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MiniKidsGames is an "open-source" app thought for toddlers and parents who want to keep their Macs "safe" from them. It's in english but there's a link that explains the "internationalization". Works at fullscrenn, from where you can only leave using keys Command+Q. You can also view it in windowed mode (Control+W, but not recommended). It has its page in Sourceforge.net. It has 4 options: - Alphabet (alphabet pass as you can hear each letter's sound, and yu can backwards on letters)
- Words And Images (in alphabet order, it shows words with its respective image and sound)
- Typin' Toddler (for toddlers to play with the keyboard, showing letters, numbers and geometric figures)
- ShortGames (little games for training synchronization and skill)
My little girl is about 2 years old and love the "game", as she calls it. Her favorite is Typin' Toddler. Here there are some screenshots (windowed mode, but app always opens in fullscreen safe mode).
Alphabet
Words And Images
Typin' Toddler
ShortGames
There are so many sites with free accounts of e-mail, and at the same time they offer instant messaging, ending up in not knowing what to do with so many "messengers" that imply "x" windows in the desktop.
I was a little tired of that, above all because the functionalities of the messenger of MSN for Mac very are limited. My brother kept telling me to test Adium. Before that I tested other messengers for Mac but they did not convince me. And although having Yahoo IIM allowed videochat, was not the best solution, because the friends that used Yahoo were not the ones that I was going to use the video with.
Determined that the webcam serves only with the family and closest people, I have limited it to Skype. And for all my other accounts of messaging, I have finally switched to Adium. It lets you to configure accounts of Gtalk (Google), of Yahoo, of AOL, of. Mac, of MSN, of Jabber, Zephir, ICQ, and even a SIP/SIMPLE account (I suppose it should function with a SIP or VoIP server but him I have not tested it).
It has many extras, as different formats for the chat window (mine is now Modern Bubbling) and even for the Contact List (here using Decay).
There are many providers of VoIP calls. Here at home, we use Freecall, a service of Betamax. It is one of the cheapest (also of Betamax exists Lowratevoip and nonoh, cheaper and with more free destinies but without the possibility to buy credit using credit card, for now). We had been using Express Talk for Mac 2.04 to configure our VoIP in Mac OS X but 2 months ago that we have problems of sound, when we call the tone is heard, the bearing and the sound of the call, but when they answer they don't hear us neither we hear nothing. We even update to the version 3.04 but the problem was not solved. I tried to configure the new one iSoftphone of call4mac but in spite of being the third intent with the different versions (in demo version) I did not manage to make it work with my Freecall server. Finally searching through the internet, I found a project of sourceforge called Xmeeting.And although the interface of Xmeeting is more prepared for videoconferences by internet, if one chooses to use the SIP, and configures the account of its VoIP supplier, functions very well. And it lets you to keep different locating, very useful for whom uses a portable computer and different connections of internet.
Telling the truth, I am not an expert in computers, but I am quite curious and when I have had problems, (so much with my old PC Win, as now with the Mac), I have done all the possible to resolve the problems without having to contact technicians. At times the aid arrived from my brother, a lot more "geek" and always expert of the last technological advances and of the fashions in this field. Other times, I have strolled over the internet in all the languages that know (Spanish, English, Portuguese) in search of a solution to "x" problems.
At present, I do all possible in my hands to help my mom and my sister with their computers, but, given the distance that separates us, we have to do it using internet, which leaves us with limited possibilities if, for example, we use the email. Neither my mom nor my sister are very given to understand these new technologies, they are the type of user that only uses what's in front of them and if it's damaged, they call the technician. Or in this case, to me. Therefore, an email explanation does not work for them. I have even tried to guide them using instant messegers (IM), but doesn't function either. And our last and better resource, has been to use the tool of Remote Assistance of the MSN Live Messenger, that gives me the possibility to take control of their computers.
The matter is that, since I switched to Mac is a little more complicated to use it, since the version of the MSN Messenger for Mac doesn't has this tool. And seen that only functions in Windows, it forces me to:
a. Resume the Mac in Windows.
b. Install some emulating/virtualPC to be able to run the Live Mensseger inside the Mac OS.
It is true that there are many options for this type of remote assistance for the Mac, but is not easy at all. In my case, my Mac with OS X 10.4, doesn't have the Remote Desktop, that is an aplicacion that costs at least $299/€299 (version that lets to manage up to 10 systems).
If you only want to share your screen, you can test Bosco' s Screen Share. Personally, I have not tested it, because it wouldn't work for me as I can't get control of the computers of my mom and my sister.
There is also Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac (Microsoft). The PC with Windows XP Home Edition can only be "clients" or "remote". The PC with XP Professional, NT Server and the majority of Win 2000 come with services of Remote Desktop from origin, and they can be "hosts". Only the remote clients can take control of the hosts. Meaning that I would not be able to take control of the PCs of my mom and my sister as they can't be "hosts".
We can also test the service offered by Yugma for Mac, Linux and Win. It is an application based on Java. To use the service, is necessary to be registered. The personal account is free and permits to have until 10 guests (clients) but after the 15 days of test, no longer permits to share the control of the computer, only the viewing of the desks. The Professional account has versions of 10, 30, 100 and 500 "clients" with various prices. And has a plug-in for Skype.
You can see a comparison of Remote Desk applications (Remote Desktop) in this link to Wikipedia.
Now, I am going to test Team Viewer for Mac (Beta) and Windows. The TV (module Supporter) permits to control the PC of the "clients", to transfer files, to make our computer a "host" to remote access, etc. The TV QuickSupport (module Customer) is simple, it is executed automatically in the computers of the clients. The TV Manager is an extra tool that lets you to manage associates, contacts or clients and it's included in the Premium licenses. The cost of TV has variety, beginning with being free for not commercial use, and has some limitations of configuration, performance and backup. I'm still about to test it (waiting my mom or my sister -or some of my friends- they may need me) but is the one that more advantages offers, it seems very easy to use and is free without cutting the option of remote controlling the computers that wants to be attended.
If you are the kind of user that need to send VERY BIG files and your email does not let you do it, you can try this apps:SendSpace: this application is multi-platform. Works on Win, Mac and Linux. So no problem if you're sending a BIG file to a friend or partner with a Win or Linux OS. They can install their own version. Up to 300 Mb per file, but you have to register to track files and have unlimited downloads. You can also try the service without any installation, via the web interface.DropSend: This application works on Win and Mac if you choose to use the uploader tool. Up to 1 Gb per file, and you can use only the web interface. Also works as a storage service for your files.Filechute: This is a Mac only application. It works either with a .Mac account or with any FTP or WebDAV server (requires the set up of the server). It compresses and archives the file in the server and generates a link that you can email to anyone or post in any page. Free trial, then cost is $17.95 (€ 11.50).Pando: This is the one I use. Installation works on Win and Mac. It packages your file(s) and allow you to send a "pando package" which contains a link for a download of the real file. You can share it via email, instant messenger or a webpage. In order to make the download, the receiver has to install the Pando app. Free account let you send files up to 1 Gb and they store it for 7 days (email and IM) and 30 days (webpages). Pro account allows 3Gb files with 2x time limit for storage and costs $25/year (€16/year).If you look after for more "web-based" services you can try the following:You send it - http://www.yousendit.com/Send this file - http://www.sendthisfile.com/info/sendthisfile.jspMail big file - http://www.mailbigfile.com/Large files ASAP - http://www.largefilesasap.com/Transfer big files - http://www.transferbigfiles.com/Pipe bytes - http://www.pipebytes.com/Hot share - http://hotshare.net/Driveway - http://www.driveway.com/driveway/online-file-sharing-feature.htmzUpload - http://www.zupload.com/Megaload - http://www.megaupload.com/Dropload - http://www.dropload.com/Filemail - http://www.filemail.com/Disk D - http://www.diskd.com/Bolt File - http://www.boltfile.com/Sendshack - http://sendshack.com/Aruna Send - http://send.arunalabs.com/Exfile - https://exfile.net/media/enSend to person - https://www.sendtoperson.com/Default.aspxSenduit - http://www.senduit.com/
