MacResearch

The excellent graphing/plotting program DataGraph, from Visual Data Tools, Inc., has been updated to version 2.0. DataGraph 2.0 has been in the works since December and this version has long list of improvements. Some highlights are:

- Style sheets, and global line style, marker size.

CARA 1.8.4 has been released. CARA now supports samples and labeling schemes. CARA is an application for the analysis of NMR spectra and computer aided resonance assignment developed at and used by Prof. Kurt Wüthrich's group.

Author: Drew McCormack

Around a month ago, I published a book on scientific scripting with Python. Nothing unusual, except the manner in which it was published: the book was only made available via the iTunes App Store.

I wrote a short piece announcing the experiment here on MacResearch, and promised to release the source code for those either wanting to do the same or just learn how you write a simple iPhone app. Today, I am coming good on the promise. This tutorial will be an introduction to developing on the iPhone, using the book reader I developed as an example.

ExpanDrive is a product that has been mentioned on MacResearch more than once, and for very good reason. It allows you to mount remote systems via SSH, rather than FTP, making it ideal for scientists wanting to access secure computing resources. With ExpanDrive, working with files on a supercomputer or cluster is almost the same as working with an external USB drive: ExpanDrive mounts the remote file system right in Finder.

The good news is that ExpanDrive 2.0 has just been released. It is claimed to be twice as fast as the original for transferring large files, has a reworked UI, and now supports Amazon S3. It'll cost you $19.95 for an upgrade, or $39.95 for a first purchase. ExpanDrive is one of those products I couldn't live without these days, and well worth the purchase price if you need to access remote UNIX systems.

The developers of the theft recovery application Undercover for Mac, have released a version for iPhone. Like the Mac version, Undercover for iPhone can relay information about the position of the device it's running on to help locate it, in the event it's stolen. Orbicule's website has a nicely made video that highlights the features. The application sells for $4.99 is available now on the App Store.

Orbicule also makes the excellent program Macnification for organizing, editing and analyzing microscopy images.

Undercover - iTunes Link
Undercover - Website

Last week, the NSConference Mac Developer conference was held in the UK. It was a great success, bringing together some high profile developers from around Europe and the US.

Just a quick note, that a new application called QuickOffice is now available for purchase on the App Store. The three components include a document editor, a spreadsheet editor and remote file manager. In terms of document types, the iTunes store description mentions that it creates (and can edit) MS-Word and MS-Excel files. Check out the website or iTunes for detailed information. The program sells for $19.99 (US).

iTunes Link
Developer Website

In 'Showcase' reviews, the reviewer is the developer. No claim of objectivity is made, but it’s a chance for the developer to show off his/her app. Here, Brad Larson presents Pi Cubed. You may also remember Brad Larson as the developer of Molecules, a molecule visualization application for the iPhone.

Pi Cubed is a visual math application for iPhone / iPod Touch, available now on the App Store for $9.99 (or the local equivalent). Unlike traditional calculators that use fixed buttons and a small numerical display, Pi Cubed uses the entire screen to typeset and evaluate calculations as you enter them.

Not at all relevant to anything related to science, I noticed this message in the system log on a users Mac this morning, regarding Microsoft Word. I thought I'd share, because it made me laugh, and maybe you'll get a chuckle out of it too:

Apr 15 08:10:08 extral.local [0x0-0x46b46b].com.microsoft.Word[5758]: Tue Apr 14 08:10:08 extral.local Microsoft Word[5758] : The function `CGPDFDocumentGetMediaBox' is obsolete and will be removed in an upcoming update. Unfortunately, this application, or a library it uses, is using this obsolete function, and is thereby contributing to an overall degradation of system performance. Please use `CGPDFPageGetBoxRect' instead.

Take that!

Life Scientists can now access protocols at the bench on their iPhone™ or iPod® Touch using the Promega Protocols and Applications Guide (P&A Guide).