So I’m reviewing MarsEdit for Macteens and the review will be coming within a couple of days to 2 weeks. When it does, I’ll provide a link here.

So far I’m liking being able to have local drafts and I like having to not have Safari open. This makes it much less cluttered, which helps when trying to actually write things. I have not tried any of the other things so far, so I have no idea what I’ll think of it a couple days.

Right now, though, I’m looking for some opinions of people who have used MarsEdit, so I can gauge how much people like it and how much it is used.

So, comment away.

Edit:

I’m just trying out image embedding. So, here’s a picture I took.

That was more complicated than I would of hoped…

I feel that the people who still subscribe to this blog deserve an explanation of where I’ve been for the past couple of months. While I’ve been in forums and websites and especially on Twitter, I haven’t blogged anywhere.

Basically, that’s because I haven’t thought of anything good and the things I did think of were a pain to write about. I started blogging because I enjoyed it, and even when I started at MacApper.com the pay was a bonus, not the reason.

I stopped enjoying it, but now I’m back.

General updates:
- I own a Digital Rebel XTI (with kit lens) now, and I’m really happy with it. I also have a 50mm f/1.8 (Nifty Fifty), and a 75-300mm lens that I had with the film camera.

- On the subject of photography, I’m looking into getting started with off-camera flash, and am juggling between using a wired or less reliable wireless method. My inspiration was from the Strobist site. Even if you have no interest in going there, I recommend checking it out, because even if you don’t think you want to try it you probably will, and it is also a fascinating subject, at least to me.

- I got a space pen (!) and a fountain pen (!!) for Christmas, which are both really cool and fun. I want to learn calligraphy because my handwriting is horrible.

- I have a tumblr as well. I have one thing posted on it so far, but the link is http://connerdowney.tumblr.com so go check it out.

Other than those, I’m pretty boring.

One of my favorite bloggers is Fake Steve, who poses as Steve Jobs and offers a hilarious approach to things in the Apple and Tech world. Recently there has been many people who have been trying to uncover who he is, through probably completely legal but unethical means. Some people have gone so far to make a special website just for Fake Steve, with a link only he received, that was used to discover where is from (Boston). While Valleywag has taken some heat, from Fake Steve himself as well, they offer some points that say why Andy Ihnatko isn’t Fake Steve in this post, citing reasons that while Andy is funny, Fake Steve is funnier, Andy Inahtko uses Verizon while Fake Steve does not, and more.

Gizmodo also has some points at that Fake Steve won’t be able to stay Fake for long, if the hunt carries on. They are one of the many groups of people who want Fake Steve to remain fake, including TUAW, Buzz Out Loud, and many individuals on Twitter as well.

I am in the group that wants Fake Steve to remain fake. I admit I was curious, but once Fake Steve wrote the post about the invasions of privacy, I figured that it went too far, and that it would be better for everyone if it stopped. I doubt the people who have done the things to discover who he is will stop, but maybe if enough people show their disapproval they will. It’s a big maybe though.

Yesterday, my friend Matt McInerney unleashed gleamd into private beta, giving each user 5 invites.

A good introduction (in video form) to gleamd can be seen here, from the creator himself.

Basically, gleamd is a site where the users submit people who they find interesting and have made an impression on the internet. It allows voting so people can vote for who they like more, and has a chart for Recently Popular (updated weekly) and All-Time Popular. To sort the submitted people, you can categorize then into groups such as podcaster or blogger, and even look at other podcasters and bloggers together. There is even a buddy system where friends can add each-other, but isn’t a particularly important feature. It was added to give the choice of expanding on it in the future.

So far, I’ve enjoyed voting for people, submitting people, and adding buddies too. I have four invites (maybe more) to give away to the first four commentors giving you access to the public beta. So, if you want one, comment below.

Update: All gone!

A little while ago, I modified October Special and decided to use that as my theme, but eventually didn’t like some things about it and also found that search and archives were not working. So, I was modding Glossy Blue, and decided that it wasn’t going well, so went on the look for a super-minimal theme. Luckily, I found this one. I like the color scheme, and I can finally add a blogroll featuring a bunch of blogs that I read.

There is a light variation of this theme, and was wondering if anyone would rather that than this. If so, I’ll add a theme switcher, and you can have the choice.

Hope you like it, I do.

While I’m sure any of you use the popular app CoverSutra, there is a new one that has been in progress for the past 6 months, and it is Artwork. Artwork is being developed by Dan Deming-Henes, and so far, has been great. Artwork isn’t released to the public yet, so take this review as a preview on what’s to come. Artwork shows your album art on your desktop, with controls, in a window with the choice of large or small. One of the features of CoverSutra that has been requested frequently is inset controls, along with the HUD it has. Artwork does not have a HUD, but I find this better. For a look at the different types of views, see below.

Read the rest of this entry…

I have recently bought a pocket Moleskine for use with GTD, meaning my large Moleskine I bought has no purpose. Luckily for me, I found one. I found this photoset on Flickr, that showed me fountain pens, good handwriting, moleskines, and a Powerbook. I realized that I had found a use, and that from that moment on, the Moleskine will be used for drafting. That means, essentially, that all important writing that I do will usually be drafted.

But, I want a fountain pen. I have never used one, so don’t know what I need or which one to get, but I know I want one. If you have a suggestion, you can leave a comment. I also want a Fisher Space Pen, but that’s for mobile purposes.

If you are really complelled to buy me a fountain pen, you can donate enough money into my paypal (if they are cheap of course), by sending it to conner (at) connerdowney (dot) com. If someone does, I will immediately edit the post, as I don’t want to scam anyone out of their money.

Recently, I’ve been trying to get into this lifestyle of GTD (or Getting Things Done), through reading websites such as lifehack.org and reading books related to GTD such as The 4-Hour Workweek. I have enjoyed reading the websites and books, but have come to the realization that I can’t really follow them completely.

There are a couple main reasons. The first reason that I see, is that I can’t do things like control my school schedule, or quit it all together (like it would be done in The 4-Hour Workweek). Also, I think that not Getting Things Done is perfectly okay.

I’ve come to that realization when I was writing down on sticky notes tips that I found from lifehack.org and The 4-Hour Workweek, and realized that they aren’t to useful to me. While it may be a good idea to check email not in the morning, and at 12:00 and 4:00, I don’t need to. It’s not impacting my life negatively, as currently I have the whole day free to do what I want (as it is summer).

There isn’t much more to say, other than that while there may be some tips that can be useful (I’ve learned how to take more efficient naps, and how to win a kickboxing match through technicalities, for example), but all of them can’t really be followed.

But, either way, I recommend you read The 4-Hour Workweek, lifehack.org, and I have yet to purchase Getting Things Done. Also, I’m excited for OmniFocus, as I have been trying to find a solution to get myself more organized, as opposed to my sticky note system I am using now.

If you have a suggestion for me to Get Things Done as a teen, then leave a comment.

Update: This is purely my opinion and my experiences. If you’ve found a way that works for you, I would like to hear it.

For those who don’t know, Steve Jobs gave another preview of Leopard (coming in October) during his keynote at WWDC 2007. (You can watch the keynote here) There are many new features in Leopard, some that I like, and some that I don’t. That said, I like most of them, but there are some things I find useless. To see all of the announced (so far) features of Leopard, click here.

Read the rest of this entry…

Today, I was tagged by Jordan to participate in this.

-Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.
-Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.
-Players should tag eight other people and notify them that they have been tagged.

1. I want to be a multi-talented freelancer, with web design, graphic design, blogging, and do some developing with Macs while going through high school and college.
2. My introduction to Internet communities was a Homestar Runner Fan Forum.
3. I have 1 Mac Mini, 1 Macbook, and many iPods of different generations.
4. I traded my nice blue iMac G3 for a horrible, old, slow Sony Vaio laptop to my sister. I am still regretting the decision today.
5. I got my Mac Mini emulating Mac OS X on a Dell desktop, and broke it that I couldn’t fix it (I didn’t know what drivers were, and couldn’t figure out why it was messed up) and was happy ever since.
6. I watch little TV, only a couple shows.
7. I have been blogging since late 2006, but only have been somewhat successful and hard-working for a month or two, after a long hiatus.
8. I love Macs, Mac Software, and basically everything about them.
—
Now, I tag:

Alec Feld
Michael Yurechko
Marvin Sum
Anthony Cole
Nick Danforth
Caitlyn Imburgo
Joseph Lochli
rockstr