Tarun Verghis's Blog

Jailbreak? Pfft!

tarunverghis — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:30:02 +0000

Remember the good old days of 1.1.x? When all you wanted to do was to jailbreak your iPod/iPhone?

Well, I’ve changed my mind. Yes, it’s true. I’m going the legal way.

With the release of the 2.0 software update, Apple launched the much-awaited AppStore. With the AppStore, iPod Touch and iPhone users can download software, some free, and some at a minimal cost. These apps bring new life to your iPod/iPhone. You can now use your device as a remote to control iTunes playback on your computer, or to play games (most of which are severely addicting). The games have very good graphics and utilize the built-in accelerometer. Several popular games have been ported over to the AppStore, so have fun playing them. You can also find and download several very useful utilities, which were previously only available by jailbreaking. I’ll soon be reviewing a few good free and paid apps, so that you have a good idea of them before you make a purchase.

I recommend you update your iPod/iPhone to the 2.0 software, and enjoy what the revolutionary AppStore has to offer!

War Of The Titans still rages!

tarunverghis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:44:28 +0000

The war that has been raging between the two major operating systems of today has not died down, even a little. Microsoft came out with Vista sometime back, and has since been pre-loaded onto most computers running Windows. Apple released its own beauty, Mac OS X Leopard which has appealed to the masses. The two giants vie for the top spot in the operating system-hierarchy.

Which one comes out on top? Read on to find out!

Round 1 : Price

The first aspect most people look at before buying anything is usually the price. Well, in this category, it’s a no-contest really.

Leopard costs a paltry $129, and does not confuse you with different versions. It comes pre-loaded with all the features you see and expect.

Windows Vista, on the other hand, has more extravagant prices. To get all the features advertised, you’d have to buy Windows Vista Ultimate. The recommended price on the official website, as of 25th March, 2008, is a mind-blowing, wallet-shredding $399! Simply said, it’s insane to think that anyone would actually want to pay $400 of your hard earned money for an operating system. The upgrade itself costs $299, which is crazy compared to the $10 (yes, $10) upgrade to Mac OS X Leopard from Tiger. Actually, that price difference seems too much, so correct me if I’m wrong. Leopard thrashes the living daylights out of Vista in this first round.

Winner: Leopard

Round 2 : Bang For The Buck

Although Windows Vista costs a fortune, I can’t seem to find anything worth that kind of money. Yes, it has a buffed up search engine. And glassy windows. So what? Is it worth $400? The memory boost feature is OK, I guess, but it doesn’t live up to its potential because it doesn’t fully utilize the memory available.

Leopard is a killer for the cost you have to pay. All new Macs running Leopard come feature-packed : iLife, Safari, iTunes, Mail, Front Row, Photo Booth, Quick View, Cover Flow, Boot Camp and more. A lot more. It even comes pre-loaded with both Apple and Microsoft’s office suites, iWork and Microsoft Office. Both are fully functional for thirty days after activation, although you cannot print anything in Microsoft Office during the trial period. In fact, it’s reported that Leopard comes with over 300 new features! Oh, and Vista’s instant search feature? The Mac OS has had that for a very long time now. It’s a no-brainer again.

Winner: Leopard

Round 3 : Games

Woah there, you bought a Mac for gaming? Wow, you really must be stupid. Or retarded. Because Mac has a severely limited game pool, and most of them aren’t all that good anyway. Well there are games like World Of Warcraft and stuff, but you just can’t expect a Mac to satisfy your gaming desires.

Windows is the king of games. It has a HUGE arsenal of games, ranging from Halo to Sudoku. So if you’re a gaming buff, look no further than Windows. Finally, some reprieve for Vista.

Winner: Vista

Round 4 : Compatibility

Apart from games, almost anything else works on Mac OS X Leopard. In fact, the Leopard installation CD comes with a a huge array of drivers for various hardware you might use. This allows Leopard to work with almost any external device, such as printers or mice. I’m using a Microsoft mouse on my MacBook Pro right now! The software region is slightly more patchy. A lot of programs have been successfully ported over from Windows. However, some good programs still do not have Mac versions. But it doesn’t hassle anyone, really. Heck, you can even install Vista / XP on the pre-loaded Boot Camp partition manager!

Windows Vista is a nightmare to people who have upgraded from XP. Vista is guaranteed not to work with anything that is not ‘Vista Ready’. This has created a lot of problems since buying Vista would mean buying completely new peripherals, such as printers. However, there are no problems with software compatibility.

Result: Tie

Round 5 : Interface

The Windows Vista Ultimate interface is magical when compared to that of XP. The boring, placid status bars and icons have now been given a better shape and color. The glossy, glassy interface is to the liking of many. The start menu has been revamped, and is now more organized. However, it still could do with a little improvements here and there. But it is a step in the right direction.

Leopard has a clean, simple-to-use interface, that is, well, simple to use! The Dock has now become reflective, giving a nice glossy effect. The folders in the Dock can be arranged to display their contents in either a fan or a grid, whichever is to your convenience. Cover Flow, a new feature, allows you to skim through files and folders as you would with album art in iTunes or on your iPod. Quick View means that you don’t have to open a file to see it’s contents. The Dashboard has plenty of useful widgets to make your time at the computer more productive. The folder navigation system is also much better than in Windows. Leopard has a fresh, refined interface, which can do no wrong.

Winner: Leopard

Round 6 : Security

Windows Vista has a revamped security system. It has a better firewall, and better overall protection. However several tools are still required to make your PC completely safe. These are usually power hungry and cost a lot. Take the Norton Internet Security Suite, for example. Wow, a lot of features. But it is very resource consuming, and costs so much. It slows down your boot up process considerably. There are smaller, lighter, and free alternatives available, such as AVG however. Added to the virus/worm/trojan/whatever-else problem, are the annoying, nagging security pop-ups. Very annoying.

Leopard is probably one of the most secure operating systems ever released. It’s so contrasting to Windows, that it’s like Gandalf the White standing in a pitch-black room. Or something. You get my point. It’s so secure, that Apple leaves the firewall off by default! You’d have to look very, very hard to find an anti-virus software that some jobless dud (I’m sorry if it’s you) created for Leopard. You don’t have to worry about malware, viruses, trojans, worms or your computer crashing and you losing all your precious data. If you’re that paranoid, you can even set up Time Machine to automatically sync your computer’s data onto an external hard-disk, so that in the rare case that anything happens, your stuff is always safe. Leopard also comes with enhanced parental tools for those who don’t want their kids straying beyond that line. Clearly, Leopard wins.

Winner: Leopard

Results

After six intense, grueling rounds, the head-to-head showdown has finally come to an end. Leopard creams Vista by winning 4 out of 6 rounds, and one was a tie. So it’s a wonder why this contest ever took place! Leopard is adjudged the winner and Vista goes home, licking its wounds. Deep wounds. That will heal after a long, long time. And leave behind scars. Ow.

TouchPad Pro

tarunverghis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:43:49 +0000

While I was going through my Installer packages, I found this program called TouchPad Pro. It’s a brilliant program, and a must-have for any iPod Touch / iPhone owner. It allows you to use your iPod / iPhone as a wireless mouse / keyboard, using a VNC viewer. It’s really easy to set up (for Mac, at least) and even easier to use! And it’s free! Visit www.touchpadpro.com to learn more!

iPod Touch vs. iPod Video

tarunverghis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:54:33 +0000

I got an iPod Touch for Christmas, so my old 60-GB video is just lying around somewhere.I decided that I’m going to do a small comparison between them both to see who comes out on top.

Round 1 : Hard Disk

The iPod Video definitely kicks its new shiny sibling in the groin when it comes to storage space. Ow! It body slams the iPod Touch and repeatedly shoves its face into the concrete. No doubt, the Video wins this round. To add insult to injury, the iPod Touch can’t be used as an external drive!

Round 2 : Interface

Remember what the Video did to the Touch last round? Well, the Touch wants revenge. And lots of it. The iPod Touch runs Mac OS X, which makes it slick as hell. The Video, on the other hand… I don’t even know what it runs. The touch screen kicks the ClickWheel’s arse, big time. This one goes to the iPod Touch.

Round 3 : Media Playback

Both the iPods play music just as well. But when it comes to video, it’s a different story. The iPod Touch has a MUCH larger screen for MUCH more viewing pleasure. The Video’s screen is too small for watching videos for more than half an hour. It’s a big strain on the eye. And the Touch has Cover Flow, which enhances your musical experience. The Video loses out here – it’s ironic!

Round 4 : Extras

It’s a close call here. The iPod Video comes with some 4 games pre-installed, ability to be used as an external drive and note reader. The iPod touch doesn’t come with any games, can’t be used as an external drive, and cannot import notes. However, jailbreak the iPod Touch, and you have a world of possibilities. And with the newly released SDK, its possible to write your own applications! You can install games for free, instead of buying them for $5 for your Video. The iPod Touch pips its older brother in this category.

Result

The Video left the Touch bruised after the first round, but the Touch came back strongly, and beat the Video in 3 rounds out of 4. Clearly, the iPod touch is the winner!

Pump Up Your XP!

tarunverghis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:19:20 +0000

You have Windows XP. But you hate the interface.You don’t have Windows Vista, but love the interface! Unfortunately, you can’t shell out the premium for Ultimate. What do you do?Here’s the solution! Download Vista Transformation Pack! But it has a catch – it comes with a price tag. Don’t worry, download.com has, for some reason, the latest VTP for free! So go ahead, pump up your XP!

Jailbreaking iPod Touch / iPhone!

tarunverghis — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:02:07 +0000

I know there are plenty of guides out there on how to jailbreak your brand-new, shiny iPod Touch or iPhone, but if you have the time, visit FreeMyiPod.googlepages.com. It’s my website, which provides you with in-depth steps to jailbreak your iPod or iPhone, whichever your coveted gadget may be. It also will soon provide free themes for both the iPod Touch and iPhone!If you’re REALLY lazy and own an iPhone, then you could opt to use iDemocracy to make your life easier. The developer is my close friend, and the program has been really successful. Visit http://code.google.com/p/idemocracy/ for more details!