoScript has made my web browsing faster, safer, and more energy efficient, but at the cost of maintaining a large list of whitelisted domains I wish to receive JavaScript from. John Gruber: The web would be better off if browsers had never added support for scripting. Every site on the web would load in under a second.

That is my philosophy and why I use NoScript.

Workouts++ is a new app for your Apple Watch from David Smith. It allows you to customize your workouts and view them in new ways on your iPhone.nI am a long distance runner so I won’t be writing about how Workouts++ works with a bicycle, on a rowboat, or in a Yoga class. Instead I can tell you how Workouts++ has helped me target my training for this year’s Boston Marathon.

Workouts++ is three apps in one.nThe first is a factory for building workouts on iPhone.nThe second is a monitor for tracking workouts on Apple Watch. And the third is a database for comparing workouts on the iPhone.

Workouts++ starts on the iPhone.nPick an activity — indoors or out — and Workouts++ lets you select what information you see on your Apple Watch while you workout.nUp to six different metrics can be shown on Apple Watch at a given time, with options for size, style, and color. You can’t switch metrics mid-workout, but you can name and save as many customized workout as you like. I named my first watch face ‘Marathon,’ and chose metrics I want to see while running on Patriots Day. Speed is displayed above distance and duration, because I am targeting a three hour marathon and need a constant speed of 8.8 MPH to meet my goal.nWorkouts++ lets me display my speed in red if I slow down or go too fast. This alert can be further enhanced with haptic feedback.

After my run is complete, Workouts++ logs my workout in its database. Workouts can be filtered by activity and duration, and sorted by date, duration, distance, or active calories. This makes comparing runs of the same distance easy, even for workouts performed outside the Workouts++ app. David promises swimming workouts and location mapping in a future release, but I would appreciate improved performance from Workouts++.

Unlike the built-in workouts app, Workouts++ takes a few seconds to calculate my speed each time I raise my wrist while running. This two second delay often leads to false alerts and unnecessary haptic feedback during the race.

I want Workouts++ to succeed because it makes important metrics easier to target, but as an app it is useless if I can’t trust the information on the display. My guess is that David is doing the best he can with the design constraints of Apple Watch. The metrics Workouts++ presents at the end of each workout are accurate, but Apple is restricting what kind of calculations can be performed while Workouts++ is running in the background.nI hope Apple works with David to give Workouts++ better real-time performance in time for my race, but in the meantime I will still be using Workouts++ for training.

The open app ecosystem is what makes the promise of Apple Watch so great, and fitness apps like Workouts++ are playing to the platform’s sweetspot.

If you can wear Apple Earpods, you can wear Amazon Premium Headphones. If you think Apple Earpods sound good, Amazon Premium Headphones sound the same. If you take calls or pause the music on your Apple EarPods, Amazon Premium Headphones won’t let you down. And if you replace your Apple Earpods every few months due to loss or damage, don’t expect Amazon Premium Headphones to hold up any better. They are made out of the same materials, but Amazon Premium Headphones are half the price. Amazon Premium Headphones are not a superior product; they are a more convenient product. And that’s the only reason why you will find Amazon Premium Headphones in my ears.

The Good

Amazon Premium Headphones are tangle free. Their flat spaghetti cord resists being tied in knots. On the end of each earbud is a magnet, and when the earbuds are not in use they attract. The back of the left earbud connects with the back of the right earbud. This bond prevents the two earbuds from being tangled together. Sure, you could tie Amazon Premium Headphones in a bow if you really wanted to, but why would you do that? Amazon Premium Headphones come with a familiar remote control for taking taking calls and playing music. The remote control is in the fork of the headphones instead of on the cord leading to the right earbud. You can still find the right and left earbuds by feel, and use the built-in microphone even if you only have the left earbud in your ear. Call quality is the same as Apple Earpods; even if the microphone is further from your mouth. Just don’t try adjusting your iPhone’s volume with Amazon’s built-in remote control. The volume buttons don’t work with Apple products. Amazon Premium Headphones are black. They match the clothes I wear. They might match your clothes too. After wearing white earbuds for over a decade, it is nice to no longer be starring in my own Apple commercial. Amazon Premium Headphones are available on Prime; with same-day shipping in some areas. I lose or break my headphones a few times each year. Having a replacement pair in my hands the next day is the primary reason I buy Amazon Premium Headphones.

The Bad

The remote on Amazon Premium Headphones work with plenty of Android phones and tablets. But as I said before the volume buttons don’t work on Apple devices. I don’t know what Apple does differently, but not being able to quiet your calls on the cord may be a deal breaker for fans of iOS. After owning three pairs of Amazon Premium Headphones I have found the remote fails more often than Apple EarPods. The plastic splits along the middle, exposing the circuitry inside; a weakness in Amazon’s design. A little electrical tape puts everything back together, but I expect more from headphones with “Premium” in the name.

The Ugly

You will lose your Amazon Premium Headphone; we all do. And if you don’t lose them they will break before their first birthday. Amazon Premium headphones are made to be replaced. But they sound good while they last, work as expected, and replacing them is easier than waiting in an Apple Store line. That is why I buy Amazon Premium Headphones.

I skipped the first Apple Watch. I missed the benefits of customizable watch faces, the importance of complications, and the appeal of swappable bands. I read how Apple Watch was slow, the screen was dim, but battery life was OK. I learned you could get Apple Watch wet even if you shouldn’t take it for a swim. And I listened to nerds worry about meeting fitness goals for the first time. The first Apple Watch never made it onto my wrist because it couldn’t replace the watches I was already wearing.

• My mechanical watch that lasts all day
• My diving watch that goes for a swim
• My GPS watch that tracks marathons

In order to wear Apple Watch it needed to last into the night, survive a mile swim, and record a three hour marathon. Apple Watch Series 2 promises to do all three.

Day Zero: Setup

My first day with Apple Watch was September 19th, 2016. I bought the last Series 2 for sale in my State; Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Woven Nylon Strap. Even if I had a choice, space gray with a nylon strap looks good on me. I got the 38 mm case. It may not get the same battery life as the 42 mm case, but it fits my wrist better. I am left handed. I wear Apple Watch on my right wrist, with the Digital Crown on the right side. After bringing Apple Watch home, I paired it to my phone and left it to charge overnight. Configuring Apple Watch through the built-in app on the iPhone is elegant, but I wish I could configure it though the Web instead. Apple please free the watch from the phone the same way you freed the phone from the Mac. At least I didn’t have to launch iTunes.

Day One: Run

On the second day I took my Apple Watch for a seven mile run. I left my iPhone at home. GPS tracking began the minute I started my Outdoor Workout. No need to wait for my watch to find a satellite. Apple Watch relies on the iPhone for location services. It knows where my iPhone is, and my iPhone knows where I am with the help of GPS, WiFi, and cellular triangulation. If I leave my iPhone at home, Apple Watch uses built-in GPS to pick up my location from where my iPhone left off. If I take my iPhone with me, Apple Watch uses my iPhone’s built-in GPS to conserve battery life. I don’t want to wait for my watch, but I don’t want to run with my iPhone; with Apple Watch Series 2 I don’t have to. Apple Watch waits for me. My workout pauses when I do. If I am running and I stop for a traffic, Apple Watch pauses my workout until I begin again. No more feeling around for the pause button at every intersection. Auto Pause may not be as precise as pushing a button, but it makes recording my workout easier. At the end of a workout Apple Watch shows me my total distance, total time, activetotal calories, and average pace. Depending on the workout Apple Watch also records my average heart rate, mapped route, and the weather. Viewing this information on the watch is useful, but the real value comes from dissecting my splits and mapped route on the iPhone’s Activity app. I wish Apple made this information available on the web, with a better filter for comparing similar workouts. I run with my Apple Watch almost every day.

Day Six: Swim

On the sixth day I took my Apple Watch for a mile swim. Apple Watch Series 2 is water resistant down to fifty meters. Back and forth across the pond; Apple Watch recorded every stroke. Every time Apple Watch leaves the surface of the water the built-in GPS finds my location and updates my position. Strokes that keep Apple Watch submerged prevent the GPS from working. Apple Watch continues to estimate my position until the next time it breaks the surface of the water. In the open water, where the pool length is unknown , I let Apple Watch see the sky at the end of each turn. Apple Watch drys off easy; even the nylon strap. At the end of a water workout Apple Watch prompts you to “turn Digital Crown to unlock and eject water.” The sound of the vibrating speaker ejects water trapped inside the speaker hole. You can lock the screen to prevent accidental taps and eject water at any time. Something I try to remember when I take Apple Watch in the shower. I never want to take my Apple Watch off.

Day Thirteen: Marathon

On the thirteenth day I put Apple Watch to the test. Would the battery in the 38 mm model hold up recording a three hour marathon? Apple Watch is on my wrist by 6:00 a.m. every morning. After a one hour run and being strapped to my wrist all day, Apple Watch has about 20% battery life left when I come home at 6:00 p.m. each night. In my mind it should be able to survive a three hour marathon, but I put it in Power Saving Mode disabling the built-in heart rate sensor just in case. Three hours, six minutes, and forty-five seconds later Apple Watch helped me cross the finish line with 22% battery life to space. Apple Watch did a great job displaying my current time, distance, and average pace throughout the race.. More accurate that my old GPS watch, Apple Watch helped me maintain the pace I needed to finish strong. After returning to my car, Apple Watch automatically synced my marathon stats back to my iPhone’s Activity app. No other watch makes it so easy to analyze my splits and trace my route, after the race. I wish Apple Watch recorded the elevation along every mile, and offered a better way to share workout data with friends. But Apple Watch is still in its infancy. With each baby step I am becoming an Apple Watch believer.

Day Thirty: Conclusion

Apple Watch Series 2 has replaced my mechanical watch, my diving watch, and my GPS watch; it lasts all day, goes swimming, and tracks marathons. Helping me track my life is all I really want my watch to do. But Apple Watch is so much more than just a timepiece: – Stylish customizable watch faces, and swappable straps

• Intelligent voice dictation
• Real-time notifications and apps

Apple Watch is more than a watch, it is my first wearable computer. A digital companion that goes everywhere I go; keeping track of me.

I do not own a wireless keyboard. I do not own a wireless mouse. Because when it comes to wireless, wired is always faster, cheaper, and without batteries to charge or replace. But starting this Summer I began to get tired of running my earbuds up under my shirt to avoid tangles. I watched horrified as three pairs of Amazon premium earbuds get yanked out of my ears and smashed to the ground. So after two decades of earbud use, first on my MiniDisc, then iPod, then smartphone, it was time for a change.

I did a little research. Didn’t find anything I liked. And purchased a pair of Photive HF1 Bluetooth headphones on Amazon for $49.95. For podcasts, audiobooks, and light listening on the go they sound fine. Certainly not any worse than the AppleAmazon earbuds I have become accustomed to. What I was worried about most is how they would feel on my ears, how they would look on my head, and how they would hold up to every day use.

Feel

Feel is important to me. I wear my headphones all day — every day. When they are not on my ears, they are wrapped around my neck. My wife thinks I am anti-social. I can’t hear her. The Photive HF1 headphones rest on your ears. They feel great even after hours of use. The protein leather is soft. The ear pads are nice and squishy. The headband never feels too tight. If I have a problem with the Photive HF1s, it is that they feel too loose. Walking along busy city streets is a big part of my every day commute. After two months with the Photive HF1s I am worried they are going to fall off. The problem is the headband. It is not rigid enough, and cannot be adjusted. The length of the headband can be adjusted, The angle of the speakers can be adjusted. But not how much the headband grips the side of my head. I have a medium sized head, and the headband is as short as I can make it. A relaxed fit might add to the comfort of the headphones, but I would never take them running. I need to be careful just walking around town.

Look

When selecting wireless headphones, I wanted something that looks light, and doesn’t draw attention. Basically the opposite of Beats. The Photive HF1s fit the bill. The thin arms connecting the headphones to the headband are my favorite design feature. The arms and the headphone backs are made of zinc alloy. The rest is protein leather. The only visible branding is under the headband. I got the black model, and wear them around my neck in the office. They are big enough for my coworkers to notice them, but small enough no one cares. When I wear them on my ears it doesn’t look like half my skull is encased in plastic. I am still approachable unlike the cyborgs you see with a blue light in one ear. Do the Photive HF1s have a flashing blue light? Sure, but it is small, and on the back. You can’t see it if you are facing me. I could cover it up with tape and use the headphones with audio cues alone. But I already forget the light is even there.

Use

The Photive HF1s are my first pair of Bluetooth headphones. When I bought them I was concerned about wireless reception and battery life. Both hold up great. I get about 12 hours of playback. As long as I charge them every other night, I don’t run out of juice. My iPhone tells me approximately how much charge is remaining, and the headphones beep when the batteries are about to run out. They charge using micro USB. Reception is dependent more upon your phone. When I leave my iPhone sitting on my desk I can walk 30 feet down the hall before before the sound cuts out. When I leave my Amazon Fire Phone in my left pants pocket the signal sometimes has a hard time reaching the headphones. The Photive HF1’s Bluetooth 4.1 receiver is on the right headphone. If you are using these headphones to listen to music in a small room you shouldn’t have a problem. Volume controls are on the right. There is a center button for pausing the music, or taking a phone call. All of the controls are easy to find by feel alone. Holding the center button down for a few seconds turns on the headphones. Holding it for a few seconds more puts them in pairing mode. When you hear a beep you know they are connected. I have never had a problem pairing the Photive HF1 headphones. There is a microphone on the headphones I never use. It is there to makes hands free calls or talk to Siri. There is also a line-in jack if your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth.

End

For $39.95 the Photive HF1 Bluetooth headphones are a good choice for first time Bluetooth buyers, or anyone looking to ditch their earbuds. They work with the iPhone 7 that doesn’t have a headphone jack, and devices that don’t have Bluetooth. Discrete enough for the office, versatile enough you can take them anywhere. They lie flat when folded and the 12 hour battery life is good enough for most long trips. Not meant for sports, be careful when you wear them in a crowd; they might fall off your head. But if I lost mine, I would still buy a second pair.

October Update

It appears my pair of Photive HF1s may have gotten loose over time because they were broken. I can now feel a break in the headband above the left headphone where the adjustment well ends. I believe this to be a weak spot in the design on both sides. Both headphones still produce sound, but I am doubtful they will remain on my head during normal use. I am disappointed the headband is not made out of a more resilient material, but Photive was quick to replace my headphones with a brand new pair. I continue to recommend the Photive HF1s Lightweight Wireless Headphones.

For the past month I have been the owner of an Amazon Fire Phone. The mythical device whose name is adhered upon many an Amazon shipping container, but whose visage is rarely seen in public.nFor the past month I have grappled with a decision.nShould I accept the Fire Phone as my primary digital companion, or send it back to Amazon in the cardboard box that bears its name? As an instrument of suspense, I will leave my ultimate decision until the end of this review. In the meantime here are some of the factors that led me to my decision.

Price

At $199 the Fire Phone is a steal. That is the price I paid on Black Friday, when the 32 GB Unlocked Fire Phone went on sale.nHad the price been $249, $449, or $649, I would not have bought it. Even at $199 the price is deceptively high. A Fire Phone at any price comes with one year of Amazon Prime, a $100 dollar value.nAs a regular Amazon Prime subscriber you could say my 32 GB Fire Phone cost me the same as a 16 GB storage upgrade on a iPhone 5s.

Unboxing

Unboxing the Fire Phone was a real treat. Straight out of Apples playbook, each fold of the box concealed a new joy. From the carbon fiber texture of the packing materials, to the way the micro USB cable, charger, and earbuds came tucked away in their own separate compartments. Everything felt luxurious.

Even setting up the Fire Phone was a delightful experience. Upon pressing the power button, I was greeted by my name. My Fire Phone had been preregistered with my Amazon Prime account, Amazon Music, and Amazon Cloud Drive. Imagine if your next iPhone came preregistered with your iCloud account, apps, and the latest software updates. Amazon gets a head start over its competitors by having Fire Phone come preregistered out of the box.

Hardware

The phone itself resembles a super-sized iPhone 4; Gorilla Glass front and back, except this time the bare metal sides have been wrapped in soft touch rubber. Thicker than the iPhone 6, the Fire Phone really feels good in the hand. There is a weight to it that I associate with high-end electronics. Some people might say the style, thickness, and heft of the Fire Phone make it appear out of date. But I would rather hold a comfortable phone in my hand, than watch a slippery slice of aluminum and glass shatter on the floor.

Fire Phone is adorn with the usual ports and buttons. A power button and headphone jack on the top, micro USB port on the button, volume rocker, dedicated camera button, and nano SIM card slot along the left side.nBecause the low volume and camera button feel similar, I find myself sometimes taking a picture of the inside of my pocket by mistake. Fire Phone has paired speaker grills along its top and bottom; giving it Dolby stereo sound when held in the portrait orientation.nThe volume of the speakers is better than most phones. As a nice touch, the Amazon logo and regulatory information have been etched into the glass back. A noise canceling microphone, 13 megapixel camera, and LED flash bring up the rear. Photos are on par with an iPhone 5 or 5s, but not an iPhone 6.nIt is not until we get to the front of the phone that things start to become interesting.

All the better to see you with

On the face of most phones there is at least one camera staring back at you.nFire Phone has five. In addition to the usual proximity and ambient light sensors, Fire Phone tracks your eye movement and viewing angle with the use of four low power cameras. (A 2.1 megapixel front facing webcam is available for selfies.) Amazon calls this feature Dynamic Perspective, and it gives the user interface a third dimension not usually associated mobile phone displays.

Think of Dynamic Perspective like the gyroscope-driven parallax effects in iOS 7, only turned up a notch. You might call it a gimmick, and I would not say you are wrong.nJust like the gyroscope in the original iPhone, Dynamic Perspective doesn’t have much value until developers take advantage of it. The only problem is that unlike the gyroscope in almost every modern smartphone, the Fire Phone is the only phone with Dynamic Perspective, and from the looks of Fire Phone sales it will probably stay that way forever. I quickly learned to turn off Dynamic Perspective to save battery life.

A 720 x 1280 pixel, 4.7 inch (~312 ppi pixel density), IPS touchscreen display dominates the face of the phone. The screen is super bright.nSo bright in fact, that I have its brightness set to one of the lowest settings, and it still outshines most other phones.nWith this settings, and Dynamic Perspective turned off, Fire Phone’s battery gets me through the average day with plenty of charge to spare. Below the screen is a raised rectangular Home button.nIt appreciate the extra grip it gives you when pulling Fire Phone from your pocket.

Gestures

Because Fire Phone doesn’t have any other hardware buttons, the Android-powered user interface is navigated with gestures.nThey aren’t as complicated as gestures on the BlackBerry Z10 I tried a couple months ago. Just the usual swipe left, swipe right, and swipe up, but they can be confusing for new users. Amazon provides a tutorial to get you started, but even I found it confusing that many Amazon apps stick to the prescribed swipe left and right to reveal hidden menus, while most Android apps from the Amazon App Store do not.nAt least you can always rely on a swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring you back, and if all else fails the Home button returns you to the Home screen’s grid of familiar icons.

Since the interface on every Android phone is a little different I can’t say the Fire Phone is unique. The large Coverflow inspired carousel of recently used apps works for finding your last launched applications. Below that a dedicated dock of four icons keeps your favorite apps close at hand. While swiping up from the bottom reveals a grid of icons, familiar to any iPhone user. The combination of all four user interface elements means I can always find the app I am looking for. Some apps even show additional real-time information below their enlarged carousel icon, but often Amazon just uses this space to try to sell you something from their store.

Lack of Apps

Just like on Google’s Android, double tapping the Home button brings up the multitasking switcher, holding it down brings up voice command. Unlike Google’s Android, the voice commands are not powered by Google Now, and there is no Google Maps, Play Store, or Gmail to be found in Fire Phone’s App Store. Apps can be side-loaded of course, but if you are looking for the Google experience on Fire Phone, look somewhere else.

As a frequent Windows Phone user I know what limited app selection is like. I did find most of the apps I wanted from Amazon’s App Store, and the built-in Android apps took care of my Exchange email, contacts and calendars. I might be satisfied by Amazon’s offering, and the option to side-load Android apps, but I feel most iPhone user’s will be disappointed.

Keeping it

I am keeping my Amazon Fire Phone. As I said before, it is a steal at $199; even without the one year subscription for Amazon Prime. The hardware is top notch and the software, although limited, does everything I want a smartphone to do.

Fire Phone may not be right for you. If you base your choice of phone on carrier subsidies, or are heavily invested in an existing phone ecosystem, Fire Phone should not be you first choice. But Fire Phone makes a pretty good unlocked spare GSM phone, even if you don’t plan on shopping with Amazon.

Before Spotlight there was Sherlock.nAnd before Sherlock there was the Find.nWe have come a long way since the search in System 7.nContent awareness, deep indexes, and live results have made modern search powerful.nBut sometimes I wish I could return to a simpler search.nWhere the indexing every file isn’t required, and I can see the results from every folder on my hard drive.nEasyFind is powerful search made easy.

EasyFind’s Best Three Features:

• Its fast results and Quick Look integration
• The ability to search invisible files, and the contents of application bundles
• The option to search anywhere, including my Library and System folders

Fast

EasyFind’s results are so fast on my MacBook Air, I often question the need for Spotlight to keep an index of my hard drive.nMaybe its because I rarely search my files by content.nOr maybe it is because of my MacBook Air’s super-fast SSD.nNo matter the reason, EasyFind’s search results often start appearing in less than a second.

Browsing

Browsing EasyFind’s results is simple too.nQuick Look long replaced Preview as my preferred way of previewing files,nand Quick Look is built into every EasyFind search.nSimply highlight the first result, tap the Spacebar, and navigate down the list using the arrow keys.nA full-screen preview appears with every key stroke.

Finding Your Mac’s Hidden Secrets

We all know our Macs have hidden files.nWe just have to know where to look.nSpotlight refuses to reveal the hidden files invisible to the Finder,nor tucked away inside application bundles.nEasyFind makes finding hidden files easy.nNo need to display invisible files in the Finder first,nor show the contents of application bundles or packages.

As a power user, one of my chief frustrations with Spotlight is its inability to look inside my Library or System folders.nIf I am modifying a system resource or adjusting a local preference,nmy activities often take me outside the view of Spotlight’s search.nEasyFind does not suffer from such shortsightedness.nIts powerful search finds file and folders, by name, phrase, or content no matter where they are located.nIt even follows Unix-Wildcards, and can exclude known file types.

EasyFind is the little squirrel I keep in my dock for finding stuff on my Mac.nFree from the Mac App Store,nor the Devon Technologies website.

I met Bryan Clark and Jesse Herlitz during last year’s WWDC. Under the cover of darkness, in the backroom of a bar, they showed me the beginning of a brand new client for App.net . By combining slick animations, colorful transparencies, and intuitive natural gestures, they created an app the looked at home on Apple’s new iOS 7; introduced just days earlier. Today, after a year of refinement, Blixt has finally made it to the App Store.

Instead of re-envisioning how an iOS application should look, Blixt has reinvented how an iOS application should behave. Users are no longer content navigating their apps the same way they browse their address books. Being pulled along a string of endless lists tied together by the Back button. Instead Blixt takes a new approach. Giving users full screen content in stacks they can shuffle using just their fingertips.

Think of Blixt as a stack of playing cards. Want to get more information on a particular post? Tap the entry and a new card comes to the top of the stack. The post you just tapped travels with you to the new card using a simple sliding animation. Swiping from the left returns the top card back to the stack and repeats the sliding animation in reverse. By using simple animations like these Blixt reminds users of their position within the stack.

Each new card is its own full screen view of a conversation, profile, or reply. There are separate stacks of cards for your timeline and mentions. Accounts and settings can be accessed by swiping from the left. The iOS title bar shows unread counts, and status updates. A search field can by revealed by pulling down on a timeline or conversation card. The only visible control on each card is a large circular post/reply button in the lower left. The rest of the screen is dedicated to content. It is easy to forget Blixt is an application, and not just a series of colorful cards painted on your iPhone’s screen.

Unlike other applications that offer a choice of font or theme, Blixt lets the people you follow control the experience. The background of each card is colored with a blurred reproduction of the conversation owner’s cover image. By following more people there is an even greater chance to make the next card look different than the last, and for Blixt to become a whole new experience every time you launch it.

Blixt doesn’t do private messages, and Like Ben Brooks I found a pretty bad bug when you tap on a post with a link it. Normally missing features and bugs on a version 1.0 wouldn’t mean much, but by being built on the App.net, Blixt may have a short time to live .

From the icon to the scroll, Blixt is one of the best iOS experiences I have had in some time. At this point it isn’t optimized for iPad, but with the upcoming features coming to iOS 8 I expect it to eventually work on an iOS device of any size. It is a shame Blixt’s life may be cut short by the loss of App.net, but I advise anyone with or without an account to try Blixt out today.

DEFCON is a real-time strategy game created by independent British game developer Introversion Software. Inspired by movies like Dr. Strangelove, and WarGames:

Players are given a 1980s vector graphics computer-themed world map, a varied arsenal of nuclear and conventional weaponry, and a primary objective: destroy as much of the enemy’s population as possible while having as little of one’s own population destroyed as possible. A typical game will see civilian casualties numbering in the millions (megadeaths) while players try their hand at annihilating their opponents.

Gameplay begins at alert level DEFCON 5 and counts down to DEFCON 1, and the use of nuclear weapons Each upgrade in alert level brings more strategic possibilities.

Ground installations are immobile, and can be destroyed by nuclear attack. They include missile silos, airbases, and radar installations.

Naval units are organized into fleets of up to six ships which move and fight together. Fleets must be placed in territorial waters at the beginning of a game, but may move through the ocean, albeit slowly. Fleets can include any combination of battleships carries, and submarines.

Aircraft are launched from either airbases of carriers. Typically they operate autonomously after launch, but bombers and fighters can also be controlled while airborne. Bombers carry a single short-range ballistic missile that may be fired at a nearby target. Bombers have a long range to deliver this payload, but are vulnerable during the trip.

Missiles deliver a devastating payload. A direct hit on a city will kill half of the current living civilians. Between one and three hits are required on the hardened buildings that players place to destroy them. Missiles can only be shot down by silos in defense mode, which have a small random chance of hitting the missile with any given shot. A hit will cause a limited detonation in the missile, yielding minor casualties if a city is directly beneath, or damaging or destroying a facility if one is below.

Once launched from a silo, submarine, or bomber, missiles cannot be retargeted, though they can be disarmed in mid-flight. Missiles can also target sea-based units and will destroy any aircraft caught in their blast radius.

DEFCON uses a real-time line of sight system common to traditional RTS games, where only enemy units within radar coverage may be seen. However, a nuclear missile launch from a silo or submarine is automatically detected by all players (though the missile itself is not, and must be detected by radar), which reveals the location of the unit launching the missile.

A nuclear missile launch from a bomber, however, does not reveal the location of the bomber. Making it the perfect first strike vehicle. Most units have several operating modes for different functions, and require several minutes to switch modes. For instance, ordering a missile silo to switch from offensive launches to missile defense will leave it inoperative while it switches. Signaling to other players the perfect time to attack.

A DEFCON game can host up to six human or AI players. Alliances can be formed, broken, or renegotiated at will with human players. Alliances with CPU controlled players can only be set at the start of the game. Allied players share radar coverage and line of sight, but there is no allied victory and there is only one winner. This means that all alliances are broken by the end of the game.

Lead designer Chris Delay explains: > We’ve seen alliance members shooting overhead friendly planes down because they believed the planes were scouting the area for targets in preparation for a strike. This results in arguments in the chat channels, followed by skirmishes at sea, followed by retaliation, before finally the whole alliance collapses and everyone starts nuking the hell out of each other. It’s awesome.

DEFCON is an awesome game. Like Risk, only with nuclear weapons, everybody starts out with the same chances, the same units, and the same belief they will survive annihilation. Only luck and strategy set a victorious player apart from his conquered peers.

The stark isolation of the vector graphics, and the bone chilling audible gasps of the dying, brings the faceless reality of nuclear war to player in a way rich texture maps, and dynamic lighting never could. With each pulse of white light representing a nuclear explosion players know millions of virtual lives have been lost, but the real fear comes from the fact that there is very little separating DEFCON from the way a real nuclear war would be fought.

I highly recommend DEFCON to anyone who grew up fearing the nuclear bomb, or wanted to be that kid from WarGames, unknowingly ready to start a nuclear war, if only on the Internet.

In the late 2000’s the original iPhone was the best phones money could buy, but it wasn’t necessarily the best phone for British Secret Agent James Bond.

For one, the iPhone 2G was too flashy. Its broad aluminum back, shiny chrome Apple logo, and large illuminated 3.5 inch screen attracted too much attention in a time when multitouch smart phones were new and noticeable. If Bond pulled that phone out in a crowd during his Quantum of Solace mission, everyone would have taken notice.

In addition, the iPhone 2G was locked to the carrier on which it was sold. A decision that caused all sorts of controversy in Europe, and a clear problem for a Secret Agent traveling to exotic locales across the globe.

Third, the first two versions of the iPhone were issued with a miserable two megapixel fixed-focus camera. It is hard to imagine how a British spy would make use of such a terrible camera with no flash, no autofocus, no face detection, and no video recording.

Finally, Sony, not Apple, has been 007’s preferred patron of technology product placement in all of Bond’s most recent adventures. MI6’s choice of Sony Ericsson phones in Die Another Day, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall, might have something to do with the fact that Columbia Pictures, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, distributes the films.

No, the iPhone 2G would not have been a suitable Bond Phone for the release of Quantum of Solace in October 2008. Instead Q Branch issued Bond the Sony Ericsson C902. A more than capable quad-band, Java-based world phone, with a five megapixel camera, and a few extra surprises.

For the past thirty days I have been using the C902 myself, and although it is not as timeless as my Omega Seamaster diving watch, it still manages to make an impact where style and technology are concerned.

Unboxing

I purchased a brand new, unlocked, Sony Ericsson C902 for a little over $100 off of eBay,¹ with the hopes of conducting a “Stephen Hackett Experiment” of my own. I have gone more than a month without a smartphone before, but this time I wanted to try something with a little more 007 style.

In its day the C902 was a premium phone, that cost over $549 MSRP. By the fit and finish of the box alone you can easily tell the C902 was a luxury product. They don’t package phones with this level of care, or this many accessories anymore.

Inside the black piano gloss box, I found the C902 presented at the center of a cardboard cutout depicting a picturesque lake scene. After the phone was taken out, and the cut out removed, the remaining space was broken up by two separate boxes. One containing the phone’s accessories, the other paperwork and software.

As I mentioned before the C902 comes with a generous amount of accessories. There was a USB cable with proprietary Sony Ericsson docking connection on one end. There was a separate power plug with an integrated Sony Ericsson docking connection cable included. I quickly found out I could the use the C902’s USB cable to charge my phone using the USB port on my computer. But the small white USB power adapter that comes with the iPhone wasn’t enough to charge the C902. Including both the USB cable and the power adapter was a nice touch, and allowed me to charge my phone from two different locations without bringing Sony’s proprietary power charger along with me.

One downfall of the Sony Ericsson proprietary dock connector, is that it is also the only place one can attach headphones to the phone. The included adapter comes in the form of a long cable with a mic3.5mm headphone jack on one end, and the Sony Ericsson dock connector on the other. You can answer the phone using the provided bottom on the Mic, just like you can with an iPhone. The included headphones come with a relatively short cable to compensate for the adapters already generously long reach. The C902 can playback MP3 and AAC files, but I don’t expect to be listening to much music with this phone considering its peculiar headphone arrangement that can’t be used then the phone is charging.

The last accessory I found in the box was a Memory Stick Micro (M2) to USB adapter. The USB end of this adapter slides out like the blade to a pocket knife, and although the adapter is made of plastic, it has a fit and finish worth of any MI6 issued gadget. With only 160 MBs of internal storage, it was important that Sony choose an expandable memory format for the C902, and even more generous that they included a 1 GB card and optional adapter along with the C902. I just wish they hadn’t relied on the proprietary Sony Memory Stick Micro (M2) format, and choose Micro SD instead.²

Accompanying the box of accessories was a similar sized box of paperwork and software. Just like most electronics from the late 90’s that shipped with a plethora of paperwork, Sony Ericsson decided to continue the tradition by including an assortment of useless warranty cards, manuals, and getting started guides with the C902. I never opened the included Suite of PC software for transferring pictures and music to the C902, because the phone mounted as a USB storage device the first time I plugged it into my computer. Sony could have saved a lot of space and paper by loosing the junk mail.

Construction

Up until the iPhone 4 I could have said the Sony Ericsson C902 is the best made phone I have ever owned. Despite its deminished size compared to most smart phones, it has a reassuring weight that cannot be easily ignored.

The top of the phone is dominated by the 240 x 320 pixels, 2.0 inches(~200 ppi pixel density) display. The bottom by a directional pad, six navigation buttons, and a twelve key keypad that after one month of use, continues to feel firm to the touch. The back of the phone is clad in painted metal.

The Sony Ericsson C902 came in four colors, “Swift Black, Luscious Red, Titanium Silver, Cinnamon Bronze.” I choose the “Swift Black” model, although Bond’s phone in Quantum of Solace was “Titanium Silver.”

All along the sides of the phone is one of the C902’s most distinct features, raised metallic edges. Like the handle of a gun, these edges give the C902 extra grip that can easily be appreciated when the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Keyboard

It has been such a long time since I have used a conventional twelve key keypad for typing on a phone. I swore I would never do it again. It took me close to ten minutes of staring at my C902, and repeatedly pushing the keypad, before I realized how to type on this thing.

There are two typing modes — predictive and repetitive. Using the predictive mode you can press the number key with the corresponding letter once and move on to the next character in the word. Sony Ericsson’s predictive software will figure out what word you are trying to type with amazing accuracy. Using the repetitive mode you must press the number key with the corresponding letter several times to cycle to the character you wish to enter. Both methods are tedious, and I couldn’t imagine Bond taking the time to write a lengthy letter to Moneypenny using the C902.

On the lower left hand side, opposite the proprietary Sony connection, I found the C902’s camera shutter button and volume rocker. I don’t like the position of either of buttons, I think they should be up towards the top, like the iPhone. Also the dock connector really needs to be on the bottom of the phone. No one wants to try to listen to music, type, or answer a call with a dock adapter sticking into the palm of their hand.

I learned to type on the Sony Ericsson C902 by entering my personal contacts during my flight to the Memphis Tennessee St. Jude Marathon.³ Short of an old outdated iSync plugin, I couldn’t find any other way of syncing my friends phone numbers to the C902.

As you learn to trust the predictive software typing common names and English words becomes easier. Just don’t try addressing an email, or entering a URL. No wonder BlackBerry with their full QWERTY keyboards were so popular back in the day.

Software

The Sony Ericsson C902 is a 2G device in the States, but capabilities, not speed will prevent you from getting the most out of your data plan while using this phone. The web browser is old-school NetFront. Navigate up and down, link to link, and hope the website you want to visit has a WAP version.

Email is possible, but I was unable to get iCloud’s IMAP settings to work in the C902. Instead I forwarded all of my personal, and work email to a POP account I setup for the C902 to check periodically every four hours. I was able to get SMTP to work with my POP account, but like I said before, unless you are a whiz with a twelve key keypad, you will not be sending very many emails from the C902.⁴

In addition to the thousand entry contact list, and basic email capabilities, the Sony Ericsson C902 includes a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a calendar, a task list, a notepad, a timer, a stopwatch, an alarm clock, a calculator, and a speakerphone. The C902 isn’t a smartphone, but it offers a nice assortment of advanced options like Bluetooth with a stereo profile and remote control options, PC syncing, a file manager, USB mass storage, integrated GPS, and a code memo for storing sensitive information.

A basic RSS reader, and podcast catcher is also included, but good luck entering all of those addresses without an OPML import.

The C902’s music player (MP3 and AAC files) isn’t officially a Walkman player, but it might as well be. Settings include an equalizer, playlists, stereo widening, Sony’s Mega Bass, and shuffle and loop modes. The interface is minimalist, but functional. There are no visualizations, but the player supports album art. Just keep in mind that it won’t recognize every song it plays. Other features include an FM radio, TrackID, and support for audio books and podcasts. Getting music on the phone is as easy as drag and drop.

Camera

The Sony Ericsson C902’s killer features are hiding in plain sight, and behind a pull out slider. Pull the top of the phone up, and a five megapixel camera, complete with xenon flash, and portrait mirror is exposed. As the lens is revealed the C902 instantly switches to camera mode, illuminating eight blue touch controls previously concealed along the edge of the display.

These controls can be used for setting the camera mode between still, video, and playback, as well as focus, shooting mode, scenes, timer, and flash. The slider motion still feels solid after a month of use, and I appreciate how the it hides and protects the lens from scratches. Without knowing, you can not easily tell the C902 is also a camera, making it the perfect spy phone.

The touch controls might seem like a gimmick at first, but they provide quick adjustment to the cameras most used settings without having to dive deep into menus. I wish more consumer level cameras included such touch sensitive controls among the edges of their displays to make up for their lack physical knobs, switches, and dials.

Not only does the Sony Ericsson C902 control better than the iPhone 2G, but it also takes better pictures. I found exposure of tough situations like the setting sun, superior on my Sony Ericsson C902 than on competing camera phones like the iPhone 4S.

The C902 was the first in Sony’s line of Cybershot camera phones, and the attention to photographic details and features shows.

You can take pictures in four resolutions, from 5 megapixels down to simple VGA. Editing options are more than generous. They include face detection, an autofocus, a macro setting, an infinite mode (disables the autofocus for pictures taken at a distance), a self timer, five white balance settings, an adjustable brightness meter, four color effects, two quality settings, a 16x digital zoom, an image stabilizer, and Sony Ericsson’s BestPic feature (for taking nine shots in rapid succession). There are even four different shutter sounds, but no silent option

With a firm grip, a five megapixel sensor, and a real shutter button it is hard to discount the C902’s camera functionality. The resolution may not be as high as today’s smart phones, but the available options are more plentiful. With the C902 in your hand, you feel like you are holding a real camera. Getting your photos onto a computer is as easy using Bluetooth, USB, or the included Memory Stick Micro (M2) adapter. I just wish there was a better cloud sync option. We are all spoiled in the modern age of Instagram.

Conclusion

Between its stylish good looks, ample accessories, tough construction, and secret spy cam, you can easily see why the Sony Ericsson’s C902 was Bond’s phone of choice in Quantum of Solace. It may not have the extensibility of a modern smartphone, but for taking pictures, sending quick messages, receiving email, and just plain talking on the phone it is a great choice.

The unlocked C902 makes a great alternative to carrying a smartphone while traveling abroad, and its 9 hour 2G talk time will impress you when you realize you don’t have to charge it every night.

I only wish more of the C902’s menus could benefit from the innovative touch controls hiding beside the display, and the predictive keyboard knew what I wanted to type before stumbling with the keypad.⁵

Just imagine if Siri was available on a small, light, stylish phone like the Sony Ericsson C902. Now that really would be a Bond phone.

1. I didn’t splurge for the Sony Ericsson Limited Edition James Bond C902 with an eerie picture of Daniel Craig in the box.
2. Sony announced on June 1, 2009 that M2 support in Sony Ericsson phones would be dropped in favor of microSD.
3. There is still time to donate.
4. Apparently their is the option to sync the C902’s Address Book, Email, and Calendar with Exchange, but I could never get it to work with my work email.
5. A standard micro USB connector, and headphone jack would have also been appreciated.

When you think of a Bond Watch, what comes to mind? Style, luxury, sophistication? Perhaps the actor who played James Bond in your favorite 007 movie, or maybe the over-the-top gadgetry that made the Bond Watch a trademark of the 007 films from the late 70’s and early 80’s?¹ No matter your initial reaction, or the concealed gadget inside, we can all attest to the coolness of the 007 timepiece. A symbol for the man every boy wants to grow up to be, and the confidence every grown man wishes he could achieve.

As an avid Bond fan I have collected all of the movies,² read all of the books, and played most of the video games.³ Not one for props, memorabilia, or firearms, I thought my Bond collection was complete. It wasn’t until I became jealous of my friend’s Omega Seamaster, that I realized owning an authentic Bond Watch could be within my future.

The first step in buying a Bond Watch is figuring out which watch to buy. In the movies Bond wore everything from a Rolex Submariner, to a digital Seiko. Of course for me growing up in the James Bond meant Pierce Brosnan, and his ocean blue Omega Seamaster. What can I say I am a child of the 90’s.

The Omega Seamaster 2531.80 Chronometer is the watch Pierce Brosnam wore in all of his Bond movies.⁴ It played such an important role in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Die Another Day that it has become known as the definitive “James Bond Watch.” Handheld lasers, and remote explosive detonators aside, I wanted this watch because of its recognizable face and sophisticated style. It is by far the nicest thing I own.

What I like most about my Seamaster is its color. Depending on the light it can either appear to be bright blue or deep black. The wave pattern on the face distributes light in mysterious ways. The skeleton hands provide a sophistication that is unique to this model of watch.

If you have never worn a Seamaster than you are missing out. There is something about the way the two-tone stainless steel bracelet drapes across your wrist. Nothing is as comfortable. Unlike leather it is impervious to moisture, and unlike the cheap links of other straps, it never pinches the skin.

A brand new Seamaster costs several thousand dollars, but due to a vibrant second hand market I was able to pick mine up at less than half the asking price.⁵ When it comes to the decision between Quartz and Automatic, I would spend the couple extra hundred dollars for the Chronometer. I didn’t think it would make a difference, but I have grown to appreciate the steady ticking of the mechanical movement. It will never need a replacement battery.

I own very little in the line of luxury, but I bought my Bond Watch because it is a constant reminder of confidence.⁶ James Bond might be a fictional character, but his legendary confidence has captivated audiences for over 50 years. That is a quality money can’t buy, and an heirloom I hope to pass on to future generations.

• And in my opinion the low point of the franchise.
• Skyfall is a must see by the way.
• GoldenEye being my favorite.
• Not true, he wore a quartz model Seamaster 2541.80 in GoldenEye, but that is just because Omega was being cheap.
• Just be sure to ask for the warranty, box, and papers.
• Not not features like the Helium Escape Valve, or water resistance up to 300 meters, but reliability and craftsmanship rarely go out of style.

I am spending more time on the PC these days; running Windows 10 and dialing into MIT’s Linux servers. My trusty Apple Extended Keyboard hasn’t been getting much use. Instead of taking the time to perform the obvious task or remapping my Apple keyboard, I decided to indulge my curiosity and purchase the Das Model S Ultimate Keyboard instead. I first heard about the Das Keyboard from Shawn Blanc, when he reviewed three different clicky keyboards for use on the Mac.

The Das Keyboard has two great things going for it. More than the other two keyboards, I prefer the tactile feel of the blue Cherry MX switches and the audio click of the Das. Since you don’t buy a mechanical keyboard for its aesthetics, for those looking to get a clicky keyboard, this is the one I would recommend.

I have tried a Tactile Pro in the past, and am a big fan of Apple’s Extended Keyboards from the last century, but I had never heard of the Das before Shawn recorded its clickiness for the all the web to hear. The Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate is the loudest keyboard I have ever used. It employs 104 German made gold plated Cherry MX Blue mechanical key switches to produce its signature clicky sound, and distinctive two stage feel. > The Blue switches are popular within the typing community because of the “clicky” tactile bump when the activation point is hit. The overall experience of Blue switches is very similar to typewriters, however, those around you might not be as big of a fan due to the audio feedback. The standard “clicky” versions of Das Keyboards utilize Blue switches.

Sharper than the click-clock sound of my Alps equipped Apple Extended Keyboard I, the Das Keyboard’s clicky key switches really come into their own when typing at high speeds. The Das is the Death Star or keyboards. Large, black, and glossy, The Das Model S Ultimate is the keyboard Darth Vader if he couldn’t get dictation in his meditation chamber. At almost three pounds, the Das Keyboard is almost as heavy as my Apple Extended Keyboard. Lacking the large “function key forehead” of Apple’s Extended, the Das features a more streamlined design that still dominates my desktop. Its extra long two meter USB cord means Ican layout your workspace any way I like, and its high-speed USB 2.0 hub allows me to sync and charge up to two devices including an iPad from the keyboard’s right side. I only wish the USB cable was was easier to conceal, and that there was a USB port on opposite side of the keyboard for South Poles like me. In order to get the maximum charge out of the Das you need to plug in both USB plugs that fork from the end of the Das’ extra long cable. Its massive size, and cabling requirements might make the Das a little too much for Ultrabook users who only have a single USB port on either side of their laptops. While some might call the Das keyboard “ugly,” I think the Das Model S Ultimate looks rather BAD ASS. > Just because it has mechanical switches, which were especially common from keyboards of the ‘80s and ‘90s, doesn’t mean it should also look like it’s been rescued from 20 years ago.

One of the things that makes the Das Model S Ultimate keyboard so BAD ASS is the fact it has no key cap inscriptions at all. Instead of the “horrendous” typeface Das uses on its other keyboards, the Ultimate models are free of markings, striking fear and awe into the hearts of everyone that passes by. Learning to type on an unmarked Das keyboard means learning to type stronger. I can no longer cheat by looking down at the keyboard to find those rarely used, out of the way characters. Before using the Das I found myself still looking down at my keyboard from time to time to regain confidence and make sure my finger reached the proper key. With the Das I am building the muscle memory all great typists have. For the first time since my high school typing class I make my fingers do the walking without looking down. I will admit I had to rethink some of my harder to type passwords after adopting the Das, but after two weeks of constant use I am surprised at how well I remember the QWERTY keyboard layout without cheating. The Das Model S Ultimate Keyboard fits its name. It is the ultimate typing tool for anyone who wants to develop muscle memory, build confidence, increase speed, and scare away onlookers with a inscription less keyboard and a BAS ASS clicky sound. I hate to retire my Apple Extended Keyboard, but ADB has been gone for over 16 years. It is time to make the switch.

I missed out on the original release of Pretty Hate Machine in October of 1989. I was only six years old. Since then Nine Inch Nails has become my favorite band, Pretty Hate Machine my favorite album, and Trent Reznor my favorite artist. It is hard to sum up why I like Nine Inch Nails so much. As with most memorable human experiences it comes down to connections. I first discovered Nine Inch Nails during a difficult period in my life when I felt trapped. Pretty Hate Machine, and Nine Inch Nails taught me I am never imprisoned as long as I have the power to express myself. Trent Reznor, the frontman of Nine Inch Nails, has a unique talent for turning everyday noise into emotionally charged experiences. Mechanical rhythms, high voltage instrumentals, and passion fired vocals are the recipe for Nine Inch Nails' greatest hits. Every time I listen to Pretty Hate Machine, I not only feel the power of his performance, but remember a time when I discovered I was no longer powerless to express myself. I missed out on the Kickstarter project for Pretty Eight Machine, but thanks to Inverse Phase’s hard work I can still benefit from it today. Pretty Eight Machine is a Chiptune parodytribute of Nine Inch Nails' Pretty Hate Machine. A Chiptune is a piece of music composed in the 8-bit NintendoAtari style. Think the theme songs of Mario, Mega Man, and The Legend of Zelda. Pretty Eight Machine is a parodytribute because is stays true to the source material (tribute), while containing the whimsical feel of a 1980’s era video game (parody).

I think Pretty Hate Machine already sounds a bit gamey and that makes it perfect for my project. That’s also what gave me the inspiration to Chiptune some of it in the first place. Though some of this is for the challenge, I do want to end up with something that resembles the original music; I don’t want to destroy it.

Pretty Eight Machine is more than a just down sampled version of my favorite album. It has been meticulously crafted to invoke an emotional response for the music I love, played in a way that still sounds familiar. Think of Pretty Eight Machine as a cover of Nine Inch Nails' greatest album recorded on piano, saxophone, or acoustic guitar. The music sounds similar, but is expressed in a whole new medium. > The plan is to approach each song and find one sound chip that works particularly well with it, and then just go to town, following the appropriate limitations. Since this is a parody, my tradition is to also make a nerdy, possibly corny pun of each track title.

Despite being a fan of video games all of my life I am new to Chiptunes. I never spent much time listening to the music from my favorite video games, because I always thought they were just part of the game. Pretty Eight Machine has opened my eyes to this new genre of music. I now think of Chiptunes as not just video game music, but a form of musical expression with the same validity as Jazz, Country, or Rock & Roll. > I’m a big NIN fan. I want to share the impact it’s had on me with the rest of the world. I want to introduce Chiptune fans to NIN and I want to introduce NIN fans to Chiptunes. And if they’re already a fan of both, I want to give them a funny feeling in their pants or at least put a smile on their face.

If you are a fan of Chiptunes or Nine Inch Nails I strongly suggest you check out this album. Inverse Phase has given me a new way to listen to my favorite music, which without lyrics is perfectly suited for listening while writing or performing other concentration intensive tasks. Starting at $6.50 it is hard to go wrong supporting an album that will bring you back to the video games of your childhood, and remind you of the power of personal expression.

As a long time Mac user I was born into the desktop metaphor of files, folders, drag, and drop. It is hard to imagine using my computer in any other way. iOS opened my eyes to how functional a simplified mobile operating system can be, and why ditching the filesystem might not be a bad thing for most users. But what about the Power Users amongst us? If iOS is a simplified computing platform, and the Mac is the “computer for the rest of us,” then what are die hard file system addicts like myself supposed to be using? Some would say the command line, but I don’t think the answer is that simple. A modern computing experience needs to be more than a powerful shell. Pictures, webpages, sounds, and multimedia are too much of what we use our computers for these days. A truly forward looking file system manager needs to accept these considerations while offering users powerful tools in a package that does not feel foreign to the way files are managed today.

Path Finder by CocoaTech is a file manager that promises more ways to access your data, using fewer applications in less time. It approaches the file system problem in the same way as the traditional Macintosh Finder. You won’t find realistic 3D environments, multi-colored blocks, or exploding sunbursts while using Path Finder. Just the same icon, list, and column views that have been part of Mac OS X since the Public Beta. Path Finder doesn’t depart from the Macintosh experience of overlapping windows, files, folders, drag, and drop. PathFinder feels at home on my Macintosh desktop just like any application developed by Apple. The difference is Path Finder was designed with Power Users in mind.

The similarities between the Finder and Path Finder end as soon as the preferences come out. As a power user’s Finder replacement, Path Finder gives you a choice over almost everything with lots of exciting panes, drawers, toolbars, contextual menus, and keyboard shortcuts to customize. For starters Path Finder gives your more font, color, style, spacing, and sorting options for data than the Finder. You can have directory listings appear in bold, invisible items appear in grey, and the sort order vary by name, extension, or kind. I appreciate the freedom Path Finder gives me to see my data in my own way even if the combination of a brush script font with a deep drop shadow would cause Steve Jobs to roll over in his grave.

One of Path Finder’s strengths over the Finder is the ability to view two different sections of the file system in a dual-pane view. This feature is especially helpful when transferring data within the local file system or across network volumes. You can use one pane to view the local filesystem while the other pane is monitoring a remote filesystem mounted over AFP, FTP, NFS, or SMB. You might be familiar with this functionality if you have used a popular file transfer utility like Transmit. Path Finder does one better than most FTP clients by allowing both panes to view remote volumes while supporting the direct transfer of files between panes without manually downloading files first. Path Finder makes right on Mac OS X’s promise of being a good network citizen without needing additional file transfer utilities to live up to its word. It even gives you the option of withholding the Macintosh specific .DS_Store files that infest so many foreign network drives and drive System Admins crazy.

Just like your browser, Path Finder supports tabs. Within a single window you can collect multiple views of local or remote filesystems in one window, bookmarking your favorite destinations so you can come back to them later.

The built-in Drop Stack is a Path Finder first that makes copying files between two locations easier. Path Finder was the first application to offer this novel resting place to put your files during the middle of a complex drag and drop operation. Path Finder 6’s Drop Stack allows you to collect multiple files on a single stack. When you are ready you can copy or move all of the files in a single step. The Drop Stack is especially handy when moving a collection of files between Path Finder tabs, or buried application windows.

Path Finder’s most powerful features come in the form of customizable drawers that can be bolted onto any Path Finder window to display a variety of information. Possibilities include showing a selection’s attributes, info, permissions, preview, path, size, tags, or rating. Each drawer can show two views of additional information. Drawers can be accessed from the left, right, and bottom of each Path Finder window. The option of a third pane on the bottom and the ability to make any view a floating pallet means no filesystem attribute is ever far out of reach. In addition to data attributes, drawers can also be used to show powerful developer tools like a terminal window, hex editor, and run common Git and Subversion commands without the command line. One of my favorite views is the built-in iTunes Browser for surfing my music without opening iTunes, but there is also a Cover View option for browsing files by icon preview. As a well crafted Mac app Path Finder supports Quick Look.

In addition to containing a hex editor, terminal emulator, file transfer utility, and source control app, Path Finder 6 is also a batch file editor, text editor, simple image editor, and built-in data compressor. Using Path Finder’s file management tools users can apply filename changes to a group of files simultaneously. Prior to using Path Finder I had to perform similar operations using Mac OS X’s Automator, or a third-party application. The built-in text editor gives you most of the features of TextEdit without leaving your Path Finder. Perfect for creating small text files in the filesystem without launching an additional application. Lion’s Preview application has gained a reputation for saving unwanted modifications, and crashing unexpectedly. Prior to trying Path Finder 6 I would resort to using a powerful image editor to perform basic crops, scales, and rotations on my images. With Path Finder’s built-in image editor I no longer have to start up an additional application even if I am working on a file saved on a remote server. The built-in data compressor works with a wide variety of archive types including zip, gzip, dmg, sit, and more without the need of a third-party compression application like StuffIt. Path Finder 6 keeps the tools I use most at my fingertips without reaching down to the Dock.

The customization possibilities in Path Finder 6 never seem to end. With the ability to define criteria based file selection, adjustable toolbars, customizable keyboard shortcuts, and the option to create your own contextual menu commands it is hard going back to the Finder. File tagging, and the access control list editor means it has never been easier to keep track of the your files, and keep them safe from prying eyes. By looking at Path Finder 6’s feature list it is easy to see there is very little this Finder alternative can’t do, but can it replace the Finder?

No, Path Finder is not able to completely replace the Finder. Path Finder is unable to duplicate some system functionality that is embedded in the Finder, and removing or disabling the Finder will break these functions. Also, a few applications are hard-wired directly to the Finder and are unable to communicate with any other file browser. These applications can launch Finder if it's not running.

The most troubling part of adopting Path Finder as your daily file management application is that it can’t replace the Finder for everything. Clicking on the Trash in the Dock, or performing a Spotlight search will relaunch the Finder even if it is not running. The task of juggling two file managers breaks some of the enchantment Path Finder brings to file management, but CocoaTech have provides some powerful preferences to keep the Finder out of your way as much as possible.

• Set Path Finder as the default file viewer – If this option is enabled in Path Finder's Reveal preferences, applications that include a “Reveal in Finder” function will use Path Finder instead. This option adds a special key to every application's preferences file requesting that the application recognize Path Finder as its file browser. While this should work in most cases, it is unfortunately only a suggestion and some applications may ignore it.
• Launch Path Finder automatically after login – If set in Path Finder's General preferences, this will start both Path Finder and the Finder upon user login.
• Enable Finder's ‘Remove from Dock' – Choose this menu item from Path Finder > Finder to allow the Finder icon to be removed from the dock. Once enabled, right-click or control-click on the Finder icon in the Dock and choose “Remove from Dock.” This will allow the Finder to run silently in the background. The Finder will necessarily reappear in the dock every time you restart your computer.

For the past 30 days I have tried to use Path Finder 6 as much as possible and have enjoyed the additional options and powerful customizations it provides. Path Finder 6 is more than a file browser though, it is an ultra wide Swiss Army knife chock of multi prong tools waiting to get work done. I would recommend Path Finder to anyone who is discontent with the options of the Finder, or works with multiple remote servers on a regular basis. The dual pane view and tabbed browsing make juggling multiple Finder windows unnecessary, and the popup File Transfer queue keeps all of the activity in one place. It is true that some of Path Finder’s functionality like batch file editing and showing invisible files can be replicated in the Finder using various add-ons, but you will never find such a wide assortment of file management tools designed so perfectly for the Mac all in one place.

Google Reader is dead. NetNewWire is a shadow of its former self. For the last couple of years I have been using Shaun Inman‘s Feverº to access my feed from any browser. Install Fever is not your ordinary web app. You have to install it on a hosted server you control. The system requirements are pretty standard,¹ but you don’t need command line access to get started. If you have ever installed a web based CMS like Joomla!, or WordPress you can install Feverº. Setup is straight forward. Create an account on feedafever.com. Download the Feverº compatibility suite. FTP the Fever directory up to your server, and change the permissions on the directory to full read and write access (777). Visit yourdomain.comfeverboot.php in your web browser, and enter your MySQL database connection details as prompted. If your server meets the requirements you will be given a compatibility confirmation code to enter at feedafever.com. This code tells Shaun that your server is Feverº compatible, you know what you are doing, and you are ready to purchase. After your payment is processed you will receive an activation code you can use to complete the Feverº installation on your server. Some potential customers might complain the $30 price tag is too high, the purchase process is too difficult, or that Feverº needs a trial periodrefund policy. Feverº is a speciality product, and if those are some of your concerns Feverº might not be the right RSS reader for you. It would have been nice to try Fever before you buy, but a self-hosted demo version would contain all of Feverº’s un-obfuscated PHP code and Shaun would lose his shirt. If you are still interested in Feverº after reading this review get a second opinion by reading what my friends Shawn Blanc, and Pat Dryburgh have to say. Setup Feverº is not your ordinary feed reader.

Your current feed reader is full of unread items. You’re hesitant to subscribe to any more feeds because you can’t keep up with your existing subs. Maybe you’ve even abandoned feeds altogether. Fever takes the temperature of your slice of the web and shows you what’s hot.

Unlike traditional aggregators, Feverº works better the more feeds you follow. It does this by making you classify your Feeds into two supergroups, Kindling and Sparks. > Kindling is where you keep your must-reads, certain industry publications, friend’s blogs, project management updates, and family photo feeds.

The majority of the feeds I imported from NetNewsWire using an OPML subscription list became the basis for my Kindling. These are the feeds I read daily, and never miss an article. Feverº preserves the groups I created in my old newsreader and lets me create new groups with specific views tailored to each group. > Sparks is where you keep your occasionals, the more superfluous hit or miss feeds. Sparks serve to compound and amplify the items in your Kindling that are likely to interest you.

The remaining high-volume feeds from NetNewsWire became the basis of my Sparks. As a NetNewsWire user I could never subscribe to sites like Engadget, The Verge, The Next Web, or Macworld because I would quickly become overwhelmed with reading material. Feverº looks at common links in my Sparks and sends Hot Topics boiling to the top. It doesn’t matter how many Sparks I subscribe to, Feverº knows what’s hot. Use I use Feverº to follow the news in two different ways. First I read all of my Kindling just like I would on a conventional newsreader. I control how my feeds are ordered, how content is displayed, and the appearance of unread counts in all of my groups. Feverº includes keyboard shortcuts and mouse free navigation. I can choose to Mark as Read, Save, Blacklist, or send to Instapaper, Email, Delicious, or Twitter all with a few simple keystrokes. The Feverº interface makes it easy to hide superfluous feeds, and previously read content so nothing gets in the way of what I want to read. The second way I follow the news using Feverº is by using the Hot View. > Feverº scans your feeds and identifies links of interest. Temperatures based on the optimum human body temperature of 98.6º Fahrenheit are assigned to links determined by the amount of relinking and discussion they generate. All the items that point to, or talk about the hot links are aggregated so you don’t miss out on the range of opinions and reactions.

The more feeds I follow the more informed Feverº is about the stories that interest me, the more influential the story the higher the temperature. The Hot View is a great way to look over the most influential stories of the past day, week, or month, especially if I was away from a computer during that time.< Since the shutdown of Google Reader it has been challenging to maintain a consistent newsreader environment across multiple platforms without the aid of a universal sync. Although it is possible to sync feeds across multiple Macs using Dropbox, this leaves mobile RSS reading out of the loop. Web based news readers often lack the consistency and OS integration of their desktop based competitors, but Feverº does a good job of including the most valuable desktop features like OPML importexport, automatic updates, keyboard shortcuts, mouse free navigation, and integration with popular web based services. Its specially designed web view is tailored for the iPhone and iPod Touch.² For Mac OS X users looking to break free from their browsers, Feverº integrates with the single-site browser factory Fluid.³ Feverº might not have all the features or polish of NetNewsWire, but it is a platform I control, with a public API developers can use to extend its potential. If you are the kind of person who wants to control your newsreader experience, or who needs a helping hand sorting through your feeds, Feverº might be the right RSS reader for you.

1. Fever requires a Unix-like server (no WindowsIIS) running Apache, PHP 4.2.3+ (preferably compiled with mbstring and GD with PNG support) and MySQL 3.23+.
2. Feverº can overcome iOS’s multitasking limitations with a carefully crafted cron job that refreshes feeds in the background so you don’t have to wait. curl -L -s --user-agent 'Fever Refresh Cron' -k 'https://yourdoain.com/fever/?refresh'
3. The total number of unread items is updated in the Dock in real-time.

Trine 2 takes place in the same fantasy world as the original, and once again our three heroes, Zoya the thief, Pontius the knight, and Amadeus the wizard are bound together by the Trine and forced into saving the kingdom from darkness.

Trine 2 shares the same game mechanics as the original. Only one hero can be on the screen at a time, and the player must decide which hero’s unique set of abilities is up to the current task. Obstacles include the same spikes, pits of lava, fireballs, swinging pendulums, and booby traps as the original, but this time our heroes are forced to solve more difficult puzzles involving steam, pipes, and running water.

The hordes of skeletons from the first game have been replaced with roaming bands of goblins that attack our heroes with sword, spear, and arrow at designated times. I can’t say the variety or difficulty of the enemies has improved, but the adversary in Trine has always been the environments and never the combatants.

The characters are controlled using customized directional keys on the keyboard. Aiming is accomplished with the mouse.nThe left and right mouse buttons perform different attacks, spells, and actions depending on the character in play. The scroll wheel is used for switching between weapons.nSometimes it is important to perform a spell or attack with one character, and then quickly switch to another hero to use a different capability.nThis can more easily be accomplished by reprogramming the buttons surrounding the movement keys to switch in different characters.

Trine 2 shares the same emphasis for collecting experience points as the original. The bad news is that the ability enhancing treasure from the first game has been replaced with useless collectable artifacts in Trine 2. The good news is that casting spells or special attacks no longer has an energy requirement, and skill points can be reassigned among characters during the game.

Zoya retains all of her skills from the original game. She can shoot flaming arrows, and use her grappling hook to climb and swing from nearby wooden platforms.nIn Trine 2 she gains the ability to shoot frozen and explosive arrows, and creep past enemies with unnatural stealth. Zoya is still the most versatile character. Her distance attacks prove remarkably effective at close range after she gains the explosive arrow skill, and her grappling hook to can get her to many place other characters cannot.nI wouldn’t waste experience on her stealth skill. The object of the game is to kill opponents for their experience, not avoid them.

Pontius the knight gains some explosive capabilities of his own in Trine 2. He still boasts the same sword, shield, and hammer combo that made him a powerful warrior in the original, but this time his abilities have been strengthened with fire, frost, and throwing attacks. Pontius' frost shield temporally slows down enemies after he blocks their attacks.nHis fire sword makes short work of goblins that get in his way. With the proper experience he now has the ability to throw his mighty hammer, or charge its attack for even more damage. Pontius' hammer throw is indispensable for boss battles later in the game, but I have never found a need for his charged hammer attack.nEnemies just seem to die so quickly from the flames of his sword. Pontius also has a running charge attack, but the experience to unlock it could be better served on the wizard’s puzzle solving capabilities.

Amadeus the wizard is the groups problem solver. He has no offensive capabilities of his own, but his ability to conjure multiple objects and move things with his mind make him invaluable at solving the puzzles in Trine 2. I strongly advise that you place a lot of experience on Amadeus' ability to conjure multiple objects, and unlock his plank ability as soon as possible. The game is made easier by acquiring skills, and nothing helps reaching out of the way vials of experience like a stack of boxes conjured in the right place. Amadeus loses the power to conjure the floating pyramid from the original game, but his ability to pick up enemies with his mind and place them in harms way makes up for the difference.

Just like its predecessor Trine 2 benefits from the Nvidia PhysX engine. That means all of the boxes Amadeus generates, or all the goblins Pontius kills fall and interact with the world in a realistic way.nYou will start to count on this behavior when you swing Zoya from her grappling hook, or change the direction of deadly acid flowing overhead. The weight of objects Amadeus picks up with his mind can be used to activate pressure switches, spring levers, or crush enemies.nHalf of the joy of playing Trine is seeing what Rube Goldberg inspired contractions you can manipulate, exploit, or create in this realistic world. By using the realistic physics there is more than one way to solve a puzzle, making Trine 2 never the same game twice.

One way Frozenbyte, the developer of Trine, has tried to improve its replay value is with a series of achievements and an online cooperative multiplayer mode. The achievements challenge the player to discover all of the collectable artifacts in the game, or perform stunts like surf on a platform floating on steam for four seconds.nChallenges like completing an entire level with one character become difficult when you only have a constrained set of capabilities to rely on.

Due to a lack of available online players I never got to fully test Trine 2’s cooperative multiplayer capabilities. I suspect this feature is best served for local network play, or multiple controllers attached to the same computer.nIn cooperative play up to three players share the roles of the three available heroes. Puzzles must be solved with all players working together, no hero can be left behind.nI fear cooperative multiplayer mode might have made the single player game too easy.nNo one likes sitting around dead while their friends complete the game, and have all the fun without them.nTo combat this lack of participation Trine 2 offers a healthy amount checkpoints to revive fallen players. If you want a challenge in Trine 2 you will have to pick the hard difficulty where checkpoints don’t revive your health.

The world of Trine 2 is a beautiful one. Graphical detail and realistic lighting have been improved to the point I can no longer max out the video settings on my 2011 MacBook Air like I could with the original. It is difficult to find a 2D side-scrolling platform adventure, let alone a 3D shooter, with this amount of detail. It is a hard benchmark to beat, but I think Trine 2’s animated background paintings are even more beautiful than its predecessor.nYou can witness this beauty straight from the playable title screen where an enchanted castle vista is depicted in the same hour of daylight as your computer’s clock.

Trine took the standard side-scrolling platform adventure and turned it on its head with a choice of three heroes, upgradable abilities, and a realistic world where everything falls into place. Trine 2 follows on the same path as the first storybook adventure with gradual improvements that streamline gameplay and open the Trine world to players of all capabilities. If you liked the original, Trine 2 is a sure buy for $14.99 from the Mac App Store.