Filed under: Software, Beta Beat
Beta Beat: Corkboard is your clipboard's buddy
Sometimes Command-C and Command-V just aren't enough. You're working on a project and want to capture a bunch of text, pictures, or code, and then paste it into the project you're working on. Using the Mac clipboard, you're toggling between open applications, cutting and pasting like there's no tomorrow. Wouldn't it be nice to capture all of that information into one place, then pull it out when you're ready to use it?
Corkboard (from Ayluro) does exactly this -- you press a hot key or click a menu bar icon, and a transparent "corkboard" appears. You can either paste or drag-and-drop items onto the corkboard, then hide it. If your machine crashes, or if you need to restart it, no problem -- the items that you've pinned to the corkboard are there. When you're ready to use those items (text, sound, pictures, etc..), just open Corkboard and drag them into the receiving app.
Corkboard accepts many types of media, and Ayluro has created a framework so other applications can work seamlessly with Corkboard. It's currently a time-limited beta (download here) with an introductory price of $12.99. Developer Jonathan Grynspan expects the app to leave beta in early 2009. Give it a try!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TidalSoup said 12:30PM on 7-08-2008
Cool idea. Of all the shelf and copy history apps this one seems to be a true hulk, as it's geared as a desktop repository. But d*mn it, the app wont launch. Anyone having a similar issue?
http://skitch.com/nana/xmwr/picture-1-8
10.5.3 Intel
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Jonathan Grynspan said 2:42PM on 7-08-2008
You need to update to Mac OS X 10.5.4 to run Corkboard. :)
Angel said 12:41PM on 7-08-2008
nope. still ClipMenu for me.
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Sean Flanagan said 1:43PM on 7-08-2008
Like CoverFlow and others, this will be a product purchased by Apple to implement in the OS.
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Sabi said 5:53PM on 7-08-2008
lol u say it as if its being set in stone for the future...hehe
Steven said 2:22PM on 7-08-2008
The idea seems nice, but... Won't do anything here as well. It starts with a license message and quits.
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Jonathan Grynspan said 2:44PM on 7-08-2008
Send us an e-mail at techsupport@ayluro.com and we'll try to help you get Corkboard up and running.
Jim said 2:26PM on 7-08-2008
Seems like an impressive idea and one that more of the average user might cope with better. It's too bad that it might not be ready until "early 2009". That gives others a better chance to gain ground with their own graphical versions of this.
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Nathan Gimpel said 3:23PM on 7-08-2008
I had this thing running for a little bit, deleted it, and e-mailed Ayluro to let them know my concerns.
Hint: Make sure everything is backed up before installing this thing.
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Philster said 3:58PM on 7-08-2008
Nice app. But is it really using 140mb of ram and over 3gb of virtual memory??!!
That seems really excessive.
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Bernard Ramsey said 6:40PM on 7-08-2008
I'm getting around 110 mb of total use but I do notice that ram usage will go up as you add content to the clipboard.
Bernard Ramsey said 6:35PM on 7-08-2008
Wow! I just installed this and am very impressed. Thanks Steven. Overall Corkboard makes clipboard use and management easy as well as visually appealing :) Apple should scoop this app up for Snow Leopard!
To get it to work, I had to reassign the "Display Corkboard" screen to F13 as the default Function keys were already in use. I'm running 10.5.4 on an Intel Mac.
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Halopend said 8:39PM on 7-08-2008
I must say I think it is a good idea for apple to snatch up as it could really help to enhance their multitasking mentality as of late. It would be just a perfect thing to add to hot corners and could instantly become a "Why didn't this exist before?" technology just like quicklook and exposé were in their day.
Okay I have suggestions that all ties in together. I'm explaining how to implement it aswell to show it's possible.
Notation: ADC - The apple default clipboard.
1) Have a little area designated for the Apple Default Clipboard - ADC. It shows a preview of whatever is in the ADC.
2) The standard "Command + C" will put an item in the ADC and highlights the ADC box in the corkboard.
3) Whenever an item in the permanent area is highlighted on the corkboard, it is automatically put in the ADC. As the ADC box displays the ADC contents which is redundant when an item is permanently stored, the ADC box fades out when a permanent item is selected. These features brought together removes unnecessary key presses and through the highlights makes it obvious what "Command + V" will result in.
4) Create a key combo like "Command + Option + C" which will put an item on the corkboard in the "permanent" area. Put it in an empty spot automatically and highlight it putting it in the ADC with direct "Command + V" access. Fade out the ADC box just like I said above.
All these put together makes for a mental distinction when copying "Do I want to use this right away?" or "Will I need this later?". It also puts all the information one could want up visually and simplifies the process by removing redundant button presses.
Note that since one might want to reorganize the board that a drag will NOT highlight an item. Lets say when dragging that the ADC box turns into a trash can to allow for the removal of an item without highlighting it first.
Okay, that's all I can think of now (well I have one more idea...). I know it's a bit of an overhaul but I honestly believe it would really help to bridge the gap between the clipboard and the corkboard making for a seamless transition that would complement the strengths of either technology making this the true extension to the old "Copy + Paste".
Whew I never thought I'd get through that...
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George said 10:25PM on 7-08-2008
Hmm, kinda cool. My thoughts:
Corkboard background should be the color of a corkboard, and more opaque (or settings to tweak this stuff).
Also, doesn't support dragging an image from a webpage, cut copy/paste into Corkboard works OK.
Wouldn't replace Jumpcut for me, but might be something to use in addition.
Not sure charging for a beta that won't be ready until 2009(?) is cool though. Keep the beta free, release time-expiring demos until the 1.0 release.
More documentation would be nice as well.
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Q-Kid-Kyle said 2:05PM on 7-09-2008
crap, i cant use it cuz every time i install an update that needs a restar, the restart freezes the computer. no corkboard for me
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