For the past week, I have changed by default browser on both my home and work computers (Apple iMacs running Mac OS X Snow Leopard) to Google Chrome. I have not previously used Chrome and have been a long-time loyal user of Firefox, but I’ve heard good things and figured I’d give it a shot. Knowing I wouldn’t get much out fo it just downloading it and surfing for a half hour, I decided the best way to really get to know it is to not use other browsers and exclusively use Chrome.

The Good
The absolute first thing I noticed when I opened it up is that if I had blinked, I would have missed it. When it comes to opening speed, Firefox is, well, slow. I had previously thought Safari was quick to load, but Chrome even makes Apple’s default browser seem sluggish. Beyond just opening, page loading is also speedy and smooth. Also a terrific feature is the ever-growing selection of extensions. This is something that I’ve always enjoyed about Firefox and is a great first step if Google wants me to switch over to their offering. Even the interface itself is clean, intuitive, and simple to use. Overall it is a very appealing browser and is constantly being updated with new features trying to stay ahead of the competition.

The Bad
I’m not a big fan of the search box and address bar merger. I have a ton of different search engines that I use regularly and the ability to rapidly toggle between them. Chrome, sadly, does not make this an easy task.

The Ugly
There were more than just a handful of sites with nagging visual errors that just simply are not there when using Firefox or Safari. I can overlook just about every other issue I have with Chrome, but incorrectly displaying pages that I frequent is a dealbreaker.

After a week, I will admit I am impressed. Although Google Chrome will not be usurping Firefox as my primary browser, it has earned a spot in my Applications folder and I will be continuing to use it as a secondary browser.

The 2009 holiday season is rapidly approaching! Do you know what you’re going to get your geek this year? Here’s a guide for those of you looking for ideas.

• Blue Violet Laser Pointer – $72.99
  For some reason unbeknownst to me, even though I am a self-described geek, laser pointers are absolutely fascinating to geeks and cats. This thing is a king among laser pointers. The unique blue violet color really makes it stand out among a sea of red and will even impress geeks who have the cherished green laser pointer.
• RAM Upgrade – $20-$100
  Unless your geek has already maxed out his or her computer with memory, more is always appreciated. RAM will make the computer faster and more responsive which means your present will make it’s recipient very happy. Just make sure you get the right kind.
• USB Flash Drive – $10-$40
  Storage is king in a digital world and every geek needs something small and pocketable to store their stuff. Thankfully, USB flash drives just keep getting more storage for a lower price. On the high end you can get a 16GB drive for under $40, whereas even as much as 2GB will only set you back a ten spot.
• Griffin PowerMate – $40.99
  This little guy is probably one of the coolest USB input devices ever greated. For the audiophile and/or videophile in your life, there is no better computer accessory. This brushed metal spinning knob is perfect for audio or video editing, works on the Mac and PC, is compatible with pretty much any application, and can even be mapped to pretty much any repetitive keystroke.
• Powermat Charging Station – $99.99
  I’ll be honest, I’ve got no clue how this thing works, but it looks sofa king awesome. Essentially, there’s something you do to “enable” your mobile device, then all you have to do is set them on this thing and they wirelessly charge. Pretty cool, right?
• iPod Shuffle – $55-$75
  Coming in at either 2GB or 4GB of storage and in a variety of colors, this is easily the best of the less-expensive mp3 players and allows you to do exactly what is advertised: Listen to your music, shuffled, wherever you are. It can hold up to 1000 songs and can play music for up to 10 hours on a single charge.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the top gifts for geeks priced at under one hundred dollars. If you have suggestions for gifts that you don’t see on this list, please feel free to leave a comment and share it. Also, don’t forget to check back very soon for the next installment: Gift Guide for Geeks – Over $100.

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Because of the popularity of my Top Ten Must-Have Free iPhone Apps, I’ve decided to put together yet another top ten free apps list, but this time entirely games. Some of these you may have played, some you may not have, but all are awesome and free. These time wasters are sure to amuse you for hours and hours on end.

1. Mancala FS5 Free
   This is by far the best online-player board game available for the iPhone. It allows for single player, two player on a single phone, and multiplayer via WiFi (there’s a world-wide leader board!), local networks (bluetooth or wifi), and AIM. It even allows push notifications so you can invite a friend to play. I’ve easily clocked more time playing Mancala FS5 than any other iPhone app.
2. TapDefense
   Anyone who loves flash games on the Internet has probably lost hours of their life to one defense game or another. TapDefense is no different. This highly addictive tower-style defense game is fun, challenging, and offers a huge amount of variety in levels, playstyle, and challenges. No two games are even completely alike.
3. iMafia
   There are many types of MMORPG-style games available on the iPhone, but the ones I liked the most are by PlayMesh. They make at least a dozen variations, be it Ninjas, Wild West, Warbots, etc, but they’re all very similar in playstyle. If you enjoy online gaming for your computer, this is a must-have time waster for your iPhone.
4. Sol Free Solitaire
   Hands-down the absolute best solitaire game available for the iPhone, paid or otherwise. The interface is extremely intuitive, it keeps in-depth statistics, and there are a nice variety of solitaire games to choose from.
5. Paper Toss
   This game seems extremely easy and boring at first glance, but for some reason I just keep coming back to it. The concept is simple: Flick a wad of paper in to a trash bin compensating for a fan blowing one way or another. It seems simple, but it’s harder than it looks, even on the easy level. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
6. Enjoy Sudoku Daily
   It took me a while to find a Sudoku game that is easy to use and offers great features for both novice and advanced players. This game does exactly that. It offers eight different levels from “Just Starting” to “Fiendish” and has a very intuitive hint system, should you get stuck on the tougher levels.. The only downside is that the free version offers only 1 game per day per level, but that’s still 8 games a day.
7. Fish Food Frenzy
   You’re a tiny fish. The more fish you eat, the bigger you get until you can eat bigger fish. Sounds easy, but this game is extremely challenging and is an absolute blast when using the accelerometer to move your fish around.
8. Checkers FS5
   Brought to you by the same folks that did the Mancala FS5 that I’m so hooked on, this is the best checkers game available for the iPhone, allowing you to play against the computer, against a friend, or online against the world.
9. Unblock Me
   What’s a top-ten game list without a puzzle game? Unblock Me is extremely simple to play, yet each level offers different challenge. Just move the blocks around until you can get the red one out. With 400 levels, this will take you quite some time to beat.
10. JellyCar
    This driving-platormer looks like it was drawn by a four year old, but the goofy graphics somehow just add to its charm. Drive your car through the various worlds to try to reach the exit. Careful, though, it can sometimes be trickier than you’d think.

As always, I hope you’ve enjoyed this list and maybe even found some new games to play. Got any games you felt deserved to be on here that I missed? Feel free to share them with a comment.

I’ve been intrigued by the Amazon Kindle since it was first announced. It is a fantastic concept, but I was skeptical about the practicality of it and how easy it would be to actually read the screen as easily as the page of a book. I finally had a chance to use one the other day, albeit briefly, and I have to say I am impressed. The absolute first thing I noticed was how slim and light it truly is. It is about the size of an average book, and as light or lighter than the average paperback. As soon as I turned it on, I realized that my concerns about readability were unfounded and it is as easy to read as any book and certainly easier to read than most computer screens. Prior to using it I had no idea this was even a feature, but the free 3G wireless access is great. I’m not entirely sure how it’s handled, but for no monthly fee and no need for Wi-Fi, it can wirelessly access Amazon’s 350,000+ book library and instantly download them to the Kindle.

It really is a great product for the casual and dedicated reader alike and can hold as many books as even the most extensive home library. The Amazon Kindle and other products like it have the potential to be regarded by future generations as the biggest development in reading since moveable type was first introduced to Europe sometime in the 15th century.

I love Indian food. It’s flavors range from sweet to spicy and it is equally good whether you prefer vegetarian dishes or meat. Recently we’ve had a bit of bad luck in our area, however, as our favorite nearby Indian restaurant closed over a year ago, followed recently by Saffron in Brookfield. Sure, Maharaja on the east side is among the best in Milwaukee, but that’s a bit of a drive from our side of town. After expressing my frustration on Facebook at the discovery of Saffron’s closure, I got a couple recommendations for Tandoor, which is actually closer to us than Saffron was.

When you first walk in to Tandoor, you might be a little nervous as it kind of has a hole-in-the-wall feel to it, because, well, it kind of is. Rest assured, however, you’ll still get a tasty meal. They have a large menu with lots of options, with plenty of appetizers, a great selection of different types of Indian breads, and a huge list of entrées with chicken, lamb, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. We decided to start off with an order of samosas, which were on par with the samosas I’ve had elsewhere and are a great start to any Indian meal. For dinner we got the always-classic chicken tikka masala, an order of lamb shahi korma, and their peshwari naan bread. Although we ordered everything medium, both the masala and korma were on the spicy side which is always fine by me, but if you have a weak stomach for spice, I’d suggest ordering your food mild. Both dishes were good, however the lamb shahi korma was spicier and less savory than we’re accustomed to. That said, our standard for lamb shahi korma has unfortunately been set unreasonably high by India Palace in Roseville, MN. The peshwari naan bread was unlike any naan bread I’ve had previously and was filled with nuts, raisins, and coconut. It tasted terrific and was great for scooping up any extra sauce from our plates. To wash everything down, we each ordered a mango lassi which, if you’ve never had one, is a traditional yogurt-based mango drink that will instantly cut through any spice lingering in your mouth and tastes great. Having eaten way more than I probably should have, we skipped desert and went home happy, full, and with leftovers.

Although Tandoor is certainly not the best Indian food I’ve eaten, nor would I consider it the best in Milwaukee, it still serves good food, the service was fast and courteous, and I will certainly be eating there again. They even offer take-out, which I’m sure I will be taking advantage of sometime soon.

Here’s the info:

Coa is the newest restaurant to open up at the Bayshore Town Center in Glendale. Filling in the long-vacant property previously occupied by Cameron’s Steakhouse, Coa markets itself as offering true-to-taste Mexican street food. Not ever actually having eaten true Mexican street food I can’t say for sure what that means, but the wide variety of appealing tacos and entrés made making a final dinner selection tough. As soon as you sit down, they’ll bring you some sort of extra salty Frito-Lay flavored chip with two types of dip, neither of which in any way resembled the traditional salsa that you expect from most Mexican restaurants, but both of which were spicy and at least decent, but not great. Unable to really decide what I wanted to eat, I decided to get their three taco meal, which offers the most variety on their menu. First you choose whether you prefer white corn tortillas, flour tortillas, or lettuce wraps. From there, you can choose any three of their wide variety of tacos. The three I chose, carne asada, baby back ribs, and chicken, were all terrific and I would definitely eat again. Also included with the tacos was an option of white or Mexican rice as well as black, refried, or their own “coa” beans. I opted for the Mexican rice with refried beans. Normally I enjoy that combination of sides for a Mexican dish, but the both were rather bland and unimpressive. Aside from that, the meal tasted good, was very filling, and the service was not always fast, but at least friendly. It won’t necessarily be my first choice of restaurants when eating at Bayshore, but I’m sure I will end up there again and, assuming the service and some of the food improves once they get more established, I would recommend it to family and friends.

Here’s the info:

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If you run one or more websites and have an iPhone, not unlike myself, then you are probably looking for some apps to help you out a bit. The following list of iPhone Apps is useful for pretty much any webmaster, whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist.

1. Domain Scout – Cost: FREE
   If you’re going to be a webmaster, you’re going to need a domain name. This application is as straightforward as it sounds. Type in what you’d like to have as your domain name, choose a TLD (.com, .org, .net, etc. You can set which ones it will display), and it’ll tell you if the domain is available. If it isn’t available, you can choose to revise the search, view the whois entry, or visit the URL. If it is available, go quick register it before someone else does! It keeps a nice tidy history as well as a favorites list for those who do a lot of domain hunting.
2. CSS Cheat Sheet & HTML Cheat Sheet – Cost: $0.99
   Who has the time and patience to memorize every single CSS attribute and HTML tag? Not me, that’s for sure. When I’m at home working on my iMac, I have a handful of reference guides bookmarked. These two offer that same helpful reference, but now it fits easily in the palm of my hand.
3. HTML Colors – Cost: $0.99
   There are probably dozens more apps like this available, but HTML Colors is cheap, easy to use, and offers a nice large view of the color you’re selecting. It even allows you to see how one color of text will appear on another color background, which is vital for webmasters.
4. Ego – Cost: $1.99
   This has got everything you need all in one simple app to feed your online ego wherever you may be. Quickly and easily view your numbers, with support for statistics tracking from Feedburner, Google Analytics, Mint, and Squarespace, as well as viewing your number of twitter followers. It’s a simple and intuitive design, so any level of webmaster will love it.
5. SEO Master & iPageRank – Cost: $0.99 & FREE
   These are grouped together because functionally, they both do the exact same thing: They tell you the Google PageRank of your website. SEO Master costs a dollar and has a decent interface, will save the sites you check pagerank of, and will reload the results when you open the app. iPageRank has an interface that is about as basic as they come, but it’ll show you what you want to know and is free.
6. Analytics App – Cost: $5.99
   If you’re using Google Analytics to monitor the traffic coming to your site, this is hands-down the absolute best app available to monitor your Analytics statistics. From what I can tell, any statistic available via Google’s web interface for Analytics is available in this app. It’s a bit pricy by my app standards, but is a must-have for stat junkies.
7. WordPress – Cost: FREE
   This one obviously doesn’t apply to those who don’t use it as a platform for their websites, but if you, like me, are a devout fan of WordPress, then this is for you. It allows you to access your blogs from anywhere, change existing posts, work on drafts saved either locally on the phone or remotely in the database, and publish posts from your phone. Not enough for you? It can also approve comments, reject them, or mark comments as spam and can even upload and manage pictures.
8. FTP On The Go – Cost: $6.99
   Charting in at the most expensive app on this list, FTP On The Go does not disappoint. This FTP application is impressive by desktop computer standards, so it blows me away how much they could pack in to it. Download, edit, and re-upload files via FTP or FTPS and check them on the built-in web browser all without leaving the application. To make all of those features even easier, it even offers Find/Replace functionality and a Go To Line # command for those longer documents. Those are the core features, but it can do even more and is essential if you need to access your FTP server when away from your computer.
9. Crop For Free – Cost: FREE
   As a webmaster, cropping is probably the absolute most common image manipulation I have to do. This app allows you to do exactly what it says: crop for free. Simple enough and more useful than you’d think.
10. Source Viewer – Cost: $0.99
    A rather in-depth source viewer for only 99¢, this program shows you the source of any website you type in. The “Source” tab shows tags, keywords, and CSS are highlighted in different colors for ease of navigation. The “Links” tab allows you to view all links embedded in the HTML or CSS. You can even tap the source while viewing it to toggle word wrap on and off.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the list. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment and share them.

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I got my copy of Apple’s newest Incarnation of Mac OS X yesterday, impressively shipped to me by Apple for free via FedEx Priority Overnight. I haven’t put it through a thorough workout quite yet, but first impressions are very important for any new OS, and Snow Leopard has so far impressed me.

The install was as simple as ever, essentially just clicking install and accepting the ToS. It took about 40 minutes to complete on my iMac, reboots itself when it’s done, and that’s all there is to it. The absolute first thing I noticed once it rebooted was a speed boost. Booting up, opening programs, the Finder, Spotlight search, and just about every other major aspect of the operating system is noticeably faster. I didn’t pay close attention to exactly how much disk space I had used before the install, but it freed up at least 5 gigs of space from Apple cutting some of the fat out of the OS. Just about all of the changes between Leopard (10.5) and Snow Leopard (10.6) are under the hood, but very next thing I noticed was what is more or less the only visual tweak: Stacks. The the grid that the stacks on your dock appear in got a visual overhaul and, at least in my opinion, look a lot nicer. I am so far very impressed with what I’ve seen, even though most of the major changes are in the background and won’t necessarily be noticed by the casual user.

As with any major update to any major operating system ever, third party programs written for prior versions of the OS are bound to have issues. Snow Leopard is in no way immune to this. Apple has a handy short list of known issues for some major applications, but as I don’t use any of specific versions listed on that site, I didn’t run in to any of those known issues. Instead, I noticed immediately that my awesomely useful iStat Menus were gone, but iSlayer already has a compatable v2.0 in the works that they say will be available soon. I also immediately noticed that the non-standard buttons on my Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer 2.0 have stopped working. I’ve managed to get one of the buttons working again, but I’ll have to wait until Microsoft decides to release an update, which will supposedly be “on or before 10/2/2009“. Other than those two issues, I’ve yet to notice any other incompatibilities.

Unless you have a vital use for the programs that Apple lists as not working, I highly recommend upgrading to Snow Leopard. There are no major user interface changes, so the learning curve for users upgrading from Leopard is exactly zero and the speed boost is well worth the $29 to upgrade.

Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard – $29
Mac OS X Snow Leopard Family Pack (5-User) – $49
Mac Box Set (with Snow Leopard) – $169

What can I saw about AXE products? Their products as a whole generally smell like shit and their commercials are obnoxious and in no way make me want to buy them. Even though their advertising has, at least for me, been a complete failure, the AXE Shower Tool seems like a decent idea and I have been debating whether or not it was worth coughing up a few dollars to buy. I’ve been sick of using the standard cheap poufs (is that really a word?) that you can get just about everywhere and are equally as crappy wherever you get them. They fall apart almost immediately and aren’t worth the dollar you spend on them. I finally decided a few days ago to buy an AXE shower tool and I’ve used it a few times now and I’m impressed. It does a great job of lathering up the body wash, it doesn’t fall apart after one use like the generic poufs, the rough side on the back does a great job of scrubbing your feet, and most surprisingly it doesn’t have an adverse reaction to non-AXE body wash.

Café Manna is self-described as “one of the first 100% vegetarian restaurants in Southeastern Wisconsin”. Located on Brookfield Road just south of Capitol, this relatively new restaurant can easily go unnoticed from the street, but is worth the trip. In the interest of full disclosure, it should be known that I am not one to go crazy over vegetarian or vegan cuisine and prefer my dinners to involve some sort of meat. That said, it is something that I knew my wife would enjoy so I figured I’d give it a shot.

My first impression when we walked in was extremely positive. We were warmly greeted by the employees and immediately seated. Although Café Manna is in a very small space, they have it arranged very well and it in no way feels cramped as many small restaurants do. We were promptly brought out a small plate of pita chips and their homemade cashew coconut hummus, which was an incredibly tasty change of pace from the standard bread and frozen unspreadable butter that you get at most restaurants. Coming from someone who normally balks at the idea of a vegetarian entree, their menu had a plethora of choices that appealed to me, with many marked as gluten-free, raw, and/or vegan. I eventually settled on their Peace Bowl with Curried Cashew Crunch and Jessie chose the Falafel Platter. Our meals came out to us quickly and were presented beautifully on the plate. As good as it may have looked, it tasted even better. Many people are afraid of curry because of its spicy reputation, but they were very even-handed with it and it had the perfect amount of spice versus flavor. My only complain with the meal was that the pyramids of rice could have been a little larger, to soak up the extra sauce. To drink with dinner, I had a kettle of Coconut Chai hot tea from Zhena’s Gypsy Tea, which complimented the meal perfectly. Although neither of us felt like having desert after the meal, they had some very tempting options, including Banana Fig Pudding and Ginger Macadamia Nut Carrot Cake, which topped my list of what I’d like to try next time.

I will definitely be eating here again and, unless you are adamantly opposed to vegetarian cuisine, I’d highly suggest it to anyone who asks.

Here’s the info: