Picture Box, a simple tags-only photo organizer meant to complement software like iPhoto, has been updated to 1.2.5. This minor update adds drag and drop between Picture Box documents so that you can easily transfer photos with their tags with a flick of the mouse.
For more details (hint: there aren’t any), see the 1.2.5 release notes.
Although Tagamac is focused pretty closely on Mac OS X tagging software at the moment, my interest in tagging is a bit broader. To feed this obsession of mine, I wandered over to Ma.gnolia and set up a new group called Tag Your Life. Currently I’m the only (lonely) member, but if you like tags, occasionally stumble across articles about tagging outside of Tagamac, and are a member of Ma.gnolia (or willing to give it a try), you should check it out. I promise not to post links to Tagamac unless I write something really, really good.
Why Ma.gnolia? Because visiting del.icio.us is like getting slapped in the face by the color blue. This is my first venture into the world of social bookmarking, and I’d rather see pretty flowers than try the site that started it all.
Creating a consistent tagging system is like baking a perfect pie crust: it makes you salivate to think about, but some days it just doesn’t work out. Fortunately, consistent tagging (unlike a perfect pie crust) isn’t affected by humidity; all you need is some careful attention to detail. And perhaps the most important detail to keep in mind while you are tagging is “the what”.
Quite simply, the what is just your answer to a two-part question: what item and what attributes? Despite the simplicity of the question, knowing the what is a vital part of creating a consistent tagging system. You can take or leave my SLS guidelines, but if you really want consistency you’re going to have to ask yourself about attributes. [read more...]
FileSpot, a Spotlight searching utility, has received a minor update to 2.0.2, apparently bypassing 2.0.1. This version includes improvements to the startup demo dialog, better license key validation, and a way to report validation problems.
Unfortunately, release notes are only available through the in-program Sparkle updating, so for details you’ll have to check for updates from within the program.
Hard on the heels of the previous minor update to Yep, 1.6.7 fixes a crash that occurred when moving documents to the Yep documents folder. Apparently this pesky bug wasn’t actually quashed by 1.6.6.
No other bugs or changes were reported for 1.6.7, so unless this crash has been bothering you, you probably don’t need to rush out immediately to update.
Code Collector Pro, the tag-based code snippet collector, has received a minor update to 1.0.1. Improvements in this version include faster syntax highlighting and speed improvements when coloring comments.
For details, please visit the Code Collector Pro website and view the changelog.
Although tagging for productivity can be fun, tagging any old file on their computer is one of the main things people want to be able to do (right up there with tagging photos). If you’re into tagging your files, then you’ve probably run across two different ways to do it: file system tagging and file libraries. I’ll get to specific software in the next article; for now, here’s the differences between the two.
Wether you use file system tagging or a file library depends mostly on personal preference. Both have their pros and cons, and both have a selection of different software available (although file system tagging still doesn’t have any standout fantastic options). [read more...]
Coming hot on the heels of Yep 1.6.5 is version 1.6.6. This minor update fixes a crash that occurred when moving documents to the Yep Documents folder and includes a couple other minor feature tweaks and fixes.
Unfortunately, the Yep developers do not provide release notes or a changelog outside of the automatic in-program update service, so for more details you’ll have to launch your current version of Yep or just download the newest version on faith.
FileSpot, the Spotlight searching utility that is the updated version of MoRU, has officially come out of beta today. FileSpot allows users to do far more complex Spotlight searches than is possible with the default OS interface, and features a number of improvements over MoRU including TagBot compatible tagging and tag searches, deeply nested search logic (allowing you to create very specific searches very easily), a tabbed interface, and the ability to export searches as Finder Smart Folders. As of the third beta, FileSpot spots a new metallic icon as well. (Honestly, I liked the old one better; this one’s a bit chunky.)
If you do much of anything that involves Spotlight, you owe it to yourself to at least try FileSpot. It is a very advanced search utility, and may be a key ingredient in any file system tagging you do. Additionally, there are some cool new features planned for upcoming versions that are definitely worth getting excited about. FileSpot is $20 shareware with a 30 day trial period and a 50% discount for owners of MoRU.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: tags are an extremely flexible way to organize the mad rush of information that is your computer. As you no doubt have picked up (from the existence of this blog, if nothing else), I have a bit of a love affair with tags.
However, while tag-love is a special and beautiful thing, if you are going to create a really great tagging system one of the most important things you have to know is when not to tag. [read more...]