#oldreview

Safari - Comes with your mac. Very quick and slick, but a little lightweight in features. Currently my backup browser (for when something doesn't work right in one browser, or I don't want to deal with sessions) Firefox - I'm pretty sure that you've heard of this. Used to be my primary browser. Very customizable. Opera - A really nice, very slick browser that has lots of features that are only available through extensions, such as bookmark syncing across machines, and "Speed Dial", which opens up when you open a tab and gives you 9 (or more) spaces to put frequently used bookmarks. Also features things which to my knowledge are not available for Firefox, such as "turbo" mode which compresses things on the Opera servers before sending them to you when you're using a slow connection. It has previews of all your tabs when you double click the tab bar, or when you're cycling through your tabs using option-tab. There is an option to draw a line where the previous bottom of the screen was when you are hitting spacebar/page down/etc. to scroll, but hit the bottom of the page, so it doesn't scroll down a full page (good for finding your place again). Also, the themes available seem much nicer. In short, it has a lot of really nice features integrated, some of which are not available in vanilla Firefox, all while being much faster/less hard on the computer than Firefox. This is currently my main browser. Shiira - A browser based on WebKit, the base of Safari. Used to be very nice, better than Safari and my backup browser, but hasn't had a release in a while and is falling behind (especially with Safari 4 released). Has visual tabs and such, though I'm not nearly as fond of its implementation as I am with Opera (either they're on or off, no easy situational switch or preview when switching tabs). Demeter - A browser based on Shiira, sadly discontinued. Was my backup browser for a while, then it stopped working for some reason. Basically added bugfixes and minor refinements. Was quite nice in its day, but hasn't even been updated to the most recent version of Shiira. Omniweb - A web browser thats been around for a bit, but used to cost money (the company decided to focus on other stuff, so they made it free). Reasonably nice, with visual tabs (this seems to be a popular thing with "alternate" web browsers). One unique feature is that it checks for updates on your bookmarks. iCab - Has been around longer than Safari. I used it before I had OSX, and to my knowledge it is still the best option for pre-OSX macs. Brings back memories. Has been updated to be a reasonable modern browser. Camino - A mac optimized version of Firefox. I'd use it more, but in terms of Firefox-based things, I care more about extensions than integration. Flock - Another Firefox-based browser, this one integrates social networks. I tried it, but I found I preferred to just use the web interfaces of social networks. Sunrise - Another webkit-based browser. This one has visual bookmarks and the ability to take full-page screenshots (what I keep it around for). SeaMonkey - A continuance of the now discontinued Mozilla Suite, what Mozilla did before firefox. Has a browser, email client, IRC chat etc. I haven't tried this one, although I do have Mozilla Suite due to stupid compatibility issues with UTD's Moodle equivalent. I don't really have a need for a suite - I prefer independent programs. Chromium - Early efforts at Chrome for the mac. I haven't actually tried this one; from what I hear, it's still very rough and incomplete, which is backed up by the downloads page (which I had to get the link to from an external website). I probably won't take a look until it's a bit more finished. Stainless - Inspired by Google Chrome and its multi-processyness, this is incomplete browser with some promise. Features parallel sessions, where you can be logged into more than one account on a website at a time. Haven't used this much yet. Comedy options: Songbird - Based on Firefox, actually a music player, but it does have a built-in browser, which is good for downloading music (a panel at the bottom lists all the mp3s linked to by a page), but I'm not sure why you'd use it as your main web browser. Lynx - A text-based web browser, for when you need a web browser in your terminal and don't need things like tables, pictures, or frames W3m - Another text-based browser. Runs in emacs, for when your hot-keys just aren't confusing enough. Plus, it does tables! Wow!

Awesome and Cheap Computer Games These games I'd recommend to anybody without much reservation. Both of them are in my top 3 video games, they won't stress your computer out too much, they work on Mac and Windows, and the developers are awesome. They are also cheap for video games; Torchlight is $20 and frequently goes on sale for as little as $5, and Minecraft is currently 10 euros, with free modes available. Torchlight - This is the game where your dog can summon zombies. A simple action-rpg pulled off beautifully. And addictingly. Kill things in a myriad of satisfying ways, get awesome loot. I actually wound up buying it twice, once for Mac and once for Windows (You can now get it for both on Steam for $20) Minecraft - I've heard it described as Lego + Dwarf Fortress, which means nothing if you're not familiar with Dwarf Fortress. I'd describe it as Lego mixed with a strangely cute and blocky zombie apocalypse. There is a free mode without monsters, but I really recommend Minecraft Alpha (paid version). These two Penny Arcade strips are pretty accurate. My little brother convinced me to play by showing me the flying castle he made. It's technically still in Alpha, but is really fun right now. And still being updated. I will likely start harrasing people to play this even more one Survival Multiplayer is working - I'm thinking of starting a server just for me/family/friends. Free but Niche Dwarf Fortress - Ridiculously detailed/complicated strategy game, with ASCII graphics. Has the potential for great hilarity. I think the Something Awful forums had it right when it said that if the saga of Boatmurdered doesn't make you want to play, this is probably not the game for you. I recommend reading that even if you don't want to play Dwarf Fortress, it's hilarious. Normally Priced Games Mass Effect 2 - This is the third game in my top three. It's a sci-fi shooter/rpg, with interesting characters and fun mechanics. I think I've started a game with nearly every class, and more than 1 character for some. Playing the first game will give you context, and it is a good game, but if you only play one game, make it the sequel. You can find Mass Effect 1 save games to import into 2 online, if you're using the PC. Not available on the Mac. Really, I'd recommend most things by Bioware, and a lot of them have lesbian/gay relationship options available. Borderlands  - Fun to play with a friend. Psuedo-post-apocalyptic shooter with rpg elements, fun loot/interesting guns, and a lot of personality. For the Xbox 360. There is a PC version, which was buggy at launch; not sure if it's been fixed. Rock Band - It's Rock Band. If you only get one of them, I'd recommend Rock Band 3 (More than 1 person can sing non-Beatles songs) or Lego Rock Band (Rocks surprisingly hard, has an auto-kick mode, and a super-easy mode).

I am currently trying out a couple of web browsers. I do this every once in a while. My default web browser is Firefox, with Safari being available if a web page doesn't work well with firefox. I also have Shiira and Demeter for when I don't want to open up firefox (which can take a while, especially with my combination of restoring open windows on startup and always having lots and lots of windows). Demeter is a modified version of Shiira, which uses webkit (so sort of based off of Safari). Unfortunately, Demeter is not currently working. I chose them because they automatically sync their bookmarks with Firefox, so I don't have to worry about not having a bookmark I want.  Going back to the new browsers I'm trying, I've downloaded Opera and Flock. Flock is based on Firefox, with the goal of integrating social networking (Facebook, Livejournal, etc). So far, I quite like Opera (have found a good theme, some useful add-ons, and like the built in features). I don't like Flock quite as much - while integration with facebook etc. would be nice, Flock seems to do this mostly via a sidebar, and I don't much like side bars. I have also been unable to find any themes for it. While the default theme is quite nice, I would like the ability to have more options. I will continue trying these browsers. I will likely have to download a version of Mozilla Suite to use with WebCT, UTD's obnoxious equivalent to Moodle, soon.

So, I have some .cbz and .cbr files to open. They're a format designed for digital comic books. It's possible to unzip them or something to get at the image files, but that's a pain. Anyway, the preferred mode of dealing with them is to get a comic book reader program. I already had FFview, but it displayed the pages in my files out of order, which got annoying very fast. So, I began my search for another reader. The next one I tried was Comical. Comical displayed my pages in order, but had no identifiable shortcut key to turn the page, which meant that full screen mode was nearly useless. However, the deal-breaker was that it crashed very frequently (every couple of pages, and sometimes before I could get back to the place I was when it last crashed). So, I finally found ComicBookLover. This displayed the pages in order and is much more stable than Comical. It's full screen mode is functional, although there is an annoying black control box which is larger than it needs to be. Also, the free version places a watermark in a corner. Sooner or later, the watermark is bound to obscure a piece of dialog. However, ComicBookLover is good enough for now.

I think it just sunk in that now that I have Windows, there are new browsers I can try out. Currently trying Maxthon and K-Meleon out. First Impressions -Maxthon: Ooh, options. Lots of pretty, pretty options. I shall have much fun poking around. Need to find a nice theme. -K-Meleon: If I understand correctly, I can make it use Firefox/Opera bookmarks instead of its own, so long as they are not open alongside it. This would make it a good back-up browser. Also needs a theme. I could still use something that would sync Firefox and Opera bookmarks. Xmarks seems to work with anything but Opera ;.; If you know of any interesting browsers, let me know (I already know of Firefox/Opera/Chrome/IE/Safari).

Multiplatform Feedly - a Google Reader/Twitter client. Pretty. Integrates via extension to Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. I'm going to try putting it in Fluid (a site-specific browser for the mac) using this. RockMelt - a browser (based on Chromium/Chrome) that integrates social networking. I think I like the interface better than Flock. Currently in semi-closed beta. You can friend them on facebook and wait for an invite or ask me, I have a few invites. Opera Beta - The biggest problem with Opera has been the lack of extensions, and associated lack of support for things like Delicious, Xmarks, or Lastpass. The new Opera fixes the lack of extension support, and is worth watching to see what extensions get added. 1Password - a password manager. I'm currently using LastPass, an online one, but I'd be more comfortable with a desktop manager. Is in beta for Windows. Windows Live Mesh - another online syncing program (a la Dropbox). This one has 5GB free and allows folder selection, but lack iPhone and Linux support. I will likely use it alongside Dropbox. Pre-ready Mac Software µtorrent - I use the Windows version as the main torrent program on Windows, but the Mac version doesn't yet have all the features. When it does, it will battle Transmission for the spot of top Mac torrent program in my mind. Has an annoying name to type. Reeder for Mac - The Reeder app for the iPhone is a gorgeous rss reader; I'm very glad that I bought it, despite it costing money. I would pay for the mac app. Caffeinated - Another rss reader (I use rss a lot, as you may be able to tell). I've heard about it. Worth keeping an eye on. Games I'm considering pre-ordering Anything by Bioware - Bioware are the folks that made Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Knights of the Old Republic, and Baldur's Gate. They're pretty awesome, is what I'm getting at. They're currently working on The Old Republic, a Star Wars MMO; Dragon Age 2; and expansions to Mass Effect 2 (then Mass Effect 3). Torchlight 2 - Torchlight is amazing, the developers are awesome, and everything I've heard about Torchlight 2 makes me want to play it (zombie bear magicians! Steampunkiness!) Diablo 3 - Diablo 2 was the holy grail of action-RPGs, and I still play it. The devolopers turn out consistently amazing games that work on Macs or PCs out of the box (Starcraft, Warcraft, World of Warcraft in addition to Diablo).  Mac Software Babble - Facebook and Twitter client (replacing Socialite). Still a bit buggy, but prettier than Socialite. Gruml - RSS reader (for Google Reader). Also replacing Socialite. Tried NetNewsWire, wasn't very fond of it. Google Reader's web interface interface isn't bad; I also use that via Fluid, and via Chrome Tools on Windows. Sparrow - Gmail Client. Fake and Butler - Automaters. I'll see if there's anything I want to automate with them. Am considering trying Fake to get through to Elearning (UTDs idiot cousin to Moodle, which require a lot of clicks to actually get logged in) GeekTool - Like Rainmeter for Windows, but less friendly. I miss Rainmeter, ObjectDock, and Fences on Windows. My desktop is actually useful and pretty! So this will hopefully bring the Mac desktop one step closer to actually being used. Meteorologist - Again trying to replace a nice windows thing - ObjectDock has a very pretty weather icon/pop-up. This is the closest I've found for the Mac. Much less pretty. I'd use one that goes in my menubar, but I really don't have room. MarsEdit - I don't know if I'm willing to pay for it, but I intend to use the free trial to write my giant post of programs (it's a blogging client) PostBox - another mail client. As you can see, I try out a lot of software. Edit 11/16: Some further opinions on some of these: Feedly - now my main rss reader, on both Windows and Mac. Wish there was a working badge icon :( Gruml - Jumped ship for Feedly Fake - Trying some things out. Trial can't save though. On hold until I boot back into the Mac side Rockmelt - Some slight annoyances, but am using it as my main browser on Windows. Doesn't hold a candle to Firefox 4 if a lot of tabs are open, though, and the TooManyTabs Chrome extension doesn't work quite right.  Babble  - Using it as my main, but am getting a bit annoyed at its quirks. If you know of a good twitter/facebook client, let me know. I've tried Yoono, TweetDeck, and Socialite (along with some more obscure ones). Also added a bit of formatting.