This is why open-source rules. Collaborating with Ian Rickard, Hiroaki has been able to further tweak DarwiinRemote to do a little bit more this time around, and it's interesting to see how far this new Wii-Mac mod project will go.

DarwiinRemote is a Mac application that lets you use the Wiimote on the Mac for specific programs. While the current set of things you can do with it is limited, making it a rather nifty toy or virtual mouse, it does show the potential for further use in everything from games to presentations.

For instance, imagine doing a slideshow on Mac using your Wiimote to direct the flow of your presentation. You can keep your presentation fluid without prompting someone to move to the next segment of your show or having to go back to the mouse every few minutes after stating your point. That's the kind of cool future we can envision from DarwiinRemote. It might not be immediate, but we're sure that Hiroaki, Rickard, and other members of the open source development community will make it happen.

In related news, Hiroaki's thinking of expanding the code for others to use:

I plan to divide Wii Remote Framework from DarwiinRemote.app. By using the framework, you might be able to use Wii Remote in your projects easily. It will include some additional functions such as various analyzing method like gesture recognition.

If PC users want to see a combination of DarwiinRemote and WiinRemote in the future, then this would be the best way to see the project expanding beyond its original scope into becoming something everyone can use for just about anything they feel like doing on their computers. Enjoy the download, and give the two guys some props for what they're doing, alright?

Download: [DarwiinRemote v0.3]
Download: [DarwiinRemote v0.3 (sources)]

If you want to see the changes in v0.3, click on "Full Article".

In a fit of information generosity (or maybe it was just gas), the guys behind the radical Mac application Disco have just revealed pretty much everything that their sweet little project can do.

OK, first off, just what exactly is Disco? Essentially, it's a CD burning application, but the cool thing about it is that it's all about simplicity. Less clicks, less hassle, no more overwhelming options that you don't even understand. According to the Disco team, the app will work "how you expect it to, when you expect it to Â? and it is able to do this through its elegant and simple interface that is heavily iconic, satisfying, and workflow based."

Sounds pretty good so far. Let's take a look at the features, shall we? Like we said before, Disco presents users with a very user-friendly interface. Burning a file disc is as simple as inserting a blank disc into your CD drive, dragging the file you want burned onto a list and then clicking burn. Same goes for burning discs based off an image. Wanna burn multiple copies? Hit reburn and keep feeding your disc drive more discs. What if you want to create session discs? Merely enable appendability when you burn a disc and you're all set.

The full article awaits after the jump!

If you have some idle time in your hands and you want to channel that to something productive and educational, then maybe this free Mac app is the answer. The SeisMac is a Mac OS X Cocoa application that turns your MacBook or MacBook Pro into a seismograph. It takes advantage of your laptop's Sudden Motion Sensor in order to come up with real-time, 3-axis acceleration graphs. Maybe with this one, you won't have to rely to FEMA that much anymore.

Anyways, to really test this app, you can place your laptop on a table and see the seismic waves from tapping your toe on the floor. You may also lay your laptop on your chest and see your heartbeat. And of course, if there is a real earthquake, SeisMac will be displaying full seismic information while you drop, cover and hold-on.

You need to have a  Mac OS X 10.4 or later for this one to run.

Download: [SeisMac]

There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.

You have now gotten past being a youngling and is entering a new phase. A Padawan. An apprentice Jedi. You are going to undergo intensive one-on-one training under a Jedi Knight. And to give you the best possible training, you are going to be under the tutelage of Jedi Master MacSaber 1.1.

MacSaber 1.1 has been updated for PowerBook5 and 7, added keyboard backlight actions for equipped notebooks and improved update checker logic 1.0.

MacSaber is compatible with Mac laptops equipped with Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) technology. Remember not everyone can be a Jedi.

Download: [MacSaber 1.1]

Mac notebooks' accelerometer was designed to protect your laptops from damage in case of droppage. However, smart minds have put this ingenious innovation to other fun use. A certain Raul was even able to come up with a list of entertaining hacks based on the accelerometer. One of these was AMS2HID, which converts the sudden motion sensor into a human interface device. With this application, the orientation data retrieved from the accelerometer are translated into input data for the keyboard or mouse. Now, AMS2HID can also provide us a fun way of playing games on a Mac notebook.

Matt Haughey has downloaded the AMS2HID app and used it to play with the marble tilt game NeverBall (the OS X binary package of which was done by Luc Fabresse). Click on the video and see the marbles move with your laptop's motion. If your eyes suddenly turn green with envy, the download for AMS2HID is below and NeverBall can be downloaded via Icculus. Go and try your hand at a Wii-style playing on your Mac. Enjoy! To learn more about AMS2HID, visit the developer's site here.

Download: [AMS2HID]

Mac laptops are not exactly cheap, making them obvious targets for thieves. Thanks to Panda Studio's JackSMS, Mac laptop owners can somehow be assured that nobody can take their precious laptops away without them knowing about it.

JackSMS will work on a Mac laptop - iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro - with the built-in sudden motion sensor (SMS). Making use of the sensor, JackSMS triggers an alarm whenever someone tries to move the Mac laptop, close its lid, or disconnect the power cord. If you're away from the Mac laptop and cannot hear the alarm, you'll still know if someone is trying to move your Mac via a mobile text message being sent whenever the alarm goes off.

Also featured in this Panda Studios application is the option to lock the screen while JackSMS is on or when alarm is triggered, plus the SMS sensitivity and alarm duration is adjustable. Its Applescript support will work with Salling Clicker or BluePhoneElite.

JackSMS is currently in v1.0b3, where triggering of alarm when lid is closed has been integrated. To use, just install JackSMS anywhere in your computer, launch it and it stays as a menu item. To activate the alarm, choose "Activate Alarm". For Applescript support, refer to the "AppleScript Example for JackSMS".

If you want to keep your Mac laptops safe, give JackSMS a go...better be safe than sorry.

Download [JackSMS v1.0b3]

There have been so many rumors about the release of the next iPod  - none of which has been confirmed, not a single one. Whenever someone from Apple tries to answer those backfence talks, their replies usually result in more speculation - thus it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that they are not speaking up.

Just like this one, we have already featured in our earlier reports about some weird Apple patents that have something to do with the body's motion. Apparently, in a recent statement by CEO Terry Gou of Hon Hai (iPod makers for Apple), it was implied that Apple is about to unveil the next generation of the iPod, the best-selling music player in the U.S., using a "none-touch" concept. The "none-touch" part sent the rumormongers running to their blogs.

Maybe something's just lost in translation. But the only sensible possibility is that the next iPod will feature an internal motion sensor somewhat similar to the one Apple already uses in its laptops and along the lines of the upcoming Nintendo Wii controller. If this one is proven to be true, I'd be one of the many applauding Apple! But since this is just a rumor, we leave the speculation part to you. What do you think about this rumor? Would you like it or is it a bad idea? Let us know through your comments.

Remember that Desktop Manager a.k.a. SmackBook Pro? If you don't, let us refresh your memory...The virtual desktop manager (SmackBook Pro) makes use of the OS X's built-in motion sensor. Use any number of virtual 'screens' and transition to different screens by touching and at times smacking the sides of the laptop.

Many people commented that the original SmackBook was too violent, so people found ways to be more gentle to their babies. The program was called "ShadowBook" and instead of smacking your Mac babies, all you have to do is let your intelligent baby sense your hand and it will switch screens.  The author, Erling Ellingsen, just want to say that if you also have the latest version of VirtueDesktops, you can click the "send notifications" checkbox and use it to change desktops.