Macworld wants to make your life better. I mean, we also want to know what features will get offered in the next iPhone, but we’re serious about the “bettering your life” thing. To that end, then, here are a few links to stories we ran this past week that might just simplify or otherwise improve your life.
When dragging’s a drag
Dragging files and text between windows on your Mac is doable, but it often times requires a lot of window rejiggering. If you prefer to limit your jiggering whenever possible, then, check out DragonDrop, a recent Mac Gem: It aims to ensure that dragging never drags you down.
Feline fine
Want a cute, cuddly kitten without the litter box or claws? You may be interested in Kinectimals, an iOS game from Microsoft that offers playtime with perhaps the most hypoallergenic cats of all.
Don’t let’s smart
Frustrated with your iPad’s Smart Cover and have some extra scratch to burn? Well, speaking of flammable materials, the Miniot MK2 cover for iPad is made of solid wood. It works a lot like a Smart Cover, only with fewer annoyances than Apple’s microsuede approach: It’s easier to roll up the MK2 than to fold up the Smart Cover without. And now I’m hungry for a Fruit Roll-up.
The Mother of all holidays
Sunday is Mother’s Day. Our App Guide for apps on sending Mom a message can give you a last-second way to show your mom you didn’t forget her. You’re welcome.
An Apple update a day keeps the buggies away
Apple fixed a bunch of bugs in some flagship products this week. You can upgrade to iOS 5.1.1, OS X 10.7.4, and Apple TV software version 5.0.1. This was also a good week for version number fetishists.
iPad keyboard tricks
None of the tricks in this week’s Macworld video involve pulling rabbits out of hats or anything of that sort, but you’ll be surprised by some of the characters you can coax out of your keys when you watch it.
You can’t hide your Lion drives
We’ve published instructions on creating a bootable Lion drive in the past, since most folks grab the OS from the Mac App Store and have no bootable version to speak of. But now, there’s a Mac Gem for that, one that makes simpler work of installing the big cat on a DVD, flash drive, or external hard drive.
Super heroes
And finally, if you want a little more help mastering your third-generation iPad, book it on over to your favorite electronic bookstore; the third edition of Macworld’s iPad Superguide is available wherever ebooks are sold, by which I mean the iBookstore, Kindle Store, or our website.