Web Warp Blog has been retired. For new posts please head to dmather.com.

Saturday, 29 December 2012

System Monitor for Mac OS X

Do you like to keep an eye on your Mac's system resources? Well the in built Activity Monitor may give you a load of information, however it does take up an amount of screen real estate. If you want to see your resources in the menu bar then there is a solution, check out Menu Meters.


Its a very customisable piece of software, you can choose the refresh rate and choose which metrics are displayed and there are even options for each metric. The order which they are displayed can be changed by holding down command and dragging each item.

Friday, 28 December 2012

Take a Leap into the Future

Have you seen Minority Report? Well it features Tom Cruise using a pretty futuristic user interface on a curved glass transparent computer screen. This is often  referred to as the future of computing technology, but what if the future was even cooler? What if you don't need to where a weird glove with two finger nodes and thumb node to control the PC? Well now you're talking.

Introducing Leap Motion, the most futuristic computer interface since voice recognition and Microsoft's Kinect. It's been showcased on their site for quite sometime, but the shipping date has now been publised as Early 2013, and with the new year just days away it's getting difficult not to pre-order this! It's priced at $69.99 plus shipping. The video speaks for it self, this looks like incredible technology and will no doubt inspire new applications dedicated to this interface.



Currently compatibility is with Mac and PC, so it should keep most users happy!

Find out more at www.leapmotion.com

Saturday, 22 December 2012

Facebook Poke

Incredibly Facebook now has over one billion active users each month! This huge success is often accredited to Facebook's constantly changing service, always adapting to include new features or keep up with (or purchase!) competition such as Instagram and Google+. Today they have launched yet another iOS application for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It's simply called "Poke".

Poking a friend has been a decreasingly used feature amongst many users. Since poking became a feature of Facebook a lot has changed. Your profile's wall as become a timeline and the use of mobile or third applications has increased massively. Messages have become a defacto way to prompt a response from a Facebook friend. The new app brings more to poking your Facebook friends.

With the new Poke app you can poke your Facebook friends who also use Poke app too, and you can include a message, photo or video along with your poke. You can even control how long that the recipient can see your poke for, down to only 3 seconds! Poke allows you full control of who gets your poke, and you can select whole groups of users.

Will Poke be a success? Will it replace dropping a quick message to your mates or posting a pic on your timeline? Only time will tell. Many of the options are already built into Facebook, and this app isn't yet cross-platform. It may just be a flash-in-the-pan novelty, but at last it keeps Facebook's ever changing list of services fresh.

Facebook Poke - Facebook, Inc.




Let us know what you think by dropping a comment below.

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Google Maps for iPhone

Google Maps have released an iPhone app bringing Apple's mapping service back to millions of iOS 6 users who are discontent with Apple's in built maps. The upgrade to iOS 6 forced users to lose their Google maps but users gained turn-by-turn navigation and an incredible new 3D mapping system. Google have been quick to release a similar 3D mapping service on Google Earth, fly over San Francisco on Google Earth to see for yourself.

Apple's maps have been built using vector images, and load quickly at all scales. Google previous maps used to load at each scale but have been redesigned to uses vector imagery as well. Google have also included turn-by-turn navigation to compete with Apple's maps and the many other navigation apps available, often for free on the iPhone platform.

To download today just click here


 More information from Google: click here

Monday, 10 December 2012

Humble Bundle

Everyone loves a bargain, and if you are a PC Gamer here is a bargain deal for you. It's called Humble Bundle and has been set up to provide THQ some much needed funds because they are in financial trouble. You can donate what you like to get access to these great games. The donation you make can also be donated in part or full to a range of charities such as the Red Cross. Just donate over $5.63 (the average donation) to get Saints Row the Third and Titan Quest.

The Humble Bundle is a download only (Steam) deal on the following PC games:
  • Saints Row the Third
  • Titan Quest
  • Dawn of War - just added!
  • Red Faction
  • Darksiders
  • Metro 2033
  • Company of Heroes
  • Company of Heroes Opposing Fronts
  • Company of Heroes Tales of Valor
But hurry, the offer is for a limited time only!


So grab yourself a bargain because Saints Row the Third does not come this cheap normally!

Saturday, 8 December 2012

Kickstarter Project: Transporter Hard Drive

Are you looking for an alternative to the various cloud storage solutions on offer with monthly subscriptions? This Kickstarter project is for a device, called a Transporter, which allows you to easily create your own personal cloud storage. All of your data will remain private and under your full control. If you have two Transporter devices, you can get specific folders on the Transporter to automatically synchronise over the internet, using SSL security.

This device allows you to install, and therefore upgrade your own hard disk. The hard disks used are 2.5" hard disks. There are no plans at the moment to support solid state drives.


Here's a link to the kickstarter project: click here

Get Your Google on Windows 8

So you have taken the plunge and upgraded from Windows 7, Vista or XP to Windows 8...
I hope you are enjoying the fast boot up times and the new Metro UI. But are you missing quick access to Google Chrome? If so, sit back and enjoy this quick YouTube video from Google.