Simply comparing the mobile google reader between the wifi I’m getting on the train to the cellular network, shows the huge amount of compression that o2 are subjecting uk iPhone users to.

Well one of my greatest achievements to date is not giving into the rediculous plans that o2 offer users in the UK. So as a consequence I’m on a ipod touch. The reason I mention this is when apple attempted to answer everyone’s queries regarding background tasks. They assured us that we don’t need no stinking background tasks! we have push alerts thingies! I’m sure that while your iPhone battery is alive and kicking this will work well, you are very rarely without the internet! But for users with an ipod touch, it’s rare that we get wifi, now I know that at the moment the only real reason for the background tasks are IM, but I would like to think in the future there’ll be other reasons for background tasks, as has been well demonstrated in the jailbroken apps.

So I was happy with my nice collection of free apps, then, one day, on a long train journey to london I was bored, I wanted something to play, so what option did I have… I had to get monkey ball.

Well let me just say that my DS is now gathering dust, between monkey ball and hold’em I now use my ipod as my primary portable gaming system, leaving my DS to gather dust.

Yesterday, a new app arrived in my news feed, wordpress finally announced their app, simple to use, reasonably feature rich (a little buggy). It has become my primary drafting system for blogging, in fact, I’m typing this right now using it.

So, it’s replacing my my macbook on the train, DS everywhere, and it’s my primary way of reading stories on google reader.

This got me thinking, is the ipod touch a gateway device? A device that gives you a taste, a trial, a peep. In York you have to go a long way to find a wifi network, you get all this great internet functionality, but for minutes. A snippet of what’s possible

Why should I need to carry a DS, an iPod, a Phone even a laptop. When I’m away for a few days do I need my whole laptop and all the other paraphernalia? when all I’m gonna do is check my emails, update my contacts, view my calender, play a few games. All this can be done on the iPhone, anywhere.

Is it perfect? no, we need functions like automatic podcast downloading, lightweight version of pages that save onto the cloud. (Would be great integrated into mobile me)

The iPhone was never a viable option for me. I’m a happy vodafone user, but I’m willing to get a worse contract that costs more just so i can get this always on, always connected device. Well, it’s worked I will be calling vodafone tonight to talk about getting out of my contract

Well done apple, if it was planned, then what a brilliant idea. If not, it’s working, and I’m sure it will continue to do so.

My latest project at university was a simple one… the introduction of a GFP gene into a plant. I know it’s common, but there’s something magical about a plant fluorescing.

<– I have moved an old post here to test formatting on my new blog –>

Was it the halo effect of your iPhone? was it the fact that when you walked into the apple store to ask directions, that shop assistant was so nice you ended up purchasing a desktop for youself and laptops for all the kids?

Well… I know what your feeling, your not a diehard windows fanboy, but your comfortable with the operating system, it works exactly as you want it to work! Now it’s all new, you may feel like you’ve started all over again. I’ve tried to compile 10 tips I wish I had when I started just 1 month ago!

1) Change things that should be easily changeable!

I know that macs aren’t supposed to be as customizable as windows PC, but there’s some things that just need to be changed!

The startup sound! I rushed my new macbook across milton keynes back to my girlfriends car, practically ripped the box open and turned it on… WHY oh WHY does it make that noise?!?! I’ve gotta stop that as quick as possible… this leads onto my first app/preference pane startupSound get it, install it… Love it

This is just an example, if you have a particular gripe, google it… I guarantee that someone else will have had the problem and found/made the answer!

2) Learn the shortcuts.

My best piece of advice is to get a Logitech MX Revolution, I’ve got the spaces switching control (ctrl + left/right) on the thumb scroll, and expose controls on the forward /back buttons, press in the thumb scroll and you get dashboard! so smooth it’s unbelievable.

But if you can’t get a multi button mouse, just spend 2 minutes looking at the keyboard shortcuts. force your self to use them, it’ll save time in the future.

Remember… ctrl + alt + delete = command + option (alt) + esc     that took me some time to work out!

3) Don’t use windows programs

I know it may be tempting to install fusions/parallels (my recommendation is fusion if you have to choose) but they’re not as seamless as you want them to be,  you will be much happier in the end if you work out good mac equivalents, they are out there… please look.

4) Tweak, Tweak, Tweak TWEAK!

One thing I’ve noticed in Mac OSX over windows is the sheer amount of sliders around, if there is something you can change there is a slider, so you can get it just to your liking, don’t be afraid to spend a good 5-10 mins making sure that your dock expands to just the right level  when you hover over it.

5) Command + Space

Without a doubt the best idea ever (I know it’s in vista… I used it there as well) command+space… type the first few letters of your program et voila… press enter… woo! use it frequently, use it well!

6) Included apps

I wouldn’t be seen dead using an application included in windows, I used firefox not IE, thunderbird not OE even notepad2 not notepad!

It may be a sad fact, but apple just integrate their apps better into the os than the microsoft equivalents. Mail is a good simple application that does mail simply and easily. It doesn’t have alot of the advanced controls that you find in more complicated email clients, it just has what you need regularly. Also, I don’t see what is wrong with safari. I love it, its simple and easy. Just like me! Only problem is a total lack of a “paint” included with the OS.

(a side note to N95 users, if you absolutely hate with a passion the windows sync application then on the mac nokia have written a plugin for isync which does a very efficient job with syncing! One sync program for all your devices, seems so logical)

7)It’ll work if you look for the logo

not sure if this is such a good thing. If you look for the apple you can bet it’ll work. This has the problem that your locking yourself in a very small restricted world, but if your looking for an easier life than you had with the compatibility nightmare that is windows it might be worth looking at.

This also has the added advantage of forcing the more limited 3rd party developer communities to work harder to make a better product. A great example would be the elgato eyetv products, integrating with everypart of teh apple world, from the screen of my ipod touch to my front row interface.

8)Convert…

Take me advice. if you go mac… go totally mac… dive in! Reformat your externals with HFS+ (backup first!) feed all your media though VisualHub it’ll take day/weeks/years? but you’ll be happy you did it when you’ve got fast drive access and all your media in iTunes… which leave me on to…

9) iTunes

Wait! don’t run off… I know you only installed iTunes on your windows PC so your niece could put some music on that 512MB shuffle she got for her birthday. I was in the same situation. On windows it a memory hog and it’s frozen longer than it’s working! But try and use it… give it some time… You’ll be amazed… your Tv shows, podcasts, music and movies in one interface… for some reason it starts to make sense… and command+esc you get the (frankly limited) frontrow… a brilliant interface with the one single remote that you can use across alot of apples products.

(my own personal tip for people with a  big TV show library… get the “Set Video Kind” applescript for itunes from dougs apple scripts… Thanks me with a beer next time you see me)

10) Immerse yourself in it

Don’t switch between mac and windows. Like learning a language, if you can only use it, you’ll pick it up faster and learn new, better ways to get stuff done, also don’t be put off if you don’t like the way something works, yes there are some faults in my opinion (why can’t you restore all files to where they came from in the recycle bin!!!) but you’ll find alternative ways to do things, it’s good not to get stuck in your ways

On a more personal note, I wanted to move to OS X for one reason, change! I was getting bored with the same interface over and over I wanted to learn something new. Enjoy learning things! Since getting my new computer based job it also has one other unexpected consequence. XP = Work   OSX = Play ;)