Warning: Missing argument 14 for themeindex(), called in /usr/www/users/macmerc/macmerc.com/categories.php on line 151 and defined in /usr/www/users/macmerc/macmerc.com/themes/MacMerc/theme.php on line 325

Warning: Missing argument 15 for themeindex(), called in /usr/www/users/macmerc/macmerc.com/categories.php on line 151 and defined in /usr/www/users/macmerc/macmerc.com/themes/MacMerc/theme.php on line 325

Warning: Missing argument 16 for themeindex(), called in /usr/www/users/macmerc/macmerc.com/categories.php on line 151 and defined in /usr/www/users/macmerc/macmerc.com/themes/MacMerc/theme.php on line 325

Frenzic, one of the most addictive games ever, as it was meant to be played...on the iPhone

Frenzic by the Iconfactory & ARTIS Software has always been a cool game: you race against the clock to strategically position pie wedges in available spots gaining points and power ups as you go. It's been available on the Mac since March of 2007 but I had a better chance of resisting its addictive pull because the mouse and keyboard just aren't the best method of input for a game like this. Frenzic is a "put that THERE!" kind of game...a game that begs to be instructed with the point of a demanding finger.

...and now Frenzic has come to the platform that can do it right--the iPhone and iPod touch.

A little while ago I was asked to test out Frenzic for iPhone while it was still in beta and I teased my Flickr friends with the picture shown here. This is what a typical iPod touch will look like shortly after installing Frenzic...the tell tail seven spot fingerprint pattern is unmistakable. It's the sign of an addict.

Frenzic is now available from the Apple App Store for USD$4.99, but be warned it pays back more than that in fun while making your free time vanish.

In Gaming

Posted by RickMacMerc on Wednesday, November 19 @ 21:33:09 EST
Comments (View)

Iconfactory gives classic Star Trek the old Command-R

The U.S.S. Iconfactory has given artist Dave Brasgalla's latest creation, Refresh Trek permission to come aboard. The collection consists of 5 folders representing the various divisions of service within Starfleet. There's even a red one, but I wouldn't put anything important in it...they are always the first to get killed on away missions.

Set a course for The Iconfactory and beam up Refresh Trek today. There's even a couple of sweet new desktops to go with them.

In Elsewhere on the Internet...

Posted by RickMacMerc on Tuesday, November 11 @ 20:39:26 EST
Comments (View)

Make your internal hard drive look like an internal organ this Halloween

Yesterday, the folks at Iconfactory, with their beautifully Halloween-themed website, posted David Lanham's latest icon creation: Son of Somatic. They describe the 21 icon set this way:

This playful, yet creepy set of desktop icons (the first Somatic set to be updated for Leopard) has oozed from the mind of David Lanham to haunt your Mac or PC desktop. From David's macabre 'Internal Drive' to the cute and lovable 'Mysterioso' there are icons here for everyone.

Download this freeware set today and give your desktop a new creepy look.

In Elsewhere on the Internet...

Posted by RickMacMerc on Wednesday, October 29 @ 22:10:49 EDT
Comments (View)

Jean-Michel Jarre AeroSystem iPod speaker system looks like a sci-fi set piece

I'm feeling some serious fatigue from iPod accessory announcements, but this speaker system from Jean-Michel Jarre (more on Jean-Michel Jarre) actually made me stop and take a look. It's called the AeroSystem and at first I thought it looked like the USS Enterprise's reactor core from The Wrath of Khan, but even though it has two 20W RMS speakers and a 45W RMS subwoofer, it is unlikely to do in any self-sacrificing Vulcan science officers.

The AeroSystem features a USB port and a 3.5mm stereo jack as well as an iPod dock connector. According to the site, it sells for EUR450 (approx USD$580). Too rich for my blood, but I still think it looks cool.

[ Via Shiny Shiny ]

In Gadgets

Posted by RickMacMerc on Thursday, October 23 @ 23:26:29 EDT
Comments (View)

New trailer for MacHEADS movie posted

MacHEADS is a feature-length documentary about people's unconditional devotion to Apple. Through a series of interviews (none of which with me, though I'm not hurt...much) with the Mac's most dedicated followers, the film takes an in-depth look at the cult of Mac and the people (excluding me) who charted the machine's rise to popularity, posing the ultimate question, "Is Apple losing faith as a community and becoming just a brand? ...and where's Rick?"

In Elsewhere on the Internet...

Posted by RickMacMerc on Tuesday, October 14 @ 22:21:55 EDT
Comments (View)

AppleTV just got smarter... Genius!!

I haven't played with this extensively yet but apparently Apple has released an update for AppleTV that not only addresses a security issue that sits squarely in the "...as if" category, but also adds Genius playlist support.

The Genius abilities are accessed by holding down the Play/Pause button on the remote while a song is playing, at which point a menu will appear offering you the opportunity to start Genius.

[ Via TUAW ]

In Apple / Mac

Posted by RickMacMerc on Friday, October 03 @ 00:15:43 EDT
Comments (View)

Tip shows how to add custom genre art to iTunes 8 Grid View

buddha001 has submitted a cool hack over at Mac OS X Hints that details the steps involved in adding your own custom artwork to iTunes 8 for the obscure genres in your music collection. You know, the ones to which iTunes 8 gives the old unknown album art in the new Grid View?

While I have tested this little hack and it does work, I would advise you to keep backups of all the files you make in case a future iTunes update obliterates them.

[ Via MacOSXHints.com ]

In Hax0r

Posted by RickMacMerc on Tuesday, September 16 @ 22:40:11 EDT
Comments (View)

Savant Systems builds home automation on Mac OS X, iPhone app coming

Cali Lewis of GeekBrief.TV recorded an audio conversation with Jim Carroll, the founder of Savant about their home automation systems built on Apple hardware. They have a unique iPhone/iPod Touch application coming out soon that will allow you to control all the automated appliances and systems in your home and, potentially monitor and control them via text messages while you're away.

Savant's systems are not designed for the do-it-yourselfer in the way X10 automation systems are. Instead, they offer a solution that emphasizes ease of use, reliability and a maintenance-friendly open platform. It's a complete system.

It's nice to know that, not only is someone working to redefine the home entertainment and control systems industries, but that they're doing it on the foundation of Mac OS X.

In Elsewhere on the Internet...

Posted by RickMacMerc on Tuesday, September 16 @ 22:06:01 EDT
Comments (View)

The secret of iTunes 8's ''Genius'' revealed!!

Our good friends Nitrozac and Snaggy over at the Joy of Tech have released a new comic detailing the complicated process that goes on behind the scenes as iTunes 8's Genius compiles lists of recommended music based on your current music library.

Click here to see How The iTunes Genius Really Works.

In Elsewhere on the Internet...

Posted by RickMacMerc on Monday, September 15 @ 22:20:00 EDT
Comments (View)

The Apple Design Award winners at Iconfactory show you how to make your own

Have you always wanted to win an Apple Design Award? The cool little illuminated cube is something I've coveted for a while now, but since I don't actually produce any hardware or software for any Apple products, I think my chances of winning one are pretty lousy.

The Iconfactory's Craig Hockenberry was awarded an Apple Design Award at WWDC 2008 for Twitterrific for the iPhone. The award has travelled to North Carolina where the rest of the Iconfactory gang could enjoy it before it went back to Craig's house in Laguna Beach.

The factory workers in NC grew so attached to the award that they decided to create a doppleganger out of a square glass, some clay, some touch lights and, the handyman's secret weapon...duct tape. Throw in some spray paint and some nice penmanship and you have a do-it-yourself Apple Design Award that probably fooled Craig for 10 seconds but put a smile on his face.

The building process has been documented on an Iconfactory Flickr set so that maybe you can pretend to be a ADA winner.

In Elsewhere on the Internet...

Posted by RickMacMerc on Wednesday, July 02 @ 01:31:01 EDT
Comments (View)

Quick Links

Try on a MacMerc Tee

Other Options

Recent Comments

Masthead

Contact Us

Frenzic, one of the most addictive games ever, as it was meant to be played...on the iPhone

Iconfactory gives classic Star Trek the old Command-R

Make your internal hard drive look like an internal organ this Halloween

Jean-Michel Jarre AeroSystem iPod speaker system looks like a sci-fi set piece

New trailer for MacHEADS movie posted

AppleTV just got smarter... Genius!!

Tip shows how to add custom genre art to iTunes 8 Grid View

Savant Systems builds home automation on Mac OS X, iPhone app coming

The secret of iTunes 8's ''Genius'' revealed!!

The Apple Design Award winners at Iconfactory show you how to make your own