The Mac App store is set to open January 6th 2010.

Since the announcement this past October, many developers have discussed their opinions, excitement, and concerns.

One possible positive is that the store will be available to a very wide audience of potential users. I’m not up for listing worries about the store, because its the holidays and I’m way too jolly for that. Besides plenty of others have already covered the potentially negative outcomes.

I suppose only time will tell if the new store will be a mutually beneficial relationship between Apple and software developers.

What are your thoughts on the App Store?

As the year winds to a close looking ahead intensifies.

At Splasm Software that means creating goals for the new year and reading opinions about the future of the computer we know and love.

Recently, in a MacWorld article titled, “What’s with the Mac Doomsayers?” John Gruber looked at whether or not Apple would replace Mac OS X with iOS. (I really enjoyed reading this and I don’t want to ruin it by lame paraphrasing so I’ll give you as little as I can to entice you to read it.)

Gruber makes the case that Apple does not leave behind what he calls “legacy technology” in favor of things that are “shiny and new”, but rather leaves such products behind when it appears that the weight of the old will slow down the “pursuit of creating brand-new stuff.”

He goes on, in this very well-written article, to answer this question: “Is the Mac slowing iOS down or in any way holding it back?”

Like I said earlier, this is best read as the author intended, so read it there. After you read it, come back and share your opinion.

Is the Mac “legacy” or is it irreplaceable at the present time?

Can iOS do the work of Mac OS X?

Recently, I watched an episode of Man Vs. Food.

Standing in my kitchen this morning, I wondered how a bowl of cereal would fare in a fight with a couple of pancakes. The victor gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to help me balance my checkbook.

Weighing in at 10.4 oz, containing 9 serving at 1 cup each and priced around $3.50 is….Cereal.

Cereal steps into the ring, looking strong, feeling confident and ready to go.

$3.50 Divided by 9 servings is $0.39 per bowl

Can Pancakes beat a price that low?

A little scrawny, but fast and limber–Pancakes has been around the block as a breakfast staple. More than the sum of its parts, Pancakes knows it wouldn’t be here today without:

1 cup of Flour

1 tablespoon Sugar

2 teaspoons of Baking Powder

1/4 teaspoon of Salt

1 cup Milk

2 tablespoons of Vegetable Oil

This five pound bag of flour costs $3.39 and brings forth 20 cups of serious moxie. Always willing to lend a hand, Flour had no qualms putting 1 cup or $0.17 toward some delicious Pancake batter. Growing up in the same neighborhood, Sugar and flour have combined their efforts in a number of other recipes. With 180 tablespoons of power, priced at around $3.00, The tablespoon of Sugar in Pancakes costs about a half a penny and can’t be beat!

But let’s not forget about Baking Powder $0.07 ($2.00 for 10 oz. or 60 tsp with 2 going to pancakes), Salt (around $0.05), Vegetable Oil (2.68, tablespoon per serving yields 96 servings) equal $0.06, or Milk ($0.23 per cup).

Pancake Batter from this simple, but tasty team costs $0.63 and makes about three large servings of two pancakes a serving.

Pancakes is the Champ at 21 cents per serving! But wait, wait just a minute…what’s that? Milk was fighting for both sides? At least a 1/2 a cup of milk goes into a bowl of cereal or $0.12. Add that to $0.39 and this match is over.

Just don’t pour on a mountain of syrup. Use moderation.

**Feel free to check my math or let me know if you’ve seen different prices in your area. Co-workers included :)**

Gearing up to buy some presents?

Managing your finances is easy with CheckBook Pro 🙂

CheckBook Pro is the simply powerful personal finance manager that would make a great gift for – yourself (hey, managing your money makes for a jolly you and that is a gift for everyone who crosses your path).

Starting tomorrow, December 1st, CheckBook Pro will be on sale for just $19.95!

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.

Unlike Christmas with all its pressure to buy the right present (or to produce the right facial expression when opening a loved ones gift), Thanksgiving is about the food.

That delicious meal.

Just thinking about it makes me giddy. And I don’t care who know it (obviously).

Hope your Thanksgiving is full of laughter, memories, but mostly…delicious-we-are-oh-so-thankful- Food!

Always true to the Enterprise’s mission, Captain Kirk can teach us a few things about being successful on the job.

Document Lessons Learned

Captain Kirk and the other members of his crew are frequently found updating their personal logs. Even in the mist of chaos and danger, Kirk finds time to make a few observations about the situation.

Have a record of obstacles that were solved on the job. This will save time when something similar is encountered in the future. Keeping track of tasks also provides objective data for future promotions (or job interviews).

Be In Motion

Besides the fact that Captain Kirk’s ship is literally always in motion, Kirk is action personified. Whether faced with an attacking ship or his own evil twin, Captain Kirk comes up with a plan and moves on it.

Each day is filled with a series of choices. Research has shown that when moving towards our goals, even when not moving at warp speed, we are happier people. Trying to stay content while remaining in the same position goes against nature.

Find opportunities to move forward. Offer to give a presentation on a topic of interest. Read up on the latest news in your field. Be prepared for the unexpected by continuing to grow. Expect change and take actions that move you in the direction of your goals.

Know Your Crew

Spock’s logic is nearly flawless. Bones has a talent for healing, even wall eating creatures made of stone have benefited from his medical expertise. Scottie can cobble broken down pieces of machinery into a viable engine.

Captain Kirk knows his crew. Each person Kirk works with has unique skills and he is able to identify the best and the brightest qualities in those around him.

Speak to those in your field. “The trend now is towards working together, ” A print marketing veteran told me, “In the past we kept our good ideas to ourselves. Hoarding our knowledge (even within our own organization), each one trying to get ahead of the other.”

The idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts has been around, but it appears that more people are seeing the benefits and acting accordingly.

Have a Sense of Humor

Star Trek episodes frequently come to a close with the Captain, Spock, or Bones making some light hearted comment about almost dying. Most of us don’t face death in our daily grind, but the little annoyances can take their toll on our health if we don’t learn to laugh. Its easy to get into a rut of complaining about job stressors.

While “venting” may have its place, frequent complaining can prevent us from remembering why we love our professions. Find the funny in your day. And laugh it off.

Love the Challenge

Have a tough deadline coming up? Did a co-worker take credit for some of your work? Step up to the challenge and do what needs to be done.

Captain Kirk always believes that things will turn out alright in the end. His job is challenging, but he knows that there isn’t anywhere he’d rather be. Even at a dream job, obstacles are bound to crop up. Realize that problems are Challenges.

Love challenges for what they are:

Chances to be amazing, just like Captain Kirk.