widescreen posts

Widemail makes Mail.app widescreen friendly

by Aron Trimble (RSS feed) on Dec 8th, 2008

I find the Mail.app plugin Widemail extremely useful. At my day job I use Outlook and the widescreen view is very efficient for space management. Prior to upgrading to Leopard, I used the application Letterbox written about here; however in my recent search for a Mail-enhancing plugin I wanted something a little more robust. Enter Widemail. It not only provides the awesome widescreen view from Letterbox, but it provides a means for creating a two-line message row similar to that found in Outlook for Windows and Entourage on the Mac.

Since we last wrote about Widemail the developer has added a preference pane within Mail.app making it easier to tweak settings. Additionally, the Widemail custom column can now have items that are left-aligned and right-aligned within the same row. Everyone's favorite automatic self-update framework, Sparkle, has been added as well.

Widemail makes Mail.app exceptionally more functional for my day-to-day use and is a free download (as in, feel free to make a donation).

[via Lifehacker]

Tags: mail, mail.app, plugin, widescreen

Filed under: Software, Productivity, Internet Tools

Widescreen Plugin for Leopard Mail brings 2-line preview

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Nov 7th, 2007

A while back we posted about Letterbox, a plugin for Tiger's Mail.app that brought a widescreen format to Mail by moving the preview pane to the right of the subject listing. Letterbox isn't working in Leopard (though the author says he is working on it), but a new plugin for Leopard has been released that not only brings a widescreen 3-pane format to Leopard Mail.app, but also introduces a very useful two-row subject preview similar to Entourage.

WidescreenMailPlugin is a free download from daneharnett.com (though donations are requested).

[via Hawk Wings]

Tags: Letterbox, Mail, Mail.app, widescreen, WidescreenMailPlugin

Filed under: Software, Video

VisualHub 1.24 brings new high-resolution settings, tons more features

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jun 22nd, 2007

I just have to come right out and say it: VisualHub is one of the best darn things to happen to video encoding since DVD Jon worked his magic. It's a fantastic app that rocks the house when it comes to encoding videos - especially in batches - and it just got a lot cooler with a v1.24 update. Along with a healthy dose of other new features and fixes, the VisualHub crew has introduced a new high-res format for getting the most out of a widescreen H.264 file that can play across multiple devices and screen sizes. All the details and a few sample videos are provided at this VisualHub product page, but the short of the long is: this new format will allow you to encode one file that looks great on small screens like iPods and PSPs, but will also look crisp and detailed when scaled up to a screen much larger like the TV your XBox or Apple TV are connected to. As anyone who has a Mac in the basement with VisualHub chugging away on a batch of DVDs can probably tell you, this new format could very well be music to one's ears. As icing on the cake, custom settings files are even provided on the afore-linked product page so you don't have to dig around and figure out this new format for yourself.

This isn't the only new thing in v1.24, however. Full support has arrived for: 8-core Macs, full-res PSP videos at 480 x 272, speedbumps for certain encoding outputs and much more. As if VisualHub wasn't already more than worth its $23.32 price tag, these updates should entice both serious and curious customers to make the leap for a license. Of course, a VisualHub demo is available for a test drive.

Tags: apple tv, AppleTv, encoder, encoders, encoding, hi-res, high resolution, HighResolution, ipod, psp, video, visualhub, widescreen

Yojimbo gets a 3-pane widescreen hack

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jan 17th, 2007

You can't say I've never blogged anything I don't like - remember that three-pane widescreen plugin for Mail.app? Well, Jon Hicks (yeah, that Jon Hicks) has brought the same window paradigm to Yojimbo with a little hack. Now you too can be the proud owner of a three-pane, widescreen Yojimbo. The hack (which requires the latest version 1.4, that we mentioned earlier) isn't hard to install, but you should still check out Jon's post and follow his instructions word-for-word (to be clear: that especially includes the word 'backup'). There is also a minor catch with the hack in that you can't shrink the Yojimbo window too small, otherwise the notes list will overrun into the note preview window. Fortunately, clicking the bar between the two areas will snap them back into place, so you shouldn't have much to worry about.

Me? I still believe there's a lot in a name (and email subjects, too). Maybe it's my blogger practices, but nearly all my notes have very descriptive names, so I need to see as much of those names as possible. These widescreen hacks just feel like change for change's sake, as opposed to good UI (but don't get me wrong: Mr. Hicks does fantastic work). But, in the end, I also still believe in "to each their own," so enjoy the hack if this is your bag.

Tags: 3 pane, 3Pane, hack, hacks, jon hicks, JonHicks, three pane, ThreePane, widescreen, yojimbo

Filed under: Macworld, Apple, Apple TV

Apple TV tidbits

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Jan 9th, 2007

Everyone is gah gah over the iPhone, and rightfully so, but I thought that Apple TV should get some love. Apple notes that you need to have a 'widescreen TV' in order to use Apple TV. Furthmore Apple says that Apple TV works with 'widescreen, enhanced-definition or high-definition TVs capable of 1080i, 720p, 576p, or 480p resolutions.' It looks like your standard run of the mill TV won't be up to the task of working with Apple TV (all the Apple TVs on the showfloor are hooked up to Sony Bravia TVs).

Apple has also posted a tour of the Apple TV UI, so if you aren't at Macworld you can take an Apple TV for a spin.

Update: John says if your TV works with a progressive scan DVD player you should be set. Standard TVs are welcome at the Apple TV party.

Tags: apple, apple tv, AppleTv, widescreen

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Humor, iPod Family

Trusted Reviews gets reliably anonymous details on touchscreen 6G iPod, iPhone

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Oct 19th, 2006

Trusted Reviews - a name already filled to the brim with reliability - is claiming to have the inside scoop from an anonymous but "extremely well informed" 3rd party exec who revealed that Apple will drop the much-rumored wide/touchscreen 6G iPod in December - y'know, the month that virtually *no* new products are released because people are too busy trying to navigate the mall with their heads intact to notice any ads for spankin' new products. TR also continues with confirmation from Mr. Anonymous' crystal ball that the iPhone is landing in January, complete with a 'trial period' of the service and - drum roll please - a 3 megapixel camera. Man, I'm surprised they didn't have to pull Mr. A's fingernails to snag some of these juicy details.

When questioned regarding the crystal ball's credentials for telling the future, Mr. A replied that Apple works very hard to keep their 3rd parties informed because they "make more money from the affiliates programme than from selling iPods." I guess that sheds a little more light on yesterday's preliminary 4th quarter earnings report - too bad the affiliate program's mountain of revenue wasn't singled out so we could see just how overshadowed the iPod really is.

[via Gizmodo]

Tags: 6g, humor, ipod, rumor, rumors, touchscreen, widescreen

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