Tired of loading you default homepage to the web dozens of times each day when all you want to do is go to another site? If this is the case, you want a really fast loading page as your homepage.

The answer for most is Google.com, but today I found a super-fast alternative called Smplr.

Smplr is one of the fastest loading web-pages I have ever visited. The mili-second after Safari has opened in the dock I’m already displayed with the page, ready for me to type.

If you type a search term in the pretty blue box, you are re-directed to a Google search for that keyword, so it’s essentially a super fast gateway to Google.

Below the search bow resides a handy little table of websites sorted by categories. These links are to sites such as Digg, MacZOT, CNN, MySpace, FaceBook, and more.

My verdict: great if your on the lookout for a mini “hub” to the web with a search box and links to frequently visited popular sites. Check it out here.

Following up from the last edition which proved so popular, here is the 7 Slickest Mac Setups: Take Two, where I have selected another 7 setups from Flickr to showcase.

Many will agree with me when I say I hate the Firefox icon under OSX. I dont hate the actual icon, just when it’s in your dock it’s too big and looks out of place. Change that now with Adam Betts Firefox replacement icon, which is a little smaller and enhanced than the default icon we’ve had to put up with.

Download the icon here.

Pukka is a simple OS X app for del.icio.us bookmarking. I discovered Pukka after reading the article “Top 10 OS X apps to supplement blogging” by Derek Punsalan.

Most of you should know about the social bookmarking site del.icio.us. If not, the primary use of del.icio.us is to store your bookmarks online, which allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere, too. On del.icio.us, you can use tags to organize and remember your bookmarks, which is a much more flexible system than folders.

Pukka makes adding links to your del.icio.us profile a breeze.

Default Way To Post To del.icio.us

When you launch Pukka you will be displayed this window. The default “add link” interface. You can choose to manually enter the URL, title, tags, and description in, or alternatively, you can drag a URL from your web browser directly onto the Pukka icon, and it will add the link and page title for you, leaving you just tags and a description to add.

Here is a fully completed del.icio.us entry in Pukka, ready for posting. You dont have to enter anything other then the URL of the bookmark you are submitting, but entering all the other information can help you find, search, and comprehend your links at a later date.

Once you’ve done filling this out, click “Add Link”, and your link will be posted to your del.icio.us profile.

Alternative Way To Post To del.icio.us

Want a really quick way to post to del.icio.us from within your browser so you can keep browsing the web? Then this next tip will be perfect for you.

Pop open the preferences in Pukka, and match the settings above. Then click on Pukka in the menu-bar, and select “Install Bookmarklet”. Set up your bookmark in your web browser, and be sure to include it in the bookmarks bar.

By clicking on bookmarks > bookmarks bar in Safari, you will be bought to this little pop-up window. See how each bookmark has a shortcut next to it? These are quick access shortcuts to take you to the URL. I have the Pukka bookmarklet set up as Apple + 5.

Now, when you are on a site you want to bookmark, hit your keyboard shortcut (in my case, Apple + 5). This will open up Pukka withy the bookmark already added to the form. If you dont want to move your hands from the keyboard simply hit enter. Pukka will post the link to del.icio.us, the automatically hide and leave you on the page you were just browsing.

Head over to Code Sorcery and pick up Pukka for $5. It’s a bargain for such a handy little application.

Sick of the NewsFire RSS reader icon and feel it needs to be refreshed? So do I, thats why I went searching for replacement icons and found this highly stylish replacement icon from Denis Radenkovic

Download the icon at this link, then to install Ctrl-Click on NewsFire, choose “Show Package Contents� from the context menu. Go to Contents>Resources and copy the new icon .icns file inside that folder.

Enjoy your brand new NewsFire icon which will look much better in your dock.

Many NewsFire users out there? Raise your hands in the comments!

Shiira is not a big name in the Mac browser business, that spot belongs to the likes of Safari, Firefox, and Flock. But be prepared to have another browser added to the list of must haves very soon, when Shiira 2.0 is released to the public.

Shiira 2.0 has been completely re-designed from the ground up including some stunning new features, many very visually pleasing.

Overview, Well Designed Browser

Overall Shiira seems to be a nicely designed well compiled browser. However it is not useable in it’s current state, the browser is full of bugs and things which still need working out/fixing. If you do give the browser a spin frequent crashing is not unusual.

Full Screen Browsing

When did you last check out a site where you continually scrolled, vertically and horizontally? I find many sites like this every day, this is where Full Screen Browsing coms in handy. Click one button and you are taken to a full screen environment where you can browse uninterrupted.

Preferences, Tweak It Out

Every aspect of Shiira’s design is fully customizable, this is your control panel where you call the shots on how you want the browser to look/feel like.

Shelf, At Your Fingertips

The new version of Shiira no longer uses a Drawer to display Bookmark, History and Download information, these items, and the search engine can now be found in a full window/tab view called the ‘Shelf’.

The shelf is pretty much like your Mail inbox. It’s where you manage everything from one central location, from your bookmarks, to contacts, to web clippings.

PageDock, Visually Appealing

One heavily requested feature is something that OmniGroup implemented in version 5 their browser OmniWeb—Tab Thumbnails.

This is an alternative the the default tab bar we all know so well, except this is a tab bar with a twist. It displays up to date image previews of the page, making it easier to fid what are you looking for.

Tab Expose, Find What Your After

Inspired by Apple’s Exposé, Shiira’s one of a kind Tab Expose makes browsing the web with many pages open a breeze, and almost a pleasure. Simply hit one button and you are presented with all the tabs you currently have open, laid out beautifully on the screen, just like Expose, but for your web-pages. Genius.

I cant wait to try out and review the fully function-able browser once it’s released. Try out the beta copy here.

Adobe today announced Creative Suite 2.3 Premium, the next version of its professional bundle of Adobe applications. Version 2.3 will include its Acrobat 8 Professional software, the newly released version of its PDF workflow software.

Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Premium also bundles Dreamweaver 8, the Web design and development tool acquired from Macromedia.

Adobe expects to ship Creative Suite 2.3 plus Dreamweaver 8 in the fourth quarter 2006. Prices will be $1200 for the full version of Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Premium, $160 for an upgrade from Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium, and $550 for an upgrade from Creative Suite 1 Premium and Standard.

The Universal version of Creative Suite is expected to ship early next year.

My View: Finally a Universal Binary of the Creative Suite to move creative professionals over to the Intel platform.

Looking for a basic bittorrent client where you can manage the whole bittorrent process from within?

David Watanabe’s latest application Xtorrent run’s you through the whole torrenting process flawlessly, from searching for, and picking a torrent, to downloading and delivering it straight to iTunes and your iPod.

Pick up the beta here, and look out for a review later this week on GlennWolsey.com

Chris Forsythe has an interesting little post on the Adium developer blog regarding the progression of the application’s icon.

He say’s: “Overall, the duck has been a good mascot and has worked well for us for years. It’s drawn sharp criticism by some, and love and affection by others. You have to know you are doing something right if you get that kind of reaction.”

My view: Adium has one of the most widely talked about icons for any Mac application, which must be a good thing.

Check out these amazing pictures of a 17″ iMac, compared with a 20″ display and the brand new 24″ iMac thanks to a MacRumors member by the name of mulletman13

This machine is absoutely huge!

Look’s like Engadget has undergone a radical re-design.

Some of the new features include

• Digg like user moderated comments

• Auto comment login

• Dynamic content width for widescreen monitors

• Engadget Mobile headlines

• Tags and tag feeds, and category feeds

• Multiple podcast feeds!

What do I like about the new site? The design now look much more Web 2.0ish, the new dynamic content looks great when stretching images and text to fit my widescreen monitor.

The new user moderated comment system might not be a worlds first, but is one of the first I’ve seen on a blog, so a big thumbs up for that.

Engadget mobile headlines are nothing but a step in the right direction for the future. People are starting to use mobiles to browse news sites, and now Engadget is added to the list of compatible sites. Another huge thumbs up for this.

Tag and tag feeds. These are great! Only want to know about news related to the iPod shuffle, and Office 07, then set up a RSS feeds for these 2 tags and get only the news you want, nothing else.

Check it all out over at the all new Engadget

Following in the steps of successful technology blogger and friend Paul Stamatiou I decided to take a few moments to post and request all the lurkers to my blog to show their faces so I can get to know you all!

I’ve been wondering who all the wonderful people are who read my blog, I know many of you just read, but never participate in discussion under the articles in the comment area, so here’s your chance to show your face and meet up with some fellow readers.

Looking forward to hearing from you all, and hopefully creating a few new friendships!

Update: I’ve taken the plunge on the 350D. To check out some sample images, check out the posts filed under photography.

As many of you know, I’m currently saving for my first digital SLR. I’m not sure when I’ll be purchasing it, but the advice I get from this post might determine how much longer it will take me to save. My question is, 350D or 400D?

The RRP of the 400D in New Zealand is $1799.00, and the 350D, $1299.

Main differences (400D on left, 350D on right):

• 10MP - 8MP

• 27 continuous JPEG shots - 14 continuous JPEG shots

• 9 Point Autofocus - 7 Point Autofocus

Those are pretty much the main 3 factors that actually bother me. 99% of the photos taken with my DSLR wont end up printed, so the MP issue can almost be crossed out.

I plan to get into cricket photography, but I wont be taking “bursts” of more than 5 shots at a time at matches, so the continuous shooting isn’t too much of an issue.

Autofocus? I don’t know enough about this to post my views.

So, is it worth saving at least $500 NZD by purchasing the Canon EOS 350D in order to get my camera quicker?

Update: I’ve taken the plunge on the 350D. Thanks for the advice!

Happen to just love stats about your Macintosh? Well then you should know about the iStat widget from iSlayer Software. But no, it’s not the widget I’m talking about, introducing the brand new iStat 2.0, a full Mac statistical application for those who just cant get enough of the widget.

How is it different from the widget?

• Ability to use keyboard shortcuts

• More graphic customisation

• Much more efficient

• And much, much more

  Get your fix of the public beta here .Expect a review once it’s out of the beta stage.

Uno, the theme Mac users like myself has been updated to correspond with yesterdays release of iTunes 7, plus many bux fixes.

The change log:

• iTunes 7.

• Fixed a bug that would prevent UNO from applying to Firefox and Thunderbird on some system setups.

• Fixed an issue that would prevent UNO from install and uninstall on systems where Spotlight has been removed.

• Spotlight and Apple menu items are now back to default size (due to massive request).

• Fixed an issue that would prevent UNO installation if iTunes was in other location than the default Applications folder.

• Fixed a very notorious UI glitch found on Microsoft Word, Printer Setup Utility and Extensis Suitcase (Open/Save
• Panels and Alerts’ background was not themed).

• Fixed a rendering glitch on Adobe applications like Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator (a tone mismatch visible with UNO shade on group boxes of Open/Save windows).

• Added localization support for hardcoded strings.

• Added French localization (thanks to Thomas Didrel - tototoolco.com).

• Added Italian localization (thanks to Claudio - shieldnet.tk).

• The Read Me file is now localized too (thanks to Jamie Curmi - curmi.com for Universal Document).

• Refined minimum requirements Alert panels.

• Other installer enhancements.

Get yourself some Uno goodness here.

Looking for a new icon for your brand new 5th Generation iPod, iPod nano, or iPod shuffle? Then these are the icons for you.

Including 8 icons: iPod 5G, iPod shuffle 2G, iPod nano (silver, blue, black, pink, and green) .They will go perfectly with your new little treasure and help on the ever adventure to beautify your Mac.

Download them here

I am always having to resize images for my various blog posts, forum signature, avatars, and more. But I dont always want to open a bulky application like Photoshop, or even something smaller like ImageWell. I want something which is simple, opens in a flash, and just does the job right.

What’s my solution? Resize from Nico Rohrbach.

Resize, as the name says, can resize an image proportionaly to a new width and save it as JPEG image. It comes in very handy if you write your own blog and like to post images. It loads in one bounce, is non-intrusive to work workspace, and just does it’s intended purpose well without any problems or bulky features.

Get it here

Welcome to the first “User Feedback” post. What I’m hoping to get out of this blog post is to understand my readers (thats you!) a little better, and understand what aspects you like about this blog.

Today’s topic is which kind of posts are better, long (article’s and long lists) or short (like I’ve been posting over the past few days)?

Shorter posts mean I can blog more often, sometimes multiple times a day, where long posts mean I can only deliver content a couple of times a week.

Let me know what you think in the comment form below, you guys/girls are my readers and I want you to enjoy your every click on this blog, so help me help you! Thanks in advance to everyone who provides feedback, and have a good night.

Did you like Menuet 1.0 from Specere Software? If you did, then you are going to love the enhanced features and functions in the upcoming release of Menuet 2.0.

Here’s a quick overview of the new features/enhancments:

• Support for Synergy Buttons

• A totally open, new skin format based on Cocoa

• Improved Last.fm Support

• Art Collector 1.5 included for free

• In-app prefs. No more preference pane.

• Better Hot Key Window

What do these main new features mean?

Support for Synergy buttons - Dont like the available buttons or styles included with Menuet? Download, install, and use any of the many Synergy skins on the web.

A totally open, new skin format based on Cocoa - Cocoa makes it easy for any designer/coder to make a cool Menuet skin in just a few lines of code. Even novice designers will be able to really create beautiful skins.

Art Collector 1.5 included for free - Art Collector 1.5 adds threading and resolves the infamous AAC bug which prevented the users from setting multiple artwork on AAC tracks

Want to give it a try for yourself? Click here to download a beta copy for yourself.

Don’t like the new icon of iTunes, and find it an eyesore to look at in the dock and Front Row? Then download these icons and make your dock look pretty again.

To Install iTunes Icon:

Macintosh HD > Applications > iTunes > (right click and show package contents) > Contents > Resources

Drag and drop the ICNS file there, and click replace. Drag iTunes out of your dock and drag it back in again. Bam, you have your old iTunes 6 icon restored.

To Install Front Row Icon:

Macintosh HD > System > Library > CoreServices > Front Row (right click and show package contents) > Contents > Resources

Drag and drop the PNG there. Then open Activity Monitor and quit FrontRow. Next time you open Front Row you will have the old icon restored.

Get them from this thread on MacThemes.

Just hours away now, the Apple September 12th Special Event has almost arrived, and as most of the Mac community has already done so, it’s my turn to speculate my complied list of ideas/wishes.

Predictions

• Apple Movie Store
• New Widescreen iPod in 50/80GB variations
• iTunes 7.0
• One more thing…Airport Express (with Video)

Wishes

• 16×9 widescreen iPod, 50/100GB, Bluetooth syncing with iTunes, ability to switch to a Front Row styled interface
• Redesigned iPod shuffle
• Apple PDA

>
• A brand new YouTube like site featuring videos full of advice for bloggers, Tubetorial is a video based tutorial site which will focus upon web development and internet marketing.

• Have a liking for pretty desktops? TUAW has launched a new Flickr group specifically for users to post their desktop image and attempt to be featured on the homepage of TUAW.com, check it out here

• Musicast, is an $18 application for the Macintosh that lets you broadcast the unprotected contents of your iTunes library over the Internet

• CoreDuoTemp 1.0 monitors the temperature of Intel Macs, including the iMac (2006), Mac mini (2006), MacBook Pro and MacBook. The new version includes a menubar application, floating palette and a widget.

Apple’s consumer line notebook, the MacBook features an ultra-compact 13.3� screen. You need to make the best possible use of your limited screen resolution. Here’s 5 ways to maximize your working space and productivity using your small display.

5.

Hide the dock. If you hide the dock you open up a few extra pixels for yourself to extend the height of your screen.

4.

Switch on tabbed massaging in Adium. This way you will only have one chat window open to host all of your chat’s which are currently active. Use iChat? Then install Chax to group all of your chat together nicely and keep your chat interface organized.

3.

Make your desktop icons smaller by clicking on the desktop, selecting view, show view options in the menu-bar. You can change your icons to display as small as 16×16, which saves extra space on your desktop.

2.

Expose is there on your machine, so are hot corners, use them! Switch on Expose with hot-corners, you will have no idea how much this will revolutionize your OSX experience.

1.

Virtue Desktops. Cant wait for Leopard to arrive so you can try out Spaces? Install Virtue on your Mac and start creating some “virtual� desktops.

This way you can keep all your work related windows in one desktop, your music related stuff in another, and your Mail and IMs in another.

Flick between these desktops using keyboard shortcuts or your mouse, it will save you time, and make you feel like you have a line of ten displays lining your desk, minus the sore neck from moving from side to side.

New to bittorrent and looking for application, or just want a change from your current, bulky, resource hogging client? Clone Software’s latest piece of work, BitRocket is the client every bittorrent user on the Mac should have.

But why BitRocket over competing applications such as Azereus or Transmission?

• Clean, easy to understand interface

The interface of the application couldn’t be more easier to understand. The screen is split into 3 areas, the main area where your currently downloading torrents are displayed, a smaller area under this where stats are displayed on the selected torrent, and the sidebar where it gives a quick overview of your torrent transfer speeds, and allows you to store RSS feeds of bittorrent sites.

• Fast loading, great speed

BitRocket loads in the blink of an eye, and torrents connect almost instantly. No more description needed.

• RSS Support

You can subscribe to site’s RSS feeds, and download torrent files without even leaving BitRocket!

• Torrent Generator

No more confusing mess while trying to create a torrent file to distribute. Simply press one button and you can easily create you own torrent file.

There are four reasons why you should be using BitRocket, take my advice, head over here, download, and enjoy!