Many people are familiar with
computer case modifications, thanks to the
photogenic nature of mods. On the software side, most operating systems feature some potential for customization, though this is often limited to tweaking the colors and sounds. For some, this isn't enough. Enter "
skinning," the casual term for interface customization. To a degree, the
history of the media player Winamp (YT, 7:03;
transcript with pictures) mirrors the history of skinning. From a version 0.2, a visually dull app in June 1997, to easy user customization in version 2 in September 1998, and the complexly customizable Winamp3 in August 2002.
Wired captured something of the excitement at its peak in an article from 2000, before computing began shifting to more closed devices. Now approaching a
post-WIMP (windows, icons, menus and a pointer) era, where skinning is done with
alternative launchers. But for those still using traditional computers of one sort or another, it's not too late to modify your interface.
[more inside]
posted by filthy light thief
on Apr 17, 2012 -
70 comments
Although
Apple's OS X operating system is making inroads with power users, providing Apple style and usability over a FreeBSD-derived UNIX-certified architecture, many find the built-in terminal emulator sadly lacking both UNIX feel and Apple polish. Fortunately, MeFi's own
jewzilla has picked up the ball on the most popular third-party Terminal replacement, iTerm, and rolled out something altogether new and wonderful:
iTerm2. [via
mefi projects]
posted by Mr. Anthropomorphism
on Jul 20, 2011 -
86 comments
Plainview is a free full-screen web browser for your mac.
Until now, you had two options for showing Internet work: capture it all to Quicktime and throw it into Powerpoint or Keynote (looks nice but no interactivity as everything has to be canned) or show it in your browser (interactive but with ugly chrome distracting people from your beautiful sites).
So here's a third option. Fire up your full-screen browser and let your audience focus on the work.
[more inside]
posted by krautland
on Oct 27, 2008 -
52 comments
OS X as music video. (SLYT) Dennis Liu's interpretation of "Again and Again" by the Bird and the Bee, using a particular operating system as inspiration. It does feel kind of like an Apple ad, but it's quite creative.
posted by fungible
on May 13, 2008 -
33 comments
The How-To Geek provides hints and tips for a variety of operating systems and popular pieces of software. The how-tos cover a pleasing range of head-slapping I-should-have-known-thats to relatively advanced techniques. Follow the
latest page to read the site in blog form.
posted by nthdegx
on Jul 8, 2007 -
12 comments
Software Pop Idol If you're a software developer, what happens when you run out of ideas? You ask the community of course! Then you sort, rate and have the ideas voted on. Make it a contest and give away prizes. And that's exactly what the Mac Programmers behind
My Dream App have done. Entries are due by Sept 1st.
Rules here.
Idea Submission form here.
posted by filmgeek
on Aug 28, 2006 -
19 comments
MacSaber! Turn Your Mac Into a Jedi Weapon. I cannot explain how much fun I had slashing co-workers with a laptop today.
Be careful not too get too excited. You don't want to lose your grasp on the MacBook or shake so hard you damage the hard drive. Great to try once. Or in my case, 20 minutes straight.
posted by jragon
on May 20, 2006 -
30 comments
Well, it's an old rumor, but many sources (including the
NYT,
WSJ,
Wired, and many rumor sites) are reporting that Steve Jobs will be announcing a switch to Intel at the
WWDC tomorrow. The WSJ claims Apple will be switching to x86 processors, while others speculate Intel will simply be manufacturing PPC chips, or only processors for a tablet PC. If the rumors are true, and it seems like they are, what of the Intel DRM
recently announced? Are we destined to have DRM hardwired into our computers no matter where we turn?
Curiously, the
major rumor site has remained mum on the matter. Your best bet to follow the drama will probably be
MacRumors, who will be providing live updates from Steve-o's keynote tomorrow.
posted by keswick
on Jun 5, 2005 -
111 comments
The clueless reviews the Mac Mini His chief gripes are "The Mini boots up into a stripped-down operating system which Apple calls OS X, similar to the stripped-down WindowsCE OS found on many handhelds." and "No serial ports, no way to connect a printer, no PS/2 ports, no floppy drive, no 5.25" bays." Let the hate mail campaign begin!
posted by StormBear
on Feb 2, 2005 -
47 comments
Holding Pattern is a screensaver for Mac OS X that generates photo-realistic simulations of the view from a flying airplane window.
posted by Mwongozi
on Apr 25, 2004 -
17 comments
Konfabulator For Mac users (OSX), desktop widgets of a cute and useful nature. Create your own if you're so inclined; they'll add it to the
gallery. Keep track of weather, the latest Homeland Security Department alert level, sports scores, your iTunes status--all in a tiny little application.
posted by padraigin
on Feb 20, 2003 -
16 comments
Mac takes control of Windows! A very useful addition to the Mac desktop for those who administer Windows-based servers. This handy utility allows you to start a Terminal Services session on a Windows machine.
This and a nice
X Windows client lets my little 'ol iBook show the big iron who's the boss!
posted by Chief Typist
on Jul 18, 2002 -
13 comments
Chimera 0.2.0 for Mac OS X is now available for download. If you prefer using
Mozilla to IE5.x/Mac but dislike the lack of an Aqua GUI, then this is the browser for you. Chimera now supports Quartz rendering and is based on the Gecko engine which means it has great standards compliance. There are still many features missing, but this browser is showing great potential.
posted by crayfish
on Apr 7, 2002 -
21 comments
iTunes installer débâcle Backups are insufficiently sexy: “This time Apple deserves the lion’s share of the blame for creating an operating system that can’t be backed up and restored reliably many months after the initial release. For this reason alone, Mac OS X cannot be considered acceptable for serious use in many situations”
posted by joeclark
on Nov 13, 2001 -
10 comments
iTunes 2 was released recently. Some poor OS X users
lost all their data after installing this seemingly innocuous software. (about a third of the way down)
Is being on the bleeding edge worth it? What responsibility does a software manufacturer have to prevent from damaging your data? Any other horror stories from installing just released software? Not bashing Apple, as I'm using a Mac myself.
posted by the biscuit man
on Nov 5, 2001 -
25 comments
Yes, the nation's in mourning, but does that mean Apple's going to postpone its
OSX Update? I mean they said September, and that was like two months ago. I wannnnnnnnnnnnt it.
posted by adrober
on Sep 17, 2001 -
10 comments
MacOS X comes of age. Microsoft has just announced that Microsoft Office will be released for the new Apple OS in the fall. "Analysts had warned that without a version of Office, or similar productivity suite, running natively under Mac OS X, Apple would face problems getting businesses to switch to the new operating system. "
posted by Brilliantcrank
on Jan 10, 2001 -
0 comments
