When it comes to computer mice, I cannot think of any worse company that makes them than Apple, Inc. So I haven’t used any of them from Apple since 1999. How about (Wireless) Magic Mouse? Maybe, its design is good. But most wireless mice that are available these days come with 5 buttons or more, compared with just 2 buttons on Apple Magic Mouse. The worst part of Apple Magic Mouse is that 2 brand-new batteries lasted for just one month. Aren’t they supposed to last for what, six months?

Anyway, Swiss company Logitech offers quite affordable yet functional computer mice these days. The first one I used is Logitech Wireless M505, which I like a lot. I also bought Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 a few days ago. The one that I write a review about is Logitech Wireless Mouse M510, which I actually bought at the beginning of the year. So I’ve been using it for about 7 months. And I waited to write a review about it till today because you can’t tell whether a particular computer mouse is good or bad if you use it for just one month or so.

Interestingly, the price of Logitech Wireless Mouse M510 hasn’t changed much since I bought mine 7 months ago. I bought mine for Â¥2,980, which was the lowest at a price-comparing web site. And the same web site says that the lowest price is Â¥2,977.

Screenshot 1 – Source: MacHouse

Logitech Wireless Mouse M510 gives you 7 buttons. Well, technically, it’s more like 5 and a half. The wheel is clickable. (See Screenshot 1.) So that’s one. Also, you can shift this wheel to the right (Tilt right) and left (Tilt left). But you cannot access these three functions independently at the same time. On top of conventional 2 buttons, you also have Thumb Forward and Thumb Back. I don’t use these side buttons partly because these buttons are a bit stiff and also because I just realize that I don’t need them. The wheel button was initially very stiff. After pressing it 50 times or so over time, it’s not that stiff any more.   Continue reading →

アップル社といえば、キーボードに関しては、この10年間まともなキーボードを出荷したことがありません。まあ、今のところ1番いいのが、2008年ぐらいに登場したアルミのフルキーボードでしょうか。このフルキーボードもアップルのオンライン・ストアでももう売っていないようですね。Amazonだと、US規格のアップル製のフルキーボードが今でももしかすると売っているかもしれないけれど。また、最近標準のアルミ製のワイアレス・キーボードはちょっと使いたくない、という方もきっと多いことでしょう。なにしろテンキーがないし、バッテリーは1ヶ月ぐらいしか保たないし。

一方、このサイトでは過去に2点のマックで使えるキーボードを紹介しました。1点はサンワサプライの製品で、これはちょっとひどいキーボードでした。もう1点はロジクールの製品で、このキーボードは量販でも買える安価なものです。もうちょっと使えそうなキーボードはないのか、ということで今回紹介するのが バッファローコクヨ サプライ製（以下、バッファローコクヨ）のキーボードで、製品番号はBSKBM01WHです。価格はオンライン・ショップで￥2,600前後のものを見つけることができので、とても手が届きやすい製品です。

このキーボードを今回購入することに決めたの3つの理由があります。1つは、このキーボードのキーの配列がアップル社のフルキーボードのそれと同じこと。2つ目の理由が、このキーボードのファンクションキーがアップル社独自のもの（F12は「音量をあげる」など）に準拠していることです。3つ目の理由が、このキーボードがUSB接続のものだからです。今のところ、自分は無線のキーボードには興味ないですね。だってバッテリーがいつなくなるかわからないし。ましてや、アップル社製のワイアレス・キーボードのバッテリーが2週間も保たないとは。。。ちなみにアップル社製のマジックマウスのバッテリーは1ヶ月ぐらいしか保ちませんでした。確か6ヶ月ぐらい保つ話でしょう？

写真1: 資料元 – マックハウス

まあとにかく箱を開けることにしましょう。この中には本体とともにCDが1つと簡単な説明書が入っています。（写真1参照）「ええ、CD！？もしかしてこのキーボードを使うには特別なソフトをインストールしなくちゃならないとか？」最初はちょっとがっかりな感じでした。実際、USBケーブルをマックの裏のUSBポートに繋ぐだけでこのキーボードを使うことができます。じゃあこのCDは何のためか、と言うと、ファンクションキーのためです。このCDに付属のドライバーをインストールしないと、ファンクションキーの配列がちょっと違うようなものになったままになります。   Continue reading →

TOKYO (MacHouse) – We’ve already released five software titles this month. We are happy to announce that a sixth software title of the month is ready for release. Probably, it’s the last release for this month. A new software title is called NameRanger

Source: MacHouse

NameRanger is just a simple application that will let you batch-rename files in a particular folder. After opening a folder, configure name settings. What you see in the 2nd list (whose header is shown as New file names) is exactly what you will get upon clicking on Execute. So you can work on name settings to your satisfaction in a totally non-destructive way.






Click on the button for more information on NameRanger.






NameRanger is a product of MacHouse.

TOKYO (MacHouse) – More than a week ago, we released an update for CopyReady. CopyReady is one of several software titles that we use daily. It’ll give the user quick access to information that they need. It’s an indispensable tool for our software development. Sadly, a Mac App Store reviewer rejected the latest update. The following is what the reviewer says.






2.30

Export/Backup writes to Desktop without user consent.
(Preference>Export/Backup location set to Desktop by default)






CopyReady does not force the user to back up application data. It’ll only give the user the ability to do so if they want to back up data. In addition, CopyReady allows the user to set their default export folder. (See the screenshot below) By default, it points to Desktop. Furthermore, CopyReady will proceed to back up application data only when the user chooses Backup > Backup Data. So they want us to point the default export folder to Users > User > Library > Application Support > CopyReady, huh!? There is no practical point of doing so. And we certainly won’t make such a change.

Source: MacHouse

Dealing with Mac App Store is quite stressful. They reject software submissions for many silly reasons. There have been numerous instances where we lost our interest in developing Mac applications. Their silliness often shocks us. And this case is one of the worst ones. Do you know that Mac App Store will reject any software submission if they mention in the application description that there’s a trial version available?

TOKYO (MacHouse) – If you listen to the classical music, you probably know that FLAC and Monkey’s Audio are common audio formats. But iTunes and QuickTimeX don’t support either of them by default.

Source: MacHouse

xLosslessAudio is our new software title. xLosslessAudio allows the user to quickly convert an entire folder containing audio files with either lossless format (.flac or .ape) into one with iTunes-friendly format such as AIF, AAC, Apple Lossless, MP3.






Click on the button for more information on xLosslessAudio.






xLosslessAudio is a product of MacHouse.