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<title>Qualum STOPPRESS</title><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/index.html</link><description>News &#x26; info worthy of a long shelf-life</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><dc:rights>&#xa9; 2000-2009 Qualum Technical</dc:rights><dc:date>2010-01-24T22:29:29-08:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:56:30 -0700</lastBuildDate><item><title>Tips on practising safe computing</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Windows</category><category>Linux</category><dc:date>2010-01-07T06:34:02-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/87e5190ca1c2644bab148372b7e9d472-83.html#unique-entry-id-83</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/87e5190ca1c2644bab148372b7e9d472-83.html#unique-entry-id-83</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Macworld provides basic tips on practising safe computing.   Although oriented for Mac OS X, many of the tips are applicable for PC users as well, as they cover issues such as choosing a good password; securing your home network; what to do when you're on a public network; strategies for minimising the risk of infection by trojan horses or spyware when online; backup strategies; and using single-site browsers (SSBs). 

<i>(Macworld) | Requires: Mac OS X, Windows, Linux\Unix | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The scientific skinny on fitness</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><dc:date>2010-01-07T06:20:29-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2edcd24baae18fd3bda0e02ef88fb061-82.html#unique-entry-id-82</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2edcd24baae18fd3bda0e02ef88fb061-82.html#unique-entry-id-82</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In a bid to give a definitive answer as to the scientific advice as to what is the best physical exercise for health, New Scientist gives Nine Facts About Fitness, based on a distillation of the decades of scientific studies.   Questions answered include: What counts as exercise?  ; How much exercise and how often?  ; How do you know if you're getting fit?  ; Is pumping iron good for you?  : Can jogging kill you?  ; and Do you need to 'push fluids'?

<i>(New Scientist)  | For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>How much should a car repair job cost?</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>For the home</category><dc:date>2010-01-09T06:02:59-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/758b4a9cd8e3e5cf0e7a85bca6b5484f-81.html#unique-entry-id-81</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/758b4a9cd8e3e5cf0e7a85bca6b5484f-81.html#unique-entry-id-81</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[RepairPal Auto Repair Expert is a free iPhone app that will give you an accurate estimate of how much a car repair job should cost, for comparison with what you're actually quoted at the dealership or at an independent shop.   With internet access, it will even give you a list of nearby repair shops complete with address, contact details and service ratings.   Designed as an iPhone equivalent of the free online service at  RepairPal.com, accuracy is reportedly quite good, although users should note that it is US-oriented, so repair shop listings are US only, figures are in US dollars, and costs may be different in Canada, UK, and elsewhere.    But still worth it as a ballpark figure. 

<i>(CanWest News Service) | Cost: Free | Requires: iPhone, iPod Touch | For further info...</i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Fostering excellence in elementary math</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Education</category><category>Kids</category><dc:date>2010-01-06T19:32:10-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/45c6076a2152a912825bf935a1189bff-80.html#unique-entry-id-80</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/45c6076a2152a912825bf935a1189bff-80.html#unique-entry-id-80</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[IXL.com offers math practice for grade levels K-6.   First-time visitors can  practice any of our more than 1,000 math skills for free, but paid membership also offers detailed individual student assessment (incl. in relation to state standards in the US), progress tracking, goal-setting and awards for students as they master skills. 

<i>(ROMS) | Cost: USD $9.95/month, or $79 per annum | Requires: Internet connection | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Zapp the apps you don&#x27;t want</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2010-01-06T19:11:44-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ad26d5711d413afec2868f803e67c8e9-79.html#unique-entry-id-79</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ad26d5711d413afec2868f803e67c8e9-79.html#unique-entry-id-79</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When you no longer want a particular application or any of its preference files and other ancillary files, AppZapper will delete them all for you.   CleanApp does the same, but AppZapper also offers you a convenient place to store all the purchase information for each app (date of purchase, the company's website, the licensee's name, and registration key).   It also offers a "Hit List", where you can scan your list of applications and delete the ones you don't want. 

<i>(Ars Technica) | Cost: US$12.95 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ (10.6+ for v.2.x)  | For further info...</i> 	]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sceptics&#x27; myths about electric vehicles &#x2013; refuted</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2010-01-06T07:21:47-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b2d3bf054e9a958b06da170365996eaa-78.html#unique-entry-id-78</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b2d3bf054e9a958b06da170365996eaa-78.html#unique-entry-id-78</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Sceptics about electric cars cite many arguments why they are impractical or not a good idea.   Plug in America examines twelve of them, and shows why they are untrue.   These include: "EVs don&rsquo;t have enough range"; "They are good for short city trips only; "They only replace the tailpipe with a smokestack"; "The charging infrastructure must be built before people will adopt them; "The grid will crash if millions of plug-ins charge at once"; and "There isn&rsquo;t enough lithium in the world to make all the new batteries."

<i>(Care2.com) | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Cheap production of hydrogen and conversion into electricity</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-12-07T14:10:57-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d1fc1a96b72aaa29c09a77f004784c50-77.html#unique-entry-id-77</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d1fc1a96b72aaa29c09a77f004784c50-77.html#unique-entry-id-77</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Much of the objection to the use of wind and solar power generation is that it is erratic in its supply, rising and falling according to the available wind or sun.   Batteries are one method of storage, but are expensive and impractical at large scales.   Storing the energy in hydrogen is another option, but up to now usually required the use of platinum, which is also too expensive for large-scale application.   However, a new, cheap method for making hydrogen and releasing energy from it has been developed at Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France, which doesn't require the use of platinum, potentially offering a single device both for converting energy into hydrogen and for converting that into electricity when needed.   The next step is to optimise the process, so it can compete in its efficiency with platinum-based cells. 

<i>(New Scientist) |  For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Heal a damaged brain. Eat protein. </title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><dc:date>2010-01-03T13:54:57-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/7d49895fcee26e32bda18ee1a652dc52-76.html#unique-entry-id-76</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/7d49895fcee26e32bda18ee1a652dc52-76.html#unique-entry-id-76</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A diet of chicken, fish and protein shakes helps heals a brain damaged by injury, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.   The researchers believe that three particular branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) which are found in protein-rich food and are known to help build muscle, are involved: levels of these were much lower in the brain-damaged mice compared with a control group of non-brain-damaged mice.   However, brain-damaged mice who were given water enriched with BCAAs for five days had normal levels and performed better at learning tasks. 

The study complements the findings of an Italian study at the University of Pavia last year, which found found that BCAAs improved the "feeding, grooming and toileting" abilities of minimally conscious patients.


<i>(New Scientist) |  For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Hover over to translate a word</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><dc:date>2009-12-30T13:42:19-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/84a598939527661a3d4398dbafc921dd-75.html#unique-entry-id-75</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/84a598939527661a3d4398dbafc921dd-75.html#unique-entry-id-75</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[TranslateIt!    is a multilingual dictionary for Mac OS X which translates words on the fly by merely hovering with the cursor over them.   The translation appears in a pop-up window, and draws from "most widely known online dictionary/translation services".   It offers other methods, too: translation from clipboard, drag-and-drop translation, manual input of queries in the main window, double-click translation of words in dictionary entries displayed in the main window.   It also offers a built-in utility for easy creation of custom dictionaries; a Words Quiz (a game for easy learning of new words); and a multilingual user interface (Russian, English, French, German).   A companiion iPhone/iPod Touch version is also available.   Pricing is licence-based, from $25 for one year through $100 for a lifetime licence.


<i>(MacMegaSite) | Cost: 1 year ($25), 2 years ($35), 5 years ($50) and lifetime license ($100) | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Share presentations without Powerpoint</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Business</category><category>Recreation</category><dc:date>2009-12-30T07:44:09-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/271f0f8b8066fd146bc1b7d26e456c6e-74.html#unique-entry-id-74</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/271f0f8b8066fd146bc1b7d26e456c6e-74.html#unique-entry-id-74</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[SlideShare allows you to share a Powerpoint presentation with someone who doesn't have the program, or who would rather not have such a large file emailed to them.   Once uploaded (which doesn't require opening an account), you send your recipients a web address, where visitors can flip through the slides in a scaled-down view, or in full screen mode as they would in PowerPoint.   Alternatively, you can embed the presentation within your own website. 

For new presentations, or the ability to edit online, consider Google Docs Presentation module. 

<i>(Macworld) | Cost:  | Requires: Powerpoint or compatible software | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>eBooks in colour</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Recreation</category><dc:date>2009-12-29T07:19:36-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/690dd8a8c3c4589d5b710f6b5f7539ac-73.html#unique-entry-id-73</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/690dd8a8c3c4589d5b710f6b5f7539ac-73.html#unique-entry-id-73</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Hailed by its inventor, Ray Kurzweil, as the future of e-publishing, Blio is a new software platform specifically for e-books designed to run on any computing device, which unlike current e-book readers, replicates the appearance of the pages of original printed book as is, including colour and typography (unlike the E-Ink technology behind most ebook readers, which is black-and-white), while preserving the information as searchable text.   In addition, it offers text-to-speech, ability to synchronize bookmarks, highlights, last page read) across different devices. 

<i>(Wired) | Cost: Free | Requires: Windows, iPhone or iPod Touch | For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Books printed&#x2c; while you wait</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>For the home</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-12-30T06:52:48-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/c4d742fd28de11b1e93ac17ecf2ecca8-72.html#unique-entry-id-72</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/c4d742fd28de11b1e93ac17ecf2ecca8-72.html#unique-entry-id-72</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, near Seattle, offers books while you wait, using a new Espresso Book Machine and one of the million titles available through Google Books, Project Gutenberg, and other online storehouses of out-of-print books.   Total time, from inception to completion: 15 minutes.   Like all the other public-domain Google Books, the cover price is $8.   The store is working on creating a widget for its website in the next few weeks that will enable customers to browse and order books.   Authors who want to self-publish can also approach Third Place Books with digital copies of their books and basically treat the bookstore as a publisher.

<i>(the Stranger) | Cost: $8.00 | For further info...  and here </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>If you&#x27;re thinking of buying a flat-panel HDTV&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>For the home</category><dc:date>2009-12-09T06:50:56-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/f8937a17fe59276ac6b563a6b7a50105-71.html#unique-entry-id-71</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/f8937a17fe59276ac6b563a6b7a50105-71.html#unique-entry-id-71</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Wired's quick guide helps you select the perfect flat-panel for your room and personal preference, while Macworld has comprehensive buying advice to learn what features to consider, shopping tips to keep in mind when you're browsing the store aisles.   Both give recommendations on the best ones to buy for each situation. 


Finally, check out Green Irene&rsquo;s tips to cut your HDTV&rsquo;s energy use.

<i>(Macworld, Wired, Green Irene)</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>All you wanted to know about batteries</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>For the home</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-12-16T06:30:05-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/46e4f4237e3ac8697570e6c55701eb8a-70.html#unique-entry-id-70</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/46e4f4237e3ac8697570e6c55701eb8a-70.html#unique-entry-id-70</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Battery University provides a wealth of information about batteries of all types, in English and in German.   Sponsored by Cadex Electronics, the material is based on the book Batteries in a portable World - A handbook by Isidor Buchmann on rechargeable batteries for non-engineers.   The site is divided into three parts, on the make-up, charging and storing of batteries; explanations on the different types of batteries; and the people behind Battery University, respectively.

<i>(David Alison's Blog.   Photo: Wikipedia) | Cost: Free | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The state of your laptop battery</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><dc:date>2009-12-15T22:01:02-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b25ebfb050476f7ef7732ef16cba81a3-69.html#unique-entry-id-69</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b25ebfb050476f7ef7732ef16cba81a3-69.html#unique-entry-id-69</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Speaking of batteries, coconutBattery is a donationware utility that shows Mac laptop users the current charge of their battery &ndash; and its current maximum capacity of it in relation to its original capacity.    In addition, it reports on the battery-loadcycles (how often did you fully load your battery), on the current charger (it will warn you if the wrong type of charger is being used) and last but not least information about the age of your Mac. coconutBattery is Universal Binary, so will run on PPC and Intel Macs.

<i>(David Alison's Blog) | Cost: Free (donations welcome) | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Current options for an Android&#x2122; phone</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Mobile</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-10-16T00:02:28-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/4bc3dcff4307f98a7e9661c9a9e9351f-68.html#unique-entry-id-68</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/4bc3dcff4307f98a7e9661c9a9e9351f-68.html#unique-entry-id-68</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[With Google's Android OS for shaping up to be a major player in smartphones, you may be interested in learning more about the various phones that are planned to adopt it.   Currently there are twelve such devices, to be offered in 26 countries by 32 different carriers.   Wired magazine has the rundown. 

<i>(Wired) | Cost: various | Requires: Android phone | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>iPhone apps guide for the perplexed</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><dc:date>2009-09-30T10:52:48-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/aac257351cf0148c2c1415f819a3d897-67.html#unique-entry-id-67</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/aac257351cf0148c2c1415f819a3d897-67.html#unique-entry-id-67</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Helping making it sense of it all, Apple has added a new section its Web site &ndash; Apps for Everything &ndash; featuring themed collections of iPhone apps and tips related to specific topics such as Keeping Current; The Great Outdoors; Cooking; Travel and Money; etc. 

<i>(Macworld) | Requires: iPhone / iPod touch | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>iPod Nano video vs. Flip Mino &#x26; Kodak Zi8</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Recreation</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-09-12T09:44:04-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/6820a939abd852f7d3976c74639f56c6-66.html#unique-entry-id-66</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/6820a939abd852f7d3976c74639f56c6-66.html#unique-entry-id-66</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Now that Apple has come out with an iPod Nano that also records video, the obvious question is: is it as good, or better, than Pure Digital's Flip Mino, or Kodak's Zi8.    Wonder no more: Macworld has done a head-to-head comparison &ndash; throwing in the Apple iPhone 3GS for good measure.    The results speak for themselves. 

<i>(Macworld)  | For further info: see here and here, and here</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Real keyboard for iPhone iPhone 3G/3GS</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><dc:date>2009-10-12T09:37:56-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/da67d79b2e7d1e3e22168c0c8a420b01-65.html#unique-entry-id-65</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/da67d79b2e7d1e3e22168c0c8a420b01-65.html#unique-entry-id-65</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you find the iPhone's virtual-only keyboard frustrating, you might welcome the iTwinge&trade; &ndash; a slide-on real QWERTY keyboard that makes typing up to 30-40% faster and more accurate, according to the manufacturer.    Aimed specifically for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, the company&rsquo;s website offers no information about earlier generations of iPhone or the iPod touch, so  one must assume that they are not compatible.   Shipping begins Dec 12th 2009, for orders placed before its official release in November. 

The company also makes iBlur &ndash; a mini-tripod for steadier photographs by the iPhone. 

<i>(Chipchick.com) | Cost: US$29.99 | Requires: iPhone 3G/3GS | For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>White wine vs. your pearly whites</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><dc:date>2009-10-20T09:24:43-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/38fc88d9d3d39faa44e4df59f87f4201-64.html#unique-entry-id-64</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/38fc88d9d3d39faa44e4df59f87f4201-64.html#unique-entry-id-64</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[White wine is more acidic than red wine, and drinking it frequently may erode enamel, according to researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University (Germany).    Riesling wines are the worst in this regard, as they are the most acidic. 

To minimise the effect, they recommend eating cheese at the same time (contains calcium, which counteracts the acid's attack).   Conversely, eating strawberries at the same time, makes matters worse, as strawberries are also slightly acidic.    It is also worth waiting at least half an hour before brushing teeth afterwards, as it gives time for the enamel to recover before it is brushed away. 

<i>(BBC Online) | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Type&#x2c; draw &#x26; brainstorm on the desktop</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><category>Kids</category><dc:date>2009-09-17T11:06:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/72103321a93cd327d7d54c75f659ae2f-63.html#unique-entry-id-63</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/72103321a93cd327d7d54c75f659ae2f-63.html#unique-entry-id-63</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ever wanted to type or sketch something quickly right there, on the Mac OS desktop, without first opening an application for it?   Well, Conjure (now at v.4.1) offers you just that.   You can do more than type or sketch, too, but actually brainstorm with mind maps.   The new version is Snow Leopard compatible and offers new backdrops, a Knife tool "for cutting anything", and more.   See the company's website for video demonstrations and a free trial version. 

<i>(Macintouch) | Cost: US$25 | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+ | For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Editing MS Office files on the go</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-08-19T10:57:17-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/29e8133f391be265672fb45ba11275ea-62.html#unique-entry-id-62</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/29e8133f391be265672fb45ba11275ea-62.html#unique-entry-id-62</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[For those who needed (or just wanted) to open and edit MS Word or Excel files on their iPhone/iPod touch (iPhone OS 3.0 & up), Documents-to-Go was the only way to go till recently.   But now there's Quickoffice Mobile Office, a fullblown suite that Macworld rates as 4 stars.   Some caveats: you can open and edit both Word 2003 and Excel 2003 files, but you can only edit the older Office 2003 format, not the newer Office 2007 format (used in Office 2008 for the Mac).   Editing tools are many and "deep".   Files can be uploaded to a public folder on MobileMe, or emailed via the Quickoffice e-mail address. 

The app also opens Powerpoint files, but not OpenOffice ODT files, and "provides the most flexible options for getting files onto the iPhone, whether by mail attachment, through MobileMe, or as an upload from the Mac Safari browser."

<i>(Macworld) | Cost: US$13 | For further info...  </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Wisen Up &#x2013; to your health facts</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Software</category><category>Health</category><dc:date>2009-08-28T11:58:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b7383bee43702b5c37e27d5a9688fd90-61.html#unique-entry-id-61</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b7383bee43702b5c37e27d5a9688fd90-61.html#unique-entry-id-61</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Wisen Up, from Indian developer Global Delight, is a collection of educational but entertaining information featuring personality quizzes, Ancient cures, Body Language, Medical quotes, Tell me why, Myths, Weird and incurable diseases, Body facts, Types of doctors, Phobias and First aid mistakes.   Over 150 cartoons help keep the tone light; users can also share the facts, quiz interpretations and test results on Facebook or via mail. 

<i>(Source: MacMegaSite) | Cost: US$1.99 | Requires: iPhone/iPod Touch | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>One app&#x2c; jobs in 12 countries</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Work</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-08-28T10:41:25-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2cca6bac892bbe7e1bd5be62235eecc8-60.html#unique-entry-id-60</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2cca6bac892bbe7e1bd5be62235eecc8-60.html#unique-entry-id-60</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Created to replace the need to jump from one job site to another, the JobsSearch!   app for iPhone or iPod touch (Trabajos!   in its Spanish version), you can search for jobs in one interface through hundreds of search engines (including CareerBuilder and Yahoo!   Jobs) in twelve countries (USA, UK, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Australia, India, Mexico, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands).    Sources include company websites, job boards, newspaper employment clippings, blogs and associations.   Drill down by keyword, location, and/or company name, and a perfect tool to find exactly the right job.


The same company &ndash; Madrid-based ideallius.com &ndash; has also launched LookItUp!   (B&uacute;scalo!   in Spanish) &ndash; a single portal accessing hundreds of search engines. 

<i>(Source: MacMegaSite) | Cost: US$0.99 | Requires: iPhone, iPod Touch | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Secure shredding of data</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-08-27T10:21:04-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/0476c0642f884d2e0d8af89bedf3853b-59.html#unique-entry-id-59</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/0476c0642f884d2e0d8af89bedf3853b-59.html#unique-entry-id-59</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you're disposing of a hard disk and want to ensure no one can read its contents, ShredIt from Mireth Technology Corp. &ndash; now at v.   5.8.7&ndash; will shred the data so it can't be recovered.   Files, folders, disk free space, previously deleted files, hard drives, external drives, network drives and CD-RWs are all eraseable.   Options include government standards compliance and a configurable overwrite pattern.   Versions exist for Mac OS 7, Mac OS 8, Mac OS9, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows NT, XP and Vista. 

<i>(Source: MacMegaSite) | Cost: US$24.95 | Requires: Mac OS X, Windows | For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Digital signatures with your trackpad</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-09-01T09:56:22-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/07ca10f6fa8beaed999fd14680bbd6a4-58.html#unique-entry-id-58</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/07ca10f6fa8beaed999fd14680bbd6a4-58.html#unique-entry-id-58</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Autograph by Ten One Design, does what should have been possible years ago, namely sign your name digitally using your laptop's trackpad.    The app resides in the menu bar, can be invoked by a hotkey, and you must sign with your finger &ndash; not a stylus.   At this stage, it's also limited only to unibody MacBooks using the latest MacOS X version, Snow Leopard.   On the plus side, it costs only $7 (free if you buy the company's Pogo Sketch app) and there's a free/trial version with no time limit that adds a watermark to the signature.

<i>(Source: Macworld) | Cost: US$7 | Requires: Unibody MacBook & Mac OS X Snow Leopard | For further info </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>VectorWorks 2009 now compatible with Snow Leopard</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Design</category><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-12-06T14:09:01-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/dfe4c33cc5cd8dc0c2d1004fc3f67aaa-57.html#unique-entry-id-57</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/dfe4c33cc5cd8dc0c2d1004fc3f67aaa-57.html#unique-entry-id-57</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Nemetschek has just announced that a Snow Leopard-compatible version of Vectorworks 2009 (Service Pack 5) has now been released.   Versions prior to Vectorworks 2009 are not currently planned to be updated to support Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v.10.6).

<i>(Source: Nemetschek Technical Bulletin) | Cost:  | Requires: Mac OS X 10.6 | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Name that font</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><category>Design</category><dc:date>2009-07-25T14:28:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/0509dbe4678c2e44cbbbfd351981c73c-56.html#unique-entry-id-56</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/0509dbe4678c2e44cbbbfd351981c73c-56.html#unique-entry-id-56</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Seen a font that you like but don't know its name, or how to begin to track it down?    FontGenius might help: give it a picture of a typeface and it will provide a list of likely fonts that match it &ndash; complete with character previews using same &ndash; using a built-in font profile database.   It will then help you locate, purchase, and/or download matched fonts online.   (The name suggests that a Windows version is also available, and it may be on the cards, but we've found no mention of it yet.)

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$39.99; Site licence $150 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.3+ | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A safer alternative to paracetamol</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><dc:date>2009-07-28T14:07:49-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a6f120be03e20694477ebee1ff338d7c-55.html#unique-entry-id-55</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a6f120be03e20694477ebee1ff338d7c-55.html#unique-entry-id-55</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Acetaminophen &ndash; known by its tradename Paracetamol &ndash; though effective as a painkiller, can cause permanent and possible fatal liver damage at remarkably small amounts above the recommended dosage.   (Unintentional over-dosing is easy, as the substance is also included in other cold medicines.)   As a result, the US Food and Drug Administration panel wants to reduce the recommended dosage.

Fortunately, a safer alternative has been found, known as SCP-1 (comprising a molecule of paracetamol joined to a saccharin molecule), which in tests carried out by researchers  at the University of New Orleans, Louisiana, in collaboration with St Charles Pharmaceuticals,  appears not to produce the same toxic by-products.   St.   Charles have now announced that they have  developed a method of synthesising SCP-1 cheaply and in large quantities.

<i>(Source: New Scientist)  | For further info...  </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Technical information on any Mac&#x2c; iPod or iPhone</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><dc:date>2009-08-06T13:21:12-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/877ab1448b6cf2905c53c7182f43246c-54.html#unique-entry-id-54</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/877ab1448b6cf2905c53c7182f43246c-54.html#unique-entry-id-54</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[For in-depth and updated technical information on any Mac OS computer, iPod, iPhone, Apple printer or other Apple hardware, check out the free (donations welcome) MacTracker, now at v.5.0.8.   Have an iPod or iPhone but still using Windows XP or Vista?   There's a version for you, too. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: Free (donations accepted) | Requires: Mac OS X 10.3+ or Windows XP/Vista | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Mac Sale - 10 apps for &#x24;49.99</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-07-22T18:06:01-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/c7246cc044047272be386bda0cd23da6-53.html#unique-entry-id-53</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/c7246cc044047272be386bda0cd23da6-53.html#unique-entry-id-53</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The new trend of offering desktop applications at a fraction of their usual price by bundling them in a special limited-time sale is throwing up a new opportunity.   The next Mac Sale is due Aug 4th, featuring&hellip; &ndash; they won't say what, apart from it being ten  &ldquo;all killer, no filler&hellip; from committed Mac developers", ranging from programming to graphics, from network utilities to web design.   The bundle will be available to buy for two weeks. 

To buy, you must register interest at The Mac Sale to register your interest.   As extra incentive, registrants are get the chance to win a brand new iPod Touch without any purchase required.

<i>(Source: MacMegaSite) | Cost: US$49.99 | Requires: Mac OS X | For further info...</i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The poisonous secret of some algae</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><category>Health</category><dc:date>2009-03-28T11:20:19-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/bdf98c06b04b4050ba12ab8ce8a2e805-52.html#unique-entry-id-52</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/bdf98c06b04b4050ba12ab8ce8a2e805-52.html#unique-entry-id-52</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Some species of algae have been found to contain domoic acid &ndash; a powerful neurotoxin,.    Researchers at the University of Santa Cruz in California have found that, when consumed in sufficient quantities, it can affect sea lions, birds and humans.     In people, it can cause headaches and memory loss, and even death.

Algae blooms are promoted by fertilisers leaching into coastal waters from agricultural and sewage runoff. 

The toxin remains even when the algae dies off and sinks with it to the bottom, instead of being dissolved in seawater.   This would explain the dead zones at lower depths in a growing number of marine areas.   "[It is also] the missing link to explain why domoic acid also shows up in benthic organisms like crabs, shellfish and flatfish," says Raphael Kudela, one of the study&rsquo;s authors.

<i>(Source: New Scientist) |  For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>An even keel &#x2013; for the children&#x27;s mental health</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><dc:date>2009-03-28T11:03:38-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b7b67dce909b0109030a71d573d259f7-51.html#unique-entry-id-51</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b7b67dce909b0109030a71d573d259f7-51.html#unique-entry-id-51</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Mind those arguments within families during childhood: they can be harmful to the children's mental health.   This is the conclusion from a 30-year-long research study of 346 boys and girls in New England, each of which was monitored between the ages of 5 and 15. 

Those who reported increased arguments with their parents and between their parents were found to be three times more likely to develop major depression, or indulge in drug or alcohol abuse.   They were also nearly three times as likely to engage in antisocial behaviour, and more than twice as likely to be unemployed. 

The report was published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

<i>(Source: New Scientist) | Cost:  | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Scan as you shop</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><category>Environment</category><category>Information</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><dc:date>2009-07-21T11:31:23-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/56aa3d7e4d69dbf8d9b882cb174f0b2a-50.html#unique-entry-id-50</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/56aa3d7e4d69dbf8d9b882cb174f0b2a-50.html#unique-entry-id-50</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[With the camera of the new iPhone 3GS (but not, alas, of the previous generations), and the app Cyclops you can now to scan barcodes (UPC or EAN) and retrieve information on the item from Amazon &ndash; complete with a link to the product's page. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch.com) | Cost: Free | Requires: iPhone 3GS only | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>iTune-in for free Yale lectures</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Business</category><category>Computing</category><category>Design</category><category>Environment</category><category>Health</category><category>Information</category><category>Internet</category><category>Sci &#x26; Tech</category><category>Writing</category><dc:date>2009-07-17T15:03:06-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ccc30f3df36bbf313c1feca83cfa3981-49.html#unique-entry-id-49</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ccc30f3df36bbf313c1feca83cfa3981-49.html#unique-entry-id-49</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Following Stanford University's lead, Yale University too has now begun offering select courses as free downloads from iTunes U, in areas such as Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Science, Arts and Architecture, Business & Management, etc. 

<i>(Source: iLounge) | Cost: Free | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ure(k)a&#x21;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-07-17T14:56:17-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/3ad63d8071527d9ed70533b26805c29f-48.html#unique-entry-id-48</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/3ad63d8071527d9ed70533b26805c29f-48.html#unique-entry-id-48</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Scientist Garardine Botte of Ohio University has developed an electrolyzer that can extract hydrogen from urine for use in fuel cells.   Because hydrogen is less tightly bound to the nitrogen in urea (NH2)2CO, only 0.37volts are needed to oxidize urea &ndash; less than a third needed to split water.   According to Botte, the technology can be easily scaled up to power a hybrid or electric car, with power for the extraction aided perhaps by a solar panel on the car roof. 

<i>(Source: New Scientist) | Cost:  | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Revisiting the Moon &#x2013; forty years on</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Sci &#x26; Tech</category><dc:date>2009-07-17T14:46:01-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d17646e0206914cd488ea98fd5e7c07c-47.html#unique-entry-id-47</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d17646e0206914cd488ea98fd5e7c07c-47.html#unique-entry-id-47</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[To mark the fortieth anniversary of the first moon landing, New Scientist has overlaid the routes travelled by the crews of each of the manned missions over aerial images of familiar landmarks of London, Boston, Manhattan and Sydney. 


<i>(Source: New Scientist) | Cost: Free | For further info... </i> 


Meanwhile, Wired offers playbacks of the Capcom transmissions, spacecraft transmissions, and Eagle lander transmissions of the period &ndash; as well as links to recommended reading on the subject.    If you missed any part of the recreation, you&rsquo;ll be able to revisit any part of it after the landing on Monday, July 20.

<i>(Source: Wired) | Cost: Free | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Your private 3D image wall</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-06-27T17:55:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/8f46a3e52444670f40f64c85c721172b-46.html#unique-entry-id-46</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/8f46a3e52444670f40f64c85c721172b-46.html#unique-entry-id-46</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When you have dozens of images to browse online, Cooliris offers a compelling alternative to the standard and somewhat tedious "Previous-Next" button: a plug-in for Firefox, Safari, and Flock, it provides images and video content in a full-screen, horizontally expanded, interactive 3-D &ldquo;wall&rdquo; view.

Once you install the plug-in (which takes seconds), simply visit any supported Web site and either click the Cooliris button in the toolbar or mouse over a thumbnail and click the icon.   Cooliris then takes over your screen, displaying all the page&rsquo;s image or video content, plus all related content from subsequent pages, on the 3D wall.   Searching through hundreds of Google images, YouTube videos, and Facebook photos has never been easier. 

As a bonus, it works with the images on your your hard drive too, including those in iPhoto.

Seeing is believing.   It even provides a Search function with which to search out content across Google, YouTube, Amazon.com, Hulu, Flickr, and more.   A Discover menu will give you ideas. 

An all this for free.   Not bad.

<i>(Source: Macworld) | Cost:  Free | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info.../</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Portable guide to DisneyWorld or Disneyland</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><category>Travel</category><dc:date>2009-07-02T17:22:59-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/0d814d3993d1c791d12526f41a02cb08-45.html#unique-entry-id-45</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/0d814d3993d1c791d12526f41a02cb08-45.html#unique-entry-id-45</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you're planning a trip to DisneyWorld in Florida or Disneyland California, you might want to fork out a dollar or two for the relevant Walt Disney World Notescast app for iPhone/iPod touch, providing in-depth information on all the theme parks at both resorts.   No Internet access or cell phone signal is required.

Boasting over 200 pages of updated information, over 150 photos, and rich in-depth content, in over twenty different categories including Attractions, Tickets, Trip Planning Tips, Resorts, The History of Walt Disney World and more, the Walt Disney World Notescast purports to be a comprehensive and unquestionably portable vacation planner and in-park guide.    No Internet access or cell phone signal is required.

<i>(Source: MacMegaSite) | Cost: US$1.99 (DisneyWorld), $0.99 (Disneyland) | Requires: iPod Touch or iPhone | For further info: DisneyWorld and Disneyland </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Don&#x27;t just Copy - Send&#x2c; too</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>MacOS</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-06-29T09:25:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b1ba89836cb3ea8eec4bdb820b39c7a5-44.html#unique-entry-id-44</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b1ba89836cb3ea8eec4bdb820b39c7a5-44.html#unique-entry-id-44</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Hard on the heels of the release of iPhone OS 3.0 with its long-awaited copy-paste facility, CopySend from Thinking Code allows you to copy  text, photos or links from your iPhone or iPod touch and send it wirelessly (over a Wi-Fi connection) to your Mac &ndash; or vice versa.   You can also send a snapshot of anything on your iPhone/iPod touch to your Mac's clipboard, for pasting into any document.   Password protection is also possible. 

The software consists of two components: CopySend Server (free) installed and running on the Mac, and CopySend ($0.99) on the iPhone/iPod Touch. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: CopySend Server &ndash; free; CopySend iPhone/iPod touch $0.99.   | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+, iPhone/iPod touch & Wi-Fi connection | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Trip planning&#x2c; well in hand</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Travel</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-06-03T15:23:52-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/de17b3cc80d6ca0fd2b7c79855aa8ee0-43.html#unique-entry-id-43</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/de17b3cc80d6ca0fd2b7c79855aa8ee0-43.html#unique-entry-id-43</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[GlobeJot is an iPhone/iPod touch app that acts as a travel organizer: track flight data, reservations, activities and checklists.   Store addresses and coordinates for one-tap viewing within the system Maps and (if you're using an iPhone) for phoning airlines and hotels.   The "Dashboard" interface is customizable, and can import information that you input in the online TripIt service.

Use it not only to guide you when you're at your destination, but to plan everything you need before going there &ndash; or for multiple other trips that you might have in future.

<i>(Source: Macworld) | Cost: US$8 | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Postcards from the EDGE of your iPhone</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-06-03T14:46:18-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/6e89bf9dbf061cb87f4ae0a02bd6999c-42.html#unique-entry-id-42</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/6e89bf9dbf061cb87f4ae0a02bd6999c-42.html#unique-entry-id-42</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Postage 1.1 is an iPhone/iPod touch app from RogueSheep that allows you to create digital postcards using any photo from your photo album (or taken then and there with the iPhone), in a variety of themes (travel, love, parents, etc.), each with several options.    Photos can be panned, zoomed and even rotated and applied various effects such as sepia, soften, etc.   You can then type out a message in a range of fonts and styles, and have it sent directly from within the app (no waiting for it to go through the system Mail app) to one or more contacts in your system Address Book. 

Macworld thinks it&rsquo;s the bees knees.

<i>(Source: Macworld) | Cost: US$5 | For further info.../</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Story of Stuff</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-05-26T09:35:38-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/f20b1c4b8630d8602d0a26b03a2f9145-41.html#unique-entry-id-41</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/f20b1c4b8630d8602d0a26b03a2f9145-41.html#unique-entry-id-41</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[For the most succinct &ndash; and scariest &ndash; depiction of the current state of the planet and how we must change how we live to allow it to survive, see The Story of Stuff &ndash; and pass it on. 

<i>(Source: Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook) | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Drag-and-drop OCR for the Mac</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-06-25T14:09:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b491cc92fbfeb4d927359e86dad9cc88-40.html#unique-entry-id-40</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b491cc92fbfeb4d927359e86dad9cc88-40.html#unique-entry-id-40</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[VelOCRaptor 1.0 is a new OCR (Optical Character Recognition) app for the Mac, which converts images of scanned text into computer text by simple drag-and-drop of the image file.   (See our review of it here). 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$29 | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+ | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The National Gallery (London) - handheld</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Free</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><category>Recreation</category><dc:date>2009-06-15T15:39:06-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/c54da31ed2c3194c656ed26374879ddc-39.html#unique-entry-id-39</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/c54da31ed2c3194c656ed26374879ddc-39.html#unique-entry-id-39</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Love Art: National Gallery, London is a free iPhone/iPod touch app providing over 250 high-resolution, zoomable images of paintings and 200 mins of video and audio commentary and interviews.   Includes access to a Google map of the gallery (provided Internet access) and a link to its website.

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: Free | Requires: iPhone, iPod Touch | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Recognize signs of hard drive trouble</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Free</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-06-15T15:26:04-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b6212660484df07b3a18b9e4499b93c8-38.html#unique-entry-id-38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b6212660484df07b3a18b9e4499b93c8-38.html#unique-entry-id-38</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[DriveSaver from DriveSavers Data Recovery is an iPhone/iPod touch-based application that allows you to monitor a computer hard drive for signs of impending trouble, by simulating various types of hard drive failures.   If a data loss does occur, it can help prevent catastrophic loss with do's and don'ts for data recovery. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: Free | Requires: iPhone / iPod Touch | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Not just for pretty pictures and music</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-06-17T15:15:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d3aa3d6ef2b75fe610845fdde45e3347-36.html#unique-entry-id-36</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d3aa3d6ef2b75fe610845fdde45e3347-36.html#unique-entry-id-36</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The iPod Touch is the only iPod that you cannot use as an external hard drive for storing ordinary files from one's computer.   No more.   With DiskAid 3.0, you can do so, complete with file or folder browsing, drag-and-drop support, ability to create and rename folders, etc.   Also works for iPhones, and supports the new v.3 of the iPhone OS.

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Requires: iPod Touch / iPhone, Mac OS X 10.4+, Windows XP, Vista | For further info...</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>From the mouths of teenagers&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-06-18T14:49:42-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2b23ee732b9d251e6bcb3b1324738120-35.html#unique-entry-id-35</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2b23ee732b9d251e6bcb3b1324738120-35.html#unique-entry-id-35</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A sixteen-year-old has hit on a solution that has eluded scientists for years: how to make ordinary plastic biodegradable. 

Observing that ordinary plastic does degrade, but takes a thousand years to do so, Daniel Burd, from Waterloo Ontario, reasoned that he might speed up the process by selectively breeding the microbes  responsible to break down plastic much more quickly.   By immersing ground plastic in a yeast solution that encourages microbial growth, and then isolating the most productive organisms and interbreeding them, he managed to bring about a 43% degradation in six weeks &ndash; an unheard-of achievement.  

The process holds promise of solving the growing problem of plastic pollution of the environment, and won its inventor first prize in the Canadian Science Fair last month.

<i>(Source: Mother Nature Network)  | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Label to your heart&#x27;s content</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Windows</category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-06-24T14:45:59-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a966e67723dd8fb41d26582d30ab0d39-34.html#unique-entry-id-34</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a966e67723dd8fb41d26582d30ab0d39-34.html#unique-entry-id-34</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Label Wizard from Black Cat Systems allows you to create your own custom sheets of labels of around 400 different sizes.   You have complete control over the layout of the label, with the ability to place text, picture, rectangle, oval, line and even a serial number on each one. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$19.99 | Requires: Mac OS X, Windows | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Wordprocessing on a budget</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>MacOS</category><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><category>Writing</category><dc:date>2009-06-24T14:07:53-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/dd5119e251a0948e8f2039fbb6e36dae-33.html#unique-entry-id-33</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/dd5119e251a0948e8f2039fbb6e36dae-33.html#unique-entry-id-33</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Schreiben 5.0 from German software house MOApp is a &euro;9 wordprocessor designed to be lean and quick like TextEdit "with a nicer interface", but nevertheless open and save Word .doc, .docx, OpenOffice .odt, RTF and XML.  and offer many Word-like features such as word count, drag&drop snippets etc..   The latest version (5.0) is for Intel-based Macs using 10.5; previous versions can run on PPC and 10.4. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: &euro;9 | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+ | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>To boldly go into your Windows system</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Free</category><category>Windows</category><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-05-07T06:21:07-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/e37285d1402154515cbb523ce9d3ca48-32.html#unique-entry-id-32</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/e37285d1402154515cbb523ce9d3ca48-32.html#unique-entry-id-32</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[System Explorer 1.5 is a full-featured system analyzing tool lets you take a sneak peek at everything that's going on in your system, from currently active processes to installed drivers, including network collections, startup applications and Internet Explorer add-ons, if you have any.   You can end any active process or delete items from the startup menu, to name a couple of examples.   System Explorer can also obtain more information about each process from Google, or check it for viruses with an online anti-virus tool.   The latest version includes support for external and internal plugins, filtering support to lists, and new plugin adds security enhancements.

<i>(Source: ZDNet Tech Update) | Cost: Free (registration required) | Requires: Windows | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Up to four monitors to a single PC/Intel Mac</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Windows</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Peripherals</category><dc:date>2009-04-29T22:00:30-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/3b7ca5f9d70ee97167447e2edd9bcd42-31.html#unique-entry-id-31</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/3b7ca5f9d70ee97167447e2edd9bcd42-31.html#unique-entry-id-31</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The OWC USB 2.0 Display Adapter from Other World Computing allows you to add an extra display to Intel Macs or Windows PCs using any standard USB 2.0 port.   The adapter connects to HDMI, DVI, and VGA equipped displays (including projectors) in 32-bit color at resolutions up to 1600x1200 or 1680x1050 digital.   Included driver software means that the display can be used in mirror mode or as an extension of the desktop.   Up to four adapters can be attached to a single computer. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$99 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ or Windows 2000 & up | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Now you&#x27;re going Places</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Travel</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-04-25T21:54:19-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/90cef766980ed963a14e4287c428299f-30.html#unique-entry-id-30</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/90cef766980ed963a14e4287c428299f-30.html#unique-entry-id-30</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Places 1.0, by UK-based The Dream Apps is an iPhone/iPod touch-based guide to the world, containing helpful information about some of the worlds most popular destinations.   With pictures, quick links to Wikipedia, favourites and maps, Places is claimed to one of the most comprehensive and easiest to use virtual tour guides available.   Over time, more features and destinations are planned to be added.

<i>(Source: MacMegaSite) | Cost: US$1.99 | Requires: iPhone or iPod Touch; active Wi-Fi or cellular data internet connection for the &lsquo;Maps&rsquo; or &lsquo;Wikipedia&rsquo; functionality.   | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Follow that plane&#x21;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Travel</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-05-04T21:24:49-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ed5e08a79a998c60d247f6e6d646911b-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ed5e08a79a998c60d247f6e6d646911b-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[FlightTrack for iPhone provides real-time status for flights worldwide, live weather radar updates, route maps and other info such as aircraft type, speed, delays, cancellations, gate numbers, make air travel a breeze.   Flight itineraries can be saved for future reference, and status reports shared by email.   Localised for English, French, German and Italian. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$4.99, Pro $9.99 | Requires: iPod Touch, iPhone | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Is your PC Windows 7-capable in XP mode? &#xa;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Windows</category><dc:date>2009-05-04T21:16:56-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2502a608a35d99933b9865c65944ed95-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2502a608a35d99933b9865c65944ed95-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you avoided upgrading to Vista because of poor reviews, or are using it and looking forward to the next generation of Windows, be advised that some of the most popular PC models today, including those with dual and quad-core CPUs, won't be able to run Windows XP Mode in the forthcoming Windows 7.    It all has to do with Intel Virtualization Technology, which is missing in some models and not in others&hellip;

<i>(Source: ZDNet Tech Update) | Requires: Windows | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Know your Windows codenames</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Free</category><category>Computing</category><category>Windows</category><dc:date>2009-05-06T20:00:08-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a5a8129c59f10e35af0e28b1c8d5b8d7-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a5a8129c59f10e35af0e28b1c8d5b8d7-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Finding it hard to keep track of all the variations of Windows and their attendant codenames?   Can't remember which one is Midori and which is MinSafe?   A downloadable chart called CodeTracker is now available, free of charge, and updated monthly, courtesy of Mary Jo Foley. 

<i>(Source: ZDNet Tech Update) | Requires: Windows | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Winners of the FT Climate Change Challenge</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-04-22T09:13:18-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/49ac351d6e9996879630eafa345f9cec-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/49ac351d6e9996879630eafa345f9cec-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Other notable finalists of the FT Climate Change Challenge include: 


	&bull;	Deflector hubcaps by US entrepreneur Jon Fleck are fitted to truck wheels to cover the turbulence-generating holes in their wheels, reducing air resistance.   These are claimed to cut fuel consumption by 2 per cent, making each $50 cap pay for itself in fuel savings within six months.   Because of the long distances travelled by hauliers, even small improvements to truck efficiency can have a large effect. 


	&bull;	Charcoal microwave:The Black Phantom from New Zealand-based Carbonscape is a huge microwave that reduces any biomass to charcoal to be used as a super-efficient fuel or buried to prevent carbon reaching the atmosphere.   Resistant to microbial action, the charcoal can securely store carbon for thousands of years, according to the company, who says that although it uses power, the system fixes more carbon than it generates.


	&bull;	Garlic burp suppressants: Mootral from UK-based Neem Biotech is a food additive containing allicin, an antibacterial compound from garlic that limits the growth of the methane-producing bacterial colonies in a ruminant animal's first stomach.   Estimates suggest ruminants are responsible for around one-fifth of global warming, and trials show Mootral can reduce such emissions by 15 per cent by cutting the methane belched out by ruminants such as sheep and cows. 


<i>(Source: New Scientist) | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I taut I taw another tweeting app</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><dc:date>2009-04-21T22:04:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/4158f75165057e9c612752df90488b48-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/4158f75165057e9c612752df90488b48-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you're into Tweeting and you're on a Mac, you might like to know that Atebits' Tweetie for Mac is a desktop equivalent of its previously-released Tweetie for iPhone.   Features include conversation view, independent composition windows, trend searches, threading of Direct Messages, a tear-off search results list, a browser bookmarklet for sending links to Tweetie, and more.   Tweetie is for Mac OS X 10.5 (Universal Binary), and in its recent review of all Mac-based tweeting apps, it was the reviewer's preferred choice of the lot. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$14.95 (until May 4)  | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+ | For further info... ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Manage your projects and your workgroups</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Business</category><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Windows</category><category>Linux</category><dc:date>2009-04-19T12:13:16-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ad993c057698ec6053093e8a3256421d-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ad993c057698ec6053093e8a3256421d-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Billed as a unique tool for managing both projects and workgroups, Teamwork 4.1 is a very full-featured web-based team work manager, written in Java, with tools for project management, agendas and meetings, work logging, collaboration, and other functions.    Project management data may be exported to MS Project.   The latest version includes integration with Twitter and Google Calendar, a revamped interface, a business process extension, smart search functions, dynamic web parts that allow in-place and multi-line editing, and more. 


A helpful, if Swiss-accented explanatory video online (&ldquo;manADGEment&rdquo; = management, &ldquo;assee-knees&rdquo; = assignees) gives a good picture of its features and advantages. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: &euro;90 per user; &euro;790 for 10-user pack.   | Requires: Java 5 & Mac OS X 10.4+, Windows, or Linux  | For further info... /</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>MS Office for Mac: updates</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Productivity</category><dc:date>2009-04-20T12:00:30-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/30e8a58be22e345921089275da224dab-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/30e8a58be22e345921089275da224dab-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Microsoft has released the latest updates for Office 2008 and Office 2004, to address a critical security issue in Excel and improve performance.   The 2008 update requires you to have installed update #12.1.0.    If you're using MS Office for Mac 2004, be advised that it will cease to be supported as of as of Oct 13, 2009, and will thus no longer receive any updates. 

<i>(Source: TidBits) | Cost: Free (update) | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info... ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Let your camera do the scanning</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Peripherals</category><category>Productivity</category><category>MacOS</category><dc:date>2009-04-21T11:07:47-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/8ae1ba5ae52a858d5758e17c6e8f90a0-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/8ae1ba5ae52a858d5758e17c6e8f90a0-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Prizmo 1.0 from Creaceed is an answer to the idle musing of no doubt many a user &ndash; an app that allows you to use your digital camera as a "scanner" for both 2D and 3D objects, including receipts, book and magazine pages, signs and posters, landscapes, and more.    Its bundled software allows you to correct the resulting image for contrast, sharpening, and &ndash; impressively &ndash; for perspective, too.    The resulting images can be printed, emailed, or saved to disk.   Includes support for JPEG, RAW, and TIFF input images, and more.   Any digital camera will do, but it for best results it recommend a 10-megapixel camera or higher.   For potentially saving you the cost of a scanner such as the ScanSnap or the newly released NeatDesk for Mac, however, there is a price.


<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: USD $39.95 | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+, digital camera | For further info... ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Protective Web browsing on iPhone</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><category>Kids</category><category>iPhone/iPod touch </category><dc:date>2009-03-20T12:34:56-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d7c04bba956fd32bb05d18c1d43d188b-21.html#unique-entry-id-21</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d7c04bba956fd32bb05d18c1d43d188b-21.html#unique-entry-id-21</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[With many children now boasting their own iPod touch devices, the issue of protective browsing is no longer limited to the desktop computer at home or at school.    To ensure they avoid unsavory websites while browsing on the move, parents can now install iWonder Surf.    Based on the Safari Web browser.  This allows you to filter site traffic, and even find out if your child is surfing the Web during school hours, and view traffic and control Web surfing permissions, or even disable its Web access, from anywhere without having to have physical access to the device.

<i>(Source: iPhone Central) | Cost: US$15 | Requires: iPhone or iPod Touch, iPhone v2.2 software | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Real purpose of Conficker worm revealed</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Windows</category><dc:date>2009-04-10T12:06:24-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d2c3fbb8e05ae475b1da41c0f4b61576-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/d2c3fbb8e05ae475b1da41c0f4b61576-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[After an anti-climactic April&rsquo;s Fool Day when the Conficker worm apparently failed to &ldquo;phone home&rdquo; for its dreaded instructions, its real purposes are now revealed.    An analysis by the respected Kaspersky Labs concludes that the worm offers its victims a fake anti-virus product that will supposedly remove all malware for $49.95.   It also downloads an email worm called Waledac, which steals passwords and sends spam. 


Users should note that Conficker only affects Windows operating systems.    Mac and Linux users are safe within the Mac OS part of their systems, and are vulnerable only within the Windows environments that they may run on their machines. 


<i>(Source: Wired) | Cost:  | Requires: Windows | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Editing PDFs with no Acrobatics</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><category>Windows</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Linux</category><dc:date>2009-04-14T11:53:58-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/85cfafd5d0f5f215cefab38facf45104-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/85cfafd5d0f5f215cefab38facf45104-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	&bull;	Sticky Notes, Typewriter tool, Graphical Tools, Audio Comments, Hyperlinks: Open any pdf document and add your sticky notes or comments to the document using text, graphic, and audio markup tools. ...  Type text anywhere in a PDF document and fill forms that do not contain interactive form fields. 

...	&bull;	Text Search, Extract, Highlight, Underline, Cross Out : Search through the text of an open PDF document. ...  Select a paragraph on the page and highlight, underline or cross out the text from it.

	&bull;	Scan to PDF (Mac, Windows): Scan documents from any Twain compliant scanner into a new or existing pdf document.

...Once the form is filled, you can flatten form fields to obtain a non-editable version of the form.

...You can set /remove permissions to print, to modify, to copy, to annotate and to fill form fields. 

...	&bull;	Bookmarks / Outlines: Create new bookmarks or edit existing ones to allow users to jump to specific locations in this document or other documents.

	&bull;	Batch functions: Stamp, Print, Encrypt, Extract Text or Images for multiple documents with a single click as a batch.

	&bull;	PDF From / To Images: Import JPG, TIFF or PNG images into a document.   Convert pages of a pdf document to JPG, TIFF (optimized for scanning) or PNG images.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Web browsing for children</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><category>MacOS</category><dc:date>2009-04-12T15:11:10-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2e3e36fc26d287c88f6b0f2cfeb14936-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/2e3e36fc26d287c88f6b0f2cfeb14936-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[BumperCar 2.2 from Freeverse Software is a web browser for children based on the same engine as Apple&rsquo;s own Safari.    Featuring a start page that encourages children to explore a collection of kid-friendly sites, it can be configured to be in a Home, School or Pre-School setting with personalized features appropriate for each location.   It also filters out objectionable web content, limits the sharing of personal information, and forces Google to use a "Safe Search" mode.    A &ldquo;Tunnel of Mystery&rdquo; teleports kids to a random kid-safe site.   BumperCar.   Parents may add additional controls of their own choosing in the Preferences.    Unlike most other browsers, however, it isn&rsquo;t free &ndash; but then, you can&rsquo;t have everything. 


<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$29.95 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Thanks for the videos</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Recreation</category><category>Information</category><dc:date>2009-04-09T10:54:11-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/9b53509c308c7c2c203d21ea87da152d-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/9b53509c308c7c2c203d21ea87da152d-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Lest you think that The Library of Congress was just about books, it has begun releasing videos from its archives through its own YouTube channel, starting with 70 historical videos, inclulding the first ever moving image (a man sneezing), films from the Thomas Edison studio and industrial films from Westinghouse factories.

<i>(Source: Wired) | Cost: Free | For further info... </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Make your (environmentally-friendly) cleaning supplies</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><category>For the home</category><dc:date>2009-02-18T13:45:35-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/72e190e84034aac7ee424e3b03d60633-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/72e190e84034aac7ee424e3b03d60633-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Examples 


	&bull;	General purpose floor cleaner: 1/3 cup of Borax with one gallon of warm water, then add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia. 


	&bull;	Wood floor cleaner: 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. 


	&bull;	Shower cleaner, mix 1/4 cup of Lysol or another concentrated cleaner with a half cup of isopropyl alcohol and water.


	&bull;	To clean chrome, used toothpaste or crumpled up aluminum foil. 


	&bull;	To clean glass with plain white vinegar. 


	&bull;	For dusting, reuse dryer sheets.

Reminder: Never mix ammonia and bleach, which can create a harmful, potentially lethal gas.

<i>(Source: Baltimore Sun) For further info, go here, or here </i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Home Sweet Home&#x2c; in 3D</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Design</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-04-06T12:59:50-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/6273c7a3c7fbd064f8730456f53fafb6-15.html#unique-entry-id-15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/6273c7a3c7fbd064f8730456f53fafb6-15.html#unique-entry-id-15</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Sweet Home 3D 1.8 from eTeks is an open-source, Java-based application for drawing the plan of a home, arranging furniture on it, and displaying the results in a 3D view.    Doors, windows and items from a built-in catalogue of furniture and fixtures may be dragged in and resized manually after placement.    Various textures of wood, tiles and others may be applied to surfaces, and changes in plan are seen immediately in a rendered 3D view plan and realtime walkthroughs are also possible.   The quality of rendering is equivalent of most low-cost offerings of the past twenty years, but unlike others, Sweet Home 3D is offered under a GNU/GPL licence.


<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: Free (donations accepted) | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+, Linux\Unix, or Windows | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Last chance to use Encarta online</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Internet</category><category>Computing</category><category>Information</category><dc:date>2009-03-31T17:47:36-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/9c59b4cb5626036fd7b717427820ba5c-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/9c59b4cb5626036fd7b717427820ba5c-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Microsoft has announced it is shutting down its online Encarta encyclopedia service in October this year and will also discontinue its Student and Premium Encarta software products.

<i>(Source: Macworld UK)  | For further info.../</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>NeoOffice v3 out now</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Software</category><category>Productivity</category><dc:date>2009-04-02T14:55:53-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/9387f9f4099fdb2ae196e814b28f5ea4-13.html#unique-entry-id-13</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/9387f9f4099fdb2ae196e814b28f5ea4-13.html#unique-entry-id-13</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[NeoOffice, the open-source suite based on OpenOffice that allows you to open and save Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), is now out in version 3.0, bringing with it new features and enhancements.  

<i>(Source: Macworld) | Cost: Free (donations accepted) | Requires: Mac OS X 10.3+ | For further info... /</i> ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Don&#x27;t just bin it &#x2013; forgetabouddit&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-04-02T11:20:19-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b11d6a6e549c3c8938c89de50ca25f86-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/b11d6a6e549c3c8938c89de50ca25f86-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Next time you decide to throw out an app that you no longer need, don't just throw it in the Trash &ndash; make sure that all its associated preference panes, cache, and other files are discarded as well.    We normally use CleanApp for this purpose, but now you can also try the newly-minted Amnesia 1.0 from Koingo Software.   It includes a secure delete option, a log of uninstalled files, a backup/restore option for applications and their related files, an option to move rather than delete files, rebuild of the Launch Services database after removing files, and other features. 


<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$9.95 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>There he goes&#x2c; officer&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><dc:date>2009-03-30T21:03:02-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/19d695769f8b99c5f5a785a63888077e-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/19d695769f8b99c5f5a785a63888077e-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When activated MacTrak uses the web camera to capture images of the thief and uploads them with location to your Flickr account, and email.

Remote activation is simple.   Open a web browser, or use your iPhone to log in and click the tracking button, the next time your system connects to the Internet the software will activate sending data and images to you.

There are a number of other products and companies that can track your Mac including LoJack and Undercover.   While both programs have some interesting features (Undercover in particular does some things I'd like to see incorporated into a future version of MacTrak, such as taking screenshots as the thief works and simulating a hardware failure to force the thief into bringing the machine in for repair), evaluating them should be saved for another article.

 <i>(Source: TidBits) | Cost: $24.95 1 Year Licence; $59.95 Lifetime Licence (one time fee with no annual subscriptions, the license transferrable to a new device.   | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Your family tree through space &#x26; time</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Software</category><category>For the home</category><dc:date>2009-03-03T16:47:06-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/cf2f8fa91d7111ce5e59bbbc503c7a86-10.html#unique-entry-id-10</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/cf2f8fa91d7111ce5e59bbbc503c7a86-10.html#unique-entry-id-10</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[MacFamilyTree 5.4 from Synium Software is a genealogy program that includes an interactive globe for visualization through space and time, a 3D kinship view with fly-through, an animated Family Assistant, support for unlimited relationships between any two people, drag-and-drop from iPhoto, built-in CD/DVD burning, and other features.   This release brings new web page design, themes, and workflow for web page export, custom fonts and improved editing for charts, much better coordinates lookup for Virtual Globe, a larger and more detailed locations database, an option to save reports as HTML files, and more. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$49 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>iPresent It &#x2013; you present it</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Windows</category><category>Software</category><category>Business</category><dc:date>2009-03-09T16:23:55-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/db1d13ab121cf99476871a4a14d61c19-8.html#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/db1d13ab121cf99476871a4a14d61c19-8.html#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[iPresent It from ZappTek converts PowerPoint, PDF, and Keynote presentations into slideshows that can be synced to the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPod Photo and later models.   The latest release (v.2.4) adds support for Keynote '09. 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$17.95 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.3+, Windows | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The measurable benefit of trees</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><category>Design</category><dc:date>2009-03-23T12:12:15-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/7970a5980f9525d37d6db7b8a766e17b-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/7970a5980f9525d37d6db7b8a766e17b-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Among the measurable benefits of trees cited:

	&bull;	Asthma rates for children fall 25% for every extra 350 trees per sq km. 

	&bull;	Money for a new Heathrow runway could provide 22m street trees.

	&bull;	1,000 new parks could help avoid 74,000 tonnes of carbon a year.

	&bull;	For every 5% of tree cover added, water run-off is reduced 2%.

	&bull;	A treeless street is 5.5C (10F) warmer than a tree-lined one in hot summers. 

	&bull;	Property in treeless streets is worth 18% less than buildings in roads that have trees.

<i>(Source: Guardian.co.uk) | Cost:  | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Graphics through synthesis</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Design</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-03-31T11:46:29-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/362e98194bef62e298d044e8618b1e5c-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/362e98194bef62e298d044e8618b1e5c-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[GraphicDesignerToolbox 1.0 from Opcoders is a new type of graphics editor for creating textures, web graphics, logos, photos, applying effects to text and to photos.   It takes a radically new approach to drawing: instead of conventional drawing tools and layers, it provides adjustable building blocks &ndash; over 80 in total &ndash; that apply certain effects in serial fashion and which the user tweaks, "much like a modular sound synthesizer."   Users can download a free trial copy of unlimited duration, but which is limited to saving projects with 10 building blocks or less. 


<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$39.95 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.4+ | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Move through your SketchUp models</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>MacOS</category><category>Design</category><category>Software</category><dc:date>2009-03-30T16:17:01-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ed273512b280f0ea075603b60ce3374e-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/ed273512b280f0ea075603b60ce3374e-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you like Google Sketchup, you'll appreciate Sketchers Studio, which allows you to create 3D animations from your SketchUp models.    It comes embedded with Google 3D Warehouse Browser, a timeline view, camera control including zoom, multi-camera switching, three types of effects, export to QuickTime movies, and more.   Sketchers Studio is currently $59 for Mac OS X 10.5 (Universal Binary). 

<i>(Source: Macintouch) | Cost: US$59 (usually $79)  | Requires: MacOS X 10.5+ | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Future oil spills off BC coasts</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-03-24T15:03:57-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a573a505039066f6a84ecdcf8666dba6-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/a573a505039066f6a84ecdcf8666dba6-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA["Where there are tankers, accidents happen.  &hellip;There is an average of four oil tanker spills worldwide each year," said Oonagh O'Connor, Living Ocean's energy campaign manager.   "It's not a question of if, but when&hellip; There's actually a risk on our coast already with the cruise ships, container vessels and expansions of the ports."

The model takes into account tidal movements, currents and the presence of fresh water and salt water.    Separate scenarios show what would happen in summer and winter.    What's not predictable is the amount of oil that could foul the coast, said O'Connor.

Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau imposed a ban on tankers in the early 1970's but the Conservative federal government takes issue with the ban.    They say that nothing was put on paper.


<i>(Source: Times Colonist) | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Stats on your connection to the &#x27;Net</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Internet</category><dc:date>2009-03-24T12:55:37-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/4b10816436bfb3f1632aada32cd12abb-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/4b10816436bfb3f1632aada32cd12abb-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[InternetFrog.com is a useful method to test the speed and other stats of your Internet connection. 

You can also test the Quality of your VOIP Circuit, get a Browser Info analysis (Client IP Address, Server Port, Request, Encryption, etc.), and there are also links to WHOIS (domain owner information)

Results may vary in the course of the day.

Word of warning: many if not most of the buttons in the navigation panel &ndash; e.g.   "ISP" are in fact simply shortcuts to advertisements or companies or sites offering that service.

<i>(Source: VMUG) | Cost: Free at this site  | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Catch your spelling in all applications</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Computing</category><category>Writing</category><category>MacOS</category><dc:date>2005-01-07T13:07:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/3bb61b33e43270970ec03e016a0ec569-1.html#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/3bb61b33e43270970ec03e016a0ec569-1.html#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ This release brings back Ghostwriter (which stores what you type as you type it) and adds Internet lookup, an optional pop-up suggestions list, extension of auto-completion to Mac OS X 10.2 and Carbon applications, sorting and searching in reference document windows, major performance improvements, and more. 

<i>(Macintouch.com) | Price: USD$39.95 | Requires: Mac OS X 10.2+ | For further info... </i>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Toxins in children&#x27;s bath products</title><dc:creator>Jonathan Stoppi</dc:creator><category>Health</category><category>Environment</category><dc:date>2009-03-13T16:05:22-07:00</dc:date><link>http://www.qualum.com/html/files/79bbf711f719d6c11a6d181139b6b7b9-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.qualum.com/html/files/79bbf711f719d6c11a6d181139b6b7b9-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[These include Johnson's Baby Shampoo, L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry Shampoo, Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash, Gerber's Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash.   Bubble bath products branded with popular children's characters also tested positive for both chemicals, including Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, Hot Wheels and Tinker Bell.

Levels of formaldehyde in 23 of the 28 products ranged from 54 to 610 ppm (parts per million); levels of dioxane, found in 32 out of 48 products, ranged from 0.27 to 33 ppm.

<i>(Source: CanWest News Service) | For further info&hellip;</i>]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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