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Review: SmudgeGuard2

by Krishna on December 11, 2011 at 9:27 am

Product: SmudgeGuard2
Manufacturer: Smudge Guard LLC
Date Reviewed: 12-11-11
Retail Price: $16.99

There’s nothing worse than having wet hands while trying to draw on a tablet. (Okay, I suppose there are worse things, but this is a family friendly website.) When your hand sticks against the surface of your tablet, it can impact your overall line quality.

Not a good thing.

Fortunately, there is a solution: the SmudgeGuard2 (SG2)

The SG2 is a two-fingered glove made with 84% Nylon and 16% Spandex that covers both the ring finger and pinky finger. The SG2′s material is porous, allowing your hand to “breathe” while working. The SG2 fits both left and right-handed artists and comes in XL, L, M, S, and XS sizes. (I purchased the large version.) It’s also easy to wash; just use cold water with soap, rinse and air dry. (A one fingered SmudgeGuard, which covers only the pinky, is also available.)

In my usage for the past two months, the SG2 does exactly what its says it will do. Wearing the SG2 is comfortable, particularly when working on my tablet for hours on end. The material build is flexible and durable, showing no signs of visible wear. Best of all, my drawing hand no longer sticks to the surface of the tablet. As a result, my lines are more precise and smooth. I don’t have a Cintiq, but I’d imagine the results would be just as good for users of that product. The SG2 also works well with pencil / paper, preventing undue smudges that would otherwise occur.

To summarize: if you spend a considerable amount of time drawing with a tablet or Cintiq and you’re frustrated with your hand’s friction against its surface, you owe it to yourself to buy the SmudgeGuard2.

The SmudgeGuard2 earns a solid 5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

└ Tags: accessories, Wacom

2 Comments

Review: NewerTech NuGuard GripStand2 and GripBase

by Krishna on November 25, 2011 at 5:01 am

Posted In: ipad, News, Reviews

My family and I have spent 6 months living with an iPad2 in our house and, in my opinion, Apple’s latest gadget has lived up to its hype. We use our iPad on a regular basis for many tasks: watching Netflix videos, video chatting with family members, reading eBooks, surfing the web, and even playing an occasional game or two. It has been a worthwhile investment, and I’m glad I own one.

Given that the investment wasn’t exactly cheap, protecting it from potential damage became a top priority. So, with our iPad2, we ordered an orange SmartCover to protect the display. Shortly afterward, I placed another order for a Speck SmartShell2 case to protect the unit’s back from potential nicks and scratches.

For the most part, I’ve been happy with these accessories. The Speck Smartshell is sturdy and rugged, and does a great job of protecting the iPad, and the SmartCover holds its own when protecting the unit’s front display.

But the one drawback I’ve come to realize is the SmartCover’s ability to serve as a video stand. It does work, but you are limited to viewing content vertically. And, as a vertical stand, the SmartCover simply isn’t sturdy enough. An inadvertent jostle or bump to the desk that the iPad sits on can cause the unit to topple over like a house of cards. (With a 3-year old in the house, this has happened at least a half a dozen times.)

Enter the NewerTechnology GripBase and GripStand 2, from Other World Computing. The GripBase and GripStand 2 lets you mount your iPad2 on a solid base. With the GripStand 2, you can orient the iPad2 vertically or horizontally. Both the GripBase and GripStand 2 come in white or black; OWC sells a separate version for first generation iPads as well.

I purchased the black GripBase and GripStand 2 from OWC for the holiday sale price of $29 (retail: $59.99). Let’s take a look at them both.

The GripStand 2

The GripStand 2 is a hard plastic protective shell that fits snuggly your iPad2. With its included ring handle, you can sit your iPad2 horizontally or vertically upright on your desk. Fitting the iPad2 into the GripStand 2 was a plug-n-play affair. The ring handle on the back of the unit is removable. Removing and reattaching the ring clip is a breeze – it has two side calipers that you press to attach the ring handle to the back of the iPad2. The GripStand 2 provides easy access to all the iPad2 ports and controls, and best of all, supports the existing Apple SmartCover. It’s a very solid piece of kit. The GripStand 2 is ideal for travel usage.

The GripBase

The NewerTech GripBase turns your iPad2 into a mini workstation display. With the GripBase, you can easily rotate between horizontal and vertical display positions. In the box, you’ll find instructions, the base and the vertical stand. An included screw is used to secure the base to the stand. The vertical stand lets you swivel the iPad2 for easy viewing.

The GripBase’s weighted display stand keeps the iPad2 anchored very securely. Simply snap off the ring handle from the Grip Stand 2 and attach the iPad to the GripBase. The GripBase makes sense in a stationary environment. Moving back and forth between the Grip Stand and GripBase was very easy to do.

Here’s how the GripBase looks alongside my computing setup.

The GripBase and GripStand 2 represents a solid deal for the money, if you’re in the market for a rugged protective case / stand setup. Both products compliment the aesthetic look of the iPad2. The only niggle I have is the plastic packaging on the GripStand – it was very difficult to open and I nearly cut my finger trying to get the GripStand out of its packaging.

Niggles aside, the GripBase and the GripStand2 represent a tremendous value, particularly at its current sale price of $29. I’ve been very satisfied with both units. I say that as a customer first; these were not review units. (Disclosure: OWC is a site sponsor.)

The NewerTech GripBase and GripStand 2 both earn a solid 5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

-Krishna

└ Tags: iPad accessories, iPad2 stand, NewerTech, Other World Computing

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Operation: Phoenix Revival Part I

by Krishna on October 3, 2011 at 12:01 am

Posted In: Mac, News, Reviews

Three years ago, I purchased one of the last early 2008 model Macbook Pros (MBP), shortly after the late 2008 (aka Unibody) Macbook Pros were released. I did this for a few reasons. I’ve owned a few Mac laptops in my time, starting with a Wallstreet model (1998), moving onto a Pismo (2000), followed by the first generation Intel Macbook Pro (2006) and finally, the very model I’m writing about. Out of all the machines I’ve owned, the early 2008 MBP is easily the best of the bunch. I like almost everything about this machine, from the crisp matte LED screen to the removable battery. It’s been an incredibly reliable machine since I’ve owned it. Outside of a RAM upgrade purchased early on, my MBP has been running “stock” with its Hitachi 250GB 5400RPM hard drive.

Alas, time marches on. Faster, newer unibody Macbook Pro and Air models were introduced and my beloved machine was beginning to feel a little long in the tooth. But as sexy and powerful as the newer machines are, I wasn’t willing or ready to part with my existing MBP. I wanted to give my MBP a little more oomph, but the question was “How?”.

Ever since I purchased my first solid state drive (SSD) for my Mac Pro tower, I’d been jonesing to add one into my laptop. Two things kept me from doing so:

funds (or lack thereof)
complexity

Point 1 was remedied with time, but Point 2 remained. The 2006 – early 2008 Macbook Pros didn’t exactly have the reputation of being the easiest machines to upgrade. I did my research, read a few blogs, and came across ifixit’s wonderful step-by-step documentation. I must have read that document at least 20 times. My confidence was up and I knew the inevitable would have to happen, so I plunked down my hard earned dollars to Other World Computing and took a deep breath. Upon the recommendation from Grant Dahlke at OWC, I ordered the OWC DIY 115GB SSD Bundle. This order included:

an OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 3G SSD (115GB)
an OWC On-the-Go Pro enclosure (for my old 5400RPM drive)
a 5 piece toolkit with assorted screw drivers (1 T8 Torx, 1 T6 Trox, a Philips #00, a 1.8mm straight blade, and one nylon spudger

Less than a week after my order was placed (this past Friday), my goodies arrived:

It was a fortuitous arrival; I was on academic break, which meant I could make the necessary time to work on my machine. But given that our Fall quarter was about to start, I knew that I had to install the new drive right away. My plan was to install the OWC SSD and perform a fresh install of the OS and apps and essentially start from scratch. But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

In preparation of the install, I printed out all the ifixit document pages and placed them next to my laptop. Why print when I could simply pull up the page on my iPad? Well, simply put – for my sanity. Getting into the guts of the early 2008 Macbook Pro involves unscrewing a lot of similarly sized, but different, teeny, tiny screws, like the ones below. Screws that, if left in a pile, could drive me bonkers. My strategy was to affix tape to secure the screws next to the appropriate step on the printed docs. I did this for two reasons:

to avoid losing the screws (lots of fun on thick, shaggy carpet)
to make it easier to put the whole enchilada back together again, properly

Teeny, tiny screws (I wasn’t lying – they’re small!):

These screws aren’t going anywhere:

After opening my MBP’s Speck plastic protector, I began unscrewing elements of the case, following the ifixit guide. The OWC toolkit came in very handy.

After removing about 30 odd screws (seriously, I lost count at some point), I was ready to remove the top part of the case. I started from the back and gently popped the top off. It wasn’t all sugar cookies and cream – removing the top part of the case from the front DVD latch
area took a bit of patience. Three minutes later I was staring into the belly of the beast:

I couldn’t completely remove the top case from the unit as the keyboard connector was clinging to the motherboard. Instead of removing it, I used two plastic blocks to prop up the top part of the case, like so:

And the fun was about to start…

Come back for Part 2 on Tuesday!

-Krishna

└ Tags: hardware, Mac, Macbook Pro, Mercury Extreme Pro, Other World Computing, SSD drives, SSD vs HD

11 Comments

video: early 2008 Macbook Pro with OWC SSD

by Krishna on October 2, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Posted In: Mac, News, Reviews

While my full review of the 115GB OWC Mercury Extreme solid state drive is still being drafted, I couldn’t resist sharing a video showing the improved boot time with the SSD installed. Take a look and see for yourself!

-Krishna

└ Tags: early 2008, Macbook Pro, Other World Computing, review, solid state drives

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Meet Arnold: First Impressions of the Roomba 560

by Krishna on September 17, 2011 at 11:37 am

Posted In: First Impressions, News, Reviews

We have our own robot. Typing those words feels ever so strange, but thanks to the Roomba 560, we’re Living in The Future ™.

As a kid, I’d always imagined that “in the future” we’d have our very own automaton waiting on us hand and foot. Well, the Roomba isn’t exactly our personal Jeeves, but it is a robot – albeit a very specialized one whose sole function in life is keep our floors and carpets clean.

Prior to buying a Roomba, I did my research. I asked friends who owned one, watched demos both online and in person, spent countless nights reading reviews, and even crowd-sourced feedback from my Twitter Roomba-owning friends. I decided the time was right – it’s 2011 and, by gosh, I needed to own my own robot.

The less glamorous version of the story is that the vacuum cleaner we’ve been using (purchased used in 1998) was in dire need of replacement, thanks to a bad motor bearing.

The Roomba 560 retails for $350, but with discounts you can find one for around $300. We purchased ours at Bed, Bath, and Beyond because of their generous return policy. Inside the box is the Roomba, it’s charging station (with plug), an extra replacement filter, a brush cleaner, two Virtual Walls, a registration card and user manual.

The Roomba unit itself has two rubber treaded wheels (akin to those found in LEGO sets) and a plastic swivel wheel that lets it turn around to change its direction. There is also a sweeper attachment that brings debris towards the Roomba (perfect for corners and other hard to reach surfaces).

Lifting the Roomba out of the box, I initially thought the bottom of the unit was about to fall out from underneath the unit, until I realized that the two main rubberized wheels were on a separate shock absorber system connected to the chassis.

Before first use, we connected our Roomba to its charging station. The Roomba 560 comes with a rechargeable battery. The owner’s manual stated no less than three times that the Roomba needs to be recharged after each use – that a prolonged delay in charging it could potentially damage the battery.

Here’s a video showing the Roomba’s collision and cliff-detecting abilities:

As the video above demonstrates, the Roomba moves in a spiral pattern – moving towards a wall, gently bumping it, turning around and moving in another direction. Its vacuuming pattern appears to be based on its detection of walls and hard surfaces. The Roomba is also immensely useful in hard to reach areas, like underneath the bed. It was a pretty neat feeling to watch the Roomba (which has since been named ‘Arnold’) do its thing. The Roomba does a reasonably good job of covering the entire room’s surface area.

After vacuuming our entire downstairs area (both carpeted and ceramic tile flooring), which included our kitchen, bedroom and living room area, the Roomba returned to its base station for recharging. We inspected the Roomba’s dust / dirt collectors. Both were completely filled; the filtration area was caked with dust.

The contents were disposed of, and I added a shot of compressed air to clean the remaining dust covering the filter. The Roomba owners manual states that it’s important to empty the bins after each use.

My first impressions of the Roomba 560 (so far) have been really good. We haven’t programmed the Roomba, or made use of the virtual walls yet, but my hope is to update this post after we spend a few more days with the unit. Do you own a Roomba? How has it been in your experience? Share your observations below!

-Krishna

└ Tags: first impressions, hardware, iRobot, Roomba, tech

6 Comments

Review: Forklift 2.0

by Krishna on June 29, 2011 at 5:47 am

Posted In: Mac, News, Reviews

Product: Forklift 2.0.8
Manufacturer: Binary Nights
Date Reviewed:6-29-11
Retail Price: $29.99 via Mac App Store

I’ll preface this report by saying this review has been a long time in coming.

As a veteran Mac user, I’ve grown to deal with certain shortcomings with the Mac OS. (Yes, Virginia, there are a few.) Chief among my frustrations is file management.

Take a classic scenario that involves copying one file from within one folder to a separate folder location on your drive. To do this in Mac OS X, you would have to have two Finder windows open. As a Mac user for almost 20 years, I know that I am not alone when I say that copying and moving files on the Mac, as its currently implemented, totally blows.

I keep waiting for the day that Mac OS X will support a split-pane Finder view. Until that happens (and I’m not holding my breath), we have Forklift 2.0, from BinaryNights.

Forklift 2.0 has been dubbed “the second coming of file management”. Normally I’d dismiss that as hyperbole, but I think, in this case, the billing is right on the mark. This program offers split-paned windows, but it really does so much more. Don McAllister did a great ScreenCastsOnline video that covers the program really well. (You can watch it on the Forklift 2.0 website.)

Instead of retreading what Don’s superb 36 minute video has already covered, I’d like to share how I use Forklift 2.0 and how it’s made me more productive.

Right off the bat, Forklift makes it super easy to copy and move files using its split-pane interface. You can choose up to 4 methods when viewing the contents within each window: Icon, List, Columns, or CoverFlow.

Here’s Icon view:

Here’s the CoverFlow view:

I’m already sold on the program because of its split-pane view, but you can also have tabs within each split-pane. So instead of opening up 4 separate Finder windows, you can keep everything contained within one Forklift window. Forklift supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, and a bunch of other protocols I don’t really use. In my tests, I was able to easily configure, save, and connect to my servers without any issues.

Forklift is also smart enough to remember all your open window tabs.

You can swap the panes via a keyboard shortcut (Option-Shift-Command-P) or select a specific window pane (Left is Command-Left Arrow, and Right is Command-Right Arrow). And if you want to customize your keyboard shortcuts, Forklift lets you do that, too. Want multiple Forklift windows? No problem. Hit Command-N and a separate Forklift window (with its own split pane) appears.

Also in the Forklift Preferences, you can set a default text editor to use for specific file extensions. So if you want to use TextWrangler for .MEL files and Smultron for .HTML files, you can configure that easily within the program.

There is so much to discover within Forklift. I use it each and every day. And I haven’t even talked about Stacks, Disklets (which lets your apps reach remotely stored files), Droplets, its built-in batch renaming capabilities or its folder synchronization prowess. Did I mention that Forklift 2.0 comes with a full-featured application uninstaller?

(NOTE: the Mac App Store version does NOT support Disklets, but the version you can purchase from the Binary Nights website DOES.)

You can even browse local and remote archives (zip, rar, etc.) as if they were ordinary folders. This feature is a huge convenience for me, as I happen to work with compressed files on an almost daily basis.

You can customize Forklift’s toolbar with features you use on a regular basis.

On mine, I have added buttons to facilitate Move To, Copy To, Rename, and Compress.

In short, Forklift 2.0.8 packs plenty of punch for $30. I know that this article isn’t so much of a review as it is an endorsement, but that’s the way I feel. The program has the spit-and-polish of a true Mac application. In my testing, I found Forklift to be a stable release. The attention to detail is everywhere: from the application’s icon to the layout, Forklift looks just as good as it works – and it works great!

So… are there any downsides?

~~Nothing really major, but I really want Forklift to save my FTP password info for the servers I connect to on a regular basis.~~ (Update:There is an option to save FTP passwords within the Favorites > Show Favorites area. Hat tip to BinaryNights for letting me know!) Not really a down side, but it’s worth noting that Forklift 2 requires Mac OS X 10.6, which means you’ll have to have an Intel Mac to work it.

Pricing-wise, if you buy directly from Binary Nights, a single license will set you back $29.95. Family pack licenses are $49.95. Or you could buy it off the Mac App Store (MAS) and pay $29.95 and install it on all your Macs. Beware that the MAS version does not include the Disklets feature, so if that’s important to you, buy your copy from the developer’s site.

Bottom line: If you are frustrated by the inefficiencies of moving and copying files within the Finder, you owe it to yourself to try Forklift 2.0 out. And if that’s not enough to sell you, the built-in FTP / SFTP tools and file / folder synchronization features should.

Power users: After using Forklift for a week, you’ll wind up buying a copy. (Hey, it happened to me.)

Forklift 2.0 earns 4.5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

Update:Thanks to the generosity of BinaryNights, I’m giving away 1 copy of ForkLift 2.0. To enter, simply post a comment below and state which two features of ForkLift you feel would be the most useful to you in your workflow. The winner will be randomly selected and notified by tomorrow at 10AM EST.

Good luck!

Update: We have a winner – reader Jamie Gambell’s number was randomly selected via Random Number. Congrats to Jamie, and thanks to everyone who shared and ReTweeted the contest!

└ Tags: Mac file management software, Mac OS X, productivity, split screen windows

6 Comments

Review: Teleport 1.0.2

by Krishna on June 18, 2011 at 9:44 pm

Posted In: News, Reviews

Product: Teleport
Manufacturer: Abyssoft
Date Reviewed: 6-18-11
Version Reviewed: 1.0.2
Retail Price: donationware

Teleport is a PreferencePane that lets you control several Macs using a single keyboard and mouse. Simply move your mouse to the edge of your screen and your mouse cursor “teleports” to your nearby Mac. With Teleport you can synchronize your pasteboard to copy and paste easily between multiple Macs. You can even drag and drop files between Teleport configured Macs – with no need to mount volumes beforehand.

Sound too good to be true?

That’s what I thought, until I tried it for myself. In short, Teleport works as advertised. I’ve tested the program with Snow Leopard between my two Macs, one laptop and one desktop. Teleport works with Leopard, too. If you happen to rock a PowerPC Mac, you’re in luck – because Teleport also supports that configuration, albeit with a slightly older version (1.0.1).

Installation was drop-dead simple: Double-click the Teleport PreferencePane and the Teleport icon shows up in your System Preferences. Teleport also installs itself as a menu item, making access even more convenient. To make use of Teleport, you’ll have to install and activate it on every Mac screen you want to share.

The Teleport PrefPane includes three main areas: Layout, Security Settings, and Options.
In the Layout tab, you can activate (or deactivate) Teleport. To make use of Teleport, you will also need to click the “Share this Mac” button. In the Layout tab, you can arrange the shared Macs. I kept my Macbook Pro’s screen on the left and the Mac Pro’s screens on the right, to match the physical placement I have between both machines. Teleport supports dual display monitors.

The security settings allow for encrypted connections and you an also specify access via the Control requests radio buttons.

Within the Options tab, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to enable screen switching, customize the delay between switching screens andalso configure support for dragging and dropping files between Macs. You can also specify a rule to limit how large pasted files can be, if you plan to copy and paste between Macs.

Teleport works as advertised with my computing setup. I plan to test it on my G5 machine soon. It’s an incredibly useful tool if you manage two or more close proximity Macs. For optimum use, you want to make sure that you can physically see all the screens you plan to “teleport” between. If you have Macs in other rooms where you can’t see the screen directly, using Apple’s Screen Sharing app makes more sense.

If you haven’t already guessed, I really like Teleport. If all it did was let you share one keyboard and mouse between multiple Macs, it would still be a good program – but the addition of drag and drop file transfer between Macs and the inclusion of a synchronized pasteboard between multiple Macs makes Teleport a no-brainer to download. The only thing that would make Teleport even more awesome is if there was a method to share one keyboard between multiple platforms, like the open-source Synergy. In my experience, however, Teleport is much easier to install and configure compared to Synergy.

Update: Since this review was written, I’ve noticed a few times when the cursor does not return back to the main screen after “teleporting” to another. The only fix that I have been able to find is to go to the Teleport Menu on the controlled screen and deselect “Share this Mac”.

Teleport earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you like the program, kick in a few bucks to the developer!

-Krishna

└ Tags: keyboard sharing apps for Mac OS X, mac utilities, productivity

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Review: Speck SmartShell iPad2 case

by Krishna on June 15, 2011 at 8:29 pm

Posted In: News, Reviews

Product: Speck SmartShell iPad2 Case (orange)
Manufacturer: Speck
Date Reviewed:6-15-11
Retail Price: $34.95
Price paid: $25.00

When you spend a small fortune on an iPad, you want to protect your investment. Like most people, I purchased Apple’s own Smart Case when I ordered my iPad. But while the Smart Case does a good job of protecting the iPad2′s screen, it does little to protect the backside from potential damage.

Thanks to the iPad’s overwhelming popularity, there is no shortage of third party iPad protectors. While there are iPad protector solutions to choose from, my needs were pretty specific. I wanted a case that:

sufficiently protects the rear panel of the iPad2 from scratches and dings, while giving me full access to the front and rear-facing cameras
integrates well, both aesthetically and functionally, with the Apple Smart Case
isn’t too expensive (under $35)

My research led me to Speck’s SmartShell iPad2 case. I purchased mine at Amazon. I’m no stranger to Speck – in fact, I have reviewed one of their products before.

The SmartShell case comes in 4 standard configurations: Pink Satin, Black Satin, Clear and Orange. The elegant (and easy-to-open) packaging includes the case.

The SmartShell itself is made of a lightweight, ultra-thin matte polycarbonate material. It snaps into place and fits snugly around the iPad2. The case feels solid, yet light to the touch. It integrates beautifully with the Apple Smart Case, as evidenced in the photos below.

The SmartShell iPad2 case allows for easy access to all ports and built-in accessories, including the headphone jack, both front and rear facing cameras, the USB charger, and the volume rocker knob. The only niggle I have with the product is the difficulty in removing the case. Because of its super-snug fit, taking the SmartShell off seems to be a little difficult.

In summary, with the SmartShell case, my iPad2 feels fully protected. Plus, it looks great and integrates well with Apple’s Smart Case. It’s the protector that Apple should have included. Kudos to Speck for another excellent product!

The SmartShell iPad2 Case earns 4.5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

└ Tags: iPad2 case, review, smartshell, Speck

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Review: Ultra Cable Management

by Krishna on June 11, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Posted In: News, Reviews

Product: Cable Management 6ft.
Manufacturer: ULTRA
Warranty: 3 years
Date Reviewed: 6-11-11
Retail Price: $12.99
Price Paid: $5.99

Behind every sleek computing setup is a splay of jumbled cables and wires.

Despite being unusually attentive in both cleaning and maintaining my workspace areas, a recent reorganization of my studio space brought to light the fact that I had done pratically nothing to address the sprawling cable clutter underneath my desks. Witness Exhibit A and B below:

What a mess!

Outside of being an eye-sore, cable clutter can potentially damage your wires: Ask anyone with little kids or pets.

Two weeks ago I started looking into cable management solutions. I needed something that would look good, be easy to install and not break the bank in terms of overall cost. I think I found all three in the ULTRA Cable Management solution.

I ordered three 6′ kits, largely based on the positive reviews I read on the CompUSA website. I placed my order last weekend and received the products yesterday. Here’s what it looks like, in the box:

Each ULTRA cable management kit comes with a 6′ flexible plastic conduit and a specialized tool to facilitate placing the cables inside the conduit. (The kit can also be ordered in 25 and 50 feet sizes as well.)

The conduit is durable, flexible, and easy to cut if you need to trim the size down. The supplied tool is very easy to use, and documented on the back of the box. I had no problem whatsoever in using the tool to place the cables into the conduit. I was literally finished with the install in a matter of minutes.

Was I happy with the result? I’ll let the pictures do the talking:

‘Nuff said, huh?

ULTRA’s Cable Management earns 5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

└ Tags: cable management, eliminate cable clutter, workspace organization

5 Comments

Review: Memory Cleaner

by Krishna on May 24, 2011 at 6:00 am

Posted In: News, Reviews

Product: Memory Cleaner
Manufacturer: Alice Dev Team
Date Reviewed: 5-24-11
Retail Price: $5.99 via Mac App Store

Every time your Mac opens an application, it uses more memory. But sometimes the OS doesn’t relinquish the extra RAM, even after the memory-hungry application has quit. If you work with memory intensive applications on your Mac, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Manga Studio Pro or even Maya, you’ve probably experienced your machine running at a crawl. Up until now, the two solutions for such sluggishness have been:

1) Reboot the Mac.
2) Buy more RAM.

I have 10 GB of RAM in my Mac Pro, and I find that, given the opportunity, both applications and OS will use up every bit of that memory. Quitting an app may not be enough – as the memory may still contain residual data that’s no longer being used. Rebooting, as easy as it is, wasn’t an option for me.

Thankfully, the Alice Dev Team felt the same way and, more importantly, decided to do something about it.

Memory Cleaner, a simple $5.99 app, does one thing and one thing alone: it frees up wasted memory that’s not being used and, in turn, makes your Mac run faster. The application itself has a tiny footprint, weighing in at under 400KB. The best part of Memory Cleaner is that you don’t need to restart your Mac to reap the benefits. Simply invoke the app and click the “Clean My Memory” button and you will see how much additional free memory you have available.

It’s pretty straight-forward. I have gotten into the habit of running Memory Cleaner when I’ve finished using a memory hungry application. The reclaimed space averages anywhere between 200MB to 1GB, depending upon the application you’ve recently quit. When you’ve clicked the “Clean My Memory” button, you’ll get this dialog box:

No biggie – as the runtime operation of Memory Cleaner is usually a few seconds or so.

So, the application works as advertised. But you’re probably asking: is it worth the $6.00? Wouldn’t it be easier to reboot and just call it a day?

For most people – yes, $6.00 is overkill. But if you are running several memory intensive applications $6.00 is a small price to pay to reclaim wasted memory and improve overall performance. As I maintain 3 computers at home, the average cost per machine worked out to $2.00 – so I feel that the app was completely worth it. In a perfect world, Mac OS X would perform its own memory purge after closing an app, but until that happens, there’s always Memory Cleaner.

Memory Cleaner earns 5 out of 5 Bob Weiners.

└ Tags: high end applications, Mac App Store, Mac memory, mac utilities

8 Comments

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The Story So Far…

Funnies!

Classics

Featured Guest-Stars

Guest Strips

Archive for ‘Reviews’

Review: SmudgeGuard2

Review: NewerTech NuGuard GripStand2 and GripBase

The GripStand 2

The GripBase

Operation: Phoenix Revival Part I

video: early 2008 Macbook Pro with OWC SSD

Meet Arnold: First Impressions of the Roomba 560

Review: Forklift 2.0

Review: Speck SmartShell iPad2 case

Review: Ultra Cable Management

Review: Memory Cleaner