One of the most used features on my OS X installs is the Quick Look feature, its much easier then launching an app just to check, or to quickly read off its content. However, for as long as I can remember Quick Look has always been known for causing delays in folder navigation, high CPU and high network utilisation. This is generally down to it rendering previews of movie files in the active finder window. Yes – this even includes items on your desktop.
There are a couple of ways to combat this speed delay without loosing functionality of Quick Look on other files.
The easiest is to remove the Quick Look generator from the quick look folder. To do this, click on Go > Go To Folder now type or copy paste /System/Library/QuickLook/ now either delete or if you’d prefer move Movie.qlgenerator to another location.
This will disable the thumbnails for movie files, and speed up finder navigation – especially for media heavy folders.
For some time now I’ve hunted for the perfect media center solution for my apartment. Let’s face it, DVDs are so last year! Digital media is where it’s at.
I’ve tried (and loved) many solutions, all the way from plain old Windows Media center to XBMC. Since my recent migration to OS X I stuck with the old faithful iTunes.. That was until now.. Featured on one of my daily RSS feeds was the latest release of Plex, it wasn’t that I hadn’t heard of Plex before – but I’d never actually downloaded and tried it out.
So off I went, downloaded and installed version 0.9.3.4 (latest at time of blogging). The install was start forward enough and was quite quick to complete. I was then greeted by Plex’s Media manager, which was a first for my media center trials.
Media manager makes it a cinch to set up your media locations, and uses its Internet links to download and update your medias metadata. Right from your movies synopsis’ to its media artwork.
What’s even more special, is the ability to choose different artwork if you’re not happy with the default.
As with most media center solutions Plex is also capable of managing your TV shows, audio and photos. Just like it does with your movies the media manager downloads and updates the meta data and artwork for your TV shows and audio.
Once you are happy with your freshly organised and professional looking media collection, it’s time to start-up the beast.
My current setup (awaiting further cash injections) is a 2010 17″ MacBook Pro with HDMI out to my LCD tv, and audio out to my Sony surround sound unit. Now my TV is quite dated now and doesn’t normally play well with my MacBook. However straight out of the box, Plex looks stunning.. With the slight exception of cutting off the RSS feed at the bottom and weather in the top right. Luckily a few tweaks in Plex’s settings soon had this rectified.
The Plex home screen is pretty similar to most media centers on the market, with a menu system on the left hand side and a selected menu related image on the right.
One thing that immediately becomes obvious it’s just how well Plex works with Apples remote control. The menu structure is easy to navigate and intuitive. Giving you everything you need to make this the perfect in media solution.
I am a massive fan of the movie selection screen, everything you need to know to make an informative choice. Displaying information such as the media quality, the movie rating, it’s synopsis and a movie poster. Now, there are other views to choose from, but I always seem to come back to this one.
Plex has a massive amount of features, and should be enough to satisfy any tech hungry mind. So why not dump your current media centre solution and give Plex a try. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!
Not only is Plex available for download to your nice shiny Mac, but there’s also a version available for Windows users too!
Do you use something else for your media centre? Why not post its details in the comments below and we can see how it stacks up!
Below is a list of applications I don’t think I could live without on my iPhone. This list will never be complete, thanks to the fantastic app’s in constant development around the iPhone app store!
Analytics Agent Lite by Global Agent Inc. – Invaluable app for keeping a keen eye on your Google Analytics account. A must have for every serious webmaster.
Blog Press by CLT Studio – Handy little app for posting to your website whilst on the move! Supports most CMS systems
Bump by Bump Technologies LLC – Brilliant little app for sharing via bluetooth, with the added novelty of having to bump hands to initiate the transfer.
Chris Brogan by MotherApp – A fellow bloggers very own app, novel way of delivering a blog site.
CoPilot Live by ALK Technologies – Possibly one of the best tom-tom replacements out there. Fantastic, faultless sat nave app!
Doodle Jump by Lima Sky – Has to be the most addictive game I have ever played! Really simple concept and design!
eBay Mobile by eBay Inc. – Speaks for it’s self really. But this app is ideal for catching that bargain and bidding whilst on the move!
Engadget by AOL – Technologygadgetry blog from a team of expert columnists all over the world.
Facebook by Facebook – I am not a huge fan of the whole facebook concept and the annoying app invites you constantly get, however most of my friends seem to use it as a communications hub, so find myself chatting on it far too often!
Google Mobile App by Google – Has some excellent search facilities and features, a must have for internet power users!
Gorrilacam by Joby Inc. – A top notch replacement for the featureless built in iPhone camera app.
Green Flag Rescue by Altaine Ltd – for that ‘just in case’ backup.. Handy if you don’t know where you are and have broken down.
Jumsoft Money by Jumsoft – Sync your online bank statements with your desktop PCMac and your iPhone.
LinkedIn by Linkedin – Linkedin is social networking for professionals. The LinkedIn app enables most website features direct from your iPhone.
LogMeIn Ignition by LogMeIn – Access your PCMac direct from your iPhone using the LogMeIn client
Paper Toss by BackFlip Studios – A nifty little game, in which the object is to flick balls of paper into a bin
Pastefire App by Sens Digital S.A.S. – Share content from your PC to your iPhone simply by pasting it into a box on a website. Seemless transfer of data, saves emailing your self! Brilliant!
Q Contacts by Addy Mobile Inc. – A powerful alternative to the built in contacts app, which shortcuts to common contact functions.
QR App by Block5 – ReadProcess 2D barcodes on your iPhone
Rightmove App by Rightmove – Brilliant little app for viewing advertised house sales from your iPhone
Rowmote Pro by Evan Schoenberg – No need for a hardware remote for your mac, this is an excellent direct replacement with constant development and improvements!
Shazam by Shazam – Tag unknown music tracks by placing your iPhone near the speaker.
ShopSavvy by Big in Japan – Scan products barcodes and search the web for cheaper prices within minutes
Skype by Skype – Make free skype to skip phone calls, reduced rate skype to normal phone calls and sendreceive instant messages with other Skype users.
Urbanspoon by Urbanspoon – A fantastic little app for finding that place to eat out when you stuck for ideas.
So that’s it.. For now anyway! No doubt I will install more as they come out! I also plan on doing a similar list for Mac OS X. If you have any you would like to add, drop me a line! Or comment using the form below.
