Having wittered on about how much I enjoy using both PlainText on the iPad and Writeroom on the Macintosh - both ‘distraction free’ text editors from Hogbay Software - I find that I’ve had my head turned. You can read my full review on the IT Reviews web site but suffice to say that this is a joy to use. It’s called Ommwriter, is available for Mac, Windows and iPad, has a free trial and a paid for version that costs a few pounds. Instead of becoming anxious by the thought of a blank page, I now embrace it. I’ve already used it to write a fishing story (always the best test for me) and the way it plays with ambient background sound effects and little key clicks sets the scene beautifully for a writer, without getting in the way. I can’t use Word on the Mac any more. I just can’t.

...is going to change the way you write on the iPad and iPhone. This simple, elegantly turned out text editor supports Dropbox sync so your notes are always up to date. There are some quirks as you’d expect from a first release, but Hogbay Software has produced a thing of beauty. Intuitive, beautifully turned out and a joy to use, us writers now don’t need anything else. When the promised word count and search features arrive, this is going to be the app that turns the iPad (and the iPhone, at least a little bit) into the perfect writer’s foil. And currently it’s free. Bravo.

...without a pilot’s license is now possible thanks to er..Skywriting HD, a terrifically nonsensical app for the iPad which lets you write with your finger onto a beautiful blue sky above some of the world’s most recognisable landmarks. Just choose a picture, think of a message and then start writing. After a while, the electronic wind blows your words away and you can start again. Set the strength of the wind, choose your own picture background, but most of all - think about what you’d say if you really could write in letters 100 feet high...

...everything they’re saying about Star Walk is true. This wonderful iPhone app, reviewed on the IT Reviews web site here, is a triumph. Entertaining, dippable (you don’t have to spend a lot of time exploring it, you can just get in and get out) and with a clever interface that lets you get at the program’s key features without getting in the way. Everyone we’ve shown it to says: “Right, I’m buying that.” One even said: “Right, that’s enough to make me buy an iPhone.” And standing in the pub car park after an evening’s fishing, it’s a great companion while you’re waiting for someone to finish their cigarette!

OK, so it’s found its way into the bargain bin, but it’s still gratifying to see my Playing Cards book getting plaudits. “probably the only book in the entire section worth buying. “Playing Cards” could just be a perfect way to kill time and is the perfect book for a cabin library, frat house, or dorm.” says ‘becksta’ at the Game Book Club web site. So thanks for that. To remind anyone who’s not keeping up, this book includes 52 card games, 52 card tricks and 52 card techniques (sleight of hand, shuffles, cuts and so on) that pretty much anyone - and I mean pretty much anyone - can master easily. Read the rest of the review by going to the Game Book Club web site.

It’s the book that keeps on giving. Despite having been available for years, one of my first books - 101 Things To Do In A Shed - keeps getting nice things said about it. Here’s the latest, from the Powell’s Books web site in the US. Among other things they say that: “Chock-full of fun ideas for father-and-son activities, 101 Things to Do in a Shed may appeal to Dad so much he wants to keep it to himself!” Thanks guys.

Oddly enough, I rather like doing accounts. I’ve got a little database I wrote using FileMaker Pro that’s served me pretty well these last 17 years, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t looked elsewhere from time to time. Recently I tried out FreeAgent which, despite the odd name is a rather swish web-based accounts program for sole traders and small businesses. You’ll be able to read the review at IT Reviews is a few days. Meantime, check the site out. There’s a proper 30 day trial that doesn’t require you to jump through any credit card nonsense and once they lay on a proper tutorial, it’ll be the dog’s doodads.

Since someone in the office has just had their lunch delivered by post (yes, by post) I thought I’d mention this - MacGourmet Deluxe 1.2. It’s an impossibly detailed recipe and wine database that also lets you create and share a personalised cookbook. Over the top? Certainly, but the ability to go to great sites like Epicurious, find a recipe, highlight the URL and then have MacGourmet import it - pictures and all - directly into the database, is just fantastic. And I say so too in my article on IT Reviews.

When you go back as far as I do - WordStar on the CALText anyone? - it’s nice to come across a product that not only works beautifully, but also reminds you of - sigh - the good old days. Meet Writeroom, which takes all that lovely Macintosh screen furniture and chucks it away, leaving you with an empty screen and the text you type. It’s billed as ‘distraction-free writing’ and for anyone who needs to just get on and write, it’s brilliant. Less than $25.00 too. Read my review on IT Reviews.

Pinnacle Systems has released three new versions of its Studio home video editing software. Mostly good stuff, though you'll need a machine with some oomph to get the best out of it. I know a lot of people fancy Premiere Elements, but Studio is a really good alternative (and a somewhat cheaper) and the Ultimate version has got some great new plugins, works in native Blu-ray and more. I've just spent some time looking at this and the review should be out in a few days and you can find it on the IT Reviews web site.

Just finished looking at this for IT Reviews. It's basically a friendlier, less flexible take on Band in a Box from PG Music, which creates auto-accompaniment based on the chords you type into a spreadsheet-like grid. Songsmith doesn't have the same musical smarts as BIAB but it's still fun and the six hour free demo lets you do everything before running out - just choose one of 30 styles, sing into the mic and it'll 'write' a song for you. Frazzled parents looking for something out of the ordinary for their kid's party should check it out at the Microsoft Research site here. Oh, and search for Songsmith on YouTube. It's worth it.

If you'd like to be able to send and receive e-mails that other people can't open, then I'd recommend having a look at Enigmail. It's an add on for the excellent Thunderbird e-mail program, which is a great free alternative to Outlook Express (or whatever Microsoft's e-mail program of choice is called this week). There are three steps. First, download and install the OpenPGP program which does all the work behind the scenes. Second, download and install Thunderbird - if you don't already use it, you should. Third, download and install Enigmail (which makes the two work together). I've written a full explanation of how it all works in an upcoming issue of Computeractive magazine.

Google's pretty good at finding most things. I find that by searching round subjects it'll usually turn up anything that's actually there to be found. People however, are a bit more hit and miss. If you're looking for an old friend or colleague or ex-band member, try one of the services that are specifically designed to search what's sometimes called the 'deep web' - those bits of the Internet that traditional search engines skim over. Try something like 123people or Yasni or Pipl. All have got something to offer and may just track down the person you've been looking for. These and other sites will appear in an article I've written for Web User.

Now, I'm a confirmed Rapidweaver fan. It's one of the reasons I bought a Macintosh at the end of 2007 and I haven't been disappointed. I like the restrictions the templates place on me and I like the freedom the plugins and community hints and tips afford me as well. But were I still PC-only, I'd be using Xara Web Designer right now. It's £39.00 and comes with enough templates, buttons, text boxes and other gubbins to let non-designers like me make attractive, brochure-style web sites. Check out my review any time now on IT Reviews.

There are a gazillion photo organizers but I've never really got on with any of them - even Picasa. I was pleased to find Pictomio though, which aside from some weird geo-taggng guff is actually rather good and certainly worth a download. It needs a decent graphics card but ran fine on a three year old Dell with an ancient NVidia inside. I've written a how to workshop on Pictomio for Computeractive magazine.

Here's a neat web site that I'm just finishing a workshop on for Computeractive magazine. It's called Screentoaster and is a web service that records what happens on your screen and then saves it as a video. You can add captions and narration and this makes it really useful for people who need to explain how software or web sites work, just the once instead of over and over again.

I've been looking at Contour 1.1 from Mariner Software for IT Reviews. It's a software program that uses a strict format - and I mean strict - to help you construct story lines that can be turned into screenplays; though I suppose you could also use it to create plots for a book as well. It's not expensive and I'm rather taken with it. There's also an interesting site called Contour at the movies where they dissect current movies using the Contour structure. Seems to work pretty well.

Tags: entertainment, Macintosh